Soccer

While some organizations have published clear air quality thresholds or contingency protocols for wildfire smoke, FIFA's plans remain unclear less than a year out from the 2026 World Cup.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles FC defender Aaron Long will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles.

ATLANTA (AP) — Chelsea's 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain averaged 1.3 million viewers on TBS and the 24 matches televised in the U.S. with English commentary averaged 458,000, TNT Sports said Tuesday. Spanish-language coverage of the final in the U.

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid has reached an agreement to sign Argentina international Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo .

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Oman hired Carlos Queiroz as its national-team coach Tuesday ahead of autumn games that will determine if the country advances to the World Cup for the first time.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte will host the Major League Soccer All-Star game for the first time in 2026, according to a person familiar with the decision.

GENEVA (AP) — They were star prospects aged 18 when Norway last played in the quarterfinals at the Women’s European Championship.

TORONTO — Soccer fans looking to take in the 2026 World Cup will be able to apply for FIFA's first ticket draw starting Sept. 10, soccer's world governing body announced Tuesday in a release.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has been criticized and could face an investigation for reportedly hiring people with dwarfism as entertainers during his lavish 18th birthday party this weekend.

Applications for tickets for the 2026 World Cup open Sept. 10, FIFA said Tuesday. The next edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11.