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Barcelona is favored against comeback artist Arsenal in Women's Champions League final

Barcelona is favored against comeback artist Arsenal in Women's Champions League final

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Barcelona and Arsenal will vie for the Women's Champions League trophy when they play in Lisbon on Saturday.
Barcelona is the heavy favorite as the two-time defending champion seeks a three-peat and a fourth overall title in five years.
The Catalan club boasts a midfield featuring two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas who lead a squad with several other members of Spain's World Cup-winning team.
Arsenal will try to conjure up another superb performance after it fought back to stun both Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in reaching its first final since winning the European Cup in 2007.
Barcelona boasts the top attack in the competition. Claudia Pina and Ewa Pajor have helped their team pour in a competition-high 44 goals — compared to Arsenal's 25.
The Gunners will hope former Barcelona forward Mariona Caldentey can help them find a way to upset her former team. She and forward Alessia Russo lead Arsenal with seven goals each since the group phase.
Arsenal could be boosted by first-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, who is back after missing the last three games due to injury.
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PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer
PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer

FILE - Boston's Hilary Knight (21) helps goalie Aerin Frankel (31) defend against Minnesota during the first period in Game 4 of the PWHL Walter Cup hockey finals in St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP, File) FILE - Minnesota Frost forward Dominique Petrie (14) battles Ottawa Charge forward Danielle Serdachny (92) for control of the puck behind the net during the first period of a PWHL game, Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Ottawa Charge's Shiann Darkangelo (27) tries to deflect a shot on Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Cayla Barnes (3) defends, during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) Ottawa Charge's Shiann Darkangelo (27) tries to deflect a shot on Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Cayla Barnes (3) defends, during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Boston's Hilary Knight (21) helps goalie Aerin Frankel (31) defend against Minnesota during the first period in Game 4 of the PWHL Walter Cup hockey finals in St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP, File) FILE - Minnesota Frost forward Dominique Petrie (14) battles Ottawa Charge forward Danielle Serdachny (92) for control of the puck behind the net during the first period of a PWHL game, Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Ottawa Charge's Shiann Darkangelo (27) tries to deflect a shot on Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Cayla Barnes (3) defends, during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) Hilary Knight has company in Seattle, with the new PWHL team adding two 2024 first-round draft picks — Ottawa forward Danielle Serdachny and Montreal defenseman Cayla Barnes — on Thursday during the league's expansion signing period. The league announced Serdachny agreed to sign a two-year contract and Barnes reached a three-year deal to join Knight as the yet-to-be-named franchise's first three players. Advertisement The PWHL's other expansion team, Vancouver, agreed Thursday to a two-year contract with Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. 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"She's a dynamic defender who moves the puck well and consistently contributes offensively,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said. 'Even as a rookie last season, she played with the poise and presence of a veteran, and we see her playing a key role on our blue line.' Serdachny finished with two goals and six assists in 30 regular-season games. She had two assists to help the Charge reach the Walter Cup Finals, which they lost in four games to Minnesota. Serdachny is from Edmonton, Alberta, and played collegiately at Colgate. She scored the 2024 world championships gold-medal clinching goal in Canada's 6-5 overtime win over the United States. Advertisement 'She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential,' Turner said. Maschmeyer is from Edmonton, and joins Vancouver after two seasons as Ottawa's starter. This year, she became the league's first goalie to register 1,000 career saves. He season was cut short when she suffered a lower-body injury in March. Philips took over as the Charge's starter through the playoffs, and that contributed to the team's decision to make Maschmeyer available in the expansion process. In 2024, Maschmeyer led PWHL goalies in games played (23) and finished second in wins with a 9-9-4 record. Advertisement The 30-year-old has been mostly a backup while representing Canada. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2022 and has medaled in eight world championships. 'Her veteran leadership, relentless compete, and poise under pressure are contagious qualities that our team will feed off of and will give us a chance to win every game,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said of the former Harvard player. ___ AP women's hockey:

Trump's New Travel Ban Threatens to Upend World Cup and Olympics for Fans
Trump's New Travel Ban Threatens to Upend World Cup and Olympics for Fans

Newsweek

time38 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Trump's New Travel Ban Threatens to Upend World Cup and Olympics for Fans

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump worked hard to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the United States during his first term — and he made sure the world knew it. From campaign rallies to handwritten letters on White House stationery, he celebrated it as a defining global achievement. "I am confident," he wrote to FIFA in 2018, "that all eligible athletes, officials and fans... would be able to enter the United States without discrimination." At the time, the bet was simple: Trump would be long gone by the time the tournament kicked off. But in one of the most improbable comebacks in modern American politics, Trump is not only back in the White House — he's now rewriting the rules for who can attend the event he once helped sell to the world. US President Donald Trump listens to Vice President JD Vance speak during a meeting with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the East Room of the White house in... US President Donald Trump listens to Vice President JD Vance speak during a meeting with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the East Room of the White house in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. The soccer world championship will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. More Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images In a move reminiscent of his first term, a new executive order bans entry from 12 nations — including Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Haiti — and restricts travel from seven more. The order includes exemptions for athletes and staff attending "major sporting events," such as the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. But for ordinary fans from those countries planning to make a pilgrimage to America for either global sporting event, that door has been just shut. Take Iran, whose national team as already qualified for the Cup. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, between 20,000 and 25,000 Iranian fans attended matches at Khalifa International Stadium. Even in 2014 in Brazil, some 2,000 fans made the journey. Under Trump's new order — which labels Iran a "state sponsor of terrorism" and says it "regularly fails to cooperate" with the United States on security issues — that kind of turnout would be impossible in 2026. Other affected nations are also in contention. Haiti currently leads its group after two strong wins in the second round of CONCACAF qualifiers. Libya, currently third in a six-team group, still has a shot through the African playoff route. Venezuela, ranked seventh in South America, could make its first-ever World Cup appearance if it secures an intercontinental playoff berth. Should any of these teams qualify, they'll be allowed to send players and core staff. But unless policy changes, the fans who fueled their journeys will have to stay home. A Win Becomes a Liability In 2018, Trump's personal letters to FIFA helped ease fears among soccer federations wary of his immigration policies. According to The New York Times, the administration crafted the language carefully, with input from the National Security Council and former White House adviser Jared Kushner, who also lobbied allies like Saudi Arabia to support the joint bid and defeat Morocco, the favorite at the time. The promises were clear: the U.S. would not discriminate on who could attend. Then–Secretary of State Rex Tillerson affirmed the country's intent "to issue visas, subject to eligibility under U.S. law, without regard to race, skin color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, disability, wealth, birth or any other status, or sexual orientation." "These guarantees," then–U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro wrote in a follow-up letter, "will ensure that every eligible fan... will have unhindered access." Fast forward to 2025, and those same guarantees are being undermined by a White House that is again prioritizing border security — and warning travelers worldwide that their public statements, including social media posts, may be scrutinized and could jeopardize their chances of obtaining a U.S. visa. This policy, initially targeting individuals associated with Harvard University, is part of a broader initiative to evaluate visa applicants for signs of antisemitism or anti-American sentiment. It is expected to expand to other institutions and categories. Newsweek has reached out to the White House, State Department, FIFA and Iran's football federation for comment. Visa Bottlenecks Even for countries not subject to the travel ban, attending the World Cup may be out of reach. The U.S. visa system is buckling under pressure. Wait times for tourist visa appointments exceed 700 days in Bogotá, Colombia, and more than 500 days in Ankara and Casablanca. For fans hoping to attend next summer, the window is closing fast. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress last month that his department is considering 24-hour embassy staffing and artificial intelligence to accelerate processing. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time," Rubio said. FIFA is watching nervously. The organization expects next year's World Cup to generate $14 billion in revenue, much of it tied to international tourism. But if global fans can't secure visas, that windfall could shrink — and host cities like Kansas City, Miami and New York could lose out. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 27: Uruguay players warm-up before a Copa America 2024 Group C match between Bolivia and Uruguay at MetLife Stadium on June 27, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 27: Uruguay players warm-up before a Copa America 2024 Group C match between Bolivia and Uruguay at MetLife Stadium on June 27, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Stephen Nadler/Beyond the financial risk, FIFA faces a more visible threat: the optics of empty seats. The 2024 Copa América, also hosted in the United States, has already shown how things can go wrong. Despite being played in massive NFL stadiums, the tournament struggled with low attendance and lackluster fan engagement. The U.S. men's national team's opener against Bolivia drew fewer than 48,000 fans to the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Texas. Even the final — featuring powerhouse teams Argentina and Colombia — failed to sell out Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Mixed Messages FIFA has long insisted that host nations must provide entry to all competing teams, staff and fans. In 2017, FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that if countries couldn't guarantee access, "there is no World Cup." In 2025, he reaffirmed that stance: "Football unites the world," he said in a recent video. "Everyone who wants to come... will be able to do that." Yet even within FIFA, confidence is waning. A source close to the organization told The Athletic that visa delays have become a top concern, particularly for African and Latin American countries. Still, Infantino remains confident that his close relationship with President Trump could help ensure a successful tournament. "America will welcome the world. Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun and to celebrate the game will be able to do that," he said earlier this year. Infantino has appeared at Trump's rallies, dined with him at Davos, and even presented him with a replica of the FIFA Club World Cup trophy — now displayed in the Oval Office. FIFA president (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Gianni Infantino presents US President Donald Trump with the new FIFA Club World Cup official ball in the Oval office of the White House, in Washington, DC, on... FIFA president (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Gianni Infantino presents US President Donald Trump with the new FIFA Club World Cup official ball in the Oval office of the White House, in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2025. More Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images But the administration's messaging remains mixed. At a meeting of the White House's World Cup task force last month, Vice President J.D. Vance said: "Of course everyone is welcome to come and see this wonderful event. We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games. But when the time is up, we want them to go home — otherwise they will have to talk to Secretary Noem," he said, referring to Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. The concerns also extend beyond the World Cup. Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has said she wants to meet with Trump to ensure the success of the approaching 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "He was the president at the time when LA was awarded the Games," Coventry said to the press in March. "I truly believe that he wants the LA28 Games to be a huge success."

World Boxing apologizes after naming Imane Khelif in mandatory sex testing announcement
World Boxing apologizes after naming Imane Khelif in mandatory sex testing announcement

Yahoo

time38 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

World Boxing apologizes after naming Imane Khelif in mandatory sex testing announcement

Imane Khelif after winning gold in the Women's 66kg category in the 2024 Summer Olympics. - Ariana Cubillos/AP/File World Boxing has apologized after Imane Khelif was named in their announcement on mandatory sex testing for all boxers in their competitions, saying the Paris Olympics gold medalist's privacy should have been protected. The global body, which will oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee, made the announcement last week, less than a year after Khelif won gold in Paris amid a gender-eligibility row. Advertisement The announcement specifically said the body had sent a letter to the Algerian Boxing Federation saying Khelif 'may not participate in the female category' of any World Boxing event until she undergoes the test. However, a source said World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst had personally written to Algerian Boxing Federation president Abdelkader Abbas to apologize for including Khelif's name. Van der Vorst said World Boxing should have made a greater effort to protect Khelif's privacy. In last week's announcement, World Boxing said all athletes over the age of 18 will have to undertake a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test, which can be conducted by a nasal or mouth swab, saliva or blood. Advertisement Khelif and the Algerian Boxing Federation could not be immediately reached for comment. The country's federation joined World Boxing in September, one of more than 100 national federations that have joined the body since it was established in 2023. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at

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