US, Mexico Submit Bid to Co-host 2027 Women's World Cup

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 General view of World Cup trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 General view of World Cup trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
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US, Mexico Submit Bid to Co-host 2027 Women's World Cup

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 General view of World Cup trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 General view of World Cup trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo

The United States and Mexico submitted a joint bid on Friday to co-host the 2027 women's World Cup that, if successful, would see the North American neighbors stage global soccer's two showcase events in back-to-back years.
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands earlier on Friday put in a joint bid to be the 2027 hosts, while Brazil put forward their bid to world soccer governing body FIFA last month.
According to Reuters, US Soccer said in a statement that bringing the women's World Cup to North America would capitalize on a moment of extraordinary growth in women’s sports to deliver a tournament of unprecedented success.
The United States and Mexico, along with Canada, are set to co-host the 2026 men's World Cup but rather than viewing that as negative US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone described it as a huge plus.
"This is a pivotal time for women’s soccer," said Parlow Cone. "The US and Mexico are in a unique position to host a World Cup that will leverage the same venues, infrastructure, and protocols used for the Men’s World Cup just a year prior.
"This will not only unlock the economic potential of women’s soccer, it will send a message to young players around the world that there is no limit to what they can achieve."
Member associations had until Friday to submit their bids to FIFA. South Africa had also submitted a bid but withdrew last month, saying they felt it was better to present a "well-prepared bid" for the 2031 edition.
"Extensive and detailed consultations between the three federations along with key stakeholders including central governments dates back to 2021," the Dutch football federation (KNVB) said in a statement accompanying the European nations' bid.
"This has led to alignment around the belief that our three countries are well placed to stage a FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 of unparalleled quality and impact."
FIFA will organize on-site inspection visits to bidding countries in February before the hosts are appointed in May by the FIFA Congress.

The 2023 tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand this year, with Spain beating England in the final.



Everton Up for Sale after US Owner Says it is Exploring Investment Options

09 October 2026, United Kingdom, Liverpool: A general view of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa
09 October 2026, United Kingdom, Liverpool: A general view of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa
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Everton Up for Sale after US Owner Says it is Exploring Investment Options

09 October 2026, United Kingdom, Liverpool: A general view of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa
09 October 2026, United Kingdom, Liverpool: A general view of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa

Premier League Everton is on the market again after US owner the Friedkin Group announced Friday it was exploring investment options and a potential sale.

The Texas-based Friedkin Group only completed its purchase of the club in December 2024, ending the turbulent eight-year reign of former owner Farhad Moshiri.

“We will only entertain interest from parties who we strongly believe will be the right stewards to take the club forward and build on the momentum that has been established,” Everton said in a statement.

The announcement places fresh uncertainty over the nine-time English champion and founding member of the Premier League.

The takeover by the Friedkin Group ended a long-running saga over Everton's ownership, which had seen the collapse of a proposed buyout by the Miami-based private investment firm 777 Partners.

Everton said the group's options included the “potential sale of a controlling interest."

“When TFG became custodians of Everton, the club faced significant financial uncertainty and challenges both on and off the pitch,” the statement read, according to The Associated Press.

"The immediate priority was to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure the club’s future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters.

“With that foundation now safely in place, the time is right to consider the next chapter for Everton.”

The Friedkin Group has a portfolio of companies in the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, sports and adventure industries including Italian team Roma.

British prime minister Andy Burnham is a fan of Everton and last month attended a game with Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney.


Russell to Go 'All-out' Ahead of Unusual Singapore Daylight Sprint as Antonelli Nears F1 Title

Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives during a practice session ahead of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives during a practice session ahead of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
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Russell to Go 'All-out' Ahead of Unusual Singapore Daylight Sprint as Antonelli Nears F1 Title

Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives during a practice session ahead of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives during a practice session ahead of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

George Russell needs to throw everything he can at stopping — or even just delaying — Kimi Antonelli’s march to the Formula 1 title. That won’t be easy from the back of the grid at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Russell was third, with Mercedes teammate Antonelli ahead of him in second, when his power unit suddenly failed Sunday during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leaving him with a penalty this week for an engine change.

After that, this week it's "all-out attack, just trying to enjoy the weekend," Russell said Thursday. "Obviously not an ideal situation, but Singapore is a place I love and I’ll try and carve my way through the pack.”

He made a good start Friday by setting the fastest time in practice.

With the final sprint race of the season Saturday, Russell and his rivals will have an unusual daylight race on the streets of the southeast Asian city state, before the typical night race Sunday. Qualifying for the sprint race is later Friday.

Russell said Singapore was “probably the second-bottom of the list” in terms of the ease of fighting back after a penalty and predicted he may need to serve another for an engine change before the season is over.

It's a big contrast with the last time Antonelli had to serve a penalty. Mercedes changed his engine for the Italian Grand Prix in a planned move, calculating that overtaking was easy enough at Monza that he could limit the damage. He did far more than that and took a statement victory in his home race.

Russell fastest in sole practice session With only one practice session because of the sprint, Russell went fastest by 0.198 of a second from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Lando Norris third-fastest for McLaren, .298 off the pace.

Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton was fourth, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri fifth and last week's winner Max Verstappen sixth for Red Bull.

Antonelli was seventh fastest, though his time was set on the slower medium tires. He went off-track into a runoff area late in the session.

Antonelli could clinch title in Texas Antonelli finished second behind Verstappen in Malaysia for his sixth podium finish in the last seven races, moving him 84 points clear of Russell in the standings.

With 33 points on offer across Singapore's sprint race and Grand Prix, if Antonelli scores 16 points more than Russell this week, he'd have a shot at sealing the title at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25.

Norris may have a fix for his McLaren's straight-line speed problem, but this weekend could still spell the end of his title defense if Antonelli outscores the McLaren driver by 18 points. Leclerc and Verstappen could also be eliminated from contention.

Rain, haze, heat could test drivers Singapore is always a tough test for drivers because of the heat and humidity. This week, add in a haze of air pollution from forest fires in nearby Indonesia, too.

The haze was present last week in Malaysia, too. Singapore organizers said Friday they are monitoring the conditions but there are “currently no plans to modify our entertainment activities” around the race.

Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas has plenty of first-hand experience of the local conditions after cycling from Sepang to Singapore this week.

There's also a chance of rain affecting the action on Saturday and Sunday. Not only is a wet street track a tricky proposition, but there's extra scrutiny on the cars after a software bug on a wet track caused the start to be delayed in Malaysia.

The FIA says the software fix rushed out for Sunday's race is ready for use again in Singapore and a new version is coming for the United States Grand Prix.


Birthday Boy and US Open Finalist Ben Shelton Advances at Shanghai Masters

Ben Shelton of the USA reacts while in action against Daniel Altmaier of Germany during their Men's Singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2026.  EPA/ALEX PLAVEVSKI
Ben Shelton of the USA reacts while in action against Daniel Altmaier of Germany during their Men's Singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2026. EPA/ALEX PLAVEVSKI
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Birthday Boy and US Open Finalist Ben Shelton Advances at Shanghai Masters

Ben Shelton of the USA reacts while in action against Daniel Altmaier of Germany during their Men's Singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2026.  EPA/ALEX PLAVEVSKI
Ben Shelton of the USA reacts while in action against Daniel Altmaier of Germany during their Men's Singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2026. EPA/ALEX PLAVEVSKI

US Open runner-up Ben Shelton celebrated his 24th birthday Friday by advancing to the third round of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) win over Daniel Altmaier in the ATP 1000-level tournament, The Associated Press reported.

Shelton played Davis Cup for the United States after the US Open, losing both his singles matches, after withdrawing from the Laver Cup team event.

Top-seeded Alexander Zverev, who beat Shelton in the final in four sets at Flushing Meadows, was scheduled to play Chinese wild-card entry Wu Yibing in the next match on the main Stadium Court at Shanghai.

Novak Djokovic, who won the China Open on Tuesday for a 102nd career title, was scheduled to play a night match Friday against Hubert Hurkacz.

In other early results Friday in Shanghai, ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur advanced to the third round on a walkover when his opponent, Alex Molcan, retired with an undisclosed ailment. De Minaur had to retire with an adductor injury in the China Open final against Djokovic.

Also Friday, qualifier Rei Sakamoto beat 23rd-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4.

No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from Shanghai this week when he announced he was taking the rest of 2026 off due to a right knee injury. Djokovic said Thursday he plans to reach out to Sinner about his injury-plagued season.