A U.S. special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, told the Financial Times he suggested to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Italy should replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup, a proposal that drew swift rejection from Italian officials and scepticism from football bodies. Italy failed to qualify after a playoff defeat and some saw the pitch as an attempt to repair frayed U.S.-Italy ties after recent diplomatic rows. FIFA has repeatedly said the Iranian team “is coming, for sure,” and Iran’s government and federation have said the squad is preparing for “proud and successful participation.” Iran had sought to move its three group matches from the United States to Mexico after the outbreak of war, a request FIFA declined. Under Article 6 of FIFA’s regulations the governing body may choose a replacement if a qualified side withdraws or is excluded, though the Asian Football Confederation would likely press for an Asian replacement. With the tournament starting on June 11 and Iran due to play in U.S. venues, discussions are largely speculative but have heightened tensions around sport and diplomacy ahead of kickoff.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on April 22 he will begin counseling this weekend and will not be with the team for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft after photographs surfaced showing him with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. The images, first published by the New York Post and Page Six, reportedly show Vrabel and Russini together at a Sedona, Arizona resort; additional photos from 2020 published later this week depict the pair at a New York City bar. Russini resigned from The Athletic following an internal review and media scrutiny. Vrabel, the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year, addressed players and reporters this week, saying he has had “difficult conversations” with family and the organization and that seeking counseling is intended to help him be “the best husband, father and coach.” The NFL has said it is not investigating Vrabel under the league’s personal conduct policy. The Patriots confirmed Vrabel will handle draft duties on the first two days and that Eliot Wolf and other executives will lead the team on Day 3 while Vrabel is away.

The 2026 NFL Draft opens April 23 in Pittsburgh with the Las Vegas Raiders widely expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1. First-round coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network; rounds 2-3 follow Friday and rounds 4-7 on Saturday. The New York Jets hold the No. 2 pick and five selections in the top 103, leaving open the prospect of staying put or trading. Oddsmakers and sportsbooks have shifted attention to edge rusher David Bailey — who tied for the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks last season — overtaking Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the favorite to go No. 2 after rapid betting-market moves. Other top prospects include Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Ohio State’s Sonny Styles and Spencer Fano. The league shortened first-round pick windows to eight minutes this year, tightening trade and negotiation timelines. Pittsburgh is hosting large fan festivities near Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park, with heightened security, road closures and expanded transit as hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected.

A top U.S. special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, told the Financial Times he suggested to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino that four-time champions Italy should replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup. The proposal, reported on April 22-23, 2026, was framed as a bid to repair relations between Washington and Rome after a spat between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Italian sports officials and politicians rejected the idea as impractical and offensive: Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said qualification must be earned on the pitch, and Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio said Italy would feel “offended.” FIFA has repeatedly indicated Iran will participate and Infantino said the team is “coming, for sure.” Iran’s football federation and government say the squad is preparing for “proud and successful participation.” FIFA regulations grant the organisation wide discretion to replace a withdrawn team, but continental bodies would likely lobby for an Asian replacement (the UAE was cited as a possible candidate). The tournament begins June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico; Iran is scheduled to play group games in U.S. cities in mid-June.

Tensions between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves escalated as the Western Conference first-round series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on April 23. Minnesota erased a 19-point deficit to win Game 2, 119-114, evening the series 1-1; Anthony Edwards delivered a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double but is listed as “questionable” for Game 3 as the Timberwolves manage right-knee maintenance. Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels added spice by publicly calling several Nuggets players “all bad defenders,” naming Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cam Johnson. Denver largely brushed off the remarks — coach David Adelman deadpanned “I can’t wait for his podcast” and players described the comments as part of the rivalry — while identifying rebounding (Minnesota held a 20-3 second-chance advantage in Game 2) and loose-ball play as areas to correct. Nuggets stars also struggled late in Game 2, and Denver will be without wing Peyton Watson (hamstring) for now. Game 3 tips at 9:30 p.m. ET from Target Center and streams on Prime Video.

Barcelona confirmed on April 23, 2026 that 18-year-old Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg and will miss the remainder of the club season after suffering the problem while converting a penalty in a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on April 22. The club said Yamal will follow a conservative treatment plan and is ruled out for the six remaining La Liga matches, including the Clasico at Camp Nou on May 10, but that doctors “foresee” he will be fit for Spain’s World Cup campaign in mid-June. Barcelona lead La Liga by nine points over Real Madrid with the title run-in underway. The forward, who has been central to both club and country this season, was substituted immediately after scoring and will be monitored as he undertakes rehabilitation; reports indicate a recovery window of roughly six to seven weeks. Spain open their World Cup Group H campaign on June 15 in the United States.