Members of the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team were quick to celebrate the news that star striker Folarin Balogun would be available for Monday&#8217;s match against Belgium — once they realized the story wasn&#8217;t a fake-out created using Artificial Intelligence.
As The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/sports/how-usmnt-players-reacted-to-folarin-balogun-news-on-bus-to-practice/">reported</a>, defender Chris Richards said that the team was heading to Husky Soccer Stadium on the bus when they got the news — and that at first, they were not at all sure what to make of it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chris Richards tells <a href="https://x.com/JennyTaft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyTaft</a> the vibes are up for the USMNT after hearing about Flo Balogun&#8217;s suspension being lifted <a href="https://t.co/WeCcD1wATY">pic.twitter.com/WeCcD1wATY</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2073884412228649218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;To be fair, we were lit on the bus regardless. We had our speaker in the back listening to music,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Then one person said something, another person said the same thing and nobody wanted to confirm it. It was pretty much right when we got here that we found out it was true &#8230; a lot of us thought it was AI at first.&#8221;
But then Balogun boarded the bus — all smiles because he&#8217;d already been told that his one-match suspension had been suspended in favor of a probationary period — and it became apparent that he was going to be allowed to play.
Midfield and forward Christian Pulisic also reacted to the good news, saying, &#8220;I just saw a big smile on his face. I got to see him and dap him up after that. Knowing we’re gonna have him around tomorrow, it helps so much. It’s a big boost.&#8221;
Pulisic also noted that the lineup for Monday&#8217;s game against Belgium had not yet been adjusted to accommodate Balogun&#8217;s expected absence, explaining that the team would not be scrambling to rearrange things now that he could play.
&#8220;Of course you have other guys filling in and trying to figure out what the lineup could look like, but we didn’t have anything set. It’s not like some crazy adjustment we need to make,&#8221; he said.
The United States is set to play Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6.

USA v Paraguay: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

U.S. Team ‘Lit’ After Red Card Reversal News: ‘Thought It Was AI At First’

U.S. Team 'Lit' After Red Card Reversal News: 'Thought It Was AI At First'

Donald Trump

FIFA

Soccer

Sports

World Cup

A red card ban suspension freed star forward Folarin Balogun to play in the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team&#8217;s next World Cup match against Belgium.
Balogun, 25, was initially supposed to sit out the 16th-round match due to a red card he received in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic. FIFA&#8217;s tournament rules (Article 10.5) state that a one-game suspension would automatically come with the red card — and the team was not allowed to appeal that decision.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7423410/2026/07/05/usmnt-folarin-balogun-red-card-available/?eafs_enabled=false">The Athletic</a> reported on Sunday that Balogun may yet be allowed to play due to a provision in Article 27 of FIFA&#8217;s disciplinary code — a provision that states &#8220;the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.&#8221;
The one-game suspension that should have accompanied Balogun&#8217;s red card has been suspended — with one caveat: he risks not only the original suspension but also any sanctions that might be added onto that if he commits another similar infraction during the next match.
&#8220;If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,&#8221; the regulation states.
U.S. Soccer released a statement reacting to the news, saying, &#8220;We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.&#8221;
Up to the current match, Balogun has started in all but one and has scored at least one goal in each match. He scored twice in the opening game against Paraguay.
Balogun is not the only World Cup star facing disciplinary issues, however. Portugal&#8217;s captain Cristiano Ronaldo was handed a three-match ban, but FIFA suspended the final two games of his suspension.

USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina: Round Of 32 – FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA Overturns Ban On U.S. Soccer Star In Massive World Cup Boost For America

Conservative NFL kicker Harrison Butker was reportedly the only Kansas City Chiefs teammate denied an invitation to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift&#8217;s massive New York City wedding.
Despite being teammates with Kelce since 2017, Butker did not make the guest list of approximately 1,000 people, an NFL source told the Daily Mail. It&#8217;s believed that every other player on the team received an invite, the report noted.
Butker made journalists&#8217; heads spin two years ago when he praised stay-at-home mothers during a commencement speech at Kansas City&#8217;s Benedictine College, a Catholic school.
&#8220;How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career?&#8221; Butker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chiefs-star-chris-jones-defends-harrison-butker-amid-backlash-and-hes-not-alone">said</a> during the commencement speech. &#8220;Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
“It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker,” he added.
It&#8217;s unclear, however, if Butker&#8217;s remarks had anything to do with the apparent wedding invitation snub. Following the controversy, Kelce actually spoke highly of his kicker, though he said he disagrees with Butker&#8217;s views.
&#8220;I cherish him as a teammate,&#8221; Kelce said. &#8220;He&#8217;s treated friends and family that I&#8217;ve introduced to him with nothing but respect and kindness.&#8221;
&#8220;When it comes down to his views &#8230; those are his,&#8221; the three-time Super Bowl champ added. &#8220;I can&#8217;t say I agree with the majority of it, or just about any of it, outside of just him loving his family and his kids.&#8221;
Kelce and Swift tied the knot on Friday at Madison Square Garden. As noted by The Daily Wire, comedian Adam Sandler served as the officiant at the wedding. Kelce bonded with Sandler while filming “Happy Gilmore 2.”
“The bride and groom’s wedding ceremony looks have been created by Christian Dior Haute Couture,” Swift’s team said in a statement. “Their shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewelry.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-renewal-starts-at-the-altar?author=Lois+McLatchie+Miller&amp;category=Upstream&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=8&amp;rowHeadline=New+on+Upstream&amp;rowType=Article+Carousel&amp;title=American+Renewal+Starts+At+The+Altar">American Renewal Starts At The Altar</a>

GettyImages-2277904608

Conservative Chiefs Kicker Reportedly Snubbed From Travis And Taylor’s Wedding

Celebrities

Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs

Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce

Wedding

A man won second place and raked in over $100,000 at the World Series of Poker Ladies Championship on Monday.
Aubrey Williams, a 31-year-old professional poker player who identifies as a woman, took home $129,692 for his runner-up finish, his first six-figure win in a tournament. He bested 1,475 other competitors until losing to poker champion Skye Chen after a three-hour match.
Williams is an accomplished poker player. He won the No-Limit Hold&#8217;em Monster Stack event in 2022, bringing home $6,604, and defeated Brock Wilson for a $19,219 prize pool at another tournament. He also won Borgata Winter Poker Open $1,000 Hybrid Championship, netting $52,540. 
Nevada gaming regulations authorize players based on legal identification, allowing Williams to play unrestricted in the woman’s category since his license labels him as a female.
Williams was blasted by some people online for “stealing” money from women with his second-place finish.
“Aubrey Williams, a man pretending to be a woman, is currently winning in the World Series of poker LADIES championship,” prominent social media commentator Libs of TikTok posted. “Men are even the best female poker players. What a time to be alive.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Aubrey Williams, a man pretending to be a woman, is currently winning in the World Series of poker LADIES championship
Men are even the best female poker players 🤡
What a time to be alive <a href="https://t.co/xabpzqmihf">https://t.co/xabpzqmihf</a> <a href="https://t.co/SpRWbGPLUT">pic.twitter.com/SpRWbGPLUT</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2071325492347556213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Williams brushed off the criticism he has received online, saying he doesn’t monitor social media and that nobody in the women’s competition was upset they had to play against him. He also denied having any ulterior motives in playing in the tournament.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a woman, so I play in the women&#8217;s event,&#8221; Williams <a href="https://www.pokernews.com/news/2026/06/poker-player-brushes-off-hate-in-ladies-championship-51696.htm#:~:text=Williams%20is%20a%20longtime%20online,by%20playing%20with%20her%20roommates.">told</a> PokerNews. &#8220;It&#8217;s not like making a statement or anything. I&#8217;m just playing a tournament.&#8221;
Williams has also claimed that it was women who convinced him to affirm his identity by playing in the women&#8217;s competitions.
&#8220;And so many women are like &#8216;You need to play. You need to play.&#8217; And I played one, and it was just like so fun that I kept playing,” Williams said. “They&#8217;re actually fun to play.&#8221;
Many in the poker community have signaled their support for Williams competing in the women&#8217;s division. Global Poker award winner Caitlin Comeskey <a href="https://x.com/CaitlinComeskey/status/2070968374080012359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2070968374080012359%7Ctwgr%5E0146aa38d37f4cd2a65d650d35b2b06f1ec1fe88%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pokernews.com%2Fnews%2F2026%2F06%2Fpoker-player-brushes-off-hate-in-ladies-championship-51696.htm">posted</a> on X, “Anyone who dares to mess with Aubrey in person or online publicly will have to deal with me.” She added, “If you use her for rage bait to help your pathetic online platform, I will come at you with the fire of 10,000 suns.”
Poker streamer <a href="https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/keith-becker/">Keith Becker</a> also came to the defense of Williams, <a href="https://x.com/whoopsboom/status/2071007155184890114">stating</a> that &#8220;trans women are women&#8221; and that &#8220;hateful voices do NOT speak for everyone in poker,” and WSOP bracelet winner Liv Boeree <a href="https://x.com/Liv_Boeree/status/2071392401474596955">praised</a> Williams&#8217; “feminine energy” that added to the “vibe” of the women’s poker competition.
Williams has described himself as a “degenerate&#8221; and “not good at not being a smart ass, especially when I know I’m right,” which he said has caused him to be fired from multiple other jobs.

Casino Estoril Hosts Estoril Poker Fest 2026

Trans-Identifying Man Wins Big At Women’s Poker Championship

Transgender

The woman who appeared in a now-viral video dumping trash in the street — so that she could steal the orange-and-blue can it was in — has been fired from her job at JPMorgan Chase.
Angela Báez was fully decked out in blue and orange from head to toe – in honor of the New York Knicks and their first NBA Finals win in 53 years — and she apparently could not resist the temptation to take home the trash receptacle that matched the theme. But since the trash bin was filled to overflowing at the time, she opted to empty it directly onto the sidewalk in order to claim her prize.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Just like … Knicks Trash 🗑️ Bin Souvenir for your home 😂😂😂🗽🇵🇷 <a href="https://t.co/NYPeBMeQyE">pic.twitter.com/NYPeBMeQyE</a>
— World Latin Honey (@WorldLatinHoney) <a href="https://x.com/WorldLatinHoney/status/2067990215772270766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;What are you doing?&#8221; someone yelled as she calmly dumped the trash onto the sidewalk, shook the can to make sure it was empty, and walked away. Someone else could be heard clapping, apparently egging her on, in the background.
But Báez&#8217;s victory was short-lived, according to a Tuesday <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/23/business/woman-who-emptied-knicks-trashcan-on-street-then-stole-it-was-dei-exec-worked-at-jpmorgan-chase/">report</a> from The New York Post: she was apparently fired from her job at JPMorgan Chase earlier that day. After the video of her escapade went viral, a spokesperson informed The Post that she was &#8220;no longer with the company.&#8221;
According to her profile on employment platform LinkedIn, she had been promoted one year earlier to serve as Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce. She&#8217;d previously worked for review website The Infatuation — also based in New York — as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Infatuation was <a href="https://media.chase.com/news/jpmorgan-chase-acquire-leading-restaurant-discovery-platform">acquired</a> by JPMorgan Chase in late 2021.
Báez&#8217;s bio on The Infatuation&#8217;s website <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/23/business/woman-who-emptied-knicks-trashcan-on-street-then-stole-it-was-dei-exec-worked-at-jpmorgan-chase/">describes her</a> as one of the &#8220;brightest voices&#8221; at the site, dedicated to &#8220;making a positive impact.&#8221; A &#8220;positive impact,&#8221; for her employer, apparently did not extend to dumping trash on the sidewalks of New York City.
&#8220;As a vibrant mosaic of Dominican heritage, Bronx roots, and a passion for storytelling, creativity, and culture, Angie continues to lead the way towards a more inclusive and equitable future for food media, leaving an indelible mark on The Infatuation and everything she touches,&#8221; it reads.

Screenshot

JPMorgan DEI Executive’s Knicks Celebration Ends In Career Disaster

Crime

New York Knicks

When the Washington Commanders tweeted out an &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/Commanders/status/2061447683416412212">All Are Welcome</a>&#8221; graphic to mark the beginning of Pride Month, it seemed like just another professional sports team going through the woke motions. But the NFL franchise&#8217;s embrace of gay pride and similar issues could point to a much deeper problem within the organization, a Daily Wire investigation found.
Commanders owner Josh Harris is a client of BerlinRosen, a massive public relations firm that has openly embraced leftist views. When Harris purchased the Commanders from the Snyder family in the summer of 2023, BerlinRosen was openly bragging about how it helped facilitate what it called “the biggest deal in U.S. sports history.”
“BerlinRosen supported Harris with strategy and messaging support as he communicated directly with Commanders fans,” the firm <a href="https://berlinrosen.com/recognitions/prweek-how-berlinrosen-helped-score-the-biggest-deal-in-u-s-sports-history/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote at the time</a>. “This achievement with Josh Harris and the Washington Commanders exemplifies how Sports PR can drive transformative change and elevate impactful ventures like this.”
Outside the arena, BerlinRosen spends a lot of time pushing leftist causes. In 2021, the firm came out in support for the Movement for Black Lives, a Black Lives Matter offshoot with a long history of anti-Israel activism. The group has shared <a href="https://x.com/Mvmnt4BlkLives/status/1965819074979496388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1965819074979496388%7Ctwgr%5E40a4c1244f9a36f8cc61b53aab11d8c3e1522390%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Floomered.com%2F2026%2F05%2F17%2Fthe-berlinrosen-grift-how-a-major-left-wing-anti-israel-consulting-firm-is-quietly-profiting-from-jewish-and-zionist-clients%2F">posts</a> on X accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and called for a &#8220;free Palestine.&#8221;
BerlinRosen does not seem concerned that its liberal bona fides will be hurt by its longtime relationship with Harris, who has extensive ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
In January 2026, the Department of Justice exposed communication between Epstein and Harris, <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/josh-harris-jeffery-epstein-latest-emails-20260130.html?query=epstein#loaded" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who became acquainted</a> on Wall Street. Between 2013 and 2016, the pair exchanged emails and phone calls and scheduled a meeting at Epstein’s Manhattan home. Harris reportedly attended the meeting alongside Bill Gates, another known Epstein associate.
Despite the emails between their client and the man charged with multiple counts of child sex trafficking, BerlinRosen stayed true to Harris, denying that there was an “independent relationship” between the Commanders&#8217; owner and the deceased pedophile.
BerlinRosen took a different tack with President Donald Trump, whom the firm worked to remove from the Colorado ballot in February 2024. On an internal call exposed by <a href="https://www.projectveritas.com/news/leaked-call-pr-firm-berlin-rosen-celebrates-efforts-to-remove-trump-from-ballot">Project Veritas</a>, staff boasted that they “save[d] democracy&#8221; and “knocked it out of the park” for getting Trump kicked off the state’s ballot as part of their work with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a far-left activist group backed by George Soros.
While he is not their client, BerlinRosen has a direct relationship with Soros, who has contracted them to help elect progressive prosecutors over the years.
Nor are Soros-funded groups the only leftist organizations BerlinRosen has worked for. In 2014, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) paid BerlinRosen roughly <a href="https://freebeacon.com/issues/the-one-percenters-behind-fast-food-protests/">$3 million</a>, an organization that supports democrats and even organizes protests across the country. They followed this up seven years later, stating their continued work with SEIU on X.

Washington Commanders v Green Bay Packers

How An Epstein-Linked PR Firm Helped The Washington Commanders Go Woke

Jeffrey Epstein

Washington Commanders

Woke Culture

The United States Men&#8217;s National Team punched its ticket to the knockout stage of the World Cup Friday, defeating Australia 2-0 at Lumen Field in Seattle and securing advancement from Group D with a match to spare.
Playing in front of a packed Seattle crowd, the Americans overcame the absence of star midfielder Christian Pulisic and delivered one of their strongest performances of the tournament, moving one step closer to winning the group.
The United States took control early and never looked back.
Australia gifted the Americans the opening goal when a defensive miscue resulted in an own goal in the first half, giving the U.S. an early advantage and energizing the home crowd.
The Americans doubled their lead just before halftime when defender Alex Freeman found the back of the net, finishing off a well-worked attacking sequence to put the United States firmly in control heading into the break. Neither team scored in the second half.
The United States entered the match knowing a victory would secure a place in the knockout rounds after opening tournament play with a victory over Paraguay. Australia also entered the contest with three points after defeating Turkey on matchday one, making Friday&#8217;s showdown a pivotal battle atop Group D.
Despite being without Pulisic, who was ruled out with a calf injury suffered during the opening match, the Americans showed little sign of missing one of their most important players. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino turned to Ricardo Pepi in the starting lineup
The victory continues a strong run of form for the United States at Lumen Field. The Americans remain unbeaten in Seattle and improved upon a record that already ranked among the team&#8217;s best at any domestic venue. Friday&#8217;s result also marked another successful chapter in the growing rivalry between the United States and Australia. The Americans defeated the Socceroos 2-1 in their most recent meeting in October and now add another significant victory to the series.
With advancement secured, the United States will now turn its attention to its final group-stage match as it seeks to lock up first place in Group D and improve its positioning for the knockout round. The Americans entered the tournament facing questions about depth and consistency, but through two matches they have answered those concerns with back-to-back victories and a place in the tournament&#8217;s final bracket.

USA v Australia: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

Team USA Takes Major Step Forward In Home-Field World Cup Run

The Trump administration will probe whether Major League Baseball is discriminating against Christian players who pushed back against “Pride” month messaging.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon told MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will investigate the league for religious discrimination. The notification came after the league warned several players who wrote Bible verses on the “Pride” caps they were issued for a game. 
“The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League&#8217;s vehicle for pro-Pride messages,” Dhillon <a href="https://x.com/AAGDhillon/status/2067709644185759938">wrote</a> in a letter to Manfred.
Dhillon suggested that she did not buy the MLB’s claims that they only warned the players because of a policy against writing on uniform equipment.  
“Yet, MLB has allowed players to wear uniform patches reading ‘Black Lives Matter.’ This double standard — under which players may not inscribe Bible verses on hats for one game only but may wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ patches for one game only — calls MLB&#8217;s true motives into question and raises serious concerns about MLB&#8217;s compliance with Title VII,” Dhillon wrote. 
“The Trump Administration is committed to combatting religious discrimination,” Dhillon added. “The Department of Justice will use all available means to hold employers accountable for violating the religious rights of their employees.”
The controversy started last week when San Francisco Giants starting pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> wrote a Bible passage found in Genesis onto his cap, right next to the LGBT-themed rainbow logo he was directed to wear. Fellow players JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also added Bible verses to their caps. 
MLB’s Chief Communications Officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic on Monday that these players have been “warned” about “future violations.” He said that writing on the team’s baseball caps “violates our rules.”
Those warnings spurred backlash from elected officials who argued the MLB was targeting Christians. 
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to Manfred asking him to provide further detail about the league’s policies. 
“The freedom to live out one’s faith does not end at the ballpark gate. Americans of every creed are entitled to confidence that the institutions of our national pastime will not single out religious expression for punishment while celebrating messages of the league’s own choosing,” he said. 
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said that the MLB should expect to be hearing from his office “soon.”

Los Angeles Dodgers v. San Francisco Giants

Trump Admin Takes On MLB Over ‘Pride’ Hat Controversy

Christianity

Department of Justice

Harmeet Dhillon

Religious Liberty

Trump Administration

The New York Knicks celebrated their long-awaited NBA Finals win with a parade on Thursday, and fans couldn’t help but notice a glaring mistake at City Hall.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s administration hung banners for each player on the team, showcasing their last names and jersey numbers — and fans quickly noticed that something was amiss. Dillon Jones, who wore number one for the Knicks this season, had the number 33 on his banner, which has been retired for 23 years in honor of Hall of Famer and Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Dillon Jones <a href="https://t.co/Hmkp0fMwMC">pic.twitter.com/Hmkp0fMwMC</a>
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/2067577129055768781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Pictures of each banner were posted by SportsNet New York on social media. Fans not present for the parade were stunned by the mistake associating Ewing’s legendary 33 with Jones, who has not worn the number since his preseason stint with the Washington Wizards last year. 
That was the only time in Jones’ young career he wore the number, and didn&#8217;t wear it in a regular season game because he was cut by the Wizards before opening night.
Ewing’s number was retired by the Knicks in 2003 in honor of his Hall of Fame resume and his 15 years with the franchise. He was responsible for the Knicks’ championship appearances in 1994 but was injured, and he missed their last appearance in 1999.
Ewing was also in attendance for multiple of the Knicks’ playoff victories on their championship run, and sat court-side for the series-clinching Game 5. 
Jones appeared in fewer than forty minutes of championship play in 2026, but is now a two-time NBA champion after playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. With the Thunder, Jones wore the number three.

NY Knicks Parade To Engulf Downtown With Fans, Cops, Confetti

Mamdani’s Office Makes Embarrassing Mistake For Knicks Championship Parade

New York City

Zohran Mamdani

Wednesday’s slate of World Cup games saw more shocking outcomes and dominant performances.
One of the tournament favorites stumbled in a game many expected to be a blowout, while a second contender put on an offensive clinic. Elsewhere on the slate, a West African team snatched a win in stoppage time, and a South American team pulled away late after a tight first half.
In the first match of the day, Portugal took on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the country’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years. Portugal, on the other hand, has competed in the tournament every year since 2002 and is still attempting to bring home the one trophy that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from his case.
Portugal scored the opening goal of the game thanks to a header from João Neves in the sixth minute, leading fans to think this might be a similar game to Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao. The result ended up being more comparable to the improbable result <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-goalkeeper-who-shocked-the-world-had-one-wish-after-the-match">seen</a> in Spain vs. Cape Verde.
Yoane Wissa of the DR Congo scored in the fifth minute of first-half added time for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal, leaving Portugal fans stunned and sending DR Congo fans into a frenzy, including the few watching the game in enemy territory in Lisbon, Portugal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Look at these DR Congo fans celebrating in the middle of thousands of Portugal fans 🇨🇩 <a href="https://t.co/WtMzcBJJvw">pic.twitter.com/WtMzcBJJvw</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2067319362432930179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
These were the only two goals of the match, as both defenses stood strong, resulting in both countries only receiving one point in Group K for the tie, 1-1. Many viewers began questioning whether or not Ronaldo should continue starting for Portugal, as he has been goalless in his last 10 games in major tournaments.
“This may be the deepest Portuguese team they’ve ever had at a World Cup, but I think they’re better if Ronaldo comes off the bench,” Taylor Twellman <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/2067448681054208178">told</a> ESPN during his appearance on the Scott Van Pelt Show.
England vs. Croatia was a much higher-scoring affair, with the stars of England showing up in a 4-2 victory. 
Harry Kane, the country’s captain, started things off for England with a penalty kick goal in the 12th minute after being granted a re-kick due to the goalie jumping before Kane kicked the ball. The final 10 minutes of the first half were a back-and-forth affair. 
Croatia’s Martin Baturina tied the game up at the 36-minute mark, which was followed up by Kane’s second goal of the first 45. As the half came to an end, Petar Musa made it 2-2 right before the break.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford helped the Three Lions pull away in the second half, scoring at the 47th and 85th minutes, respectively. The offense proved ready to potentially win England its second-ever World Cup, with the first being 60 years ago.
The most exciting moment of yesterday’s slate came in the 95th minute of the Ghana and Panama game. After a rainy, defensive game for both halves of regulation, Caleb Yirenkyi of Ghana broke the tie in stoppage time and gave them three points in Group L, putting them in first place along with England.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GHANA SCORES ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP IN STOPPAGE TIME! 🇬🇭
Caleb Yirenkyi puts it in the back of the net! <a href="https://t.co/CucTJ9UYjM">pic.twitter.com/CucTJ9UYjM</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2067413485072593118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Colombia pulled away from Uzbekistan late in last night’s match, helping them take sole possession of Group K with three points and a two-goal differential to put Portugal on the ropes early in group play.
Following Wednesday’s results, the second weekend of the 2026 World Cup has plenty of matches to look forward to. Tonight, the other two host countries for this tournament will play in their second group stage game, with Canada taking on Qatar and Mexico squaring off against South Korea.
Friday, the USMNT takes on Australia in a pivotal game to determine who will gain sole possession of the Group D lead. A win would give the United States six total points and a commanding lead to advance to the knockout stages. Scotland will likely continue to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boston-has-fully-embraced-the-tartan-army-takeover">drink Boston dry</a> as they face off against Morocco, and Brazil will attempt to bounce back against Haiti after their draw with Morocco.
Saturday features powerhouses Spain and Belgium looking to avenge their surprising ties in their opening matches, while Vozinha looks to lead Cape Verde to another impressive result after his seven-save performance against Spain. Sunday’s games look to make history, as Lionel Messi is one goal away from breaking the all-time World Cup record, and France’s Kylian Mbappé is not far behind after his recent two-goal performance.

Portugal v Congo DR: Group K – FIFA World Cup 2026

Another Global Soccer Giant Stunned In World Cup

Scottish soccer fans have settled into their new home for the first two games of their first World Cup appearance since 1998 — Boston, Massachusetts — and they are making quite an impression. 
Boston, thus far, has welcomed the Scots with open arms and even passed laws to keep their party rolling.
Members of the Tartan Army — diehard Scotland national team fans — have made themselves at home in Boston over the last week following their opening game win over Haiti, 1-0. The victory didn’t stop on the field, and businesses around the city benefited from the influx of Scots — and a well-timed change in state and local laws made just for this summer.
Sam Adams Boston Taproom, one of the more well-known bars in the New England area, was shocked by the ability of the Tartan Army to drink the entire pub dry over the weekend. Sam Adams told local news that they drank four times as much as what is normally consumed over a four-day holiday weekend.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Billy DeCain of the Sam Adams Boston Taproom <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/are-scottish-soccer-fans-drinking-all-of-the-beer-in-boston/3966171/">told local NBC News</a>.
Hennessy’s Bar, another famous spot in Boston, was also left in disbelief after reviewing its numbers from the opening weekend of the tournament.
“We’ve been here for over 30 years, and we’ve never seen anything like it,” Noelle Somers, chief operating officer of the bar, told the Boston Globe. “We tripled St. Patrick&#8217;s Day.”
The record-breaking sales across the city derive from what Scots are dubbing the “Tartan Army Bill.” 
Last week, the Boston Licensing Board passed a measure allowing 144 establishments to stay open an hour past the usual closing time through July 31 under a state law signed by Governor Maura Healey.
“This bill will provide more opportunities for people to celebrate with their community for the World Cup and the other exciting events we have happening this summer for MA250,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement after she signed the bill.
Scottish fans caught wind of the measure over the weekend — dubbing it the &#8220;Tartan Army Bill&#8221; — and repaid the hospitality with a full rendition of the U.S. national anthem in a Boston bar.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The Scots took over Boston and they belt out OUR anthem, word for word, in a pub!
The Europeans and Japanese at the World Cup have made the world appreciate America.
(Maybe they can teach the Democrats). <a href="https://t.co/zA7rhdL1cs">pic.twitter.com/zA7rhdL1cs</a>
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) <a href="https://x.com/BuzzPatterson/status/2066883493674754099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
It is even being reported that a city worker said Scotland fans were leaving the areas where they were celebrating so clean that he barely had to even do his own job.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A city worker cleaning up after a Tartan Army party said around 2,000 fans had been drinking and having fun&#8230; but left the area so clean he didn&#8217;t even need help tidying up.
Party hard. Bring the atmosphere. Make pals with the locals. Leave no mess behind 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 <a href="https://t.co/4Ci4KLqkJP">pic.twitter.com/4Ci4KLqkJP</a>
— Scottish Banter (@1scottishbanter) <a href="https://x.com/1scottishbanter/status/2067301916686635123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
European World Cup tourists across the country are falling in love with the United States, and the Tartan Army is clearly no exception.

Texas Rangers v Boston Red Sox

Boston Has Fully Embraced The Tartan Army Takeover

Scotland

Backlash against Major League Baseball is continuing to build after the league condemned and warned Christian baseball players for counter-signaling or outright rejecting an LGBT &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; last week.
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-targets-christian-players-who-rejected-lgbt-pride-night">The Daily Wire</a>, several San Francisco Giants players marked their gay pride-themed baseball caps with Bible passages, while another player refused to wear the cap at all. In response, the MLB boasted to The Athletic — a subsidiary of The New York Times — that it &#8220;warned&#8221; these players against &#8220;future violations.&#8221;
Conservative commentators quickly reacted, condemning the MLB for supposedly preaching &#8220;inclusion&#8221; while targeting the handful of players who expressed their Christian beliefs. The MLB also caught the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who posted, &#8220;Do you practice religious discrimination in Florida, [MLB]? You’ll be hearing from my office soon.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Do you practice religious discrimination in Florida, <a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a>?
You’ll be hearing from my office soon. <a href="https://t.co/znUcRXH8p6">https://t.co/znUcRXH8p6</a>
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) <a href="https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2066923867189260382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers, too. &#8220;What does MLB think it’s doing penalizing players for their Christian faith? They owe us some answers. Right now,&#8221; he wrote on X.
The post captions a letter asking MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred about the apparent discrimination. Demanding answers by June 19, Hawley asks for information on &#8220;[a]ny policy, directive, or expectation-formal or informal governing whether players are required, encouraged, or expected to wear Pride Night caps, jerseys, or other themed apparel, and whether a player who declines to do so faces any consequence beyond the league&#8217;s written rules, including in playing time, roster or assignment decisions, club media and promotion, or standing within the organization.&#8221;
He also asks for information on &#8220;[a]ll approvals, authorizations, or directives by which the league created, permitted, or arranged the display of &#8216;Black Lives Matter,&#8217; &#8216;United for Change,&#8217; or comparable messaging on jerseys, mounds, or equipment, and any guidance by which the league relaxed its equipment rules to allow players to display social or political messages.&#8221;
The senator ended the letter with the following message: &#8220;The freedom to live out one&#8217;s faith does not end at the ballpark gate. Americans of every creed are entitled to confidence that the institutions of our national pastime will not single out religious expression for punishment while celebrating messages of the league&#8217;s own choosing. I trust the league shares that commitment, and I look forward to your prompt and complete response.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What does MLB think it’s doing penalizing players for their Christian faith?
They owe us some answers. Right now. <a href="https://t.co/yDPmjC6SMZ">pic.twitter.com/yDPmjC6SMZ</a>
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/2066929408913645917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
As The Daily Wire previously reported, starting Giants pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> on Friday etched a Bible passage found in Genesis onto his Giants cap, right next to the LGBT-themed rainbow logo the team had directed him to wear. Other players, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, followed suit in standing up for their Christian faith, also adding Bible verses. And relief pitcher Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow cap altogether, stating, “I don’t morally support it.”
MLB’s chief communications officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic on Monday that these players have been “warned” about “future violations.” He said that writing on the team’s baseball caps “violates our rules.”
The Giants also addressed the Christian players. In a statement ironically about “inclusion,” the team apologized for its players apparently causing “pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community.”
“The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community,” the statement said. “Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations. We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that.”
“Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all,” the team closed. “We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-targets-christian-players-who-rejected-lgbt-pride-night">MLB Targets Christian Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’</a>

Chicago Cubs v San Francisco Giants

Backlash Mounts Against MLB For Targeting Christians: ‘You’ll Be Hearing From My Office’

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