Soccer

SION, Switzerland (AP) — Italy secured what could prove to be a pivotal opening victory in the Women’s European Championship by beating Belgium 1-0 on Thursday.

As a child, Diogo Jota idolized Cristiano Ronaldo. In a career that took him to the heights of soccer stardom, he would go on to call the Portugal great a teammate and win some of the sport's biggest trophies.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Lifelong soccer fan Victor Dumois expressed concern about the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup after attending a recent Club World Cup match in Miami.

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Portugal and Spain players observed a period of silence before their Women’s European Championship opening game Thursday in memory of Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

GENEVA (AP) — Losing 6-1 in your last game before a major soccer tournament to the team that also will be your first opponent is not optimal.

MADRID (AP) — Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

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Reaction to the deaths of Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, in a car accident in Spain: ___ “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

ROME (AP) — Brescia, the club that Roberto Baggio ended his career with, had its national license revoked and was kicked out of Serie C on Thursday after going bankrupt, the Italian soccer federation announced.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11-3-5, second in the Western Conference) vs. LA Galaxy (1-13-6, 16th in the Western Conference) Carson, California; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Vancouver +155, Los Angeles +156, Draw +249; over/under is 2.