Bermuda, Curaçao, Jamaica and Trinidad drawn into CONCACAF all-island World Cup qualifying group
MIAMI (AP) — Bermuda, Curaçao, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago were drawn into an all-island Group B on Thursday night for the third round of World Cup qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Suriname were put in Group A, and Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua in Group C.
A double round-robin will take place in September, October and November, and the three groups winners will qualify for the expanded 48-nation field next year. The region has a minimum six berths, with Canada, Mexico and the United States qualifying automatically as co-hosts.
The top two second-place teams advance to six-team playoffs next March that include the No. 7 team from South America, No. 9 team from Asia, the No. 10 team from Africa and New Caledonia, which is the No. 2 team from Oceania. There will be semifinal single legs involving the four lowest-ranked playoff nations, with the winners advancing to single leg finals that will produce two qualifiers.
Europe has 16 direct qualifying berths, Africa nine, Asia eight, South America six and Oceania one.
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Associated Press
13 minutes ago
- Associated Press
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New York Times
16 minutes ago
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New York Times
17 minutes ago
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Oft-criticized Darnell Nurse's improvements evident for Oilers in Stanley Cup Final
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DARNELL NURSE MAKES IT A ONE-GOAL GAME! 👀 #StanleyCup BUCKLE UP, FOLKS! 🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ — NHL (@NHL) June 13, 2025 Nurse smiled when asked about making amends and helping his team at a crucial point in the series. 'The two games before, I felt like I had more to give to the group,' Nurse said. 'It was good to contribute here. We're going to need more of that.' That's undoubtedly true, considering there appears to be a hole developing on the Edmonton blue line. Advertisement The Oilers essentially played the last two periods of regulation and overtime with five defensemen after Troy Stecher was benched a minute into the second, coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Friday. Stecher was inserted into the lineup for John Klingberg, who struggled in Game 3. That puts more on the other defensemen's shoulders, including Nurse. 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Sometimes you've got to look at yourself and be better.' Nurse's approach spoke volumes to his teammates. 'That's great accountability,' goalie Stuart Skinner said. 'When it comes to Darnell and his mindset, I've known him for a few years now. What I've come to know about him is his resiliency. He likes it when he has to face adversity. That just means he's going to get better from it.' A working plan for Nurse was constructed during training camp when he and Coffey went for coffee to chat. It lasted an hour. It could have gone on for another two, Coffey said, if he didn't have somewhere he needed to be. Advertisement Nurse first asked Coffey how he could regain his trust during their postseason phone call. This time, the in-person conversation shifted to Nurse inquiring about how Coffey ideally wanted him to play. 'I want it all,' Coffey told him. 'I want you to be the best player you can be, and we'll figure it out as we go.' Nurse did just that during the season, his best since that Canadian division-only 2021 standout campaign and perhaps the best of his career. Nurse helped the Oilers weather some early rocky waters by playing with a slew of defensemen without a regular partner. He got time with Stecher, Travis Dermott and Ty Emberson, and even took some shifts on the right side. He found chemistry with Stecher and fellow lefty Brett Kulak. As the season progressed, there were far more good performances — and some great efforts — than there were poor ones. Nurse trusted his instincts, he was more assertive, and his snarl was often present. His best qualities shone through when they seldom did before. 'Nursey is good when he's moving and he's tough and he's on his toes,' Coffey said. 'I'm not afraid to tell him that. I'm not afraid to challenge him.' Nurse had five goals and 33 points while averaging 22:22 in 76 games. 'My game's felt much better,' Nurse said. 'I've felt a lot more confident. It's been a good year. I definitely wasn't happy with how last year went. I wasn't happy with how the playoffs went, especially. I came in and took full responsibility.' It's not like he hasn't had hiccups in the playoffs, including in the Final, but Nurse has been far more impactful than he was over either of the last two postseason runs. He's up to three goals and seven points after his offensive production on Thursday and is averaging 23:38. 'Sometimes he's been that emotional leader for us. Sometimes he's been cool, calm and collected,' center Adam Henrique said. 'You can see it in his face throughout the game, even before the games. He's just locked in.' Advertisement Perhaps most importantly to those around the team is how Nurse served as the anchor of the blue line while veteran Mattias Ekholm sat out the first 15 games of the playoffs with a lower-body injury. 'He absolutely stepped up, but he's stepped up all year,' right winger Connor Brown said. 'I don't know if he necessarily had to take any steps forward because he was there.' Brown was among those to stand up for Nurse when he came under fire midway through last year's playoffs. He said those outside the Oilers dressing room shouldn't underestimate Nurse's importance to the team because those inside certainly don't. 'A lot of it is wearing the heavy burden of what you think the outside noise is thinking of you,' Brown said. 'What you're seeing in Darnell is he's shed that. 'He's been arguably one of our best players all year. You're seeing a guy who's playing free and having fun again.' Nurse has been a lightning rod for criticism ever since he parlayed that outstanding-yet-truncated 2021 campaign into a big payday. Nurse assumed the No. 1 duties on the blue line that season with Oscar Klefbom sidelined with what became a career-ending shoulder injury. He had 16 goals and 36 points in 56 games a year ahead of free agency and signed an eight-year, $9.25 million contract extension after Seth Jones and Zach Werenski reset the market for defensemen. 'You know what it's like in this town for him,' Coffey said. 'They've been tough on him. The money he makes has got nothing to do with him. Good for him. We paid, and he deserved it. He's just a maturing guy that's a team guy times 10.' Despite Nurse feeling otherwise by last summer, Coffey said Nurse didn't lose his trust. He never has. Coffey felt like there were times he needed to shield him in last year's final because of the hip injury. Advertisement But there's no question Nurse has been much improved this season since the two talked it out. His Game 4 performance, especially rebounding from a tough first period, is evidence of that. 'I always had a ton of respect for him,' Coffey said. 'I've always liked him because he wants to get better. He wants the challenge.'
