Ecstatic soccer fans cheer during the World Cup match between Egypt and Belgium, in Seattle, June 15, 2026. For soccer fans in one of the United States’ most passionate soccer cities, the disappointment that has lingered since 1994, when Seattle was not selected as a game site the last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup, is finally lifting. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times) By JESSE McKINLEY and SCOTT CACCIOLA Riley Sealander, a 26-year-old barista in Greensboro, North Caroli

Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ star guard, holds the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy during the ticker-tape parade for his team in celebration of their first NBA championship win in two generations in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Todd Heisler/The New York Times) By JONAH E. BROMWICH, DAN RUBINSTEIN and SANTUL NERKAR Roaring cascades of jubilant fans filled lower Manhattan on Thursday morning for the New York Knicks championship parade, a celebratory coda to a

The Superior Double-A Baseball League’s “Carnaval de Campeones” (Tournament of Champions) begins this Friday featuring the eight sectional champions. It will follow a round-robin format running through July 4 to determine the four national semifinalists. By THE STAR STAFF The Superior Double-A Baseball League’s “Carnaval de Campeones” (Tournament of Champions) begins this Friday featuring the eight sectional champions. The tournament will follow a round-robin format running t

Louis King turned in a standout performance with 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Caguas improved to 19-10. Aguada cruises past Mayagüez By THE STAR STAFF The Criollos of Caguas led by as many as 17 points in the first quarter, then rode out a steady push by the Gigantes of Carolina/Canóvanas for a 95-87 victory in a National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league game on Tuesday night. In the evening’s other matchup, the Santeros of Aguada

Iran plays New Zealand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament in Los Angeles, June 15, 2026. Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities in the world, making the Iran team’s World Cup group-stage match with New Zealand just as much a political event as a sporting event. (Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times) By TARIQ PANJA As the ball slipped into the net, Sahand Vafadary leaped from his seat and twirled his Iran flag above his head in celebration

Iran plays New Zealand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament in Los Angeles, June 15, 2026. (Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times) By RICK ROJAS Spain was the powerhouse, heading into its first game of the 2026 World Cup earlier this week, and ranked as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Cape Verde, a tiny island nation off the West African coast that was once part of the Portuguese empire, was an unlikely qualifier playing its first World Cup game. Monday’

Isaiah Piñeiro scored 23 points as Santurce beat Guaynabo for the first time this season and improved to .500 in the win-loss column. By THE STAR STAFF The Cangrejeros of Santurce defeated the Mets of Guaynabo 99-92 on Monday night in a National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) game held at Fernando “Rube” Hernández Coliseum in Gurabo. Although Guaynabo (13-15) won the head-to-head series 3-1, by winning the fourth and final regular-season matchup between

The athletes selected as Puerto Rico’s flag-bearers for this summer’s 25th Central American and Caribbean Games will be officially presented to the media on Thursday. By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (COPUR) President Sara Rosario Vélez announced earlier this week that the COPUR Executive Committee has selected six finalist athletes to be considered as flag-bearers for #EquipoPUR (Team Puerto Rico) at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo

Team Puerto Rico clinched a promotion to Davis Cup Group II after going 4-1 in the Americas Group III series in San José, Costa Rica, placing second overall with 12 victories against three losses across singles and doubles matches. By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s national men’s tennis team earned promotion to Davis Cup Group II on Sunday, defeating Barbados 2-1 on the final day of the Americas Group III series in San José, Costa Rica. Puerto Rico clinched the promotion going

Elliana Zellien allowed one earned run in five innings and Humacao’s offense did the rest as the Grises earned a doubleheader split against two-time defending champion Cidra on Sunday. By THE STAR STAFF The Bravas of Cidra, Grises of Humacao, Caribeñas of Salinas, Leonas of Ponce and Valencianas of Juncos all notched victories on Sunday in the Women’s Premier Softball League. The Grises pulled off the biggest surprise of the day by splitting a doubleheader with the two-time d