Soccer

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw Thursday in a South American World Cup qualifying game that marked Carlo Ancelotti's debut as national team coach .

The Vancouver Whitecaps said a “significant number” of players who traveled to Mexico for last weekend's CONCACAF Champions Cup final have become ill.

VANCOUVER — Several Vancouver Whitecaps players and staff are dealing with a gastrointestinal illness after visiting Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.

China slumped out of World Cup contention before Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for the first time . In the meantime, South Korea secured an 11th straight appearance at the men’s World Cup finals with a 2-0 win in Iraq.

Veterans Alistair Johnston and Jonathan Osorio will rejoin Canada later this month for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

BISMARCK, N.D.

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams in the tournament to be co-hosted the United States, Mexico and Canada. Uzbekistan, Jordan and South Korea sealed qualification on Thursday.

TORONTO — For the 30th-ranked Canadian men, Saturday's matchup with No. 25 Ukraine at the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto is a chance to test themselves against elite European opposition.

GENEVA (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term.

VANCOUVER — There have been a lot of firsts for Holly Ward this year — her first game as a professional soccer player, her first call up to Canada's senior women's team.