Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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FBN--NFL COMBINE

FORMATS: Text

1. WITH: FBN--NFL COMBINE

2. DESCRIPTION: NFL coaches, general managers, defensive linemen and linebackers all speak Wednesday after arriving in Indianapolis for the NFL’s annual scouting combine. By Michael Marot. 700 words, more on merit, with photos. Availability runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

3. UPCOMING: By 02/25/2026 5:00 p.m. EST

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HKN--OILERS-DUCKS

DESCRIPTION: ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joel Quenneville attempts to become the second coach in NHL history to win 1,000 games when his Anaheim Ducks return from the Olympic break to face the Edmonton Oilers. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 150 words.

UPCOMING: By 02/25/2026 10:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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SOC--MEXICO-VIOLENCE-WORLD CUP

FIFA’s Infantino has ‘complete confidence’ in Mexico to host World Cup games despite cartel violence

SUMMARY: FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he has “complete confidence” in Mexico as a World Cup co-host despite days of cartel violence in the country that has left at least 70 people dead. FIFA says Mexico can still safely co-host the World Cup despite deadly cartel violence linked to a top drug lord’s death. On Monday, authorities report at least 70 deaths after cartel members burn cars and block roads in many states. The unrest follows the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” Some local league matches have already been postponed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he trusts President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexico’s authorities. He says FIFA is monitoring events closely. Some soccer leaders also express concern about playoff games scheduled in Mexico.

WORDS: 541 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 12:51 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:57622651ebeb40599f59b999047aa82e&mediaType=text

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BBO--MARINERS-RALEIGH HOMERS

Cal Raleigh not focused on trying for another 60-homer season in Seattle

SUMMARY: Cal Raleigh has already gone deep this spring. Still, the switch-hitting Seattle Mariners catcher isn’t focused on trying to repeat his MLB-leading 60 homers from last season. He hit a 427-foot homer against the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game Tuesday, his first in three spring games. He told Seattle Sports this week that he knows the elephant in the room is 60 homers, but that it’s not something he’s setting out to do. His 60 homers were the most for a player who was primarily a catcher. He finished second in the American League MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

WORDS: 265 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 12:33 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1808d3d2c13671ecea7696e13992da05&mediaType=text

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HKN--PENGUINS-CROSBY

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby placed on injured reserve after getting hurt at the Olympics

SUMMARY: The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to begin their playoff push without Sidney Crosby. The team has placed their longtime captain on injured reserve with a lower-body injury he sustained at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Crosby is expected to miss four weeks. The 38-year-old Crosby leads the Penguins in points, goals and assists. Pittsburgh begins the post-Olympic break at home against New Jersey. The Penguins are trying to return to the playoffs following a three-year absence.

WORDS: 236 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 11:29 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3a6cdeeb3321d58708085316155e5a52&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL COMBINE GUIDE

The NFL combine is here, and there are plenty of intriguing names after Fernando Mendoza

SUMMARY: The NFL scouting combine is off and running again. There are 319 college prospects who were invited to attend the annual event, and the first on the clock will be defensive linemen and linebackers Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Three more days of measuring the speed, strength and agility of players will follow. NFL Network will carry live coverage each day. The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick and need to start over at quarterback. That makes Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza a likely choice.

WORDS: 432 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 11:10 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8135d9a4cc68fec8920a1edcb725410f&mediaType=text

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OLY--NBC-HOCKEY RATINGS

Hughes’ OT goal for Team USA vs Canada in Olympic final averages 26M live viewers on NBC, Peacock

SUMMARY: Jack Hughes’ overtime goal delivered a huge audience for U.S. hockey and NBC. Nielsen said Team USA’s 2-1 win over Canada in the gold medal game averaged 18.6 million live viewers on NBC and Peacock. The audience rose to 20.7 million with encores later on Sunday. Nielsen also said it the most-watched U.S. sporting event with a start time before 9 a.m. Eastern. NBC said it is its second-most-watched hockey game ever. Canada’s broadcaster said 8.7 million Canadians watched overtime. NBCUniversal said Monday the Milan Cortina Games averaged 23.5 million viewers overall.

WORDS: 320 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 9:19 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cc7bdc8c6cded0c8c4451a57cf19941c&mediaType=text

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OLY--US HOCKEY-STATE OF THE UNION

US men’s hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women’s team will be honored ‘soon’

SUMMARY: The gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team has visited President Donald Trump at the White House and later received about a 2-minute bipartisan standing ovation during his State of the Union address. Trump also announced that the women’s hockey team, which also defeated Canada to win gold, will visit the White House. The women’s team had declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union due to the timing of the address. Trump also said goalie Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

WORDS: 668 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 9:18 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:89fff7bdec947251ff926e09ac24d4e4&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL-LONDON

Commanders and Jaguars to host games in London next season, with Jacksonville playing twice

SUMMARY: The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to become the first NFL team to play two home games overseas. The Jaguars and the Washington Commanders were named hosts for three games scheduled for London in 2026. Jacksonville will play back-to-back games across the pond in October, with one at historic Wembley Stadium and the other at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Commanders also will host a game at Tottenham, the official home of the NFL in Britain. Specific dates and opponents will be announced later. The Jaguars are making the move because stadium renovations will reduce capacity in Jacksonville to 42,507 this fall.

WORDS: 457 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 9:08 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5b807c0facf55481ec94d4905ea75dd7&mediaType=text

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GLF--FURYK-TV

Jim Furyk to dip toes in the TV waters. He will be in Golf Channel booth at Bay Hill and Sawgrass

SUMMARY: Jim Furyk is about to test the television waters for Golf Channel. The former U.S. Open champion will be in the booth for Golf Channel for weekday rounds and lead-in coverage at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Then he will be in the booth for six-hour coverage of the opening two rounds of The Players Championship. Furyk isn’t sure where this will lead. He describes it as a trial basis to see if he likes it and if it goes well. Furyk helped out with Golf Channel coverage from the PGA Tour studios last year for a PGA Tour Champions event.

WORDS: 433 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 8:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b14d79f5f7d036e96e772745cba72c53&mediaType=text

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LT--MEXICO-CARTEL-LEADER

Cartel violence fuels doubts about FIFA World Cup games in Mexico

SUMMARY: The violence that followed the killing of a cartel leader in Mexico is fueling fears that the bloodshed could hurt tourism ahead of the FIFA World Cup later this year. Maria Dolores Aguirre’s corner store has lived off the tourism that flows into her cobblestoned town of Tapalpa in the mountains of Mexico’s state of Jalisco. Then the Mexican army killed the country’s most powerful drug lord Sunday just a few kilometers from her home. The killing sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge. Now Aguirre and others are worried that the clashes between the cartel and security forces will hurt their livelihoods.

WORDS: 1217 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 6:33 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b12ed518d44951c7875bfddef1c2c7b4&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-23XI WINS

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing aims for motorsports dominance

SUMMARY: Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing is surging in NASCAR with two wins to open the 2026 season. Tyler Reddick has won the Daytona 500 and last week at Atlanta, and he and teammate Bubba Wallace go to Texas this weekend ranked first and second in the Cup Series standings. At its headquarters called Airspeed, the team leans into an employee-first culture. It throws parties after wins and offers perks like a top gym and Jordan sneakers. The group also pushes bold marketing. Leaders say last year’s federal antitrust suit against NASCAR never broke focus and the team now aims to set the standard.

WORDS: 1040 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f434c05112ee8836b17ebc9f82714f1f&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Champions League: Vinícius, Madrid set for feisty Benfica rematch and Italy heading for humiliation

WORDS: 355 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 5:45 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:098c203755b361ccea826e5deba8fca5&mediaType=text

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OLY-2030-OLYMPICS-FRENCH-ALPS

Turmoil-hit 2030 French Alps Olympics lose CEO Cyril Linette in leadership shake-up

SUMMARY: Organizers of the 2030 French Alps Olympics have confirmed their CEO Cyril Linette has left after weeks of internal turmoil. They say the executive board formally acknowledged his departure over the weekend. Organizers added they wanted “new momentum” and renewed governance as planning enters a key phase. Tensions have grown for months after several resignations. Organizers say all stakeholders still back the project and the work continues. The Games face a tight timeline and a split venue plan. A full site map is not adopted yet.

WORDS: 326 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 4:36 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5f0e4642dc772805cece1665d8b839fa&mediaType=text

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BKN--LAKERS-LAST SHOT

Luka hesitates, LeBron misses on the last possession of a rough homestand for the slumping Lakers

SUMMARY: When Luka Doncic had the ball in his hands with a chance to win the game for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Slovenian scoring machine passed. That’s not what anybody around the Lakers wanted or expected. That includes LeBron James, the recipient of that pass on the final possession of the Lakers’ 110-109 loss to Orlando on Tuesday night. Doncic rarely hesitates to shoot from inside 30 feet when he’s as open as he was, but he said he thought he was too far from the basket to take a shot. James desperately launched a fallaway 3-point attempt that got nowhere close.

WORDS: 679 - MOVED: 02/25/2026 2:58 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b1afb9f2880061c0cc1594a77d7c53cf&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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FBN--NFL COMBINE

Tight ends and defensive backs speak with reporters Thursday at the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

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CAR--F1-SEASON PREVIEW

Formula 1 is going through one of its biggest regulation changes for 2026, shaking up the established order. Lando Norris aims to defend his title while former champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton hope to be contenders again and George Russell tries to lead Mercedes back to the front.

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