IT General

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.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Slide.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHUTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Cheer.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHANT

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Performing.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DOING

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Parade.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

RALLY

Final Hurdle hint

A link.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

NEXUS

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

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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

• Yellow: Drip

• Green: Stat sheet

• Blue: Les Bleus

• Purple: Basketball courts

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Style

• Green: Basketball Stats, Abbreviated

• Blue: Members of France's World Cup Squad

• Purple: NBA Arenas

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 #643 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Style: FLAIR, PANACHE, PIZZAZZ, SWAGGER

• Basketball Stats, Abbreviated: FG, FT, PF, TO

• Members of France's World Cup Squad: BARCOLA, GUSTO, MBAPPE, OLISE

• NBA Arenas: BARCLAYS, KIA, MODA, TD

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 28, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 28 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 28 Pips

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 28 Pips

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

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

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 5-0, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. 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 (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 28, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Top-tier

• Green: Initiation

• Blue: Musical essentials

• Purple: Skater's best friend

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: High-quality

• Green: Signals to commence

• Blue: Accessories for a guitarist

• Purple: They have boards

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 #1113 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• High-quality: CHOICE, FINE, PRIME, SELECT

• Signals to commence: BEGIN, GO, NOW, START

• Accessories for a guitarist: CAPO, PICK, SLIDE, STRAP

• They have boards: CHESS, CORPORATION, DARTS, SURFER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 28, 2026

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're an ally.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: March in June

The words are related to commemoration.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an LGBTQ observance.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Pride Month.

NYT Strands word list for June 28

• Rally

• Flags

• Drag

• Pride Month

• Rainbow

• Parade

• Celebration

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 like to get the party started.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 28, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 28, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Host.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears three times.

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 E.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

EMCEE

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.

Much of the talk at VidCon 2026 focused on how long-form horizontal content is at the forefront of rewiring the traditional Hollywood model. On a panel about convergence, Pocketwatch CEO Chris H. Williams declared, "If it works on YouTube, it'll work anywhere," pointing to The Besties' crossover success on Hulu and, soon, Amazon Fire TV Stick.

A recurring topic across panels was how streamers like Hulu, Amazon, and Tubi are recruiting creators, acquiring their YouTube libraries, or funding original content. But what does it take to make a video go viral on YouTube in 2026?

That was the question Vidcon attendees had in mind as they sat down for the panel titled Decoding the Algorithm: What Your Audience Actually Wants on YouTube. Presented by YouTube, this three-person panel featured YouTube Creator Liaison and Head of Editorial Rene Ritchie, YouTuber Katarina Mogus, and YouTube Senior Director of Growth and Discovery Todd Beaupré.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2026: Live updates from the internet's biggest weekend

However, rather than offering a guideline on how to make the algorithm work for you, Beaupré rebuffed assumptions that creators have about it. Chief among them, Beaupré dismissed the idea that YouTube's algorithm punishes users for infrequent posting and says creators are not punished for trying new things.

"It really depends on what you come back with, and whether it's interesting or not." Beaupré said of gaps in posting, "We did a really deep study of millions of channels and looked at the time spent between uploads to see if there was a correlation at all between how long it was between your uploads and what the difference in views was before and after the break. We found virtually no relationship. And if anything, the longer the break, the more likely it was that somebody could come back with even more views."

No slides and few figures were presented at the panel. But Beaupré did present a provocative notion.

'Your core audience maybe isn't as important as you thought.' Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable

"Almost every channel has a click-through rate of less than 10% in their subscriptions. These are people who hit the red button when you ask them to subscribe," Beaupré said. "And yet, 90% of the time, they see your video, they're not going to click on [it]. This is normal."

He went on, "Some of your subscribers are going to see your video in the first few hours, and 90% of them aren't going to watch it. YouTube understands that. That's the same for many channels. So if you're thinking, like, 'Oh, my first 100 people, if they're not the right people that see it, is my video gonna die?' No, because we know that even among your biggest fans, it may not be the right time."

Beaupré's advice was ultimately that creators should worry more about appealing to their audience than to YouTube's algorithm. He said, "When you have a question about the algorithm, I encourage you to replace the word 'algorithm' in your question with 'audience.' How that's relevant here is that if you take a break, the algorithm isn't going to punish you. But the audience may have different feelings when you come back. If you've been gone for six months, maybe they've moved on to discover some new channels, right? They're still on YouTube. And so you may not be as top-of-mind for them as you were before. So, audience reactions do influence your distribution."

Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.

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

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

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

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

When is Jordan vs. Argentina?

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

How to watch Jordan vs. Argentina for free

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

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

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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

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

When reliability tops the wish list, most luxury buyers head straight for Lexus. It makes sense, considering the brand has built its reputation on Toyota engineering wrapped in a premium package, but it's far from the only Japanese luxury automaker making dependable SUVs.

There are many reasons why you might want to get or send emails from an email address that's not your main one. Setting up entirely new Gmail accounts for one-time use purposes can get annoying quickly, though.

As a Gen-Xer, I believe that the 1990s featured excellent sitcoms thriving on both cable and network TV. While many gained widespread popularity and stole the spotlight, there are countless worthy sitcoms that have since fallen into complete obscurity and deserve some attention.

PivotTables can summarize thousands of rows in Excel in seconds, yet many people still waste time filtering raw data, building duplicate reports, and writing formulas that already exist inside the tool. These five overlooked tricks eliminate that extra work and have become part of my everyday workflow.

You may already know that Android Auto lives on your phone, but it’s not officially possible to literally use Android Auto on your phone’s screen. I’ve always thought that was a shame since so many people drive around with their phone in a mount and Google Maps open. Why shouldn’t the phone interface adapt to the car? Turns out it can.

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. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are already stealing the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition.

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

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 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.

Audrey Hopkins (aka Audity or AudityDraws) has grown a fan following by chasing her love of character design and not taking her art too seriously.

Her 13.2 million followers on TikTok revel over her imaginative mash-ups, like re-imagining Disney villains as Disney princesses or turning Bluey characters into human incarnations. But her greatest muse has been her husband, Richard Conley. She's drawn him as a merman, Sailor Moon, Handsome Squidward, and many more creative characters. All to the delight of her audience and Conley himself, who collaborated with her on an inspiration app, called Wanna Draw, which generates mash-up ideas for artists of all sorts.

As someone who has enjoyed Audity's art, mischievous sense of fun, and high-energy online persona, I was elated to sit down with her at VidCon 2026 to discuss her journey from character designer to a thriving content creator.

Audity next to her illustrated self portrait. Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Audity/Google Images How did being a content creator start for you? Because you are an animator, you are a character designer. What made you be like, "I'm gonna take this independently online"?

So it's a weird story. Back in the day, when TikTok was first starting, they had these agencies that would go out, and they would find people to post more. 

They would do a thing where they would pay you like 100 bucks a month to post every single day. Most people that were doing the program were just putting out kind of whatever. At the time, I was in between character design jobs. Before that, I had worked on different stuff, or like NBC, or things like that. I basically felt bad that my husband was the only one bringing in money. And I was like, "You know what, 100 bucks a month, that's a bit of groceries — that's something." So I started the program, but I took it more seriously. I was like, I'm actually gonna post my work and do like more fun stuff...  

And also build your portfolio. 

Yeah, exactly, exactly. And I never expected — it was like four months later, I'd hit a million followers. And I remember I got a call from somebody that was like, "Hey," — I'd done a comic book a while back, and they were like, — "We would love you to do a second one." I had to sit there and make a decision, like, "Do I go back to an actual job-job, or do I try to do this?" 

I never thought I could do this. And seven years later, I'm still doing it. 

And your husband's very involved too. How did he come into it?

Basically, my husband and I are constantly around each other because he works from home. Back when I first started filming, I remember he would say stuff sometimes, and I'd be like, "Oh no, don't talk, I'm filming something." 

After a while, I was just like I'm not gonna keep telling him to stop, and I started just turning the camera [to him], whenever he would say something weird, which is often. And he's just been so supportive. When I started doing more art stuff in college, before even looking at TikTok, I was working at Pier One at the same time. And I remember I was so stressed out. He was like, "You know what, quit [Pier One]. I got this, I got us."  And he's taken so much care of me and allowed me to do so much stuff. 

How has imagining him in all these illustrated incarnations impacted how you view him, and how he views himself? 

Actually, when we first started dating, he was like, "I always wondered if you draw me." And I'm like, "Oh, how you regret thinking that now!" But honestly, he's, I mean, is it weird to call him my muse? He really is!

Looking back, what was the first video that really took off that made you think, maybe I can do this full-time?

It might have been when I was doing my 50 states series, or my first time doing one of the fusion videos. Because my whole thing with art is I really firmly believe that art doesn't have to be taken so seriously. 

When I was in college, I started out as a studio painter and a traditional artist. So like, your girl can do still lifes. But everyone else would be like, "My work represents the darkness of society and stuff." And I'd be like, "I drew this really, really hot lady — she's super cool!" 

I kind of leaned into that with that kind of stuff. And with the fusion thing, I liked being able to just take like weird stuff and make this weird creature that was really cool, but didn't serve like a purpose. 

So I think I think those types of videos, and that first one was like the first time it was like, "Whoa, okay." And I think that's why actually, [my husband] ended up building the [Wanna Draw] app that we have, which was so sweet. He literally never had done anything like that in his life before, and just went in like three months sitting at our kitchen table, learning and building that app. Yeah, he's still the only one that runs it.

That's very cool.  So, what do you love about content creation?

Honestly, I think it's the fact that so many people who do art, like you make something cool, and you get to show it to, like, a few people, like your friends, or things like that, and then that's it. 

I get to be like, "Hey, world, look at this weird thing I made!" And, it's so amazing to see so many other people out there who also like that. I think that's my favorite part,  just getting to connect to so many different people and seeing how many different people are alike. 

We all get so trapped in our little bubbles, and it's also great to have like close-knit community. But it's also just so wonderful to have like this wide network of people that are also just so similar, right?

It's also interesting because when people think about big animated shows, they know the people who created the show. But they don't necessarily know all the nuts and bolts people and all the creativity they're bringing to it. So it must be exciting to be able to be like, "I don't need someone else's project to be seen."

I will say there are times when I miss working on things with other people. There's another content creator, a friend of mine, he runs D&D campaigns and everything. His name is Sir Feffers, and I become like his primary character design stuff. So it is nice, I get a little taste of being able to still work like for somebody else.

Is there a big fish dream project that would make you step away for this from content creation for a little bit? 

God, there are so many. It's too many. I really want to do character design work for a video game or something. Honestly, my real dream is to — do you know Dropout?

SEE ALSO: Dropout is a game-changer for comedy and creators Yes! I've interviewed a lot of that team!

They're so cool. I love them so much, but Dimension 20, particularly. I want to draw the characters for a season of theirs. 

Honestly, I've told them before, I'll do it for free. I'll do all the work for free, just let me do it. That's really the big thing. But at the same time, there are so many people who want to work for them, so I get it…Getting to meet Brennan Lee Mulligan for like a moment once was just like — 

He's so lovely. 

Oh my god, he's one of the coolest people. 

Agreed. Where do you find the differences in working in more traditional spaces and working for the internet? 

I think working for the internet is just — it's so chaotic. Because no Disney studio or anything out there is gonna be like, "You know, we really love it if you mix like Pennywise with Tinkerbell." But the internet's like, "We really want more of that, give us that." 

It's like having the most chaotic boss in the world. Because the weirder I get, the happier they are. That's I think the biggest difference is like that, and being able to just freely do what you want. 

I love that. So, a lot of people here at VidCon have been giving tips on what to do when you run out of ideas. What do you do when you hit, a creativity drought? When you're like, "I want to draw, but I don't know where to start."

For dealing with art block and burnout, I usually have like exercises that I do, like drawing the random shapes into faces, stuff that I like. I actually, eventually want to release a book that I make that's called Dealing with Art Block When You're a Character Designer. Because there's so much stuff that I've accumulated throughout the years that I do; tips and tricks. In my videos I can show a little bit of it, but I love to go more in depth. 

But stuff like that, like just finding a new way to do something you're already doing, is like the best way to get past something like that. Because if you're doing the same thing constantly, constantly, constantly, it's gonna get stale, it's gonna get like you're not gonna want to do it, you're like, "I can't keep thinking of ideas for this." If you challenge yourself, you're like, "I'm gonna draw with my left hand or I'm only allowed to draw mice today," or something weird like that. You're gonna make more fun, interesting things, because sometimes having that barrier helps, you know? 

It gives you a starting point to launch from.   

Yeah, exactly. 

Was there a point where you feel that you like made it as a content creator?

I'm still waiting for that point. I literally been talking to the other animators this entire VidCon, and it's funny. They'll all talk about, 'Yeah, back in the old days, like a few years ago." And I'm still feel like I'm new to this. I still feel like I'm making my way. 

What advice would you give to following you starting out in content creation? 

There's no one way to do it. Everybody's gonna have different advice and everything, but my whole thing is make stuff and do stuff that you like. Because you're just as much a viewer as everyone else out there. And if you like something and you enjoy something, I guarantee there are other people out there that like it as well, and enjoy it as well. And also just finding a fun way to do stuff.

Let's say you're somebody who really likes gaming, but you're like, "I wish there was somebody who did it like this." You'll be the person that does it like that. Go do it! Just try it! 

Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.

The interview above was edited for length and clarity.

It's no mystery that there's a bountiful harvest of excellent open-source apps for Android. All five of the utilities in this article should be on your phone if they're not already. They are all open source, have no ads or trackers, and they all just work.

Modern free and open-source (FOSS) apps are incredibly capable—in fact, I’d argue some are even more powerful than their paid counterparts. The problem is that, because they’re free, most FOSS projects don’t have the budget for major marketing campaigns. That means word of mouth is often the best—and sometimes the only—way to discover them. This week, I’ve rounded up three trending FOSS apps that are picking up serious momentum and are good enough to become your new defaults.

And with that, The Bear has come to an end. Hulu's Emmy-winning drama released all eight episodes of season 5 on June 25. That was the final season, so don't expect new episodes this time next June. The Bear will always hold a special place in my heart as the rare instance where I preferred binge-watching over a weekly release.

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

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

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

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

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Pressured by recent lawsuits claiming Uber didn't do enough to prevent sexual assault, the ride-sharing company has announced stricter background check requirements for drivers.

"After listening to a wide range of feedback, we’ve broadened the criteria for convictions that permanently disqualify someone from driving or delivering with Uber," the company wrote in a recent blog post. "Our goal is to build the safest platform."

SEE ALSO: Meta is pushing for social media exclusions in new child safety regulation

The new review process expands on existing driver requirements, permanently banning drivers with convictions that "may be sexual in nature." The new rules also disqualify drivers with misdemeanor or felony stalking and strangulation-related offenses because they "can be predictors of future violence," Uber explains. The company says the changes were influenced by recommendations from domestic violence prevention experts and civil rights groups.

In addition, background checks will be run for the driver's entire lifetime (technically 99 years). Previously, Uber's third-party background checks providers only ran Social Security Number (SSN) traces for the previous seven years.

The company stated the new requirements will not retroactively apply to existing driver accounts "with no serious interpersonal safety-related complaints of any kind," and if their conviction is "more than 15 years old and was not sexual in nature." The checks are still rolling out to drivers nationwide.

Multiple New York Times investigations have revealed an industry-wide prevalence of violent altercations with ride-share drivers, perpetrated primarily against female riders. A December exposé alleged Uber's background check protocols still approved drivers with violent felony convictions.

In February, Uber was deemed partially liable for the rape and assault of a ride-share passenger, who alleged the company failed to implement safety provisions that could have prevented the assault. The case included internal documents showing her ride was flagged as a safety concern, but the app did not notify her or authorities. Uber was ordered to pay $8.5 million instead of the requested $144 million in damages.