AP Sports Digest

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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TEN--WIMBLEDON

DESCRIPTION: French Open champion Alexander Zverev plays Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of Wimbledon and Grigor Dimitrov plays fellow wild card Arthur Fery.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 9:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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CYC--TOUR DE FRANCE

DESCRIPTION: The first big mountain climb of the Tour comes during stage 3 from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in the French Pyrenees.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 1:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOC--WORLD CUP COVERAGE

SOC--WCUP-WOMEN’S SOCCER-IMPACT

DESCRIPTION: TORONTO While other North American leagues took long breaks during the World Cup, the women’s professional Northern Super League in Canada — in just its second year — continued play. The National Women’s Soccer League just resumed play after an extended break. Both leagues hope to capitalize on the so-called Summer of Soccer. By Lexi Linderman.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT

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WITH: SOC--WCUP-PORTUGAL-SPAIN

DESCRIPTION: ARLINGTON, Texas — Portugal and Spain renew their neighborhood rivalry in the World Cup round of 16 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys nearly a year after Portugal’s riveting win in the UEFA Nations League final. By Schuyler Dixon.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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WITH: SOC--WCUP-NORWAY-FAIRYTALE RUN

DESCRIPTION: Erling Haaland and Norway delivering the best World Cup in national team history is stirring up pride among fans in the U.S. and also back home. Haaland after beating Brazil said he wished he were in Oslo celebrating. Norway is happy he’s on the field instead. The Viking Row has become a signature part of the tournament, with Norway reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. Haaland hopes the success outlives this summer and makes players take pride in playing for their country, and teammates want to be an inspiration for the next generation. By Stephen Whyno and Steve Douglas. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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CAR--NASCAR-ROLLING STONES

DESCRIPTION: NASCAR recruited a couple of its youngest drivers for a key component of its partnership with the Rolling Stones for promoting the band’s new album. By Jay Cohen.

UPCOMING: By 07/06/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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SOC--WCUP-MEXICO-ENGLAND

England hands Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 to reach quarterfinals

SUMMARY: Jude Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart, Harry Kane converted a penalty when England was down to 10 men, and England handed Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, a wild 3-2 victory to reach the quarterfinals. England moves on to face Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a spot in the semifinals. Bellingham stunned the crowd of more than 80,000 at a venue where Mexico was unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches, including three this tournament, when he scored on a header in the 36th minute and again in the 38th on a pass from Kane.

WORDS: 867 - MOVED: 07/06/2026 1:14 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e65fe854ac5e5d32d30b4ac8cc3ff2dd&mediaType=text

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SWM--MCINTOSH-200 BUTTERFLY RECORD

Summer McIntosh breaks women’s 200-meter butterfly world record at Canadian trials

SUMMARY: Summer McIntosh broke the longest-standing individual women’s swimming world record Sunday night, finishing the 200-meter butterfly in 2 minutes 1.65 seconds at the Canadian trials. The 19-year-old McIntosh broke the mark of 2:01.81 set by China’s Liu Zige in 2009 during what’s known as the super-suit era. A three-time champion at the 2004 Paris Olympics, McIntosh slammed her fists into the water in celebration while smiling ear-to-ear as the crowd erupted inside the Olympic pool. McIntosh has long targeted the record, coming within 0.18 seconds with a time of 2:01.99 last year in the world championships.

WORDS: 320 - MOVED: 07/06/2026 1:07 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:add865495c2c5dac367f77ccfc5839fe&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-US-BALOGUN

FIFA lifts US star striker Balogun’s red card suspension at World Cup after Trump calls Infantino

SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American star forward Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was lifted in a decision that allows him to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday. Balogun, the American leader with three goals, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday. A red card triggers an automatic one-game suspension. FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted, triggering praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team.

WORDS: 1211 - MOVED: 07/06/2026 12:56 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e5a5cab5731a916808601be93cb36832&mediaType=text

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BBO--DODGERS-ALFONZO-EARTHQUAKE

Dodgers’ Eliézer Alfonzo makes MLB debut with sister, stepmother still missing in Venezuela quakes

SUMMARY: Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo has made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers with his sister and stepmother still missing after Venezuela’s catastrophic earthquakes. The 26-year-old Alfonzo batted ninth and caught Emmet Sheehan in the Dodgers’ home game against the San Diego Padres. Alfonzo’s sister and stepmother have been missing since multiple earthquakes hit his homeland on June 24. Several Latin American media outlets reported their bodies had been found in the wreckage of the hotel in La Guaira where they were staying, but the Dodgers announced no confirmation of the news. Alfonzo spent nearly a decade in the minors before getting his first call-up this weekend.

WORDS: 1024 - MOVED: 07/06/2026 12:37 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:45d59102c919f05560e2ff7c2ee17149&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-CHICAGOLAND

Briscoe holds off Bell in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway

SUMMARY: Chase Briscoe held off Christopher Bell in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway, racing to his first Cup Series victory of the season. Briscoe was followed closely by Bell in the final laps on the 1.5-mile oval about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. But Bell was unable to run down his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. The 31-year-old Briscoe, an Indiana native, celebrated his sixth career win with a burnout before standing in the window of his car and waving to the sellout crowd. It was Bell’s fourth runner-up finish this season. He raced with a splint on his arm as he continues his recovery after breaking his left wrist in a crash at Michigan on June 7.

WORDS: 824 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 11:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a5237a11dca936a594341eeaff679433&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-BRAZIL-NORWAY

Erling Haaland scores twice to beat Brazil, send Norway into World Cup quarterfinals for 1st time

SUMMARY: Erling Haaland headed in the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute and scored again before the end of regulation time, carrying Norway into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 2-1 win over Brazil that showcased the young striker on soccer’s biggest stage. Haaland, with two goals, tied Lionel Messi for the most in the tournament with seven each. Brazil’s streak of reaching the quarterfinals ended at eight, with its first round-of-16 exit since 1990. Norway next faces England with a spot in the semifinals at stake.

WORDS: 966 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 11:15 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5bba7c6c6d50d3cbcc2628e4c1bfb180&mediaType=text

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BBO--MARLINS-ATHLETICS-PERFECT GAME

Pérez pulled after 7 perfect innings against A’s, and Marlins nearly blow 8-run lead in 9-8 win

SUMMARY: Eury Pérez was pulled after pitching seven perfect innings Sunday, and the Miami Marlins nearly blew an eight-run lead before holding on for a 9-8 victory over the Athletics. Marlins reliever Lake Bachar replaced Pérez to start the eighth and issued a leadoff walk to Lawrence Butler as fans booed. That was the first baserunner for the A’s, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer then dunked a pop-fly single into shallow right field for their first hit. Moments later, Jonah Heim launched a grand slam off Bachar that shaved Miami’s lead to 8-5. The 23-year-old Pérez, who has never tossed a complete game in his major league career, retired all 21 batters he faced with eight strikeouts. He threw 92 pitches before Miami manager Clayton McCullough went to his bullpen.

WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 9:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:979288f165adc7716d9b7e5708fb7568&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-US-BELGIUM PREVIEW

US faces Belgium for spot in World Cup quarterfinals, hoping for first back-to-back knockout wins

SUMMARY: The United States is aiming for back-to-back World Cup knockout wins for the first time. Coach Mauricio Pochettino expects a full lineup Monday against Belgium. The U.S. last faced Belgium at the World Cup in 2014, losing 2-1 in extra time. A quarterfinal spot against Spain or Portugal is at stake. Belgium advanced by overcoming Senegal 3-2 in extra time. The U.S. ended a 10-game losing streak to European teams by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 16. Folarin Balogun is eligible to play after his suspension was lifted. A sellout crowd is expected at Lumen Field.

WORDS: 783 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 9:32 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8f6fe74d2c863d6963edfb3ef35b95d0&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-BRAZIL’S LOSS

Brazil left to second-guess penalty kick choice after earliest World Cup exit since 1990

SUMMARY: Vinícius Júnior had the ball at the penalty spot, a perfect chance to give Brazil the lead. And he handed it to Bruno Guimarães. And by the time Neymar took and made Brazil’s second penalty kick, it was too late for the five-time World Cup champions. Guimarães had his penalty shot stopped by Ørjan Nyland in the 14th minute and Brazil couldn’t get one past Norway’s goalkeeper until deep in stoppage time, losing 2-1 on Sunday in the round of 16 for its earliest World Cup exit since 1990. It was Brazil’s first unsuccessful penalty kick in the World Cup — not counting shootouts — since 1986.

WORDS: 685 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 8:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a9f993fdb5b0a3ab4be9116fba642119&mediaType=text

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TEN--WIMBLEDON-GAUFF

Coco Gauff’s buzzer-beater at Wimbledon reminds her of Kawhi Leonard’s shot

SUMMARY: There’s not usually a clock ticking down in tennis. Yet for Coco Gauff at Wimbledon on Sunday the 11 p.m. curfew made it seem like there was. And Gauff hit the winning shot at the buzzer. Two minutes before 11 Gauff converted her first match point with a service winner out wide to reach the quarterfinals at the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time. After beating Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Gauff tapped her left wrist to acknowledge the timely ending. If Gauff hadn’t ended it in that game the match would have been suspended until Monday. Gauff says that “playing tennis we’re used to not having a clock. But honestly today I felt the pressure.”

WORDS: 370 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 7:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:43174fb0a22e7102d1126b57dc881945&mediaType=text

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GLF--JOHN DEERE

Chris Gotterup wins John Deere Classic with a 62 and late help from Ben Kohles

SUMMARY: Chris Gotterup has won the John Deere Classic for his fourth PGA Tour title in the last 12 months. Gotterup shot a 62 in the final round at the TPC Deere Run. That helped him make up a five-shot deficit. And then he needed some help at the end. Ben Kohles was tied for the lead with Gotterup and in the middle of the 18th fairway. But he pulled his 8-iron into the water and then missed a short putt and took double bogey. Max Homa wound up in second for his best finish in more than three years.

WORDS: 737 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 6:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:84e510f6fe5659dea04e34b7cd93872e&mediaType=text

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TEN--WIMBLEDON

Naomi Osaka overpowers Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals

SUMMARY: Naomi Osaka outslugged top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in all three of her previous matches with Osaka this year including at the same stage of the French Open last month. But this time Sabalenka couldn’t handle Osaka’s pace and flat groundstrokes It was Osaka’s first win over a No. 1 player since beating Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019. That was before Osaka took a breaks from the tour to manage her mental health in 2021 and for maternity leave that resulted in her missing all of 2023. Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner also won.

WORDS: 1000 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 6:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:37a2f45610f2b71aa834c4265a0b6362&mediaType=text

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TEN--WIMBLEDON-DJOKOVIC

Djokovic breaks another Federer record at Wimbledon despite ‘meltdowns’ on Centre Court

SUMMARY: After all the records Novak Djokovic has broken, the latest one left him rather unimpressed — even though he surpassed his great rival Roger Federer. Djokovic set a men’s record for most match wins at Wimbledon after overcoming a surprisingly tough challenge from 132nd-ranked qualifier Roman Safiullin on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals. It was his 106th match victory at the All England Club. That puts him one ahead of Federer atop the all-time list for men, although he still trails Martina Navratilova’s 120 match wins. Djokovic is also trying to match Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles, so the mark for match wins was “not on my priority list,” he said. He added: “That’s really quite insignificant to me at the moment.”

WORDS: 802 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 4:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:880a45cf0fa773b51ba808a8b8775066&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-FANS-PHOTO GALLERY

World Cup fans flood stadiums and fan zones with dazzling costumes, facepaint and flags — in photos

WORDS: 42 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 3:42 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1d86f9b4c972d1537f88f906b56d49d3&mediaType=text

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BKN--MITCHELL ROBINSON INJURY

Mitchell Robinson says injury before NBA Finals came from hitting truck amid concern for his brother

SUMMARY: Mitchell Robinson says the hand injury that left his status uncertain for the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals opener came after he punched a truck amid concern over his brother’s health. Robinson, who last week agreed to leave the Knicks and sign with the Boston Celtics, wrote a Facebook post Sunday that addressed the injury and other mental health concerns he had during the season. Robinson says it was an injury to his knuckle when he returned from the Knicks’ victory in Game 4 and learned that his brother was in a car crash. Robinson originally feared his brother was dead.

WORDS: 394 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 2:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9939c056256740c725756f1b9f99ae9c&mediaType=text

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CAR--F1-BRITISH GP

Leclerc ends wait for a win at British Grand Prix as F1 leader Antonelli hits more trouble

SUMMARY: Charles Leclerc took his first Formula 1 win in nearly two years at the British Grand Prix after standings leader Kimi Antonelli’s challenge was derailed by damage to his car. Leclerc surged past Antonelli at the start as the Italian dropped to third but the Italian was chasing him down in the final laps when he reported a steering problem. George Russell was second for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton third for Ferrari as the race finished behind the safety car after a spin for Max Verstappen.

WORDS: 718 - MOVED: 07/05/2026 1:58 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:913905ac17a3293ab5192659c349480b&mediaType=text