With Tottenham facing relegation, these 'big' teams met a similar fate

They’re not going down, right? They’re too big to go down.

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With only six matches left in thePremier Leagueseason,Tottenham Hotspur sit 18th in the table, two points away from 17th-place West Ham, who hold the last survival spot to avoid dropping down to theEFL Championship.

Saturday, April 18 sees Spurs hostingmanager Roberto De Zerbi’sold club Brighton and Hove Albion, who have won four out of their last five games in the Premier League. Spurs, on the other hand, have not won a Premier League game in 2026, with the team from North London only getting five points in the last fourteen games.

Members of England’s ‘Big Six,’ last year’sEuropa League winners, dropped out of the top division with a 22nd-place finish in 1977. Before that, Tottenham hadn't beenrelegatedsince 1935.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United misses a headed chance while under pressure from Leny Yoro of Manchester United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. Leeds United won the match, 2-1. Djordje Petrovic of AFC Bournemouth attempts to make a save while under pressure from Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. Bournemouth won the match, 2-1. Konstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal in a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at London Stadium on April 10, 2026 in London, England. Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi (9) scores his club's third goal in a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on March 22, 2026. <p style=Brighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring his team's opener against Liverpool on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match against Brighton on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates his side's second goal against AFC Bournemouth on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arsenal's Viktor Gyoekeres and Declan Rice compete for the ball from a corner with Michael Keane of Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2026. Arsenal won the match, 2-0. Joe Gomez of Liverpool clashes with Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the match at Molineux on March 3, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England. Wolves won the match, 2-1. Jaydee Canvot of Crystal Palace challenges Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United during the match at Old Trafford on March 1, 2026 in Manchester, England. Manchester United won the match, 2-1. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario cannot stop Arsenal's fourth team goal, which was scored by Viktor Gyokeres at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on Feb. 22, 2026. Arsenal won the match, 4-1. <p style=James Milner celebrates Brighton's win against Brentford on Feb. 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=West Ham United's Valentin Castellanos shoots against Chelsea on Jan. 31, 2026.
Chelsea won the match, 3-2.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope fumbles a cross leading to Ibrahima Konate scoring Liverpool's fourth goal in a 4-1 win at Anfield on Jan. 31, 2026. The Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (right) and Bournemouth's Lewis Cook clash at the Molineux stadium on Jan. 31, 2026. Bournemouth won the match, 2-0. Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal heads the ball whilst under pressure from Casemiro of Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Jan. 25, 2026 in London. Manchester United won the match, 3-2. Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa attempts to stop a goal scored by Everton's Thierno Barry at Villa Park on Jan. 18. Everton won the game, 1-0. <p style=Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Jan. 17.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Fulham and Chelsea players battle for possession in front of goal at Craven Cottage on Jan. 7. Fulham won the match, 2-1. Callum Wilson of West Ham United competes with Mateus Mane of Wolverhampton for possession of the ball at Molineux on Jan. 3. Wolves won the match, 3-0. Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace heads the ball during the Premier League match against Fulham at Selhurst Park on Jan. 1. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. <p style=Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Nottingham Forest on Dec. 27.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Newcastle on Dec. 26.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Everton's Michael Keane (left) battles with Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus for the ball during the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Dec. 20. Arsenal won the match, 1-0. Rico Henry of Brentford shoots past Ki-Jana Hoever of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Dec. 20. Brentford won the match, 2-0. Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City is tackled by Nathanial Clyne of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park on Dec. 14. Manchester City won the match, 3-0. Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool heads the ball to score his team's second goal against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Dec. 13. Liverpool won the match, 2-0. Yeremy Pino of Crystal Palace battles for possession with Raul Jimenez of Fulham at Craven Cottage on Dec. 7. Crystal Palace won the match, 2-1. Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team's first goal against Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Dec. 6. Tottenham won the match, 2-0. Emi Buendia of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-1 win over Arsenal at Villa Park on Dec. 6. Jack Grealish of Everton attempts to control the ball while under pressure from Nottingham Forest players at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Dec. 6. Everton won the match, 3-0. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is challenged by Marc Cucurella of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Nov. 30. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Crystal Palace hosts Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Nov. 30. Man U won the match, 2-1. Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Nov. 29. Newcastle won the match, 4-1. Leandro Trossard scores Arsenal's first goal in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Nov. 23. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez makes a save against Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley on Nov. 22. Chelsea won the match, 2-0. Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest wins a header under pressure from Jayden Bogle of Leeds United at City Ground on Nov. 9. Nottingham Forest won the match, 3-1. Michael Keane of Everton scores his team's second goal during a 2-0 win over Fulham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Nov. 8. <p style=Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game losing streak in Premier League games for the defending champions.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri (right) and Burnley's Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal won the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to stay six points above Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion scores his team's second goal whilst under pressure from Lucas Perri of Leeds United at Amex Stadium on Nov. 1. Brighton prevailed, 3-0. Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher comes out to clear the ball against Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Oct. 25. Brentford won the match, 3-2, sending Liverpool to its fourth consecutive Premier League defeat. Wilson Isidor of Sunderland celebrates after scoring his team's first goal in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 25. Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Oct. 19. Andre of Wolverhampton Wanderers is challenged by Wilson Isidor of Sunderland during Sunderland's 2-0 win at Stadium of Light on Oct. 18, 2025 in Sunderland, England. Brenden Aaronson of Leeds United is challenged by Floretino Luis of Burnley during Burnley's 2-0 win at Turf Moor on Oct. 18, 2025 in Burnley, England. <p style=Erling Haaland of Manchester City competes for a header whilst under pressure from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man City won the match, 1-0.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea celebrates alongside Marc Cucurella and Jamie Gittens after Estevao Willian scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 4, 2025. Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa and Lyle Foster of Burnley compete for the ball during the Premier League match at Villa Park on Oct. 5, 2025 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa won the match, 2-1. Everton's Vitaliy Mykolenko (16) fouls West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta during the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sept. 29, 2025. Emiliano Buendia of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's third goal in a 3-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park on Sept. 28, 2025. Igor Thiago of Brentford scores his team's second goal past Altay Bayindir of Manchester United during a 3-1 win at Brentford Community Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025. Crystal Palace's Eddie Nketiah (9) scores their late winner during a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Selhurst Park in south London on Sept. 27, 2025. Erling Haaland tries to hold off Manchester United defender Leny Yoro. Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest. Tottenham players celebrate a goal against West Ham. Chelsea players celebrate a goal against Fulham. Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring a penalty against Burnley. Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Aston Villa. annibal Mejbri of Burnley celebrates the team's first goal against Sunderland at Turf Moor. Chelsea players celebrate a goal against West Ham. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during a loss to Tottenham. Jurrien Timber of Arsenal scores his team's fourth goal against Leeds. Joao Palhinha of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Manchester City. Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion reacts during the match against Fulham. Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest goes around goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher of Brentford. Cole Palmer controls the ball against Crystal Palace. Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium during a win against Leeds. Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo jumps over Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ki-Jana Hoever. Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton. Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes vie for a header. Players, match officials and fans take part in a moment of silence as a fan mosaic depicting

Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 season

"The fact we are mentioning Spurs going down is unbelievable. It's absolutely ridiculous, really,” former Spurs playerDanny Murphy told BBC Sport back in February. “Whether you blame recruitment or the owners, it would be catastrophic for that club.”

Absolutely ridiculous or not, Spurs’ possible relegation is only the most recent example of a massive team’s unthinkable relegation both in Europe and outside of it. With Spurs teetering on the edge, these are some other teams that were “too big” to go down.

Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur dejected following defeat in the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England.

More:Tottenham relegation odds: Premier League standings, full table with Spurs in drop zone

River Plate: 2011

Supporters of River Plate react after the team was relegated to the second division after the Argentina Promotion football match against Belgrano, at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on June 26, 2011.

One of, if not the biggest, relegations in the history of South American soccer, River Plate's relegation shook an entire country.

River’s relegation was sealed in a promotion/relegation play-off that had to be abandoned as the crowd rioted with the home side 3-1 down. In the hours after River Plate’s relegation, more than 70 people were injured in incidents both inside River’s Monumental stadium and outside of it, according toreports from the Guardian.

“There’s a state of mourning,” Marcelo Roffe, president of the Argentine Association of Sports Psychology, toldArgentinian paper La Nacion in 2011. “Some face the situation, but many choose to shut themselves away, miss work, or not interact with their office colleagues.”

River bounced back immediately, winning the second division, spending only one year in the second tier of Argentinian soccer.

Atletico Madrid: 2000

The Athletico Madrid team before the Spanish Primera Liga A game between Athletico Madrid and Real Zaragoza at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain.

Spain’s third-biggest team, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona,Atletico Madrid’srelegation at the turn of the century was a quick fall from grace.

Embattled by financial woes and a criminal investigation against itschairman, Jesus Gil, for corruption, Atletico fell out of La Liga after 65 years, finishing 19th out of 20 teams. The team’s fall came only four years after "los Colchoneros” won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, securing a domestic double.

“It was a season so full of paradoxes,” DAZN commentator Fran Guillentold The Athletic. “It was a perfect storm caused by what happened with Gil, and it ended up pushing the project to the abyss.

Atletico’s return was not as quick as other members of this list, as the team from Madrid spent two seasons in the second division before returning to La Liga.

More:Soccer News, Scores, Standings and Team Info

Manchester United: 1974

English soccer player Bobby Charlton of Manchester United FC, greeting the crowd while leaving Stamford Bridge Stadium, London, UK, 28th April 1973.

Years before Tottenham’s last relegation,United’sdrop in 1974  is one of the most dramatic in the history of English football.

Only six years before, in 1968, United reached the pinnacle of European football, winning the old European Cup at Wembley against Eusebio’s Benfica. But the drama of dropping down to the second division was not enough.

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The “Red Devils” relegation was sealed by United legend Denis Law, who scored the goal that secured their relegation while playing for city rivals Manchester City, according toUK publication The Times.

Manchester United returned in a flash, winning the second division on their first try.

Hamburger SV: 2018

Hamburg’srelegation was so unthinkable for its fans that the team proudly displayed a stadium clock that counted their uninterrupted time in theBundesliga.

But eventually, the clock froze as the "Die Rothosen" were relegated to the German second division back in 2018. Up until the moment of their drop, Hamburg were the only team in German soccer that had never been relegated from the Bundesliga since its creation in 1963.

European champions in 1983 and one of Germany’s most historic clubs, the team's relegation had been a real possibility for years as they survived the drop by the skin of its teeth both in 2015 and 2016

Hamburg's players leave the pitch after the German first division Bundesliga football match Hamburger SV vs Borussia Moenchengladbach, in Hamburg, northern Germany, on May 12, 2018.

Hamburg’s time in the second division was not short-lived; instead,the team spent seven years struggling to get out,with heartbreaking incidents along the way.

Back in 2023, Hamburg thought they had earned automatic promotion when they beat Sandhausen 1-0 on the final day, before victory was snatched from their hands by Heidenheim, who scored a 99th-minute winner to send Hamburg to a promotion-relegation playoff.

Hamburg would go on and lose the playoff to Stuttgart, extending their time in the second tier until their promotion last May.

Schalke: 2021

Kerim Calhanoglu of FC Schalke 04 looks dejected after the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Veltins-Arena on March 05, 2021, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Another German entry on this list, Schalke,had qualified for theChampions Leagueeight times since 2000 and even reachedthe semifinals in 2011. The team where Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, Leroy Sane and more debuted professionally, Schalke’s drop to the second tier was a surprise to its fans, even to this day.

“When I speak to other fans about the relegation sometimes, we’re still not quite sure how it happened,” Niklas Heising, journalist for German newspaper Bild, toldThe Athletic.

More:Former Arsenal, Juventus goalkeeper Alex Manninger dies in car crash

Schalke’s relegation was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat to Arminia Bielefeld in 2021 in a mostly empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After that result, they returned to their Veltins-Arena stadium to meet a group of 500 fans. The players were pelted by eggs and chased around the stadium by angry fans before police arrived to intervene,according to German website Sport 1.

“Die Königsblauen’s” time in the second division was short, winning it on their first try. But their time back in the Bundesliga lasted only a year, with Schalke dropping down again. Today, the team is leading the second division with hopes of being promoted once again.

Tottenham’s relegation odds

Odds via DraftKings, as of 11 a.m. April 17

  • Tottenham -110

  • West Ham + 175

  • Nottingham Forest +500

  • Leeds +1400

USA TODAY’s Jesse Yomtov contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Will Tottenham get relegated from Premier League? Other big clubs to all

With Tottenham facing relegation, these 'big' teams met a similar fate

They’re not going down, right? They’re too big to go down. With only six matches left in thePremier Leagueseason,Tottenham Hotspur...
What does the US blockade of Iran shipping mean for gas prices?

The United States continued to mount a navalblockadeof Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, exerting financial pressure on Tehran while at the same time choking off a source of oil amid a historicglobal shortage.

ABC News

The move comes as Americans grapple with asurgein gasoline prices that threatens to eat away at household budgets andslowthe economy.

Gasoline prices in the U.S. registered at $4.10 on average per gallon on Wednesday, standing about 35% higher than before the war,AAAdata showed.

How the US Navy could enforce a blockade of Iran's ports in the Strait of Hormuz

The blockade risks higher prices at the pump since oil trades on a global market, meaning a loss of supply in the Middle East could raise prices for Americans, some analysts said.

But, they added, the strategy may hasten a resolution of the war or reassure non-Iranian tankers otherwise hesitant to travel the strait, ultimately alleviating the oil shock and pushing down gas prices.

"This is an economic game of chicken," Tyler Schipper, a professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas, told ABC News.

Ten vessels have beenturned aroundat the Strait of Hormuz during the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade, complying with U.S. orders, according to U.S. Central Command.

On Wednesday, the commander of the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran’s armed forces said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is a "violation of the ceasefire," in a statement published by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

The war prompted Iran's effective closure of theStrait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that facilitates the transport of 20 million barrels of oil per day, or about one-fifth of the global supply.

Iran continued to export nearly 2 million barrels of oil each day through the strait, blunting some of the supply loss, according to energy data firmKpler.

Still, in March, oil prices notched their largest one-month gain ever, the International Energy Agencysaidin a new report on Tuesday.

Salwan Georges/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks with reporters outside the Oval Office of the White House, April 13, 2026, in Washington.

The potential loss of Iranian oil exports amid the blockade could deepen the supply shock and raise gasoline prices further, some analysts said.

"The move toward a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is compounding global supply concerns and risks further disrupting flows," GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said in a post on X on Monday.

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Car owners, De Haan added, "should prepare for another round of price increases."

Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, echoed such concern.

"It's unclear to me how this moves to quickly solve the problem that vessels aren't transiting the Strait of Hormuz," Miller told ABC News. "Every day this continues, it gets worse and worse and worse."

Price hikes have not come to pass over the initial days of the blockade, however.

West Texas Intermediate futures price, the benchmark index for U.S. trading, clocked in at about $92 a barrel on Wednesday, marking a nearly 10% drop since the blockade began at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday.

Even so, U.S. oil prices remain about 40% higher than pre-war levels.

The national average price of a gallon of gas as of Wednesday stood 1.4% lower than a week earlier.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran entered its second week, appearing to boost hopes of a resolution to the war.

President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to wind down the conflict, meanwhile, saying the war is "very close to over" in a portion of an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo that aired on Tuesday.

Trump shares image of Jesus embracing him, continues to lash out at Pope Leo

Rather than restrict oil supply, the U.S. blockade could ultimately add crude to the market if the naval presence reassures non-Iranian ships otherwise unwilling to sail through the strait, Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist at Morningstar Wealth, told ABC News.

"For countries other than Iran, does the blockade give them more trust for sending oil through the strait?" Pappalarado said. "If other countries start to gain confidence, you could see other shipments pick up for non-Iranian vessels pushing through the strait, which would help alleviate upward pressure on the price."

As of Monday, tanker traffic remained well below pre-war levels after the blockade had taken effect, Kpler said in a post onX. Six vessels sailed through the strait on Monday, Kpler said, marking a decline from 14 vessels a day prior.

The conditions in the strait remain in flux, some analysts said, leaving a wide range of possible outcomes.

"There's still tremendous uncertainty," Miller said.

What does the US blockade of Iran shipping mean for gas prices?

The United States continued to mount a navalblockadeof Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, exerting financial pressure ...
'Sinners' Li Jun Li Joins the Cast of 'The Last of Us' Season 3

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Elle

Minor spoilers below.

We haven’t yet reached the last ofThe Last of Us. Ahead of the highly anticipated season 2 premiere in April 2025, HBO announced that the hit sci-fi series—based on the popular PlayStationvideo game franchiseof the same name—has already been renewed for a third season.

The announcement didn’t come as a surprise. Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had spent months dropping hints that they would need multiple seasons to adapt the gamesThe Last of Us: Part IandThe Last of Us: Part II, and thatPart II’s storyline, in particular, would stretch wellbeyond season 2. As Mazin toldDeadlinein 2024, “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons [2 and 3] because we’re taking our time to go down interesting pathways, which we did a little bit in season 1, too. Season 3 will be significantly larger. And indeed, the story may require season 4.” (Similarly, HBO executive Francesca Orsi toldthe outletin February 2025 that “it’s looking like four seasons.”)

bella ramsey as ellie in the last of us season 2

Even before these teases, there was little doubt the series would continue as long as necessary. Actress Bella Ramsey, who plays protagonist Ellie Williams,told ELLE in 2023that she would play the character for as long as HBO wanted her. “There’s no limits for me,” Ramsey says. “They can do as many games as they like, as many series as they like, and I’ll be here, flying back out to Canada.” (Mazin also shared his enthusiasm with ELLE, adding that, “To get to the end of the story in the time that we need to take to get to the proper end would be awesome. If I got to work on a set with Bella Ramsey every day for the rest of my life, I’d be thrilled.”)

However, major news soon arrived in July 2025, when fans learned that Druckmann would depart the HBO series in favor of his commitments with Naughty Dog, the game studio for which he serves as head. “I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creativeinvolvement inThe Last of Uson HBO,” he saidin a statementshared with press. “With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game.” He reiterated that the show would, indeed, go on without him: “I look forward to HBO and PlayStation Productions continuing Ellie and Abby’s story next season.”

Here’s what we know so far about season 3.

What will season 3 ofThe Last of Usbe about?

Season 3 will take a backwards time jump to “Seattle Day One,” depicting Abby’s story during the same time period that Ellie and Dina are searching for her in season 2. In aGQinterviewpublished after the finale, Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, said, “I think Craig [Mazin] is still trying to write the season. I have no idea what their plans are. Craig says [season 3] is even more intense than season 2, which I don’t know how…[But] that’s all he told me.”

In a May 2025 interview withCollider, Mazin responded to questions about the potential length of season 3, given that season 2 covers only a portion of thePart IIplot.

“I think there’s a decent chance that season 3 will be longer than season 2, just because the manner of that narrative and the opportunities it affords us are a little different,” he explained. “The thing about Joel’s death is that it’s so impactful. It’s such a narrative nuclear bomb that it’s hard to wander away from it [in season 2]. We can’t really take a break and move off to the side and do a Bill and Frank story.”

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Mazin continued, “I’m not sure that will necessarily be true for season 3. I think we’ll have a little more room there. But certainly, there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome.”

It is also part of the original game narrative that the perspective shifts from Ellie to Abby, showcasing her backstory and perspective as someone traumatized by Joel’s actions inPart I. As theseason 2 finale makes clearin its final moments, Abby’s saga will indeed enter the spotlight in season 3.

Who will be cast in season 3 ofThe Last of Us?

We can expect Ramsey to return as Ellie, as well asDever as Abbyand Isabela Merced as Dina. Whether or not Pedro Pascal will make an appearance in a flashback is as yet unclear. Other cast members likely to return include Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Spencer Lord as Owen, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Alanna Ubach as Hanrahan.

Danny Ramirez, however, will not return as Manny due to scheduling conflicts,Varietyreported. The role has been recast, with Ramirez’s replacement set to be Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Homecoming). PerTheWrap, Clea DuVall will also join season 3 as a Seraphite.

In March 2026,Deadlinerevealed more cast changes. Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord have been promoted to series regulars, suggesting their characters will play a bigger role this time around.

Meanwhile, Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson are joining the cast in new roles. Ritter will play Hanley, a WLF soldier, while Wilson is set to portray Jerry, Abby’s father.

Bridgerton’s Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter ofStar Wars: Skeleton Crewwere cast as siblings Yara and Lev, companions to Abby,per Deadline. In April 2026,Deadlineannounced that Li Jun Li ofSinnerswas joining the cast as Mirium, Lev and Yara’s mother.

Has production started for season 3 ofThe Last of Us?

In an interview withVarietyreleased May 4, 2025, actress Isabela Merced who plays Dina, discussed some production expectations. When asked if she knew when filming of season 3 would begin, Merced replied, “No, but I think it should be next year.”

When will season 3 ofThe Last of Uscome out?

On July 15, HBO and Max’s content chairman and CEO, Casey Bloys, addressed season 3’s release date. “The series is definitely planned for 2027,” Bloys toldVariety. “Craig [Mazin] is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn’t been decided yet, and I’m following Craig’s lead on that.”

This story will be updated.

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Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tarzana, Calif.

Field Level Media

Iwai tied the course record in pristine conditions at the El Caballero Country Club. Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad and South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai each carded 63 at the 2025 event. Lindblad went on to earn her first LPGA victory in the tournament, posting a 21-under four-day total.

Korea's Sei Young Kim and a pair of players from Thailand are two strokes behind Iwai at 7 under. Patty Tavatanakit completed her round early in the day while countrywoman Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Kim were part of the afternoon groups.

Nine players finished tied for fifth at 6 under, including recent winner Lauren Coughlin and countrywoman Jessica Porvasnik.

Iwai, the 20th-ranked player in the Women's World Golf Rankings, produced an incredible stretch of golf on the back nine, where she started her round. She birdied holes 11 through 15, then eagled the par-5 16th hole and posted a score of 29 on the inward half of the course.

She birdied Nos. 1 and 5 and played the four par-fives on the course at 4 under.

Iwai, who won the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in her rookie season of 2025, credited an early start to her excellent round.

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"Good time tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable so I had a feeling so relaxing," said Iwai. "I had good feeling. I had fun."

After the brilliant run on the back nine, Iwai admitted to thinking about an extraordinary round.

"A little bit thinking 58 or 9 score," she said. "But golf is not easy. That's why I focus my routine. I try myself. I don't think too much."

Tavatanakit was only 1 under after bogeying the par-5 seventh hole. But she closed the outward half birdie-birdie and then birdied four of her last six holes on the day. She has missed two of three cuts to date and realizes there is a lot of golf left this weekend.

"I think that's what I find hard to adjust coming back into like full season tournament play," said Tavatanakit. "When you stop for a while just kind of been working on your swing and stuff, but you just kind of, you know, not think about hitting the numbers.

"I feel like I've been kind of building that ever since San Francisco, when we were there. I mean, I feel like my game has always been there. Just a little bit here and there is just kind of rusty."

Coughlin just won two handily weeks ago at the Aramco Championship, defeating runner-up Nelly Korda by five strokes. She played bogey-free golf on Thursday, closing with a 32 on the inward half.

--Field Level Media

Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tar...
No charges to be filed against Taylor Frankie Paul's ex-boyfriend in Utah case

Dakota Mortensen, the ex-boyfriend of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” starTaylor Frankie Paul, will not be charged in relation to an allegation of domestic violence this year, the Utah city of Draper said.

NBC Universal Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen. (Getty Images )

In a statement, the city announced the city prosecutor's decision two days after the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Officedeclined to file charges against Paul.

"The Draper City Prosecutor reviewed the DA’s findings and, upon further review of the Draper Police case, has declined to file any charges against Taylor Frankie Paul or Dakota Mortensen related to an investigation of domestic assault claims," the city said.

Mortensen filed a complaint of domestic violence against Paul on Feb. 23, and Paul counter-claimed an assault by him.

“After a thorough investigation by Draper Police, the City Prosecutor has determined that there is insufficient corroborating evidence to support filing criminal charges against either party,” the city said in the statement.

The police department said it "would only pursue the investigation further if additional information is provided that supports the prosecution of either party.”

NBC News has reached out to representatives for Paul for comment.

Mortensen declined to comment when he was reached by phone.

In the incident in February, a friend reported that Paul assaulted Mortensen, according to police records obtained through a Utah public records request.

Mortensen told police that Paul attacked him, grabbed his throat, scratched him and threw objects at him, according to Draper police records. Paul told police that she told Mortensen to leave her home and he refused and that at one point Mortensen grabbed her and hit her head against the dashboard of his vehicle, according to the police documents.

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Police said in the documents about the investigation that the city prosecutor “advised that neither Taylor or Dakota are credible witnesses, with both their statements being fraught with inconsistencies.”

The documents reviewed include accounts from both Mortensen and Paul. They describe in detail at least one domestic violence incident with allegations hurled against each other. Both parties refer toadditional incidentsbut those are not described at length.

NBC News has also reviewed photos and videos included in the police documents. The photos show injuries Paul and Mortensen said they suffered during the alleged domestic violence incidents, including bruises, scratches and other abrasions on both of their bodies, including their arms, legs, necks and faces.

Videos reviewed and included in the documents capture interviews between each of the parties and police officers, bodycam footage and audio of 911 calls placed.

Also included in the documents is audio of a 911 call made by Mortensen's roommate, who identifies himself as Cru Eaton. Eatoninitially reported the incidentthat took place at the end of February.

Police referred the case to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, because the couple’s child was home at the time, the city said in Thursday’s statement.

Allegations of domestic violence between the couple made headlines last month when a leaked video from a 2023 incident went viral. The video, posted online byTMZ,appeared to show Paulhurling a chair at Mortensen as he protested.

The couple’s on-and-off relationship was depicted in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which premiered in 2024.Filming for season fivewaspaused last month,sources have told NBC News.

Paul was to be the centerpiece of season 22 of ABC's “The Bachelorette,” but after the 2023 video was leaked, the networkpulled the upcoming season.

Mortensen will beedited out of the upcoming seasonof "Vanderpump Villa," a source familiar with the show confirmed to NBC News.

Draper is a city of around 50,000 in Salt Lake and Utah counties, south of Salt Lake City and in the metropolitan area.

No charges to be filed against Taylor Frankie Paul's ex-boyfriend in Utah case

Dakota Mortensen, the ex-boyfriend of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” starTaylor Frankie Paul, will not be charged in relation to an all...

 

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