Category: Sports

Visible gaps in stadium seating during Thursday’s World Cup game in Guadalajara have brought fresh scrutiny to the tournament’s ticket pricing strategy, despite official attendance figures showing 44,985 spectators for the South Korea versus Czech Republic match.

The contrast was stark compared to the tournament opener, where more than 80,000 fans packed the Azteca stadium to watch co-hosts Mexico face South Africa. The sight of unoccupied sections at the 46,000-capacity venue in Guadalajara—a city known for its passionate soccer following—has amplified criticism of the governing body’s commercial approach to the first 48-team World Cup.

Spectators present at the match pointed to expensive ticket costs as the reason behind the empty sections, expressing frustration with the current pricing structure.

The governing body’s president defended the ticket pricing strategy on Wednesday amid mounting criticism from supporters who say attendance costs have become unaffordable. He argued that ticket prices matched those of other major sporting competitions.

Tournament organizers report selling more than 6 million tickets and have previously emphasized strong interest throughout the Americas, with the president stating demand had surpassed expectations “a factor of 10 or more.”

Despite these claims, advocacy groups like Football Supporters Europe have cautioned that “extortionate” pricing would shut out regular fans. The organization notes that ticket costs for this tournament have increased fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in the Group A contest.

Juan Soto delivered when it mattered most, connecting for a decisive seventh-inning home run that lifted the New York Mets to a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, preventing a series sweep at home.

Soto finished the day with two hits in four at-bats, while Bo Bichette and Jared Young both launched home runs in the opening frame to give the Mets an early advantage.

New York starter Christian Scott struggled through 4 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits before giving way to the bullpen. Brooks Raley (2-1) earned the victory with a clean seventh inning, and Devin Williams closed out the game with a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season.

The Cardinals got home runs from Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar and Jimmy Crooks, but their six-game winning streak came to an end. Burleson’s homer extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. JoJo Romero (0-2) took the loss after allowing Soto’s go-ahead blast.

In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani continued his hot streak with another home run, his second in consecutive games, as the Dodgers defeated Pittsburgh 8-6. Ohtani reached base four times before leaving the game with left knee inflammation.

Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski departed in the fifth after taking a line drive off his leg and colliding with a runner at first base, resulting in a right hamstring contusion. Manager Dave Roberts minimized concerns about both injuries after the game. Kyle Tucker and Miguel Rojas each contributed two RBIs for Los Angeles, which captured the series finale.

Pittsburgh’s Rafael Flores Jr. recorded his first major league home run, while he and Jake Mangum each added RBI doubles in the eighth inning. Pirates starter Mitch Keller (5-4) allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings.

Detroit dominated Minnesota 11-0, with Colt Keith launching his first homer of the season and driving in three runs as the Tigers secured their third consecutive series win at home.

The Tigers’ offensive explosion included home runs from Spencer Torkelson, Wenceel Perez, Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Zach McKinstry. Dillon Dingler contributed three hits and scored once. Keider Montero (3-4) limited the Twins to four hits across 6 1/3 innings, with Tyler Holton and Beau Brieske completing the shutout.

Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (2-4) was tagged for seven runs and nine hits, including three homers, over six innings. Royce Lewis collected two of the Twins’ five hits.

Miami extended its winning streak to five games with a 2-0 shutout victory over Arizona at home. Tyler Phillips threw five-plus scoreless innings to improve to 1-1, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five batters. His ERA dropped to 1.86.

Xavier Edwards drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning, and Jakob Marsee added an RBI single in the fourth. The Marlins have now won eight of their last nine contests. Merrill Kelly (5-5) gave up two runs on four hits in six innings for Arizona, which has been shut out in consecutive games and holds a 3-10 record over its past 13 outings.

Chicago salvaged the final game of its series in Denver, defeating Colorado 9-3 behind Seiya Suzuki’s grand slam. Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly also went deep for the Cubs.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch each recorded two hits to support Edward Cabrera (4-3), who allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Brett Sullivan had a career day for the Rockies with two home runs and a single, marking his first multi-homer performance. Cole Carrigg hit his first career home run and added a single, while Troy Johnston collected three hits and Willi Castro singled twice.

Texas returned to .500 for the first time since May 1 with a 4-2 victory over Kansas City, despite a rain delay that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. Corey Seager homered for the Rangers, who won the series rubber match and have taken three of their last four games.

Ezequiel Duran went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Brandon Nimmo finished 2-for-4 with an RBI for Texas. Reliever Jacob Latz (2-1) struck out three batters over two hitless innings to earn the win. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (4-5) surrendered four runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Baltimore split its four-game series with Seattle, winning 7-5 as Adley Rutschman drove in three runs. Colton Cowser and Pete Alonso homered for the Orioles, who have won two straight after a four-game losing streak.

Tyler Wells (1-1) picked up the victory with three innings of hitless relief work, while Andrew Kittredge earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Cole Young led off the game with a home run and finished with three hits for Seattle, while Julio Rodriguez added two hits. The Mariners also got back-to-back homers from Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone. Bryan Woo (5-5) lasted five innings, allowing seven runs and seven hits.

GENEVA (AP) — The world governing body for ice skating is moving toward a presidential election Friday, avoiding the chaos that recently affected its Olympic partner sport of skiing.

Jae Youl Kim is expected to win reelection without opposition from International Skating Union members for another four-year term. This comes just months after his promotion to the International Olympic Committee’s executive board as the representative for winter sports.

The Samsung executive, who studied in the United States, first won election in 2026 right before the Milan Cortina Olympics, which delivered outstanding results on the ice.

Milan provided the backdrop for captivating personal journeys of American figure skating champions Alysa Liu and Ilia Malinin — though with vastly different outcomes — along with Dutch speed skating star Jutta Leerdam.

“Milan was a huge success, we couldn’t ask for anything better,” Kim told The Associated Press in an interview. “Venues were good and our skaters were incredible.”

He now serves as skating’s first IOC board member in 18 years, and may continue through the 2034 Utah Olympics during what promises to be a comprehensive evaluation of Winter Games sports and competitions.

Kim secured support from the eight-sport Winter Olympic Federations group while competing against Johan Eliasch, who was removed Thursday as head of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

A contentious FIS election was decided by just one vote following a campaign that revealed concerns within the skiing community about financial matters and future direction.

The ISU member federation has conducted peaceful congress sessions in Tenerife, concluding with a presidential election.

Kim’s family was instrumental in founding and operating a renowned daily newspaper, and he entered sports as an enthusiast who learned to skate on frozen waterways in Seoul.

“I want to make sure that skating remains as inspiring to as many people as it was to me,” he said during an interview at ISU headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Olympic movement’s home base.

He pursued political science and business studies at American institutions — Wesleyan, Johns Hopkins and Stanford — before joining Samsung. He subsequently headed the Korea Skating Union and served on the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games organizing committee.

Kim indicates that athlete welfare drives his leadership approach, noting he was among Leerdam’s 2.5 million Instagram followers even before her relationship and engagement with Jake Paul, the boxer and YouTube personality.

“Jake Paul is a very interesting man, very clever,” said Kim, referring to speed skating’s most recognizable supporter in Milan.

In figure skating competition, Kim celebrated Alysia Liu’s remarkable Olympic championship — “she is one of a kind” — and praised how Ilia Malinin responded to a devastating fall that cost him a medal, positioning him for possible redemption at the 2030 French Alps Olympics, expected in Lyon.

“I’m amazed how he carried himself after the free program,” Kim said. “He told me he’s going to be in Salt Lake City (in 2034), he’s determined.”

“They (the athletes) are the only assets that we have and we ought to make sure that we provide everything we can to make them the star.”

ISU plans to enhance arena lighting for dramatic effect and permit athletes to use official videos and photos for their social media accounts. This also translates to increased revenue.

This week ISU announced plans to more than double prize money for the upcoming season, increasing from $5.4 million to $11.1 million. Member federations will also receive an additional $2.1 million boost in travel expense assistance.

ISU allowed Russian competitors to attempt qualification and participation in the Milan Olympics, though their ban from other championships continues into its fifth year amid the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine.

“That discussion took a long time because there’s a lot of European perspective, which I understand,” said Kim, who became the ISU’s first non-European leader in 130 years when elected in 2022.

The complete return of Russian skaters was not addressed in Tenerife, though Kim said a newly formed ISU Council will be “looking at the right time to make the decision.”

This reflects a core philosophy. “I want to be able to look back at ISU 20 years from now and then I want to be able to say, ‘Hey, we did the right thing.’”

The Texas Attorney General’s office has issued a warning to the Big 12 Conference, threatening potential legal action if the league sanctions Texas Tech over quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility situation.

Conference athletic directors, excluding Texas Tech’s representative, gathered on Tuesday and reached a unanimous decision opposing Sorsby’s participation with the Red Raiders. Conference presidents convened Thursday, and a complete board session is set for Monday as the Big 12 considers its next steps.

A Texas district court judge issued a temporary injunction this week, preventing the NCAA from declaring Sorsby ineligible. The NCAA’s initial ruling came after legal documents revealed the quarterback made approximately 40 wagers on Indiana football games during his time with that program in 2022 and 2023. Court filings showed he bet roughly $90,000 across four years and began addiction treatment on April 27.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark released a statement Thursday saying, “Shortly before the start of today’s Big 12 Executive Board meeting, the Conference received a letter from the Texas Attorney General’s office notifying the Conference of potential legal action from Texas Tech if the Conference pursues certain actions under its Bylaws. We are taking time with our legal counsel to understand the concerns of the state and will meet again with the full Board next week.”

“We moved forward with our Executive Board today in preparation for our full Board meeting on Monday. We had a good and informative discussion. Sentiment among the Executive Board was no different from what we heard from the ADs earlier this week,” Yormark added.

The NCAA has petitioned the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas in Amarillo this week, requesting an “accelerated appeal” to overturn the temporary injunction that reinstated Sorsby’s playing eligibility.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The departure of William Karlsson from the ice marked the beginning of a disastrous evening for the Vegas Golden Knights.

After Karlsson was forced out of the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final due to injury, Vegas committed four penalties that resulted in a pair of power-play scores by their opponents. Goaltender Carter Hart surrendered four goals for the fifth straight game in the series, leaving his squad facing elimination following Thursday night’s 4-2 defeat to Carolina.

The addition of Karlsson to the lineup for his first playoff appearance at the beginning of the second round transformed Vegas’s prospects, moving Mitch Marner to a wing position and delivering the solid, dependable center depth essential for success during this crucial time of year. Karlsson contributed nine points across 14 games following a six-month absence due to an undisclosed injury.

On this occasion, the injury appeared to involve his left arm or shoulder area following a collision with the boards caused by Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker just over eight minutes into the second period. After receiving brief medical treatment on the bench, Karlsson departed the ice and did not make a return.

Coach John Tortorella has remained tight-lipped regarding injury updates.

However, the impact of Karlsson’s absence became immediately apparent, particularly during penalty-killing situations. Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov netted the first of his two power-play tallies less than four minutes following Karlsson’s exit, then scored another during the third period.

While Hart faced a screen from Jeremy Lauzon on Svechnikov’s opening goal and bore little responsibility for the defeat, Vegas still suffered their 32nd loss in 39 occasions this season and playoffs when surrendering four goals or more.

Three soccer players born in African refugee camps are poised to represent Australia’s evolving national identity on the world’s biggest stage, as they prepare to help the Socceroos pursue their World Cup ambitions.

Head coach Tony Popovic is placing his trust in forwards Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda, both young prospects hoping to earn their first World Cup playing time when Australia faces Turkey on Saturday in their tournament opener.

Awer Mabil, 30, serves as the veteran presence among the trio and will provide guidance as their “older brother” during his second World Cup appearance.

All three share common backgrounds as children of refugee families who developed their soccer skills in Adelaide, Australia’s quiet state capital.

These players have already gained recognition within Australia’s 500,000-member African community, and their connection on the field could prove crucial to Australia’s goal of progressing past the group stage and claiming their first-ever World Cup knockout victory.

“It’s the country that gave us the opportunity to live,” said 22-year-old Toure.

“So I think (the World Cup) would be the best way to pay back and just do what I love at a top level.”

Toure, currently competing in England’s second division, entered the world at a refugee facility in Guinea after his family escaped Liberia.

Though he has earned just 10 international appearances, he has established himself as Popovic’s preferred striker following an impressive stint with Norwich City, where he netted nine times in 11 matches.

The 20-year-old Irankunda, born in a Tanzanian refugee camp, has formed a close friendship with Toure and also competes in England’s second tier with Watford.

While Irankunda’s high-profile transfer to Bayern Munich in 2024 didn’t pan out as expected, the player of Burundian descent has won over supporters during his 15 national team appearances through his dynamic play and distinctive goal celebrations.

Mabil’s soccer journey began with informal games among children at a Kenyan refugee camp, where he remained until age 10 after his family fled Sudan’s civil conflict.

Initially overlooked by Popovic, the forward with 38 caps earned his recall to the national squad in March for the first time in nearly two years, following strong performances with Castellon in Spain’s second tier.

“Obviously, I had a little taste in the last one (World Cup), but this one will mean extra because I think it’s not been an easy couple of years for me,” he said.

The Socceroos roster, once primarily composed of players with European ancestry, has grown significantly more diverse in recent years.

Six players of African heritage — representing nearly 25% of the World Cup squad — are expected to see action in North America, twice the number selected for the 2022 Qatar tournament.

Four of these players developed their talents in Adelaide, which has emerged as an unexpected center for African soccer development.

Striker Tete Yengi, who plays professionally in Japan and scored during his debut in Australia’s 1-1 World Cup preparation match against Switzerland, completes the Adelaide group.

Yengi, whose brother Kusini also represents Australia internationally, traces his roots to South Sudan and maintains a strong relationship with former Adelaide United teammate Irankunda.

The Adelaide A-League organization has cultivated deep connections within the city’s African communities and has a track record of developing young talent, having given Irankunda his professional debut at just 15 years old.

“That’s why we keep producing these hidden gems,” Deng Akoy, a South Sudanese-Australian coach for Adelaide’s youth team, told Reuters.

Though Australia welcomes thousands of asylum seekers annually, immigration has become a contentious political issue, with some politicians attributing housing costs and social problems to immigration policies.

According to Akoy, players like Toure and Irankunda have an opportunity to change public perception at the World Cup by demonstrating the positive outcomes of multicultural integration.

“Australian football is reflecting modern Australia. So that’s something we should all celebrate.”

A Tennessee grand jury has handed down a first-degree murder indictment against former NFL linebacker Darron Lee in connection with his girlfriend’s death earlier this year.

The indictment was issued Tuesday, according to multiple media reports. Hamilton County (Tenn.) District Attorney Coty Wamp informed local station WTVC that prosecutors have dropped an evidence tampering charge and “will focus solely on the murder.”

Wamp indicated that capital punishment remains a possibility for Lee, with a determination expected in the upcoming weeks.

During a March preliminary hearing, prosecutors revealed evidence that included Lee’s ChatGPT search history. The records showed he had questioned the AI program about handling an unconscious person and what types of wounds would match injuries from a bathroom fall.

The 29-year-old victim, Gabriella Perpetuo, was discovered by emergency personnel on Feb. 5 at the pair’s rented residence in Ooltewah, Tenn., a small community roughly 20 minutes from Lee’s hometown of Chattanooga.

Emergency medical workers responded to the scene and performed life-saving procedures, but the victim died from her wounds and was declared deceased at the location. Lee was named as a suspect and arrested.

Detective Brian Lockhart provided testimony describing the victim’s “severe injuries, including severe brain trauma, a broken neck, bruising across her body, a large bite mark on her shoulder and thigh, stab wounds to her legs and significant facial trauma.”

Lee claimed to investigators that Perpetuo suffered from narcolepsy and probably fell in the bathroom. Lockhart painted a very different picture.

“There was blood going up the staircase, on the hand railing there was blood, on the walls there was blood, on the floor in the living room there was blood, in the floor on the hallway and the stairs … there was blood in just about every room except one,” Lockhart testified.

Lee had previous run-ins with the law in 2023, facing charges for three separate assault incidents involving his mother, the mother of his child and another individual. He also received a felony drug possession charge after missing his court appearance for that matter later that year. He entered guilty pleas to two reduced charges in 2025.

The 31-year-old Lee was a member of the Ohio State squad that captured the 2014 national title before being drafted 20th overall by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Lee spent portions of five NFL seasons playing for the Jets (2016-18), Kansas City Chiefs (2019) and Buffalo Bills (2020).

PITTSBURGH — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was removed from Thursday evening’s matchup against Pittsburgh during the seventh inning after developing inflammation in his left knee.

Before his early departure, the reigning National League MVP delivered a standout performance at the plate. Ohtani connected for his 13th home run of the season during the third inning, sending a solo blast over the fence. He also collected a base hit and drew two walks, successfully reaching base in each of his four plate appearances.

The timing of when Ohtani first experienced the knee discomfort remains unknown.

The Los Angeles Dodgers faced injury troubles during their Thursday matchup against Pittsburgh, losing two key players before the game concluded.

Star player Shohei Ohtani departed in the seventh inning’s top half due to inflammation in his left knee. The versatile athlete had been having an outstanding performance, collecting two hits in two at-bats, including a home run, and reaching base safely four times before leaving the contest. Santiago Espinal took over his designated hitter role.

The team’s injury woes began earlier when starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski suffered problems in the fifth inning. The left-handed pitcher took a hard-hit ball traveling 96.2 mph off his upper leg, then collided with Bryan Reynolds during Reynolds’ infield hit.

Wrobleski was diagnosed with a right hamstring contusion and could not continue. His outing lasted 4 2/3 innings, during which he surrendered four runs on six hits, including two home runs.

Ohtani had given his team an early advantage in the third inning, connecting on a 3-2 sweeper from Mitch Keller and sending it over the right-center field barrier for a solo home run. This marked his 13th home run of the current season, following his two-run homer in Wednesday’s 9-8 defeat to the Pirates.

Multiple media sources reported Thursday that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has requested to be traded from the organization.

The 31-year-old player still has four seasons remaining on his eight-year contract worth $74 million, which averages $9.25 million per year. His deal contains a complete no-movement clause, meaning Edmonton cannot move him without his consent. According to reports, he has provided the organization with a list of preferred teams.

Selected seventh overall in the opening round of the 2013 draft, Nurse has spent his entire 12-season career with Edmonton. This past season, he recorded seven goals and 17 assists, marking his weakest offensive performance since the 2017-18 campaign, despite appearing in all 82 regular season contests.

During this year’s playoffs, Nurse failed to register any points across six games as Edmonton fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round.

Throughout his professional career spanning 798 games, Nurse has tallied 88 goals and 236 assists. In postseason play, he has contributed seven goals and 22 assists over 100 games.

Soccer enthusiasts making their way to Vancouver for the World Cup are accepting expensive ticket costs, with many dismissing the financial burden in favor of meaningful personal experiences that go far beyond the game itself — including paying tribute to deceased family members and creating special moments with loved ones.

The international tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicked off Thursday with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 in an intense match that saw three red cards issued. Vancouver will host its inaugural game Saturday when Turkey meets Australia in Group D competition.

Some attendees say their travel plans hold significant emotional value. One German supporter explained he decided to come to Vancouver as a way to honor his deceased father, who had an affection for the city, despite recognizing the increasing expense of match attendance.

“We are here to watch Australia against Turkey, and I’m happy to get some tickets,” Harold from Germany told Reuters.

“I paid $150. That’s a lot of money for a football match, but I got lucky to get tickets at this price.”

“We’ve been to tournaments in Germany, the World Cup, and the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, and it has always been expensive, but it’s getting more and more expensive, and I don’t like this, but I think it’s a great atmosphere.”

Australian supporter Mark Wright, who is experiencing his fifth World Cup alongside his family members, emphasized that financial considerations pale in comparison to the opportunity for creating unforgettable experiences.

The Socceroos have consistently earned qualification spots for the international tournament, participating in the previous six competitions and reaching the round of 16 for a second occasion in Qatar four years ago.

“It wasn’t about the cost. I’ve been to four World Cups now, and it’s never about the cost,” Wright said. “It’s about following my country and my team, and spending time with my family.

“For me, the World Cup is a lifetime memory — doing things that I love, celebrating, watching.

“I think the World Cup makes everywhere better. You see the best version of a country or a city, because people are happy. Generally, the weather decides to be good as well, out of some sort of miracle. But football is life, as they say in (the popular TV show) Ted Lasso, and I think that gives everyone a bit of a feeling, and it improves the city.”

Brandon Bussi will take the net once more for the Hurricanes when they face the Golden Knights in Game 5 on Thursday at Carolina, following his impressive 18-save performance in his debut Stanley Cup playoff start during the team’s Game 4 victory.

The Stanley Cup Final stands even at 2-2 in the best-of-seven matchup.

“‘Bus Man’ has been great,” said Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. “It’s not an easy job stepping in and doing what he did, and he’s going to have to keep doing that if you want a chance. He’s a big goalie that battles hard and grinds and finds ways to get wins, so we’re happy with any goalie that’s in our organization that’s in the net.”

The 27-year-old netminder took over for Frederik Andersen, who had been struggling after giving up 12 goals on 65 shots during the series’ opening three contests. Bussi entered during the third period of Saturday’s 5-4 double-overtime defeat in Game 3, where he turned away 18 of 19 shots in relief duty.

Over his last two game appearances, Bussi has made 36 saves on 40 shots faced.

Andersen had been Carolina’s go-to starter for the first 16 postseason games, compiling a 13-2 record during that stretch.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has claimed his second Hart Trophy on Thursday, marking nearly ten years since his initial victory.

The award, which recognizes the player deemed most valuable to his team as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, was previously earned by Kucherov during the 2018-19 season. This achievement places him among just three players who have secured Hart Trophy victories with a gap of seven or more years between wins, alongside Sidney Crosby and Jean Beliveau.

During the regular season, Kucherov accumulated 130 points through 44 goals and 86 assists, ranking second in the league. Across 76 games played, he topped all players in points per game with a 1.71 average.

Making his third consecutive appearance as a Hart Trophy finalist, Kucherov narrowly defeated Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid in the tightest voting margin seen since 2001-02, winning by just 10 points. McDavid, who captured the league lead with 136 points and has earned three Hart Trophies, finished as runner-up, while Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon placed third.

When surprised with the honor by Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard at Tampa Bay’s practice facility, Kucherov expressed his gratitude. “Thanks for this honor. Just really grateful for my teammates, coaches, my family,” Kucherov said. “This means a lot.”

The 32-year-old has amassed 1,124 career points, ranking 10th among current players, through 401 goals and 723 assists across 879 games with the Lightning spanning from 2013-26.

Soccer enthusiasts in Toronto faced major disappointment Thursday when event organizers shut down the World Cup fan festival because of dangerous weather conditions, just one day before Canada’s opening match.

Event officials announced the evacuation through social media, stating “Out of an abundance of caution, the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto is being evacuated due to risk of lightning.”

The shutdown happened while supporters were viewing Mexico’s match against South Africa in the tournament’s first game on large outdoor screens. This marks another weather-related interruption for the championship.

Experts in sports science warn of significant weather challenges for a summer World Cup taking place across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Weather predictions show higher-than-usual temperatures expected throughout much of the U.S., with Gulf of Mexico moisture potentially creating thunderstorms and dangerous conditions during the tournament’s early stages.

Supporters expressed frustration on social media platforms, questioning whether the city was properly prepared to host tournament events, particularly after Toronto had initially faced backlash for not offering complimentary admission.

City officials changed their original approach and made free passes available in May, which were completely claimed within hours. The festival features live match viewing, dining options and entertainment programming scheduled to continue through July 19.

As one of 16 host cities for the expanded 48-nation World Cup, Toronto will present six games, beginning with Canada’s matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.

United States soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino warned Thursday that his team faces an extremely challenging World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday, cautioning that the South American squad poses a serious threat despite the hosts being considered favorites.

The Americans kick off their World Cup journey at Los Angeles Stadium in Group D, carrying the weight of expectations that comes with hosting the tournament on home turf. Pochettino noted his squad has reached the competition in excellent physical, tactical and emotional form.

However, the Argentine coach, drawing from his extensive playing and coaching experience with South American teams, emphasized that Gustavo Alfaro’s Paraguay squad will present significant obstacles.

“I know very well the mentality, the aggressivity, the competitivity,” Pochettino shared with reporters on Thursday.

“Paraguay showed in qualification for this World Cup how tough it is to play against them and how they performed so well. They beat Argentina, Brazil. My expectation is tomorrow is going to be a very tough game.

“They have good quality and a great coach in Gustavo Alfaro who I respect and admire him a lot.”

Pochettino, who was brought in during 2024 to guide the US through their home World Cup, expressed optimism about his team’s development in recent months, especially highlighting their final two preparation matches — a 3-2 victory over Senegal and a close 2-1 loss to Germany.

According to the coach, these performances demonstrated to his players that they can compete effectively against top-tier international competition.

“The last two games allowed us to think and to feel that it’s possible to do whatever we want and compete in our best way, and to compete with big teams,” he explained.

The coach emphasized that his team has shown improvement beyond just tactical elements, noting significant mental growth and the players’ acceptance of higher standards within the national team program.

“I think they are much better players. The mindset is starting to change,” he said.

Regarding team selection, Pochettino confirmed that all 26 roster players are healthy and ready for selection, including defender Chris Richards, who had been recovering from an ankle injury.

While the coach has finalized his goalkeeper choice, he remained secretive about whether Matt Turner or Matt Freese would start between the posts.

“I decided,” Pochettino stated when questioned about his starting formation. “The starting 11 is there, unless something happens before the game.”

When asked if the goalkeepers had been notified of his decision, he smiled and responded: “I don’t know if they know, because if I tell you they know, you are going to start to call them.”

The Argentine stressed that his team must demonstrate freedom and passion in their play to energize home supporters and create positive momentum throughout the tournament.

“What we can do is contagious,” he noted. “We need to play with passion. We need to win games, so important, but play with passion and make the fans feel proud about what they are seeing on the field.”

When pressed to define what would constitute success for the United States in this tournament, Pochettino gave a direct response.

“For me, success is win,” he declared. “It’s win tomorrow and win after tomorrow.

“When we signed here, it’s because we wanted to come here and be involved in this unique event, but with the possibility to compete well and a belief in winning.”

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has captured his second Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player, matching his previous MVP achievement from 2019.

The NHL made the announcement Thursday evening ahead of the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final.

Kucherov dominated the scoring race with an average of 1.71 points per game, recording 44 goals and adding 86 assists throughout the season. His total of 130 points placed him just behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who finished the season with 138 points.

In the voting conducted by Professional Hockey Writers Association members, McDavid finished as the runner-up, trailing by just 10 points. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon claimed third place in the balloting, while San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini rounded out the top four.

The Lightning star significantly outpaced his teammates in offensive production, accumulating 42 more points than Jake Guentzel, the next-highest scorer on Tampa Bay’s roster. Kucherov previously finished third in Hart Trophy consideration last season and placed second in the 2023-24 voting.

LAS VEGAS — With nearly two complete seasons remaining before relocating to their new climate-controlled ballpark at the southern portion of the Las Vegas Strip, the Athletics are already witnessing growing enthusiasm as Major League Baseball prepares to arrive in a city that was once considered forbidden territory for major professional sports.

The team, which has established a temporary base in West Sacramento following their final contest at the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season concluded, is currently playing a six-game homestand this week at their Triple-A affiliate’s venue in Las Vegas.

The Athletics are set to begin play in their new 33,000-capacity stadium built where the former Tropicana Hotel once stood, with the 2028 season as their target date.

Following a series victory of two games out of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Athletics will begin a three-game matchup Friday versus the Colorado Rockies at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin.

“We live right down the street from here, so we’re really excited about the A’s coming to town,” said Chris Duval, who moved to the area from Los Angeles about a year ago. “We’ve been baseball fans forever. We’ve moved all over the place, so it’s tough to get locked down on one team.”

Duval, who was wearing a white Athletics home jersey, said his wife grew up in California and always has been a Dodgers fan, while he grew up in New England as a self-described “Red Sox guy.”

“We’re just really excited to have them in town,” said Duval, who took in two of the three games against the Brewers with his family. “We probably will be season ticket holders.”

In an effort to cultivate fan loyalty and raise awareness throughout the community, the Athletics organized an extensive array of community activities during their homestand, along with multiple promotional giveaways for stadium attendees.

Activities featuring Athletics players, former players and team personnel included reading sessions at a neighborhood library; Wiffle ball competitions with a Boys and Girls Club summer youth program; preparing children’s meals at a community food bank; and stops at the Sunrise Children’s Hospital and the weekend Farmer’s Market in downtown Summerlin.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was asked about balancing the community outreach with winning baseball games.

“At the major league level, the wins and losses matter,” Kotsay said before Monday’s series opener. “Performance matters. Spring training performance doesn’t matter. When you’re here in a regular season, the less distractions that we can make for the players, I think the better off the performance can be.

“Obviously that’s challenging, because we want to do as much as we can here in the community to get out and to show that our engagement is going to be 100%, which I think we’re doing and are going to do as we get further into this relationship. It’s exciting for us.”

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said players were not all that different from fans when it comes to viewing Las Vegas as a travel destination.

“I think it’s an opportunity. Just embrace it, don’t put too much into it. You don’t make excuses,” Murphy said Monday. “I don’t really see the downside. The guys are excited. I mean, they like to come to Vegas.”

Linda Jochimsen, in her second season as a VIP staff host at the Triple-A ballpark, was somewhat surprised at the number of fans who traveled from Milwaukee.

“Some of them are really serious baseball fans, they go to spring training, they follow the team. They’re not just fans, they’re dedicated fans,” she said. “They said they got their tickets as soon as they saw they were going to be here. Months ago.”

Tom Risen lives near Eau Claire in northwest Wisconsin, which is much closer to Minneapolis than Milwaukee.

“Vegas was definite because we come to Vegas all the time, so it was a no-brainer,” Risen said. “Our rooms were set as soon as we heard they were going to be there.”

The Athletics represent the newest professional sports team to establish Las Vegas as their home base, joining other franchises that have all arrived within the past ten years. The Golden Knights of the NHL, presently competing in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time, began operations as an expansion team in 2017.

The Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA relocated from San Antonio in 2018, and the former Oakland Raiders of the NFL moved to Las Vegas in 2020 at Allegiant Stadium, located close to the upcoming baseball facility. The NBA Board of Governors recently voted to formally explore potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle.

Patrice Virgil, who works in hospitality at Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, grew up in Las Vegas.

Virgil said the current sports environment is quite a change from back when UNLV basketball — the Runnin’ Rebels with legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian — was the only game in town.

She said the influx of out-of-town fans is noticeable, even by Las Vegas tourism standards.

“They follow their teams,” Virgil said. “When the 49ers come to town, you know they’re here. Full-fledged. They have their jerseys on, their hats, their favorite T-shirts … We were an entertainment capital, now we’re a sports town.”

Colorado Avalanche leadership has made a firm commitment to retain elite defenseman Cale Makar for the remainder of his professional hockey career, according to president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic, who spoke on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Makar becomes eligible to negotiate a new deal starting July 1, which would extend his current six-year, $54 million agreement that expires following the 2026-27 campaign. Since being drafted fourth overall by Colorado in 2017, Makar has spent his entire NHL tenure with the franchise.

“Cale is going to finish his career here,” Sakic declared. “We’re already talking to his agent, so we’re confident that something’s going to get worked out at some point. I mean, he’s got another year, but this summer we expect to have him signed.”

The defenseman has claimed the Norris Trophy twice as the league’s premier blue-liner and recorded 79 points this past season with 20 goals and 59 assists, posting a plus-32 rating across 75 contests. Despite being nominated for the award for six straight years, he finished second on Tuesday to Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski, who captured his first Norris Trophy.

During the playoffs, Makar contributed five points with four goals and one assist while maintaining a plus-5 rating through 11 games, despite battling an upper-body ailment.

Throughout his professional career, Makar has accumulated 507 points on 136 goals and 371 assists with a plus-168 rating, 134 penalty minutes, 664 blocked shots and 377 hits over 470 regular-season appearances. His postseason statistics include 26 goals and 90 points with a plus-28 rating, 24 penalty minutes, 147 blocks and 100 hits across 90 playoff contests.

The defenseman earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable performer during the Stanley Cup playoffs in the 2021-22 campaign.

Makar, a three-time All-Star selection, received the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2019-20 and claimed the Norris Trophy as best defenseman in both 2021-22 and 2024-25.

Colorado captured the Presidents’ Trophy this season by posting the NHL’s strongest record at 55-16-11 for 121 points, then defeated the Los Angeles Kings in four games and overcame the Minnesota Wild in five before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in a Western Conference finals sweep.

Sakic, who previously held the general manager position before his promotion to president of hockey operations, resumed GM duties this month following Chris MacFarland’s departure to become president and general manager of the Nashville Predators.

Speaking Thursday, Sakic confirmed the entire coaching staff will remain unchanged, including head coach Jared Bednar, who enters the final year of his current contract. The 54-year-old Bednar has guided the franchise for 10 regular seasons with a 445-262-75 record and nine playoff appearances resulting in a 60-41 mark, highlighted by the 2022 Stanley Cup championship.

“He’s got the confidence from the players,” Sakic explained. “It’s clear from everybody, from players, the staff, that he’s the right guy. They respect him, they love playing for him, and that’s a big thing. And when we look at it for this group, he’s the best coach. He’s the best coach for the group, and we’re confident in that decision.

“He’s not just the coach, I mean, he’s the voice of the of the organization, and, like I said, the players really believe in him, and I’m going with the players.”

Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre expressed pride in his team’s ability to shake off early match jitters following their 2-0 victory over South Africa in Thursday’s World Cup Group A opening game at the Estadio Azteca, though he acknowledged significant room for growth remains.

Julian Quinones put the co-hosting nation on the scoreboard with a well-executed finish, while Raul Jimenez added insurance with a header in the second period, thrilling the home supporters.

“This could have been a 4-0 match, but people were happy. It is the start of the World Cup, we left the nerves behind and we go with three points,” Aguirre told reporters. “Now we are thinking about what is next.”

The Mexican squad controlled significant portions of the match and enjoyed a player advantage for most of the final 45 minutes after South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole received a red card just five minutes into the second half for fouling Brian Gutierrez.

South Africa’s situation worsened in the 84th minute when Themba Zwane was ejected for violent conduct, leaving them with nine players. However, Aguirre felt his team made the contest unnecessarily difficult.

“We didn’t play well in the first half. It could have ended 3-0 easily,” he said. “We were superior in the first part, but the score did not reflect that. We complicated things for ourselves.

“After the second goal we got overconfident, then came the sending-off. We need to improve, but it was a good game.”

Quinones found the net after Erik Lira gained control following Sithole’s defensive mistake, while Jimenez connected on Mexico’s second goal in the 67th minute off Roberto Alvarado’s well-placed cross.

The victory marked Mexico’s first opening-match triumph in seven World Cup attempts. Their next opponent will be South Korea in Guadalajara, while South Africa prepares to face the Czech Republic.

Canada’s national soccer team coach Jesse Marsch has a straightforward response for those questioning whether his squad can handle the expectations of hosting World Cup matches: his players don’t just accept the pressure, they welcome it.

The Canadian team will take the field at Toronto Stadium on Friday for their opening World Cup match on home turf, carrying the hopes of an entire nation. Their preparation has been marked by significant time spent dealing with injuries rather than focusing solely on training, but Marsch remains confident.

“If you do this for a living, this is where you want to be,” Marsch stated on Thursday before the Group B matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I came to Canada to be the coach because I liked these guys and I believed they could fit the way I wanted to play, but I came here to lead them in the World Cup — in the home World Cup. I wanted this responsibility.”

The team’s most significant injury worry centers on captain Alphonso Davies, who won’t play Friday due to a hamstring problem he sustained during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final match last month. However, Marsch indicated that Wednesday’s MRI results were positive.

“We’re getting ready to ramp things up,” the American coach explained.

“He will not be available for tomorrow, but he’s showing, like he always has, a real good ability to recover from muscle injuries. We’re really hopeful that over the next days and weeks we can accelerate things and give him a chance to contribute here soon.”

Midfielder Ismael Kone caused momentary concern when he departed Wednesday’s training session early before it had truly started, but Marsch quickly addressed those worries with some frustration.

“He just felt a little sick, so we sent him home because we were doing nothing on the day, and it was like a five-star red alert,” Marsch explained. “Ismael trained today, he’s totally fine, he’s ready to go.”

Defender Moise Bombito, whose comeback from a broken leg seemed to hit a setback after playing only 30 minutes in a preparation game against Uzbekistan, will also be available if needed.

“He’s not fully at 100%, but he’s reached his top speed,” Marsch noted. “I don’t see any reason that a week from now he’s not ready to even be considered as a starter.”

Player discipline will also be a focus for Marsch. Canada has received several red cards in their previous 11 matches, and with the excitement of a home tournament opener, Marsch acknowledged the potential danger.

“Certainly one of the best ways to derail a tournament for any team is red cards,” he said.

“We do need to be aggressive and play our way with speed and power, but we also need to make sure that we keep our heads and don’t have any reckless tackles, extracurricular situations, or emotional reactions that get us in any kind of trouble with cards.”

Canada has shown marked improvement since Marsch assumed control in 2024, particularly reaching the Copa America semi-finals that same year. This marks Canada’s first appearance in consecutive World Cups, though they continue seeking their first tournament point following six losses across the 1986 and 2022 competitions.

Marsch expressed confidence in his team’s preparation. “We are ready to play some big games,” said Marsch. “We are ready to make our country proud, make our fans proud. We are ready to go after this.”

EAGAN, Minn. — As Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray works to master a complicated offensive system in his first season with the team, he faces an additional hurdle that most newcomers don’t encounter.

He must share practice time with another quarterback.

The Vikings are conducting a genuine battle for their starting quarterback role during this offseason period, splitting first-team practice repetitions between Murray and current quarterback J.J. McCarthy. This approach will continue when training camp begins next month.

“You’ve got to put it together in a way that challenges those guys and see who responds, see who handles adversity well, and ultimately see who elevates the offense,” coach Kevin O’Connell said after the last practice of minicamp on Thursday. “It’s an open competition, and I want to see these guys in very unique and in many ways difficult circumstances elevate themselves and their games to help the Minnesota Vikings.”

O’Connell hasn’t established a timeline for making the final decision, though he acknowledged the Vikings will probably name their starter at least two weeks before their September 13 season opener against the Green Bay Packers to be properly prepared. The coaching staff plans to place both quarterbacks in as many significant scenarios as possible once full-contact practices begin in training camp, despite knowing that public training sessions will generate intense fan and media speculation.

“I wouldn’t read much into who gets what on which days,” O’Connell said, recognizing the heavy attention on the team’s quarterback situation for the third consecutive season since McCarthy was selected 10th overall in the 2024 draft. “I know me saying that was the waste of the time that it took to say it, but we’re going to put together a way where we can put them in the different aspects of situational football that they need to get.”

Murray, who was the top selection in the 2019 draft before being released by the Arizona Cardinals and signing with Minnesota for the veteran minimum wage this season to position himself for a larger contract in 2027, has been viewed as the likely frontrunner despite being less familiar with the offensive scheme.

“Now having to split reps, me already being behind, not getting the amount of reps you would typically want a guy to get learning an offense, that’s probably the toughest part,” Murray said this week.

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips noted that McCarthy’s offseason has “been a continuous upward arrow or him.” Vikings personnel from O’Connell to wide receiver Justin Jefferson have publicly praised McCarthy’s improved abilities and fundamentals following his challenging 2025 debut season. However, if Murray emerges as the franchise’s long-term solution, McCarthy could potentially find himself seeking opportunities with another team.

“I think I’ve made it very clear I wanted to be here, before I got here. I love this organization. I love the coaching staff. I absolutely love these players to death,” McCarthy said. “This is where I want to be. I feel like I can thrive in this system.”

The Vikings apparently maintain some confidence in McCarthy’s potential, provided they have sufficient time to develop him.

“It’s probably going to end up being a difficult decision,” O’Connell said, “just based on where I know those guys are going to go.”

Haiti’s national soccer team will face the World Cup without one of their midfielders after Leverton Pierre sustained an injury that has ended his tournament hopes.

The Haitian Football Federation announced Thursday that Pierre suffered damage to his right adductor muscle, forcing him out of competition. “Leverton Pierre will not be able to play in the World Cup after the medical team detected an injury to his right adductor,” the federation stated.

To fill the roster spot, Haiti has selected centre-back Garven Metusala, who competes for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship, the second tier of American professional soccer.

Haiti’s World Cup campaign begins Saturday when they take on Scotland in their opening Group C contest. The team will also face five-time world champions Brazil and Morocco during group stage play.

This marks Haiti’s second World Cup appearance, with their previous participation dating back to 1974.

NEW YORK, June 11 – Excitement for the New York Knicks has swept across all five boroughs this week, as the basketball team stands just one victory away from breaking a 53-year championship dry spell. Even with the World Cup soccer tournament beginning across the river in New Jersey on Saturday, many local residents are focused on their beloved basketball squad.

Soccer fans worldwide will watch as Brazil takes on Morocco in East Rutherford, New Jersey, starting at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday. However, lifelong New Yorkers will have their attention fixed on the Knicks as they face the San Antonio Spurs in Texas for Game 5 of the championship series, beginning two and a half hours after the soccer match.

“This is an incredible time to be a sports fan and, frankly, an even greater time to be a New Yorker,” the city’s sports-enthusiastic mayor said on Thursday. He wore a Knicks jersey beneath his blazer while speaking to both residents and visitors before Saturday’s World Cup game.

Manhattan’s sweltering streets were packed with supporters wearing blue and orange well into Wednesday evening, following the Knicks’ remarkable comeback from a massive 29-point deficit to secure a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series against San Antonio at Madison Square Garden.

London-born player OG Anunoby sealed the memorable game with a game-winning putback shot that coach Mike Brown described as “the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball.” Some observers drew parallels between the tip-in and Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal, with ESPN calling it the “Hand of OG.”

“The energy in our city right now is incredible,” the mayor stated. “Time and again, people have doubted the Knicks. And time and again, the Knicks have proven the doubters wrong. OG Anunoby with the greatest outstretched hand since Diego Maradona.”

Supporters from New York and New Jersey purchased approximately 44% of the tickets available for Saturday’s Game 5 at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center through the resale platform TickPick, the company announced Thursday. The Knicks hope to close out the series away from home or return for a potential Game 6 at their home venue on Tuesday.

The team’s towering center Karl-Anthony Towns praised the dedication and toughness of the fanbase, commending them for remaining until the final buzzer even when Game 4 seemed hopeless.

“Shoutout to our fans, man,” he told reporters. “As anyone who lives in New York knows, if you want to make it in this city, you have to be okay getting it out of the mud, and we did that.”

The New York City Police Department’s communications division indicated it would decide Friday whether supporters could gather outside Madison Square Garden to view the game on large screens. This fan tradition was disrupted due to safety concerns during this week’s two home contests, creating tension between team owner James Dolan, the police department, and city officials.

Madison Square Garden is located above Penn Station, an important transportation center for those attending Saturday’s World Cup match.

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel will be out of action for an extended period after the team moved him to the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to left plantar fasciitis.

Medical evaluation on Thursday revealed Isbel suffered a Grade 3 tear in his left plantar fascia, which represents a severe injury. The team expects him to remain sidelined for a considerable amount of time, with a clearer recovery timeline expected after additional medical assessments in the upcoming days.

Speaking on Thursday, Isbel revealed he had been dealing with the foot problem for several weeks before it worsened while running bases during Tuesday’s matchup against the Texas Rangers.

“It’s just getting the inflammation down, and then there’s not really a timetable on it,” Isbel said. “Just more symptom-based. … Just a lot of pressure in the bottom of my foot.”

The 29-year-old outfielder has compiled a .244 batting average this season along with three home runs and 11 RBIs across 56 games. Throughout his major league career since joining Kansas City in 2021, Isbel maintains a .238 batting average with 26 home runs and 155 RBIs over 552 regular-season contests.

To fill the roster spot, the Royals brought up outfielder Kameron Misner from Triple-A Omaha. Misner has posted a .203 batting average (43-for-212) with five home runs and 22 RBIs across 80 games between the Tampa Bay Rays (2024-25) and Royals.

Kansas City can cover Isbel’s position using Lane Thomas, Tyler Tolbert and Misner, as all three players have the ability to play any outfield position.

The 28-year-old Misner performed well at the Triple-A level this season, posting a .276 average with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in 59 games. His strong play earned him International League Player of the Week honors for June 1-7.

Romanian tennis player Elena-Gabriela Ruse pulled off a stunning upset Thursday, defeating third-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 at the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. Ruse managed to save eight out of nine break point opportunities during her quarterfinal-advancing victory.

Czech player Barbora Krejcikova, seeded eighth, was the sole seeded competitor to move forward Thursday with her 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel. Fifth-seeded Anastasia Potapova from Austria was forced to withdraw due to illness while trailing Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 2-0.

American Robin Montgomery, currently ranked 484th globally, defeated Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-4, 7-6 (4), converting 34 of her 46 first serves for a 73.9% success rate. Poland’s Magda Linette and Ukraine’s Daria Snigur also secured spots in the quarterfinals.

HSBC Championships

Thursday’s entire schedule at the WTA 500 tournament in London was cancelled due to rain.

Top-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan remains scheduled to face Germany’s Tatjana Maria in Round of 16 action that will begin Friday’s competition. Second-seeded Amanda Anisimova and sixth-seeded Iva Jovic are set to meet in an all-American quarterfinal matchup.

Mexican soccer fans erupted in celebration Thursday after their national team finally broke through on World Cup opening day, defeating South Africa 2-0 at a packed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The victory ended a frustrating pattern for Mexico, which had lost its opening match in seven consecutive World Cup tournaments before Thursday’s breakthrough performance in front of 80,000 roaring supporters.

“It broke the curse, and what better place to do it than at home,” said Arturo Lopez, 32, inside the Azteca. “It’s the dream of all kids who like soccer to be able to attend one time in our lifetime.”

Julian Quinones provided the spark Mexico needed, scoring in the ninth minute to calm early jitters and ignite the crowd at one of soccer’s most legendary venues. The match turned physical throughout, resulting in three players receiving red cards.

Fan Beth Navaez, who previously attended World Cups in Russia and Qatar, praised the home crowd’s impact on the team’s performance. “The crowd – all the people – it energized the team,” she said, noting it was “more exciting” to watch them compete in Mexico.

Despite the opening victory, Navaez remained cautious about Mexico’s tournament chances. “We always have hope but they always disappoint,” she added.

The celebration extended beyond the stadium to Mexico City’s main Zocalo square, where a fan zone reached its 50,000-person capacity. Supporters continued dancing and singing even as rain began falling during the match.

“I’m content, I’m happy, I’m 100% Mexican,” said Marta Gonzalez, 42, as she departed the Zocalo celebration with her daughter and son.

The fan zone had been surrounded by protesting teachers in the days leading up to the match, but the barriers came down as soccer fever took over the historic square.

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund has delivered just one-third of the funding that LIV Golf requires to complete its remaining 2026 season schedule, according to a Thursday report from the Financial Times.

The golf circuit needs $600 million to finish out the 2026 calendar, the report states. The fund provided $66 million in early May followed by $130 million in early June, according to the reporting.

When asked to respond to the Financial Times’ findings, the fund chose not to elaborate beyond referencing its April statement that “the substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy.”

The financial powerhouse behind LIV’s lucrative player deals and tournament prize pools, the fund revealed in April it would only continue supporting LIV through the 2026 season. The organization has invested approximately $6 billion in the league to date.

During a Tuesday CNBC interview, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil expressed confidence that the fund would honor its commitment to finance the league through the current year.

“I can say they’ve been terrific partners so far, and you have to take an incredible organization like PIF at their word,” O’Neil stated. “They’ve been very public about funding us through the season, so we are full steam ahead.”

O’Neil faced questions about recent speculation that LIV’s remaining four tournaments this season might face cancellation as the fund considers withdrawing support earlier than expected. LIV Golf Louisiana, originally slated for late June, was delayed shortly after news emerged about the fund’s planned exit.

As the fund distances itself and its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigns from his role as LIV Golf’s chairman, the league has started courting potential new backers, reportedly pursuing $250-350 million in investment funding to launch a “LIV 2.0” strategy.

When directly questioned about whether he could promise the four remaining events in England, New Jersey, Indianapolis and Michigan would proceed as scheduled this summer, O’Neil, a veteran sports industry leader in his second year leading LIV, offered an indirect response.

“What I can guarantee is a heck of a return if you come invest in this business,” O’Neil answered.

LIV is currently in a 47-day hiatus to allow for the U.S. Open and The Open Championship, and the league might emerge transformed or not at all following this break, Front Office Sports reported earlier this week. The tour is scheduled to resume with LIV Golf UK from July 23-26.

“Every remaining tournament is on the fence,” a representative from one of LIV’s partner organizations told the publication.

“I truly don’t think anyone knows,” the representative added. “LIV Golf doesn’t know if or when the PIF will shut off the spigot.”

LIV is attempting to survive until 2026 and restart operations next year without Saudi financial backing. The organization is presenting proposals to prospective investors while working with an investment banking consultant. It’s also cutting costs wherever feasible and developing strategies to reduce tournament prize money.

LAS VEGAS — The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners rejected a parole request Thursday from Henry Ruggs, the former NFL wide receiver who caused a fatal collision in Las Vegas almost five years ago.

The ex-Raiders player, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft, was traveling at speeds reaching 156 mph through Las Vegas on Nov. 2, 2021, when his sports car collided with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 23-year-old driver Tina Tintor and her dog, Max.

According to prosecutors, Ruggs had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16% when tested within the mandatory two-hour window following the collision, double Nevada’s legal driving limit. Prior to the fatal accident, he had been at TopGolf, a Las Vegas sports entertainment facility, prosecutors stated.

In May 2023, Ruggs entered guilty pleas to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges. Two months later in August 2023, he received a prison term ranging from three to 10 years. His initial parole eligibility date was set for August 2026.

According to Kathi Baker, executive director of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners, Ruggs’ next parole hearing will occur three months prior to Aug. 24, 2027, which marks his mandatory parole release date.

In a Thursday statement, Ruggs’ legal representatives David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld expressed their disappointment with the parole board’s rejection.

“Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered by Ms. Tintor’s family,” the attorneys stated.

The defense team highlighted what they called “overwhelming evidence” demonstrating Ruggs’ acknowledgment of responsibility for his actions and his participation in community outreach initiatives focused on DUI prevention, noting his completion of educational programs during his incarceration.

The Seattle Torrent announced Thursday that Christine Bumstead has been elevated to head coach of the PWHL franchise.

Bumstead previously served as an assistant coach throughout the team’s inaugural 2025-26 campaign under Steve O’Rourke, who left the organization last month after the club finished at the bottom of the eight-team league standings.

“Season one in Seattle was special, and I am humbled and honored to continue building on it,” Bumstead said in a news release. “I believe Seattle is the best city in the world for women’s sports. Our fans showed up night in and night out, and it has been a privilege to be on the bench representing them. I am beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead this organization.”

Prior to her role with Seattle, Bumstead worked as an assistant coach for four years at the University of Saskatchewan. She also gained experience in player development with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, where she made history as the organization’s first female coach.

“Christine brings a valuable combination of hockey expertise, leadership presence, and an unwavering commitment to high standards,” general manager Meghan Turner said. “Her unique background in education and diverse coaching resume, combined with a strong natural ability to build trust and meaningful connections, make her well-suited to lead our team. I’m confident that Christine’s vision and style will set us on the right path as we build into our second season and strive toward our goal of bringing the Walter Cup home to Seattle.”

Professional golfer Phil Mickelson, winner of six major championships, has lost his membership at a California golf club following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a staff member, according to a Golf Digest investigation published Thursday.

The incident allegedly occurred this spring at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where a female employee reported that Mickelson made unwanted physical contact with her in the clubhouse prior to playing a round of golf. The staff member immediately notified her supervisors about the encounter.

Following the complaint, club leadership launched an investigation and approached Mickelson while he was playing golf. Officials instructed him to leave the property immediately, which he did.

The publication chose not to identify the employee to maintain her privacy, and she opted not to participate in their reporting.

When contacted about the allegations, Mickelson refused to provide direct comment. However, a spokesperson released this statement: “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”

The 55-year-old golfer, who celebrates his 56th birthday Tuesday, took a break from tournament play in February citing family obligations. He returned briefly in mid-March for LIV Golf’s South Africa event, where he finished tied for 48th place. He was notably absent from April’s Masters tournament, despite being a three-time winner of the event.

After Golf Digest shared their findings, The Farms released a statement without specifically naming Mickelson.

“The Farms Golf Club is committed to maintaining a golf club environment that is safe, respectful and reflects the highest standards of conduct,” the statement said. “All members are required to adhere to our Code of Conduct, and any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously. Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the Club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.”

The club’s statement continued: “The Farms conducts thorough reviews of all reported matters according to California Law and takes appropriate action when warranted, consistent with our commitment to integrity, excellence and accountability. To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and members, we are unable to speak further on this matter. We appreciate your understanding.”

Tom Clare, a defamation attorney representing Mickelson, released a statement Wednesday: “There is a great deal of misinformation circulating and, while Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter, he has retained defamation counsel and is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors.”

Atlanta has obtained offensive lineman Wanya Morris from Kansas City, according to several news organizations reporting Thursday.

According to the reports, Atlanta will also get a 2027 seventh-round draft selection from Kansas City while sending back a sixth-round pick from that same draft year.

ESPN had reported Wednesday that the 25-year-old Morris was seeking increased opportunities on the field following just 16 total starts across his initial three NFL seasons.

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 307 pounds, the lineman has played in 43 total games since Kansas City selected him in the third round during 2023.

Morris earned a Super Bowl ring in his first year but only started one game this past season.

NEW YORK (AP) — At Madison Square Garden, the introduction of OG Anunoby creates a massive chorus of 20,000 voices joining together.

The excitement grows as the announcer starts presenting the second starter, a forward standing 6-foot-7 who hails from Indiana. By the time he gets to the player’s name, supporters are yelling it alongside him.

“O! … G! … AN-UN-OBY!!!!”

In the early hours of Thursday, supporters once more shouted Anunoby’s name, this time at a tavern near the venue while commemorating one of the most unforgettable moments in New York Knicks franchise history.

Anunoby’s last-second basket with 1.2 seconds left in Game 4 brought the Knicks within striking distance of a championship and placed him among the candidates for NBA Finals MVP.

Anunoby isn’t typically the type of athlete who claims major honors, and he may be the most unrecognized among the Knicks’ starting five. However, his teammates recognize that Anunoby’s contribution goes well beyond his public profile.

“So regardless of what the outside world thinks of him, we know what we have in our locker room, and we have a superstar in that locker room,” guard Jalen Brunson said.

Anunoby stands as the sole player on the Knicks’ playoff squad who has earned a championship ring, though he was sidelined with an injury and didn’t participate for Toronto during the 2019 NBA Finals. However, New York wouldn’t have any opportunity at its first title since 1973 without his current central role.

Whether it’s offense or defense, Anunoby may face more responsibilities than any other Knicks player. He not only recorded 33 points in Game 4 but also executed the game’s most crucial defensive sequence when he pursued De’Aaron Fox to reject his attempt with 11 seconds remaining and the Spurs ahead 106-105.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns stated that’s exactly what he anticipates from a player who appears to elevate his performance during critical moments.

“Every time I talk to him, I say, I already know what OG Anunoby is going to do in the fourth quarter, and he did exactly what I thought he would do,” Towns said. “He gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you could ask for from the best two-way player in the NBA.”

The Knicks were shocked that Anunoby received only All-Defensive second team recognition, convinced there aren’t five superior defenders in the league. Those defensive abilities made him most appealing when the Knicks obtained him from the Raptors in 2023, trading away two of their most promising young talents in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.

Anunoby had also established himself as a dependable corner three-point shooter, including one that he made at the buzzer to secure a Raptors win over Boston during the 2020 playoffs. He barely celebrated after that shot dropped, just as he remained one of the few individuals inside Madison Square Garden who seemed entirely composed following his Game 4 basket.

“Just, the game wasn’t over,” Anunoby explained. “I looked up to see the time. If it would have been 0:00, I would have been more excited, but it was just 1.2 left. So just knowing, get a stop now, just stay with it, staying present, not getting too happy because the game is not over yet.”

Anunoby is posting 23.8 points per game in the series, connecting on 58% of his field goals and 55.6% from beyond the arc. He went 10 for 15 in Game 4, making 7 of 9 three-point attempts.

When Anunoby hobbled off the court with a hamstring problem late in the Knicks’ win against Philadelphia during Game 2 of the second round, there were worries this playoff journey might be threatened just as momentum was building. When Anunoby suffered a similar injury during the 2024 playoffs, the Knicks surrendered a 2-0 advantage to Indiana and eventually fell in Game 7, when Anunoby courageously attempted a comeback after sitting out four contests but was obviously limited and was removed after just five minutes.

This particular injury proved less severe. Benefiting from additional rest when the Knicks completed a sweep of the 76ers, Anunoby managed to come back in time for the Eastern Conference semifinals opener.

Having him available now — and flying through the air during Game 4’s closing moments — might be the key ingredient needed to break a 53-year championship drought.

“OG, he’s been amazing since he’s got here,” fellow forward Josh Hart said. “This whole playoff run, he’s been amazing on both ends of the ball. He’s a winning player and he made a winning play.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama’s difficult evening extended beyond the basketball court Wednesday night, as hostile New York fans bombarded the San Antonio player with jeers and launched an egg in his direction outside his hotel.

Online video footage captured the moment when someone hurled at least one egg toward the Spurs star as he walked into his lodging surrounded by security personnel after San Antonio’s fourth game defeat against the Knicks.

The identity of whoever threw the projectile remains unknown. The footage revealed heckling supporters crowding around the hotel, located several blocks from Madison Square Garden.

Moments after the egg smashed against a street sign, Wembanyama spun around to face someone near the hotel’s front door before proceeding inside.

San Antonio’s organization has not yet provided clarification regarding whether the thrown item actually hit Wembanyama when contacted for comment.

This incident occurred after San Antonio suffered a devastating playoff collapse, leaving them facing potential elimination following their surrender of a commanding 29-point advantage to New York. Wembanyama failed to convert two crucial free throw attempts during the closing moments.

New York’s triumph sparked wild celebrations throughout the city, with overjoyed supporters flooding the streets, launching fireworks, climbing light poles, and occasionally confronting law enforcement officers.

Police records show 56 individuals were arrested on various charges including assault and disorderly conduct, according to the New York Police Department.

“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the police department said in a statement.

A department representative indicated no official report exists regarding the egg-throwing incident.

MEXICO CITY – Mexico City launched World Cup festivities Thursday with the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa at the historic Azteca Stadium, as enthusiastic supporters in traditional attire filled the venue while demonstrations unfolded across the capital.

Extended lines surrounded the Azteca as supporters endured lengthy waits to enter the venue that holds the distinction of hosting World Cup matches across three separate tournaments. Thousands of attendees were already singing inside before the match began.

Fifty-year-old Alejandro Garcia, wearing a sombrero and holding a trophy replica, expressed his pride in Mexico hosting another World Cup. He recalled being a child during the nation’s previous hosting duties in 1986.

“This is our temple,” Garcia stated while standing in the stadium’s concourse area. “It’s going to be a great World Cup, all of the protests will now be forgotten.”

However, beyond the stadium walls, the metropolis of 9 million residents showed clear signs of division.

The lead-up to the tournament in Mexico, which is jointly hosting with the U.S. and Canada, has featured significant social unrest in the capital as different organizations – ranging from educators to relatives of those disappeared during the drug conflict – have organized demonstrations to use the global attention for their causes.

Thursday saw at least six planned demonstrations, creating a city caught between festivity and dissent. Recently completed murals, new transit lines and an upgraded stadium designed to attract visitors stood in stark contrast to metal barriers erected by local businesses along the capital’s primary boulevard to shield against potential rioters.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND GATHERINGS

Approximately three miles from the Azteca, thousands of frustrated educators from across the nation started their march toward the stadium before kickoff.

Elementary school instructor Avelina Cruz Miguel, who has taught for 22 years, made the journey from Oaxaca to demonstrate for improved wages. She explained the protests provided a chance for educators to voice their concerns on “an international level.” “There is no support for education” in Mexico, Miguel stated.

Educators had also established a camp outside the central Zocalo square during the days preceding the tournament’s start.

The campsite prompted officials to block access to the Zocalo the night before the opening match and created concerns that the area might be unavailable to supporters planning to gather at the square’s large viewing screen.

Thursday found tents occupying streets for several blocks around the square, though officials confirmed the fan viewing area would remain accessible.

Thirty-year-old Mario Martinez from Tijuana was among the initial supporters to arrive with his girlfriend. He explained they chose the fan zone because stadium passes were prohibitively expensive and had worried the event might be canceled. “Thank God it all worked out.”

Numerous locals have criticized spending money on city improvements for tourists while ignoring fundamental infrastructure problems. Thursday was designated as an official holiday in Mexico City, partly to reduce transportation issues.

Other Chilangos, the term for Mexico City residents, voiced frustration over extremely high ticket costs that prevented them from witnessing the event in person in their own city. For the opening contest between Mexico and South Africa, some supporters interviewed said they spent $3,000 or higher, far beyond most Mexicans’ financial reach. FIFA has justified its pricing structure, stating ticket costs align with other major sporting competitions.

“FIFA is only interested in profit,” stated 33-year-old Jonathan Cordoba while waiting in an extended line to enter the stadium. However, he expressed no second thoughts: “It’s the passion!”

DETROIT — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, winner of two Cy Young Awards, is scheduled to rejoin the team’s starting rotation this Saturday when they face Cleveland.

Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch revealed the news on Thursday, also noting that right-handed pitcher Casey Mize might be ready to return on Sunday, pending the completion of another bullpen workout session scheduled for later Thursday.

Skubal’s comeback timeline has exceeded expectations. In early May, Detroit announced their 29-year-old star pitcher would need arthroscopic surgery to clear loose debris from his left elbow. The surgical procedure, known as a NanoNeedle scope, was performed approximately five weeks ago. During his rehabilitation assignment, Skubal pitched five scoreless innings for Detroit’s High-A minor league team, giving up just two hits.

Before being placed on the injured list, Skubal posted a 3-2 win-loss record with a 2.70 earned run average across seven starts. He surrendered 35 hits and 13 earned runs while pitching 43.1 innings. His final appearance for Detroit came on April 29.

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will make his return to the pitcher’s mound this Saturday when his team faces the Cleveland Guardians on the road, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed on Thursday.

The left-handed pitcher, who has claimed the American League Cy Young Award twice in consecutive years, has been sidelined since undergoing a procedure on May 6 to extract loose debris from his throwing elbow.

“We’re adding the best pitcher in baseball back to our mix,” Hinch said Thursday. “It’s hard to describe what that boost will be.”

The 29-year-old Skubal felt pain during his April 29 appearance against the Atlanta Braves in a contest Detroit lost 4-3. During that outing, he gave up two earned runs across seven innings but was not credited with the loss or victory.

“I need to keep the game of baseball as the game of baseball, especially not trying to make up for the last five weeks I’ve been gone,” Skubal said Tuesday, via the Detroit Free Press. “I can’t do that with one pitch or one outing. That’ll be the challenge — to keep the game as the game.”

Through seven appearances this season, Skubal holds a 3-2 record with a 2.70 earned run average. He has recorded 45 strikeouts while issuing just six walks across 43 1/3 innings pitched.

He delivered quality performances in five of those seven outings.

Since joining Detroit in 2020, Skubal has compiled a 57-39 win-loss record with a 3.06 ERA over seven seasons, appearing in 144 games with 141 starts. During that span, he has fanned 934 hitters while walking 178 across 810 innings of work.

Detroit concluded the previous campaign at 87-75, finishing one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division race. The Tigers knocked out Cleveland in the wild-card playoffs before falling to the Seattle Mariners in the AL Division Series.

Currently, Detroit sits in fourth place within the Central division with a 28-40 record this season.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama acknowledged he was stating the obvious when he outlined the two scenarios facing his team in Saturday night’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Either San Antonio wins and keeps the series alive, or New York captures the NBA championship.

Those are the only options remaining. Following 1,321 total games this season — including 1,230 regular season contests, 84 playoff matchups, six play-in tournament games, and one NBA Cup deciding game between these teams — the situation has become that straightforward. A Spurs victory at home would force at least one more game, while a Knicks win would leave only a championship parade on the calendar.

With San Antonio down 3-1 in the series, Wembanyama recognizes the challenging circumstances ahead. History shows that 37 of the previous 38 teams facing a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals have watched their opponents claim the championship. Making matters worse, the Spurs must overcome this deficit after suffering the largest collapse in Finals history — surrendering a 29-point advantage in Wednesday’s 107-106 Game 4 defeat in New York.

“I think it’s going to go one of two ways,” Wembanyama commented following Wednesday’s loss, during which San Antonio was outscored 55-25 over the final 21 1/2 minutes. “One of two ways. A bad one and a good one. The bad one would be giving up. The good one would be getting stronger through this, getting more together. I know this is what we’re going to do.”

Both teams had Thursday off from official practice sessions. Friday practice sessions are planned in San Antonio before Saturday night’s pivotal Game 5, where New York sits one victory away from ending a 53-year championship drought.

The Knicks captured the first two Finals games in San Antonio — mounting comebacks from double-digit deficits in both contests — to seize control of the series. A Saturday victory would make New York the first team since Houston in 1995 to win three games on San Antonio’s home court during a single playoff series.

“Our mentality has to be 0-0, the way it’s been,” Knicks guard Jalen Brunson stated, echoing the approach he has emphasized throughout this postseason. “It has to be that way, and I feel like us moving forward with that mindset can really benefit us. There’s nothing to celebrate. It’s not over yet, not even close.”

While teams holding 3-1 leads typically avoid premature celebrations, Brunson’s caution carries additional weight in this particular series.

Although the 3-1 disadvantage has historically proven nearly impossible to overcome in NBA Finals, with only LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers successfully rallying past Golden State in 2016, this matchup remains statistically competitive.

New York holds just an eight-point scoring advantage across all four games. Field goal percentages are nearly identical, with the Knicks shooting 44% compared to San Antonio’s 43%. Three-point production shows the Knicks with 52 makes versus the Spurs’ 49. Free-throw shooting percentages stand at 79% for New York and 78% for San Antonio. The Knicks lead by three rebounds while both teams have recorded exactly 90 assists through four contests.

“Just take this one game at a time,” said Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, who faced criticism for attempting a blocked layup in Game 4’s closing seconds rather than running down the clock with a one-point lead. “It obviously looks like a steep hill, but this is something that’s happened before. Take this thing one game at a time. We’ve been in a position to win all these games. We’ve been up double digits. We have to figure out what we need to do to be able to put some of these games away.”

The late-game struggles have become a puzzling pattern for San Antonio.

Game 1 saw them leading by one point with 1:51 remaining before falling to an 11-0 New York closing run.

In Game 2, they held possession in a tied contest with 11 seconds left, only to lose when Wembanyama’s pass to Stephon Castle went unseen, creating a turnover that led to Brunson’s championship-winning free throw.

Most recently, they squandered their 29-point Game 4 lead yet still maintained a one-point advantage until Anunoby’s tip-in with 2.1 seconds remaining.

“We have to try to put this behind us,” Fox said.

Should they fail to do so, New York’s five-decade championship wait could conclude Saturday evening.

Championship series in the NBA revolve around defining moments.

These instances are brief fragments of time – just seconds or a single play. Think of Michael Jordan’s shoulder shrug, LeBron James’ chase-down block, Jerry West’s 60-foot shot to force extra time, Ray Allen’s three-pointer that rescued Miami in 2013, Magic Johnson’s sky hook, Kobe Bryant leaping onto a table with five fingers raised for his fifth championship, or Willis Reed hobbling onto the court for Game 7.

These are the sequences that endure forever – individual events or plays that become legendary.

The New York Knicks may have redefined this concept entirely. Their Game 4 NBA Finals victory came thanks to one such defining sequence – OG Anunoby’s tip-in that completed the Knicks’ stunning recovery from a 29-point deficit certainly secured him permanent status among basketball’s most iconic plays.

However, the entire rally was truly the moment. Countless plays at Madison Square Garden wove together to create a story worthy of the nearby Broadway theaters and Radio City Music Hall stages.

The sequence lasted 21½ minutes of game time, stretching over an hour in actual duration. While Anunoby provided the dramatic finish, it’s reasonable to expect that whatever film project actor, director and devoted Knicks supporter Ben Stiller is capturing courtside with his phone during this series will prominently showcase much of those crucial 21½ minutes.

“You have to have a little luck in life. You’ve got to have a little luck in sports,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “But you can also make your luck, too.”

Calling the Knicks fortunate to hold a 3-1 series advantage would be unfair, as it implies they don’t deserve this position. They absolutely deserve it. They captured two road victories in San Antonio to open the series, overcoming double-digit deficits in both contests, then lost Game 3 at home before digging themselves into that 29-point hole in Game 4.

San Antonio couldn’t miss any shots during the opening half.

San Antonio couldn’t connect on anything during the closing half.

This represented fortunate circumstances for New York, unfortunate ones for San Antonio, and both teams bore responsibility for the shift. The score stood 81-52 in favor of the Spurs with 21½ minutes remaining. Historical precedent suggested victory was certain.

Wrong.

“It’s a pretty clear picture if you watch the game in terms of what we did in the first half and why we scored so many points. It was pace, finding the paint, passing the ball to your teammate, taking good shots,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The second half was opposite of that.”

During those final 21½ minutes:

— New York outscored San Antonio 55-25.

— The Spurs converted just 6 of 35 field goal attempts.

— Anunoby and Jalen Brunson combined for 33 points for the Knicks.

— Victor Wembanyama endured a stretch where he made only 1 of 11 shots.

“I can’t really explain it right now,” Wembanyama said afterward when trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. “I don’t know. I think it’s just execution, greediness of some sort. We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”

During the third quarter’s midpoint, Anunoby connected on a three-pointer to cut the Knicks’ deficit to 19. While seemingly minor, it marked their first time reducing San Antonio’s advantage below 20 points since early in the second quarter.

The rally – the defining moment – was just beginning.

The deficit shrank to 15 entering the final quarter. It dropped to 12 following a Karl-Anthony Towns three-pointer with 7:28 remaining, then reached single digits when Towns scored again a minute later. The Garden erupted. Taylor Swift, seated courtside, bounced up and down like millions have done at her concerts. Spike Lee, also courtside, waved his arms frantically as though directing this unscripted performance.

The margin narrowed to seven, then four, then one. New York grabbed the lead before briefly surrendering it. Then Anunoby delivered his magic.

The moment reached completion.

“We believe in each other,” Knicks guard Jose Alvarado said. “That’s the main thing.”

One more victory would truly complete this story. That would represent the ultimate moment, should it occur. Knicks supporters have endured 53 years waiting for such a celebration; the franchise hasn’t claimed an NBA championship since 1973, when the Larry O’Brien Trophy didn’t even carry that name yet.

Should that moment arrive, Wednesday’s sequence – those 21½ incredible minutes condensed into one moment – will have made it all possible.

“We focus on the things we need to get better every single day and not being satisfied with the things that we’ve done so far,” Brunson said. “Very proud of my teammates, day-in and day-out. But (there’s) a lot — a lot — that we have to learn … to honestly be better and be where we want to be.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will make history as the first edition to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format. The tournament will span across three host nations – Mexico, the United States, and Canada – taking place in 16 cities from June 11 to July 19.

GROUP A HIGHLIGHTS

Mexico enters as a three-time World Cup host, earning automatic qualification and opening the tournament against South Africa at Azteca Stadium – recreating the matchup that began the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Under coach Javier Aguirre, Mexico blends veteran leadership with emerging talent, featuring Fulham striker Raul Jimenez and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who will tie the record for World Cup appearances at six tournaments alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. The squad also includes 17-year-old Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, the tournament’s youngest participant.

South Africa returns to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2010, despite facing a three-point deduction during qualifying for fielding an ineligible player. The team secured their spot with a 3-0 victory over Rwanda in October 2025. South Korea continues their remarkable consistency, qualifying for their 11th straight World Cup since 1986 after defeating Iraq in June 2025.

Czech Republic earned their place through dramatic penalty shootouts against Ireland and Denmark in European qualifiers, marking their first World Cup appearance since 2006.

HOST NATIONS’ PROSPECTS

The United States, hosting for the second time after 1994, faces significant pressure as they open against Paraguay in Los Angeles. The team’s performance could significantly impact soccer’s growth in the country, with AC Milan striker Christian Pulisic leading the charge. Notably, Pope Leo counts among their supporters.

Canada qualified automatically as co-hosts, entering with what many consider their strongest-ever squad. Led by Bayern winger Alphonso Davies and Juventus striker Jonathan David, Canada seeks their first World Cup victory after appearing in 1986 and 2022 without recording a win or draw.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AND FAVORITES

Argentina arrives as defending champions and among the tournament favorites. Lionel Scaloni’s squad finished atop South American qualifying and features Lionel Messi alongside younger stars Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister. A victory would place Argentina alongside Italy and Germany as four-time world champions.

Brazil, despite being the most decorated nation with five titles, hasn’t won in nearly 25 years. Carlo Ancelotti’s team, featuring Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Barcelona’s Raphinha, ranks below Argentina and top European competitors according to FIFA.

Spain enters as reigning European champions and tournament favorites under Luis de la Fuente, combining midfield control with explosive wide players including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

NOTABLE DEBUTS AND RETURNS

Several nations will make historic debuts, including Curaçao, the smallest country ever to qualify with approximately 150,000 residents. Cape Verde also reaches their first World Cup, representing one of the expansion’s great success stories.

Other significant returns include Norway (first appearance since 1998), Turkey (first since 2002), and Algeria (first since 2014). Iraq returns after 40 years, while DR Congo makes their first appearance since 1974 when they competed as Zaire.

MILESTONE APPEARANCES

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will compete in his sixth and final World Cup at age 41, sharing the appearance record with Messi and Mexico’s Ochoa. Germany’s Manuel Neuer returned from international retirement at 40 to participate in his fifth tournament.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The expanded format creates 12 groups of four teams each, with matches scheduled across North American time zones. The tournament promises to showcase both established powerhouses and emerging nations, reflecting FIFA’s vision of global football expansion.

Group stage play begins June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa, setting the stage for what organizers expect to be the most inclusive World Cup in history. The final will take place July 19, concluding nearly six weeks of competition across the three host nations.

LONDON, June 11 – The tennis comeback of Serena Williams faced an unexpected halt Thursday when her doubles teammate Victoria Mboko pulled out of the Queen’s Club WTA tournament due to a knee injury.

Following an absence of almost four years, the 44-year-old tennis legend from America teamed up with the Canadian teenager Mboko to defeat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe before a packed audience on Tuesday.

The duo was set to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund in their quarter-final match, but the 19-year-old Mboko was forced to pull out after suffering a painful fall during her individual match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

Mboko was unable to finish that singles contest and exited the court limping and visibly emotional.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams plans to advance her return to professional tennis in Berlin next week and may pursue a wildcard entry for the Wimbledon championships.

GENEVA — The head of the world’s ski federation was removed from power Thursday in an extremely close election that ended with accusations of interference from Olympic officials.

Johan Eliasch, the billionaire who owns Head sports equipment company, was defeated 65-64 by Alexander Ospelt, an attorney from Liechtenstein who will now lead the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for the next four years.

The election campaign was supported by major skiing countries in Europe and North America, with backing from elite athletes including Mikaela Shiffrin.

Following his defeat, Eliasch will also forfeit his position on the International Olympic Committee, considered among the most prestigious organizations in global athletics.

During his speech accepting the loss, Eliasch made pointed accusations against Olympic leadership while encouraging FIS to maintain its autonomy before offering congratulations to Ospelt.

“The IOC tried to influence the outcome of today’s vote. Against this we must stay firm,” Eliasch said.

Eliasch had previously competed for IOC leadership in an election won by Kirsty Coventry 15 months earlier.

The FIS gathering in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, began with demonstrations of authority from 75 member organizations, with early voting patterns suggesting difficulties for Eliasch’s re-election bid.

Members voted 88% to modify the schedule and move the presidential vote to the opening business item. FIS operates under a weighted voting structure that grants two or three votes to prominent skiing nations, unlike the equal voting system used by organizations such as soccer’s FIFA.

A subsequent 60% vote chose paper ballots over electronic voting, appearing to show skepticism toward the FIS leadership structure.

The 64-year-old Eliasch led FIS for five years characterized by ongoing disputes with skiing powerhouses including Austria and Switzerland regarding his leadership approach and use of the organization’s financial reserves.

Holding citizenship in both Sweden and Britain, Eliasch received support from neither nation’s federation for his re-election attempt. Following FIS regulations, he obtained a passport and endorsement from Georgia.

Under FIS procedures, Ospelt officially assumes the presidency one day following the election, allowing Eliasch to complete the remaining congress duties on his final day as leader.

“It’s been a great privilege to serve you,” the departing president stated, having previously described the election as beneficial regardless of outcome since he could “get my life back” with a loss. “Either way I am very happy.”

Ospelt, who served on the FIS council under Eliasch’s leadership, expressed his readiness to begin his new role with “great joy and humility.”

“I will be the president for all of you. Let’s be united,” he said.

While Ospelt doesn’t automatically receive IOC membership, he would likely be invited to join as leader of the organization that manages approximately half the medal competitions at Winter Olympics.

In one of baseball’s most stunning comebacks, Bryce Eldridge delivered a walk-off grand slam with no outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night, completing the San Francisco Giants’ remarkable rally from eight runs down to defeat the visiting Washington Nationals 11-10.

The Giants scored 10 runs in their final two at-bats to pull off the shocking victory. Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers connected on home runs during a five-run eighth inning that brought San Francisco back into contention. After adding another run in the ninth, Eldridge sent a towering blast off Mitchell Parker (2-3) to right field that just cleared the brick wall at Oracle Park.

At 21 years old, Eldridge made baseball history by becoming the youngest player ever to hit a walk-off grand slam, breaking the record previously held by Roberto Clemente, who accomplished the feat on July 25, 1956, when he was 109 days older.

Washington starter Foster Griffin dominated through five innings, carrying a four-hit shutout into the sixth before Chapman connected for his first home run. Griffin finished with one run allowed on six hits over six innings of work. Reiver Sanmartin (1-0) earned the victory in his Giants debut, throwing two innings while allowing one run.

Pirates 9, Dodgers 8

Tyler Callihan overshadowed Shohei Ohtani’s pitching performance by launching the first two home runs of his career, including one against Ohtani, as host Pittsburgh mounted a comeback victory over Los Angeles.

Callihan’s three-run blast in the eighth inning off Kyle Hurt (1-1) gave the Pirates a 7-6 advantage, completing their recovery from a 6-1 deficit and ending a four-game skid. Spencer Horwitz added insurance with a two-run homer later in the frame. Evan Sisk (1-0) earned the win by getting a crucial out in the eighth.

Ohtani, who had surrendered just one run across his previous four outings, allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He also connected on a ninth-inning homer. Ryan Ward staked Los Angeles to their 6-1 lead with his first career grand slam.

Angels 3, Astros 2 (10 innings)

Jose Siri delivered a walk-off single to bring home automatic runner Nick Madrigal from third base in the 10th inning, giving Los Angeles a series-deciding victory over visiting Houston.

Logan O’Hoppe went 2-for-2 with a home run while Mike Trout homered, walked and stole a base for the Angels. Reid Detmers dominated by allowing just one run on one hit across seven innings, and Ryan Zeferjahn (3-3) threw a hitless 10th.

Shay Whitcomb and Cam Smith homered for Houston, which managed only four hits total. Peter Lambert allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. Bryan Abreu (2-3) gave up Siri’s game-winning hit.

Rangers 6, Royals 4 (10 innings)

Jake Burger came off the bench to tie the game twice with a homer and sacrifice fly, while visiting Texas capitalized on nine walks issued by Kansas City to win in extra innings.

Elias Diaz delivered the go-ahead double and Josh Jung drew a bases-loaded walk against Alex Lange (0-3) in the 10th as the Rangers evened their three-game series. Burger, who entered after Joc Pederson left with a sore left hip, contributed two hits in a contest that saw 27 runners stranded.

Rangers reliever Jakob Junis (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings. Jac Caglianone collected four hits for Kansas City, which loaded the bases against Jacob Latz (10 saves) in the 10th but couldn’t score.

Rockies 3, Cubs 2

Sterlin Thompson lined a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning off Daniel Palencia (1-1) to bring home the deciding run, lifting Colorado past Chicago in Denver.

TJ Rumfield homered among his two hits while Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar also recorded two hits for the Rockies, who have captured the first two games of their three-game series.

Chicago’s Ian Happ tied the game with a leadoff home run in the ninth against Antonio Senzatela (6-0). Cubs starter Shota Imanaga delivered five shutout innings.

Yankees 8, Guardians 4

Jazz Chisholm Jr. recorded a two-run triple and three RBIs while Trent Grisham scored three times as visiting New York completed a three-game sweep of Cleveland.

Grisham tripled and scored the go-ahead run on Jose Caballero’s sacrifice fly in the sixth, when the Yankees plated three runs to take a 6-3 lead. Anthony Volpe and Paul Goldschmidt added RBI hits while chasing Guardians starter Parker Messick (6-3).

Messick surrendered a career-high five runs (four earned) on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, losing back-to-back starts for the first time in his two-year career. New York outscored Cleveland 18-11 during the series, recording their first sweep of the Guardians since April 22-24, 2022.

Athletics 4, Brewers 3

Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler each homered during a seventh-inning rally to give the A’s a comeback victory over Milwaukee in the series finale in Las Vegas.

Alika Williams connected for his first career homer, a sixth-inning shot that trimmed the Athletics’ deficit to 3-1. Cortes greeted reliever Chad Patrick (3-3) in the seventh with a leadoff blast, and Butler followed with a two-run shot in the same frame. Scott Barlow (2-0) recorded two outs for the victory.

Gary Sanchez and Jackson Chourio went deep for Milwaukee. Brandon Sproat held the A’s to one run on four hits across six innings.

Rays 7, Red Sox 5

Drew Rasmussen struck out a career-best 13 batters over seven scoreless innings, and Tampa Bay held on for a victory over Boston to complete a sweep in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Rasmussen (6-2) surrendered just two hits in the dominant performance, his second consecutive outing with seven scoreless frames. Nick Fortes went 4-for-4 with three runs to pace the Rays, including doubles in his first two plate appearances. Yandy Diaz added a 3-for-5 performance with one run and two RBIs.

Boston scored five runs over the final two innings on solo homers from Caleb Durbin and a three-run blast from Ceddanne Rafaela. However, Cedric Mullins’ two-run homer in the eighth proved decisive for Tampa Bay.

Padres 5, Reds 4

Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a game-ending solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning as San Diego rallied past visiting Cincinnati.

Gavin Sheets and Samad Taylor each drove in runs during the eighth to even the score 4-4 as the Padres won for just the fourth time in 16 games. Wandy Peralta (1-0) threw a scoreless ninth.

JJ Bleday, Eugenio Suarez and Spencer Steer homered for Cincinnati, which dropped their fourth straight series. Chase Petty (0-1) allowed Tatis’ game-winner.

Marlins 8, Diamondbacks 0

Kyle Stowers and Owen Caissie hit two-out homers during a six-run fourth inning, Otto Lopez had two hits and two RBIs, and host Miami defeated Arizona to extend its winning streak to four games.

Liam Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez each recorded two hits and scored twice for the Marlins. William Kempner (1-0), the third of four Miami pitchers, worked two innings for his first major league victory.

Gabriel Moreno had two of Arizona’s six hits. The Diamondbacks have dropped four of five games. Ryne Nelson (2-5) allowed seven runs on eight hits in four innings.

Orioles 7, Mariners 2

Brandon Young pitched seven shutout innings, Pete Alonso broke a scoreless tie with a sixth-inning homer and Jackson Holliday added a grand slam as Baltimore ended a four-game losing streak by defeating visiting Seattle.

Young (5-1) limited the Mariners to two hits. Alonso, Leody Taveras and Tyler O’Neill all collected two hits for Baltimore, while Alonso and Taveras each scored twice.

Seattle, which had lost only four times in their previous 15 games, scored their only runs in the eighth on a Julio Rodriguez RBI groundout and Josh Naylor single. George Kirby (5-6) surrendered seven hits and three runs in six innings.

Twins 6, Tigers 4

Byron Buxton hit his team-leading 20th home run, a three-run blast, and visiting Minnesota held off Detroit to even their three-game series.

Royce Lewis added a solo homer and Austin Martin scored twice for the Twins, who received at least one hit from every lineup spot. Minnesota reliever Taylor Rogers (2-3) worked a scoreless inning, and Yoendrys Gomez escaped a ninth-inning jam to earn his fifth save.

Gleyber Torres collected three hits and an RBI for Detroit. Kerry Carpenter provided a two-run single while Kevin McGonigle walked three times and scored twice. Detroit starter Framber Valdez (3-5) surrendered four runs and six hits in five innings.

Phillies 7, Blue Jays 4

Alec Bohm, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered to lead Philadelphia to a rubber-match victory over host Toronto.

Bohm’s three-run blast in the third extended Philadelphia’s lead to 4-0. Jesus Luzardo (5-4) surrendered one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Philadelphia right fielder Adolis Garcia exited the game after straining his right shoulder muscle in the seventh.

Toronto’s Max Scherzer (1-4), making his first start since April 24, struck out the game’s first batter to become the 11th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,500 strikeouts. However, he allowed five runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Cardinals 9, Mets 2

Jordan Walker went 2-for-5 with four RBIs as St. Louis extended its winning streak to six games with a victory at New York.

Cardinals starter Andre Pallante (7-4) allowed just two runs on three hits in six innings. JJ Wetherholt collected three hits while Walker, Alec Burleson and Nelson Velazquez homered for St. Louis.

Mets opener Austin Warren (1-3) surrendered two runs in the first inning. Francisco Alvarez’s fourth-inning homer produced both of New York’s runs.

White Sox 2, Braves 1

Davis Martin pitched six shutout innings and Derek Hill and Luisangel Acuna drove in runs during the fourth to lift host Chicago to a victory against Atlanta.

Martin (9-2) scattered six hits. Bryan Hudson overcame a one-out walk in the ninth to record his third save. Braden Montgomery and Acuna each had two hits for Chicago, which became the first team this season to win the opening two games of a series against Atlanta.

Atlanta starter Chris Sale (8-5) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, failing to complete six innings for the third consecutive start.

NEW YORK — A championship drought spanning five decades for the New York Knicks may have turned on a single play lasting just 4 1/2 seconds.

Those precious few seconds will be etched forever in both Knicks and San Antonio Spurs history.

The scene: Game 4 of the NBA Finals, with New York trailing by a single point in a contest where they had fallen behind by as much as 29 points. With 5.7 seconds remaining on the clock, they called a timeout just after Jose Alvarado nearly turned the ball over with a backcourt violation.

The dramatic sequence unfolded like this.

Following the timeout, New York’s Josh Hart was devastated. He took responsibility for a defensive breakdown that allowed San Antonio’s Stephon Castle to sink two free throws, giving the Spurs a 106-105 advantage.

“I’m sitting there just hoping my guys make a play,” Hart said.

OG Anunoby handled the inbound pass for New York. San Antonio chose not to pressure the inbounder, instead using all five defenders to cover the four Knicks players in motion. Jalen Brunson broke away from multiple defenders, including the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, this season’s Defensive Player of the Year, and received the pass around midcourt.

Brunson dribbled once before launching a shot from approximately 31 feet away, arcing it over Wembanyama’s extended left hand. The attempt, which stayed airborne for roughly 1.2 seconds, fell short and caromed off the rim into the air.

Anunoby — completely unguarded — raced from his inbound position toward the basket, anticipating a potential rebound opportunity.

“I just went and crashed,” Anunoby said. “Tried to get a tip-dunk or something. The ball went over my head, so I couldn’t really dunk it. So, I tried to tip it in softly.”

With 2.5 seconds showing, Anunoby jumped. Several Knicks players, including Karl-Anthony Towns, were being blocked out by San Antonio defenders. However, Anunoby slipped past the Spurs’ Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell undetected.

“I was contesting the first shot,” Wembanyama said. “Turned around and saw him up there. That’s all I saw.”

As Anunoby soared through the air, he extended his right arm upward, just beyond Vassell’s reach. He managed to get his thumb and several fingers on the basketball, redirecting it toward the basket.

“Right hand from God,” Towns called it.

Anunoby crashed to the court. The ball cleared the front rim. Brunson raised his fist skyward. The Garden held its collective breath.

Announcer Mike Breen initially thought Brunson’s three-pointer would find its mark. Ultimately, Breen shouted “Bedlam here at the Garden! They can’t believe it!” as Anunoby’s tip shot swished through the net.

Hart — who also missed a potential go-ahead layup in the closing moments — expressed eternal gratitude.

“I’ve got a special shoutout for OG, man,” Hart said. “He saved me, at least for this game, a lifetime of regret.”

If Brunson’s missed shot had bounced differently, Anunoby never would have reached the rebound.

“Bounced off the rim the right way,” Harper said. “He tipped it in the right way. It went in. I could play, ‘Wish I could have did this, wish I could have did that.’ But at the end of the day, he tipped the ball, and it went in.”

The one-point advantage represented New York’s largest lead of the entire evening.

It proved to be sufficient.

“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I’m not you guys. You guys know better than me. But it was just unbelievable.”

NEW YORK (AP) — What elements create an unforgettable World Cup anthem? Should it mirror the hosting nations’ culture? Must it be a worldwide hit featuring various languages and musical styles? Or is a singable chorus the most important factor?

Each approach has merit — possibly all of them together. In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Associated Press spoke with several artists who have created World Cup songs throughout the years. The group features Shakira — who partnered with Afrobeats artist Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song “Dai Dai” — along with Colombian performer J Balvin, Wyclef Jean and rising star Nora Fatehi.

Prior to “Dai Dai,” the Colombian music icon helped write and sang “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” with Freshlyground, which served as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

“Fútbol is a thing that unites so many cultures and people of different walks of life,” she told the AP. “The big responsibility of making a World Cup song is that you’ve got to make a song that represents people’s feelings, emotions, and passion.”

“So you’ve got to write that song, in a way, understanding that it has to be global. It has to encompass so many cultures and represent so many in one tune,” Shakira continued. “That, in a way, has helped me craft those songs in the past.”

Beyond these broader concepts, Shakira offers particular musical recommendations too.

“I feel like a good World Cup song needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs. It also has that kind of energy,” she says. “That’s a must.”

Colombian artist J Balvin contributed to Coca-Cola’s official FIFA World Cup 2026 track, a fresh take on Van Halen’s “Jump” that includes drummer Travis Barker, pop/R&B performer Amber Mark and guitarist Steve Vai. He believes any track — not exclusively a World Cup theme — needs to capture listeners immediately.

“Nowadays, with the music and every type of music — it doesn’t matter if it’s the World Cup, if it is a reggaeton or hip-hop (song) — you know, people’s attention (span) is only like five seconds. And that’s the reality. I’m not judging — you’ve just got to do it with all the love,” he says.

For a World Cup theme particularly? It needs to mirror soccer’s intensity. “Fútbol brings us together, with all different highs and lows,” he says. “All these different emotions happen in one game.” The track needs matching power.

The Canadian Moroccan artist Nora Fatehi appears on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup collection with “Siir, Siir,” working alongside French musician Vegedream and Bangladeshi American DJ Sanjoy.

“It needs a great beat because we’re here to dance and we need to celebrate,” she says regarding World Cup themes.

Beyond rhythm, Fatehi, recognized primarily for Bollywood film work, explains that upon hearing it, “You feel like you’re winning, or you’re gonna win, or you won. That’s the emotion it needs to evoke.”

Regarding “Siir, Siir,” she explains, “what we were after was finding an emotion. So, the minute you hear that song, it should make you feel like you’ve conquered the world. It should make you feel motivated. It should be aspirational. That’s what it should feel like.”

Wyclef Jean, the versatile Fugees member, helped create and performed “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” for Brazil’s 2014 FIFA World Cup, collaborating with guitar legend Santana, the late electronic music pioneer Avicii and Brazil’s cherished artist Alexandre Pires.

“The topline? It has to electrify the stadium,” Jean says. “You literally have to feel the entire stadium shaking.” Without that effect — the song fails.

“I don’t know any World Cup song that don’t have amazing rhythm and amazing movement,” he says.

While his track’s collaborators represent multiple countries — Brazil, Sweden, Haiti, Mexico and the U.S. — Jean believes he doesn’t “think like necessarily you need to have five different artists to make a global anthem.”

“Whether they come from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, any part of the world, the Caribbean — people gravitate towards culture,” he says. “And what I love best about World Cup is that before it has a language, it has an energy and a vibe. It has absolutely nothing to do with a language.”

An effective hook, a powerful melody for universal singing — those elements matter most.

However, “Dar um Jeito” delivers a powerful unity message, enhancing its anthem status. “Resilience is a very important word,” he says about the track’s theme. Jean explains it targeted “boys and girls all over the world,” especially those in remote communities.

The goal resembled Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up,” “where the messaging in the song is not being preachy, but it’s a message of hope,” he says. “If you keep fighting the good fight, you’re gonna get to that stadium. And ain’t nobody gonna stop you.”

NEW YORK – A dramatic buzzer-beating tip-in by OG Anunoby has been hailed as the most significant moment in New York Knicks franchise history by coach Mike Brown, after the team completed the largest comeback ever recorded in NBA Finals play to defeat San Antonio 107-106 in Game 4 Wednesday night.

The Knicks mounted an extraordinary rally from 29 points down as the previously deflated Madison Square Garden audience exploded in thunderous celebration when Anunoby, who was born in London, converted All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson’s failed three-point shot with just 1.2 seconds remaining.

“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said. “It was just unbelievable.”

New York will head to San Antonio for Game 5 and stands just one victory away from breaking a championship dry spell stretching back to 1973, with even skeptical New York supporters beginning to embrace hope.

“I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history in Knicks basketball,” Brown said.

The dramatic finish seemed impossible at intermission, as San Antonio delivered a dominant performance featuring an NBA Finals record 14 made three-pointers in the opening two quarters, while their imposing French star Victor Wembanyama appeared to overcome the anxiety he displayed during portions of the series’ first two contests.

With music superstar Taylor Swift watching from courtside, elevating the Knicks’ already impressive “Celebrity Row” to unprecedented levels of stardom, New York started to flourish under the Garden’s intense spotlight, as Anunoby and Brunson spearheaded the rally that cut the deficit to 15 points entering the final quarter.

Consecutive three-pointers from Brunson and Jose Alvarado in the closing minutes brought the Knicks within one point, giving New York supporters who paid premium prices for the astronomically expensive seats tremendous value for their investment.

“I challenged a lot of our guys today and OG was one of the guys I challenged,” Brown said, marveling at the athleticism that clinched the game. “I told OG, as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight.”

“That was a huge offensive rebound. Huge offensive rebound. He took on the challenge, and he went and won the game for us.”

The Knicks face the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in San Antonio.

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite Victor Wembanyama’s stellar play throughout the playoffs that helped propel the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals, critical missed shots are now becoming the storyline of this championship series.

Following his failed buzzer-beater attempt that would have won Game 2, Wembanyama struggled again in crucial moments during Game 4. When presented with an opportunity to extend his team’s lead to three points with 1:47 remaining on the clock, the French center missed both free throw attempts. The New York Knicks capitalized on this momentum shift, taking control of the game and securing a 107-106 victory on OG Anunoby’s tip-in basket with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock.

The loss puts Wembanyama and the Spurs in a dire position, trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven championship series and now facing elimination. Despite the 7-foot-4 center’s impressive stat line of 24 points and 13 rebounds, his performance wasn’t enough to prevent the defeat.

More significantly, the Knicks successfully limited Wembanyama to just eight points in the second half while orchestrating an incredible rally from a 29-point deficit, marking the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Shohei Ohtani prefers to stay out of his catchers’ decision-making process.

According to the Los Angeles Dodgers star, his role while pitching is simply to deliver the ball, leaving it to the players behind home plate to determine if they should question an umpire’s ball or strike ruling.

However, that hands-off approach may have contributed to Ohtani and the Dodgers’ shocking 9-8 defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday evening.

Los Angeles appeared comfortable when Ohtani took the mound for the seventh inning, marking only his third time doing so this season. The Dodgers held a five-run advantage following Ryan Ward’s first career grand slam, and Ohtani looked positioned to secure his fifth consecutive victory.

But everything fell apart quickly, an unusual occurrence for the two-time defending champions and baseball’s premier talent.

Pirates newcomer Tyler Callihan got a base hit. Jake Mangum made it to first on a swinging bunt. Despite this, Ohtani and the blister affecting his right hand that has temporarily reduced his split-fingered fastball usage felt confident when Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe came to bat.

Ohtani immediately found himself in a 3-0 hole, with the opening and third deliveries being questionable decisions on 98 mph fastballs that home plate umpire Felix Neon called balls. Catcher Dalton Rushing chose not to challenge, and with only one challenge left, Ohtani thought the risk probably wasn’t worthwhile.

Lowe immediately punished Ohtani, connecting on a fastball over the plate for a two-run double that concluded Ohtani’s pitching performance and sparked a five-run comeback against the Dodger relief pitchers in the eighth that delivered the Pirates what may be their most surprising victory of the year.

Ohtani, who gave up season-worst totals in hits (six), runs (four) and earned runs (three), found himself wondering afterward if he should have signaled for a review earlier in the confrontation by tapping his cap for the ABS system to examine the call.

“I usually let the catchers make that determination,” he said. “But looking back, I think situationally, how important it was that at-bat, looking back I think I could have done a few challenges.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described questioning pitch calls as an “inexact science” and, similar to Ohtani, prefers allowing the players with the clearest view in the ballpark to make those choices. Additionally, if the umpire’s decision was upheld, Los Angeles would lose their remaining challenges for the final innings.

Furthermore, how frequently do Ohtani and the Los Angeles relief corps surrender a five-run advantage? Rarely. Even following Lowe’s double and a fielding mistake by third baseman Max Muncy that let Lowe cross home plate, the Dodgers maintained a two-run edge entering the eighth.

Los Angeles came into the evening with an impressive 36-3 record when ahead after seven innings. Callihan — who connected for his first major league home run earlier in the contest with a 427-foot blast off Ohtani — put the Pirates in front with a three-run shot in the eighth. Spencer Horwitz followed with a two-run homer to provide Pittsburgh the breathing room it required after Ohtani launched a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to narrow the gap to one.

“You’re not going to face too many guys like that,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “There’s one. It’s ridiculous what he’s able to do.”

Even though Ohtani displayed minor signs of weakness during his debut appearance at PNC Park. Ohtani admitted to waving off Rushing several times, which he blamed on limited experience working with the Los Angeles backup catcher.

“It’s something you just have to have a conversation here and there and be on the same page,” Ohtani said.

The pair might collaborate more frequently soon after Roberts revealed following the game that starter Will Smith is going on the 10-day injured list with a neck problem.

Ohtani will get almost a full week of rest before his next scheduled pitching appearance. However, the preparation never truly ends. Roberts indicated the strategy is for Ohtani to bat leadoff as normal during Thursday’s series conclusion instead of receiving time off after what was statistically his most difficult outing this season.

That’s exactly how Ohtani prefers it.

“I’m always going to be prepared to play tomorrow,” he said.

A frightening moment occurred during Wednesday evening’s baseball game when Kansas City’s starting pitcher Seth Lugo was forced to leave the contest after being hit in the head by a hard-hit ball from Texas Rangers player Brandon Nimmo.

The incident happened in the fourth inning with one batter out when Nimmo connected with a blazing 106.6 mph line drive that struck Lugo directly in the forehead, sending the pitcher to the ground. The right-handed hurler managed to stand up on his own, though he displayed a visible swelling on his forehead from the impact.

In a show of sportsmanship, Nimmo, who had safely reached base on the play, requested a timeout and jogged over to the pitcher’s mound to check on Lugo’s condition. The two players had previously been teammates during their time with the New York Mets. Following consultation with Kansas City’s medical team, Lugo was able to exit the field walking independently to the team’s dugout.

Mason Black, another right-handed pitcher, took over pitching duties for Kansas City, who held a 1-0 advantage at the time. The Rangers managed to tie the game when Nimmo came home on a walk with the bases loaded to Evan Carter, and Texas took a 2-1 lead by the end of that inning.

Before his departure, Lugo had pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits and one walk while recording two strikeouts.

The veteran pitcher, age 36, came into Wednesday’s game with a 2-4 record and 3.91 ERA this season, having issued 24 walks and struck out 64 batters across 76 innings in 13 starting appearances.

Throughout his major league career, Lugo has compiled a 66-51 record with 16 saves and a 3.52 ERA, walking 300 batters and striking out 1,018 across 1,069 innings in 373 regular-season appearances, including 136 starts. His career has spanned time with the Mets from 2016-22, the San Diego Padres in 2023, and now the Royals. During his inaugural campaign with Kansas City, Lugo earned All-Star recognition and finished as the runner-up in Cy Young Award voting for 2024.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pop superstar Taylor Swift made an appearance at Wednesday night’s NBA Finals Game 4 matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, fueling ongoing speculation about the venue potentially hosting her wedding to Travis Kelce.

The singer sported a blue shirt featuring “Stevie Knicks” in orange text while sitting courtside during Wednesday evening’s game. Swift was joined by musicians Este and Alana Haim, who wore their own Knicks-themed apparel displaying “Knickole Kidman” and “Knickleback.”

Wedding speculation has intensified in recent months, nearly a year following the couple’s engagement announcement in August. Media outlets including TMZ and the New York Post’s Page Six have recently reported claims that Swift and Kelce plan to wed at Madison Square Garden in early July, despite their various connections to locations ranging from Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Cleveland and Rhode Island.

The entertainment power couple was part of a celebrity-filled crowd that included familiar faces like Ben Stiller and Spike Lee. Swift and Kelce previously attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals featuring the Knicks and Cavaliers, held near the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

The NBA Finals appearance marks another sporting event for Swift, who accompanied Kelce to an NHL Stanley Cup Final game in Sunrise, Florida, last year.

Wedding rumors surrounding Madison Square Garden have not been verified, and a spokesperson for Swift has not responded to The Associated Press’ requests for comment about the wedding plans. The arena’s calendar of upcoming events lists nothing from June 29-July 6.

Swift’s history with Madison Square Garden dates back to 2009 when she first performed there during her “Fearless” tour, and she celebrated her 30th birthday at the venue a decade later as part of iHeartRadio’s “Jingle Ball.” She has since moved to larger venues when touring the New York area; her Eras tour shows were held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Two American tennis players dominated their Round of 16 matches Wednesday in London, earning spots in the quarterfinals of the HSBC Championships where they will face each other.

Amanda Anisimova, seeded second in the tournament, dispatched Germany’s Laura Siegemund with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory that lasted only 66 minutes. The American, who had received a bye into the Round of 16, was nearly flawless on her first serve, losing only four points. She successfully defended her lone break point while breaking Siegemund’s serve four times, clinching the match on the final point with another service break.

Anisimova, who reached the finals at both this tournament and Wimbledon in 2025, will next face sixth-seeded Iva Jovic, who also secured a straightforward win. Jovic defeated Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 17 minutes. Despite hitting four double faults, Jovic countered with four aces and converted five of seven break point opportunities against Eala.

The tournament saw an unfortunate injury to Canada’s Victoria Mboko, the third seed, who was forced to withdraw from her match against Czech player Karolina Pliskova due to a left knee injury. Pliskova advanced to the quarterfinals as a result. Mboko is partnering with Serena Williams in doubles competition at this event, with Williams attempting a return to professional tennis at age 44. The pair is set to play against Leylah Fernandez and Siegemund in Thursday’s quarterfinal doubles action.

Weather conditions forced the postponement of the Round of 16 clash between Croatia’s Donna Vekic and Czech Marie Bouzkova. Play was halted due to rain and poor lighting with Vekic holding a 6-5 advantage in the first set. The match will resume Thursday.

At the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, American Caty McNally completed a remarkable comeback victory over compatriot Emma Navarro, the tournament’s fourth seed, winning 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in a match that began Tuesday but was interrupted by rain.

Navarro claimed the opening set despite twice losing break advantages, finally securing the set with a break in the tenth game. The second set belonged entirely to McNally, ranked 59th globally, who broke Navarro’s serve three times while never facing a break point herself. Rain delayed the decisive third set when McNally led 2-1. Serving at 5-4, McNally closed out the upset victory.

McNally’s next opponent in the Round of 16 will be Argentina’s Solana Sierra, who also mounted a comeback after losing the first set, defeating France’s unseeded Lois Boisson 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Additional winners included Austria’s fifth-seeded Anastasia Potapova, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, and Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel.

Another match affected by weather saw Hungary’s Panna Udvardy leading Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 4-2 in the third set when play was suspended. The match will conclude Thursday. Snigur had taken the first set 6-4 before Udvardy leveled the match with a 6-3 second-set victory.

The owner of the New York Knicks launched a scathing attack against city officials Wednesday, calling off a planned fan gathering for Game 4 of the NBA Finals due to what he described as overly restrictive security protocols around Madison Square Garden.

James Dolan directed his criticism at Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Tuesday, labeling them New York’s “biggest party poopers.” His company, MSG Sports, escalated the rhetoric Wednesday by claiming Mamdani had transformed “the streets around MSG into a police state.”

City officials defended their position, noting they had approved Madison Square Garden’s permit application for a watch party accommodating 500 to 999 attendees on Wednesday. Police had arranged for participants to access the event through a designated security perimeter that required street closures for the ticketed gathering.

However, Dolan characterized the city’s authorization as “disingenuous at best” and suddenly scrapped Wednesday’s viewing event, which has been a longstanding tradition at Madison Square Garden during playoff runs.

The team, playing their first NBA Finals home contests in 27 years, was looking to build on their 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Dolan argued the 1,000-person capacity restriction would leave “tens of thousands of people who want to come to The Garden to celebrate the Knicks out in the cold.” He explained his decision to cancel by saying it would be unjust to those unable to participate.

Mamdani responded that the cancellation was “breaking hearts across our city.”

This security dispute marked the second such controversy this week. U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance at Monday’s Game 3 required additional Secret Service protection, while the NYPD blocked several surrounding blocks to non-authorized foot traffic.

The NBA Finals contests in midtown Manhattan have energized the city, with supporters paying premium prices for tickets to one of the most expensive sporting events in recent history at the venue known as the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Trump occupied a luxury suite with Dolan on Monday and faced crowd disapproval when shown on the arena’s video board during the national anthem, having previously dismissed criticism about the steep ticket costs.

Excitement built again Wednesday as the New York Post reported that pop sensation Taylor Swift would join other celebrities in attendance.

The Knicks and Spurs are scheduled for Game 5 on Saturday in San Antonio, with a potential Game 6 return to New York if needed.

As the World Cup kicks off Thursday, soccer fans face record-breaking ticket prices at the tournament’s 16 venues across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. FIFA has implemented dynamic pricing strategies and continuously increased costs since sales launched last fall, drawing criticism for prices that have climbed into five-figure territory.

FIFA’s president defended the steep costs Wednesday, arguing they reflect North American market conditions. However, the pricing structure has faced backlash as list prices have soared to unprecedented levels.

On Wednesday, tournament organizers reported that 29 matches had reached capacity, though wheelchair-accessible seating remained available for some of these games. Meanwhile, 75 contests still had tickets for purchase, including both semifinal matches, all four quarterfinal games, five round-of-16 contests, and 14 of the 16 new round-of-32 matches. Additional knockout round tickets will become available once FIFA determines which teams advance to specific games.

Most remaining seats fall into FIFA’s premium category one and category two pricing tiers, which were introduced in April.

The Arlington, Texas semifinal had several hundred available seats, all priced in four-figure amounts, while the Atlanta semifinal showed just over 20 tickets for sale on FIFA’s official platform.

The tournament’s most affordable category three seats remained for only three matches, two of which carried high price tags from the start.

For Thursday’s U.S. opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, the cheapest available tickets were priced at $1,120, with only two remaining at that level. Other options for the match ranged from $1,645 to $4,105, with more than 100 seats still available.

Canada’s opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina Thursday in Toronto offered category three tickets at $980, alongside options priced at $1,645 and $2,240.

Only one match featured category three seats at $180 — Egypt versus Iran in Seattle on June 26 — with over 370 tickets available. That same game also offered several hundred additional seats at $550, $875, and $1,000.

FIFA’s president stated that “there are always tickets on sale.”

Beyond tickets returned to FIFA, the organization intentionally reserves certain seats.

“We also need always to keep some tickets for those teams who qualify for the additional rounds,” he explained.

FIFA operates its own resale platform, collecting a 15% fee from both buyers and sellers. Additional resale options include StubHub and SeatGeek.

On FIFA’s resale site, Paraguay-U.S. tickets started at $661.25, while SeatGeek offered them beginning at $920. England’s June 17 match against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, was listed starting at $850 on FIFA’s platform and $880 on SeatGeek.

The July 19 championship game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, showed starting prices of $7,986 on SeatGeek, $8,775 on StubHub, and $9,085 on FIFA’s official site.

CHICAGO (AP) — When Braden Montgomery arrived at Rate Field on Wednesday, the excitement from his major league debut the previous evening showed no signs of diminishing.

Montgomery finished with two hits in five at-bats, culminating in a game-winning two-run home run during the 10th inning that secured a 6-5 victory for the Chicago White Sox over the Atlanta Braves. The achievement placed him among just five players in major league history to connect on a walk-off homer during their debut, joining Billy Parker (1971), Josh Bard (2002), Miguel Cabrera (2015) and Carlos Pérez (2023).

Hours after his 343-foot opposite-field blast sailed over the left field wall, Montgomery remained energized by the experience.

“I don’t know if I would be considered calmed down at this point,” Montgomery said. “Just been enjoying it, sharing it with my family.”

White Sox manager Will Venable expressed confidence that the 23-year-old won’t let the spectacular debut affect his approach moving forward.

“We haven’t had anybody with a debut like that, but I think he’s as grounded as they come,” Venable said. “This is a guy that has really high expectations of himself. I’m sure he envisioned himself doing this, what he did last night. To be honest, his idea of what he can do in this league is as high as anybody else’s. It was exactly what he expected.”

Montgomery dedicated his second day in the majors to answering the flood of congratulatory messages — “The number shrinks and grows as I answer them, but more come in,” Montgomery said — and celebrating with his parents and relatives, who occupied seats behind home plate Wednesday evening.

His mother, Gretchen Montgomery Willock, shared footage of the family’s jubilant reaction from the stands that became a social media sensation. Wednesday brought another post from her: “Let me tell you about a dream I had last night.”

“It’s not really something you can imagine,” Montgomery said. “You just kind of go into it with your expectations and do whatever the game brings.”

Considered among the White Sox organization’s premier prospects, Montgomery came to Chicago from the Red Sox through the December 2024 deal that moved Garrett Crochet to Boston. He maintained a .315 batting average with Triple-A Charlotte before his call-up. His debut made him the 12th White Sox rookie to appear this season, representing the second-highest rookie count before the All-Star break since the 1944 Cincinnati Reds featured 13, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

The wave of young talent has propelled the White Sox to a 29-18 record since April 17, trailing only the New York Yankees (30-17), even while dealing with injuries to players including Munetaka Murakami and Everson Pereira. Since Murakami, the Japanese rookie who paces the team with 20 home runs, suffered a right hamstring injury on May 29, the White Sox have posted a 5-4 record.

Colson Montgomery became the latest addition to the injury list Tuesday. Dealing with back soreness, he’s considered day-to-day and missed Wednesday’s lineup. The second-year shortstop, who has appeared in 135 MLB contests, believes his younger colleagues are drawing energy from one another to maintain team performance.

“You get up here, and it’s like, these are my boys, my teammates, this is nothing new,” Colson Montgomery said. “That’s why a lot of our young rookie guys are coming up here and they’re thriving because they’re just being themselves and they know they can be themselves. … We have a lot of guys in the minor leagues who are coming up and they’re ready to show their impact.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City’s star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has reached agreement on a contract restructure that extends his tenure with the franchise by two years and elevates his total pay package beyond half a billion dollars, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The source provided details to the AP under the condition of anonymity since Kansas City does not make contract financial details public.

In 2020, Mahomes inked a decade-long $450 million agreement that established new standards not just for signal-callers but across all of professional football. This newest extension keeps the two-time MVP with Kansas City until the 2033 campaign, at which point Mahomes will reach age 38, with the contract valued at $504.75 million including incentives and performance escalators that may drive the total beyond $520 million.

Kansas City and Mahomes routinely adjust his contract during the offseason, providing the franchise with salary cap flexibility needed to build a championship-caliber roster around him. This most recent agreement, however, features a substantial salary boost following recent quarterback contracts — including those for Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen — that have elevated the position’s market value.

Prescott’s four-year contract featured a league-high $60 million annual average. Mahomes will now earn $63.1 million per season on average.

Mahomes had season-ending surgery this past December following torn ligaments in his left knee sustained in the closing moments of a defeat to the Chargers. He has dedicated his entire offseason to injury rehabilitation in Kansas City and has participated fully in the team’s offseason activities, which wrap up Thursday with the final session of their required three-day minicamp.

FIFA’s leader Gianni Infantino is standing firm on World Cup ticket pricing, stating the costs are in line with North American sporting events. The 48-team tournament’s tickets begin around $140, while final game seats can cost as much as $32,970. After facing backlash, FIFA made some $60 tickets available through national federations. Infantino maintains the average ticket cost stays below $500 and matches pricing for U.S. sports events. He expressed no worry about ongoing investigations by state attorneys general. The FIFA president also commended the organization for permitting Iran’s participation despite U.S. tensions. He described the tournament as “the biggest event probably in the history of mankind.”

The Kansas City Chiefs have secured quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a restructured agreement extending his contract by two years and pushing total compensation beyond half a billion dollars. A source familiar with the contract terms confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Wednesday, speaking anonymously since the Chiefs keep financial details private. Mahomes originally signed a 10-year, $450 million deal in 2020 that established new standards for quarterback contracts and NFL players overall. The new extension keeps the two-time MVP with Kansas City through the 2033 season, when he’ll turn 38, with total value reaching $504.75 million. Additional incentives and escalators could drive the contract value past $520 million.

UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is preparing for his bold fighting approach as the organization makes its White House debut. He’s set to compete Sunday on the South Lawn in a mixed martial arts event honoring President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the event will continue regardless of weather concerns. The fight lineup includes two title matches, featuring Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane and Ilia Topuria facing Justin Gaethje.

The NBA Finals between New York and San Antonio continues its pattern of road team victories as Game 4 approaches. The Knicks have an opportunity Wednesday night to claim a commanding 3-1 series advantage over the Spurs, who are counting on 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama to shift momentum. Wembanyama dominated Game 3 on Monday with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks, leading the Spurs to victory. This marked the third consecutive road team win in the series, just the second time this unusual pattern has occurred in NBA Finals history.

Texas Tech’s coaching staff is defending their decision to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby next season while he addresses his gambling addiction. Coach Joey McGuire acknowledged Wednesday the criticism they’ve received, including from the NCAA president. McGuire argued that society accepts other problems but rallies against gambling issues. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt emphasized their responsibility is supporting Sorsby’s recovery rather than manipulating eligibility rules. A court ruling suspended Sorsby for two games, though the NCAA plans to challenge the broader decision.

The NHL Players’ Association has requested the league investigate Mike Babcock’s tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets before any team brings him on as head coach. This comes as reports suggest the Edmonton Oilers have interest in Babcock. The NHL had ended its previous investigation when Babcock stepped down in September 2023 following criticism about privacy violations involving players. Babcock, formerly considered an elite coach, has faced bullying accusations. The Oilers are searching for new leadership after dismissing Kris Knoblauch. They also requested to speak with Bruce Cassidy, but Vegas refused since Cassidy remains under contract.

Omar Artan, the Somali soccer referee who was refused U.S. entry for the World Cup tournament, has received a hero’s reception upon returning home from supporters and officials. Artan was poised to become Somalia’s first World Cup referee after earning a spot on FIFA’s final tournament list. He received recognition as Africa’s top male referee in 2025. The U.S. decision to block a FIFA-selected match official from entering a World Cup host nation sparked international criticism and questions about America’s hosting capabilities. Artan ranks among Africa’s premier referees and earned the continent’s best official designation in 2025.

College athletics faces significant questions following the gambling controversy surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s legal victory. While college athletes betting on their own teams draws universal condemnation, finding solutions proves complicated. This week, Nebraska and Georgia advised their coaches against scheduling Texas Tech games. The Big 12 conference is weighing its response options. The situation exposes the difficulties in governing college sports, particularly with legal sports betting now widespread and profitable sponsorship deals in place. Without legal backing, the NCAA finds enforcement challenging, creating uncertainty about college sports’ regulatory future.

New York Police Department restrictions are preventing fans from congregating outside Madison Square Garden before Game Four of the NBA Finals. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will instead allow fewer than 1,000 fans at a watch party near the venue. Bars and restaurants within the security area can operate with capacity limits, and security checks will extend several blocks from the arena. The policies have frustrated fans, local businesses and Knicks owner James Dolan, who criticized the mayor for creating what he termed a “police state” around the facility. Police cite public safety risks from unruly crowds as justification for the security measures.

The Stanley Cup Final between Vegas and Carolina has delivered exceptional entertainment each game, with the defining characteristic being that no advantage feels secure. This marks the first NHL Finals where teams have recovered from multi-goal deficits to tie games in each of the opening four contests. Carolina’s comeback from a four-goal deficit in Game 3 at Vegas before falling in double overtime exemplified this trend. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes have totaled 33 goals, the highest four-game output since 1981. Television viewership through three games reached the highest levels since the Chicago-Tampa Bay finals in 2015.

The head of FIFA is standing firm on World Cup ticket costs, arguing they match pricing standards for North American sporting events. General admission for the 48-team tournament begins at $140, while seats for the championship match can cost as much as $32,970. Following public backlash, FIFA made some $60 tickets available through national federations. Infantino maintains the average ticket cost stays below $500 and mirrors pricing in U.S. sports. He expressed no worry about ongoing investigations by state attorneys general. The FIFA president also commended the organization for permitting Iran’s participation despite U.S. tensions, describing the tournament as “the biggest event probably in the history of mankind.”

In other sports news, the Kansas City Chiefs have secured quarterback Patrick Mahomes through 2033 with a restructured agreement worth $504.75 million. A source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the deal adds two years and pushes total compensation beyond half a billion dollars. Mahomes originally signed a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020 that established new standards for quarterback compensation. The extension keeps the two-time MVP with Kansas City until the 2033 season, when he’ll be 38, with incentives potentially raising the value above $520 million.

UFC fighters are expressing their excitement about competing at the White House this Sunday. Heavyweight Josh Hokit is preparing for the mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn celebrating President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary. UFC CEO Dana White says the show will continue regardless of weather conditions. The card includes two title fights featuring Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane and Ilia Topuria facing Justin Gaethje.

The NBA Finals between New York and San Antonio continues its unusual pattern of road team victories. The Knicks can take a commanding 3-1 series lead Wednesday night at home against the Spurs. San Antonio won Game 3 behind Victor Wembanyama’s dominant performance of 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. This marks the third consecutive road team victory, only the second time this pattern has occurred in Finals history.

Texas Tech is defending its decision to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby next season while he addresses his gambling addiction. Coach Joey McGuire acknowledged criticism, including from the NCAA president, arguing that society accepts other issues but rallies against gambling. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said their responsibility is supporting Sorsby’s recovery rather than manipulating eligibility rules. A court ruling suspended Sorsby for two games, but the NCAA plans to challenge the overall decision.

The NHL Players’ Association has requested a league investigation into Mike Babcock’s tenure with Columbus before any team hires him as head coach. This comes as Edmonton reportedly shows interest in Babcock. The NHL had ended its previous investigation when Babcock stepped down in September 2023 following criticism about player privacy violations. The former top coach has faced bullying allegations. Edmonton is searching for a new coach after dismissing Kris Knoblauch and was denied permission to speak with Vegas’s Bruce Cassidy.

Somali referee Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome returning home after being refused U.S. entry for the World Cup. Artan was set to become Somalia’s first World Cup referee after making FIFA’s final tournament list. Named Africa’s top male referee in 2025, his denial by the U.S. sparked international criticism and questions about America’s hosting capabilities.

College sports faces growing gambling controversies highlighted by Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s court victory. While players betting on their own teams draws universal condemnation, solutions remain complicated. Nebraska and Georgia have urged their coaches to avoid scheduling Texas Tech games, while the Big 12 debates its response. The situation underscores challenges in regulating college athletics amid widespread legal sports betting and lucrative sponsorship deals.

New York police are restricting fan gatherings outside Madison Square Garden before Game Four. Mayor Zohran Mamdani says the city will allow fewer than 1,000 fans at an organized watch party outside the arena. Security measures include capacity limits for nearby businesses and screening checkpoints within several blocks. The restrictions have angered fans, local businesses and Knicks owner James Dolan, who accused the mayor of creating a “police state” around the venue.

The Stanley Cup Final between Vegas and Carolina has produced historic entertainment with no lead proving safe. This marks the first time in NHL history that teams have rallied from multi-goal deficits to tie in each of the first four Final games. Carolina’s comeback from four goals down in Game 3 before losing in double overtime exemplified the drama. The teams have combined for 33 goals through four games, the most since 1981, making this the most-watched Final through three games since 2015.

NEW YORK (AP) — During the New York Knicks’ championship pursuit, thousands of ecstatic supporters have packed the sidewalks surrounding Madison Square Garden, frequently chanting their signature phrase: “We outside.”

However, for Wednesday’s crucial fourth game of the NBA Finals, impromptu street celebrations will be prohibited in front of the iconic venue.

The New York Police Department announced a security strategy that will prevent supporters from congregating near the Manhattan venue unless they possess game tickets or have “business specific to that area.”

City officials said they would permit 1,000 supporters to attend an organized viewing event outside the Garden — a reduced version of earlier watch parties that the NYPD had initially tried to cancel due to unruly behavior before changing their position.

Beyond that, supporters needed to demonstrate they had an “authorized reason” to enter a restricted area spanning multiple blocks around the venue. Local establishments and eateries could remain operational but faced “strict capacity limits,” according to police.

The restrictions angered devoted supporters and area establishments, as well as Knicks owner James Dolan — whose game-three invitation to President Donald Trump created another restricted area and prevented an outdoor viewing event from proceeding.

In a Wednesday statement, the Madison Square Garden Company criticized the mayor for turning the surrounding streets into a “police state” designed to “freeze out fans from celebrating.”

Due to these limitations, Dolan announced Wednesday afternoon that he would not provide television screens for Wednesday’s viewing event. He also challenged the city’s assertion that MSG had only requested authorization for up to 999 attendees.

To many New Yorkers, the security measures seemed to contradict Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s broader platform, which emphasized expanding public space access and reducing NYPD oversight of large gatherings. The dispute has renewed focus on the unstable relationship between the mayor and his police commissioner, Jessica Tisch.

“The NYPD is historically extremely risk-averse to disorderly behavior by crowds, whether they be celebratory or protesting,” said Jeffrey Fagan, a law professor at Columbia University who studies policing. “The mayor now faces a difficult calculus between the strong emotions of Knicks fans and the political risks if crowd control isn’t airtight.”

Recently, Mamdani administration officials have urged Tisch to permit some form of outdoor viewing events at Madison Square Garden, according to two sources familiar with the conversations, who spoke with The Associated Press anonymously because they weren’t authorized to discuss the meetings.

In return, Tisch has pushed for the security boundary, emphasizing the need to manage disruptive crowds that have occasionally turned violent and chaotic. Some recent supporter gatherings in Manhattan have resulted in dozens of arrests and multiple injuries to officers.

After Monday’s Knicks defeat, at least 21 individuals were arrested. The NYPD reported they are currently seeking members of a group that forcibly removed a San Antonio Spurs jersey from a man while attacking him.

Shaun Geddes, a Knicks supporter who hosts a popular team podcast, said he had participated in multiple series-winning celebrations outside the venue and observed that most supporters behaved appropriately.

“Then there’s a small group of people out there cosplaying as Knicks fans and doing performative things to go viral on TikTok,” Geddes added. “But being passionate as a Knicks fan doesn’t mean assaulting anyone.”

The restrictions have also concerned businesses near the venue that they could experience a significant decline in customer traffic on what would have been one of their busiest days annually.

“It’s ruining my business,” said Angela Reilly, the owner of Molly Wee, an Irish pub near the arena. “I haven’t seen anything like this level of security in 46 years.”

Responding to criticism about the closure, city officials have pointed out there isn’t recent precedent for their current situation. The Knicks haven’t reached an NBA Finals since 1999. Most other major city sports teams compete in less densely populated outer boroughs or New Jersey.

However, when the New York Rangers — who also compete at the Garden — last captured the Stanley Cup in 1994, the NYPD used a different strategy for managing celebrating supporters.

Before the game, police announced they would remove potential projectiles like metal trash containers or debris from around the venue but would permit supporters to move freely.

“We expect the fans to be extremely vocal,” Allen Hoehl, former NYPD chief, said at a news conference. “If they want to go from here to there, we’ll escort them in any direction.”

By Mark Gleeson

FIFA has implemented multiple rule modifications for the World Cup just weeks before the tournament begins, with changes specifically targeting time-wasting behaviors and broadening VAR technology use.

“These amendments are aimed at combating discrimination, reducing time-wasting, improving the tempo of matches and enhancing the experience of players and fans,” FIFA explained.

Key changes include:

*Referees will conduct a visible five-second countdown with their hand when they determine a player or goalkeeper is delaying a goal kick. Should the ball remain out of play when the countdown concludes, the opposing team receives a corner kick. This same process applies to throw-ins.

*Substituted players have 10 seconds to exit the field. Players who exceed this timeframe force their replacement to wait until the next stoppage in play occurring at least one minute later. This rule extends to injured players, who must leave the pitch after receiving treatment and cannot return for at least one minute after play resumes.

*Players cannot cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents, and deliberate violations may result in ejection. This modification stems from controversies like the incident between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior.

In February, the Real Madrid forward accused his Benfica opponent of making racist remarks, but because the player’s mouth was covered, no offence of racism could be proven.

*VAR technology can now examine clearly unjustified second yellow cards, cases of mistaken identity, wrongly awarded corners and attacking fouls before free-kicks or corners that directly affect goals, penalties or disciplinary outcomes.

*Players who exit the field to protest a referee’s call may face red card ejection, and team officials who encourage such protests may also receive dismissal.

This follows the controversy at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final where Senegal walked off in protest at a penalty awarded against them in the last minute against hosts Morocco.

Senegal returned after 14 minutes, saw Morocco miss the spot kick and went on to win the match in extra time, only to be subsequently stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary appeal board.

The United States men’s soccer team kicks off their World Cup campaign Friday night against Paraguay, carrying the weight of expectations as tournament co-hosts looking to start strong in what should be a winnable opener.

Ranked 17th globally, the Americans enter as clear favorites in Group D, facing a Paraguay squad sitting at 41st in the world rankings – the lowest among all 48 tournament participants. The group also features Australia and Turkey.

Recent history favors the US, who have defeated the South Americans in their last three encounters, most recently winning 2-1 in a November friendly. The nations first met during the inaugural World Cup in 1930, with the United States claiming victory.

Friday’s match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood promises an electric atmosphere as the home crowd rallies behind a potent American attack led by Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, who will aim to find the net early and settle any opening-match jitters.

However, defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern for the Americans. Inexperienced goalkeeper Matt Freese may face significant pressure, as the team has managed just one shutout across their previous 13 matches while surrendering 11 goals over their last four games.

Paraguay presents a contrasting style, built around a rugged defensive foundation designed to neutralize the American offensive threat. “La Albirroja” return to the World Cup stage for the first time since their 2010 quarter-final defeat to eventual champion Spain.

While the Americans received automatic qualification as co-hosts, Paraguay earned their spot through the grueling CONMEBOL qualifying process, finishing sixth among South American automatic qualifiers.

The visitors’ attacking struggles were evident during qualification, managing only 14 goals across 18 matches. Their offensive challenges have been compounded by the loss of primary striker Julio Enciso, who will miss the opener due to a thigh injury.

Paraguay will rely heavily on midfielder Diego Gomez to generate scoring opportunities and provide long-range shooting threats. The 23-year-old’s fitness remains a question mark following a knee injury sustained in April.

Former US international Cobi Jones, a three-time World Cup veteran, emphasized the psychological importance of securing an opening victory, even within the expanded tournament format where only 16 of 48 teams face group-stage elimination.

“That’s how you want to start off,” Jones told Reuters in LA on Tuesday.

“It’s not the be all and end all, but getting three points at the beginning really helps your chances and establishes you as the leaders of the group.”

Australia’s Alex de Minaur, seeded second in the tournament, advanced to the next round of the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, after defeating Martin Damm in straight sets 7-6 (8), 7-5 during second-round play.

The Australian player dominated with his serve, recording 27 winners while making only 17 unforced errors. De Minaur also held a 7-6 advantage in aces and committed just one double fault compared to four by Damm. His opponent struggled with consistency, making 44 unforced errors alongside 28 winners, though Damm managed to save 11 of 14 break point opportunities to keep the match competitive.

In other tournament action, sixth-seeded Tallon Griekspoor defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4 in a match featuring two Dutch players that began Tuesday but concluded Wednesday due to suspension. Australian qualifier James McCabe upset eighth-seeded Zizou Bergs from Belgium with a 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory.

Additional players advancing included Marton Fucsovics from Hungary, Kamil Majchrzak from Poland, and the Netherlands’ Thijs Boogaard.

At the BOSS Open in Stuttgart, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, seeded third, overcame Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 in second-round action. Bublik served 22 aces compared to 17 for Struff and recorded 38 winners against 22 unforced errors. This match was a rematch of their French Open first-round encounter where Struff had previously won in four sets. In the Stuttgart rematch, Struff posted 37 winners and 29 unforced errors.

Additional Stuttgart results included Italy’s Mattia Bellucci defeating Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2, and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard beating Belgium’s Gauthier Onclin 7-6 (1), 6-2.

Dramatic comebacks, record-setting performances, and nail-biting finishes have defined the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes. The question now is whether this series ranks among the finest championship rounds in hockey history.

“Everyone that texts me is saying it’s the best hockey they’ve ever watched,” Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “It’s been fun to play. There’s a lot of momentum swings in the games, and I feel like it’s one of those series where you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The series’ unpredictable nature has created compelling television each evening since it started, resulting in the highest viewership numbers for a final in more than ten years. With the teams deadlocked at 2-2 heading into Thursday night’s Game 5 in Raleigh, a sixth game is assured, guaranteeing the Cup will be present Saturday evening in Las Vegas.

Here’s what has elevated this series to legendary status:

The opening game saw Carolina jump ahead 2-0 just over 12 minutes into the contest, then trail 3-2 before equalizing late in the game, ultimately falling when Tomas Hertl scored the decisive goal with 3:24 remaining in the final period.

Game 2 featured Vegas holding a 2-0 advantage with under 10 minutes left in regulation, followed by a wild sequence of four goals — plus one that was disallowed — culminating with Mark Stone’s equalizer with 81 seconds on the clock. With Hertl serving a penalty, Seth Jarvis netted the overtime winner for the Hurricanes.

The third contest saw the Golden Knights build a commanding 4-0 lead in the final period following Mitch Marner’s hat trick, which prompted Carolina to change goaltenders. The Hurricanes mounted a complete comeback with four consecutive goals, only to lose when Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore’s shot caromed off the boards and deflected off goaltender Brandon Bussi 5:38 into the second overtime.

Game 4 witnessed Carolina establishing leads of 2-0 and 3-1, with Vegas responding both times to level the score. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal netted the winning goal with 13:28 remaining to square the series.

This marks the first championship series in NHL history where each of the opening four games featured a team overcoming a multi-goal deficit to tie the contest. The first two games both ended with comeback victories, just one short of the record of three such games established in both 1950 and 1987.

Defense has been largely absent from this series. Both clubs entered having surrendered the fewest and third-fewest goals during the first three playoff rounds. Instead, they’ve combined for 33 goals through four games, the most since the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars totaled 36 in 1981.

— At least four goals were recorded in each period spanning from the second period of Game 3 through the opening period of Game 4. This represents only the second occurrence of such scoring in three consecutive regulation periods, and the first since the Islanders and Flyers achieved this feat during Games 5 and 6 in 1980.

— Vegas forward Brett Howden tops all playoff goal scorers this year with 14, surpassing the franchise mark established by Jonathan Marchessault during his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance as playoff MVP in the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup championship.

— Marner’s natural hat trick — three consecutive goals — occurred within 6 minutes and 10 seconds. This easily eclipses the previous championship series record of 11 minutes and 27 seconds set by Ted Lindsay for Detroit in 1955.

— The Hurricanes became the third franchise to net four or more goals in each opening game of the final, joining Montreal in 1973 and Boston in 1970. Their Game 3 rally featured the three fastest goals in championship series history, scored within a 39-second span.

— Staal’s gap between championship series goals — from June 9, 2009, with Pittsburgh, until Game 1 on June 2, spanning 6,202 days — exceeded brother Eric’s record of 6,198 days from 2006 to 2023, according to Sportradar. Jordan became the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1992 to score five goals in the opening four championship games and the first since Mike Bossy in 1982 to find the net in each of the first four contests.

Only twice before has a Cup final seen the score tied at some point during the third period in each of the first four games. The last occurrence was between Chicago and Tampa Bay in 2015, with the previous instance being St. Louis and Montreal in 1968.

The opening three games were each decided by a single goal for only the tenth time in history. An empty-net goal by Nikolaj Ehlers in Game 4, a long-distance clear that was itself a spectacular play, prevented a fourth consecutive one-goal decision.

Despite featuring teams from smaller, non-traditional hockey markets, television audiences nationwide are watching. The first three games have drawn the largest viewership for a final since the Blackhawks faced the Lightning 11 years ago, averaging 4.9 million viewers on ABC. ESPN/ABC reported Game 3 attracted the most viewers for a championship game since Carolina-Detroit in 2002, reaching 5 million.

Goaltending has not been the series’ strongest element, although Vegas’ Carter Hart and Carolina’s Frederik Andersen and Bussi have delivered several crucial saves.

Hart, Andersen and Bussi have posted a collective save percentage of .855, which would represent the lowest mark in a final since .850 in 1973 during the Montreal-Chicago series. This figure falls well below the regular season league average of .896, which was already the lowest since 1993-94.

Bussi became the third goaltender to make his inaugural NHL playoff appearance in the final and earn a victory, joining Hank Bassen in 1961 and Alfie Moore in 1938.

With Andersen capturing the Game 2 win, the Hurricanes are the first team since Edmonton in 1984 to have two different goaltenders each record a victory in the final. Only the 1984 Oilers and 1972 Bruins have won the Cup with multiple goaltenders starting and winning games in the championship series.

LAS VEGAS — Vegas finds itself in familiar territory from earlier playoff rounds, but this time the circumstances are far more challenging for the Golden Knights.

While Vegas previously enjoyed home-ice advantage against Utah and Anaheim, claiming both series in six games after being tied 2-2, the team now faces a tougher road. The Golden Knights must capture two victories in their final three Stanley Cup Final matchups, with potentially two games taking place in Carolina, including a possible decisive Game 7.

Thursday night brings Game 5 in Carolina.

However, Vegas confronts multiple challenges beyond simply securing a victory in one of the league’s most intimidating venues. How well the Golden Knights tackle these problems will largely decide whether they claim their second championship in four years or reflect on what might have been.

Jack Eichel leads the team with 20 playoff points, trailing only teammate Mitch Marner’s 29 for the NHL lead.

Yet Eichel has managed only two goals throughout the postseason and hasn’t scored in his last six contests dating to the Western Conference Final against Colorado. While he’s traditionally favored passing over shooting, Eichel has contributed just two assists in the series against Carolina.

With star players expected to elevate their performance during playoff runs, Vegas desperately needs Eichel to return to the scoresheet. He nearly broke through during Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat, sending the puck just above the crossbar on what could have been a game-tying goal late in the final period. Had that shot found the net, Vegas might be traveling to Carolina with a chance to clinch the series.

“I know Jack doesn’t have the goals,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said after the game. “He was close tonight. He had the game on his stick on the faceoff there, just missed, hit the crossbar, one-timer. I think they’re developing chances, but we do need to finish when we have some opportunities.”

Goaltender Carter Hart, who excelled through the first three rounds, cannot shoulder all the blame. He’s faced numerous defensive lapses in front of the net.

Nevertheless, the statistics tell a concerning story.

Hart posted a 12-4 record with a .924 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average entering the final series. He was considered a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy awarded to the playoffs’ top performer before surrendering four goals in each of the opening four final games.

In the Carolina series, his save percentage has dropped to .861 with a 3.60 goals-against average.

Hart has delivered clutch moments, particularly his double-overtime performance in Game 3 when he stopped several dangerous scoring chances to help Vegas secure the victory. However, he’s also allowed goals in clusters during moments when his team needed a crucial save to limit damage.

Defensive support would prove valuable as well. Vegas managed only 12 blocked shots Tuesday, matching their postseason low.

“Just trust our system, trust each other to step up, block shots, make plays and win our battles,” center Colton Sissons said. “Hartsy will be there when we need him.”

Vegas entered the final series with a 23.9% power-play conversion rate, anchored by special teams that were instrumental in capturing the Western Conference. Against Carolina, that percentage has plummeted to 8.3%.

During one Tuesday power play, the Golden Knights spent ninety seconds in the attacking zone cycling the puck while searching for an ideal scoring opportunity that never materialized. This approach essentially aided Carolina’s defensive efforts.

The penalty kill presents similar struggles. Carolina began this series converting 12.5% of its power-play opportunities, but has succeeded on 36.4% against Vegas.

This decline appears especially surprising given the Golden Knights’ penalty kill was operating effectively before facing Carolina, succeeding at an 87.5% rate while scoring a league-leading four short-handed goals.

Carolina officially recorded one power-play goal in Game 4, though another came immediately after time had expired.

Olympic organizers for the 2028 Los Angeles Games are coordinating with federal agencies to prevent the type of visa problems and entry denials that have affected participants in the ongoing soccer World Cup, according to International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry, who spoke Wednesday.

“I am confident that in two years we will be able to overcome a number of the challenges that the World Cup is facing right now. But I think that also takes collaboration and learning,” Coventry stated during a media briefing in Lausanne following an IOC executive board session.

IOC sports director Pierre Ducrey noted that specialized staff within the organizing committee are addressing these concerns.

“They have an office in Washington, there is a strong relationship they are building with the authorities, with the right agencies that will have to be involved in this process,” Ducrey explained.

“I think it’s also a lot about explaining who is going to be coming, the profile of the people, the role they have to play so that we can also spend a lot of time educating the agencies and make sure we are all on the same page regarding what is going to happen in 2028.”

Entry complications have already emerged during the World Cup, which started Thursday across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Iran’s national team relocated their preparation camp from Arizona to Mexico and will only be permitted U.S. entry one day prior to each of their three games, while a referee from Somalia was refused American entry just days before competition began.

During the Lausanne gathering, IOC executive board members endorsed adding ski mountaineering, which premiered at February’s Milano Cortina Olympics, to the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.

“The French Alps organising committee proposed… to add ski mountaineering to the 2030 Winter Olympic programme edition. The (executive board) has decided to approve this and will put that forward to our session in two weeks,” Coventry announced.

Board members rejected including “crossover sports” like cyclocross for the 2030 Games while keeping future possibilities open.

“We decided, very clear, for the upcoming Winter Olympics that we would like to keep the identity of winter sports of snow and ice… no crossover at the moment. It could be in the future,” stated Karl Stoss, chair of the Olympic programme working group.

The IOC’s 146th session will convene June 24 and 25 in Lausanne.

The NHL Players’ Association has requested the league conduct an investigation into Mike Babcock’s troubled time with the Columbus Blue Jackets before Edmonton or any other team can bring him on as head coach, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke Wednesday.

The union’s request comes after reports emerged that the Oilers have shown interest in bringing Babcock aboard. Both sources provided information to The Associated Press under anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.

It remains unclear if the league has begun or resumed looking into the experienced coach, who has faced mounting criticism in recent years over his methods with players. The league must approve all coaching appointments.

Babcock stepped down from his position with the Blue Jackets in September 2023, just under three months after accepting the role. His departure followed backlash over his practice of requesting personal photographs from players as a way to build relationships, which many viewed as crossing privacy boundaries.

“Our players deserve to be treated with respect in the workplace,” NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh stated at that time. “Unfortunately, that was not the case in Columbus. The club’s decision to move forward with a new head coach is the appropriate course of action.”

While the union examined the circumstances, the NHL abandoned its planned probe into the matter after Babcock resigned.

The 63-year-old coach, who celebrated his birthday on April 29, hasn’t led a team in the league since Toronto dismissed him just 23 games into the 2019-20 campaign. His resume includes guiding Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008, leading the Red Wings to the finals in ’09 and Anaheim in ’03, plus coaching Canada to consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2010 and ’14.

Despite once being regarded as among the elite in his field, former players have criticized Babcock’s traditional methods that some characterize as harassment.

Following his dismissal from the Maple Leafs, reports emerged that he had instructed a player to rank teammates from most to least hardworking, then disclosed those rankings to the entire team. Former Red Wings player Johan Franzen told Swedish media that Babcock was the most unpleasant individual he had encountered and described feeling afraid to enter the arena.

Edmonton is searching for someone to replace Kris Knoblauch after dismissing him following their first-round playoff elimination, despite reaching the finals in the previous two seasons. The team sought Vegas’s approval to interview recently dismissed coach Bruce Cassidy, but the Golden Knights declined since he remains under contract through the upcoming season.

The NHL Coaches’ Association voiced displeasure regarding the situation. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated last week that Vegas violated no regulations by refusing permission.

“We don’t find it unreasonable because we’re allowing it to happen,” he explained. “I do think Vegas is clearly within their contractual rights to do what they’re doing.”

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Soccer fans in Brazil, known for their passionate support and five World Cup victories, will only be able to watch the complete tournament through a streaming service led by a social media personality.

Meanwhile, viewers around the world will witness portions of matches broadcast live on YouTube and TikTok for the very first time.

The traditional dominance of broadcast television is being challenged as the World Cup enters a new viewing era.

FIFA is working to connect with younger demographics, offering these audiences expanded access to soccer’s premier tournament through what the organization calls an unprecedented number of agreements with broadcasting partners featuring digital-exclusive platforms. Content creators will take center stage while viewer experiences globally will be improved through what FIFA terms “game-changing” partnerships.

The strategy aims to capture audience interest by providing a preview that will motivate them to return for full game coverage on conventional television.

This year’s tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, represents the largest World Cup ever with 48 participating teams. Competition starts Thursday and continues until July 19.

Brazil has consistently ranked among nations with the highest social media and digital platform participation.

FIFA recognized this trend and conducted a preliminary experiment four years ago with well-known streamer Casimiro Miguel, currently 32, who had demonstrated effectiveness in connecting with younger sports audiences through his Twitch channel. During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, FIFA established an agreement with him and his partner LiveMode to stream 22 matches via the CazéTV YouTube channel.

Using a more relaxed and interactive broadcasting style, combined with increased fan participation and content creators serving as commentators, the experiment proved highly successful. This success resulted in an expanded agreement for this year’s tournament, making CazéTV the exclusive channel—whether digital or traditional—with rights to all 104 games in Brazil. The network Globo, Brazil’s longtime soccer broadcaster, will air 55 games.

“FIFA is always looking at innovative ways about how to enhance the broadcast coverage of our flagship competitions and the deal with CazéTV is an example of such, which will ensure football fans in Brazil will be able to watch all 104 games, while also helping to reach new audiences and demographics,” the governing body told The Associated Press in a statement.

LiveMode, the Brazilian company that operates CazéTV and produces matches with content creators, revealed last month it had established an international broadcasting division with Cristiano Ronaldo as one of its investors.

The company’s Portuguese channel will stream one daily match during the World Cup, including all Portugal games and the championship final. The 41-year-old Ronaldo, considered one of soccer’s greatest players, is participating in his sixth World Cup with his national team.

“There is an audience that connects with digital first, and digital allows us to bring this new audience to follow major sporting events,” LiveMode co-founder Sergio Lopes told the AP. “Generally, this audience is younger and doesn’t just want to watch a match. They want to participate in the conversation, interact in real time, and feel like they are part of a community.”

FIFA selected TikTok earlier this year as its inaugural “preferred platform” for video content on social media during the World Cup, providing creators with content access. Broadcasters holding World Cup rights can livestream segments of the 104 games through a specialized hub within the TikTok application. In March, FIFA also made an agreement with YouTube allowing rights-holding broadcasters to stream live game footage on the video platform. Rights holders may broadcast the opening 10 minutes of matches.

“YouTube is where global sports fans tune in before, during, and after the game. That is what makes our preferred partnership with FIFA for World Cup 2026 so unique,” said Angela Courtin, YouTube’s vice president of entertainment and sports marketing. “Between the incredible reach of our creator cohort and providing FIFA’s media partners with a pathway to upload more premium content to their YouTube channels, plus our live YouTube FIFA Creator Cup in New York City this July, we are ushering in the next generation of soccer fans for years to come.”

Through these new agreements, FIFA anticipates the 2026 World Cup will establish new records for digital and streaming viewership.

In 2022, FIFA documented 5 billion total interactions during the Qatar tournament, with 2.7 billion occurring through digital and streaming platforms, and 2.9 billion from traditional television. Nearly 1.5 billion people viewed the final won by Argentina, including 237 million digital-only viewers, according to FIFA.

In the U.S., Fox maintains rights for the 2026 World Cup, and FIFA made no exclusive agreements with digital platforms, although the network will offer every match through live streaming and on-demand access within its applications. Streaming service Netflix has obtained U.S. broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, representing FIFA’s most substantial agreement with a streaming platform for a major tournament.

“We are seeing that sport needs to occupy all screens, engage with all audiences to grow,” LiveModeTV co-founder Lopes said. “New audiences expect authenticity, interaction and different ways to follow an event. The World Cup continues to be the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet, but the way to experience it is also becoming more social, more participatory, more accessible, and more connected to the digital habits of each generation.”

NBA superstar LeBron James declared himself the greatest basketball player in history during a recent interview with Time magazine.

In the profile piece released Monday, James was asked about the ongoing debate over who deserves the title of NBA’s greatest of all time, and he confidently backed himself for the honor.

“I’m not taking nobody over me,” James stated to Time. “There’s no question.”

The Lakers forward acknowledged that basketball history includes numerous legendary players, including Hall of Fame inductees Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird and Shaquille O’Neal, along with others.

“But I think Mike will say the same thing,” James explained. “Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt (Chamberlain), Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else.

“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”

The 41-year-old athlete recently wrapped up his historic 23rd NBA campaign and now faces unrestricted free agency as the league’s all-time scoring leader.

Regarding his future in basketball, James explained his decision-making process to Time magazine.

“It’s up to the mind,” he said about potentially playing another season versus retiring. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay. When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2 1/2 hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”

During this past season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James posted averages of 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds. The veteran player has earned 22 All-Star selections, four league MVP awards and four NBA championships while setting all-time records for both games played (1,622) and total points scored (43,440).

New York City FC has confirmed that defender Strahinja Tanasijevic will be leaving the organization, according to a Wednesday announcement from the team.

The 28-year-old player became part of NYCFC’s roster in February 2024 and participated in 43 matches throughout various competitions during his tenure.

“We would like to thank Tana for the commitment and professionalism shown throughout his time with the Club,” sporting director Todd Dunivant said. “This move provides an opportunity for Tana to pursue the next step in his career while also giving the Club additional roster flexibility. We wish Tana and his family all the best moving forward.”

Before becoming part of New York City FC, Tanasijevic competed for multiple teams in Serbia, his home country.

Canada enters their World Cup opening match carrying enormous expectations as they prepare to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, marking what could be the most significant moment in the nation’s soccer legacy. Both teams will be competing for their first-ever advancement to the knockout rounds.

The Canadian squad’s journey toward international recognition has been filled with challenges, having lost all six games they played in the 1986 and 2022 World Cup tournaments. This track record reflects a country still working to establish its place on soccer’s biggest stage.

However, coach Jesse Marsch has brought new energy to the program since taking charge in May 2024. Under his leadership, Canada reached the Copa America semi-finals in their tournament debut just weeks after his appointment, eventually falling to defending World Cup champions Argentina.

Marsch’s strategy for World Cup achievement faces significant obstacles due to multiple player injuries that could undermine Canada’s best chance to elevate soccer’s profile in the country’s sports culture.

Team captain Alphonso Davies, who made history by scoring Canada’s inaugural World Cup goal, will be absent from the Group B opener at Toronto Stadium due to a hamstring injury sustained during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final last month.

The absence of Davies is made worse by losing Marcelo Flores, the midfielder who switched from representing Mexico to Canada in a move considered a major victory for the World Cup co-hosts. A knee injury from May has eliminated Flores from the entire tournament, while defender Moise Bombito’s comeback from a broken leg seems to have hit a setback after playing only 30 minutes in a preparation match against Uzbekistan.

With Davies anticipated to return for group matches against Qatar and Switzerland, Jonathan David becomes the focal point of Canadian expectations. As the country’s top scorer ever with 39 goals, David must lead an offense eager to break Canada’s World Cup struggles.

Maxime Crepeau, recently announced as Canada’s starting goalkeeper, will finally experience World Cup competition after missing the 2022 tournament due to a broken leg suffered during the MLS Cup Final just 15 days before that year’s event began in Qatar.

Canada’s immediate challenge comes from their inaugural encounter with Bosnia’s experienced Dragons, who return to the World Cup’s grandest stage after defeating four-time champions Italy in a penalty shootout to secure their second World Cup qualification.

Veteran forward Edin Dzeko, one of just two players remaining from Bosnia’s 2014 World Cup debut, serves as captain and mentor to a young roster expected to make a strong tournament impression.

Dzeko’s extensive experience as Bosnia’s all-time leading scorer and one of eight players aged 40 or older selected for this World Cup will be vital for the team’s hopes of advancing from group play.

Defender Sead Kolasinac is the only other player returning from the country’s previous World Cup participation.

National team coaches frequently voice concerns about insufficient time to prepare their squads, but several newly hired managers heading to this World Cup face an even greater challenge — some have been in their positions for mere weeks and haven’t even led their teams through a single competitive match.

In today’s unsentimental soccer landscape, successfully guiding a country through the qualification process doesn’t ensure a coach will remain in charge for the actual tournament, a harsh reality that has disrupted multiple nations’ World Cup readiness.

Carlos Queiroz enters the competition with the fewest matches under his belt with his current squad, though he brings extensive tournament knowledge to his role with Ghana.

After taking over from Otto Addo on April 13, Queiroz is preparing for his fifth straight World Cup appearance. The 73-year-old was absent from Ghana’s friendly loss to Mexico in May for personal matters, leaving him with just one match as head coach — last week’s 1-1 tie against Wales.

Saudi Arabia’s manager Georgios Donis received his appointment 10 days following Queiroz’s hiring, taking over from Herve Renard, who had previously guided Saudi Arabia to the previous World Cup where they defeated eventual champions Argentina.

Donis has overseen three exhibition matches to learn his team’s capabilities, including a recent scoreless tie with Senegal.

In contrast to Queiroz, 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek had no international coaching background when his nation offered him the position. The Czech Republic named Koubek as manager in December after Ivan Hasek was fired following a loss to the Faroe Islands.

Koubek encountered an immediate trial by fire, with his initial matches coming during qualification playoffs where the Czechs advanced through penalty kicks against both Ireland and Denmark.

He remains undefeated as Czech manager, securing victories in recent exhibitions against Kosovo and Guatemala before their first World Cup appearance since 2006.

Another coach who successfully navigated his team through playoff competition is Sweden’s Graham Potter.

Potter assumed control in October and, despite failing to secure victories in their final two qualifying matches and placing last in their group, Sweden reached the playoffs through Nations League standings.

Sweden defeated Ukraine and Poland in Potter’s only two victories as manager, having dropped a match to Norway and tied with Greece in other recent contests.

Sweden will face Tunisia in their opener, whose coach Sabri Lamouchi was named in January. His four matches have all been friendlies, claiming victory in his debut against Haiti but suffering defeats in his last two outings versus Austria and Belgium.

Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi, hired in March, has experienced a more successful beginning, remaining unbeaten across five exhibition games while preparing a roster carrying elevated hopes after their semifinal run four years earlier.

Ouahbi previously guided Morocco’s Under-20 team to World Cup victory in Chile last year.

Fabio Cannavaro also understands championship success, having captained Italy’s victorious 2006 team as a player and now entering the tournament as a first-time manager.

Cannavaro, who has served as Uzbekistan’s coach since October, has completed eight matches in charge, including recent friendly losses to Canada and the Netherlands.

Thrust into challenging circumstances, these managers must establish their approach rapidly in a competition that provides minimal opportunity for adjustment.

Jordan Staal netted his second goal of the night at the 6:32 mark of the third period, giving the Carolina Hurricanes the lead they needed to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday evening. The victory evens the championship series at two games apiece, with Game 5 scheduled for Thursday night in Carolina.

Nikolaj Ehlers contributed an empty-net goal along with two assists for Carolina, while Jackson Blake recorded one goal and one assist. Logan Stankoven also found the back of the net for the Hurricanes. Goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 18 shots in the winning effort.

For Vegas, Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden each scored goals, with Carter Hart making 23 saves between the pipes.

Court officials supervising the NFL’s $1 billion concussion settlement have banned five law firms from processing additional claims after discovering fraudulent practices. The firms allegedly directed clients to doctors who would diagnose Parkinson’s disease regardless of whether symptoms were present. According to a report filed this week in federal court in Philadelphia, these five firms handled cases for 98 former players seeking Parkinson’s disease payouts from the settlement. Dozens of approved claims totaled $95 million, with attorneys collecting approximately $20 million in fees.

A Wake County Superior Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by 31 former N.C. State male athletes who accused the school’s former sports medicine director of sexual abuse disguised as treatment and harassment. Judge Bryan Collins dismissed the claims against Robert M. Murphy Jr. and several N.C. State athletics officials on Tuesday, citing procedural issues including an expired statute of limitations for claims dating to 2013. Durham attorney Kerry Sutton, who represents the athletes, announced plans to appeal the decision.

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes recently took an unexpected detour during his off day that helped lift his spirits during a challenging stretch. The reigning NL Cy Young winner was driving through Pittsburgh when he spotted kids at a Little League practice and decided to stop. The 24-year-old spent two hours playing catch and signing autographs, reconnecting with baseball’s fundamental joy. This impromptu visit came as Skenes struggles through a winless streak in his last five starts, including a recent 12-2 defeat to Los Angeles where the Dodgers scored 10 runs after his departure. Skenes says he’s concentrating on his process and expects improved results, describing his time with the young players as a valuable reminder of what drew him to baseball originally.

FIFA World Cup festivities in Mexico are colliding with broader social unrest as the capital city prepares to welcome international visitors for opening ceremonies. The tournament arrives while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum navigates delicate political challenges. Analysts suggest a successful event would boost the president’s standing, but celebrations have faced increasing protests and criticism that the government prioritizes international guests over the nation’s urgent domestic problems.

Law enforcement agencies view drones as potential weapons of mass destruction rather than mere nuisances, leading to a zero-tolerance policy for the aircraft during World Cup matches. The affordable availability of drones and their destructive use in conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have heightened security concerns. Experts warn that terrorists could purchase a drone for several hundred dollars, attach explosives, and target crowded venues like stadiums. Consequently, no drones will be permitted over any of the 78 World Cup matches across 11 U.S. cities.

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal took a straightforward approach to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final despite Carolina’s series deficit. The 20-year veteran’s game-deciding goal on Tuesday night, however, was far from ordinary. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the third period, Staal’s sprawling backhand shot while airborne with 13:29 remaining beat Vegas goalie Carter Hart for his second goal of the game, securing the 5-3 victory. The series now stands even at 2-2 as teams return to Carolina on Thursday.

Lionel Messi demonstrated his readiness for his sixth World Cup appearance by playing 20 minutes and converting a penalty kick in Argentina’s 3-0 triumph over Iceland. After dealing with muscle fatigue and a minor left hamstring strain since May 24, Messi entered the match in the 70th minute and scored from the penalty spot following a foul on Lautaro Martínez. Argentina, pursuing its fourth World Cup championship, will face Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City to begin tournament play. Messi holds the record as Argentina’s leading scorer with 117 international goals.

The Cincinnati Bengals have restructured franchise quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously since the team hasn’t made an official announcement. The restructured agreement, initially reported by ESPN and NFL Network, creates approximately $10 million in salary cap relief by distributing portions of his base salary across the contract’s final three years from 2027 through 2029. Burrow signed a five-year, $275-million extension in 2023. Cincinnati needed additional cap space following their acquisition of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants before the NFL draft and his subsequent one-year, $28-million extension.

Officials organizing security for the upcoming World Cup tournament are identifying unmanned aircraft as among their most challenging security concerns, working to safeguard venues, fan gathering areas, team accommodations, practice facilities, and transportation corridors spanning numerous American cities and governmental jurisdictions.

According to industry leaders and federal officials, the dangers span from thoughtless fans trying to capture aerial video for social platforms to individuals performing reconnaissance or trying to interfere with games.

Melissa Swisher, chief revenue officer of SkySafe, a company specializing in unmanned aircraft detection and airspace protection, explained that affordable flying devices have “fundamentally changed” security preparations for major athletic competitions because they can penetrate prohibited zones before law enforcement can respond.

“A thousand-dollar drone that’s going 40 to 45 miles per hour could cross two miles in under three minutes,” Swisher said. “By the time somebody sees it, that’s already over.”

According to Swisher, the most probable application during the World Cup might involve reconnaissance instead of aircraft carrying dangerous materials. Unmanned vehicles could gather intelligence on security procedures, track team activities, or capture prohibited video. Additional flights may come from enthusiasts, journalists, or supporters unaware of temporary aviation restrictions, she explained.

These flying devices can circumvent standard venue security including barriers, metal detectors, and extended foot traffic zones, according to Tom Adams, public safety director at anti-drone firm DroneShield and former FBI agent.

“You have something that can overcome all those traditional security measures and get right over everything,” Adams said. “In a lot of cases, it’s just a careless and clueless person who wants to get a cool picture to put on their social media page.”

Anti-drone firms are collaborating with police and emergency services to establish detection systems surrounding tournament locations. SkySafe reports its equipment can recognize drone transmissions, monitor flight routes, and when feasible, pinpoint the pilot’s location.

DroneShield is assisting a Kansas City-area operation coordinated by law enforcement and regional allies to help identify drones across various jurisdictions.

Company representatives noted that destroying drones is seldom a straightforward solution above crowds since falling pieces could harm viewers. Rather, locating the pilot may provide the safest approach when an aircraft appears to be gathering intelligence instead of creating an immediate physical danger.

The current administration has allegedly allocated $250 million since December to assist American host cities in addressing drone dangers.

The money, delivered via the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 11 host states and Washington, D.C., aims to help monitor and reduce unauthorized aircraft. During game days, aircraft and drones will be prohibited within 3.5 miles of venues and beneath 3,000 feet according to Federal Aviation Administration rules.

The competition’s broad geographic spread increases the difficulty. In areas including New York-New Jersey, Boston, Kansas City, and Los Angeles, security efforts may cross municipal, county, and state boundaries. California, where SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and Santa Clara will stage games, obtained the highest FEMA funding at nearly $34.6 million.

Swisher indicated that insights from the World Cup will probably influence security preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in two years.

“They’re not going away,” she said of drones. “Tech continues to get more and more sophisticated.”

UMM AL-KHAIR, West Bank (AP) — While the FIFA World Cup commences on June 11, featuring Arab nations including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, football serves as both a beloved pastime and ongoing challenge for Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Though the Palestinian national squad narrowly missed securing a spot in the 48-team competition, World Cup matches will draw significant viewership throughout the West Bank, where the sport provides young Palestinians with relief from everyday hardships and surrounding circumstances.

Within the Bedouin community of Umm al-Khair, located in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron, youngsters play football on a compact field surrounded by barbed wire installed by Israeli settlers from the adjacent Carmel settlement. During one recent match, a ball kicked toward the net flew past the barrier as young settlers walked nearby. The settlers confiscated the ball, forcing the game to end.

Local residents report these situations happen frequently. The village has lost numerous soccer balls over time. Efforts to recover them may lead to conflicts with settlers and sometimes Israeli soldiers.

Moving northward to Nablus, youth from a regional soccer program practice on a municipal stadium field that has deteriorated over time. Nearby, Palestinians from Gaza who previously held work permits for Israel observe the training while hanging laundry. These individuals have remained stuck in the West Bank since fighting began in October 2023, with many establishing temporary living quarters in the stadium’s changing rooms, according to the facility’s manager, as they worry about potential forced return to Gaza.

The Palestinian Football Federation suspended league competitions during the conflict, pointing to the unstable security conditions across the West Bank, where Israeli military forces regularly perform detention operations and have established numerous roadblocks. Previously bustling soccer venues now sit mostly vacant, with some showing signs of neglect.

At Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al-Ram, which serves as the Palestinian national team’s home venue, recreational players meet for practice sessions. In Tulkarem, young athletes, some dressed in national team uniforms, participate in similar activities. FIFA provided some financial support to the Palestinian Football Association, though relocated the national team’s “home” games to different countries, including Jordan, Qatar and Malaysia, citing safety considerations.

With regular league competition suspended, practice sessions have emerged as among the limited remaining opportunities for physical activity, community connection and maintaining routine.

While global focus shifts to soccer’s premier competition, the sport continues delivering instances of togetherness, determination and optimism for Palestinians throughout the West Bank.

FIFA has implemented mandatory three-minute hydration breaks for each half of every World Cup match beginning this week across the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking the first time such breaks have been required tournament-wide.

The decision comes as organizers prepare for hot weather conditions and recall the extreme temperatures experienced during the 2025 Club World Cup. All 104 matches will feature these scheduled interruptions, creating unprecedented commercial opportunities for television networks.

As players hydrate and fans potentially step away for refreshments, broadcasting companies see a valuable chance to offer advertisers additional prime-time exposure and increase revenue streams.

The scheduled interruptions represent another way the World Cup is adopting characteristics similar to American sporting events, which feature extensive commercial breaks and entertainment elements. The tournament will also include a halftime performance by Colombian artist Shakira during the July 19 championship match, reminiscent of the Super Bowl’s entertainment format.

FIFA maintains that player safety drives their hydration break policy, though the approach may also encourage media rights growth as television networks compete for the additional revenue potential.

World Cup water breaks were initially introduced during a 2014 Brazil tournament match between the Netherlands and Mexico when temperatures surpassed 32 degrees Celsius. Since then, such breaks have been evaluated on an individual game basis.

Michael Johnson, who analyzes the U.S. sports market for S&P Global, explained to Reuters that incorporating hydration breaks could prove “extremely valuable and could potentially command those Super Bowl level prices within that seven to probably nine-million-dollar range.”

Marketing companies understand the massive exposure potential the World Cup offers, considering the 2022 Argentina versus France final in Qatar attracted 1.42 billion total viewers.

“U.S. viewers are used to the NFL style model, NBA style model four quarters. They’re used to in-game breaks. This World Cup is essentially a mirror to those style models,” Johnson explained.

European football traditionally follows a different broadcast model, with leagues such as the English Premier League typically shown on subscription services like Sky, where commercials appear before matches, during halftime, and after games conclude.

“I think even subscription broadcasters like Sky in the UK would be very happy to have a little bit more advertising inventory,” noted Francois Godard, who works as an independent sports industry analyst.

However, adopting this commercial-heavy approach may trigger negative reactions from international audiences who view it as excessive Americanization of the sport, particularly in European markets where most leagues compete during winter months.

“Soccer is infamous for continuous play. And purists are kind of worried about how this kind of Americanises the game… And create viewer fatigue, more ads could annoy fans, especially if they feel intrusive or excessive,” Johnson warned.

Additional interruptions could reduce fan engagement, especially among supporters already frustrated by frequent Video Assistant Referee delays lasting several minutes. Research by the Football Supporters’ Association within the Premier League revealed only 3.3% of fans felt VAR improved their match experience.

Many international broadcasters transmitting World Cup coverage have not yet announced whether they plan to utilize water breaks for advertising purposes.

British broadcaster ITV has already confirmed it will not air commercials during hydration breaks due to strict advertising regulations imposed by UK oversight body Ofcom.

“ITV is seeing regulatory issues and this is the first thing on their mind, but they also have to meet expectations from viewers. And I am not sure that British viewers would have been very welcoming to more advertising,” Godard observed.

The expanded 48-team format, increased from the previous 32-team structure, is projected to help FIFA achieve $8.9 billion in total 2026 revenue, with television broadcasting rights contributing 44% of that amount, according to FIFA’s budget projections.

FIFA has not indicated whether hydration breaks will become standard for future tournaments, though the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are scheduled for Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia respectively—all regions where summer temperatures regularly exceed 30 degrees Celsius during the traditional June-July tournament period.

The combination of expanding media rights cycles and hydration break opportunities may intensify competitive bidding between streaming services and traditional broadcasters for 2030 and 2034 tournament rights, although some regional rights for 2030 have already been secured.

“You’ll see most likely the streaming giants come into play, you know, Apple, Amazon, and especially Netflix, I think will be in the mix,” Johnson predicted, noting that Fox Sports’ current World Cup rights agreement expires following the 2026 tournament.

Netflix has already obtained U.S. broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, expanding a live sports catalog that features World Wrestling Entertainment and NFL games.

A significant security breach exposed sensitive passport information for Argentina’s complete soccer roster during their preparation match against Iceland on Tuesday, according to media reports.

The confidential passport numbers appeared on the official roster and should have been concealed before distribution to reporters and spectators. However, at Alabama’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, the documentation was shared without any privacy protections in place.

Reuters has reached out to both the Argentinian Football Federation and FIFA seeking their response to the incident.

The South American team secured a 3-0 victory before more than 88,000 spectators, with Lionel Messi making his comeback from a hamstring injury by finding the net just two minutes after entering the game during the second half.

Lautaro Martinez drew a foul inside the penalty area following a pass from Messi.

Messi successfully executed the penalty kick to extend his team’s lead to 2-0, setting a new milestone as Argentina’s oldest scorer at 38 years and 11 months – surpassing Angel Labruna’s longstanding record from 1957 by two months.

The defending champions will begin their tournament campaign with a Group J fixture against Algeria on Tuesday.

As the World Cup tournament begins in the United States, attention will focus on the host nation’s squad. However, for the small Paraguayan community residing in America, this represents a special opportunity to celebrate their beloved national team’s comeback to the global stage following a 16-year hiatus.

Supporters of Paraguay throughout the nation have been organizing cookouts and gatherings to view their team’s group matches. Although many were discouraged by the steep costs for Friday’s game versus the U.S., where individual tickets exceeded $1,000, some supporters have purchased seats for upcoming contests.

Santiago Araujo, 32, is one such fan. His family operates one of the rare Paraguayan eateries in America, located in the coastal community of Pacific Grove, California. He and his sibling secured passes to witness the squad face Australia in Santa Clara, California, roughly 80 miles away.

“Every Paraguayan I know wants to go,” said Araujo, who relocated to California with his family at age 11. “It’s not like there’s seasons of any other sports in Paraguay. I used to sleep with a soccer ball as my toy.”

Census data indicates approximately 37,000 Paraguayans reside in the U.S., and they’re enthusiastic about their national team’s much-anticipated comeback to FIFA’s premier competition. This marks Paraguay’s first World Cup qualification since 2010, when the squad achieved its finest showing by advancing to the quarterfinals. The team, currently positioned 40th globally by FIFA, is making its ninth World Cup appearance.

Paraguay joins the U.S. in Group D alongside Turkey and Australia, facing these opponents on June 19 and June 25 respectively in Santa Clara.

Among Paraguay’s experienced players is midfielder Miguel Almirón, who competes for MLS team Atlanta United. The 32-year-old recalls viewing the 2010 World Cup as a youth, dreaming of one day competing on soccer’s grandest platform.

The wait has been extensive.

“It’s going to be something beautiful in that moment, not just for me, but also for my family and for all the Paraguayan fans, and for anyone who’s been with us through all the tough moments,” Almirón said recently, thinking ahead to the first match. “There are going to be a lot of emotions at that moment. We take it on with responsibility, because we know so many people are depending on us.”

Paraguay ranks among South America’s smaller nations by population, housing roughly 7 million residents. The landlocked country borders Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, featuring expansive grasslands, rich terrain and indigenous Guarani heritage. Within the U.S., larger Paraguayan populations exist in New York and the wealthy community of Bernardsville, New Jersey, which Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña toured in 2024.

Supporting their team, Paraguay enthusiasts will wear the squad’s red-and-white uniforms and distinctive cylindrical hats. In Northern California, Cafe Guarani, operated by Araujo’s family, is planning a gathering to unite Paraguayan supporters between matches, featuring authentic cuisine including manioc empanadas and chilled yerba mate. In New York’s Queens area, fans will assemble at I Love Paraguay Restaurant to view the competitions.

Ana Di Sessa, from New Jersey, expressed her desire to attend the California matches but cited the distance as prohibitive.

“It is not only the tickets — you have to pay your hotel, the flights,” she said. “A lot of people are not going to be able to go there.”

Zoraida Pereira, a travel coordinator in Bernardsville, reported selling travel packages to supporters heading to Santa Clara, excluding the opener due to ticket costs. The 43-year-old, born in Paraguay but residing in America for over three decades, finds it difficult to pick sides between the competing nations.

“I am rooting for Paraguay this time around,” she said. “They’ve been out for so long.”

The excitement extends over 5,000 miles away to Paraguay, where the documentary “El Renacer Albirrojo” premiered, chronicling La Albirroja’s multi-year quest to return to the World Cup. The squad departed for America amid celebratory fireworks, and some U.S. community members report friends and relatives traveling from Paraguay to attend matches.

Rodrigo Valdez, a software engineer in San Diego, plans to journey over 450 miles to Santa Clara to watch the team compete. Born in America, the 34-year-old spent his youth in Paraguay and appreciates the recognition the team receives.

He plans to view Friday’s contest with relatives and friends in San Diego. Despite having a 4-month-old infant, his spouse urged him to purchase a ticket to the Australia match as a Father’s Day present.

“It was a unique opportunity for us that we are living in California,” Valdez said. “It will be very meaningful.”

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Festive preparations for the FIFA World Cup have collided with growing social unrest in Mexico as the nation’s capital gets ready to host the tournament’s opening ceremonies.

The soccer championship, which Mexico is co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada, will begin Thursday with inaugural festivities and an opening game in a high-profile event designed to establish the tournament’s atmosphere.

The international competition arrives during a challenging period for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who faces a delicate political balancing act amid strained U.S. relations before July trade talks, political controversies, and safety worries following violent incidents in host city Guadalajara during February.

As visitors pour into Mexico City, tensions have escalated, with government officials facing increasing criticism from demonstrators and citizens who claim authorities have put the tournament ahead of urgent social issues affecting the Latin American country.

“Mexico wants to project an image to the world that doesn’t exactly square with reality,” said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a Mexican political analyst at the Mexican Center for Research and Economic Education. “The World Cup is putting the president in a vulnerable situation … The government is under extreme pressure.”

Bright orange Mexican marigold flowers, FIFA branding, oversized soccer balls, and various sporting decorations adorn streets throughout Mexico’s capital and its two additional host locations, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Enthusiastic soccer supporters wandered Mexico City’s thoroughfares with anticipation, taking pictures near iconic landmarks while wearing their favorite teams’ uniforms.

According to the Mexican Soccer Federation, the athletic event is projected to generate $3 billion in revenue for accommodations, dining establishments, and sporting facilities.

Thursday’s inaugural ceremony and opening game, featuring Mexico against South Africa, are anticipated to attract larger audiences than many other tournament matches, with Colombian music icon Shakira and additional performers set to take the stage.

Should everything proceed smoothly, it would represent a significant achievement for Sheinbaum, Pérez Ricart noted, demonstrating to the global community that Mexico is “modern and capable of organizing high impact events.”

Mexican officials have strengthened security measures for months to address concerns following multiple days of unrest that disrupted World Cup host city Guadalajara in February.

Over 100,000 military personnel, naval forces, National Guard troops, and law enforcement officers are planned for deployment throughout the three tournament cities, though escalating social discord that has intensified over recent weeks presents the biggest challenge, especially in Mexico City.

Mexican opposition voices have argued that the administration has allocated excessive resources and attention to accommodating international guests while neglecting local residents.

The nation’s teachers’ union has spent more than a week blocking roadways and destroying World Cup monuments as part of their yearly campaign for improved employment conditions. Relatives of Mexico’s over 130,000 disappeared individuals have posted notices about their missing family members and stated that officials should concentrate efforts on addressing humanitarian emergencies affecting other regions of Mexico.

“We’re not against the ball game,” said Luis Antonio Rosales Narváez, a protest organizer. But “they should be investing in education … not giving the city a makeover.”

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sheinbaum dismissed the criticism and rejected claims of social disorder preceding the championship.

The political opposition “wants to give the impression that there is chaos, that there are problems, right in the middle of an international event we’ve been preparing for a long time,” Sheinbaum said in her morning press briefing on Tuesday.

Law enforcement has primarily prevented major demonstrations from occupying central squares and stadium surroundings, though uncertainty remains about potential developments when games commence and throughout the following month of competition.

Transportation hubs throughout the Americas filled with supporters who had spent considerable money to support their teams. Panama City’s airport — serving as a primary connection point between North and South America — displayed a colorful array of jerseys from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Germany, and other nations.

“This year we’re defending the title, and we’ll follow Argentina to the ends of the earth,” shouted Emilio Sosa, a 29-year-old from Buenos Aires on his way to Los Angeles.

David Botero, a 43-year-old Colombian, organized his holiday around the World Cup and was heading to Mexico City with his family to attend Colombia’s opening match on June 17 against Uzbekistan after modifying their original plans to avoid elevated costs in Miami.

“What matters is that we’ll get to see our team up close,” Botero said.

Meanwhile, individuals like 66-year-old Dr. Jose Luis Muñoz expressed more doubtful sentiments as he read and smoked near a downtown Mexico City park that previously bustled with street merchants, who were recently relocated by authorities attempting to improve the area’s appearance.

Muñoz recalled that some of his most cherished experiences involved bringing his 8-, 12- and 14-year-old children to matches during Mexico’s 1986 World Cup and cheering for their national team during its successful run.

“I was so excited, and that joy I passed on to my children,” he said.

However, this time around, he cannot afford to attend games where admission costs hundreds of dollars.

“The prices are sky-high. Many people aren’t going to be able to go unless they’re foreigners with a lot of money,” Muñoz said. “It feels very discriminatory.”

Nevertheless, he mentioned he would support Mexico’s national team from his residence alongside his children and grandchildren.

Olympic sports leadership rarely sees a sitting president challenged for re-election after serving only one complete term in office.

Even more unusual is when that official has also gained membership in the International Olympic Committee.

Johan Eliasch confronts a re-election battle Thursday to remain head of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), facing significant resistance from Alpine, Nordic and north American winter sports strongholds.

“Out of 80 voting nations there are about 10 that feel differently,” Eliasch stated to The Associated Press in a recent interview. “The vast majority are on board for what we are trying to achieve.”

The billionaire who developed the Head sportswear brand has been at odds throughout his tenure with traditional ski powerhouses who argue his aggressive leadership threatens FIS’s financial security.

Holding dual citizenship from Sweden and Britain, Eliasch received no backing from either nation’s ski federation for another term. Following FIS regulations, he obtained a passport and nomination from Georgia.

When initially elected in 2021, Eliasch secured endorsements from skiing legends Lindsey Vonn and Aksel Lund Svindal, both longtime Head equipment users.

However, current stars Mikaela Shiffrin and Marco Odermatt have voiced opposition to FIS’s current trajectory.

Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein, stands as Eliasch’s sole challenger on the ballot. Potential candidates from the United States, Britain and Denmark pulled out before the election meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.

“For me, this election is a win-win,” Eliasch shared with the AP. “If I win, I get to carry on with what I’m the most passionate about, which is ski racing. And if I lose, I get my life back.”

The 64-year-old Eliasch admits to implementing changes too quickly: “I don’t have 25 years to devote to this.”

He moved commercial rights for FIS competitions including world championships and World Cup series under internal control, resulting in lawsuits and unhappy member federations.

“We had a lot of cash in the bank, we invested that. Put the money to work,” he explained to the AP, referencing acquisitions of the Freeride World Tour, a travel agency and developing digital content to expand ski sports’ worldwide appeal.

Eliasch maintains FIS accomplished more in five years than the preceding century but believes he could have moved faster. “I haven’t been tough enough. I’ve tried to be too diplomatic in many cases and that has backfired.”

Critics characterize Eliasch as overly controlling, lacking openness and spending excessively.

Senior representatives from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Norway sent a letter to FIS member federations last month outlining their worries.

“Cash reserves have declined substantially, annual operating costs have increased significantly, and revenues have not developed as anticipated,” they stated in correspondence reviewed by the AP.

FIS established a new CEO position last year and appointed Urs Lehmann, a Swiss former downhill world champion who ran against Eliasch in 2021. He resigned last week.

Eliasch’s persistent objective involves narrowing the enormous earnings disparity between skiing and tennis, Head’s primary sports.

“We haven’t seen any significant changes based on much of what was promised, including intentions around prize money,” Shiffrin commented during the FIS presidential campaign. “In fact, in the coming years, it seems that FIS’s contribution to prize money will actually decrease.”

American freestyle skier Alex Hall, a two-time Olympic medalist, shared similar sentiments: “I have been advocating for change over the past five years and can honestly say not much has changed.”

Odermatt, the Swiss standout in men’s Alpine skiing, indicated “there is little choice but to make a change” atop FIS.

“Marco’s comments I don’t think are reflective of the general mood of the athletes,” Eliasch countered.

Ospelt serves on the FIS Council. His campaign platform emphasizes a “realistic and transparent financial plan,” along with improved knowledge sharing for member federations.

“I want to really have the impression that we are a family, taking care of each other, and growing to be more of an international world sport,” Ospelt explained Tuesday during a Zoom interview. “It’s more sexy for the sport if we have medal winners from 80 nations and not a Swiss, Austrian or German championship.”

His goal includes greater athlete participation across all disciplines, noting “if something is not OK, then the athlete should raise their voice. It’s a sign that something has to be changed and I just want to be an alternative for change.”

For revenue generation, he supports more projects like ESPN’s five-episode series “On the Edge: World Cup Ski Racing” that broadcast during the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. The show highlighted Shiffrin, Vonn, Odermatt and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the Norwegian-born racer who captured Brazil’s first Winter Games gold medal.

“To improve the income streams, we have to put the athletes in front,” Ospelt stated. “If they’re only behind the helmet and the goggles, it’s difficult to get to know them.”

Court officials supervising the NFL’s $1 billion concussion settlement have banned five law firms from processing additional claims after discovering they fraudulently directed former players to physicians who would diagnose Parkinson’s disease regardless of whether symptoms were present.

These five firms handled cases for 98 retired players seeking substantial six- and seven-figure settlements for Parkinson’s disease claims in recent years, according to special masters who help manage the settlement. Their findings were documented in a report submitted Monday to U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.

Among these cases, 37 are still waiting for approval and will now be rejected, though players can begin the claims process again. However, 57 cases had already been approved, resulting in payments exceeding $95 million before an audit was triggered by reports of questionable activity. Legal fees from these cases totaled approximately $20 million, and the report suggests additional firms may have participated in similar misconduct.

The document described it as “an organized scheme … in which these law firms — and potentially others — circumvented the Settlement’s anti-fraud safeguards and laundered questionable Parkinson’s Disease diagnoses into payable claims.”

Among the lawyers implicated was Bart Oates, a former three-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers who obtained his law degree during his NFL career. Oates did not respond to The Associated Press’s request for comment left at his law firm.

The NFL established this fund in 2013 as part of a 65-year settlement to resolve class-action lawsuits alleging the league concealed knowledge about neurological dangers following concussions. The program provides retired players with baseline evaluations and compensation reaching $5 million for the most severe conditions connected to football-related head injuries, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and deaths from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

The league has previously raised concerns about physician shopping and other fraudulent activities in fund distribution, while some player representatives have criticized the NFL for creating barriers to payment. In 2019, a judge removed three of four class counsel attorneys after they opposed geographic limitations on doctors authorized to assess retired players for dementia and other brain conditions.

“The NFL remains committed to ensuring that players and their families receive the benefits they deserve, and any misconduct threatens the integrity of the Settlement and the prompt payment of legitimate claims,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy told the AP. “We are pleased with the Special Masters’ Decision, which sends a clear message that fraud in the NFL Concussion Settlement Program will not be tolerated.”

Settlement rules specify that only program-contracted physicians can provide qualifying diagnoses. These doctors must hold board certification, possess neurological expertise, and follow anti-influence guidelines preventing fraud or kickbacks.

According to the report, the law firms bypassed these requirements by recruiting retired players as clients and directing them to unauthorized doctors who diagnosed Parkinson’s and prescribed symptom-suppressing medications.

In one instance, retired players gathered in a Dallas hotel lobby to meet with a traveling physician who had rented a suite specifically for Parkinson’s examinations, the report stated. Another unauthorized doctor used by these firms lacked board certification and movement disorder specialization, and would have been disqualified anyway due to previous bankruptcy, tax liens and civil judgments.

Following diagnosis and prescription from unauthorized physicians, the firms sent clients to approved doctors who faced difficulty determining whether the former player actually had the disease, since the player was already taking symptom-suppressing medication. These approved physicians typically could only rely on previous medical records: the earlier diagnosis and current prescription.

The report named the involved law firms as Douglas Grossinger, Attorney at Law; Feder Law, LLC; Pro Athlete Law Firm, P.A.; Syme Law, PLLC; and Reppert Oates & Vytell, LLC. It indicated the scheme originated with Grossinger, who then enlisted other attorneys to submit claims on his behalf to avoid suspicion from filing numerous Parkinson’s cases.

While Oates didn’t distribute claims to other attorneys, he employed similar diagnostic practices, with sources telling auditors he “cold-called Retired NFL Players, promising a Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease” if players transferred from other law firms to his.

“By structuring their clients’ evaluations in this way, Mr. Grossinger and ROV deliberately put (approved) Physicians in a position where they had little choice but to defer to manufactured outside records,” the report stated.

Grossinger, licensed in New York, refused to provide on-record comments to the AP. Pennsylvania-based Fred Feder responded via text that he would not comment without consulting his attorney. The AP could not immediately verify contact details for Syme Law or Pro Athlete Law Firm.

PITTSBURGH — Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was driving aimlessly through Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs on his rare day off Monday when baseball field lights caught his attention from the roadside.

Before he knew it, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner had pulled into the parking lot and was watching Ingomar Little League teams go through their practice routines.

The 24-year-old athlete attempted to blend in unnoticed, though that’s challenging when you stand 6-foot-6, weigh 260 pounds, and rank among baseball’s most recognizable young talents. Soon, Skenes joined the action wearing sandals, a T-shirt, and shorts — clear evidence this wasn’t a planned visit for the usually polished player.

During the following two hours, he tossed balls with young players, provided autographs, and reconnected with a period when his connection to baseball felt much less complicated.

The spontaneous appearance gained widespread social media attention, as typically happens with Skenes-related content. His girlfriend, former gymnast turned influencer and actress Livvy Dunne, posted about it on TikTok. A well-known Pittsburgh DJ shared similar content on Instagram.

Skenes has come to understand that public attention accompanies his status, even during attempts to stay under the radar.

“Should’ve worn some sunglasses and a fake moustache,” he joked.

Certainly, Skenes recognizes the lasting impression he made on the Ingomar Little League participants, located roughly 20 minutes north of PNC Park. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Garrett Anderson created a similar moment for Skenes during his youth in Southern California.

However, equally significant, with the Pirates experiencing a losing streak that reached four games following Tuesday’s devastating 12-2 defeat to Los Angeles — when the Dodgers scored 10 runs in the seventh inning right after Skenes left the game — the experience reminded Skenes why he chose this profession.

“I went to watch some baseball, but you got to remember it’s just a game,” Skenes said. “There’s a lot of things that make it a business. It’s work. It’s a job for us, for sure, on some days more than others, but you got to remember you love the game and why you started playing it in the first place.”

This perspective becomes especially valuable when that passion feels distant during challenging periods like Skenes currently faces.

Although he held the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers to just two runs across six innings and successfully handled four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in all three encounters, Skenes has gone without a victory in his past five outings as the bullpen collapsed after his departure.

Is Skenes experiencing a downturn? Only when measured against the exceptionally high standards he established during his quick rise among baseball’s elite pitchers. His earned run average since May 17 stands at an ordinary 4.50, more than twice his career ERA before that date.

Performance showed improvement and increased precision against the Dodgers compared to recent outings. He achieved seven strikeouts, with Los Angeles missing on over 15 of his 103 delivered pitches.

Skenes’ fastball generally hit its intended targets at the right moments, and if Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe had successfully fielded a hard grounder that instead bounced off his glove into the outfield with two outs in the sixth, allowing Freddie Freeman to score and even the contest, Skenes might have left with his team ahead.

The outcome proved irrelevant ultimately. The Dodgers’ 10-run seventh inning outburst sealed the result.

Nevertheless, Skenes works to maintain proper perspective. The season extends over many months. Every team encounters difficult stretches. He continues focusing on his preparation and execution.

When questioned about why his fastball — which now typically registers around 97 mph after regularly exceeding 100 during his rookie campaign two years earlier — appeared more effective Tuesday than recently, he responded with a shrug.

“Just a good day, I think,” he said. “Kinda comes and goes as the season goes. Just a good day with that.”

The gentle tosses he delivered to the Little League players lacked that same speed. They may carry equal significance, though, throughout a season that sometimes feels more like an endurance test than a childhood fantasy realized.

“We’ve all played those sandlot fields when we were nine,” he said, later adding, “The game looks different when it’s 200-foot fences and there are no ads out there, no fans out there, just playing for the love of the game.”

English professional golfer Marco Penge announced Tuesday that he will not compete in next week’s U.S. Open championship as he continues battling ongoing health complications involving his nervous system, ears and neck.

The 28-year-old golfer has been struggling with these medical issues for eight months after contracting a viral infection in November 2025. Despite having a promising start to his first season on the PGA Tour, Penge declared last month that he would step away from competitive play to prioritize his health recovery.

His decision to take a break came after the PGA Championship, where he failed to make the cut due to a sinus infection that triggered vertigo symptoms. Although Penge had hoped to compete in next week’s major championship at Shinnecock Hills, he confirmed his withdrawal on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, myself and my team have decided that i am going to have to WD from the @usopengolf championship which Im gutted about,” Penge wrote on X. “My health is the no.1 priority for now and until i get to the bottom of the issues i wont be competing. The plan is to return fully fit.”

“I have had numerous scans and seen several specialists and we are getting close to resolving the issue that I’ve been struggling with for 8 months. I Appreciate the continued support as always and Ill be back soon!” he added.

In a May 12 post on X, Penge revealed he had been battling “ear/neck/nervous system” complications since his November viral infection. After ongoing struggles with sinus problems and vertigo, he received an MRI examination of his brain, head and neck areas.

“Thankfully the images were great and so a few of the doubts I have had have gone away which is a big relief,” he shared in that earlier post.

Following three victories on the DP World Tour during the previous season, Penge has successfully made the cut in seven of his 12 tournament appearances this year, highlighted by a fourth-place tie at the Valspar Championship. His world ranking peaked at 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking but has dropped to 47th position since his competitive hiatus began.

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios celebrated his return to competitive tennis Tuesday after securing his first professional victory in more than a year at the Stuttgart Open in Germany.

The former world number 13 defeated France’s Corentin Moutet with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory in the tournament’s opening round, displaying the grass court skills that once took him to tennis’s biggest stages.

Following his win, the 31-year-old spoke candidly about his lengthy battle with injuries that have derailed his career in recent years.

“I had a wrist reconstruction, I’ve had four knee surgeries, so I’m really battling, but at the same time I’ve put in a lot of work, I’m really feeling good about myself,” he said on court after the match.

Kyrgios also reflected on moments of doubt during his recovery process.

“Honestly, there were so many times I was thinking: ‘Why am I playing? What more do I need to do?’ And I look at you guys and this is why I’m playing, so I’ll hang around a little longer,” he told the crowd.

“I’m pleased with the way I played today, I’m pleased with the way I’m feeling in my body, I’ve been putting in a lot of work so I’m just really happy to be back.”

The Australian’s career has been severely hampered by injuries since his runner-up finish at Wimbledon in 2022. His playing schedule has been drastically reduced, with only one singles match in 2023, no matches throughout 2024, five professional tournaments in 2025, and just one appearance this year prior to Tuesday’s victory at the Tennis Club Weissenhof.

Currently without a ranking, Kyrgios is scheduled to face Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro in Thursday’s second round. A strong performance could position him for consideration when Wimbledon wild cards are distributed next week.

Despite his successful return, the injury-plagued player remained cautious about making future predictions.

“I’m so thrilled to be back, and playing some high-level tennis as well,” he added.

“Confident? I don’t know if that is a word I’m feeling quite yet. Obviously, I will see how I feel tomorrow.”

LAS VEGAS — Carolina captain Jordan Staal opted for a straightforward mindset entering Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with the Hurricanes facing a deficit in the best-of-seven matchup.

However, the veteran’s decisive goal on Tuesday evening was far from straightforward. Though given his performance throughout this series against Vegas, maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

During a 3-3 deadlock in the third period, Staal delivered a diving backhand shot while airborne that sailed past Vegas goaltender Carter Hart with 13:29 remaining on the clock, marking his second goal of the night and securing the winning score in Carolina’s 5-3 triumph.

The series now stands even at 2-2 and shifts back to Carolina for Game 5 this Thursday.

With five goals through the series, Staal achieved a milestone not reached since New York Islanders’ Mike Bossy in 1982 by finding the net in each of the final’s opening four contests.

The captain also matched the franchise’s second-longest postseason scoring streak, trailing only teammate Logan Stankoven, who established the record at five games during this playoff run.

Staal has accumulated 11 points throughout these playoffs, with seven coming from goals.

The Athletics have shuffled their pitching rotation, bringing Joey Estes back from their Las Vegas minor league team while sending Kade Morris down to the Triple-A club.

The 24-year-old Estes posted a 2-6 record with a 5.95 ERA during 12 starts for Las Vegas this season. He recorded 39 strikeouts and issued 38 walks across 59 innings of work.

During the previous season, Estes appeared in three games for the Athletics – two starts early in the year and one relief outing mid-season – compiling an 0-2 record with a 9.82 ERA.

Throughout his major league career spanning parts of three seasons with the Athletics, Estes holds a 7-12 record and 5.51 ERA. He has recorded 105 strikeouts while walking 35 batters in 148 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Morris, a 23-year-old rookie, struggled badly against the Astros on Saturday during his first major league appearance. The young pitcher surrendered nine runs on nine hits over four-plus innings, including three home runs. Morris managed four strikeouts and three walks in the loss as the Athletics were defeated 13-3 in Houston. He has not taken the mound since that outing.

These roster adjustments involving the Las Vegas affiliate occur while the Athletics are currently playing a series against the Milwaukee Brewers at the minor league facility in Sin City. The Athletics are constructing a new stadium in Las Vegas and intend to relocate there from their current temporary base in West Sacramento, California, by 2028.

Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left Tuesday’s matchup against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning after suffering what appeared to be a left leg injury.

The injury occurred as Acuna was running out an infield hit. He pulled up short and limped past first base before heading off the field and into the clubhouse, appearing to hurt himself on his last step before reaching the base.

Atlanta has not yet released any information about his condition. Eli White took over for him in right field and at the top of the batting order.

Acuna, who earned 2018 National League Rookie of the Year honors and claimed the 2023 NL MVP award, was sidelined for 14 games earlier this year with a hamstring injury that also happened while running out an infield grounder. Both his 2021 and 2024 campaigns were cut short by ACL tears.

The five-time All-Star was batting .254 this season with seven home runs and 22 RBIs through 52 games. Throughout his nine-year career with Atlanta spanning 869 games, he has maintained a .287 batting average with 193 home runs and 481 RBIs.

A surprising development has emerged following a court decision that cleared the way for Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to compete next season, even after he had previously wagered on his own team – bettors are now flocking to back the Red Raiders for a national title.

BetMGM had Texas Tech listed at +2000 odds before Monday’s court decision. After the injunction was approved, those numbers improved to +1700, with the sportsbook noting that 35% of all championship betting money during that period went toward the Red Raiders.

While they maintain just the 11th-best championship odds, the concentrated betting activity has influenced the overall national title marketplace.

Ohio State continues to lead as the championship favorite with +600 odds, while Notre Dame sits at +700 and both Indiana and Texas hold +750 odds. At DraftKings, Texas Tech remains at +2000, with Ohio State favored at +650, followed by Notre Dame, Indiana and Texas matching BetMGM’s pricing.

The 22-year-old Sorsby started with +2500 Heisman Trophy odds at BetMGM for next season. Those numbers have also improved to +2000, with 3.6% of all Heisman betting money supporting him.

Leading the Heisman race are quarterbacks Arch Manning from Texas and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, both at +750 odds, with Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss at +900. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin holds the next-best odds at +1100.

Monday’s court ruling continues to create waves throughout collegiate athletics, as several schools are considering boycotts against competing with the Red Raiders in any sport.

The controversy stems from a temporary court order issued Monday in Lubbock County, Texas, by district judge Ken Curry that reinstated Sorsby’s playing eligibility. The ruling also stated the NCAA cannot stop him from “practicing, playing or otherwise participating on Texas Tech’s football team for the 2026 season.”

This comes after the NCAA had declared Sorsby ineligible following findings that he wagered approximately $90,000 on collegiate and professional sports over four years, including bets on his team while at Indiana in 2022. The NCAA rejected his appeal last Friday.

The NCAA has already filed an appeal of Curry’s decision with the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas in Amarillo.

The Cincinnati Bengals have modified their star quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract arrangement, according to a source with knowledge of the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The individual provided information to the AP under the condition of remaining unnamed since the team had not made an official announcement about the move.

ESPN and NFL Network were the first outlets to report on the contract adjustment.

The modification allows Cincinnati to create approximately $10 million in salary cap room by distributing portions of Burrow’s base salary across the remaining three years of his contract (2027 through 2029). The quarterback had signed a five-year extension worth $275 million in 2023.

The team needed additional cap flexibility following their acquisition of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants prior to the NFL draft and subsequently signing him to a one-year extension valued at $28 million.

Cincinnati is working to secure contract extensions for several important players from their 2023 draft class who remain on rookie contracts before training camp begins. This group consists of defensive end Myles Murphy, running back Chase Brown, and defensive backs Jordan Battle, DJ Turner and Dax Hill.

The quarterback, who was selected first overall in the 2023 draft, is entering his seventh NFL season. He guided the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2021 campaign and to the AFC championship game the year after, though Cincinnati has failed to reach the playoffs over the past three seasons.

Burrow appeared in just eight games during the previous season. He sustained a turf toe injury during a Week 2 victory against Jacksonville and remained sidelined until late November. His statistics included 1,809 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes and five interceptions, with three of those interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Despite maintaining a 2-1 series advantage and the benefit of playing at home in the NBA Finals, admission costs for Wednesday evening’s Game 4 have dropped dramatically by 70% after the New York Knicks suffered a defeat in Game 3.

When it appeared the Knicks might secure their first title in more than fifty years, entry-level pricing for Game 4 had climbed to approximately $13,500 and remained at $8,600 as of Monday. By Tuesday afternoon, however, costs had fallen to $4,025 — still exceeding this year’s Super Bowl prices, based on data from ticket tracking service TicketData.com.

After the Spurs’ victory in Game 3, the earliest opportunity for the Knicks to wrap up the championship would now be Game 5 in San Antonio. Entry-level pricing for that possible series-ending contest has also declined by 40% during the last three days.

The sole game experiencing a price increase is a possible Game 7, which would also occur in San Antonio. Entry costs for this potentially decisive matchup have jumped 38%, partly due to expectations that numerous New York supporters would make the trip to San Antonio.

NBA FINALS ENTRY PRICING*

Game 4 — New York: $4,025 (Down 70% past three days)

Game 5 — San Antonio: $1,438 (Down 40%)

Game 6 — New York: $10,282 (Down 8%)

Game 7 — San Antonio: $5,181 (Up 38%)

*Source: TicketData

By comparison, the previous two Super Bowls featured game-day entry prices of $2,002 in 2025 and $3,251 this year. The typical Super Bowl entry cost since the COVID-19 pandemic concluded has averaged $3,914, according to TicketData.

Beyond the World Cup and Stanley Cup Final, the next costliest sporting event scheduled through year’s end is currently UFC 329. The card showcasing Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway presently carries an entry price of $1,369 and is scheduled for July 11 in Las Vegas.

The Knicks began the series as heavy underdogs but became -140 favorites at BetMGM after winning Game 1. Currently leading 2-1 with potentially two additional home games remaining, New York remains the -185 favorite while San Antonio sits at +155.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog made NHL history Tuesday by becoming the first player ever to capture both the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and Mark Messier Leadership Award in a single season – or even during an entire career.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy recognizes the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey” each year. Winners also receive a $2,500 grant to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The Mark Messier Leadership Award, which began in 2006-07, honors the player who “exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”

The 33-year-old Landeskog endured a lengthy absence from hockey, missing three complete seasons from 2022-23 through 2024-25 while recovering from knee problems that necessitated several surgical procedures, including a cartilage transplant. His return to competitive play came 1,032 days after his last game, when he rejoined the team for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

This past season marked Landeskog’s first complete campaign since scoring 30 goals during Colorado’s 2021-22 Stanley Cup championship run. He contributed 14 goals and 21 assists across 60 regular season contests, helping the Avalanche claim the Presidents’ Trophy, before adding six goals and five assists through 13 playoff appearances.

Throughout his dozen NHL seasons, all with Colorado, Landeskog has accumulated 606 points on 262 goals and 344 assists over 798 games. He assumed the captaincy following his rookie year, becoming the league’s youngest captain in history at 19 years and 286 days old.

Speaking to NHL.com about the Mark Messier Leadership Award, Landeskog described it as “a huge honor.”

“Obviously it goes without saying that no leader is going to sit here and take the honor and accept the award on his own,” he said. “It’s because of my teammates that allowed me this opportunity, and even though I’m the one wearing the ‘C’ on my chest, it’s leadership by committee.

“There are plenty of guys in that locker room with ‘A’s on their jerseys or no letters on their jerseys. Guys bring so much to the table. We all lead in different ways.”

The chief executive of LIV Golf says he’s trusting Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to honor its commitment to finance the golf circuit through the 2026 season, despite the fund’s announcement that it would cease backing after this year.

Scott O’Neil, who leads the golf league, spoke with CNBC on Tuesday, weeks following the PIF’s confirmation that it would withdraw financial support from the five-year-old tournament series following the current season.

“I can say they’ve been terrific partners so far, and you have to take an incredible organization like PIF at their word,” O’Neil stated. “They’ve been very public about funding us through the season, so we are full steam ahead.”

During the interview, O’Neil faced questions about recent speculation that LIV’s remaining four tournaments this season might face cancellation as PIF considers ending its financial backing even earlier than planned. The LIV Golf Louisiana tournament, originally set for late June, was delayed shortly after news broke about PIF’s funding decision.

As PIF steps back and its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigns from his role as LIV Golf’s chairman, the tournament series has started courting potential new financial backers, according to reports seeking approximately $250-350 million in funding for what’s being called a “LIV 2.0” strategy.

When directly questioned about whether he could promise the four remaining tournaments in England, New Jersey, Indianapolis and Michigan would proceed as scheduled this summer, O’Neil, a veteran sports industry leader in his second year heading LIV, gave an indirect response.

“What I can guarantee is a heck of a return if you come invest in this business,” O’Neil answered.

O’Neil continued by expressing his belief that LIV possesses “incredible business momentum.”

“What we don’t have is a lot of time, so we’re very urgently out there talking to those who are interested,” he explained.

Following the Louisiana tournament’s postponement, LIV Golf now faces a six-week gap in its summer calendar before resuming with LIV Golf UK scheduled for July 23-26.