分类： sports

Ahead of South Africa’s opening Group A fixture of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup against co-hosts Mexico at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has issued a clear challenge to his squad: block out the deafening home crowd and focus on executing their game plan.

At 74 years old, Broos is no stranger to the electric atmosphere of the Azteca. The former Belgian international played at the very same stadium during the 1986 World Cup, when Belgium opened their campaign against the Mexican hosts. That firsthand experience means he knows exactly what his team is walking into on matchday.

A day before kickoff, South Africa’s squad wrapped up final preparations, completing a pitch walk at Estadio Azteca to familiarize themselves with the surface before a closed training session at Club America’s facility in the capital. Broos warned his players that the crowd will be overwhelmingly in favor of El Tri, with an estimated 85,000 passionate Mexican fans set to pack the stands and create a wall of noise that could unsettle less prepared sides.

“There will be barely any South African supporters in the stands, which gives Mexico a massive home advantage,” Broos told reporters ahead of the clash. “Eighty-five thousand Mexicans cheering and singing nonstop creates an intimidating environment, but we have to lock that out and stay focused on what we do. If we can avoid letting the atmosphere get to us, we have every chance to put in a strong performance.”

The South Africa boss labeled Mexico the clear favorite to top Group A, pointing to their recent impressive run of form to underscore the challenge his side faces. “They’ve won nearly all of their last 10 matches, so they’re coming into this game full of confidence,” Broos said. “They’re the best team in our group, so this will be one of the toughest tests we could have asked for. But my team is ready to fight for every inch of the pitch and every single ball. We’re not here to make up the numbers.”

Beyond the opening match, Broos also shared his candid thoughts on the new expanded 48-team World Cup format, admitting the revised structure creates far more logistical and physical strain for participating squads. South Africa is scheduled to travel across North America for their group stage fixtures, with upcoming matches set for Atlanta in the United States and Monterrey in northern Mexico, a cross-continental itinerary that far outpaces the travel requirements of previous smaller tournaments.

“It’s gotten a bit too big with 48 nations participating,” Broos said. “When Mexico hosted 40 years ago, the tournament was smaller, and even though the game has evolved and we have to adapt to modern demands, this format is undeniably more exhausting than past World Cups with fewer teams. But it’s the system we have now, so we accept it and do our best with what we’re given.”

As the world waits for the first kickoff of Group A, all eyes will be on whether Broos’ prepared side can withstand the Azteca roar and pull off an opening upset against the hosts.

MEXICO CITY – The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first expanded 48-team edition of the global football tournament, kicked off Thursday with a star-studded opening ceremony at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, where A-list performers energized a capacity crowd before the tournament’s opening match between co-host Mexico and South Africa. But the celebratory mood outside the historic stadium turned chaotic, as overcrowding and pre-existing security barriers sparked scuffles among thousands of fans gathered at the city’s central official fan zone.

Regarded as one of the most legendary football venues on the planet, Estadio Azteca – which hosted the World Cup final in both 1970 and 1986, and recently completed major renovations to accommodate this year’s tournament – welcomed 80,000 spectators for the opening ceremony. The event opened with choreographed dance routines centered around a massive replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, paired with dazzling fireworks displays that lit up the Mexico City night sky.

The ceremony’s highlight came when Colombian global pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afro-fusion star Burna Boy took the stage to perform *Dai Dai*, the 2026 World Cup’s official tournament anthem, drawing thunderous roars from the standing crowd. Additional performances from Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and world-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli ramped up excitement ahead of kickoff, with fans inside the stadium expressing nothing but enthusiasm for the historic event. “It’s already a party in Mexico,” 40-year-old attendee Ingrid Orozco told reporters. Nineteen-year-old fan Gustavo Ramírez echoed the sentiment, simply saying, “It’s amazing.”

This 2026 World Cup makes history as the first tournament co-hosted by three North American nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Across the three countries, the tournament will stage a record 104 matches, with the final scheduled to take place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

While the celebration inside Estadio Azteca went off without a hitch, chaos erupted just hours before kickoff at the official public fan zone in Mexico City’s central Zócalo plaza, when thousands of fans converged to watch the opening match on a giant outdoor screen. Access to the viewing area had already been restricted by heavy metal barriers erected in the days before the tournament to block protesting teachers from entering the plaza, creating major bottlenecks as crowds surged forward to get in.

City officials struggled to regain control of the crowded entrance, with one staff member shouting through a megaphone: “Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you’re like animals!” Some frustrated fans threw water bottles and yelled insults at law enforcement officers, though many continued to chant in support of Mexico’s national team amid the disorder. Twenty-five-year-old fan Javier Maciel summed up the widespread frustration, saying, “There could have been better organisation.”

Local government officials quickly took to social media to announce the Zócalo fan zone had reached full capacity, and urged thousands of arriving fans to relocate to alternate viewing plazas across the city. The unrest is tied to ongoing protests by Mexican teachers who have been demonstrating in the capital for weeks to demand higher wages. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had originally been scheduled to attend the opening match viewing at the Zócalo fan zone, but confirmed she was unlikely to appear after days of disruptive protests in the area.

One of tennis’ most iconic figures saw her bid for a Queen’s Club doubles title derailed before it could progress further Thursday, after 19-year-old partner Victoria Mboko was forced to withdraw from the west London grass-court tournament due to an acute left knee injury.

Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, made a widely anticipated return to competitive tennis earlier this week, stepping onto a professional court for the first time in four years. Her opening first-round clash alongside Mboko delivered a thrilling straight-sets victory over seeded pair Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, capping a fairy-tale start to her comeback that captured global sporting attention. The win had set up a quarter-final matchup against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, but the dream run at Queen’s ended prematurely when Mboko was unable to recover from the injury she sustained a day earlier.

The Canadian world No. 9 suffered the injury during her Wednesday singles match against Karolina Pliskova, when a slip on the grass court left her unable to finish the contest. Visibly shaken by the incident, Mboko told on-court physios that her knee currently had no stability, and ultimately made the cautious decision to pull out of the doubles draw rather than risk worsening the damage. Tournament officials confirmed the withdrawal shortly after, leaving Williams to shift her focus to her next scheduled comeback appearance: the Berlin Open doubles event next week, where she is set to partner with Czech star Karolina Muchova.

Williams’ surprise return to the sport after a four-year retirement has sparked widespread speculation over whether she will extend her comeback to Wimbledon, the grass-court Grand Slam where she has enjoyed unparalleled success. The 42-year-old has not yet confirmed her plans, nor has she revealed whether she intends to compete in any singles events during her comeback tour, but she noted earlier this week that she has not ruled out entering the Wimbledon doubles draw.

As Williams does not hold a high enough ranking to earn automatic entry into the All England Club main draw, she would require a wildcard from tournament organizers to compete. Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton addressed the question of a potential wildcard entry Thursday, declining to pre-empt the wild card committee’s official decision, which is set to be announced next week. Still, Bolton acknowledged the massive wave of excitement Williams has generated by returning to grass-court tennis, noting that her presence at the Championships would be a massive boost for the sport.

Williams, who claimed seven Wimbledon singles titles and six doubles titles alongside her sister Venus, said earlier this week that All England Club organizers had given her flexibility to make a decision in her own time. The tennis legend shared that her motivation to return to competitive play stemmed from a desire to compete in front of her two young daughters, Olympia and Adira, who were in the stands to watch her opening win at Queen’s on Tuesday.

Her decision to return to competitive tennis for the first time since her 2022 US Open third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic drew some questions over whether the comeback was a prudent choice, but Williams silenced any doubters in her opening match, delivering the powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes that defined her legendary career to the delight of a sold-out crowd. In a characteristically humble assessment, Williams rated her comeback performance a C minus after the win, noting that returning to competition on grass—one of the most challenging surfaces to adapt to after a long layoff—made the outing far from easy. Still, she called her opening showing decent, leaving fans hopeful that she will bring her iconic talent back to the biggest grass-court stage in the sport in the coming weeks.

The largest FIFA World Cup in history got underway Thursday at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, with co-host nation Mexico grabbing an early lead against South Africa in the tournament’s opening match in front of a packed crowd of 80,000 spectators. Striker Julian Quinones netted the first goal of the expanded 48-team event in just the ninth minute, capping an early spell of Mexican dominance on a pitch that previously hosted the final matches of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.

This edition of the world’s biggest sporting event makes history as the first co-hosted by three North American nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Stretching across nearly six weeks of competition, the tournament will conclude with the final match on July 19 in New Jersey, with industry projections forecasting total revenue will hit a staggering record $13 billion by the end of the event.

Before the first kickoff, the official opening ceremony entertained fans packed into the legendary Azteca stadium, with global music superstars Shakira, a Colombian icon, and Nigerian hitmaker Burna Boy taking the stage to perform the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai” to the delight of the crowd. However, the celebratory mood outside the stadium was marred by chaotic scuffles, as crowds of supporters pushed and shoved while attempting to access the official central fan zone in Mexico City.

The opening of on-pitch action comes as a much-needed reset for FIFA, the global governing body of football, which has faced intense backlash in the lead-up to the tournament over a number of controversies. Most prominent has been sharp criticism of the exorbitant ticket pricing, with some premium packages topping $30,000. Additional controversy has erupted over entry restrictions tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which have already resulted in a high-profile referee, Iranian team officials, and multiple fans being denied entry to the United States for the tournament.

Appearing in Mexico City one day before the opening match, FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a passionate defense of the tournament’s organization and pushed back against growing criticism of both visa issues and ticket costs. Addressing the ticket pricing controversy, Infantino noted that the governing body had introduced a limited number of $60 entry-level tickets in response to public outcry, arguing that this base price and the tournament’s average ticket cost (which he said sits below $500) are lower than comparable entry prices for playoff rounds of major American sports leagues.
Infantino also sought to downplay the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the U.S. after landing in Miami. U.S. authorities claim Artan has ties to suspected terrorist organization members, and FIFA has already confirmed he will not participate in any matches during the tournament. Calling the outcome “unfortunate,” Infantino said FIFA does not control all border entry decisions, adding that the organization had done all it could to resolve the situation ahead of the tournament.

In a surprising show of solidarity just one day after Artan’s entry denial, European football’s governing body UEFA announced it would retain Artan as the referee for its 2025 European Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that the decision was an intentional show of respect for Artan and his proven officiating skills, which earned him the prestigious nomination, noting that “football is made to connect people.”

Infantino also defended FIFA’s handling of Iran’s participation in the tournament, amid ongoing military tensions between the U.S. and Iran that led many to question whether the Iranian national team would be allowed to compete. Infantino framed Iran’s presence at the event as a major success for FIFA, noting that while geopolitical challenges made participation complicated, no other organization could have secured Iran’s place at the tournament in such circumstances.

The FIFA chief also faced questions over his widely publicized close relationship with Trump, but he did not shy away from praising the U.S. president’s role in bringing the tournament to North America. Infantino stated bluntly that without Trump’s engagement and direct involvement, organizing a World Cup on U.S. soil would have been simply impossible. Trump confirmed Wednesday that he plans to attend multiple World Cup matches during the tournament, though he declined to share specific details about which games he will attend.

The second match of the tournament’s opening day is scheduled for later Thursday in Guadalajara, where South Korea will face off against the Czech Republic. Heading into the tournament, pre-game odds list Spain, France, and England as the top overall favorites to lift the trophy, while defending champions Argentina are led by 38-year-old legend Lionel Messi, who will look to guide his side to back-to-back World Cup titles.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest iteration of football’s most prestigious global tournament, got underway on Thursday in dramatic fashion at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca, where co-host Mexico secured a comprehensive 2-0 opening win against a South Africa side that finished the match reduced to nine players.

The opening goal of the entire tournament came early, catching South Africa cold in just the ninth minute. A misplaced pass out from the back by South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole put Julian Quinones in position to strike, and the Mexican forward drilled a low, precise effort through goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’ legs to put the hosts ahead.

Before the goal, pre-match celebrations filled the iconic stadium with thick red, green and white smoke, echoing Mexico’s national colors. The 80,824 sell-out crowd erupted into a deafening roar that echoed across the concrete stands of the Azteca — a venue that made history as the only stadium to host World Cup matches across three different editions of the tournament, earning its reputation as one of the game’s great cathedrals.

South Africa manager Hugo Broos had repeatedly warned his squad ahead of kickoff about the intimidating atmosphere the packed crowd would generate, but his players appeared paralyzed by the occasion in the opening stages. Every completed Mexican pass was met with a raucous chant of “Ole!” from the stands, and the side never managed to find their rhythm against the fired-up hosts.

Sithole, who was directly at fault for the opening goal, saw his afternoon cut short in the 49th minute. After being caught out of position, he bundled over Brian Gutierrez when the Mexican attacker was clear through on goal, leaving the referee with no choice but to show a straight red card.

Mexico capitalized fully on their numerical advantage in the 67th minute, breaking away on a clinical counter-attack. Winger Roberto Alvarado drove down the right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross to the far post, where veteran Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez nodded home to double the hosts’ lead, putting the result beyond doubt.

South Africa’s miserable outing got even worse in the 84th minute. A VAR review of a clash between Themba Zwane and Alvarado found that Zwane had thrown an arm into Alvarado’s face, resulting in a second red card for Broos’ side. Late drama added one final twist, when Mexican defender Cesar Montes was also sent off for a clumsy late challenge on Khulisa Mudau at the edge of the penalty area, leaving both sides to finish the match with 10 men.

For Mexico, the result marks a perfect opening to their Group A campaign, getting their bid for knockout stage qualification off to the ideal start in front of their jubilant home fans. For South Africa, it is a disappointing opening day that leaves them with work to do to climb out of the group in their opening World Cup outing in nearly a decade.

The most expansive edition of the FIFA World Cup in history gets underway Thursday evening at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, as co-host nation Mexico faces South Africa in the tournament’s opening match. This year’s competition, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, features an unprecedented 48 teams competing across three North American countries over a nearly six-week run that will conclude with the final match on July 19 in New Jersey. Projected to haul in a historic $13 billion in total global revenue, the 2026 World Cup already stands as the most commercially successful men’s World Cup ever staged, even before the opening kickoff.

But the build-up to the tournament has been overshadowed by sharp public criticism on two major fronts: exorbitant ticket prices that have priced out many casual fans, and sweeping immigration restrictions enacted by the Trump administration that have already blocked multiple high-profile football figures from entering the U.S. Among those barred entry is Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied access upon arriving in Miami earlier this month after U.S. authorities cited alleged associations with suspected terrorist group members. Additionally, a number of Iranian team officials and fans have also been turned away at U.S. borders amid ongoing military tensions between Washington and Tehran.

A day before the opening match, FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivered a fiery defense of the governing body’s tournament organization and pushed back against mounting criticism in a press conference held in Mexico City. Addressing outrage over ticket costs, which have reached upwards of $30,000 for premium premium packages, Infantino argued that pricing structures were fair and accessible to fans of all income levels. He pointed to the availability of entry-level tickets priced at just $60, noting, “Let me just say that our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases. Our average price which is below 500 dollars is again the lowest of the American sports on average.”

Infantino also sought to downplay the controversy surrounding Artan, the barred Somali referee, saying, “We don’t control everything… Sometimes it’s good to chill, relax, we work on everything, we try to solve everything.” FIFA has since confirmed Artan will not officiate any matches at the 2026 tournament. In a notable show of support just hours before the World Cup kicked off, European football’s governing body UEFA announced that Artan would retain his nomination to officiate the 2026 European Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa scheduled for August. “Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

On the topic of Iran’s participation in the tournament, Infantino framed the Islamic Republic’s ability to compete amid heightened tensions with the U.S. as a major win for FIFA. “People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup. There are challenges, it’s not easy, but I don’t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances — which we could not influence — Iran could come and play,” he said.

Infantino’s close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump have drawn increased scrutiny in the lead-up to the tournament, but the FIFA president offered glowing praise for the American leader, crediting his involvement with making the U.S. leg of the tournament possible. “Without his engagement and involvement, I think it would have been, simple as that, impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States,” Infantino said. Trump confirmed Wednesday that he plans to attend multiple World Cup matches during the tournament, though he declined to share specific details, and echoed Infantino’s optimism, saying, “he said there’s never been anything close” to the expected success of the coming tournament.

As teams prepared for the opening match, South Africa head coach Hugo Broos urged his players to tune out the electric atmosphere expected at Estadio Azteca, a legendary venue that previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. “They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing. But we have to focus on our game. And if we can do that… then we can have a good game,” the Belgian coach said. For Mexico, the opening match presents an opportunity to end a decades-long drought: the host nation has not won a World Cup opening match in seven straight tournament appearances. “We have to break the statistic,” said Mexican head coach Javier Aguirre. “It will be another source of motivation.”

Security remains a key focus for local authorities, as hundreds of protesters gathered near Azteca Stadium late Wednesday to demand answers for the country’s thousands of disappeared people, many of whom are alleged to have been killed or abducted by Mexican security forces or criminal gangs. Police established a 1.6-kilometer security perimeter ahead of Thursday’s match and confirmed that peaceful protests would be permitted, though only ticket-holding fans would be allowed access to the stadium grounds.

The opening day of the tournament will feature a second match later Thursday between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara. Heading into the competition, Spain, France and England enter as pre-tournament favorites, while defending champions Argentina will lean on 38-year-old captain and talisman Lionel Messi to lead the side to a second consecutive World Cup title. On Wednesday, England wrapped up its final pre-tournament preparation with a 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in Orlando, after the match was delayed for an hour by severe thunderstorms passing through the region.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A leadership shift is underway at Chapleton Maroons, one of the competing clubs in the Jamaica Premier League, after high-profile domestic football coach Donovan Duckie formally tendered his immediate resignation to the club’s leadership on Thursday. The departure comes just one full competitive season after Duckie took the helm of the Clarendon-based side, having accepted the head coaching position back in August 2025.

In his official resignation correspondence addressed to Chapleton Maroons president Kaycie Butler, the veteran coach framed his exit as a carefully considered personal and professional choice, noting that the call to leave was far from straightforward. “This decision was not an easy one, but after careful consideration, I believe it is the right step for my personal and professional growth,” Duckie wrote in the letter.

Alongside announcing his exit, Duckie extended sincere appreciation to the club for the opportunity to lead the side, emphasizing that his tenure with the organization had been a meaningful professional experience. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve the club. It has been an honour to work with the players, staff and management during my time as head coach,” he added.

Duckie brings a wealth of coaching experience to his future career moves, with a long resume spanning multiple tiers of Jamaican football. A former head coach of Jamaica’s National Under-20 men’s team, he has held senior leadership roles at a string of other Jamaica Premier League clubs over the course of his career, including prominent sides such as Mt Pleasant FA, Montego Bay United, Humble Lion, Waterhouse and Vere United. Beyond his work in the professional club space, he also previously led the football program at Manchester High, building coaching experience at the grassroots schoolboy level within Jamaican football.

With Duckie’s resignation effective immediately, Chapleton Maroons have now launched a search for a new head coach to lead the squad heading into the next season of the Jamaica Premier League. The club has not yet announced a timeline for appointing a successor or an interim candidate to fill the role in the interim.

In a move that underscores European and African football governing bodies’ commitment to inclusivity and recognition of elite officiating talent, UEFA announced Thursday that Somali referee Omar Artan — who was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — will take charge of this year’s UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria on August 12. The high-profile match will pit UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against Europa League titleholders Aston Villa.

The appointment comes just hours before the opening of FIFA’s flagship 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin offered unreserved praise for Artan in his official statement, highlighting the referee’s proven track record at the top tier of Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition. “Football exists to bring people across borders together,” Ceferin said. “This nomination is our way of honoring Omar and his exceptional officiating abilities that have already earned him global acclaim.”

Artan’s unexpected snub from the U.S. ranks among the most controversial incidents to mar the pre-tournament buildup to the 2026 World Cup. The 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year was denied entry at Miami International Airport last Saturday, after U.S. State Department officials labeled him ineligible for admission over unsubstantiated claims of association with suspected terrorist organization members. FIFA subsequently confirmed he would be removed from the World Cup officiating roster, a decision that disappointed football fans across Africa and the globe, as Artan’s selection to the 52-referee panel had been a source of enormous national pride for Somalia.

Thursday’s appointment is structured under a long-standing cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF aimed at advancing shared football values of unity, equality and non-discrimination across all levels of the sport. CAF President Patrice Motsepe hailed the decision as a landmark moment for African refereeing, saying Artan’s new posting makes Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud.

“His selection as a 2026 FIFA World Cup referee and his receipt of the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year award already stand as clear recognition of his world-class skill and the international respect he has earned,” Motsepe noted. “This Super Cup appointment is not just a great honor for Omar Artan and all African referees — it is a powerful example of how football unites people from Africa, Europe and every corner of the globe.”

After being turned away by U.S. immigration authorities, Artan returned to his home city of Mogadishu on Wednesday, where he received a rapturous hero’s welcome from hundreds of supporters. In comments following his arrival, the referee reaffirmed his commitment to his career and vowed to earn a spot on the officiating roster for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The 2024 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships kicked off Wednesday at Eugene Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field, bringing a mix of repeat results, personal bests, and ground-breaking performances from Jamaican collegiate athletes competing across multiple disciplines.

In the opening men’s shot put competition, University of Oregon’s Kobe Lawrence delivered a near-identical outcome to his 2023 campaign, securing fourth place for the second consecutive year. The Jamaican athlete landed a season-best throw of 19.87 meters, matching the position he took at last year’s championship. Lawrence’s Oregon teammate Ben Smith stole the show in the event, claiming the national title with a personal best 21.04-meter throw – the longest mark posted by any collegiate thrower this season. Another Jamaican competitor, Shaiquan Dunn of the University of Texas, finished 18th overall with a 17.99-meter effort.

Across other field events, Jordan Turner of Louisiana State University posted a 7.64-meter jump with a 0.9m/s wind assistance to take 12th place in the men’s long jump. In the javelin competition, Brandon Falconer of Mt St Mary’s College hit a new personal best of 69.33 meters, while Jermar Ferguson of the University of Louisiana recorded a 61.51-meter throw.

The most notable highlight of the opening day came from the semi-final rounds of running events, where three Jamaican athletes punched their tickets to Friday’s finals, including a historic semi-final performance from an Auburn University star. In the 110m hurdles, JaKobe Tharpe of Auburn shattered the 12-year-old world record held by Aries Merritt, clocking a stunning 12.75 seconds to win his semi-final heat. Tharpe’s mark erased Merritt’s 12.80-second record set at the 2012 London Olympics, and improved on his own previous personal best of 13.01 seconds – a mark that ranked 32nd all-time before Wednesday’s breakthrough. Demario Prince, Baylor University’s Jamaican hurdler, matched his 2023 finish position in the semis, taking second in his heat with a 13.15-second run to qualify for the final as the third-fastest overall competitor.

In the men’s 800m, Jamaican duo Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor of the University of Arkansas both booked their spots in Friday’s final in impressive fashion. Marshall delivered the fastest qualifying time in NCAA championship history, crossing the finish line in 1:45.05 to top the overall leaderboard. Taylor secured his own final berth by winning his semi-final heat with a time of 1:46.98, a solid performance that was enough to advance. The only Jamaican disappointment on opening day came in the 400m, where Kemar Farquharson of Texas A&M University missed out on a final spot by just one position, finishing 11th overall with a 45.62-second run.

HOUSTON, U.S. – After weeks of logistical hurdles and public health protocols, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s men’s World Cup team has officially entered the United States, clearing the final barrier to their first appearance at soccer’s biggest global tournament in nearly half a century. Head coach Sebastien Desabre says the squad is ready to compete, with the added mission of bringing a spark of joy to a country grappling with a deadly Ebola outbreak.