CNN – Sports

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — Toward the end of every regular season, if it’s been a good one, the Boston Red Sox will receive a special package from one of their kit suppliers: 100 pairs of goggles. It’s an unusual gift for a baseball team, but each playoff round brings another shipment of 100

CNN By Patrick Snell, CNN (CNN) — It started with just the kind of news that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Like so many other teenagers, Jonah Blick was enjoying what should have been a fun-filled day out with friends at the lake. What followed on that ill-fated hot summer’s day in August would change

By Patrick Snell, CNN (CNN) — It started with just the kind of news that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Like so many other teenagers, Jonah Blick was enjoying what should have been a fun-filled day out with friends at the lake. What followed on that ill-fated hot summer’s day in August would change the

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Major League Baseball will have a new champion this fall. The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series after a dominating sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning two-time champions. The high-priced Dodgers aimed to make history as the first National League team to ever win three

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — Five weeks into the NFL season, three teams remain unbeaten, a Super Bowl favorite is suddenly struggling and one high-profile head coach is already feeling the heat. With division rivalries, a Sunday night shootout and a crucial London showdown on tap, Week 6 could tell us a lot about

By Ben Church, CNN Manchester, England (CNN) — Stepping inside the plush halls of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium before Wednesday’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain felt a bit like walking into an alternative universe. Despite all the criticism that has pummeled the club since it was found guilty of over 100 charges relating to

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Birmingham, Alabama (CNN) — In legalese, the SEC on Tuesday filed a response to LSU’s motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by the conference in September saying that it’s not ready to close the door on the argument because “the dispute remains live.” In more understandable parenting parlance, the SEC

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN London (CNN) — Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times and think to yourself there’s no place like home. These were the instructions given to Dorothy as she left the Land of Oz before waking up at home in Kansas. It all seems rather straightforward, but it could have

By Jill Martin, CNN (CNN) — The Atlanta Dream may have racked up a ton of steals on the court against opponents in this WNBA postseason, but the franchise just got a major assist ahead of the Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. On Tuesday, it was announced the WNBA Finals schedule would be altered

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN London (CNN) — From delirium to devastation – and back again – a lot can happen in a second. As the clock ticked down toward the end of a pulsating game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Jacksonville Jaguars fans began to flock towards the nearest exit. Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott had

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — We’ve got five winless teams, Mr. Irrelevant as the MVP, a Detroit Lions defense putting up historically bad numbers and a potential Super Bowl preview on Monday night. Oh, and fantasy managers, enjoy your full rosters while you can – bye weeks have officially arrived. Here are five things

By Fred He, Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Beijing, China (CNN) — For a couple of minutes, the Diamond Court was full of whispers. After some intense rallies at the beginning of the second set, Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur were suddenly shaking hands at the net. Chinese fans – most of whom had been

By Hannah Keyser, CNN New York City (CNN) — What a hero he would have been. The New York-born heir to Derek Jeter’s spot on the diamond, Anthony Volpe has become an unfortunate avatar of all the ways this iteration of the Yankees has failed to live up to the legacy set by the Jeter

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — With less than an hour to go before a playoff game with their season on the line, the San Diego Padres announced star closer Mason Miller wouldn’t be available. It was shocking, a move that could have potentially derailed the Padres’ attempt to stave off elimination as they faced

By Hannah Keyser, CNN New York (CNN) — Chad Mottola, the hitting coach for the Tampa Bay Rays for the past decade, sat in the visiting team dugout alongside speedy slap-hitter Chandler Simpson and budding star Junior Caminero, who was nearing the end of his first full season in the majors. It was late September

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that the Chicago White Sox used to stink. After three disastrous years in which they’d lost at least 100 games every season, the South Siders had to freshen things up; but they couldn’t have imagined that some new toilet seats would

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — As soon as my son pressed play, the video made me wince. A few years ago, he’d discretely recorded me from the backseat as I was driving, talking to my other son in the passenger seat. We were returning from one of their junior tennis matches and I

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — As soon as my son pressed play, the video made me wince. A few years ago, he’d discretely recorded me from the backseat as I was driving, talking to my other son in the passenger seat. We were returning from one of their junior tennis matches and I was

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Former NFL star Tony Romo will not be returning to CBS Sports after his arrest for drunk driving earlier this summer, the network said in a statement. CBS Sports and Romo “mutually agreed to part ways,” according to the statement, after nine years of the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback

By Hannah Keyser, CNN New York City (CNN) — As the New York Yankees’ young ace Cam Schlittler mowed down Boston Red Sox batters in a way that felt not only effective but deliciously vindictive, chants of “M-V-P!” rained down from the Bronx crowd. There was a tinge of hometown bias to the honorific, but

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — Three weeks into the NFL season, we’re already seeing some familiar storylines, some huge surprises and plenty of history being made. The Houston Texans are 0-3 – again – while the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting at a surprising 3-0. Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are renewing a rivalry

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s one of the most extraordinary and monumental moments in the history of the Premier League – a story that has threatened and continues to endanger the very integrity of soccer in England. Manchester City, one of the most successful teams in the world in recent years, has

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s one of the most extraordinary and monumental moments in the history of the Premier League – a story that has threatened and continues to endanger the very integrity of soccer in England. Manchester City, one of the most successful teams in the world in recent years, has been

By David Close, CNN (CNN) — The Premier League has found Manchester City guilty of all of the charges related to serious breaches of the league’s financial rules. Sanctions related to the allegations have not been disclosed, though potential punishments against the club could include a points deduction, an unlimited fine, or even expulsion from

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Americans often say they need to see a superstar to fall in love with a sport, and for years, soccer has come up just short in the US. We had the likes of Clint Dempsey in the past, a clinical Premier League player but not quite the level of

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Camden, New Jersey (CNN) — A little after noon on a dreary Monday morning, kids wearing school uniforms spilled onto the playground in downtown Camden. It was recess at LEAP Academy, and the kids milled about the macadam or waited their turn on the swings, contentedly unaware that, just a few

By Jack Guy, CNN London (CNN) — An 11-year-old chess prodigy has become the youngest woman grandmaster of all time, after a strong performance at the 46th Chess Olympiad. Bodhana Sivanandan from northwest London represented England at the tournament in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which ended on Sunday. In an interview released on YouTube on Sunday, she

By Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Naples, Italy (CNN) — When Louisa Nordstrom was growing up, the posters hanging in her bedroom didn’t portray pop stars or movie actors; instead, legendary British skipper Ben Ainslie was smiling from the wall, together with a dedicated autograph. Twenty years later, it is Nordstrom – now an accomplished sailor who’s

By Jessie Yeung, CNN (CNN) — Benjamin Satterley, an English wrestling star known by his ring name Pac, has died at 40, according to All Elite Wrestling. “A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organizations all over the world, captivating fans

By Thomas Schlachter, Patrick Sung Cuadrado, Aleks Klosok, CNN (CNN) — Manchester City has been found guilty of all but one of the many charges it faced in regards to breaching Premier League financial rules, according to multiple reports and first reported by David Ornstein at The Athletic. According to reports, City has been found

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our biweekly newsletter on all things global soccer – men’s and women’s. To subscribe, click here. Hello everyone, Spanish Editor Patrick here. Ben is enjoying a well-earned mini-vacation on the Emerald Isle, hence I am taking

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — It’s the third week of the NFL season and some issues are becoming blatantly apparent as teams start to figure out their identities. In some places, injuries are piling up and threatening to derail teams before the season gets out of its first month. In others, there are clear

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — Major League Soccer (MLS) team Columbus Crew fired Federico Higuaín, the head coach of its reserve team, following an incident in a game that a referees’ association deemed “physical abuse and sexism” toward a female referee. Higuaín – who was appointed head coach of the franchise’s reserves squad,

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The second week of the NFL season proved to be a brutal one for three young quarterbacks who were expected to take major leaps this season. Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders and Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants were all knocked

By Ben Church, Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok, CNN (CNN) — Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé says there is no “frustration” over not yet winning a Ballon d’Or – an annual award given to the world’s best player – but tells CNN Sports that this “could be a good year for me.” Mbappé did not win any

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Oxford, Mississippi (CNN) — They crafted a poster that turned him into a corndog, a deadbeat on a stick if you will. They printed T-shirts and made buttons that called him a “heaux,” hoe, or ho, depending on the preferred spelling. They cussed him for leaving but then insisted they were

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — Week 2 is one of the most fascinating weeks of the entire NFL season. This is when fans find out if they completely overreacted to what happened in Week 1 – or if that reaction was actually justified. So, what was real and what was just a one-week mirage?

By Dana O’Neil, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The two football players at the center of the debate over former professional players returning to the college game remain in limbo after the NFL notified teams they are ineligible to play this season. In a memo sent to top front-office staff and head coaches around the

By Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — Female athletes have reacted with anger and incredulity to a “hypersexualized” advertising campaign featuring a nude or minimally clad Sydney Sweeney posing with sports equipment. The campaign, for US sports-prediction market Novig, is “very damaging” for female athletes and young girls looking to get into sport, Australian surfer Felicity

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Oxford, Mississippi (CNN) — The Library Sports Bar is everything a college bar should be. Old, battered stools stand alongside a weathered wood bar. Stickers celebrating bygone 21st birthdays cover the walls outside the bathrooms. The barroom gives way to the Boom Boom room (for bands), which leads to the patio,

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Men’s top seed Alexander Zverev won a thrilling four-set, three-hour and 33 minute showdown with No. 8 seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 to win his first career US Open title on Sunday. It is the second career grand slam win for the 29-year-old from Germany, with

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The start of the new NFL season always brings a few things that take getting used to. Perhaps one of the most head-turning sights will be walking the sidelines of MetLife Stadium during the final game on Sunday. John Harbaugh will be making his regular-season debut with the New

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Women’s No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina will have a lot to celebrate come Monday after defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open women’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday. Rybakina not only won her first career title at Flushing Meadows, but will

By Jacob Lev, Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Sunday’s clash for the US Open men’s singles title is now set as American Ben Shelton will face top-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany. Ben Shelton prevails over Frances Tiafoe in an all-American duel A historic all-American men’s semifinal between No. 8 seed Ben Shelton and No. 11

By Eryn Mathewson, CNN (CNN) — The word “historic” has been thrown around a few times at this year’s US Open. But when Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, they’ll make a kind of history American men’s tennis hasn’t seen in more than half a century. For the first

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Arch Manning was talking about his golf game, replying to a throwaway question at Texas’ SEC football media day about how he blows off steam in the offseason. The Longhorns quarterback said he’d been hitting the links regularly on the weekends, tagging along most recently with a buddy who

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Just when Coco Gauff thought she was back in control of her semifinal bout with Elena Rybakina, she wasn’t. In front of a fired-up, sold-out crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the second of two US Open women’s semifinals saw the No. 2 seed Rybakina defeat the No. 4 seed

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — On a night where the Seahawks were honored for their Super Bowl LX victory, the celebrations felt short lived as starting quarterback Sam Darnold left the game with an injury in the team’s 13-10 win over the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Wednesday night in Seattle. As

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — After Ben Shelton’s time-zone-spanning quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz finished at 3:33 a.m. in New York Wednesday morning, the annual conversation of match scheduling at the US Open has kicked back up again. Despite how bizarre it was to see the two players still battling it out in the

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — After Ben Shelton’s time-zone-spanning quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz finished at 3:33 a.m. in New York Wednesday morning, the annual conversation of match scheduling at the US Open has kicked back up again. Despite how bizarre it was to see the two players still battling it out in the early

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Rams are loaded, Patrick Mahomes has a new knee, the Super Bowl champs are somehow underdogs and Buffalo Bills fans are once again convincing themselves this is the year! It’s all happening in the NFL. Here are five things to know about Week 1 of the

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — US tennis star Ben Shelton eventually got the better of Carlos Alcaraz in the latest-ever finish in US Open history, ending the Spaniard’s title defense and progressing to an all-American semifinal. The titanic quarterfinal lasted four hours and 28 minutes, eventually ending at 3:33 a.m. local time in New

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The Mid-American Conference announced it had submitted formal appeals on Tuesday to recognize Western Michigan University as the winners of Saturday’s game against Michigan, which was won on a controversial last-second play. It didn’t take the NCAA long to shoot down that idea. The NCAA, citing its official football

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s that time of year again when the soccer world turns its attention to the Ballon d’Or awards — accolades given to the man and woman deemed to be the best player in the world. The nominees for both categories were released on Tuesday, starting what will be an

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The Southeastern Conference will meet on Thursday to determine whether to expel Louisiana State University out of the high-profile conference as the fight over the Tigers’ potential use of former professional football players escalates. In a federal court filing, the conference said it will meet to “decide whether to

By Alex Leeds Matthews, CNN (CNN) — Hundreds of thousands of student athletes are returning to their college teams this fall. Earning a spot on collegiate rosters, or athletic scholarships, takes years of work from young athletes — and thousands of dollars from their parents in fees, travel and other costs. But the odds are

By Hannah Keyser, CNN New Brunswick, New Jersey (CNN) — It’s the last Sunday in August and at a steakhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey, men who are old enough to have grandchildren are wearing football jerseys and accusing each other of cheating at a game before 10:30 in the morning. They’ll start drinking before

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — The NBA issued stern penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday following an independent investigation that revealed a “pattern of misconduct” and severe salary cap circumvention violations. The investigation found that the Clippers improperly funneled off-court endorsement opportunities to star forward Kawhi Leonard through corporate partners – including

By Fred He, CNN (CNN) — “C’mon Bo, C’mon Bo, C’mon Bo.” Inside the training facility at the University of Louisville, strength coach Eli Foy stands on a weighted sled, adding more resistance. Zhang Boyuan, a 19-year-old player from northeast China, gives it everything he has, pushing the sled toward the end of the court

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Like almost every boy, Freddie Woodward was exposed to porn at an early age. At first, it was nothing more than a glance at adult magazines or material shared between friends. Then, as he got older, he stepped into the seemingly endless world of online videos, which offered a

By Kyle Feldscher, Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Argentine superstar Lionel Messi announced Monday that he is retiring from his country’s national team. “After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: Watch CNN Original Series “Decades in Sports” on the CNN app. Across six episodes, the series explores the defining moments, athletes and cultural shifts that shaped sports over the past six decades, from the television revolution and Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the impact of

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Maura Horton read the latest stories, the ones detailing the startling research that as many as one in four NFL players could end up with CTE, and she knew what would happen next. People would talk about chronic traumatic encephalopathy that day and for a few days after. They’d

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — The first time he cried after a big win, Roger Federer says he didn’t understand what was happening. It was 2001 at Wimbledon, and he’d just dethroned the great Pete Sampras on his Centre Court debut. “I go to my knees, (then) I shake hands with Pete and

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — The first time he cried after a big win, Roger Federer says he didn’t understand what was happening. It was 2001 at Wimbledon, and he’d just dethroned the great Pete Sampras on his Centre Court debut. “I go to my knees, (then) I shake hands with Pete and he’s

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — On the 18th hole, Cameron Young’s sloping, sliding, quick eagle putt from about 42 feet hit the back of the cup, an exclamation point on an 8-under round that sent him from last to first. He pulled the ball out of the hole, shook hands with his caddie,

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — Wyndham Clark just wants to be loved. The reigning US Open champion, who is sitting in third place in the FedEx Cup standings heading into this week, is enjoying his best year as a professional. Last week’s victory at the BMW Championship outside St. Louis was his third

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — Professional athletes are often held up as something above and beyond the mere mortals who pay hefty ticket prices to be in the stands. But every now and then there comes a reminder that even the best in the world at what they do can be waylaid by

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — European soccer governing body UEFA is poised to no longer boycott upcoming FIFA tournaments, according to the Associated Press, as the sport’s ongoing saga takes another turn. UEFA has been embroiled in a public feud with world governing body FIFA since a proposed plan – dubbed the FIFA Forward

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — Given the future of LIV Golf is murky at best – especially after the announcement of company layoffs on Wednesday – there are likely some players on the embattled start-up tour who are wondering whether their future lies back in the stability of the PGA Tour. The problem

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — The normally buttoned-up world of golf is dealing with its latest collision between traditional sensibilities and new age internet culture – and this time it’s putting into question how and whether those two worlds merge. The golf-focused media company Good Good and equipment maker Callaway are both under

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White are not eligible to play in the WNBA, sources around the league told CNN on Monday. Both men announced last month that they now identify as women and said they planned to enter the 2027 WNBA draft amid a national

By David Close, CNN (CNN) — The principal owner of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers was arrested on Sunday and accused of “engaging in prostitution” in Ohio, according to court documents obtained by CNN. Jed York, who’s been with the team for nearly 20 years, became the chief executive officer in 2010. According to the

By Ben Church, Amanda Davies, CNN (CNN) — In recent weeks, it might have felt inevitable that Gianni Infantino would be forced to resign as FIFA president. The walls were closing in on him, and the rising tide of criticism following his failed attempt to rush through his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal seemed

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: Watch CNN Original Series “Decades in Sports” on the CNN app. Across six episodes, the series explores the defining moments, athletes and cultural shifts that shaped sports over the past six decades, from the television revolution and Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, right up to the

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open with a knee injury, the world No. 1 announced on Friday. “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Yan Diomandé is set to have an incredibly bright future. At just 19, the attacker has signed for arguably the world’s biggest soccer team in Real Madrid and will begin his debut season for Los Blancos as they face Espanyol on Saturday. The Spanish giant signed the Ivory Coast

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Australian former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for cocaine. The 31-year-old provided a sample during an event in Spain on June 22, before the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, was found. Kyrgios apologized to

By Hannah Keyser, CNN (CNN) — A player development staff member for the San Diego Padres was detained in Texas last week while traveling and is being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Oswaldo Pirela, 34, works as a catching coordinator for the Padres organization and was in El Paso, Texas, to work

By Emile Nuh, Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Magnus Carlsen has done it again. After winning the inaugural chess competition at the Esports World Cup (EWC) last year, the Norwegian Grandmaster successfully defended his crown after beating Denis Lazavik in straight sets in the Grand Final in Paris on Saturday. Incredibly, the world No. 1

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that this could be his last year playing professional soccer, after what’s been a record-breaking career. The 41-year-old is widely considered one of the best players in history, winning five Ballon d’Or awards in addition to a host of major trophies and record-breaking achievements. “This

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: Watch CNN Original Series “Decades in Sports” on the CNN app. Across six episodes, the series explores the defining moments, athletes and cultural shifts that shaped sports over the past six decades, from the television revolution and Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, right up to the

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — Jason Williams landed the one-of-a-kind Cooper Flagg NBA debut patch card — and now has multimillion-dollar offers on the table. Williams, a machine shop owner from Clover, South Carolina, suddenly finds himself holding one of the most coveted cards in the sports memorabilia world. The father of five entered

CNN By Omar Jimenez, CNN New York City (CNN) — There is an ever-growing love story between the game of golf and basketball. Maybe it’s the rhythm of a smooth swing mirroring the comfort of a polished jumper. Maybe it’s the chance to perform outside in front of chirping birds rather than chirping fans inside

By Omar Jimenez, CNN New York City (CNN) — There is an ever-growing love story between the game of golf and basketball. Maybe it’s the rhythm of a smooth swing mirroring the comfort of a polished jumper. Maybe it’s the chance to perform outside in front of chirping birds rather than chirping fans inside a

By Charlotte Reck, CNN (CNN) — Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career. Colón’s father shared the news via Facebook on Thursday. “I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this

By Dana O’Neil, CNN University Park, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Shortly after arriving at Penn State, Matt Campbell instituted a team competition that served him well in his days at Iowa State. Intended to build camaraderie, the concept was simple enough: Divide the team into small groups, each headed by one OG Penn State player and

CNN By Andrew McNicol, CNN (CNN) — Cape Verde’s fairytale run in the 2026 World Cup caught a lot of people by surprise – but not Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo. The tiny island nation’s success encapsulated Africa’s record-breaking outing in the tournament – nine out of the 10 competing African nations advanced to the

By Andrew McNicol, CNN (CNN) — Cape Verde’s fairytale run in the 2026 World Cup caught a lot of people by surprise – but not Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo. The tiny island nation’s success encapsulated Africa’s record-breaking outing in the tournament – nine out of the 10 competing African nations advanced to the knockout

By Aleks Klosok, CNN (CNN) — For Omar Abdulkadir Artan, it promised to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Following a decade of breaking new ground and inspiring a generation of African referees, an appearance on the biggest stage of all – the World Cup – was set to be the high point of his

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Amid swathes of criticism and calls for him to resign from his role as FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has now received public backing from a familiar friend in US President Donald Trump. With the walls seemingly closing in on Infantino, Trump posted a message on Truth Social Monday night

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — The NCAA on Monday will announce a collaboration with the FBI designed to educate college athletes on how to confront, prevent and respond to sexual exploitation on the internet, sources familiar with the announcement told CNN Sports. A growing number of college athletes have been subjected to what’s commonly

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It may be a new week, but it must feel like Groundhog Day for FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he wakes up to yet another round of criticism. The latest development comes from an open letter signed by the presidents and general secretaries of European soccer governing body UEFA,

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: Watch CNN Original Series “Decades in Sports” on the CNN app. Across six episodes, the series explores the defining moments, athletes and cultural shifts that shaped sports over the past six decades, from the television revolution and Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, right up to the

By Uriel Blanco and Federico Jofre, CNN en Español (CNN) — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, died Saturday at the age of 68, according to Sanatorio Centro, the medical center in Rosario, Argentina, where he was receiving care. In a statement, Dr. Carlos Mackey, the hospital’s medical

By Dana O’Neil, CNN State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) — The FedEx driver rolled up to campus and realized he had a problem, a delivery man’s version of Chief Brody realizing he was going to need a bigger boat in “Jaws.” He called Ben Herman, the Penn State assistant athletic director for equipment operations, and shared

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — If Gianni Infantino thought FIFA’s apologetic statement on Wednesday would quell calls for him to resign, then he would have been firmly mistaken. Just a day after senior officials threw their support behind the FIFA president following a crisis meeting in Morocco, Infantino is still facing a firestorm of

By David Close, CNN (CNN) — Despite growing calls for Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president following his controversial high-profile proposal to sell off commercial and operational rights to ​the World Cup, he retained the backing of FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and other members of FIFA management, according to a statement released

By Hannah Keyser, CNN Seattle (CNN) — Scott Harris, the president of baseball operations for the Detroit Tigers, has at least one thing in common with Riley Greene, the team’s 25-year-old former first round draft pick and three-time All-Star outfielder. “I hate selling with every fiber of my body,” Harris told reporters a little more

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Soccer legend Luis Figo has publicly said beleaguered FIFA President Gianni Infantino “must go,” piling the pressure on the sport’s chief administrator as he holds a crisis meeting with top FIFA officials on Wednesday after scrapping a hugely controversial plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup and