August 1, 2026 5:02 am
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after receiving pushback from all corners of the soccer world. Infantino’s decision came after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it. Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family, but drew backlash that grew every day. UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Infantino’s plan, followed by CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
August 1, 2026 4:46 am
PATERSON, NJ (July 31) – The Washington Wild Things took home an 8-5 win in the series opener against the Jackals Friday night at Hinchliffe Stadium by getting a combined eight hits from Cole Fowler and Andrew Czech, while Czech belted two homers and drove in six and seeing Kobe Foster twirl a quality start in his return from the injured list. New Jersey grabbed the game’s first run in the second off Foster on a pair of doubles to start the inning, the first two hits for the Jackals against Foster this season. Kobe threw his no-hitter in June at home against New Jersey. He’d not yield another tally as New Jersey went mostly silent until the eighth inning when they scored their other four runs, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in the frame as well. An interference call on a runner headed to third ended the threat. Cole Fowler got Washington going in the fourth inning with a solo shot to even things up at 1-1 before Czech hit the first of two three-run homers on the night for the first baseman in the fifth to put the Wild Things in front. Fowler scored on a wild pitch in the sixth after collecting his third of four hits, making it 5-1. Czech added his second of the night and 20th of the season in the eighth, a three-run shot that put Washington up 8-1. Foster earned the win to go to 7-2 on the year while Landon Ginn used five pitches to settle and finish things in the ninth, earning his 10th save. The two teams will go at it again Saturday night at 6:35 with New Jersey native Jack Brodsky taking the mound for Washington opposed by Elio Serrano for the Jackals.
July 31, 2026 1:34 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed veteran forward Tommy Novak to a three-year contract extension. The deal begins in the 2027-28 season and carries average annual value of $4.65 million. Novak scored 16 goals and 26 points in 82 games last season, helping the Penguins return to the playoffs after a three-year absence. He played between the second and third lines during his first full season in Pittsburgh. The extension keeps the 29-year-old with the team for the rest of the decade, positioning him as part of the club’s future core.
July 31, 2026 4:20 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz scored on fielder’s choice in the ninth inning to lift the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opening game of a four-game series. Cincinnati loaded the bases against Gregory Soto (5-3) with one out. Lowe grounded softly to second for a potential game-ending double play but beat the throw as De La Cruz scored easily. De La Cruz hit three doubles and had an RBI. Emilio Pagan (3-1) got the win. Brandon Lowe homered for the Pirates and Jacob Gonzalez also drove in a run.
July 31, 2026 4:21 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was set to return as the leadoff hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, a day after he wasn’t in the lineup because of lingering soreness in his left knee that is keeping him off the mound. The team decided to rest him Thursday due to lingering soreness in his left knee. Manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani wanted to play, but the decision was made after Ohtani told the training staff about his discomfort. He hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of the knee issue, but he continues to serve as the designated hitter. The Dodgers open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
July 31, 2026 4:22 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield feels “disrespected” by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is focused on playing his best football. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t get the contract extension he sought and plans to play out the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal. Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by Cleveland, revived his career in Tampa Bay after replacing Tom Brady in 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons while leading the Bucs to consecutive NFC South titles.
July 30, 2026 4:27 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Mason Rudolph is familiar with competition as the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp. The longtime backup quarterback, now in his ninth NFL season, faces another year of uncertainty about his roster spot. While Aaron Rodgers is firmly atop the depth chart, the spots behind him are up for grabs, with Rudolph jockeying with youngsters Will Howard and Drew Allar for position. First-year coach Mike McCarthy must decide whether to rely on Rudolph’s experience or opt for a fresh approach. The 31-year-old Rudolph remains focused, saying he’s ready to prove himself once again.
July 30, 2026 4:29 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona now sits two games up on the Pirates for the final NL wild card. Rodríguez struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
July 30, 2026 4:31 am
DETROIT (AP) — Trade deadline target Tarik Skubal and Detroit fans gave each other a warm farewell Wednesday, just in case this was the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s final appearance in a Tigers jersey. Skubal was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning against Baltimore. His first standing ovation came when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward on a 3-2 changeup to record his 1,000th career strikeout. He reached the mark in 857 innings, breaking Max Scherzer’s franchise-best mark of 944 2/3 innings.
July 29, 2026 5:41 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona now sits two games up on the Pirates for the final NL wild card. Rodríguez struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
