Two elephants trudged across a makeshift soccer field at Mexico’s Guadalajara Zoo in an attempt to divine the score of the 2026 World Cup’s opening game.
The creatures’ choice carried the weight of prophecy: munch on the grass on the side marked with a Mexican flag, or opt for the greenery of opposing South Africa.
Their split-second choice to amble over to the former foretold that Mexico would emerge as the winner of the highly anticipated match on June 11.
Photo: AFP
This soothsaying telling exercise follows in the footsteps of South Africa’s animal oracle Paul the Octopus in 2010.
“The idea is that the animals are going to make predictions about different matches that will be played,” zookeeper Ivan Reynoso said.
Next up, the gorillas Chenchi and Faustina were presented with two pinatas shaped like player jerseys — one from Spain and one from Uruguay. There was a tense pause until one of the primates suddenly went for Uruguay’s shirt, perhaps foretelling that the South American nation would win the June 26 match.
“It’s clear who won!” one zookeeper said excitedly.
A puma named Muluk seemed sure that South Korea would triumph against the Czech Republic and six giraffes hedged their bets with the Democratic Republic of Congo over Colombia.
Reynoso said the betting “stimulates many senses” for the animals on top of providing entertainment for an audience growing excited ahead of the world’s biggest football bonanza.
“This kind of activity enriches them a great deal, not only visually for the audience but for them as well,” he said.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
KNICKS TAKE LEAD: San Antonio put on a 9-0 run to be up 95-94 with just over 2 minutes to play, but the rest of the game belonged to the New York Knicks It was past five minutes through the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and the New York Knicks’ 11-game winning streak was in major jeopardy. The Knicks missed nine of their first 10 shots in the early part of the period and trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They were floundering. Then something crazy happened. The Knicks found new life from an unlikely source: The Spurs. New York rallied to tie the game by the end of the period, gave up the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, and pulled away late for a 105-95
RSS