Sports

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open with a knee injury, the world No. 1 announced on Friday.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

By Maya Baylis, CNN Swedish mountain biker Alma Wiggberg, 23, maneuvers her bike up some winding stairs and onto a roof of a building in Groningen in the Netherlands. The roar of 20,000 spectators rises from the Dutch market square 50 feet below her. Her mind blank, she does a final exhale, a head shake,

By Emile Nuh, Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — More than 1,200 players represented their countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and among those, perhaps none will remember the tournament more fondly than Spain forward Ferran Torres. Every kid who falls in love with the Beautiful Game dreams of scoring the winning goal in a

By Jill Martin, CNN (CNN) — While it took an extra day, it was worth the wait for Alexandra Eala. The 21-year-old became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level title, coming back from a set down to defeat American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 at the DC Open on Monday.

By Ainsley Flood, CNN (CNN) — In every World Cup, there’s an underdog. It’s always a memorable storyline, but in 2026, Cape Verde stole the show. The island nation off the west coast of Africa has a population of about half a million and was ranked 67th in the world. It is the second-smallest country

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — 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 impact of

By Sophie Tanno, CNN (CNN) — European soccer’s governing body UEFA declared it has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino, piling pressure on the beleaguered sporting chief despite the organization dropping a hugely controversial plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup and other top tournaments. In a blistering statement released Saturday morning,

By Jacob Lev, Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — FIFA’s proposed plan to sell private stakes in upcoming World Cup tournaments that sparked backlash from fans and soccer associations around the world has been scrapped, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement Friday. “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Just over four years ago in May 2022, 10-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Sasha Paskal and her mother, Maria, were enjoying some time together in the scenic seaside village of Zatoka in the Odesa region of southwestern Ukraine. It was a sunny day and they were getting ready to head

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is finding himself increasingly isolated as pressure and opposition build against the world soccer governing body’s plan to inject private money into its competitions. European soccer’s governing body UEFA threatened Thursday to boycott future men’s and women’s World Cups in reaction to the proposal.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Chicago (CNN) — Tony Petitti chuckled at the question, clearly amused at its bluntness if not the essence of the query. “I was wondering, Tony,’’ the reporter asked the Big Ten commissioner at his annual football media day, “is it a little bit sad that y’all have had to turn college

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — Zinedine Zidane has been named as the new head coach of France for the next four years, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday. The 54-year-old will take over from longtime head coach Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after the 2026 World Cup, which ended in disappointment for

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Philadelphia (CNN) — There aren’t many days that Angelo Cataldi wishes he still had to go to work. For 30-plus years, Cataldi anchored Philadelphia’s morning sports talk radio show, his daily dose of unfiltered honesty giving voice to a fan base that could never be accused of being a little bit

By Reagan Yip, Amanda Davies, CNN (CNN) — When Tori Penso walked onto the field, her three daughters were with her – their names inscribed on her cleats as a reminder of what the occasion meant beyond the whistle. Weeks before her 40th birthday, Penso became the first American woman – and the second woman

By Jill Martin, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — LeBron James has made what he says is his “last decision” and has chosen his next NBA team. After moving on from the Los Angeles Lakers, James announced Friday he has picked the Philadelphia 76ers as his landing spot. James, 41, will be entering his record-extending 24th

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — Jürgen Klopp has been named as head coach of Germany’s men’s national soccer team, the German Football Association announced Friday. Klopp has signed a four-year contract that will see him take charge of the squad through to the 2030 World Cup. He’ll be assisted by Peter Krawietz, Pep Lijnders

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Tampa, Florida (CNN) — Before each coach takes the stage for his press conference at SEC Football media days, Commissioner Greg Sankey steps to the microphone for a brief introduction. He runs through the coach’s bona fides and adds a non-football side note—who likes to play pickleball, or who recently went

By Maria Santana, CNN New York (CNN) — For more than a month, life revolved around kickoff times. Calendars were rearranged. Meetings were moved. Lunch breaks became suspiciously long. Group chats operated around the clock, filled with memes, tactical analysis and predictions that aged poorly within minutes. For millions of fans around the world, the

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. While we’re saying goodbye for now, we will be back for the European domestic club season. See you then! And just like that, the 2026 World Cup is

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. While we’re saying goodbye for now, we will be back for the European domestic club season. See you then! And just like that, the 2026 World Cup is over.

CNN, POOL By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Before this World Cup began, I kept thinking one thing over and over as the tournament grew closer: “This could be a disaster.” Headlines from around the country swirled about how the lengthy US government shutdown left local municipalities without the necessary funds to prepare for millions

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Before this World Cup began, I kept thinking one thing over and over as the tournament grew closer: “This could be a disaster.” Headlines from around the country swirled about how the lengthy US government shutdown left local municipalities without the necessary funds to prepare for millions of people

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug after draining a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Sunday. The 39-year-old Fox beat out American Cameron Young to win his first career major title, becoming only the third New Zealander to

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — After 103 matches and 38 days of action, we’re down to the final game on the last day of the 2026 World Cup. A total of 46 teams have fallen and only two nations remain – world No. 1 Argentina and world No. 2 Spain. Incredibly, the last time

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The third place match at the 2026 World Cup appeared to be a blowout, but the tide turned in the second half, leading to a thrilling 6-4 win for England over France on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida. With manager Didier Deschamps admitting before the game the French didn’t

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — There’s a World Cup match on today and absolutely not one person taking part in it wants to be there. As we head into the final weekend of this magical 2026 World Cup, we have one of the strangest parts of the schedule to deal with first: The Bronze

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The last Friday of a World Cup is always a bit strange. It sort of feels like a down day, cut adrift from all the

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. What a semifinal we saw yesterday. Utter heartbreak for England, but total elation for Argentina as it pulled off yet another late comeback to secure

By Harmeet Kaur, CNN (CNN) — Giovanni Canales only knows one way to watch the World Cup: In Spanish on Telemundo. Canales, 24, was raised in Rhode Island by a father who formerly played for the Honduran national team. And in his household, the Spanish-language network’s spirited soccer commentary, with sportscaster Andrés Cantor’s signature cries