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The NFL could add two more league-organized international games to its schedule as soon as next season.

“We have seven [international] games this year, and six of those are league-organized, and we do believe next year there will be more than that,” NFL senior vice president and managing director international Gerrit Meier told reporters Tuesday. “Whether that leads to the maximum of eight league-organized games or not, we will see, but the definite idea is to get ourselves more to the maximum.”

The league can hold up to eight international games currently, with the Jacksonville Jaguars permitted to hold up to two London games per season on top of that (thus far, the team has held one annual London game). Any more international contests per season would need approval from the NFL Players Association, with the league targeting 16 international games eventually, per Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal.

This season, the NFL is holding three international games in the United Kingdom and one each in Ireland, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Next season, games in Australia, Mexico City and Brazil are already on the docket, and it’s likely that the NFL will keep contests in the United Kingdom. Saudi Arabia and a “number of other countries have also expressed interest” in hosting games, per Fischer.

The NFL currently has marketing deals with 21 countries, he added, though Saudi Arabia isn’t one of them.

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WWEâ€s recent wave of developmental cuts may not be the end — and insiders are now warning that more names could be on the chopping block soon.

On Saturday, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported that “possible more cuts [are] coming next week,â€following the confirmed exits of several talents from WWEâ€s NXT and ID programs. That initial round of departures hit on Friday, October 10, and included some notable names.

Bodyslam.net confirmed that the list features former NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, former EVOLVE General Manager Stevie Turner, Drako Knox, Jamar Hampton, Jin Tala, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, and Brayden “BJ†Ray. Kylie Rae and Zayda Steel had already revealed the week prior that they were also out, as their WWE ID contracts werenâ€t being renewed.

Alvarez also reiterated that budget wasnâ€t the issue behind the cuts. WWEâ€s focus is clearly performance-based.

“WWE cuts were not budget related, they have over 130 people in developmental and hire more regularly,†Alvarez wrote. “If youâ€re not progressing fast enough or they feel you donâ€t have what it takes for main roster, youâ€re out to make room for someone new.â€

Wes Leeâ€s release is especially surprising given his resume. Signed in 2020 after a strong indie run as Dezmond Xavier, Lee found success in WWE as part of MSK, capturing the NXT Tag Team Titles twice. After going solo, he went on to hold the NXT North American Championship for 269 days — the longest reign in the titleâ€s history. He had been off TV since late 2023 with a back injury.

Stevie Turner also had a unique trajectory. After starting in NXT UK, she moved to NXT and was recently named the on-screen GM of the rebranded EVOLVE brand. The rest of the talent pool cut mostly consisted of newer names who had been working within the WWE ID and EVOLVE systems.

The cuts are being described as part of a larger shift in how WWE views its developmental structure — if a talent doesnâ€t show main roster potential quickly, theyâ€re cycled out to make room for the next prospect.

Do you think WWE is too quick to cut developmental talent, or is it smart business? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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File photo of Sports Minister Mandaviya. The Sports Ministry of India has released strict selection criteria for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, focusing on medal prospects and continental rankings. The new five-page document, unveiled on Wednesday, states that only athletes ranked in the top six for individual sports and top eight for team sports at the Asian level will be eligible for participation, with a clear emphasis on medal-winning potential.The selection criteria will also apply to other major events including the Commonwealth Games, Para Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games, Asian Beach Games, Youth Olympics, Asian Youth Games, and Commonwealth Youth Games.The ministry has made it clear that additional coaches and support staff will not be permitted, even at no cost to the government.”The aim is to ensure that the athletes who have real chance of winning medal are only considered for participation in multidisciplinary sports events,” the ministry stated in the document.The ministry further emphasised its stance on participation standards: “If it comes to notice of the Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that the aim is just for participation and not aiming for excellence (medal winning), names of such sportspersons and teams will not be approved after giving proper justification.”Athletes must have matched or bettered the sixth-place performance from the previous Asian Games within the past 12 months at recognised international competitions to be eligible for nomination.For events not contested at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, athletes must achieve a top-six finish at the Senior Asian Championships within the preceding 12 months.The policy specifically excludes the Olympics and other international competitions where qualification standards are set by international federations.The ministry has established specific ranking criteria for Asian Championships. For events with less than six teams, Indian athletes must finish in the top two, while in competitions with six to 12 teams, they must place within the top four.”Only those sportspersons, coaches and support staff will be part of the contingent, whose names have been cleared at cost to the government and no additional sportspersons, coach and support staff will be included even at no cost to government,” the ministry clarified.The guidelines address championships held at different intervals. Championships conducted beyond 24 months from the Asian Games date will not be considered for eligibility.The ministry warned against attempts to circumvent rules through irregular championships or those with low competition standards.For team sports, Asian rankings will be determined based on the latest global rankings, potentially affecting teams like Indian football, currently ranked 24th in Asia.The ministry has included a relaxation clause allowing recommendations for participants who don’t meet the criteria, based on expert opinion from specific sports or SAI.The new framework aims to establish a transparent and equitable selection process, following India’s record-breaking performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where they secured 106 medals, including 28 gold.The Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026, where these new selection criteria will be implemented for the first time.

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Sep 17, 2025, 08:25 PM ETPITTSBURGH — Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker traveled Wednesday to Florida for additional treatment on…

Michael RothsteinAug 29, 2025, 01:54 PM ETCloseMichael Rothstein, based in Atlanta, is a reporter on ESPN’s investigative and enterprise team.…