DR Congo, Harry Kane shine at World Cup; who will win it all at the U.S. Open?

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⚽ Five things to know Thursday

Congo DR and Harry Kane shine on Tuesday. There have already been plenty of surprising results in the first games of World Cup group play, and we can add Congo DR's 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to the list. You can learn why Congo superfan Michel Mboladinga dresses as a Lumumba statue for 90 minutes. The individual star of the day was England's Harry Kane, who found the net twice to ease his team to a 4-2 win over Croatia.
Looking ahead to the next NBA season. Sure, the NBA season just wrapped with the Knicks hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy, but it's never too early to look ahead. With that in mind, take a look at our 2026 NBA mock draft and the top 40 free agents heading into the offseason. We also have predictions on where some of the sport's biggest names could land before the next season tips off.
North Carolina and Oklahoma advance to the College World Series championship. The Tar Heels will play in the championship series for the first time since 2007 after taking down West Virginia 12-7 on Tuesday. Oklahoma defeated Georgia 11-4 to advance to play the Tar Heels, with the Sooners picking up a second win over the Bulldogs in the tournament and preventing another game between the two on Thursday.
Did Texas Tech play themselves in the Brendan Sorsby saga? That's the belief of Richard Johnson, who wrote that Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark rose to the occasion in his biggest moment.
UFC's trip to the White House shakes up pound-for-pound rankings. Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria suffered big losses at UFC Freedom 250 and tumbled in the CBS Sports UFC pound-for-pound rankings as a result.

⛳ Do not miss this: Who will win it all at the U.S. Open?

One of the biggest golf tournaments of the year kicks off today, with the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. The usual suspects are in the field, such as Scottie Scheffler, who has a career grand slam within reach, but plenty of unexpected winners have taken home the trophy at the U.S. Open. The weather is shaping up to play a significant role in the tournament, with gusty, changing winds in the forecast all week in Southampton, New York.

To the surprise of no one, Scheffler is the favorite to sit atop the leaderboard when the action wraps on Sunday, but he's not the only man with a legitimate shot to hoist the trophy. Patrick McDonald took a look at the nine men most likely to get a big boost to their resume, including Rory McIlroy.

McDonald: "It's not only about picking off certain golf tournaments these days for McIlroy but also about picking off certain golf tournaments at certain golf courses. Shinnecock Hills is one of those U.S. Open venues that is a résumé builder, and McIlroy knows this. He has evolved into a five-tool player with an affinity for firm, fast U.S. Open conditions, as evidenced by his record ever since missing the cut in 2018. The driver has been a little wayward in 2026, but if that tightens, he'll be right in this championship. Odds: 12-1"

🏈 Five college teams poised to smash their win totals this season

In the offseason, hope springs eternal for all fans. Maybe this is the year that roster construction, talent growth, coaching, and a few lucky bounces break a team through from pretender to contender, or from contender to champion. Teams -- and fans -- are still navigating the waters of the NIL, transfer portal and College Football Playoff, all of which combine to allow teams more opportunities than ever to make massive adjustments and move closer to a national championship.

In that spirit, Tom Fornelli took a look at five teams he believes can break through expectations and smash their preseason win totals, even if the list is a group of squads that have caused fans pain in the past, not the least of which is the Florida Gators.

Fornelli: "How high am I on the Florida Gators? Well, current win totals have the Gators pegged at 7.5 right now, but when I look at this team, I don't just see a squad that can get to 8-4. I see a team that could reach the College Football Playoff.

"This is a talented team that made what I consider a massive upgrade to its coaching staff over the offseason. Jon Sumrall wasn't the first choice of many Gators fans, but he was a good one. There is no single factor we can point to that guarantees success for a coach when they change jobs, but how they perform in conference play at their previous stops is about as reliable an indicator as you can find. It makes sense, whether you're coaching at Florida or Florida A&M, in conference play, you are facing teams on a level playing field, so coaching can be a difference-maker."

👍👎 The best (and not-so-best) of the rest

Shohei Ohtani had another rocky outing on the mound, but still picked up his seventh win of the season as the Dodgers beat the Rays 5-4, though he added a blister on his pitching hand to lingering concerns about his knee.
One question lives above all in the mind of an NFL fan during the offseason: How good -- or bad -- can things get this season? To that point, we looked to answer that question for every NFL team.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is playing like one of the best players in MLB again, but will he be able to maintain the recent heater?
UFC 330 landed a pair of headline fights, with Islam Makhachev defending the welterweight championship against Ian Machado Garry and Mackenzie Dern putting her women's strawweight title on the line against Gillian Robertson.
Here are 10 AFC rookies drafted outside the first round who could surprise NFL fans this season.
We have a look at what Brendan Sorsby's NFL contract would look like if he is the first supplemental draft pick since 2019 and the first quarterback drafted in the position since Terrelle Pryor in 2011.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin says injured quarterback Sam Leavitt has "been out there pretty much full strength now."
Clemson is looking to sophomore tackle Brayden Jacobs to bring stability to the offensive line for the 2026 season.
Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi was arrested for alleged spot-fixing just a couple of weeks before the World Cup began.
The WNBA regular season will expand to 50 games in 2027.
As the Fever have bounced back from a rocky stretch with a four-game winning streak, Caitlin Clark appears to have bounced back as well.

📺 What we're watching Thursday

🏌 U.S. Open: First round, 6:30 a.m. on USA Network
⚽ World Cup: Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m. on Fox
⚾ Blue Jays at Red Sox, 1:35 p.m. on MLB.TV
⚽ World Cup: Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 3 p.m. on Fox
⚾ Orioles at Mariners, 4:10 p.m. on MLB.TV
🏌 U.S. Open: First round, 5 p.m. on Peacock
⚽ World Cup: Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m. on Fox
⚾ Mets at Phillies, 6:40 p.m. on MLB Network
⚾ White Sox at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. on MLB.TV
🏀 Dream at Fever, 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video
⚽ World Cup: Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m. on Fox
⚾ Angels at Athletics, 9:40 p.m. on MLB.TV

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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.

Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.

They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.

Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.

Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'

Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad

The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year

Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'

Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'

But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.

Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.

He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.

Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.

Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.

Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.

It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.

An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million

In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.

In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'

After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.

The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'

Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.

'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.

Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.

Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'

Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.

And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.

A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.

'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.

'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.

It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.

Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'