More drama than Love Island
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
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 (featuring CanMNT, of course, more on them below), 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
📋 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, they’ll face inconsistent fellow second-place finisher South Africa in the first elimination match of the tourney: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Keep an eye on your inbox for a full preview before kickoff and allez Les Rouges.
🇺🇸 The USMNT also suffered their first loss of the tourney in their final group stage game, falling 3–2 to Türkiye last night after heavily rotating their starting lineup. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina — who CanMNT drew 1–1 in their WC opener — in the Round of 32.
📺 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)
⚽ Fútbol is life
☀️ The Summer of Soccer is officially upon us. And what better way to get some skin in the game than with our free-to-enter World Soccer Bracket Challenge.
Whether you’re a certified ball-knower or just in it for the good vibes, this challenge is for everyone — no expertise required.
- ⭐ Join in to cheer for your faves, compete against friends, family, and fellow GISTers, and maybe even snag some bragging rights (and prizes) along the way.
Entries close Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, so get your picks in now.
🪣 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.
- Looking ahead to November’s women’s world hockey championship, Team Canada will almost certainly be without two roster mainstays: Poulin and Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull, who’s expecting her first child with Olympic bobsledder Ryan Sommer in December.
🏀 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.
Question of the Day
🏒 As if it were a miracle on ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs landed the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Who are you hoping the Leafs choose tonight?
Can’t wait for puck drop? Luckily, there’s no shortage of big sports moments in the cal. Download the new PROLINE app and get in on the summer sports action now.
⛳ LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — Ongoing — Golf Channel
- 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.
⚾ MLB: Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays — Tonight at 7:07 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- After a late offensive surge in last night’s 6–5 loss, the Jays continue this four-game Rogers Centre homestand, sending pitcher Patrick Corbin to the mound against sharp Rangers hurler Nate Eovaldi. Nothing like those Friday night lights.
⚽ 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 — TSN
- 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.