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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.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' just united three generations of House Velaryon in one shot 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).

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet 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.

SEE ALSO: The nastiest moment from 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 3 isn't even in the book

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.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Where is Tumbleton, and why is it so important?

"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.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' pulls a Daeron Targaryen switcheroo that isn't in 'Fire and Blood'

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?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Where is Tumbleton, and why is it so important?

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.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' pulls a Daeron Targaryen switcheroo that isn't in 'Fire and Blood'

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).

SEE ALSO: Dear 'House of the Dragon': Enough with the threats of sexual violence 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?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments 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.

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:

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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 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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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? This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

SEE ALSO: Despite the backlash, Donald Trump is using AI again This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

SEE ALSO: Autopiloted Tesla reportedly involved in Texas crash that killed a woman This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

SEE ALSO: Jury tosses Musk OpenAI lawsuit, saves Sam Altman

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.

TL;DR: Type faster and save valuable time with a lifetime subscription to Voibe, on sale now for just $34.99 (reg. $199) with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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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.

If you act fast, you can save time forever with a lifetime subscription to Voibe for just $34.99 with code JULY30 if you buy it before tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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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.

Traditional dictation tools need cloud processing, but Voibe doesn’t require any connection. It works directly on your Mac, and audio is never sent to the cloud, so you can work offline and enjoy better security and privacy.

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.

Lock in a lifetime of convenient dictation on your Mac with this lifetime subscription to Voibe for just $34.99 with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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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.

If you want to invest confidently, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $48.29 with code JULY30, but you need to act fast — this deal ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Investing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sterling Stock Picker makes it accessible for all — with no prior knowledge or intense research required.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, powers this app, which features patent-pending technology for its North Star Rating System. These ratings provide technical and risk analysis for each stock on the market and a clear recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or avoid.

Want a stock rocket? Sterling Stock Picker shows you companies with more than 50% quarterly revenue growth. You’ll also get access to Finley, a personal finance coach that can answer questions about your portfolio, individual stocks, and the market in general.

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Sterling Stock Picker has a five-minute questionnaire that provides the app with info about your values, investment goals, and risk preferences so it can give you the best options for your portfolio. If you prefer to be hands-off, there’s also a Done-for-You portfolio option, too.

Learn more about the market within the app thanks to in-depth explanations of financial concepts and expert-backed strategy guides. Want to talk things over with a fellow investor? There’s a member chat forum, too.

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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.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the British GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

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.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

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 todayWatch 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.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive 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.

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

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.

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

To spill.

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

SLOSH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Side face.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for Juy 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHEEK

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Slope.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SLANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Not a friend.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HATER

Final Hurdle hint

Maneuver a car.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable 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.