More drama than Love Island
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Friday!
Get ready to slam that laptop shut and let your only weekend stress be high-stakes footy. The FIFA men’s World Cup Round of 32 kicks off on Sunday, but first it’s time to wrap up the last of the group stage matches. Much to discuss…
FIFA men’s World Cup
⚽ Coming down to the wire
🇺🇸 The sub-heavy USMNT fell 3–2 to Türkiye last night, conceding the winning goal in the final minute of play. Quite a gut punch. Having already clinched Group D before kickoff, the Americans started nine new players against Türkiye, including midfielder Sebastian Berhatler, who notched a goal and an assist in his first WC start.
- Onto the next one: The USWNT — including a healthy Christian Pulisic — will officially face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1st.
📋 Looking ahead, here’s who has clinched a Round of 32 berth by finishing first or second in their group since our last edition: Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Morocco, Switzerland, Canada, and South Africa.
- 👋 Sadly, that means we have to wave goodbye to a few teams whose WC journey is over: Curaçao, Czechia, Qatar, and Jordan. Miss you already.
3️⃣ And then there’s the third-place teams. As a reminder, the top eight of the 12 third-place finishers will advance to the knockouts.
- Of that group, Ecuador locked in their spot defeating Germany 2–1 yesterday, as did Sweden, who drew 1–1 with Japan.
- Other countries like Scotland, Korea Republic, and Paraguay are in purgatory for now, watching the rest of the group stage matches and hoping they’ve done enough to advance.
🇨🇦 As you read, CanMNT is onto the Round of 32 for the very first time, but didn’t exactly conclude the group stage with a bang. Les Rouges lost 2–1 to Switzerland on Wednesday, squandering their chance to win Group B and play a fourth consecutive game at home.
- Instead, Canada will face inconsistent fellow second-place finisher South Africa in the first elimination match of the tourney: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in LA.
📺 The final six groups are in action today and tomorrow, giving us 12 games to enjoy. Here are our top picks:
- 🇳🇴 Norway vs. 🇫🇷 France (Group I) — Today at 3 p.m. ET: This clash of titans pits Norwegian goal-scorer Erling Haaland against fellow Golden Boot contender, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé. Oh yeah, and the winner will top the group. NBD.
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇪🇸 Spain (Group H) — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET: A Uruguay win would distance them from fellow group member Cabo Verde, who just might Cinderella their way into the Round of 32.
- 🇵🇦 Panama vs. 🏴 England (Group L) — Tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET: Following their shocking 0–0 draw with Ghana earlier this week, powerhouse England needs a redemption win, stat. Will they find one against already-eliminated Panama? Probably, but you never know.
💔 FIFA clashes with Iran, Egypt over rainbow symbols at World Cup Pride Match (The Athletic)
❌ Qatar defender Madibo given five-game suspension for tackle on CanMNT’s Koné (ESPN)
🚣 Norway’s Viking Row, Meet Canada’s Canoe Row (ESPN UK)
Together With Toyota
🚙 A tradition of excellence
☀️ Wimbledon is all about tradition…and Toyota happens to know a thing or two about standing the test of time. For decades, Toyota has designed vehicles built for versatility, efficiency, and comfort, rally after rally, season after season.
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid is the latest to follow that legacy:
- 🌦 Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 gives you peace of mind through marathon drives and unpredictable conditions.
- 🧺 With over 60 cubic feet of cargo room when the second row is folded down, there’s space for everything from picnic baskets to luggage for your trip to Centre Court.
- 🎾 Up to 49 miles of all-electric driving range, then 36 MPG for championship levels of endurance. Talk about going the distance.
🪣 Toronto Tempo star Marina Mabrey ties single-game scoring and three-point records
What happens when a certified bucket with a crashout jar walks into a gym? A record-tying performance. Mabrey dropped 53 points and nine threes in last night’s convincing 125–97 win over the LA Sparks, equaling the league’s single-game scoring record held by A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage and joining the now seven-person party for most three-pointers in a single game.
🏒 Who will the Toronto Maple Leafs select No. 1 overall in tonight’s 7 p.m. ET NHL Draft?
All signs point to Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, the perfect addition to the Leafs first line alongside captain Auston Matthews. McKenna’s been topping draft boards all year, but there’s drama elsewhere with a flurry of trades shaking up the order — like the Chicago Blackhawks dealing the No. 4 pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defender Bowen Byram.
- In fact, four first-round picks have already swapped hands in five separate trades. The biggest winner so far? Probably the Ottawa Senators, whose likeability index is surging after a pair of moves led to the acquisition of forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks.
❤️🩹 Montréal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin to have knee surgery in late July
Poulin fought back tears yesterday as she shared that she needs surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. The 35-year-old first injured her knee at February’s Milano Cortina Olympics before re-aggravating the injury in March. That’s right, the playoff MVP led the Victoire’s Walter Cup run on one healthy leg. As if we needed another reason to be in awe of the greatest ever.
🏀 Minnesota Timberwolves acquire LaMelo Ball in blockbuster trade
The Wolves dealt Naz Reid and a plethora of picks to the Charlotte Hornets for one of the NBA’s most polarizing playmakers. It’s not that Ball isn’t good; it’s a question of how he fits with Wolves star Anthony Edwards. Both players are best with the rock in their hands, and, well, there’s only one of them. This move could lift Minnesota to its first-ever NBA Finals…or it could be a disaster.
Together With Toyota
🌷 If you need an excuse to throw a garden party, Wimbledon just gave you one. And the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid is your party planning MVP.
- 🚘 49 miles of all-electric range, then 36 MPG combined, because “stop for gas” is not on the to-do list..
- 🍓 Tons of storage space for your grocery run (strawberries and cream are essential).
- 🎾 Room for the whole squad for your post-match urge to serve. Aces all around.
⛳ LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — Ongoing — NBC
- Nelly Korda is that girl. Yes, the world No. 1’s currently 19th after yesterday’s first round, but the weekend is when Korda shines. Earning the winner’s share of this record-breaking $13M purse would make the 27-year-old just the third player in LPGA history to win the first three majors of the season.
🥎 AUSL: Utah Talons vs. Carolina Blaze — Tonight at 6 p.m. ET — CBS Sports Network
- Utah won last night’s battle between the top two teams in the league 3–2 in extra innings, a pitchers’ duel between Talons star Georgina Corrick and the Blaze’s Karlyn Pickens. There’s even more talent where that came from as this Signature Series rolls on today and tomorrow.
⚽ NWSL Challenge Cup: Gotham FC vs. Kansas City Current — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — Prime Video
- The NWSL’s annual match between the reigning league champ (Gotham) and Shield winner (Current) is extra special this year: It’ll be the first-ever pro women’s soccer game in Ohio, held ahead of Columbus’ 2028 NWSL debut. Party.
🏎️ F1: Austrian Grand Prix — Sunday at 9 a.m. ET — ESPN
- It’s getting hot
in hereat Red Bull Ring…literally and metaphorically. A “heat hazard” has already been declared due to high temperatures, and with all four top teams bringing major upgrades, expect the competition to be equally as scorching.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, and Lauren Tuiskula. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.