AP National Sports

By JON GAMBRELL and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Smiling U.S. and Iranian fans are mingling and posing for photos outside a stadium in Doha ahead of a politically charged World Cup match. The atmosphere is generally festive though the political divisions among Iran fans are apparent outside Al Thumama Stadium, as

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Qatari soccer fans gathered at Al Bayt Stadium for the country’s last game in the World Cup. Qatar lost to the Netherlands 2-0 and is out of the tournament after three games in the group stage. Qatar lost all three games and scored only

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lance Leipold has signed his lucrative contract extension at Kansas, which includes a massive pay raise for the Jayhawks’ football coach along with his assistants and staff, and could keep him tied to the school through the 2029 season. Under terms of the contract, obtained

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods painted an uncertain picture about how much golf he can play, saying Tuesday that “I don’t have much left in this leg.” He also doesn’t have much hope the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded rival league can get along unless Greg Norman is

By ALI ABDUL-HASSAN and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. team’s must-win World Cup match against Iran will be closely watched across the Middle East. The two nations have been engaged in a cold war for over four decades and many blame one or both for the region’s woes. Critics of Iran

By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — The parents of a Georgia high school basketball player who collapsed while practicing outdoors in sweltering heat and later died announced that they have agreed to a $10 million settlement with the school district. Their lawyers said Tuesday that, as part of the settlement, the Clayton County

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — The Netherlands still has a long way to go to match the “total football” teams of the 1970s, or even the more offensive “Oranje” squads that reached the World Cup final in 2010 and finished third in 2014. Still, a 2-0 win over Qatar

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Edmonton star Connor McDavid is a much different player 500-plus games into his NHL career than he was seven years ago when he made his debut. He is generally considered the best hockey player in the world. He has followed a Sidney Crosby-like path of turning individual weaknesses into

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says the squad has held a meeting where players aired their “honest” views about how the team can salvage its World Cup campaign. Belgium arrived in Qatar as the No. 2-ranked team and one of the tournament favorites. The team was

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly put his team into the last 16 of the World Cup by volleying home the winner in a 2-1 victory over Ecuador. Koulibaly scored three minutes after Moises Caicedo had evened the score at 1-1. Senegal took the lead after

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A disciplinary case has been opened against Croatia at the World Cup after the team’s fans taunted a Canada player with Serbian family ties. FIFA says the charge against the Croatian soccer federation was “due to the behavior of its fans.” It cited rules relating to discrimination and security at games.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz has delved into the worlds of skiing and tennis when assessing the task facing his players in stopping Argentina great Lionel Messi at the World Cup. A draw for Poland in Wednesday’s game at Stadium 974 will secure a place in the last 16 but the team’s

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer U.S. Davis Cup team coaches Mardy Fish and Bob Bryan have been fined $10,000 apiece after promoting a gambling operator via social media. The London-based International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the punishments Tuesday. It said Fish and Bryan cooperated fully with its investigation and removed the problematic posts immediately.

By The Associated Press A top-heavy field in the Bahamas is missing Tiger Woods. The tournament host of the Hero World Challenge had to withdraw because of a foot injury. Woods hasn’t played since missing the cut in the British Open. He still plans to play a 12-hole match next week and the PNC Championship

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil’s team doctor says Neymar will miss the last group game at the World Cup because of a right ankle injury. Rodrigo Lasmar says the Brazil forward will not face Cameroon in the Group G game on Friday. Neymar missed Monday’s 1-0 win over Switzerland.

HOUSTON (AP) — José Abreu and the World Series champion Astros have agreed to a $58.5 million, three-year contract, adding another powerful bat to Houston’s lineup. Abreu, the 2020 AL MVP, spent his first nine major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox. The first baseman became a free agent after batting .304 with 15

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian authorities say two former members of the national soccer team arrested this month over criticism of the government have been released on bail. Tuesday’s announcement came hours before Iran was set to play the U.S. at the World Cup in a match that authorities are heavily promoting as

By JENNA FRYER AP National Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The protester who ran onto the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay has been banned from future games in Qatar. The organizing committee for the World Cup said Tuesday it had revoked the entry permit for the

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Juventus’ board of directors and president Andrea Agnelli have resigned en masse. The stunning move follows a preliminary investigation by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office into fraudulent accounting, of alleged hidden payments to players. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Juventus said 23 players

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian authorities say a former member of the national soccer team arrested last week over his criticism of the government has been released on bail. Tuesday’s announcement came hours before Iran was set to play the U.S. at the World Cup in a match that authorities are heavily promoting as they