Brightstar Resources (BTR:AU) has announced Merger Discussions Between Brightstar and Aurumin
Download the PDF here.
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(TheNewswire)
Vancouver, BC TheNewswire June 30, 2025 – Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE: ELEM | FSE: 7YS0 | OTC: ELMGF) (‘Element79’ or the ‘Company’) announces its forward corporate guidance for the remainder of 2025, outlines recent strategic developments regarding its Lucero Project in Peru, and reaffirms its operational focus on its advanced-stage projects in Nevada, USA.
Force Majeure Declared on Lucero Project
The Company formally invoked the force majeure clause under its agreement with Condor Resources Inc. with respect to the Lucero Project due to a combination of social, regulatory, and political barriers which have effectively prevented the Company from lawfully executing planned exploration and development activities, despite holding full mineral rights.
A force majeure event refers to unforeseen circumstances beyond a party’s control—such as acts of government, social unrest, or natural disasters—that prevent contractual obligations from being fulfilled. In the case of Lucero, the following factors have contributed to the declaration:
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Evolving and inconsistent Peruvian federal policies on small-scale mining formalization, creating uncertainty in legal enforceability and timelines.
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Political instability and leadership vacuums , with current municipal governance in Chachas in transition and the outgoing mayor largely absent from the community.
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Legacy community mistrust and unmet promises from prior owners, complicating local engagement efforts.
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Ongoing unauthorized artisanal mining by community members operating outside legal frameworks and without formalized agreements.
Element79 has spent two and a half years of extensive, evolving efforts to foster community relationships and negotiate access agreements in good faith, and the Company believes in developing a win-win solution with the Chachas community for the restart of the past-producing Lucero mine, the tailings and development of a regional processing plant, and exploring the geological assets inside the Lucero concessions. The Company and its contracted financial consultants remain staunchly optimistic to fund future development at Lucero as agreements for surface rights agreements are reached. In the short-term, internal reports and formal feedback from its social engagement team (GAE Peru) and regional mining authorities (DREM Arequipa) suggest that no material progress toward surface rights agreements is likely for the remainder of 2025.
Path Toward Resolution and Reworking Terms with Condor Resources
Over the next 12 months, Element79 will:
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Continue monitoring regulatory developments, particularly the anticipated implementation of MAPE legislation , which may clarify formalization mechanisms between artisanal miners and mineral right holders.
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Maintain social outreach campaigns in Chachas through the Company’s social engagement team, GAE Peru, preparing the groundwork for ongoing engagement pre- and post-municipal elections in early 2026
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Continue ongoing dialogue with Condor Resources to explore restructuring the terms of the original Lucero agreement, with the goal of establishing a more reasonable, flexible and mutually beneficial framework as on-the-ground conditions allow for meaningful work to resume at Lucero.
Strategic Focus Shift to Nevada Projects
In line with this operational pivot, Element79 is reaffirming its near-term focus on its U.S.-based assets:
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The Company will retain and advance development at the Elephant Project in Nevada. A technical report to formally organize historical work under the 43-101 framework, upcoming work plan and exploration campaign are currently being finalized and will be publicly disclosed shortly.
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The acquisition of the Gold Mountain Project , a drill-ready asset also located in Nevada, is expected to close as soon as possible, pending administrative timelines surrounding Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day holidays. A comprehensive development plan will be issued thereafter.
As Element79 aligns its capital and human resources to near-term executable projects, the Company remains committed to:
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Unlocking shareholder value through strategic asset optimization.
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De-risking its project portfolio by prioritizing jurisdictions with clear permitting paths.
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Continuing stakeholder engagement to support long-term success at Lucero when conditions become viable.
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Changes to the board of directors and management to reflect the evolving business model
About Element79 Gold Corp.
Element79 Gold Corp. is a mining company focused on the exploration and development of high-grade gold and silver assets. Its principal asset is the past-producing Lucero Project in Arequipa, Peru, where it aims to resume operations through both conventional mining and tailings reprocessing. In the United States, the Company holds interests in multiple projects along Nevada’s Battle Mountain Trend. Additionally, Element79 Gold has completed the transfer of its Dale Property in Ontario to its wholly owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp., and is progressing through the Plan of Arrangement spin-out process.
For further information, please visit: www.element79.gold
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
James C. Tworek
Chief Executive Officer, Director
Element79 Gold Corp.
jt@element79.gold
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘anticipate,’ ‘plan,’ ‘continue,’ ‘expect,’ ‘estimate,’ ‘objective,’ ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘project,’ ‘should,’ ‘predict,’ ‘potential’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s exploration plans, development plans and the Force Majeure Event. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements because the Company cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include conditions in the duration of the Force Majeure Event, and receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.
News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia
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Investor Insight
With a strategic foothold in Portugal and a commodity focus on tungsten – a metal deemed critical by both NATO and US defense agencies – Allied Critical Minerals is advancing two past-producing projects toward near-term production. Backed by a $4.6 million financing, offtake interest from major buyers, and a leadership team with proven capital markets and operational success, ACM is well-positioned to become the largest tungsten producer outside of China.
Overview
Allied Critical Minerals (CSE:ACM,FSE:0VJ0) is advancing two highly strategic, past-producing tungsten projects – Borralha and Vila Verde – located in northern Portugal. These brownfield assets present a compelling combination of near-term production potential and district-scale exploration upside, positioning the company to become the largest tungsten producer outside of China. With 100 percent ownership of both projects and supportive local communities, ACM is well-placed to contribute to the critically needed supply of this strategic metal to Western markets.
Tungsten is essential for defense systems, electric vehicles, semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), yet current global supply is dominated by China and Russia, accounting for about 90 percent of production. ACM’s projects are aligned with national security strategies in the US and EU, seeking secure and stable sources of tungsten supply. The company has already signed a letter of intent with Global Tungsten & Powders, a major Pennsylvania-based end-user with ties to the US military and is actively engaging with other global refineries.
To capitalize on these market dynamics, ACM closed a $4.6 million financing to fund an aggressive value creation plan. This includes an ongoing drill program at Borralha aimed at expanding its existing NI 43-101 resource, and the construction of a pilot processing facility at Vila Verde, targeted to begin in Q4 2025 and become operational by 2026. The pilot plant will process tailings and alluvial material from existing deposits, with an estimated annual output of ~250 tons tungsten trioxide (WO₃) and projected revenues of $4 million to $5 million, supporting near-term cash flow with minimal dilution.
ACM differentiates itself from competitors such as American Tungsten and Fireweed through its permitting progress, advanced technical groundwork and strong leadership. CEO Roy Bonnell brings a proven track record of successful exits and rapid value creation, having been instrumental in the success of both Founders Metals (TSXV:FDR) and Thesis Gold (TSXV:TAU) — two of the TSX Venture’s top-performing issuers in recent years.
Company Highlights
- Strategic Focus on Critical Metals: Allied Critical Minerals is developing two tungsten projects – Borralha and Vila Verde – in mining-friendly northern Portugal, targeting near-term production and long-term scale.
- Advanced Brownfield Assets: Both projects are historic producers with significant infrastructure, community support and technical momentum. Borralha produced tungsten from 1904 to 1986, and holds a newly updated NI 43-101 compliant resource.
- Pilot Plant Launch in 2026: A pilot plant at Vila Verde is slated for construction in Q4 2025 with 150,000 tpa throughput capacity, expandable to 300,000 tpa. Target output of ~250 tons WO₃ annually is expected to generate $4 million to $5 million in revenue, funded through non-dilutive financing.
- Offtake and Government Support: Allied has signed an LOI with Global Tungsten & Powders and is in discussions with additional refineries. Expressions of interest from US and EU defense-linked buyers are ongoing.
- High Impact Drill Campaign: A fully funded 5,000 meter drill program is currently underway at Borralha, with assays expected to expand resources and define the high-grade Santa Helena Breccia zone.
- Differentiated from Peers: Allied is one of only a few public companies in the Western world with near-term tungsten production potential, outpacing peers such as American Tungsten and Fireweed, in both timeline and resource readiness.
Key Projects
Borralha Tungsten Project
The Borralha project is ACM’s flagship development-stage asset, located approximately 100 km northeast of Porto in northern Portugal. A brownfield project with a rich production history dating back to 1904, Borralha produced over 10,280 tons of wolframite concentrate at an average grade of 66 percent WO₃, until operations ceased in 1986. Today, the project is advancing rapidly, supported by a Mining Rights Concession License and a newly updated NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate effective July 31, 2024. The estimate defines indicated resources of 4.98 million tons (Mt) at an average grade of 0.22 percent WO₃, 762 grams per ton (g/t) copper, and 4.8 g/t silver, and inferred resources of 7.01 Mt at 0.20 percent WO₃, 642 g/t copper, and 4.4 g/t silver. The project area hosts significant polymetallic enrichment, with tin and copper frequently associated with the tungsten mineralization, adding potential for by-product credits.
The primary zone of interest, the Santa Helena Breccia (SHB), is a subvertical to sub-horizontal breccia pipe-style tungsten system. Historical and recent drilling confirms broad, continuous mineralization with highlight intercepts including 106 m at 0.21 percent WO₃, 114 m at 0.23 percent WO₃, 108 m at 0.22 percent WO₃, and a high-grade zone of 10 m at 1.75 percent WO₃.
The SHB zone accounts for over 70 percent of known mineralization, but only about half of the zone has been drill-tested to date. The current drill campaign is targeting both lateral extensions and higher-grade core zones within the breccia body.
Geologically, the deposit is hosted in metasedimentary rocks intruded by late-Variscan granites, with mineralization occurring predominantly as wolframite associated with quartz-cassiterite veins and breccia infill. Breccia pipe mining techniques – similar to open-pit quarry operations – are anticipated for early-stage exploitation.
The project is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment under review by Portuguese authorities. The mining license includes provisions for up to 150,000 tons per annum of bulk sampling ahead of full-scale operations, which will be governed by a future feasibility study. The low-cost drill environment (~$235/meter) and excellent infrastructure – including road, power, water and proximity to a skilled workforce – make Borralha a technically robust and strategically significant asset for ACM.
Vila Verde Tungsten-Tin Project
Located approximately 45 km southeast of Borralha, the Vila Verde project is ACM’s pilot production and near-term cash flow opportunity. Historically, this area hosted the Vale das Gatas Mine, which was one of Portugal’s largest tungsten producers prior to its closure in 1986. The project covers a significantly larger land area than Borralha and includes multiple mineralized zones, notably Cumieira and Porqueira. A historical resource estimate from 2020 defined 7.3 Mt of mineralized material above a 0.05 percent WO₃ cutoff, including 4.0 Mt at 0.14 percent WO₃ in the Cumieira zone and 3.3 Mt at 0.10 percent WO₃ in Porqueira. While historical in nature, these figures are supported by 17 diamond drill holes totaling 2,103 metres, which revealed a 2.1 km x 1.0 km mineralized footprint at Cumieira and a 1.0 km x 500 m footprint at Porqueira.
Vila Verde Pilot Plan
Vila Verde is advancing toward the construction of a 150,000-ton-per-annum pilot plant, scheduled to begin construction in Q4 2025 and be operational in 2026. Tailings and alluvial material from the Justes deposit will be used as the initial feedstock, with an average WO₃ grade of ~0.21 percent anticipated. Plant design includes standard crushing and grinding circuits followed by gravimetric and magnetic separation to produce a high-grade wolframite concentrate. Engineering work by GMR Consultores and MinePro Solutions supports an annual output of approximately 250 tons of WO₃ under current parameters. The total estimated CAPEX for the pilot plant is CA$7.9 million, with a proposed expansion to 300,000 tpa requiring an additional CA$2.9 million, both targeted for non-dilutive funding sources.
Permitting is progressing efficiently, with the mineral license being converted from exploration to experimental mining status. This permits early-stage production while full-scale licensing is pursued. The project benefits from pre-existing quarry infrastructure, strong community support, and short timelines to cash flow. A signed LOI with Global Tungsten & Powders in Pennsylvania provides an initial offtake channel, and additional negotiations with global refiners are ongoing. Vila Verde is central to ACM’s short-term revenue plan and is designed to serve as a testbed for scalable production across its broader tungsten portfolio.
Management Team
Roy Bonnell – CEO and Director
Roy Bonnell is a seasoned executive with over 30 years in capital markets, venture finance and natural resources. Bonnell holds an LLB from Western University, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from McGill University. He brings deep leadership and financing experience and previously served as a board member for Founders Metals and Thesis Gold – two of the TSXV’s top performers.
João Barros – President and COO
With over 20 years of mining sector experience in Portugal, João Barros specializes in exploration management, environmental impact assessments and feasibility studies. He has held leadership roles at Ascendant Resources and Redcorp, and is a member of the Portuguese Engineers Association.
Sean O’Neill – Non-Executive Chairman
Sean O’Neill is head of securities at Boughton Law with 20+ years in corporate and securities law, including advising mining firms globally. He holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Law, an MBA, and is a registered professional engineer (P.Eng).
Michael Galego – Director
Michael Galego is the CEO of Apolo Capital Advisory and CLO of LNG Energy, with extensive experience in M&A and corporate strategy. Notably, he advised on the sale of Woulfe Mining (tungsten asset) to Almonty Industries. He is a Lexpert Top 40 Under 40 awardee and member of the TSX Venture Advisory Committee.
Colin Padget – Director
CEO of Founders Metals, Colin Padget brings operational exploration experience across South America. He holds a Masters in Geology and a Bachelor in Business Administration.
Andrew Lee – Director and Corporate Secretary
Former Managing Director of York Harbour Metals, Andrew Lee has 15 years of global exploration experience across gold and phosphate projects in Ecuador and West Africa.
Sean Choi – CFO
A CPA with nearly 20 years in mining finance, Sean Choi has held CFO roles at York Harbour Metals, Ecuador Gold & Copper, and Northern Sun Mining. He holds a degree from the Western University.
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James Harden will decline the player option on the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers but intends to re-sign with the team on a new two-year contract, ESPN is reporting.
ESPN reports that Harden’s new contract with the Clippers will be worth $81.5 million. Harden had until Sunday, June 29 to make a decision on his previous contract with the Clippers.
Had Harden exercised his player option, he would have played out the final year of his contract in Los Angeles and would’ve become a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.
A new Harden deal also aligns with the contract that his co-star in Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard, has. Leonard is signed for two more seasons, through 2026-27, keeping the two star players together.
Harden was a reliable presence for the Clippers this year, especially with the prolonged absences of Leonard, who dealt with knee inflammation to start the season. Harden played 35.3 minutes per game and started 79 games. He averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Although the Clippers played in just seven postseason games – all in a thrilling first-round series against the Denver Nuggets – Harden’s 9.1 assists per game was the highest individual total for all players who participated in the postseason.
The Clippers were one of the better teams in the NBA down the stretch, winning 18 of their final 21 games in the regular season, including the final eight.
Harden, an 11-time All-Star and the 2017-18 Most Valuable Player, will enter his 17th season in the NBA. He has scored 27,687 career points, which ranks 11th all-time.
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Power forward Jabari Smith Jr. is expected to sign a five-year, $122 million rookie contract extension with the Houston Rockets, according to a report from ESPN.
The deal, expected to be a fully guaranteed, would last through the 2030-31 season.
Smith averaged 12.2 points and seven rebounds, while starting 39 of the 57 games he played this season.
The Rockets finished with a 52-30 overall record during the 2024-25 season and entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.
The Rockets were in the news earlier this week when Houston traded Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.
Jabari Smith Jr.’s career stats
The former Auburn Tiger has spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets after being drafted as the third overall pick in the 2022 draft.
*Averages per game
- Points: 13.0
- FG%: .432
- 3PTs%: .340
- FT%: .805
- Rebounds: 7.5
- Assists: 1.3
- Blocks: 0.8
- Steals: 0.6
- Turnovers: 1.2
- Fouls: 2.6
- Minutes played: 31.1
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It’s officially opening day at Wimbledon, as a fortnight of action begins on the legendary grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Opening-round matches in both men’s and women’s singles get things started on Monday, June 30, with the first round continuing Tuesday.
Two-time defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his epic French Open championship, and women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka headline Monday’s schedule, while men’s top seed Jannik Sinner and reigning French Open women’s champion Coco Gauff will get an extra day of rest before they begin their quest for a championship.
Here’s a look at some of the top matches on Monday’s schedule at Wimbledon:
How to watch Wimbledon 2025
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and Tennis Channel. Fans wanting to stream the action can watch matches on ESPN+ or Fubo.
Monday, June 30
- Main coverage: ESPN, Fubo, 6 a.m. ET
- Court 1: ESPN+, 8 a.m. ET
- Courts 2-18: ESPN+, 6 a.m. ET
- Match replays: Tennis Channel, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET
Wimbledon 2025 men’s singles
First-round feature matchups
Centre Court
- No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. Fabio Fognini (Italy)
- No. 3 Alexander Zverev (Germany) vs. Arthur Rinderknech (France)
No. 2 court
- No. 9 Daniil Medvedev (Russia) vs. Benjamin Bonzi (France)
- No. 5 Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France)
No. 3 court
- No. 8 Holger Rune (Denmark) vs. Nicolas Jarry (Chile)
Court 12
- No. 12 Francis Tiafoe (USA) vs. Elmer Moller (Denmark)
- No. 24 Stefano Tsitsipas (Greece) vs. Valentin Royer (France)
Wimbledon 2025 women’s singles
First-round feature matchups
Centre Court
- No. 9 Paula Badosa (Spain) vs. Katie Boulter (United Kingdom)
No. 1 court
- No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) vs. Carston Branstine (Canada)
- Emma Raducanu (United Kingdom) vs. Mingge Xu (United Kingdom)
No. 2 court
- No. 6 Madison Keys vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania)
- No. 4 Jasmine Paolini (Italy) vs. Anastasija Sevastova (Latvia)
No. 3 court
- No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) vs. Sonay Kartal (United Kingdom)
- No. 5 Qinwen Zheng (China) vs. Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)
Court 15
- No. 22 Donna Vekic (Croatia) vs. Kimberly Birrell (Australia)
- No. 13 Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan)
Court 16
- No. 12 Diana Shnaider (Russia) vs. Moyuka Uchijima (Japan)
- No. 24 Elise Mertens (Belgium) vs. Linda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic)
Court 17
- No. 31 Ashlyn Krueger (USA) vs. Mika Stojsavljevic (United Kingdom)
Court 18
- No. 14 Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) vs. Anna Bondar (Hungary)
- Naomi Osaka (Japan) vs. Talia Gibson (Australia)
Watch Wimbledon with Fubo
2025 Wimbledon schedule
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships are slated to begin on Monday, June 30, and run through Sunday, July 13. Men’s and women’s singles begin on June 30, while the men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles brackets begin play on Wednesday, July 2. Here’s a breakdown of the complete schedule for this year’s fortnight at Wimbledon.
- Monday, June 30: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- Tuesday, July 1: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- Wednesday, July 2: Men’s and women’s singles second round; men’s and women’s doubles first round
- Thursday, July 3: Men’s and women’s singles second round; men’s and women’s doubles first round
- Friday, July 4: Men’s and women’s singles third round; men’s and women’s doubles second round; mixed doubles first round
- Saturday, July 5: Men’s and women’s singles third round; men’s and women’s doubles second round; mixed doubles first round
- Sunday, July 6: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round; men’s and women’s doubles third round; mixed doubles second round
- Monday, July 7: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round; men’s and women’s doubles third round; mixed doubles quarterfinals
- Tuesday, July 8: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals; men’s and women’s doubles quarterfinals; mixed doubles semifinals
- Wednesday, July 9: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals; men’s and women’s doubles quarterfinals
- Thursday, July 10: Women’s singles semifinals; men’s doubles semifinals; mixed doubles final
- Friday, July 11: Men’s singles semifinals; women’s doubles semifinals;
- Saturday: July 12: Women’s singles final; Men’s doubles final
- Sunday, July 13: Men’s singles final; women’s doubles final
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The U.S. men’s national team defeated Costa Rica in a thrilling Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal that went to a penalty shootout at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 29.
The USMNT prevailed in the shootout, 4-3, after the two teams were knotted up a 2-2 after 90 minutes (there is no extra time in the Gold Cup until the final). The penalty shootout went to a sudden-death sixth round. After U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese stopped Andy Rojas’ attempt, Damion Downs — a 20-year-old making just his second USMNT appearance — put his attempt past Costa Rica’s legendary shot-stopper Keylor Navas for the victory. Freese made two saves in the penalty shootout, and nearly made saves on two other attempts.
In regulation, the game was a back-and-forth tussle. Costa Rica opened the scoring early on a penalty kick. Diego Luna answered later in the first half with his first USMNT goal. Early in the second half, Max Arfsten scored his first USMNT goal before Costa Rica answered in the 71st minute with an equalizer that eventually forced the game to go to a penalty shootout.
Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman (who had a penalty shot miss in the first half half of the game), Alex Freeman and Downs each made their penalty shootout kicks to give the U.S. the win.
The U.S. will face Guatemala — a surprise winner over Canada in another penalty shootout — in the Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 2 in St. Louis (7 p.m. ET on FS1). Mexico takes on Honduras — which upset Panama — in the other semifinal.
USMNT vs. Costa Rica highlights
USMNT vs. Costa Rica going to penalty shootout
The Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal ended regulation tied at 2-2, and the game immediately goes to a penalty shootout (no extra time until the final). As the USMNT’s Matt Freese faces the pressure of his first national team knockout penalty shootout, the veteran Keylor Navas gives Costa Rica a goalkeeping advantage.
Costa Rica 2, USMNT 2: Alonso Martinez ties it back up
After a high-flying start to the second half, the U.S. has gotten a bit sloppy in possession. Costa Rica finally made the USMNT pay for letting its opponent hang around.
U.S. goal keeper Matt Freese made a save on Carlos Mora’s attempt, but the rebound returned to Mora who dished it to Alonso Martinez, who knotted up the score at 2-2 in the 71st minute.
Now, Costa Rica has snagged the momentum in this spirited Gold Cup quarterfinal. With Keylor Navas between the pipes for Costa Rica, the last thing the U.S. wants if for this one to go to a penalty shootout. There will be no extra time if the game is tied after regulation.
USMNT 2, Costa Rica 1: Max Arfsten gets his first national team goal
It didn’t take long for the U.S. to take the lead in the second half.
Some delicious soccer-football play from the squad eventually led to the ball at the feet of a wide-open Arfsten in the box. Arfsten slid the shot past Keylor Navas and the U.S. took a 2-1 lead right after intermission.
Arfsten has rebounded nicely from his foul that led to a penalty, assisting on Diego Luna’s equalizer and now scoring to put the USMNT into the lead.
USMNT 1, Costa Rica 1: Diego Luna evens up the score
Despite giving up the opening goal via penalty kick, the USMNT has been the more dangerous of the two squads throughout the first half.
That pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute when Diego Luna got his shot past Costa Rica’s legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Luna — nicknamed the ‘Moon Man’ — adeptly collected Max Arfsten’s pass inside the 18-yard box and banged his shot past a diving Navas and into the back of the net. For Arfsten, it has to feel good to contribute to the goal after his foul resulted in Costa Rica’s first score on a penalty kick.
Malik Tillman bangs penalty shot off the post, fracas follows
The USMNT wasted a golden opportunity in the 37th minute to tie up the score, but Malik Tillman pushed his penalty shot off the left post.
A kerfuffle followed the play as emotions are running high at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Costa Rica’s Kenneth Vargas and U.S. defender Chris Richards were issued yellow cards for their involvement in the pushing and shoving.
The penalty shot was awarded after Tillman was clipped inside the 18-yard box by Juan Pablo Vargas and the play eventually went to VAR. A yellow card was issued to Juan Pablo Vargas for his foul on Tillman.
Diego Luna attempts trick shot
Getting a goal past Costa Rica’s 38-year-old goalkeeper Keylor Navas — arguably still the best ‘keeper in Concacaf — will be a challenge for the USMNT.
In the 18th minute, Diego Luna attempted an acrobatic shot, but it didn’t challenge Navas as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Costa Rica 1, USMNT 0: Ill-advised foul results in penalty shot
A reckless challenge by USMNT defender Max Arfsten inside the 18-yard box on Kenneth Vargas resulted in a penalty shot goal by Costa Rica’s Francisco Calvo in the 12th minute.
U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese nearly stopped the shot, but Calvo was able to get the shot through inside of the post.
This is the first time that the U.S. has trailed in this year’s Gold Cup tournament. Let’s see how this largely inexperienced squad responds to early adversity in this quarterfinal match.
What time is USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game?
The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal between the USMNT and Costa Rica is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET, with the teams meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
How to watch USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game: TV, stream
- Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
- TV: Fox (English), Univision, TUDN (both Spanish)
- Stream: Fubo, Sling TV
Watch the USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game on Fubo
USMNT starting 11 vs. Costa Rica
Costa Rica starting 11 vs. USMNT
Concacaf Gold Cup bracket and remaining schedule
QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, June 28
- Honduras 1, Panama 1 (Honduras won penalty shootout, 5-4)
- Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 0
Sunday, June 29
- Guatemala 1, Canada 1 (Guatemala won penalty shootout, 6-5)
- United States vs. Costa Rica at U.S. Bank Stadium, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, July 2
- Guatemala vs. United States-Costa Rica winner at Energizer Park, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Honduras vs. Mexico at Levi’s Stadium, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)
FINAL
Sunday, July 6
- Semifinal winners at NRG Stadium, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
Which players are on the USMNT Gold Cup roster?
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/England)
Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/Germany), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)
Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/Netherlands), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln/Germany), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada)
Diversity is not what’s dragging down U.S. men’s national team. Data proves it
Whatever is wrong with the U.S. men’s national soccer team, and pull up a chair because there’s lots to discuss, diversity isn’t it.
That’s not just an aspirational statement. There are studies to prove it. In fact, researchers who’ve looked at both club and national teams across the world recently found diversity actually made squads better. — Nancy Armour
USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman
Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.
Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.
Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7.
What is the Concacaf Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is a biennial tournament for national teams in the North and Central American and Caribbean region associated with Concacaf. Mexico (nine times), the U.S. (seven times) and Canada (one time) are the only nations to have won the Gold Cup. Mexico won the last Gold Cup competition in 2023.
USMNT 2025 schedule and results
- Jan. 20 (friendly) — United States 3, Venezuela 1
- Jan. 22 (friendly) — United States 3, Costa Rica 0
- March 20 (Concacaf Nations League) — Panama 1, United States 0
- March 23 (Concacaf Nations League third-place match) — Canada 2, United States 1
- June 7 (friendly) — Türkiye 2, United States 1
- June 10 (friendly) — Switzerland 4, United States 0
- June 15 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
- June 19 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 1, Saudi Arabia 0
- June 22 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 2, Haiti 1
- June 29 (Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal) — United States vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m. ET (U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis)
- Sept. 6 (friendly) — United States vs. South Korea, 5 p.m. ET (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, N.J.)
- Sept. 9 (friendly) — United States vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m. ET (Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio)
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Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier are set to go head to head when the Indiana Fever take on the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final on Tuesday, July 1. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will mark Round 2.
On Sunday, June 29, the WNBA announced that Clark and Collier will serve as captains of this year’s All-Star Game after picking up their second and fifth career All-Star nods, respectively. Clark, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Collier, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, earned the honor by receiving the most fan votes.
With the title of captain comes responsibilities. Clark and Collier will be tasked with drafting their All-Star teams playground-style from a pool of eight starters and 12 reserves. The remaining eight starters — selected by fan votes (50%), current WNBA players (25%) and media members (25%) — will be announced on Monday, June 30, while the 12 All-Star reserves will be selected by the league’s head coaches on July 6.
The WNBA All-Star Game draft will be broadcast on ‘WNBA Countdown Presented by Google” on July 8.
The Fever shared a social media video of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announcing the news to Clark and the Fever. ‘Caitlin, I just want to personally congratulate you on being named captain for the 2025 WNBA All-Star team,’ Engelbert said over the phone, which was held by Fever head coach Stephanie White. Clark’s teammates cheered and applauded. When Engelbert sent her best wishes for the upcoming 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final, Clark candidly replied, ‘We about to get that dub Cathy.’
Clark’s availability for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be something to monitor. Clark has missed a career-high seven games this season due to injury, including the Fever’s last two games due to a left groin injury. Her status for the Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup championship game vs. the Lynx remains unclear.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 19 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Fever, and could feature more Indiana stars. In the first returns of fan voting earlier this month, Fever center Aliyah Boston was ranked third, trailing Clark and Collier. Will Clark and Boston team up again? We’ll have to wait and see.
Clark is averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game, which marks a career-high.
Collier learned she was an 2025 All-Star captain by way of her three-year-old daughter Mila, who wore a shirt that read, ‘Mama, you’re a All-Star.’ Collier’s husband Alex Bazzell was also involved in the unveiling, saying he’s ‘incredibly proud. She’s earned it. We’re excited about it and hopefully more and more to come.’
Collier has led the Lynx to a league-best 13-2 record while averaging a league-high 24.5 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game, the fourth-highest in the league. She’s a frontrunner for the 2025 WNBA MVP award.
Clark and Collier faced off against each other in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where Clark and Team WNBA handed the U.S. women’s national team a loss before they went to the 2024 Paris Olympics and won another gold medal. Collier was held scoreless in three minutes of work off the bench for Team USA, while Clark had four points (2-of-9 FG, 0-of-7 3PT) and 10 assists in 26 minutes of work.
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It was a week of downward momentum for the gold price.
The yellow metal neared the US$3,400 per ounce level on Monday (June 23) as investors reacted to the weekend’s escalation in tensions in the Middle East, but sank to just above US$3,300 the next day.
The decline came as US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. While the ceasefire has not gone entirely smoothly, with Trump expressing displeasure about violations, the news appeared to calm investors.
Gold’s safe-haven appeal took another hit toward the end of the week, when Trump said late on Thursday (June 26) that the US had signed a trade deal with China. Although details remain scarce — China’s commerce ministry confirmed the arrangement, but said little else — the gold price dropped on the news, closing Friday (June 27) at about US$3,274.
It was a different story for other precious metals this week.
Silver enjoyed an uptick, rising as high as US$36.79 per ounce before pulling back to the US$36 level. Whether it can continue breaking higher remains to be seen, but many experts are optimistic.
In fact, Randy Smallwood of Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM) said that right now he’s perhaps more excited about silver than he is about gold. Here’s how he explained it:
There’s not a lot of new production coming on stream, just because most silver comes as a by-product from lead, zinc and copper mines — more than half of silver. And we’re just not seeing the investment into the base metals space that we need to sustain that production and grow that production.
As excited as I am about gold, I think silver’s got a few more fundamentals behind it that make it a pretty exciting time to be watching silver … silver’s got some catching up to do with respect to what gold’s done over the last few years.’
Watch the full interview with Smallwood for more on silver, as well as gold and platinum.
Speaking of platinum, it was also on the move this week, rising above US$1,400 per ounce.
The move has turned heads — despite a persistent supply deficit, platinum has spent years trading in a fairly tight range, and it hasn’t crossed US$1,400 since 2014.
Recent trends supporting platinum’s move include a shift toward platinum jewelry due to the high cost of gold, as well as larger platinum imports to the US earlier this year when tariff uncertainty was heating up. At the same time, miners have faced challenges.
‘This has led to tight forward market conditions,’ said Jonathan Butler of Mitsubishi (TSE:8058), ‘with a deep backwardation across the curve.’ In his view, these conditions will continue providing support for the precious metal in the coming weeks.
Bullet briefing — Gold repatriation, Rule Symposium
Germany, Italy to repatriate gold?
Germany and Italy are facing calls to bring home gold stored in the US.
According to the Financial Times, politicians and economists in the two countries are pushing for repatriation as a result of global geopolitical uncertainty, as well as concerns about Trump’s potential influence on the Federal Reserve as he continues to criticize Chair Jerome Powell.
‘We are very concerned about Trump tampering with the Federal Reserve Bank’s independence. Our recommendation is to bring the (German and Italian) gold home to ensure European central banks have unlimited control over it at any given point in time’ — Michael Jäger, Taxpayers Association of Europe
The news outlet calculates that German and Italian gold held in the US has a total value of about US$245 billion. Market participants agree that it would be a blow to relations with America if the countries were to bring their gold home at this time.
At least for now they seem unlikely to do so — although Italy’s central bank hasn’t commented, Germany’s Bundesbank said it sees the New York Fed as ‘trustworthy and reliable.’
Send your questions for the Rule Symposium
The Rule Symposium runs in Boca Raton, Florida, from July 7 to 11, and I’ll be heading there to interview Rick Rule, as well as Adrian Day, Lobo Tiggre, Andy Schectman, Dr. Nomi Prins and more.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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ATLANTA — One of the biggest FIFA Club World Cup matches will take place Sunday, June 29, featuring one of the greatest players of all time, and a reigning champion.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from Major League Soccer will face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup round-of-16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s the biggest match played by an MLS club in the league’s 30-year history, and it will come against the European champions.
Messi will face his former squad in PSG, where he briefly shined alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe before unceremoniously leaving in July 2023 to join Inter Miami. Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano will also face their former Barcelona coach in Luis Enrique, who is leading PSG.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-PSG matchup, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.
What time is the Inter Miami-PSG match?
The match begins at noon ET (1 p.m. in Argentina, 6 p.m. in Paris.)
Where to watch Inter Miami-PSG match live stream link?
The match is available to live stream for free on DAZN.
Watch Inter Miami vs. Paris Saint-Germain live on DAZN
How to watch the Inter Miami-PSG match on TV in the US?
The match will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV in English; Univision and TUDN in Spanish.
Is Lionel Messi playing today?
Messi, in his first match since his 38th birthday June 24, is expected to play. His status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.
Is Ousmane Dembélé playing today?
Dembélé, one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player, hasn’t played in the Club World Cup due to a quad injury. His status will be confirmed when PSG announces its starting lineup.
Inter Miami vs. PSG score prediction
Paris Saint-Germain 3, Inter Miami 1: This may not look pretty for Lionel Messi’s side and Major League Soccer. But just getting to this point in the Club World Cup is valiant enough. Messi scores a goal, but Inter Miami is outclassed by the Champions League winners. — Safid Deen
Inter Miami vs. PSG betting odds
Inter Miami is the biggest underdog of any team in the Club World Cup round of 16. Here are the betting odds for the match, according to BetMGM:
- Paris Saint-Germain: -550
- Draw: +725
- Inter Miami: +1250
- Over/under: 3.5 goals
Why did Lionel Messi leave Paris Saint-Germain?
Messi’s two-year spell at PSG was complicated, particularly upon his return to Paris from the 2022 World Cup triumph – having led Argentina to victory over France in the final. Imagine having to live and work in the same country you just delivered heartbreak to. Fans voiced their displeasure with Messi, who was also suspended by the club in May 2023 for taking an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia the day after a match.
When did Lionel Messi join Inter Miami?
Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, joining the MLS club co-owned by Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and soon-to-be Sir David Beckham.
Who does Inter Miami/PSG winner face in Club World Cup quarterfinals?
The winner of Sunday’s Inter Miami-PSG match will face the winner of Sunday’s 4 p.m. match between Bayern Munich (Germany) and Flamengo (Brazil).
How has Inter Miami performed in the Club World Cup?
Messi and Inter Miami won a match, and settled for a draw in two others during the Club World Cup group stage. But they were able to advance as a Group A runner-up. They beat FC Porto (Atlanta), and drew against Al-Ahly (Egypt) and Palmeiras (Brazil).
How has Paris Saint-Germain fared in the Club World Cup?
PSG won Group B of the tournament: They beat Atlético Madrid 4-0, lost 1-0 to Botafogo (Brazil), and beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 during the group stage.
When is Lionel Messi’s birthday?
Messi turned 38 years old on June 24, 2025. He will turn 39 during World Cup 2026. Check out these photos from his birthday celebration last week:
Will Lionel Messi re-sign with Inter Miami?
Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through the 2025 MLS season. The club hopes he re-signs a contract extension to remain through, at least 2026. It’s possible Messi could sign a longer extension.
Will Lionel Messi play in the World Cup?
Messi has not yet declared whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. If he does, it would be his sixth World Cup and he would help Argentina defend its 2022 crown.
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