Sports
Sports news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
SportsUnited States Debuts in the 2026 World Cup Against Paraguay: How to Watch the Match for Free and in Spanish
The United States men's national soccer team will kick off its World Cup 2026 campaign against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, at the Los Angeles stadium in California. The match, part of Group B, is set to start at 9 PM ET / 8 PM CT. Landon Donovan emphasizes the advantage of home support for the U.S. team. Fans can watch the game live in Spanish on Telemundo's open signal, or stream it on Peacock for Premium subscribers. Additionally, registered users can view the match on the NBC One app without needing a cable or satellite provider.
SportsCanada and Bosnia and Herzegovina Face Off in the Opening Week of the 2026 World Cup
Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match is scheduled for Friday, June 12, at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT, taking place at the Toronto stadium. Analysts Luis Omar Tapia and Giovanni Del Fa emphasize the crucial role of goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in helping Canada perform well in the tournament. Fans can watch the game live in Spanish on Telemundo's open signal, as well as on Peacock for Premium and Premium Plus subscribers. Telemundo will broadcast most of the 104 World Cup matches live in Spanish.
SportsTeam Mexico fans gather for big watch party in McAllen for win over South Africa
McAllen hosted a lively FIFA World Cup watch party at the convention center as Team Mexico faced South Africa, winning 2-0. The event featured entertainment for children, a mariachi band, and various activities to engage fans. Local supporters expressed their excitement for the tournament, emphasizing the importance of celebrating their culture. Lythia Escamilla, a fan, highlighted the significance of the World Cup returning to the U.S. after nearly three decades. Additional watch parties for Team Mexico are scheduled for June 18 and June 24, while Team USA will have events on June 12, 19, and 25, with their first match on Friday.
SportsMexico launches its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa
Mexico kicked off its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in Mexico City on June 11. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the ninth minute, followed by Raúl Jiménez's header in the 66th minute. The match, held at the Azteca Stadium with 80,824 fans, saw South Africa reduced to nine players after two red cards, while Mexico's César Montes received one in injury time. Jiménez's goal marked his 46th international goal, tying him for second place in Mexico's all-time scoring list. Mexico now leads Group A with three points and will face South Korea next.
SportsWorld Cup fever hits border town with Mexico in opening match
Hundreds of soccer fans spread out on the lawn of the McAllen Convention Center on Thursday afternoon in 90-degree heat to watch the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa.
SportsThe Spurs are still believers, but it the Knicks who are 1 game from winning the NBA title
The San Antonio Spurs face a critical Game 5 against the New York Knicks on Saturday, trailing the NBA Finals series 3-1. Victor Wembanyama acknowledged the stakes: a Spurs win extends the series, while a Knicks victory secures their first championship in 53 years. The Spurs suffered a historic collapse in Game 4, losing a 29-point lead. Despite the daunting odds, Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox emphasized the need to focus on one game at a time. The Knicks, having won the first two games in San Antonio, aim to capitalize on their momentum and finish the series this weekend.
SportsMexico launches its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez helped Mexico make an exuberant start to the World Cup on Thursday, scoring a goal each in a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament. With a capacity crowd of 80,824 watching at the iconic Azteca Stadium, co-host Mexico started the
SportsSheinbaum Attends Fan Fest to Watch World Cup Kickoff Instead of Zócalo
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum did not attend the Fan Fest at the Zócalo to watch the opening match of the 2026 World Cup with thousands of fans, opting instead for the Deportivo Los Galeana in the northern part of the capital. She arrived at the venue in Gustavo A. Madero accompanied by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada. Dressed in a Mexican national team jersey with her name and the number 26 on the back, Sheinbaum was welcomed by hundreds of fans present. Although she initially intended to watch the match at the Zócalo, she had expressed doubts about her attendance due to anticipated protests in the area during the World Cup. Nearby, teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers had set up a protest camp, raising concerns that they might attempt to disrupt the Fan Fest in her presence. Ultimately, she went to a sports center located over 12 km from the Zócalo, one of eighteen venues equipped with screens to watch the match between Mexico and South Africa. Sheinbaum shared a video on her social media with the audience while watching the opening performance by Colombian singer Shakira on a screen. The president also gave her ticket for the first World Cup match to an indigenous girl, breaking a decades-long tradition where the host country's leader would attend the opening day of the sporting event. Mexico will be one of three host countries for the 2026 World Cup, alongside the United States and Canada. Mexico City will host the tournament's opening match at the Estadio Azteca, which will become the first stadium in the world to host three World Cup openings, following those in 1970 and 1986.
SportsLive Updates: World Cup Fever Begins with Shakira and Mexico's Opening Match
What you need to know The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off today and will run until July 19 with explosive matches that you can watch on Telemundo and Peacock. The day starts in Mexico with the opening ceremony, followed by the match between Mexico and South Africa at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT at the stadium in Mexico City. At 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT, South Korea will face the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. You can watch these matches live and in Spanish on Telemundo. Grab your flag and turn on your screen on Telemundo, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is here! The world's largest sporting tournament begins this Thursday with the opening ceremony, led by Shakira and Burna Boy, and continues with Mexico's national team playing at home against South Africa. Later, South Korea will clash with the Czech Republic. Follow the excitement of the World Cup 2026 with live updates.
SportsWhen does the Mexican national team play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the leader of Group A, alongside South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. Following their early exit in the 2022 World Cup, Mexico aims to advance at least to the quarter-finals, matching their best performances from 1970 and 1986. The tournament kicks off on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa at 3 p.m. ET. Their second match is on June 18 against South Korea in Guadalajara, and the final group match is on June 24 against Czechia, also at Estadio Azteca. The top two teams will progress to the knockout stage.
SportsHow Family Sacrifices Led Ricardo Pepi to the 2026 World Cup
Ricardo Pepi, a rising star of the U.S. national soccer team, reflects on the sacrifices made by his family that helped him reach the 2026 World Cup. Growing up in El Paso, Texas, Pepi's parents dedicated themselves to supporting his soccer journey, often traveling long distances for practices and games. At just 13, he left home to join FC Dallas, facing the challenges of a new environment without his family. Despite setbacks, including missing the 2022 World Cup, Pepi persevered, scoring 13 goals in 37 matches for the national team. He will debut in the World Cup on June 12, 2026, against Paraguay, honoring his family's commitment to his dreams.
SportsMcAllen friends living out their dream of attending the FIFA World Cup Opener in Mexico City
McAllen residents Pablo Arriaga and Hector Garcia are set to attend the FIFA World Cup opener at Estadio Azteca, where Mexico will face South Africa. Arriaga dedicated a year to securing tickets for this historic event, spending $7,000 each, with total costs exceeding $10,000 per person when travel and souvenirs are included. Both lifelong soccer fans, they connected a few years ago, and Garcia was eager to join once he learned about the tickets. Arriaga, who owns Soccer Shoppe, has seen a surge in sales, particularly for teams like Portugal and Argentina, as excitement builds for the tournament.
SportsInfantino defends World Cup ticket prices; compares them to NBA finals
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices for the World Cup on Wednesday, stating that "if we are doing something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong." Infantino spoke with reporters during an unusual Q&A session ahead of the opening match of a tournament expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches. He defended the record ticket prices, noted that FIFA had no power to ensure the U.S. government allowed a Somali referee to enter, and praised his own efforts to secure entry for the Iranian national soccer team into the United States. FIFA set initial prices at $140 for group stage matches, but standard tickets for the final on July 19, just outside New York, were announced for up to $8,680, with hospitality tickets reaching as high as $73,200. The prices for the final were later raised to $10,990 and then to $32,970. After receiving numerous criticisms, FIFA offered tickets at $60 to national federations for their regular fans, indicating that 130,000 tickets were made available in that category.
SportsRGV Red Crowns take on Central Texas Coyotes FC on Wednesday evening
The RGV Red Crowns will continue their four-game road trip on Wednesday evening, facing the Central Texas Coyotes FC in Tyler, Texas. The Red Crowns previously defeated the Coyotes in Harlingen in mid-May and are currently on a two-game winning streak with two consecutive clean sheets. Players Cade Erickson and Johan Arevalo emphasize the importance of staying focused and treating this match as a fresh start, acknowledging that the Coyotes will be better prepared after studying their previous game. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM at Woodson Field in Tyler.
SportsHow to Watch Mexico and South Africa in the 2026 World Cup on Telemundo
The soccer excitement begins with the match between Mexico and South Africa in the FIFA World Cup 2026 this Thursday, June 11. The Mexico City Stadium will host the teams from Group A as they kick off the battle for the 2026 World Cup trophy. You can watch the match at 3 PM ET / 2 PM CT on Telemundo and Peacock. Remember that Telemundo will bring you most of the 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup live and in Spanish.
Sports2026 World Cup: The Biggest and Most Uncertain Tournament in History Kicks Off
From a strictly sporting perspective, the 2026 World Cup has all the ingredients to captivate from start to finish during six weeks of action in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Telemundo is the Home of the World Cup. Here is Lionel Messi for his final grand act, almost certainly his last farewell on a stage of this magnitude, with an Argentina that aims to be the first team to defend the title since 1962. Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived to conquer the only major trophy that has eluded him in a career full of records with Portugal. Brazil boasts its five titles, but the last one dates back to 2002. They will try to end the drought under the leadership of Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who seeks to be the first foreign coach in World Cup history to lead a team to victory.
SportsReady for the World Cup: Messi Returns with Penalty Goal in Argentina's Friendly Match
Lionel Messi is set for his sixth World Cup after recovering from a muscle injury. He played 20 minutes and scored a penalty in Argentina's 3-0 friendly victory over Iceland on Tuesday. Argentina, aiming for its fourth World Cup title, will debut against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. The match marked the first time Jordan-Hare Stadium hosted soccer. Messi, who came off the bench, assisted Lautaro Martínez, leading to a penalty that he converted. The team is optimistic but cautious as they prepare for the tournament, hoping for the recovery of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from a hand injury.
SportsWeslaco among RGV teams to qualify for 7-on-7 state tournament
The Weslaco Panthers have secured a spot in the state 7-on-7 football tournament, scheduled for the last week of June in College Station. They achieved this by defeating PSJA in their qualifying match. Players expressed their excitement about competing against top teams in Texas. Running back Malachi Rodriguez emphasized the satisfaction of their hard work paying off, while quarterback Guadalupe Granados noted the team's focus and confidence as they prepare. This marks the second state qualification for defensive back Enrique Rodriguez, who highlighted the effort put in by the team. Port Isabel and PSJA North will also face off in a scrimmage this week.
SportsMade in the 956: Donna native helps protect the San Antonio Spurs
Roy Padilla, a native of Donna, Texas, is part of the San Antonio Spurs security team, gaining firsthand experience during the NBA Finals. He has been with the team since 2018, traveling with them for practices, games, and public events. Padilla, who has a law enforcement background dating back to 1980, previously served as the assistant police chief in Pharr and police chief for Donna ISD. Excited about the Finals, he emphasizes the importance of staying alert and focused. Padilla remains connected to his roots in the Rio Grande Valley, expressing pride in his hometown of Donna.