• Spain are World Cup champions! A goal in the second half of extra time was all that was needed to bring Spain the country’s second World Cup championship as they defeated Argentina and Lionel Messi, 1-0, after 120 minutes of tension.

• Ferran Torres the hero: Torres’ goal in the 106th minute broke a lengthy deadlock in a game dominated by Spain. He took a pass from Nico Williams and buried it in the net. Argentina pushed for an equalizer late but couldn’t find the net.

• First World Cup final halftime show: A rapid-fire show of stars marked the first World Cup final halftime show, as Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and others all made appearances. It was a colorful display, if a bit crowded with all the top names on display.     

The World Cup final match in New Jersey will be contested between defending champion Argentina and slight favorite, Spain.

Argentina, trailing (1-0) late, rallied to defeat England (2-1), getting the winning tally from substitute player, Lauturo Martinez in extra time.

Meanwhile Spain, as was Argentina a match underdog, won (2-0) vs France.

Spain has allowed but one goal in its 7 matches thus far.

Ben Rice hit two home runs to help the New York Yankees to a 12-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. The Yankees (51-42) split the four-game series with the Rays at Tropicana Field, remaining four games behind Tampa Bay (54-37) for first place in the AL East.

With his two homers, Rice now has 28 for the season, one fewer than the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez for the AL home-run lead. He moved past the Rays’ Junior Caminero with his second home run on Thursday.

Caminero briefly moved ahead of Rice with his 27th homer of the season in the first inning off Yankees opener Paul Blackburn. That was his first home run in his past five games, following an 11-game span during which he hit 11 homers.

Rice finished the day batting 2-for-4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. With 65 RBI, the Yankees’ DH now ranks third in that category among AL sluggers behind Alvarez and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz.

Ryan McMahon also drove in two runs for the Yankees, with Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, and Austin Wells each getting an RBI. Wells got his on his fifth home run of the season.

Prepare your taste buds for a delectable partnership as McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme announce an expanded national collaboration that promises to satisfy doughnut cravings across the country. 

Fans can expect to find Krispy Kreme’s signature doughnuts gracing the menus of participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide, with full availability anticipated by the end of 2026.

Recognizing the universal appeal of a freshly made doughnut alongside their favorite McCafé beverages, McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are embarking on this sweet venture. The phased rollout will see Krispy Kreme’s treats making their way to McDonald’s locations across the nation, offering fans a delightful addition to their dining experience.

Starting with a breakfast-time treat that lasts all day, fans can enjoy three of Krispy Kreme’s most beloved doughnuts, available individually or in boxes of six, while supplies last:

• The Original Glazed Doughnut: A melt-in-your-mouth classic coated in Krispy Kreme’s signature glaze.
• The Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut: A chocolatey variation of the original, dipped in chocolate icing and adorned with rainbow sprinkles.
• The Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled Doughnut: Featuring a light, fluffy dough filled with smooth Kreme and dipped in chocolate icing.

Jack in the Box offers a fast-food steakhouse experience with the introduction of two new All American Ribeye Steakhouse Burgers.

The new steakhouse burgers can be enjoyed in the following two varieties:

All American Ribeye Steakhouse Burger: A 100 percent ribeye beef patty, natural cheddar cheese, aioli, red onion, lettuce and tomato all on a potato bun.

Bacon All American Ribeye Steakhouse Burger: A 100 percent ribeye beef patty, bacon, natural cheddar cheese, aioli, red onion, lettuce and tomato all on a potato bun.

It’s not the first time Jack in the Box featured ribeye burgers. Back in 2017, the fast-food chain debuted its first-ever ribeye burgers with the introduction of the All American Ribeye and the Havarti & Grilled Onion Ribeye.

The 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will take place on July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, airing on FOX at 8 p.m. ET.

The Braves, Dodgers and Phillies are each sending five players to the All-Star Game, tied for the most selections of any club. That includes the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman earning his 10th selection, and top vote-getter Shohei Ohtani getting his sixth. Braves ace Chris Sale will also make his 10th trip to the All-Star Game.

Phillies star Bryce Harper, who was selected to the game by Commissioner Rob Manfred as a “Legend Pick,” is now a nine-time All-Star. And Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who was voted in as a starter for the American League, leads all players with 12 All-Star selections.

There are 26 first-time All-Stars on this year’s squads, including four rookies: the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle, the Reds’ Sal Stewart, and the Guardians’ Parker Messick and Travis Bazzana.

The Mets were blown out in the finale against the Blue Jays, 9-3, at Rogers Centre, to drop the series. The Mets have now lost ten of their last twelve, and are 2-4 in the Andy Green era.

Starter Freddy Peralta was awful again putting the Mets behind early. Of all the Mets’ disappointments this season, the alleged ace’s shortcomings might be the most perplexing. Peralta is in his career prime and physically hasn’t provided any hint of ailment.

Offensively, the Mets didn’t show life until the eighth, when Carson Benge delivered a two-run homer. Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer in the ninth. The Mets finished with five hits. All told it was just another sloppy loss in a season full of them.

The New York Jets and Breece Hall agreed on a three-year, $45.75 million contract with $29 million guaranteed.

Hall becomes the third-highest-paid running back by annual money, behind the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey ($19 million). 

The deal does not include any guaranteed money in the third year of the contract, so it is essentially a two-year, $29 million deal.

Hall was drafted in the second round by the Jets in 2022. He has consistently been one of the team’s top offensive weapons during his first four years.

Hall topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time last season. He gained 1,065 yards on 243 carries and scored four rushing touchdowns. 

The New York Mets have dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza as the team struggles in the National League East. The announcement came as the Mets sit at a disappointing 34-47, 15 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves. Andy Green, a former manager of the San Diego Padres, will step in as the interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Mendoza, who was hired by the Mets before the 2024 season, led the team to the National League Championship Series in his first year. However, the team’s performance has declined since then, despite significant investments, including a record $765 million contract for outfielder Juan Soto. Injuries to key players such as Francisco Lindor and Soto have compounded the Mets’ struggles this season.

The Mets, who opened the season with the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, have not met expectations, prompting the change in leadership. 

Mendoza’s tenure ends with a 206-199 record, and his departure marks the third managerial change in MLB this season, following similar moves by the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. 

Dozens of Hardee’s locations across nine states are set to shut down after franchisee ARC Burger, LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The major operator — one of the chain’s largest — is liquidating its assets and shutting down 77 Hardee’s locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina and Wyoming. The proceeds from the liquidation will be distributed to creditors.

The collapse follows a months-long legal battle between ARC and Hardee’s, which alleges the franchisee racked up more than $6.5 million in unpaid fees and royalties.

Hardee’s is hardly the only fast-food chain or operator struggling.

Recently, Fat Brands announced it was filing for bankruptcy  protection. Fat Brands is the parent company of 18 restaurant chains, including Fatburger, Fazoli’s, Johnny Rockets, Twin Peaks, Smoky Bones, Great American Cookies, Ponderosa, Elevation Burger, Round Table Pizza and Marble Slab Creamery.