Sports - Axios

Friday's sports stories

April Rubin

Aug 22, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Putin wants to attend 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. "very badly," Trump says

Man in red hat and navy suit holds a photo of two men in suits standing side by side, flanked by two other men in suits in a formal room with flags and a poster in the background.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is slated to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. and wants to be there "very badly," President Trump said on Friday.

Why it matters: Trump and Putin are resetting a relationship that had been splintering over the past few years, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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Maxwell Millington

Aug 21, 2025 - Sports

Air Force, Army and Iowa teams commit the fewest fouls — and still win

A bar chart that compares average penalties per college football game by conference from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The SEC leads with 6.4 penalties per game, while the Big Ten has the fewest at 5.6. Other conferences range between 5.8 and 6.3 penalties per game. — Data: Action Network; Chart: Axios Visuals

Two military academies and Iowa are the biggest rule-followers in college football over a half decade, according to data from the Action Network.

Why it matters: The three programs still won, combining for a 121-61 record since 2020.

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