The GIST

World Cup knockout games bring drama and history

World Cup knockout games bring drama and history

Just when you thought the FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) couldn’t get any better, Monday happened. All three Round of 32 games went into extra time, with Brazil sending Japan home via a stoppage time stunner and the other two tilts going to penalty kicks (PK) after 1–1 full-time draws.

July 01, 2026

WTA releases new content series spotlighting athletes’ global connections to food and culture

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The WTA is embracing storytelling opportunities around its global (and highly-marketable) athletes. In May, the women’s tennis league debuted Style Unpacked, a docuseries that paired WTA athletes with world-class stylists. Last week, the WTA recalibrated that formula with WTA Tour Bites, an original series that tells personal stories through the lens of food.

June 30, 2026

CanMNT kicks off knockout rounds with stoppage time winner

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The World Cup (WC) knockout rounds began yesterday when Canada kicked off the Round of 32 with a bit of history — and there’s more to be made as the remaining 30 squads fight for a berth to the Round of 16 today through Friday.

June 29, 2026

Breaking down the 2026 Commissioner’s Cup matchup

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The sixth annual Commissioner’s Cup final tips off tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET featuring a pair of perennial juggernauts: the NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, who topped the standings after conference group play to punch their tickets.

June 29, 2026

The NWSL is getting in on soccer’s North American surge

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It’s a rare and special moment when soccer is the mainstream sport in North America, one American soccer (specifically, the NWSL) wants to sustain after the crowds head home. In May, the women’s soccer league announced its Summer of Soccer initiative to capitalize on WC fervor. In June, we spoke to NWSL CMO Rachel Epstein about why the league has “locked arms” with FIFA and how the tourney can be an entry point for sustained footy fandom.

June 27, 2026

It’s gameday: Previewing CanMNT vs. South Africa in the Round of 32

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CanMNT will compete in a World Cup (WC) knockout match for the very first time, taking on South Africa in the Round of 32 today at 3 p.m. ET. It’s a beautiful day to extend this run one page further in the history books.

June 26, 2026

Already group winners, USMNT have one game left

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Last Friday, the USMNT beat Australia 2–0 to clinch their spot in the knockouts. The dub marked their first back-to-back World Cup (WC) wins since the Great Depression and they did it without their star, Christian Pulisic. Wowza. The boys have one group stage game left — tonight at 10 p.m. ET against already-eliminated Türkiye — and while it doesn’t technically mean anything as the U.S. have already won Group D, a W would be a huge boost for the surging Yanks.

June 25, 2026

Teeing off on the lucrative growth of women’s golf

Sports Business

Teeing off on the lucrative growth of women’s golf

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June 25, 2026

The prize pool for this weekend’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is an astounding $13M, the largest purse in women’s golf history. As the players, ahem, swing into action this morning, let’s tee off on the lucrative growth of the women's game.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #568

Getting emosh about CanMNT's World Cup run, plus Mal Swanson’s advice for the USMNT

June 30, 2026

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Getting emosh about CanMNT's World Cup run, plus Mal Swanson’s advice for the USMNT

CanMNT won their first-ever World Cup knockout game on Sunday, so Canadian co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are in their feels. Today, they break down the historic win, look to what’s next, and place this game in the greater conversation about the growth of soccer in Canada. And because we’re equal opportunity here at The GIST, we have an interview with USWNT star Mal Swanson on the men’s national team’s chances right after that. Enjoy.