The US men’s hockey team at the State of the Union showed proximity to Trump is never neutral

The newly crowned Olympic champions were warmly greeted by both Republicans and Democrats. They were also used as props by the president

During Tuesday’s State of the Union, Donald Trump welcomed members of the US men’s national hockey team to the House gallery to chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!”. Trump revealed that Team USA’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “What special champions you are,” Trump told the players, who had beaten Canada on Sunday in the gold medal game of the Winter Olympics.

In Trump’s America, proximity is never neutral.

Published: February 25, 2026, 1:09 pm

Mauricio Pochettino suddenly has a glut of USMNT options as the World Cup looms

Timing and luck often dictate a team’s success at tournaments. And the co-hosts have players coming into form at just the right time

Bruce Arena once said that if his United States men’s national team had contested the 2006 World Cup a year earlier, the Americans would have done much better than the joyless, winless group stage elimination they suffered through. That team, he felt, had peaked during qualifiers and were past their best – despite being ranked an absurd fourth in the world by Fifa – when the World Cup kicked off.

Four years earlier, when the USMNT stunned the 2002 World Cup by nearly reaching the semi-finals, his side benefited from time’s relentless march, Arena argued. The Americans, cohesive and energized then, upset a golden Portugal generation that had already lost its sheen, 3-2, to spark their run.

Published: February 25, 2026, 11:00 am

Pitch Points: Bodø/Glimt give us hope for the future; have Arsenal turned the corner?

The world of soccer throws up no shortage of questions. Today, Graham Ruthven endeavors to answer three of them

The soccer news agenda hasn’t exactly been a picnic recently. Concerns over the hosting of World Cup matches in Mexico. Gianni Infantino cozying up to Donald Trump whenever he can. The fleecing of supporters planning to visit the US this summer. Is all this really worth it? But then there’s Bodø/Glimt.

Published: February 25, 2026, 5:38 pm

Breakaway union stands behind Tara Moore’s $20m legal battle against WTA

• Former British doubles No 1 has same legal firm as PTPA

• The 33-year-old doubles star has always denied doping

The breakaway players’ union that is suing the tours and grand slam tournaments has thrown its weight behind Tara Moore’s $20m (£14.7m) legal battle against the Women’s Tennis Association in a new front in the sport’s civil war.

The Guardian has learnt that Moore, a former British No 1 doubles player who this week brought a legal action for negligence against the WTA after being handed a four‑year ban for doping, is using lawyers from the Professional Tennis Players Association’s legal partner, King & Spalding.

Published: February 25, 2026, 5:50 pm

Among the gangsters, gamblers and high rollers: a master bookie’s life in Las Vegas

In his new memoir, Art Manteris recalls raucous times in Nevada, and explains why the explosion of sports betting in the US presents serious risks

Forty years ago, the New England Patriots played in their first Super Bowl. It ended disastrously for New England, who lost 46-10 to the Chicago Bears. The Bears’ mammoth defensive tackle, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, even got involved in the scoring with a touchdown.

That moment looked like it would cause serious problems for Art Manteris, who at the time ran the sportsbook at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Under Manteris, Caesars had offered odds on whether Perry would score during the game – and, as fans scrambled to back the popular player, the house stood to lose a significant sum if he did. When Perry ran into the end zone, gamblers collected handsomely, to the tune of $250,000. The next day, Manteris was summoned to meet the boss of Caesars, Henry Gluck.

Published: February 25, 2026, 11:00 am

Outrage in Austria after man ordered to pay female footballers €625 each for secretly filming dressing room

• Former official at Altach given suspended prison term

• Player says the sentence ‘leaves me speechless’

A man has been given a seven-month suspended prison sentence and fined €1,200 (£1,046) after being found guilty of taking secret videos and photographs from the changing room, gym and showers of the Altach women’s football team. He was also told to pay the victims €625 each in compensation.

The sentence was handed out in the regional court in Feldkirch, Austria, with the judge saying that it made a huge difference “if one looks at pictures or actually creates them oneself”. The defendant accepted the sentence but the prosecutor may appeal.

Published: February 25, 2026, 10:43 am

Footballers are calling out racism because they have had enough. Those with power must act | Samuel Okafor

The leadership shown by four Premier League players in highlighting racism last weekend must be replicated, and addressing representation is part of that

Recent incidents involving Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Vinícius Júnior have offered a new layer to the question Kick It Out is often asked when discrimination occurs: is it getting worse or are more people reporting it?

The question has been posed again this week after four Premier League players highlighted racist abuse sent to them on social media after matches last weekend.

Published: February 25, 2026, 3:00 pm

World Cup host cities ‘running out of time’ with $625m in funding held up by shutdown

• Funds promised for security have not been received

• Officials warn of potential cancellations to fan festivals

Local and national officials expressed concern on Tuesday that the ongoing partial government shutdown in the United States could adversely affect planning and preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which is just over 100 days away.

In a hearing before the House committee on homeland security, representatives from Miami, Kansas City and New Jersey – three locations that will host a combined total of 21 matches in the tournament, including the final – said they are still waiting on federal funds to be released to their respective local agencies. Last July, lawmakers pledged $625m in federal assistance toward World Cup security via the Trump administration’s “big beautiful” policy bill.

Published: February 24, 2026, 8:37 pm

US basketball player Jarred Shaw escaped execution in Indonesia, but his prison ordeal continues

The Texan made the mistake of his life when he ordered gummies to soothe symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Now his health is suffering in a foreign jail

Jarred Shaw is locked up in an Indonesian prison – but at least he isn’t facing execution, something that appeared a possibility less than a year ago.

The 35-year-old American was a key member of the Prawira Bandung team who won the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) in 2023, the latest highlight in a fascinating professional career that had taken him to countries as varied as Tunisia, Lebanon, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Published: February 24, 2026, 10:00 am

Real Madrid v Benfica: Champions League knockout round playoff, second leg – live

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Read today’s Football Daily | Email Scott

When these two grand old clubs came out of the hat, one after the other, hot on the heels of the joyful drama of Anatoliy Trubin’s insta-legendary header, anticipation and excitement rocketed. Two more matches like that, please; imagine the fun we’ll all have! Then came last week’s throughly dispiriting imbroglio, and now … let’s just hope we get through the evening without anyone suffering unacceptable abuse while going about their daily business. It’s not much of an ask, and it’s painful to be required to set the bar so low, but here we are. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT.

Published: February 25, 2026, 6:30 pm

Football Daily | West Bromwich Albion and the beauty of the struggle

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When it comes to word association Football Daily immediately links West Bromwich Albion with Adrian Chiles, due in no small part to the avuncular broadcaster and star Big Website columnist being one of the Baggies’ more famous high priests of pessimism. Upon hearing that his struggling club had dispensed with the services of yet another head coach, we checked in to make sure the man we don’t know well enough to call “Chilesey” hadn’t taken it upon himself to sally forth to the Hawthorns and run amok with the new yellow power tool he recently bought in order to “address lifelong self-esteem issues” through the medium of DIY. We’re happy to report that, at the time of writing, the famous old ground’s Smethwick End is still standing and bears no resemblance to a colander.

I thought I should remind James Harvey (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) that English language (and other) pedantry has a proud, well long, tradition in Football Daily! To that end, I think he will see, if he looks, that David Livesey’s use of tautology was entirely intentional, and unusually subtle for Football Daily … neither clear nor obvious” – David Mutimer.

Regarding the recent James Milner quote, in which he puzzlingly pluralised the names of some of his former managers. Frankly I was surprised by this, coming from such a singular player” – Peter Oh.

Can I (and 1,056 Norwegians) offer a hearty ‘Giorgia Meloni, can you hear me Giorgia Meloni? Your boys took a hell of a beating …’ to Bodø/Glimt on their success in San Siro” – Declan Hackett (and no other Norwegians).

Re: the lead story on the stricken seagull (yesterday’s Football Daily). If one takes the folkloric Atatürk-seagull story as gospel, then perhaps Gani Caton’s reaction to recent suspensions were approached with the same seriousness one might show when interpreting prophetic messages from coastal wildlife. One imagines the seagulls of Istanbul have been placed on an unofficial watch list while the matter is reviewed with appropriate bureaucratic dignity” – Andrew Delaney (and no other wannabe Eric Cantonas).

Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. After a lifetime of study, I can confirm for Football Daily Ed that drinking pints does not gain aura. Area, yes – but aura, no” – David Ford.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

Published: February 25, 2026, 3:51 pm

Scotland fans given all-clear to wear their sporrans at World Cup matches

• Fifa to allow traditional Highland accessory into grounds

• Tournament rules only permit certain types of bags

Scotland fans have been given the all-clear to wear their sporrans at the team’s matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Tournament rules only permitted certain types of bags into stadiums, and the pouch traditionally worn by Scots at the front of their kilt was deemed too large to meet the strict criteria.

Published: February 25, 2026, 3:24 pm

Mary Earps says she ‘learned some tough lessons’ from book backlash

• Former England keeper has met with Sarina Wiegman

• She adds: ‘I’m human. I’m not perfect, I’m still learning’

Mary Earps said she has “learned some tough lessons” and understands why there was such strong condemnation of comments made in her autobiography last year.

The former England goalkeeper told the Guardian the “last thing she wanted to do” was hurt Sarina Wiegman and she is grateful to have had a chance to meet up with the Lionesses head coach and have a “really positive conversation” since the release of her book in November, which led to a huge backlash.

Published: February 25, 2026, 9:00 am

Sheffield Wednesday takeover collapses as would-be buyers end their interest

• Consortium included Dunfermline co-owner James Bord

• They say due diligence showed their offer was far too high

Sheffield Wednesday have been engulfed in fresh turmoil just days after suffering the earliest relegation in EFL history with a consortium led by poker player James Bord withdrawing their bid to buy the crisis club.

Bord’s group was granted preferred bidder status on Christmas Eve, but after receiving an additional due diligence report from accountancy firm PwC this week concluded they had offered too much for Wednesday and opted to withdraw their proposed purchase.

Published: February 25, 2026, 1:52 pm

Football ‘has eaten almost every sport’ due to digital dominance, says podcast chief

• Goalhanger’s Tony Pastor says Serie A has ‘disappeared’

• ‘You have to embrace this idea of fragmentation’

Football “has eaten almost every sport worldwide” thanks to its dominance of TV and digital markets, according to the head of the leading podcast production company Goalhanger.

Tony Pastor, CEO of the studio behind the Rest is Football among other podcasts, said that broadcasters were struggling to get value for money for sports rights and that competitions should “embrace fragmentation” to reach audiences where they are.

Published: February 25, 2026, 3:01 pm

Onana intent on reclaiming place in Manchester United team next season

• Goalkeeper currently on loan at Trabzonspor

• United report £4.2m net profit in second quarter

André Onana wants to fight to re-establish himself as Manchester United’s No 1 when his season’s loan at Trabzonspor finishes in May and believes he will be given a chance to do so.

The 29-year-old signed for the Turkish club on 11 September after his erratic form moved United to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18m. He is due to report for pre-season training at United.

Published: February 25, 2026, 1:31 pm

Steve Borthwick turns to 2003 World Cup heroes for Six Nations inspiration

• Blow as scrum-half Alex Mitchell is ruled out of campaign

• Johnson, Dallaglio, Leonard and co to dine with players

Steve Borthwick has turned to England’s 2003 World Cup winning heroes to arrest his side’s drastic decline after suffering another setback with the scrum-half Alex Mitchell ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations.

Borthwick’s squad were on Wednesday night due to have dinner with members of the 2003 team, including the captain, Martin Johnson, Test centurion Jason Leonard and Lewis Moody, who in October revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Published: February 25, 2026, 6:31 pm

Constitution Hill out of Champion Hurdle and ready for next chapter on the Flat

• Jumps star has fallen in three of last four hurdles runs

• Horse switched to Flat campaign after Southwell romp

Constitution Hill, the brilliant Champion Hurdle winner in 2023, has been ruled out of this year’s race on 10 March and any further races over jumps after a schooling session at Nicky Henderson’s yard on Wednesday, with the trainer saying in a statement that “it is not fair to ask him and Nico [de Boinville, his jockey] to do it again” following three falls in the nine-year-old’s last four races.

Confirmation that Constitution Hill will pursue new opportunities on the Flat follows his astonishing debut on the level at Southwell four days ago. While some jumps fans will regret the fact that one of the best hurdlers in racing history will not get a final chance to reclaim his former crown, others will feel relief that the risks attached to another fall have weighed heavier in the balance than the lure of a final run at the festival.

Published: February 25, 2026, 2:32 pm

MPs back UK broadcasters in push to expand sport’s free-to-air ‘crown jewels’

• Terrestrial channels seeking more legislative protection

• Number of Labour MPs are understood to be supportive

Public service broadcasters are making renewed attempts to persuade the government to expand the list of televised sport’s free-to-air “crown jewels”.

A call from the then BBC director of sport, Barbara Slater, to add the Six Nations Championship to the group A list of events that must be offered to terrestrial channels was rejected three years ago, but a group of Labour MPs is understood to be working with broadcasters to force a change of policy.

Published: February 25, 2026, 2:30 pm

Pakistan players will not be excluded from Hundred, insist ECB and all teams

• Cricket board and eight franchises issue joint statement

• ECB sent email to teams warning against discrimination

The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of the Hundred teams have jointly insisted the competition is “inclusive and open to all” amid claims Pakistan players could be frozen out by the Indian-owned franchises.

It had been reported by the BBC that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider any Pakistan cricketers at the Hundred auction in March.

Published: February 25, 2026, 9:58 am

US men’s hockey team visit White House as some players with Minnesota ties stay away

• Donald Trump invited team after Olympic gold

• Women’s team chose to skip event

The victorious US Olympic men’s ice hockey team visited the White House on Tuesday, although there were several notable absences.

Donald Trump invited the team to celebrate in Washington DC after they beat Canada in a dramatic Olympic final on Sunday. He also invited the US women’s team, who declined citing “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments”.

Published: February 24, 2026, 10:40 pm

If you think politics shaped these Winter Olympics, just wait until LA 2028

In Milan, athletes showed that patriotism can be generous. In Los Angeles, that definition will be tested on the biggest, loudest stage sport can offer

The Milano Cortina Winter Games ended on Sunday night as the Olympics always do: in light, spectacle and speeches about unity. In Verona, the Olympic flag passed to the French Alps and the twin flames were extinguished. But unofficially, at least, a flame also flickered 6,000 miles west.

If these Games felt political, just wait until Los Angeles a little more than two years from now.

Published: February 24, 2026, 11:00 am