US Soccer pulls its under-17 team out of the World Cup in Qatar, 8 days before kick-off, over war fears

The stories

35 on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

1. 01

   US Soccer pulls its under-17 team out of the World Cup in Qatar, 8 days before kick-off, over war fears

   8 days

   before kick-off, when the US pulled out of the tournament

   the 48-team event starts in Doha on 19 November [2]

   $24,000

   FIFA's fine for a team that pulls out within 30 days

   set at 20,000 Swiss francs in the tournament's rules [4]

   48

   teams in the Under-17 World Cup, up from 24 in 2023

   it became a yearly event, held in Qatar until 2029 [3]

   What happened

   • US Soccer pulled its under-17 men's team out of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday. [1]
   • It left 8 days before the 48-team tournament kicks off in Doha on 19 November. [2]
   • The federation cited the safety of its players and staff, with war going on in the Middle East. [3]
   • On 23 October the US State Department told Americans to reconsider travel to Qatar, citing the risk of armed conflict. [1]
   • The warning pointed to attacks on Saudi Arabia, Qatar's neighbour, by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. [1]
   • "We are no longer able to participate in the tournament," US Soccer's letter told the players. [3]
   • The letter also pointed to US orders for embassy staff and their families in Qatar. [1]
   • The team's coach, Alex Aldaz, had named a 21-player squad last week. [1]
   • The players were due to meet in Atlanta for a training camp this week. [3]
   • FIFA's rules say a team that qualifies must take part or be fined. [4]
   • Pulling out within 30 days of the start costs 20,000 Swiss francs, about $24,000. [4]
   • The US were drawn in Group J with Montenegro, Chile and Algeria. [4]
   • They were to open against Montenegro on 21 November, and the final is on 13 December. [1]

   202324 teams

   Now48 teams

   Who is involved

   It held promising young players from MLS, the top US league, and from clubs abroad. [4]

   • US Soccer the body that runs football in the US; it pulled its under-17 men's team out
   • FIFA Under-17 World Cup world football's governing body; it runs the tournament and can fine a late withdrawal
   • United States now out
   • Montenegro Group J
   • Chile Group J
   • Algeria Group J
   • Qatar the Gulf state hosting every Under-17 World Cup from 2025 to 2029; also a go-between in US-Iran talks
   • Alex Aldaz the US under-17 coach; he named a 21-player squad last week

   How it unfolded

   FIFA made the Under-17 World Cup a yearly event in 2025, with Qatar hosting every edition until 2029. [1]

   The field grew to 48 teams, up from 24 in 2023. [3]

   The war began in February, with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. [2]

   It has pushed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia back nearly a year. [4] Qatar also gave up hosting rugby's 2028 Nations Championship finals. [4]

   Formula One also cancelled its race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [2]

   Qatar has also been a go-between in talks to end the war between the US and Iran. [4]

   1. 23 Oct the US warns its citizens to reconsider travel to Qatar [1]
   2. This week US team pulls out
   3. 19 Nov the tournament is due to start in Doha [2]
   4. 21 Nov US v Montenegro, now off
   5. 13 Dec the final
   6. 2025 first yearly edition, in Qatar
   7. 2029 Qatar's last as host
   8. 19 Nov the tournament starts
   9. February the war begins with US and Israeli strikes on Iran [2]
   10. Last week the US names a 21-player squad [1]
   11. Wednesday US Soccer pulls the team out [3]

   Why it matters

   The 21 players lose their chance to play at the World Cup. [1]

   Formula One still plans to race in Qatar on 29 November and in Abu Dhabi on 6 December. [4]

   How it works

   Lawyers call this a duty of care: a group must keep the people in its charge safe from foreseeable harm.

   US government orders already covered embassy staff and families in Qatar. [1] US Soccer said its players' well-being came first. [3]

   Seen it before

   A school calls off a trip abroad when the government warns against travel there, even if other schools still go.

   The truth

   • What is really going on US Soccer kept its under-17 team out of the World Cup in Qatar, pointing to the US government's own warning about Qatar. [1]
   • US Soccer would not say how it made the decision, and FIFA had not commented. [4]
   • Who pays The 21 players in the US under-17 squad — They lose their place at a World Cup they had trained for. [1]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether FIFA brings in another team to replace the US in Group J.

     FIFA had not commented by Wednesday, 8 days before kick-off. [4]

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether FIFA will fine US Soccer.

     Its rules set a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs for a late withdrawal, but FIFA has not said it will use it. [4]

   What comes next

   The tournament is still due to start in Doha on 19 November. [2]

1. 02

   United close in on Pochettino

   What happened

   • Manchester United are close to a deal with Mauricio Pochettino, the US national team coach, sources told ESPN. [12]
   • United would pay a $10 million release clause to free him from his US contract, ESPN reported. [12]
   • The BBC says Carrick's exit is expected after a summit meeting in Monaco. [13]
   • Pochettino is still expected to coach the US in 2 games against Haiti, starting on Saturday in Miami. [12]

   Who is involved

   • Mauricio Pochettino US national team coach
   • Manchester United want him as coach

   How it unfolded

   Their coach, Michael Carrick, faces the sack after 1 win in 10 games left United in the relegation zone. [12]

   1. Saturday US v Haiti in Miami
   2. Tuesday US v Haiti in Cincinnati

   Why it matters

   If he leaves, US Soccer loses the coach it gave a four-year extension in August. [14]

   England's coach Thomas Tuchel said his own contract has no such clause, and he will stay to Euro 2028. [15]

   How it works

   Contract lawyers call this a release clause: a price, written in advance, that lets another employer buy out a contract.

   With the price fixed in advance, ESPN says even the timing of his move is Pochettino's to choose. [12]

   Seen it before

   A phone contract that lets you leave early for a set fee works the same way.

   The truth

   • ESPN reports the clause at $10 million. [12] Goal, citing The Guardian, puts it at about £7 million. [15]
   • Who gains Manchester United — A release clause lets them pay a set sum and hire a coach still under contract to the US. [12]
   • Nobody knows yet

     What Manchester United would really pay to free Pochettino.

     ESPN reports a $10 million clause, while Goal, citing The Guardian, puts it at about £7 million. [12][15]

2. 03

   Pandya and Arshdeep swap IPL teams

   What happened

   • Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings made their swap of two India stars official on Wednesday. [16]
   • Mumbai's captain, Hardik Pandya, joins Punjab for a fee of 18 crore rupees, up from 16.35 crore. [9]
   • Arshdeep Singh, India's leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, joins Mumbai at his existing fee of 18 crore. [16]
   • Arshdeep's 111 wickets for Punjab are the most by any bowler in the team's 19 seasons. [9]

   Who is involved

   The IPL is India's Twenty20 cricket league, with 10 independently owned teams playing a two-month season. [11]

   How it unfolded

   Mumbai won 15 and lost 24 of the 39 games Pandya led as captain since 2024. [9]

   Why it matters

   Mumbai must now find a new captain for next season. [9]

   Pandya is not expected to captain Punjab, where Shreyas Iyer leads. [16]

   How it works

   Investors call this compound growth: each year's rise is added on top of the rises before it.

   IPL team prices averaged $90 million at launch and average $1.7 billion today, a Sportico columnist wrote. [11]

   Seen it before

   Money left in a savings account grows faster each year, because interest is paid on earlier interest too.

   The truth

   • The same column warns that fast growth may hide risks of bribery and false financial records. [11]
3. 04

   Baseball heads for a lockout over a cap

   What happened

   • Baseball's labour deal ends at 11:59pm on 1 December, and owners are expected to lock players out at once. [7]
   • Owners have proposed a hard cap of $258.2 million on each team's 2028 payroll, and a floor of $180.2 million. [7]
   • Eight teams, including the Dodgers and Yankees, would have to cut $528 million between them to fit under it. [7]
   • Players have vowed never to accept a cap. [7]
   • Scott Boras, the agent for many of baseball's best-paid players, said on Wednesday the sport is booming. [17]
   • "They're paying billions for acquisition of these franchises," Boras said of private investment firms. [17]

   Who is involved

   • Scott Boras agent to many top players

   How it unfolded

   A strike over a cap in 1994 and 1995 cancelled the World Series for the first time in 90 years. [7]

   1. 1 Dec the labour deal ends
   2. Straight after owners expected to lock players out

   Why it matters

   The cuts would fall on 8 teams, from Boston to Toronto, and on their players. [7]

   How it works

   Labour economists call a hard cap a limit on total pay: no team may spend past it, at any price.

   Boras argued that under a cap a team can bet on 1 star, not 4 or 5. [17]

   Seen it before

   A class trip with a fixed budget has less left for everyone if one ticket costs a lot.

   The truth

   • Who gains Baseball team owners — Bankers who sell teams say a cap would raise team values by limiting what owners spend on players. [17]
   • Who pays Players on baseball's biggest payrolls — Their teams would have to cut $528 million between them to fit under the owners' cap. [7]

1. 05

   League One clubs want tighter spending limits

   What happened

   • Clubs in League One, the division below the Championship, want new curbs on spending by owners, the Guardian reports. [6]
   • Losses averaged £7.5 million a club last season, up from £5.3 million the season before. [6]
   • One model is a £1 levy for every £1 a club spends above 50% of its revenue. [6]
   • Sporting sanctions would start at 60%, and the levy money would be shared among the other clubs. [6]
   • The other model is a fixed cap on how much owners may put in. [6]
   • Any change needs a two-thirds vote, and MK Dons and Wycombe are against it. [6]

   How it unfolded

   Last summer they cut the share of turnover clubs may spend on wages from 60% to 50%. [6]

   Why it matters

   An owner said League One wage bills rose 15% this season. [6] A top-six budget of 5 years ago would now rank in the bottom three. [6]

   How it works

   Why a league charges a club a pound for each pound it overspends

   Economists call it a Pigouvian tax: a charge on something that costs other people, so whoever does it pays for the harm.

   The twist

   The levy does not ban big spending. It makes each pound over the line cost the club two, and the second pound goes to the clubs that spending squeezed.

   The picture

   12

   0% of revenue spent on the squad35% of revenue spent on the squad70% of revenue spent on the squad

   1. 1levy starts50% of revenue spent on the squad
   2. 2sanctions60% of revenue spent on the squad

   Step by step

   1. 1 One club spends more on wages
   2. 2 Wages rise across the league
   3. 3 Rivals must spend more or fall behind
   4. 4 A levy charges £1 for each £1 over the line
   5. 5 The levy goes to the clubs that were squeezed

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • League One clubs want tighter spending limits

     Clubs are weighing a £1 levy for each £1 spent above 50% of revenue, shared out to the other clubs.

   • Digital card packs reach $2 billion a year

     Gambling carries extra taxes for the harm it can do, but these apps count as shopping and pay none of them.

   • NBA's anti-tanking rules

     Losing on purpose hurts the league, so the 3 worst teams now get worse draft odds: a charge on the harmful choice.

   Where you've seen this

   City traffic

   London's congestion charge makes each driver pay for the jam their car adds.

   Factory smoke

   a carbon price charges a factory for the pollution everyone else breathes.

   Sugary drinks

   the UK's sugar levy charges drink makers for the extra sugar, so many cut it.

   The catch

   If the charge is too low, a rich owner pays it and keeps spending. If it is too high, it works like a ban.

   And the whole of it

   A fan buying a ticket, a player whose wage goes up, and an owner covering the losses are all inside League One's spending race. Each of them sees only their own club's books, never the whole league's.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Away from the war, the day's fights were about money: League One clubs and baseball's owners want to limit spending, and players push back. [6][7]
   • The players' union, the PFA, is already challenging the current rules in a legal case begun in August. [6]
   • Who gains League One clubs that stay under the line — Under the levy plan, money paid by the overspenders would be shared out to them. [6]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether any new League One spending plan can pass.

     A change needs a two-thirds vote, and MK Dons and Wycombe oppose it. [6]

1. 06

   Misiorowski and Schlittler win the Cy Young

   What happened

   • Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers and Cam Schlittler of the Yankees won baseball's Cy Young awards on Wednesday. [18][19]
   • Both won unanimously, only the 3rd such pair in baseball history. [20]
   • Misiorowski, 24, averaged 100.6 mph with his fastball and struck out 37.9% of batters, the most in baseball. [18]
   • Schlittler, 25 and in his 2nd season, led American League pitchers with 7.0 wins above replacement. [19]
   • The writers also gave their first Reliever of the Year awards, to Mason Miller and Louis Varland. [21]

   Who is involved

   The Cy Young is baseball's top prize for pitchers, given in each of its two leagues. [20]

   • Jacob Misiorowski Brewers, National League
   • Cam Schlittler Yankees, American League
   • Mason Miller Padres
   • Louis Varland Blue Jays

   Why it matters

   Schlittler ended the 2-year run of Tarik Skubal, who is now a free agent. [19]

   The truth

   • Votes for the new award were cast before the play-offs, so only regular-season games counted. [21]
2. 07

   Rugby league's Super League grows to 15

   What happened

   • Super League, rugby league's top flight, will grow from 14 clubs to 15 in 2027, its shareholders agreed. [22]
   • The Rugby Football League's board will now set criteria and pick a panel to judge the bids. [22]
   • London Broncos, who won the second tier's Grand Final, could be in line for the place. [22]
   • Yet the Broncos came only 16th in the league's yearly grading of clubs. [22]

   How it unfolded

   It had 12 clubs for most of its history, and grew to 14 in 2026. [22]

   Why it matters

   A deal with Australia's National Rugby League would insist on the Broncos being in the top flight, the BBC understands. [22]

   The truth

   • Super League has no title sponsor, broadcast deal or fixtures agreed for 2027 yet. [22]
3. 08

   Cummins to answer Khawaja on Friday

   What happened

   • Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins says he will face the media on Friday about Usman Khawaja's sandpaper claims. [23]
   • Graeme Hick, Australia's batting coach then, said that claim was "absolutely false". [24]
   • Hick is the second coach from that tour to deny it, after head coach Darren Lehmann. [23]
   • David Warner replied that Hick got the job only because Cricket Australia would not pay Michael Di Venuto enough. [23]
   • Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull also rejected Khawaja's claim that he used the scandal for politics. [25]

   Who is involved

   • Graeme Hick denies it
   • Darren Lehmann denies it

   How it unfolded

   Khawaja's book, Sabr, says the whole 2018 team knew sandpaper was used on the ball. [24] "It was all of us," he writes. [24]

   Only 3 players, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, were banned over it. [24]

   Why it matters

   Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and other players from 2018 are still playing, so the claims follow them. [26]

   Mitch Marsh, captain for the first one-day game against England, is due to face questions on Thursday. [24]

   The truth

   • Khawaja pulled out of TV and radio interviews after failing to answer key questions on ABC's 7.30 programme. [24]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Who in Australia's 2018 team knew about the sandpaper.

     Khawaja says everyone did, two coaches from that tour deny it, and Cummins speaks on Friday. [24][23]

4. 09

   England women drop a Test for Ashes practice

   What happened

   • England's women have scrapped their planned Test in the West Indies to prepare at home for next summer's Ashes. [27]
   • They will play 4 red-ball matches in England, including a 3-day game against Australia A. [28]
   • The Ashes Test at Headingley, from 24 to 27 June, is worth 4 points in the series. [28]
   • Before that comes a 10-day camp in Bangalore, India, in January. [28]

   Who is involved

   Red-ball cricket means games lasting several days, the form a Test is played in. [27]

   How it unfolded

   England have played only 1 Test since losing to Australia by an innings in Melbourne in January 2025. [28]

   1. January 10-day camp in Bangalore
   2. 24 Jun Ashes Test at Headingley

   Why it matters

   West Indies women have not played a Test since 2004, their only red-ball match in 47 years. [28]

   How it works

   Sports scientists call this the specificity principle: you get better at exactly what you practise, where you will play it.

   So England swap a Caribbean Test for 4 red-ball games in English conditions, the conditions of the Headingley Test. [28]

   Seen it before

   A team that will play a final on grass practises on grass, not on an indoor court.

   The truth

   • The BBC understands the decision is not about money, though West Indies had wanted help to host it. [28]
   • "It is very expensive to host cricket in the Caribbean," said Chris Dehring, the West Indies board's chief. [28]
   • Who pays West Indies women's cricket — It loses a home Test against England, with no women's Test there since 2004. [28]
5. 10

   Bethell out of England's Australia tour

   What happened

   • Jacob Bethell, 23, will miss England's one-day and Twenty20 tour of Australia after a knee setback in training. [29]
   • He will fly home to see a specialist. [29]
   • England play 3 one-day games and 5 Twenty20s in Australia, starting in Perth on Friday. [29]
   • Joe Root is set to play his 200th one-day international this week. [30]

   Who is involved

   • Jacob Bethell England batter, 23

   How it unfolded

   He has not played since July, when his right knee hurt while he made 91 against India at Lord's. [29]

   1. July knee hurts in a 91 at Lord's
   2. September surgery
   3. This week setback in training

   Why it matters

   Bethell is in the squad for 3 Tests in South Africa from 17 December, and is now a doubt. [29]

   The truth

   • England gave no timeline, and Root said he did not know much more. [29]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How long Jacob Bethell will be out.

     England gave no timeline, and he flies home to see a specialist. [29]

6. 11

   Panel says Liverpool should have had a penalty

   What happened

   • A Premier League panel ruled Liverpool should have had a penalty in their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal earlier this month. [31]
   • Arsenal's Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt as he jumped for a header. [31]
   • It voted 4 to 1 that not giving the penalty was wrong. [31] It voted 3 to 2 that VAR, the video referee, should have stepped in. [31]
   • Kai Havertz scored the only goal, so the penalty would have come with Liverpool 1-0 down. [31]

   Who is involved

   The Key Match Incidents panel is a 5-person group that reviews big refereeing decisions. [31]

   • Arsenal won 1-0
   • Liverpool denied a penalty

   Why it matters

   Liverpool's coach Andoni Iraola said "we have to tell them 'go down'" when fouled in the box. [31]

   Arsenal top the table, 9 points ahead of Liverpool in 4th. [31]

   How it works

   Referees call VAR's bar a clear and obvious error: it should step in only for mistakes anyone can see. [31]

   2 panellists said judging the pull's effect was too subjective to meet that bar. [31]

   Seen it before

   A teacher rechecks a test only when a mark is plainly wrong, not when it is a matter of opinion.

7. 12

   Complaint to the US tax office over Infantino's housekeeper

   What happened

   • A complaint to the IRS, the US tax agency, says a person on FIFA's payroll worked as Gianni Infantino's housekeeper. [32]
   • It says the worker was paid through a FIFA-linked company while working at his Miami home. [32]
   • FIFA said "the costs of any domestic staff are met by the Fifa president personally". [32]
   • Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president before him, called Infantino a "dictator" in an interview with Der Spiegel, a German magazine. [33]
   • Blatter attacked FIFA's peace prize for Donald Trump and the scrapping of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban. [32]

   Who is involved

   Infantino is the head of FIFA, world football's governing body. [32]

   • Gianni Infantino head of FIFA
   • Sepp Blatter FIFA president before him

   Why it matters

   If the IRS agreed, FIFA could lose the tax-exempt status it holds in the US. [32]

   How it works

   US tax law treats FIFA as a tax-exempt group, one meant to promote community welfare. [32]

   The complaint argues FIFA's leaders abused that status by paying for private help. [32]

   Seen it before

   A school fund raised for team kits cannot be spent on the treasurer's own cleaner.

   The truth

   • The complaint came from Abed Ayoub, a Washington lawyer whose group campaigned to ban Israeli teams. [32]
   • IRS findings are usually not published, and an inquiry would likely take months. [32]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the IRS will investigate FIFA at all.

     A complaint is not an inquiry, and IRS findings are usually not published. [32]

8. 13

   Top four kept apart at the Women's World Cup

   What happened

   • FIFA confirmed the top 4 ranked teams will be kept apart at the 2027 Women's World Cup. [34] That holds until the semi-finals, if each wins its group. [34]
   • The USA and England have not yet qualified. [34]
   • The draw is on 11 December in Rio de Janeiro, using the rankings of 7 December. [34]
   • FIFA also passed the only bid for 2031, from the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. [34] The UK is the only bidder for 2035. [34]

   Who is involved

   • Spain holders
   • USA not yet qualified
   • Germany seeded
   • England not yet qualified

   How it unfolded

   At the 2026 men's World Cup the same rule applied, and all 4 top teams reached the semi-finals. [34]

   1. 7 Dec rankings fixed
   2. 11 Dec the draw in Rio
   3. 27 Nov USA v El Salvador
   4. 1 and 5 Dec England v Ukraine

   Why it matters

   If seeds hold, the USA and holders Spain could meet only in the final, at the Maracana on 25 July. [34]

   How it works

   Tournament planners call this seeding: the strongest teams are spread across the draw so they meet late.

   So 2 of the top 4 can meet no earlier than the semi-finals, if each wins its group. [34]

   Seen it before

   A school sports day puts the fastest runners in different heats, so they race each other in the final.

   What comes next

   The USA play El Salvador on 27 November, and England face Ukraine over 2 legs on 1 and 5 December. [34]

9. 14

   Fury v Joshua's 3am finish draws objections

   What happened

   • Residents have objected to plans for the Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua fight in Cardiff to finish at 3am. [35]
   • The 11 December fight at the Principality Stadium would end late to fit prime-time TV in the US. [35]
   • The stadium has asked to sell alcohol and play music until 3am, and stay open until 3:30am. [35]

   How it unfolded

   Wembley was ruled out because its 11pm curfew clashed with Netflix's wish to show the fight in US prime time. [35]

   In 2007 Joe Calzaghe's fight with Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff did not start until 2am, for US television. [35]

   1. 25 Nov council panel decides
   2. 11 Dec the fight

   Why it matters

   One resident with young children said it would "cause absolute chaos" for families next to the stadium. [35]

   Supporters of the plan say it will bring visitors from the US and money for local businesses. [35]

   How it works

   Broadcasters call this prime time: the evening hours when the most people watch TV.

   A 3am finish in Cardiff lines up with prime-time viewing in the US, so the night runs that late. [35]

   Seen it before

   A big match in another country can be on your TV at breakfast, because of the time difference.

   The truth

   • Who pays Residents next to Cardiff's stadium — A finish timed for US television means crowds and noise outside their homes until after 3am. [35]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the Fury v Joshua fight gets its 3am licence.

     Cardiff Council's licensing panel decides on 25 November, after residents objected. [35]

   What comes next

   Cardiff Council's licensing panel meets on 25 November to decide. [35]

10. 15

    Andreeva thrashes Sabalenka at the WTA Finals

    What happened

    • Mirra Andreeva won 11 games in a row to beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-0 at the WTA Finals. [36]
    • Andreeva, 19, the French Open champion, had been 4-1 down in the first set. [36]
    • Andreeva made 6 unforced errors, and Sabalenka made 23. [36]
    • Elina Svitolina came from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova 3-6 6-2 6-2, after a medical timeout. [37]

    Who is involved

    The WTA Finals, the last event of the women's season, are being played at Indian Wells in California. [37]

    How it unfolded

    They were moved there from Saudi Arabia because of the war. [5]

    Why it matters

    Andreeva goes through as group winner, and Sabalenka and Svitolina play on Friday for the other semi-final place. [36]

    The truth

    • Sabalenka had tape on her knee, but the BBC judged it did not seem to hinder her. [36]
11. 16

    A stake in the Alpine F1 team goes up for sale

    What happened

    • Investment firm Otro Capital has hired a bank to explore selling its stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team. [10]
    • A 3-year lock on selling ended this autumn. [10] Alpine adviser Flavio Briatore said in September that at least 7 investors were ready to buy. [10]

    Who is involved

    Its backers included actor Ryan Reynolds and American football star Patrick Mahomes. [10]

    • Otro Capital selling its stake
    • Alpine the F1 team
    • Ryan Reynolds actor
    • Patrick Mahomes Chiefs quarterback

    How it unfolded

    In 2023 Otro led a group that bought 24% of Alpine at a $900 million value. [10]

    Why it matters

    Last year a stake valued Mercedes at $6 billion, and Aston Martin sold over 15% this summer at $4.7 billion. [10]

    How it works

    Economists call a limit on how much each team may spend a cost cap.

    With spending capped, owning a team became more profitable, so team values soared, Sportico reports. [10]

    Seen it before

    When a game caps how many coins each player may spend, being rich stops winning on its own.

    The truth

    • BDT and Otro declined to comment, and hiring a bank does not mean a sale will happen. [10]
    • Who gains Investors in Formula 1 teams — A spending cap made teams more profitable to own, so stakes now sell at values in the billions. [10]
12. 17

    Formula 1 could leave the stock market, ex-boss says

    What happened

    • Greg Maffei, who ran F1's owner Liberty Media, said F1 may leave the stock market within 2 years. [38]
    • "I'll say F1 is gone," he said at a Sportico conference on Tuesday. [38]
    • John Malone, Liberty's chairman emeritus, is stepping down and cut his voting power from 48% to 3%. [38]

    Who is involved

    • Greg Maffei ex-head of Liberty Media

    How it unfolded

    Liberty bought F1 in 2017 at an $8 billion value, and its F1 shares have risen nearly 300% since. [38]

    Why it matters

    With Malone's votes gone, Liberty's board must weigh any offer for what is best for shareholders. [38]

    How it works

    Company law calls this a fiduciary obligation: directors must act for the shareholders who own the company. [38]

    So a good offer for F1 goes to a board bound to shareholders, not to one owner holding most votes. [38]

    Seen it before

    A class rep voting for the whole class must pick what is best for everyone, not just for friends.

13. 18

    Digital card packs reach $2 billion a year

    What happened

    • Apps that sell random digital trading cards earn at a yearly rate of $2 billion, Bank of America says. [39]
    • Weekly users grew from about 50,000 to more than 1.7 million in roughly 12 months. [39]
    • Each pack holds one random card that is, on average, worth less than the pack costs. [39]
    • The apps keep at least 6% of what users spend, and the bank compares it to "a slot machine". [39]

    Who is involved

    Betting firms Underdog and PrizePicks now sell packs too, alongside card firms PSA and Fanatics. [39]

    • Underdog, PrizePicks betting firms
    • PSA, Fanatics card firms

    Why it matters

    They count as online shopping, not gambling, so they can sell nationwide without paying gambling taxes. [39]

    How it works

    Gambling carries extra taxes for the harm it can do, but these apps count as shopping and pay none of them.

    The idea, in story 05: Why a league charges a club a pound for each pound it overspends →

    The truth

    • Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, warns the apps could drive addiction among young users. [39]
    • Who gains Card-pack app companies — Counted as shopping, not gambling, they can sell nationwide without paying gambling taxes. [39]
    • Who pays Card-pack app users — A pack is worth less on average than its price, and the app keeps at least 6% of what they spend. [39]
14. 19

    NBA's anti-tanking rules have not changed much yet

    What happened

    • Three weeks into the NBA season, new draft lottery rules have not narrowed the gap between top and bottom teams. [40]
    • The 3 worst teams now get worse odds at the top pick than the 4th to 10th worst. [40]
    • Nearly 25% of the 154 games so far were won by at least 20 points, up from 22% last season. [40]
    • 10 teams have won at least 70% of their games, against 6 at this point last year. [40]

    How it unfolded

    Owners approved a new "3-2-1" system in May that widens the lottery from 14 teams to 16. [40]

    Why it matters

    Wizards guard Bub Carrington said his team had been held back while chasing the top pick, AJ Dybantsa. [40]

    How it works

    Losing on purpose hurts the league, so the 3 worst teams now get worse draft odds: a charge on the harmful choice.

    The idea, in story 05: Why a league charges a club a pound for each pound it overspends →

    The truth

    • Injuries and swings in three-point shooting also cause blowouts, and about 90% of the season is still to play. [40]
    • Nobody knows yet

      Whether the NBA's lottery change will stop teams losing on purpose.

      About 90% of the season is still to play, and injuries also shape the standings. [40]

15. 20

    Mississippi State keep their quarterback for $7.5 million

    What happened

    • Quarterback Kamario Taylor is set to stay at Mississippi State on a deal worth $7.5 million a year, On3 reports. [8]
    • With bonuses it could reach $9 million, making him the best-paid quarterback in college football. [8]
    • He is the latest of several quarterbacks to re-sign, including Missouri's Austin Simmons and Nebraska's Anthony Colandrea. [41]

    Who is involved

    • Austin Simmons Missouri, re-signed
    • Anthony Colandrea Nebraska, re-signed

    How it unfolded

    His 2026 season ended with toe surgery in late October. [8]

    Why it matters

    Of the top 25 passers, only 13 are underclassmen, so few good quarterbacks are left for others to sign. [41]

    How it works

    Economists call this a thin market: so few sellers that each one taken away makes the rest dearer.

    Each quarterback who re-signs is one fewer in the transfer portal, the list of players free to move. [41]

    Seen it before

    When only two bikes are left in a shop before summer, the shop can ask more for each one.

    The truth

    • CBS Sports notes signed deals can still be tested, as Darian Mensah's was at Duke last season. [41]
16. 21

    Oregon and Michigan coaches trade barbs over spending

    What happened

    • Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said Oregon's reported $50 million budget lets it "outbid everybody" for players. [42]
    • Oregon's Dan Lanning replied that Michigan spends its money on coaches it has let go. [43]
    • Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood's deal with the school was reported at $12.5 million. [42]

    Who is involved

    • Dan Lanning Oregon coach
    • Kyle Whittingham Michigan coach

    How it unfolded

    Michigan just paid fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck a $10.2 million buyout. [43]

    Why it matters

    Lanning's point is that money owed to fired coaches cannot also be spent on players. [43]

    The truth

    • The $50 million is a reported figure, and Whittingham tied most of Oregon's money to Nike. [42]

    What comes next

    The teams meet in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday. [43]

17. 22

    South Africa's top Olympian will swim for the Netherlands

    What happened

    • Tatjana Smith, South Africa's most decorated Olympian, has switched to swimming for the Netherlands. [44]
    • She has dual citizenship through her Dutch father. [44]
    • She came back in September, aiming for the 50m breaststroke, new at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. [44]

    Who is involved

    • Tatjana Smith breaststroke swimmer, 29

    How it unfolded

    The 29-year-old won 4 Olympic breaststroke medals, 2 of them gold, before retiring after Paris 2024. [44]

    1. 1 Dec short-course worlds begin
    2. 6 Dec they end

    Why it matters

    She said the switch gives her more high-performance support, after money troubles helped end her first career. [44]

    "South Africa does not own her," the country's sports ministry said. [44]

    The truth

    • She had a prize-money dispute with Swimming South Africa, which has not commented. [44]

    What comes next

    She first swims for the Netherlands at the short-course World Championships from 1 to 6 December. [44]

18. 23

    Raducanu returns in January on a special ranking

    What happened

    • Emma Raducanu will return at the United Cup in Australia in January, after a stress fracture of the shin. [45]
    • Britain play Australia and France in Sydney, and Raducanu will be Britain's number one there. [45]

    Who is involved

    The United Cup, from 1 to 10 January, is a team event for 18 countries. [45]

    • Britain with Raducanu
    • Australia group rival
    • France group rival

    How it unfolded

    She has not played since June. [45]

    1. June her last match
    2. January back at the United Cup

    Why it matters

    Those events include the Australian Open, which her real ranking would likely not get her into. [45]

    She has averaged 31 matches a season since winning the 2021 US Open. [45] Players aiming for the top 20 play about twice that. [45]

    How it works

    Tennis calls it a special ranking: players injured for 6 months or more enter events at their old ranking. [45]

    Waiting until January means Raducanu, ranked 107, can enter 8 events at a ranking of 38. [45]

    Seen it before

    A pupil who misses a term through illness keeps her place in the top set when she comes back.

19. 24

    MP calls for legal limits on heading in training

    What happened

    • Grahame Morris, the Labour MP for Easington, wants UK law to limit how often players head the ball in training. [46]
    • His motion cites evidence linking repeated head impacts to brain diseases, and names CTE as a public health concern. [46]
    • It backs a petition from the charity Head Safe Football, and asks for a task force to write enforceable rules. [46]

    Who is involved

    • Head Safe Football charity, petition
    • UK government asked to act

    Why it matters

    Morris called players' brain health a "significant public health and player welfare issue". [46]

    How it works

    Doctors call this a dose effect: the more often the head is hit, the higher the risk.

    So the motion targets how many times a player can head the ball in training. [46]

    Seen it before

    Your ears cope with one loud song, but hours of loud music every day slowly harm your hearing.

20. 25

    Marathon runner Josh Griffiths banned after a drug test

    What happened

    • Josh Griffiths, a Great Britain and Wales marathon runner, was given a 3-month ban after a positive drug test. [47]
    • A substance the body makes when it processes cocaine was found after May's Belfast City Marathon. [47]
    • World Athletics' integrity unit accepted any use was out of competition and "unrelated to sport". [47]

    How it unfolded

    He made his name as the fastest Briton in the 2017 London Marathon, as a club runner. [47]

    Why it matters

    His results from 3 May until the end of the ban were wiped out. [47]

    The truth

    • He denied taking cocaine but could not prove how it got into his system. [47]
21. 26

    Lindsey Vonn has a 9th operation

    What happened

    • Lindsey Vonn, 42, has had her 9th operation since breaking a leg and ankle at the 2026 Winter Olympics. [48]
    • Surgeons were to remove the metal from 8 earlier operations and repair her ACL, a knee ligament. [48]
    • She expects another 6 to 9 months of recovery. [48]

    How it unfolded

    She crashed 13 seconds into the downhill in Cortina, 9 days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee. [48]

    Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, had retired in 2019 before her comeback. [48]

    1. Before knee ligaments rupture
    2. 9 days later she crashes in the downhill
    3. Now the 9th operation
    4. 6 to 9 months recovery

    Why it matters

    She has said the operations saved her from having her leg amputated. [48]

    Good news

    • Lindsey Vonn's bones have healed after her Olympic crash, and she says the operations saved her leg from amputation.
22. 27

    Jockey Tom O'Brien dies at 39

    What happened

    • Tom O'Brien, a jump jockey who rode more than 1,000 winners, has died aged 39 after a cancer diagnosis. [49]
    • He won 2 races at the Cheltenham Festival and the Welsh Grand National twice. [50]
    • His biggest win was Thyme Hill in a top-level race at Aintree in 2021, Hobbs said. [49]
    • After retiring he joined the stewarding team of the British Horseracing Authority. [50]

    Who is involved

    He was the nephew of trainer Aidan O'Brien. [50]

    • Aidan O'Brien trainer, his uncle
    • Thyme Hill his biggest winner

    How it unfolded

    He rode for Philip Hobbs's stable near Minehead for his whole 20-year career, retiring in 2023. [49]

    1. 2023 retires from riding
    2. After joins the stewards

    Why it matters

    He leaves his wife Hayley and two young children, Hobbs said. [50]

23. 28

    Broadcaster Danny Kelly dies at 69

    What happened

    • Danny Kelly, a football broadcaster and former editor of the NME and Q magazines, has died aged 69. [51]
    • He launched the Football 365 website, and was a TalkSport presenter for nearly two decades. [51]
    • He had been treated for oesophageal cancer. [51]
    • His broadcast partner Danny Baker called him the "funniest man I ever knew". [51]

    Why it matters

    Tottenham, the club he supported all his life, said it mourns "one of our own". [51]

24. 29

    Rex Ryan charged after hitting two walkers

    What happened

    • Former NFL coach Rex Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, turned himself in to Nashville police on Wednesday. [52]
    • Police say he turned on a red light last week and drove over the feet of 2 walkers. [52]
    • He faces 6 charges, all misdemeanours, the lesser kind of crime, including leaving the scene. [52]

    Who is involved

    • Rex Ryan ex-NFL coach, ESPN analyst

    How it unfolded

    Ryan, 63, coached the New York Jets from 2009 to 2014 and the Buffalo Bills until 2016. [52]

    1. 2009 Jets coach
    2. 2016 leaves the Bills

    Why it matters

    The walkers had the right of way on a main downtown street, police said. [52]

    What comes next

    He is due in court next month. [52]

25. 30

    Curry defends his wife, then leaves hurt

    What happened

    • Stephen Curry hit back at former players who criticised his wife Ayesha for an on-screen kiss in her new film. [53]
    • Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy had discussed the scene on their shows. [53]
    • Curry said it "speaks to a bigger conversation about how you view women in this world". [53]
    • Hours later he left Golden State's game at Houston in the first quarter with an abdominal injury. [54]

    Who is involved

    • Stephen Curry Warriors star
    • Ayesha Curry actor, his wife
    • Gilbert Arenas ex-NBA
    • Nick Young ex-NBA
    • Emmanuel Acho ex-NFL
    • LeSean McCoy ex-NFL

    Why it matters

    The Warriors, 8-3, begin a 5-game road trip and are also missing backup Brandon Williams. [54]

26. 31

    Ex-UFC champion attacked in an Abu Dhabi hotel

    What happened

    • Former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili says Usman Nurmagomedov and his team attacked him in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby. [55]
    • He said they punched him from behind during an interview, and kept kicking him and a friend on the floor. [55]

    Who is involved

    • Merab Dvalishvili ex-UFC champion
    • Usman Nurmagomedov fighter accused

    How it unfolded

    The feud began when Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025. [56]

    Why it matters

    The attack came before his scheduled fight at an RAF event in Abu Dhabi. [55]

    The truth

    • UFC champion Islam Makhachev, Nurmagomedov's teammate, blamed Dvalishvili for an earlier slap. [56]
27. 32

    India's boxer reaches a Youth Olympic final

    What happened

    • Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei became India's first boxer in 16 years to reach a Youth Olympics final, in Dakar on Wednesday. [57]
    • He beat Colombia's Izzon Arevalo 5-0 in the 50kg semi-final. [57]

    Who is involved

    His childhood coach Jiten Singh trained him from age 9 at the National Sports Academy in Imphal. [57]

    • Jiten Singh his childhood coach

    How it unfolded

    The last Indian to do it was Shiva Thapa, at the first Games in Singapore in 2010. [57]

    Why it matters

    He boxed through a hand injury at the selection trials in Bangkok to win his place. [57]

    Good news

    • Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei, a boxer from Manipur trained from age 9 in Imphal, is India's first in 16 years to reach a Youth Olympic final, and is already sure of at least a silver.

    What comes next

    He faces Ireland's Kristian Jubani for gold on Thursday. [57]

28. 33

    Vaishali beats Niemann and So in Budapest

    What happened

    • India's Vaishali Rameshbabu beat grandmasters Hans Niemann and Wesley So at a new chess tour event in Budapest. [58]
    • She is one of only 2 women in the 24-player field. [58]
    • So had just won his 4th US Championship. [58]
    • Magnus Carlsen, the 5-time world champion, took the lead in the blitz. [58]
    • She finished the 9-round blitz event with 4 points out of 9. [58]

    Who is involved

    • Vaishali Rameshbabu Indian grandmaster
    • Magnus Carlsen 5-time world champion

    Why it matters

    She now plays in a group with Magnus Carlsen, Arjun and So, which she called "a very strong group". [58]

    Good news

    • Vaishali Rameshbabu, one of 2 women in a 24-player field in Budapest, beat grandmasters Hans Niemann and Wesley So.
29. 34

    Women's indoor golf league draws 97,000 viewers

    What happened

    • WTGL, a women's golf league played on simulators, drew 97,000 viewers on average for its first match on ESPN. [59]
    • LPGA Tour cable broadcasts average 87,000 viewers this season, not counting the majors. [59]
    • Los Angeles Golf Club, led by Michelle Wie West, beat New York 3-1. [59]

    How it unfolded

    The men's TGL averaged 498,000 a match in its first season. [59]

    1. 29 Nov ABC doubleheader
    2. 20 Dec play-offs begin

    Why it matters

    It went up against a full Sunday of NFL games. [59]

    What comes next

    ABC shows a doubleheader on 29 November, and the play-offs run from 20 to 23 December. [59]

30. 35

    O'Sullivan and world champion Wu both lose

    What happened

    • Ronnie O'Sullivan, 7-time world champion, lost 4-0 to Shaun Murphy at the Champion of Champions in Leicester. [60]
    • World champion Wu Yize also went out, beaten 4-3 by fellow Chinese player Chang Bingyu. [60]
    • Murphy then beat Chang 6-0, with breaks of 142 and 107, to reach the semi-finals. [60]
    • Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin are already in the semi-finals. [60]

    Who is involved

    • Ronnie O'Sullivan lost 4-0
    • Shaun Murphy won 4-0
    • Neil Robertson semi-finalist
    • Chris Wakelin semi-finalist

    How it unfolded

    Murphy lost this year's World Championship final to Wu in a deciding frame. [60]

    Why it matters

    O'Sullivan, 50, was playing for the first time since losing at the Northern Ireland Open last month. [60]