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Shootout Win Sends Morocco Past Netherlands, Into Matchup vs. Canada

Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Shootout Win Sends Morocco Past Netherlands, Into Matchup vs. Canada

Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Ismael Saibari scored in the fifth round of a penalty shootout and Morocco remained alive at the World Cup following a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the round of 32 on Monday at Guadalupe, Mexico.

Saibari's kick into the left side of the goal gave Morocco a 3-2 victory in the shootout and set up a round of 16 match against Canada on Saturday at Houston, Reuters reported.

Morocco trailed 1-0 and was minutes from elimination before 6-foot-4 defender Issa Diop scored on a header off a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi just seconds after the clock reached the 90-minute mark. Diop tallied his first international goal after ⁠switching his allegiance ⁠to Morocco from France earlier this year.

Yassine Bounou made one save for Morocco over the 120 minutes of regulation time.

However, his biggest stop of the night came in the fifth round of the shootout when he used his left hand to stop a shot toward the top of the goal from Crysencio Summerville.

Soufiane ⁠Rahimi and Talbi also scored for Morocco in the penalty shootout. Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Summerville all missed from the spot for the Netherlands.

The Dutch had reached the round of 16 each of the previous 11 times they competed at the World Cup.

Cody Gakpo scored from near the penalty spot in the 72nd minute to give the Netherlands a late lead. Bart Verbruggen had four saves for the Dutch in regulation but guessed wrong and dived to his left on Saibari's decisive shot.

Morocco took 11 ⁠shots in ⁠the 120 minutes, while the Netherlands had six. The African side had a 5-2 edge in attempts on target.

In a duel of two top-10 teams in the FIFA world rankings, the seventh-ranked Netherlands finally broke through when Gakpo scored off a spinning pass from Summerville while on the turf.

Gakpo went to his knees and buried his head into the ground in a solemn celebration just days after announcing that he and his partner lost their unborn child.

Sixth-ranked Morocco advanced after they were the runner-up in Group C. They advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Netherlands were eliminated after they were the winner of Group F.

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Sports

Sinner Admits that Knee Injury Left him Barely Able to Move

Tennis - Jannik Sinner Press Conference - Allianz Tower, Milan, Italy - November 10, 2026 Jannik Sinner during the press conference REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Tennis - Jannik Sinner Press Conference - Allianz Tower, Milan, Italy - November 10, 2026 Jannik Sinner during the press conference REUTERS/Claudia Greco
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Sinner Admits that Knee Injury Left him Barely Able to Move

Tennis - Jannik Sinner Press Conference - Allianz Tower, Milan, Italy - November 10, 2026 Jannik Sinner during the press conference REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Tennis - Jannik Sinner Press Conference - Allianz Tower, Milan, Italy - November 10, 2026 Jannik Sinner during the press conference REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Missing from this year's ATP Finals, title holder Jannik Sinner admitted that he's had days on which he could barely move due to the knee injury which has kept him out of action since winning Wimbledon.

Sinner, who was world number one until being displaced by Alexander Zverev earlier this month, recently said that he will make his comeback at the "Six Kings Slam" tournament in Saudi Arabia, which has been rescheduled for late December.

"I had days where I felt nothing and I could play without any problems and then I had days where I couldn't move at all," Sinner said in a video published on his YouTube channel.

"The worst part for me about this injury is that I cannot compete, I cannot play tennis.

"Also my life outside of tennis is a bit more limited because of a simple fact that I cannot do things that I really like, because I want to protect my knee."

Sinner had been having another superb season before succumbing to his knee injury, and he revealed in the video published Wednesday that tonsil surgery caused him to lose a lot of weight.

Before his knee injury, which prematurely ended his season, Sinner had won five consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments -- Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome -- to complete his set of top-tier ATP events, before being crowned Wimbledon champion for the second straight year.

"I'm not going to lie, it's also tough to see other players play and I cannot compete," said Sinner, according to AFP.

"Also because the season I've had, it has been an incredible season until the moment when everything happened and it switches from a very very positive season to a very tough ending of season even though I had a lot of success."

Last week Sinner announced that Magnus Norman will replace his long-time coach Darren Cahill, who helped shape the Italian into the world's top tennis player.

Sports

Manchester United Fires Coach Carrick after Worst Start to a Premier League Season

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Manchester United - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - September 6, 2026 Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Manchester United - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - September 6, 2026 Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Manchester United Fires Coach Carrick after Worst Start to a Premier League Season

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Manchester United - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - September 6, 2026 Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Manchester United - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - September 6, 2026 Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble

Michael Carrick was fired by Manchester United on Thursday after overseeing the 20-time English champion’s worst start to a Premier League season, with US men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino a potential candidate to succeed him.

Carrick’s departure comes less than six months after he was given a two-year contract and the responsibility of reviving the fortunes of the once-dominant force of English soccer. United hasn’t won the league since managerial great Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

A 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday left United 18th in the 20-team standings and in the relegation zone after just one league win all season. With eight points from 10 games, it is United’s worst start for 40 years — predating the Premier League era.

“After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions,” United said.

United added the “club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”

United has been working on a potential deal to have Pochettino replace Carrick, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The 54-year-old Argentine is under contract with the US team through the 2030 World Cup.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because no final decision had been made on Carrick’s future.

Pochettino, who has previously coached Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League, took over the US in October 2024 and led it to the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup.

He was a leading candidate for United in 2022 when Erik ten Hag was ultimately hired.

United seeking eighth permanent manager since Ferguson Firing Carrick comes after he insisted he would not walk away from the job following the chaotic draw with Villa that highlighted United’s defensive flaws.

It means United is on the hunt for an eighth permanent manager since Ferguson’s departure 13 years ago, a turbulent period in which the club has been overtaken by Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Carrick, a former United midfielder in its glory days under Ferguson, was appointed on a short-term deal midway through last season and guided the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.

That earned him a long-term contract but things have unraveled quickly this season, with just three wins in all competitions, an eight-game winless run in the league and elimination from the English League Cup.

Top players Bruno Fernandes, the team captain, and Lisandro Martinez have also added to the sense of crisis with criticism of tactics and the club’s leadership, respectively.

“Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend,” United said. "Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club.

“His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered.”

Carrick took training on Wednesday and was seen arriving at United's training ground on Thursday, before leaving soon after.

Scrutiny on United owners The firing of another manager will increase scrutiny on United’s ownership — the Glazer family in the United States and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

Fans staged their latest protests against the owners during the Villa game, calling on them to sell the club.

There is also increasing pressure on chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox after another failed coaching appointment.

Since Ferguson, Champions League-winning coaches Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho have won cups at United but were ousted after failing to mount serious title challenges in the Premier League.

In recent years, highly rated and emerging coaches like Ten Hag and Ruben Amorim also failed to meet the club’s expectations, while former players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Carrick have also come up short.

Sports

FIFA Releases Evaluation Reports for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
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FIFA Releases Evaluation Reports for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: FILE PHOTO - FIFA's logo is seen at FIFA headquarters ahead of the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Zurich. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa

The joint bids for both the 2031 and the 2035 Women's World Cup tournaments have met the hosting requirements and will be put up for a vote by FIFA's members later this month, The Associated Press reported.

The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica made the lone bid for the 2031 tournament, when the field will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams. The joint bid for the 2035 edition includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

FIFA's evaluation reports released Wednesday determined both bids met minimum requirements ahead of the voted on during the Extraordinary FIFA Congress on Nov. 23.

The report acknowledged that the 2031 bid has a strong foundation after the United States jointly hosted the men's World Cup with Mexico and Canada, as well as the Club World Cup in 2025. The women's tournament in 2031 is expected to draw 4.5 million fans.

The 2031 bid included 20 proposed host stadiums across the four countries, with 14 in the United States, four in Mexico and one each in Jamaica and Costa Rica. One stadium included in the proposal, the new RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., has yet to be built, but otherwise the bid included existing venues.

The four stadiums considered for the final match were Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta, AT&T Stadium outside of Dallas, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Seven of the proposed stadiums in the United State have artificial surfaces, along with one in Mexico, which would need to be outfitted with natural grass for the matches. At the men's World Cup this past summer, several stadiums, including Lumen Field in Seattle, installed temporary grass fields.

FIFA noted that US government agencies sent supporting letters committing to requirements for like immigration, visas, work permits and security.

“Accordingly, while certain commitments require further engagement, there is a sound basis for confidence that continued dialogue and collaboration with the relevant government agencies should support the successful organization and delivery of the tournament, should the bid be successful,” FIFA said.

For the 2035 bid, the host nations chose the theme “All Together.”

“The bid draws on the shared commitment of the four member associations and their experience (both current and upcoming) in hosting major international sporting events, including the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and the UEFA Euro 2028."

There were 15 host cities and 19 stadiums proposed for the tournament across the four nations, including 14 in England, two in Ireland, one in Scotland and two in Wales. The final would go to Wembley Stadium in London.

FIFA also announced on Wednesday the draw process for next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil, which will be held on Dec. 11 in Rio de Janeiro.

There will be four pots of eight teams, with the top four teams in the rankings separated until the late stages if they finish atop their groups. The top four will be based off the rankings released on Dec. 7, but currently defending champion Spain is ranked No. 1, followed by the United States, Germany and England.