On June 17, Beijing time, a key Group L match of the World Cup kicked off, with Ghana facing Panama. At halftime, the score remained 0-0. Within just two minutes, Panama posed a threat as Waterman's close-range shot was saved by Ati-Zigi. In the 16th minute, Ilenki received a yellow card for a tactical foul.

On June 18, Beijing time, the Chicago Bulls held a press conference to formally introduce their new head coach, Splitter. After coaching the Trail Blazers last season, Splitter earned the Bulls' favor and became the new bench boss for this Eastern Conference team. During the press conference, he spoke about his mentor Popovich, his plans for coaching the Bulls, and praised the team's rising star, Buzelis.

Manchester United recently renewed contracts with Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, and Tom Heaton, among others. Meanwhile, the deals of Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, and Altay Bayındır are all entering their final year, yet the club currently has no intention of negotiating new terms with them. Captain Fernandes set a Premier League record with 21 assists last season, and United's management has informed him they want him to remain at the club beyond this summer.

On June 18, Beijing time, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed with his iconic "Here we go" that Premier League giant Liverpool had successfully intercepted Newcastle to sign 22-year-old Spanish international winger Muñoz. Muñoz becomes Liverpool's first acquisition of the summer. Romano stated bluntly: "This is another big surprise in the transfer market."

On June 18, Beijing time, traditional World Cup powerhouses have all played their first matches. The relevant institutions have also updated the latest championship odds for the 48 teams, with France overtaking Spain to become the top favorite. Before the tournament, Spain was the biggest favorite, but after a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde despite 27 shots in their opener, such a performance dropped Spain's odds to second place.

On June 18, ESPN insider Chris Spears revealed during a show that former Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kevin Love could once again join forces next season—this time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

On June 18, Beijing time, according to HoopsHype’s veteran reporter Scotto, before the NBA Draft, the Hawks have conducted a thorough evaluation, gauging the trade offers for Kuminga from teams across the league. Conducting this market research at this time is reasonable. Kuminga holds a team option worth $24.3 million for next season, and the Hawks must make a critical decision on him before free agency officially begins.

In a key Group L match of the World Cup that concluded on June 18, Beijing time, England defeated their toughest group opponent, Croatia, 4-2 to secure a smooth opening victory. In this game, the 32-year-old English striker Kane not only scored a brace but also blocked an opponent's shot with his body in stoppage time, making him the top contributor to the team's win.

In a key Group L match of the World Cup that concluded on June 18, Beijing time, Croatia, the previous tournament's third-place finisher, lost 2-4 to England, suffering an opening defeat. In this game, Croatian captain Modrić, playing in his fifth World Cup, performed poorly, giving away a penalty early and being substituted early in the second half. The 40-year-old Modrić started the match, becoming the eighth player to appear in at least five World Cups.

On June 18, Beijing time, Knicks owner James Dolan revealed on a show that the team has accepted an invitation from the White House and will visit as the NBA champions next season. Meanwhile, multiple media outlets have disclosed details of the upcoming championship parade, with the NYPD deploying 10,000 officers for security.