PACHUCA, Mexico (AP) — Mexico is set to co-host the World Cup with the United States and Canada next month. While soccer is growing in North America, it has long been the top sport in Mexico. The country will become the first to host three men’s World Cups. The roots of Mexican soccer trace back to the 19th century in Mineral del Monte, where British miners introduced the game. The Pachuca Football Club, founded in 1892, played a key role in spreading soccer. Besides soccer, the miners left a legacy of Cornish pasties, which locals adapted with Mexican flavors.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR’s three national series, has died. He was 41. The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given. Busch’s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness,” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died Thursday at 41, three days before he was set to run the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At this point, the cause of death has not been released and details remain limited. What is known is that Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told AP on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and the New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93. Mikal Bridges also scored 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who won their ninth straight game. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden had 18 for the Cavaliers, who will have to climb out of a 2-0 deficit for the second straight round. They host Game 3 on Saturday.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Pep Guardiola said he is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing to a close a trophy-laden, 10-year spell in which he established the club as one of major forces in Europe while changing the face the English soccer. Guardiola had one year left on his City contract. He will take charge of his final game against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens pounced for four first-period goals on slow-starting Carolina — coming off the longest postseason break in more than a century — and handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the playoffs with a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault scored in the opening four minutes, Alexandre Texier followed four minutes later, and Ivan Demidov finished a breakaway for a 4-1 lead midway through the period. That came against the Eastern Conference’s top seed, which hadn’t allowed more than two goals in an 8-0 playoff start. Juraj Slafkovksy scored twice in the third period for Montreal, the second on a late empty-netter, while Jakub Dobes had 24 saves. Game 2 is Saturday night.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes emerged from having 11 days between playoff series by giving up four goals in the first 11-plus minutes of a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens to open the Eastern Conference Final. Thursday's loss marked Carolina's first game since closing out a sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9. The 11 days off were the longest for a team before starting the next playoff round since at least 1920. Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour pointed to “blown coverages” in the early minutes. That came as the Canadiens repeatedly got clean breakouts and multiple breakaway chances early.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2027 season with the Los Angeles Rams. ESPN reported the deal is worth $55 million. The deal indicates that the 38-year-old Stafford is at least strongly thinking about staying with the Rams past the upcoming season. Stafford has been in a year-to-year mentality about his future ever since he led the Rams to a Super Bowl championship in February 2022, and the Rams surprised the league by drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick last month.
Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. was arrested last week in Georgia for driving 135 mph in a 70 mph zone. The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that Smith was cited for speeding and reckless driving. He posted bond and was released shortly after his arrest on May 15. Smith played at Georgia. He was selected by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft. Philadelphia begins organized team activities Tuesday. A sheriff’s office representative said Smith will not need to appear in court if he pays his fines. Smith is the latest former or current Georgia player to be arrested for driving offenses.
Howard Fendrich, a longtime national sports writer for The Associated Press, has died at 55. His persistent reporting and detail-rich prose brought readers inside dozens of taut Grand Slam tennis finals, record-breaking Olympic moments and harrowing trips down the Alpine ski slopes. Fendrich's wife, Rosanna Maietta, said he died Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after returning from Milan in February where he covered his 11th Olympics. Fendrich covered more than 70 Grand Slam tennis tournaments, documenting the careers of Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and more. His numerous writing honors included two Grimsley Awards for best overall body of work among AP sports writers.
Finals
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 3 Detroit 1
Final Toronto 2 N.Y. Yankees 0
Final Athletics 3 L.A. Angels 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 6 St. Louis 2
Final N.Y. Mets 2 Washington 1
Final Atlanta 9 Miami 3
Final Arizona 2 Colorado 1
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final New York 109 Cleveland 93
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Montreal 6 Carolina 2