Hoping to fill a lot of empty seats, FIFA is reportedly slashing ticket prices for the June 14 Club World Cup opener hosted by Inter Miami.

The Athletic reported Wednesday that ‘tens of thousands’ of seats at the 65,326-capacity Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, remain unsold for the 8 p.m. ET match between soccer superstar Lionel Messi’s MLS club and Egypt’s Al-Ahly.

FIFA rejected a suggestion that fewer than 20,000 tickets had been sold, insisting the number is ‘much higher’ but declining to provide a specific total.

‘We are introducing many new, successful clubs from all over the world to the world through this tournament being staged in the 11 cities across the United States,’ FIFA said in a statement. ‘Overall, we anticipate great attendances throughout the competition for this first-ever edition — a tournament that we believe will grow edition-on-edition.’

As of Tuesday night, tickets for that game had dropped to $55 on Ticketmaster — half of what they were going for last month. The cheapest seat available after the tournament draw in December was $349 but had dropped to $230 by December, per The Athletic.

The 32-team FIFA Club World Cup runs through July 13 and includes MLS clubs Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC plus global powerhouses like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Inter Milan.

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The top of every NFL draft typically features at least a handful of players who have been well-known figures for some time. But plenty can change over the course of a year – and several prospects typically ensure there’s somewhat of a shake-up.

With teams often placing a premium on upside in their picks, a breakout season can go a long way toward shifting consensus about a player’s draft stock. And with the proliferation of transfers and several late bloomers finding their stride deep in their collegiate careers – including the likes of 2025 first-rounders Tyler Warren and Matthew Golden, among others – several players could be poised this fall to enjoy an exponential surge to a higher position on draft day.

With less than three months until the college football season begins, these 10 players – none of whom are quarterbacks, with the potential risers at that position already covered last month – could be prime candidates to rise on draft boards in the coming months:

Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

A top-five overall recruit in 2023, Branch showed off his explosiveness right away as a freshman for USC, scoring four touchdowns in his first three games. The former track champion – he ran a 10.33-second 100-meter dash as a sophomore – earned USA TODAY Sports’ first-team All-American slot as a returner after taking back 24 kicks for 442 yards and a touchdown along with 16 punts for 332 yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore, however, he hit an apparent wall playing for a Trojans squad in transition. Although he tied for second on the team with 47 receptions last season, he scored just one touchdown and averaged 10.4 yards per reception while also seeing his special teams contributions be severely limited. After transferring to Georgia along with older brother Zion, the 5-10, 180-pounder will be called on to provide some easy wins in the passing game for expected new starting quarterback Gunner Stockton as part of a remade receiving corps. If he can re-establish his credentials as an electric playmaker by turning quick hits into long gains against the Southeastern Conference’s top competition, he’ll be firmly on NFL teams’ radar as a potential early pick.

Barion Brown, WR, LSU

Since he took a kickoff back 100 yards in his first collegiate game, Brown has held a special place as one college football’s most lethal speed merchants. While he delivered on his potential as a returner with an SEC-record five career kickoffs taken back for touchdowns, Kentucky’s dysfunctional offense limited him to career lows of 29 catches and 361 receiving yards last season. Now slotted to complement fellow transfer Nic Anderson at LSU, Brown could thrive in the Garrett Nussmeier-helmed aerial passing attack that should be in a good spot to unlock the 5-11, 180-pounder’s field-stretching ability. Drops have plagued him at times, however, and he’ll need to be a more reliable presence – particularly in his route-running – to avoid being pigeonholed as a gadget player and specialist.

Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina

When it comes to unrealized potential, Harbor might be the most compelling figure in college football not named Arch Manning. With an unprecedented blend of size (6-5, 235 pounds) and speed (10.11 seconds in the 100-meter dash as a sophomore), the former five-star recruit is a singular challenge for defensive backs. But after splitting time between football and track, Harbor now has placed his full focus on the former since the spring. The more detailed approach that has been lauded by Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer could yield a massive payoff in the fall, with rocket-armed star quarterback LaNorris Sellers poised to take advantage of all that Harbor can offer as a downfield target. If his production takes a significant leap from last year’s totals of 26 catches and 376 yards, expect a proportionate surge in his draft stock.

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

While Jeremiah Smith won’t be eligible for the draft until 2027, Tate could give Ohio State its fifth consecutive year with at least one receiver landing in the first round. While the 6-3, 191-pounder isn’t a pure burner like others on this list, he follows other recent Buckeyes standouts in creating consistent separation with advanced precision and tempo in his route-running. After notching 52 catches for 733 yards last season as the No. 3 receiver, Tate could flourish in becoming the secondary weapon who benefits from the attention devoted to Smith, with a sizable jump from last year’s totals of 52 catches and 733 yards likely in store. Building a game on craft rather than flash helped former teammate Emeka Egbuka secure a slot on Day 1 this year, and the track could lead Tate to a similar destination.

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Fields sizes up as the kind of possession receiver who can make life a good deal easier for his signal-caller. But it might be the savvy that stems from his days as a high school quarterback that puts him over the top as a safety valve. His knack for coming down with contested catches and finding soft spots in zones helped him record more than 800 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, which was no easy feat given the extremely poor quarterback play he was saddled with at Virginia. After transferring to Notre Dame, he’ll be afforded not only a greater stage but also much better overall support from a team that should once again be in the hunt for one of the College Football Playoff’s top seeds.

Luke Hasz, TE, Mississippi

A change of scenery can go a long way in determining any player’s NFL draft trajectory. In two years at Arkansas, Hasz often saw his impact limited by quarterback Taylen Green’s erratic ball placement and decision-making. Now set to be a crucial part of the Rebels’ high-octane passing attack under Kiffin, the 6-3, 245-pounder should be better positioned to showcase his surehandedness and penchant for boxing out defensive backs, which should make him a fast favorite of new starting quarterback Austin Simmons. Though Hasz looks set to share the workload with Dae’Quan Wright, Mississippi could utilize plenty of two tight-end looks to take advantage of the duo.

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

With second-round tight end Terrence Ferguson and top receivers Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden off to the NFL, the Ducks are set for a reconfiguration in their receiving corps. Big things are expected of Evan Stewart as the former five-star recruit enters his second season in Eugene after transferring from Texas A&M, but Sadiq might be the true wild card for the offense. At 6-3 and 245 pounds, he’s a more formidable run blocker than his size might suggest. His true value, however, lies in his ability to create mismatches as a supersized receiver with impressive long speed. Sadiq will have to show he can handle being a featured part of the Ducks’ offense and develop into something more than a seam threat, but he’s one of the most intriguing draft-eligible tight ends to keep an eye on.

Damon Wilson II, DE/OLB, Missouri

When he committed to Georgia in December 2022, Wilson looked in line to be the next standout pass rusher for a program that produced Travon Walker, Jalen Carter and a bevy of other hyperathletic defensive linemen. But the Bulldogs’ rigid rotation up front can box in even the most talented players and leave them with limited opportunities to shine as individuals. While Wilson looked due for a larger role in 2025 for a defense that lost Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker from the front seven, the former five-star recruit instead opted to find a fresh opportunity. The 6-4, 245-pounder could be a cornerstone of a Missouri defense that lost its top edge threat in second team All-SEC pick Johnny Walker Jr., and more opportunities to flash his explosiveness could vault him up draft boards.

Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

Having sat out all of 2023 following his transfer from Miami (Fla.), Jackson eased his way back into action last season, recording 3 ½ sacks en route to honorable mention All-ACC honors. With that experience in hand, big things could be ahead for the 6-5, 337-pounder. Few defensive linemen at the collegiate level can measure up to Jackson when it comes to commanding the line of scrimmage, as his sheer size and strength make him a dominant force against the run when he maintains his leverage and intensity. Though he might never post prolific sack numbers, he can create havoc by pushing the pocket and slipping past blockers who underestimate his quickness. Jackson’s conditioning and consistency will be heavily scrutinized, but after the similarly built Kenneth Grant went No. 13 overall to the Miami Dolphins this year, it’s apparent that massive defensive tackles with abundant athleticism don’t tend to hang around long in the draft.

Keon Sabb, S, Alabama

After helping Michigan win a national championship in 2023, Sabb took on a new challenge last year by going to Tuscaloosa to help the Crimson Tide navigate the post-Nick Saban era. He made a strong early impression, recording two interceptions in his first game for Alabama and notching 39 total tackles before being lost for the season to a lower-extremity injury. The 6-1, 205-pounder blends puts together impressive size and coverage skills to allow him to clamp down on tight ends and patrol underneath in zone coverage. With his strong tackling allowing him to also be a force in the box, he should be coveted for his ability to handle a few key tasks, even if he doesn’t fit the mold of a typical single-high safety. If he’s able to stay healthy, expect his buzz to build.

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The Phoenix Suns have reportedly found their new head coach — their fourth in as many seasons.

Jordan Ott, most recently an assistant on the Cleveland Cavaliers, will be hired as the Suns coach, according to ESPN. The network also reported, citing anonymous sources, that Suns star guard Devin Booker was involved in the coaching search and had favored Ott as his top choice.

The Cavaliers, under coach Kenny Atkinson, posted a 64-18 record this season, best in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland excelled on both sides of the ball, leading the NBA in offensive rating (121.0) and third in net rating (9.2). The Cavaliers embraced spreading the floor and distributing the ball, but also oversaw the rise of forward Evan Mobley as an elite defender, leading to his winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Ott also served as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers (2022-24) under former coach Darvin Ham and the Nets (2016-22) — where Atkinson coached briefly during his time in Brooklyn.

Ott also was the video coordinator of the Atlanta Hawks, interestingly, under former Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, whom the Suns fired Monday, April 14.

Under Budenholzer, Phoenix struggled to gain traction in the Western Conference. The Suns, who have been led by the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, finished 36-46, missing out on the play-in window. It marked the first time in four seasons that the franchise missed the playoffs.

Budenholzer had been Phoenix’s third coach in as many seasons — they also fired Monty Williams after the 2022-23 season and Frank Vogel after the 2023-24 campaign.

Ott will now oversee a team that may be facing some roster overhaul. The Durant-Booker-Beal simply has not yielded satisfactory results, especially considering the salary cap space devoted to the three. The Suns had the highest payroll in the NBA this season, which had the unintended consequence of stripping the team of depth.

Team owner Matt Ishbia has been very aggressive about investing money in his team and roster with the aim of bringing a championship to Phoenix.

The Pittsburgh Penguins named Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history on Wednesday.

He replaces Mike Sullivan, who had been head coach for nine-plus seasons before he and the team agreed to part ways. Muse had been an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, where Sullivan had been hired.

‘During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice,’ general manager Kyle Dubas said. ‘What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL.

‘From his success in developing college and junior players, to his impactful work with veteran players during his time in the NHL, Dan has shown a proven ability to connect with players at all stages of their careers and help them to reach their potential.’

Who is Dan Muse?

Muse, 42, has 20 years of coaching experience, including five seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Rangers (2023-25) and Nashville Predators (2017-20). Those teams won the Presidents’ Trophy twice and won three division titles. He oversaw those teams’ penalty-killing units.

He was head coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program from 2020-23, winning a gold medal at the 2023 world under-18 championship.

Muse was the Chicago Steel’s head coach from 2015-17, winning the United States Hockey League title in his second season.

Before Chicago, he had been an assistant or associate coach with several college teams, notably spending five years with Yale University.

What awaits Dan Muse in Pittsburgh?

The Penguins have missed the playoffs the past three seasons, finishing 11 points out in 2024-25. Of the core group, Sidney Crosby has two years left on his contract, Kris Letang has three and Evgeni Malkin is in his final year. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has two years left. Muse coached current Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty with USA Hockey.

Pittsburgh ranked 18th in penalty killing last season and had the league’s fourth-worst team goals-against average.

NHL coaching hires

The New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan on May 1.
The Anaheim Ducks hired Joel Quenneville on May 8.
The Vancouver Canucks (Adam Foote) and Philadelphia Flyers (Rick Tocchet) hired coaches on May 14.
The Blackhawks hired Jeff Blashill on May 22.
The Kraken hired Lane Lambert on May 29.
The Penguins hired Dan Muse on June 4.

NHL coach openings

Boston Bruins

The Arizona State-to-LIV Golf pipeline has another addition.

Josele Ballester, the 21-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion who finished his college career with the Sun Devils last week, has signed with LIV Golf and will join Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC at 2025 LIV Golf Virginia, which begins Friday. Ballester and LIV Golf have been connected for some time, dating to before his U.S. Amateur triumph last summer at Hazeltine National in Minnesota.

With his amateur career in the rearview, he’s turning pro and joining LIV Golf, arguably a bigger signing than any the league had in the offseason.

‘First and foremost, I want to thank my family, coaches, friends, and Arizona State University for supporting me and believing in me to make it to this step of my career,” Ballester said in a release. “I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.”

Ballester is the latest in a long line of Sun Devils to compete for LIV Golf, including new teammate David Puig, who also joined LIV Golf following a stellar amateur career. Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey and Matt Jones are other LIV players who played collegiately at Arizona State.

He’ll replace fellow Spaniard Luis Masaveu on the Fireballs’ roster. Masaveu, who made the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur last year and is good friends with Ballester, will compete this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in place of Puig, who is sidelined with an injury.

Ballester won one time as a senior, taking medalist honors at the Fighting Illini Invitational in the fall. He helped Arizona State finish first after the stroke-play portion of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa last week, though the Sun Devils fell in the quarterfinals of match play.

He finished he season ranked fifth in the NCAA golf rankings, placing T-4 at NCAAs and adding a pair of top-10 finishes in the Big 12 Championship and NCAA Bremerton Regional.

Ballester finished third in the PGA Tour University Class of 2025 standings, earning a Korn Ferry Tour card in the process. By signing with LIV Golf, he forfeits that card, and everyone else gets bumped up a spot in the standings. Texas A&M’s Phichaksn Maichon is the biggest benefactor, moving from sixth to fifth and earning full Korn Ferry Tour status for the remainder of the year and an exemption into the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School.

He played in three PGA Tour events this season, finishing T-17 in the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld and missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open and Masters, where he made headlines after urinating in Rae’s Creek on the 13th hole, Azalea. He would end up missing the cut at Augusta National Golf Club.

Ballester will tee it up next week at Oakmont in the 2025 U.S. Open, as he doesn’t have to remain an amateur to use the exemption he earned for winning the U.S. Amateur. But this week, he makes his professional debut for LIV Golf.

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) – Coco Gauff huffed and puffed into the French Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6) 6-4 6-1 victory against fellow American Madison Keys in a match both players will be quick to forget as they broke the 100-unforced errors barrier on Wednesday.

More than half of Gauff’s points came from Australian Open champion Keys’ soft mistakes and the world No. 2 got away with a total of 10 double faults.

The 21-year-old will need to make dramatic adjustments when she faces either France’s Lois Boisson or Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in Sunday’s final.

Keys, who was looking to reach the last four at Roland Garros for the second time after 2018, bowed out with her 60th unforced error to end a forgettable contest.

‘I’m happy to get through this match today, I have a lot more work to do, I’ll be ready tomorrow,’ Gauff said.

‘I changed something at 4-1 (in the first set). It’s tough to play against her because she hits the ball so fast, so low, I was just trying to fight for every point… to get the ball to the other side of the net.’

Gauff, who reached the final here in 2022, is the youngest woman to claim 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis (1995-2000).

The opening set was a scrappy affair, with the first three games going against serve.

Keys secured the first hold to lead 3-1 and broke again before Gauff clawed back a break and held for the first time to close the gap to 4-3.

In a flurry of breaks, Gauff levelled at 4-4 and held once more to edge ahead, putting the pressure on Keys, who saved a set point to force a tiebreak.

While the quality was patchy at best, the drama was undeniable, with momentum swinging wildly. In the end, Keys edged the tiebreak as Gauff double-faulted three times, handing the opener to her opponent.

Things did not get better in the second set.

‘So many unforced errors,’ Gauff said on court, in one of the understatements of the season.

She levelled the contest as Keys looked out of sorts and cantered through the decider.