ABC - Sports News

Scoreboard roundup -- 6/11/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Golden Knights 2, Hurricanes 4 (Stanley Cup Final - Game 5, CAR leads series 3-2)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Diamondbacks 0, Marlins 2
Twins 0, Tigers 11
Cardinals 4, Mets 5
Rangers 4, Royals 2
Cubs 9, Rockies 3
Dodgers 8, Pirates 6
Mariners 5, Orioles 7
Braves, White Sox (POSTPONED)

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World Cup 2026: Schedule, groups, host cities and more

Captain Tim Ream of the USA speaks to the media at a press conference during a training session ahead of the 2026 World Cup on June 08, 2026 in Irvine, California. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The top national soccer teams from countries around the world have traveled to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off Thursday, and are preparing for a packed schedule of matches in cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

As Argentina looks to defend their championship title and fans prepare to watch all the on-pitch action for the expanded 48-team tournament, here's a rundown of what you need to know about the draw format, host cities, schedules and more.

How many teams are competing in World Cup?

There are 12 groups of four teams representing 48 nations -- 16 more than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

When do World Cup matches start?

The group stage begins Thursday, June 11, when Mexico hosts South Africa for the World Cup opener at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

There will be an opening ceremony at 1:30 p.m. local time, and the match kicks off at 3 p.m.

There are 104 games to be played throughout the tournament, spanning 39 days.

The U.S. Men's National Team plays its first 2026 World Cup game against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, with a 6 p.m. scheduled kickoff time at SoFi Stadium in California.

What are the U.S. host cities for FIFA World Cup?

Atlanta; Boston; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; Miami; "New York New Jersey" (East Rutherford, New Jersey); Philadelphia; Seattle; and the San Francisco Bay Area will all play host to the 2026 World Cup.

World Cup draw explained: Format, groups and schedule

At the World Cup draw in December, teams were separated into 12 groups, labeled A-L.

The U.S. was placed into Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey, which earned the final spot in the group after a win over Kosovo in the UEFA playoffs in March.

In the group stage of the tournament, all teams are guaranteed three matches -- one against every team in its group -- with the top two teams from each guaranteed to advance. The eight best third-place teams will also advance. Other teams are eliminated.

With the expanded tournament this year, 32 surviving teams will make it out of the group stage and into single-elimination series of winner-take-all matches, known as the knockout round, all the way to the final.

In this stage, matches that result in a tie after full time will have 30 minutes of added time split in two 15-minute halves and a penalty shootout decider.

The round of 16 will take place July 4-7.

The first quarterfinal match is at Boston Stadium on July 9 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, followed by a match at SoFi Stadium Inglewood, California, on July 10. July 11 will see quarterfinal matches at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Semifinals matches will be played July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

When is the World Cup final?

The World Cup final will take place July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium, referred to in this tournament as New York New Jersey Stadium.

Who are the defending World Cup champions and favorites to watch this year?
Argentina, led by star forward Lionel Messi, is currently ranked No. 1, according to FIFA.

Spain, France, England and Portugal follow in sequence to round out the Top 5 spots ahead of the World Cup kickoff.

According to the latest expert power rankings released by ESPN on Tuesday, which were assembled by a 20-person voting panel, Spain -- with its 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal -- is the top team to watch this year.

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New York Knicks make record comeback to beat San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates after his team's 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The New York Knicks pulled off a record comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, overcoming a 29-point deficit to win by a single point.

The win -- one of the biggest comebacks in NBA finals history -- spurred celebrations in star-studded Madison Square Garden and on the streets of New York City where large crowds had gathered to watch.

The Knicks' return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 has transformed each game into one of the hottest tickets in New York, attracting actors, musicians, athletes and other public figures eager to witness the action in person.

Among those spotted inside the sold-out arena was Taylor Swift. The singer traveled cross-country from Los Angeles -- where she performed live at the world premiere of “Toy Story 5” on Tuesday night -- to New York to attend the game.

Wednesday night’s game marked the second NBA playoff game Swift has attended this postseason.  

She and her fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce, sat courtside at a May 23 Eastern Conference finals game in Cleveland between the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Also in attendance at MSG were Michael J. Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler and Nas.

The crowd's energy extended beyond the game itself as fans packed the Garden for another memorable Finals atmosphere.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/10/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Spurs 106, Knicks 107 (NBA Finals - Game 4, NY leads series 3-1)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Red Sox 5, Rays 7
Yankees 8, Guardians 4
Nationals 10, Giants 11
Reds 4, Padres 5
Mariners 2, Orioles 7
Diamondbacks 0, Marlins 8
Dodgers 8, Pirates 9
Twins 6, Tigers 4
Phillies 7, Blue Jays 4
Cardinals 9, Mets 2
Braves 1, White Sox 2
Rangers 6, Royals 4
Cubs 2, Rockies 3
Brewers 3, Athletics 4
Astros 2, Angels 3

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/9/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Hurricanes 5, Golden Knights 3 (Stanley Cup Final - Game 4, series tied 2-2)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Mariners 6, Orioles 5
Diamondbacks 6, Marlins 10
Red Sox 3, Rays 4
Dodgers 12, Pirates 3
Twins 4, Tigers 10
Yankees 3, Guardians 2
Phillies 2, Blue Jays 3
Cardinals 7, Mets 0
Braves 5, White Sox 6
Rangers 3, Royals 5
Cubs 3, Rockies 7
Astros 1, Angels 10
Reds 5, Padres 3
Nationals 6, Giants 3
Brewers 5, Athletics 7

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Serena Williams returns to pro tennis: See how she did

Serena Williams plays with Victoria Mboko during Women's Doubles first round match on Day Two of the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club, June 9, 2026, in London. (Luke Walker/Getty Images)

(LONDON) -- Serena Williams received a hero's welcome on Tuesday as she made her first competitive appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open.

Dressed in a pink skirt with matching pink shoes, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion walked onto a packed center court at Queen's Club in London to loud cheers from fans eager to see the tennis legend back in action.

Queen's Club, a historic and relatively intimate venue in west London, was filled to capacity for the occasion. By the time Williams stepped onto the court, there was not an empty seat in the house.

Williams, 44, teamed up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, 19, in the first round of the HSBC Championships women's doubles tournament. The pair faced the No. 3-seeded team of American Nicole Melichar-Martinez and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe.

Despite her lengthy absence from competition, Williams and Mboko battled through a tightly contested opening set before winning the tiebreak 7-2 to take the set 7-6.

Williams stepped away from competition after the 2022 U.S. Open but never formally announced her retirement.

Williams owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister, Venus Williams. She has also won seven singles and seven doubles titles at Wimbledon.

Her return comes as the grass-court season ramps up ahead of Wimbledon later this month. Williams is also entered in doubles at the Berlin Open, where she is expected to continue her comeback to competition.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/8/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Spurs 115, Knicks 111 (NBA Finals - Game 3, NY leads series 2-1)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Mariners 6, Orioles 3
Red Sox 1, Rays 3
Yankees 7, Guardians 5
Phillies 5, Blue Jays 2
Astros 5, Angels 4
Reds 2, Padres 6
Nationals 4, Giants 3
Brewers 15, Athletics 14

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Hurricanes, Golden Knights experience baby boom during Stanley Cup finals

Noah Hanifin #15 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Three of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The Las Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes are in the midst of a baby boom as they battle for the Stanley Cup title, according to the NHL.

Several of the Golden Knights and Canes players are either expecting fathers or have recently welcomed babies with their partners.

They include the Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Nic Dowd, Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore.

Hanifin, the 29-year-old Golden Knights defenseman, told the NHL that he and his wife, Monique Hanifin, are "excited" about the imminent arrival of their second child.

"We have an 11-month-old now, so I'm a little nervous about having two under 1, that's for sure," he said. "But no, I'm excited. With the games going on right now obviously it's close, but we'll see what happens. It's kind of out of our control."

On the Hurricanes front, K'Andre Miller, Sean Walker and Jalen Chatfield all are dads to babies born during this postseason.

According to the NHL, Miller and his girlfriend, Addison, welcomed son Kashton back on May 2, on the same day the Canes took on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round, which saw Miller take to the ice.

Just a few days later, teammate Walker and his wife, Taylor Walker, said hello to their baby daughter Quinn, ahead of Game 4 in that series on May 9.

Walker reflected on the close coincidence on the NHL's "The Rink" podcast.

"We were both like, 'What's going on? This is crazy,'" Walker said. "We were just hoping it wasn't going to line up on the same night. Again, what are the chances that it worked out perfectly? No one had to miss a game. Everyone was able to get where they had to be. Quite a whirlwind."

The Golden Knights and Hurricanes face off again Tuesday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas.

The Vegas team looks to advance their 2-1 lead while the North Carolina team looks to tie up the best-of-seven game series.

Game 4 of the Stanley Cup airs June 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

ABC News has reached out to the Golden Knights and the Hurricanes for comment.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC and ABC News.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/7/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Red Sox, Yankees 6
White Sox 5, Phillies 9
Pirates 2, Braves 3
Orioles 4, Blue Jays 6
Mariners 4, Tigers 5
Rays 1, Marlins 4
Athletics 5, Astros 0
Royals 6, Twins 5
Reds 3, Cardinals 5
Guardians 0, Rangers 10
Brewers 12, Rockies 4
Nationals 1, Diamondbacks 5
Angels 13, Dodgers 5
Mets 7, Padres 3
Giants 2, Cubs 1

French Open Finals
Women’s Final: Mirra Andreeva beats Maja Chwalińska (6-3, 6-2)
Men’s Final: Alexander Zverev beats Flavio Cobolli  (6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1)

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/4/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Golden Knights 3, Hurricanes 4 (Stanley Cup Final - Game 2, Series tied 1-1)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Padres 4, Phillies 6
Orioles 8, Red Sox 2
Guardians 1, Yankees 2
Giants 12, Brewers 9
Blue Jays 7, Braves 2
Royals 8, Twins 6
Athletics 6. Cubs 7
Pirates 5, Astros 1
Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 3

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/3/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Knicks 105, Spurs 95 (NBA Finals - Game 1)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Marlins 4, Nationals 1
Tigers 7, Rays 2
White Sox 8, Twins 0
Mets 7, Mariners 1
Padres 2, Phillies 3
Orioles 1, Red Sox 8
Guardians 5, Yankees 4
Royals 5, Reds 2
Blue Jays 3, Braves 7
Giants 1, Brewers 0
Rangers 3, Cardinals 5
Athletics 5, Cubs 4
Pirates 9, Astros 11
Rockies 4, Angels 11
Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 0

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/2/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4 (Stanley Cup Final - Game 1)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Tigers 8, Rays 0
Padres 2, Phillies 3
Orioles 4, Red Sox 2
Marlins 7, Nationals 3
Guardians 9, Yankees 4
Royals 3, Reds 4
Blue Jays 3, Braves 4
White Sox 4, Twins 6
Giants 3, Brewers 8
Rangers 7, Cardinals 4
Athletics 2, Cubs 1
Pirates 10, Astros 6
Rockies 8, Angels 2
Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 5
Mets 3, Mariners 8

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 6/1/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Tigers 10, Rays 9
Marlins 7, Nationals 3
Royals 9, Reds 2
White Sox 6, Twins 9
Giants 2, Brewers 16
Rangers 2, Cardinals 1
Rockies 9, Angels 8
Dodgers 1, Diamondbacks 4
Mets 2, Mariners 3

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 5/31/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 9
Twins 3, Pirates 9
Padres 2, Nationals 4
Angels 2, Rays 5
Braves 4, Reds 6
Red Sox 9, Guardians 4
Marlins 1, Mets 10
Tigers 1, White Sox 2
Brewers 2, Astros 0
Royals 3, Rangers 6
Giants 19, Rockies 6
Yankees 13, Athletics 8
Diamondbacks 2, Mariners 3
Phillies 1, Dodgers 9
Cubs 1, Cardinals 5

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 5/28/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Thunder 91, Spurs 118

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Angels 7, Tigers 1
Twins 2, White Sox 6
Braves 10, Red Sox 2
Blue Jays 2, Orioles 1
Cubs 7, Pirates 2
Astros 5, Rangers 1

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 5/27/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 0

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Marlins 1, Blue Jays 2
Nationals 2, Guardians 3
Cardinals 1, Brewers 2
Mariners 9, Athletics 1
Diamondbacks 3, Giants 2
Phillies 3, Padres 0
Rays 2, Orioles 11
Angels 0, Tigers 4
Cubs 10, Pirates 4
Braves 0, Red Sox 8
Reds 2, Mets 4
Twins 2, White Sox 15
Yankees 7, Royals 0
Astros 4, Rangers 3
Rockies 1, Dodgers 4

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Green Bay Packers' Josh Jacobs released without charges following arrest on domestic abuse allegations

The booking photo for Josh Jacobs. (Brown County Jail)

(GREEN BAY, Wis.) -- Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was released from custody amid further investigation into domestic abuse allegations, the local district attorney's office said a day after the NFL player was arrested in Wisconsin.

Jacobs, 28, was arrested and booked into the Brown County jail on three domestic abuse charges -- battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, according to the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department.

He was also booked on two other charges -- intimidation of a victim and strangulation and suffocation, police said.

The strangulation and suffocation charge is a felony and the others are misdemeanors, online jail records show.

The charges stem from a "disturbance complaint" that officers responded to Saturday morning, Hobart-Lawrence Police Department Chief Michael Renkas said in a press release.

Jacobs was arrested Tuesday following an investigation, Renkas said, who said the probe remains "active and ongoing."

He was being held without bond, though Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said Wednesday that Jacobs will be released from custody, and that a final charging decision will be made by his office "at a later date."

"After reviewing the available evidence in this case, the Brown County District Attorney's Office is not yet prepared to make a formal charging decision," Lasee said in a statement. "Our office has requested additional investigation, as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate, and what charges would be issued."

Online jail records show Jacobs was released at 12:20 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

His attorneys said they are "extremely pleased" that Jacobs was released and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

"We remain confident that, once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future," his attorneys, David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac, said in a statement.

In a statement following the arrest, the attorneys said Jacobs "vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public."

"We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course," the statement from his attorneys continued.

A Packers spokesperson said they are "aware of the matter involving Josh Jacobs."

"As it is an ongoing legal situation, we will withhold further comment," the statement added.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed Jacobs at the top of a press briefing Wednesday, telling reporters he is "going to stick with the statement that we put out as an organization and just let the process play out."

Jacobs is entering his third season with the Packers.

He began playing in the NFL in 2019, as a first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, and was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and led the league in rushing yards in 2022.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 5/26/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Spurs 114, Thunder 127

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Avalanche 1, Golden Knights 2 (West Final - Game 4, VGK wins series 4-0)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Nationals 6, Guardians 3
Rays 1, Orioles 6
Angels 10, Tigers 6
Cubs 1, Pirates 12
Braves 7, Red Sox 6
Marlins 1, Blue Jays 8
Reds 7, Mets 2
Twins 5, White Sox 3
Yankees 15, Royals 1
Cardinals 0, Brewers 6
Astros 7, Rangers 10
Phillies 4, Padres 3
Mariners 4, Athletics 1
Diamondbacks 7, Giants 5
Rockies 6, Dodgers 15

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Scoreboard roundup -- 5/25/26

(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Knicks 130, Cavaliers 93 (East Finals - Game 4, NY wins series 4-0)

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Rockies 3, Dodgers 5
Mariners 9, Athletics 2
Cubs 1, Pirates 2
Rays 7, Orioles 9
Twins 1, White Sox 3
Cardinals 1, Brewers 5
Yankees 4, Royals 3
Reds 7, Mets 2
Diamondbacks 6, Giants 2
Nationals 10, Guardians 2
Phillies 2, Padres 0
Astros 9, Rangers 0
Marlins 8, Blue Jays 2

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


NASCAR champion Kyle Busch dies at the age of 41: 'Sudden and tragic'

Kyle Busch looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41, according to a statement Thursday from his family, his racing team and NASCAR.

"On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch," the statement said.

Earlier Thursday, his family said that Busch was hospitalized and undergoing treatment due to a "severe illness," and that he would not be competing this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The statement on his death hailed Busch as a once-in-a-generation talent.

"He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans," the statement said.

His family did not provide details on his illness or cause of death.

"His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal 'Rowdy Nation,'" the joint statement said.

"NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon," it continued.

Busch raced full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports.

He won the NASCAR Cup Series twice -- in 2015 and 2019 -- and set records in national series wins. His two-decade career included 234 victories among all three NASCAR national series.

Following his last win -- a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15 -- a reporter asked Busch why these moments never get old after so many victories.

"Because you never know when the last one is," Busch responded.

He is also survived by his wife, Samantha, and two children, Brexton and Lennix.

His older brother, Kurt Busch, is also a champion professional stock car racing driver.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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