World Cup Quarterfinals: The FIFA World Cup field has been trimmed to eight nations, and six of those teams hail from Europe. Morocco remains the lone hope for Africa and for a non-traditional champion. History backs the European and South American powers — European nations have claimed 12 World Cup titles and South American countries have won 10. This year’s tournament is being hosted by North America, where the United States, Mexico, and Canada all entered with high expectations, but each was eliminated before reaching the quarterfinal round. African teams also struggled to advance deep into the competition, leaving Morocco as the continent’s final representative.
Wimbledon Semifinals: A remarkable run continues at Wimbledon for British wild card Arthur Fery, who grew up just five minutes from the All England Club. The 23-year-old, ranked 114th in the world, needed a wild-card entry to compete in the tournament but has now punched his ticket to the semifinals. On Wednesday, Fery defeated ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0 on Centre Court, with Britain’s Queen Camilla watching from the Royal Box. He will take on Alexander Zverev in Friday’s semifinal. On the women’s side, Marta Kostyuk defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first-ever Wimbledon semifinal. Kostyuk is scheduled to face Linda Noskova on Thursday, after Noskova beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5.
World Cup Game Balls: The soccer balls used in World Cup matches have drawn attention this tournament for their built-in technology — and for a question many fans are asking: why must the ball always be returned to the field when it goes out of play? Unlike baseball, where catching a ball in the stands is a beloved tradition fans get to keep as a souvenir, FIFA requires that any ball leaving the field be brought back immediately. Soccer historian Charles Cuttone notes this has long been standard practice, driven in part by the cost of the balls and the sophisticated technology embedded in them. Still, some fans — many of whom have spent significant money to attend — feel they should be allowed to keep a ball that comes their way.
Justin Verlander Retiring: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has announced he will retire at the end of this season with the Detroit Tigers. The 43-year-old, who is also a two-time World Series champion and the 2011 American League MVP, made the announcement on Wednesday, the same day he was named a Legend Pick to the AL All-Star roster. Verlander is currently the oldest active player in Major League Baseball. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract this season but has appeared in only one game, back in March, before landing on the injured list with hip inflammation and a pulled hamstring.
Kostyuk Speaks Out: While Marta Kostyuk was competing in her first Wimbledon quarterfinal on Centre Court, Russian forces were carrying out another deadly attack on Kyiv back in her home country of Ukraine. The situation has been a constant backdrop throughout her run at the Grand Slam. After her victory over Jasmine Paolini, Kostyuk reflected on the difficulty of staying focused. “It’s not easy to disconnect entirely,” she said, adding that “I try for these things not to influence me too much.” Kostyuk also took aim at the International Olympic Committee for provisionally lifting its ban on Russian athletes, calling the decision “terrible.”
Connor Bedard Out After Surgery: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will not be ready for the start of the upcoming NHL season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. Team physician Michael Terry said Bedard is expected “to make a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months.” Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, was injured while skating with a group of NHL players last week in his hometown of Vancouver. The NHL has not yet released its regular-season schedule, though Chicago opened play last season on October 7. The injury is a significant setback for a Blackhawks organization still working through a rebuilding phase.
Dylan Cease’s Near No-Hitter: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease came within one out of a no-hitter on Wednesday before Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos broke it up with a line-drive single to center field in the ninth inning. Cease was removed from the game following Ramos’ hit and received a standing ovation from the San Francisco crowd. Reliever Tyler Rogers finished the game, retiring the final three batters on just four pitches, as the Blue Jays cruised to a 10-0 victory. The 30-year-old Cease threw a career-high 118 pitches and struck out 11 batters, pushing his American League-leading strikeout total to 148. It would have been his second career no-hitter and the first solo no-hitter in the majors since 2024.
Queen Camilla at Wimbledon: Britain’s Queen Camilla made her annual appearance at Wimbledon on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive year she has attended the tournament on Day 10. Dressed in a light blue gown, she watched the women’s quarterfinal between Jasmine Paolini and Marta Kostyuk from the Royal Box. Among the other notable guests in attendance was actor Dominic West, who earned an Emmy nomination for portraying King Charles III in the Netflix series “The Crown” — making for an unusual pairing, as the queen herself was also present. Actress Elle Fanning was also spotted in the Royal Box.
Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Miami Heat: Tim Hardaway Jr. was officially introduced as a member of the Miami Heat on Wednesday, donning a No. 10 jersey with “Jr.” added — a nod to his father’s retired number with the franchise. Hardaway Jr. recalled visiting Miami as a child and running around the team’s practice facility while his father played for the Heat. Now he joins the organization as a shooting threat expected to support Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Home Run Derby Field Taking Shape: Boston’s Willson Contreras and Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone have both committed to participating in the Home Run Derby, set for Monday in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old Contreras has slugged 20 home runs in 306 at-bats this season and is chasing the career-best 24 he hit for the Chicago Cubs in 2019. A win would make him the first Red Sox player to claim the Home Run Derby title since David Ortiz in 2010. The 23-year-old Caglianone joins Contreras along with Ben Rice of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. Four additional participants have yet to be announced.
