Sports journalist at The Athletic | Follow me here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/amelie-claydon/https://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moxfi57wus2xFrance vs Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Luka Modric. Brazil facing the Japan side who beat them less than a year ago. All three fixtures are possible before the quarter-finals as the World Cup knockout bracket begins to take shape. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7385771/2026/06/23/world-cup-knockout-ties-bracket/?unlocked_article_code=1.sVA.8wNo.eIPHMP4yP0KN&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta23 Jun 2026 12:25 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxfi57wus2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moxffqiues2y“You play a 70-minute match, but that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it" — Declan Rice speaking on how has been managing neural hamstring pain at the World Cup. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7382530/2026/06/22/declan-rice-neural-hamstring-pain-injury-explainer/?unlocked_article_code=1.sFA.P1A0.2GqvQPrBNoa8&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta23 Jun 2026 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxffqiues2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moxfcmwem22iWomen’s Super League and WSL2 clubs can allow supporters to drink alcohol in view of the pitch from the 2026-27 season following an 18-month trial. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7382746/2026/06/22/wsl-alcohol-fans-pitch-stands/?unlocked_article_code=1.sFA.7Q60.Z7c0iHSIAElh&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta23 Jun 2026 12:22 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxfcmwem22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moxf7fkaas25England do not need a reshuffle, but they do need to protect themselves against Ghana’s clearest route into the game — winning the ball and breaking into the space behind Tuchel’s full-backs. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7380313/2026/06/22/england-ghana-team-news-prediction/?unlocked_article_code=1.sVA.1vW2._lWRWmraouVw&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta23 Jun 2026 12:21 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxf7fkaas25https://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moqrjvzpjc22Had a lot of fun with this one. From Che Sac Everton Fred Adams to Miro Max Maria Muheim, we went digging through the World Cup squad lists to find the stories behind football’s best middle names. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7348008/2026/06/20/world-cup-middle-names-yamal-saka-zidane/?unlocked_article_code=1.rlA.RBJK.3DvUpSJFMzM2&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta20 Jun 2026 21:12 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqrjvzpjc22https://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moqrdsu36227An update on Ismaël Koné, who has undergone successful surgery after suffering a fracture in Canada’s win over Qatar. Jesse Marsch said Koné was in good spirits before the operation, but his World Cup is sadly over. With @joshuakloke.bsky.social Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7376131/2026/06/19/ismael-kone-surgery-injury-canada-world-cup/?unlocked_article_code=1.rlA.J1zi.bdIqtku8Io_k&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta20 Jun 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqrdsu36227https://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moqrb3ufzc2eChelsea’s first six Premier League games are all in London. Arsenal begin their title defence against newly promoted Coventry, Manchester City open their post-Guardiola era at home and Liverpool face Newcastle on the opening weekend. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7373335/2026/06/19/premier-league-fixtures-2026-27-schedule/?unlocked_article_code=1.rlA.Q986.Hedqb6K9j-bx&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta20 Jun 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqrb3ufzc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3molfwhtqbs2rSuch an enjoyable interview and article to write. A truly interesting athlete and a bizzare pre-race meal choice! [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Jun 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3molfwhtqbs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moipnxi7o224Most players would have used this moment to regain their balance. Kylian Mbappe used it to score from 30 yards. I asked three biomechanics and performance experts to explain one of the most striking World Cup photographs we've seen so far. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7369006/2026/06/17/kylian-mbappe-and-the-biomechanics-of-elite-force/?unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.ArPq.cIm-XPFCE_nO&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta17 Jun 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moipnxi7o224https://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moik5gqj4k2yKing Charles III's horse arrived at Royal Ascot as the 13/8 favourite. It finished last. Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ryan Moore, was beaten by more than 59 lengths in the Ascot Stakes as a 25/1 outsider stole the show. Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7368721/2026/06/17/king-charles-reaching-high-royal-ascot-2026/?unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.hlLP.esGfGtaDbsGs&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta17 Jun 2026 14:39 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moik5gqj4k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3moiju5foj22rTwo cheeseburgers. Large fries. Chicken nuggets. A few hours later, Ja'Kobe Tharp broke the men's 110m hurdles world record. I spoke to the 20-year-old about the race in Eugene, Orgeon that changed his life. Free to read: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7366022/2026/06/17/jakobe-tharp-world-record-holder-hurdles-cheeseburger/ https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7366022/2026/06/17/jakobe-tharp-world-record-holder-hurdles-cheeseburger/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.xJpu.bUw5Fnh967n_&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta17 Jun 2026 14:34 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moiju5foj22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo776crxb22qReally enjoyed contributing to the live blog for the Switzerland v Qatar for The Athletic tonight. Qatar's first-ever World Cup point, a Swiss side left frustrated and one of the first surprises of the tournament. A few screenshots of my posts below.13 Jun 2026 21:29 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo776crxb22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5vckwg422pJapan once reached the World Cup knockout stages because they collected fewer yellow cards than Senegal. After three red cards in the tournament opener, I looked at the suspension and fair-play rules that could shape the rest of the competition. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7354164/2026/06/12/world-cup-disciplinary-suspensions/?unlocked_article_code=1.plA.NIUq.5Kio3pc4GS42&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:59 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5vckwg422phttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5vabq7vs2tThe grass-court season lasts little more than four weeks and for some players, Queen's is their first match on grass in almost a year. From west London, I looked at the unique challenge of tennis' shortest swing. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7344113/2026/06/09/tennis-grass-season-tournaments-skills-strategy/?unlocked_article_code=1.plA.3sP0.ng6VwnQnVKot&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:58 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5vabq7vs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5v3nujts2e"I thought I deserved a wild card." Defending Queen's champion Tatjana Maria said she was surprised not to receive direct entry into this year's main draw. I was at Queen's as she explained why she felt her title run should have counted in her favour. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7341956/2026/06/08/tatjana-maria-queens-tennis-wild-card/?source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:56 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5v3nujts2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5uylnqj22oReal Madrid don't need another galáctico. I joined colleagues at The Athletic to discuss how the club should spend a potential €150m this summer — and why I'd be looking at the midfield before anywhere else. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7341604/2026/06/08/real-madrid-transfers-perez-mourinho-yamal-alvarez/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.olA.-AEN.k1jL217hlOHM&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:54 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5uylnqj22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5uvxi3ak2dSerena Williams is back. Alongside @caoimhesport.bsky.social, I was at Queen's as Williams spoke publicly about her comeback for the first time, left the door open to playing singles again, and reflected on returning to the sport after nearly four years away. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7339399/2026/06/07/serena-williams-tennis-comeback-queens-grass-wimbledon/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.oVA.vYol.lgeX4j4GF3-E&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:52 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5uvxi3ak2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/amelieclaydon.bsky.social/post/3mo5upi7ow222Is Andoni Iraola the right man for Liverpool? I joined colleagues at The Athletic to assess the appointment. I argued Liverpool don't just need results — they need an identity again, and Iraola's track record suggests he could provide one. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7328090/2026/06/04/andoni-iraola-liverpool-manager-appointment/?unlocked_article_code=1.plA.hW2e.o1csSgm-PkQa&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_bluesky&smid=bsky-share-ta13 Jun 2026 08:49 +0000at://did:plc:v7hjlytrgiarqgj2w67c2owp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo5upi7ow222