Everton v Brighton: first Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium – live | Premier League

Key events

Everton v Brighton is not the only 2pm kick-off in the Premier League today. In Croydon we have ‘El CAS-ico’ as Nottingham Forest travel to Crystal Palace. Scott Murray is on for coverage of a testy one at Selhurst Park:

As Moyes hinted at in his chat with Sky, the road to Hill Dickinson Stadium has not always been smooth for Everton. Now they are in, there are hopes it can transform both club and community. More from Andy Hunter:

After the PSR issues that have dogged Everton in the last couple of seasons, Daniel Friedkin’s regime has loosened the purse strings. There’s been seven signings so far this summer for a total of around £80 million, with Tyler Dibling looking likely to take that figure above £100 million. Reports suggest the Southampton winger will be arriving in a deal worth around £42 million, but that wasn’t agreed in time for Dibling to be in the squad today.

Andy Hunter

Andy Hunter with (second) first impression of Everton’s new home:

Just arrived at Hill Dickinson Stadium and first impressions (not counting the previous first impressions from February’s test event) are extremely positive. It’s a beautiful day, so that helps, and thousands of fans were here early to check out Everton’s magnificent new home on the banks of the River Mersey. There were plenty of helpful stewards at Sandhills train station to guide people. And hand out Everton Mints at the exit. Nice touch.

It took 16 minutes to walk from Sandhills to the entrance to the stadium on Regent Road. Inevitably, there appeared to be some teething issues with confusion over road closures, where coaches should park and which entrances to use. There was also some congestion in certain parts of the outside concourse. But it is day one as a fully functioning Premier League stadium. The media facilities are very impressive – a niche point, admittedly – and the same friendly faces who staffed the press room at Goodison Park for years (including floor manager Lisa Hynds) have transferred across. Tony Hibbert is here too. A real blast from the past. So Everton’s new stadium is up and running. Will the same be true of David Moyes’ team?

David Moyes has had a quick chat with Sky Sports during the warmups. The Everton boss was say slightly awkwardly between Pien Meulensteen and Phil Jagielka but managed to say some nice things about leading out Everton today:

“It’s a day in history for everyone here. We’ve got a fantastic, new-looking stadium, now we need a team to match it. I’m hugely privileged (to be in charge) – it was regularly talked about in my first spell here, but things kept falling down. For me to come back as the manager here, it’s a great thrill for me. I’m the fortunate one who gets to lead the team out today.”

Team news!

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Iroegbunam, Garner, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.

Subs: Onyango, Armstrong, Aznou, Alcaraz, Coleman, Chermiti, Beto, McNeil, Travers.

Jack Grealish starts his first game, coming in for Carlos Alcaraz (not that one) and Thierno Barry comes in for Beto.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, O’Riley, Mitoma, Welbeck.

Subs: Steele,Gruda, Hinshelwood, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Veltman, Coppola.

Brighton’s one change is enforced, Georginio Rutter has a slight knock and drops out of the squad, that allows Danny Welbeck to start up top.

Preamble

It is more than a year since Brighton departed Goodison Park for the last time. It was an emotional day for the hosts, as what should have been a start to a glorious to the final season at their famous old home turned sour. By full-time, Everton fans were streaming out of the ground as Brighton eased to a 3-0 win.

So it is that the Seagulls are also Everton’s first visitors of the season for the 2025-26 campaign, but much has changed in the last 12 months. Everton have a different manager in the dugout and a different owner in the stands. Ashley Young is no longer the starting right-back. Jack Grealish has arrived to try and earn a spot on the plane to North America for next summer’s World Cup. Am I missing something?

Ah yes, we’re at Hill Dickinson Stadium now. A spaceship has landed at Bramley-Moore Dock in the shape of a 52,000-seater modern venue and there is, as is customary, a swell of positivity rolling in off the Mersey. David Moyes has already avenged that opening day rollicking from last season, by guiding Everton to an ugly 1-0 win at the Amex in January. His West Ham teams never did that well against Brighton but he has spoken about making Everton fans fall in love with their new surroundings. His side will need to be better than they were against Leeds on Monday night, at least.

Fabian Hürzeler should have had his first win of the season already. Brighton’s performance against Fulham wasn’t that inspiring but to concede from a set-piece with almost the game’s last kick was cruel. The Seagulls are not known as heartbreakers. If anything they regularly provide a cure for long winless runs or spells of poor form – Dr Brighton, if you will.

On any other occasion, this would be a game the Seagulls would be targeting for victory if they want to fulfil their owner’s lofty goal of European qualification. This Everton side represent a pretty good opportunity for an away win, but the new stadium is a complicating factor and also a point of interest. Let’s just hope it’s not 0-0.

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How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV, Streaming for Mexico, South Korea, More

Match Day 2 of the 2026 World Cup kicks off Thursday with eight Group A and Group B games over four days, and the action starts early. Mexico and South Korea, both winners in Match Day 1, meet in a pivotal Group A showdown in Guadalajara at 9 p.m. ET on FOX. Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina also get going at 3 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. All four of today’s matches air on FOX or FS1 and stream on FOX One.

World Cup Schedule for Thursday, June 18

Czechia vs. South Africa

Time: Noon ET
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Player to Watch

The Bayer Leverkusen forward is the focal point of Czechia’s forward line with 26 international goals in 53 caps. While Schick is one of Czechia’s many set piece targets, he has a variety of ways in which he can score. Czechia needs to be more of a threat from the run of play and that starts with Schick.

With Bayer Leverkusen, nearly all of Schick’s 16 Bundesliga goals and four Champions League goals this season were from the run of play. Czechia should be aggressive from the early going and look to get Schick involved. If Schick plays well, it could be a good day for Czechia.

Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Player to Watch

The FC Astana midfielder had a strong game against Canada, when he went 61 minutes and created several chances, specifically through his accurate crossing. It was his corner in the 21st minute that eventually resulted in Bosnia’s goal. His central midfield partnership with Benjamin Tahirovic was also very effective in the first half.

Against Switzerland, Basic should once again be very important to setting up Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attackers, especially if Džeko plays as he has elite aerial ability.

Canada vs. Qatar

Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
Venue: BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver, BC

Player to Watch

With Canada struggling for most of the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was Larin who came off the bench and delivered the equalizer. Jonathan David did not play well in the opener, and his first season at Juventus was largely disappointing. Despite the infamous end to Southampton’s season, Larin played very well for the team down the stretch to lead it into the promotional playoffs. Marsch might be tempted to ride the hot hand in this critical game and start Larin. Whether that means playing in place of David or alongside of him in a two-striker formation, Larin might be the team’s best goal-scoring threat right now based on form.

Mexico vs. South Korea

Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
Venue: Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico

Player to Watch

With 125 career caps and 46 career goals for Mexico, it was not until last week’s win over South Africa when Jiminez finally scored in the World Cup. Now 35, the Hidalgo native is likely in his final World Cup. He was very good in the opening win, even beyond the goal. He created chances through his hold-up play, he passed well and made good runs to draw defenders. With momentum, he will be difficult for South Korea to contain.

How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup

All World Cup matches air on FOX and FS1, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

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For the first time ever, the Times Square NYE ball is dropping 8 times this July in a historic celebration of America’s 250th birthday

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Staff Writer

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June 17, 2026

Name something more iconic than the New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball Drop. We’ll tell you: two ball drops.

To celebrate the United States’ massive Semiquincentennial (its landmark 250th birthday), New York City is turning the world’s most famous countdown into a rolling, 24-hour nationwide party on Friday, July 3rd, 2026.

For the first time since the tradition began in 1907, the iconic Times Square Ball will drop during the summer–eight separate times in a single day, no less!

Here’s everything you need to know about this historic event, including why you actually can’t watch it from the streets of Times Square.

🪩 A 24-hour marathon: eight drops for eight time zones

Organized by America250 and One Times Square, the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show” will use the crystal ball to unite the entire country, counting down to midnight across every single American time zone.

Even wilder? Each of the eight drops will feature its own special custom Ball design.

The marathon schedule tracks the sun from sea to shining sea (all times EDT):

10 am: The first drop kicks off for the Chamorro Time Zone (Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)
Rolling Afternoon Drops: Special countdowns and musical performances will follow for Puerto Rico and the continental U.S
11:59 pm: The main event—the signature New York City countdown signaling the official arrival of July 4th on the East Coast
Late Night & Morning: The party keeps moving west through Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian time zones
7 am (July 4th): The eighth and final ball drop concludes in American Samoa

Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, said:

This is more than a countdown. It’s a moment that brings the entire country together…we are creating a shared experience where every American can see themselves in this celebration and be part of something bigger than any one city or moment.

🚫 The catch: you can’t watch from the streets

If you’re planning to head down to the Crossroads of the World with a lawn chair, change your plans.

Unlike New Year’s Eve, there will be no public viewing areas in the plazas or streets of Times Square. The event is being produced strictly as a mega-broadcast and livestream event, and the drops won’t even be visible from the ground outside the building

How to watch from home:

The good news: millions will be able to stream the event live in real time.

The broadcast will feature high-energy cultural moments and musical performances, all building into a massive July 4th concert broadcast live from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (hosted by Queen Latifah and featuring Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins).

Keep an eye on America250.org for official streaming links.

🇺🇸 How to get inside One Times Square this July

While the streets are closed for the broadcast, One Times Square is opening its brand-new Times Square Skywalk (located on the 19th floor) for two highly exclusive, complimentary ticketed public events over the holiday weekend.

July 4th: America’s Block Party in the Sky

Lucky ticket holders will get access to a 360-degree wraparound viewing deck with a river-to-river vantage point of Manhattan. The event will honor classic American summer traditions, flavors, and rituals from an elevated perspective.

July 5th: America’s Day of Reflection

Visitors can view the Declaration of Independence transcribed across a massive glass wall against the backdrop of the NYC skyline. Even cooler? You can write your own message of hope or reflection on a piece of confetti that will be saved and officially released over Times Square during the upcoming 2027 New Year’s Eve celebration.

You can sign up to snag free complimentary tickets to both events online here.

🤝 Partying for a cause: the “Giving 4th” movement

This historic summer countdown isn’t just about fireworks and confetti.

The entire 24-hour broadcast is a benefit show designed to kickstart Giving 4th, an initiative aiming to make July 4th, 2026, the largest single day of charitable giving in American history. Rios explained:

Charities receive one-third of their revenue at the end of the year. What if we move the needle from the end of the year…to the middle of the year? What better way to think about the 250th than to create a legacy that will become a movement for every Fourth of July.

Oh, and don’t forget that NYC is inviting residents to help create a citywide time capsule that will remain sealed until America’s tricentennial in 2076–giving future generations a glimpse into what life in the five boroughs looked like in 2026! Find out how to participate.

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