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61 days to the World Cup: The goal that turned Robin van Persie into the 'Flying Dutchman'

The countdown to the2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

Only once in Puskás Award history has a single World Cup provided two finalists for the honor of best goal in the world.

It happened in 2014 when Colombia’s James Rodríguez won with his wonderstrike against Uruguay in the Round of 16. The goal that finished third that year came off the head of Dutch striker Robin van Persie during Holland's opening match of the World Cup.

Spain could not keep their 1-0 lead until halftime. That's when Daley Blind sent a long ball leading van Persie into the penalty box. The Dutch captain would then throw himself at the ball and put it over goalkeeper Iker Casillas' head and into the net to equalize.

The 5-1 win helped theOranjeexact a measure of revenge against Spain, who had defeated them in the 2010 World Cup final. The four-goal difference was the biggest losing margin for a defending champion in World Cup history and the second-biggest World Cup defeat ever for Spain. It also marked the beginning of a forgettable tournament forLa Roja, who exited following the group stage.

"It is the best goal of my career,”van Persie said afterward. “It was a brilliant goal -- even I have to say that.

"I look at the occasion, and this was one of the biggest so far in my career. It was a bit of a gamble, but I spotted Casillas off his line before the cross came in. It was a header, but a lobbed header -- a great goal."

The Dutch would make a run to the semifinals before falling to Argentina in penalty kicks. In the third-place game, they would out-class Brazil 3-0.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 12, 2026

61 days to the World Cup: The goal that turned Robin van Persie into the 'Flying Dutchman'

The countdown to the2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an ins...

Derrick Lewis fight added to UFC's White House card at Trump's urging

The UFC has added Derrick Lewis versus Josh Hokit to the UFC Freedom 250 card set for this summer at the White House, a move which UFC CEO Dana White says came at the request of President Donald Trump.

The heavyweight fight between Lewis (29-13 MMA), who holds the UFC knockout record with 16, and Hokit (9-0 MMA), who beat Curtis Blaydes at Saturday's UFC 327 event in Miami, becomes the seventh fight at the June 14 event, which is commemorating the United States' 250th birthday.

White said at his press conference Saturday that Trump, who was in attendance Saturday, asked him why Lewis was not on the card for the White House event.

"I'm sure you guys just saw the Hokit fight," White said. "About an hour ago, the president leans over to me and says, 'Why is Derrick Lewis not on the White House card?' and I said, 'Hold on, Mr. President.' I stepped away and called Derrick Lewis and said, 'Derrick, the president just asked why you're not on the card. Do you want to fight on the White House card?' He said, 'Of course.'"

White said the match was confirmed shortly after that when he talked to Hokit after his unanimous-decision win, which improved his UFC record to 3-0.

--Field Level Media

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 12, 2026

Derrick Lewis fight added to UFC's White House card at Trump's urging

The UFC has added Derrick Lewis versus Josh Hokit to the UFC Freedom 250 card set for this summer at the White House, a move which UFC ...

Immigrant advocates in North Carolina say family was deported without due process

Immigrant advocates and members of the school community in Durham, North Carolina, are calling for justice after they say two children and their parents were swiftly detained and deported to Honduras without due process.

Advocates say Genesis, 11, and Denis, 6, and their parents attended a scheduled appointment with immigration authorities on Monday, and by Thursday morning the family had been deported to Honduras as part of the Trump administration'simmigration crackdown.

Siembra NC, the civil rights group advocating for the family, said the family came to the United States in 2022 and applied for asylum. As one of the requirements of that process, they had to attend scheduled check-in appointments with immigration officials.

Judge rules CBP unlawfully canceled Harvard researcher's visa over frog embryos

On Monday, the children's aunt waited for the family in the parking lot while they attended their appointment, the group said. An hour and a half later, the aunt received a call from a federal agent saying the family had been detained, said the group.

"This family was lured into the check-in office under a false pretense of safety and they were ripped away from their lives, from their school, and deported in about 48 hours," Andreina Malki of Siembra NC said during a press conference Thursday. "That should alarm all of us, because if children that are attending school in Durham can be kidnapped by agents through the back of a building in the middle of the day and deported after doing everything right, then what we're seeing is not enforcement for public safety. This is the dismantling of any promise of safety."

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said the family had a final order of removal and had no pending asylum claims.

"ICE does not 'raid' schools or target children," the statement said. "This illegal alien family unit was issued a final order of removal by a judge after they failed to show up for their immigration hearing. They were returned to their home country of Honduras together. They received full due process and had no pending asylum claims or immigration applications."

Luke Barr/ABC News - PHOTO: A Department of Homeland Security seal on a podium at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Mar. 13, 2024.

Malki said that following their check-in appointment, the family was placed in a van with tinted windows.

"They could see their aunt in the parking lot in their car, but they could not wave to her, they could not speak to her, and they could not say goodbye," Malki said.

North Carolina State Sen. Sophia Chitlik said several members of the county commission and school board have volunteered to accompany families to these check-ins in the future to document DHS' actions.

The president of the Durham Association of Educators, Mika Twietmeyer, read a statement Thursday from Genesis' fifth grade teacher, who described Genesis as "a smart young lady with a bright future."

"She is a little scientist and mathematician in our classroom, she is always ready to explore, experiment, and learn," the teacher's statement said. "She is always ready to help others learn. She is a giving little girl who leads with her heart. Her character comes from her family. They are loving, kind, and work hard to support their children."

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 11, 2026

Immigrant advocates in North Carolina say family was deported without due process

Immigrant advocates and members of the school community in Durham, North Carolina, are calling for justice after they say two children ...

Doctor Explains What Allergies Are Doing To Your Body (And How You Can Fight Back)

As the dreaded yellow dust takes over cars, porches and parking lots, you might be one of millions who are already experiencing the return of sneezing, itchy eyes and relentless congestion.

Spring allergies may be unavoidable, but according to doctors, suffering doesn’t have to be.

Your Body's Reaction

At its core, an allergy is your immune system at work.

“An allergy, to put it simply, is your body reacting a little bit too much to a substance that really isn't a foreign invader,” explains Dr. Allison Edwards, family physician and medical director for the telemedicine platform Sesame.

Even though pollen isn’t harmful, your body treats it like a threat, triggering inflammation and a cascade of symptoms. While most people recognize the classics symptoms like itchy nose and watery eyes, the impact can go far beyond that.

(MORE:How Wind, Rain And Pollen Fuel Your Allergies)

“You can experience increased migraines, sinus irritation, sinus infections, fatigue, mental kind of fogginess, poor performance at work, poor performance at school, interrupted sleep, the symptoms run the gamut," Edwards explains.

She warns that there's a chance what you're experiencing isn't an allergy at all, but something more serious.

"If you have anything that includes fever, any prolonged symptoms, any distinct sinus pressure, you may be dealing with something a little bit different," she says.

(MORE:US Regions Most Affected By Longer Allergy Seasons)

But if there’s one takeaway Edwards emphasizes, it’s this: Don’t wait until you feel miserable to act.

“Be proactive with your allergies. Start nasal sprays, start your anti-allergy pills, start them before your symptoms come on,” she says. “Start maybe five to seven days before” you typically notice symptoms to get ahead of the worst.

(MORE:The Worst Cities For Allergies)

That early start can make a noticeable difference, helping your body manage inflammation before pollen levels peak.

Figure Out Your Triggers

Not all pollen is created equal, and what affects you might not bother someone else.

“Pay attention to what sorts of pollens are high on a specific day where you experience a lot of symptoms," Edwards suggests. "You can refer to that to match up your symptoms with what's out in the air.”

(MORE:What Is Pollen?)

For a more precise answer, allergy testing through a specialist can pinpoint specific triggers.

Medications (And Why They Work)

Some allergy medications target your body’s chemical response.

“Most allergy medicines are what we call antihistamines. A histamine is what is released by all of your immune cells when they encounter an allergen," Edwards explains. "We just want to take medicines to tamp down that histamine response."

Other good options include steroids (often in the form of nasal sprays) or a saline rinse.

(MORE:Can Weather Make Pollen Worse?)

As allergy seasons grow longer and more intense, Dr. Edwards says one of the most powerful tools patients have isn't just medication, but awareness.

Pay attention to the weather, track patterns from year to year and don't wait for your symptoms to start to begin treatment, because experts say when it comes to allergies, the people who feel the best aren’t reacting, they’re already prepared.

weather.com lead editorJenn Jordanexplores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 11, 2026

Doctor Explains What Allergies Are Doing To Your Body (And How You Can Fight Back)

As the dreaded yellow dust takes over cars, porches and parking lots, you might be one of millions who are already experiencing the ret...

Brittney Griner signing with Connecticut Sun ahead of move to Houston

Brittney Griner is going to get the chance to play in front of her hometown crowd in Houston.

She'll just have to wait one more season.

According tomultiple reportsFriday evening, the 10-time WNBA All-Star is signing a seven-figure, multi-year deal with the Connecticut Sun. This will be the last season the team plays in Uncasville, Connecticut, before relocating to Houstonfollowing a sale to the Fertitta family.

Griner, 35, joins the Sun after spending one season with the Atlanta Dream, where she averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.8% from the floor.

The 6-foot-9 Baylor product has had a decorated WNBA career and spent her first 11 professional seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, where she won a championship playing alongside Diana Taurasi in 2014. Griner is a six-time All-WNBA selection, a seven-time All-Defense selection and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

With the Women's Final Four complete, all eyes turn towards the 2026 WNBA Draft. The WNBA draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs. After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round?

Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft: 1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA
- After a stellar NCAA Tournament run, Betts has done enough to earn consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. While the Bruins center will need to work on shooting more baskets in the mid-range and later from deep, she can be inserted into Dallas's lineup when the season starts on May 8. Her length and size make her an immediate threat in the post, along with her passing abilities and rebounding prowess.