FIFA is putting more World Cup tickets on sale after angering some fans by adding new, more expen...

FIFA is putting more World Cup tickets on sale after angering some fans by adding new, more expensive categories.Soccer’s governing body announced Tuesday it will make more tickets available at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday for all 104 games in Categories 1, 2 and 3 plus the new “front category” pricing it added this month.The new category sparked online complaints from fans who said they thought the better seats in the categories they had bought tickets for were withheld and they were assigned less favorable locations.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>FIFA in December put tickets on sale at prices ranging from $140 for Category 3 in the first round to $8,680 for the final, then raised prices to as much as $10,990 when sales reopened on April 1.FIFA did not respond to an April 9 request for comment about the new ticket categories it added.Also Tuesday, The Athletic reported that tickets sales are lagging for the U.S. opener against Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California. It said a document distributed to local organizers dated April 10 said 40,934 tickets had been purchased for the U.S.-Paraguay game and 50,661 for the Iran-New Zealand contest on April 15. FIFA projects SoFi’s World Cup capacity at about 69,650, noting it may change.FIFA’s December sale priced U.S.-Paraguay tickets at $1,120, $1,940 and $2,735, and Iran-New Zealand seats at $140, $380 and $450.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 15: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at the Semafor World Economy 2026 summit on April 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. The summit brings together business leaders and tech CEOs for discussions on economy, artificial intelligence and business trends.

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — After a few months in which it was heard only sporadically at local tournament...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — After a few months in which it was heard only sporadically at local tournaments across Mexico, a homophobic chant has resurfaced strongly in recent weeks in what could be a prelude to what will happen at the 2026 World Cup.The slur has been an unwelcome feature at matches involving Mexico and its fervent fans for two decades, though it is not limited to El Tri. It has drawn widespread condemnation and sanctions, and punishments by FIFA could very well be levied during the World Cup, which would be an embarrassment to co-host Mexico.FIFA has partnered with the Fare Network to send observers to all World Cup games to listen for discrimination in chants and banners across all countries and cultures.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Soccer’s governing bodies have struggled for decades to eliminate racial abuse despite heavy fines, stadium closures, points deductions, halted matches and bans for both fans and players who break the rules. European and Latin American nations have been repeatedly fined and Mexico currently has appeals against FIFA punishment over a 2024 match against the U.S. pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, usually occurs when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick. It went viral in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was heard again in Russia during the 2018 World Cup and four years later in Qatar.<h3>Stopping chant has proven hard for Mexico</h3>Initially, Mexican soccer federation officials argued that the chant wasn’t aimed at gay people and that the word had different connotations in Mexican culture, but prior to the 2018 World Cup launched social media campaigns that did not succeed.In Russia, the chant was heard during a match against Germany and Mexico was penalized by FIFA: For the first time in its history, El Tri played World Cup qualifying matches behind closed doors at Azteca stadium in Mexico City.Despite the punishments, Mexico fans yelled the slur again at Qatar 2022 during matches against Poland and Saudi Arabia.“Sustained efforts have been made for years to eradicate this type of expression, with awareness campaigns and measures in stadiums, and while there has been progress, we are aware that isolated incidents still persist,” Mexican Federation President Ivar Sisniega told The Associated Press.The federation and the Liga MX, Mexico’s top league, have simply asked fans before matches not to do it. Sisniega said the federation recently launched an advertising campaign called “We Are Mexico,” which seeks to highlight the best of Mexican fans.Andoni Bello, an LGBTQ+ activist who played for Mexico in amateur soccer tournaments organized by the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, said the chant is a form of verbal aggression that can escalate into physical aggression. According to a government survey, in Mexico some 5 million people (5.1% of the population) self-identified as having an LGBTQ+ sexual and gender orientation.“This permissiveness that nothing happens and that it’s cultural means that hate crimes also remain cultural,” Bello added.<h3>Chant resurfaces just months before World Cup</h3>Mexico will play two of its World Cup group-stage matches in Mexico City and another in Guadalajara, where the chant is believed to have started more than 20 years ago.Although the chant was still occasionally heard in some Liga MX matches, it had rarely appeared in Mexican national team games — it was noted in an October 2023 friendly against the U.S. — but was heard loudly at the Azteca stadium last month during a friendly against Portugal and again earlier this month at the same venue in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match between Club America and Nashville SC. Referees for both matches suspended them twice each.It also was heard during intercontinental playoffs in Guadalajara and Monterrey, games in which no Mexican team was involved: Iraq vs. Bolivia, when it was aimed at South American goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra, and Congo vs. Jamaica, where several videos showed Mexican fans teaching African fans how to do it.“We understand that it often arises as a manifestation of frustration or annoyance from the fan, but that doesn’t make it acceptable, and we must continue working to change that behavior,” Sisniega said.In the CONCACAF games, the chant appeared when it became clear that Cruz Azul and América would be eliminated in their quarterfinal series. The correlation between the chant and the performance of Mexican teams suggests it could appear at the World Cup, where expectations are high for the co-host nation.“The chant appears when there is a problem; people still don’t understand that it can lead to sanctions, but I think it will be different at the World Cup. The tickets were more expensive this time, and I think people will go to have fun more than to question a result,” said Gabriel Galván, a fan who has attended every match of the Mexican national team since 2009.At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Mexico was eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1978. Mexico won the regional titles of the CONCACAF Nations League and the Gold Cup in 2025 but closed the year on a six-match winless streak. So far in 2026, the team is undefeated in five matches and recently had draws against Portugal and Belgium.“We remain focused on the team performing well on the field, convinced that a positive connection with the fans also contributes to creating the atmosphere we all want in our stadiums,” Sisniega said.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.

Demonstrators hold Palestine flags as Mexican fans arrive before the inauguration of Banorte Stadium (formerly known as Azteca), for a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal, in Mexico City on March 28, 2026.

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STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — It’s free beer and ice cream all round for German soccer fans as a forw...

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — It’s free beer and ice cream all round for German soccer fans as a forward on the Bosnian team heads to the World Cup.Stuttgart forward Ermedin Demirović promised drinks for the whole city if he made it to the World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina.After Demirović and his national team stunned Italy to qualify, he’s now organizing the drinks — and ice cream for kids — as a thank-you to the fans who’ve supported him at club level.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Taking part in the World Cup with the Bosnian national team means a vast amount to me and this summer a huge dream will be fulfilled,” Demirović wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “Ahead of the playoff games I signaled there’d be drinks for the VfB (Stuttgart) fans if I really would be there at the World Cup. Now I want to keep that promise.”Demirović said he’ll be handing out the beer personally for an hour next week at a spring festival in the city. He’s also arranging for an ice cream truck for children at a Stuttgart training session and making a donation to the club’s charitable foundation.Demirović said last month he doesn’t drink alcohol himself because it “goes against my lifestyle,” in comments reported by German broadcaster SWR last month. “But I don’t want to be a party pooper for those who do like to drink it.”Born in Germany of Bosnian heritage, Demirović has scored 12 goals in 32 games for Stuttgart this season. His team, which was only at the World Cup once before in 2014, has a favorable draw in Group B against Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - MARCH 31: Ermedin Demirovic of Bosnia celebrates at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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LONDON (AP) — Heavyweight title contender Lawrence Okolie failed a drugs test ahead of his fight ...

LONDON (AP) — Heavyweight title contender Lawrence Okolie failed a drugs test ahead of his fight scheduled Saturday against former Olympic champion Tony Yoka.The bout’s promoter Queensberry announced the positive test Tuesday without giving further details about the case, or the show in Paris.Okolie wrote in a social media post: “I will of course be fully cooperating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 33-year-old British boxer faces a ban of up to four years unless he can prove he was not to blame for the positive doping test.Okolie is a former world champion at cruiserweight who moved up to heavyweight. He is the No. 1-ranked contender by the WBC whose belt is held by Oleksandr Usyk.“I truly hope sense prevails,” Okolie wrote Tuesday. “Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp. I had a treatment on it and now we are here.”Queensberry said Okolie was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) ahead of the Paris show.Okolie’s intended opponent Yoka took the super-heavyweight gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.Yoka served a one-year ban imposed by the French anti-doping agency in 2018 for failing to give a doping sample three times in a one-year period.___AP sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/sports">https://apnews.com/sports</a>

Lawrence Okolie during their WBC silver heavyweight bout at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday July 19, 2025.

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One of the biggest soccer fans in global politics, Viktor Orbán, has been sidelined from his big ...

One of the biggest soccer fans in global politics, Viktor Orbán, has been sidelined from his big game.The right-wing populist leader and Trump ally’s heavy defeat in the Hungarian elections means incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar will be the one in charge when the Champions League final comes to Budapest next month.That’s a political shift in Europe and raises questions about Orbán’s ambitions for Hungary to stage world sports’ biggest events like top soccer finals, major track championships and a potential Olympic bid.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Under Orbán, a former soccer player and regular in the VIP boxes at World Cup and Champions League finals, Hungary boasts costly new stadiums including Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, which will host the biggest game in European club soccer on May 30.“That was supposed to be the icing on the cake for Orbán and his regime. He’s been working very hard to get that final to Budapest and to Hungary,” said Győző Molnár, professor of sociology of sport and exercise at the University of Worcester.If Magyar attends the Champions League final, that will “signal a firm regime change,” Molnár said.Now there will likely be changes, and sports organizations will need to forge ties with a new government.Magyar has denied opponents’ claims he’ll cut funding for sports. Still, his Tisza party’s election platform signaled a shift in emphasis. It criticized the use of public money to build “overpriced” stadiums and run prestige projects while “school and local sports activities have withered away.”European soccer body UEFA didn’t comment when asked if it would invite both Orban and Magyar to the game. It told the AP planning for the game “continues as scheduled”.<h3>Champions League final the highlight</h3>Orbán once played soccer in Hungary’s lower leagues. The team from his home village of Felcsut has grown alongside his political ambitions in recent decades and is now a regular in European competitions, with a state-of-the-art stadium to match.Besides his beloved soccer, Hungary has lined up track and field’s Ultimate Championships for September with the sport’s richest-ever prize fund, and the world swimming championships next year for the third time in a decade. It’s soccer’s go-to neutral host in political crisis and a home from home for the Israeli team. The capital, Budapest, has a bid for the 2036 Olympics in the works.Orbán frequently fought with the European Union over its criticism of his authoritarian style and his opposition to much EU support for neighboring Ukraine. Molnár says Orbán portrayed sports bodies’ willingness to hold events in Hungary as a form of support.“These aren’t just sporting events for him. They were Orbán’s answer to, for instance, EU criticisms” and let him to respond that “UEFA still trusts us with the biggest match,” Molnár said.Not all his projects worked out, though. Despite tax breaks which led Orbán allies to plow money into Hungary’s soccer clubs, they’re still not that competitive internationally. The national team last qualified for a World Cup in 1986, a far cry from the teams of “Mighty Magyars” who were runners-up in 1938 and 1954.<h3>Uncertainty to come</h3>There’s been no sign that Hungary will cancel any events which are already scheduled for the coming months and years, but priorities could change.Magyar has said his government would end what he called the politicization of sports under Orbán. “Politics has become entrenched in the sports associations and the soccer clubs to a degree that we didn’t even see during socialism,” he said in September.The cost of living could take up more of the new government’s time, too. In a tough global economic climate, even Saudi Arabia’s vast global sports portfolio is facing scrutiny.The mayor of the capital, Budapest, is a liberal who opposed Orbán but isn’t a natural ally of Magyar, either. After an Orbán-backed bid for the 2024 Olympics was withdrawn — Paris got the Games — Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony is set to explore another bid next year. The International Olympic Committee told the AP it wouldn’t comment on “political developments” or the bid.World Athletics is working with the city government ahead of its Ultimate Championships in September. “We continue to work closely with our Hungarian counterparts towards the successful delivery” of the event, World Athletics told the AP.Budapest is a power base in the Olympic movement, too. The governing bodies for swimming, canoeing and judo have all started or completed moves to Hungary from Switzerland. The biggest is World Aquatics, which is due to move in 2028.Its package included legal immunity for some acts, “tax benefits” and a headquarters site “free of charge for 15 years,” foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said at the time.“World Aquatics has always maintained a strong, positive relationship with Hungary,” it told the AP. “We have no doubt that this relationship will continue to thrive under the new leadership of Péter Magyar, whom we congratulate on his recent victory as Prime Minister of Hungary.”___Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, and Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Dublin , Ireland - 6 September 2025; Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

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Karren Brady, the most powerful female executive in English soccer, has stepped down from her pos...

Karren Brady, the most powerful female executive in English soccer, has stepped down from her position as vice-chair at West Ham to focus on other business interests and her role in the House of Lords.The 57-year-old Brady previously worked as a director at Birmingham City, starting in the early 1990s, as part of a long association with the club’s then-owner, David Sullivan.They then worked together at West Ham, where Sullivan is the majority owner and Brady has been vice-chair since 2010. She was instrumental in securing the club’s move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 and is regarded as influential in the world of Premier League shareholders that is largely dominated by men.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Brady has been a member of the House of Lords since 2014, when she was given the title of baroness, and also works on popular TV series The Apprentice.In a statement, West Ham said she would be focusing in those roles as well as “mentoring and leadership initiatives” as part of her broader business interests.“While this chapter closes, my passion for football and commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders remains undiminished,” said Brady, who is married to former Canada soccer player Paul Peschisolido.“I wish West Ham United every success for the future and look forward to following their continued achievements with pride.”West Ham joint-chair Daniel Křetínský described Brady as “very highly appreciated in the Premier League leadership community and was an excellent representative of our club there.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Burnley at London Stadium on November 8, 2025 in London, England.

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NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Atlanta Hawks rallied to stun the New York K...

NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Atlanta Hawks rallied to stun the New York Knicks 107-106 on Monday night, tying their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.McCollum led a late surge that was almost for naught when he missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining. The Knicks rushed the ball up the court without any timeouts left, but Mikal Bridges missed a jumper as time expired.“It’s a long game,” McCollum said. “You’ve got to play to zero.” <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Hawks had trailed the whole second half and were down 12 after three quarters. Atlanta chipped away and a basket by McCollum gave the Hawks a 101-100 lead - their first of the series in the second half - with 2:09 to play. He made another for a three-point lead, and after Jalen Brunson tied it with a 3-pointer, McCollum answered with another jumper to make it 105-103 with 33 seconds to play.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CJ STARRED IN GAME 2! 32 PTS 6 AST 2 STL 3 3PM HAWKS TIE THE SERIES 1-1 🍿 <a href="https://t.co/GLEPzkZqOd">pic.twitter.com/GLEPzkZqOd</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2046432205082169522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench and Jalen Johnson scored 17, including a basket with 10 seconds left for a four-point lead for the No. 6 seeds, who host Game 3 on Thursday.Brunson had 29 points for the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18.The Knicks are trying to reach the second round for a fourth straight season, their longest stretch since the 1991-92 to 1999-2000 seasons, and seemed well on their way.“This is a game we should have won,” New York's Josh Hart said. “In the playoffs you can’t give away games.”The Knicks had been 40-1 in the postseason since the advent of the shot clock in 1954-55 when leading by 12 or more after three quarters. The only loss was when Reggie Miller scored 25 points in the fourth for Indiana in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals.Towns, who had four points in the first half, scored 14 in the third quarter as the Knicks extended the lead to 78-64. They were still ahead by eight with under five minutes remaining.But their young players who sparked the Hawks' surge after the All-Star break finally made some plays before McCollum - ignoring profane jeers after he and Jose Alvarado went nose-to-nose and were each given technical fouls in the third quarter - then closed it out.McCollum was acquired from Washington in the January trade for Trae Young, the Hawks star who was a former playoff villain at Madison Square Garden. He filled the role perfectly Monday, outplaying Brunson in the second half and stealing a game that looked lost.Hart had 15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dan Vladar stopped 27 shots, rookie Porter Martone scored for the second straig...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dan Vladar stopped 27 shots, rookie Porter Martone scored for the second straight game, and the Philadelphia Flyers shut out Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series.The 19-year-old Martone became the sixth-youngest player in NHL history to score in each of his first two playoff games when he beat Stuart Skinner deep into the second period to put Philadelphia in front. Garnet Hathaway added a short-handed goal a few minutes later, and Luke Glendening chipped in an empty-netter late in the third.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Marty Supreme. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IgniteTheOrange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IgniteTheOrange</a> <a href="https://t.co/DgDSpcYjyb">pic.twitter.com/DgDSpcYjyb</a>— x - Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/2046387695446790366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Vladar made it stand up as the red-hot Flyers, who needed a scorching finishing stretch just to reach the playoffs, frustrated the suddenly offensively challenged Penguins all night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He’s been like that all year for us,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said of Vladar. “Guys enjoy playing for him.”Game 3 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.Pittsburgh, the NHL’s third-highest scoring team during a resurgent regular season, again struggled to get pucks on net against Vladar. The Penguins, who had just 17 shots in a Game 1 loss on Saturday night, vowed to come out with more jump.While Pittsburgh controlled long swaths of the game after another slow start, including sustained pressure in the third, it could not find a way to slip the puck past Vladar.“(We) should be frustrated, we just lost two games at home,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “But with frustration it’s how are you going to respond. ... Nobody is happy. Nobody should be.”The 28-year-old Vladar, who had never won a playoff game in his six-year career before this series, held firm as the Flyers moved to within two wins of advancing in the postseason outside of the 2020 COVID-19 bubble for the first time since toppling the Penguins in the opening round in 2012.Pittsburgh shuffled its top two lines midway through the game looking for a jolt. While it created more opportunities, it did not result in more goals. The Penguins went 0 for 5 on the power play to fall to 0 for 7 with the man advantage during the series.Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the Penguins, including a couple of breakaways that could have broken things open, but it wasn’t against the young Flyers, who seem to be gaining confidence with each passing game.Martone, who was playing collegiately at Michigan State last month, scored his fifth goal in 10 games as a pro when a rebound off a Travis Konecny shot came right to his stick. Martone powered it into the open net to put Philadelphia in front with 6:21 to go in the second.“I made this jump because I believed I could help this hockey team,” Martone said. “I hopped on a moving train and it’s been good ever since.”The Flyers were on the penalty kill just over four minutes later when they doubled their lead. Owen Tippett fought off a pair of Penguins to keep the puck in the Pittsburgh zone and then fed Hathaway, who deposited it into the open net on a night the only place Philadelphia dominated was the scoreboard.“Sometimes in the playoffs you have to win those ugly games,” Tocchet said. “It was an ugly game for us. ... Sometimes you’ve got to win games like that.”___AP NHL playoffs: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a>

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 20: Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers protects the net against Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 20, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, James Harden added 28 and the Cleveland Caval...

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, James Harden added 28 and the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 115-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.Evan Mobley had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had at least three players score at least 25 points in a postseason game for the second straight season and fourth time overall.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A TRIO OF CAVS SHINED IN THEIR GAME 2 VICTORY 👏 Mitchell: 30 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 4 3PM Harden: 28 PTS, 5 REB, 5 STL, 3 3PM Mobley: 25 PTS, 8 REB Cavs take a 2-0 series lead in Round 1! <a href="https://t.co/fQnlCM3cE2">pic.twitter.com/fQnlCM3cE2</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2046409626095075687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>“They threw the kitchen sink at us, gave us a lot of different looks and (we) kept our poise,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Donovan and James closed it for us, but I thought our defense kind of forced them to go small. This is what the playoffs are about. They came at us hard and we responded.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Cleveland - which never trailed - has won 12 straight playoff games against Toronto, tying the NBA postseason record for consecutive wins against an opponent. The streak began in the 2016 Eastern Conference finals, when the Cavaliers took the final two games. Cleveland swept Toronto in four games in the second round in 2017 and '18.The Cavaliers also have 12-game winning streaks against Detroit and Atlanta, while the Los Angeles Lakers had a 12-game run against Seattle from 1980 through '89.Scottie Barnes led Toronto with a playoff career-high 26 points. RJ Barrett had 22 points and nine rebounds.The Raptors had 16 fast-break points after being held to a season-low three on Saturday. But Toronto committed a season-high 22 turnovers that led to 22 Cavaliers points.“The only time the game got away was when we made a lot of turnovers. We played super hard, we adjusted to how the game was going, and did certain things that helped us,” Barnes said.The series shifts to Toronto for Game 3 on Thursday night.Harden had four assists to move into seventh place on the playoff career list with 1,139. He also had five steals, the fourth time he’s had at least that many in a playoff game.A driving layup by Barnes got Toronto within 99-90 midway through the fourth quarter. Mitchell responded with seven straight points to put it away.The Cavaliers had a 73-57 advantage midway through the third quarter before the Raptors countered with a 16-6 run.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE

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LECCE, Italy (AP) — English winger Jack Harrison scored his first Serie A goal for Fiorentina tho...

LECCE, Italy (AP) — English winger Jack Harrison scored his first Serie A goal for Fiorentina though a late equalizer from Tiago Gabriel gave Lecce a 1-1 draw and a vital point on Monday in its bid to avoid relegation.With half an hour on the clock, the on-loan forward from Leeds curled a superb left-foot shot into the far corner. It was his first goal in 18 appearances and looked like giving Fiorentina a third consecutive league triumph.Lecce had not scored for 357 minutes coming into the home fixture and its bad luck looked set to continue when Walid Cheddira and Lassana Coulibaly both had goal-bound attempts hacked clear by the Fiorentina defense.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>However, Tiago Gabriel’s glancing header from an Antonino Gallo corner after 71 minutes ensured a share of the points.Avoiding a fifth consecutive defeat, third-to-last Lecce climbed to 28 points, the same as the team above it, Cremonese. The bottom three go down.Fiorentina was eight points above them in 15th. The draw was Fiorentina’s sixth straight league match without defeat.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LECCE, ITALY - APRIL 20: Lassana Coulibaly of US Lecce competes for the ball with Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy.

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BOSTON (AP) — John Korir outran the strongest field in Boston Marathon history and still had enou...

BOSTON (AP) — John Korir outran the strongest field in Boston Marathon history and still had enough energy left to bounce around Boylston Street after learning he had blistered the course record, too.The defending champion rode a tailwind Monday to the fastest finish in the race's 130-year history, winning in 2 hours, 1 minute, 52 seconds. That was 70 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai's then-world best in 2011, and the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.Korir said he knew he was on a record pace at the 40-kilometer mark, but he didn't bother to check the clock as he crossed the finish line. He was informed of his accomplishment by Boston Athletic Association president Jack Fleming, and jumped for joy.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"When they told me I had run the course record, that's when I started to be happy," said the 29-year-old Kenyan, who last year joined his brother to become the first relatives to win the race. "I knew I would defend my title. But I didn't know I could run that fast."Sharon Lokedi joined Korir as a back-to-back champion, winning the women's race in 2:18:51 — a year after she shattered the course record by more than 2 1/2 minutes. The winners receive $150,000 and a gilded olive wreath sent from the plains of Marathon, Greece; Korir will receive another $50,000 for the course record.Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, who was 55 seconds back, and 2021 champion Benson Kipruto, another three seconds behind him, also were fast enough to beat the previous record on the hilly course that typically rewards racing strategy more than footspeed.Kelvin Kiptum holds the marathon world record, with a 2:00:35 on the flatter Chicago course in 2023."Boston is not (usually) about time," Kipruto said. "Today, it was about time."Zouhair Talbi and Jess McClain ran the fastest times ever in Boston for Americans — leading the seven U.S. men and 12 U.S. women who finished in the top 20.Talbi, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics for Morocco and became a U.S. citizen last year, was fifth in 2:03:45; McClain, who crossed in 2:20:49, also finished fifth."I think we're in an era in distance running, on the men and women’s sides, but especially the women’s side, where we’re all making each other so much better every time we line up with one another,” McClain said. “And I think it’s just going to get stronger and stronger.”Korir recovered after falling at the start last year to claim the title won by his brother Wesley in 2012.This year, he broke away from the pack as it headed into the Newton hills and opened a 40-second lead. Korir peeked behind him as he went through Kenmore Square with a mile to go, sticking out his tongue and spreading his arms as he ran down Boylston Street.Lokedi moved toward the front of the pack around Mile 17 and charged up Heartbreak Hill to pull ahead. On a day that started in the 30s but warmed to 45 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) by the start, Lokedi pulled off her gloves as she went through Coolidge Corner in Brookline and smiled her way down Boylston Street.“I didn’t know how fast I was going. I just wanted to run as fast as I could,” said Lokedi, who realized on the bus to the start that she forgot her watch and had to borrow one. “I just wanted to get to the finish line as fast as possible.”Loice Chemnung was second, 44 seconds back — a performance that would have been a course record before Lokedi’s 2:17:22 last year. Mary Ngugi-Cooper was third, completing the Kenyan sweep of the women’s podium.Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his ninth wheelchair title in 1:16:06, a time second only to his 2024 course record. He is one shy of the all-category record of South African wheelchair athlete Ernst van Dyk’s 10 Boston Marathon wins.Two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk of Champaign, Illinois, was second behind Hug for the fourth straight time.In the women’s wheelchair race, Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Britain won her second Boston title, finishing in 1:30:51 to beat runner-up Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland by more than two minutes.The athletes arrived in Hopkinton with frost on the ground and temperatures in the 30s. Although it warmed up through the day, it was the coldest starting temperature since 2018, when 38 degree temperatures combined with a headwind and driving rain that led to the slowest winning times in more than 40 years.But the clear skies and a tailwind on Monday had the fastest field in the event’s history expecting fast times for the second year in a row.“Obviously the tailwind played into a lot of the approach,” McClain said. ”You don’t get these conditions every year, so if you’re going to go full send and ‘Carpe Diem,’ this is the year to do it. And that was kind of the mindset.”Runners may have noticed some changes this year, with the race turning to a crowd scientist for help in spreading things out a little so they don’t face bottlenecks on the narrow streets of the eight cities and towns along the course. And at the start is a new statue of and by marathon pioneer Bobbi Gibb — the first statue on the course honoring a woman.Jack Fultz, who was serving as grand marshal on the 50th anniversary of his “Run for the Hoses,” said the weather was the “polar opposite” from the day of his 1976 win in temperatures approaching 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius).“I am just trying to soak it all in, to remember it all,” he said in Hopkinton on Monday before the race. “There are almost are no words to fully describe the kind of experience. You have a dream of a lifetime and all of a sudden it comes true.”

Kenyan long-distance runner John Korir poses with the trophy after finishing in first place in the men's division during the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

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MADRID (AP) — Tennis players Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were named sportsman and sportswo...

MADRID (AP) — Tennis players Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the Laureus awards on Monday while Paris Saint-Germain was the team of the year.Alcaraz won the French and U.S. Opens last year plus the Australian Open in January. Sabalenka, the top-ranked woman, won her second consecutive U.S. Open last year.PSG broke through with its first Champions League title in 2025.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Rory McIlroy, who successfully defended the Masters title this month, received the comeback of the year award.Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal, aged 18, won the young sportsperson of the year prize.Formula One champion Lando Norris received the world breakthrough of the year award.German soccer great Toni Kroos won the world sporting inspiration award, and retired gymnast Nadia Comaneci got the lifetime achievement prize.The world action sportsperson award went to American snowboarder Chloe Kim.Brazilian Gabriel Araújo was the world sportsperson of the year with a disability.The awards ceremony in the Spanish capital was hosted by tennis great Novak Djokovic and freestyle skier Eileen Gu.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 20: Aryna Sabalenka attends the photo call after been awarded as Sportswoman of the Year at the 2026 Laureus World Sport Awards at Palacio De Cibeles on April 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

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MADRID (AP) — Defending two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz has put his participation at the French ...

MADRID (AP) — Defending two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz has put his participation at the French Open in doubt because of a right wrist injury.Medical tests in the next few days will determine whether Alcaraz will be able to play in the Grand Slam tournament in a month, he said on Monday.“We’ll see,” he said when asked whether he'll play. The Spaniard was at the Laureus Awards in Madrid with his right wrist immobilized. He pulled out of the Madrid Open last week.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“The next (medical) test will be crucial,” the seven-time Grand Slam champion told Spanish television channel TVE.“We’ve been trying to do everything we can do to make sure that this test goes well. I’m trying to be very patient. But we are good, we are just waiting a little bit. We have a few tests in the next few days and then we will see how the injury is, and what the next steps will be.”No. 2-ranked Alcaraz withdrew in Barcelona a day after he had his wrist treated during his opening match, a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Otto Virtanen.The next tournament after Madrid is the Italian Open, which he won last year.“For now, I’ve been trying to stay positive, to stay upbeat, even though these days have become a bit too long," said the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who was awarded Laureus' world sportsman of the year on Monday.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 14: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Otto Virtanen of Finland during the round of 32 match during the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell Day 4 at the Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona on April 14, 2026 in Barcelona Spain

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Real Madrid has at least earned one trophy this season and become a ...

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Real Madrid has at least earned one trophy this season and become a European champion again on Monday.Madrid won the UEFA Youth League final — effectively the Champions League for under-19 teams — by beating Club Brugge in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on a sun-splashed evening in Switzerland.Madrid goalkeeper Javier Navarro was key to a 4-2 shootout win, saving from Brugge’s Naim Amengai and Tian Koren.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Spanish power’s second title in the 12-year history of the UEFA youth competition came five days after elimination in the Champions League quarterfinals, where Madrid fielded no homegrown academy players in the starting lineup against Bayern Munich.Club president Florentino Perez was present on Monday at the stadium of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. Two months ago, Madrid and UEFA settled a years-long dispute over the failed breakaway Super League project driven by Perez.Ceferin presented the players’ medals and put his right arm around the shoulders of his fellow Slovenian Koren to console the tearful 16-year-old.Madrid defender Diego Aguado scored the decisive spot kick beyond the dive of Brugge goalkeeper Argus Vanden Driessche. The teams went directly to a shootout without playing extra time.It was the second shootout win for Madrid in three days, after Navarro’s saves helped the team beat Paris Saint-Germain on Friday in the semifinals, which also finished 1-1 on Lausanne’s artificial turf.On Monday, Madrid dominated the early play and influential winger Daniel Yáñez came close to scoring three times.The lead came in the 23rd minute when center forward Jacobo Ortega scored from a deft flick with his right heel in the goalmouth. The Brugge defense was in nervous turmoil and Madrid twice had chances in the next 90 seconds to double the lead.Brugge leveled in the 64th when Tian Koren’s surging run and low cross across the goal was met by Tobias Lund Jensen.Madrid joined Chelsea with two UEFA Youth League titles. Barcelona has three, including last year.Barcelona has a clear lead over Madrid in Spain’s La Liga, and Real Sociedad won the Copa del Rey on Saturday, leaving Madrid’s star-studded first team trophyless for a second straight season.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 20: Players of Real Madrid pose for a photo with the UEFA Youth League trophy following victory in the UEFA Youth League Final match between Club Brugge KV and Real Madrid C.F. at Stade de la Tuiliere on April 20, 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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The first step toward a possible reunion between Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants is com...

The first step toward a possible reunion between Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants is complete after the wide receiver returned for a workout and physical at the facility of the team that drafted him 12 years ago.Beckham worked out with the Giants on Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the workout and subsequent physical had not been made public.The New York Post and NFL Network were first to report Beckham working out for the Giants.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Beckham, now 33, did not play in the NFL last year, when he served a six-game suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. He suited up for nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, making nine catches for 55 yards.Drafted 12th by the Giants in 2014, Beckham spent his first five professional seasons with them before getting traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019. The top draft pick New York received for Beckham was used on defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who was traded over the weekend to the Cincinnati Bengals.Beckham's return would provide some much needed depth, given the uncertainty around No. 1 wideout Malik Nabers, who may not be ready for the season opener after tearing the ACL in his right knee on Sept. 28. The Giants also signed free agents Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney and Ryan Miller and brought back Isaiah Hodgins after losing slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson to Tennessee following his 1,000-yard season.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants warms up before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested over the weekend in Athens on two misd...

Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested over the weekend in Athens on two misdemeanor obstruction charges.According to the Athens-Clarke County jail log, Branch was released Sunday on a combined $39 bail on the charges of obstructing public sidewalks/streets and the obstruction of a law enforcement officer.The arrest, coming only four days before the NFL draft, was poor timing for Branch, who has been projected to be selected on the second day of the draft.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Athens-Clarke County Police released a statement to The Associated Press that provided details of the incident. It says police were summoned at about 12:20 a.m. because a large crowd had gathered outside an Athens bar.“The crowd was blocking the entrance, and individuals were attempting to enter the establishment despite it not being open for entry at that time,” according to the police statement.“Officers issued multiple lawful commands directing the crowd to clear the sidewalk. Zachariah Branch was specifically given verbal commands to disperse but refused to comply. As a result, Mr. Branch was placed under arrest and charged with obstruction. He was also cited for obstructing a public sidewalk.”Branch’s representatives with Excel Sports did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment.On Saturday, Branch attended Georgia’s G-Day spring football game at Sanford Stadium.Branch boosted his draft stock by running the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.He led Georgia with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in 2025 following his transfer from Southern California. Branch’s brother, safety Zion Branch, also transferred to Georgia from USC.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Zachariah Branch of the Georgia Bulldogs participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman will retire at the end of August, the conferen...

NEW YORK (AP) — Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman will retire at the end of August, the conference announced Monday.Ackerman, 66, has served in that role since 2013, presiding over the rebirth of the conference following the decision a year earlier for the Big East to split. Ackerman led the negotiations that resulted in the return of UConn in 2020 from the American Athletic Conference.“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said in a statement. “I want to thank our Presidents for entrusting me with this one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity and for supporting the investments needed to maintain the Big East’s stature and meet our schools’ high competitive and academic standards.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Big East men’s basketball teams won four national championships during her tenure, with two by Villanova and two by UConn — more than any other Division I conference in that span. The UConn women’s team won its 12th national title in 2025.“Speaking on behalf of all the BIG EAST Presidents, we announce Commissioner Val Ackerman’s retirement with a tinge of sadness and deep gratitude,” said St. John’s president, the Rev. Brian J. Shanley, who is the chair of the conference’s Board of Directors. “When we re-founded the BIG EAST in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best. We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman.”She presided in the relocation of the conference headquarters to New York in 2014, and the Big East moved to the famed Empire State Building last year. Ackerman also ensured that the Big East men’s basketball tournament will remain at Madison Square Garden until 2032, which would be the 50th anniversary of the event there. The women’s tournament is set to be held at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut until 2029.Before coming to the Big East, Ackerman was the first president of the WNBA when it was launched in 1997 and was in charge of the league for eight years. She also held positions as the president of USA Basketball.Ackerman played at Virginia and was a four-year starter, becoming the first 1,000-point scorer in program history.___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>AP women’s college basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball</a>

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman speaks during a Roundtable on the Future of College Basketball sponsored by the Big East Conference at The Empire State Building on October 20, 2025 in New York City. .

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PALERMO, Italy (AP) — Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of former Germany striker Jürgen Kli...

PALERMO, Italy (AP) — Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of former Germany striker Jürgen Klinsmann, is recovering from a broken neck sustained playing for second-tier Italian side Cesena on Saturday.He was stretchered off the field in a neck brace following a collision with a Palermo player and taken to a hospital in the Sicilian capital.The club said in a statement that initial tests revealed “a fracture to the first cervical vertebra” and a cut to the back of the head. He is set for further tests with a specialist neurosurgeon, the club added.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 29-year-old Klinsmann posted on Instagram to say his season was over and thanked Cesena and Palermo fans “for the warm wishes” as well as “friends and family who have supported me over the last few days.”Born in Munich, when his father was playing for Bayern, Klinsmann played briefly for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS and has represented the United States at youth level.He joined Cesena, which is in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, two years ago and has made over 50 appearances. The Serie B club is currently coached by former Arsenal, Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Jonathan Klinsmann of Cesena FC is seen during the Serie B match between Palermo FC and Cesena FC at the Stadio ''Renzo Barbera'' in Palermo, Italy, on April 18, 2026.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ousseni Bouda scored two goals in the second half, ending Hugo Lloris’ scorele...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ousseni Bouda scored two goals in the second half, ending Hugo Lloris’ scoreless run to begin the season at 593 minutes, and the San Jose Earthquakes stunned Los Angeles FC 4-1 on Sunday night in an early Western Conference showdown.San Jose (7-1-0) moves into a first-place tie with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield races in the Earthquakes’ second season under head coach Bruce Arena.Daniel De Sousa Britto missed a chance to tie Lloris with a sixth clean sheet on an own goal by Reid Roberts in the 74th minute. He had three saves.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bouda used assists from newcomer Timo Werner — his third — and Beau Leroux to find the net in the 53rd minute after a scoreless first half.Werner, sidelined the past two weeks with a lower-body injury, took a pass from Leroux three minutes later and scored his first MLS goal for a 2-0 lead. Leroux’s assists gives him four, matching his total last season in 33 appearances as a rookie.An own goal on Ryan Porteous in the 59th minute made it 3-0 in a span of six minutes.Bouda’s fourth goal of the season capped the scoring in the 80th minute. Niko Tsakiris notched his career-high fifth assist.Lloris finished with two saves in a second straight loss for LAFC (5-2-1), third in the West. Lloris sat out a 2-1 road loss to the Portland Timbers.San Jose has won all four of its road matches.LAFC was 6-0-1 at BMO Stadium in all competitions entering play, outscoring its opponents 17-1.<h2>Up next</h2>LAFC: Hosts the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday..San Jose: Hosts Austin FC on Wednesday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 28: Hugo Lloris #1 of the LAFC stands on the pitch in the first half against the Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

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PARIS (AP) — France will have rich depth in attack at the World Cup.  About a billion dollars’ wo...

PARIS (AP) — France will have rich depth in attack at the World Cup.About a billion dollars’ worth.That’s the estimated total value of the attacking players France is expected to bring to the tournament, from two-time World Cup final scoring sensation Kylian Mbappé to rising star Désiré Doué.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>For coach Didier Deschamps the headache is not about who to choose, but who to leave out of his starting lineup for France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16.He has a huge amount of talent to complement the prolific scoring of Mbappé, who is enjoying another prolific season with Real Madrid and needs one more goal to tie Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.There’s the speed and finishing of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé; the clinical scoring and exquisite passing of Michael Olise; the maverick skill of the technically gifted Rayan Cherki; or the fleet-footed runs of fellow newcomer Maghnes Akliouche.According to estimates from soccer website transfermarkt and the CIES Football Observatory, which take into account the remaining time on a players’ contract, France’s 10 attacking players are worth 855 million euros, which is a fraction over $1 billion.Here’s a look at the top players.<h3>Mbappe tops the list</h3>Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar leads the way at 200 million euros ($236 million).Mbappé is followed by the Bayern Munich star Olise at 140 million euros. The London-born Olise’s form has been scintillating for Bundesliga champion Bayern with 18 goals and 25 assists in 44 games.The 20-year-old Doué has three years left on his PSG contract and is valued at around 115 million compared to 100 million euros for Dembélé, who has two years left to run at PSG and is eight years older.Their goal-scoring PSG teammate Bradley Barcola — who starred against Chelsea in the Champions League — comes in next at 70 million euros, followed by Cherki at 65 million.<h3>Cherki's value could rise</h3>Cherki first caught the eye six years ago when he was 16, scoring twice in a French Cup game for Lyon. He has entered a new dimension since joining Manchester City in the offseason for what is now looking like a bargain fee of 36 million euros. He scored a fine solo goal against Arsenal in their Premier League table-topping clash on Sunday.His ability to create goals with his intuitive passing have surprised even City coach Pep Guardiola — who worked alongside two of the world’s finest passers in Lionel Messi and Iniesta at Barcelona — and Cherki’s value could rocket if he does well at the World Cup.Akliouche scored in both legs for Monaco against PSG in a closely-contested Champions League playoff and his galloping runs from deep make him hard to track. He is also capable of brilliant individual goals, scoring a superb overhead kick for Monaco last season.He is valued at 50 million euros along with Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram, who has hit form in recent weeks as Inter closes in on the Serie A title.Thuram adds to France’s attacking options thanks to his heading ability, a strong point shared by Jean-Philippe Mateta.The imposing striker is a consistent scorer for Premier League side Crystal Palace and has netted two goals in three appearances for Les Bleus.Mateta is expected to join a bigger club next season and is valued at 35 million euros, ahead of former PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani. He is on loan at Tottenham and, although he has lost form, he would likely fetch 30 million if PSG sold him.Kolo Muani almost wrote his name into World Cup history in 2022, but missed a chance right at the end of extra time in the final, which France lost on penalties to Argentina despite a hat-trick from Mbappé.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 13: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates his goal with Ryan Cherki of France during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier football match between France and Ukraine at Parc des Princes stadium on November 13, 2025 in Paris, France.

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