Northern Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Italy, but there is optimism about the team's future. The squad is very young, and the manager, Michael O'Neill, sees potential for improvement as qualification for Euro 2028 approaches. O'Neill, who also manages Blackburn Rovers, plans to focus on his role with Northern Ireland until 2028.
Key Facts
Northern Ireland did not qualify for the World Cup, losing to Italy.
The average age of their starting team was 22.5 years, making it one of the youngest in their history.
Manager Michael O'Neill sees positives in the team's performance and potential.
O'Neill also manages Blackburn Rovers but is contracted with Northern Ireland until 2028.
Key players like Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, and Ali McCann were unavailable for the match.
Northern Ireland aims to improve and focus on qualifying for Euro 2028.
Italian football legend Gianfranco Zola praised the potential of Northern Ireland's young players.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
UCLA appears to be honoring Jackie Robinson with a special baseball uniform. Robinson was a multi-sport athlete at UCLA before becoming famous for breaking the Major League Baseball color barrier. The team shared images of the new uniform, which features a darker navy blue and Robinson's number.
Key Facts
UCLA plans to release a Jackie Robinson-themed baseball uniform.
Jackie Robinson played multiple sports at UCLA, including baseball, football, basketball, and track.
Robinson is known for being the first African-American player in modern Major League Baseball.
UCLA's baseball team plays at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Images of the new uniform show a darker navy blue shade with Robinson's number.
Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated on April 15, with MLB players wearing his number.
UCLA has a game scheduled on April 14, just before Jackie Robinson Day.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wales' men's football team lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final, going out after a penalty shootout. Wales was leading 1-0 in the second half but allowed Bosnia to equalize and eventually win on penalties. Coach Craig Bellamy expressed disappointment and emphasized the need for better game management in future matches.
Key Facts
Wales played against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final.
Wales was leading 1-0 during the game but failed to maintain the lead.
Bosnia-Herzegovina equalized with a goal from a late corner.
The game ended in a penalty shootout, which Bosnia won.
Wales missed out on qualifying for a second major tournament in a row.
Coach Craig Bellamy highlighted that Wales struggled when the game became chaotic.
Bellamy acknowledged changes in the team lineup and the physical demands on players.
Wales' next major tournament opportunity will be Euro 2028, which they will co-host.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers' decision about whether to continue playing for another season. Pittsburgh Steelers are favored to sign him, but the Las Vegas Raiders are also an option where Rodgers could mentor a young quarterback.
Key Facts
Aaron Rodgers is considering whether to continue his football career for a 22nd season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are strong contenders to sign Rodgers, especially with head coach Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy and Rodgers have a history of winning a Super Bowl together with the Green Bay Packers.
The Las Vegas Raiders are considering allowing Rodgers to mentor their new draft pick, Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza played college football at Indiana but was noticed for his time at the University of California, Berkeley, where Rodgers also gained fame.
Rodgers might forgo a chance at another championship to mentor and play for the Raiders.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Assistant coach Luke Murray of the UConn Huskies has been hired as the head coach for Boston College. His departure means UConn needs a new assistant coach, and Taliek Brown from St. John's Red Storm is a potential candidate. Brown has ties to UConn, having played and worked there before.
Key Facts
Luke Murray, UConn assistant coach, is taking a head coaching job at Boston College.
Murray will finish the NCAA Tournament with UConn before starting his new role.
Taliek Brown, currently an assistant coach at St. John's, is a possible replacement for Murray.
Brown played for UConn from 2000 to 2004 and was part of a championship-winning team.
He was the director of player development at UConn from 2019 to 2022.
Other names like Bobby Hurley have been mentioned for the position, but he may not be interested.
Both Murray and Brown are still participating in the NCAA Tournament with their respective teams.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses a promotional offer from DraftKings for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. New users can bet $5 and receive $200 in bonus bets, with additional offers available in Arkansas. The article provides details on using these bets for games, highlighting matchups like Arkansas vs. Arizona.
Key Facts
DraftKings offers new users $200 in bonus bets for a $5 wager on NCAA games.
In Arkansas, new users can receive an additional $300 bonus due to DraftKings' recent launch there.
The $200 bonus is split into eight $25 bets, which expire in 7 days.
Featured NCAA games include Arkansas vs. Arizona and Texas vs. Purdue.
Arizona has a statistical advantage in rebounding, leading the tournament with a +24.5 margin.
Texas' key player, Matas Vokietaitis, and Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn are highlighted for their recent performances.
Users must sign up, verify their account, and make a $5 deposit to activate the offer.
Newsweek earns a commission if users sign up via links in the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Isiah Thomas shared his thoughts on the NBA's MVP race, suggesting it is between Victor Wembanyama and Jaylen Brown. Although not leading in official standings, Thomas believes these two players are essential to their teams. With both players having strong seasons, the race remains open with around ten games left.
Key Facts
Isiah Thomas believes the MVP race is between Victor Wembanyama and Jaylen Brown.
Officially, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Luka Doncic lead the NBA's MVP Ladder.
Wembanyama is averaging 24.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks.
He is expected to lead the league in blocks for the third year in a row.
Wembanyama has led the San Antonio Spurs to a 55-18 record.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
Despite missing several key players, Brown has led the Celtics to a 48-24 record.
Wembanyama needs to play more games to meet the NBA’s 65-game eligibility rule for MVP consideration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wales lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a play-off semi-final for the 2026 World Cup. Bosnia-Herzegovina equalized late in the game and then won in a penalty shootout to end Wales' hopes of advancing.
Key Facts
Wales played against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cardiff.
The match was a semi-final play-off for the 2026 World Cup.
Bosnia-Herzegovina scored a late goal to tie the game.
The match went to a penalty shootout.
Bosnia-Herzegovina won the penalty shootout.
This defeat means Wales will not go to the 2026 World Cup.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Merrimack Warriors will play against North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a regional semifinal hockey match in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The game is part of the NCAA Tournament and will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 8:30 PM ET, broadcast on ESPN2 and available for live streaming on Fubo.
Key Facts
Merrimack Warriors have a record of 21 wins, 15 losses, and 2 ties.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks, the No. 2 national seed, have 27 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie.
The game will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Merrimack recently defeated UConn 2-1 to advance to this round.
North Dakota lost 5-1 to Minnesota Duluth in their last game.
The winner of this game will face either Quinnipiac or Providence in the regional final.
The match will be televised on ESPN2 and can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Connecticut Huskies basketball team learned that assistant coach Luke Murray, an important figure in shaping their strategy, will leave to become head coach at Boston College. Murray will stay with the team through the current tournament. The Huskies are about to face Michigan State in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.
Key Facts
The Connecticut Huskies are aiming for their third national championship in four years.
UConn is ranked as the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will play against No. 3 seed Michigan State.
Assistant coach Luke Murray is leaving to become the head coach at Boston College.
Murray is known for his strong skills in planning the team's offense.
He has worked with UConn's head coach, Dan Hurley, at three other schools.
Murray is joining a Boston College team that has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2009.
Boston College finished the last season with an overall record of 11 wins and 20 losses.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article explains a promotion available to new users of the Kalshi trading platform, offering a $10 sign-up bonus for users who deposit at least $1 and make $10 in trades. This promotion ties into events such as Major League Baseball (MLB) and NCAA Sweet 16 games. The article provides information on how users can take advantage of this offer.
Key Facts
New Kalshi users can claim a $10 bonus by entering the promo code NEWSWEEK.
Users must deposit at least $1 and make trades totaling $10 to receive the bonus.
The promotion is available across all 50 U.S. states.
Users must be at least 18 years old to participate in the trading platform.
The offer can be used for trades connected to MLB games and NCAA Sweet 16 basketball games.
Kalshi provides a legal trading platform that involves predicting event outcomes.
Statistical data suggests the Los Angeles Dodgers have a favorable position for MLB trades.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final match. This result means Northern Ireland will not take part in the 2026 World Cup.
Key Facts
Northern Ireland was defeated by Italy with a score of 2-0.
This match was part of the World Cup play-off semi-final.
The game took place in Bergamo, Italy.
Due to the loss, Northern Ireland will not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Italy is closer to qualifying for their first World Cup in 12 years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026, for MLB Opening Day. The game will be broadcast on NBC and MLB.TV, and fans can also stream it live on Fubo.
Key Facts
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers will play against each other on MLB Opening Day 2026.
The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 8:30 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on NBC and MLB.TV.
Fans can stream the game online via Fubo with a free trial available.
The Diamondbacks last won their division in 2011 and finished second in 2023.
The Dodgers won the World Series in 2025 and are aiming to defend their title.
The Dodgers' key offseason player is Kyle Tucker, an All-Star outfielder.
Fubo offers live TV streaming without cable, including a variety of sports and entertainment channels.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kylian Mbappe scored the opening goal for France in their 2-1 win against Brazil during a World Cup warm-up match. The game was held at Gillette Stadium with a notable crowd favoring Brazil. Despite being down to 10 players after a red card, France maintained their lead, withstanding Brazil's attempt to close the gap.
Key Facts
Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal for France, recovering fully from a previous knee injury.
France defeated Brazil 2-1 in a World Cup preparation match.
Hugo Ekitike scored the second goal for France, putting the team ahead 2-0.
France's Dayot Upamecano received a red card in the 55th minute, reducing them to 10 players.
Bremer scored for Brazil, making it 2-1 in the 78th minute.
The match took place at Gillette Stadium with a large crowd attending.
An agreement regarding security costs allowed the match to proceed smoothly in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Cooling breaks were implemented during the match despite moderate temperatures, following FIFA's recent policy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses a promotional offer from the Sleeper platform for new customers who can receive a bonus by using the promo code NEWSWEEKXL. This offer applies to MLB games and Sweet 16 college basketball games, providing either a $20 bonus or a $100 deposit match.
Key Facts
The Sleeper promo code NEWSWEEKXL offers a welcome bonus to new users.
New customers can choose between a $20 bonus or a $100 deposit match.
The offer is available for betting on MLB games and Sweet 16 basketball games.
Users must meet age requirements and be in a participating state.
A minimum deposit of $10 is required to activate the bonus.
The article includes betting tips for MLB players such as Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani.
It also provides information about the Sweet 16 college basketball games scheduled for the night.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses a promotion by theScore Bet that offers new users a chance to get their wager back as bonus bets if their initial bet loses, up to $1,000. This offer is available for bets on college basketball and MLB games, including notable matchups like the NCAA Sweet 16 and MLB Opening Day games.
Key Facts
theScore Bet is offering a $1,000 Bet Reset for new customers.
If users lose their initial bet, they receive their wager back in bonus bets.
The promotion applies to college basketball and MLB games.
Bonus bets are distributed as five separate bets, making up the total refund.
Each bonus bet must be used within 7 days of being credited.
No opt-in is necessary to participate in the promotion.
Key sports events include the NCAA Sweet 16 and MLB Opening Day.
The promotion is available in legal sports betting areas where theScore Bet operates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
FanDuel is offering a special promotion for new users during the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 games, providing up to $300 in bonus bets each day for 10 days. This offer allows users to place bets with reduced risk, as any losing wagers up to $300 will be refunded in bonus bets.
Key Facts
FanDuel is offering a promotion with a $300 no-sweat bet for 10 consecutive days.
New users can place bets, and if they lose, their wager amount is refunded as bonus bets.
The offer does not require a promo code to activate.
Each day, users receive one no-sweat token that must be used within 24 hours.
Tonight's Sweet 16 features Illinois vs. Houston and Texas vs. Purdue.
Illinois' David Mirkovic is a key player, averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Users must sign up on the FanDuel platform to activate this offer.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nebraska and Iowa will compete in a Sweet 16 basketball game on March 26, 2026, as part of the NCAA Tournament. This game is important because it decides which team moves closer to the national championship.
Key Facts
Nebraska is ranked No. 4 and Iowa is ranked No. 9 in the tournament.
Nebraska advanced to the Sweet 16 after beating Troy and Vanderbilt.
Iowa advanced by defeating Clemson and achieving an upset victory over Florida.
The game will be played on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET.
It will be shown on TV channels TBS and truTV.
Fans can also watch via live stream on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial.
The game highlights a Big Ten rivalry with high stakes for reaching the Elite Eight.
Viewers can stream the entire NCAA Tournament on networks including CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Major League Baseball (MLB) introduced a new system called the automated ball-strike system (ABS). This system uses electronic monitors to track the location of pitches, and teams can challenge up to two ball or strike calls in a game.
Key Facts
MLB has introduced an automated ball-strike system, known as ABS.
ABS uses electronic monitors to track where pitches are in ballparks.
Each team can challenge two ball or strike calls during a nine-inning game.
The new system aims to improve the accuracy of calls made by umpires.
John Yang talked about this development with Dan Evans from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Purdue Boilermakers will play against Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 round. The game is set for Thursday night in San Jose, and viewers can watch it on CBS or via a live stream on Fubo.
Key Facts
Purdue is the No. 2 seed with a 29-8 record.
Texas is the No. 11 seed with a 21-14 record.
The game will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:10 PM ET.
The TV channel for the game is CBS, and Fubo offers a live stream.
Purdue defeated Miami in their last game with key players Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Braden Smith contributing significantly.
Texas beat Gonzaga in their last game, with important contributions from Jordan Pope, Matas Vokietaitis, Nic Codie, and Dailyn Swain.
The winning team will advance to play against either Arkansas or Arizona in the regional final.
Fubo provides a free trial for live streaming, but regional restrictions may apply.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
