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.

Speaking on June 18 Beijing time, current minority owner of the Mavericks, Mark Cuban, admitted that when the team botched contract negotiations with Jalen Brunson before he entered free agency in 2022, they had no idea he would later explode into an All-Star caliber player. Cuban said on a podcast: "The logic is actually very simple—we didn't expect JB (Brunson) to grow to this height. No one saw it coming at the time.

On June 18, Beijing time, the Boston Celtics are determined to win the race for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but if the deal goes through, one of their core stars will be displeased. ESPN insider Spears revealed on a show: If the Celtics trade Jaylen Brown as part of the package for Giannis, Brown himself is unwilling to go to Milwaukee.

In a World Cup Group K opener that concluded on June 18 Beijing time, heavy favorites Portugal were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by African newcomers DR Congo, failing to secure a winning start. After the match, Portugal's coach Martinez responded to external doubts, stating that a draw in the first game is not a disaster—pointing out that Spain and Argentina also failed to win their opening matches when they eventually became champions.

In one of the World Cup Group K opening matches that ended on June 18 Beijing time, the strong favorite Portugal was unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw by African newcomers DR Congo, failing to secure a winning start. After the game, 41-year-old Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo posted on social media, expressing disappointment with the result while also rallying the team, saying that everything is still far from over.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed he will not sing the national anthem "God Save the King" during the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. However, he left the door open to doing so if the "Three Lions" advance deep into the tournament.

In the 25-26 season, the Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference with an impressive 54-28 regular-season record, but were eliminated by the Timberwolves 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs this year. Even more troubling, the team's total payroll has exceeded the luxury tax line by $18 million, hitting the second apron as well. Moreover, Jokić is eligible this summer to sign a supermax extension worth either 3 years for $214 million or 4 years for $278 million...

On June 17 Beijing time, Argentine journalist Eduardo Feinmann discussed on Radio Mitre the reason behind Messi's tears during the World Cup match, linking it to the health condition of Messi's father. In the first round of Group J of the World Cup group stage, Argentina defeated Algeria was defeated 3-0 by Argentina, marking their first opening win in 12 years.

On the green pitch of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the 38-year-old Lionel Messi delivered a perfect hat-trick, once again proving to the world that his title as a "record machine" is no exaggeration. In Argentina's opening match against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup, Messi not only led his team to a 3-0 victory but also shattered multiple long-standing World Cup historical records in a single night.

On June 17th, Beijing time, FIFA officially announced the latest referee assignments for the second round of the group stage. The 47-year-old renowned Chinese referee, Ma Ning, has been confirmed as the main referee for the match between Ecuador and Curaçao, with Zhou Fei serving as assistant referee. This marks Ma Ning will officiate a World Cup match as the main referee for the first time, marking the first time in 24 years that a Chinese referee has appeared in a World Cup in this capacity.