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The football world is mourning tonight. Former NFL defensive end Aldon Smith has passed away at just thirty-six years old. The San Francisco forty-niners, who drafted him seventh overall back in two thousand eleven, confirmed his death, though the cause has not been disclosed. In seventy-five regular-season games, Smith recorded fifty-two and a half sacks and over two hundred tackles — a career that burned bright and ended far too soon.
Shifting to the pitch, the two thousand twenty-six World Cup is officially in full swing, and Sunday brings two massive Group stage clashes. Germany open their campaign against Curaçao at one p.m. Eastern out of Houston, live on FOX and Telemundo. Meanwhile in Dallas, Netherlands and Japan collide in what looks like the toughest Group F opener of the entire tournament — two sides with serious pedigree and absolutely nothing to lose.
And in a story that deserves far more attention, Somali referee Omar Artan — held for eleven hours by US immigration at Miami International and denied entry to the country — will still receive his full World Cup officiating fee from FIFA. A small measure of justice for a man who did nothing wrong.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
