FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described as "excellent" and "constructive" the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Another top prospect gets the call. This time, it's Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson

Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) and center Logan Cooley (92) celebrate after Cooley's goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule) | Ian Maule At Utah Mammoth exit interviews following the conclusion of their season, a handful of players were asked to share their highlights of the year.Their answers ranged from on-ice play to off-ice relationships. Heres what each of them said.Vtek Vanek: I think it was really fun with Veggie. ... First time with a Czech goalie I didnt know what to expect but hes really good goalie, good guy, so it was fun for sure.Vanek and Karel Vejmelka comprise one quarter of the active Czech goalies in the NHL. Neither one had previously had a Czech goalie partner in the NHL, so it was a new and positive experience for both of them.JJ Peterka: Honestly, the weather. It was pretty warm overall. I was kind of hoping for a little snow. But I think, like I said, coming here, I was so excited to have those mountains, and every day to drive down the Sandy, especially when it was snow up there, was so nice with the sun coming in. So I think that was always a pleasure in the morning, driving to the practice rink.It was an admittedly warm, dry winter in Utah, so Peterka and others might be in for a surprise in coming winters. But its still likely to be warmer than Buffalo, which is where he came from.Nate Schmidt: I was impressed with how our youth was able to shine this year. Thats one of the things I really enjoyed watching, and the guys growth is a big part of that.Schmidt gave a second answer a little later on, too.My family and I have really, really enjoyed our time here so far this year. I mean, just the stuff you can do, the family environment, and I was really impressed with our fans. You know, just the sheer volume.Clayton Keller: The five-game stretch where we won leading up to the playoffs. We kind of knew we needed five or six wins to get in, and we rattled off five or six in a row and made a statement. We were super confident leading into the playoffs, so Id probably say that stretch of games when we needed to play our best and win hockey games.Keller is notoriously competitive, so its no surprise that his season highlight would be one of the most important and triumphant stretches of games for his team.Logan Cooley: I think the first game coming back from injury, um, was definitely a special one, but I think maybe my favorite game or goal would be in Columbus, the OT winner. That was a good one.Cooley had two goals in that game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The first came on a breakaway deke and the second was the overtime winner, followed by his shush celebration.LOGAN COOLEY OT WINNER!!! pic.twitter.com/vyBqsage9i Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) March 8, 2026Mikhail Sergachev: The game in Florida, when we scored with, like, five minutes left in the game, because that was a big game for us. We needed that win. There (were) some other games where we beat Nashville at home here but I cant really point (to) one big moment, but probably the first game at Delta Center in the playoffs, that was awesome.Ian Cole: Its the whole thing. Its such a long season. You know, getting to spend time with your teammates, getting to win with your teammates, getting to be competitive and having success with your teammates is so much fun. So, for me, its not necessarily like one moment. Its kind of a culmination of all those things and really valuing that time together, that camaraderie. Its something that I dont overlook, you know?Coles game has been consistent since the moment he got to Utah, but at 37 years old, he knows the majority of his career is behind him. He probably appreciates the little moments more, knowing that he wont be playing forever.MacKenzie Weegar: Everything exceeded expectations for sure. The players, ownership, just the staff, every everything was was great. Its been an absolute pleasure and its been a lot of fun, the two and a half months that Ive been here.

The resurgent Phillies improved to 14-4 under interim manager Don Mattingly on Sunday and snuck over the .500 mark, at 24-23, for the first time since April 7 as Philadelphia blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0, completing a three-game sweep.

The Montreal Victoire captain leads the league in playoff points ahead of crucial Game 3.

Australias Mitchell Starc returned figures of 4-40 as Delhi Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive in the IPL with a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.

The Ballon d'Or winner headed straight down the tunnel after managing just 27 minutes in PSG's 2-1 defeat to their next-door neighbours, while the Champions League final is now only 13 days away.

Lottie Woad held off Haeran Ryu on a gusty Sunday afternoon at Maketewah Country Club in the Kroger Queen City Championship.Three strokes ahead of playing partner Amanda Doherty and four ahead of Ryu entering the round, Woad closed with a 1-under 69 for a two-stroke victory. The 22-year-old English player finished at 12-under 268. I just played pretty good tee-to-green, Woad said. I hit a lot greens, hit a lot of fairways. And its pretty windy out there, so I think that was the key, obviously, to having the lead.Ryu had a double bogey on the par-4 13th in a 67. She played first nine in 5-under 30.Amazing front nine. Im so happy, Ryu said. But I have a little mistake on the back nine.Nelly Korda shot a 67 to tie for eighth at 5 under after winning in her previous two starts. She began the day nine strokes back after a third-round 72.Woad won for the second time on the LPGA Tour, following a victory last year in the Womens Scottish Open in her professional debut. She also won the European tour's Irish Open last summer as an amateur. This one is definitely, I think, is a little sweeter than the first one because I wasnt really expecting that, Woad said. This one, Ive seen how good everyone is out there, so its good to win again.Woad made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th to open a two-stroke lead, with Ryu parring the par-3 18th soon after in the group ahead to post at 10 under.Woad overcame a double bogey on the par-4 sixth. The former Florida State star birdied the seventh, parred the next five and dropped a stroke on the par-4 13th. After three more pars, she got the long birdie try to curl in on 17.Miyu Yamashita has third at 9 under after a 64. Ruoning Yin (66) was 8 under, and Doherty (71) and Jin Young Ko (65) were 7 under. Jeeno Thitikul, the winner last week in New Jersey, was another shot back after a 69.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Lottie Woad held off Haeran Ryu on a gusty Sunday afternoon at Maketewah Country Club in the Kroger Queen City Championship.Three strokes ahead of playing partner Amanda Doherty and four ahead of Ryu entering the round, Woad closed with a 1-under 69 for a two-stroke victory. The 22-year-old English player finished at 12-under 268. I just played pretty good tee-to-green, Woad said. I hit a lot greens, hit a lot of fairways. And its pretty windy out there, so I think that was the key, obviously, to having the lead.Ryu had a double bogey on the par-4 13th in a 67. She played first nine in 5-under 30.Amazing front nine. Im so happy, Ryu said. But I have a little mistake on the back nine.Nelly Korda shot a 67 to tie for eighth at 5 under after winning in her previous two starts. She began the day nine strokes back after a third-round 72.Woad won for the second time on the LPGA Tour, following a victory last year in the Womens Scottish Open in her professional debut. She also won the European tour's Irish Open last summer as an amateur. This one is definitely, I think, is a little sweeter than the first one because I wasnt really expecting that, Woad said. This one, Ive seen how good everyone is out there, so its good to win again.Woad made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th to open a two-stroke lead, with Ryu parring the par-3 18th soon after in the group ahead to post at 10 under.Woad overcame a double bogey on the par-4 sixth. The former Florida State star birdied the seventh, parred the next five and dropped a stroke on the par-4 13th. After three more pars, she got the long birdie try to curl in on 17.Miyu Yamashita has third at 9 under after a 64. Ruoning Yin (66) was 8 under, and Doherty (71) and Jin Young Ko (65) were 7 under. Jeeno Thitikul, the winner last week in New Jersey, was another shot back after a 69.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Aaron Rai stands out from the crowd on the golf course, and it's not just because of his brilliant play.The English golfer is one of just a handful of professionals who wears two gloves while competing a habit that began when he was just eight years old."I just happened to be given these two gloves the guy who actually makes them sent a pair over and I got into the habit of wearing them," Rai explains.The gloves in question are MacWet Climatec Wet Weather models, and Rai simply can't play without them now.When his father once forgot to pack both gloves, the results were disastrous."It was terrible. I couldn't play, I couldn't feel the grip, so I've always stuck with the two gloves ever since," he says.But the gloves aren't the only thing that makes Rai unique he also uses iron headcovers, which plenty of golfers would scoff at.There's a touching reason behind this practice, though.It all started when Rai was just four, with his father paying for all his equipment despite money being tight."He'd always buy me the best clubs," Rai recalls.His dad would carefully clean every groove with a pin and baby oil after practice sessions, then protect the clubs with covers.The 28-year-old has kept iron covers on every set since, simply to appreciate the value of what he has.Rai's equipment choices don't stop there, either.He's still swinging a TaylorMade M6 driver, which first hit shelves back at the start of 2019 ancient by professional golf standards.And here's something you'd normally spot at your local club rather than on tour: Rai tees up his ball using an orange castle tee.It's the kind of thing weekend golfers use, yet this PGA Tour winner wouldn't have it any other way.These quirks have made Rai quite the character in professional golf, but don't let the unusual habits fool you he's got the game to back it up.The meticulous Englishman has claimed two victories on the DP World Tour and secured his maiden PGA Tour title at the Wyndham Championship with a stunning final round 64.It turns out you can wear two gloves, protect your irons like treasures, and still compete at the highest level.Rai's approach proves that success in golf doesn't require following convention sometimes the most distinctive players are the ones who stick to what works for them.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter