The IIHF World Junior Championship, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, has grown from a modest holiday tournament to a major international event showcasing future NHL stars, with increased media coverage, larger audiences, and a rich history of memorable moments and national pride.
The University of North Dakota men's hockey team will participate in the 2027 Friendship Four tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland, marking their first international games since 2013-14 and the first outside North America since 1982-83, competing alongside other top college teams in a prestigious event promoting education and community interaction.
Kentucky freshman Jasper Johnson is competing with Team USA in the U19 World Cup in Switzerland, where they advanced to the semifinals. Johnson has been a key player, averaging 7.4 points per game, and is expected to play a significant role for Kentucky in the 2025-26 season. Other Kentucky recruits, Tyran Stokes and Jordan Smith Jr., are also participating in the tournament.
USA Basketball announced its 2025 Men’s U19 National Team, selected after a week of training, to compete in the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Switzerland. The team, led by coach Tommy Lloyd, includes 12 players with extensive junior national team experience and a total of 19 gold medals. They will face Australia, France, and Cameroon in Group D, with the U.S. aiming to defend its gold medal title.
USA Volleyball announced a 14-player roster for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League Week One in Rio de Janeiro, featuring a mix of debutants and experienced players, as the team aims to defend their titles and improve on their 2024 Olympic performance.
France's Apollon laser system, operating at 10 petawatts, remains the world's most powerful laser, enabling advanced scientific research and symbolizing technological and strategic leadership in high-energy physics, amid growing global competition from the US, China, and Europe.
USA Hockey has announced its 23-player roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, an international tournament featuring NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden, set to take place from February 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. The U.S. team includes 15 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goaltenders, with notable players such as Stanley Cup champions Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, and Jake Guentzel. The roster also features four NHL captains and 10 alternate captains, highlighting the strength and depth of American hockey talent.
The NHL/NHLPA 4 Nations Face-Off is a new midseason exhibition tournament replacing the NHL All-Star Game, featuring teams from Canada, the USA, Sweden, and Finland. The event, set for February 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, serves as a precursor to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Rosters for the tournament have been announced, with some expected selections and a few surprises, leading to discussions about which NHL players were snubbed by their national teams.
The 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball tournament is set to be the most competitive yet, with Team USA aiming to reclaim dominance with stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. However, strong international teams led by players like Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) pose significant challenges. The U.S. remains the favorite but faces tough competition in a single-elimination format.
The 2024 Generation adidas Cup will feature a record 49 clubs from 15 countries, with 80 teams competing in U-17 and U-15 divisions at IMG Academy in Florida. The tournament, showcasing MLS' commitment to international competition, will be broadcast in over 100 countries and regions. Notably, 19 international clubs from four continents will participate, including AZ Alkmaar and PSV from the Netherlands. The competition format includes group stages and awards for MVP, top scorer, and best goalkeeper, with past winners including MLS homegrowns and international talents like Julián Álvarez and Lucas Paquetá.
Carli Lloyd, a legendary player for the US women's national soccer team, expressed her belief that the team is no longer feared by opponents, citing a regression in performance since the 2020 Olympics. She highlighted a change in team culture and lack of hunger as contributing factors. Despite the team's recent struggles, there is hope for improvement with young talent and the appointment of a new head coach. The USWNT's upcoming matches and the 2024 Paris Olympics will serve as tests for their resurgence.
Former USWNT captain Carli Lloyd claims that the team is no longer feared by opponents after its recent 2-0 loss to Mexico, marking the first defeat to Mexico in 13 years. She criticizes the team's performance and suggests that the rest of the world has caught up to the once-dominant USWNT, pointing to recent losses and underwhelming tournament performances. Lloyd's criticisms stem from the team's failure to meet expectations and play up to the standards she helped establish during her playing days, and she is one of the few connected to the team willing to speak out.
As more countries and companies join the race to the moon, CNN explores the potential benefits of revisiting a destination humankind first reached over 50 years ago.
FC Cincinnati will make their debut in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup with an away match against Cavalier FC in Kingston, Jamaica, marking their first international competition. The tournament will see 27 teams from 10 nations compete for continental glory, with FCC aiming to advance to the Round of 16. The match will be played on aggregate scoring over two legs, with the return fixture at TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati's attacking trio of Luciano Acosta, Aaron Boupendza, and Corey Baird have been in top form, while Cavalier FC, currently leading the Jamaican Premier League, is eager to upset the American team.
The NHL will hold the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025, featuring teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S., marking a return to international competition. The tournament will consist of seven games played during a nine-day period and will be held in two North American cities. Additionally, the NHL will resume Olympic participation in 2026 and 2030, with plans to alternate between the Olympics and a World Cup tournament every two years.