by Graham Dunbar The winner of the World Cup will hoist a trophy, receive championship rings for the first time and gain a lifetime of glory in what will be a defining moment in the country’s sports history. It’ll also lead to a significant payday. The World Cup winner earns $51 million. The second prize is $34 million. FIFA expanded the payout for the 2026 World Cup, setting a record with a combined $871 million paid to the 48 participating teams. That tally includes more than $100 million that was added in April after some federations in Europe lobbied for…

by Tim Reynolds EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.  — Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup was the goal of his life, and it put Spain back atop the soccer world. Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated would be his final World Cup match, Torres came off the bench and scored in the 106th minute and Spain — in a match it simply dominated — ended Argentina’s reign with a 1-0 win on Sunday. Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under…

by Andrew Dalton Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira each brought a bit of one of their hits to the World Cup’s first halftime show in a whirlwind performance Sunday that also squeezed in Burna Boy, Ted Lasso and many Muppets. The show at what’s otherwise known as MetLife Stadium, outside New York, was an attempt to bring Super Bowl vibes to the World Cup, but the 11-minute performance was considerably more packed than the usual one-headliner, 13-minute American football counterpart. Each headliner here spent about two minutes performing. Madonna opened the show with her 2000 dance-pop hit “Music,” joined…

by Alanis Thames MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé made history at the World Cup on Saturday. He would have preferred a different outcome. The France star moved past Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals, scoring twice in a 6-4 loss to England in Saturday’s third-place match. Mbappé finished this World Cup with 10 goals, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. Should he remain ahead of Messi after Argentina plays Spain in Sunday’s final, he would become the first…

by Alanis Thames MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.  — Bukayo Saka scored three goals to lead England to a 6-4 win over France for third place in the World Cup, while Kylian Mbappé surpassed Lionel Messi’s career tournament scoring record and took the lead in the Golden Boot race with a pair of second-half goals on Saturday. It was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and the 10 goals were the most in a third-place match. Saka had goals in the 37th minute and in first-half stoppage time, then added his third on a penalty…

by Hillel Italie NEW YORK  — Former President Joe Biden will publish a memoir, “Promise Me, America,” which he says will touch upon everything from the economy to his decision to drop his bid for reelection. The memoir is scheduled to come out Nov. 17, publisher Little, Brown and Company told The Associated Press. The timing of the book — two weeks after midterm elections in which Democrats seek to regain control of Congress — could raise concerns within Biden’s party by putting him back into the spotlight. Democrats remain divided on Biden’s legacy, with many blaming his ill-fated determination…

by Laura Turbay and Claudia Lauer Attorneys for the family of a Black teenager who went missing during a July Fourth boat trip to an island off the Mississippi coast said they will work with a local prosecutor’s office to inspect the contents of his cellphone as the investigation into his death continues. The family of Nolan Wells had previously alleged that messages seemed to have been erased from his phone before they got it back, just one of a series of concerns they’ve raised about the circumstances and investigation surrounding his death. They met with District Attorney Angel Myers…

by James Robson ATLANTA (AP) — No “Hand of God” this time. Argentina didn’t need it. Instead it was the hallowed feet of Lionel Messi and the unbreakable spirit of a team that has repeatedly fought back at this year’s World Cup that is now one step away from back-to-back titles. Trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute, Argentina rallied for a 2-1 victory over Englandon Wednesday with goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez. “I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score. I told him that I was going to…

by Dave Skretta KANSAS CITY, Mo.  — Julian Alvarez sent defending champion Argentina back to the World Cup semifinals with a long-range strike in the 112th minute against Switzerland, while another goal by Lautaro Martinez with seconds left in extra time only served to make the 3-1 victory look a whole lot easier than it was Saturday night. Alexis Mac Allister also scored off a corner kick from Lionel Messi, helping La Albiceleste gut out another down-to-the-wire thriller and advance to play England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 earlier in the day. Messi’s nine-game World…

by Alanis Thames MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.  — Jude Bellingham scored in the third minute of extra time to lift England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Bellingham’s goal was his second of the game — he also had an equalizer late in the first half. The Real Madrid star is now tied with England teammate Harry Kane with six goals in this tournament, behind the eight of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He scored twice in the round of 16 as England beat co-host Mexico. England, winner of the…