Soccer fans were able to apply for tickets to watch specific matches at next year's World Cup for...

Soccer fans were able to apply for tickets to watch specific matches at next year's World Cup for the first time on Thursday as FIFA opened up its latest phase of sales.Following last week's draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published.That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups.Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for.The third phase of ticket sales is called the "Random Selection Draw" and fans will be informed if they have been successful in the latest lottery.<h3>How to apply for tickets</h3>The draw opened Dec. 11 at 11:00 ET (1600 GMT) and closes Jan. 13, 2026.FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success.Fans can apply via FIFA's website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament.Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for.There are four categories, with the best seats in Category 1, and Category 4 seats somewhere around the top of stadiums.Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically.<h3>Prices</h3>FIFA said in September that ticket prices would range initially from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. Those prices are subject to change and in many case likely to soar as FIFA utilizes dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites.For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15% fee based on the total resale price.<h3>A 'monumental betrayal'</h3>FIFA allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to traveling fans.Prices for those tickets began to circulate on Thursday.In a list published by the German soccer federation, prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games.The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.The prices were described as "extortionate" by fan organization Football Supporters Europe."This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is," FSE said in a statement.<h3>Last chance</h3>FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.___James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official match schedule announcement in Washington, DC, on December 6, 2025.

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Latest phase of World Cup tickets on sale: How to apply, prices, controversy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and NASCAR chairman Jim France stood side-by-side on the st...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and NASCAR chairman Jim France stood side-by-side on the steps of a federal courthouse as if they were old friends following a stunning settlement Thursday of a bruising antitrust case in which the Basketball Hall of Famer was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit accusing the top racing series in the United States of being a monopolistic bully.The duo was flanked by three-time Daytona 500 Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, who co-own 23XI Racing with Jordan, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and over a dozen lawyers as they celebrated the end to an eight-day trial that ultimately led NASCAR to cave and grant all its teams the permanent charters they wanted."Like two competitors, obviously we tried to get as much done in each other's favor," Jordan said, towering over the 81-year-old France. "I've said this from Day 1: the only way this sport is going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities. I think we've gotten to that point, unfortunately it took 16 months to get here, but I think level heads have gotten us to this point where we can actually work together and grow this sport. I am very proud about that and I think Jim feels the same."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>France concurred."I do feel the same and we can get back to focusing on what we really love, and that's racing, and we spent a lot of time not really focused on that so much as we needed to be," France said. "I feel like we made a very good decision here together and we have a big opportunity to continue growing the sport."A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used in other sports and in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams a spot in every top-level Cup Series race and a fixed portion of the revenue stream. The system was implemented in 2016 and teams have argued for over two years that the charters needed to be made permanent — they had been revokable by NASCAR — and the revenue sharing had to change.NASCAR, founded and privately owned by the Florida-based France family, never considered making the charters permanent<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-antirust-lawsuit-michael-jordan-0930383d9447f9fc736534a77e0e8418">.</a> Instead, after two-plus years of bitter negotiations<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-antitrust-lawsuit-michael-jordan-aa1b84152e9ade9b23fa369cbcc8758e">,</a> NASCAR in September 2024 presented a "take-it-or leave-it" final offer that gave teams until end of that day to sign the 112-page document.23XI and Front Row refused and sued, while 13 other organizations signed but testimony in court revealed many did so "with a gun to our head" because the threat of losing the charters would have put them out of business.Jordan testified early in the trial that as a new team owner to NASCAR — 23XI launched in 2021 — he felt he had the strength to challenge NASCAR<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-jordan-nascar-45f1ae4e4a7a886a0234dfc73d15d2cc">.</a> Eight days of testimony went badly for NASCAR, which when it began to present its case seemed focused more on mitigating damages than it did on proving it did not violate antitrust laws.Although terms of the settlement were not released — NASCAR was in the process of scheduling a Thursday afternoon call with all teams to discuss the revenue-sharing model moving forward — both Jordan and NASCAR said that charters will now be permanent for all teams. 23XI and Front Row will receive their combined six charters back for 2026.An economist has previously testified that NASCAR owes 23XI and Front Row $364.7 million in damages, and that NASCAR shorted 36 chartered teams $1.06 billion from 2021-24."Today's a good day," Jordan said from the front-row seat he's occupied since the trial began Dec. 1 as he waited for the settlement announcement.U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who had presided over two days of failed settlement talks before the trial began, echoed the sentiment. Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement."I wish we could've done this a few months ago," Bell said in court. "I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans."The settlement came after two days of France testimony and the Wednesday night public release of a letter from Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris calling for NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps to be removed.The discovery process revealed internal NASCAR communications in which Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a "redneck" and other derogatory names; Bass Pro sponsors Childress' teams, as well as some others, and Morris is an ardent NASCAR supporter.Childress gave fiery testimony earlier this week over his reluctance to sign the charter agreement because it was so unfair to the teams, which have been bleeding money and begged NASCAR for concessions. Letters from Hall of Fame team owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Roger Penske were introduced in which they pleaded with France for charters to become permanent; France testified he was not moved by the men he considers good friends.Hendrick and Penske, who were both scheduled to testify Friday, expressed gratitude that a settlement had been reached. Penske called it "tremendous news" and cleared the way to continue growing the series."Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry, and today's resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters – the future of our sport," he said. "This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders. I'm incredibly optimistic about what's ahead."The settlement came abruptly on the ninth day of the trial. Bell opened expecting to hear motions but both sides asked for a private conference in chambers. When they emerged, Bell ordered an hour-long break for the two sides to confer. That turned into two hours, all parties returned to the courtroom and Kessler announced an agreement had been reached."What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential," NASCAR and the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. "This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR's foundation is stronger, its future is brighter and its possibilities are greater."___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 1: Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, departs the Charles R Jonas Federal Building on December 1, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jury selection and an opening statement began an antitrust lawsuit filed by Jordan's 23XI Racing team against NASCAR.

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BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund will need to cool tempers after Nico Schlotterbeck's criticism of...

BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund will need to cool tempers after Nico Schlotterbeck's criticism of his teammates before facing Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.The defender didn't hold back as he blasted substitutes Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi for "losing every ball" after going on, and his other teammates for "playing extremely carelessly" in the disappointing 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Wednesday.The performance reopened old wounds and questions about the team's mentality, something Schlotterbeck alluded to when he said players were playing "a bit of their own game" and lacked the ability to kill the game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Killing the game is a matter of quality. If you don't kill the game and then it comes to a throw-in that you don't clear, making it 2-2, then that's not good enough," Schlotterbeck said.Sporting director Sebastian Kehl and coach Niko Kovac also had harsh words for the team, but Schlotterbeck's criticism has added weight amid questions over his future at the club.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 10: Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and FK Bodo/Glimt at BVB Stadion Dortmund on December 10, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany.

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ZURICH (AP) — Women's World Cup champion Spain widened its points lead atop the FIFA rankings Thu...

ZURICH (AP) — Women's World Cup champion Spain widened its points lead atop the FIFA rankings Thursday over the second-placed United States.Spain retained its UEFA Nations League title since the last rankings update in August, while the U.S. won four of five friendlies played in that time.Spain won the Nations League final last week against Germany, which rose two places to No. 3 in the rankings. European champion England stayed at No. 4 and No. 5 Sweden fell two spots.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Brazil and France swapped places at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively. Japan stayed at No. 8, North Korea went up one to No. 9, taking the place of Canada now at No. 10.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BERN, SWITZERLAND - JULY 18: Players of Spain celebrate after scoring the team's first goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between Spain v Switzerland at Stadion Wankdorf on July 18, 2025 in Bern, Switzerland.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The United States will play Senegal in a friendly on May 31 at Charlotte...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The United States will play Senegal in a friendly on May 31 at Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Americans’ next-to-last game before their World Cup opener.The U.S. has four games remaining before co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. The 14th-ranked Americans play No. 8 Belgium on March 28 and sixth-ranked Portugal three days later, both at Atlanta. After meeting 19th-ranked Senegal, the U.S. faces No. 9 Germany on June 6 at Chicago.This will be the first meeting between the Americans and Senegal. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the Senegal match on Thursday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>At the World Cup, the U.S. opens Group D against No. 39 Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California, faces 26th-ranked Australia seven days later at Seattle and closes the group stage back in Inglewood on June 25 against the winner of playoffs among Turkey (No. 25), Slovakia (45), Romania (47) and Kosovo (80).Senegal starts Group I against No. 3 France on June 16 and 29th-ranked Norway six days later, both in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Lions of Teranga finish the first round on June 26 in Toronto against Bolivia (76), Iraq (58) or Suriname (123).___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO - OCTOBER 14: Weston McKennie #8 and Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States talk during an international friendly game between Australia and the United States at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 14, 2025 in Commerce City, Colorado.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The theme of family ties in motorsports has been woven through Michael Jor...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The theme of family ties in motorsports has been woven through Michael Jordan's federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, with witness after witness testifying to their emotional connections to the top motorsports series in the United States.It began on the opening day when three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin broke down in tears talking about his dying father introducing him to racing and financially leveraging the entire family to help his son make it to NASCAR.Next came Jordan himself, a basketball Hall of Famer who was actually raised going on family "weekend vacations" to NASCAR races across the South with his Richard Petty-loving father. So began a love affair that led him to partner with Hamlin to launch 23XI Racing in 2021.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bob Jenkins formed Front Row Motorsports after falling in love with NASCAR as a teenager in East Tennessee and he's hoped to hand the team down to his four sons.Joe Gibbs Racing is a family business, the daughter-in-law of the Hall of Fame NFL coach testified, and Richard Childress said his 60-year-old team is meant to go to his grandsons, both current Cup Series drivers.And then there is NASCAR itself: Bill France Sr. founded the sport in 1948 and to this day it is privately owned by the Florida-based France family. His youngest son is chairman, his granddaughter vice chair and great-grandson an executive on NASCAR's board of directors. It was core principles that Bill France passed down to his two sons that shaped the hardline stance Jim France took with teams as NASCAR chairman in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement.The teams wanted charters — the equivalent of a franchise in other sports — to become permanent and not renewable. In NASCAR, a charter guarantees cars a spot in the 40-car field each week, as well as specified financial terms, and Jim France never considered permanency an option<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-antirust-lawsuit-michael-jordan-0930383d9447f9fc736534a77e0e8418">.</a>Jim France testified Wednesday, the eighth day of the trial, that he relied on the core principles drilled into his head over dinner growing up in negotiations. His mother, credited with helping her husband build NASCAR from nothing, told her two sons to always pay their bills. Bill France Sr. advised them "do what you say you're going to do.""I've just seen so much change over the years and things are changing at a fast pace and I don't know how to put something in place — I don't know how we could come to an agreement that covers forever," he testified.He later tied it directly to his parents' advice."I don't have a sightline for the future and I don't feel comfortable making a promise I can't keep forever," he testified.That thinking aligned with Tuesday testimony from NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, who gave NASCAR's version of the chaotic Sept. 6, 2024, final agreements presented to teams late that Friday afternoon with an end-of-day deadline to sign the 112-page document or forfeit their charters.Phelps testified the delay in sending the final drafts was because France had promised Roger Penske, owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and teams in multiple racing series including NASCAR, that France would personally speak to Penske before the agreements were delivered. France tried to call Penske several times that day and Phelps testified Penske didn't answer.It wasn't until after the two had finally spoken that the charters were sent to teams, at close to 5 p.m., with a midnight deadline."Jim is a man of his word," Phelps testified.23XI Racing, which is owned by Jordan, Hamlin, and Jordan's financial adviser, Curtis Polk, and Front Row, owned by Jenkins, were the only two teams out of 15 organizations that refused to sign. They sued instead.Multiple team owners have described that day on the opening weekend of the 2024 playoffs as an ultimatum from NASCAR as they found the offers to be "take-it-or-leave-it" and they signed with "a gun to our head." Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress testified Tuesday his team would have gone out of business if he didn't sign the agreement.France had a better showing on the stand Wednesday than he did the day before as plaintiffs attorney Jeffrey Kessler had to repeat many questions and France said on numerous topics that he was either unable to recall, did not remember, or was not sure.It happened again, one time on Wednesday, when Kessler asked France if anyone can take NASCAR away from the family. France referenced back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when NASCAR shut down for nearly two months before leveraging its ownership of racetracks to become the first sport back up and running — albeit without fans in the grandstands."I don't know," he slowly said. "We were in business in 2020 of March and we woke up weren't in business. I don't know how to answer that."NASCAR is expected to conclude its defense Friday.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Kelly Pannek and Abbey Murphy scored two goals each, and the United Stat...

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Kelly Pannek and Abbey Murphy scored two goals each, and the United States bounced back from surrendering a goal in the first minute for a 10-4 win over Canada in the third Rivalry Series game on Wednesday night.Kendall Coyne Schofield had a goal and two assists, and Tessa Janecke, Jesse Compher, Britta Curl-Salemme, Alex Carpenter, and Kirsten Simms also scored for the U.S.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kendall Coyne Schofield scores on the breakaway and USA has their fourth goal of the 1st period.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RivalrySeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/8scU5sVtNJ">pic.twitter.com/8scU5sVtNJ</a>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1998947415207051774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Americans, who have won the first three of the four-game series, scored five unanswered goals after Canada’s Sarah Fillier struck 48 seconds into the game, and another four straight in the third.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Gwyneth Philips made 30 saves for the U.S.Sophie Jaques scored twice, Fillier had a goal and an assist, and Julia Gosling also had a goal for Canada, which gave up 10 goals to the U.S. for the first time ever. The previous high was nine in 2012.After allowing five goals on 17 shots in her first start of the Rivalry Series, Ann-Renée Desbiens was replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer midway through the second period. Maschmeyer turned away seven of 12 shots.The final game of the series, and the last meeting of the archrivals before February’s Olympic Games, is Saturday in Edmonton.Reigning world champion United States won the first two games <a href="https://apnews.com/article/usa-canada-score-a2ded8ec38826790febc622e043fb5ba">4-1 in Cleveland</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/usa-canada-score-womens-hockey-a480b6f6d4ba910000e478ba6dfe6cd0">6-1 in Buffalo, New York</a>, in November.The U.S. took a commanding lead Wednesday on Canada’s porous defense, although a three-goal second period by the hosts, including two in the final two minutes, had Canada within striking distance two goals down heading into the third.Jaques’ second of the game survived a video review for goaltender interference. The subsequent delay of game penalty to the U.S. gave Canada a power play to start the third.Jaques rang the puck off the post, but that was as close as Canada came during the advantage. The U.S. then resumed its goal-scoring pace with four unanswered goals.Canada, the defending Olympic gold medalists, turned the puck over under pressure and left opposing players unchecked below the faceoff circles in its own zone.Canada’s first real sustained pressure around the U.S. net produced a second goal when Jaques fired a loose puck by Philips at 13:01 of the second period.Gosling scored on a rebound for a power-play goal at 18:42.Canada outshot the U.S. 17-10 in the opening period, but the latter was the more tenacious team around both nets.Coyne Schofield and Compher gave the U.S. a 4-1 lead by scoring within 39 seconds of each other in the first period.Canada took a quick lead when Ella Shelton’s pass from the boards deflected off the skate of Fillier driving the net.Previous editions of the Rivalry Series have been five and seven games. February’s Olympic Games and the Professional Women’s Hockey League schedule shortened it this season.___AP women’s hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 10: Britta Curl-Salemme #17 of Team USA celebrates a second-period goal against Team Canada during Game One of the 2025 Rivalry Series at Rogers Place on December 10, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephon Castle scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, and De'Aaron Fox...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephon Castle scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, and De'Aaron Fox added 20 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 132-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night in an NBA Cup quarterfinal.Keldon Johnson had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Spurs maintained a healthy double-digit lead for most of the final three quarters to claim the last Cup semifinal spot in Las Vegas, where they will face <a href="https://apnews.com/article/suns-thunder-nba-cup-score-c7718b5a4e3f8bae04e3ee60702530d6">the Oklahoma City Thunder</a> on Saturday.Luka Doncic scored 35 points and LeBron James had 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who lost for only the third time in 12 games. Los Angeles trimmed its deficit to eight points late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get closer.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Marcus Smart scored a season-high 26 points with eight 3-pointers for the Lakers, and Austin Reaves had 15 points.San Antonio has won nine of 12 overall after steadily controlling this meeting of two Western Conference teams hoping to challenge the defending champion Thunder, both this week and in the postseason.Castle was outstanding in his second game back from a 10-game absence with a hip injury, adding 10 rebounds and six assists. Eight Spurs scored at least eight points, and their bench outscored Los Angeles' reserves 48-31.The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023, and they went unbeaten through group play this fall before running into the Spurs.San Antonio made a 17-2 run and jumped to an 18-point lead in the second quarter, with Castle and Harrison Barnes exploiting Los Angeles' season-long struggles in perimeter shooting defense.Victor Wembanyama missed his 12th straight game with a calf injury, but he traveled with the Spurs.Up nextSpurs: Face Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday.Lakers: At Phoenix on Sunday.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/NBA">https://apnews.com/NBA</a>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal at Crypto.com Arena on December 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Jesse Lingard scored in his final game for FC Seoul on Wednesday, but t...

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Jesse Lingard scored in his final game for FC Seoul on Wednesday, but the former England and Manchester United star had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League Elite.Lingard signed with the South Korean team in Feb. 2024 and confirmed last week that he would not be extending his contract. The 32-year-old opened the scoring at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the 31st minute, finishing well from a Choi Jun cross.Takeshi Kanamori earned a point for the Australian visitor with a fierce shot from the edge of the area in the 74th minute.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It's been a fantastic two years," Lingard, captain for his final game, said. "I want to say 'thank you' to everyone once again."The ex-Nottingham Forest and West Ham United star, who made 32 appearances for England, is now a free agent but would not be drawn on his next move."I need a break after a long season. I will spend Christmas with my family," he said. "The next chapter, who knows, really."After six of the eight group games played, Melbourne City and Seoul are fourth and fifth in the Eastern Zone, the 24-team tournament split into two groups of 12 based on geographic lines. The top eight from each advance into the Round of 16.Elsewhere, Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan defeated Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 to move into third.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 25: Jesse Lingard #10 of FC Seoul with teammates salute the supporters following the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 East Region Group Stage match between Shanghai Port and FC Seoul at Pudong Football Stadium on November 25, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations that target gays and l...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations that target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that is planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.Leaders in the nation's soccer federations publicly rebuked the idea of playing the match June 26 at Seattle Stadium, which local organizers say will include a "once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington."In Egypt, the soccer federation issued a statement late Tuesday saying it sent a letter to FIFA "categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Seattle PrideFest has been organized in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit which designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw Friday.FIFA chose Saturday to allocate the Egypt-Iran game to Seattle instead of Vancouver, where the teams' group rivals Belgium and New Zealand will play at the same time.Already, organizers in Seattle have promoted an art contest for the game, including one entry of a rainbow-flagged sun rising over Mount Rainier as a crab goalie goes for a soccer ball while holding a cup of coffee in its pinchers."With matches on Juneteenth and pride, we get to show the world that in Seattle, everyone is welcome," Seattle's Mayor-elect Kate Wilson wrote on social media. "What an incredible honor!"FIFA controls only stadiums and official fan zones in World Cup host cities and should have no formal authority over community events like Seattle PrideFest.FIFA declined comment Tuesday to the Associated Press, and did not address a question if it would consider switching the Belgium-New Zealand game to Seattle.<h3>Angry response in Iran, Egypt</h3>In Iran, where gays and lesbians can face the death penalty, the president of Iran's Football Federation Mehdi Taj criticized scheduling the match during an interview aired on state television late Monday.Taj said Iran would bring up the issue during a FIFA Council meeting in Qatar next week. The longest-serving member of the 37-person council chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino is Egypt's Hany Abo Rida."Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point," Taj said. State TV on Tuesday confirmed a complaint would be sent to FIFA.The Egypt soccer federation led by Ado Rida said of the pride celebration it "completely rejects such activities, which directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies."It urged FIFA to stop the celebration to "avoid activities that may trigger cultural and religious sensitivity between the presented spectators of both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially as such activities contradict the cultures and religions of the two countries."Iran had threatened to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. over complaints about five of its nine-person delegation, including Taj, not getting visas to enter the United States.Iranians are subject to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump's administration and the U.S. in the past has denied visas for those with ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, like Taj. Iran ended up sending a smaller delegation including the team's coach.Tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program, particularly after American warplanes bombed atomic sites in the country during Israel's 12-day war with the Islamic Republic in June. Unlike the 2022 World Cup, however, Iran is not scheduled to play the United States in the World Cup's opening matches.<h3>Seattle's response</h3>Asked about the complaint Wednesday, Seattle's organizing committee said it was "moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament.""The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation's largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora and rich communities representing all nations we're hosting in Seattle," spokesperson Hana Tadesse said in a statement. "We're committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect and dignity that defines our region."<h3>Iran, Egypt target LGBTQ+ community</h3>For years, Egyptian police have targeted gays and lesbians, sparking warnings even from the app Grindr in the past. Though Egypt technically does not outlaw homosexuality, authorities frequently prosecute members of the LGBTQ+ community on the grounds of "debauchery," or "violating public decency."Iran also has targeted the LGBTQ community and its theocracy is believed to have executed thousands of people for their sexuality since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once famously went as far as to claim during a 2007 visit to the United States: "We don't have homosexuals like in your country." A crowd at Columbia University responded by laughing and heckling the leader.<h3>FIFA dilemma</h3>FIFA risks being accused of a double standard if it sides with World Cup teams' federations over the city of Seattle.At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA fiercely defended the right of the host nation's cultural norms to be respected in full by visiting teams.A group of European federations wanted their team captains to wear a "One Love" armband with some rainbow colors that symbolized human rights and diversity, which FIFA and Qatari officials viewed in part as criticism of the emirate criminalizing same-sex relations. Some Wales fans had rainbow hats removed before entering the stadium.Qatar also will play in Seattle at the World Cup, on June 24 against a European opponent which could be Italy or Wales.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 11: A general view before the game between Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake at Lumen Field on October 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR Chairman Jim France had a stronger second day of testimony Wednesda...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR Chairman Jim France had a stronger second day of testimony Wednesday as the final witness called by Michael Jordan's side in the federal antitrust lawsuit against the racing series, explaining advice from his late parents helped shape his stance against granting teams permanent charters in the new revenue-sharing model.NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates opened the eighth day of the trial by asking the soft-spoken France how old he is — 81 — and if he wears hearing aides — he does — as he walked France through a background that included working for the family business in various roles since high school and following a stint serving in Vietnam.NASCAR, the largest motorsports series in the United States, was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. and remains privately owned by the Florida-based France family to this day. Jim France said he was raised by two core principles passed down from his parents.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>His mother, credited with helping her husband build NASCAR from nothing, told her two sons to always pay their bills. Bill France Sr. advised them "do what you say you're going to do."It was those two principles that created France's refusal to budge on permanent charters in the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement."I've just seen so much change over the years and things are changing at a fast pace and I don't know how to put something in place — I don't know how we could come to an agreement that covers forever," he testified.He later tied it directly to his parents' advice."I don't have a sightline for the future and I don't feel comfortable making a promise I can't keep forever," he testified.That thinking aligns with Tuesday testimony from NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, who gave NASCAR's version of the chaotic Sept. 6, 2024, final agreements presented to teams late that Friday afternoon with an end-of-day deadline to sign the 112-page document or forfeit their charters.Phelps testified the delay in sending the final drafts was because France had promised Roger Penske, owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and teams in multiple racing series including NASCAR, that France would personally speak to Penske before the agreements were delivered. France tried to call Penske several times that day and Phelps testified Penske didn't answer.It wasn't until after the two had finally spoken that the charters were sent to teams, at close to 5 p.m. with a midnight deadline."Jim is a man of his word," Phelps testified.23XI Racing, which is owned by basketball Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Jordan's financial adviser, Curtis Polk, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, were the only two teams out of 15 organizations that refused to sign. They sued instead.Multiple team owners have described that day on the opening weekend of the 2024 playoffs as an ultimatum from NASCAR as they found the offers to be a :take-it-or-leave-it" offer that they signed with "a gun to their head." Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress testified Tuesday his team would have gone out of business if he didn't sign the agreement.France was much stronger on the stand Wednesday than he was the day before as plaintiffs attorney Jeffrey Kessler had to repeat many questions and France said on numerous topics that he was either unable to recall, did not remember or was not sure — even in response to evidence introduced that the France Family Trust received $400 million in distributions from 2021 through 2024 and that NASCAR is valued at $5 billion.He wasn't sure of the title his niece, Lesa France Kennedy, holds with NASCAR, or the ownership percentages between the two. Evidence showed Jim France owns 54% of NASCAR, while France Kennedy, the vice chair, owns 36%. France also testified he believes he is paid in "the $3.5-million range" as chairman.While the extension offer presented in September 2024 did increase annual revenue promised to the teams, it fell short of the team's request for $720 million — a sum Phelps testified would have put NASCAR out of business.It also fell short of the four "pillars" the teams were demanding. Teams ended up receiving $431 million annually in increased revenue, but were not granted permanent charters, did not get a voice in governance or the terms they sought on new business streams.France testified Wednesday he did believe the teams received several of their asks.He was the final witness called as the plaintiffs rested and NASCAR began to present its defense.Evidence has so far been introduced that shows the top team owners in NASCAR all wrote personal letters pleading for France to make the renewable charters permanent. The plaintiffs also introduced several documents detailing communication between NASCAR executives that showed France was stubbornly opposed to permanent charters throughout the two-plus years of bitter negotiations.France's position never changed, even though he received pleas from Hall of Fame team owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Penske. All four are close personal friends, France said on the stand.Yates is hopeful to wrap his defense by Friday.The nine-person jury will have to decide if NASCAR violated antitrust laws, and if so, what the damages are to 23XI and Front Row. An economist has previously testified that NASCAR owes 23XI and Front Row $364.7 million in damages, and that NASCAR shorted 36 chartered teams $1.06 billion from 2021-24.Should NASCAR lose the case, it will be up to U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell to unravel the monopoly, and he can make any decisions he chooses. Among them are forcing the France family to sell NASCAR, the racetracks they own, and even dismantling or changing the charter system.A win for 23XI and Front Row does not guarantee the teams will receive a combined six charters from NASCAR. They have both said they will go out of business if they are not chartered teams.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 1: Jim France (C), NASCAR chairman and CEO, departs the Charles R Jonas Federal Building on December 1, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jury selection and an opening statement began an antitrust lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing team against NASCAR.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and two-time All-Star reliever Gregory Soto have agreed ...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and two-time All-Star reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a $7.75-million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.Soto gives the Pirates an experienced left-handed option in a bullpen that will get a makeover in 2026 after relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta were designated for assignment last month.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 30-year-old Soto is 15-34 with a 4.26 ERA and 56 saves over seven seasons with five teams. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 for Detroit. He spent 2025 with Baltimore and the New York Mets, who acquired him in late July just before the trade deadline.Soto struggled in New York, going 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 25 appearances. His departure is the second significant subtraction from the Mets bullpen in free agency after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier Tuesday.Pittsburgh appears to be settled at the back end of the bullpen, where Dennis Santana performed well after two-time All-Star David Bednar was traded to the New York Yankees last season. Soto gives the Pirates a pitcher who has filled a variety of roles, including closer.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/MLB</a>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Gregory Soto #65 of the New York Mets walks off the field during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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A’ja Wilson stood atop the WNBA again in 2025, winning an unprecedented fourth MVP as her Las Veg...

A’ja Wilson stood atop the WNBA again in 2025, winning an unprecedented <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-mvp-wilson-aces-9dbf1eb3125c59797f4fd57737684b01">fourth MVP</a> as her Las Vegas Aces earned a third championship in four seasons.For that, she earned The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year on Wednesday for the first time in her career. It’s the second consecutive year a basketball player won the award after Caitlin Clark was honored <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-female-athlete-of-year-clark-7e5aa066120ee2b1f85b6ab1098b7a8d">in 2024</a>.“It’s an honor when you think about the group of women who have won before,” Wilson said in a phone interview. “Just to have my name be a part of it, I’m blessed.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Wilson is only the fifth basketball player to be honored as the Female Athlete of the Year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995), Candace Parker (2008, 2021) and Clark.A group of 47 sports journalists from the AP and its members voted. Wilson received 17 votes, tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was second with nine and Paige Bueckers was third with five.“The things she’s done on the court have never been done. To me, she’s in a category all her own,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Wilson. “People always ask who’s on your Mount Rushmore? I’m saying she’s on Everest — there’s nobody up there with her.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shohei-ohtani-ap-male-athlete-of-year-b337a5fa88b75daa3349174022c91cf1">Shohei Ohtani</a> won the AP Male Athlete of the Year on Tuesday for the fourth time.Hammon has been impressed with everything about Wilson in her four years coaching in Las Vegas.“Her relatability, her being down to earth makes her a great superstar,” Hammon said. “Her skill set is unmatched, but she’s also the easiest player to coach. To have that mixture of humility, grace and skill, there’s a reason why she’s doing things that have never been done.”This season was different for Wilson and the Aces, who had cruised to their previous two titles as a heavy favorite. This year, with a month to go, the Aces were sitting at .500 and were in danger of missing the playoffs after coming off a record 53-point loss against Minnesota.Wilson rallied her team to wins in the final 16 regular-season games to secure the No. 2 seed, and Las Vegas went on to win the championship.“This season I found myself through the adversity and mud we went through,” she said.Despite her numbers being on par with her unanimous MVP season the year before, Wilson heard the chatter that she wasn’t playing as well and that she wasn’t the front-runner to repeat as the league’s top player.The 29-year-old used that as fuel on the court. She led the league with 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game.“The way they talk about us, the way they talk about me, I’m ready for that, I’m ready for the noise,” Wilson said. “It’s always going to be something. If we sit here and try to please everybody, we’re going to go insane. I’m just going to continue to prove why I’m one of the greatest and why my team is part of a dynamic dynasty.”Wilson raised her game even further in the playoffs, helping the Aces survive decisive winner-take-all games in the quarterfinals and semifinals. She then helped Las Vegas sweep Phoenix in the WNBA Finals, hitting the winning shot in Game 3.“It’s fair to say the expectations for her are so sky high now, she’ll be compared to a degree to the unanimous MVP she was the year before,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Even though she wasn’t unanimous MVP this year, the journey she had this season was different and she was playing the best basketball of her career in the playoffs.”“Every year, you wonder how she’ll get better, and she always does.”Wilson became the first player in either the WNBA or NBA to win the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP and lead the league in scoring in the same season.Wilson broke a tie with Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson, who all won the WNBA MVP three times. She plans to have another relaxing offseason as she won’t play overseas or in Unrivaled, the domestic 3-on-3 league.She’s already crossed one thing off her bucket list, meeting her idol Beyonce at the Formula 1 race in Las Vegas last month.“It was super cool, Beyonce is someone that I’ve always wanted to meet because I just admired her work,” Wilson said.The Aces great is that way herself for so many. She launched a shoe and clothing line with Nike. Her shoe sold out minutes after it went on sale.“It’s amazing, something that I think about every day when I look around and see people just wearing my shoe. Every day it’s a gentle reminder that you know it’s a special moment that we’re living in and I’m so grateful when I look back on it.”___AP WNBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball</a>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 17: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces lifts the 2025 WNBA championship trophy as she rides on top of a bus during the team's WNBA championship victory parade and rally at Toshiba Plaza on October 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated Phoenix Mercury on October 10 in Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals to win the 2025 title. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Solo Ball scored 19 points and No. 5 UConn earned its fourth victory over a ranke...

NEW YORK (AP) — Solo Ball scored 19 points and No. 5 UConn earned its fourth victory over a ranked opponent already this season, beating No. 18 Florida 77-73 on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic.Alex Karaban added 13 points and Tarris Reed Jr. had 12 points and five rebounds in his return from a lingering ankle injury that caused him to miss the previous two games. Malachi Smith handed out nine assists as the Huskies (9-1) shot 50%, including 59.3% in the first half while building a seven-point halftime lead.Ball went 6 of 14 from the field and drained a trio of 3-pointers in a matchup of power programs that have combined to win the past three NCAA titles.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Xaivian Lee led the defending champion Gators (5-4) with 19 points but shot 5 of 14 and missed six of seven 3-point tries. Thomas Haugh added 18 and Alex Condon finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.Florida shot 42.4% in a rematch of last season’s second-round <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-uconn-florida-score-70af59c604ee59ab59dc035713d6f596">NCAA Tournament game</a> that ended UConn’s hopes for a third consecutive national championship.The Huskies won their fifth straight game since a 71-67 home loss Nov. 19 to then-No. 4 Arizona, now the top-ranked team in the country. UConn also has wins over Top 25 opponents BYU, Illinois and Kansas.The Huskies won for the 11th time in their past 13 games at Madison Square Garden.The Gators held a 55-54 lead after a difficult layup by Haugh with 8:02 left, but Connecticut took the lead for good on the next possession on a jumper by Braylon Mullins. Karaban followed with a 3 after blocking Lee’s layup attempt.Ball made a 3 and then a layup by Smith opened a 66-58 lead with 4:31 remaining.Still, the Gators had a chance to tie it after Boogie Fland’s layup with 13 seconds to go and a turnover by UConn on the inbounds play. Florida was called for a five-second violation, however, and Ball hit a free throw to seal it.Up nextFlorida: Hosts George Washington on Saturday.UConn: Hosts Texas on Friday in Hartford.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 09: Solo Ball #1 of the UConn Huskies crives ahead of Xaivian Lee #1 of the Florida Gators in the first half at Madison Square Garden on December 09, 2025 in New York City.

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TORONTO (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 35 points, Josh Hart added 21 and the New York Knicks advance...

TORONTO (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 35 points, Josh Hart added 21 and the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals for the first time in three tries by beating the struggling Toronto Raptors 117-101 on Tuesday night.Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who will face Orlando in the semifinal round at Las Vegas on Saturday.The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-magic-bane-nba-cup-quarterfinals-f830fe40d7b34b9d8f3ee4028486cc41">Magic reached the semifinals by beating Miami earlier Tuesday.</a><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Towns returned after sitting out Sunday’s home win over Orlando because of tightness in his left calf.Mikal Bridges scored 15 points for New York and OG Anunoby had 13 against his former team.The only team to reach the quarterfinals in all three years of the event, the Knicks had lost their previous two appearances by a combined 32 points.New York is 11-4 all-time in NBA Cup play.Brunson’s 26 points in the opening half were his most in any half this season.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JALEN BRUNSON WAS COOKIN' IN TORONTO! 35 PTS 6-9 3PM 13-19 FGM The Knicks will play the Magic in the <a href="https://twitter.com/emirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emirates</a> NBA Cup Semifinals on Saturday 👀 <a href="https://t.co/wjmEXwzZiw">pic.twitter.com/wjmEXwzZiw</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1998613156466450440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Brandon Ingram scored 31 points and Jamal Shead had a career-high 18 but the short-handed Raptors lost their fourth straight, all at home.Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 13 points for the Raptors, and Jakob Poeltl added 10.Toronto went unbeaten in group stage play with all four wins coming during a stretch that saw the Raptors go 13-1. They’re 1-6 since.Ingram had 17 in the first quarter but the entire Raptors team couldn’t combine to match that total in the second. Toronto missed 13 of its first 15 shot attempts and finished 5 for 21 in a disastrous frame that saw the Raptors outscored 34-13.New York led 69-52 at the half.Neither of Toronto’s former Knicks was available Tuesday. Immanuel Quickley sat because of an illness while RJ Barrett missed his ninth straight game because of a sprained right knee.Up nextKnicks: Play Orlando in the semifinal at Las Vegas on Saturday.Raptors: At Miami on Monday.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup Quarterfinals on November 26, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Beckett Sennecke scored a short-handed goal with 1 second remaining to force ov...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Beckett Sennecke scored a short-handed goal with 1 second remaining to force overtime, Leo Carlsson scored in the shootout, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Tuesday night for their fifth win in seven games.The 19-year-old Sennecke eluded three defenders, and his shot <a href="https://x.com/NHL/status/1998582518732271791">deflected off the glove</a> of Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson and into the net. A replay review confirmed the shot beat the buzzer.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BUZZER BEATER! 🤯 WE ARE GOING TO OVERTIME IN PITTSBURGH THANKS TO BECKETT SENNECKE! <a href="https://t.co/wwI1oV9aKa">pic.twitter.com/wwI1oV9aKa</a>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1998582518732271791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Ville Husso made 45 saves, including seven in overtime, and stopped all three shots in the shootout.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry also scored for the Ducks. Noel Acciari, Tommy Novak, and Anthony Mantha scored for the Penguins, and Arturs Silovs stopped 25 shots as Pittsburgh suffered its second consecutive shootout loss.Mantha <a href="https://x.com/penguins/status/1998580708076331409">put the Penguins ahead 3-2</a> on the power play with 3:55 remaining. Sidney Crosby won a faceoff and assisted on Mantha’s goal for his 1,717th career point, moving him within five of Mario Lemieux’s franchise record.Novak <a href="https://x.com/SNPittsburgh/status/1998569185895411962">poked in a rebound</a> of his own shot with 19 seconds left in the second period to tie it at 2-all, extending his goal streak to four games.LaCombe <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/1998566108530377132">scored from a nearly impossible angle</a> in the second period to make it 1-all. He was nearly parallel with the goal line when he flicked the puck between Silovs’ head and the near post.Terry put the Ducks ahead 2-1 later in the second when he secured a bouncing puck and slammed it past Silovs.Sennecke assisted on LaCombe’s goal. The rookie has 26 points in 30 games, becoming the fastest teenager in Ducks history to reach 25 points. Mason McTavish took 40 games to reach the mark in 2022-23.Up nextDucks: At the New York Islanders on Thursday night.Penguins: Host Montreal on Thursday night.___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sports">https://apnews.com/hub/sports</a>

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 09: Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) scores the game tying goal in the final second of play against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks on December 9, 2025, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Toronto's recruiting pitch excited Dylan Cease as much as his own tosses.  "...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Toronto's recruiting pitch excited Dylan Cease as much as his own tosses."You could tell they built a really impressive culture," Cease said during a news conference Tuesday, a week after finalizing a $210 million, seven-year contract. "As they were explaining sort of what they do to get the best out of players or how they prepare, and even the little things like travel and whatnot, you can just tell that it's a buttoned-up organization. They want to win, and it was obvious."After coming within two outs of their first World Series title since 1993, the Blue Jays added the right-hander to a rotation projected to include Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and José Berríos.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"They've proven that they have championship-caliber players and obviously a good process. That was probably the number one thing," Cease said. "And then from there, it was also how would they help me maximize and develop and basically reach my potential more often? That was important to me. That was probably the second-biggest consideration."Toronto won the AL East this year for the first time since 2015. Mark Shapiro left the Cleveland Indians to succeed Paul Beeston as team president after that season and brought along Ross Atkins as general manager."Over time as we went through some down years in the time that Mark and I were there, we poured into the resources that help players improve," Atkins said. "As that started to bubble up into wins, we then poured more money into resources around free agency and investing in players more long-term in a significant way." Toronto headed off free agency for slugging first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. when it agreed in April to a $500 million, 14-year contract that starts next year.Cease's agent, Scott Boras, had dealt with Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers last offseason when Toronto tried to sign Juan Soto."They listened to what players wanted in amenities, what players wanted in technology to help them improve, what players needed and wanted in the routines medically," Boras said. "And the staffing for that was provided. The facilities are certainly in the player community held as best in class."Cease had Gausman's telephone number and spoke with the pitcher."As I asked around, no one had any negatives to say about it," Cease said. "The consensus has been you're going to love the city, you're going to love the organization."Cease, who turns 30 on Dec. 28, is 65-58 with a 3.88 ERA and 1,231 strikeouts in 188 starts over seven big-league seasons. He went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts this year for San Diego, striking out 215 and walking 71 in 168 innings. His 29.8% strikeout rate was third-highest among qualified pitchers, behind Detroit’s Tarik Skubal (32.2%) and Boston's Garrett Crochet (31.3%)."He by no means needs to get better, but because of that athleticism and durability, the potential is there for him to continue on an incredible trajectory," Atkins said.Cease's contract includes $64 million in deferred payments due through 2046. He isn't worried about the value of the money decreasing over the two decades."I think inflation is just a reality. In general it's going to happen," he said. "I trust Scott, I trust the business side of it. When he says, 'Hey, this is a good, fair deal' and explains why and is objective about it, it makes sense. I think it's a fair deal, and I'm really not worried about it. If I can't make that last, we've got problems."

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the San Diego Padres walks to the dugout after being taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on August 21, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Desmond Bane matched his season high with 37 points and the Orlando Magic ad...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Desmond Bane matched his season high with 37 points and the Orlando Magic advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals with a 117-108 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.Jalen Suggs scored 20 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Magic, who will play New York or Toronto on Saturday in the semifinal round at Las Vegas.Norman Powell led Miami with 21 points. Tyler Herro added 20 and Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins each had 19 for the Heat, who have lost three times in Orlando this season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bane hit two 3-pointers and scored on a three-point play in the first 2:06 of the fourth quarter, stretching the Magic’s six-point lead to 13. The Heat never got the margin under nine until the final minute.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DESMOND BANE DID HIS THING FOR ORLANDO: 37 PTS (15 in 4Q) 6 REB 5 AST 6 3PM The Magic will play the winner of NYK/TOR in the <a href="https://twitter.com/emirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emirates</a> NBA Cup Semifinals on Saturday 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/FC569HWryF">pic.twitter.com/FC569HWryF</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1998572149674750109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Magic played for the first time this season without Franz Wagner, who is expected to be out several weeks with a high ankle sprain.The Heat made their first six shots and led 15-0 when Herro drove for a layup less than three minutes into the game. But Miami went cold and finished the game 8 for 33 (24.2%) from 3-point range. Herro missed all six of his 3-point attempts, including an open shot that could have cut the margin to four with 37 seconds left.Bane made 6 of 9 3-pointers and the Magic shot 15 for 32 (46.9%).Up nextHeat: Play the New York-Toronto loser in a regular-season game.Magic: Play the New York-Toronto winner on Saturday at Las Vegas.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 9: Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat during the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals on December 9, 2025 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Bane helps Magic knock out Heat, advance to NBA Cup semis

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Mike Trout, the cornerstone of Team USA's 2023 World Baseball Classic run, i...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Mike Trout, the cornerstone of Team USA's 2023 World Baseball Classic run, is still under consideration as the roster for the 2026 tournament takes shape.Manager Mark DeRosa said Tuesday that Trout is "in the mix" for one of the final spots, assuming he's healthy and comfortable with his role."We're talking to him, we're talking to a couple other players, and trying to figure out what Mike wants to do," DeRosa said at the MLB winter meetings.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The two-time American League MVP remains in a complicated place for Team USA, which is scheduled to play its first game of the tournament March 6 against Brazil in Houston.A bruised left knee sent him to the injured list in May. It's the same knee that required meniscus surgery in 2024, and the lingering issues kept him mostly at designated hitter last season. He still hit 26 home runs in 130 games, but his .232/.359/.439 slash line and elevated strikeout rate fueled questions about his health and availability for next year's WBC.Trout, who captained Team USA in 2023, has to weigh the spring tournament against being fully ready for the Angels next season. And DeRosa has to weigh carrying a full-time DH on a short, high-leverage roster."He's got to be ready for '26 with the Angels," DeRosa said. "He didn't play much defensively, if at all, so it's a give and take — what he wants to do, what he feels comfortable with." Team USA announced four more position players on Tuesday: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, infielders Gunnar Henderson and Brice Turang, and catcher Will Smith. They join captain Aaron Judge, outfielders Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and catcher Cal Raleigh.On the mound, National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes leads the U.S. group, along with left-hander Matthew Boyd and reliever Garrett Whitlock.General manager Mike Hill said the focus now shifts heavily to pitching."We were respectful of everyone's season and making sure they got through healthy," Hill said. "Now that we're into the offseason and gearing up for the tournament, we'll amp up our pitching process. We'll be spending the next few weeks finalizing the roster and trying to build the deepest staff we can."Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal remains high on the wish list."We want our best to participate," Hill said. "He is obviously the two time reigning Cy Young Award winner, so there's no question about his ability with all of our pitching. You know, we’re trying."DeRosa said the goal isn't simply gathering stars for this team, bur rather building a roster that fits: defense, speed, versatility, balance. A crushing loss to Japan in the 2023 WBC final, in which Shohei Ohtani struck out his then-Angels teammate Trout to end the game, has fueled their process and purpose building the team.If Trout signs on and stays healthy, DeRosa said his name alone could shift the clubhouse dynamic. For now, though, the call remains open.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Mike Trout #27 of Team USA prepares to bat against Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan in the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic Championship at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

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Trout remains in mix for USA in WBC, but questions linger

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Having watched the play thousands of times, Toronto manager John Schneider d...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Having watched the play thousands of times, Toronto manager John Schneider doesn't want Isiah Kiner-Falefa to be criticized for getting thrown out at the plate in the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series — falling an inch short of scoring a championship-winning run."I feel so bad for Izzy for getting all the blame," Schneider said Tuesday at the winter meetings. "So could we have done a better job of getting Izzy another step or two down? Yeah, for sure."After Miguel Rojas hit a tying homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top half, Bo Bichette singled with one out in the bottom half off Blake Snell and Kiner-Falefa entered as a pinch runner. Addison Barger walked, and Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, loading the bases.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kiner-Falefa took an unusual 7.8-foot lead at the behest of third base coach Carlos Febles, the fourth-shortest primary lead by a runner off third during the World Series, according to MLB Statcast. Kiner-Falefa's 8.9-foot secondary lead when the pitcher released the ball was the eighth-shortest during the Series.With the Dodgers playing the infield in, Daulton Varsho hit a 76.9-mph two-hopper to Rojas. The second baseman gloved the ball, stumbled a bit and regained his balance, then threw to catcher Will Smith, who lifted his right foot off the plate as he caught the ball and then pushed his spike back down.Plate umpire Jordan Baker signaled out, deciding Smith touched the plate just ahead of the left foot of the sliding Kiner-Falefa."I've seen that video 3,000 times, and in 1,500 of them it looks like Will's off the plate. In the other half, it looks like he's on," Schneider said.Baker's call was upheld about 70 seconds later after a video review."There's been video of Carlos kind of telling him where to go," Schneider said, 5 1/2 weeks after the Dodgers' 5-4, 11-inning win closed out their second straight title. "What's not talked about I think enough is the fact that Will Smith likes to back-pick to third with left-handed hitters up. It's something we talked about before the Series, something that Carlos reminded Izzy of."So it's not runner at third going on contact, selling out, if it's a line drive, you're OK with it," Schneider said. "It's bases loaded. A, you don't want to get back-picked. B, you don't want to get doubled up on a line drive. People have said, yeah, what are the odds that Varsh is going to line out to third? Fairly low, right? That's just where he doesn't hit the ball."He didn't fault IFK's slide."I don't really think that he could have done much more," the manager explained. "People have said could he have run through the run through the plate? Could he have slid headfirst? ... In my head, with the way Varsh hit it, I thought one of three things was going to happen. I thought it was going to be fielded and Rojas falls backwards. Game over. Fielded, falls, throws a worm-burner to the mound. Game over. Or field, throw, throw wide of Will Smith. Game over."Ernie Clement followed with a 100.7-mph drive that center fielder Andy Pages snagged with a leaping backhand grab on the warning track as he knocked over left fielder Kiké Hernández."Every time I kind of go down a rabbit hole, I find myself in a new rabbit hole," Schneider said. "I haven't watched everything. On a regular-season game, game over, next day or that night, boom, you're checking tape, you're running back — I haven't done that yet and I don't know when I will. It'll probably involve a beer or two when the kids are asleep and I can throw some stuff against the wall. But, we'll see. I'm starting to appreciate it from a fan's standpoint."Schneider joked about finishing second to Cleveland's Stephen Vogt for AL Manager of the Year — voting takes place before the postseason."It's such a weird award," he said. "I was kind of looking back at previous winners. These guys all got fired soon after there."

Baseball: World Series: Toronto Blue Jays Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) in action, slides into home plate vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre. Game 7. Toronto, Canada 11/1/2025CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco

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Schneider: 'I feel so bad' IKF's been blamed for World Series loss

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