THE HOT CORNER

SOCCER:

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter will be looking toward Olympic qualifying when the senior national team plays Costa Rica on Saturday in an exhibition at Carson, Calif. Thirteen of the 22 players on the U.S. roster are eligible for Olympic qualifying, limited to players under 23. The U.S. men failed to reach the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and they are in a difficult qualifying group that includes Mexico and Costa Rica. “It’ll be nice to give them an opportunity to perform in front of a crowd in a real international game,” Berhalter said. The U.S. has used 74 players in 30 matches since the 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago that ended the Americans’ streak of seven straight World Cup appearances.

SOCCER:

Fox will televise the 2021 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups under an agreement for English-language U.S. rights announced Monday. Fox also will televise CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. The women’s tournament starts today and runs through Feb. 9. The men’s tournament is from March 20 through April 1.

SOCCER:

Spanish club Espanyol said it has identified 12 fans who racially insulted an Athletic Bilbao player in a match last weekend. Espanyol said nine of the fans were club members and would face punishment that could include suspension or a full-time ban.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Rocky Long is returning to New Mexico as defensive coordinator after recently retiring from San Diego State. Long played at New Mexico from 1969-71 and later worked there as a grad assistant, assistant coach and head coach.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

Michigan senior point guard Zavier Simpson was suspended for an unspecified violation of team policies and will miss tonight’s game at Nebraska. Simpson leads the nation with 8.3 assists per game.