Sports
USA Must Give 50 Per Cent of Winnings to Women’s Team
After crashing out of the World Cup following a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Belgium this week, USA players are now facing the prospect of handing over half of their tournament earnings. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had hoped to make a deep run this summer but came unstuck at the first serious hurdle they faced.
In the immediate aftermath, Christian Pulisic – dubbed ‘Captain America’ – has been among those to face the fiercest criticism for his underwhelming displays throughout the co-hosted tournament. While many supporters are still struggling to come to terms with the manner of the Stars and Stripes’ exit, US legend Landon Donovan has offered an explanation for why the country continues to lag behind some of its rivals in the sport.
The real kick in the teeth for the players who helped spark football fever across the United States during the early stages of the tournament, however, is that they will ultimately see only half of their earnings. This comes despite the USA ranking as the ninth-highest earners at this year’s World Cup.
Why USA Players Must Give Up 60% of their World Cup Earnings
USA’s World Cup stars earned $16 million in prize money for reaching the last 16 but must split it equally with the women’s team. The figure will be split between the 26 men on the World Cup roster and the 26 women who are selected to play in next year’s Women’s World Cup, if they qualify under Emma Hayes’ stewardship.
As per Daily Mail, the men’s and women’s teams share World Cup prize money equally under terms of the collective bargaining agreement that was signed back in 2022. The deal was signed off after almost six years of campaigning and legal action by the women’s team, spearheaded by Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, in an effort to secure equal pay.
The U.S. Soccer governing body, which pays men’s and women’s players $10,000 per World Cup match, will also keep 20 per cent of the prize money from this year’s tournament. The remaining 80 per cent will then be divided between the men’s and women’s players who make their respective World Cup rosters.
On this occasion, that 40 per cent equates to $6.4m per team or $246,153.85 per player. That same division of prize funds will come into place again for any prize money the women’s team picks up at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
USWNT Remain USA’s Gold Standard in Football
Although football has reached new heights in popularity in the USA this summer, it is still the women’s national team that wears the crown stateside. With four World Cup triumphs – more than any other nation in women’s football – the USWNT have long been the standard-bearers for the sport. Special mentions must go to Rapinoe and Morgan, but other household names from the team’s golden era include Carli Lloyd, Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach.
Their success has not quite hit the same heights in recent years, which has inevitably seen some of the spotlight drift elsewhere. Even so, under Hayes – a seven-time WSL winner with Chelsea – there is a growing belief that the USWNT can turn back the clock and return to their former glory. If anyone can get them back to the top table of world football, their current boss appears well placed to do so.
When the USWNT were knocked out in the last 16 of the 2023 World Cup, they received just $1.87million in prize money from FIFA. The figures for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil have yet to be announced, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made no secret of his ambition to level the playing field, declaring that he wants men’s and women’s World Cup prize money to be equal by the 2027 edition.
Sports
Tottenham Eye Move To Sign Special Player Haaland Loves
Norway have the opportunity to seal a place in the final four of the World Cup when they face England in a quarter-final showdown on Saturday evening.
Last featuring in the world’s biggest competition back in 1998, Stale Solbakken’s team have made a real impression in North America this summer, with Erling Haaland dominating the headlines so far after plundering seven goals in only four games.
The Manchester City striker isn’t the only one catching the attention, though, as international teammate Antonio Nusa is one of a number of players to excel for Norway.
The tricky left-winger who is blessed with pace has one World Cup goal to his name already, a stunning curling strike that found the top corner in their 2-1 round of 32 win over Ivory Coast.
Nusa’s name will already be familiar to many after talk of a Premier League move in the past, something which will now in fact ramp up ahead of the new season after catching the eye for his country at the World Cup.
North London battle for Nusa
Tottenham are among a host of Premier League clubs who are sizing up a summer move for Nusa, according to TEAMtalk, with Spurs now looking to imporve their forward line after bolstering their backline and midfield already in the summer transfer window.
Having already impressed at club level for RB Leipzig, interest in the 21-year-old has stepped up after taking his chance on the international stage.
Tottenham have always admired the Oslo-born star and previously tried to sign him during the January transfer window in 2024 prior to his failed move to Brentford.
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Arsenal, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are the other three Premier League clubs joining and Tottenham in having an interest in Nusa.
The player looks set to have interest in his services from elsewhere as well, with AC Milan, Napoli, Roma, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona also credited with interest.
Haaland praise for Nusa
Haaland may be the Norwegian player who regularly comes in for praise, but the prolific striker dished out some of his own when previously speaking about Nusa.
Making a name for himself in Belgium with Club Brugge and looking set to secure a Premier League move in 2024, Nusa was hailed by his fellow countryman.
“He’s fantastic,” stated the City striker. “So it is important to take care of him and not hype him too much, even though he is a great talent.
“It is important to leave him alone and give him the opportunity to develop.”
Nusa has taken his game even further in the two years since Haaland’s praise and a summer move from RB Leipzig may well now happen with the Premier League a likely destination.
Sports
Who is Allowed Into the Royal Box Explained
The Royal Box at Wimbledon is one of the most exclusive areas of all of SW19. This week, a picture of tennis legend Roger Federer sat alone in the box went viral, but why is the seating so historic?
The royals first visited Wimbledon back in 1907, before King George V became the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Since that year, the tournament has always had a royal patron. It wasn’t until 1922 when Centre Court was built that the Royal Box was constructed.
It was previously tradition for the players to curtsy and bow to the Royal Box as they entered Centre Court. Nine-time Wimbledon champion, Martina Navratilova said: “I liked that part. The players walking on the court, curtsying in unison. That was part of the great tradition here.”
The bowing and curtsying ended in 2003 in a policy change which was sparked by Prince Edward. The All England Club chairman, Tim Phillips, said at the time: “The Duke of Kent feels that during his lifetime the tradition of bowing and curtseying is pretty much on the way out.”
Despite this change, in 2010, when Queen Elizabeth made a rare appearance in the Royal Box, Andy Murray bowed to her. He called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Royal Box’s Strict Dress Code
The Royal Box hosts a rather strict, smart, dress code. This means men wear suits, jackets and ties. Ladies are asked not to wear hats in order not to obscure the view of those seated behind.
In 2015, Lewis Hamilton was notably turned away from the Royal Box ahead of the final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic due to a dress code violation. A spokesperson for Hamilton said: “Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding dress code, Lewis is very disappointed to have missed the men’s final.”
How Guests Are Chosen For the Royal Box at Wimbledon
In relation to how guests are chosen for the Royal Box, Wimbledon’s official guidance reads: “British and overseas Royal Families are invited as well as heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organisations, supports of British tennis and other walks of life.
“Invitations come from the Chair of the All England Club, taking into account suggestions from members of The Championships’ Organising Committee, The Lawn Tennis Association and other relevant sources.”
For those invited to the Royal Box, it’s not just a ticket to watch the tennis. Ticket holders are treated to a full day of luxury, which includes an invite to the clubhouse for lunch, tea and then drinks at the end of the day’s play.
Some, of course, are more interested in the action on the court than others, as Federer proved when he was left all alone in the area during the final match of the day earlier this week.
Federer aside, in 2026, the Royal Box has played host to several high-profile visitors, such as footballers, Phil Foden and Beth Mead. Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. Actors Michaela Coel, Monica Barbaro, Andrew Garfield and Tom Hiddleston have all enjoyed a day at the Royal Box too.
Sports
Lionel Messi Slammed Copa America For Being ‘Fixed’ For Brazil
FIFA are coming under fire with accusations that the 2026 World Cup is ‘rigged’ for Argentina to retain their crown. Lionel Messi’s side scraped past Egypt in a thrilling Round of 16 clash, but it’s done nothing to quieten the conspiracies.
Egyptian players and staff even publicly claimed the game had been officiated in a way that ensured the South Americans progressed to the next round after a series of controversial decisions. It also comes after Messi avoided a red card for a high challenge vs Algeria.
Should any more favourable calls go in their favour in the quarter-finals against Switzerland, Gianni Infantino will come under even more scrutiny. The FIFA president was already criticised for allegedly saying he ‘suffered’ with Argentina in their win over Cape Verde.
Messi Was Convinced of ‘Corruption’ at Copa America
Argentina defeated Chile to seal a third-place finish at the 2019 Copa America, but Messi ended the tournament with a red card. It was just the second dismissal of his career, and it was evident the greatest footballer of all time was livid.
Speaking to reporters after the match, the Argentina icon lashed out at CONMEBOL, claiming referees were making decisions to ensure that Brazil won the competition. The five-time World Cup winners eventually won the final against Peru following Messi’s accusations.
“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” an uncharacteristically angry Messi stated (per NBC). If allegations of ‘corruption’ weren’t enough, he went on to explicitly claim ‘the cup is fixed for Brazil’. The forward added:
“They have showed us a lack of respect throughout this tournament. Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don’t allow people to enjoy football, they ruined it a bit. I think the cup is fixed for Brazil. I hope that the VAR and the referees have nothing to do in this final and that Peru can compete because they have the team to do so although I think it’s difficult.”
Footage of Messi’s emotional comments resurfaced on X following recent accusations that FIFA favoured his team at the World Cup. Watch below.
CONMEBOL Responded to Messi’s ‘Fixed’ Claims
While Messi has now won the Copa America twice, as well as finally getting his hands on the World Cup in 2022, he had long been labelled a failure on the international stage at the time of his outburst. Argentina had gone a long time without winning anything meaningful, and that seemed to add tension for Messi.
The governing body of the competition, CONMEBOL, responded to suggestions that there was favouritism towards one team. Without naming Messi directly, the statement read:
“Unfounded accusations have been launched that lack the truth and question the integrity of the Copa America. These accusations represent a lack of respect for the competition, all the participating players and the hundreds of professionals of CONMEBOL.”
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