Eduardo Tansley

World Cup draw: What are the possible groups? Which teams are in which pots? How tough can they be? The latest FIFA rankings have been released, so we have the clearest idea yet of what the pots will look like for the December 5 draw

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: The World Cup draw will take place in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. Let’s take a look at the possible groups, including what the "group of death" could be.

Eberechi Eze went back to his old school this week, returning to talk about his love of chess.

But he also received a grilling by pupils about all things football.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Fuelling England for the Women’s Rugby World Cup final: 4,000 calories and 600g of carbs a day The English are favourites to beat Canada and be crowned champions on home soil this weekend, but what has fuelled their success?

Nutrition plays a crucial role in performance. Story here on how the Red Roses have tackled nutrition during the Women's Rugby World Cup 🌹🍽️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Cairo Santos left Brazil for the U.S. to make it in soccer but became an NFL star instead Santos, the first Brazilian-born player to feature in an NFL regular-season game, on why Brazil could have lots of potential NFL stars.

Spoke to the only Brazilian in the NFL, Cairo Santos, ahead of the NFL Brazil game.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

US Vice-President JD Vance, an Ohio native, watched on at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati as Jobe Bellingham helped Borussia Dortmund reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup.

@eduardotansley.bsky.social and @sebsb.bsky.social break down what happened ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Basketball in Britain and how aesthetic court renovations are boosting the culture There is still a long list of problems with British basketball, but beautiful court renovations could be a seed for better things to come.

The UK is not known for its basketball courts. In fact, as content creators SBB show, some courts here can be pretty strange.

But the Hoopsfix foundation/ Sam Neter and designer Sam Sure are changing that.

@theathletic.bsky.social
Read here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Individual walkouts are commonplace in lots of American sports but it's new for football at the Club World Cup.

What do players think of it? Will it be rolled out elsewhere and will anyone have some fun with it?

✍️ @eduardotansley.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Justin Reid picks off Kyler Murray to win NFL chess tournament The New Orleans Saints safety is now a two-time champion of the competition.

Justin Reid... the NFL's chess champ 🏆

@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

The Scotsman who helped the Eagles perfect the tush push: ‘Nobody else is doing what I do’ He's a former rugby player himself, but Richie Gray pushes back against those who dismiss the Eagles' QB sneak as a rugby play.

Scotsman Richie Gray helped innovate a football play the Philadelphia Eagles have made so effective that NFL owners were two votes away from banning it last month. “Nobody else in the world is doing what I do,” he says.

@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Magnus Carlsen suffers surprise loss to Gukesh Dommaraju, slams table in frustration Pieces toppled over as Carlsen, widely regarded as one of chess' greatest players, punched the table after realising defeat.

From @TheAthletic: Chess world champion Gukesh Dommaraju beat Magnus Carlsen in a classical match for the first time, causing the world No. 1 to slam the table in frustration. https://trib.al/Z4EqWHX

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa: What clubs might want the duo this summer? With their contracts set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, could Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa be on the move?

I considered this question after watching the pair at Brentford vs Fulham last weekend. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...

Daulton Varsho is back. #BlueJays

Premier League meets NBA awards: What if football had Rookie of the Year and more? What if the Premier League's end-of-season awards were the same as the NBA's? Chris Wood, Liam Delap and Jhon Duran would be in the mix

The NBA awards season is in full swing — and the categories are quite different to those in the Premier League.

Who's the Premier League’s Rookie of the Year?

How about Defensive POTY, Most Improved, Sixth Man, and Clutch POTY?

✍️ @eduardotansley.bsky.social

Inside Leeds United’s promotion: Play-off wake, captain Ampadu’s impact and 49ers’ Farke faith Leeds have managed to win promotion to the Premier League, ending a two-year spell in the Championship

Leeds United are back. At the second time of asking, they have returned to the Premier League.

This is the inside story of the past season. #lufc

Marco Silva pulling Ryan Sessegnon's shirt

Last night, Bournemouth fans were angered by the long wait as Fulham made a substitution.

Marco Silva, just as bewildered, was helplessly trying to push Ryan Sessengnon back onto the pitch.

Why was a coach trying to get a player he had just taken off to return to the field?

🔗 bit.ly/44u7B1F

How Ryan Sessegnon was substituted by mistake in Fulham’s defeat to Bournemouth Sessegnon was substituted in the 57th minute with Fulham chasing the game – despite his coach Silva having no intention of taking him off...

🔄 How Ryan Sessegnon was substituted by mistake in Fulham’s defeat to Bournemouth

@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

The ex-Real Madrid striker who had not scored for 1,135 days or played in 304 – and a glorious return Mariano Diaz has been without a club since leaving Sevilla last summer - but he's aiming to help his country to their first World Cup

Mariano Diaz had not scored for 1,135 days or played in 304 before breaking both droughts for the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Read about his return with insight from Dominican Republic head coach Marcelo Neveleff.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

The NFL International Player Pathway’s legacy: A TV star, a barrister, a Super Bowl winner The International Player Pathway (IPP) aims to get athletes NFL-ready, but not everyone makes the grade. Some become stars in other ways

💪🏼 A BBC Gladiator
⚖️ A barrister
🏆 A Super Bowl champion

Me and Peter Carline spoke to graduates of the NFL International Players Pathway (IPP) to see what they are doing now:

@TheAthletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Commissioner Adam Silver will pitch the NBA Board of Governors his early sketches of a plan to start a new pro basketball league in Europe as early as 2026, sources tell The Athletic.

The venture could include 16 teams: http://dlvr.it/TJnLTT

New York’s Raucous Dominican Baseball Fans Have a New Team Juan Soto spurned the Yankees for the Mets — and his Dominican fans in New York are following suit, Jason Schwartz writes.

Juan Soto spurned the Yankees for the Mets — and his Dominican fans in New York are following suit, Jason Schwartz writes.

Mings, McGinn and Watkins symbolise Aston Villa’s rise to the Champions League quarter-final Aston Villa advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Club Brugge on Wednesday night

Three players symbolise #AVFC's rise. Each characterise an unlikely ascent, with underdog careers and a determination to elevate their levels in keeping with Villa. 2012 was the year it begun. Piece from a memorable Champions League night @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...

Lizbeth Ovalle’s adapted ‘scorpion kick’ – the most startling goal of 2025 The Mexican winger whose wonder goal has gone viral - and how she scored it

Lizbeth Ovalle evolved the scorpion kick and used it in a way many had not envisaged.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

Basketball’s social media sensation: Pigalle Duperré is a work of art in Paris A basketball court in Paris brings colour and a sense of community to a neighborhood and the fans who visit.

Pigalle Duperré is not just a basketball court but a community hub, a social media sensation - a work of art.

@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/606...

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz set to miss rest of season due to hamstring injury The injury to Havertz adds to Arsenal's fitness issues up front, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all currently out.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team’s training camp in Dubai.

Full story from @david-ornstein.bsky.social and @gunnerblog.bsky.social ⤵️

Juric thinks Dibling will stay at Southampton Southampton manager Ivan Juric has said he thinks Tyler Dibling will stay at the club beyond the January transfer deadline. Speaking after his first victory in charge of Southampton and their first a...

Southampton manager Ivan Juric thinks Tyler Dibling will stay at the club beyond the January transfer deadline.

For all updates read more in @theathleticfc.bsky.social’s live-blog:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Aston Villa are considering a move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford as one of multiple options to strengthen their forward line.

More from @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social, @adamcrafton.bsky.social and @jacobtanswell.bsky.social ⬇️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

Explained: How do the Champions League play-offs work? With the Champions League's revamped 'league' stage over, attention turns to the play-off round, which takes place in two weeks

Manchester City will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the knockout round play-offs.

Then either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 🤯 Runs don’t get much tougher.

Full explainer, including how the knockouts works here:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...

Wembymania: What Paris feels like when Victor Wembanyama is in town It takes a lot to turn heads during Paris Fashion Week, but the homecoming of an NBA phenom did just that.

It takes a lot to turn heads during Paris Fashion Week, but the homecoming of Victor Wembanyama did just that in the French capital.

The San Antonio Spurs center has had fans of all ages screaming at the sight of him.

@eduardotansley.bsky.social is in Paris to experience ‘Wembymania’ for himself.

Wembymania: What Paris feels like when Victor Wembanyama is in town It takes a lot to turn heads during Paris Fashion Week, but the homecoming of an NBA phenom did just that.

It takes a lot to turn heads during Paris Fashion Week but the homecoming of NBA phenom ‘Wemby’ did just that.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...

Aston Villa’s blistering winner was a reward for taking risks Unai Emery's side had to be bolder after the break against West Ham, with the decisive goal indicative of their more urgent approach

Aston Villa were rewarded for taking more risks and offering more intent in the second half against West Ham, as epitomised by their second and winning goal.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...