FIFA expands 2026 WC again to create 104-game program
The expanded World Cup in North America got even more supersized on Tuesday.
The governing body of soccer increased the size of the 2026 tournament for the second time — six years after the first — by approving a bigger group stage for the inaugural 48team event.
By retaining groups of four teams instead of moving to three, FIFA has created a 104-game schedule that will last nearly six weeks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The final is scheduled for July 19.
The 16 host cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — now have 24 extra games to stage on top of the 80 they already had for the inaugural 48-team tournament.
Adding about 1.5 million more tickets will also further fuel FIFA's expected record revenue of at least $11 billion through 2026 from a tournament that will rely on using high-revenue NFL stadiums.
FIFA said the decision followed a “thorough review that considered sporting integrity, player welfare, team travel, commercial and sporting attractiveness, as well as team and fan experience.”
NFL EKELER RECEIVES PERMISSION FROM CHARGERS TO SEEK TRADE >>
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler could be on his way out.
Ekeler's agent, Cameron Weiss, said that the team has given Ekeler permission to seek a trade after both sides could not agree on a contract extension.
Ekeler, who has scored an NFL-high 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons, is entering the final season of a four-year, $24.5 million extension. He is scheduled to earn $6.25 million in the 2023 season.
HEINICKE RETURNING HOME TO SIGN WITH FALCONS >>
Setting up a competition at quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with Taylor Heinicke on a two-year contract worth up to $20 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
For Heinicke, it's a homecoming. He was born in Lawrenceville and played at Collins Hills High School in suburban Atlanta.
Now, after starting 24 games over the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, he is headed to the Falcons to compete for a starting job with Desmond Ridder.
RAIDERS SET TO TRADE DARREN WALLER TO GIANTS >>
Tight end Darren Waller is being traded to the New York Giants, who will send the Las Vegas Raiders a 2023 third-round draft pick, two people familiar with the deal said.
One person said the Giants will send the Raiders their No. 100 overall selection, which was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the deal for wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Waller, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020 gives Giants quarterback Daniel Jones a major playmaker and an upgrade at tight end. Last year's starter, Daniel Bellinger, caught 30 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
RAIDERS, JAKOBI MEYERS AGREE ON 3-YEAR DEAL >>
The Las Vegas Raiders and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers
have agreed on a $33 million, three-year deal, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press.
Meyers made the Patriots' roster as an undrafted free agent in 2019 out of North Carolina State and quickly found a home, displaying an acumen for catching the ball in traffic primarily out of the slot. Meyers spent his first four seasons with New England.
He has averaged 70 catches and 800 yards receiving over the past three seasons.
College basketball EDEY, JACKSON-DAVIS, WILSON HEADLINE AP ALLAMERICA TEAM >>
Purdue's Zach Edey and Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis have given the Big Ten Conference a third straight year with multiple first-team Associated Press All-America picks, while Kansas had a second straight firstteamer in Jalen Wilson.
The 7-foot-4, 305-pound Edey appeared on all 58 ballots as a first-team selection from AP Top 25 voters as the lone unanimous pick in results released Tuesday.
The selections of the Boilermakers' Edey and the Hoosiers' Jackson-Davis came a year after the Big Ten had three firstteam picks. And it gave the league seven through the last three seasons; no other league has more than three.
The Big Ten has had at least one first-teamer for five straight years and eight of the last nine.
Houston's Marcus Sasser and Alabama's Brandon Miller joined Edey and Wilson on the first team in representing each of the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 seeds.
Iditarod GRANDSON OF RACE COFOUNDER WINS SLED DOG RACE >>
Ryan Redington won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, bringing his six dogs off the Bering Sea ice to the finish line on Nome's main street.
Redington, 40, is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” He helped co-found the arduous race across Alaska that was first held in 1973.
“My grandpa, dad and Uncle Joee are all in the Mushing Hall of Fame. I got big footsteps to follow,” Ryan Redington wrote in his race biography. He previously won the Junior Iditarod in 1999 and 2000. His father, Raymie, is a 10-time Iditarod finisher.
Swimming USA SWIMMING OFFERS CASH FOR OLYMPIC RELAY SWEEP >>
USA Swimming will reward its athletes financially if the Americans sweep all seven relays at this summer's world championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The program announced Tuesday by the sport's national governing body involves the men's and women's 4x100-meter medley relays, 4x100 freestyle relays, 4x200 free relays and mixed 4x100 medley relay.
If the U.S. wins all seven of these relays at the world meet in Fukuoka, Japan, this summer, all the pool and open water world team members will split $500,000. If the Americans finish first, second or third in all the relays, they will split $150,000.
At the Paris Olympics, if the U.S. sweeps the relays, all the swimmers will split $1 million. If the team medals in every relay, the athletes will share $250,000.