The league is officially on notice. The 2026 NBA Draft just brought a massive new wave of sazón straight to the hardwood. This wasn’t just another standard rookie class; it was a historic, culture-shifting celebration of Latino talent that stretched from the lottery picks all the way through the undrafted free-agent market.

With five players of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican heritage making massive power moves, the landscape of the league has officially changed. Here is how our boys just rewrote history.

Yaxel Lendeborg to the Golden State Warriors (No. 11 Overall)

The Player: The Michigan standout brings versatile, physical forward play to a transitioning Golden State squad, excelling at rebounding and defending multiple positions.

The Heritage: Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, to Dominican parents who both played hoops on the island, Yaxel is the ultimate bridge between two passionate basketball cultures. Yaxel is bringing pure East Coast toughness and West Indies flair to the Bay Area.

Mikel Brown Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets (No. 6 Overall)

The Player: The Brooklyn Nets needed a savior at guard, and they got an elite playmaker with a massive side of absolute style.

The Heritage & Our Take: Mikel proudly carries his Puerto Rican roots through his mother, Marisela, and even flashed a custom suit lining featuring the Puerto Rican flag and native flowers to veteran Jose Alvarado. Barclays Center is already electric, but expect the local Boricua community to turn every home game into a full-blown parade for him.

Karim López to the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 21 Overall)

The Player: The 19-year-old, 6-foot-8 forward from Hermosillo, Sonora, spent the last two seasons tearing up Australia’s NBL with the New Zealand Breakers as a premier “Next Star” prospect.

The Heritage: Traded to the Grizzlies after being selected 21st by Detroit, Karim made history and became the first Mexican-born NBA player ever drafted in the first round. He was visibly emotional crying happy tears on ESPN, showing off a custom suit jacket lined with multiple Mexican flags. Memphis just landed an absolute diamond who carries the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders.

Rafael Castro to the Milwaukee Bucks (Undrafted Free Agent / Two-Way Deal)

The Player: Standing 6-foot-9 with a massive 7-foot-1 wingspan, Castro was an absolute “stocks” (steals + blocks) monster and double-double machine at George Washington.

The Heritage: Though he bypassed the podium on draft night, the Dominican Republic national team representative quickly signed a two-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Rafael’s relentless motor means he is going to fight for every single minute. Watch out, Milwaukee—this Dominican energy big man is going to become a Giannis Antetokounmpo favorite in no time.

Kingston Flemings to the Atlanta Hawks (No. 8 Overall)

The Vibe: Island Discipline Meets A-Town BounceThe Player: The Atlanta Hawks tapped into the Caribbean wave by drafting this hyper-athletic, explosive guard out of Houston.

The Heritage: Kingston’s maternal roots stretch back to Saint Croix and Puerto Rico, and he credits his hard-nosed defensive discipline to his family’s island tradition. Atlanta has always been a hub for culture and music, and Kingston is about to bring a brand-new rhythm to the Hawks’ backcourt.

Seeing five Latino players stake their claim on the NBA within a 24-hour window isn’t just a coincidence — it’s a complete cultural shift. These players aren’t just entering the league to fill out rosters. From the lottery to the two-way contracts, they are coming to make an impact while carrying the flags, music, and pride of their families on their shoulders. The 2026 season hasn’t even tipped off yet, but one thing is for sure: The NBA has officially been blessed with the sazón.

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In celebration of the milestone, the 16 Host Cities will unveil countdown clocks, featuring the city’s locally inspired Official Host City Brand.

• The tournament will kick off on Thursday, 11 June 2026 in Mexico City
• With 48 teams, the FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the largest and most inclusive edition to date
• Taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States, next year’s event marks the first FIFA World Cup™ to be hosted across three countries

On 11 June 2026, the world will come together in North America for the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup 26™. Taking place across three countries and 16 vibrant Host Cities with a newly expanded pool of 48 teams, the tournament will be the largest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup™ in history. The 2026 edition is expected to welcome 6.5 million fans to stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States – truly uniting the continent and globe through football.

“One year from now, the greatest football show on the planet will definitely captivate the world like never before,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “This is more than a tournament, it’s a global celebration of connection, unity and passion. From every corner of the world, dreams are turning into reality as teams qualify and fans make their plans to be part of history, counting down to the biggest FIFA World Cup yet.”

The milestone comes as the United States prepares to host the new FIFA Club World Cup™, which kicks off this coming Saturday in Miami, Florida. The tournament will feature 32 of the best teams in club football from around the globe vying to be crowned FIFA’s true club world champion.

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Ford Copita Alianza is back for its 13th season with more than 800 teams

This weekend, Ford Copita Alianza held the biggest and most prestigious Hispanic youth soccer tournament in the United States at Randall’s Island Park in New York City. We were invited by the Ford Latino Team to experience the immersive and interactive Ford Zone and we absolutely loved the energy!

This year the tournament returned with more players and teams than ever as part of the 2022 Alianza de Futbol tour. More than 14,000 players from over 800 teams will participate in the U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, Girls U16 U17 and U19 age categories. This weekend the tournament had a record turnout of over 3,000 youth players and 15,000 fans!

Throughout the year, the competitions will take place in 10 cities across the country: Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin and El Paso.

The champions from the U13-U19 categories will earn a spot in the Ford Copita Alianza National Finals to be held in Phoenix later this year. The Ford Copita Alianza National Champions (U13, U15, U16 Girls and U17) will earn a spot in the Dallas Cup 2023, the most competitive international tournament in North America. 

“Ford Copita Alianza has established itself as the best and most prestigious Hispanic youth tournament in the country”, as mentioned by Brad Rothenberg, Executive Vice President of For Soccer Ventures, owner of Alianza de Futbol. “In 2022 we will continue with our commitment and support of the Hispanic community by providing unique opportunities in soccer development among the youngest players”. 

Ford is one of the National Sponsors of the 2022 Alianza de Futbol tour.

For more information visit:  alianzadefutbol.com.

2022 TOUR CITY & DATES:

• Phoenix: May 28-29
• Dallas: June 18-19
• Denver: June 25-26
• Houston: July 9-10
• Chicago: July 16-17
• New York: August 6-7
• Los Angeles: August 20-21
• San Jose: August 27-28
• El Paso: September 10-11