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Global World Cup fans came to the U.S. for soccer. Now theyre taking over MLB stadiums.

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup moves across the United States, traveling fans have been filling their off days with a very American tourist activity: going to an MLB game.

From Fenway Park to Yankee Stadium, MLB stadiums are suddenly filling with bagpipes, kilts, Viking hats, flags, singing, and a new crop of baseball fans learning the game in real-time.

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It all started on June 14, the day after Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in Foxborough for its first World Cup win since 1990, when a pack of Scottish fans marched through Boston and into Fenway Park for a Red Sox-Rangers game that had already been planned as Scottish Heritage Night. Kismet!

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Flocks of fans in kilts and Scotland jerseys packed sections of the ballpark, sang through the game, and brought such electric energy that Red Sox president Sam Kennedy later wrote to the Scottish Football Association, thanking the Tartan Army for turning Fenway into “a meeting point between two sporting cultures."

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From there, the ballpark tour continued. With several days between Scotland’s World Cup matches, fans also made their way to Yankee Stadium on June 16, taking over part of the upper deck as the Yankees played the White Sox.

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But, no, they didn't stop there.

June 22, ahead of Scotland’s World Cup match against Brazil, thousands of Scotland fans marched from Ball & Chain in Little Havana to loanDepot park for the Marlins’ game against the Texas Rangers.

Inside the ballpark, roughly 8,000 members of the Tartan Army were part of an announced crowd of 20,008. Starter Tyler Phillips called the atmosphere “unbelievable” in a post-game press conference and said, “I would have us paying those people to show up to the games.” (He may have been joking, but the Marlins ticket office should at least hear him out.) Cody Freeman was also awestruck.

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Scotland is not the only fanbase bringing World Cup energy to MLB. On June 24, a group of Norway fans showed up at Citi Field for the Mets’ doubleheader against the Cubs, shortly after Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal at MetLife Stadium helped send the team to the knockout stage for the first time since 1998.

The Norwegian fans turned part of the outfield seats red, wore Viking hats, waved flags, danced in the stands, and performed the now-viral “Viking Row” celebration in the bleachers. Mr. and Mrs. Met even joined in. We love the commitment.

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Some World Cup teams are even leaning in. On June 18, England’s national team visited Kauffman Stadium during its World Cup stay in Kansas City, where manager Thomas Tuchel threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Royals game. According to social media, it was a strike, for sure.

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The Rangers, meanwhile, have capitalized on this new fanbase, building World Cup-themed promotions around the tournament, including fútbol-style jerseys, a global scarf giveaway, country flag patches, and a “Guide to Texas Baseball” for international visitors heading to Globe Life Field.

Baseball may not have been on every World Cup fan’s itinerary, but it has become one of the tournament’s best off-day surprises. It's awesome to see everyone having a good time at regular-season baseball games again, even if half the crowd is still figuring out what counts as a strike.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open would all argue that they're the biggest tennis event on the schedule, but Wimbledon has that special something.

Maybe it's the fast-paced tennis on lush green surfaces. Maybe it's the crisp white outfits. Or maybe it's the copious amounts of champagne and strawberries consumed by fans. Whatever the reason, Wimbledon is hard to beat.

If you're interested in watching Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the third of four Grand Slam tennis events each year.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek.

When is Wimbledon in 2026?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships is the 139th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from June 29 to July 12.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 for free

Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Wimbledon 2025 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 27

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

The 2026 World Cup has come to the final day of the group stage, and there are major star names taking to the pitch. Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo want to add more goals to their career totals as Argentina and Portugal aim to win their respective groups.

Today, June 27, showcases a total of six matches, including action from England and Croatia.

It all kicks off today at 5 p.m. ET, with respective group games scheduled to take place simultaneously. Here's everything you need to know to tune in live today.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 27How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch Panama vs. England

England scored an opening win against Croatia, which cast the Three Lions as serious contenders. But a frustrating draw against Ghana felt like a step back, so England are aiming to decisively beat Panama and get their World Cup dream back on track.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Croatia vs. Ghana

Croatia bounced back from the England loss to beat Panama 1-0 in their last game. A win against Ghana in this last group game would secure them second place in Group L and an automatic spot in the knockout stage. Can Luka Modric lead them to success? Or will Ghana hold firm as they did against England?

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Colombia vs. Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo rediscovered his form in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, scoring two goals. Now Portugal must beat group leaders Colombia to win Group K overall. Ronaldo will also want to match GOAT rival Lionel Messi for number of goals scored at the tournament.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan

On paper this game should be a straightforward win for DR Congo, with the Central African squad hoping to advance to the knockout stage. But there are no guarantees at this level, and struggling Uzbekistan want to exit the tournament with a win.

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Jordan vs. Argentina

Few fans would predict Jordan to win over defending champions Argentina, particularly with Lionel Messi in goal-scoring form. Messi has scored five in two games and has already beaten the all-time World Cup goal scorer record. How many more will he add to his total against Jordan?

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Algeria vs. Austria

There's not much between these teams. Both have won one, lost one so far, and they'e now battling for second place in Group J. Austria are probably the favorites here but anything can happen with the knockouts on the horizon.

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpresVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim this weekend

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: The iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, or iPhone 17 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile. Here's how to qualify for this promotion.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

If you've been keeping an eye on tech news this week, you probably saw the grim reality: Apple just jacked up prices across its iPad and Mac lineups due to soaring AI-driven chip costs. And with experts warning that smartphone price hikes are almost certainly next, this might be the time to get ahead and upgrade.

If you want to dodge the incoming price squeeze, T-Mobile has arrived with a stellar escape hatch.

T-Mobile has dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals. Here are our favorites this weekend:

  • Apple iPhone Air — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

  • Apple iPhone 17e — free when you port your number over from a competitor and activate a new line on almost any T-Mobile postpaid service plan.

  • Apple iPhone 17 — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

  • Apple iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

T-Mobile isn't handing over these sleek devices out of the goodness of its heart. The retail cost of your new phone is offset by 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Your monthly statement will show a standard charge for financing the phone, which is immediately balanced out by an equal credit to bring that charge to nothing.

You are signing up for a 24-month commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or try to upgrade to the iPhone 18 before those 24 months are up, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You'll also have to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee. But with Apple's prices actively trending upward, paying a small fee upfront to lock down the latest iPhone 17 for the next two years is one of the smartest financial moves you can make in the current tech landscape.

Score the latest iPhones for free with T-Mobile this weekend.

How to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

DR Congo had an encouraging start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they held Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to an unexpected 1-1 draw. DR Congo then faltered in their second match, losing to Colombia, but they're still within reaching distance of the knockouts if they can beat Uzbekistan and get an automatic spot from third place.

Uzbekistan are unlikely to put up much resistance, having lost their first two games and conceded eight goals across those games.

If you want to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan?

DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7.30 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at Atlanta Stadium.

How to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan for free

DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Colombia vs. Portugal online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Colombia vs. Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup sees out the final day of group games with Cristiano Ronaldo, as Portugal face Colombia in Group K.

For some fans Ronaldo is the absolute GOAT of this generation (Messi fans might disagree), but CR7 entered the World Cup with questions hanging over him — he'd failed to score in 10 games and Portugal only managed a draw in their opening group game against DR Congo.

Ronaldo then silenced the critics with two goals in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. But Colombia aren't interested in the Ronaldo storyline. The South American team have won both of their group games so far and are in fine form. They'll want to beat Portugal and win the group.

If you want to watch Colombia vs. Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Colombia vs. Portugal?

Colombia vs. Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7.30 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at Miami Stadium.

How to watch Colombia vs. Portugal for free

Colombia vs. Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Colombia vs. Portugal for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Colombia vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Colombia vs. Portugal (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Colombia vs. Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Jordan vs. Argentina online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Jordan vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup puts the spotlight on GOAT contender Lionel Messi in this next group match, as Argentina face Jordan. Argentina are defending champions and are fully expected to secure the win over Jordan, which would see Messi's squad go three-for-three in Group J.

It's a case of a how many goals can Messi get this time out? He's already netted five goals in two games this tournament and broken the all-time World Cup goal record. Can he take one more step toward immortality with another hattrick?

If you want to watch Jordan vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Jordan vs. Argentina?

Jordan vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at Dallas Stadium.

How to watch Jordan vs. Argentina for free

Jordan vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Jordan vs. Argentina for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Jordan vs. Argentina for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Jordan vs. Argentina (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Jordan vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Algeria vs. Austria online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Algeria vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been an up-and-down affair for both Algeria and Austria, with a win and a loss apiece. Now they face each other for second place in Group J, with Argentina expected to topple Jordan in the other group fixture.

Fans would likely pick Austria as the favorites here, with arguably the stronger squad overall. But the group stage often goes in unexpected directions. Algeria are sure to bring their A-game for a chance to qualify in either second or third place.

If you want to watch Algeria vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Algeria vs. Austria?

Algeria vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at Kansas City Stadium.

How to watch Algeria vs. Austria for free

Algeria vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Algeria vs. Austria for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Algeria vs. Austria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Algeria vs. Austria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Algeria vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Panama vs. England online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Panama vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has come down to the final day of group games. And while England have already qualified to the knockout stage, they're feeling the frustration of drawing 0-0 with Ghana in their last game. Now facing Panama to decide the group, England are expected to make some changes to the starting XI and come out all guns blazing. But can Panama surprise them?

If you want to watch Panama vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Panama vs. England?

Panama vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at New York New Jersey Stadium.

How to watch Panama vs. England for free

Panama vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Panama vs. England for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Panama vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Panama vs. England (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Panama vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Croatia vs. Ghana online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Croatia vs. Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now down to the last day of group games. Croatia need a win to try and top Group L but Ghana have proved themselves so far, including a strong defensive performance against England. Can Croatia break down Ghana, or will Ghana hold strong again?

If you want to watch Croatia vs. Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Croatia vs. Ghana?

Croatia vs. Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at Philadelphia Stadium.

How to watch Croatia vs. Ghana for free

Croatia vs. Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Croatia vs. Ghana for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Croatia vs. Ghana for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Croatia vs. Ghana (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Croatia vs. Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Watch NASAs next-generation moon rover crush an obstacle course

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

Today's Mars rovers typically drive at about 500 to 1,000 feet per hour — roughly the length of one to three football fields — and only for short stints at a time. 

NASA engineers say they could go so much longer and faster if they could only think more for themselves. 

A miniature prototype is already proving that point. On a recent test day, ERNEST, short for Exploration Rover for Navigating Extreme Sloped Terrain, rolled toward a pile of boulders that would stop Curiosity and Perseverance in their tracks. Instead of stalling or waiting for new instructions from controllers, it sized up the rocks, shifted its stance, and climbed straight over — no joystick from 200 million miles away necessary.

The robot, about four-feet long, looks a little like Wall-E or Johnny 5, with four mesh wheels in place of treads. Those wheels can lift and tilt, as if rising on tiptoes. ERNEST has already shown it can trundle about 16 miles across the Colorado desert in California. Engineers were hands-off during the excursion, mostly there to see how far the rover's new brain and body could take it. You can watch how it moves and navigates treacherous obstacles in the two videos below. 

The space agency's next-generation of rovers will sense hazards, pick their own paths, manage their power and health, and keep driving without waiting for detailed instructions from Earth. Micromanaging from mission control often means the current rovers sit idle between communication windows. But AI and onboard autonomy could reduce that downtime, allowing the machines to travel faster and farther into new frontiers.  

"Integrating artificial intelligence and autonomy software is the future of extraterrestrial rovers because it fundamentally overcomes the communication delays and communication resource constraints associated with space exploration," Ashish Goel, a research technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told Mashable. "We have already seen that the Perseverance rover is able to drive significantly more distance than the Curiosity rover, despite having a similar mechanical design, primarily because of its ability to think and drive, and better autonomous driving capabilities in general."

SEE ALSO: NASA is daring to rescue a space telescope before it falls to Earth

NASA has not announced a mission that would use ERNEST directly, but the agency has been studying concepts for future long-range lunar rovers that would require much greater independence.

One concept, known as Endurance, envisions a rover capable of traveling more than 1,200 miles on the moon over a span of four years, collecting and delivering samples across the lunar surface. To hit that goal, the rover would need to cover 2.5 to 4 miles per Earth day — about what Perseverance does in a year — and keep moving even when Earth can't send new instructions.

That scale of driving creates three big problems for human operators. First, communication takes time and literal bandwidth. A rover can't wait around for engineers to approve every turn of the wheel if it needs to cross a continent's worth of craters. Second, the schedule can't afford daily hand‑holding. Mission planners talk about uplinks, the batches of commands NASA sends as radio signals to a rover, only every couple of weeks, not every day. Third, the rover must survive and stay productive through harsh swings in light and temperature, including long two-week stretches of lunar night.

To handle that, the team behind Endurance argues for true onboard autonomy, not just smarter cruise control, according to a paper from the 2025 IEEE Aerospace Conference. The rover must control its own route, power use, thermal limits, and health checks. It has to pick paths that meet science goals while steering clear of boulders, craters, and sand traps. When something goes wrong, it needs to diagnose at least some problems on its own.

"The frequency of anomalies," the authors wrote, "has to be sufficiently low to maximize the mean-distance between interruptions, i.e., the distance traversed before the rover has to stop and call home for help."

ERNEST has already shown it can trundle about 16 miles across the Colorado Desert in California. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

That's where AI and ERNEST come in. Engineers first built even smaller, half‑scale rovers and ran them through a sandbox full of artificial moondust. They tried 11 different ways to control the suspension before they arrived at the design. The prototype can squat, lean, or walk over obstacles and spread its weight when the ground looks soft.

To replace a human operator, the team turned to reinforcement learning, a type of AI where a robot learns by trial and error. JPL's Dynamics and Real‑Time Simulation Lab built a virtual world that mimics ERNEST's behavior on different slopes, surfaces, and rock fields. Engineers fed the simulator the data from real hardware tests, then virtually drove for thousands of hours.

After months of digital practice, they moved the new driving "brain" into the real rover and sent it into the lab's Mars Yard, a sort of obstacle course for extraterrestrial robots. There, ERNEST navigated sand ripples, rubble piles, steps, and steep slopes. It chose when to lift a wheel, when to crab crawl sideways, and when to pick a safer way around trouble.

But autonomy has to reach far beyond clever footwork. A rover needs sharp perception to navigate through some of the trickiest lighting conditions in the solar system. On the moon, for instance, sunlight can blast one side of a scene and plunge the rest into deep shadow. Dust and rock don't scatter light the way air does on Earth, so cameras can see both blinding glare and pitch dark in the same frame. That mix makes it hard to spot hazards and estimate distance.

To address those challenges, engineers want to give future rovers sharper "eyes" — better cameras, headlights, and laser 3D mapping — so the onboard AI has enough information to make informed steering decisions. 

"As more capable computers become available for space missions, we can leverage the advancements in AI and autonomy to go farther, faster, and into more challenging environments, to unlock more scientific insights from our future planetary rovers," Goel said.

3 years of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more — all just $70 through June 28

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: ChatOn Premium is just $69.99 for three years during Deal Days, giving you access to multiple leading AI models, image and video tools, and real-time web search in one platform.

Opens in a new window Credit: AIBY ChatOn Multi-AI Assistant Premium Plan (3 Year Subscription) $69.99
$119.99 Save $50   Get Deal

AI tools are changing every month. Managing subscriptions to all of them? Not so fun.

That’s why ChatOn stands out during Deal Days, our answer to Prime Day. Through June 28, new users can get a three-year ChatOn Premium subscription for just $69.99 (reg. $119.99), unlocking access to multiple leading AI models and productivity tools from a single, dedicated app.

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Instead of bouncing between platforms, ChatOn puts GPT, Claude, Gemini, Sonar, and other AI models under one roof. This lets you switch to the model that fits the task without opening another app or managing another account.

The platform goes beyond chat, too. ChatOn includes AI image generation, image editing, video creation tools, document analysis, OCR text extraction, and real-time web search with source links. That makes it useful not only for brainstorming and writing but also for fact-checking, summarizing documents, and organizing projects.

One of the most practical features is the library of more than 100 ready-made prompts. Rather than starting from a blank page, users can jump straight into common tasks like content creation, planning, research, productivity, and business projects.

ChatOn also works across iOS, Android, and the web through a single account, making it easy to pick up where you left off regardless of device.

For people who use AI regularly, this isn’t really about finding the cheapest option. It’s about simplifying the experience. Instead of managing multiple tools that each do one thing well, ChatOn brings together several of the industry’s most popular AI models and features into a single workspace.

That’s a compelling proposition any time of year. During Deal Days, it’s a little easier to justify.

Get a 3-year subscription to ChatOn AI for a one-time $69.99 (reg. $119.99) through June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Upgrade like an insider — Windows 11 Pro is just $10 through June 28

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) through June 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

Prime Day may be grabbing headlines, but some of the most interesting software deals are already happening elsewhere. During Deal Days (our answer to Prime Day), Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for just $9.97 through June 28 (reg. $199) — a surprisingly low price.

This isn’t a stripped-down version or a temporary subscription. It’s a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license, designed for people who want more from their PCs than basic web browsing and email.

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The biggest difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro comes down to capability. Windows 11 Pro includes BitLocker encryption to help protect sensitive data, Hyper-V for running virtual machines, Windows Sandbox for safely testing applications, and Azure AD support for business and professional environments.

If you’ve ever needed developer tools, advanced security, or workplace-ready features, this is the version built for that.

You also get everything that makes Windows 11 appealing in the first place. Snap Layouts make multitasking easier, DirectX 12 Ultimate helps maximize gaming performance, and Microsoft’s built-in Copilot AI assistant can help summarize information, answer questions, and generate content directly from your desktop.

What makes this deal particularly interesting is that it isn’t about settling for an older version to save money. It’s about getting the full professional edition of Microsoft’s latest operating system at a price that feels more like a pricing error than a software upgrade.

Before purchasing, make sure your PC meets Microsoft’s Windows 11 system requirements. This license is intended for compatible computers that need a new Windows license.

If your PC is ready, Deal Days may be the perfect excuse to upgrade now rather than waiting for the next big sale event.

Get a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for a one-time $9.97 (reg. $199) through June 28.

Click here to view more of the Deal Days collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Cancel your subscription and get a Microsoft Visio lifetime license for under $10

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Get a Microsoft Visio 2021 lifetime license for the lowest price yet, just $9.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $9.97
$249.99 Save $240.02   Get Deal

Turning complex data into something a coworker can read at a glance usually means hours in PowerPoint or Adobe Illustrator. If you want a shortcut, try Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional. This diagramming tool ships with hundreds of templates and over 250,000 shapes, and a lifetime license for Windows is on sale for the lowest price ever right now, just $9.97 (reg. $249.99).

You don’t need to be a designer to design something anymore. Microsoft Visio’s templates cover flowcharts map processes, decision trees, approvals, and a lot more all in one. Org charts pull straight from Excel, Exchange, or Microsoft Entra ID and update automatically as people move around. Floor plans use accurate, scalable measurements for office redesigns or retail layouts. SWOT and fishbone diagrams help with brainstorming. Network diagrams handle device, server, and connection layouts for IT and engineering teams.

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Past the templates, Visio includes more than 250,000 shapes that drag and drop straight onto the canvas. Diagrams can be linked to live data from internal and external sources, so an org chart or a network map updates as the underlying spreadsheet changes. Visio Professional also supports industry standards like BPMN 2.0, IEEE, and UML 2.5. That makes it the right pick for engineering, IT, and operations teams that need consistent, audit-friendly visuals. Updates roll out at no extra cost over the life of the license, so the templates stay current as new standards emerge.

Touch-enabled devices can use a finger or pen to draw and annotate diagrams directly on the screen. That makes Visio handy for quick whiteboarding sessions or working off a Surface during meetings. The interface mirrors other Microsoft apps, so anyone already running Word or PowerPoint won’t have to relearn the menus.

Turn your complex data into a clear visual. Get a Microsoft Visio $9.97, the lowest price ever, before June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to spot an AI chatbot on AdultFriendFinder

Mashable - 3 hours 7 min ago

AdultFriendFinder is one of the wildest, most popular adult dating sites on the entire internet, and it has held that position for decades, but all of that attention comes with a price. The site is also notoriously plagued by bots, fake profiles, and scammers, and using it well requires both being aware of this problem and knowing how to navigate it. 

Luckily, if you've got even a minimum of internet savvy in you, plus maybe some experience being targeted for online scams before ("once bitten, twice shy" and all), you should have no trouble avoiding the bad actors and safely enjoying all of the adult fun AFF has to offer, even in the era of agentic AI.  

To help you protect yourself, here are the three most common AI chatbots you may encounter on AdultFriendFinder, including information about how to spot them and how to defuse them once you've identified them.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More The promotional chatbot

By far the most common type of bot deployed on AFF is the promotional bot, and thankfully, these are also the most harmless, although that doesn't mean they can't also be annoying or a major waste of your time. 

Promotional bots are designed to direct traffic to a specific location, which might be a Linktree, OnlyFans account, or even just an Instagram page. Most of the time, they function more as advertisements rather than scams. In other words, they directly declare their intentions ("Visit this page to see my private content") rather than hide it, but occasionally they take a page out of the scamming chatbot method (see below) and engage you in superficial conversation before urging you to go off the site with a link. 

You're very unlikely to encounter promotional chatbots in one-on-one conversations through the AFF matchmaking system, since chatting here requires a paid account, but you'll run into them often in the more public areas, especially the live webcam shows. 

Your best approach here is to ignore them entirely. If you do happen to find a performer who interests you, the minimum you should do before clicking the link is verify the destination address, since there's always the chance you'll be directed to a malicious site. 

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt The scamming chatbot

Between its account verification system (known as ConfirmID) and the fact that all private, one-on-one chats on the site are confined to paying members, you're not likely to have a chatbot slide into your DMs, but that doesn't mean it's unheard of, either. 

For scammers, AI chatbots are an easy way to scale up their fraudulent schemes, since outsourcing the phishing expeditions to AI enables them to potentially reach hundreds or even thousands more people. Worse still, as we're in the midst of widespread AI adoption, these chatbots are getting better and better, which makes them harder to recognize. They absolutely can hold a conversation and even crack jokes, so unlike ten or even five years ago, when most chatbots failed the Turing test within minutes of speaking with them. The latest models can happily hold a back-and-forth conversation for some time.

The two major red flags here, however, are reliable indicators that you're talking to a scammer. First, they will, at some point, attempt to create a sense of urgency, either by telling you a story or appealing to your sympathy. Next, they will ask you to click a link or take the conversation to a third-party chat program. 

As soon as this happens, your best defense is to disengage. But if you're really uncertain, you can also ask the person to verify their identity, like with a phone or video call. If they're resistant, you can be assured they're actually a bot.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says. The fake streamer

Larger webcam sites have been taken over by fake streams, but even a smaller hosting platform like AFF isn't immune to the problem. The scam works in one of two ways: either the streamer uses pre-recorded videos, often of total strangers, to falsify their livestream, or else they use generative AI and a low-quality feed to pass off a fake stream as a real one.

In both cases, the real scam happens in the comment section, where the streamer or AI agent requests tips or subscriptions, or else tries to send the stream viewers to a third-party site for more content. 

The two major tells for these types of scams are, first, the speed at which the "streamer" is able to type in chat, and second, the obvious disconnect between the actions of the "streamer" on webcam and the typing supposedly going on as they reply in the comment section.

AdultFriendFinder has two major camming areas — the Member Webcams section and the Pro Models section — and of the two, the latter is far more infiltrated by bots. Member Webcams rarely draw more than a dozen viewers, while professional feeds often attract hundreds, making them a much more lucrative target for scammers. 

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch the NBA.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: GOAT

  • Green: NBA Champions

  • Blue: Women's legends

  • Purple: Sounds like an NFL player

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: A Revered Star

  • Green: Last Four NBA Champions

  • Blue: WNBA Players in the Basketball Hall of Fame

  • Purple: Starts with an NFL Starting QB

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #642 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • A Revered Star: GREAT, ICON, LEGEND, SUPERSTAR

  • Last Four NBA Champions: BOSTON, DENVER, NEW YORK, OKLAHOMA CITY

  • WNBA Players in the Basketball Hall of Fame: CASH, CATCHINGS, LESLIE, WHALEN

  • Starts with an NFL Starting QB: JACKSONVILLE, MAYER, WILLIAMSPORT, YOUNGSTER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Pips hints, answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 27, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 27 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this orange space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 27 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 27 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like game nights.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 27, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Board game

  • Green: Walk the walk

  • Blue: Lined

  • Purple: Gallops

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Monopoly squares

  • Green: Components of a fashion show

  • Blue: Commonly striped things

  • Purple: Ending in horse gaits

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1112 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Monopoly squares: BOARDWALK, INCOME TAX, SHORT LINE, WATER, WORKS

  • Components of a fashion show: CATWALK, COLLECTION, DESIGNER, MODEL

  • Commonly striped things: BARBER POLE, BILLIARD BALL, CREDIT CARD, CROSSWALK

  • Ending in horse gaits: DECANTER, ENVELOPE, FIREWALK, FOXTROT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 27, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a city dweller.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Suite re-lease

The words are related to home.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe dwellings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Apartments.

NYT Strands word list for June 27
  • Loft

  • Studio

  • Apartments

  • Flat

  • Efficiency

  • Condo

  • Penthouse

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to gossip.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 27, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 27, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rumor.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SCOOP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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