Bradley Wright-Phillips believes football in North America can become “unstoppable” on the back of Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami and the 2026 World Cup. It is a decade since the former Manchester City and Southampton striker swapped English football for Major League Soccer to join New York Red Bulls. Wright-Phillips last year retired in sixth on the MLS all-time goals list having enjoyed a ringside seat to the sport’s growth in North America and says the best is yet to come. Having signed an eye-catching broadcasting deal with Apple in 2022, further developments will be fuelled by Messi’s move to Miami and the World Cup being hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico in three years’ time. “My first reaction to Messi coming out was I just couldn’t believe it,” Wright-Phillips told the PA news agency. “Honestly, even now until I see him run out on an MLS pitch, I can’t really fathom what it’s going to be. It’s hard to even picture that. Even now it doesn’t seem real to me. It’s Messi! “Unbelievable time. I feel like I retired at the perfect time, just to be involved in what’s going on. “Messi obviously, Apple taking over and then you’ve got the World Cup coming in ‘26. What more can you ask for?” Put to Wright-Phillips that the sport in North America seems to be going from strength to strength, he said: “Yeah, it does. The potential and the ceiling is higher than ever. “If it’s done right, it can be unstoppable – best league and country in the world for football, right? Wouldn’t you say so?” MLS is certainly on an exciting trajectory and Messi’s arrival will spark unparalleled interest in the competition. “The league is not only getting the best player in the world,” says Wright-Phillips, who played for LAFC and Columbus Crew as well as the Red Bulls. “If you just think about the average fan that doesn’t watch MLS, but now because Messi’s here they’re going to watch MLS. “They now get see a Carles Gil, a Hany Mukhtar, young players like Noel Buck – these are players that we know are good. “But now you’re watching because you want to see Messi and the average fan gets to see that player or they get to see the atmosphere in St Louis or Austin. “That’s what’s exciting about it. It’s not just that we’re going to see Messi play, it’s what Messi exposes globally.” As well as Messi’s macro impact, Miami will be desperate for the Argentina star to improve fortunes at DRV PNK Stadium. The David Beckham co-owned team languish bottom of the Eastern Conference thanks to a difficult campaign that led to Phil Neville’s recent sacking. Ex-Barcelona boss Tata Martino has come in, while Messi’s former Nou Camp team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are expected to join him in Florida. “That tells me that they don’t just want Messi to come here and lose games,” Wright-Phillips added. “The Inter Miami team isn’t doing very well this season, they’ve suffered a lot of injuries, they’ve had a change in the manager. “There’s a lot of things they have to do but if you bring a Busquets, a Jordi Alba, you’re giving yourself, you’re giving Messi a chance to succeed.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Spain defender Pau Torres joins Aston Villa on five-year deal from Villarreal Ons Jabeur ends Elena Rybakina’s reign to reach Wimbledon semi-finals again Paul Collingwood says thrilling Ashes series is drawing new fans to cricket

Georgia Stanway’s retaken first-half penalty was enough to earn England a nervy 1-0 victory over World Cup debutants Haiti in their Group D opener at Brisbane Stadium. This was not the decisive victory most had predicted for the European champions and world’s number-four side against a team 49 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Haiti came close to levelling more than once, including a late second-half chance denied at the last by Mary Earps’ outstretched foot. While the Lionesses ultimately walked away with all three points, it was an underwhelming performance that will leave boss Sarina Wiegman with plenty of questions ahead of Friday’s meeting with Denmark. England fans were out in full force ahead of kick-off in the Queensland capital, where ‘Football’s Coming Home’ could be heard from a riverside rally and ex-Arsenal forward Ian Wright posed in a Lotte Wubben-Moy shirt beneath Story Bridge. For so much of the build-up of this tournament, the conversation around the Lionesses centred on their ongoing dispute with the Football Association over bonus payments and other commercial issues. On a clear Thursday night, England wanted their football to do the talking, yet it was Haiti who enjoyed the first spell of attack, winning an early corner before Chloe Kelly, the hero in last summer’s Euro 2022 final, tested Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus with a curled effort. One of the biggest dilemmas for Wiegman ahead of this tournament was who she would entrust as her number nine and – for this opener at least – it was Alessia Russo who led the England attack and rolled an early effort at Theus. England fans, who by the noise inside the stadium comprised the majority of those in attendance, felt their hearts leap to their throats when Roselord Borgella broke free and was one-on-one with Earps but rolled her effort past the far post. The Lionesses thought they had won a least a penalty when Dayana Pierre-Louis clattered into Kelly on the byline and appeared to clip her knee with a stud, but the Haitian midfielder got away with just a yellow card after it was determined – following a lengthy VAR check – that Russo had committed a foul in the build-up. Soon after that decision, however, Batcheba Louis was punished for a handball and Stanway stepped up to the spot. Theus sparked a jubilant Haitian celebration when she saved Stanway’s first effort, but VAR again intervened and Venezuelan referee Emikar Calderas ruled the keeper had encroached and the penalty was retaken. Stanway did not make the same mistake twice as she fired low into the left corner for what felt like an uneasy lead at the end of a stop-start first half. Melchie Dumornay, the 19-year-old midfielder bound for Lyon after this tournament, forced Earps into a leaping save shortly after the restart before Russo was twice denied in quick succession. Chelsea’s Lauren James made her World Cup debut after replacing Hemp, just ahead of another nervy moment for England when Dumornay found Haiti skipper Nerilia Mondesir in plenty of space before Jess Carter recovered the ball. James tried to get something started by delivering a cross to Russo, who came close but saw her attempt tipped over the crossbar, before Bright skied an effort and Theus picked crosses from Alex Greenwood and James out of the air. On came Rachel Daly for Russo in the 76th minute as Haiti pushed for an equaliser, which nearly came via Roseline Eloissaint but for the outstretched foot of Earps to deny the substitute from 18 yards out. Carter’s well-timed challenge broke up another Haiti run into the Lionesses’ final third, with Earps able to punch away the resulting corner. The chances came for the Lionesses to double their advantage but never the finishing touch as England finished with the result, but probably not the performance, they wanted. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live England’s chances of winning fourth Ashes Test set back by rain Brian Harman hoping history repeats itself after claiming huge halfway lead Denise O’Sullivan hails ‘unbelievable’ Ireland fans at World Cup

ESports has long been derided as "not a real sport". But now, an Olympic-organised event is being dismissed by competitive...

SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 19, 2023--

Chanel Iman avoids "scented" beauty products to avoid eczema flare-ups.

A fan asked, 'When are you going to put a ring on that girl? What are you waiting for?'

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore isn't buying into the "revenge game" narrative when he faces his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, on Monday night.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While

Voters in the strategic Nato country opted for a seasoned autocrat - rather than an untested democrat.

An Airbnb host has faced huge criticism after being accused of attempting to triple the price of a person’s stay in New Orleans when they learned they were going to see Taylor Swift. The home-hosting website Airbnb can be a great alternative for cheap accommodation on short stays, but it is not without its faults, as some guests have been left horrified by finding hidden cameras and tunnels within the house. One woman has opened up about her bad experience, revealing that a host attempted to triple the price she paid for a stay after finding out Taylor Swift was in town. TikToker Ariel Stewart shared screenshots of the messages she claims were between herself and the host in a viral clip, which has been viewed 3.4 million times. In the post caption, Stewart explained: “An Airbnb host tried to not only get me to pay triple after accepting my reservation for the nightly rate as posted but wanted me to cancel after it was their own fault for not paying attention to dates.” Pictures shared by Stewart appear to show she had booked a stay between 24 October and 26 October and had told the host, Heather, that she was attending a nearby Taylor Swift concert with her stepdaughter. The host replied, explaining that the price had not been “properly set” and that they would have to “collect additional funds”. When Stewart asked how much the price would now be, Heather informed her it would now cost $2,400 plus taxes and fees. Stewart explained in the messages that she had been in touch with Airbnb support who advised her not to cancel. She also said she would be unwilling to pay the upped charge. The host offered another house that was further away from the concert venue, despite appearing to have no right to make Stewart pay more for the property she had already booked. Stewart explained in her message: “I am sorry but the request will stay as it is because I know that the other location is definitely further and we did not want to be too far from the Superdome. “I decline changing the rate to a more expensive rate and decline to have my reservation moved to another location. After speaking with Airbnb, you can choose to cancel me but it will penalize you and block those dates from being booked in the future.” When Stewart would not cancel her original booking, the host threatened that they would not give her the entry codes to access the property. In another update, Stewart shared screenshots of the message she exchanged with Airbnb Support which appeared to corroborate her claims that it was the host’s fault and she did not have to cancel. @arielnicolestewart Replying to @Tuna i had sent this lady on airbnb support all the message thread, and now it has been escalated to higher ups. #airbnb @airbnb Despite the host claiming she was stealing from a “small business”, most on TikTok were firmly on Stewart’s side. “She only wanted to change the price because you mentioned Taylor Swift and realized she messed up. Good for you!” one person said. Another joked: “How dare you not help them price gouge.” Someone else said: “Did they really just call property hoarding a ‘small business’? I die.” How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

England fans celebrated the Lionesses booking their place in the World Cup final the only way they know how - by indulging in “Sweet Caroline”. Neil Diamond’s iconic song has become an anthem for the national side, with hundreds swaying together and cheering in Boxpark Croydon after the European champions beat the tournament co-hosts 3-1 in Sydney. After last summer’s success, England now have eyes on the biggest prize of all - the World Cup. The Lionesses face Spain in the showpiece event at Stadium Australia on Sunday 20 August.

Spain has never before advanced this far into the Women's World Cup and makes its first appearance in the semifinals against powerhouse Sweden