TL;DR: Live stream Portugal vs. Spain 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 continues with arguably the biggest game of the round. There's a spot in the quarter-final stage up for grabs as Portugal play Spain.

Portugal are led by Cristiano Ronaldo in possibly his last major tournament. Spain are Euro 2024 champions and among the favorites to win the World Cup. It's got all the makings of a classic. Fans will be expecting big performances from the likes of Lamine Yamal and Bruno Fernandes.

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

When is Portugal vs. Spain?

Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 6. This fixture takes place at the Dallas Stadium.

How to watch Portugal vs. Spain for free

Portugal vs. Spain 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 Portugal vs. Spain 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 Portugal vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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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 Portugal vs. Spain (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 Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Best microSD, portable SSDs, and hard drive deals to grab this week:

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Best microSD card deal

Gigastone MicroSD Card (128GB)

$49.99 (save $10)

Get Deal

---

Best portable SSD card deal

Samsung T9 Portable SSD (1TB)

$199.99 (save $88)

Get Deal

---

Best internal hard drive deal

Samsung 990 PRO (2TB)

$389.99 (save $250)

Get Deal

If you've been shopping for any kind of storage device, then you're probably well aware of the ongoing global memory crisis (affectionately known as "RAMageddon"). And, like most crises, experts have confirmed that it's only going to get worse before it gets better, if ever. (Thanks, AI.)

During Prime Day, we saw hundreds of microSD, portable SSDs, and hard drives go on sale. But now that those deals are gone, you'll have to dig deep to find a genuine discount (read: not some inflated list price BS).

To help you out, I tracked down the best memory and storage deals you can still grab this week to beat the price hikes.

Best microSD deal

Gigastone MicroSD Card (128GB)

$49.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

I know a $10 discount doesn't sound like much, especially if you remember buying these things for 20 bucks a few years ago. But thanks to RAMageddon, 17% off the Gigastone 128GB Micro SD Card is basically the best deal we're going to get this week.

Bonus: It comes with a five-year warranty that includes free data recovery. If you've ever lost hours of drone footage or game saves to a corrupted card, that safety net is worth every penny.

Best portable SSD deal

Samsung T9 Portable SSD (1TB)

$199.99 at Amazon
$287.99 Save $88

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

If you're looking for laptop storage, the Samsung T9 (1TB) is down to $199.99 this week. That's not the lowest we've seen this portable SSD go for, but since it normally costs around $288, it's a pretty good deal considering (*gestures to everything*).

It delivers read and write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s, so you shouldn't have to wait too long on file transfers. It also features a built-in thermal guard to keep it from overheating, so that's nice. If you need even more space, you can grab the 2TB version on sale for $399.99 or the 4TB for $799.99.

Best internal hard drive deal

Samsung 990 PRO (2TB)

$159.99 at Best Buy
$199.99 Save $40

 

Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Attention gamers: The Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD (2TB) is on sale for $389.99 right now. That's a $250 price cut for a top-notch hard drive. Not only is the 990 PRO an "Amazon's Choice" product, but it has more than 13K reviews and a 4.7-star rating.

It hits sequential read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s, is about 50 percent more power-efficient than the older 980 PRO model, and Amazon reviewers say the performance is "unbeatable;" though some have noted that you may need a motherboard heatsink if you're going to be doing heavy video editing or 3D rendering.

More microSD, portable SSD, and hard drive deals

• Lexar ES3 External SSD (1TB) — $152.99 $169.99 (save $17)

• WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive (5TB) — $180.49 $284.99 (save $104.50)

• Samsung T7 Portable SSD (1TB) — $219.99 $274.99 (save $55)

• Lexar ES3 External SSD (2TB) — $269.99 $299.99 (save $30)

SAVE $16.89: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale at Amazon for $18.10, down from the list price of $34.99. That's a 48% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box

$18.10 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $16.89

 

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Just like Pokémon, getting into Magic: The Gathering can take a serious investment. Instead of fretting over the price of a starter pack, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of July 6, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for only $18.10 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $34.99. That's a major 48% discount that shaves $16.89 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Designed to help learn the basics of the game, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar set is the perfect option for a two-player adventure. The first game takes you on a guided battle between Aang and Zuko with two 20-card decks. There's a step-by-step guide booklet to take beginners through their first game with ease.

After that, players will combine any two of the eight 20-card half decks to form a full 40-card deck. That means players have tons of options to replay the game with new combinations and outcomes.

Today's box includes two packets of 100 cards, including the two 20-card tutorial decks with Aang and Zuko. The eight 20-card half-decks include Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Accessories include playerboards for both players, two spindown life counters, two beginner guides, and five double-sided tokens.

Since it's on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, snag the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $18.10. It's a great intro to the game that comes with an affordable price.

Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees Monday, with more than 30 percent of the cuts in its Xbox division, according to an internal email reviewed by IGN.

The reductions, described internally as an Xbox "reset," will affect roughly 1,600 employees immediately, with the company planning to eliminate about 20 percent of Xbox jobs by the end of its 2027 fiscal year.

As part of the shakeup, four studios are being spun off from Microsoft. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are returning to independent ownership under founders Tim Schafer and Guillaume Provost, respectively, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold to new owners, with commitments in place to continue development on their respective titles, Senua and State of Decay 3.

In an internal memo obtained by IGN, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the division's business "is not healthy," citing profit margins that are far below those of comparable platform and publishing companies. Sharma noted that Xbox lost 64 cents for every dollar invested in a typical year and pointed to oversaturation in the games market as a factor in the strategic pullback.

The memo also confirmed additional layoffs across Activision, Bethesda/ZeniMax, Blizzard, King, and Mojang, though Sharma said no first-party announced games are being canceled. As part of a broader management shakeup, Mojang and King will now report directly to Sharma, and Helen Chiang has been named Xbox's first Chief Operating Officer.

IGN, which is owned also reported that Microsoft is weighing the sale or closure of Arkane Studios, which has been developing the delayed, over-budget title Blade. According to the outlet, French labor consultations over Arkane's future could take months.

(Disclosure: IGN and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

The 2026 World Cup is now racing to the latter stages of the knockout rounds. The quarter finals are calling for the USA, now facing off against Belgium in the Round of 16. Portugal and Spain are also in action — a fixture that has the makings of an all-time classic.

It all kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. If yesterday's action is anything to go by — with Norway upsetting Brazil and England beating Mexico in an absolute thriller — July 6 could be another special day from this electric tournament.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 6

• Portugal vs. Spain (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• USA vs. Belgium (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Portugal vs. Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal in what is almost certainly the superstar's final World Cup campaign. But it won't be easy getting to the quarter finals. Spain are defending European Championship winners and have their own superstar in 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. It's truly a battle between two powerhouses. Expect fireworks — not to mention goals.

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

Watch USA vs. Belgium

USA were facing this crucial game without Folarin Balogun after he received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But his one-match ban has been controversially lifted, so USA will be at full strength against Belgium. Can USA ride the wave of home support and reach the quarter finals for the first time since 2002?

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

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Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

 

Get Deal

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Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

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More live streaming options

Live 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:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

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.

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Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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SAVE $560.99: The 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,439, down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 28% discount.

Your home gaming setup should be an oasis. It's a way to step out of real life and dive into an alterative life that serves as an enjoyable break. If you gaming station has less-than-ideal elements it can harsh the good vibes. Instead of dealing with a subpar monitor, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 6, the 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,439, marked down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 28% discount that shaves $560.99 off the norm.

The LG monitor is equipped with excellent stats. First off, it has an OLED display. Yes, that comes with a higher price point, but the quality of an OLED display is well worth the investment for many folks. On top of the display quality, there's the 800R curve for a fully-immersive experience.

LG also made this model with a glare-free design, low blue light, and a flicker-free screen. You'll be in line for a great 165Hz refresh rate and a zippy 0.03ms response time. All of these features will be great for summer weekends spent gaming.

The included base can swivel and tilt, and you can adjust the height to get the best fit for your gaming setup. In addition, it's a great model to have if you work from home. The 45-inch display is plenty of space for having two or three windows in full display at the same time. Zip through those e-mails thanks to the width.

While we're in the sticky summer months, upgrade to the 45-inch LG Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor while it's on sale at Amazon for under $1,500. It'll be something you'll enjoy everyday for years to come.

The best Apple deals this week, at a glance:

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Best MacBook deal

Apple 2026 MacBook Pro Laptop with M5 Pro chip

$2,369 (save $130)

Shop Now

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Best AirPods deal

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$222 (save $27)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad deal

Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)

$599 (save $100)

Shop Now

---

Best Apple Watch deal

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm)

$329 (save $70)

Get Deal

There's no major sale on the calendar, but Apple deals are still popping up. With Apple recently raising prices across Macs, iPads, and other devices due to rising memory and storage costs, discounts feel less predictable than usual. That makes any price cut worth a closer look.

You won’t find markdowns on new Apple gear directly from Apple, so retailers like Amazon remain the best place to shop for savings. And despite the recent price hikes, we’re still spotting a handful of deals on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods — including some models priced better than expected even after recent hikes.

We’ve rounded up the best Apple deals you can grab for the week of July 6, whether you’re upgrading your laptop, grabbing an iPad for everyday use, or picking up AirPods while they’re on sale.

Best MacBook deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple 2026 MacBook Pro Laptop with M5 Pro chip

$2,369 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $130

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip is built for heavy workloads. It handles demanding tasks such as video editing, design work, coding, and large-file processing without slowing down. Battery life is strong, and it’s designed to last through a full workday depending on usage.

The new chip also handles on-device AI tasks more efficiently, so image generation and other AI tools work quicker than on older models. Performance stays steady whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery, which makes it dependable for working on-the-go. The display is still one of Apple’s best — sharp, bright, and accurate enough for both creative work and everyday media use.

More MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,049 $2,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Space Black) — $2,374 $2,499 (save $125)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,849 $2,999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,649.99 $2,999 (save $349.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,749.99 $3,199 (save $449.01)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Silver) — $3,049.99 $3,599 (save $549.01)

• Apple 2026 MacBook Pro, with M5 Pro chip with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 48GB, 1TB SSD, Space Black) — $3,419 $3,599 (save $180)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,849.99 $4,399 (save $549.01)

MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,649 $1,799 (save $150)

Best AirPods deal

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Credit: Apple

AirPods Pro 3

$222 at Amazon
$249 Save $27

 

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Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s most refined earbuds yet, with improved noise cancellation and a more comfortable fit thanks to redesigned foam-infused tips in multiple sizes. Battery life holds up for long listening sessions, and the earbuds bring newer features like heart rate tracking, Fitness app integration, and live translation support.

Early reviews on the AirPods Pro 3 have been strong too, with Mashable calling them “without a doubt, one of the best products of the year” in 2025. Given Apple’s recent price increases across its lineup, any discount here is worth paying attention to — especially for a newer model that rarely sees much movement in price.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $159 $179 (save $20)

• Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen) — $498 $549 (save $51)

Best iPad deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)

$599 at Amazon
$699 Save $100

 

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Why we like it

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) stands out as one of the best iPads for reading and everyday use. Its smaller 8.3-inch size makes it easier to hold for long periods than larger iPads, which start at around 11 inches.

In Mashable’s roundup of the best iPads of 2026, the iPad mini earned the “best for reading” spot because it hits a rare balance — feeling like an e-reader in the hand but still working like a full iPad when you need it. You can read, stream, and switch between apps without it feeling as limited as dedicated e-readers often do. The A17 Pro chip handles everyday tasks without slowdown and powers Apple Intelligence features like article summaries and basic productivity tools.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,249 $1,499 (save $250)

Best Apple Watch deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Series 11

$329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70

 

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Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 brings more health data, stronger safety features, and better battery life without changing the core design. As a Mashable review by Stan Schroeder puts it, “The Apple Watch Series 11 isn't all that different from last year's model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, and that's a huge deal.”

In everyday use, that upgrade makes a difference. The watch now lasts through a full day and can stretch closer to a day-and-a-half depending on usage. Stan notes that this alone changes how usable it is for sleep tracking and daily wear, since older models often needed a charge before bed.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) — $249 $279 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $359 $429 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $429 $499 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $459 $529 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) — $699.99 $799 (save $99.01)

Apple accessory deals

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

SAVE 50%: As of July 6, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings.

Roborock Saros Z70

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $1,000

 

Get Deal at Amazon

As the proud dog mom of two beagles, keeping my floors clean is a never-ending battle. But ever since I brought a robo vacuum-mop combo into my apartment, I've been able to handle the mess without stressing (too much). So if you've been trying to justify buying one for yourself, let this be your sign.

Right now, you can get the Roborock Saros Z70 for $999.99, down from $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount or $1,000 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date. (It's listed for $2,599.99 on the Roborock website, so it's technically $1,600 off.)

One of the coolest (and most unique) features about this vacuum is its OmniGrip mechanical arm. It folds out to pick up rogue socks, tissues, or whatever else is in the way, and moves them. That said, our Senior Shopping Reporter, Leah Stodart, says that the arm is basically decorative. But with a $1,000 discount, the 22,000Pa of suction power and auto washing and drying base more than make up for it.

SAVE $599.01: The Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount, and just 99¢ more than the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Anker Solix

Anker Solix S2000

$599.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $599.01

 

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When the power goes out at home, it poses some problems. First, we consider how much battery is left on our phone. After that, the concern often turns to all of the food in the fridge and freezer going bad. If none of that sound like a nice time, you've probably considered upgrading to a portable power station. Check out this worthy model that's on a major discount at Amazon.

As of July 6, the Anker Solix S2000 is on sale for $599.99, marked down from the normal price of $1,199. That's a 50% discount that shaves $599.01 off the price. It's also just 99¢ more than the lowest price Anker offered on this model during its launch back in May.

Plenty of portable power stations are designed to keep you going when out camping, but not all are perfect for using at home during a power outage. Anker designed the Solix S2000 specifically for use at home, and it excels at keeping your refrigerator working as it should despite a power outage.

Anker Solix states the S2000 can keep a typical household refrigerator cooling for up to 35 hours. The team put that to the test in a live YouTube stream and wound up with a final time of 38 hours and 52 minutes. Keep in mind, the indoor temperature of your home as well as your specific refrigerator can alter the exact time. But Anker's test proves the model worthy of keeping your food safe for well over a day.

Getting into some specifics, the S2000 has 2,010Wh of battery capacity while only weighing about 36 pounds. I've tested dozens of power stations and can say that's lightweight for a battery that holds over 2,000Wh.

It's also compact, measuring 8.2 inches × 11.1 inches × 12.7 inches. Anker put eight outlets on this model on both the front and the back of the power station. It has three AC ports on the front and two on the rear. This configuration is great for using a rear AC port for the fridge while keeping the front open for other kitchen items like the kettle of a coffee maker. The front also houses two USB-C ports and a USB-A, so you can keep your phone and other small devices charged up.

Before the next power outage, upgrade your home with the Anker Solix S2000. It'll give you the reassurance your fridge can continue cooling despite grid power going down. It's on sale for $599.99 at Amazon for a limited time. It's quite possible the current contents of your fridge are worth more than that.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 6, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. That's $18 off its full price of $39.99.

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Credit: Amazon

Fire TV Stick 4K Select

$21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00

 

Get Deal

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select may have dropped to $10 during Prime Day, but if you missed out on that offer, you can actually still save right now at Amazon.

As of July 6, this streaming device is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. It may be just over $10 more than Prime Day, but it's still a pretty solid discount to take advantage if you're wanting to upgrade to 4K streaming. In comparison to its full price of $39.99, you're saving $18. Overall, that's a 45% discount, which isn't bad at all. On top of that, it even comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass for free if you're a new user.

If you're looking to make the jump from HD to 4K without splashing out on the pricier 4K Fire TV Sticks, this is an excellent model to start with. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select supports 4K Ultra HD picture quality alongside HDR10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for streaming quality and comes with 8GB of storage for holding all of your favorite apps.

If you're curious what the differences are between each 4K Fire TV stick before buying, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select store page features a nice breakdown of each. That way, you can feel a bit more informed before dropping your cash.

Don't miss out on this great deal on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Samsung is going to make a lot of money selling memory chips.

According to Reuters, the company is about to post a huge profit increase estimate for its Q2 profit, an 18-fold increase compared to the same period last year. That would be 86 trillion won ($56.35 billion) in profit for the quarter starting in April and ending in June, up from just 4.7 trillion won ($3 billion) in Q2 2025.

The reported number comes from an estimate based on forecasts from 30 analysts, and reflects an ongoing memory chip supply crunch. The insatiable need for memory chip recently drove stock prices of memory chip makers such as Micron and Hynix through the roof. As the largest chip memory chipmaker in the world, Samsung will profit from the market imbalance too.

Samsung sells memory chips to numerous companies including tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Nvidia.

The global memory crisis, dubbed the RAMageddon, has helped memory chip makers lock in lucrative contracts and increase profits, but it also caused consumer tech prices to surge. In June, Apple announced significant price increases across numerous product categories, and gadgets such as the PlayStation, the Switch, phones like Motorola Razr, and laptops from Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft have suffered a similar fate.

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 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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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.

SAVE $598: As of July 6, the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is on sale for $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598.

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Credit: TCL

TCL NXTVISION 85-Inch Frame TV

$1,399.96 at Amazon
$1,997.99 Save $598.03

 

Get Deal

The TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV is now $1,399.96 at Amazon. That's down from $1,997.99, saving you $598 — the lowest price we’ve seen for this model and about $98 below its Prime Day low.

The TCL Frame TV sits directly against the wall, measuring just 1.1 inches thin. Instead of a bulky setup, the main hardware is built in, so there’s no separate external box. It comes with a light wood-style magnetic frame in the box, so you can change how it looks depending on your room — or keep the clean off-white bezel for a more minimal setup.

A flush wall mount is included to keep the TV close to the wall for a framed-art effect. Just note, it’s designed specifically for this setup and doesn’t work with standard VESA mounts.

The screen itself is matte and anti-glare, which helps it blend in more like framed artwork than a traditional TV. There’s also an art mode with a built-in library, AI-generated artwork options, and the ability to display your own photos. Installation is simple with an included template and mounting system, so it goes up cleanly, with no visible gaps or clutter.

Grab the TCL 85-inch NXTVISION Frame TV at Amazon while it's at its best-ever price.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know there's a lot of sport taking place right now and your schedule is probably stacked with live action from the World Cup and Wimbledon, but can we suggest making a little time for the Tour de France? It is the world's most prestigious cycling race, after all.

This edition of the Tour de France is shaping up to be pretty special. Tadej Pogacar is seeking a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, but he's going to face stiff competition from his rival Jonas Vingegaard and new star Paul Seixas. It's going to be a fascinating ride over the next few weeks.

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

What is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is an annual men's multi-stage bicycle race held in France (and often passing through nearby countries). This famous race forms part of the Grand Tours (alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España).

The defending champion is Tadej Pogacar.

When is the 2026 Tour de France?

The 2026 Tour de France is the 113th edition of the event. This year's event takes place from July 4-26.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France for free

The 2026 Tour de France is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France 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 Australia

4. Connect to SBS on Demand

5. Stream the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Tour de France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to follow the 2026 Tour de France before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tour de France?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams from around the world, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free with ExpressVPN.

England beat Mexico 3-2 on Sunday, securing a spot in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup — and if there was any doubt whatsoever in your mind as to how England Captain Harry Kane might be feeling about the victory, his post-match interview made it crystal clear.

Here he is speaking with the BBC about the game while struggling a bit to find his voice.

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"Yeah it was a crazy game," says Kane in that clip, rubbing his throat. "But yep, we had to find...we had to find something. Yeah I've just been saying in there, I can't really talk."

The Bert from Sesame Street comparisons were inevitable.

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He now has five days to rest that voice before England take on Norway in the quarter finals on Saturday.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an online dater.

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.

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.

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: Mind-blowing

• Green: Experiment

• Blue: Iconic animated character

• Purple: Find your match

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: Stunning news

• Green: Science fair model subjects

• Blue: Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote

• Purple: Starting with dating apps

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 #1121 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stunning news: BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, THUNDERBOLT

• Science fair model subjects: ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO

• Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote: EARTHQUAKE PILLS, IRON BIRD SEED, ROCKET SKATES, TNT

• Starting with dating apps: BUMBLEBEE, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, TINDERBOX

What is "iron bird seed"?

"Iron bird seed" is a fictional ACME product from classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, used by Wile E. Coyote in one of his many failed attempts to catch the Road Runner. The product is exactly what it sounds like: bird seed mixed with iron pellets. The Coyote’s plan is to feed it to the Road Runner, then use a giant magnet to pull the now-magnetic bird into a trap.

As usual, the scheme backfires. Instead of catching the Road Runner, the Coyote ends up becoming the victim of his own ACME setup.

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

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can take the heat.

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.

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The growing season

The words are related to this time of year.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a hot season.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Summertime.

NYT Strands word list for July 6

• Burgeon

• Thrive

• Bloom

• Summertime

• Expand

• Spread

• Flourish

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

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.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An alcoholic drink.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter D 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 T.

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...

TODDY

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

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.

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.

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: Leaving a team

• Green: Regionally specific

• Blue: Best sluggers

• Purple: Almost USA members

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Move on from a player

• Green: San Diego teams

• Blue: Members of the 600-HR club

• Purple: USMNT players, with the last letter removed

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 #651 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Move on from a player: CUT, RELEASE, TRADE, WAIVE

• San Diego teams: AZTECS, PADRES, SAN DIEGO FC, WAVE

• Members of the 600-HR club: AARON, RUTH, SOSA, THOME

• USMNT players, with the last letter removed: ADAM, FREES, RICHARD TRUST

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.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, July 6, 2026:

Across

Halloween silhouette

• The answer is Bat.

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

Ron's assistant on "Parks and Recreation"

• The answer is April.

State that only borders one other state

• The answer is Maine.

Out of money

• The answer is Broke.

"___ all good!"

• The answer is Its.

Down

Disney deer

• The answer is Bambi.

Split up

• The answer is Apart.

Groups of three

• The answer is Trios.

Octopus's defense against predators

• The answer is Ink.

Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird"

• The answer is Lee.

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

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

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

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a helpful panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what it is you want. You’re here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in June 2026, it still earns the top spot. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. The knockout rounds are really heating up. We've already seen powerhouses like Germany and Brazil get dumped out, and it feels like there's so much more still to come from huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament 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 the FIFA World Cup?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $64.69 at Amazon, down from its $99.99 list price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection

$64.69 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $35.30

 

Get Deal

Mega Greninja’s new Premium Collection has only just joined the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution lineup, but Amazon has already dropped one of the better post-launch prices we’ve seen for this eight-pack box. 

As of July 6, the Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is available at Amazon for $64.69 — which is a massive saving off its $35.30 listing price. This lowest-priced listing is shipped and sold by Amazon directly, though delivery times are listed for between July 30 and August 13. If you’d like to get yours as soon as possible, the third-party listing from Hero Collect (for $69.95) can arrive as soon as July 14.

At $64.69, this Premium Collection works out to roughly $8.09 per booster pack before you count the extra Mega Greninja ex bonuses.

Inside the box, you’re getting eight Pokémon TCG booster packs of trading cards (two Chaos Rising, four Perfect Order, and two Phantasmal Flames), one foil promo card featuring Mega Greninja ex, one oversize lenticular promo card featuring Mega Greninja ex, and a tech sticker featuring Mega Greninja. 

The card itself is built around Mega Greninja ex’s Mortal Shuriken Ability, which lets you discard a Basic Water Energy from your hand to place six damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokémon. Its Ninja Spinner attack can also hit for up to 200 damage. 

Amazon’s own $64.69 listing is the most convenient option right now, but it is not the absolute cheapest. If you’re open to shopping at other storefronts, TCGplayer currently has unopened Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection listings starting at $54.62 — while Walmart is selling the box for $57.99 with free shipping through third-party seller Cash Cards Unlimited.

You can get over $10 off the Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box. Meanwhile, the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box is still available to buy for under $90. 

Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) may have finally claimed the Iron Throne, but her enemies aren't going down without a fight.

That's very much the theme of the House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 4 trailer above, which sees our new Queen trying to work out what Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) is planning in Tumbleton.

Elsewhere, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys (Mathew Needham) are faced with fresh challenges, and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) gets some Harrenhal reinforcements.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

SAVE $20: As of July 6, the Keurig K-Mini Mate single serve K-Cup pod coffee maker is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon. That's $20 off its list price of $79.99.

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Credit: Keurig

Keurig K-Mini Mate

$59.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $20.00

 

Get Deal

Some coffee machines have very bulky builds. If you live or work in a smaller space, that's not an ideal purchase for a countertop. If you're searching for something smaller to handle your favorite brew, the Keurig K-Mini Mate single serve K-Cup pod coffee maker can help you out. It's even on sale at Amazon right now.

As of July 6, the Keurig K-Mini Mate has been discounted from $79.99 to $59.99 at Amazon, saving you $20 overall. What's even better is every color is on sale at this price right now, so you can choose between the black, glamping green, pink sands, or red rocks models.

This coffee machine comes in at just four-inches wide, so no matter if you're in a smaller apartment or tiny office space, it can slot nicely onto a kitchen countertop without taking up a bunch of space.

The Keurig K-Mini Mate works with K-Cup pods and can brew a cup measuring up to 12 ounces in its One Cup reservoir. If you're in a hurry, it can even fit up to a 7.25-inch travel mug so you can have something ready to take on-the-go.

This delightfully compact coffee maker may not be on sale for long, so act fast to save on the Keurig K-Mini Mate at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile. Here's how to qualify for this limited-time offer.

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPhone 17

Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan..

Shop Now

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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

All we seem to hear about these days are price increases. Apple just bumped up the price of its iPad and Mac lineups, RAM prices are about to rise nearly 50 percent, and smartphone price hikes are on the way.

It's a grim picture. So imagine our delight when we see that you can still score an Apple iPhone 17 for free with T-Mobile.

T-Mobile has dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals to beat the price increases:

• 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 (no trade-in needed).

Of course, T-Mobile isn't simply handing over these latest handsets as a favor. Instead, 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 zero.

What's happening here is you are signing up for a 24-month commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or 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 will also need to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee. But that's a small price to pay to lock in the iPhone 17 before Apple's prices bump up again.

Score the latest iPhones for free with T-Mobile.

SAVE $80: As of July 6, the Samsung HW-B62WF soundbar is on sale for $199 at Walmart. That's down from $279, which saves you $80 on list price.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung HW-B62WF Soundbar

$199 at Walmart
$279 Save $80

 

Get Deal

The Samsung HW-B62WF soundbar is on sale for $199 at Walmart. That's marked down from $279, which saves you $80 — about 29% off. You’re getting a 3.1-channel setup here, which means clearer voices and more impact in action scenes compared to built-in TV speakers.

The setup puts extra focus on dialogue clarity through a dedicated center speaker, so voices come through more clearly. A wireless subwoofer handles the low-end, adding depth to effects and music without making the overall mix feel cluttered.

It also adds a layer of spatial audio processing using Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, which helps spread sound more around the room rather than keeping it flat in front of you. It’s not true surround sound with rear speakers, but it does a good job of making movies and games feel more immersive.

For dialogue-heavy content, there’s a voice enhancement mode that pushes speech forward in the mix. That helps with quieter scenes or shows where background noise tends to overpower talking.

For gaming, the Samsung HW-B62WF soundbar includes an optimized mode that reduces audio delay and improves directional clarity, making it easier to track movement and in-game action in real time.

Grab the Samsung HW-B62WF soundbar at Walmart while it’s still $80 off.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

SAVE $220: As of July 6, the Dyson V15 Detect is on sale for $619.99 at Amazon. That's a 26% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson V15 Detect

$619.99 at Amazon
$839.99 Save $220

 

Get Deal

Dyson vacuums are popular for good reason, but they often come with a high price tag. If you've been wanting to upgrade, chances are you've been waiting for a new discount or sale. Prime Day and July 4 sales have both come to an end, but Amazon still has some pretty impressive deals live, including this latest price drop on the Dyson V15 Detect.

As of July 6, the Dyson V15 Detect is down to $619.99 from $839.99. That's over $200 off.

This vacuum has a lot of power, capable of cleaning just about anything. It comes with two advanced cleaner heads: the Fluffy Optic head, which shows up hidden dust on hard floors, and the Digital Motorbar, which deep cleans carpets and detangles long hair and pet hair as you go. It also easily converts into a handheld vacuum for cleaning cars, stairs, and upholstery, and even includes a crevice tool for tight and hard-to-reach spaces.

Additional features include a built-in LCD screen that provides real-time updates, including particle count, remaining run time down to the second, power mode, and maintenance alerts. And speaking of run time, with this vacuum you'll get up to 60 minutes, so you're not constantly having to run back to the charger.

This vacuum deal is available at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Belgium 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 is coming to a dramatic conclusion, with the quarter finals just days away. USA and Belgium are set to battle it out for a spot in this late stage. It would be the first time USA has reached the quarter finals in 24 years.

USA are bolstered by the inclusion of Folarin Balogun — a key player in the squad — whose one-match ban for a red card has been lifted. USA should feel confident, particularly as Belgium haven't looked particularly sharp in this tournament. Still, they possess the talent to advance.

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

When is USA vs. Belgium?

USA vs. Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on July 6. This fixture takes place at the Seattle Stadium.

How to watch USA vs. Belgium for free

USA vs. Belgium 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 USA vs. Belgium 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 USA vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

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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 USA vs. Belgium (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 USA vs. Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

SAVE $370: As of July 6, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $429 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount off the list price.

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Credit: Jackery

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

$429 at Amazon
$799 Save $370

 

Get Deal

Looking for a reliable power source for emergencies? You can't go wrong with the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, especially now it's down to $429. That's a saving of $370 on list price.

This is a truly great portable power station for your home or off-grid. It has a 1,500W AC output and 3,000W surge peak, so it can power multiple devices at once. And it's not just for small items like laptops. No, it can power fridges, AC units, and even electric cooking equipment.

And for use on the go (think road trips or camping vacations), this model has a lightweight design of just 23.8 pounds and a foldable handle that makes it easy to carry.

It also features ultra-fast charging, reaching 0 to 100% in as little as one hour using emergency mode via the Jackery app, or around 1.7 hours in standard mode, so you don't need hours of prep time before it's ready to use. And because it's built with ChargeShield 2.0 technology and a durable LFP battery, you'll get safer charging plus a long lifespan of over 10 years.

Get this Jackery deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $20: As of July 6, the Fire Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire Stick 4K Plus

$29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00

 

Get Deal

Amazon's Fire Stick 4K Plus is back on sale. It's the ideal product for simple streaming that you can take on the go. As of July 6, it's $20 off, bringing the price down to just $29.99 for a limited time.

This Fire Stick is ideal if you have a 4K compatible TV. It displays content in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio, so you're getting an incredible viewing experience with great sound quality.

This discount is for the 2026 edition of the Fire Stick 4K Plus, meaning it has a more modern, streamlined design. Enjoy new features like dedicated categories, pinned apps, and personalized recommendations.

And of course, you'll get access to major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and more. You'll also get hundreds of thousands of free movies and TV episodes from ad-supported services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and Fire TV Channels. Gamers are catered for too, and you can stream Xbox titles with Xbox Game Pass.

Get this streaming stick deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Sleeved Booster Packs are on sale for $14.99 at Amazon, down from the $19.95 list price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Sleeved Booster Pack

$14.99 at Amazon
$19.95 Save $4.96

 

Pre-order Here

The Pokémon TCG’s latest Mega Evolution expansion is still getting ready to drop in the trading card market, but Amazon is already offering discounts on booster packs.

As of July 6, preorders for Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Sleeved Booster Packs are on sale for $14.99 at Amazon. With $4.96 off its typical $19.95 price, that saves you 25% per pack. These packs are shipped and sold by MVP Marketplace rather than Amazon directly. You do still get Amazon’s 30-day refund/replacement window on this listing.

TCGplayer currently has Pitch Black Sleeved Booster Packs starting at $13.44 with shipping included (vs. their market price of $11.42). 

Each Pitch Black Sleeved Booster Pack includes one sealed booster with 10 random Pokémon TCG cards inside, plus the cardboard guard packaging you’d expect from a sleeved pack. 

Pitch Black is the next dark-leaning Mega Evolution expansion, led by Mega Darkrai ex. Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex are also joining the set. The whole Pitch Black expansion will include over 115 cards, more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, more than 20 Trainer cards, and more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations. 

You can score the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for under $90. If it’s Scarlet & Violet expansions you’re hunting, you can now find the Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box for around market price on Amazon. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box is on sale for $68.90 at Amazon, down from its $79.99 list price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box

$68.90 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $11.09

 

Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG’s Ascended Heroes era is still proving pretty expensive if you’re trying to catch up on the Mega Evolution expansion, but Amazon’s new price for the Meganium Box can at least take off a chunk of the cost. 

As of July 6, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box is on sale at Amazon for $68.90. Compared to its $79.99 list price, that saves you $11.09 and takes 14% off the boxed set. This listing ships from Amazon directly, although it’s sold by third-party seller Bigg Time Sales. Free delivery is listed for July 14-16 at the time of writing. Just take note that Amazon is marking this listing as final sale with no returns.

Amazon’s price isn’t technically the lowest overall. TCGplayer currently has the Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box as low as $58 plus $3 shipping — a $61 total. That's only slightly above its $57.27 market price.

Inside the box, you’re getting one foil promo card featuring Mega Meganium ex, one oversize lenticular promo trading cards featuring Mega Meganium ex, and four Pokémon Ascended Heroes booster packs. 

Ascended Heroes is packed with incredibly valuable chase cards you can pull (or buy individually on TGCplayer) — including SIR Pikachu ex ($1,300+), SIR Mega Gengar ex ($1,200+), and SIR Mega Gengar ex ($700+).

Among other Pokemon deals right now, you can also get the Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box for around market price. What’s more, you can grab the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for under $90.

Apple's iPhone Ultra will be slightly late, it will be pricy, and it'll still sell out fast.

That's according to reliable analyst and Apple sleuth Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared his thoughts in a post on X.

In the article, Kuo compares the iPhone Ultra (a likely name for Apple's first foldable iPhone) with the iPhone X, which was the first iPhone to sport a notch on top, ushering the era of modern iPhones back in 2017.

The iPhone Ultra will be a little late, says Kuo. It will be announced in September, together with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but it will actually start shipping about a month later, just like the iPhone X did when it launched.

There's been considerable back and forth about this, with some analysts claiming the iPhone Ultra will not be late at all, and others saying it will be delayed. At this point, it's getting impossible to figure out who's right, but at least most reports now agree that the Ultra will be unveiled in September.

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Kuo also gave his most precise prediction for the iPhone Ultra's price, which according to him will be "roughly $2,300–$2,500." Kuo previously said the Ultra would cost $2,000 to $2,500. Notably, Apple recently increased the prices of numerous products due to a memory chip supply crunch, but the iPhones were left alone.

Even with a price point that's roughly two times the price of the company's current flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Kuo expects strong sales "at least through the end of 2026," which could mean the iPhone Ultra would "sell out immediately after pre-orders open, with delivery lead times quickly stretching to 4–6 weeks or longer and remaining there through December." In other words, even if you have north of two thousand dollars to spare for a foldable iPhone, you might have to wait a month or more to get it.

Apple is likely to launch the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, in early September. Here's all we know about the Ultra so far.

Parmida and Corbin just got dumped on Love Island USA, and the internet is mourning the loss of their favorite Love Island "robot" — also known as "CorbinGPT."

The Islanders sang their hearts out in a karaoke competition in Season 8, Episode 29 of Love Island USA, which left the winners, Kenzie and Dylan, safe from being dumped from the villa. However, the episode concluded with the results of the most recent public vote, which revealed who viewers thought were the least two compatible couples: Parmida and Corbin, and Kayda and Zach.

The Islanders were asked to pick which couple to save, and four out of the five "safe" couples voted to save Kayda and Zach. Parmida and Corbin were thus dumped from the island, leading to an emotional goodbye in the villa. 

Things got meta (pun intended) as The Boys (Bryce, Carl, KC, Dylan, Sincere, and Zach) broke the fourth wall, revealing that they knew about the internet's ongoing joke about Corbin being an AI robot. 

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"We broke the robot!" said Bryce in response to Corbin crying. "Wait, they put tears in that? I didn't know AI could cry!"

The online joke was sparked by Corbin's deep voice and stoic demeanor, starting shortly after he made his entrance on Love Island USA as a bombshell in Episode 4. Viewers nicknamed him "CorbinGPT" on social media, a reference to OpenAI's generative AI chatbot ChatGPT.

This nickname stuck until his departure from the villa, X users having joked that CorbinGPT received "software updates," "reboots," and "code installations" at various times throughout his stay.

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CorbinGPT may have started as a joke, but it gradually became a point of bonding within the online Love Island USA community. And it turns out, the internet is going to miss CorbinGPT and Parmida the "Persian cat" (a nickname she received after her own Casa Amor bombshell entrance in Episode 17).

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The stakes are growing higher with only six couples left in the villa, which means we can expect more couples to get dumped in the coming days leading up to the season finale. Chat, we're not ready yet!

New episodes of Love Island USA premiere daily except Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on Peacock.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Entirely.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FULLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Shrimp.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PRAWN

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Stop.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CEASE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

An oceanic plant.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ALGAE

Final Hurdle hint

Extra.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SPARE

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

It's almost the Third Quarter phase of the Moon's lunar cycle, which means only half of the Moon's Earth-facing side will soon appear illuminated.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, July 6, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 66% of its surface visible.

With just above half of the Moon's surface illuminated, there is still plenty to see. In fact, with just your naked eye, you'll be able to spot the Kepler Crater, Mare Imbrium, and Oceanus Procellarum. Binoculars will help you see even more, so if you have them pull them out to see the Gassendi Crater, Alps Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains. And finally, keen moongazers with telescopes will also see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun changes as it travels around our planet. As a result, the Moon appears to shift in shape throughout the month, progressing from slender crescents to quarter moons and eventually reaching the brightly lit Full Moon stage. This repeating pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

There's more to Sam Reid's Say More interview than even we knew at the time.

When the star of The Vampire Lestat sat down with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, she'd only seen the first three episodes of Interview With the Vampire's lusty third season. So, she and Reid dug into its details, talking his Taylor Swift-like song about his traumatizing maker Magnus and the dark truth of what he has in common with his fledgling Claudia.

Now, with episode 5 "New York" live, we're looking back at what Reid teased at the time. Chiefly, he talked about how Lestat begins the season by putting up a façade through his rock star persona. Yep, Louis and Armand aren't the only unreliable narrators in this fanged franchise.

In his interview with Mashable, Reid spoke to the Lestat's season-long arc, saying, "It's really a sort of, like, a portrait of an artist, which was Rolin [Jones]' point of direction and a constant point of reference. Lestat is a creative being, and how he kind of discovers himself, works himself out, really nuts through his issues, is through his art. And that is of one of the main arcs of the season, is that he's starting the music as a point of deflection from how he's been portrayed in [Daniel's] book."

Reid went on to explain that Lestat begins by projecting a vampire "schtick" to the public, adding, "But I think deep down, he actually wants to be taken seriously as a musician, as an artist. And progressively throughout the show, the music changes. He's still looking for his sound, and particularly by the time you get to episode five, everything changes, and the music becomes much more adult."

How Lestat's music changes in episode 5

Lestat's songs, written by Daniel Hart, have ranged in influences from T. Rex and David Bowie to Taylor Swift and The Police. "Long Face" (and possibly "Black Licorice") are about his tumultuous romance with Louis. "Your Biggest Fan" is about the stalker Magnus, while "Why Do I Have to Feel?" recounts the loss of his beloved Nicky. In episode 4, he offers a diss track called "Big Boss" for Armand. But in episode 5, Lestat peels back the theatrics, swagger, and sex appeal for a song about Claudia called "Stained Glass Eyes."

At the end of the episode, he plays a song for her on piano. He's stripped away the two guitars, the bass, the violin, the drums, and the Brat Prince façade. What remains is his grief and regret.

He sings:

The day you were born, I was shaking like a leaf on an old oak tree.

Then you stayed like a thorn. Red roses raining down 'til they flooded me.

Even when we parted ways, you never turned

Never turned your gaze

And I can still, I can still hear you say,

"Don't break that stare. I'm burning in your mirror tonight.

No, don't you dare call it yearning. It's the fear that I'm right.

Don't you try to forget all the things you regret."

In those stained glass, stained glass eyes."

As he sings, he sees Claudia staring back at him, as he has seen his slain brothers, Nicky, Magnus, and others. As he sings about how "you never turned... your gaze," the episode crossfades to Claudia's death. Her sun-scorched flesh flutters to ash as she stares down Lestat, her father, uncle, maker, and mirror. This moment crosses over into the present as the ash from her execution falls into his hair as he sings in the recording studio.

As the band comments when they play the finished track back, "Stained Glass Eyes" doesn't fit with the sexy and scathing songs they've been playing on tour. Lestat knows. He says they're killing the other tracks and starting over. This leads to Larry's fateful and fatal departure (RIP, Larry), and the rest of the band begging to be made vampires so they can stay on this musical odyssey with their front man.

Lestat drops the act in episode 5.

This shift from sexy to sincere reflects something Reid said in our Say More interview, about how Lestat has been trained to behave by the two biggest influences in his life and death.

"He's got two makers, you know," Reid mused. "He's got his mother, and he's got Magnus. Both of those figures are very, very influential in what forms him as a character, and [both] are abusive. He's a highly sexualized character, because he's been sexualized from the beginning. Whether it's his mother wanting to love him to the point of being with him, because she wants to live vicariously through him, or whether it's his maker wanting what he sees on stage, that kind of performer, that spark, and eroticizing him and making him this kind of perfect, immortal being. It's the only way he knows how to express himself, is by thrusting around on stage and writhing around. And so we do ask the audience to come with him on the journey. Maybe don't understand it at first, but it's a slow unraveling that he begins to unravel too."

How to watch: The Vampire Lestat debuted on AMC and AMC+ June 7, with new episodes weekly.

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.

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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-6 placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

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

We're well acquainted with most of the winged stars of House of the Dragon, past and present: the colossal Vhagar, the fierce Caraxes, the mighty Vermithor, the misunderstood Sheepstealer. But there's one dragon in Season 3 who keeps showing up and is yet to receive a full introduction.

In the military ranks of Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton), there's a smaller blue dragon who appears constantly grounded. Who is she, and will we get to see more of this little cobalt gem?

Meet Tessarion, known as the Blue Queen, a dragon ridden by Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Ormund's ward and the youngest son of Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and King Viserys (Paddy Considine) — meaning he's a direct threat to Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) throne.

We first spy Tessarion in Season 3, episode 1, when we're introduced to Ormund at his army camp. Tessarion's not fully grown, standing only two humans high and wearing a small saddle. And she's so cute. But she's fenced in with spears, in a move that likely keeps the troops calm and horses uneaten more than anything (and keeps out thieves). At this point, we don't know House of the Dragon is hiding Daeron in plain sight, ready for the Hightower lord to pull the switcheroo in episode 3.

In the latter episode, we get a better look at Tessarion when she's in the front line of Ormund's troops, during his confrontation with Daeron Targaryen (Matt Smith). In this scene, Ormund is forced to surrender and hand over Dearon as a prisoner of war. Importantly, Ormund had the foresight to know Daemon would demand such a captive, so has his decoy ready — not mounted on Tessarion (she would not allow this) but beside her.

Just watch her little face when the decoy walks over to Daemon. Utter confusion that plays as concern. If dragons could furrow their brow, Tessarion would do it. Daemon doesn't even try to take her along as hostage, as this relatively peaceful transfer would inevitably turn hostile.

Without spoiling anything from George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood, Tessarion's plight is not to remain a grounded dragon. She'll have a part to play in the Dance of the Dragons yet.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) is Queen of the Seven Kingdoms at last in House of the Dragon, but a good ruler is nothing without their Small Council.

We've seen numerous iterations of this micro court in the Game of Thrones universe. Essentially the Small Council acts as kind of government cabinet, with each member taking charge of a different aspect of the court.

So what are the roles, and who has Rhaenyra recruited so far? Let's break it down.

What roles are there typically on the Small Council?

Small Councils have varied over the years in Westeros, but generally there are seven roles:

Hand of the King/Queen — When Viserys (Paddy Considine) was ruler, snakey Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) became his Hand. This is the role in the Small Council that wields the most power, as whoever has the Hand's pin is essentially second-in-command.

Grand Maester — Basically the head of all maesters in the realm, advising the ruler on medical and scholarly matters.

Master of Whisperers — The most famous Master of Whisperers was probably Varys (Conleth Hill) from the early seasons of Game of Thrones. This person is charged with gathering information on enemies and allies alike.

Master of Coin — The crown's treasurer.

Master of Laws — The go-to on all legal matters in the realm.

Master of Ships — Unsurprisingly, this person is the leader of the crown's fleet. Lord Corlys (Steve Touissant) held this role under Viserys before it passed to the unfortunate Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall). RIP.

Lord Commander of the King's/Queen's Guard — The leader of the White Cloaks. Moody Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) previously held this role under Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Who is on Rhaenyra's Small Council?

Rhaenyra's Small Council, at least in Season 3, episode 3, is looking pretty bare bones. There are some "early startup" vibes as she strides into the room where Aegon and Viserys took their meetings, only to find that the crown's gold is missing and she has very few trusted advisors around her for support.

She does have some advisors, though, so who are they and what are their roles?

Lady Mysaria, Mistress of Whispers — Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) has been on a long journey since Season 1, but she's been Rhaenyra's trusted advisor throughout her time on Dragonstone. She's also long peddled in information. It's no big surprise that Rhaenyra gives her this role, no matter how irritated it makes Daemon (Matt Smith).

Lord Corlys, Hand of the Queen — Back from the dead and looking somewhat less comfortable on dry land, Lord Corlys reluctantly takes on his duties as the Queen's Hand in episode three — he was promoted a while back after the death of his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best).

Grand Maester Orwlye — The one member of Aegon's Small Council that survives the regime change, Orwlye (Kurt Egyiawan) spends much of episode 3 trying to convince the others that he wasn't aware of any Team Green plots.

King Consort, Daemon Targaryen — Daemon doesn't have a traditional Small Council title in episode 3, but as the King Consort it feels like he's almost like the Hand of the Queen+ (he certainly has more to say for himself than Corlys does, anyway).

And as for the other roles? Master of Coin, Master of Ships, and Master of Laws? Well, as we mentioned before, Rhaenyra's Small Council is still looking a little small. But we're guessing there will be some new additions once she gets her feet under that Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

For all things House of the Dragon, Mashable has you covered.

Between Widow's Bay and House of the Dragon, foreboding bells on TV are so hot right now.

Bells are a constant presence in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3, which chronicles Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) first days on the Iron Throne. The early phase of her rule is not marked by celebration, but by a string of crises. The treasury is depleted. The High Septon refuses to bless her ascendancy. Daemon (Matt Smith) wants her to kill her half-brother Daeron. Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) turns on her after she refuses to legitimize his bastard sons. Each setback is punctuated by the ring of a lone bell.

By themselves, the bell's mournful clangs suggest Rhaenyra's frustration with her situation. No part of her rule so far — from the brutal executions to her lackluster coronation — has met her expectations. Worse, none of it seems worth the loss of her two sons. Her reality is literally out of tune with her dreams for her queendom.

However, the bell is also a musical callback to a key sequence in Game of Thrones history: Daenerys Targaryen's infamous burning of King's Landing in Season 8, episode 5, fittingly titled "The Bells." The episode hinges on the moment when King's Landing surrenders to Daenerys by ringing the city's bells. By this point, Daenerys' time in Westeros has pushed her to the brink. She has lost two of her dragons and her closest friend, Missandei. She has weathered skepticism, scorn, and even betrayal from her close allies. Hearing the bells pushes her to the edge, and she chooses not to accept the city's submission. Instead, she continues on her warpath and torches the city, its civilians, and eventually the Red Keep. It's the defining moment in her descent into tyranny, marking her as a Mad Queen.

"The Bells" is a controversial turning point in Game of Thrones' already controversial final season. Daenerys' fall from grace feels unearned, especially since the two seasons she actually spends in Westeros are truncated to seven and six episodes. Still, the tie between Daenerys' madness and the bells of King's Landing is now seared in my brain, and it's that association that House of the Dragon plays with in Season 3, episode 3.

By using bells, House of the Dragon draws a link between Rhaenyra's strained mental state and Daenerys' final snap, although the show is by no means equating the two just yet. In George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra doesn't go fully "mad" in the way that the Mad King Aerys II or his daughter Daenerys do in Game of Thrones. However, she does grow more punitive and paranoid once she takes the Iron Throne. The bells in House of the Dragon help foreshadow this transformation, and they also hint that the show will be tackling Rhaenyra's descent with more care than Game of Thrones took with Daenerys'. For starters, the lone, repeated bell sounds suggest a more gradual decline when compared to the overwhelming barrage of bells in Game of Thrones. Plus, House of the Dragon's bells aren't diegetic like Game of Thrones' are. They're part of the score, acting more like an internal monologue for Rhaenyra's frustrations.

Two of the biggest complaints with Game of Thrones' treatment of Daenerys' downfall are that it happened too fast and we didn't get to truly see her internal transformation until it was too late. And even then, it didn't make much sense! ("The Bells" director Miguel Sapochnik said that Daenerys razing King's Landing was triggered by dissatisfaction with her victory, but you wouldn't know it from the episode.) House of the Dragon counters that too-sudden shift with the promise of a more prolonged change in Rhaenyra, one rooted firmly in her perspective.

Episode 3's deliberate use of bells is just the start of how House of the Dragon stylistically heralds Rhaenyra's tragic arc. The entire episode effectively traps her in a haunted house. In her first scene, she proclaims "the air is thick with ghosts" in the Red Keep. Later, she's haunted by visions of the late Jacaerys (Harry Collett), as well as Baela (Bethany Antonia) coming to tell her of Jace's death. Episode 3 also plays with other haunted house tropes, from scurrying rats to darkened, claustrophobic hallways. It's no wonder that the time when Rhaenyra feels most powerful in this episode comes outside the walls of the Red Keep, when she's distributing food to King's Landing's poor.

Running through it all is Ramin Djawadi's score, an anxiety-inducing flutter of discordant strings that would be right at home in a horror movie. They're complemented perfectly by the bells, which sound the alarm that while Rhaenyra may now sit on the Iron Throne, her time there may well be running out.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

While I would bend the knee to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), I would not want to attend any of her dinner parties.

In House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3, Rhaenyra throws a banquet for the nobles of King's Landing. The main course? Cooked rat, served atop an unappetizing black sludge. Not since Arya Stark served Walder Frey his own sons has a Westerosi meal disconcerted me so much. It's pure Game of Thrones-style nastiness, yet this scene doesn't even take place in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

Initial horror aside, the nobles do deserve it. (And you know what? So did Walder.) Rhaenyra cooked up the rat stunt as retaliation for their treatment of King's Landing's poor. While the city starved as a result of Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) blockade, the nobles feasted off the food they had saved up in their store houses. Rhaenyra's rat dinner gives them a taste of the scarcity the smallfolk faced, albeit with some surprisingly stylish plating.

The rat feast, it turns out, is also a distraction. While the nobles are in the Red Keep, the Gold Cloaks are seizing their provisions and redistributing them to the city's poor. Later in the episode, Rhaenyra will distribute some of this food herself.

It's a bold move to prove Rhaenyra's allegiance to the smallfolk, and by the episode's end, it seems to have paid off. The commoners of King's Landing embrace her generosity. (Even if Rhaenyra was also responsible for Corlys Velaryon's blockade in the first place.)

However, Rhaenyra is playing with fire when it comes to her relationship with the Seven Kingdoms' nobility. While she proclaimed she had invited everyone to dinner as a "conciliator," she quickly revealed her true goal to be more punitive. Now, she's certainly struck fear into the hearts of her dinner guests, but could that cause resentment that leads them to mobilize against her?

While Rhaenyra's intentions here are good, her plan's disgusting execution signals a turn towards cruelty that may very well not stop with these nobles. In Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra develops a reputation as a vindictive ruler, earning her the nickname "Maegor with teats," a reference to former Targaryen king Maegor the Cruel. Much of Season 3, episode 3 is devoted to showing how Rhaenyra's mental state — strained to the breaking point by the death of Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and the unceasing demands of ruling — is slipping towards that cruelty. The episode even draws a musical parallel between Rhaenyra and Daenerys Targaryen's mental snap in Game of Thrones Season 8, suggesting Rhaenyra is headed down a similar tragic path.

So, while Martin never actually wrote out Rhaenyra's rat feast, it is absolutely in keeping with Rhaenyra's arc in the books, all while adhering to show Rhaenyra's more sympathetic attitude towards the smallfolk. Plus, it continues that great Game of Thrones tradition of truly upsetting meals. Remind me never to make a reservation at the Red Keep.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has finally introduced Prince Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). Or has it?

Episode 3 opens with Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) meeting with Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and pledging his fealty to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy). One of the conditions of his pledge is that he gives up his ward, Daeron. He presents Daemon with a young boy (Charlie Gordon) dressed in Hightower green and rocking the Targaryens' signature silver hair.

However, by the end of the episode, House of the Dragon reveals that this is not Daeron Targaryen at all. Instead, he's a child whom Ormund compelled to pose as the young prince. Ormund changed his hair and demanded him not to give up the ruse, otherwise he'd have the boy's mother hanged.

Where is the real Daeron Targaryen?

Now that Ormund's trick has been unmasked, where is the actual Daeron Targaryen? We know that he has to be traveling with the Hightower army, as his dragon Tessarion is situated at their camp. (In the episode's opening sequence, Tessarion is notably rider-less.)

Perhaps the show has already introduced Daeron. In Season 3's first episode, Ormund is accompanied by an unnamed boy (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), also dressed in Hightower green. Due to his closeness to Ormund and the fact that he takes Ormund's orders, it seems like this boy is Ormund's squire, which is the role we've heard Daeron has taken on. Ainsworth's character was missing from the meeting with Daemon, so if he is the real Daeron, perhaps Ormund was keeping out of sight to ensure his switcheroo went off without a hitch.

Is the fake Daeron plot in Fire and Blood?

Ormund does not try to pull a fast one on Rhaenyra in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, so his fake Daeron trick is a show-only creation.

By this point in Fire and Blood, Daeron is out in the field, fighting alongside the Hightower host. During the book's Battle of the Honeywine, a fight which House of the Dragon appears to have cut, Daeron and Tessarion turn the tide for Team Green and vanquish the combined forces of House Beesbury, House Tarly, House Rowan, and more. In the celebrations that followed, Ormund knighted Daeron and dubbed him Ser Daeron the Daring.

In keeping Daeron close — or perhaps even hiding in plain sight — Ormund might have other plans for his young ward. After all, the smaller Tessarion is no match for Rhaenyra's dragon army, so it's best not to unleash him just yet and let him lay low. Still, we're expecting the real Daeron face reveal any episode now.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The name on everybody's lips in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3 is Tumbleton.

By the end of the episode, Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and his army have taken over the small town, proving that he never had any intention of surrendering to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy). (His "fake Daeron" plot doesn't do him any favors in that regard either.) Now, the Hightowers have effectively taken Tumbleton hostage. The army mingles among the civilians, so that if Rhaenyra tries to retaliate with dragon fire, she will be burning her own people along with her enemies.

Team Black also has a connection to Tumbleton. Ser Hugh Hammer's (Kieran Bew) wife Kat (Ellora Torchia) has gone to live in Tumbleton with her brother, as there was nothing left for her in King's Landing. Hopefully, now that Hugh and the other dragonseeds are officially knighted, Rhaenyra can hook them up with better housing accommodations. That is, once she's finished dealing with the myriad other concerns that plague her as a new queen.

Multiple mentions of Tumbleton in one episode suggest that the town is going to get really important, really fast. Here's what you need to know about Tumbleton, and how it figures into House of the Dragon's source material, George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

Where is Tumbleton in Westeros?

Let's start with the basics. According to Fire and Blood, Tumbleton is a "thriving market town" situated at the start of the Mander River, "some 50 leagues southwest of King's Landing." (So around 150 miles away.) It's the seat of House Footly, and for military purposes, it's the last town standing between the Hightowers and King's Landing. Since Fire and Blood claims the town's castle is only manned by 40 soldiers, no wonder Ormund was able to take it so easily.

What happens to Tumbleton in Fire and Blood?

In Fire and Blood, Tumbleton is the site of not one but two pivotal battles. No major spoilers, but they involve heavy dragon action and act as important turning points in the Dance of the Dragons.

House of the Dragon could make its fair share of changes to these battles, just as it did for the Battle of the Gullet. However, given that the show is already making a big deal out of Tumbleton so early on, it's clear we're going to be getting some form of conflict there in the end, so get ready to do a bit of Tumbleton tourism in the future.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Every now and then someone in House of the Dragon will say something that feels like it unlocks one of the show's key themes.

It's already happened with those recurring references to the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy that are currently driving the decision-making of Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith). And in episode 3, we get a similar moment with Alicent (Olivia Cooke).

What does Alicent say in episode 3?

Alicent is in a tricky spot at this point. She's sort of kept up her side of the bargain she struck with Rhaenyra back in Season 2, but she's essentially under house arrest in the Red Keep until Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is found. She's also an easy outlet for Rhaenyra's growing list of problems — during one scene early on in the episode, the new queen confronts Alicent about the crown's treasury having gone missing.

Alicent, being truthful, says she doesn't know anything about it. But Rhaenyra doesn't believe her.

"They hated me from the start!" protests Alicent, referring to the other members of the small council. "Resented my influence, my mere presence. My own father kept their plot from me."

The conversation escalates from there.

"Where is Vhagar?" spits Rhaenyra at one point. "Who rides Sheepstealer?"

"I do not know!" responds Alicent. "Is Aemond not flown away as I promised? Did the guards on the parapets not suffer you to pass? I have done all I could. Will you blame me only for what men have done?"

The argument goes on a little while longer, but that feels like the pivotal moment. The line that really gets through to Rhaenyra, because it's something they both have in common.

Will you blame me only for what men have done?

Why is that line so significant?

It's a long way back now, but let's not forget that Rhaenyra and Alicent started off the show as friends. Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) then pressured his daughter into a romantic relationship (ick) with Rhaenyra's father, Viserys (Paddy Considine), then their sons started fighting and eventually killing each other, and it pretty much went downhill from there.

The common thread? Men embroiling the women in their lives in violence because they either want more power (Otto) or they're bitter and vengeful (Aemond).

This theme has continued so far in Season 3, but Rhaenyra and Alicent's latest argument finally puts a name to it. At the time, it feels like Alicent's words do land with Rhaenyra, too.

The big question: Will they be able to get past their own bitterness toward each other and find a way to work together again?

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

For all things House of the Dragon, Mashable has you covered.

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TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Norway 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 really heating up. Places in the quarter-final stage are now up for grabs, and Brazil and Norway will do everything they can to secure a spot. This is one of the most unpredictable matchups of the round. Brazil look a little shaky, and Norway have a certain Haaland leading the line.

Anything could happen, with the winner facing whichever team comes out on top in the England vs. Mexico fixture.

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

When is Brazil vs. Norway?

Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Norway for free

Brazil vs. Norway 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 Brazil vs. Norway 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 Brazil vs. Norway for free from anywhere in the world

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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 Brazil vs. Norway (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.

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

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Live stream Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

UPDATE: July 5, 2026, 1:36 p.m. EDT

FIFA has lifted Folarin Balogun's suspension, clearing the USA forward to play in Monday's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, multiple sources confirmed Sunday, with the news first reported by The Athletic.

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Balogun had been facing an automatic one-game ban after receiving a red card in last week's round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina — a game in which he also scored the winning goal — but the decision was overturned after review. U.S. Soccer confirmed the ruling in a statement, saying it accepted the Disciplinary Committee's decision and was focused on the upcoming match. Balogun currently leads the U.S. squad with three goals at this World Cup.

Read our original story below.

Team USA won its game on Wednesday night, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It marks only the second time that the team has won in a knockout stage match in the team's history at the World Cup.

While many U.S. soccer fans celebrated the win, referee Raphael Claus put a major damper on the celebrations due to a red card issued to Team USA striker Folarin Balogun. Fans took to the internet to voice their displeasure with the ref's decision, which required a VAR review.

The red card was issued in the 64th minute of the game, making the win even more challenging for Team USA. The team ultimately pulled off the win, but there are further consequences from receiving the red card that may affect Team USA's chances in the round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

So, what does this all mean for Team USA? Here's a rundown along with some of the internet's best reactions to Balogun being issued a red card.

What is a red card?

Yellow cards and red cards are doled out by referees in order to uphold the rules of the match.

Yellow cards serve as a warning, whereas red cards are issued for more serious, egregious violations.

What happens when a player receives a red card?

When a player receives a red card, they are immediately forced out of the game and their team is forced to play with a man down. In Team USA's case, Balogun had to leave the game and USA needed to play the rest of the match with 10 players versus Bosnia and Herzegovina's 11 players.

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In addition, the player that's issued the red card is suspended for their team's next match. Team USA will be able to play with 11 on the pitch against Belgium, but Balogun will not be able to play.

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Why are U.S. fans upset?

For one, the red card was seen as fairly controversial.

During the 64th minute of the game, Balogun and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic both appeared to go for the ball. Balogun and Muharemovic collided, with Balogun's cleat stepping on Muharemovic's ankle as both players fell to the ground.

Analysts and former FIFA refs have shared their opinions on whether Balogun deserved the red card, and there doesn't seem to be much of a consensus. Some agree it was a red card offense, others disagree.

Furthermore, the contact appeared accidental as both Balogun and the player for Bosnia and Herzegovina went for the ball. In addition, the red didn't even issue a yellow card at first and required a VAR check before issuing any card. After review, the ref deemed the incident as a "serious foul" and issued the red card.

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Balogun has been Team USA's top goal scorer with three goals across three games that he played in. Not having him on the field against Belgium certainly puts Team USA at a disadvantage.

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Some fans have been upset about what they view as uneven refereeing across the tournament. A common example being used by fans is when Messi appeared to commit a similar foul in the group stage games. Messi was not called on the foul and didn't receive a red or yellow card.

Can the ref's red card decision be appealed?

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A red card and a subsequent match suspension cannot be appealed, according to FIFA.

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To make matters even worse, FIFA can review the foul and decide to suspend Balogun for additional games. This already happened in one World Cup game this year when FIFA extended a red card suspension against a Qatari player to five games after a foul resulted in a Canadian player breaking their leg.

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For now, though, Team USA is focused on their round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

If you want information about saving energy during a massively unpleasant heatwave, the United States Department of Energy doesn't seem willing to help.

The Verge and others reported that the Department of Energy conducted a broad, sweeping purge of roughly 6,000 pages on its website related to energy conservation this week. While no one in the federal government has provided definitive confirmation of why this happened, the deletions came shortly after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani shared an advisory on social media urging New Yorkers to set their indoor air conditioners to 78 degrees in the middle of a heatwave.

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Conservative accounts immediately pounced on Mamdani's post, accusing the mayor of spreading the horrors of communism by asking people to keep their homes at a moderate temperature during a weekend in which New York City reached triple-digit temperatures. However, many quickly pointed out that the Department of Energy's official stance mirrored Mamdani's guidance. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, had also shared identical guidance in the past during heatwaves.

Within 24 hours or so of Mamdani's announcement, eagle-eyed internet users noticed that the Department of Energy had deleted its own web pages espousing the same advice.

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Again, no one knows for certain why these web pages were deleted at the precise time they were. But the timing is suspect, and given the Trump administration's previous actions, it's not unreasonable to assume it was done out of pettiness.

A new fleet of autonomous taxis has arrived in one of America's worst traffic cities.

Specifically, Tesla's Robotaxi service is now active in Miami, according to a post from the company on X. The same post included a map of a relatively small portion of West Miami, where you can currently hail a Robotaxi. Presumably, more of the city will be included in the service at some point, but for now, the robot cars are limited to those areas.

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This follows a limited rollout in Houston and Dallas back in April. Tesla's Robotaxi service has been slowly expanding across the United States, and if precedent holds, the cabs will be available in a larger portion of Miami in the near-ish future, as Austin went from limited to full availability last month. Other cities that could get Robotaxi service this year include Orlando, Tampa, and Phoenix, though, as Electrek pointed out back in April, the company has not been especially good about meeting plans on time.

It should also be noted that these Robotaxis do not come with safety monitors. This is certainly one way to get around in Miami without worrying as much about the city's notoriously awful traffic problems, but keep in mind the risks involved.

Midjourney is attempting to turn the tables on the Hollywood studios suing it for copyright infringement, asking a federal judge to compel Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery to disclose their internal use of artificial intelligence, according to a Variety report published this week.

The discovery dispute is the latest chapter in a copyright battle that began in June 2025, when Disney and Comcast's Universal filed suit, accusing Midjourney of enabling large-scale infringement of copyrighted characters. That original complaint described Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that generated unauthorized recreations of characters, including Darth Vader and Elsa, as previously reported by this outlet.

Warner Bros. Discovery joined the fight three months later, in September 2025, accusing Midjourney of "brazen theft" involving characters such as Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny, and seeking $150,000 per infringed work.

More than a year into the litigation, Midjourney has countered with a "fair use" defense, arguing the studios engage in comparable AI practices internally. Per Variety, the company's attorney, Bobby Ghajar, wrote that if the studios are "doing the very thing they seek to punish," that evidence is central to Midjourney's fair-use and "unclean hands" arguments. The company is seeking access to the studios' AI business plans, training datasets, model weights, and board presentations on AI.

A magistrate judge ruled against Midjourney's broader discovery request in mid-June 2026, limiting the studios' disclosure obligations to consumer-facing AI tools rather than internal systems. Midjourney has since asked Judge John Kronstadt to overturn that ruling.

The studios' attorney, David Singer, has dismissed the effort as a "fishing expedition" meant to deflect from Midjourney's own conduct, according to Variety's reporting.

A new dental robot is being developed to allow dentists to create crowns in fewer visits.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. England 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 is slowly creeping towards it's dramatic conclusion, with some huge matchups in the Last 16.

Mexico vs. England is a standout fixture. The hosts will be confident of moving into the quarter finals after dominating their group and comfortably beating Ecuador in the last round. England have stuttered, but they have a number of top stars who can win any game. They'll be relying on the likes of Harry Kane and June Bellingham to power them through.

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

When is Mexico vs. England?

Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Mexico City Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. England for free

Mexico vs. England 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 Mexico 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 BBC iPlayer

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

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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 Mexico 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 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 Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

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We could all use a little more time in the day. Fortunately, there’s now an app for Apple lovers that can help you turn your voice into text that’s three times faster than typing — Voibe.

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Give your fingers a rest and let Voibe get to work. This AI voice dictation tool makes it easier to get things done on your Mac, turning your voice into text and transcribing three times faster than typing.

Voibe runs in the background on your Mac and works with nearly any app where you can place a cursor, so you can have AI-powered assistance anytime you need it. It uses OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, too, so you know you’re in good hands.

There’s no waiting around with Voibe; it offers zero-latency performance, so words show up in real-time. Just hold a key, talk naturally, then release, and your words will appear on your screen. It can even handle accents and technical jargon.

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This tool makes drafting emails, notes, content, and feedback a lot easier. It also streamlines your workflow, as you can capture your thoughts instantly without losing focus.

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The most successful investors don’t just hop on hot stocks. They take a long-term approach, choosing investments that align with their financial goals. Sterling Stock Picker helps make stock picking easier with AI-powered insights that simplify the process.

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TL;DR: In the UK, Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free. In the U.S., sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free.

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The Austrian GP offered another thrilling weekend of racing from the best drivers in the world. George Russell came out on top after holding off the advances of Verstappen and Antonelli. Ferrari and McLaren constantly swapped positions just behind in what was one of the most interesting GPs of the season.

Will we get more of the same from the British GP? We certainly hope so.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the British GP?

The British GP is the ninth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from Silverstone:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 3

• Sprint Qualifying — 11:30 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. ET on July 3

• Sprint — 7-8 a.m. ET on July 4

• Qualifying — 11 a.m to 12 p.m. ET on July 4

• Race — 10 a.m. ET on July 5

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the British GP for free

It's important to note that Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free in the UK. That's nice and easy for fans in the UK.

If you're based in the U.S., you'll need to take a few additional steps to watch this race weekend for free.

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It's the access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the British GP this weekend without spending anything.

I understand the argument that I'm not really watching for free because I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

If you've already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternatives.

My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

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The 2026 World Cup weekend excitement reaches a crescendo today with two heated matches: Norway vs Brazil followed by England vs Mexico.

It all kicks off at 4 p.m. ET, with the first game taking place in the United States and the second taking place in Mexico City, where the hometown fans will have the opportunity to cheer on their national team in a decisive match.

Read on to learn where and when the games are being played, as well as how best to watch them.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 5

• Brazil vs. Norway (New York New Jersey Stadium) — kickoff at 4 p.m. ET

• Mexico vs. England (Mexico City Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Brazil vs. Norway

Fan-favorite Erling Haaland, Norway's 6'5" giant center forward, is proving himself one of the game's most unstoppable forces, but he will have his work cut out for him against the more experienced Brazil team, led by their all-time top goal scorer, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. Legendary soccer manager and current coach of the Brazil team, Carlo Ancelotti, known as "Don Carlo" to the soccer faithful in Brazil, will battle Norway's Ståle Solbakken in what is sure to be a chess-like battle of wits between the two master strategists.

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

Watch Mexico vs. England

Coming into Sunday's match, Mexico has not allowed a single goal in the entire tournament thus far, the only team to have held their opponents scoreless going into the round of 16, but if they're going to continue this streak, they'll have to shut down the two-pronged attack of Harry Kane (now the nation's top scorer in the history of the World Cup!) and top-tier midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has already racked up four goals and one assist in England's journey to the top.

And for this match, there's an added twist: Mexico will have home-field advantage in Mexico City, one of the loudest venues in all of soccer. ¡Olé!

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

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More live streaming options

Live 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:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

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.

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To spill.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SLOSH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Side face.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHEEK

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Slope.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SLANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Not a friend.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HATER

Final Hurdle hint

Maneuver a car.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

DRIVE

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

The Moon is changing in appearance and visibility each night. This is because of the lunar cycle. We're currently on day 20 of this 29.5 day of this cycle, which means we're approaching the Third Quarter, when the Moon appears half full.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, July 5, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 75% of its surface visible.

If you look up tonight with just your naked eye, you should be able to see the Mare Vaporum, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Mare Humorum, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Grimaldi Basin. And if you have a telescope, you'll see all this plus the Apollo 16 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun changes as it travels around our planet. As a result, the Moon appears to shift in shape throughout the month, progressing from slender crescents to quarter moons and eventually reaching the brightly lit Full Moon stage. This repeating pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a big spender.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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: Healthy snack

• Green: Spending methods

• Blue: Swipe it

• Purple: One letter

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Granola ingredients

• Green: Payment methods

• Blue: Amex card types

• Purple: What "W" might stand for

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 #1120 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Granola ingredients: HONEY, NUTS, OATS, SEEDS

• Payment methods: CARD, CASH, CHECK, WIRE

• Amex card types: CENTURION, GOLD, GREEN, PLATINUM

• What "W" might stand for: TUNGSTEN, WEST, WIN, WITH

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.

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

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a dog lover.

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.

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Barking up the right tree

The words are related to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe types of dogs.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Hunting Breeds.

NYT Strands word list for July 5

• Pointer

• Spaniel

• Retriever

• Hound

• Hunting Breeds

• Terrier

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're Hindu.

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.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A religious teacher.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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.

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...

SWAMI

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 today's Wordle.

TL;DR: Live stream Paraguay vs. France 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.

France have looked unbeatable in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now they face Paraguay for a spot in the quarter finals, a team that just knocked out Germany on penalties. It'll take something special for Paraguay to keep out the likes of Mbappé and Olise, but that result in the last round will have given them a lot of confidence.

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

When is Paraguay vs. France?

Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Philadelphia Stadium.

How to watch Paraguay vs. France for free

Paraguay vs. France 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 Paraguay vs. France 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 Paraguay vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

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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 Paraguay vs. France (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 U

• 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 Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Following the recent news that Sony will end support for physical discs for its PlayStation consoles beginning in Jan. 2028 and the attendant fan backlash (Forbes called it "Sony's Biggest Scandal in 20 Years"), Microsoft's Xbox team is taking proactive steps to get ahead of the negative publicity for its own next-gen console, the Xbox Helix, which is every bit as unlikely to have a physical disc drive as the rumored PS6.  

Last month, details about a new Xbox program code-named "Positron" were leaked, hinting at a potential disc-to-digital program, but the details were relegated to spare snippets of code labeled Disc2Digital. Now, a new report obtained by Windows Insider gives us better insight into what Microsoft hopes to achieve with Positron.

Most of the fan backlash has focused on the second-hand market, which would be effectively killed off if all games became digital products, but there's another valid issue raised by the loss of physical disc drives: backward compatibility. What are the millions of gamers with vast libraries of physical games supposed to do if future consoles no longer support a disc drive? 

Thankfully, Microsoft has already emphasized the importance of backward compatibility in previous iterations of its Xbox gaming consoles, and Positron seems like a continuation of this same commitment. 

According to reporting by The Verge, Microsoft plans to allow gamers to digitize their physical media libraries without third-party hardware. All that will be required is the disc, a compatible game console, and a Microsoft account, though be forewarned: this feature will only apply to Xbox One and Series X discs — neither the original Xbox nor the Xbox 360 is supported by Positron. 

Of course, as we're still in the testing phases for this technology, and as neither the Xbox Helix nor PS6 has been officially announced, all of this is still subject to change. Maybe, just maybe, the fan backlash will be loud and convincing enough to force these major gaming companies to change course. Unfortunately, we'll likely have to rely on projects like Positron to keep our physical media alive and functioning in the future all-digital era.

Last night, right before the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, its undisputed queen of pop music, Taylor Swift, finally tied the knot to long-term beau, NFL tight end Travis Kelce, in what was surely the most anticipated and hyped up wedding of the century. 

And while the world's most-watched couple have been notoriously tight-lipped about wedding details, and have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep their nuptials private, including forcing their guests to sign "ironclad" non-disclosure agreements and firing workers who took photos of the wedding sets, details are beginning to emerge about last night's affairs

The fairytale ceremony

Ordinary couples have to pick a wedding venue, and the typical locations are a combination of personal meaning, romance, and spirituality. The list includes religious venues, seaside locations, large barns, and ballrooms. But if you're the world's number-one power couple, there's really only one city and probably only one place that can accommodate both your guest lists while still delivering privacy from the paparazzi and your millions of fans: Madison Square Garden.  

The home of the Knicks, played host to the Swift-Kelce wedding, and between the night itself and the two days of setup, the location fee alone is reported to be in excess of $3 million. 

And of course, it isn't enough just to rent the venue; you also have to secure it. Ahead of the affairs, the NYPD listed the street closures necessary to guarantee security for the couple, and it was comparable or even greater than the list released during the NBA Finals:

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And what about the clothing? In a testament to how well security was managed, we still don't have a photo of Swift in her wedding dress, but her publicist has revealed that both the bride and groom were garbed by Christian Dior Haute Couture, with famed Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson personally handling the designs — in close collaboration with the couple, naturally. The footwear for both the bride and groom was custom-made by Christian Louboutin, with even the sneakers selling for more than $1,000, while Cartier supplied her jewelry, according to PEOPLE. 

As for the flowers, another staple of weddings, details are still sparse, but Page Six did manage to snap photos of large peach flower arrangements being carted into the venue. 

The food and drink offerings largely still remain a mystery, but we have had some tantalizing glimpses into what was on offer, from luxury cake designer Julie Deffense teasing a video of the Swift wedding cake that "traveled over 1200 miles" before quickly deleting the video off her Instagram to TMZ slyly snapping pictures of the food being wheeled into the Garden, which included everything from lobster to fried chicken, onion rings and even a Krispy Kreme truck.

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Some loyal Swiftians who waited outside the venue were even blessed with leftover desserts by one of the catering companies. 

The attendees

Let's face it: a wedding isn't the venue, the food, or even the dress. A good wedding begins and ends with the guest list, with the friends and family you choose to celebrate your romance with, and the 1,000-strong list of the Swift-Kelce affair was a mix of A-list celebrities known the world over and friends, family, and even neighbors known only to the couple. 

While every guest was no doubt honored to receive the invite, three people in particular were most important to the couple: Austin Swift, Taylor Swift's brother; Jason Kelce, Travis's brother, and…Adam Sandler. According to the hosts of Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, and Michael Strahan, all of whom were in attendance and spent their morning show gabbing about the wedding, the bride and groom eschewed the usual list of groomsmen and bridesmaids in favor of a Man of Honor for Taylor and a Best Man for Travis, and unsurprisingly they both chose their brothers to fill these important roles. But the officiating was done by none other than Adam Sandler, who has reportedly been a friend to the families of both Travis and Taylor over the years, which required the famous actor-comedian to get a one-day license as a marriage officiant in New York.

Celebrity guests included a mix of athletes, entertainers, and models, from Swift's close friends Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, and Zoë Kravitz to A-list actors like Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper, and Julianne Moore, according to The Independent, who also reported that Beatles legend Paul McCartney delivered one of the night's many performances.  

A few centuries ago, only the weddings of kings and queens elicited such fanfare, but given that Taylor Swift is pop culture royalty, it's no surprise that her wedding has been the most extravagant and publicized affair of 2026. We wish the happy couple the best of luck as they embark on their three-month honeymoon, the details of which are every bit as under wraps as those of their wedding.

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Morocco 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 entered the next round of knockout fixtures, and it all starts with Canada vs. Morocco. The co-hosts will need to do something special to knock out this talented Morocco side. They've looked really impressive thus far, but did need to rely on penalties to overcome the Netherlands in the Round of 32.

The winner is likely to meet France in the next round.

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

When is Canada vs. Morocco?

Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Houston Stadium.

How to watch Canada vs. Morocco for free

Canada vs. Morocco 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 Canada vs. Morocco 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 Canada vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

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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 Canada vs. Morocco (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 Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

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.

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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Apple TV has made the entire Austrian Grand Prix race weekend available for free to viewers in the U.S., with live coverage June 26–28.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free:

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This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. The likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Lewis Hamilton are all challenging for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but Ferrari are not far behind.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

5. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

6. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

7. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

8. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

9. British Grand Prix — July 5

10. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

11. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

12. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

13. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

14. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

15. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

16. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

17. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

18. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

19. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

20. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

21. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

22. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

For the first time, Apple TV has made an entire F1 race weekend available for free to viewers in the U.S., with live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix from June 26–28. Fans can watch every session live on Apple TV — including practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s Grand Prix — with no subscription required.

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. If you want access to the whole season, an Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year.

Apple TV

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Credit: Apple TV

Apple TV (7-day free trial)

Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free.

Shop Now

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

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Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial)

Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

Shop Now

Apple One

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Credit: Apple One

Apple One (30-day free trial)

Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial.

Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

Happy 4th of July, America. This year's Independence Day celebrations are a little extra special as we celebrate the United States of America's 250th birthday.

Across the country, many people will spend the day at the beach or at a barbecue, capping the night off with a fireworks display. But, if you're spending the night indoors, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate with an array of July 4th fireworks livestreams.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks 

Perhaps the most well-known of the Independence Day celebrations is the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. If you live in NYC, you can catch them live. Otherwise, you can tune into NBC or Peacock at 8 p.m. on July 4th to watch the show.

While the U.S. is celebrating its 250th, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks is also celebrating a milestone with its 50th anniversary this year.

PBS's America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together

While many of the livestream options on this list will require a paid subscription to a particular streaming platform, PBS is airing its 4th of July special on YouTube for absolutely free.

America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together will start at 8 p.m. on July 4th and culminate in a fireworks and pyrotechnics display from Colonial Williamsburg.

Disney Celebrates America

Disney is also getting in on the 250th anniversary of the United States celebrations with its own event.

Disney+, Hulu, and the ESPN app will stream a 24-hour broadcast called "Disney Celebrates America" that checks in on 4th of July celebrations around the country, which will ostensibly include at least a few fireworks displays. The grand finale, Star-Spangled Bash in Nashville, will also be hosted by ABC and deliver one of the country's largest fireworks and drone shows.

The broadcast kicks off at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd, with the main event out of Nashville starting at 8 p.m. on July 4th.

Freedom 250 fireworks display

There's been a lot of controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's own Freedom 250 group, set up to lead Trump's 250th anniversary celebrations. You've probably seen the memes about the lackluster attendance for Trump's Great American State Fair all week.

With that said, Freedom 250 is claiming they're about to have a record-breaking 40 minute long firework display on the 4th of July with more than 850,000 fireworks. And, according to the group, the MonumentCam atop the Washington Monument will be the premier free-to-watch livestream to watch it all.

The Great American Block Party 250

Paramount+ and CBS are hosting their own 3-hour Independence Day special at 8 p.m. on July 4th. 

Like Disney's, the show will check in on 4th of July celebrations and firework displays from around the country. The broadcast will also culminate in their own feed of Freedom 250's Washington, DC, fireworks display.

I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum and tweak its settings for optimal performance, I keep notes on its overall suction power vigor, scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of its automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.

Recent changes to this guide

July 2026: I added the Narwal Flow 2 as the new pick for best roller mop robot vacuum overall, bumping the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow to the best roller mop robot vacuum under $1,000. The Narwal Flow 2 has stronger suction power and more advanced AI spill detection.

March 2026: I added the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow as the best roller mop robot vacuum, replacing the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller. Though the Dreame has more powerful suction on paper, the Curv 2 Flow demonstrated better edge mopping and comparable vacuuming. I also replaced the Eufy X10 Pro Omni with the Eufy C28 and shifted it to my budget roller mop pick. The X10 Pro Omni is two years old at this point, and the new C28 offers more advanced cleaning and obstacle avoidance.

January 2026: I added the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Aqua10 Ultra to the best roller mop robot vacuum. The Roborock Saros 10R, which was listed as the best option for corner cleaning, has been removed from the list. It costs nearly the same amount as the X60 Max Ultra Complete, which has near-identical corner mopping abilities and much stronger suction power.

December 2025: I added a disclaimer to the pick for best Roomba value in light of iRobot's bankruptcy news.

October 2025: I added the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Roborock Saros 10R (previously named the best robot vacuum right now) to the option for best corner cleaning.

July 2025: I removed the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum from this guide. While it was a solid budget mopping robot vacuum for its first year or so on the market, it's now a little bit too basic compared to other newer budget robot vacuums.

A virtual reality experience that asks attendees to sign over their biometric data sounds like the start of an episode of Black Mirror. But it's actually the reality of the Black Mirror Experience, now open at The Shed in New York City.

The experience guides you through the halls of Phaethon Labs, a futuristic company where you can build a digital clone of yourself called a LifeAgent. This AI clone is able to do all the unpleasant tasks you don't want to do, plus set you up for success when it comes to your life goals. All it and the Black Mirror Experience need from you are your name, your life goals, and your face and voice. You cannot participate in the experience without consenting to the use of your face and voice.

In a world where our personal data is sold and packaged on the daily, you may think, "What's one more consent form, right?" But for anyone who's seen Black Mirror, the idea of giving up your likeness is enough to raise red flags. (Or, if you're like me, it'll make you full-on queasy.) Plus, there is precedence for concern: Remember when Netflix used users' photos in billboard ads tied to "Joan is Awful"?

If you feel discomfort about giving up biometric data for a fun VR outing, staffers at the Black Mirror Experience will walk you through what the process actually entails. Your data is stored by UNIVRSE, the VR company behind the experience, for four weeks following your trip through Phaethon Labs. If you would like your data to be deleted earlier, there's an e-mail address you can reach out to. I did so, and the response to my request was speedy and helpful.

Once you get past the biometric data hurdle and strap on your VR headset, what's next? Attendees go through a "neural scan" to better understand what their LifeAgent can do for them. This involves playing mini games and telling Sigmund Freud about a recent dream. (Yes, really.) The latter sequence also involves AI-generated responses from Freud where he analyzes your response and cooks up an AI image of said dream.

Credit: Banijay Live Studios

After that, you finally meet your LifeAgent, a digital replica with your face and voice. The results brought back my nausea in full force. My LifeAgent was a postcard straight from the uncanny valley, one that prompted me to consider the AI technology behind it and how fast it has advanced over the past few years. I had signed up to have this version of me made, but we also live in a world where anyone can make AI deepfakes of anyone else, with examples ranging from viral memes to film and TV studios resurrecting deceased actors. (For its part, the Black Mirror Experience uses human performers. Karina Matas Piper voices Phaethon Labs founder Cody Winters, while James Phillips voices various characters. Elsewhere, Imanol Dieguez serves as the mocap actor.)

After the unsettling reveal of your LifeAgent, the rest of the Black Mirror Experience rings oddly hollow. Instead of truly interrogating the implications of AI deepfakes and concerns of privacy and misinformation, it launches you into a sci-fi action sequence. The VR environments here are impressive, especially a series of labyrinthine tunnels and a vast underground construction facility. However, none of this bombastic action feels in tune with the true spirit of Black Mirror, whose episodes most often build to devastating conclusions instead of rollicking shoot-outs.

The Black Mirror Experience doesn't let you sit in that dread long enough. It only briefly gestures out to the problems its AI LifeAgents could cause, ranging from alienation from simple human tasks to full-on identity theft. But then it turns around and revels in AI technology, even turning your AI-created LifeAgent into a souvenir video for you to remember this dystopian trip by. Staring at the eerie grin plastered over my AI self's face in my own souvenir video, I kept thinking of one of Black Mirror's most prescient reminders: If you give tech companies an inch, they'll take a mile.

The Black Mirror Experience is now at The Shed until Sept. 6.

TL;DR: Watch Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship showcases some huge matchups this weekend, and it all wraps up with Argentina vs. Scotland.

The Scots came close to securing a massive win at the 2026 Six Nations, but eventually fell just short. They'll be looking to restart the good vibes against Argentina. It's going to be a really tough game for both sides.

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

When is Argentina vs. Scotland?

Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

How to watch Argentina vs. Scotland for free

Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

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

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: ChatPlayground gives you lifetime access to AI tools like Claude, GPT, and Gemini, and it’s only $55.30 for life with code JULY30.

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ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)

$55.30
$619 Save $563.70

 

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ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude all cost about $20 each per month, and they’re still annoying to use because you’re constantly switching tabs and burning through tokens trying to find the best results. If you want an easier way to work, ChatPlayground is a new platform that gives you access to 20+ major AI models like Claude and GPT, and it’s only $55.30 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $619).

ChatPlayground puts multiple AI models side by side so you can send one prompt to multiple and compare the results. The side-by-side comparison completely changes how you use AI for serious work. Instead of guessing which model handles a task best or burning through your daily limits trying to find out, you run the prompt once and choose the output that works. That matters most when you’re prompt engineering, drafting content, debugging code, or researching something where accuracy is non-negotiable.

Beyond comparisons, the platform includes prompt engineering tools to refine and optimize prompts for better results, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved conversation history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation for creative work.

The Unlimited Plan removes message limits entirely, so it’s a great fit for teams running experiments or using AI heavily throughout the day. Priority access to new models and features is included, along with priority customer support. Available to both new and existing users, with unlimited devices supported and updates included. It runs on the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Stop paying monthly for AI. Until 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5, you can get a ChatPlayground lifetime subscription on sale for $55.30 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get flowkey’s five-year Classic Plan for $55.99 with code JULY30 (reg. $899) — its lowest price ever.

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flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription)

$55.99
$899 Save $843.01

 

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Future and current pianists who would love some lesson flexibility without sacrificing growth, flowkey has never been cheaper, and this price is not likely to come around again in the near future.

Through July 5, you can get the flowkey Classic Plan (five-year subscription) for just $55.99 (reg. $899) with code JULY30 — the lowest price we’ve seen on this piano learning app.

If learning piano has been living on your someday list, this is a good time to move it up.

Flowkey is designed to make practicing feel approachable instead of intimidating. Whether you’re sitting at a keyboard for the first time or returning after a long break, the app guides you through each lesson at your own pace. It even listens while you play, offering instant feedback so you know when you’ve nailed a note — or when it’s time to try again.

The Classic Plan includes access to more than 1,000 classical and public-domain songs, featuring composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Debussy, Liszt, and Brahms. You’ll also unlock every course and exercise, covering everything from reading sheet music and learning chords to proper hand positioning and rhythm.

Helpful tools like Wait Mode, Slow Motion, Loop, and separate hand practice make difficult sections easier to master without feeling rushed. Because your subscription works across phones, tablets, and computers, it’s easy to fit practice into your schedule.

With five years of access at the lowest price ever, this is an easy opportunity to start building those piano skills while this offer is still available.

Get a five-year subscription to the flowkey Classic Plan for a one-time $55.99 (reg. $899) through 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Cancel your monthly cloud storage subscription and get an Internxt 10TB lifetime subscription on sale for $251.99 with code JULY30.

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Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan

$251.99
$2,900 Save $2,648.01

 

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Google One’s 10TB plan runs $49.99 per month, every month, with the meter still running five and ten years from now. That’s hundreds of dollars for not that much space. Internxt takes a different approach. Instead of paying monthly, you can get a 10TB secure cloud storage lifetime subscription, and it’s even on sale now for $251.99 (reg. $2,900).

Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, so your files get encrypted on your own device before they ever leave it. Not even Internxt can see what files you upload. Files are also chunked into smaller encrypted pieces during transfer, so even if data were intercepted, nothing readable would come through.

Past the standard AES-256 encryption most cloud providers use, Internxt layers in post-quantum algorithms that protect against future quantum computing threats. That means your files are already protected against threats that may come in the future.

Internxt runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and any modern browser, with no cap on the number of devices you can sync. Sharing also works across all of those platforms, Linux included. Because Internxt is decentralized and open source, your files aren’t locked to a proprietary system. You can export your data whenever you want, so the storage stays portable as your needs change.

The full codebase is publicly available on GitHub, has been independently audited by Securitum, and the service is fully GDPR compliant. PCWorld also gave Internxt its Editors’ Choice award.

Stop renting your cloud storage. Through July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a 10TB Internxt lifetime subscription on sale for only $251.99 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you haven’t heard of AdultFriendFinder (AFF), honestly, consider yourself lucky. This online platform has seriously earned its reputation for being one of the raunchiest and spammiest "dating" sites cluttering the internet.

Sure, the name sounds wholesome and innocent enough, right? But peel back those endless paywalls, and what you find is a digital den packed with X-rated content, questionable profiles, problematic language, and aggressive marketing tactics that seem way more interested in your wallet than your actual experience. They constantly push you to spend more money on basic functions. (Oh, and did I mention it’s also visually offensive? Seriously ugly, aesthetically speaking.)

The best way to describe the AdultFriendFinder website (no app) is through its overall layout, which feels like a relic from the early 2000s internet. It's a mess of flashing banners, intrusive ads, and a user interface so poorly designed it feels intentionally built to overwhelm and confuse anyone brave enough to sign up. You know that scene in Because I Said So where Diane Keaton’s character awkwardly stumbles upon AdultFriendFinder while trying to vet dates for her daughter? Yeah, that's still the energy.

But is there anything redeemable behind the chaos? In this review, we do a deep dive into the AdultFriendFinder experience to figure out exactly how it works (or doesn't), what features it offers, and whether it actually connects people looking for hookups.

This site is for making adult "friends," not friends who are adults. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

What is AdultFriendFinder?

AdultFriendFinder is one of the most well-known sites for finding quick sexual encounters and literally anything else even remotely related to sex. The rowdy feed of matches makes it heaven for anyone looking for a good time with no filter — and hell for someone who wouldn't be caught dead clicking on a "There are hot singles in your area" ad.

On AFF, you can find someone to sext via messaging or video chat (and plan to get it on IRL, if that's what you're looking for), watch live streams, or join niche group chat rooms to connect with other members. You can easily view photos and videos from other members, though interacting is often locked behind a paywall. Is it worth $20-something per month? Depends on how much fishy content you're willing to overlook for a juicy sexting session.

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Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

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So, who's actually on this platform? While the site used to flash huge, questionable stats like "98,897,765 hot photos" on its signup page, those crazy numbers seem to be gone now (though they may show for people who've never logged onto the site before; we couldn't get it to replicate it in incognito mode, so it's probably safe to say they're just gone). According to Similarweb's data for May 2026, AdultFriendFinder has pulled in around 9.8 million visits.

AdultFriendFinder's ranking has slipped significantly; noting a steady drop from previous years, it currently sits at 84th in the Adult category in the United States. This suggests people might be finding better alternatives elsewhere, and we're not surprised. Today, you can download kink- and poly-friendly hookup apps like Feeld and Pure, plus hookup destinations like Tinder, which have a huge user base of people ready to meet.

Specifics on the demographic that most people care about — the gender ratio — can be hard to track down. According to SimilarWeb, the audience is roughly 76.44 percent male and 23.56 percent female. This kind of imbalance is pretty common on hookup-focused sites. It means it's likely a paradise if you're a straight man, maybe hit-or-miss if you're a straight woman or LGBTQ man, and probably an actual hellscape if you're an LGBTQ woman trying to navigate it.

On the flip side, AFF does let you identify as and search for a man, woman, a couple, or trans. They've made some attempts to be a "sex-positive" site with blogs, groups, and even a "sex academy." However, their language around the LGBTQ community has historically been anything but inclusive or positive. Previously, the AFF sign-up page listed "TG/TV/TS" as the "trans" gender selection — we'll let you infer what those stand for. After reaching out to AdultFriendFinder about it, this language has improved somewhat with more gender options that are appropriately labeled, though "trans" is still a separate selection from "man" or "woman," which feels more like fetishization than inclusivity.

The sexual oreintation selection is a bit more inclusive than the "searching for" section. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

Is AdultFriendFinder legit?

As far as legitimacy goes, AdultFriendFinder is a real site with real users. However, the question is whether you can really find what you're looking for there, or if you'll mostly find a bunch of bots and scammers. Many users report that it feels like a scam site due to the number of fake profiles and the pressure to spend more money. Compared to other legit sites, its reputation is definitely questionable.

Because AFF is pretty spammy, it's hard to tell how many active members are actually using the site. The 1.4 Trustpilot score isn't reassuring either.

From the start, AdultFriendFinder makes it clear that it's not really aiming to build long-term relationships. The site emphasizes casual hookups and even allows for explicit content, so users know what they're getting into. But if you're looking for something more than just a one-night stand, you might want to consider other platforms.

One of the biggest turnoffs for potential users is that so many features are locked behind a paywall. While you can technically sign up for free, you can't do much beyond browse profiles or view photos from other members. Free members have very limited interaction options; you typically need to upgrade to send messages or see anything substantial. There’s also a brand-new age verification feature that won’t let you past the home page unless you verify you’re actually of age. You can either take a photo of your face to confirm your age or upload a valid photo ID that confirms your birth date. (Honestly, we’re glad they’re at least trying to protect minors from seeing anything they shouldn’t be seeing or connecting with pervy older people.)

There's brand-new age verification feature that won’t let you past the home page unless you verify you’re actually of age. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

How does AdultFriendFinder work?

Signing up takes like 30 seconds. Seriously, just an email, username, password, and a quick intro will do. Of course, you'll have to go through the strict new age verification process too, but it's pretty quick.

Once you're in, brace yourself for the instant notification spam; apparently, a gray silhouette is enough to attract attention here. To even think about connecting with someone real, you absolutely have to add photos and details to your profile — essentially, prove you're not just another bot contributing to the noise.

AdultFriendFinder features a personality questionnaire to personalize your profile and up your chances of finding a compatible match. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

After registering, there are a ton of ways to personalize your account (way more than you'd expect for a hookup site, honestly). The more you fill out, the better your chances of meeting someone (and improving your sex life). There are the basic physical appearance questions about eye and hair color, and since I identified as a woman, cup size was an option. (If you identify as a man, I'm sure you can guess what question they ask.)

The site also features a Personality Type test and a "My Kinks" form where you can select whether or not you're "curious about, into, or can't live without" a certain kink (e.g., anal, bondage, role play, etc.). It also lets you choose whether you're a voyeur, the giver, or the receiver.

One weird thing about the Personality Type test is that it asks several questions about whether or not you enjoy shopping at discount stores — not really sure what that's about. It also asks whether or not "a quiet time for prayer should be allowed in school." You can choose "strongly disagree, somewhat disagree, somewhat agree, or strongly agree."

Once you finish the personality test (20 questions), you can opt to have your Personality Type show up on your profile or have it hidden. It will also show you which personality types complement yours.

Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

Matching on AdultFriendFinder: What to expect

Here’s what you can expect when you're looking for a connection:

• Like a traditional dating site, AFF throws a collage of potential matches at you, showing who's online or nearby. But any resemblance to a "traditional" site stops there.

• You barely have to scroll before noticing that there's no shortage of nudity. Depending on whether you set your preferences to men, women, or both, you'll see all of that stuff up close, personal, swinging around, in action. You name it, it'll pop up.

• You can try to refine your results by gender, age, location, race, sexual orientation, body type, etc., but good luck making a dent in the sheer volume of profiles (real or otherwise).

• The message section looks weirdly like old Gmail. You'll get a mix of messages; some might be genuinely friendly, but expect a fair share of instant, crude ones too. It's the online dating equivalent of creeps on Tinder, but amplified.

How much does AdultFriendFinder cost?

You can do a decent amount of looking without paying (this includes browsing profiles, getting limited messages, and hitting up some chat rooms). But hit any of that "juicier hidden content" or try to actually talk to someone, and you'll smack into a paywall or the site's non-monetary currency, "points." You earn points through activity on the free version, which is kind of like playing a mini-game just to unlock basic functionality.

To really get anywhere, especially if you're a guy looking for women (as some on Reddit noted, women prefer paid members for perceived credibility), you'll need a Gold membership. The prices bounce around a bit, but generally, the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly rate.

Here is how the current pricing breaks down:

• 1 month of Gold is $24.95 (billed monthly)

• 3 months of Gold is $20.95 per month (billed quarterly at $62.85)

• 12 months of Gold is $14.95 per month (billed once at $179.40)

The prices bounce around a bit, but generally, the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly rate. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

The site shoves other weird add-ons at you, too. For example, there's a separate fee required just to "interact with standard members" on the platform. That costs $19.95 for one month, or $11.95 a month if you bill it quarterly. These layer-on costs, meaning the price you see for Gold might not be the actual price of a usable experience.

AdultFriendFinder also gives members the option to confirm their identity with ConfirmID. If you do this, the site promises to give you two weeks of Gold for free. The ConfirmID works by entering your legal first and last name, home address, gender, and date of birth, and uploading a copy of your driver's license, passport, or other government-issued ID.

If you spend more quality time on the site than expected, springing for a paid membership is definitely something to consider. Once you're paying, you basically become royalty on the site: Your profile will appear way higher in searches, you can use the most advanced searches, unlock profiles with private photo albums, check out video profiles, and message to your heart's content. A general rule is that increased involvement and payment on your end generally equals more success on the website, as your constant activity and heightened searchability make it easier for others to find you.

So, does AdultFriendFinder work?

Once you get past the in-your-face sexplosion of naked profile pictures, horny AIM-era profile names, and explicit videos, the big question is: Does AdultFriendFinder actually work? Like, can you realistically log on and find what you're looking for? The short answer is... maybe, but probably not as well as you'd hope. While you're there, you will have to stay on guard for window shoppers and scammers.

Let's put it this way: AFF might work if you are very open-minded, specifically looking to blow off steam with casual sex or explore niche kinks, and you're completely over the slow pace of traditional dating sites. It has a ton of activities, ranging from direct messaging, sending virtual gifts and tips, watching live videos of people in your feed, joining adult chat rooms that can get very niche, or entering photo contests.

Aside from the NSFW content, the website is relatively straightforward (albeit ugly). Every feature is advertised in big letters, notifications are displayed clearly with labels, and you don't really have to click around to find anything. This makes it super accessible for users of all ages, even those who aren't tech-savvy and can't even figure out Facebook. Buttons are all over the place, but you figure it out after messing around for a few minutes.

Think of AdultFriendFinder as the dating site version of New York City — it never sleeps. It's like that booty call who's always awake when you text them. Or at least that used to be the case... 10 years ago. What was once a hot site that a few Reddit users were quick to hype up is now one of the dating sites that Reddit users can't help but diss — in the few instances that AFF is even being discussed at all. It's notable that, on a site where online dating is such a mammoth topic of discussion, AdultFriendFinder has rarely been mentioned in a positive light since the early 2010s. The Reddit community is diverse and open-minded; if a dating site exists, someone on Reddit has used it and has an opinion. When an innocent soul does ask if it's legit, AFF usually gets dragged for sketchy pricing and being riddled with fake profiles.

However, some Reddit members have praised AFF as a site for men meeting men. Even so, the site's still buggy and isn't exactly great for meeting real people who aren't, as one Reddit user so eloquently put it, "busted and unstable."

Good for: Very open-minded people looking to blow off steam

Stating the obvious, AdultFriendFinder is a space for people who want to bang with no strings attached, people who are in a sexual rut, people who are tired of porn, and people who find sites like eharmony boring. Getting to know someone for weeks before meeting up can be exhausting, and sometimes, you want to skip the small talk and do the dirty with a random. It's gonna get kinky out there, and that's great for those who are dying to blow off steam and want someone who will respond well to a brusque, sexy message.

As with all dating sites, catfishing is a big buzzkill. Your chances of being pursued are way higher if you have a lot of pictures of the same person (AKA you), videos, and a genuine profile that lets people know they're not dealing with something sketchy. Even if you've had bad luck with online dating in the past, AdultFriendFinder is the place to be honest.

Bad for: People looking for a real relationship and the entire socially conscious community

If you're a cynic, conservative by any means, get sketched out easily, or aren't a fan of dick pics, you'll probably hate it. Similarly, if you appreciate a well-crafted, aesthetically pleasing website that feels safe, no matter how badly you want to have sex, one glance at the landing page likely signals that it's not for you.

AdultFriendFinder is not the place to be if you're trying to make friends unless "with benefits" is tacked onto the end. Every inch of the site screams: "This website is used to have sex," and you should really listen to that.

As illustrated by the flood of artsy activism guides on Instagram in recent years, it's clear what content appeals to young people on the internet: Something aesthetically pleasing, shareable, and digestible. The "shareable" part doesn't totally apply to online dating, but apps like Hinge and OkCupid closely follow this design trend by limiting the number of words (and ads) in each tab, steering clear of endless scrolling, and ensuring that important info isn't cluttered with flashing clickbait.

AFF could do so much more to make people take it seriously

We're not knocking a quick hookup or no-strings-attached relations. This isn't about morals. Genitals are quite literally in your face from the moment you make an account, and that's just not cute. There are chiller ways to go about insinuating that this is a hookup website without feeling like you're trapped in a sex dungeon with strangers.

I could not get past the fact that the entire site looks like it's about to invite five viruses to your computer. We're talking terrible graphics that look like they were made on Microsoft Paint and pictures of women who look like they're from Pornhub in 2007. (That's when AdultFriendFinder was officially sold and rebranded from its original parent company.) Reddit user Snoo53279 summed it up in a comment from July 2020: "The people on AFF are definitely real, but there is a huge smattering of bots that also get in the way, so it can be a bit of a PITA to use." If they're not bots, they could be men posing as a couple to seem less threatening.

The parade of women on the landing page is questionable for two reasons. This shouldn't even need to be clarified, but not everyone is looking for a woman. At the least, the advertising isn't inclusive — but this crosses into fetishization territory. The cherry on top is that the women in the photos (unsurprisingly) probably aren't even members of the site, according to a disclaimer at the bottom of the landing page.

AdultFriendFinder's overall outdated vibe goes past an aesthetic annoyance — it's downright problematic at times. The lack of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community is nearly unforgivable, and we'd be scared to see some of the related rhetoric that AFF users feel comfortable spewing. Without even a dash of social awareness, it's hard to see how anyone who's not an out-of-touch straight cis man would feel comfortable on this site.

Attempting to navigate the shoddy design might be enough to smother your horniness. Three main issues can make the site borderline unusable: It looks shady as hell, an alarming portion of the user base is made up of bots and spam accounts, and the user interface itself is outdated and rife with bugs.

AdultFriendFinder alternatives

Given AdultFriendFinder's... challenges... you're probably wondering where else you can look for casual connections or kink exploration online. While AFF might feel slightly more "legit" than sites with names that scream spam (you know the ones), there are definitely much better places to spend your time and money.

Here are a few alternatives that offer a significantly better experience:

• Pure: Think of Pure as a more modern, less eyeball-assaulting option for no-strings-attached hookups. It has a sleek, "hella-millennial" design (way better than AFF's retro mess) and features like self-destructing messages and profiles that disappear after an hour, giving it a casual, in-the-moment feel. It's basically a sexier, more private Snapchat for hookups.

• Feeld: If you're a single or couple looking for group sex, polyamory, or exploring LGBTQ+ friendly dynamics, Feeld is a much better bet than navigating AFF's often problematic space. It's designed for open-minded individuals and couples and is generally praised for being more inclusive (though it had some bugs after a recent update, which seem to be getting addressed). It skips the unicorn hunting and rampant fetishization found elsewhere.

• FetLife: If the "My Kinks" section on AFF piqued your interest but the endless bots scared you off, FetLife is exactly where you need to be. It's kind of like Myspace (RIP) for the BDSM, fetish, and kink community. You can find local kink events, join hyper-specific groups, and connect with real people who share your exact desires in a much safer, community-policed environment.

• Sniffies: If you're a gay, bi, trans, or queer man looking for a hyper-direct hookup, skip AFF entirely and head to Sniffies. This map-based cruising platform lets you see exactly who's looking for action in your immediate area. You don't even need to register for an account to browse the map, and it displays users' intentions and preferred sex positions right on their avatars.

• Mainstream Apps (like Hinge or OkCupid): While not strictly hookup-focused, even mainstream apps offer a more palatable and less spammy user experience. Their design is cleaner, there's less ad overload, and they prioritize clear information over flashing explicit content, which some users might find a relief compared to AFF's chaos.

Ultimately, you have options that are more modern, more inclusive, and simply less likely to make you feel like you need a virus scan after logging on.

The final verdict: Is AdultFriendFinder worth it?

AdultFriendFinder is a low-pressure way to find a friends-with-benefits situation without insulting anyone. Everyone is pretty much there for the same reason, and though it'll feel pretty unorthodox if you've only ever used Tinder to scope this type of thing out, AFF's blunt advertising at least means you won't have to explain that you're not looking for a relationship. It's niche-friendly and has a ton of interactive outlets to indulge your primal urges.

But that freedom comes with a price — the price is feeling like one of those people who fall for the ads that pop up before a free Pornhub video. It's not that a site dedicated to sex and sexting is inherently scammy — it's that AdultFriendFinder drowns you with explicit photos on profiles that might not even be real people while asking you to pay for a subscription with every click.

Unfortunately, no matter how in the mood you are, some people aren't cut out for the nothing-left-to-the-imagination approach with grammar mistakes all over the place. It wants to be sex-positive so badly, but the language the site has used in reference to the trans community is the furthest thing from that.

The site's functionality and safety aren't where they need to be in 2026. If security measures were tightened, graphics and photos were cleaned up to feel more relevant, and decision-makers behind the scenes were given a lesson in inclusivity and pronouns/identities, AdultFriendFinder could be a handy tool to find attachment-free hookups and connect with a community that's down for anything.

This isn't a dating or hookup site we would personally use, but if you're feeling brave, you can register for AdultFriendFinder here. Just don't try this at work.

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Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

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The excitement continues at the 2026 World Cup, with Canada looking to extend its historic run with a victory over a more confident, more experienced Moroccan team, while France looks to storm into the next round against Team Paraguay, bent on taking down the French giant.

The action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET in Texas before moving to the City of Brotherly Love at 5 p.m. ET.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 4

• Canada vs. Morocco (Houston Stadium) — kickoff at 1 p.m. ET

• Paraguay vs. France (Philadelphia Stadium) — kickoff at 5 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Canada vs. Morocco

Is Canada's historic run a result of lucky breaks or genuine, underrated talent? Team Morocco will provide the ultimate proof: take them down and immortalize your place in soccer history, or else lose and satisfy the gambling odds. Canada's leading scorer, Jonathan David, will need to be in top form here against a Moroccan defense that has allowed just two goals in the group stage thus far.

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

Watch Paraguay vs. France

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are drawing big crowds, but the consensus best player in this year's World Cup is France's own Kylian Mbappé, who knows full well that victory here is expected, and a loss would be devastating, not only to France but to his legacy as a player. Team Paraguay, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and everything to gain from a victory against the favored French team. But you underestimate Paraguay at your peril — just ask the Germans! — and if they can manage to keep the scores low late into the match, anything can happen.

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

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Starting at $10.99/month

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More live streaming options

Live 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:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

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.

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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TL;DR: Watch New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We don't exactly know what to expect from the first-ever 2026 Nations Championship, but one quick glance at the schedule over this opening weekend and we're excited. There's absolutely loads of huge matchups between the best sides in the world, and that can only be a good thing.

It all starts with arguably the best of the bunch: New Zealand vs. France at the One New Zealand Stadium. This is big.

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

When is New Zealand vs. France?

New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the One New Zealand Stadium.

How to watch New Zealand vs. France for free

New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch New Zealand vs. France 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To seize.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

USURP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Alert.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

AWAKE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fantastic.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GREAT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

"Go away!"

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SCRAM

Final Hurdle hint

Listened.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HEARD

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

TL;DR: Watch South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship opening weekend is stacked with huge matchups, but it doesn't really get any bigger than South Africa vs. England.

The 2026 Six Nations was tough going for England, finishing in fifth place in the standings. They'll need to turn things around to get anything out of a dominant South African side that thrashed Wales and the Barbarians in their last two games.

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

When is South Africa vs. England?

South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Airline Park.

How to watch South Africa vs. England for free

South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch South Africa 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship starts this weekend with a number of really interesting fixtures, including Fiji vs. Wales.

The Welsh did not enjoy the 2026 Six Nations, but they did at least finish with a victory over Italy. That wasn't enough to move them up from bottom spot in the standings. They'll be desperate to start with a positive result against an always-tricky Fiji side.

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

When is Fiji vs. Wales?

Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium.

How to watch Fiji vs. Wales for free

Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Fiji vs. Wales 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship's opening weekend is littered with high-profile matchups, including Australia vs. Ireland. The Irish will come into this clash expecting to win, but Australia have shown promising signs of progress in recent fixtures. Could this be the moment that Les Kiss makes his mark?

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

When is Australia vs. Ireland?

Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Sydney Football Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. Ireland for free

Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Australia vs. Ireland 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first-ever 2026 Nations Championship starts with a number of really interesting matchups.

Japan vs. Italy is probably not the most exciting fixture on the schedule, but there's a lot of reasons to watch the action. Italy are still riding high from the 2026 Six Nations and wins over England and Scotland, and they'll come into this game with hopes of starting with a win.

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

When is Japan vs. Italy?

Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

How to watch Japan vs. Italy for free

Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Japan vs. Italy 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Tonight marks day 19 of the lunar cycle, with the Moon continuing through its Waning Gibbous phase. As we get closer to the next phase, the Last Quarter, the illuminated portion of the Moon will continue to appear smaller each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, July 4, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 84% of its surface visible.

If you look up tonight with just your naked eye, you should be able to see the Mares Imbrium and Serenitatis, as well as the Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Posidonius Crater, the Alps Mountains, and the Grimaldi Basin. And if you have a telescope, you'll see all this plus the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun changes as it travels around our planet. As a result, the Moon appears to shift in shape throughout the month, progressing from slender crescents to quarter moons and eventually reaching the brightly lit Full Moon stage. This repeating pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

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

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship 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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends 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 until that offer comes back into play. 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

• 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

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a writer.

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.

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.

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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.

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: To keep on

• Green: Written works

• Blue: Thirst quenchers

• Purple: Nice!

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: Persist

• Green: Kinds of poems

• Blue: Tropical drinks

• Purple: Sweet ___

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 #1119 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Persist: CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY

• Kinds of poems: BALLAD, EPIC, ODE, VILLANELLE

• Tropical drinks: HURRICANE, PAINKILLER, SCORPION, ZOMBIE

• Sweet ___: DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT

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.

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

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to celebrate.

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.

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Ooh!

The words are related to the Fourth of July.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a holiday celebration.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Fireworks.

NYT Strands word list for July 4

• Dazzling

• Bright

• Colorful

• Fireworks

• Exciting

• Sparkling

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a foodie.

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.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An Italian staple.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Z appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PIZZA

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 today's Wordle.

TL;DR: Use code JULY30 by July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Skoove lifetime subscription on sale for $104.99.

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Self-taught musicians have always faced a frustrating problem. Without a teacher in the room, you can’t tell whether you’re playing the right note, holding the right rhythm, or just confidently repeating the same mistake. Skoove uses live note recognition that listens to your playing through a microphone or MIDI connection and gives feedback in real time, and a Premium lifetime subscription is on sale right now for $104.99 (reg. $299.99).

Skoove’s app analyzes audio coming from an acoustic piano or a connected USB/MIDI keyboard, identifies the notes you played, and compares them against what the current lesson called for. If you stumble, the app pauses and waits for you to correct yourself. If you nail it, you move forward. That tight feedback loop is the part traditional sheet music and YouTube tutorials can’t replicate, and it works whether you’re on iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows.

Skoove’s library includes more than 400 lessons plus thousands of instructional videos, with new lessons and songs added every month. Beginners can start with the basics like posture and single-hand playing, then move into chords, theory, and full pieces in genres including classical, pop, and blues. More experienced players can jump straight into chart hits by John Legend, The Beatles, and Adele, or pieces from Bach and Beethoven.

One-on-one support from Skoove’s music instructors is also included for the moments when an automated lesson isn’t enough, along with special courses for specific learning goals.

Skip the recurring monthly fee, and learn piano at your own pace.

Use code JULY30 to get a Skoove Premium Piano lifetime subscription on sale for $104.99. Offer ends July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Malcolm Todd is currently one of the fastest-rising stars in the music industry, with his viral hit "Earrings" recently topping the Spotify charts.

However, Todd has just fallen off the Spotify charts after an internal investigation by the company found manipulation through artificial streaming. As a result of the investigation, Spotify removed 500,000 streams for his song. "Earrings" fell to fourth on the charts after the stream removals.

“All streaming services face ever-changing stream manipulation. Spotify has best-in-class detection and mitigation practices for manipulated streams, and we don’t pay out associated royalties,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement.

The manipulation has been linked to those who placed bets on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. The artist is not believed to be involved, according to Financial Times.

Both Polymarket and Kalshi allow users to bet on which artists will have the top charting songs. In fact, the investigation into botted listens seems to have been sparked by other prediction market traders who closely analyze Spotify data and noticed fishy activity.

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Last week, Kalshi gave Todd a 2.5 percent chance of having the number one charting Spotify song by the end of June. Earlier this week, in the final days of the month, artificial streaming manipulation caused Todd's song to skyrocket 70 percent to the top of the charts within a 24-hour period. 

Spotify has since confirmed the manipulation after its investigation. The company also requested that Polymarket and Kalshi remove Spotify logos from their websites to prevent users from believing there is a partnership between the entities, according to Bloomberg.

Kalshi and Polymarket are actively reviewing the claims, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Wired.

Prediction markets have grown in popularity in recent years. However, these companies have also struggled to deal with increasingly common cases of insider trading and market manipulation.

TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. Cape Verde 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 group stage showcased a number of interesting storylines, but Cape Verde's qualification from a really tough group that included Spain and Uruguay was probably the moment of the tournament so far. The question now is can they go further and beat the defending champions? That's probably a step too far, but you never know.

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

When is Argentina vs. Cape Verde?

Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on July 3. This fixture takes place at the Miami Stadium.

How to watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free

Argentina vs. Cape Verde 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 Argentina vs. Cape Verde 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 Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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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 Argentina vs. Cape Verde (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 Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

There was major 2026 World Cup drama yesterday — with a late goal by Portgual sending Croatia home after a hard-fought game.

The high-stakes drama continues on July 3, as the final Round of 32 matches determines the fates of three teams.

It all kicks off at 2 p.m. ET, with three games played across the afternoon and evening.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 3

• Australia vs. Egypt (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 2 p.m. ET

• Argentina vs. Cape Verde (Miami Stadium) — kickoff at 6 p.m. ET

• Colombia vs. Ghana (Kansas City Stadium) — kickoff at 9:30 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Australia vs. Egypt

Neither Australia nor Egypt have a clean World Cup record going into this game, though Egypt's looks a little better on paper with a win and two draws. Australia has a win, a draw, and a loss heading into this matchup.

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

Watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde

Cape Verde is having a memorable World Cup run, but they will face quite the test in an Argentina team that is seemingly always a major World Cup contender. Both teams have a lot to lose, and one shot to move forward.

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

Watch Colombia vs. Ghana

Colombia certainly has more momentum going into this game, with two wins and a draw versus Ghana's win, draw, and a loss. But both survived the group stage, and anything can happen in the knockout rounds.

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

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More live streaming options

Live 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:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

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.

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Happy 4th of July, America. This year's Independence Day celebrations are a little extra special as we celebrate the United States of America's 250th birthday.

Across the country, many people will spend the day at the beach or at a barbecue, capping the night off with a fireworks display. But, if you're spending the night indoors, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate with an array of July 4th fireworks livestreams.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks 

Perhaps the most well-known of the Independence Day celebrations is the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. If you live in NYC, you can catch them live. Otherwise, you can tune into NBC or Peacock at 8 p.m. on July 4th to watch the show.

While the U.S. is celebrating its 250th, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks is also celebrating a milestone with its 50th anniversary this year.

PBS's America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together

While many of the livestream options on this list will require a paid subscription to a particular streaming platform, PBS is airing its 4th of July special on YouTube for absolutely free.

America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together will start at 8 p.m. on July 4th and culminate in a fireworks and pyrotechnics display from Colonial Williamsburg.

Disney Celebrates America

Disney is also getting in on the 250th anniversary of the United States celebrations with its own event.

Disney+, Hulu, and the ESPN app will stream a 24-hour broadcast called "Disney Celebrates America" that checks in on 4th of July celebrations around the country, which will ostensibly include at least a few fireworks displays. The grand finale, Star-Spangled Bash in Nashville, will also be hosted by ABC and deliver one of the country's largest fireworks and drone shows.

The broadcast kicks off at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd, with the main event out of Nashville starting at 8 p.m. on July 4th.

Freedom 250 fireworks display

There's been a lot of controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's own Freedom 250 group, set up to lead Trump's 250th anniversary celebrations. You've probably seen the memes about the lackluster attendance for Trump's Great American State Fair all week.

With that said, Freedom 250 is claiming they're about to have a record-breaking 40 minute long firework display on the 4th of July with more than 850,000 fireworks. And, according to the group, the MonumentCam atop the Washington Monument will be the premier free-to-watch livestream to watch it all.

The Great American Block Party 250

Paramount+ and CBS are hosting their own 3-hour Independence Day special at 8 p.m. on July 4th. 

Like Disney's, the show will check in on 4th of July celebrations and firework displays from around the country. The broadcast will also culminate in their own feed of Freedom 250's Washington, DC, fireworks display.

Keen skywatchers will see a Waning Gibbous Moon again tonight as the lunar cycle continues and we further away the Full Moon and closer to the New Moon. This means that the Moon will continue to appear smaller and less illuminated each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, July 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 90% of its surface visible.

You don't need lots of fancy equipment to see features on the Moon's surface. In fact, you can see the Mares Imbrium and Serenitatis, as well as the Copernicus Crater without any visual aids at all. If you do however have binoculars, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Clavius Crater, Mare Frigoris, and the Grimaldi Basin. And if you have a telescope, you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun changes as it travels around our planet. As a result, the Moon appears to shift in shape throughout the month, progressing from slender crescents to quarter moons and eventually reaching the brightly lit Full Moon stage. This repeating pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Taylor Swift once joked that "anyone I’ve ever talked to" would be invited to her wedding.

Apparently, she was not kidding.

Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported Madison Square Garden wedding this weekend is expected to include around 1,000 guests, which means the guest list is less “intimate gathering” and more “award show with vows.” The couple has not publicly confirmed the full guest list, but reports, sightings, interviews, and a few very suspicious tuxedo fittings have started to sketch out who may be inside the Garden.

So, who is reportedly going? Let’s check the seating chart.

Gigi Hadid

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Gigi Hadid is not just expected to be a guest. She is reportedly part of the bridal party. Hadid and Swift’s friendship dates back to 2014, and Hadid has publicly supported Swift’s relationship with Kelce, writing in 2023 that they were "over the moon" for her. Swift was seen arriving at Hadid’s New York City apartment on July 1, just days before the reported wedding. Nothing gets you wedding-ready like girl-time with your best friend!

Selena Gomez

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Selena Gomez is another obvious Swift guest and another reported bridesmaid. The two have been best friends for over 17 years — Swift even has a song about Gomez called "Dorthea." Gomez has been filming Only Murders in the Building in London but is expected to fly back to New York for the festivities.

Abigail Anderson Berard

Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

Abigail Anderson Berard is not just another famous friend. She is Swift’s childhood best friend and the “Abigail” fans know from the song “Fifteen.” Elle reported that Anderson Berard was seen at Swift’s Watch Hill, Rhode Island, beach house during the weekend Swift was rumored to be having her bachelorette, and that she has long been expected to attend the wedding. Anderson Berard is expected to serve as Swift’s maid of honor.

Andy Reid

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Chiefs coach Andy Reid is also a shoo-in for an invitation. Reid joked on a radio show that he "probably" had an invite and would go if he did not outgrow his tuxedo. He was also spotted picking up his tuxedo on June 25. That is a lot of tuxedo activity for a man not going to a wedding.

Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz has been friends with Swift for years; she even co-wrote the song "Lavender Haze" on Midnights. People reported that a source close to Swift said Kravitz received an invitation, but her fiancé — Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriend and 1989 muse — Harry Styles, has a concert scheduled in London that night. Hopefully, he can make a late-night flight across the pond and get to MSG in time.

Ed Sheeran

Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Ed Sheeran is also one of Swift's oldest friends and collaborators — and he's already been spotted in New York, about 60 miles from Aaron Dessner’s Hudson Valley recording studio. Swift herself teased his likely involvement during an October interview on the U.K.’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show, when she was asked whether Sheeran would sing at her wedding and replied that it would be hard to keep him from it. How I wish I could experience that private concert.

Sabrina Carpenter

Credit: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter has not publicly confirmed she is attending, but the clues are definitely there. Carpenter opened for Swift on several international Eras Tour dates, later became part of Swift’s current music universe with their Life of a Showgirl collaboration, and was spotted in New York on June 30 having dinner with friends in the West Village just days before the Big Day.

Suki Waterhouse

Suki Waterhouse can be presumed to be in attendance because she literally said she is going. In a Variety interview published in May, Waterhouse said, “I’m gonna go to Taylor’s wedding,” and joked that she might get inspiration for her own wedding to actor Robert Pattinson.

She and Swift have been friendly for years: they were spotted out together in New York with Cara Delevingne and Dakota Johnson back in 2016, dancing together at the 2024 MTV Music Awards, and Waterhouse opened for Swift at Wembley Stadium during the Eras Tour.

Mariska Hargitay

Credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Mariska Hargitay and Swift have been connected for years, especially through one very furry friend: Swift's cat, named Olivia after Hargitay's Law & Order SVU character. Fans have already started watching Hargitay’s Broadway schedule because her show, Every Brilliant Thing, was on break on July 3, the reported wedding date. Hopefully, she can make it, considering they looked like they had a pretty fun time together at the Knicks game.

Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw

Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are reportedly expected to both attend and perform. Swift has written songs about both of the musical legends: "Clara Bow" and, fittingly, "Tim McGraw." I hope those songs made it to the top of the request list.

Jack Antonoff

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Jack Antonoff is one of the easiest names to imagine on Swift’s guest list. The producer and Bleachers frontman has worked with Swift for more than a decade, from early collaborations like “Sweeter Than Fiction” through major albums including 1989, Reputation, Lover, Midnights, Folklore, and beyond. He is also a close real-life friend: Swift attended Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s wedding in New Jersey in Aug. 2023. So if Swift and Kelce are gathering their inner circle at MSG, Antonoff and Qualley would make sense as both friends and returned-wedding-energy guests.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne is another longtime Swift friend. Delevingne once even lived with Swift during a difficult breakup. In a 2024 conversation, Delevingne said Swift “looked after” her well but that she also took Swift on “a bit of a wild ride.” Isn't that what best friends are for?

The Haim sisters

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim have been part of Swift’s inner circle for years and are expected to be wedding guests. Their current Swiftworld relevance is also very MSG-specific: Este, Alana, and Swift made headlines at Game 4 of the NBA Finals for their punny “Knicks” graphic t-shirts.

Graham Norton

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Graham Norton has the clearest paper trail of almost any non-family invitee. In Oct. 2025, Swift appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote The Life of a Showgirl and told Norton she planned to invite him. That invite seemed not to be an empty promise. Norton was pictured arriving at JFK airport on July 2, ahead of the reported wedding weekend. Norton also joked on his Wanging On podcast in January that he had signed "so many NDAs," though he later clarified that was a "joke." Sure, Graham. Sure.

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are widely expected on Kelce’s side of the list. Patrick is Kelce’s quarterback, teammate, close friend, and one of the central figures in the Chiefs’ dynasty. Kelce served as a groomsman at Mahomes’ 2022 wedding, so it only makes sense for Mahomes to return the favor.

George and Claire Kittle

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George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers tight end and Kelce’s Tight End University co-founder, has also basically confirmed his own attendance. People reported that Kittle told ExtraTV at the Tight Ends & Friends concert that the couple had a strict no-gift rule, then joked that he might get Kelce an old coin anyway.

How about the New York Knicks’ starting lineup?

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July 2 saw reports that the Knicks' starting lineup was going to return to the Garden halls — but this time as wedding guests. However, star player Josh Hart debunked the rumor. Maybe after another championship win?

Again, Swift and Kelce have not publicly confirmed the final guest list, so all of this still lives in the world of reports, sightings, public comments, and heavily analyzed celebrity logistics. But if even half these names make it inside the Garden, "anyone I’ve ever talked to" may not have been much of an exaggeration.

For a wedding with a reported 1,000-person guest list, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s alleged Madison Square Garden celebration still appears to have a velvet rope.

The reported wedding has become a full-blown spectacle in the middle of sweltering-hot Manhattan, with fans, photographers, and celebrity-watchers all trying to figure out who will actually make it inside the Garden. But the more revealing question might be who will not.

While plenty of A-listers are reportedly gearing up for the alleged big night, there is also a pretty long list of people who appear set to watch the wedding content on Instagram like the rest of us.

Keep reading for the reported, rumored, and heavily speculated names we do not expect to see inside the Garden tomorrow night.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Despite weeks of speculation, Prince William and Kate Middleton will not be attending Swift and Kelce’s wedding. A People report ended chatter that the Prince and Princess of Wales would be in attendance after William jokingly said he was "hoping" there might be an invitation during a May appearance on the British radio show Heart Breakfast.

William has known Swift for years, famously joined her and Jon Bon Jovi onstage in 2013, and later took Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the Eras Tour in London, where the royal family posed backstage with Swift and Kelce.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively has been one of the most-discussed possible absences from the wedding because, for years, she was one of Swift’s most visible close friends. Lively directed Swift’s "I Bet You Think About Me" music video, Swift used the names of Lively and Ryan Reynolds' children in "Betty" and other songs, and the couple was regularly part of Swift's public friend circle, from New York outings to the 2024 Super Bowl suite where Swift cheered on Kelce.

The reported strain stems from Lively's legal battle with Justin Baldoni over It Ends With Us, which pulled Swift into the surrounding drama even though she was not part of the film.

As the dispute unfolded, reports said Swift had been referenced in court filings and text messages, and Baldoni’s side accused Lively of using her friendship with Swift as leverage during conversations about the movie. Swift’s rep denied that she had any involvement with It Ends With Us beyond licensing “My Tears Ricochet” for the soundtrack, but the damage appeared to be done.

Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry

Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, are also reportedly not on the guest list. Sources close to the couple claim they were not invited, despite their once-close ties to Swift and Kelce, which allegedly ended due to the drama between Swift and Lively, and that Sperry did not want to be involved.

Sperry and Teller were seen with Swift during the early days of her relationship with Kelce, including at the 2024 Super Bowl. Teller also later appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, where he referred to Travis as his "brother." Doesn't seem like it anymore.

Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss is another name with a long history in Swiftie lore. She and Swift were once inseparable during the 1989 era, appearing together at events, on social media, and even on a joint Vogue cover. Then, over time, public sightings slowed, and fan theories took over.

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The widely discussed fracture has often been linked to Scooter Braun, who acquired Swift's Big Machine master recordings in 2019, sparking one of the most public disputes of Swift's career. Kloss' 2018 wedding to Joshua Kushner became part of the speculation because Braun was reportedly a guest, and Swift did not attend.

Kloss' wedding status, however, is messy. Some outlets have reported she is not invited, while TMZ suggested the opposite. Given that she sat GA at the Eras Tour, I'm going to go with the former.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

This choice isn't a surprise. Kardashian and Swift's history goes back to the 2016 fallout over Kanye West's song "Famous," after West claimed Swift had approved lyrics about her, and Kardashian released edited clips of a phone call between West and Swift. A fuller version of the call later leaked in 2020, which supported Swift's claim that she had not been told about the most offensive lyric.

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That feud became one of the defining celebrity conflicts of Swift's Reputation era, complete with snake emojis, public backlash, and years of fan analysis. Taylor even has a song called "thanK you IMee" with the letters "KIM" capitalized. Real subtle.

Scooter Braun

Scooter Braun is also widely presumed to be nowhere near the guest list. The reason is obvious: Swift's long-running masters dispute began after Braun's Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group in 2019, giving him control of the master recordings for Swift's first six albums. Swift publicly criticized the deal, and the dispute eventually became a major artist-rights story as Swift began rerecording her old albums.

So yes, Braun's absence would be expected.

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Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris, Swift's ex-boyfriend, has also been named in some rumored "not invited" lists. The history there is less dramatic than Kardashian-West, but it did get messy in 2016 after Swift's team confirmed she had co-written Harris and Rihanna’s hit "This Is What You Came For" under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg. Harris responded in a series of tweets, including one accusing Swift's team of trying to make him look bad after their breakup. At least we got a really good song out of it.

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John Mayer

John Mayer is another ex who is most likely far, far away from the Garden on July 3. Mayer dated Swift when he was 32, and she was 19. Following their breakup, Swift released "Dear John," which fans have long believed is about Mayer. Mayer even told Rolling Stone that the song made him feel "really humiliated" and called it "cheap songwriting."

That "cheap songwriting" was inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame, but I digress.

Charli XCX

Speaking of artists believed to have been called out on The Life of a Showgirl, Charli XCX is also rumored not to be in attendance. Rumors of a feud between the two began after Charli released "Sympathy Is a Knife" on Brat, which some listeners interpreted as a dig at Swift. Swift then appeared to respond with "Actually Romantic," a song fans believe is about Charli and includes the pointed line: "I heard you call me boring Barbie when the coke's got you brave."

Charli is also engaged to George Daniel, the drummer for The 1975 — the same band fronted by Matty Healy, whom Swift briefly dated in 2023 and wrote an entire album about in 2024.

Kayla Nicole

Kayla Nicole, Kelce's ex-girlfriend, is another snub that is not especially surprising. Nicole dated Kelce on and off for about five years before they split in 2022. In Oct. 2023, shortly after Kelce and Swift's relationship became public, Nicole told People that she had unfollowed Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram because she needed to "protect" herself, while emphasizing that she still had love for her Kansas City circle.

After Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in Aug. 2025, Nicole posted about choosing "joy" on Instagram Stories. More recently, in February 2026, she reflected on her last serious relationship during a TikTok Live and described the breakup as potentially a "right person, wrong time" situation.

Most weddings do not include the bride or groom’s exes unless everyone involved has reached an unusually high level of emotional maturity, so Nicole's absence would not be particularly shocking. Well, besides Harry Styles, of course, who will likely be there with his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz. Now that's called growth.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an old soul.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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: Good vibes

• Green: Old sayings

• Blue: Bad vibes

• Purple: One letter

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Positive feelings

• Green: Retro expressions of approval

• Blue: Bad things to give someone

• Purple: What things pronounced "T" might refer to

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 #1118 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Positive feelings: BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS, WARM FUZZIES

• Retro expressions of approval: COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, RIGHT ON

• Bad things to give someone: COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME, RUNAROUND

• What things pronounced "T" might refer to: GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK, SHIRT

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.

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

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stuck in your ways.

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.

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's like talking to a brick wall

The words are related to strength.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being unshakable.

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 Not Budging.

NYT Strands word list for July 3

• Obstinate

• Willful

• Headstrong

• Firm

• Not Budging

• Stubborn

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 today's Strands.

If your iCloud storage is full, there's an easy way to clear space on your iPhone before resorting to paying for more storage. CNET’s Bridget Carey’s quick tips target the largest videos and photos first.