Sport

Following a victory over Real Oviedo, Kylian Mbappe spent seven minutes addressing the media, citing a loss of structured play and disputing claims he was labelled the squad’s fourth forward.

The 37-year-old Irish international, who joined from Sligo Rovers in 2009, will decide his post-playing future over the summer.

The University of Connecticut softball team faces the 15th-seeded Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, as they look to avoid the early exits that defined their previous tournament appearance.

The LSU softball team begins its NCAA Tournament campaign on Friday evening, with the match against Akron streamed exclusively via digital platforms.

A narrow six-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians at the HPCA Stadium has dropped Punjab Kings to fourth on the IPL 2026 points table, with qualification probability falling to 43.8 per cent.

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 of the second round, with discipline and roster availability likely to determine the outcome.

Mumbai Indians chase down 201 to beat Punjab Kings by five wickets, though tournament elimination remains certain.

Graham Alexander says Bradford City have proven they are not a “flash in the pan” after securing successive promotions from League Two, despite their League One play-off semi-final campaign ending at Valley Parade.

Quarterback CJ Carr emerges as Heisman favourite, while defensive adjustments and kicking stability define the Irish’s upcoming campaign.

The club president’s public standing faces renewed scrutiny as fan unrest erupts over the lack of major honours and recent administrative controversies.

Freshman Sydney Hann delivers walk-off hit while Chloe Bailey pitches through illness to clinch Region 1-5A championship

Speculation mounts over manager’s future as former Premier League legend identified as ideal replacement contingent on Como project

ESPN’s assessment of strength of schedule, based on 2025 win-loss records, identifies the Chicago Bears with the league’s most difficult slate, while the Cincinnati Bengals benefit from a comparatively favourable fixture list.

The National Football League has released its 2026 schedule, confirming a record nine international games across four continents and seven countries, with the season kickoff in Australia necessitating a mid-week start.

The Mets host the Yankees in the opening Subway Series of the 2026 season, with New York’s club riding a sweep of the Detroit Tigers while the Yankees struggle through a recent slump.

The 6A and 5A divisions commenced their championship campaigns on Thursday, setting the stage for a decisive conclusion on Friday.

The team’s strong form under new head coach John Tortorella continues as they reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since their 2023 Stanley Cup triumph.

With the Ekana Stadium pitch favouring bowlers and CSK recovering from early-season defeats, the stakes are high for the defending champions as they host their eliminated rivals.

As trade rumors link the two-time MVP to the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics, incoming head coach Taylor Jenkins faces the task of restoring institutional accountability.

The Week 1 opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers tops the list of 15 standalone fixtures, with Amazon retaining exclusive broadcasting rights for the season.

The Falcons overcame a two-stroke deficit to finish one shot ahead of Odessa College at the Oakwood Country Club in Illinois.

Oussama Idrissi’s goal gives Pachuca an aggregate advantage, but the Tuzos face a suspended defender and an injured forward ahead of the second leg.

The National Women's Soccer League has confirmed significant player unavailability for Matchweek Eight, with notable omissions across the Houston Dash, Washington Spirit, and San Diego Wave.

The Lynx improve to 2-1 with a comeback win over Dallas, despite a third-quarter injury to rookie Emma Cechova.

The program faces significant changes entering the 2026 season following the departure of record-setting quarterback Jalen Parker.

Amidst the traditional social media skirmishes of the 2026 NFL schedule release, the Chargers became the sole opponent to directly reference New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s relationship with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.

The National Football League has released the complete 2026 Monday Night Football fixture list, confirming a single game per week across ABC and ESPN broadcasts.

With five playoff-calibre opponents in the first six weeks, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks, the team’s record in this period will likely determine the success of the entire season.

Head coach Dan Campbell expected to prioritise roster evaluation over victory as the team prepares for a demanding regular season featuring international and Thanksgiving fixtures.

The National Football League has released the full 2026 regular-season timetable, highlighting a record nine international matches and new broadcasting arrangements for key holiday fixtures.

New executive vice-president of basketball operations Bryson Graham finalises two vice-presidential hires to bolster roster building and scouting ahead of the NBA draft.

Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys retain traditional slots, while Buffalo Bills host Kansas City Chiefs in primetime.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler cards 67 in largest opening-round logjam in 57 years as Rory McIlroy struggles

Scottie Scheffler carded a 3-under 67 to share the first-round lead at Aronimink Golf Club, marking the biggest tie since 1969.

The official 2026 schedule details matchups against divisional rivals and national television appearances, accompanied by promotional content featuring the offensive line and comedian Bert Kreischer.

Analysis factors in roster shifts, including the potential debut of quarterback Drake Maye, and notes a tougher slate of opponents despite offseason improvements.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots on 9 September, a scheduling decision designed to allow the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers to play the first regular-season game in Australia the following day.

Two-time major winner describes hitting a volunteer in the face and shoulder as completely avoidable, pledging to locate the individual to offer compensation following the first round at Aronimink Golf Club.

While New England is the preferred destination for A.J. Brown, Philadelphia holds full leverage until any agreement is formally executed.

The 41-year-old German attributes his return to form to being pain-free and a perceived snub by PGA of America officials, sharing the top spot with four other players.

Buffalo defeats Montreal 1-0 at KeyBank Center to tie series 2-2; Game 6 scheduled for May 16.

Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj confirms no visas have been issued, with a critical meeting scheduled to determine whether the team can compete in the United States amid US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warnings regarding IRGC ties.

The National Basketball Association has defended its officiating after a disputed call in Game 5 allowed Cleveland to secure a 3-2 series lead over Detroit.