Top FIFA officials Wenger and Grafström distance themselves from Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan

August 6, 2026

GENEVA — Two senior FIFA executives — coaching great Arsène Wenger and CEO-like secretary general Mattias Grafström — distanced themselves Tuesday from their boss Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it was "absolutely necessary" to drop the proposal, and Grafström sent an email to all FIFA staff — seen by The Associated Press — calling the last week a "sad and reproachable series of events." He also said it created "turmoil which is ...

Baseball’s trade deadline: The Dodgers (and Red Sox?!) are going for it. Is anybody else?

August 5, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers landed perhaps the best pitcher in baseball in Tarik Skubal, triggering another round of disgust over how the two-time defending champions seem to get every star they want. Bryce Harper — who might have to go through the Dodgers to reach the World Series with ...

Horwitz drives in 3 runs, Pirates defeat Brewers for the 6th time in 7 games this season

August 5, 2026

MILWAUKEE — Spencer Horwitz hit a three-run double and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their dominance over the Brewers this season, beating Milwaukee 4-3 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series. Pittsburgh has won six of seven games against the NL Central-leading Brewers this season. The Pirates jumped on Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-7) in the third. Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds singled and Esmerlyn Valdez walked. Horwitz followed with a bases-clearing double that staked Pittsburgh to a 3-0 lead. The Pirates added a run in the fourth when Endy Rodriguez led ...

A new football title chase lies ahead as women’s flag football closes in on NCAA championship status

August 5, 2026

The next college football power is being built on campuses from coast to coast. Not tackle, but in women's flag football. New programs are game planning and rosters full of new players will be taking snaps this fall into spring to possibly become your NCAA national champion in 2028. Women's flag football is on the fast track to gaining championship-sport status from the NCAA. There could be a national title game as early as spring 2028, before the LA Games, where flag football will make its Olympic debut. Flag football currently falls under the NCAA's "emerging sports" umbrella ...

Larry Fitzgerald entering Hall of Fame as Cardinals icon after 17 years of pass-catching excellence

August 5, 2026

TEMPE, Ariz. — Larry Fitzgerald came to the Arizona Cardinals as a 20-year-old intent on becoming an NFL superstar. First, he had to learn how to do some laundry. As Fitzgerald — one of the greatest and most productive receivers in league history — prepares to go into the Pro ...

Kelsey Plum expected to give Mercury a big boost after blockbuster trade with Los Angeles

August 5, 2026

PHOENIX — Kelsey Plum was 10 years old when she saw Diana Taurasi play on television, walked into the kitchen and told her mom she was going to play in the WNBA. Not only did Plum fulfill her self-proclaimed prophecy by playing in the WNBA for nine seasons, she's now on Taurasi's former ...