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  • A timeline of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the arrest of Tyler Robinson


    SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case.

    Prosecutors will lay out their evidence against Tyler Robinson in a five-day preliminary hearing. When it is over, the judge will decide whether the case will proceed to trial, with the death penalty as a possible punishment if he is convicted.

    Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and his parents are expected to be in the Utah courtroom, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The hearing will be livestreamed.

    Robinson has not entered a plea.

    Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was a top podcaster and ally of President Donald Trump. He led an effort to remake the Republican Party’s get-out-the-vote effort in the 2024 election.

    Here are moments leading up to Kirk’s event, his death and the charges filed against Robinson. All times are local.

    Aug. 29

    Ahead of Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University, a change.org petition is started titled “Prevent Charlie Kirk from speaking at Utah Valley University.”

    Sept. 3

    Utah Valley University releases a statement affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

    Sept. 10

    Approximately 11:51 a.m.: School surveillance cameras capture the suspected shooter walking onto campus, according to charging documents.

    Noon: Kirk kicks off his event in the Fountain Courtyard of the university’s Orem Campus.

    Approximately 12:20 p.m.: Kirk is taking questions from an audience member about gun violence when a shot rings out. Authorities say the shot came from a distant roof.

    12:23 p.m.: A Utah Valley University police officer states, “Alpha 34, we have shots fired. Charlie Kirk is down,” according to a broadcast recording from the department’s dispatch line made available by OpenMHz. Shortly afterward a different officer notes that there has been gunfire, and Kirk is “on his way to the ambulance. He’s on his way to the hospital.”

    12:39 p.m.: FBI agents arrive on the scene, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

    Around this time, videos begin to appear on social media that show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans ”The American Comeback” and ”Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out, and Kirk reaches up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.

    12:47 p.m.: Utah Valley University issues an alert that says a “single shot” was fired. It also says the suspect is in custody.

    2:40 p.m.: Trump announces on social media that Kirk has died.

    2:45 p.m.: Orem Mayor Dave Young says the suspected shooter remains at large.

    4:21 p.m.: Patel says on social media that “the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.”

    4:30 p.m.: During a news conference, authorities confirm Kirk was brought to Timpanogos Regional Hospital and died there. They say no one is in custody.

    5:59 p.m.: Patel posts on social media: “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”

    Exact time unknown: Robinson sends a text to his roommate that says, “look under my keyboard.” Under it is a note that says, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to charging documents.

    Robinson and his partner continue to text, with his partner appearing to be shocked, according to court documents, asking Robinson “why he did it and how long he’d been planning it.” In another moment of the exchange, which was released by authorities and did not include timestamps, Robinson writes about potentially trying to retrieve his rifle but says a law enforcement car is nearby.

    Sept. 11

    7:55 p.m.: The FBI says it is looking for a “person of interest” and releases a series of photos showing the person wearing a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeve black shirt and a backpack.

    Police release video of the person racing across the roof of the building from where authorities say the shot was fired, dropping down to the ground and walking off campus.

    Exact time unknown: Robinson’s mother recognizes him when authorities release a picture of the suspect, and his parents confront him, according to charging documents.

    The family arranges for him to meet with a family friend — a retired sheriff’s deputy.

    8:02 p.m.: Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby receives a call from the retired deputy who says he knows the shooter’s identity and is working with the family to try to convince Robinson to come in voluntarily.

    Around 9 p.m.: Robinson appears quiet and somber when he turns himself in with his parents at the Washington County Sheriff’s office, Brooksby said. Robinson had agreed to surrender as long as it was done peacefully.

    Sept. 12

    8:05 a.m.: Authorities announce that Robinson is in custody in Kirk’s shooting. He is booked into Utah County Jail.

    Around 10:20 a.m.: A probable cause statement outlines the evidence gathered against Robinson, who was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice. All are state felony charges, and aggravated murder carries the possibility of the death penalty.

    Sept. 15

    Patel reveals on the Fox News show “Fox & Friends” that DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near where Kirk was assassinated is a match to Robinson.

    Sept. 16

    Around noon: Prosecutors announce that Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice. He is also charged with witness tampering because he allegedly told his partner to delete their text messages and to stay silent if questioned by police, according to Gray, the Utah County attorney.

    Around 3 p.m.: Robinson appears briefly before a judge by video from jail. He nods slightly at times but mostly stares straight ahead as the judge reads the charges against him aloud and says he will appoint a defense attorney.

    Sept. 17

    Students return for the first day of classes since the shooting. Care stations offering stuffed animals, candy and connections to counseling dot the campus.


  • Prosecutors to lay out their case against the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk


    SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Charlie Kirk’s widow and parents are expected this week in a Utah court where prosecutors seeking the death penalty will argue that the man charged with killing the conservative activist should stand trial for murder.

    The five-day preliminary hearing that starts Monday will be the first time members of Kirk’s family are in the Utah courtroom with defendant Tyler Robinson. The hearing will be livestreamed.

    Robinson turned himself in after the shooting. Prosecutors allege that he also sent a text message confession to his partner and left a note saying he had an opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices “and I’m going to take it.”

    He has not entered a plea in the case, however.

    Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk, who was addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. His attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.

    Months of legal jostling leading up to the hearing centered largely on media access. Beginning Monday, the focus shifts to whether there is enough evidence for a trial and if the death penalty is warranted, said Paul Cassell, a University of Utah law professor and former federal judge.

    Cassell said evidence made public to date in court filings suggests prosecutors have “an overwhelming case.”

    “This seems like the proverbial slam dunk at this stage of the case, where the only issue is whether there is a sound basis for moving forward with a trial on the merits,” he said.

    A death sentence is an option in Utah only when a crime has aggravating circumstances. Prosecutors will argue in Robinson’s case that Kirk’s shooting endangered others in attendance.

    The proceeding will resemble a minitrial, with prosecutors planning to offer DNA evidence linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon, testimony from investigators, autopsy findings, witness statements and video of Kirk’s killing. They are not required to present all their evidence and can use secondhand information, or hearsay.

    After the hearing concludes, state District Judge Tony Graf must determine if the case should proceed.

    Reporters and the public will be allowed to attend after Graf denied a defense request to restrict access.

    Kirk’s killing drew backlash from his Republican allies, including President Donald Trump, who first announced Robinson’s arrest in a Sept. 12 interview on Fox News and said, “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

    This week prosecutors need only demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds to believe Robinson killed Kirk. The standard is lower than for a trial, where prosecutors have to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

    Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.

    Robinson’s parents had confronted him after authorities released a surveillance photo of the suspect and details about the rifle, authorities have said. His parents convinced him to meet with a family friend, who is a retired sheriff’s deputy, who reportedly helped arrange for Robinson to turn himself in.

    Prosecutors have said Robinson left a note for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” They also said he wrote to his roommate in a text message about Kirk: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

    Defense attorneys unsuccessfully sought to block prosecutors from using recorded statements from Robinson’s roommate during the hearing. The defense wanted the roommate to testify in person so Robinson could exercise his right challenge the credibility of witnesses against him. Graf said the time for challenging witnesses would come later.

    Before his death, Kirk and the organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA, galvanized the conservative youth vote to help Trump win a second term.

    His widow, Erika Kirk, who took the helm of the organization after his death, pushed to maintain public access to Robinson’s prosecution when defense attorneys sought to exclude cameras from the courtroom. She forgave Robinson during her husband’s memorial service.

    She is expected in court throughout the week with her husband’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

    ___

    Brown reported from Billings, Montana.


  • England returns to Estadio Azteca but isn’t seeking revenge over Maradona in 1986


    MEXICO CITY (AP) — England’s last memory of a competitive match at Estadio Azteca is not a pleasant one.

    On June 22, 1986, during the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Argentina defeated England 2-1 en route to lifting the trophy.

    That match remains etched in the memory of soccer fans worldwide, defined by the late Diego Maradona scoring two of the most famous — and contrasting — goals in the history of the sport: the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century.

    In the first one, Maradona punched a loose ball past an advancing Peter Shilton with his left hand. Minutes later, the Argentina great controlled the ball in his own half and danced past half the England team to score what some consider to be the greatest World Cup goal in history.

    “Everyone remembers that match; they are iconic goals — well, there were two iconic goals in this stadium,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said Saturday, a day before England was to meet Mexico in the Round of 16.

    To commemorate Maradona’s feats, the stadium’s owners installed a plaque in one of the tunnels leading to the pitch. Tourists from all over — but especially Argentines — flock to take photos with it during regular tours of the venue when it’s not hosting the World Cup.

    “It’s something that still hurts; the wound is open, but we aren’t here for revenge,” Tuchel said.

    England faces a different foe in a different era

    Tuchel, who is coaching England in the World Cup for the first time, downplayed the historical baggage.

    “It’s the same stadium, but not the same opponent — and even if it were, looking for revenge wouldn’t make sense,” Tuchel said. “We are here to write a new chapter.”

    Forty years after that heartbreaking match, the narrative has shifted. This time, England’s adversary isn’t Argentina, but the host country.

    Mexico will be backed by an raucous home crowd and will also look to take advantage of Estadio Azteca’s altitude — more than 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level.

    “It will take a lot of courage to put out a top performance against Mexico. But we have a brave team,” Tuchel said. “We have an experienced team and at the same time a young team who is ready to take these challenges.”

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    See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here


  • Skenes, Misiorowski, Ohtani all could miss All-Star mound appearances. 4 Dodgers elected to start


    Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and the Dodgers’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani all could miss All-Star mound appearances because of starts next weekend, while four players from the World Series champion Dodgers were voted to the National League’s starting lineup.

    Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout earned his 12th All-Star selection and first since 2023 based on the second round of fan balloting announced Saturday by Major League Baseball. Trout, who grew up near Philadelphia in Millville, New Jersey, was voted by fans to start for the 11th time and hopes to return from a strained right hamstring sustained June 17.

    First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., among four All-Stars from the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays, said he will skip the July 14 game at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park to rest a bad back that has bothered him for much of the season.

    “Those four days will be great,” Guerrero said through a translator, “to come back strong in the second half.”

    Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, elected to his eighth start, will miss the game because of a broken rib that has sidelined him since May.

    Skenes, the NL starter in the last two All-Star Games, is scheduled to pitch for Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Sunday. The 24-year-old right-hander is 0-6 in his last nine starts, dropping to 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA for the season. He was voted in by players, as was Misiorowski.

    “To be honest, probably a little surprised,” Skenes said of his selection.

    Misiorowski, averaging 100.4 mph with his fastball and leading the major leagues with a 1.47 ERA, was an All-Star last year after just five big league games.

    “This year I think I proved that it wasn’t a fluke thing and that I do belong. It’s really cool,” he said before Saturday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    He also is scheduled to start Sunday.

    “We’re looking for September, October,” he said Friday. “It sucks — obviously I want to throw in a game like that — but so be it.”

    Ohtani, a three-time, two-way All-Star and six-time pick overall, is unlikely to pitch in the game because of a right biceps issue that will push his last prebreak start to next weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

    Freddie Freeman became a 10-time All-Star when the LA first baseman was announced Sunday with Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and outfielder Andy Pages as winners in the second phase on fan voting, which ran from June 29 to Thursday. They joined Ohtani, who won the NL designated hitter spot by finishing with the most votes in the initial round of fan selection announced June 25.

    In the closest race, Pages edged Atlanta’s Michael Harris II by fewer than 5,000 votes for the third NL outfield spot.

    Four Dodgers were elected to start for the first time since Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Reggie Smith in 1980. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was picked for the NL pitching staff by Major League Baseball with one of its six selections, giving the Dodgers five or more All-Stars for the seventh straight time.

    Twenty-six first-time All-Stars were among the 64 players picked including four rookies: Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana, Detroit shortstop Kevin McGonigle, Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick and Cincinnati third baseman Sal Stewart.

    McGonigle is the youngest player at 21 and Boston closer Aroldis Chapman at 38 is the oldest.

    Atlanta and the host Phillies each have five All-Stars.

    Philadelphia outfielder Brandon Marsh was elected to start and will be joined by four fellow Phillies: first baseman Bryce Harper, DH Kyle Schwarber, reliever Jhoan Duran and left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Harper was a legend pick added by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

    Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin and second baseman Ozzie Albies were voted in as starters and will be joined by left-hander Chris Sale, a 10-time All-Star, and closer Raisel Iglesias.

    Toronto has four, with Guerrero joined by second baseman Ernie Clement, who led AL players in the first phase of voting from June 3-25, and pitchers Dylan Cease and Louis Varland.

    “Our fan support is unlike any other team, obviously, because of the country backing you,” said Toronto’s John Schneider, the AL manager. “Not just Canada — I think a lot of baseball people really recognized how those guys play the game.”

    Elected AL starters also include Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers; Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.; Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero; Houston designated hitter Yordan Alvarez; and the New York Yankees’ Judge and Minnesota’s Byron Buxton in the outfield.

    Guerrero will be replaced in the starting lineup by the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz and Judge by Yankees teammate Cody Bellinger. Replacements are based on player, manager and coach voting.

    Bellinger earned his third All-Star selection but first since 2019.

    “That’s going to be cool. Last time I had no kids or family or anything,” he said.

    NL starters also include New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto and Washington shortstop CJ Abrams.

    MLB had in previous years announced starters first, then pitchers and reserves several days later.

    Other AL pitchers elected by players include Boston’s Chapman, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Cleveland’s Cade Smith. Other NL pitchers voted in by players include Cincinnati’s Chase Burns and San Diego’s Mason Miller.

    ___

    AP freelance writers Larry Fleisher and Patrick Stevens contributed to this report.

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb


  • Severe weather disrupts some America 250th celebrations; Trump says he will still speak in DC


    WASHINGTON (AP) — Severe weather disrupted celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary of independence Saturday in several East Coast cities, including Washington, where storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall. President Donald Trump said he will still speak there later Saturday night.

    Elsewhere, severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, along with Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spectators at Boston’s fireworks and concert were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed. An evacuation was also ordered in Philadelphia. New York and Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather.

    Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. Organizers of celebrations months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits.

    Heat is defining the big weekend in many places

    The disruption was particularly acute in Washington, where signs at the Great American State Fair posted an alert shortly after 7 p.m. ET encouraging participants to leave the area. Crowds gathered in museums, subway stations and federal buildings near the Mall. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center they waited in chairs and sat on the floor to cool off in the air conditioning.

    “I’m not going to let some rain stop our 250th,” Trump said in a social media post announcing his plans to still deliver a speech, which was expected to begin around 11 p.m.

    Crowds were building in the area several hours before the evacuation. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, New York, watched three of her grandchildren children dip their hands into a pool of water near a museum. Hale pointed toward the sky and urged them to look up as three military jets roared above the crowd.

    “If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American,” she said.

    David Koshko, 42, and his wife, Jennifer Koskho, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came to Washington for a baseball game but planned to stay for the city’s fireworks show. After baking in the heat for hours during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ win over the Washington Nationals, they took a break in the shade of an overpass near the National Mall to plot their next stop.

    “Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing,” said David Koshko, a commercial driver and veteran of the Marine Corps reserves.

    In Philadelphia, fireworks began to crack as early as midday in the birthplace of the nation near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Hundreds of visitors were gathering at Independence Hall in the sweltering heat to await the celebrations coinciding with the France-Paraguay World Cup knockout game at Philadelphia Stadium, which began with commemorations of the holiday.

    “It’s one big party in here,” Carlos Alban, who traveled to Philadelphia from Chicago to watch the match, said as he arrived at the stadium, adding that he spotted a fan in the parking lot dressed as one of the Founding Fathers.

    About 45 minutes before another World Cup match in Houston, a message from astronauts aboard the International Space Station noting the holiday was beamed into the stadium.

    In New York, tall ships, with their masts, rigging and white sails outlined against a blue sky, made a procession around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976.

    The 43 ships were followed by a display of aerial might with a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels. Patrouille de France, the French Air Force’s acrobatic teams, flew over New York Harbor with their red, white and blue trails, evoking images of the American flag.

    “We got up early and just rode our bikes about a mile down here to come see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a Jersey City, New Jersey, resident who took in the New York festivities. “We saw the tall ships and we saw the planes, you know, all different manner of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it so close and in the sky at the same time.”

    Later Saturday, a fire broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge during New York’s fireworks celebration, spreading flames on a section of the bridge and setting off a plume of smoke before being extinguished. Two engines responded to the blaze, the city’s fire department said, adding that such fires are not unexpected and officials keep crowds at a distance during the show for that reason.

    At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, people took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens. They stood with eyes closed and hands over hearts for the national anthem.

    In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered at Granada Park to try to forge a new July 4 cookout tradition. JayLn Dortch said young people in the U.S. give him hope by thinking for themselves and not taking the words from older people at face value.

    He said the country needs to keep in mind the everyday, hardworking people who “keep America going.”

    An uneasy nation gets ready to celebrate

    Trump spoke Saturday with world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who both congratulated the U.S. as they engage in a war. The president has also heard from Britain’s King Charles III and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days.

    Inside the U.S., The celebrations are unfolding against the backdrop of a deep divide this election year that has been expanding for years, visible in everything from political expression to cultural norms to age-old questions over race, class and immigration.

    At Mount Rushmore on Friday, Trump spoke of communism as a “mortal threat to American liberty” with the Republican president saying it was more dangerous than either World War or 9/11.

    Without naming Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat who is also a democratic socialist and recently backed several successful congressional candidates in their primaries, appeared to reference Trump during a speech Friday.

    “Those ideals upon which our nation was built — they are strong enough to endure any authoritarian regime, but only if we reach for them,” he said.

    Vice President JD Vance said small but loud voices would speak on America’s birthday about its imperfections instead of its greatness.

    “They will tell you that America is just another country, where the weak struggle against the strong,” Vance said speaking aboard the USS Kearsarge in New York Harbor.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix, Emily Wang in New York, Luis Andres Henao in Philadelphia, Kristie Rieken in Houston, Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., Safiyah Riddle in Los Angeles and Jesse Bedayn, Anna Johnson, Will Weissert and Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.


  • England faces Mexico at ‘monster’ stadium where El Tri has yet to concede a goal at this World Cup


    MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has spent 40 years chasing a return to the World Cup quarterfinals. On Sunday, its best chance in a generation arrives. Playing on home soil in a venue that has become an almost impregnable fortress, El Tri will face England in the Round of 16 — in what is arguably the most important match in Mexican soccer history.

    Mexico boasts an incredible record in official matches at Estadio Azteca. Since the venue opened in 1966, the national team has suffered just two defeats there, the latter of which was over a decade ago against Honduras in September 2013.

    “The stadium is a monster; that explains the high number of wins and draws, and the few losses — which were just accidents,” said Hugo Sánchez, the striker who played in the 1986 World Cup and now works as an ESPN analyst. “We approach this with optimism because we know it’s England, but if we play the way we did against Ecuador, we can beat them.”

    The numbers back up the myth. Across the 1970, 1986, and current World Cups on home soil, Mexico has played 10 matches at Azteca, winning eight and drawing two. In this tournament alone, El Tri has secured three home wins without conceding a goal: 2-0 against South Africa and 3-0 against Czech Republic in the group stage, and 2-0 against Ecuador in the Round of 32. Mexico also defeated South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara in the group stage.

    It’s the first time Mexico has started a World Cup by winning four consecutive matches.

    “We have played three World Cups in Mexico; it is hard for me to say if it is (the biggest match). In 1970 we played Italy for the semifinals, in ’86 we played Germany also for the semifinals,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said Saturday. “There have been several important matches in history and tomorrow is certainly one of them.”

    Breaking the curse

    These results have ignited the hopes of millions of Mexicans, many of whom weren’t even born the last time the nation reached the quarterfinals. After achieving that feat in 1986, Mexico’s World Cup history became a psychological hurdle: It missed the 1990 tournament, followed by seven consecutive, agonizing Round of 16 exits before failing to escape the group stage four years ago in Qatar.

    “I’m one of those who couldn’t make it through; it happened to me in South Africa and Korea,” said Aguirre, who coached El Tri during those campaigns. “It’s deeply painful because you play a great group stage, only to be knocked out for a variety of reasons.”

    Mexico’s eliminations comprise a catalog of heartbreaks, including a penalty shootout loss to Bulgaria in 1994 when Aguirre was an assistant coach under Miguel Mejía Barón and defeats in 1998 and 2014 to Germany and the Netherlands when El Tri squandered late leads in the final minutes.

    “We will be facing a top-four team in the world according to FIFA, a world champion in ’66 and one country with a great league,” Aguirre said. “In order to beat them, we need to do a nearly perfect match and to be better than what we’ve been so far.”

    Now, the script could flip. At Azteca — which sits 7,300 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level — Mexico will rely heavily on the altitude and the backing of a ferocious home crowd, as it did in the group stage.

    “England is one of the great national teams in the history of football, with outstanding players. We all agreed that we wanted a match like this,” midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo said Saturday. “We are in great form, the Azteca is an intimidating venue, and ultimately, it’s a World Cup Round of 16 match. That’s never easy for anyone.”

    The English challenge

    England enters the knockout stage fresh off a 2-1 victory over Congo, powered by a pair of goals from star striker Harry Kane. Kane headlines an elite English squad that reached the quarterfinals at the last World Cup before falling to eventual finalist France.

    A victory for the Three Lions would send them to the quarterfinals for the sixth time in their history — and the third consecutive time — keeping alive the dream of a title that has eluded them since 1966.

    On paper, England holds the clear advantage in talent, led by Premier League standouts, whereas Mexico’s spearhead is Julián Quiñones, the top scorer in the Saudi League.

    “We have very experienced players who play in the toughest leagues and the biggest clubs in the world. We all know these games from Champions League matches where you play up against, against the energy of a stadium and that we are prepared for that,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said Saturday. “We are prepared for strong start of the Mexican team. I guess they will they will try to give us a taste of intensity.”

    However, the playing conditions could serve as the ultimate equalizer.

    England arrived in the northern part of Mexico City on Friday night, a mere two days before kickoff. Sports scientists and altitude experts generally recommend two options for high-altitude competition: Arrive weeks in advance for full acclimatization or fly in as close as possible to kickoff. By choosing a 48-hour window, England has entered the dead zone experts warn against.

    “We feel it. Even if we don’t train, we feel it. I felt a slight headache. And in the hotel room through the day, didn’t sleep as well as the days before, but nothing that you cannot handle,” Tuchel said. “It’s just what it is. We cannot physically adapt. It’s just impossible. But we are here one day before to experience it, at least to not have all the first time experience in the warm-up.”

    To compound the strain, passionate Mexican fans are already plotting psychological warfare. Hundreds are expected to converge on England’s hotel to disrupt players’ sleep — a tactic deployed against Ecuador, when fans used loudspeakers, drums and revving motorcycles into the early-morning hours.

    England is attempting to remain unfazed.

    “We had no issues last night. I think FIFA took care of the situation. And we have security around the hotel, so we expect a good night of sleep,” Tuchel said. “I don’t want to talk about problems that don’t exist yet.”

    ___

    AP Soccer Writer James Robson in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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    See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here


  • Kylian Mbappé of France scores 19th career World Cup goal, 1 behind Golden Boot rival Messi


    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kylian Mbappé of France scored his 19th career World Cup goal, finding the net on a penalty kick in the Round of 16 against Paraguay on Saturday and moving within one of record holder Lionel Messi of Argentina.

    Mbappé stutter-stepped on his way to his 19th goal in 19 World Cup appearances, beating Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the 70th minute to break a scoreless tie. France’s captain was awarded the penalty when Diego Gomez was called for tripping after a video review.

    “I’ve said from the first day that he had the spirit. He gave all the athletic efforts,” France coach Didier Deschamps said after Les Bleus won 1-0. “He’s a great top-notch player on the pitch. But when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”

    It was the seventh goal of this tournament for Mbappé, matching Messi in the race for the Golden Boot for the World Cup’s top scorer. Mbappé won that award four years ago in Qatar, but Messi and Argentina beat France in the final.

    Mbappé is now the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three World Cups. On Saturday, he endured against perhaps the most physical opponent he’s faced in this tournament.

    Tempers flared in the first half when Andrés Cubas took down Mbappé and the teams briefly pushed and shoved each other. Matías Galarza also threw his right elbow into Mbappé and sent him crashing to the grass.

    After Mbappé ignored Gill’s attempt at a postgame handshake, the goalkeeper threw a ball at the France star’s back.

    “We knew what kind of match it was going to be. We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it,” Mbappé said in French. “We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that kind of game, we were better than them. That’s their style of football. There’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won.”

    And the victory cleared the way for Mbappé to continue chasing Messi’s career goals mark.

    Messi scored his 20th career World Cup goal in Argentina’s 3-2 win over Cape Verde on Friday night. The 39-year-old great also has goals in a record eight consecutive World Cup games.

    Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Harry Kane are next in the Golden Boot race with five goals each.

    If there’s a tie in the Golden Boot standings when the tournament ends, FIFA will use assists as the first tiebreaker and fewest minutes played as the second tiebreaker. Mbappé has a 2-0 lead over Messi in assists.

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    See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here


  • Kylian Mbappé scores again and France reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 1-0 win over Paraguay


    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kylian Mbappé laughed and smiled — and scored, of course — when Paraguay tried to bait him and his French teammates into fouls and provoke fights, as hot heads became a recurring theme during one of the steamiest World Cup games on record.

    After the final whistle, Mbappé kept on walking and left Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill hanging as Gill extended his right hand in a show of sportsmanship.

    In response, Gill thew the ball right at the No. 10 on Mbappé’s jersey.

    Mbappé got the last laugh as he scored his 19th career World Cup goal, and France survived stifling heat to beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday, sending Les Bleus into the quarterfinals for the fourth straight time.

    “We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”

    France advanced to play Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    With an extreme heat warning in effect throughout the match as temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), Mbappé finally broke through against a physical, defensive-minded Paraguay side when he converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute.

    That was enough for Les Bleus, whose red, white and blue-clad fans looked plenty patriotic on July Fourth in the city where the United States was founded exactly 250 years earlier.

    Mbappé was awarded the penalty when Diego Gomez was called for tripping after a video review. Then he stutter-stepped on his way to his 19th goal in 19 World Cup appearances, one behind career record holder Lionel Messi of Argentina. Mbappé and Messi each have seven goals in this tournament to top the Golden Boot race.

    Mbappé won that award four years ago, but Messi and Argentina beat France in the final.

    Mbappé — who frequently trash-talked the Paraguayans in Spanish — is now the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three World Cups.

    Mbappé botched a breakaway attempt in the second half, and Manu Koné had his top-corner shot knocked away by Gill after he was wiped out in the netting by Ousmane Dembélé only moments earlier.

    Gill also stopped two strong attempts by Mbappé in second-half stoppage time.

    The 26-year-old Gill had bested German great Manuel Neuer in a penalty shootout in the previous round. He then lost his cool after the loss to France when he chucked the ball at Mbappé.

    “I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill said. “But anyway, that was all I did; I calmed down afterward.”

    For the criticism that hydration breaks have watered down the pace of play at the World Cup, they were never more needed for the players than in the midst of a miserable heat wave. Sprinklers showered the Kentucky bluegrass field during the breaks and at halftime.

    “Given our style of play, it was harder to give high intensity,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

    More than in any of the five other World Cup games played before 68,000-plus fans at Lincoln Financial Field, spectators fled for the concourse at halftime, seeking shade and refuge from the sun.

    Maybe they were looking for some action of any kind.

    Les Bleus scored 13 goals in the first five games of the tournament but were stymied in the first half by a Paraguay team trying to turn the match into a rock fight. Tempers flared when Andrés Cubas took down Mbappé and the teams briefly pushed and shoved each other. Matías Galarza also threw his right elbow into Mbappé and sent him crashing to the grass.

    Paraguay advanced by beating Germany in a penalty shootout on Monday, the biggest upset of this World Cup. But after a gritty effort by La Albirroja, it’s France that’s moving on.

    After defeating Croatia for the 2018 title, France lost to Argentina on penalty kicks in the 2022 final. Les Bleus are 5-0 in this year’s tournament, outscoring opponents 14-2.

    “As I said to the players, we’ve had easy games so far, so it is good to have a tough one,” Deschamps said.

    The city soaked in the moment as the 250th anniversary of American independence was celebrated. More fans honored America — draped in flags or wearing Uncle Sam hats as they tailgated in the parking lot — than at any of the other games in Philadelphia, and Idina Menzel, The Roots and DJ Jazzy Jeff all performed.

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    See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here


  • Morocco beats World Cup co-host Canada 3-0 and advances to the quarterfinals


    HOUSTON (AP) — Morocco is heading back to the World Cup quarterfinals and coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his team has established itself among soccer’s elite.

    Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the Round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

    “We are no longer a surprise,” Ouahbi said through an interpreter. “Now when people talk about Morocco we’re a major contender and it’s a great source of pride. I think it’s only the beginning and I hope we continue to have runs like this.”

    And despite already making history in this World Cup, Morocco has much higher goals.

    “We want to keep going,” Ouahbi said. “We don’t want to stop.”

    It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the final eight after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

    “We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserves to be in the best level in football,” goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said.

    Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.

    Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute.

    Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time.

    Morocco will meet France, which beat Paraguay later Saturday, on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

    The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round game, beating South Africa 1-0 to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch.

    Canada coach Jesse Marsch shared his postgame message to the team.

    “I told them that I was proud of them and I challenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in the world,” he said. “We can be better on the day. And then the challenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?”

    Morocco, No. 7 in the FIFA rankings entering the tournament, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the Round of 16 and send the country to its earliest World Cup exit.

    Marsch lauded how his team performed against a squad of Morocco’s caliber and how Canada controlled the match for much of the day.

    “The way we pushed, the way we were in the match, the quality we showed, the overall impact in the match, we were better,” he said. “We were better than the No. 7 team in the world today.”

    Ouahbi had a strong response when told of those comments.

    “In terms of intensity they were good,” he said. “They were good for 98 minutes. Were they better? It’s hard to say. It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-nil.”

    Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

    Just after that, Tajon Buchanan’s shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a diving save from Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to Moroccan parents, had three saves.

    The victory set off a huge celebration for Morocco’s fans back home.

    Within minutes, thousands poured into the streets of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. Horns echoed as supporters climbed onto car roofs, waving flags and chanting.

    Traffic ground to a halt along the Corniche Boulevard, one of the city’s main avenues, where ecstatic Atlas Lions supporters danced, set off fireworks and waved flares. Other major boulevards across Casablanca were also jammed with jubilant fans.

    Canada reached the Round of 16 despite missing star Alphonso Davies for the majority of the tournament because of a hamstring injury. The Bayern Munich player logged only 15 minutes as a substitute in the victory over South Africa but wasn’t available Saturday.

    “His hamstring didn’t feel right,” Marsch said. “We were hoping that by the time he woke up this morning that he would feel better, but he didn’t.”

    This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage. Morocco went on to finish fourth.

    It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both teams received four.

    Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute. Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.

    Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.

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    Associated Press writer Akram Oubachir in Casablanca, Morocco, contributed to this report.

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    See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here


  • Paul Pelosi in hit-and-run in California, car left with major damage, authorities say


    LOS ANGELES (AP) — The husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was involved in a hit-and-run in California that left a parked car with “major” damage authorities said Saturday, and he could face misdemeanor charges.

    Paul Pelosi was driving his brown convertible Friday in Yountville, a town in the heart of wine country, when he struck a legally parked car on the side of the road, briefly stopped and then drove away, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. No injuries were reported.

    A witness saw the collision and called 911. Shortly afterward sheriff’s deputies found Pelosi with damage to the front of his car on a road roughly a quarter of a mile away. He reportedly told officers he knew he hit something but was not sure when or what caused the damage.

    Pelosi, 86, did not have any alcohol in his system, according to the statement. The sheriff’s office referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a process to determine whether he may continue to drive — something that officials say is common for older drivers.

    Pelosi was not arrested, and because no one was injured, the sheriff’s office recommended a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the scene of an accident.

    A staffer for Nancy Pelosi did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

    Paul Pelosi pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in Napa County and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation. However, he served only two days in jail and received good conduct credit for two other days, leaving just one day to serve in a work program at the courthouse.

    As part of his probation, Pelosi was required to attend a three-month drinking driver class and install an ignition interlock device, which forces drivers to provide a breath sample to prove sobriety before the engine will start. He also was ordered to pay about $5,000 in victim restitution for medical bills and lost wages, along with nearly $2,000 in fines.

    That same year he was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer at the couple’s San Francisco home.