National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman says a decision on whether Russian players can compete at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey will not be rushed.
The global tournament is scheduled to take place across Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague in February 2028.
However, the participation of the national team remains highly uncertain following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
International ban continues
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) currently enforces a ban on Russian teams across all age groups due to ongoing security concerns.
Bettman told reporters at the general manager meetings in Florida that the North American league is in no hurry to finalise its stance.
“We’re going to see how things develop. Time will tell,” Bettman said.
He added that without immediate urgency, executives will comfortably wait to see how geopolitical events play out.
Best-on-best debate
Excluding the European nation deprives the prestigious tournament of several marquee superstars.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, and Los Angeles Kings attacker Artemi Panarin are currently among the top scorers in the sport.
The country also boasts an elite stable of goaltenders, headlined by Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Ilya Sorokin.
Despite this undeniable talent pool, integrating these athletes into an NHL-led event presents severe diplomatic challenges.
Strong opposition from countries like Finland previously forced organisers to scrap the planned 2024 World Cup in favour of the recent four-team 4 Nations Face-Off.
Following the Olympic lead
The league is not strictly bound by IIHF rulings for its own privately run international events.
However, the executive hierarchy has indicated they will mirror the broader athletic community’s approach.
“I don’t see any need for us to weigh in separately,” Bettman confirmed during a recent news conference.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently oversaw Winter Games hockey tournaments in Milan that featured neither Russian nor Belarusian representation.
Potential pathways to return
There are subtle signs that international sports bodies are exploring a gradual reintegration of banned athletes.
Late last year, the IOC advised that youth competitors from those nations could participate under their full national identities.
Following that guidance, the IIHF is now considering allowing under-18 participation during the 2027-28 season as a first step.
NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh has publicly expressed his desire to see a true best-on-best competition return.
“They’re incredible hockey players. The issues are political. Not political as far as the NHLPA; it’s world politics we have to get through,” Walsh stated.
Brentford missed the chance to move within a point of the Premier League’s top six as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The hosts appeared to be cruising towards a crucial victory in their unlikely pursuit of European football following early strikes from Michael Kayode and Igor Thiago.
However, a resilient fightback from the visitors, sparked by Adam Armstrong’s controversial effort and completed by substitute Tolu Arokodare, forced a share of the spoils.
Thiago celebrates call-up as hosts dominate early exchanges
Keith Andrews’ side have defied pre-season expectations to challenge the division’s elite, and they started with their trademark high intensity in west London.
Their dominance was rewarded when full-back Kayode rose highest to plant a powerful header past Jose Sa in the 22nd minute.
The advantage was doubled shortly after by the newly-capped Brazil international Thiago, who calmly rolled the ball into an empty net following excellent wide play from Dango Ouattara.
Armstrong strikes amidst backpass controversy
The momentum shifted dramatically just before the interval when Armstrong fired home a spectacular effort to halve the deficit.
The goal was shrouded in controversy, with the home side furious that an apparent backpass from Ladislav Krejci to the visiting goalkeeper went unpunished during the build-up.
Refereeing body PGMOL later clarified that the video assistant referee could not intervene because the incident occurred outside the immediate attacking phase.
Substitutes make the difference for resilient visitors
Buoyed by their lifeline, the West Midlands outfit emerged for the second half with renewed belief and began to dictate the tempo.
Armstrong nearly grabbed a second when he struck the woodwork, serving as a stark warning of the growing threat.
The equaliser eventually arrived 13 minutes from time through Arokodare, who made an instant impact to level the match just four minutes after his introduction from the bench.
The result leaves the Bees frustrated in their pursuit of Chelsea and Liverpool, while the visitors return home with a hard-earned point to boost their own campaign.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk on a one-year deal worth up to $6m to further rebuild their offensive options.
The 29-year-old arrives in California after spending last season with the Houston Texans.
His addition marks the second major acquisition for the franchise in a week, following the marquee free-agent arrival of Mike Evans.
The NFC West team are currently undertaking a significant overhaul of their receiving corps.
Overhaul continues amid impending exits
General manager John Lynch has already confirmed that star playmaker Brandon Aiyuk has played his final snap for the team.
The franchise is actively exploring trade options for Aiyuk but could release him with a post-June 1 designation to spread a $29.5m salary cap hit.
Jauan Jennings remains an unrestricted free agent after failing to agree a contract extension last offseason.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Bourne has joined the Arizona Cardinals and Skyy Moore has signed for the Green Bay Packers.
Playoff pedigree and injury history
The former Arizona Cardinals draft pick endured a frustrating regular season in Texas, missing four games due to persistent hamstring issues.
However, the versatile wideout demonstrated his value during the playoffs with an eight-catch, 144-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That standout postseason display set a new franchise playoff record for the Texans.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is expected to utilise the new signing primarily as a slot receiver, working inside Evans and Ricky Pearsall.
Looking to the NFL Draft
The experienced pass-catcher could also feature on special teams as a return specialist following Moore’s departure.
Despite securing two high-profile veterans in free agency, the Bay Area outfit remain in a strong position to further bolster their ranks.
The franchise currently possesses six picks across the opening four rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft in April.
Brentford striker Igor Thiago has received his maiden senior call-up for Brazil ahead of their March friendlies in the United States, while Chelsea winger Estevao has been omitted.
The uncapped forward is enjoying a phenomenal campaign under manager Keith Andrews.
He has scored 19 goals in 30 league appearances so far this season.
That impressive tally leaves the frontman second only to Erling Haaland in the scoring charts.
His remarkable domestic form recently earned the goalscorer a lucrative contract extension last month.
Estevao and Neymar miss out
Carlo Ancelotti has opted to leave several high-profile names out of his latest Selecao squad.
Chelsea’s Estevao misses the cut having only recently returned to fitness following a hamstring injury.
Veteran attacker Neymar is also a notable absentee from the travelling party.
The former Paris St-Germain star has struggled for both form and fitness since undergoing major knee surgery in December.
An experimental squad for March friendlies
This upcoming international break represents the final training camp before the summer’s World Cup.
The five-time world champions will face France and Croatia in two exhibition matches across the Atlantic.
Despite lacking any prior experience in the national youth setup, the in-form Brentford talisman will hope to make his international debut.
He is joined by Bournemouth’s Rayan, Flamengo defender Leo Pereira and Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara, who are all seeking their first caps.
Endrick returns alongside Premier League contingent
Lyon loanee Endrick has earned a recall following a resurgence in French football.
The 21-year-old initially struggled after joining Real Madrid in 2024, but has since netted six times in 12 outings for his new club.
A strong Premier League contingent remains involved, with Chelsea duo Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro making the trip.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will provide vital experience to the ranks.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli completes the English-based selections, though the winger faces stiff competition from Vinicius Jr for a starting berth.
England manager Thomas Tuchel will announce his squad on Friday for the upcoming World Cup warm-up friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.
The announcement, scheduled for 10:00 GMT, serves as a crucial indicator of the national team’s direction ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Widespread changes are not anticipated, with highly-rated teenagers Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha expected to be omitted despite recent domestic speculation.
However, the right side of defence presents a significant dilemma for the head coach following a fresh injury blow to Reece James.
Defensive reshuffle and Alexander-Arnold’s return
Chelsea captain James is sidelined with another hamstring issue, which Blues manager Liam Rosenior confirmed will keep him out for several weeks.
This unfortunate setback for the injury-prone defender opens the door for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has returned to fitness following his own struggles in Spain.
The Real Madrid full-back has found it difficult to convince the German tactician previously, but his recent starts in La Liga make him incredibly difficult to ignore.
Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence, who recently impressed against Liverpool, are also vying for inclusion on the right flank.
Midfield battles and defensive contenders
In the middle of the park, Bournemouth prospect Alex Scott is making a strong case for a recall after earning a spot in the squad just three months ago.
The fearless playmaker provides exceptional progressive passing, offering stiff competition to established names like Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hall is fiercely challenging Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly for the starting left-back role.
At the heart of the defence, Jarell Quansah’s eye-catching performances for Bayer Leverkusen have significantly boosted his chances of selection.
The central defender will compete against the returning John Stones and Manchester United stalwart Harry Maguire, who is targeting a dramatic international recall.
Goalkeeping hierarchy remains stable
Between the posts, Everton’s Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed first choice despite a recent high-profile error against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsdale is heavily tipped to retain his spot as the third-choice goalkeeper after securing regular domestic minutes.
Aaron Nola will start for Italy against Venezuela in Monday’s World Baseball Classic semi-final in Miami, replacing Michael Lorenzen on the mound.
Manager Francisco Cervelli made the late pitching change just hours before the highly anticipated clash at loanDepot park.
The 32-year-old right-hander steps into the crucial role following an exceptional performance earlier in the tournament.
Impressive group stage form
He previously earned the victory in the group stage finale against Mexico on 11 March.
During that decisive win, the veteran pitcher allowed just four hits across five scoreless innings.
He demonstrated remarkable control by striking out five batters and issuing only a single walk over 69 pitches.
His flawless execution under pressure likely influenced the managerial decision to give him the ball for this knockout fixture.
The road to the final
The European nation will face a formidable opponent, with Keider Montero taking the mound for the South American side.
The 25-year-old right-hander has been entrusted with starting duties as his team attempts to secure a spot in the championship game.
Whoever emerges victorious from this semi-final showdown will advance to face the United States in Tuesday night’s grand finale.
Celtic are targeting former striker Robbie Keane to replace outgoing manager Martin O’Neill ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season.
The Glasgow club are preparing for life after the 74-year-old, who arrived during a difficult spell under Wilfried Nancy and successfully revitalised the squad.
Under the veteran coach, the Hoops currently sit just two points behind league leaders Hearts with a genuine chance of securing the domestic title.
Winning pedigree in Europe
The 45-year-old candidate has established a strong managerial reputation following successful spells with Maccabi Tel Aviv and his current club Ferencvaros.
Having already secured two league titles in his short coaching career, the former Republic of Ireland international has demonstrated an ability to make an immediate impact.
His preferred 3-5-2 formation would represent a tactical shift for the Scottish giants, but his track record of delivering domestic dominance makes him a compelling option.
A familiar face in Glasgow
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward understands the unique demands of the club following a brief loan spell at Celtic Park.
During that short stint as a player, the prolific attacker proved highly successful by registering seven league goals in just 12 appearances.
The Celtic hierarchy must act swiftly to secure their primary target, as other clubs including Tottenham are reportedly monitoring his availability before the summer window.
Catarina Macario has completed an immediate move to San Diego Wave from Chelsea in a record-breaking deal believed to be the most lucrative in women’s football history.
The United States forward has signed a contract running until the 2030 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Valued at approximately $8m (£6.3m) in total, the agreement easily surpasses previous financial benchmarks set within the women’s game.
San Diego will pay Chelsea a transfer fee in the region of $300,000 to secure the Brazilian-born attacker before the NWSL deadline closes on Monday.
Returning to Californian roots
The move represents a homecoming for the international star, who relocated to San Diego with her family from Brazil at the age of 12.
Her new franchise trains just yards away from the youth pitches where she first developed her formidable skills.
Personal reasons were reportedly a major driving factor behind the switch, despite the highly sought-after talent receiving offers from European heavyweights including Barcelona.
Navigating new financial rules
To facilitate this landmark acquisition, the Wave are utilising the NWSL’s newly introduced High Impact Player rule.
This mechanism permits teams to remunerate marquee talents from a designated $1m fund outside the standard $3.7m salary cap parameters.
Macario will earn an average annual value of around $2m, mirroring the landmark package recently awarded to international team-mate Trinity Rodman at Washington Spirit.
Swapping London for the NWSL
The prolific goalscorer had endured a frustrating recent spell in England, with her playing time severely restricted by persistent injury setbacks.
With her Chelsea contract set to expire this summer, an immediate mid-season transfer proved logical to ensure a fresh start.
San Diego will be hoping their new marquee addition can immediately reverse their fortunes following a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to the Houston Dash on the opening weekend.
The lightning-fast striker is expected to be a vital component of the national squad aiming for a fifth World Cup triumph in Brazil next year.