SPORT

The Dodgers need an outfielder. Cody Bellinger is available.

So, eight years removed from his Rookie of the Year arrival, six years since his 2019 MVP campaign, and three years after an unceremonious end to his Dodgers tenure, could the team and its once-beloved homegrown slugger actually reunite this winter?

It’s not impossible, with the Dodgers believed to have Bellinger on their radar as they evaluate their options in free agency.

In an offseason of wide possibilities, but thus far tempered expectations from the Dodgers’ front office, Bellinger represents something of a wild card in the team’s potential winter plans.

He is not the top outfielder on this year’s market, which is headlined by former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker and the $400 million-plus bidding war he is expected to trigger.

But, for a team like the Dodgers, Bellinger could be a better (and more familiar) fit, providing the kind of positional versatility and financial flexibility someone like Tucker wouldn’t.

Granted, the seriousness of the Dodgers’ interest in Bellinger, which was first reported by ESPN, remains unclear. But the mere possibility will make it one of the more intriguing early subplots of the winter, representing one potentially splashier option for the club to consider in pursuit of 2026 roster upgrades.

To this point of the offseason, of course, the Dodgers have signaled a reluctance to add more lucrative, long-term, free-agent contracts to their steadily aging core. It’s shown up in their pursuit of relievers, with their preference seemingly being a shorter-term deal after being burned by big bullpen spending last year. It has also influenced the way they’ve viewed the outfield market, cooling summer-long expectations that they would be leading contenders in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes.

After all, the Dodgers have two starting outfielders currently on their roster in Teoscar Hernández (who is entering the second of his three-year, $66 million deal) and Andy Pages (who is coming off a 27-homer campaign in his second MLB season). They have plenty of depth options at the position, from Alex Call to Ryan Ward to the versatility provided by utility players Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim (and maybe even backup catcher Dalton Rushing, who could experiment in the outfield again in 2026).

Cody Bellinger was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NL MVP in 2019, but struggled in his last few seasons with the Dodgers.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

They also, importantly, have a promising wave of outfield prospects expected to reach the majors in the next 2-3 years, a group headlined by Josue De Paula (the top prospect in their farm system); Eduardo Quintero (their 2025 minor-league hitter of the year); Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard (promising talents acquired in trades over the last two years); and Charles Davalan and Kendall George (recent first-round draft picks).

The team would still like to add another outfielder, likely of the left-handed-hitting variety, to the mix in 2026. It is hopeful of finding an improved replacement for Michael Conforto, after his woeful performance on a one-year, $17 million deal last season.

At the same time, though, the Dodgers want to preserve their longer-term flexibility at the position — making their odds of giving someone like Tucker the 10-year contract he is expected to receive appear dubious at best.

Bellinger, however, provides a different free-agent proposition.

He is a couple of years older than Tucker, set to turn 31 next season, but is also likely to receive a contract of roughly half the length and much less guaranteed money; pegged by most projections to be in the 5-6 year and $150-$175 million range (though he could reasonably surpass those figures if his market materializes well).

Crucially, Bellinger also offers positional flexibility. At present, he can play all three outfield spots, and remains a plus-defender in the corners. Down the line, he could eventually shift to first base, making him (for a team like the Dodgers) a potential future successor to Freddie Freeman.

Another key factor: Bellinger is a much different player than he was when the Dodgers declined to tender him a contract at the end of the 2022 season.

Back then, Bellinger was coming off two straight years of subpar performance in the wake of a shoulder surgery following the 2020 World Series. Between 2021 and 2022, he hit .193, struck out more than 27% of the time, and had an OPS+ of 66 (an advanced metric in which 100 is considered league average).

The last three years, on the other hand, have seen the former MVP winner stage a mid-career revival. While playing for the Chicago Cubs (who signed Bellinger ahead of the 2023 season) and New York Yankees (who traded for him last offseason), he hit .281, struck out just 15% of the time, and had an OPS+ of 125. Last season, he also hit 29 home runs, his most since collecting 47 in his 2019 MVP season.

Granted, Bellinger did benefit from the hitter-friendly environment at Yankee Stadium, where he had 18 of his long balls last year. He also does not hit the ball as routinely hard as in his peak years with the Dodgers. Yet, he has improved his approach, honed more consistent swing mechanics, and balanced out his platoon splits, batting .353 against left-handed pitching in 2025.

Those strides served as a reminder of Bellinger’s tantalizing talent, as well as a sign of his growing maturation as he enters his 10th year in the majors.

The question now: Whether it will all be enough for the Dodgers to make a legitimate run at bringing him back.

The nature of free agency, of course, means Bellinger is still likely to land elsewhere this winter. He is expected to field wide interest on the open market, starting with the incumbent Yankees (especially if their other free-agent outfielder, Trent Grisham, turns down a qualifying offer). The Dodgers, meanwhile, remain better positioned to explore the trade market for an outfield addition, possessing the kind of highly-rated farm system that could make them a factor for everyone from Steven Kwan to Brandon Donovan to Jarren Duran.

If Bellinger were to attract his own bidding war, the Dodgers would likely be reluctant to overpay (at least in their view) for his services.

But for now, the possibility of a reunion does at least seemingly exist — thanks to Bellinger’s versatile fit, recent resurgence and lingering familiarity with the franchise.

Years removed from his breakout, then flame-out, during his first tenure with the Dodgers, he could wind up in their winter plans again this offseason.

“It’s been tough to deal with at times and it’s made me not want to be playing and competing at times throughout the year,” he said.

“It’s definitely a lot in the stomach – you feel sick to your stomach. I’ve been struggling to sleep and then, because of the feeling in the stomach, struggling to eat well, eat enough.

“It’s almost like a feeling of dread – that something bad is going to happen.”

He may allow himself an occasional social hit but will otherwise switch off from tennis until the spring.

Salisbury has plenty of plans in place, including a safari in Kenya, a skiing trip with his girlfriend’s family, and Christmas at home – which is not always possible for tennis players before a season which starts in Australia in early January.

The current world number 10 played the whole of this season with fellow Briton Neal Skupski, and even though they did not win a title, they were runners-up at six events including the French Open, the US Open and last week’s ATP Finals in Turin.

“I wouldn’t say it affected my tennis that much,” Salisbury said of his anxiety.

“We’ve played well, especially the past six months. I feel like I’ve dealt with it well and managed to get myself into a good enough state on court to perform well in most of the matches that I have played.

“But I think it’s taken an extra toll emotionally and mentally to do that. It’s meant that it’s just not been enjoyable being at a lot of the tournaments that I have played.

“I haven’t spoken to too many people about the struggles that I have had – mainly my team, friends and family, so not too many people in the tennis world.

“I think a lot of people don’t want to share too much because they don’t want other people to know about that, when you are having to go and compete against them.

“But to be honest I don’t really mind if people do know. I’m sure it’s something which a lot of other people are having to deal with and I don’t think it would have any impact on me, as if anything over the past year it’s made me mentally stronger than before.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

MONDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

Banning 75, Santee 46

Bell 57, East College Prep 31

Carson 59, South East 37

Downtown Magnets 77, Contreras 27

Eagle Rock 54, Verdugo Hills 51

Foshay 82, Rise Kohyang 16

Gertz-Ressler 70, AHSA 25

Harbor Teacher 27, NOVA Academy 4

Hollywood 100, Chavez 29

LA University 69, Mendez 24

Manual Arts 38, Fremont 34

New Designs University Park 44, Lakeview Charter

Sherman Oaks CES 62, Gardena 61

Sun Valley Magnet 77, Community Charter 43

Torres 77, Aspire Ollin 22

West Adams 58, Animo Robinson 43

SOUTHERN SECTION

ACE 58, Lucerne Valley 19

AGBU 65, Riverside Prep 43

Anaheim Canyon 83, Irvine University 43

Beaumont 79, Grand Terrace 25

Beckman 52, Lakewood 50

Bishop Amat 84, Firebaugh 61

Bonita 61, St. Anthony 49

Brea Olinda 61, El Toro 43

Buckley 64, YULA 35

California 72, Whittier Christian 56

Camarillo 84, Hueneme 38

Canyon Country Canyon 65, Antelope Valley 28

Carter 90, Norco 75

Cathedral 59, Lancaster 44

Cerritos 87, Savanna 51

Chino Hills 62, Dana Hills 41

Citrus Valley 63, Colton 33

Compton 96, Compton Early College 6

Corona 78, Heritage 46

Crean Lutheran 85, Calvary Baptist 43

Damien 89, Sunny Hills 42

Duarte 81, Downey Calvary Chapel 32

El Modena 66, Katella 44

Excelsior Charter 74, Barstow 70

Fairmont Prep 71, Linfield Christian 42

Foothill Tech 53, Trinity Classical Academy 49

Fullerton 53, Glendora 48

Glenn 34, Lennox Academy 25

Highland 67, Buena Park 48

Holy Martyrs Armenian 80, San Marino 74

Hoover 79, Workman 11

Inglewood 125, Lynwood 37

JSerra 75, Troy 42

La Habra 81, Whittier 36

La Serna 65, Don Lugo 40

Leuzinger 64, Riverside King 60

Long Beach Wilson 61, Downey 60

Malibu 53, El Segundo 41

Mira Costa 85, Torrance 70

Murrieta Valley 69, Temecula Prep 65

Newbury Park 73, Buena 28

Newport Harbor 53, Irvine 47

North Torrance 51, Eastside 47

Orange 63, Samueli Academy 30

Orange Lutheran 93, Oakwood 75

Orange Vista 87, Twentynine Palms 39

Palmdale 66, Rosamond 63

Pioneer 69, Anaheim 51

Placentia Valencia 82, Oxford Academy 75

Rancho Alamitos 34, Magnolia 24

Redlands 67, La Quinta 35

Riverside Poly 73, Victor Valley 33

Rosemead 45, Azusa 33

Rubidoux 51, Loma Linda Academy 46

San Jacinto Valley Academy 75, Banning 62

Santa Ana 68, Magnolia Science Academy 53

Santa Ana Valley 66, Ganesha 61

Santa Margarita 89, Temecula Valley 38

Santa Rosa Academy 69, Redlands Adventist Academy 51

Service 100, United Christian Academy 18

Sierra Vista 55, Northview 40

Southlands Christian 43, El Monte 35

St. Bernard 81, Claremont 56

St. Margaret’s 82, Tarbut V’ Torah 61

Sultana 60, Big Bear 52

Summit Leadership Academy 65, Hesperia Christian 47

Tehachapi 63, Paraclete 50

Temple City 51, Gabrielino 44

Trabuco Hills 86, Whitney 51

Valencia 47, Heritage Christian 44

Vista del Lago 63, Bloomington 43

Webb 91, Navies Bridge 27

Wiseburn Da Vinci 73, Oak Park 56

Woodbridge 71, Quartz Hill 66

INTERSECTIONAL

Crenshaw 56, Edgewood 32

Crespi 81, Cleveland 44

de Toledo 54, Canoga Park 41

Edison 65, Rancho Dominguez 58

Fairfax 45, Long Beach Cabrillo 44

Grace 49, Monroe 34

Oaks Christian 88, San Fernando 50

Ontario Christian 75, Maywood Academy 21

Salesian 83, Sotomayor 31

Santa Monica 77, Los Angeles 31

Shalhevet 64, Granada Hills Kennedy 32

South Pasadena 77, Franklin 43

St. Monica 65, Math & Science College Prep 58

Templeton 76, Coastal Christian 60

Triumph Charter 53, Newbury Park Adventist 33

Village Christian 82, El Camino Real 34

Villa Park 92, South Gate 26

Washington 89, Lawndale 49

West Torrance 64, Venice 55

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Community Charter 29, Sun Valley Magnet 20

Diego Rivera 33, Sotomayor 26

Foshay 35, Rise Kohyang 5

Granada Hills Kennedy 48, Arleta 37

Harbor Teacher 73, Huntington Park 11

Hollywood 38, Chavez 18

Lakeview Charter 37, Canoga Park 17

Math & Science College Prep 29, USC-MAE 15

Orthopaedic 26, East Valley 14

Rancho Dominguez 32, Dymally 13

RFK Community 55, Lincoln 32

Sherman Oaks CES 58, Sylmar 51

Torres 37, Aspire Ollin 21

West Adams 48, Animo Robinson 43

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alemany 47, Wiseburn Da Vinci 38

Aliso Niguel 59, St. Margaret’s 53

Arcadia 60, Rosemead 16

Arroyo 43, Alhambra 23

Ayala 36, Riverside North 13

Baldwin Park 56, Bassett 12

Bishop Amat 63, Fullerton 28

Bolsa Grande 44, Norwalk 43

Bonita 45, Palm Desert 34

Buena Park 62, Vista Murrieta 37

Carter 72, Pacific 9

Citrus Valley 62, San Gorgonio 20

Corona 32, Murrieta Valley 26

El Rancho 53, Apple Valley 46

El Toro 56, Edison 39

Flintridge Prep 63, Chino Hills 30

Glendora 75, Nogales 11

Glenn 31, Lennox Academy 12

Heritage 67, Diamond Bar 19

Hesperia 56, Riverside Poly 44

Hoover 43, Workman 20

Indian Springs 36, Arroyo Valley 25

Indio 39, Brawley 33

JSerra 67, El Dorado 31

Laguna Beach 45, Brea Olinda 38

La Habra 29, Saddleback 5

La Quinta 58, Rim of the World 3

La Salle 61, La Canada 29

La Serna 41, Yorba Linda 37

La Sierra 24, Mayfair 21

Long Beach Wilson 55, Gahr 32

Los Altos 53, Cajon 31

Marymount 48, Pasadena Marshall 31

Mission Viejo 22, Irvine University 9

Monrovia 37, Azusa 18

Norco 42, Perris 19

Northwood 64, Laguna Hills 23

Oak Park 68, Santa Maria St. Joseph 62

Oaks Christian 69, Moorpark 25

Palm Springs 62, Citrus Hill 11

Pasadena Poly 53, Temple City 31

Pilibos 62, Milken 33

Placentia Valencia 55, Oxford Academy 42

Ramona 64, Hillcrest 45

Rancho Alamitos 20, Ocean View 18

Rialto 54, Anaheim Canyon 30

Rowland 64, Ridgecrest Burroughs 47

San Bernardino 47, Upland 36

San Clemente 98, Hacienda Heights Wilson 60

San Dimas 53, Loma Linda Academy 43

San Jacinto Valley Academy 45, Banning 15

San Juan Hills 59, La Palma Kennedy 45

Santa Monica 42, El Segundo 29

Saugus 49, Chaminade 46

Schurr 47, Santa Ana 13

Silver Valley 54, Western Christian 49

Southlands Christian 32, El Monte 20

St. Genevieve 67, San Gabriel Academy 29

St. Monica Academy 71, Legacy Christian Academy 40

Tesoro 56, California 22

Thousand Oaks 53, Dos Pueblos 39

Trinity Classical Academy 63, Oxnard Pacifica 46

Troy 58, Corona Santiago 34

Twentynine Palms 59, Barstow 14

Ventura 74, Camarillo 49

Villa Park 70, Westminster 10

Vista del Lago 58, Bloomington 8

Walnut 50, Covina 9

Webb 39, PAL Academy 7

West Covina 71, Sierra Vista 62

Westlake 83, Palmdale 23

Westminster La Quinta 34, Garden Grove Pacifica 16

Whitney 58, Temescal Canyon 48

Woodbridge 63, Magnolia 16

Yucca Valley 52, Colton 29

INTERSECTIONAL

El Camino Real 58, Buena 28

Northridge Academy 54, Simi Valley 33

Quartz Hill 62, Vaughn 10

University Prep 36. Boron 30

Wiegman said she “can’t control” what Earps says or feels about her decisions but the England coach emphasised she made the decisions to give the side the best chance of success.

England take on China at Wembley Stadium on 29 November before hosting Ghana at St Mary’s Stadium on 2 December.

The media conference to announce her squad was dominated by questions about Earps and Wiegman joked it would be “nice to talk about football”.

The return of Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp and midfielder Grace Clinton are the headline stories in Wiegman’s 25-player squad for the friendly matches.

But former Netherlands coach Wiegman accepted that dealing with adversity is part of her high-profile role.

“Of course you hope that things are always positive but that’s not how things work in football when you’re so visible,” she said.

“It’s just the situation and you’re trying to deal with it in the best positive way, solve whatever needs to be solved, and move forward.

“I make decisions on what I think is the best for the team to compete in the next camp or the next tournament – and I make decisions to win.”

Wiegman was also asked if she was disappointed that Earps said her affinity to the Lionesses manager was “destroyed” and her “trust and respect was evaporating”.

“I don’t think I can change that. What I just try to be is as honest as possible and have a very good working relationship, which is what I think we had,” she added.

“I can’t control other things. I just stick with what I want to do, how I want to do it and try to be as clear and honest as possible to make decisions to win.

“I always keep conversations private. I share things here [in the media] but when I have individual conversations I keep that private as that builds trust.

“If I do that then players will come to me and have conversations with me. That’s my approach. We create an environment where we want people to be themselves.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Hampton is not in the squad for the final two England matches of the year after picking up a thigh injury.

The 24-year-old won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at this year’s Ballon d’Or awards, and was one of the standout performers at Euro 2025.

Wiegman confirmed she had spoken with Hampton following Earps’ book release but did not go into details on their conversations.

“I spoke to Hannah. I speak to players in between camps anyway. Unfortunately, she is injured now. But I did speak to her, yes,” added Wiegman.

“What the content of that conversation was, as always, I’ll keep private.”

Welcome back to the Lakers newsletter, where I need a recovery ice bath after all that travel.

The Lakers went 3-2 during an uneven trip that ended on a high note with back-to-back wins in New Orleans and Milwaukee. But after getting thrashed by Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the five-game trip, Marcus Smart said the team was starting to show its fatigue on the road. After packing, repacking and already reaching the next level of hotel loyalty status less than a month into the season, I can relate.

But, similiar to my favorite colleague Brad Turner picking up the travel slack, the Lakers also have reinforcements.

LeBron James is back. Now what?

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic established themselves as one of the league’s most dynamic duos while powering the shorthanded Lakers to a 10-4 record. With LeBron James officially back on the Lakers’ practice court, he could make this three a real party.

“I’m a ball player,” James said Monday after his first full practice with the team this year. “… There’s not one team, not one club in the world that I cannot fit in and play for. I can do everything on the floor. So whatever this team needs me to do, I can do it when I’m back to myself.”

Despite the encouraging start that has the team fourth in the West, the Lakers are not modern basketball’s statistical darling. They play slowly (19th in pace), take the fourth-fewest three-pointers in the league while making the second-worst percentage and have the third-most turnovers per game. James, who still stopped short of saying he is pain-free from right sciatica, is unlikely to be an immediate solution to any of those problems.

But he is still the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

“It’s LeBron,” Reaves said. “Just his presence and his ability is going to lift the team.”

The team joked during the film session that it got a new player Monday. James introduced himself to his teammates. Reaves and Doncic have become the favorite “bromance” of some niche NBA social media circles, and the Lakers’ chemistry was one of the key talking points from its early season success. Players joke on the bench, trash talk each other in Instagram comments and Doncic’s post-practice half-court shooting competition has expanded to include at least three other teammates.

James observed all the good vibes from afar. He sent congratulatory texts after wins and encouraging texts after losses, but returning Monday felt like “a kid going to a new school again.” He knows fitting with the team will have to come organically.

“He has the ability to lift everybody’s day,” Reaves said. “All these guys grew up loving him. So it’s good to get his voice back in the room and obviously the IQ speaks for itself, as well.”

When asked of what he saw from the team while sidelined, James rattled off a long list of observations. He loved the ball movement. He noted Deandre Ayton’s ability to anchor the back line and commended the 7-foot center as “one of the best screen setters” in the league. James shouted out the 25 critical minutes from Maxi Kleber in the win over Milwaukee, the contributions of Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart and the way younger players such as Nick Smith Jr. and Bronny James chipped in when the team was shorthanded against Portland on the second night of a back-to-back.

And he loved the dominance from Doncic and Reaves.

Doncic is leading the league in scoring with 34.4 points per game. He’s getting blitzed almost every time he crosses midcourt and still orchestrating an offense that is second in field-goal percentage (50.4).

Reaves is having a career year: 28.3 points, 8.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals are all career-bests. Of course with James out, Reaves’ usage rate is also at an all-time high.

When asked how he expects coverages to change for him with James back, Reaves shrugged. It’ll at least make his life easier, he said, to have who he calls “the greatest player to ever touch a basketball” back on the court.

“I don’t expect it to be perfect,” coach JJ Redick said. “But I also don’t expect it to be like, ‘Oh, these guys have never seen each other and met each other and don’t know each other’s name.’ They know what each of them bring.”

Last year, the Doncic-James-Reaves trio had an offensive rating of 117.8 points per 100 possessions. This year, the Lakers have a 121.6 offensive rating when Doncic and Reaves are on the floor together, the team’s highest mark for any two-man combination of starters.

Redick expects James’ presence will shake things up. He will command roughly 35 minutes when he is healthy, which will naturally disrupt the rotation and rhythm of his teammates. This will take some trial and error.

“There are some little formula of things you got to add,” Redick said. “If you put too much cinnamon in there, cookie’s not that good.”

Just let the Lakers cook.

The rookie will remember his first

Adou Thiero dunks over Milwaukee’s Andre Jackson Jr.

(Morry Gash / Associated Press)

Adou Thiero fought to get back on the court and make his NBA debut. It was only right that his teammates would fight for him to commemorate the moment.

After the second-round pick scored four points in his first NBA action Saturday, including an emphatic two-handed dunk in the final minute of the win, Jarred Vanderbilt made sure to grab the game ball. He clutched it tightly as referee Pat Fraher tried to take it back. LaRavia and Doncic soon joined for backup, explaining they wanted to keep it for Thiero.

Eventually, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who took the ball back from a Bucks staffer and handed it to Doncic, who wanted to deliver the meaningful memento to the Lakers’ rookie.

“I think he can be a great player,” Doncic told reporters. “He’s physical. He can jump out of the gym. And, you know, he’s a fighter.”

Redick and the coaching staff were mindful that the situation could have been difficult for Thiero. He didn’t get a preseason or a training camp. The rookie was coming off an injury and playing in the first half while making his NBA debut.

But Thiero made a good first impression.

He scrambled for an offensive rebound that led to a three-pointer from Kleber in the first quarter. He played a quick two-minute stint in the first half then returned in mop-up duty during the fourth quarter, scoring his first points on two made free throws that had the Lakers on their feet celebrating.

Then his two-handed dunk in transition sent the Lakers’ bench into pandemonium.

“Coming down and seeing everybody flexing all over the bench,” Thiero said, “it was just a good feeling for everybody to be happy for me.”

When Thiero returned to the locker room, it felt like a release. He told teammates he had waited seven months for that.

He suffered a hyperextended knee while playing for Arkansas on Feb. 22 and missed eight games. The Razorbacks’ leading scorer and rebounder returned in the NCAA regional semifinal but played just six minutes off the bench as Arkansas lost to Texas Tech. He got surgery after the college season and said at Lakers media day he was still working through some swelling in his knee.

“You could tell how hard he works,” Reaves said. “The time that he’s in the gym. He’s had some unfortunate injuries here and there, but really good kid, wants to do the right things, always on time. Just good character.”

On tap

By reader request, we’ll include a brief lookahead section previewing the upcoming week’s games. This one is easy: The Lakers host Utah on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in their only game this week.

The Jazz (5-8) lost center Walker Kessler to a season-ending shoulder surgery, but are led by forward Lauri Markkanen’s 30.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. The Finnish forward scored 47 points in the Jazz’s double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in which guard Keyonte George hit the game-winning three with two seconds left. The third-year guard is averaging career-highs in points (22.2) and assists (seven).

Favorite thing I ate this week

The Cuban burrito from Cafe Kacao in Oklahoma City.

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)

I have beef with Oklahoma City. Out of loyalty to my hometown, I will carry this vendetta until at least the NBA expands back to Seattle. But I allow myself to praise precisely one thing in that city and it’s the Cuban burrito at Cafe Kacao. It’s packed with vaca frita (shredded beef with sauteed onions), plantains, black beans and rice. The sweet and savory drizzle of plantain sauce and garlic sauce is the perfect topping.

In case you missed it

LeBron James knows there will be a ‘feel-out’ process when he returns to Lakers

Lakers takeaways: What we learned from the team’s five-game road trip

Luka Doncic scores 41 as Lakers rout Milwaukee Bucks to cap 3-2 trip

With LeBron nearing a return, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic lead Lakers past Pelicans

Lakers can’t keep up with Oklahoma City and are routed

Until next time…

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at [email protected], and please consider subscribing if you like our work!

Smith’s form dipped slightly between June 2023 and December 2024 when he went 23 innings without a Test hundred, but he made two against India last winter and hit 141 and 131 against Sri Lanka at the start of 2025.

After a two-month break, he began his build-up to this year’s Ashes in late October and scored 118 in his first innings.

“To win the series, we have to keep him [his average] to under 50, don’t we?” Broad said.

“He’s gonna score a hundred, it’s what he does.

“[If] he averages 40, that’s at least 15 under his career average, so you’re doing brilliantly. I think you have to get him early.

“If England aren’t celebrating in his first 40 runs, it’s going to be a long series.”

England have had various plans to counter Smith’s unconventional technique over 14 years of Ashes series.

Broad spoke of developing a new outswinger for Smith before the 2023 series while England have targeted Smith’s pads, bowled wide of off stump and even bowled for catches at leg gully in 2019 – a series Smith began with twin hundreds at Edgbaston.

“I remember Jason Roy was fielding there at leg gully, and he was diving left and right for the first 30 balls, just missing him there, just missing him there,” Broad said.

“Smith got away, got two hundreds in that game, unbelievable innings.”

Broad added: “I remember sitting in a bowlers’ meeting about Steve Smith in 2017-18 and they were like ‘oh, you could try and attack his stumps early’.

“‘Oh yeah, can we just click on how many times he’s been bowled in Australia in the last five years?’ Once.”

The upcoming series, which begins in Perth on Friday (02:30 GMT), looks set to see Smith face Jofra Archer for the first time in Tests since 2019, when he was famously unsettled and struck by a bouncer during the England paceman’s fierce spell at Lord’s.

Smith has always been keen to point out Archer did not dismiss him in that Test – he had to retire hurt and was out lbw to Chris Woakes on his return – though Archer did have the right-hander caught on the pull in a one-day international in 2024.

“Can Jofra Archer be that guy?” Broad said. “Nicking him off from back of a length, just chasing it.

“Because Jofra Archer has that angle of nipping back towards the stumps, can he nip one away? Smith’s looking for the nip-backer.”

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his 903rd career NHL goal and the Washington Capitals beat the Kings 2-1 on Monday night.

Matt Roy also scored for the Capitals, who ended a two-game losing skid to gain some traction in the standings.

Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings, who had won four straight. It was just their second regulation road loss of the season.

The Kings played without defenseman Drew Doughty. He is week to week with a lower-body injury after being injured Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.

Washington opened the scoring early, as Roy got to the front of the net and tipped Aliaksei Protas’ point shot past Darcy Kuemper. It was Roy’s first goal in 25 games, dating back to last season.

In the second period, Ovechkin crashed the crease before burying a behind-the-net feed from Connor McMichael. Ovechkin, who has goals in back-to-back games and three of his last four, passed Gordie Howe for the most regular-season goals scored at a single venue in NHL history with his 442nd at Capital One Arena.

Kopitar pulled the Kings to within one with his third goal of the season with 6:33 left in the second. He tapped in a backdoor feed from Corey Perry on the power play. Washington has given up a power-play goal in three straight games and five of the last six.

Despite a rally, the Kings couldn’t beat Charlie Lindgren, who stopped 30 of 31 shots for his second win of the season after losing his last four starts.

Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 in the defeat.

Up next for the Kings: Close out a six-game road trip against the Sharks on Thursday.

England flanker Henry Pollock has been nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

The 20-year-old’s sensational rise includes two tries on his England debut against Wales in March, before selection for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia.

Although he did not feature in a Lions Test, he has continued to shine for England, scoring a vital try against Australia at the start of November.

Northampton’s Pollock is known for his high energy, speed and immense work-rate, which has been used to good affect off the bench this autumn.

New Zealand’s Dutch-born lock Fabian Holland, South Africa wing Ethan Hooker and Australia’s cross-code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii are the other nominees.

France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who was named the 2025 Six Nations Player of the Tournament, is nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old scored eight tries – a record in a single championship – as France lifted the title for a 19th time.

Last year’s winner Pieter-Steph du Toit, who won the award in 2019 as well, is again nominated after helping South Africa win back-to-back Rugby Championships.

Fellow Springboks Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche are also up for the award, with Rassie Erasmus’ side topping the world rankings after an impressive year.

The winners of both awards, and the men’s international try of the year, will be announced on Saturday.

Canada lock Sophie de Goede was named Women’s Player of the Year in September, with England’s World Cup-winning head coach John Mitchell named World Rugby’s Coach of the Year.

Olen Zellweger scored 1:50 into overtime after Troy Terry tied it with 4.1 seconds left in regulation, and the Ducks dramatically ended their skid at three games with a 3-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Monday night at Honda Center.

Terry forced overtime when he tapped in a rebound after Chris Kreider deflected Cutter Gauthier’s shot off the post with an extra attacker on the ice for the Ducks.

An unchecked Zellweger then scored his second goal of the season with ease after a ragged overtime rush left him all alone at Karel Vejmelka’s post.

Lukas Dostal made 16 saves and Jackson LaCombe scored his first goal of the season for the Ducks, who moved back into first place in the Pacific Division with their first victory since winning seven in a row. Anaheim also opened a six-game homestand by staying unbeaten at Honda Center since Oct. 16.

Logan Cooley ended his eight-game goal drought since signing his $80-million contract extension by scoring with 10:41 left in regulation for the Mammoth, who have lost five of six.

Cooley’s one-timer glanced off the leg of Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson for his ninth goal of the season — and the 21-year-old center’s first goal since agreeing to his hefty eight-year deal last month.

Dylan Guenther also scored and Vejmelka made 22 saves for the Mammoth.

Anaheim scored first when Ryan Strome set up LaCombe in the first period for the defenseman’s first goal since agreeing to an eight-year, $72-million contract extension last month.

The Mammoth finally tied it late in the second period with Guenther’s eighth goal off a cross-ice pass from Nate Schmidt.

Ducks captain Radko Gudas returned from an 11-game injury absence, but forward Mikael Granlund was out for the 10th time in 11 games.

Up next for Ducks: vs. Boston Bruins at Honda Center on Wednesday.

Chadwick’s team-mates from her 2025 season for IDEC were France’s Mathys Jaubert and Spain’s Daniel Juncadella, and both have been selected to race in next year’s hypercar alongside two more experienced drivers, Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani.

Next year Genesis are set to compete with several car manufacturers attracted back to sports cars for its flexible design rules and as a cheaper alternative to Formula 1.

Ferrari won this year’s championship at the Bahrain 8 Hours this month, in the number 51 car which includes Britain’s Le Mans winner from 2023 James Calado.

Poland’s former Formula 1 ace Robert Kubica won this year’s Le Mans in June in the number 83 Ferrari 499P.

Although there are two further seats yet to be filled for the two-car WEC entry for 2026 it appears Chadwick was considered too inexperienced, despite being an FIA ‘silver-rated’ driver – the same as Jaubert.

However, Genesis are said to highly rate Chadwick and are pleased with her progress as part of the Genesis driver stable.

Chadwick, who tested a Jaguar Formula E car last month, has taken on several development driver roles at teams such as Williams in Formula 1 in recent years – positions often limited to driving older cars for marketing purposes and driving simulation work.

But a reserve role is one of the biggest signals yet that a major manufacturer is backing female racing talent on merit.

Very few female drivers have competed in the top level of motorsport’s most popular disciplines in recent years – most recently Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro competed in 10 Formula E races in 2016.

Various female drivers have taken on races in America’s IndyCar series on an ad hoc basis, with little success.

Britain’s Amanda Stretton was the last female competitor in the top level to compete at Le Mans, in a one-off uncompetitive LMP1 entry in 2008.

The highest-placed finish for a female driver at Le Mans is fourth, for France’s Odette Siko in 1932.

The last woman to compete in a Formula 1 race was Lella Lombardi at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.

Shortly before Monday afternoon’s City Section Division I quarterfinal football game between host Eagle Rock and Dorsey was set to begin in the pouring rain, referee Patrick Riley ruled the middle of the grass field unsafe.

City Section Commissioner Vicky Lagos was in attendance and acted quickly to get the contest, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., moved to an alternate site, which turned out to be Contreras Learning Complex — seven and a half miles away in downtown Los Angeles. When all was said and done, Dorsey moved on to the semifinals after a dominant 26-0 shutout.

“When the referees ruled the field unplayable we immediately called Sotomayor and Contreras because they have turf fields and are the closest in proximity to Eagle Rock,” Lagos said. “We had to arrange busing and we’re thankful to the officials — it was the same crew that was going to do the game Friday. If we couldn’t find a facility [today] then we would’ve had to play the game tomorrow.”

The game was supposed to be played Friday night along with the full slate of City Section contests, but it was postponed until Monday afternoon after a transformer problem left the school without power.

Dorsey wide receiver Stafon Johnson runs with the ball during a City Section Division I playoff win over Eagle Rock on Monday night.

(Craig Weston)

“We were told at 3:45 that we weren’t going to be able to play,” said Dorsey coach Stafon Johnson, a Dorsey alum who played at USC from 2006-09. My main concern at that point was whichever team wins would have a short turnaround for the next game.”

When the game finally kicked off at 6:45 p.m. the rain was still pouring. Eleventh-seeded Dorsey controlled the tempo from the start, marching 65 yards in five plays on its first possession, which ended on a five-yard run by Mahkai McCluster.

Nathan Schiebler fumbled on the second play of Eagle Rock’s first possession and defensive lineman Draysean Mixson recovered for Dorsey at the Eagles’ 47. Jamell Edmond capped the Dons’ ensuing drive with an 11-yard sweep and Deuce Johnson caught the two-point conversion pass to make it 14-0 late in the first quarter.

“We were ready to get down and dirty in the mud,” Dorsey quarterback Elijah McDaniel said after rushing for 120 yards and engineering all four of his team’s scoring drives. “We wanted to play [at Eagle Rock]. We wanted to play Friday even but the longer we had to wait the more time it gave us to prepare.”

Liam Pasten, one of the best passers in the City, completed only three of seven attempts for 22 yards in the first half and finished seven for 24 for 53 yards. Even as the rain subsided in the second half, the third-seeded Eagles (8-4) could not get their offense on track.

“I had 100% attendance at practice Saturday in the rain,” Johnson said. “This is the first time all year we’ve been fully loaded. This is Jamell’s first game back and he made a significant impact. That team averages over 40 points a game and we give them full credit. We just wanted to play … we didn’t care where it was.”

Edmond finished with 87 yards in 10 carries.

De Anthony Young-Jones scored on a two-yard run to increase the lead to 20-0 late in the third quarter and Jaziel Hernandez-Cruz closed the scoring with a one-yard run with 3:48 left in the fourth quarter. The 11th-seeded Dons (7-5) will be on the road again in the semifinals against No. 2 South Gate, a game that has been pushed back to Saturday.

Eagle Rock players did not get a chance to play one last time at Don Mengel Field. In February, construction is scheduled to begin on the school’s new synthetic turf field, eight-lane rubber track and scoreboard.

Gwen Crabb has had to endure more than her fair share of injuries during her rugby career.

The 26-year-old Wales lock has just had her fourth surgery and is currently undergoing what she affectionately dubs “knee-hab 4.0”.

But Crabb’s latest diagnosis has been a different blow.

After years of living with painful periods, she has finally had the diagnosis of endometriosis.

For a time, she said, she was able to “get on with it” but matters reached breaking point during Wales’ pool match against Canada at the 2025 World Cup.

“All I could think about was ‘when is the pain going to stop?’,” said Crabb.

“I was in so much pain that every now and then I was like ‘oh yeah, I’m playing rugby’.

“The way I try to explain it is if you’re in an ice bath all you can think about is that you’re in an ice bath and how cold you are – that’s how I felt with the pain.

“It was really difficult to be in the moment and concentrate on what the next play is, what am I doing in this lineout and trying to be fully present.”

When sophomore guard Phoenix Smith came off the bench on Monday night in Crespi’s season opener against Cleveland, two things were clear: His big hair and his 5-foot-7 frame, the smallest on the court.

He played junior varsity last season, and let’s just say Celts coach Derek Fisher is going to have fun working with him. Smith was three for three on three-pointers and finished with 16 points in Crespi’s 81-44 win over Cleveland.

He put together a nine-point surge between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter. Leaving him open this season will not be a good strategy. Another JV player from last season, Cayman Martin, led Crespi in scoring with 17 points. Carter Barnes had 14 points and Isaiah Barnes 13 points.

Crespi has a big game coming up Saturday at Pauley Pavilion against Mater Dei.

St. Bernard 81, Claremont 56: Brandon Granger led St. Bernard with a 30-point performance.

South Pasadena 77, Franklin 43: Nick Rios scored 22 points and Rob Khollesi added 21 points for South Pasadena.

Carson 59, South East 37: The Colts are 2-0 under new coach Corey Kitani. Blake McCall had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Mira Costa 85, Torrance 70: Logan Dugdale finished with 18 points and Paxx Bell had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a first-round game at the Ocean View tournament.

Wiseburn Da Vinci 73, Oak Park 56: Aidan Ebrahimi had 15 points for Wiseburn Da Vinci.

Santa Margarita 89, Temecula Valley 38: Drew Anderson had 30 points and 11 rebounds and Kaiden Bailey added 26 points for the Eagles.

Canyon Country Canyon 65, Antelope Valley 28: Alex Lazo made nine threes and finished with 27 points for the Cowboys.

Servite 100, United Christian Academy 18: Tariq Johnson had 22 points for the Friars.

West Torrance 64, Venice 55: Ben Heinemann finished with 15 points for West Torrance.

Valencia 47, Heritage Christian 44: Ali Eldein led Valencia with 18 points.

In a side that was already missing key players such as the Charles brothers, Shea and Pierce, and the suspended Daniel Ballard, youth got the opportunity to shine in the final qualifier, which was a dead rubber after Friday’s defeat by Slovakia.

Given they were at risk of suspension, Trai Hume and Justin Devenny were given the evening off, and the talismanic Conor Bradley was withdrawn at half-time.

Jamie Donley will get the headlines after his first international goal, but there was a strong first start for Jamie McDonnell, while Ruairi McConville was again commanding in defence and teenager Patrick Kelly made his senior debut.

“We obviously had to make a lot of changes to the team. If you look at the players we used tonight, five of the players are under 21, so I think that’s really positive for us,” O’Neill said.

“Luxembourg are a good team. The results in this campaign are probably a little bit harsh on them, and their performances have been good.

“They’ve not been beaten easily in any of the games, so we take a lot from the fact that we beat them 3–1 away and 1–0 at home. A clean sheet was a positive, and a lot of good performances as well.”

PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points, Paul George had nine points and seven rebounds in his season debut, and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied for a 110-108 victory over the short-handed Clippers on Monday night.

Quentin Grimes added 19 points and Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds while filling in for Joel Embiid.

James Harden scored 28 points for the Clippers, who have lost eight of nine. Harden became the 11th player to eclipse 28,000 career points with a first-quarter layup.

Derrick Jones Jr. sat out after injuring his knee in Sunday’s 121-118 loss at Boston. The Clippers also were without Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) for the seventh straight game.

Embiid (right knee injury management) sat out for the third straight game and eighth of 13 this season.

The Clippers controlled the first 3½ quarters and led 91-81 with 8:44 left on Ivica Zubac’s 10-footer. But Philadelphia used a 14-3 run over the next 2:49, capped by Maxey’s layup, to go in front 95-94. It was close from that point.

Drummond made two free throws to put the 76ers ahead 110-106 with 1:08 left. Kobe Sanders made a pair of free throws with 13.8 seconds left to pull the Clippers within two before officials whistled Kris Dunn for a foul on Maxey. But that was overturned to a steal by Dunn after a challenge by the Clippers, giving L.A. a chance to tie or win.

Harden misfired on two three-point attempts in the final seconds.

In addition to Embiid, the 76ers were missing Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Adem Bona (right ankle sprain).

George sat out the first 12 games while recovering from offseason left knee surgery. The nine-time All-Star played 21 minutes.

Up next for Clippers: At Orlando on Thursday night.

Equal access to sport and exercise could help tackle an estimated £20bn shortfall in the public finances, according to Sport England.

Before next week’s Budget, the funding agency says new research highlights “the critical role” physical activity plays in supporting public finances and economic growth.

But it also warns inactivity is costing a “staggering” £20bn a year and has called for more investment in sport.

It claims that is the amount in healthcare savings, productivity gains and improved wellbeing that could be unlocked if the least active groups in society – such as those with disabilities, on lower incomes and black people – were supported.

Earlier this year, Sport England found 67% of the adult population were meeting the chief medical officers’ recommended guidelines, external for weekly physical activity – a record high. But it warned more needed to be done to tackle inequalities.

At the time, the government said tackling inactivity was “at the heart of our preventative health agenda”.

Sport England also says its research found grassroots sport and exercise boost the economy by £36bn every year through employment opportunities, volunteering, facilities and equipment.

And it calculates that for every £1 invested in the sector, £4.38 is generated for people and the public purse, via savings to the NHS, chronic illness prevention, improved workforce productivity, and enhanced health and happiness.

In addition, £14bn in tax revenue is generated by grassroots sport and exercise every year: a return of approximately six to seven times the public investment in sport and exercise.

“It’s shocking that inequalities in activity levels cost the public purse nearly £20bn every year,” said the chair of Sport England, Chris Boardman.

“Inactivity is quietly draining our economy, health system and our communities – but we can change that.

“Excitingly, the solution is right in front of us: movement. With a return on investment of more than four to one, billions can be saved in healthcare, our workforce will be more productive and quality of life improved for millions.”

Earlier this month, the chancellor Rachel Reeves warned she would make “necessary choices” in the Budget after the “world has thrown more challenges our way”, and did not rule out a U-turn on Labour’s general election manifesto pledge not to hike income tax, VAT or National Insurance.

In June, leaders across the sport and physical activity sector jointly wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, warning that if they were not prioritised in government spending plans it would “risk the decline or closure of more facilities and clubs”.

The letter was signed by organisations including the Youth Sport Trust, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, gym and leisure-centre body Ukactive and the Sport for Development Coalition.

LeBron James said his lungs felt like those of a “newborn baby” and his voice was “already gone” after his first Lakers practice Monday as he moved a step closer toward making his season debut after being sidelined by sciatica.

The Lakers listed James as questionable for Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena, and he sounded as if he was close to playing in his NBA-record 23rd season.

“We got a long time,” said James as he wiped sweat from his face while speaking to reporters. “I mean, we’ve been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process. So, see how I feel this afternoon, see how I feel tonight. When I wake up in the morning. … We’ll probably have [a] shootaround [Tuesday]. So, just gotta see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus.”

James, who will turn 41 next month, was asked how long it took him to become pain-free.

“I wouldn’t take it that far,” James said. “Like I said, if you ever had it, you go about it and you wake up one day and you hope that when you step down from the bed that you don’t feel it. You go to bed at night, and you hope that when you’re in the bed that you don’t feel it. So I’ve been doing pretty good with it as of late. There’s a lot of exercises and a lot of mobility things and a lot of things you can do to help it. So I’m just keeping a positive mindset.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick said it was like having a new player in practice with James on the court.

James agreed, saying, “Definitely feels new, for sure.”

The Lakers have four days off after Tuesday’s game against Utah — including three practice days — before playing the Jazz in Salt Lake City on Sunday.

“One day back, barking out calls and assignments and stuff, getting my voice working again,” said James about his first day at practice. “Be a lot of tea and rest tonight.”

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (42,184 points), admitted he had to mentally adjust to missing the start of a season for the first time in his career.

“It sucks. It definitely sucks,” James said. “Never in my life since I started playing the game of basketball have I ever not started the season — in my life. It’s been a mind test, but I’m built for it and it’s been putting in the work, both mentally and physically trying to get myself ready to rejoin the team.

“It’s just been kind of the same revolving door. Just repetition, repetition, repetition; rehabbing, rehabbing, rehabbing. Just trying to get back where I can feel like myself again. It’s great to be out here today.”

James said this wasn’t the first time in his career that he had sciatica.

“I had it two years ago,” he said. “You had it, then you know what the hell it’s about. If you ain’t never had it and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It’s not fun.”

James practiced with the Lakers’ G League team, the South Bay Lakers, twice last week, getting in some five-on-five work.

“It was great,” James said. “I got cleared to play some five-on-five for the first time since … hurting my MCL versus Minnesota. And that was the blessing.”

The Lakers have gone 10-4 without James. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have led the way as one of the most potent two-way tandems in the early part of the NBA season.

Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (34.4 points per game) and Reaves is ninth (28.3). Doncic is fifth in assists (8.9) and Reaves is seventh (8.2).

James, who is 50 games away from breaking Robert Parish’s all-time record of most games played in NBA history (1,611), knows he’ll have to adjust things when he returns.

“I have to work my way back into it,” James said. “The guys have been going on road trips, shootarounds, flights. So it’s kind of like a kid going to a new school again. Got to learn the guys and everything. So they got some great chemistry. Feeling my way back in and do it organically. It shouldn’t be hard. But it’s definitely a feel-out process.”

Etc.

Redick said all 14 players practiced for the first time this season and that Rui Hachimura (left call soreness) and Marcus Smart (viral illness) will be available to play against the Jazz after sitting out against Milwaukee on Saturday.

President Donald Trump has announced US embassies will give visa appointment priority to travellers with tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

The Fifa Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass) will “allow World Cup ticket-holders with long wait times to opt with Fifa for a prioritised interview,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.

Ticket-holders for the tournament – set for next June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico – will not be automatically granted a tourist visa, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup football matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.

“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” Rubio said, also at the White House on Monday.

“We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.”

The 2026 men’s World Cup will be co-hosted across North America, with Mexico and Canada, with most matches played in the United States.

Speaking in the Oval Office with Trump and Rubio, Fifa President Gianni Infantino said up to 10 million visitors could come to the US to watch World Cup matches.

“With this Fifa Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, that are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” he said.

Some countries whose national teams have already qualified for next year’s tournament currently have long wait times for visa appointments.

In Colombia, travellers applying for US visas are currently waiting around 11 months for an interview appointment, according to data published by the US State Department, the agency which processes visa applications.

The average wait time in Mexico City is nine and half months, while non-Canadian citizen residents of Toronto can expect a wait of 14 months for appointments.

If those wait times hold, the World Cup will have already been played and the golden trophy already awarded by the time fans from some countries have their visas approved or denied.

Monday’s announcement was lauded by US Travel Association, a tourism industry trade group. “The expedited process for Fifa ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security,” its CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement.

“This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times, putting the U.S. on stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year.”

It is unclear if the new appointment rules will cover ticket-holders from countries whose citizens are mostly or entirely banned from travelling to the US. In June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats

Iran, whose football team has qualified for the World Cup, is among the countries affected by the ban. The June executive order exempts athletes and coaching staff travelling for the World Cup and 2028 Olympics, though its fans could still face a ban.

The BBC has contacted the US State Department for comment.

Not all travellers coming to the US next year will need a visa. Most citizens of countries under the US waiver programme can ordinarily travel visa-free for up to 90 days. That scheme covers much of Europe, including the UK, along with Japan, Australia and others.

At the two most recent World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, a ticket to a game generated a fan ID that could be used like a visa to enter the host country.

Nahshon Wright had just made a huge play for the Chicago Bears, and in spectacular fashion.

The fifth-year cornerback leapt high in full sprint with his hand stretched over his head to intercept a pass by Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the end zone to preserve a 10-3 Bears lead late in the second quarter.

No wild celebration followed. Instead, Wright jogged to the back of the end zone and took a knee in memory of Oakland football legend John Beam, the former football coach at Laney College who died Friday after being shot on campus a day earlier.

“He was watching over me,” Wright, who played for Beam at Laney in 2018, said after the Bears’ 19-17 victory on Sunday . “It’s crazy. He called me the night before he passed and he told me that every game he watched, I just seemed to get a pick. So I just know he was behind me today.”

Just before noon Thursday, the Oakland Police Department responded to reports of gunshots at Laney and found Beam suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. At approximately 10 a.m. the next day, Beam was pronounced dead.

Oakland police arrested 27-year-old Oakland resident Cedric Irving Jr. as a suspect in the case early Friday morning at the San Leandro BART station. Irving is a former football player at Skyline High School where Beam once coached, but police said he did not play under Beam.

Former Laney Collegefootball coach John Beam holds the trophy after the Eagles won the California Community College Athletic Assn. championship in 2018.

(Peralta Community College District via Associated Press)

Irving and Beam knew each other but were not close, acting Oakland Police Chief James Beere said Friday at a news conference. Beere added that Irving isn’t a student at Laney but “was on campus for a specific reason” on Thursday.

“This was a very targeted incident,” Beere said.

On Monday, Irving was charged with murder and 10 other felonies related to Beam’s death. Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said during an afternoon news conference that Irving faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted.

Irving is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, Jones Dickson said.

Beam coached football in Oakland for more than 40 years. He came to Laney as running backs coach in 2004, was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005 and was head coach from 2012-2024. Upon retirement from coaching, Beam continued to serve as Laney’s athletic director, a post he had held since 2006.

For many of his players and members of the community, Beam was much more than a coach, as seen by viewers of Season 5 of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U,” which focused on Beam and the Eagles during the 2019 football season.

“Filming with him at Laney College gave us a firsthand look at his passion, his integrity, and his unwavering commitment to the young men he coached — and to the city of Oakland,” the show’s creator, Greg Whiteley, wrote Friday on X.

Wright told reporters that Beam was “someone I could confide in, someone that I love dearly.” He added that the coach filled a huge void for him and his brother — New Orleans Saints cornerback Rejzohn Wright, who played at Laney in 2018 and 2019 — after the death of their father in 2017.

“Beam stepped in, stepped in as a father figure, a father role,” Nahshon Wright said. “He did a lot for me and my brother, my family. He’s been there. He’s been there every step of the way, and it won’t stop. I gained an angel, for sure.”

In a scene from “Last Chance U,” Laney coach John Beam talks to player Rejzohn Wright.

(Netflix)

Rejzohn Wright reposted a video clip of his brother’s interception and its aftermath on X and wrote: “Long live Coach beam forever with us!”

In an Oct. 19 Instagram post, Beam wrote that he was “in Chicago to watch the brothers battle” as the Bears hosted the Saints. The pride and love Beam felt toward his former players was more than evident in the photos he posted and the words he wrote.

“The Wright Way — always believe and keep grinding, never give up and believe the path will open up,” Beam wrote.

Britain’s Fabio Wardley is expected to be elevated to WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk decided to relinquish his title.

It comes after Ukrainian fighter Usyk informed the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) he would not proceed with a mandatory title defence against Wardley.

The WBO said Usyk had “elected to relinquish his title after thoughtful consideration”.

Usyk still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having beaten Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

He first became the four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 by beating Tyson Fury, before giving up the IBF title five weeks later and deciding not to fight the mandatory challenger.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri called Usyk “a champion of champions” in a statement.

“The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion,” Olivieri said.

“His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”

The WBO added that its doors “will always remain open to Usyk and his team”.