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Deadspin | Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic  Jan 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives the ball past Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images   For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night’s play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.  Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do to meet their expectations.  The Hornets and Magic will meet to determine the last piece of the Eastern Conference postseason field Friday night, when Charlotte visits Orlando in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.  The winner Friday will earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons which is slated to begin Sunday night.  The Hornets, who finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, advanced to the final round of the play-in when LaMelo Bell hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lift host Charlotte past the 10th-place Miami Heat, 127-126, in the first elimination play-in game Tuesday night.  The Magic, which finished eighth in the East with a 45-37 record, fell into the elimination play-in game after losing to the host Philadelphia 76ers, 109-97, on Wednesday night,   The frantic and controversial win over the Heat continued a breakout season for the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 – by far the longest drought in the NBA.   Coby White forced overtime by draining a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left for the Hornets, who survived Tyler Herro’s errant 3-pointer at the buzzer.    Charlotte squandered a five-point lead in the final 26 seconds of the extra session before Ball – who was fined ,000 on Wednesday for what was assessed upon review as a flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo that forced the Heat star from the game in the second quarter – scored the winning points.  Miles Bridges blocked a layup by Davion Mitchell at the buzzer, after which Ball capped his expensive night by uttering a profanity during a live interview. The 24-year-old was also fined ,000 for the profanity.  “At the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “But I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren’t going well or not going your way.”  Things have not gone the way the Magic anticipated when they began the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Orlando won just four more games than last season despite the addition of Desmond Bane, who played all 82 games, and the return to the lineup of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, who missed a combined 83 games in 2024-25.  The Magic, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the third straight season, squandered an opportunity to earn home court against Philadelphia by falling to the Celtics – who sat their top seven scorers – in Sunday’s regular season finale. Orlando shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.  Orlando then shot 40.7% on Wednesday – the first time the Magic has shot below 41% in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Jan. 24-26.  “You live with the result and come out Friday in front of the home crowd and go get a win,” Banchero said. “That’s all you can do. Shots didn’t fall, but you can’t be discouraged. We’ve got another game coming up real soon.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hornets #seek #1st #playoff #berth #years #playin #game #Magic

Deadspin | Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic
Deadspin | Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic  Jan 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives the ball past Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images   For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night’s play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.  Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do to meet their expectations.  The Hornets and Magic will meet to determine the last piece of the Eastern Conference postseason field Friday night, when Charlotte visits Orlando in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.  The winner Friday will earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons which is slated to begin Sunday night.  The Hornets, who finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, advanced to the final round of the play-in when LaMelo Bell hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lift host Charlotte past the 10th-place Miami Heat, 127-126, in the first elimination play-in game Tuesday night.  The Magic, which finished eighth in the East with a 45-37 record, fell into the elimination play-in game after losing to the host Philadelphia 76ers, 109-97, on Wednesday night,   The frantic and controversial win over the Heat continued a breakout season for the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 – by far the longest drought in the NBA.   Coby White forced overtime by draining a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left for the Hornets, who survived Tyler Herro’s errant 3-pointer at the buzzer.    Charlotte squandered a five-point lead in the final 26 seconds of the extra session before Ball – who was fined ,000 on Wednesday for what was assessed upon review as a flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo that forced the Heat star from the game in the second quarter – scored the winning points.  Miles Bridges blocked a layup by Davion Mitchell at the buzzer, after which Ball capped his expensive night by uttering a profanity during a live interview. The 24-year-old was also fined ,000 for the profanity.  “At the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “But I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren’t going well or not going your way.”  Things have not gone the way the Magic anticipated when they began the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Orlando won just four more games than last season despite the addition of Desmond Bane, who played all 82 games, and the return to the lineup of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, who missed a combined 83 games in 2024-25.  The Magic, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the third straight season, squandered an opportunity to earn home court against Philadelphia by falling to the Celtics – who sat their top seven scorers – in Sunday’s regular season finale. Orlando shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.  Orlando then shot 40.7% on Wednesday – the first time the Magic has shot below 41% in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Jan. 24-26.  “You live with the result and come out Friday in front of the home crowd and go get a win,” Banchero said. “That’s all you can do. Shots didn’t fall, but you can’t be discouraged. We’ve got another game coming up real soon.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hornets #seek #1st #playoff #berth #years #playin #game #MagicJan 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives the ball past Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night’s play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.

Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do to meet their expectations.

The Hornets and Magic will meet to determine the last piece of the Eastern Conference postseason field Friday night, when Charlotte visits Orlando in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.

The winner Friday will earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons which is slated to begin Sunday night.

The Hornets, who finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, advanced to the final round of the play-in when LaMelo Bell hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lift host Charlotte past the 10th-place Miami Heat, 127-126, in the first elimination play-in game Tuesday night.

The Magic, which finished eighth in the East with a 45-37 record, fell into the elimination play-in game after losing to the host Philadelphia 76ers, 109-97, on Wednesday night,

The frantic and controversial win over the Heat continued a breakout season for the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 – by far the longest drought in the NBA.


Coby White forced overtime by draining a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left for the Hornets, who survived Tyler Herro’s errant 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Charlotte squandered a five-point lead in the final 26 seconds of the extra session before Ball – who was fined $35,000 on Wednesday for what was assessed upon review as a flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo that forced the Heat star from the game in the second quarter – scored the winning points.

Miles Bridges blocked a layup by Davion Mitchell at the buzzer, after which Ball capped his expensive night by uttering a profanity during a live interview. The 24-year-old was also fined $25,000 for the profanity.

“At the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “But I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren’t going well or not going your way.”

Things have not gone the way the Magic anticipated when they began the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Orlando won just four more games than last season despite the addition of Desmond Bane, who played all 82 games, and the return to the lineup of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, who missed a combined 83 games in 2024-25.

The Magic, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the third straight season, squandered an opportunity to earn home court against Philadelphia by falling to the Celtics – who sat their top seven scorers – in Sunday’s regular season finale. Orlando shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.

Orlando then shot 40.7% on Wednesday – the first time the Magic has shot below 41% in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Jan. 24-26.

“You live with the result and come out Friday in front of the home crowd and go get a win,” Banchero said. “That’s all you can do. Shots didn’t fall, but you can’t be discouraged. We’ve got another game coming up real soon.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hornets #seek #1st #playoff #berth #years #playin #game #Magic

Jan 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives the ball past Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night’s play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.

Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do to meet their expectations.

The Hornets and Magic will meet to determine the last piece of the Eastern Conference postseason field Friday night, when Charlotte visits Orlando in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.

The winner Friday will earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons which is slated to begin Sunday night.

The Hornets, who finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, advanced to the final round of the play-in when LaMelo Bell hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lift host Charlotte past the 10th-place Miami Heat, 127-126, in the first elimination play-in game Tuesday night.

The Magic, which finished eighth in the East with a 45-37 record, fell into the elimination play-in game after losing to the host Philadelphia 76ers, 109-97, on Wednesday night,

The frantic and controversial win over the Heat continued a breakout season for the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 – by far the longest drought in the NBA.

Coby White forced overtime by draining a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left for the Hornets, who survived Tyler Herro’s errant 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Charlotte squandered a five-point lead in the final 26 seconds of the extra session before Ball – who was fined $35,000 on Wednesday for what was assessed upon review as a flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo that forced the Heat star from the game in the second quarter – scored the winning points.

Miles Bridges blocked a layup by Davion Mitchell at the buzzer, after which Ball capped his expensive night by uttering a profanity during a live interview. The 24-year-old was also fined $25,000 for the profanity.

“At the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “But I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren’t going well or not going your way.”

Things have not gone the way the Magic anticipated when they began the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Orlando won just four more games than last season despite the addition of Desmond Bane, who played all 82 games, and the return to the lineup of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, who missed a combined 83 games in 2024-25.

The Magic, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the third straight season, squandered an opportunity to earn home court against Philadelphia by falling to the Celtics – who sat their top seven scorers – in Sunday’s regular season finale. Orlando shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.

Orlando then shot 40.7% on Wednesday – the first time the Magic has shot below 41% in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Jan. 24-26.

“You live with the result and come out Friday in front of the home crowd and go get a win,” Banchero said. “That’s all you can do. Shots didn’t fall, but you can’t be discouraged. We’ve got another game coming up real soon.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Hornets #seek #1st #playoff #berth #years #playin #game #Magic

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Which NFL draft rumors are you buying this year, and which are nothingburgers? <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Barely one week separates us from the 2026 NFL Draft, and that is good news because it feels like we are barely going to make it.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So much has happened (Tua Tagovailoa is a Falcon!) and not happened (Maxx Crosby is still a Raider!) that getting through the draft feels necessary at this point. It will help the waters fully and finally calm across the NFL and close out (for the most part) the roster construction period.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It will probably be quite the ride to get to the end, though.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">What kind of quarterback room are the Raiders going to have?</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Since we last spoke, the Las Vegas Raiders adjusted their quarterback room. Obviously they are expected to do it again with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza as well.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Kirk Cousins sort of feels like the perfect player to have ahead of Mendoza. The Atlanta experience likely helped Kirk understand his new place in the league as a backup and mentor to a younger signal-caller, and Mendoza seems like the perfect one to live and operate under his wing.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It was always going to be fascinating to see what kind of situation Klint Kubiak developed with the Raiders. It feels like he’s off to a strong start.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I don’t think there’s going to be anything unique happening with this room. I believe the addition of Kirk Cousins is nothing more than an insurance policy if Mendoza is not ready to lead the team right out of the gate. Cousins has not looked great since his Achilles tear and leaving the Vikings, but he’s still better than the majority of backups and gives the Raiders a relatively high floor at the position.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">In comparison to what they got out of Geno Smith in 2025, this is a huge upgrade. Now let’s see how they approach protecting their quarterback and upgrading the offense around him after the first round this year.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Which draft rumor are you buying?</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is such a weird class in that there aren’t many players seen as the consensus top guy at their position this year. One murmur I’m buying is that Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has the opportunity to be the first offensive tackle off the board, over the likes of Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah).</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Freeling is a very prototypical tackle at 6’7” and 315 pounds with excellent athleticism. He’s the picture of an NFL tackle and it feels like teams are very willing to overlook his small sample of starting experience in college.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Do I think that’s smart? Not necessarily, but what do I know? I’m just a guy who writes the sweetest NFL column in the whole world.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So much of the discussion around this class has been about how it is a little less impressive in some respects. In <em>this </em>respect I fully and totally buy that teams near the top are looking to trade out.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I particularly buy this when it comes to squads like the Titans and Cardinals. They are not close enough to contending in 2026 so it makes sense for them to accrue more capital to set themselves up for when the opportunity is more closely in front of them.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I definitely buy that someone outside of the top 10 is going to want to move up.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Which draft rumor are you selling?</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It feels kind of impossible for AJ Brown to get traded at this point in my opinion. Why would Howie Roseman do it now? What would the benefit be?</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I suppose the answer to this is that the Eagles first acquired Brown during the NFL draft so anything is possible in that sense. It would just be tugging at a thread that they should leave alone for the Eagles to do this now in my mind. I still see very little to gain from their perspective.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There’s been a recent story being published around the media landscape that involves Miami edge rusher prospect Rueben Bain Jr. being a part of a fatal car accident in 2024. It’s being plastered just about everywhere despite the matter essentially being moved on from by all parties involved way before this draft season. The thought now is that Bain will see his draft stock fall because that’s usually what happens in these cases that happen so close to the draft, but when the family of the person who lost their life comes out and says they did not want the story published because they would prefer to move on, that tells me it’s as much of a nothingburger as something like this can get. It’s a very, very unfortunate story but it should not have any bearing on when Bain ultimately gets picked next week.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Will the draft completely change any team?</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Given the lack of quarterbacks beyond Mendoza I don’t think anybody is going to be seriously transformed after the draft. That is simply the way that professional football works.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It is hard to capture lightning in a bottle, and even if you do that doesn’t necessarily mean your fortunes completely shift on a dime. Everyone is chasing the Seattle Seahawks these days and I don’t know that any one team is a draft away from everything being right in front of them.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Looking across the NFL landscape with the draft just a week and a half away, I have to say no. The closest team to doing such a thing, in my opinion, is the Raiders who spent a ton of money on their defense in free agency and have the number one pick. With the majority of their cap space being spent on that side of the ball, I would not be surprised if they really leaned into the offense during the draft, essentially building that side from the jump with (presumably) Fernando Mendoza as their quarterback of the future.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">By the start of the 2026 regular season, the Raiders should look quite, quite different than on opening day last year.</p></div></div> #NFL #draft #rumors #buying #year #nothingburgers

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Herve Renard sacked as Saudi Arabia coach ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 <div id="content-body-70874015" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Frenchman Herve Renard told <i>AFP </i>on Friday he has been relieved of his duties as Saudi Arabia coach, less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.</p><p>Renard, 57, returned for a second spell as Saudi coach at the end of 2024, having led it at the last World Cup in Qatar, including to a famous win over eventual champion Argentina in the group stage.</p><p>“That’s football… Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me,” Renard told <i>AFP </i>via telephone.</p><p>“And there’s only one coach who has led them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that’s me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride,” he added.</p><p>Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast, led Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023 before being replaced by Roberto Mancini.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/marie-louise-eta-union-berlin-first-female-bundesliga-coach/article70873306.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Union Berlin rules out permanent men’s role for Marie-Louise Eta despite historic appointment</a></b></p><p>He served as coach of the French women’s team and reached the quarterfinals of both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.</p><p>Renard was later brought back by Saudi Arabia to succeed Mancini, as the Italian left his role after an underwhelming 14-month stint.</p><p>Former Greece international Georgios Donis is reportedly being lined up as the man to take over from Renard.</p><p>A source close to the negotiations told <i>AFP </i>that talks are underway between the federation and Saudi club Al Khaleej, where Donis has been in charge since 2024.</p><p>Saudi Arabia will face Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde in Group H at this year’s World Cup.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #Herve #Renard #sacked #Saudi #Arabia #coach #ahead #FIFA #World #Cup

On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain">World Cup 2026: How Germany clinched Group E and what scenarios remain  On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.What are the Group E standings?Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsGermany20092+76Ivory Coast1012203Ecuador01101-11Curaçao01117-61What are the next Group E matches?Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.What are the current scenarios for Group E?Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.  #World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain

first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain">World Cup 2026: How Germany clinched Group E and what scenarios remain

On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain

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