Soccer

MEXICO CITY (AP) — An invisible enemy awaits former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey in Mexico City — the altitude.

BERN (AP) — Esther González scored twice and world champion Spain delivered a strong statement by routing Portugal 5-0 in their Women’s European Championship opener on Thursday.

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea is expected to sign English winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the German club said Thursday.

Fresh off a dramatic overtime victory over Manchester City, Al Hilal heads into the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup against Fluminense, which also toppled a European heavyweight. The two teams meet Friday in Orlando, Florida.

MADRID (AP) — Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

SION, Switzerland (AP) — Italy secured what could prove to be a pivotal opening victory in the Women’s European Championship by beating Belgium 1-0 on Thursday.

As a child, Diogo Jota idolized Cristiano Ronaldo. In a career that took him to the heights of soccer stardom, he would go on to call the Portugal great a teammate and win some of the sport's biggest trophies.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Lifelong soccer fan Victor Dumois expressed concern about the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup after attending a recent Club World Cup match in Miami.

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Portugal and Spain players observed a period of silence before their Women’s European Championship opening game Thursday in memory of Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

GENEVA (AP) — Losing 6-1 in your last game before a major soccer tournament to the team that also will be your first opponent is not optimal.