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.
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.
Larin scores in 78th minute to rally Canada to 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup opener
TORONTO (AP) — Late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute and co-host Canada earned its first-ever point in a World Cup by rallying for a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Larin converted Promise David’s pass a mere two minutes after entering the game. Injury fill-in Jovo Lukic headed in a corner kick in the 21st minute for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is making its second World Cup appearance. Canada coach Jesse Marsch says the red-clad crowd helped the team come back for the draw. Marsch says the crowd "willed us into the game as (the players) could feel that energy in the second half tilting more and more.”
A Bosnian song about disillusionment with the American Dream becomes a World Cup banger
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The opening lyrics couldn’t be plainer: “I am from Bosnia; take me to America.” But by rewriting their classic “USA,” the Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv has transformed a song about disillusionment with the American Dream into a viral anthem powering Bosnia-Herzegovina’s own World Cup dreams. Bosnia-Herzegovina is making only its second appearance at a World Cup. The goal once seemed improbable, but the song has become a rallying cry that's unified a divided country as the team qualified. Bosnia's first match is Friday, against Canada.
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.”
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.
Visa denial sidelines Thomas Partey for Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto
TORONTO (AP) — Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not play in his team's World Cup opener Wednesday after Canada denied his visa application while he awaits trial in London on multiple charges of rape. FIFA says Partey won't be available for Ghana’s opening match with Panama in Toronto. Partey will be available to play England in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23. Ghana then faces Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. FIFA says it is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries or visa applications. Partey is scheduled to stand trial in November or later on allegations dating to his time with English club Arsenal from 2020-25.
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.
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.
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.
