Spain defeats

Austria 3-0

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and Spain beat Austria 3-0 for its first World Cup victory in a knockout match since winning the title in 2010. Pedro Porro added a goal in the second half for Spain, which put on its most impressive performance of the tournament while dominating possession and demonstrating the offensive creativity across its vaunted lineup.

Spain also has yet to allow a goal at this year’s World Cup, with Unai Simón keeping his fourth consecutive clean sheet. La Roja will next face the winner of Portugal’s match against Croatia in Dallas in the round of 16.

Ovechkin stays

with Capitals

(AP) — Alex Ovechkin is returning for a 22nd NHL season after re-signing with the Washington Capitals. The league’s career goal-scoring record holder inked a deal with a $1 million salary and bonuses worth an additional $8 million. Ovechkin turns 41 in September. He has 929 goals after scoring 32 in his 40-year-old season.

The Russian superstar broke Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 goals in April 2025. He had said in recent months he was waiting until the offseason to decide whether to return or retire. Ovechkin in a news release sent out by the Capitals declared, “I’m back.”

World Cup

draws interest

WASHINGTON (AP) — New polling from Ipsos Sports, provided exclusively to The Associated Press, shows that the World Cup has excited soccer fans and piqued many Americans’ interest, even as the sport continues to face an uphill climb to reach mainstream popularity in the United States.

The poll was conducted June 26-28, after the U.S. advanced from the group stage but before they won against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the knockout round. About 6 in 10 soccer fans were “extremely” or “very” excited about the U.S. advancing to the knockout round, much higher than the 25% of Americans overall who said the same.

About half of soccer fans say the U.S.’s role in co-hosting the World Cup is going at least “very” well, but there’s less enthusiasm for FIFA’s role.

Anisimova

avoids upset

LONDON (AP) — Amanda Anisimova served three of her 20 aces in the deciding tiebreaker to hold off Sofia Kenin 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) and reach the third round at Wimbledon as Kate, the Princess of Wales, visited the All England Club.

Anisimova who was consoled by Kate a year ago after being routed by Iga Swiatek in the final trailed 3-1 in the third set before she broke back in the sixth game. Swiatek beat 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. There were straight-set victories on the men’s side for Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz.