US opens its home World Cup with a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay, sparked by Balogun's 2 goals
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. has opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half. Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead. Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time. The U.S. scored only three goals combined in Qatar four years ago.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani misses series opener against White Sox because of knee soreness
CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is day to day with left knee inflammation. Ohtani was sidelined for the team's 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. But manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani could play this weekend and remains in line to make his next scheduled start on the mound on Wednesday. Ohtani was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of Thursday night’s 8-6 win at Pittsburgh. Roberts says Ohtani had some imaging done and “it's just normal wear and tear.”
Brewers' Misiorowski dominates Phillies with a 15-strikeout, one-hit complete-game gem
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski turned in is finest outing one year to the day of his major league debut. Misiorowski dominated the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, strikeout out 15 and tossing a complete-game one-hitter in a 6-0 victory. Misiorowski (8-2) didn’t issue a walk in facing the minimum number of batters, throwing 95 pitches, 74 for strikes. It marked the first complete game by a Brewers pitcher since Brandon Woodruff on Sept. 11, 2023, against Miami. Misiorowski has a 0.17 ERA in his last eight starts and the 15 strikeout are the most by any pitcher this season.
Roaring crowds in stars and stripes show up for the US team, and soccer's moment in their country
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Roaring crowds wearing stars and stripes came out to support the U.S. men's soccer team in their World Cup opener against Paraguay. While the U.S. isn't known for soccer as much as football or basketball, the sport has seen a rise in popularity since the last time the country hosted the international tournament in 1994. Many fans on Friday said they grew up playing soccer, and came from immigrant families passionate about the sport. They traveled from as far as Tennessee and Georgia to see the team play. And they saw the U.S. beat Paraguay 4-1.
Judge rules Trump can stage UFC fights on the White House's South Lawn this weekend
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled the White House is allowed to stage a UFC show this weekend in an elaborate ring already built on the South Lawn to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary — on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Friday that organizers can use the White House lawn as the venue for Sunday’s planned UFC mixed martial arts event. The nonprofit Public Integrity Project had sued to challenge Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 event. The White House calls the lawsuit baseless, saying the UFC event is no different from many other events hosted at public forums in the capital.
Folarin Balogun, who could have played for England or Nigeria, scores 2 for US in World Cup debut
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Folarin Balogun chose to play for the U.S. and made a splashy World Cup debut. The 24-year-old striker scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the Americans' opening match. The game took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 70,492 outside Los Angeles. With David Beckham watching, Balogun became the first U.S. player to score multiple goals in a World Cup game since 1930. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, he moved to England as a child. Balogun is now making himself an American household name during this Summer of Soccer.
Wemby, Spurs still believers, even while down 3-1 to Knicks in NBA Finals
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama, the tallest man in these NBA Finals, is about to face the tallest order of his basketball career. And he’s fine with that. Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs — who just became the first team in NBA Finals history to lead a game by 29 points and still lose — need to win the next three games, or they’ll watch the New York Knicks celebrate an NBA title at their expense. And when the Spurs gathered for practice on Friday, Wembanyama insisted the belief within the Spurs camp is still there.
A dream day for New York fans with Knicks on the road to clinch and Brazil vs. Morocco in World Cup
NEW YORK (AP) — If there’s a saving grace from the bedlam that is about to ensue in New York City on Saturday, with the Knicks on the verge of a championship and Brazil taking on Morocco in the World Cup, it is that Game 5 of the NBA Finals is on the road. Of course, that won’t stop orange-and-blue-blooded Knicks fans from teeming into the area near the team’s Manhattan arena to watch on bar TVs and big screens as their team — playing 1,580 miles away in San Antonio — looks to clinch its first title in 53 years. The city has yet to say what security measures will be in place for Knicks fans gathering outside.
Ben James takes lead in Canada in his pro debut
CALEDON, Ontario (AP) — Ben James is making quite the impression in his professional debut. James has a one-shot lead in the RBC Canadian after a bogey-free 63 on the TPC Toronto. The four-time All-American from Virginia led the PGA Tour University ranking to earn a tour card through 27. This is his 10th time playing a PGA Tour event but the first time with a paycheck on the line. He leads over a group that includes Sam Burns. Brooks Koepka overcame a double bogey and shot a 68. He's in a large group two shots behind going into the weekend.
Head of Palestinian soccer says he wasn't granted US visa to attend World Cup
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The United States has not given a visa to the head of the Palestinian Football Association even though FIFA typically invites the heads of each national federation to attend the World Cup. Jibril Rajoub attended Thursday’s opening match in Mexico City. But he said he is among invitees who have been denied visas or have yet to receive them from the United States. The United States has refused entry to delegates from a raft of countries, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with the Iraq’s team. It had no immediate comment on Rajoub's visa.
