Willi Castro hit an RBI double in a five-run fifth inning, sending Puerto Rico to the win in its ...

Willi Castro hit an RBI double in a five-run fifth inning, sending Puerto Rico to the win in its Group A opener against Colombia.Seth Lugo pitched four-plus innings of three-hit ball for Puerto Rico. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.Harold Ramírez had three of Colombia's six hits.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Puerto Rico collected each of its five hits in the fifth at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium.Carlos Cortes hit a leadoff single and scored on an error by third baseman Gio Urshela. Eddie Rosario singled home Darell Hernaiz, and Martín Maldonado chased Adrian Almeida with another run-scoring single.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Team Puerto Rico is fired up 😤 They take a 3-0 lead over Team Colombia! <a href="https://t.co/OjexNphHUu">pic.twitter.com/OjexNphHUu</a>— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/2030076985817407975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Rosario scored on Castro's line drive to right off David Lorduy, and Heliot Ramos added a sacrifice fly.Colombia threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with two down. But Fernando Cruz retired pinch-hitter Jordan Diaz on a flyball to right, ending the inning.Edwin Díaz worked the ninth for Puerto Rico, striking out the side after Tito Polo's pinch-hit single.Jose Quintana started for Colombia and tossed three hitless innings. The left-hander threw 31 pitches, 19 for strikes.Both teams play again on Saturday. Puerto Rico faces Panama, and Colombia takes on Canada.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Seth Lugo #67 of Team Puerto Rico pitches against Team Colombia during the first inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Castro, Lugo help Puerto Rico blank Colombia

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and the Boston Celtics...

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Friday night in Jayson Tatum's first game in almost 10 months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon.Tatum had 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a rust-filled 27 minutes. He played in five- and six-minute spurts in his first game since suffering the injury in during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to New York in May.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WELCOME BACK, JAYSON TATUM 🔥 🏀 15 PTS 🏀 12 REB 🏀 7 AST 298 days ago: Achilles tear. Tonight: A near-triple-double. <a href="https://t.co/Lqev9sVSDN">pic.twitter.com/Lqev9sVSDN</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2030111252144324749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Derrick White added 20 points to help Boston win for the fourth time in five games. Dallas has lost six straight.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, a Maine native playing his first game in TD Garden, had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Dallas. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points, and Naji Marshall had13 points.Tatum missed his first six shots, including three 3-pointers. But he continued to look for his teammates and actively screening to initiate the offense.The Celtics have 19 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at TD Garden to try to ramp up Tatum for the playoffs.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 6: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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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Tatum shakes off slow start to help Celtics top Mavs in return

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore pleaded no contest to two m...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors on Friday in a deal to resolve a felony criminal case that arose immediately after he was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant.The deal was struck on the same day a judge planned to hear a challenge to Moore’s arrest in December on three charges, including felony home invasion. Those previous charges were dropped in exchange for Moore pleading no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and misdemeanor malicious use of a telecom device.“Things have changed,” Judge J. Cedric Simpson said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Moore had confronted the woman with whom he had been having an affair and blamed her for his dismissal, even threatening to kill himself with butter knives in her apartment, authorities said.“All the charges against Mr. Moore were not supported by facts and law,” said attorney Ellen Michaels, standing alongside Moore and his wife, outside the courtroom. “The dismissal of those charges validates the concerns we raised about the investigation from the very beginning. Mr. Moore is pleased to put this behind him and move forward.”Moore arrived at the courthouse with his wife, Kelli, and they walked toward the courtroom holding hands, interlacing fingers.Hours later, they left together and Moore declined an opportunity to share anything he had to say.“No, I’m good,” he said. “Appreciate it.”Assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski, on her way out of the courthouse earlier in the afternoon, declined an interview request..Sentencing is scheduled for April 14 on charges that have a potential maximum of six months and 30 days in prison.Michaels said the tether, a GPS tracking device that has been on Moore since December, was to be removed on Friday and she does not expect him to serve any more time after spending two nights in jail following his arrest.“This is not the kind of case that somebody is punished by jail,” she said.Michaels said she advised Moore to plead to no contest due to potential civil litigation and to help him move on with his family and avoid a trial.“He has had the opportunity to be with his daughters, to be with his wife, to be home for the holidays, to take his kids to swim lessons,” she said. " As somebody who’s come up the coaching tree and became a head coach at a young age, that is something that he has missed out on.“I can tell you that losing his job and and being at home, he has embraced it as an opportunity to reconnect to his family, to spend time with his kids and to become the man he wants to be.”Moore, 40, was fired on Dec. 10 after two seasons as the successor to Jim Harbaugh, who won a national championship before leaving to lead the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.In dismissing Moore, the university cited an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Rezmierski has said the woman ended the affair a few days before Moore’s firing and cooperated with the school’s investigation.University of Michigan spokesman Paul Corliss said the school did not have a comment on Friday’s developments.The AP isn’t identifying the woman, who has accused Moore of domestic violence and stalking. She did not answer a dozen calls or respond to some text messages from him before his dismissal, police said.“It’s not stalking if the communication has a legitimate purpose,” Michaels has said.A message seeking comment was left with attorney Heidi Sharp, who is representing Moore’s former executive assistant.Michaels has accused the woman’s personal lawyer of giving information to police to “villainize Mr. Moore and maximize the chances of obtaining a large settlement from the deep pockets of the University of Michigan.”Michaels declined to say if she was involved in potential litigation against the university on Moore’s behalf. He signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. According to the terms of his deal, the university did not have to buy out the remaining years of his contract because he was fired for cause.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines looks on prior to the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field on November 15, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli beat Torino 2-1 on Friday to close the gap on second-place AC Milan t...

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli beat Torino 2-1 on Friday to close the gap on second-place AC Milan to one point and maintain its record as the only team still unbeaten at home in Serie A this season.Torino hasn’t beaten Napoli in the top tier since the 2008-09 season and it fell behind after six minutes.Alisson Santos created a meter of space on the edge of the Torino penalty area and fired a low shot past the outstretched arm of Alberto Paleari.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Third-place Napoli dominated throughout and Eljif Elmas spun to volley home Matteo Politano’s knock down and make it 2-0 midway through the second half.Napoli coach Antonio Conte introduced playmaker Kevin De Bruyne for his first appearance since an October injury, but his team was forced to sweat in the final seconds after Cesare Casadei pulled back a late consolation goal for Torino.Napoli, though, held on to open a five-point gap on fourth-place Roma. It now has 56 points, one behind Milan and 11 behind champions-elect Inter.Inter and Milan face off in the Milan derby on Sunday.Torino is 14th with 30 points.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

NAPLES, ITALY - MARCH 06: Alisson Santos of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Torino FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy.

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Napoli beat Torino to extend unbeaten home run, close gap on Milan

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Pato O'Ward wasn't sold on the motorsports doubleheader this weekend at Ph...

<div>
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Pato O'Ward wasn't sold on the motorsports doubleheader this weekend at Phoenix Raceway because the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/indycar">IndyCar</a> driver doesn't like being “the support series” to <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing">NASCAR.</a>
Then he saw the television rating — 3.9 million viewers on Fox Sports for last week's NASCAR race — and changed his mind. 
“I stand corrected, I'm so happy to be here with NASCAR this weekend,” the Mexican <a href="https://x.com/PatricioOWard/status/2029255471874658604?s=20">wrote on social media.</a>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
These are heady times for the top two racing series in the United States, as both are riding a wave of momentum at the start of the season. The NASCAR team <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-reddick-michael-jordan-b024d65429a9693b5687100c0cc172fb">owned by Michael Jordan</a> has set a record in winning the first three races with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-reddick-michael-jordan-b024d65429a9693b5687100c0cc172fb">Tyler Reddick</a> to draw enough attention that even <a href="https://x.com/magicjohnson/status/2028675859604033793?s=46&amp;t=-It8I68Aj7xCD5YHXOYsCQ">Magic Johnson</a> is paying attention. 
“I want to congratulate my friend Michael Jordan once again!” he wrote. “His 23XI Racing team won its (third) straight NASCAR race to start the 2026 season making NASCAR history!”
And IndyCar is coming off a strong season-opening weekend with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indycar-preview-st-pete-palou-power-bd1052080988f801c6a26d9ee6cc18ee">a full month of racing</a> for the first time in years. IndyCar is partnered with NASCAR this weekend and races Saturday, one day before the Cup Series runs on the 1-mile oval. For IndyCar, it's a first trip back to Phoenix since 2018.
The atmosphere is light and festive at this track nestled in the desert landscape and Fox Sports is thrilled with the doubleheader. The network is in its broadcast portion of the NASCAR schedule and last season bought an ownership stake in IndyCar. 
“Good things come in pairs! This weekend’s ‘Desert Double’ is a great opportunity to showcase and cross-promote the biggest stars in racing to motorsports fans all weekend," said Bill Wanger, head of programming and scheduling at the network. "We at Fox Sports are thrilled to help bring these two worlds together.”
The pairing is partly the vision of Eric Shanks, CEO of Fox Sports, which airs the entire IndyCar season on its main network channel. When Fox took over as broadcast partner last year, Shanks often stacked the races back-to-back with NASCAR to pull in as many eyeballs as possible.
It's a logical sentiment and apparently working.
“This is so great for racing fans, I have never understood people who are like ‘I only watch NASCAR and not IndyCar’ or vice versa,” said NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney. “This just brings everybody together. I think the crowd for both days is going to be fantastic and I wish there would be more doubleheader weekends because I like hanging out with those guys and watching them and it's easier for me to watch with them here. It's an awesome series.”
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden said he was staying after his race to watch the Cup Series live on Sunday and would be cheering on his Team Penske teammates Blaney, Austin Cindric and Joey Logano. 
“I wish we had more weekends together. I just don't see how us being together is ever a bad thing,” Newgarden said. 
IndyCar had the track to itself for Friday afternoon qualifying at the same time the Cup Series garage opened for inspection. David Malukas won the first pole of his career in his new Team Penske ride, and Newgarden was second for a Penske 1-2 sweep. 
The biggest surprise, though, was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indycar-st-pete-power-schumacher-f0e52b1ab0c4946938405a82ef5308ca">Mick Schumacher</a>, who qualified fourth for his oval debut. 
“This guy is like a complete, literal foreigner to oval racing,” Newgarden said of the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher. “For Mick, what a tremendous job. The race is a different story. But you've got to be open-minded in this series — he could just come in and be a natural.”
The field will be chasing four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou on Saturday after Palou won last weekend's opener in St. Pete. Then on Sunday it will be 39 drivers trying to snap Reddick's run and prevent him from winning a fourth consecutive week. 
Jordan has been to all three of Reddick's victories this year and will be in Phoenix, and when the Basketball Hall of Famer is involved, everyone's excitement rises. 
“When you have an owner that was the greatest to ever do it in his sport, and he has so much interest in the sport that I'm in, that's just a positive for racing,” Blaney said. “I think it creates a lot of eyes from people who were maybe a fan of Michael's when he was playing, or their parents were a fan of Michael's. Well now they are watching this because MJ is here.” 
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 06: Mick Schumacher (#47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) drives during practice for the IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Phoenix Good Ranchers 250 on March 6, 2026 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.

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In Houston, Jonathan Aranda broke open the game with a three-run homer in the eighth inning to le...

In Houston, Jonathan Aranda broke open the game with a three-run homer in the eighth inning to lead Mexico past Great Britain 8-2 in Pool B.The game was tied 1-1 after solo homers by both teams when Gary Gill Hill struck out the first two batters in the eighth. He then issued consecutive walks to Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena before Aranda lifted a low fastball into the left-field seats.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Team Mexico's Jonathan Aranda gets enough for a go-ahead three-run homer! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldBaseballClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldBaseballClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/gS78O7YaSy">pic.twitter.com/gS78O7YaSy</a>— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/2030019847959024058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The crowd, overwhelmingly Mexico fans, went wild as Aranda rounded the bases.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Alek Thomas padded the lead with a two-run single in the ninth and Joey Ortiz added an RBI double before Arozarena drove in a run on a single that made it 8-1.Nacho Alvarez Jr. gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the second inning and Harry Ford tied the score in the sixth.Jack Anderson started for Britain, allowing two hits and a run with three strikeouts in three innings. Mexico starter Javier Assad permitted two hits while striking out two in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.Trayce Thompson, a younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson, had two hits for Britain, capped by an RBI double in the ninth inning.Britain will face the U.S. on Saturday night and Mexico resumes play Sunday night against Brazil.

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 06: Jonathan Aranda #8 of Team Mexico celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game presented by Capital One between Team Mexico and Team Great Britain at Daikin Park on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

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Aranda's late HR leads Mexico past Great Britain

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Assisted by a glittering, pink soccer ball, Lionel Messi crossed y...

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Assisted by a glittering, pink soccer ball, Lionel Messi crossed yet another frontier with his visit to the White House.Until Thursday, the global soccer superstar had been equally adept at dodging defenders on the field and political leaders, especially those in his own country of Argentina. There were questions about whether he would even appear with the rest of Inter Miami to celebrate their MLS Cup win at the White House.As the team assembled in the room, he wasn't among their ranks; instead, he walked in alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and team owner Jorge Mas Santos and later presented Trump with the bedazzled ball.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Although Messi was silent throughout, his appearance seemed to speak volumes for a player whose politics have largely been shrouded in mystery.When Argentina, captained by Messi, won the World Cup in 2022, the team declined to go to then-President Alberto Fernandez's Casa Rosada, or Pink House. Argentina's current president — and Trump ally — Javier Milei has vocally praised Messi, but has yet to secure a public appearance or even photo together. A year ago, Messi was invited by then-U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom but could not attend because of a scheduling conflict.<h3>Messi's visit surprises some</h3>In Argentina, the visit caused surprise and even dismay, particularly among those who appreciated the national team captain for not getting involved in politics, a trait that had distinguished him from his predecessor, Diego Maradona. (Some, though, thought his appearance could benefit Argentina as it gears up for its World Cup matches in the U.S.)Kirk Bowman, a professor at Georgia Tech's Sam Nunn School of International Affairs who studies soccer and politics in Latin America, isn't surprised by Messi's visit, though."He is very 'long-termism' in his career, both as a player but also as someone who has a very strong team building long-term wealth," Bowman said, pointing to his myriad investments — including his equity in Inter Miami itself."He's also embedded very strongly in Miami as a community, which is far more conservative as a soccer community than other parts of the United States," Bowman added.Messi stood to the side of Trump as the president offered comments on Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. At the end, the soccer star offered some applause. Messi's supporters have defended him by saying he isn't fluent in English, a perception Bowman says serves as "an extra layer of brand protection."Representatives for Inter Miami and Messi did not respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment on the visit, though Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano was asked about it during a media availability Friday."I thought we would talk about football but I guess I'm not lucky. We were following the protocol that is practically a tradition for a team to visit the White House when it becomes champion," Mascherano said.He said the team spent a couple hours at the White House and that the "contact with Trump was what you saw on TV and not much more than that."<h3>Maradona, Barcelona, La Garganta Poderosa and ... Saudi Arabia</h3>The image of Messi with Trump led some fans to invoke the anti-American stance of the late Maradona, Argentina’s other great football idol. The captain of the 1986 World Cup-winning team was an active supporter of leaders like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. He even had an image of the guerrilla fighter Ernesto “Che” Guevara tattooed on one of his arms.Messi, by contrast, has stayed largely silent on issues in the various countries he's lived in, whether Argentina, Spain, France or the United States. His career at FC Barcelona, spanning from his teen years to his exit in 2021, coincided with a politically charged period in Spain when Catalonia's separatist movement seriously threatened to break off the northeastern region from the rest of the nation. Messi, however, steered clear of any political statements either for or against the independence push, which at its height divided Catalonia's 5 million voters in half.He deftly knew how to preserve his status as an idol of Barca's divided fans, sticking to scoring goals and winning titles. He could be heard chanting "Visca Barca y visca Catalunya!” ("Long live Barca and long live Catalonia") while celebrating a title, but the rallying cry was fairly standard for players and largely lacked political overtones.He otherwise did not speak the local Catalan language but he only had nice things to say about the city he moved to when he was 13. In an interview with Catalan television channel Tv3 in 2024, Messi said that his "children are Catalans" and that "I feel like I am from Barcelona."Glimpses of some political leanings came in 2011 and 2020 interviews with La Garganta Poderosa, an Argentine magazine on the left. In the first interview, Messi spoke positively of Guevara, and in the latter, amid the coronavirus pandemic, he called inequality one of society's most pressing problems.Overall, though, it's unlikely Messi will edge further into politics, Bowman says."I don't think he's really comfortable being political, but he's not uncomfortable being used in politics as long as the net benefit is positive," he said.Bowman pointed to Messi's commercial contract with Saudi Arabia's tourism board and the "sportswashing" allegations that have followed. He also compared Messi's approach with the kingdom's typical "tarnish clause.""I think Messi is seen in the same way," Bowman said. "He will participate in things as long as it doesn't tarnish Brand Messi."___Sen reported from New York. Associated Press journalists Joseph Wilson in Barcelona; Anne M. Peterson in Portland, Oregon; Davidde Corran in New York and Carlos Rodriguez in Mexico City contributed reporting.

Argntinian star Lionel Messi hands US President Donald Trump a ball during an event for Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2026.

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Javier Sanoja of the Miami Marlins homered in his home ballpark and Willson Contreras had a two-r...

Javier Sanoja of the Miami Marlins homered in his home ballpark and Willson Contreras had a two-run single to highlight a four-run fifth as Venezuela opened Pool D play with a win over the Netherlands.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Team Venezuela's Javier Sanoja homers in his home ballpark! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldBaseballClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldBaseballClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcgtsavlco">pic.twitter.com/mcgtsavlco</a>— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/2029978959551549729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Sanoja, Contreras and Wilyer Abreu all had two hits for Venezuela, while Luis Arraez drove in two runs and Ronald Acuña Jr. scored twice.Venezuela starter Ranger Suarez allowed three hits and one run in two innings.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Druw Jones — the son of Netherlands manager and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Andruw Jones — drove in both Netherlands runs, first with a tying double in the second and then a sacrifice fly in the sixth.Antwone Kelly started on the mound for the Netherlands, giving up four hits and two runs in three innings.Both teams return to action Saturday, with Netherlands taking on Nicaragua and Venezuela meeting Israel.

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 06: Javier Sanoja #4 of Team Venezuela celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game presented by Capital One between Team Netherlands and Team Venezuela at loanDepot park on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

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Sanoja homers, Venezuela rides 4-run 5th to win over Netherlands

Yoán Moncada and Yoelquis Guibert homered off Logan Allen at San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Cuba won ...

Yoán Moncada and Yoelquis Guibert homered off Logan Allen at San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Cuba won its WBC opener for the first time since 2013 with a 3-1 victory over Panama.Cuba, which lost the 2006 final to Japan and a 2023 semifinal to the U.S., is missing many top Cuban-born players, including Aroldis Chapman, Randy Arozarena and Luis Robert Jr.Guibert went deep on a high 2-0 fastball in the second and Moncada one inning later pulled a 3-1 sweeper at the bottom of the strike zone for his first home run off a left-hander since Sept. 28, 2023, off Arizona’s Kyle Nelson.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yoán Moncada adds on for Team Cuba with a two-run homer! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldBaseballClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldBaseballClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/VefJILOjy4">pic.twitter.com/VefJILOjy4</a>— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/2029962242037256213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Panama’s Johan Camargo had an RBI single in the seventh against Emmanuel Chapman and, with runners at the corners, Darien Núñez retired Christian Bethancourt on an inning-ending groundout.Allen, a Florida native whose mother was born in Panama, allowed three runs and five hits in three innings, taking the loss. Winner Livan Moinelo gave up two hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.Cuba did not have a baserunner after the fifth. Raidel Martinez got three straight outs for the save.AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Yoán Moncada #10 of the Team Cuba celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Team Panama during the third inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's hamstring injury is more serious than first thought, Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jes...

Cristiano Ronaldo's hamstring injury is more serious than first thought, Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said Friday.Ronaldo, 41, limped out of Al-Nassr's 3-1 Saudi Pro League victory over Al-Fayha last weekend."In the last game, Cristiano left with a muscle injury," Jesus told journalists. "After the tests he underwent, it became clear that it is a more serious injury than we were expecting.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He will need rest and recovery. Cristiano will travel to Spain for treatment, as will other players who were injured. He will need treatment from his personal physiotherapist. We hope he will return soon to help the team."Former Real Madrid star Ronaldo's availability for Portugal’s friendlies later this month, as it ramps up preparations for the 2026 World Cup, may now be in doubt.Portugal plays Mexico in Mexico City on March 28 before facing the United States in Atlanta on April 1.Ronaldo has scored 21 goals in 22 league games this season for Al-Nassr.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

DUBLIN, IRELAND - NOVEMBER 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at Aviva Stadium on November 13, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.

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Al-Nassr coach: Ronaldo's hamstring injury 'more serious' than expected

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the western state of Jalisco on Fr...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the western state of Jalisco on Friday to address growing security concerns ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup following a wave of violence in the region.The violence was triggered by the killing of the most powerful drug lord in Mexico — Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or “El Mencho” — by Mexico’s army last month. Clashes between cartel gunmen and the burning of cars erupted across Mexico, but the violence has been most intense in Jalisco and its capital, Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s three host cities for the World Cup.The wave of violence left more than 70 people dead, including 25 National Guard members, and sowed doubts in Mexico and beyond over the viability of the city hosting thousands of visitors.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Accompanied by her Security Cabinet and senior military commanders on Friday, Sheinbaum hosted her morning news briefing from military headquarters in the municipality where “El Mencho” was buried earlier this week under heavy guard and where the stadium that will host World Cup games is located.“We are here ... to tell everyone in Jalisco, all the people of Jalisco, that we are together, that we are working for peace, security and the well-being of the inhabitants of this beautiful state,” Sheinbaum said.With fewer than 100 days until the World Cup, Sheinbaum and security officials detailed a security plan to be deployed during the summer sporting event involving more than 20 federal government agencies, including the Army and Navy, as well as local authorities.Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, the man behind Mexico’s offensive on the cartels, said that Mexico has worked with authorities in the United States, Canada and FIFA to strengthen planning and risk responses.He added that the Mexican plan will include specialized training for officials, planning and operational exercises, early warning systems, security deployments around stadiums, airports, roadways and lodging centers, and protection schemes for delegations and attendees.Sheinbaum has sought to project confidence in the face of doubts, including holding a phone call shortly after the burst of violence in late February with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who expressed his “full confidence” that Mexico will be able to host part of the World Cup. Earlier in the week, she wrapped a FIFA scarf around her neck and posed next to the World Cup trophy.On Friday, Gen. Román Villalvazo, who leads security coordination for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said they had created three joint task forces in World Cup host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.“The 2026 FIFA World Cup organized by Mexico, the United States and Canada represents an unprecedented event,” he said.“For Mexico, it entails two challenges: to present a reliable and secure country before the international community, and to have the capacity to confront any threats that undermine national security.”___Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 23: President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo speaks during the daily morning briefing at Palacio Nacional on February 23, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Sheinbaum visits troubled Jalisco to ease safety concerns before World Cup

GENEVA (AP) — Like Leicester's Premier League title in 2016 and Bodo/Glimt's stunning rise in Nor...

GENEVA (AP) — Like Leicester's Premier League title in 2016 and Bodo/Glimt's stunning rise in Norway since 2020, Swiss soccer looks set to get its own surprise champion.Thun has never won the top-tier league in the club's 128-year history yet this season has turned the standings into a procession — even as a newly promoted club.A 2-2 draw with second-place St. Gallen late Thursday stopped Thun's run of 10 straight wins yet coach Mauro Lustrinelli's team is 14 points clear with 10 rounds left.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We are also a young team in the sense that the team is experiencing its first Super League," Lustrinelli told Swiss public broadcaster SRF after his players conceded a stoppage-time goal to drop points for the first time since December.Thun heads Sunday to local rival Young Boys, a 17-time title winner and Champions League regular in recent years, as the current best team in Switzerland.<h3>Following Leicester's lead</h3>Thun is the latest unheralded European club taking inspiration from Leicester.Last year, Union Saint-Gilloise won its first Belgian title for 90 years and tiny Mjallby was champion of Sweden for the first time in its 86-year history.Title races across Europe see Hearts on course for a first Scottish title in 66 years and Paris Saint-Germain being chased by Lens which won its only French title 28 years ago.The most common link is clubs in provincial towns and cities run on low budgets with a collective team-first ethic."You really feel that it's like a family," Lustrinelli said last year when extending his contract at the club where he was once a star striker and has coached for four seasons.<h3>Thun's key players</h3>It took Thun five years to get out of the second division after being relegated in 2020. That period included severe financial issues and being part of a multi-club ownership group backed by American and Chinese investors.Thun is independent and locally owned again, and built a plan with Lustrinelli for a team playing the direct, pressing style he wants with two central strikers.Top scorer this season is 12-goal Elmin Rastoder, a Swiss-born North Macedonia international who could feature in the World Cup playoffs against Denmark later this month.Rastoder's strike partner Thursday was Brighton Labeau, once a teammate of Kylian Mbappe, who is three years younger, when they were both in the Monaco academy.Thun's star prospect is Ethan Meichtry, a Switzerland under-21 midfielder who could yet make the World Cup squad.<h3>Champions League debut</h3>Thun was one of the smallest clubs to play in the Champions League after Lustrinelli's 20-goal season lifted the team to Swiss league runner-up in 2005.Thun advanced through two qualifying rounds to reach the elite stage, finishing third in a group behind Arsenal and Ajax.Back then, Thun played European games at Young Boys' stadium in Bern because its old home was below UEFA standard.If Thun enters the Champions League in the second qualifying round in July, home games should be at its 10,000-seat Stockhorn Arena — with artificial turf, just like at Bodo/Glimt inside the Arctic Circle in Norway.The Swiss champion must win through three qualifying rounds to reach the 36-team league phase.<h3>Home of Swiss soccer</h3>Thun will soon be the home of Switzerland's soccer federation.The Swiss Football Home project was approved last August and will include a new headquarters for the federation plus training fields for national teams. Next door will likely be the next Swiss champion."The road is still long," Lustrinelli said of the 10-game run-in, "and we want everyone who will help us get those 30 points."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 25: Head Coach Mauro Lustrinelli of Switzerland looks on prior the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier between Switzerland U21 and Wales U21 at Stade de la Tuiliere on March 25, 2022 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Thun channel spirit of Leicester, Bodo/Glimt in shock Swiss title hunt

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian soccer club Corinthians completed the signing of former England and Ma...

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian soccer club Corinthians completed the signing of former England and Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard on Friday.Lingard joined on a free transfer from South Korea’s FC Seoul, where he has played since 2024.“From the (United) Kingdom to the favela,” Corinthians posted on Instagram, with a picture of the 33-year-old player holding the club’s No. 77 shirt.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lingard started his career at Manchester United and played 232 matches for the Red Devils, scoring 35 goals.He also had brief spells at Brighton, Leicester, West Ham, Derby and Nottingham Forest.Lingard featured in 67 matches for FC Seoul, scoring 19 goals. He netted six times in 32 appearances for England.Lingard will again team up with former United colleague Memphis Depay at Corinthians. The Dutch forward has played for the Sao Paulo-based club since 2024.Corinthians is the defending Brazilian Cup champion and is also contender for this year’s Copa Libertadores title.It is third in the Brazilian league with seven points from four matches, three behind co-leaders Palmeiras and Sao Paulo.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 25: Jesse Lingard #10 of FC Seoul celebrating his second goal and the team's third goal during 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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Former England, Man United forward Lingard joins Corinthians

PARIS (AP) — Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé has been included in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad ...

PARIS (AP) — Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé has been included in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for its Ligue 1 game at home to Monaco on Friday.Dembélé had missed the last three games with a calf injury, after limping off in the first half during the first leg of the Champions League playoff game at Monaco three weeks ago.PSG coach Luis Enrique did not say whether Dembélé will start the game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Defending champion PSG hosts two-time champion Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 game at Parc des Princes next Wednesday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (C) speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele ahead of a training session in Poissy, west of Paris, on March 5, 2026 on the eve of the L1 football match against Monaco.

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Dembele available for PSG after missing 3 matches with calf injury

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United will raise season ticket prices by 5% at Old Traffor...

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United will raise season ticket prices by 5% at Old Trafford for the 2026-27 campaign and relocate several hundred fans to create more hospitality seats.The 20-time English champion, which hasn’t won the Premier League title since 2013, said Friday the goal is to return to “the top of domestic and European football.”“We want to keep investing in the team and improving our facilities so fans get the best possible experience. We also need to make sure the club stays financially sustainable taking into account inflation and rising costs,” the team said in its announcement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The price hike of “around 5% across all areas of Old Trafford” equates to just over 2 pounds ($2.70) per game on average for adult season holders, the club said.The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust called the changes “disappointing.” It pointed to the Football Supporters’ Association’s league-wide campaign for a ticket prize freeze.“Supporters are paying more and more to watch their team, and as the FSA campaign said: enough is enough,” MUST said in a statement.“We’ve also learned that 600 more loyal fans are being moved for ever more hospitality,” it said of the plans for the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. “Those people will be understandably furious, and need to be better treated by the club than those who went through the same thing last year were.”Hospitality areas are lucrative opportunities for clubs, often attracting tourists willing to pay high prices.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

A young United fan holds up a banner for Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester, United Kingdom, on March 1, 2026.

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Man United fans hit back after ticket price increases, seat relocations

LONDON (AP) — The numbers tell an ugly story for Tottenham.  A five-game losing streak leaves Spu...

LONDON (AP) — The numbers tell an ugly story for Tottenham.A five-game losing streak leaves Spurs just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Zero domestic wins in 2026. They've allowed nine goals in three matches under new manager Igor Tudor.“Still nine games to play,” the Croatian coach said after a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tudor says he “saw something” in his team's performance that gives him belief for the rest of the Premier League season. Plenty of Spurs fans had seen enough, though, as many left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium long before the final whistle.Spurs led on striker Dominic Solanke's goal but fell apart after captain Micky van de Ven was sent off for pulling down Ismaila Sarr. Palace then netted three times before halftime.Tudor was hired on Valentine's Day following the firing of Thomas Frank, who lasted eight months on the job. Tudor was given a contract to the end of the season.Would Spurs' front office make another change so quickly?“I don’t think in that direction. I have my job to do and that’s all," Tudor said.Asked if he'd be in the manager's seat again, he responded: “No comment on that question.”Tottenham's announcement on Feb. 14 said Tudor's task was “to improve performances, deliver results and move us up the Premier League table.”Thursday's loss extended Spurs' Premier League winless slide to 11 games. It also extended an unwanted personal streak for Tudor. He was fired by Juventus last October following three straight losses as part of an eight-match winless run.Tottenham's only victories (two) in 2026 have come in the Champions League, and that's the stage for Spurs' next game — at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16 on Tuesday.Their next Premier League game is at Liverpool on March 15.<h3>Players' meeting is held</h3>Solanke told the club's in-house media that the players understand the assignment.“We've had a little chat between us, and we need to understand that we need to improve — and we need to improve now,” he said post-game. “It's obviously hard to say just with words — we need to show it on the pitch.“We need to obviously see what's going wrong on the pitch, debrief that and see what we can change, but we’re not in a position to dwell on anything right now,” he added. "We need to make sure that next game, we’re going to be at it, see how we can improve and see what we can do to change this form around.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Igor Tudor, Interim Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, holds the match ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 05, 2026 in London, England.

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Tudor more confident Spurs can survive despite slide toward bottom 3

Japanese fans don't get to see Shohei Ohtani in person very often. They got an eyeful on Friday i...

Japanese fans don't get to see Shohei Ohtani in person very often. They got an eyeful on Friday in a sellout at the Tokyo Dome.Ohtani hit a grand slam in the second inning — in the first he doubled on the first pitch of the game but didn't score — as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic. It was Japan's first game of four in pool play.The game was called after seven innings under the mercy rule, which is being used in the WBC. The game is called after five innings if a team leads by 15 runs or more, or after seven if the lead is 10 or more.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>After threatening in the first, Japan exploded for 10 runs in the second inning.Japan, batting first as the designated visiting team, put the first three runners on base — a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch. Kenya Wakatsuki fouled out to the catcher, bringing up Ohtani for the dramatic slam to right field off starter Hao-Chun Cheng.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bases loaded Shohei Ohtani at the plate What else did you expect? 🦄 <a href="https://t.co/bfN2qheoRV">pic.twitter.com/bfN2qheoRV</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2029870920358097097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Japan added six more runs in the inning, which lasted 28 minutes. Reliever Chih-Wei Hu finished the inning, but not before Japan batted around and Ohtani got his third hit of the game — a single — and his fifth RBI in the inning.And only two innings had been played.Japan scored three more in the third, this time off the third pitcher, Tzu-Chen Sha, to push the lead to 13-0.Left in the shadows was Japan's starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season's World Series MVP with the Dodgers.After long rests between innings, Yamamoto got into trouble in the third, walking two and loading the bases with the help of an error. He was replaced by Shoma Fujihira who struck out An-Ko Lin to end the threat.Yamamoto struck out three, walked two and allowed no hits and was the winner. Cheng got the loss.Ohtani led off the fourth and lined out on a leaping catch by first baseman Nien-Ting Wu as he tried for the cycle — a single, double, triple and a home run. He needed a triple to complete the cycle, and the leaping catch might have prevented it.Japan is the defending WBC champion and the favorite from Pool C to reach the quarterfinals. Japan is also a favorite to reach the final in Miami on March 17, perhaps against the United States.On Saturday in Pool C, Taiwan faces the Czech Republic and Japan plays South Korea.

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan celebrates after hits a grand slam in the second inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 06, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

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Ohtani hits grand slam, Japan mercy rules Chinese Taipei

Australia defeated the Czech Republic 5-1 on Friday behind a three-run homer from Chicago White S...

Australia defeated the Czech Republic 5-1 on Friday behind a three-run homer from Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead to remain unbeaten in Pool C in the World Baseball Classic.Australia is lining up among the favorites from Tokyo to reach the quarterfinals along with home team Japan. Japan is the defending champion and many expect a final in Miami on March 17 against the United States.Mead’s homer in the third put Australia up 3-1 after the Czechs failed to convert a double play early in the inning that eventually gave Mead a chance to bat. Australia added two runs in the ninth, including a solo home run by Alex Hall.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Czechs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Vojtech Mensik.Josh Hendrickson was the winning pitcher and Tomas Ondra got the loss.Australia improved to 2-0 in Pool C and the Czechs fell to 0-2. Australia reached the quarterfinals three years ago in the last WBC but lost to Cuba 4-3.The Australians have several players with MLB organizations including Mead. There’s also Travis Bazzana, the first pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft taken by the Cleveland Guardians.Japan and its superstar Shohei Ohtani play their first game in the WBC later Friday facing Taiwan. Taiwan lost to Australia 3-0 in its opener on Thursday.

Australia's Alex Hall (R) celebrates with Robbie Glendinning after hitting a solo homerun during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C first round game between Czech Republic and Australia at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 6, 2026.

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Aussies topple Czechs to stay undefeated in WBC

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco coach Walid Regragui has quit the team just months before it compet...

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco coach Walid Regragui has quit the team just months before it competes at the World Cup, he confirmed at a late-night press conference on Thursday.Regragui’s departure — less than 100 days before the United States, Canada and Mexico host the World Cup from June 11 to July 19 — was widely reported before Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the country’s soccer federation, accompanied Regragui for the press conference that doubled as a tribute to the departing coach.“The team needs a fresh face, a different energy, and a new perspective with a new coach,” Regragui said. “I think the team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue progressing. My decision to leave is part of this team’s evolution.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 50-year-old Regragui led Morocco to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup — a first for Africa and the Arab world — but he was criticized after the team failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations as the host country after a dramatic 1-0 loss to Senegal in the final in January.<h3>Ouahbi takes over</h3>Lekjaa said that Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s under-20 team to the Youth World Cup title, was taking over as Regragui’s successor.It will be Ouahbi’s first experience coaching a senior team. The 49-year-old Belgian-Moroccan was previously in charge of Morocco’s under-23s and much of his career was spent managing youth sides at Belgian club Anderlecht.“I’m not here to build, because the foundations are already in place. I’m here to keep performing,” Ouahbi said.Ouahbi said João Sacramento would be his assistant coach. The Portuguese is a former assistant coach at Paris Saint-Germain, and he worked he worked under José Mourinho at Roma and Tottenham.<h3>Expectations soared under Regragui</h3>Morocco has not won a continental trophy since 1975 and Regragui also faced criticism for a perceived defensive style of play as the team’s World Cup success and flawless qualifying campaigns raised expectations. Some critics already called for his dismissal after Morocco disappointed at the previous Africa Cup in Ivory Coast.Regragui, a former right back for Spanish club Racing de Santander, was appointed Morocco’s national team coach in 2022, shortly before the World Cup.His future was the subject of intense speculation after the latest Africa Cup disappointment, which hit harder as the host nation, with several media outlets reporting his departure and prompting the federation to issue three denials.Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi called Regragui a “legend” on the social network X, where he said the coach’s “leadership, passion, and vision inspired not only the players, but also an entire country and millions of fans around the world.”Hakimi said Regragui “left an unforgettable mark on the history of Moroccan football. Thank you for making us dream and for wearing our colors with such pride.”<h3>Moroccan ambitions</h3>Morocco is investing billions of dollars in sports-related infrastructure as it bids to become a soccer powerhouse. It is co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal and harbors high hopes of staging the final in Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest soccer arena in the world with a capacity of 115,000 after its planned completion in 2028.Morocco will play World Cup warm-up games against Ecuador and Paraguay on March 27 and 31, respectively.The Atlas Lions have been drawn in World Cup Group C with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

SANTIAGO, CHILE - OCTOBER 19: Head Coach Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco celebrates with the medal of Champions after a victory over Argentina during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 final match between Argentina and Morocco at Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos on October 19, 2025 in Santiago, Chile.

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Morocco appoints Ouahbi after Regragui quits months before World Cup

CAIRO (AP) — The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was moved to the summer on Thursday less than two ...

CAIRO (AP) — The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was moved to the summer on Thursday less than two weeks before it was supposed to start in Morocco.The tournament will now take place from July 25-Aug. 16, the Confederation of African Football announced on its website. It did not mention a change of host, nor did it confirm Morocco will stage the tournament again for what will be the third straight time.The 16th tournament was supposed to be played in the kingdom from March 17-April 3 but reports persisted that Morocco wished to withdraw from hosting it and CAF said on Wednesday it would clarify the matter in the next days.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>South Africa had offered to step in as host.“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates … to ensure the success of this important women’s competition in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” CAF said on Thursday.It did not specify the nature of the circumstances and the Associated Press has reached out for more details.CAF said preparations for the tournament “are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful.”In a surprise decision last November, CAF expanded the tournament to 16 teams, giving reprieve to Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali and Egypt, whose teams initially failed to qualify.Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Kenya were drawn in Group A in Rabat, where Group B involving South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania was also to be played.Group C involving defending champion Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and Malawi was in Casablanca, while Group D with Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde was in Fez.The date change comes after CAF president Patrice Motsepe ruled it out on Feb. 13 because the tournament also doubles as a qualifying event for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semifinalists qualify directly, and teams that lose in the quarterfinals were to get another chance through playoffs involving nations from other continents.The last edition, won by Nigeria 3-2 over Morocco in the final, was also delayed because of scheduling problems in 2024. It was eventually played in 2025.Morocco is also a co-host for the men’s World Cup in 2030.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

TOPSHOT - Nigeria's players celebrate with the trophy on the podium after winning the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final football match against Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025.

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Women's Africa Cup of Nations pushed back from March to summer

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