THE HOT CORNER

1 MEN’S SOCCER: Christian Pulisic is uncertain for the U.S. team’s World Cup qualifier against Canada tonight in Nashville, Tennessee, and goalkeeper Zack Steffen remains sidelined by back spasms. Pulisic is regaining fitness after testing positive for COVID-19 and missed Thursday’s qualifying opener at El Salvador, a 0-0 draw. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Pulisic had made progress and was to be evaluated again Saturday to determine whether he will be on today’s game-day roster. Canada opened with a 1-1 draw against Honduras in Toronto.

2 PRO BASKETBALL: Detroit acquired veteran center DeAndre Jordan in a multiplayer trade with Brooklyn. The Pistons also received four second-round picks and cash considerations from the Nets in exchange for forward Sekou Doumbouya and center Jahlil Okafor.

3 AUTO RACING: Dutch driver Max Verstappen took the pole position for the Netherlands Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver’s final lap was just good enough to beat Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton by .04 seconds and his teammate Valtteri Bottas by .034. Also, driver Kimi Raikkonen tested positive for the coronavirus and will be replaced by Robert Kubica for the Netherlands Grand Prix.

4 PRO HOCKEY: Jesperi Kotkaniemi is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Montreal GM Marc Bergevin said the club won’t match Carolina’s one-year, $6.1 million offer for the restricted free-agent forward. Montreal will receive first- and third-round picks in the 2022 draft from the Hurricanes. Kotkaniemi had five goals and 15 assists in 56 regularseason games last season.

5 RUGBY: Canada ended a 12-match winless streak vs. the U.S., winning the first leg of their World Cup qualifying series 34-21 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The teams meet again next Saturday in Glendale, Colo.