Team USA suffered a 3-2 defeat to Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final after controversial pitching restrictions prevented closer Mason Miller from entering a tied ninth inning.

A late rally sparked by Bryce Harper had levelled the scores, shifting momentum towards the Americans in Miami.

However, manager Mark DeRosa was forced to leave his most dominant relief pitcher in the bullpen during the decisive final frame.

The San Diego Padres had explicitly instructed the national side to only use their highly-valued asset in a definitive save situation.

Frustration over major league interference

With the game tied, Garrett Whitlock was instead called upon and ultimately surrendered the championship-winning run to the South Americans.

DeRosa admitted after the game that he was simply honouring the wishes of the 26-year-old’s major league employers.

“Had we taken the lead, he was coming in, but I wasn’t going to bring him into a tied game.”

The sixth instalment of the international tournament has been hailed as a commercial success, but strict usage limits imposed by club executives continue to undermine the on-field product.

Venezuela overcome similar hurdles to claim title

The victorious manager, Omar López, faced intense pressure from multiple franchises regarding the availability of his own relief corps.

After leaning heavily on his bullpen to eliminate Italy in Monday’s semi-final, the 47-year-old woke up to text messages demanding he rest key pitchers for the showcase event.

“Oh God, here we go again.”

Despite the bureaucratic hurdles, the Caribbean nation successfully navigated the restrictions to deliver a monumental victory for a country currently enduring unprecedented political turmoil.

Insurance issues and spring training injury fears remain significant stumbling blocks for the global showcase, preventing several elite stars from participating altogether.

Four Ireland players have been voted into the Men’s Six Nations Team of the Championship by fans, while no England representatives made the final selection.

France boast four inclusions after retaining their title in dramatic circumstances against the English in Paris.

Italy and Scotland each have three players in the composite XV, with a solitary Welshman completing the line-up.

Record-breaking French wing leads the champions’ contingent

Prolific try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey is joined by legendary scrum-half Antoine Dupont, full-back Thomas Ramos and second-row Mickael Guillard.

The lightning-fast winger set a new competition record by crossing the whitewash nine times.

Four of those tries came in the decisive victory over England, which allowed the French side to edge out Ireland for tournament success.

Ramos demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the campaign and crucially kicked the winning points in stoppage time during the final fixture.

Irish forward dominance recognised after Triple Crown success

The men in green secured their fourth Triple Crown in five years, an achievement reflected by their strong pack presence.

Back-row duo Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are named alongside lock Tadhg Beirne, with centre Stuart McCloskey taking a spot in the midfield.

Scotland recovered from an opening loss to Italy to claim third place overall with three wins.

This resilience earned fan call-ups for wing Kyle Steyn, fly-half Finn Russell and flanker Rory Darge.

Historic low for an omitted English squad

The Azzurri recorded two victories to finish fourth in the table, resulting in selections for hooker Giacomo Nicotera, prop Simone Ferrari and centre Tommaso Menoncello.

Prop Rhys Carre is the sole representative from Wales, who ended their campaign on a positive note by securing a victory over the Italians.

England’s historically poor campaign ended with a fifth-place finish and just eight points.

Their only victory of the tournament came against Wales in their opening game, explaining their total absence from the fans’ chosen team.

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Manchester United will reject a proposal from Barcelona to extend Marcus Rashford’s loan deal and demand the Spanish club pay the previously agreed £26m transfer fee.

The 28-year-old relocated to the Nou Camp on a season-long arrangement last summer with a permanent purchase clause included in the initial agreement.

Having rediscovered his finest form under the Catalan lights, the England forward is reportedly eager to commit his long-term future to the club.

United stand firm on valuation

Recently re-elected president Joan Laporta is attempting to defer the mandatory payment until 2027 by requesting a second consecutive season on loan.

Old Trafford executives remain unwilling to accommodate the proposed delay and expect the agreed financial terms to be met in full.

If an acceptable resolution cannot be reached, the Premier League side will recall the academy graduate to Manchester in June.

Club chiefs are acutely aware that a highly successful stint in Spain has significantly inflated his current market value.

World Cup ambitions boost price tag

Selling to the highest bidder is now a viable alternative, with internal valuations suggesting a fee closer to £50m could be achieved in the open market.

The rejuvenated attacker has registered 10 goals and eight assists during a highly productive campaign in Catalonia.

These impressive performances have secured a recall to the national squad, with participation in the upcoming World Cup virtually guaranteed.

United anticipate that a strong showing at the global tournament for the Three Lions will further elevate the player’s potential transfer fee.

Consequently, a standoff has emerged between the two European heavyweights, with the English club refusing to negotiate unless discussions are strictly on their terms.

Argentina will defend their World Cup title in North America in 2026 with a carefully managed new tactical role for veteran captain Lionel Messi.

After ending a 36-year wait for global glory in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni’s side have evolved into a dominant international force.

The South American giants followed up their 2022 triumph by securing a second consecutive Copa America title in 2024.

They now head into the upcoming tournament aiming to become the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.

Stepping out of the Maradona shadow

Despite winning eight Ballon d’Or awards and claiming international supremacy, the Inter Miami forward is still frequently compared to the late Diego Maradona.

Securing back-to-back world championships could finally cement his legacy above the 1986 icon in his homeland.

South American football expert Peter Coates believes the historical connection between Maradona and the Argentine public remains unique.

“You still see Maradona everywhere when you walk around – murals, walls, t-shirts, coffee shops.”
“There’s a distinction in the way Maradona identifies with the people in a way that maybe Messi hasn’t quite done. He fulfilled the prophecy of the kid from the poor neighborhood who rose to greatness.”
“I would still have Maradona as the GOAT as far as Argentina is concerned. But Messi, particularly with the new generation, is right up there.”

Managing an ageing superstar

The former Barcelona icon will turn 39 during the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

He no longer relies on the relentless dribbling that defined his youth, forcing a necessary tactical evolution within the national setup.

Scaloni must now balance utilising the legendary playmaker’s enduring brilliance while compensating for his naturally reduced physical output.

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins on Thursday with 16 first-round fixtures taking place across the United States.

College basketball fans have waited over 130 days since the campaign tipped off for the start of this prestigious knockout competition.

The opening day of March Madness features a packed programme following a captivating regular season that was heavily dominated by a standout freshman class.

Unprecedented runs and top seeds

A major talking point heading into the sprawling bracket is the perfect regular-season run achieved by the Miami RedHawks.

Meanwhile, number one seeds Duke and Michigan headline the Thursday slate as they begin their respective national championship campaigns.

The Blue Devils face off against the 16th-seeded Siena Saints during the afternoon session in what is expected to be a heavily one-sided affair.

Later in the evening, the Wolverines will take to the court to battle the Howard Bison as they look to avoid a historic first-round upset.

Thursday’s opening round fixtures

The highly anticipated tournament action commences shortly after midday when Texas Christian University squares off against Ohio State.

Several intriguing matchups fill the evening schedule, including a clash between the third-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kennesaw State.

The final tip-off of the opening night sees the formidable Houston Cougars play the Idaho Vandals.

The full list of Thursday’s first-round games is as follows:

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is closing in on the all-time Premier League assist record, needing just five more to surpass the benchmark of 20 with eight games remaining.

The Portuguese international currently sits on 16 league assists for the current campaign.

He is now four away from equalling the historic tally shared by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.

The midfielder will have his next opportunity to close the gap when his side travel to face Bournemouth on Friday evening.

Surpassing club legends

The prolific creator has already etched his name into the Old Trafford history books this season.

By setting up two goals in a recent 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, he eclipsed David Beckham’s previous club record of 15 assists in a single Premier League year.

His current total also matches the 16 managed by Eric Cantona during the inaugural 1992-93 season.

Tactical shift fuels creative surge

A recent change in management has dramatically accelerated the former Sporting CP star’s attacking output.

Following the departure of Ruben Amorim, he was restored to his favoured central role, yielding nine assists in his last 10 appearances.

Maintaining this exceptional rate of 0.93 assists per 90 minutes would see him comfortably shatter the competition record.

Cautionary tales remain

Despite the strong statistical projections, previous seasons offer a warning against early celebrations.

Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil famously recorded 16 assists in his first 18 games of the 2015-16 campaign, only to fall agonisingly short of the milestone.

Similarly, Mohamed Salah reached 18 assists with six matches left last year but failed to add to his final tally.

Bournemouth will pose a stern test to those ambitions on Friday, having conceded just a single goal over their last four top-flight fixtures.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has played down speculation linking him to the vacant Manchester United job by indicating his desire to remain in France.

The 55-year-old is reportedly on a shortlist of candidates being considered by the Premier League club ahead of a permanent summer appointment.

United have been searching for a long-term successor since Ruben Amorim departed Old Trafford in January.

However, a recent encounter with a supporter suggests the Spanish coach has no intention of swapping the French capital for Manchester.

Commitment to the French champions

Footage circulated online shows the former Barcelona manager signing autographs from his vehicle.

When a fan expressed hope that he would stay with the Parisian side for a long time, the manager offered a telling response.

“Me too.”

The same supporter then pressed him about avoiding a move to United, prompting the Spaniard to simply laugh off the suggestion.

Carrick makes strong case at Old Trafford

If the Champions League-winning coach is ruled out, it could pave the way for current interim boss Michael Carrick to secure the role permanently.

The former England midfielder has overseen a remarkable turnaround since taking the reins earlier this year.

Under his guidance, the Red Devils have secured seven victories in nine fixtures to emerge as genuine top-four challengers.

Despite this impressive domestic form, the 43-year-old is only contracted until the end of the current campaign.

Pundits back interim manager

Former Premier League players Jody Morris and Joleon Lescott believe the Old Trafford hierarchy should look closer to home.

Speaking to Sky Bet, ex-Chelsea midfielder Morris praised the caretaker manager’s tactical acumen and successful integration of youth prospects like Kobbie Mainoo.

“It would be criminal not to give him the job if he carries on.”

Lescott agreed with that assessment, questioning whether an external appointment would immediately improve the squad.

“I think Carrick should get the job because I don’t know if Enrique will help them become contenders.”

The former Manchester City defender added that a deeper connection to the fanbase makes the current interim boss the logical choice.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed that Reece James’ latest hamstring issue is not serious, though Trevoh Chalobah faces six weeks out.

James missed Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain after sustaining the problem during a recent Premier League loss against Newcastle United.

The England international is facing another frustrating spell on the sidelines, representing a significant setback for the west London club.

However, the Stamford Bridge outfit remain optimistic the influential full-back will return for the crucial final matches of their Champions League qualification push.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton, Rosenior provided an encouraging update on his injured captain.

“Reece we’re going to look at more after the international break,” explained Rosenior.

“It’s not serious but there is something in his hamstring.”

Chalobah faces lengthy ankle lay-off

Trevoh Chalobah has been officially ruled out for approximately six weeks after suffering an ankle injury against the French champions.

The versatile defender shared a graphic image of his twisted ankle on social media, initially sparking fears of a season-ending absence.

“It wasn’t until later after the game that I saw the image, and then you’re really worried for the next game,” Rosenior revealed.

Despite the concerning visuals, medical assessments have provided a somewhat positive outlook for the academy graduate.

“Fortunately it’s nowhere near as serious as we first feared, but it is still a serious injury,” added the Chelsea boss.

“We’re looking at a period of about six weeks, which is a better period than we first thought.”

Further setbacks for Jorgensen and Colwill

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen remains unavailable for selection after being forced to undergo minor groin surgery.

“He had his scan and needed a minor operation, so that’s a matter of weeks,” Rosenior confirmed.

The Chelsea manager also provided crucial background information on Levi Colwill, who is continuing his lengthy rehabilitation from a severe knee injury sustained during pre-season.

The highly-rated centre-back is hitting all necessary recovery benchmarks following his anterior cruciate ligament tear, though a return to first-team action remains distant.

“With an ACL, he’s hitting all the benchmarks he needs to, but he’s still looking at a good while yet,” said Rosenior.