US to open World Cup qualifying this fall against Dominican Republic and Nicaragua

The U.S. will open qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup in November against the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and a third nation that will be determined later this summer by the results of a pre-qualifier tournament.

The groups — and 68 of the 80 nations that are in the mix for the 31 open World Cup berths — were announced at Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Qatar is the only nation to have a World Cup spot assured; it has one because it will host the tournament in the summer of 2027.

The other 12 nations — eight from Europe, four from the Americas — that will play in qualifying will be determined this summer.

“The qualifiers are a special part of this journey,” FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said. “The World Cup is not a three-week event. The World Cup is in reality more than two years, as you can see. ... This is the key moment on the way to Doha.”

Germany is the defending champion, having topped Serbia for the gold medal at Manila in 2023. Canada beat the U.S. in that tournament for the bronze.

The Americans have won the tournament five times, but not since 2014 — after finishing a record-worst seventh at China in 2019 and missing the medal stand again at Manila in 2023. It has been a challenge for the U.S. to field its best possible team for the World Cups, given that most stars tend to prefer playing in the Olympics and many can’t commit to a plan where they would be playing in a World Cup one summer and the Olympics the following year.

Canada and Germany earn third straight wins at ice hockey worlds

STOCKHOLM >> Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of the tournament as Canada dominated France 5-0 for its third straight win at the ice hockey world championship on Tuesday.

Bo Horvat scored two goals, Brandon Montour scored one and added an assist and Will Cuylle also scored. Jordan Binnington stopped 15 shots for the shutout.

“We’ve been trying to come out hard every game and sticking to our game,” forward Adam Fantilli said. “It’s been great so far.”

Horvat netted the opening goal with a backhand 6:32 into game and Cuylle doubled the advantage on a snap shot from the left circle with 7:49 to go in the frame.

Crosby turned around at the boards and skated toward the goal from the right before roofing a shot to make it 3-0 on a power play with 2:29 remaining in the middle period.

It is the third worlds for Crosby and the first since he captained Canada to gold in 1995.

Horvat added his second on a power play 3:57 into the final period from the right circle. The New York Islanders forward tops the goal scoring table with four goals.

Montour’s slap shot finished the scoring with 8:55 left.

The NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers are going up for sale

PORTLAND, Ore. >> Paul Allen’s estate announced Tuesday that it has begun the process of selling the Portland Trail Blazers.

The sale of the team is “consistent with Allen’s directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy,” the Trail Blazers said in a statement.

Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, died in 2018 at age 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Allen was also owner of the Seattle Seahawks and co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders.

He bought the Trail Blazers in 1988, telling the The Associated Press at the time that “for a true fan of the game, this is a dream come true.”

— The Associated Press