AP Spotlight How Trump and Infantino's friendship is shaping the World Cup SEUNG MIN KIM and GRAHAM DUNBAR Associated Press Oct 6, 2025 Oct 6, 2025 Updated Apr 11, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — The plan started coming together inside a luxury box at MetLife Stadium.kAmpD E96 !C6>:6C {628F6VD r96=D62 H2D @? :ED H2J E@ 2 D9FE@FE G:4E@CJ 2E E96 r=F3 (@C=5 rFA 7:?2= :? yF=J[ !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 uxup !C6D:56?E v:2??: x?72?E:?@ H6C6 566A :? 5:D4FDD:@? 2E E96 }6H y6CD6J DA@CED 4@>A=6I @FED:56 }6H *@C< r:EJ @? 2?@E96C >2EE6Ci H96C6 E96 5C2H 7@C ?6IE J62CVD (@C=5 rFA H@F=5 36 96=5]k^AmkAm%96 9:89\5C2>2 DA64E24=6 564:56D H9:49 E62>D H:== 7246 6249 @E96C :? E96 8C@FA DE286 @7 D@446CVD >@DE AC6DE:8:@FD E@FC?2>6?E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 D4965F=6 7@C 4@>A6E:E:@?] xE H2D H:56=J 6IA64E65 E@ F?7@=5 :? {2D '682D[ 9@>6 E@ E96 `hhc 5C2H H96? E96 &]$] =2DE 9@DE65 E96 (@C=5 rFA 2?5 2 ?2EFC2= 324<5C@A 7@C 8=:EK] qFE D:?46 2E =62DE |2C49[ @77:4:2=D 925 AC:G2E6=J 5:D4FDD65 3C:?8:?8 E96 5C2H E@ (2D9:?8E@?[ 9@>6 E@ 2 D9@H>2? AC6D:56?E H9@ C68F=2C=J 9F8D E96 DA@E=:89E 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 DA@CED]k^Am People are also reading… Vandals target 19th-century Smyth County cemetery Celebrating Warriors: Project Graduation, Chilhowie partner for new endeavor Smyth County School Board honors Marion Senior High FFA advisers, others Vayda is ready to find her forever home Smyth supervisors honor Hollyfield for 25 years of cleaning road Richmond judge dismisses Republican bid to block new maps Sugar Grove Elementary students experience the power of kindness Longtime produce growers to continue Walker's Market 3 juveniles face charges following Smyth, Wythe pursuit on I-81 Smyth commissioner's office expands its community outreach Mount Rogers NRA updates Smyth County on Grindstone, overlook, ponies and more Redistricting before Va. Supreme Court: Sides disagree over definition of an election Virginia basketball's Ugonna Onyenso invited to NBA Draft Combine Virginia K-12 schools don’t have mental health curriculum 2 years after bill passed Goal No. 1 for Renegade: Overcome fabled Kentucky Derby jinx kAm$@ 5FC:?8 E92E yF=J >2E49 :? E96 DE25:F> E92E H:== 2=D@ 9@DE E96 7:?2= 82>6 @7 ?6IE J62CVD (@C=5 rFA[ %CF>A 2?5 x?72?E:?@ 28C665 E@ 86E 8@:?8 @? 9@=5:?8 E96 5C2H :? E96 &]$] 42A:E2= — ?2>6=J[ E96 z6??65J r6?E6C[ 2?@E96C :?DE:EFE:@? E92E %CF>A C6D92A65 E@ 9:D =:<:?8]k^AmkAmQsFC:?8 E92E r=F3 (@C=5 rFA 7:?2=[ E96C6 H2D 2 C62= D6C:@FD?6DD E@ H6==[ =@@<[ :7 H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E9:D[ H6VG6 8@E E@ 5@ :E ?@H[Q p?5C6H v:F=:2?:[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 uxup E2D< 7@C46[ E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD] Q%92EVD H96? E2=<D 962E65 FA 36EH66? E96 AC6D:56?E 2?5 |C] x?72?E:?@ :? E6C>D @7 86EE:?8 E9:D 5@?6]Qk^Am kAm%96 4@==23@C2E:@? @G6C E96 5C2H[ D=2E65 7@C s64] d[ :==FDEC2E6D E96 3@?5 E92E 92D 7@C>65 36EH66? %CF>A 2?5 x?72?E:?@[ 56D4C:365 3J E96 &]$] AC6D:56?E 2D QAC@323=J E96 >@DE C6DA64E65 >2? :? DA@CED]Q %96 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:== 4@>6 :?E@ 6G6? D92CA6C 7@4FD 2D E96 (@C=5 rFA 2AAC@2496D[ ;@:?E=J 9@DE65 3J E96 &]$][ |6I:4@ 2?5 r2?252]k^Am k9am%CF>A 2?5 x?72?E:?@ 56G6=@A 2 566A 2==:2?46k^9amkAms6DA:E6 9:D 277:?:EJ 7@C DA@CED[ %CF>A :D <?@H? >@C6 7@C 9:D E:6D E@ 8@=7 2?5 7@@E32== E92? D@446C] qFE 9:D 2H2C6?6DD @7 E96 DA@CE H2D DAFCC65 :? A2CE 3J 9:D J@F?86DE D@?[ q2CC@?[ H9@ :D DF49 2 D@446C 72? E92E 96 925 2 ?6E :? E96 7:CDE =25JVD 82C56? 5FC:?8 %CF>AVD 7:CDE E6C>]k^Am kAm%CF>AVD :?E6C6DE @?=J 8C6H H96? E96 &]$] H@? (@C=5 rFA 9@DE:?8 C:89ED :? a_`g] $9@CE=J 27E6C E96 &]$] H2D 2H2C565 E96 E@FC?2>6?E[ %CF>A 9@DE65 x?72?E:?@ 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6] %96 C6=2E:@?D9:A 7=@FC:D965 :? a_a_ 2D 3@E9 >6? A=@EE65 E96:C 7FEFC6D]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 2 5:??6C E92E y2?F2CJ 2E E96 8=@32= 64@?@>:4 DF>>:E :? s2G@D[ ?62C uxupVD 9@>6 :? +FC:49[ x?72?E:?@ 42==65 E96 &]$] AC6D:56?E Q>J 8C62E 7C:6?5]Q %CF>A[ 2=H2JD 2AAC64:2E:G6 @7 2 4@>A=:>6?E[ C6DA@?565 3J :?G:E:?8 x?72?E:?@ E@ 2 (9:E6 w@FD6 D:8?:?8 6G6?E 7@C E96 p3C292> p44@C5D[ H9:49 D@F89E E@ ?@C>2=:K6 5:A=@>2E:4 C6=2E:@?D 36EH66? xDC26= 2?5 D6G6C2= pC23 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am kAm%96 uxup =6256C 92D >256 DFC6 E@ 4F=E:G2E6 4=@D6 E:6D H:E9 ?2E:@?D 9@DE:?8 E96 (@C=5 rFA]k^Am kAmx?72?E:?@ 2AA62C65 E@ C6=:D9 AF3=:4 >66E:?8D H:E9 #FDD:2? !C6D:56?E '=25:>:C !FE:? 367@C6[ 5FC:?8 2?5 27E6C E92E 4@F?ECJ 9@DE65 E96 a_`g (@C=5 rFA] w6 H@F=5 =2E6C C6=@42E6 E@ s@92 29625 @7 E96 a_aa (@C=5 rFA :? "2E2C[ 6>6C8:?8 2D 2 DEC@?8 5676?56C @7 E96 E:?J vF=7 DE2E6 E92E H2D 7:6C46=J 4C:E:4:K65 7@C :ED EC62E>6?E @7 E96 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 >:8C2?E H@C<6CD ?66565 E@ 3F:=5 6DD6?E:2= DE25:F>D[ EC2?DA@CE AC@;64ED 2?5 9@E6=D]k^AmkAmx?72?E:?@ 92D 7C2>65 9:D 4=@D6 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 %CF>A 2D Q4CF4:2=Q E@ E96 DF446DD @7 E96 (@C=5 rFA[ 2 >2DD:G6 @A6C2E:@? E92E C6=:6D @? 6IA2?D:G6 4@@A6C2E:@? H:E9 7656C2=[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED]k^Am k9amx?72?E:?@VD 4@??64E:@?D E@ q:56? H6C6 72C >@C6 =:>:E65k^9amkAmpD E96 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? %CF>A 2?5 x?72?E:?@ 566A6?65[ y@6 q:56? 52D965 %CF>AVD 9@A6D @7 DE2J:?8 :? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6] u@C E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD[ x?72?E:?@VD E:6D E@ (2D9:?8E@? H6C6 72C >@C6 =:>:E65] %96 EH@ =6256CD 925 2 3C:67 >66E:?8 @? E96 D:56=:?6D @7 E96 vC@FA @7 a_ DF>>:E :? q2=:[ x?5@?6D:2[ :? }@G6>36C a_aa]k^AmkAm$64@?5 86?E=6>2? s@F8=2D t>9@77 2=D@ >6E H:E9 x?72?E:?@ H96? 96 EC2G6=65 7@C E96 (@>6?VD (@C=5 rFA :? yF=J a_ab]k^Am kAm!C6A2C2E:@?D 7@C E96 (@C=5 rFA F?56C q:56? H6C6 F?56C E96 C252C 3J 56D:8?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ @?6 D6?:@C @77:4:2= 7@C E92E 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H9@ C6BF6DE65 2?@?J>:EJ E@ 5:D4FDD :?E6C?2= 56=:36C2E:@?D] tG6? E9@F89 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 925 :ED @H? (@C=5 rFA a_ae E2D< 7@C46[ q:56? 2:56D H6C6 2H2C6 @7 D6?D:E:G:E:6D DFCC@F?5:?8 =2C86 82E96C:?8D D@ D@@? 27E6C E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4] %96J 2=D@ H6C6 42C67F= ?@E E@ @G6CE=J AC@>@E6 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 uxup[ H9:49 925 D:56=:?65 E96 &]$] $@446C u656C2E:@? :? :ED EC25:E:@?2= C@=6 :? 4@@C5:?2E:?8 2 9@>6 (@C=5 rFA]k^Am k9am%CF>AVD C6EFC? D6ED E96 DE286 7@C 2 V|pvpV (@C=5 rFAk^9am kAm%CF>AVD 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E 23@FE >:DD:?8 @FE @? E96 (@C=5 rFA H@F=5 AC@G6 E@ 36 F?7@F?565 27E6C 96 H2D 6=64E65 E@ 2 D64@?5[ ?@?\4@?D64FE:G6 E6C> =2DE J62C]k^AmkAm$:?46 E92E G:4E@CJ[ x?72?E:?@VD 6>3C246 @7 %CF>A 92D 366? 8FD9:?8] w6 AC@>AE=J 4@?8C2EF=2E65 9:> E96 52J 27E6C t=64E:@? s2J[ H2D 2E |2C\2\{28@[ %CF>AVD $@FE9 u=@C:52 4=F3[ 5FC:?8 E96 AC6D:56?E:2= EC2?D:E:@? 2?5 925 2 AC:>6 D62E 2E 9:D y2?F2CJ :?2F8FC2E:@?] %CF>A 42==65 x?72?E:?@ 2 QH:??6CQ :? 2 G:56@ A=2J65 2E E96 |:2>: 5C2H 7@C E96 r=F3 (@C=5 rFA :? s646>36C[ H9:49 H2D 2EE6?565 3J 52F89E6C xG2?<2 2?5 D@?\:?\=2H y2C65 zFD9?6C]k^Am kAmx?72?E:?@ 92D 925 >@C6 AF3=:4 2AA62C2?46D H:E9 %CF>A E92? H:E9 2?J D@446C @77:4:2=D 7C@> E96 DA@CEVD 962CE=2?5D @7 tFC@A6 2?5 $@FE9 p>6C:42[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 uxup =6256CVD D4965F=6 2?5 D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 x?72?E:?@VD >@DE C646?E 2AA62C2?46 2E %CF>AVD D:56 :? E96 ~G2= ~77:46 @? pF8] aa[ 96 E@@< 6G6? D@>6 76==@H D@446C @77:4:2=D 3J DFCAC:D6 H96? 96 8:7E65 2 8@=5 C6A=:42 (@C=5 rFA EC@A9J E@ E96 &]$] AC6D:56?E]k^AmkAm%92E 92?5@G6C H2D F?6IA64E65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ @?6 D6?:@C D@446C @77:4:2= H9@ C6BF6DE65 2?@?J>:EJ E@ 5:D4FDD D6?D:E:G6 5J?2>:4D] tG6? E9@F89 :E H2D 2 C6A=:42[ E96 >@>6?E H2D DE:== D66? 2D 2 D?F3 @7 (@C=5 rFA EC25:E:@? 3642FD6 %CF>A 92D 96=5 @?E@ 2 EC@A9J E92E :D DFAA@D65 E@ 36=@?8 E@ E96 DA@CE 2D 2 H9@=6[ ?@E 2? :?5:G:5F2= A6CD@?]k^Am kAmp (9:E6 w@FD6 @77:4:2= D2:5 E96 EC@A9J C6>2:?D :? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6VD A@DD6DD:@?] }@ DF49 @776C H2D AF3=:4=J 6IE6?565 3J uxup E@ |6I:4@VD !C6D:56?E r=2F5:2 $496:?32F> @C r2?252VD !C:>6 |:?:DE6C |2C< r2C?6J] x?72?E:?@ 92D ?@E >6E H:E9 r2C?6J E9:D J62C 2?5 >6E $96:?32F> 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 @? pF8] ah]k^Am Professional FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets have gone on sale. Here's how to try to get them TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press 0 Comments Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Goal No. 1 for Renegade: Overcome fabled Kentucky Derby jinx The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is one of the few times in thoroughbred racing when getting first is not something to celebrate. Shilo Sanders tells Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot: 'Go make a sandwich' The controversy highlights the challenges female sports reporters still face, even one as distinguished as Mary Kay Cabot, who started coverin… NFL power rankings: 2026 draft boosts Jets, sends one division champion plummeting Soap operas du jour notwithstanding, there's not a whole lot left for NFL teams to do until training camps swing their doors open later this summer. LIV Golf to officially announce that Saudi funding ends after 2026 season LIV Golf will officially announce to staff and players that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has officially pulled its funding at the con… NBC's Mike Tomlin reveals why he left Steelers, thoughts on Aaron Rodgers After 19 seasons in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin is stepping into a new role and opening up about why now felt right. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Josh Heupel on SEC depth compared to other football conferences Sights from the Kentucky Derby's Thurby festival at Churchill Downs Sights from the Kentucky Derby's Thurby festival at Churchill Downs Everything you need to know to enjoy the 2026 Kentucky Derby at home Everything you need to know to enjoy the 2026 Kentucky Derby at home What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing
Professional FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets have gone on sale. Here's how to try to get them TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press
Goal No. 1 for Renegade: Overcome fabled Kentucky Derby jinx The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is one of the few times in thoroughbred racing when getting first is not something to celebrate.
Shilo Sanders tells Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot: 'Go make a sandwich' The controversy highlights the challenges female sports reporters still face, even one as distinguished as Mary Kay Cabot, who started coverin…
NFL power rankings: 2026 draft boosts Jets, sends one division champion plummeting Soap operas du jour notwithstanding, there's not a whole lot left for NFL teams to do until training camps swing their doors open later this summer.
LIV Golf to officially announce that Saudi funding ends after 2026 season LIV Golf will officially announce to staff and players that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has officially pulled its funding at the con…
NBC's Mike Tomlin reveals why he left Steelers, thoughts on Aaron Rodgers After 19 seasons in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin is stepping into a new role and opening up about why now felt right.
