The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the four highest-ranked teams who are Spain, Argentina, France and England with being placed in separate sections of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket.

A super-sized World Cup has paved the way for tiny Curaçao and Cape Verde to book their places at sport’s biggest global event next year.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, one of Tesla’s biggest investors says it will vote against a proposed compensation package that could pay CEO Elon Musk as much as $1 trillion over a decade.

Dutch Olympian Steven van de Velde has been denied a visa to compete in the beach volleyball world championships in Australia.

FIFA has faced growing global calls to suspend Israeli teams from soccer but its president Gianni Infantino says it must promote peace and unity.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek has defeated Camila Osorio for her 400th career win, advancing to the fourth round at the China Open.

The official who steered the U.N.’s diplomacy in Syria for nearly seven turbulent years is resigning.

The U.S. Open’s largest court was packed for the final three matches of the reimagined mixed doubles tournament Wednesday night, which was made up of mainly top singles players for the first time.

The new U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament drew plenty of criticism for everything from its format to its field.

Negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution will draw to a close Friday.

Lindsey Vonn has added former ski champion Aksel Lund Svindal to her coaching team as she prepares for next year's Winter Olympics.

In one of the top Arctic birding destinations in the world, environmental and health challenges are threatening some of the seabirds that are part of Norway’s unique coastal ecosystem.

Italy has beaten Norway 2-1 to advance to he semifinals at the Women’s European Championship.

All seven trophy-winning teams at the Women's European Championship since 1997 were led to glory by a female coach.

Norway winger Caroline Graham Hansen showed why she was second in the Ballon d’Or vote last year to her superstar Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí.

Casper Ruud has become the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title after beating Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the Madrid Open final.

The United States downed defending champion Canada 2-1 at the women’s hockey world championship in a matchup of the game’s global powers.

A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later.

A private European aerospace company has scrubbed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle.

Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen has set a world record in the indoor mile, beating Yared Nuguse’s mark set just five days earlier at the Millrose Games.

Here are a few takeaways on electric vehicles in 2024: As of November, the global EV market grew by 25% year-over-year.

The United States and South Korea have tentatively agreed to a new deal covering the costs of maintaining the American military presence there.

A new initiative is underway by European, Arab and Islamic nations to strengthen support for a Palestinian state and its institutions and prepare for a future after the war in Gaza and escalating conflict in Lebanon.

How can the U.S. solve its growing maternal mortality crisis.

Norway says it will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The most feared striker in Europe won’t be playing at the European Championship.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund managed by Norges Bank Investment Management said Saturday it will vote against Elon Musk’s hefty CEO compensation package during Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday.

Slovenia’s government has endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and sent it to parliament for approval.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and leading officials from several Middle Eastern countries in Madrid a day after Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized a Palestinian state.

International donors meeting in Brussels say they will commit 7.5 billion euros, about $8.1 billion, in both grants and loans to support Syrians battered by war, poverty, and hunger for the rest of this year and beyond.

Relations between the European Union and Israel are in a nosedive on the eve of the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state by EU members Ireland and Spain.

Jerry Seinfeld’s upcoming Netflix comedy will be featured during this weekend's IndyCar race at Long Beach as rookie Linus Lundqvist will drive a car painted to look like a Pop-Tart in recognition of the movie “Unfrosted.”.

Wouldn't this be cool to see in the Sunshine State?!

Europe’s oldest monarch, Norwegian King Harald V, has received a permanent pacemaker.

The estate of Donna Summer is suing rappers Ye and Ty Dolla $ign alleging they illegally used her 1977 song “I Feel Love” in their most recent collaboration.

The Russian Olympic Committee has lost an appeal against its suspension by the International Olympic Committee.

The manager of the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund is pledging to push major oil and gas companies to speed up preparations for the “inescapable” transition away from fossil fuels.

Downhill racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is having a second operation five days after his shocking crash and airlifted exit from Switzerland’s signature World Cup event.

A conglomerate of unions in Norway says it will take action against Tesla in solidarity with its Swedish colleagues.

The head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee urged Iran to release imprisoned peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi and let her accept the award at the annual prize ceremony in December.

A Norwegian man using a metal detector has found nine pendants, three rings and 10 gold pearls someone might have worn as showy jewelry 1,500 years ago.

A scientific study published Monday projects that over half of Europe’s ski resorts will face a severe lack of snow if temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while nearly all would be by an increase of 4 degrees — presenting challenges for the tourism industry and policymakers, and threatening a cold reality for ski lovers.

Total prize money and player compensation at this year’s U.S. Open tennis tournament will reach a record $65 million.

The Women's World Cup suddenly seems wide open with the elimination of many of the top teams in the world.

The Biden administration is retaliating for Russia’s suspension of the New START nuclear treaty.

Scandinavian Airlines says travelers will soon be able to book flights on the carrier’s first commercial flights that are due to start five years from now in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark aboard electric-powered aircraft.

Sweden has informed Russia that five employees of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm were asked to leave the country because they were suspected of spying.

A group of Western European nations led by Germany and France are committing to massively ramp up the production of clean energy from wind turbines in the North Sea.

New faces have dominated European Championship qualifying as Spain coach Luis de la Fuente swept aside Norway in his first game in charge and a Wales forward rescued a dramatic draw in his first international game.

Mikaela Shiffrin was in third place after the top 20 starters at a World Cup super-G and the American skier missed out on a record-tying 86th career victory.

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin was in shared fifth position halfway through a World Cup downhill and had her quest for a record-tying 86th career victory extended by at least another day.

The European Union’s executive branch has temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure.

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Australian Open because of an injured right leg.

Third-seeded Casper Ruud eased to a straight-set victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the opening match of the ATP Finals.

A humanitarian group appealed to France on Tuesday for a port where it could bring 234 rescued migrants after more than two weeks of silence from Italy’s new hard-right government.

The German humanitarian group Mission Lifeline says that Italy has directed its migrant rescue ship with 89 people on board to proceed to the port of Reggio Calabria.

Queen Sonja of Norway has praised a Minneapolis congregation for maintaining Sunday worship services in Norwegian for all 100 years that the Lutheran church has existed.

Belarussian Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with human rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, is the fourth person to receive the award while in prison or detention.

Authorities say a French woman has been injured when attacked by a polar bear in Norway’s remote Arctic Svalbard Islands.

A Norwegian cruise ship operator says one of its ships has run aground in a fjord off the Nordic country’s west coast.

The birdies that flowed so freely for Viktor Hovland over the first three days of the British Open finally dried up.

A gunman who opened fire in Oslo’s nightlife district has killed two people and left more than 20 others injured during the LGBTQ Pride festival in Norway's capital.

Swedish retailer Ikea is known for the distinctive names of its flat-pack home products.

And they're off to Nome.

Casper Ruud of Norway beat home-crowd favorite Diego Schwartzman to win his second Argentina Open.

Nobody views Beijing as a winter sports capital.

Norway is expected to top the medal table with 22 gold medals and 45 overall when the Beijing Winter Olympics open in 30 days.

The United Kingdom’s central bank has become the first in a major advanced economy to raise interest rates since the coronavirus pandemic began.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has applied to be the next governor of Norway’s central bank in an appointment that would last for six years if he gets the job.

Media freedom continues to be under attack across much of the world in 2021 with nine journalists killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan alone and 102 imprisoned in China.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway captured a World Cup downhill race with an aggressive run for his second win in as many days.

Kylian Mbappe’s four goals in an 8-0 rout of Kazakhstan ensured defending champion France reached next year’s World Cup along with victorious Belgium.

New York City has ushered in the holiday season with the arrival of a 79-foot Norway spruce that will serve at Rockefeller Center as one of the world’s most famous Christmas trees.

A man reportedly armed with a knife has threatened passers-by on the streets of the Norwegian capital, Oslo, before being shot dead by police.

Norwegian authorities say the bow-and-arrow rampage by a man who killed five people in a small town appeared to be a terrorist act.

A man armed with a bow and arrows killed five people and wounded others near the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

There’s a lot more to building a beach volleyball court than just stringing up a net by the sea.

Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist and the United States won its fourth straight game in the world hockey championship, beating Norway 2-1.

Adam Henrique had two goals and an assist and Canada beat Norway 4-2 on Wednesday night in the world hockey championship for its first victory in four games.

The Biden administration is leading a campaign against Russian attempts to assert authority over Arctic shipping lanes and reintroduce a military dimension to discussions over international activity in the area.

After the COVID-19 pandemic halted last year’s edition, the Eurovision Song Contest has roared back to life.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is urging member countries to contribute to a military training mission in Mozambique that could be launched in coming months.

Norway will lend all of its 216,000 doses of Astra Zeneca to neighboring Sweden and Iceland as long as the vaccine is on pause.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Portugal at the Rajko Mitic stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)Portugal and Belgium were left frustrated by draws in their World Cup qualifying matches. Stéphanie Frappart made more history as the first woman to referee a men's World Cup qualifier as the Netherlands beat Latvia 2-0. TV replays indicated the ball did cross the line, but goal-line technology and video review aren't used in the World Cup qualifiers. Artem Dzyuba scored both of Russia's goals to move within one goal of the Russian team record of 30 held by retired striker Alexander Kerzhakov.

New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. (New Zealand Ministry of Health via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. AdThe nation of 1.3 million has seen a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases n the past few weeks. Italy’s total virus cases surpassed 3 million last week, with a new surge powered by the highly contagious variant that was first identified in Britain.

The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Thursday reported a total of 29 people had suffered side effects, 13 of them fatal. All the deaths occurred among patients in nursing homes and all were over the age of 80. Overall, Norway has seen 57,279 cases and reported 511 deaths. But determining whether or not the vaccine caused deaths can be very challenging and requires that all other potential causes be ruled out first. The European Medicines Agency said Friday that it will receive and consider monthly safety reports from companies authorized to sell vaccines, starting in January with the Pfizer jab.

Viktor Hovland of Norway plays on the 1st Hole during the final round of the PGA Tour Mayakoba Golf Classic, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. It sure didn't look that way at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, where he captured another PGA Tour title with another big putt at the end. It was the first time since the Mayakoba Classic began in 2007 that it was won with a birdie putt on the final hole. Hovland won the Puerto Rico Open in February for his first PGA Tour title by holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the last hole. The former NCAA champion at Oregon also was going for his second PGA Tour win, the first one coming at the AT&T Byron Nelson two years ago.

The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 75-foot tall Norway Spruce that was acquired in Oneonta, N.Y., is suspended by a crane as its is prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)ONEONTA, N.Y. – A 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce arrived Saturday at New York City's Rockefeller Center to serve as one of the world's most famous Christmas trees. The tree was donated by Al Dick of Daddy Al's General Store in Oneonta, in central New York. Tishman Speyer, the company that owns Rockefeller Center, has said it's especially proud to keep up the tree tradition this year. The pandemic has spurred the cancellation of some other New York holiday customs, such as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 75-foot tall Norway Spruce, is guided onto a flatbed truck, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Oneonta, N.Y. The tree will be brought into New York City and erected at Rockefeller Center on Saturday, Nov. 14. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)ONEONTA, N.Y. – The 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce that will anchor New York City's holiday festivities as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was cut down in upstate New York on Thursday and will soon be headed to Manhattan. The tree was donated by Al Dick of Daddy Al's General Store in Oneonta, developer Tishman Speyer said in a release. It will be trucked to New York City and erected at Rockefeller Center on Saturday.

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 75-foot tall Norway Spruce, is guided onto a flatbed truck, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Oneonta, N.Y. The tree will be brought into New York City and erected at Rockefeller Center on Saturday, Nov. 14. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)ONEONTA, N.Y. – The 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce that will anchor New York City's holiday festivities as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was cut down in upstate New York on Thursday and will soon be headed to Manhattan. The tree was donated by Al Dick of Daddy Al's General Store in Oneonta, developer Tishman Speyer said in a release. It will be trucked to New York City and erected at Rockefeller Center on Saturday.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The wrestling world championships have been canceled because of travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. United World Wrestling says there weren’t enough entries for next month’s tournament in Serbia to meet its criteria for a world championship event. UWW had wanted at least eight of the top-10 ranked nations and 70% of the athletes from last year’s world championships to participate. ___Norway’s friendly soccer match against Israel has been canceled because of the risk of contracting COVID-19. The Norwegian soccer federation says the decision was recommended by national health authorities one day after an Israel player tested positive.

COPENHAGEN – King Harald V of Norway was discharged from the main hospital in Oslo on Monday after a successful operation to replace a heart valve. “The king is in good shape,” the monarch's doctor, Bjoern Bendz, said after the surgery at the Rikshospitalet’s Cardiovascular and Lung Clinic. The palace earlier had said that the intervention was necessary to improve the 83-year-old king’s breathing. Last month, the king was hospitalized with breathing difficulties. In 2005, the king’s aortic valve was replaced by an artificial heart valve.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save in front of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Portugal at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)MILAN – Portugal and France lost their perfect records in this season’s UEFA Nations League after playing out a 0-0 draw against each other on Sunday, and Belgium saw its 13-match unbeaten run ended by a 2-1 defeat against England. France’s Kylian Mbappe was substituted near the end after having failed to make an impression against the Nations League champion’s resolute defense. Portugal stays top in Group 3 of League A, ahead of France on goal difference, with both teams on seven points. England moved a point ahead of second-place Belgium and three above Denmark which beat Iceland 3-0.

The scene of a landslide near Alta, Arctic Norway, seen Wednesday June 3, 2020, after a powerful landslide that took eight houses into the sea off northern Norway. Police spokesman Torfinn Halvari said a car was taken in the landslide but no people injured. Bakkedal told The Associated Press on Thursday that he filmed Wednesday afternoon's powerful landslide near the town of Alta that swept eight houses into the sea off northern Norway. Bakkedal said he ran for my life into surrounding hills, and saw that one of the houses which he owns was washed away in the landslide. Police spokesman Torfinn Halvari said a car was swept away in the landslide, but no one was injured.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Disney's plans for "Frozen" at Epcot are heating up. Last fall, the classic Maelstrom ride in Norway closed to make way for a ride based on the movie "Frozen." The new permit shows Disney plans to go next door in a 13,000-square-foot building to help meet demand. Lines for the "Frozen" sisters routinely topped three hours at the Norway pavilion even before the movie was released in late 2013. The new Norway ride is expected to open late this year or in early 2016.