Conor McGregor was injured early in his UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway and could not continue. UFC President Dana White said doctors think McGregor tore his ACL and rejected claims that McGregor was hurt before the fight started.
Key Facts
McGregor fought Max Holloway at UFC 329 after a five-year break.
McGregor got injured during a jumping kick at the start of the fight.
McGregor fell several times, showing that he was clearly hurt.
Dana White said McGregor’s injury is likely a torn ACL (a knee ligament).
Doctors examined McGregor before the fight and said he looked fine.
White said McGregor showed no signs of injury during the faceoff with Holloway.
The fight was stopped by the referee due to McGregor’s injury.
Holloway expressed respect for McGregor and suggested a possible third fight in the future.
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Norway lost to England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. England's player Jude Bellingham scored twice, including a late goal, while Norway's goal was disallowed for a foul involving Erling Haaland.
Key Facts
Norway was defeated by England with a score of 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Jude Bellingham scored both goals for England, including a controversial first goal.
The first goal was debated because the ball may have touched an overhead wire, but VAR did not overturn it.
Norway’s potential winning goal was disallowed due to a foul by Erling Haaland.
Alfie Haaland, Erling’s father, expressed frustration about the refereeing decisions after the match.
Erling Haaland scored seven goals during the tournament and was a strong contender for the Golden Boot award.
England advanced to the semifinals and will play Argentina, who beat Switzerland in the other quarterfinal.
The semifinal match between England and Argentina is scheduled for July 15.
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England's football team captain, Harry Kane, said the team can still improve as they aim to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966. England reached the semi-finals after beating Norway in extra time and will play Argentina next.
Key Facts
England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
England will face Argentina in the semi-final match in Atlanta.
Harry Kane has scored six goals in the tournament and is tied as England's top scorer.
England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, said the team made many mistakes and wants them to play better.
Kane said the team has shown only glimpses of their best play and believes they can do more.
Jude Bellingham disagrees with Tuchel’s criticism and praised the team’s effort against tough opponents.
England has only reached four World Cup semi-finals in their history, last winning in 1966.
The team has been close to winning other major tournaments but has not won since 1966.
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Conor McGregor suffered a serious knee injury early in his UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway, leading to a stoppage in the first round. Holloway won the fight by TKO, while McGregor appeared to have damaged his ACL, potentially requiring a long recovery.
Key Facts
The fight was McGregor’s return to UFC after a five-year break.
McGregor injured his knee during a jumping kick early in the first round.
The referee stopped the fight after seeing McGregor struggle to stand and his knee give out.
Max Holloway won the fight, marking his 24th MMA victory.
The event set a new record with about $25 million in ticket sales.
Video showed McGregor limping before the fight and leaving the arena without help afterward.
The injury could require a lengthy recovery before McGregor can fight again.
Holloway expressed respect for McGregor and suggested they fight again in the future.
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Zack Wheeler, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, was left off the 2024 MLB All-Star Game roster because he started a game the day before the All-Star break, making him ineligible under current rules. Wheeler expressed frustration with this rule, which is meant to protect pitchers from overuse but prevented him from participating despite a strong season performance.
Key Facts
Zack Wheeler is a 36-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.
He has been an All-Star three times before and could have made a fourth appearance in 2024.
MLB rules make pitchers who start on the last day before the All-Star break unable to pitch in the All-Star Game.
Wheeler started on July 12, one day before the All-Star Game, so he was ruled ineligible.
Wheeler criticized the rule as unfair, saying it punishes players for pitching on a certain day.
MLB offered Wheeler a spot as an All-Star replacement after the initial roster was set, but Wheeler declined.
Other players, like Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., also managed injuries and All-Star participation differently.
This situation led to negative views of MLB’s handling of All-Star selections and eligibility rules.
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Gable Steveson made his UFC debut at UFC 329 in Las Vegas by winning a heavyweight fight with a first-round knockout. Steveson used punches and knees to defeat Elisha Ellison in just over two minutes.
Key Facts
UFC 329 took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gable Steveson fought Elisha Ellison in a heavyweight bout.
Steveson won by knockout in the first round after 2 minutes and 31 seconds.
Steveson is a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He was a five-time All-American and two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Minnesota.
Steveson briefly signed with the NFL team Buffalo Bills in 2024 but did not play in any games.
He tried WWE wrestling from 2021 to 2024 but was released after a poorly received televised match.
MMA fighter Jon Jones helped train Steveson and celebrated his UFC win.
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Norway’s men’s soccer team performed strongly at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Led by captain Martin Odegaard and striker Erling Haaland, they narrowly lost to England 2-1 in extra time.
Key Facts
Norway had not qualified for the World Cup since 1998 and had never won a knockout stage match before 2026.
Norway reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, their best performance ever.
Andreas Schjelderup scored the first goal for Norway against England in their quarterfinal match.
England equalized just before halftime, and the game ended 2-1 in England’s favor after extra time.
A goal by Norway was disallowed after a video review due to a foul on Haaland.
Martin Odegaard, Norway’s captain, provided four assists in five matches.
Erling Haaland scored seven goals during his first World Cup.
The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, with France, Spain, England, Argentina, and Switzerland competing in the semifinals.
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England's women's cricket team is likely to lose the one-off Test match against India at Lord's. India scored strongly, with Yastika Bhatia making the first female Test century at Lord's. England struggled to chase the world record target of 457 runs and were 130-6, still needing 327 runs to win on day three.
Key Facts
The match is a one-off women's Test between England and India at Lord's cricket ground.
India declared their second innings at 341-7, setting England a target of 457 runs to win.
Yastika Bhatia scored 113 runs, becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's.
England ended day three at 130 runs for 6 wickets, still 327 runs behind.
Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight, both retiring players, were out early without big scores.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was dismissed cheaply for 11 runs.
Sophie Ecclestone took 5 wickets for 118 runs and became the first English woman named on the Lord’s Test bowling honours board.
England's bowling attack faced challenges, especially with injuries and lack of support for lead bowler Lauren Bell.
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England is searching for a new head coach for their Test cricket team after sacking Brendon McCullum. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants to appoint the new coach before the Test series against Pakistan in August and is considering a shortlist of 6 to 10 candidates.
Key Facts
Brendon McCullum was sacked as England’s Test head coach after seven losses in nine matches.
England’s next Test match is against Pakistan starting on August 19 at Headingley.
England currently does not have a Test captain after Ben Stokes retired in June.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said they have a shortlist of 6 to 10 coaching candidates from around the world.
The new coach will be chosen with input from the managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key and selector Marcus North.
The new coach will work alongside McCullum, who still coaches England’s white-ball (limited overs) teams.
The ECB may use an interim coach if the top candidates have other commitments and to allow more time to make the best choice.
Andy Flower, a former England coach and successful franchise coach, is reportedly a top candidate but may be unlikely to take the job.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has temporarily ended the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. This means Russian athletes can take part in the upcoming Olympic Games, even though the conflict in Ukraine is still happening.
Key Facts
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023.
This suspension has now been lifted on a provisional basis.
Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the next Olympics.
The decision occurs despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The IOC states it supports peace and human dignity as key values.
Allowing Russia back challenges the original purpose of the Olympics.
The move has sparked debate about fairness and sportsmanship.
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On day 31 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, England and Argentina won their matches and advanced to the semi-final round. This means both teams are now among the final four competing for the championship.
Key Facts
The article reports on events from day 31 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England won their match and moved into the semi-finals.
Argentina also won their match and qualified for the semi-finals.
The semi-finals determine which teams will compete for the final championship.
Basel Ghazoghli from Al Jazeera provided the recap of these matches.
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Mariano Rajoy, Spain's former prime minister, said the French national football team had "no French players," which caused criticism in both Spain and France. This comment focused on the makeup of the French team and sparked controversy.
Key Facts
Mariano Rajoy is a former prime minister of Spain.
He called the French national football team "having no French players."
His remark received criticism in Spain and France.
The issue relates to the national football team of France.
The controversy arose around the time of international football events.
The article was reported by France 24 on July 12, 2026.
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Mathieu Van der Poel won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, which was shortened due to very hot weather. The Dutch cyclist finished first in a sprint among four riders, with Tobias Johannessen second and Tom Pidcock third.
Key Facts
The ninth stage of the Tour de France was shortened because of a heatwave with temperatures near 40°C (104°F).
Mathieu Van der Poel is 31 years old and a former cycling world champion.
This win is Van der Poel's third Tour de France stage victory, previously winning in 2021 and 2025.
Van der Poel won the sprint from a small group that broke away during the race.
Tadej Pogacar, the current overall leader, finished six seconds behind Van der Poel and remains in first place in the race.
Jonas Vingegaard is second overall, 2 minutes 42 seconds behind Pogacar, with Isaac del Toro third.
Van der Poel specializes in races on cobblestone roads and has won major one-day races like Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
The stage started in Malemort and ended in Ussel, covering 154.6 km before being shortened by about 30 km due to extreme heat.
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Haeran Ryu from South Korea won the Evian Championship in a sudden-death play-off against Brooke Henderson from Canada. This is Ryu’s second major title in two weeks, after also winning the Women’s PGA Championship in June.
Key Facts
Haeran Ryu won the Evian Championship after a play-off with Brooke Henderson.
Ryu scored 18 under par for the tournament, finishing with a final round of 71.
Brooke Henderson made an eagle on the last hole to tie Ryu and force the play-off.
Ryu made a birdie on the first extra hole to win the championship.
Ryu won $1.4 million as the top prize for this tournament.
Ryu is now one of two players to win two of the four major women’s golf tournaments this year.
Nelly Korda, world number one, won the other two majors but missed the cut in this event.
Ryu missed the cut in this tournament 12 months ago, showing significant improvement.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals feature Argentina, Spain, France, and England, the four highest-ranked teams in FIFA's latest rankings. This alignment between rankings and semifinalists is unusual compared to recent tournaments, where unexpected teams often reached later stages.
Key Facts
Argentina, Spain, France, and England are FIFA's top four ranked teams for 2026.
All four teams have reached the World Cup semifinals.
If Spain beats France and Argentina beats England, the final will feature the top two ranked teams.
Recent World Cups often had surprise semifinalists, such as Croatia and Morocco.
FIFA rankings are sometimes criticized but proved accurate this year in predicting strong teams.
Previous World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) showed less correlation between ranking and semifinalists.
The current top teams all have strong and deep player talent pools.
This year's knockout stage saw fewer surprises than usual.
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Young England football fans gathered in London to watch the 2026 World Cup quarter-final match, showing strong interest in both the game and fashion. Many embraced styles inspired by the early 2000s, including "Wag culture," reflecting a nostalgia for past World Cups.
Key Facts
Fans watched the England quarter-final at a sold-out nightclub in Peckham, London.
Some fans collect and wear vintage football shirts or specially designed football-themed clothing.
Interest in the World Cup includes both the football and the fashion surrounding it.
Styles from the early 2000s, known as "Wag culture," have become popular again among young fans.
Social media has helped revive memories and trends from the 2006 World Cup.
Female fans expressed a desire for a more inclusive and cool space in football culture.
The event atmosphere included nostalgic elements like early 2000s music, vintage clothes, and digital cameras.
The excitement around the tournament involves community spirit, style, and national pride.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said FIFA will consider expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams, and the 2030 event will be hosted across several countries in South America and Europe.
Key Facts
FIFA wants to explore increasing World Cup teams from 48 to 64 for 2030.
President Infantino said giving more nations a chance helps grow football worldwide.
The World Cup had 32 teams from 1998 to 2022 before expanding to 48 in 2026.
The 2026 tournament is being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Infantino called the 48-team format a big success with many strong teams and goals.
Nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage in 2026, showing improvement.
The 2030 World Cup will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Expanding to 64 teams may allow each South American host country to run their own group stage.
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Heather Knight, the English women’s cricket captain, has retired after 320 matches including 199 as captain over nine years. She led England to a World Cup win in 2017 and became the first English player to score centuries in all three formats, leaving a strong legacy beyond just statistics.
Key Facts
Heather Knight played 320 matches for England and captained 199 of them.
She became captain in 2016, following Charlotte Edwards.
Knight led England to victory in the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup at Lord’s.
She was the first England player, male or female, to score centuries in all three formats of the game.
Knight’s last captaincy series ended with a heavy defeat by Australia in the 2025 Ashes.
She reached 300 appearances for England across different match formats.
Knight was known for professionalism, dedication after injuries, and speaking up about pay gaps in women’s cricket.
Her final match was the first historic women’s Test at Lord’s in 2025.
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Jude Bellingham scored two goals to help England beat Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals. His second goal came in extra time, sending England to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2018.
Key Facts
The match was England vs. Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.
Jude Bellingham scored the first goal to tie the game in the first half.
Bellingham scored the winning goal in the third minute of extra time.
England won the match 2-1.
This win advances England to the World Cup semi-finals.
England has not reached the semi-finals since 2018.
The article includes commentary from Robbie Nock, a lead commentator and journalist.
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