Closing Bell

It takes a small platoon to call a World Cup tournament and Wednesday -- with only 43 days remaining until the start of the 2026 edition -- Fox Sports announced the play-by-play announcers, match analysts, reporters and rules analysts who will front the English-language coverage in the U.S.

For the third consecutive men’s World Cup, play-by-play announcer John Strong will be joined by former USMNT player Stu Holden as the network’s lead broadcast team. That group will call the U.S. games as well as the World Cup final among other major games. Acclaimed broadcaster Ian Darke returns to Fox to work with former USMNT player and match analyst Landon Donovan. That duo called matches together four years ago in Qatar and served as the network’s lead announcer team at UEFA EURO 2024

The other broadcast teams include Darren Fletcher (play-by-play) and Owen Hargreaves (analyst); Derek Rae (play-by-play) and Robert Green (analyst); Ian Crocker (play-by-play) and Danny Higginbotham (analyst); Jacqui Oatley (play-by-play) and Warren Barton (analyst); JP Dellacamera (play-by-play) and Lori Lindsey (analyst); Mark Scott (play-by-play) and Cobi Jones (analyst); and Tyler Terens (play-by-play) and Maurice Edu (analyst). Former referees Dr. Joe Machnik and Mark Clattenburg will work as Fox Sports’ rules analysts.

The reporters for the tournament include Jenny Taft (who is traditionally assigned to cover the U.S. National Team) Geoff Shreeves, Alex Aljoe, Katie Shanahan and Natalie Gedra. Tom Rinaldi will once again serve as the at-large feature correspondent.

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NFL reporter Ian Rapoport has signed a new multiyear deal with ESPN, the latest example of NFL Network coming under ESPN’s control. Rapoport, who has been with NFL Network since 2012, will join Adam Schefter as ESPN’s top NFL insiders. ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who on his show today announced Rapoport’s deal, said, “Whenever NFL Network comes into the ESPN world, there is a lot of confusion, everybody doesn’t know what the future looks like. Well, we know (Rapoport) is now officially part of the ESPN umbrella.”

Rapoport said he will still appear on NFL Network “a lot” and will remain on the net’s “The Insiders” show alongside Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo. Rapoport: “Nothing has been laid out as far as what the next six months are going to be like because it’s a transition and everyone is trying to figure their way and see what’s going to happen. My assumption based on what we’ve been told is there are going to be a lot of things that look pretty similar.”

Rapoport noted Schefter “has been great” during the process of signing the new deal. He said, “I like the team part of this. You know I like working with Tom, I like working with Mike. I will enjoy working with Adam because this is a hard world and it should be fun and teamwork is fun” (“The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN, 4/29).

NBA prospect F AJ Dybantsa is extending his Nike NIL deal as a “pro basketball contract.” The agreement began in January 2024. Nike “created a logo for Dybantsa, in conjunction with the new deal, a star made up of his first initials that alludes to his childhood nickname.” Dybantsa said that he “plans to establish roots with his charity in whatever city drafts him, inspired by his father, who was born in the Republic of the Congo and returned to Brazzaville years later to donate to his childhood elementary school.” Then he “plans to get to work on the court and continue to establish himself as the best in his class” (ESPN.com, 4/29).

Gaming entertainment company Allwyn will deploy its PrizePicks daily fantasy brand into racing through a sponsorship with McLaren Racing, and the first elements will include branding on F1 cars this weekend at Miami and IndyCar’s Indy 500 next month.

Already a major sponsor of McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, Allwyn has arranged for PrizePicks to be a new official sponsor of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team to help grow its brand exposure in America. PrizePicks will be the primary sponsor of McLaren’s No. 31 Chevrolet that American driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will pilot for the 110th running of the Indy 500 on May 24.

The sides will reveal the news Wednesday in an event in Miami, where PrizePicks will also get branding on the inner halos of the F1 team’s cars this weekend. Financial terms are not known for the deal, which also involves co-branded digital programming across Arrow McLaren’s social media platforms and website next month.

Last fall, Allwyn acquired a majority equity stake in PrizePicks, which is only available in the U.S. and is also an official daily fantasy partner of the NBA.

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The Kraken announced Wednesday that they will “break ground on a new ice complex in Kirkland in May.” The $60M privately financed project is at the site of the former Houghton Park and Ride and is “expected to open in the fall of 2027.” Kraken General Counsel Lance Lopes said that the new facility, with two NHL-size ice rinks, will “help the team meet demand for ice time,” which has outgrown the three-sheet Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood. Kirkland Deputy City Manager Jim Lopez noted that the city bought the land for $9M in 2024 and “plans to lease it to the Kraken for $1.” The Kraken’s lease “will run for 34 years with options to extend” (PUDGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/29).

N.Y. Racing Association CEO & President Dave O’Rourke showcased the progress made at Belmont Park, which will “open Sept. 18 and bring New York racing into the 21st century and beyond.” Aside from the $455M that NYRA is spending on the grandstand, another $100M was allocated to “rebuild the main track and two turf courses and add a fourth, innermost all-weather track.” The new, expanded paddock area “includes an owners/trainers lounge adjacent to saddling stalls” and the Japanese white pine tree “still stands majestically as a featured element in the paddock.” The construction of the new Belmont Park is “now in the homestretch” (BLOODHORSE, 4/29).