National Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will open the Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al Ahly, with Palmeiras and Porto also part of that group for the tournament that will take place in the U.S. next year.

Jon Cooper was always walking into a locker room loaded with talent.

Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics have agreed to a $67 million, three-year contract, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff ruled out defenceman Rasmus Dahlin from playing against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night because of back spasms. Ruff did not provide a timeline of how long Dahlin might be sidelined.

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — Defending champion Max Homa birdied his last two holes to shoot a 6-under 66 and take a one-shot lead over South African Ockie Strydom in the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Thursday.

TORONTO — Former Japan youth international Aoi Kizaki is the latest soccer talent to join AFC Toronto of the new Northern Super League.

GRENOBLE — Canadian skaters Jazmine Desrochers and Kieran Thrasher were second after Thursday's junior pairs short program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Desrochers, from Mississauga, Ont., and Thrasher, from Windsor, Ont., scored 55.

ST. MARYS — Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been named the 2024 winner of the Tip O'Neill award.

TORONTO — Canada's new WNBA franchise will be called the Toronto Tempo, a handle officially unveiled with some haste Thursday morning after it was leaked the previous day.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have named Ted Goveia as general manager, the CFL club announced Thursday.