The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing to a close ― and HuffPost continues to live-blog every twist and turn as the final looms at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.Even before a ball was kicked, the 23rd edition of the tournament was engulfed in controversy: from Iran’s tough journey to the competition amid Donald Trump’s war, to the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino. That’s not to mention Trump’s travel bans keeping some fans and officials out and the fury over soaring ticket prices. Once the soccer actually began, much of the concern was eased — at least for a short while. But the introduction of hydration breaks, seen as a vehicle for TV advertising, prompted booing from fans and questions about the fundamentals of the game being undermined. And Trump’s intervention in an effort to get a red card reversed for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which was fruitless, as the Americans were soundly defeated by Belgium, will likely leave a stain on this World Cup.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:MLS Team Reveals Christian Pulisic Dream Despite AC Milan RealityNew York City FC would like to acquire Christian Pulisic to play in Major League Soccer, but admits AC Milan is not interested in selling the top American player.“If you ask any of my 29 counterparts across the league if they would be interested in having Christian Pulisic on their team, I’m pretty sure you’d get 29 yesses,” NYCFC president Brad Sims said Thursday at a Major League Soccer event to promote the resumption of the league’s season.“Would MLS from a league standpoint love to have Christian Pulisic here? I think the answer to that would be yes,” Sims added. “If AC Milan doesn’t want to give him up, then it’s dead in the water. And so I think ultimately we’re believers that Christian wants to play in MLS, wants to be back home and at whatever the point in time that is, we would think and hope that New York City FC would be very high on his list of teams that he would want to play for..”An attacking midfielder from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Pulisic turns 28 in September. He is entering the fourth season of a five-year deal with AC Milan after playing for Borussia Dortmund from 2016-19 and Chelsea from 2019-23.Pulisic has 33 goals in 90 international appearances but is coming off a disappointing World Cup in which he failed to score and had one assist. Because of injuries, he missed one of the five U.S. games and came out of two others early. Pulisic left last week’s round of 16 loss to Belgium after fracturing his right leg.“I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high,” he said after the game. “It’s disappointing I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to get over this next step of beating a really good team.”Pulisic scored 10 goals in his first 15 appearances for AC Milan last season, but ended his club season in career-worst scoreless streak, failing to get a goal in 19 games after Dec. 28.FIFA Picks Referee For Argentina-Spain Final After World Cup Officiating RowThe World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday will be refereed by Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia, two years after he was in charge of a Champions League final.FIFA announced the pick late Thursday. It’s the second straight World Cup final where Argentina, now the defending champion, will have a European referee to face a European opponent.FIFA has faced criticism during the current World Cup for Argentina seeming to get the benefit of some refereeing decisions — including when soccer great Lionel Messi escaped a red card for a rough challenge on an Algeria opponent — with the coaches of Egypt and South Africa claiming inconsistencies.After Egypt formally alleged bias in decisions during its 3-2 loss to Argentina, FIFA director of referees Pierluigi Collina said: “Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials.”In his three games so far at the 2026 World Cup, Vinčić has shown seven yellow cards and one red card, and awarded no penalty kicks.In the most recent of his games, in the round of 32 more than two weeks ago, Vinčić sent off Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie after a video review for covering his mouth in a confrontation with a Mexico opponent.Vinčić also worked two group-stage games, when Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 and Algeria beat Jordan 2-1.Bayern-Madrid epicIn the last European club season, Vinčić’s biggest match was Bayern Munich’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.Vinčić showed yellow cards to five Madrid players, and second yellows to Eduardo Camavinga for timewasting and Arda Guler for dissent to send them off late in the game.Those were among just three red cards that Vinčić showed in nine Champions League games and he awarded just two penalties.The 46-year-old Slovenian refereed Madrid’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final.The Slovenia linkFIFA’s pick of Vinčić surprised some observers given ongoing tensions between its president Gianni Infantino and UEFA, led by Slovenian lawyer Aleksander Ceferin, who should attend the final at East Rutherford, New Jersey.UEFA claimed FIFA “crossed a red line” in suspending a mandatory one-game ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun to let him face Belgium in the round of 16, and called the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”On day four of the World Cup, some soccer federations published a letter during a FIFA-hosted conference in Miami criticizing Ceferin personally for a reported comment made days before the tournament in Slovenia about the expanded 48-team competition format.Vinčić follows Szymon Marciniak of Poland in being chosen to officiate the biggest match in world soccer. Marciniak awarded a penalty to each team in the thrilling 3-3 draw in the World Cup final between Argentina and France in Qatar in December 2022. Argentina then won the penalty shootout in which Marciniak showed a yellow card to goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for unsporting conduct in trying to distract French players.The pick of Vinčić continues a pattern for 10 straight World Cups since 1990: European referees are chosen for finals played outside Europe, and referees from other continents are picked for finals played in Europe. Those include Italian Collina, the premier referee of his generation, who worked Brazil’s 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 final in Japan.Messi Once Cradled A Baby Yamal. Now They'll Meet In The World Cup Final.Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Spain’s Lamine Yamal go way back.As Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between their countries approaches, photos of a 20-year-old Messi bathing baby Yamal during a 2007 UNICEF photo shoot have gone viral on social media once again.The now-iconic images feature Messi, then an emerging Barcelona star, cradling Yamal, who was then just a few months old. They were taken after Yamal’s parents won a UNICEF charity raffle to have their son take part in the shoot.Read the full backstory on the BBC:Spain’s Trump-Slamming Prime Minister To Attend World Cup FinalSpain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will attend Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also be at the game, alongside their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.Donald Trump is expected to attend too, while Argentina’s President Javier Milei will stay away for superstitious reasons.The match could produce an awkward encounter between Sánchez and Trump.The Spanish leader has repeatedly criticized the U.S. president over issues including tariffs and international trade, foreign policy, the war with Iran and Trump’s attacks on Spain’s defense spending.Trump is no fan of Spain’s government, either.Argentina's Trump-Allied President Reveals Why He Won't Attend World Cup FinalArgentina’s Trump-allied President Javier Milei said he won’t attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday between Argentina and Spain.Milei put his decision down to superstition.He said he’s watched his country’s previous seven tournament victories from the presidential residence. He also revealed he’ll wear the same heavy jacket he first donned during Argentina’s 3-1 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the game.Read more from The Associated Press:Lionel Messi Sends Blunt Message To Argentina's World Cup DetractorsLionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.”The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England, is the result of championship pedigree and nothing more.After trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute, Argentina rallied for a 2-1 win over England on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final.The victory led tens of thousands to flood the streets of Buenos Aires in ecstatic celebrations, and marked another remarkable comeback that showed the perseverance of a team that is now one win from a back-to-back titles. Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s final.Argentina earlier survived by beating Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time, and rallied for an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt after coming back from being down 2-0 with 11 minutes of regulation time to play. But both the Swiss and Egyptian coaches criticized the refereeing. Egypt’s Hossam Hassan went as far as to say that his team was the victim of a soccer establishment that favored Messi and Argentina.The comments fueled criticism sparked by fans who argue that the FIFA bracket favored La Albiceleste, and unfounded allegations on social media claiming that the soccer governing body wants Argentina to once again become World Cup champion.“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi said after the win over England. “Once again, we’ve established ourselves among the top two teams in the world. That proves that everything we’ve done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us.”The game against Switzerland swung on a call that riled up those who believe Argentina has been favored by World Cup officials. The Swiss had just tied the game at 1-1 on Dan Ndoye’s goal in the 67th minute when Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. But video showed the Swiss player falling before the Argentina midfielder made contact with him, and since Embolo received a yellow card earlier in the match, he was sent off and Switzerland was left to defend with 10 players.“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the game. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes.”Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association had said it “cannot remain silent” after what it believed was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt’s loss against Argentina.Argentina’s team had not acknowledged the complaints on officiating and FIFA. In previous press conferences, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had even advised journalists asking about the matter “not to consume so much social media.”But after the victory over England, the reigning champions fought back.“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi said. “If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn’t give them the chance.”Wednesday’s semifinal was the latest chapter in a long-running feud that has transcended the field to encompass British control over the disputed Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas and claims as its sovereign territory.The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players celebrating their victory over England posed with a banner handed over by fans, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.”Enzo Fernandez acknowledged that his goal celebration, which leveled the score at 1-1, was aimed at Argentina’s critics. The Chelsea midfielder first cupped his hands to his ears, a gesture interpreted in soccer as a challenge to critics. Then, he opened and closed his fingers, as if inviting them to keep talking.“There was a lot of talk; it was a mix of euphoria and frustration,” Fernandez said.Scaloni, for his part, stated in the post-semifinal press conference that “this talk of ‘help’ will always exist; it doesn’t bother me.”“With VAR today, it’s very difficult to get help; it would have to be glaringly obvious. We knew there was no help.”Argentina Fans Snap Up $5,000 Flights Within Hours Of World Cup Final BerthArgentina fans snapped up flights to the United States within hours after the national carrier put on special services for Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain in New Jersey, underscoring the country’s readiness to pay almost any price to follow the defending champions.State-run Aerolineas Argentinas said two special Buenos Aires-New York flights released late on Wednesday sold out by Thursday morning, filling 540 seats. The flights were priced at about $5,000 in economy and $10,000 in business class, far above typical fares.The rush came after Argentina beat England 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday to reach the July 19 final, while Spain advanced with a 2-0 win over France on Tuesday. The title match will be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.Aerolineas’ website showed no seats available on its New York services through July 21, while the carrier’s flights to Miami were also sold out, the spokesperson said, with South Florida serving as a stop-over for fans hoping to reach the final.Seats were still being marketed on Thursday by other airlines, though mostly via connections rather than special non-stop fan charters. American Airlines AAL.O was advertising Buenos Aires-New York fares for July travel on its website, while Copa and LATAM were also listing Buenos Aires-New York or Buenos Aires-Miami options.Travel company Despegar said searches for flights to New York jumped 6,000% in the hours after the final whistle, a sign of the extraordinary demand unleashed by Argentina’s bid to retain the title.For Argentines, whose passion for the national team has repeatedly translated into big-spending pilgrimages, the chance to see Lionel Messi’s side face Spain for the World Cup appears to have outweighed the soaring cost of getting there.English Media And Former Players Slam Coach After Latest World Cup LetdownEngland hired a German coach to end 60 years of hurt but saw its World Cup hopes come crashing down in the most English of ways. Another defeat in the semifinals. Another defeat from a winning position.The English media was predictably critical of coach Thomas Tuchel after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Argentina. “Same old story” read one headline. Another declared that “Tuchel just shrank.”Tuchel, a serial trophy-winning coach with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, was hired to put a second star on England’s jersey and end the decades-long wait for a first trophy since the World Cup in 1966.The wait goes on.Former England captain Gary Lineker raised the question about Tuchel’s future, saying he was “brought in specifically to take us over the line.”“Is he the right man to take us forward?” Lineker said on his Netflix show ‘The Rest is Football.’ “He just got it so wrong in the big moment.”Tuchel’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, was credited with making England fans fall back in love with the men’s national team after years of underachievement. He reached back-to-back European Championship finals but ultimately fell short, with his supposed cautious approach said to have cost England in clutch matches.Southgate’s substitutions were criticized as well as his tactics when England relinquished leads against Croatia in the World Cup semifinals in 2018 and Italy in the final of the Euros three years later.There was criticism of the English soccer federation’s decision to turn to a German, but Tuchel, a Champions League winner, was supposed to be difference maker in those key moments.Leading 1-0 going into the 85th minute and in a defensive shell, England saw its hopes shattered on Argentina goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez.“It’s a real panic. You can’t go a goal up and then surrender the ball and surrender any opportunity of trying to get the second goal,” former England captain Wayne Rooney told the BBC. ”I just think the decisions Thomas Tuchel made, and I think we have to be honest on this, have cost us tonight.”Lineker said Tuchel’s tactics and substitutions after going 1-0 up “made zero sense to me.”Tuchel, who signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the World Cup, stood by his decisions.“As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It’s just what it is,” Tuchel said. “No one knows what would have happened if I had made different decisions so it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head.“I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism. That’s just the way it is.”FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said shortly after the loss that it is “heartbreaking to be so close.”“The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament,” he said in a statement. “I would like to thank them all — and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further.”England will face France in the third-place game on Saturday in Miami.Defeat to defending champion Argentina continued a pattern for the England men at the World Cup.It has not beaten one of the traditional major nations at soccer’s biggest tournament since the 1-0 win over Argentina in the group stage in 2002. Before that, England beat France in the group stage in 1982.Knockout eliminations have come at the hands of Argentina and Germany on three occasions each, Brazil, Portugal and France. There was also the 2018 semifinals defeat to Croatia, a team that has never won a major trophy.Tuchel, however, does not buy into the narrative that repeated failure is a specifically English problem.“I love to see these things in a football matter and through football glasses. So first of all I always think it’s solvable on the football field,” he said. “I don’t believe so much in an English thing or in a curse or whatever or history repeating itself.”Britain and Ireland are co-hosting Euro 2028.“I have a contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that, even if right now it is difficult to look that far ahead,” Tuchel said.More Than 700 Drones Seized Around World Cup Venues, FBI SaysU.S. agencies have seized over 700 drones near FIFA World Cup venues and fan zones since the start of the tournament on June 11, the FBI said on Thursday.On match days, all aircraft operations, including drones, are prohibited within a radius of three nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet (914 meters) above ground level around the stadiums unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers. The FBI said drones have been seized from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities and there have been several arrests.The Federal Aviation Administration imposed dozens of temporary flight restrictions to bar drones around World Cup sites. At fan gatherings, drones are barred within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level.Operators whose drones enter restricted airspace without approval can face fines of up to $100,000, along with criminal charges and confiscation of their drone, the FBI said. The FBI has teams stationed around World Cup stadiums to detect and disable unauthorized drones.FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in an interview the seizures demonstrate the government “can actually identify the users and identify people who are in airspace where they’re not supposed to be.”The FAA has proposed to allow operators of critical infrastructure to petition to restrict drone operations over sites for safety and security reasons. Bedford said, “We’re going to start looking at all of the sensitive locations, power plants, utility plants, infrastructure.”The FAA has said it gets more than 100 reports of drones near airports each month.There have been numerous drone incidents in prior years over major U.S. sporting events.In 2025, a man pleaded guilty after he was charged with violating defense airspace by flying a drone over a National Football League playoff game in Baltimore.Soccer's Biggest Prize Gets The Five-Star Treatment Before World Cup FinalThe World Cup trophy will be transported to the New York-New Jersey stadium in a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk, with the French luxury fashion house once again entrusted with designing the carry case for the most coveted prize in soccer.The trunk features a golden V for “Victory” - and “Vuitton” - across the front, with the brand’s recognisable monogram pattern and gold-plated brass corner protectors. The interior is lined with beige leather and features a patch commemorating the partnership between Louis Vuitton and FIFA.It is the fifth successive occasion in which the French company has designed a trunk for the trophy, following those used at the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.“For over a decade, Louis Vuitton and FIFA have shared an unwavering commitment to excellence, bound by a shared belief in sport’s power to inspire and bring people together,” Louis Vuitton CEO and Chairman Pietro Beccari said in a statement.Luxury brands have long staked out their territory in professional sport, with Tiffany & Co. crafting the prize awarded to the Super Bowl champion -- now known as the Vince Lombardi Trophy -- since the first edition in 1967.Louis Vuitton also crafts bespoke luxury trophy trunks for major Grand Prix circuits under a 10-year deal with Formula 1. But there is only one trophy for the quadrennial global showpiece - the prize typically resides at the FIFA Museum in Zurich - making the chance to design its bespoke luggage a particular honour.Pele's 1958 World Cup Final Jersey Sells At Auction For Eye-Watering SumThe shirt worn by Brazil great Pele when he scored twice in the 1958 World Cup final has sold for $4.9 million at auction, becoming the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the football legend, Sotheby’s said on Thursday.The number 10 shirt, worn by the then 17-year-old as Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in Stockholm to win their first world title, attracted 10 bids from more than five bidders, the auction house said.The sale made it the second-most expensive football shirt sold at auction, behind the $9.3 million paid in 2022 for the shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his “Hand of God” goal for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup.Pele, who died in 2022 aged 82, scored twice in the 1958 showpiece and remains the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.The shirt had previously sold at auction in 2004 for 70,505 pounds ($105,600), according to Sotheby’s.Argentina Fans Rally Behind Players Over Controversial World Cup BannerLocals in Buenos Aires voiced support on Thursday for Argentine World Cup players who held up a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after their semi-final victory over England, even as Britain urged FIFA to investigate the incident.Some players brandished a banner declaring “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after their 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta.A Reuters photograph showed the white, homemade-looking banner initially waved by fans celebrating in the stadium’s front row. According to Argentine newspaper Clarin, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso approached the supporters and asked to borrow it.Later photos showed him holding it up with centre-back Lisandro Martinez, while the players were singing and celebrating, facing their fans. It can later be seen lying on the grass.FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” inside stadiums.It had not issued any public sanction as of Thursday and declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Similar actions in the past by footballers have led to fines or match bans.British business minister Peter Kyle told BBC Radio on Thursday that the incident must be formally investigated, stressing that politics must be kept separate from the World Cup.Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, in a public letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said the act “directly insulted the people of the islands” and called for the players to be disqualified from participating in Sunday’s final.The question of sovereignty over the South Atlantic British overseas territory, known to the British as the Falklands and to the Argentines as the Malvinas, has been a long-running sore in relations between the countries.They fought a short conflict over the islands ‌in 1982, in which 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British combatants died.Near a monument to the Argentine war dead in central Buenos Aires, locals Reuters spoke to were supportive of the team’s actions.“For me, it is very important that players, as public figures, give their opinion, especially on issues that are so sensitive for us,” said 30-year-old Martin Aguirre.“That is why we really appreciate the gestures by Licha (Martinez) and Giovani Lo Celso, because even though they know they could face a sanction or some kind of problem over this, they still raised that flag.”Federico Schenone, 52, said it was not a political gesture but a “matter of history and legitimacy.”Although he did not directly mention the banner, talisman Lionel Messi said after the game: “When you play a match of that magnitude, so many things come into play. History weighs on a game like that.”England-Argentina World Cup Clash Makes Ratings HistoryFox Sports continued a record-breaking week in TV soccer viewership when Argentina’s narrow victory over England on Wednesday was the most-watched World Cup semifinal in English-language history, Variety reported.Argentina’s 2-1 win averaged 15.063 million viewers on Fox, crushing the mark set just one day earlier when Spain shut out France 2-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal and averaged 11.462 million viewers.Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi, facing off in Atlanta against England and its star striker Harry Kane, peaked with 22.177 million viewers from 4:45-5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.Fox averaged 6.531 million viewers for the 2022 World Cup semifinals.The France-Morocco semifinal in December 2022 in Qatar drew 6.595 million viewers on Fox, the record for English-language broadcasts of World Cup semifinals until this week.Radio Times reported that England’s match Wednesday was the most-watched live TV broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2026. The broadcast peaked at 24 million viewers -- 85% of all TV viewing at the time -- and averaged 22.1 million on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.It was the most-watched match of the current World Cup in the United Kingdom -- topping England’s quarterfinal win over Norway on ITV1 (peak of 16.8 million per reported overnight figures). It was BBC’s biggest live audience since England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy in 2021.Defending World Cup champion Argentina play European champion Spain on Sunday in the final in East Rutherford, N.J. England and France meet on Saturday in the third-place game in Miami Gardens, Fla.Trump To Attend World Cup Final On Sunday, White House ConfirmsWASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at the New York-New Jersey stadium on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.“We look forward to the final match on Sunday, and I know the president looks forward to attending,” Leavitt told reporters at a press conference.“His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history.”Leavitt added that she did not know whether Trump had a favorite in the final but encouraged reporters to ask him. “I’m sure he’ll have a fun answer for you,” she said.The president will also attend a FIFA reception at the Trump Tower in New York City on Friday, Leavitt added.(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Doina Chiacu and Ismail Shakil; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Michelle Nichols)Argentine Golfer Responds To Jeers At British Open In A Very World Cup WaySOUTHPORT, England (AP) — The only Argentine golfer in the British Open field was playfully jeered by some spectators on the first tee Thursday, the morning after his national soccer team’s epic comeback win over England at the World Cup.Mateo Pulcini delivered an amusing response a few hours later.After holing a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale, the 25-year-old amateur cupped both of his ears in a gesture to spectators that mimicked the celebration his countryman, Enzo Fernandez, produced after scoring Argentina’s 85th-minute equalizing goal on Wednesday. Argentina went on to win 2-1 in the semifinals.“I was pretty excited and that came to my mind,” he said, “and I did it.”Pulcini stressed there were only “a few boos” on the first tee and that it was just a bit of fun.“People are being great. Fans are being spectacular. They were cheering for me as well,” he said.Asked what felt better — his putt on the 18th or seeing Fernandez’s goal — Pulcini said: “Enzo’s goal, for sure.”Pulcini is making his debut at the British Open after qualifying by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship in a playoff in Peru.He shot 5-over 75 on Thursday.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfArgentinian Mateo Pulcini rolls one in and gets an applause.Commentator on the English crowd:"They haven't quite worked out where he's from." pic.twitter.com/qXVSdN3Oar— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) July 16, 2026'These Are New Yorkers': Mamdani Attends World Cup Watch Party At City's Largest JailNEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s official World Cup guide lists no less than 100 free places to take in soccer’s biggest tournament on big screens. One place that isn’t listed? The city’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex, better known for its overcrowding and violence than for hosting social events.But more than 100 inmates were rewarded with a special viewing of the World Cup semifinal match Wednesday between England and Argentina because of their model behavior behind bars.The inmates, dressed in tan uniforms, took seats at tables facing a large projection screen set up in a gymnasium. The jail has hosted about 90 such watch parties since the tournament kicked off last month, with about 4,500 of the roughly 6,600 inmates incarcerated on the 400-acre island participating, correction officials said.“Programs like this equal safety in our jail,” said Stanley Richards, the city’s correction commissioner and a former Rikers inmate. “What we say to them is that your humanity is seen, heard and valued.”Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who briefly stopped by, added: “The World Cup has been a magical moment for the entire city. These are New Yorkers, and they will be New Yorkers when they get out of Rikers.”The scene Wednesday was in sharp contrast to complaints about Rikers Island that have been so bad in recent years that a federal judge appointed an outside manager to help improve the facility.On Tuesday, that federal overseer, former Vermont Department of Corrections head Nicholas Deml, submitted a plan for reforms that underscored the continued dysfunction at the facility, which opened in 1935.The report described one instance when inspectors arrived at a housing unit to find it filled with smoke from fires set by prisoners, blaring alarms and people pounding on their cell doors. In another incident, prisoners streamed through an unsecured door and brawled after a guard abandoned his post.“Violence remains pervasive, basic correctional practices remain unreliable, and unconstitutional conditions persist,” the report said.Mamdani has vowed to honor a 2019 city law mandating the closure of Rikers, but also conceded the 2027 deadline is likely unrealistic after years of delays.With his white shirt sleeves rolled up, the Democrat went table-by-table chatting up inmates.One told the mayor he expected Argentina to prevail over England and go on to face Spain, which had defeated France the day earlier.“You never know,” said Mamdani, a professed Morocco fan.At another table, an inmate told the mayor he was going home later in the day. “That’s amazing,” Mamdani said, patting his back.The jailhouse crowd erupted in a mix of groans and cheers as England struck first with a goal early in the second half.Ralph Veal was among the minority of England fans who raised his arms in celebration. The 53-year-old Mount Vernon resident, who has been incarcerated since November, said the watch party made him reflect on how he might better approach life after jail.“I could be doing this with my family, you know?” he said. “My son, he’s a big soccer fan, so this would be great for me and him to have that relationship and that bond.”Others simply relished the chance for a rare treat: a freshly catered meal of salad, salmon, penne alla vodka and chicken parmesan, along with Snapple drinks.“I’ve been locked up 21 months,” said Thomas McCoy, 52, of Brooklyn. “It’s been a long time since I had real food like that.”When the final whistle blew and Argentina earned a spot against Spain in the final Sunday, Victor Caldas was overcome with emotions.The 39-year-old, who has been incarcerated for four months, has been rooting for Argentina since his home country of Ecuador was knocked out of the tournament.“It reminds me of when I was a kid, playing soccer. It’s all about love. Soccer brings a lot of love,” he said, still staring at the final score as others started cleaning up the gym.“It don’t matter from where you are in the world, you know. It’s about bonding with another culture, other people.”Rain Expected To Dissipate Wildfire Smoke In NYC Area Ahead Of World Cup FinalNEW YORK, July 16 (Reuters) - Smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed much of the northeastern United States, triggering health alerts, but a cold front expected on the weekend will help dissipate the dangerous haze in time for Sunday’s World Cup final in the New York area.More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the World Cup final between holders Argentina and European champions Spain at the open-air New York-New Jersey stadium while another 50,000 are expected to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan.New York City began feeling the effects of the wildfires this week and local authorities issued an alert, urging residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity and take extra breaks if they are outside.On Thursday the air quality in New Jersey, the site of the stadium, was rated as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ by several air quality measurement platforms.“The areas where the smoke is the densest can actually cause respiratory problems. So those who may be a little bit more sensitive or may have respiratory issues may want to stay inside for as long as possible,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Reuters in an interview.“It’s going to rain a lot on Saturday, so that should dissipate a lot of the smoke.“Sunday morning, I think we’re going to be seeing a cold front come through the area and it should kick out any remaining smoke that we’re seeing.”New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday the smoke was creating unhealthy air conditions across the state.“Smoke from the Canadian wildfires will continue to blanket New York today. Air quality is expected to worsen, with very unhealthy conditions affecting much of the state,” Hochul said. “Stay indoors if you can.”Wildfire smoke from northern Canada has been a common summer occurrence across wide swaths of the United States in recent years.DaSilva said while spectators should try to limit their outdoor activities as much as possible on the day before the final, any risk would be lower by the time the match kicks off at 1500 Eastern time (1900 GMT) on Sunday.“We are going to be seeing some of that smoke moving out of the area as we go into the weekend,” he added. (Reporting by Amy Tennery; Writing by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)Spanish F1 Star's Big Focus On Race Weekend? Get Home In Time For World Cup FinalFRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, July 16 (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso’s main focus for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend will be making sure he gets home in time to watch Spain play Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.The Spanish driver’s Aston Martin team have been Formula One backmarkers this season, struggling to finish races and scoring just one point from nine rounds.Belgium, the last race before Aston Martin introduce a major chassis upgrade with an improved engine still to come, could mark a low point before things start to improve.In 2010, the last time a Formula One race coincided with soccer’s biggest match, Alonso was at Ferrari and fighting for wins.Spain, now the European champions, won that World Cup in South Africa and are chasing their second crown against the holders.“It will be different. As we don’t expect much this weekend,” two-time world champion Alonso told reporters at Spa-Francorchamps.“The main focus on Sunday will be to get home and watch the match, to be honest.”The final is scheduled for 9 p.m. European time (1900 GMT) with the Formula One race starting at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).“It’s going to be tricky because we are flying back home,” said Alonso.“So maybe again on Sunday the second half will be probably the moment that I will watch the game. And the first half, just miss it.”Argentine Franco Colapinto, who races for Renault-owned Alpine, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz at Williams will face similar problems.“I’m definitely going to be much more nervous about the match than the race,” said Colapinto.“Yesterday (the semi-final against England) we had a lot of fun, a lot of suffering. But if you don’t suffer a bit, you’re not Argentinian.“It was one of those matches that, you are really nervous, but then you celebrate a lot. So it was a long night, but very fun.”(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Toby Davis)Women's Soccer Match Draws Record NYC Crowd Ahead Of Nearby World Cup FinalNEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) - Gotham FC welcomed back striker Sam Kerr and secured a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit in front of a record crowd for a women’s sporting event in New York City on Wednesday, as the women’s game kept the ball rolling in America’s summer of soccer.The league said more than 42,000 tickets were sold for the match at the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, with fans turning up to Citi Field despite a thick layer of smoke that hung in the air from Ontario wildfires.That mark surpassed the more than 28,000 fans who watched U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff’s victory in the 2023 U.S. Open women’s singles final.The huge turnout was an encouraging sign for Gotham and comes days after they announced they would relocate from their suburban New Jersey stadium to Etihad Park in Queens - across the street from Citi Field - beginning in 2028, a move that is expected to make the team accessible to more fans.“We know that with investment, if you build it, they will come. And this is a proof point for that,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told reporters.“My favorite thing about tonight is that it isn’t transactional. It’s not a one and done. This is the beginning of a new relationship for this team in Queens.“And we know that there’s an entire fan base here that is going to be really hungry to enjoy the best soccer in the world.”The enthusiasm for soccer in the U.S. has contributed to the record numbers attending the expanded men’s World Cup, as excitement builds ahead of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey.FULL CIRCLEAustralian Kerr’s highly anticipated return to the North American league from Chelsea is expected to bolster an already formidable attack for two-time champions Gotham.The only goal of the game came from Rose Lavelle, a women’s World Cup winner with the U.S. in 2019, after she slipped the ball through defender Tara Rudd’s legs before launching it over the outstretched arms of Washington goalkeeper Sandy MacIver in the 37th minute.The crowd turned up the volume a notch when Kerr came off the bench in the 64th minute, as the Australian striker took the pitch after her return from a decorated spell in England’s WSL.Longtime fans had a sense of deja vu seeing Kerr back in Gotham blue as she played for the team from 2015 to 2017, back when they called the 5,000-capacity Yurcak Field home.“In many ways this is like a full circle moment with Sam Kerr coming here and being able to experience this on her first night,” said Berman.“Playing for the new Gotham, (in) what is so different from the reality that was the NWSL.”(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)Headliner Named For Star-Studded World Cup Closing CeremonyPost Malone has been tapped to headline the World Cup closing ceremony, joining the likes of actor Tom Cruise and streamer IShowSpeed for a star-studded affair ahead of Sunday’s final match.The Grammy-nominated music star — known for hits like “Sunflower” and “Rockstar” — is set to be the main draw of the show, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET prior to kickoff between Spain and Argentina.“At a time when sport, culture and global attention converge, Post Malone will deliver a performance designed to celebrate the tournament’s journey and ignite the atmosphere before the world’s attention turns to the two finalists,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a press release on Wednesday. In addition to Post’s performance, Cruise will make “special appearance” during the show, according to FIFA. Speed, who has used his massive internet status to champion the beautiful game in recent years, will help make up the rest of a star-studded lineup along with the Pussycats Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and Robbie Williams.Jennifer Hudson is scheduled to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Sunday’s final, as well.Later, several stars will take the stage for a 20-minute halftime show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, that will include Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus.Beloved characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street are also set to appear.Canadian Wildfire Smoke Casts A Cloud Ahead Of World Cup Final In New JerseyToronto’s air quality ranked the worst among major cities globally on Wednesday as wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario blackened skies and spread into the northeastern United States, prompting health warnings and calls for residents to limit outdoor activities.Wildfires are raging through sparsely populated areas hundreds of miles from Toronto and sending smoke over a wide area, although they are not directly threatening cities.Environment Canada reported an Air Quality Health Index reading of 10+, classified as “very high risk,” for Toronto, while forecasts suggested hazardous conditions could persist through Thursday night.New York City began feeling the effects days before neighboring New Jersey is scheduled to host the World Cup final on Sunday. Local authorities issued an alert as air quality reached an unhealthy level and urged residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity and take extra breaks if they are outside on Wednesday and Thursday.The National Weather Service said smoke could linger into the end of the week.“We probably haven’t seen the worst of it yet for New York City. We probably haven’t seen the worst of it yet for the Great Lakes and upstate and New England yet either,” said Dan Westervelt, Lamont associate research professor at Columbia University.IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality across the globe, surpassing Kinshasa and Delhi. New York ranked No. 5.Fires trapped two small groups of children from Minnesota who were in the Canadian wilderness on a camping trip organized by the YMCA, a worldwide Christian youth association, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported on Wednesday, citing a YMCA official. One of the groups was evacuated by helicopter in coordination with the Canadian military, the newspaper said.“Both groups have been rescued and are on their way back home to safety,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on X.Wildfire smoke from northern Canada has been a common summer occurrence across wide swaths of the United States in recent years.A video that went viral on social media showed a Canadian National train surrounded by fire near Armstrong, Ontario. Canadian National employees in the area and residents of Armstrong were evacuated on Monday night, the railroad operator said in a statement. It suspended rail operations near Armstrong, more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Toronto, as a precaution due to the wildfires.The City of Toronto canceled the FIFA Fan Festival and the England-Argentina World Cup watch party at Nathan Phillips Square because of poor air quality.In the New York City area, more than 80,000 people are expected to attend the World Cup final at an open-air stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. Another 50,000 plan to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan, where skies appeared hazy.New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on social media that smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires were creating unhealthy air conditions across the state and encouraged people, especially those with health conditions, to exercise caution.The Government of Canada has said wildfire season began more slowly in 2026 than in 2023 or 2025 — the two worst seasons for wildfires — but warned that fires were likely, due to warmer-than-usual temperatures across the country.Some 835 active fires were burning in the country on Wednesday and 112 were considered out of control, according to the government. So far, 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) have burned. Most of the fires were in the central provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario.Greg Evans, professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry at the University of Toronto, said Toronto had been simultaneously hit with severe heat and wildfire smoke.“I expect that this will occur more frequently over the coming decades so cities and residents need to prepare for this in the future,” he said.Paula Oreskovich, a Toronto resident, said she noticed the haze and smell of smoke when she stepped outside in the morning. She said the poor air quality was concerning, particularly as wildfire smoke has become a recurring feature of recent summers.“I think you have to be silly if you’re not going to be concerned about climate change. It’s definitely here, it’s definitely happening, and it’s happening globally,” Oreskovich said.