Turkey wins European playoff, will face USMNT at World Cup

Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0 in a World Cup playoff on Tuesday, clinching a berth in Group D alongside the U.S. men's national team.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu gave Turkey the lead early in the second half, tapping home on the doorstep after a scuffed shot from Orkun Kökçü.

That was all the visitors needed as they advanced to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

The USMNT learned at the World Cup draw in December that it would face Paraguay and Australia in the group phase, but has been waiting to find out the identity of its third opponent.

That team will be Turkey, which defeated Romania 1-0 in a semifinal on Thursday, March 26 before victory over Kosovo on Tuesday at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo.

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Turkey is ranked 23rd in FIFA's world rankings, making it the second highest-ranked team in Group D behind the U.S. (15th).

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BMO Field – Toronto

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lumen Field – Seattle

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NRG Stadium – Houston

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Levi's Stadium – Santa Clara, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

MetLife Stadium– East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

The USMNT and Turkey have faced off five times in their history, with each team winning two games and the other match ending in a draw.

Most recently, Turkey defeated the USMNT 2-1 in a June 2025 friendly.

Turkey's win means the USMNT will enter the World Cup having faced all three of its group stage opponents within the last year. The U.S. defeated Australia in October and Paraguay in November.

Turkey World Cup group stage schedule

• June 13 vs. Australia, BC Place - Vancouver, BC.

• June 19 vs. Paraguay, Levi's Stadium - Santa Clara, CA

• June 25 vs. USMNT, SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles, CA

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Turkey to face USMNT at World Cup after playoff win

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Turkey wins European playoff, will face USMNT at World Cup

Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0 in a World Cup playoff on Tuesday, clinching a berth in Group D alongside the U.S. men's n...

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Chiefs HC gives update on Patrick Mahomes' injury recovery

When it comes to professional athletes recovering from injuries, no news is usually good news.

That should bode well forKansas City ChiefsquarterbackPatrick Mahomes, who is working his way back from a torn ACL and LCL. WhenChiefshead coachAndy Reidspoke to reporters at the annual league meeting on March 31, he gave something of a there-is-no-update update on his star quarterback.

Asked about Mahomes' timeline to return from injury, Reid said he'll leave it to the medical team to determine whether or not the quarterback is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery.

"I'm going to defer to the experts on that," Reid said when asked if Mahomes would be limited for training camp. "So, if he's good to go, he'll go. If he's not, we'll manage that. So, we'll just cross it as we go. Everybody's different. Everybody heals different. Everybody's injuries are a little bit different. We don't have to put him in a category. We'll see, see where it goes."

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Reid added that it's been all "positive" for the passer during his rehab.

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE:USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

1. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott's $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow also signed a deal with an AAV of $55 million, however his deal was for five years and $275 million. Burrow agreed to the extension with Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence signed his own five-year, $275 million dollar extension on June 13, 2024. His AAV is also $55 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen's $55-million AAV ties him with Love, Burrow and Lawrence, however the Bills quarterback's extension was for six years and $330 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

With an AAV of $53.1 million, Tagovailoa barely beats the next few players on this list. The Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million extension on July 26, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

The Lions rewarded Goff with a four-year, $212 million extension before the 2024 NFL season after he helped turn Detroit into a top contender in the NFC. His deal has an AAV of $53 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft shocked the world after taking over as the 49ers QB and turned his success into a five-year, $265 million contract on May 16, 2025. Purdy will earn an average of $53 million per season.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert earns an AAV of $52.5 million after he signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers before the 2023 NFL season.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson's average salary is $52 million thanks to the five-year, $260 million contract he signed on April 27, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

The Super Bowl LIX MVP earns an average salary of $51 million. He signed a five-year, $255 million deal in April 2023 and has already paid off the Eagles' investment with a Super Bowl win.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Parsons became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history after signing a four-year, $186 million extension following his trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Packers. His AAV is $46.5 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray earns $46.1 million on average after he signed a five-year, $230.5 million deal on July 21, 2022.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Despite playing just 19 games over three seasons with Cleveland, Watson's contract has an AAV of $46 million. He signed a five-year, $230 million contract after the Browns acquired him in a trade with the Houston Texans on March 18, 2022.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-15. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons before the 2024 NFL season. Despite losing the starting QB job to Michael Penix Jr., Cousins earns $45 million on average.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-15. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes' 10-year, $450 million deal is the biggest contract in NFL history, despite his $45 million AAV ranking him 15th on this list.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams signed Stafford to a two-year, $84 million extension for an AAV of $42 million before the 2025 NFL season.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt signed a three-year, $123 million deal on July 17, 2025, to briefly make him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback before Micah Parson's extension with the Green Bay Packers. Watt earns an average salary of $41 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase became the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver after signing a four-year, $161 million extension before the 2025 NFL season. His average salary is $40.25 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Garrett earns a $40 million AAV. The Browns defensive end signed a four-year, $160 extension on March 9, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

Crosby also earned his big payday in March, signing a three-year, $106.5 million contract just four days before Garrett's extension. Crosby earns a $35.5 million AAV.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension on June 3, 2024 to make him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback in history at the time. He earns $35 million on average.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> T-23. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Two months after Jefferson's deal, Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension with Dallas. Lamb's AAV is $34 million.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Darnold scored a payday with Seattle after a resurgent season with Minnesota in 2024. Darnold earns an AAV of $33.5 million after signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract on March 10, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank

1. Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysPrescott's $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener.

According to an article published byArthroscopy, recovery from an ACL tear "typically spans 9 to 12 months." The "return to sport" phase ranges from 6-12 months, with the 9-12 month range listed as a likely timeline for return to competition.

Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 during a Week 15 game against theLos Angeles Chargers. He underwent surgery to repair the ligaments in his knee the following day.

On March 25 – just over three months after his operation – Mahomes posted a video of himself throwing a football with a compression sleeve on his left leg.

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Chiefs HC gives update on Patrick Mahomes' injury recovery

When it comes to professional athletes recovering from injuries, no news is usually good news. That should bod...

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2026 NCAA tournament picks, predictions: Best bets for the Final Four

We saw the definition of March Madness last weekend, whenNo. 2 UConn stunned No. 1 overall seed Duke with a last-second 3-pointer to win 73-72and complete a historic comeback after being down 15 points at halftime.

UConn is a small underdog against No. 3 Illinois in the Final Four, while No. 1 Arizona is a currently a small 'dog against fellow No. 1 seed Michigan in what should be a fantastic matchup between arguably the two best teams in the country.

Below you'll find the favorite wagers for all the games from our college basketball handicappers — Corbie Craig, Matt Jacob and Matt Russell. We'll update this piece throughout the week with more wagers from our experts.

All odds courtesy ofBetMGM.

Best bets for Saturday's Final Four games

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan (-1.5, 157.5)

Jacob:First-half scores in Michigan's last five contests dating to the Big Ten tournament championship game: 38-38, 50-46, 48-39, 49-47 and 48-26. All five surpassed 75 points and all five flew over the first-half total, with the Wolverines putting up an average of 46.2 points.

Meanwhile, in its last eight games dating to the regular-season finale at Colorado, Arizona and its opponents have combined for at least 74 first-half points six times. During this stretch, the Wildcats have averaged 37.1 points in the opening 30 minutes of action.

Translation: Both of these No. 1 seeds love to push the pace, particularly early; both can fill the bucket; and both are extraordinarily efficient on the offensive end. I don't expect anything different in Saturday's Final Four nightcap.

In fact, both teams have already shown in the NCAA tournament what happens when facing an opponent that also loves to sprint up and down the court. In the Sweet 16, Arizona beat Arkansas 109-88 (with the teams combining for 97 first-half points), and Michigan thumped Alabama 90-77 (with 96 of those points scored before halftime).

It might take a beat or two for these squads to get used to shooting in a cavernous football stadium, but they'll eventually heat up and easily top 80 points before the first-half horn sounds.

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Bet: First half over 73.5 points (-125)

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Illinois (-1.5, 139.5)

Jacob:Here's a quick recap of Illinois' NCAA tournament performance to date: Four wins, all by double digits; three straight opponents held to fewer than 60 points on 38% shooting; a cumulative plus-65 rebounding advantage; and four starters averaging at least 12 points per contest. Just flat-out, across-the-board domination.

So, of course I'm fading the Illini in the Final Four.

The main reason: At this point, a bet against UConn in the Big Dance is essentially a bet against the sun rising tomorrow.

The Huskies' record in their last 18 NCAA tournament games overall: 17-1 (including 15 double-digit blowouts). Their record in their last 18 tournament games from the Sweet 16 onward: 18-0 (the most recent being Sunday's miraculous Elite Eight comeback against No. 1 overall seed Duke).

Ranking Duke's worst NCAA tournament losses since its last title

Another reason why I'm backing UConn: It already manhandled Illinois once this season, rolling 74-61 as a 3.5-point favorite in Madison Square Garden back on Nov. 28. Remember those four Illini starters averaging double digits in the NCAA tournament? They combined for 18 points on 6-for-27 shooting (including 2-for-13 from 3-point range) against the Huskies.

Granted, Nov. 28 is a long time ago. But early February is not. I bring that up because that's when Illinois lost 85-82 to Michigan State in overtime — the first of four consecutive overtime losses (by a combined 10 points) that Illinois suffered between Feb. 7-March 13.

In fact, since edging Texas Tech 81-77 in their third game of the season Nov. 11, the Illini have played six games decided by fewer than six points. Their record in those six contests: 0-6. In other words, Illinois is untrustworthy in close games.

Well, I fully expect this one to be a 40-minute dogfight. And I fully expect UConn to do what UConn always does this time of year: come out on top — somehow, some way.

Bet: UConn money line (+115)

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2026 NCAA tournament picks, predictions: Best bets for the Final Four

We saw the definition of March Madness last weekend, whenNo. 2 UConn stunned No. 1 overall seed Duke with a last-second 3...

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3 FBI agents fired after investigating Trump file class action suit alleging 'retribution campaign'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three fired FBI agents sued on Tuesday to try to get their jobs back, saying in a class action lawsuit that they were illegally punished for their participation in an investigation into President Donald Trump'sefforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Fired Agents Lawsuit

The federal lawsuit adds tothe mounting list of court challengesto a personnel purge byFBI Director Kash Patelthat over the last year has resulted in the ousters of dozens of agents, either because of their involvement in investigations related to Trump or because they were perceived as insufficiently loyal to the Republican president's agenda.

The lawsuit in federal court in Washington was technically filed on behalf of just three agents but may have much broader implications given that its request for class action status could open the door for agents fired since the start of the Trump administration to get their jobs back.

The three agents — Michelle Ball, Jamie Garman and Blaire Toleman — were fired last October and November in what they say was a "retribution campaign" targeting them for their work on the investigation into Trump. The agents had between eight and 14 years of "exemplary and unblemished" service in the FBI and expected to spend the remainder of their careers atthe bureaubut were abruptly fired without cause and without being given a chance to respond, the lawsuit says.

"Serving the American people as FBI agents was the highest honor of our lives," they said in a statement. "We took an oath to uphold the Constitution, followed the facts wherever they led and never compromised our integrity. Our removal from federal service — without due process and based on a false perception of political bias — is a profound injustice that raises serious concerns about political interference in federal law enforcement."

Trump's indictment

The investigation the agents worked on culminated in a 2023 indictment from special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of illegally scheming to undo the results of the presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.Smith ultimately abandoned that case, along with a separate oneaccusing Trump of illegally retaining classified recordsat his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump won back the White House in 2024, citing Justice Department legal opinions that prohibit the federal indictments of sitting presidents.

The lawsuit notes that the firings followed the release by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of documents about the election investigation — known as Arctic Frost — that he said had come from within the FBI. Those records included files showing that Smith's team had subpoenaed several days of phone records of some Republican lawmakers, an investigative step that angered Trump allies inside Congress.

The complaint names as defendants Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of having orchestrated the firings despite being "personally embroiled" either as witnesses or attorneys in some of the legal troubles Trump has faced.

Patel, for instance, was subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury investigating Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and had his phone records subpoenaed, while Bondi was part of the legal team that represented Trump athis first impeachment trial, which resulted in his acquittal.

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"And now, by virtue of presidential appointment to the pinnacle of federal law enforcement, Defendants are abusing their positions to claim victories that eluded them on the merits," the lawsuit states.

Spokespeople for the FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. Patel and Bondi have said the fired agents and prosecutors who worked on Smith's team were responsible for weaponizing federal law enforcement, a claim that was also asserted in their termination letters but that the plaintiffs call defamatory and baseless.

The fired agents want 'fundamental constitutional protections'

Dan Eisenberg, a lawyer for the agents, said in a statement that his clients were fired without any investigation, notice of charges or chance to be heard.

"This lawsuit seeks to reaffirm fundamental constitutional protections for FBI employees, ensuring they can perform their duties without fear or favor. We all benefit when law enforcement officers' only loyalty is to facts and the truth," said Eisenberg, who's with the firm of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

The lawsuit asks for the agents to be reinstated to their positions and for a court declaration affirming that their rights had been violated. It also seeks to represent a class of at least 50 agents who have been terminated since Jan. 20, 2025, or will be. Those agents also stand to recover their jobs in the event the case is successful and the requested class action status is granted.

Others have been fired, too

Other fired employees who have sued include agents who werephotographed kneelingduring a racial justice protest in 2020; an agent trainee whodisplayed an LGBTQ+ flagat his workspace; and a group of senior officials, including the former acting director of the FBI, who were terminated last summer.

The firings have continued, with Patel last month pushing out a group of agents in the Washington field office who had been involved in investigating Trump's hoarding of classified documents. Trump has insisted he was entitled to keep the documents when he left the White House and has claimed without evidence he had declassified them.

Follow the AP's coverage of the FBI athttps://apnews.com/hub/us-federal-bureau-of-investigation.

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3 FBI agents fired after investigating Trump file class action suit alleging 'retribution campaign'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three fired FBI agents sued on Tuesday to try to get their jobs back, saying in a class action lawsuit ...

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