World Cup knockout round begins; Phillies gain ground in NL East
The FIFA World Cup has entered its win-or-go-home phase, with the U.S. Men’s National Team preparing for its biggest match yet after capturing first place in Group D for the first time since 2010.
The Americans, who posted the best group-stage performance in program history, will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday night. Players returned to training Sunday in California as the knockout stage officially opened with co-host Canada defeating South Africa 1-0 on a dramatic stoppage-time goal.
The U.S. enters the match with confidence after winning its group, despite resting several regulars in its final group-stage contest against Türkiye. Striker Folarin Balogun has led the Americans offensively, while veteran defender Sergiño Dest said the team believes it has the experience and chemistry needed to make a deep tournament run.
In Major League Baseball, the Phillies continued their push in the National League East with a 5-4 victory over the Mets on Sunday, taking two of three in the weekend series. Philadelphia improved to 47-37 and moved within three games of the division-leading Braves, who lost 3-2 to the Giants. The Phillies now welcome the Pirates to Citizens Bank Park for a key four-game series beginning tonight.
Pittsburgh arrives in Philadelphia after routing Cincinnati 9-4 on Sunday to even its record at 42-42. The Pirates collected 11 hits in the victory and remain in the thick of the National League wild-card race.
The Orioles dropped two of three games to the Nationals after falling 6-4 in Sunday’s finale. Washington improved to 43-42, while Baltimore slipped to 39-46 and continues searching for consistency entering the second half of the season.
Elsewhere around the majors, the Red Sox completed a surprising four-game sweep of the Yankees with a 5-4, 10-inning victory. The Dodgers defeated the Padres 4-2, the Royals topped the White Sox 5-4, the Cardinals edged the Marlins 2-1, the Angels beat the Athletics 4-1, the Rays defeated the Diamondbacks 5-1, the Rangers topped the Blue Jays 3-2, the Astros outlasted the Tigers 7-5 in 10 innings, the Guardians beat the Mariners 6-5, and the Twins slipped past the Rockies 3-2.
Tennis shifts to the grass courts today as Wimbledon opens in London. The year’s third Grand Slam begins with the world’s top players chasing one of the sport’s most prestigious championships over the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Penn State forward Gavin McKenna was selected No. 1 overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is the first-ever No. 1 pick in program history and only the sixth NCAA men’s hockey player to be chosen first overall. McKenna is a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, in northwestern Canada.
Source: MLB, Sports Illustrated, NCAA. ussoccer