AP National Sports

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA is set to make the 2022 World Cup finals tournament draw in Qatar on April 1. That’s before two of the 32 qualifying teams will be known because of match schedule delays in the COVID-19 pandemic. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the draw ceremony plan Wednesday. Just 30 of the 32

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen will miss the rest of the season after having knee surgery. Hansen was injured in the second quarter against Wisconsin on Oct. 9 and made his announcement on Twitter. He says it pains him to say he won’t play another game for the Illini. He thanked coaches,

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Max Verstappen is in the first championship fight of his Formula One career as he heads to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as the championship leader. The Dutch driver holds a six-point lead over seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton with six races remaining. The low-key son of

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Halfway through the season the Bulldogs are ranked first in the Top 25 and the Crimson Tide fourth. Eight of the past nine SEC title games have featured either Alabama or Georgia or both.

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — Salzburg’s young squad has taken a big step closer to reaching the Champions League knockout stage with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. Noah Okafor scored twice after 19-year-old forward Karim Adeyemi netted early to put the Austrian team on course for victory as it bids to reach the knockout round for

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Matt Ryan is looking to see more growth from the offense when the Atlanta Falcons return from their bye week for this week’s game in Miami. Top wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s return should help. Ryan says Ridley “was flying around” in his return to

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gerard Piqué’s goal has equaled a Champions League scoring mark for defenders and helped Barcelona defeat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 to end its losing streak and get back in position to advance to the knockout stage of the European competition. Piqué scored his 16th Champions League goal to secure the crucial win

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco has had surgery to remove a bone fragment from his pitching elbow and is projected to resume baseball activities this winter. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek operated Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The 34-year-old Carrasco was obtained by the

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Boston College coach Earl Grant knows it’s likely going to be a tough first year on the job for him. Grant was hired at BC in March after spending seven seasons at the College of Charleston, where he took the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2018,

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — FIFA’s drive to get approval in December for holding World Cups every two years stalled Wednesday. This was one day after its president Gianni Infantino met with fierce resistance from European soccer leaders. Infantino instead announced FIFA would host a remote “global summit” on Dec. 20

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — After dropping passes in the preseason, Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase has worked his way into the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year. A highlight-reel downfield block to spring Joe Mixon for a touchdown in Sunday’s rout of the Detroit Lions just added to

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers ended a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought last season and walked away from the accomplishment a little disappointed. After beating Clemson in the opening round, the Scarlet Knights blew a nine-point lead against Houston in the final five minutes two days later. The Cougars went

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press An attorney says former Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich’s termination for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination was unlawful and an attack on his Catholic faith. Attorney Brian Fahling also says Rolovich intends to take legal action. Rolovich and four of his assistants were fired for not

ROME (AP) — Lazio has suspended eagle trainer Juan Bernabè after he was filmed making a fascist salute in front of fans. Bernabè has been the falconer and the trainer of Lazio’s eagle mascot Olympia since 2010. A video showed Bernabè holding Olympia and making the fascist salute while chanting “Duce, Duce” along with the

By DORIAN COLBERT RosterWatch Some prominent players have fallen by the wayside in fantasy thus far, but we still have some fantasy stars who are more than likely to reach the end zone this week. These are my best bets at the running back and wide receiver positions to score in Week 7. 

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer For those who oppose Thursday night NFL games, this week is a perfect example of why. It’s difficult enough to prepare for a Sunday game when you have key injuries, particularly at quarterback. And when both teams are uncertain about their quarterback situation, it doesn’t make for the

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley is dealing with a hamstring injury that makes him uncertain to play Sunday at New England. Coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Mosley was hurt late in New York’s 27-20 loss to Atlanta in London on

The Broncos and Browns will meet mirroring each other. Both teams are sliding, staggering with injuries and desperate for a win. Cleveland has dropped two in a row under Kevin Stefanski for the first time in two seasons. Quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss the game with a left shoulder injury that has affected his play.

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The message for the Miami Dolphins right now is simultaneously clear and tricky: Do better, but not necessarily do more. Translated, that’s the Dolphins’ way of telling players — even while mired in a five-game losing streak — to focus solely on their assignments

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brazilian winger Luiz Araújo has a $3.6 million base salary after joining Atlanta from Lille and has total compensation of more than $3.9 million, making him the highest among players to join Major League Soccer teams during the 2021 season. Argentine forward Sebastián Driussi had the second-highest pay among the midseason signings,