MEXICO CITY (AP) — Félix Aguirre admits he’s been having trouble sleeping these last few months. On the eve of the reopening of the iconic Azteca Stadium, and with some work still to be done, the stadium director won’t be able to relax until kickoff on Saturday night.

After being closed since May 2024 for renovations in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, the stadium where Pelé’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina won the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, respectively, will again open its doors to fans for a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal.

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It will be a crucial test for Aguirre and all the workers who have been racing against the clock in recent weeks to get the stadium ready, not just for that match but also for the World Cup opener on June 11, when Mexico plays South Africa.

‘We’re ready’

“It’s true that I’ve had trouble sleeping thinking about the project and making sure it’s the best it can be,” Aguirre told The Associated Press. “Today I can tell you that we’ve done it and we’re ready.”

The AP was given access to the stadium on Thursday when work appeared to still be underway in various areas, including the new locker rooms, where the smell of paint is noticeable.

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According to Aguirre, there are currently 2,200 workers on the project, working 24 hours a day.

With the renovations, the stadium, officially renamed Banorte, increased its capacity from 83,000 to 87,500 spectators. In addition, new seats, a new sound system with 250 speakers, two video screens, new locker rooms, and a hybrid pitch were installed, among other improvements.

To increase capacity, a lounge area located in the lower and central part of the stadium was removed.

“At some point we tore down the lower stands to put in boxes and some lounges that weren’t nice, now we’re bringing back those stands and that’s returning to the original Azteca,” Aguirre said.

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The stadium located south of Mexico City will host five World Cup games next summer. Opened in 1966, Azteca has undergone several renovations — the last one to accommodate NFL games in 2016.

“There were many areas for improvement, but some things we were obsessed with were enhancing the fan experience. To achieve this, we improved the audio, video, and internet, but we also improved the restrooms, entrances and exits, and everything related to the overall experience,” Aguirre said.

“It’s somewhat subjective, but I think we achieved it.”

All about soul

Aguirre was given a clear brief to follow.

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“Another thing we wanted was for it not to lose its soul,” Aguirre said. “This is a historic building that is part of the city; we couldn’t disrespect its essence. We simply had to enhance it, preserve its soul, and provide fans with a better experience.”

The exterior remains a familiar sight to fans. Debris can still be seen in some places, and there will be no car parking available for supporters for Saturday’s game. Authorities have asked fans to use public transportation or shuttles that will depart from public locations throughout the capital.

Aguirre’s mission is to hand over the stadium to FIFA a month before the June 11 opener.

If all goes well, then he’ll be able to sleep soundly.

“That’s what we hope,” he said with a laugh.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Hayes trio of Ben, Will and J D at Lindsay Park were downcast when their two fillies were excluded from the Golden Slipper lineup at Rosehill.

Emergencies two and three were Medicinal and Gin Twist for the country’s wealthiest two-year-old race.

Ben Hayes felt the sting of missing out on the field, as no horses scratched from the 16 entrants in last weekend’s Group 1 spectacle.

“It’s a shame we didn’t get in,” Hayes said.

“You win a Stakes race, and you normally get in, but this year it was just so open.

“They were taking their turns in winning and with the prize money so strong in New South Wales, we ended up just missing out.”

With Gin Twist as the third emergency into the Golden Slipper, the Lindsay Park team decided against a trip north.

On February 28 she won down the Flemington straight, and now she’s entered for Saturday’s Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) there.

Last week she ran third in an 800m heat during an easy jump-out at Flemington.

“We made the decision to not even send her up,” Hayes said.

“It didn’t look like she was any chance of getting a run, so we took the opportunity of giving her a jump-out at home instead.”

A filly by Home Affairs, the Golden Slipper-winning stallion, Gin Twist dominated her Listed 1000m victory down the straight on February 28.

“She’s had that experience down the straight and hopefully that will hold her in good stead on Saturday,” Hayes said.

Medicinal made the journey to Sydney seeking a late Golden Slipper berth, while Gin Twist stayed local.

Hayes mentioned Medicinal will trial in Sydney prior to the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) on April 11 at Randwick.

View the best racing betting markets for the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes via betting sites.

Jones said she began officiating when she was no longer able to play rugby league with boys after coming to the end of an under-11s season.

“I went over to a girls’ team and back then the opportunities for girls to play rugby were few and far between,” she said.

“It’s much better now but that’s why I went into officiating, because I was a bit stubborn and I was told I couldn’t do something within the sport I love.

“I was like, I will find a different avenue and no one is going to tell me I can’t be involved in this sport at the top level in the boys’ side of it.

“So I decided to go into officiating and I haven’t looked back.”

As a player, Jones won a Women’s Super League title, two League Leaders’ Shields and four Challenge Cups before retiring in 2024.

She has been refereeing in the men’s game for a year and said the players “just see me as another referee”.

“I think the biggest problem they have, is what do they call me?” she said.

“I get that question every week and I find it quite funny. I understand they’re used to having male referees and they always address them as ‘sir’.

“They are only trying to be respectful. I just tell them to call me ‘ref’ or ‘Tara’ and if they do call me ‘sir’ because it’s habit, then don’t worry about it.

“I’m not offended because I know they’re trying to be respectful and do the right thing.”

Jones said she hopes she can be a “trailblazer” for young women in rugby league.

“I try to be and I want to be – I just do what I do and I hope I can inspire young girls,” she added.

“Just this week I’ve had a message from a young girl who has just started refereeing to say that I’ve inspired her to try it and give it a go.

“That means a hell of a lot to me.”

Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash in Florida on Friday, according to multiple reports. 

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office told ESPN that the crash happened on Jupiter Island on Friday afternoon. Woods’ condition was not immediately known. 

Woods competed in the TGL championship earlier this week with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and her daughter, Kai, in the stands. It was his return to competitive golf after rupturing his Achilles last year, just ahead of the Masters.

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Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club looks on before the match against the Los Angeles Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 23, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  (Adam Glanzman/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)

The 15-time major winner, five of which have come at Augusta, was noncommittal about playing at this year’s Masters. President Donald Trump said on “The Five” on Thursday that he would be at Augusta but not play.

Woods has had trouble behind the wheel in the past. In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for the entire year. In 2017, he was arrested for driving under the influence, also in Jupiter Island, after taking prescription drugs.

Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt on the 12th green during the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 21, 2022. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

VANESSA, KAI TRUMP TAKE IN TIGER WOODS’ RETURN TO GOLF AT TGL FINALS

It has been a tough go since Woods made the ultimate comeback in 2019 and miraculously won the green jacket again. In 14 majors since then, he has failed to muster a top 20 finish. It’s his longest such streak since failing to finish in the top 20 in the first six majors of his career in 1995 and 1996. In his last 26 majors, he has only four top 20 finishes.

Since finishing tied for ninth at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish in his 18 official events since then has been T-37 at the 2020 PGA Championship. 

Tiger Woods preparing for the Open Championship in 2022. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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He has not competed since 2024, when he competed in just five events: the Genesis Invitational and the four majors. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last in the Masters and missed the cut in the other majors.

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Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon, police have confirmed.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident took place on Jupiter Island, in the same town where Woods lives, just after 2pm local time.

A photograph has been shared of the scene which shows a vehicle laying on its driver’s side.

Further details on the crash or the golfer’s condition have yet to be disclosed, with it reported that sheriff John Budensiek will share more information at 5pm local time (10pm GMT).

There have been claims from WPEC, the local CBS affiliate, citing a source at Martin County Fire Rescue that there were no injuries to anyone involved in the crash, with one person reported in stable condition, while another declined to be taken to the hospital. This has not yet been verified.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Independent.

Woods was previously involved in a high-profile rollover crash in California in 2021, which left him with serious injuries. Authorities said he was driving at least twice the 45mph speed limit when he SUV struck a tree, causing the vehicle to fly through the air and land on its side.

The American was also arrested for driving under the influence in Florida in 2017, after which he checked himself into a clinic for prescription medication.

More to follow.

Jamie Noble sent a personal message to fans ahead of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Tonight’s edition of the blue brand will air live from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

WWE producer Jamie Noble took to social media today to share a heartfelt update. He thanked fans for their prayers, and you can check out his message in the Instagram post below.

“Thank everyone for their prayers🙏🙏🙏🙏,” he wrote.

Noble hasn’t competed in a wrestling match since the company’s Holiday Tour in 2022. He teamed up with Braun Strowman and The Brawling Brutes to defeat The Bloodline’s Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Sami Zayn, and Solo Sikoa. The veteran’s last match on television took place on the June 8, 2015, edition of RAW. He teamed up with Joey Mercury to defeat Seth Rollins in a Handicap match.

The Bella Twins are scheduled to square off against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair tonight on WWE SmackDown. Jelly Roll will also be in action against Kit Wilson. Women’s United States Champion Giulia will be facing Tiffany Stratton in a non-title match, and Carmelo Hayes will once again be holding an Open Challenge for his United States Championship.

Jamie Noble comments on his final WWE match

Wrestling veteran Jamie Noble discussed his final match in 2022 that took place in his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia.

In an interview with Byron Saxton, Noble shared that he trained with Drew Gulak and William Regal’s son, Charlie Dempsey, ahead of his final wrestling match.

“Good,” Noble said when asked how his body feels. “When I looked at the dates, trying to get everything ready, I was worried about a training camp and how I’d hold up, but it’s been great. It’s obviously rough getting used to going at it. Some of these guys over here, Regal’s kid, and Drew Gulak came in, so it’s been challenging but I feel like I’m there.”

It will be interesting to see if WWE has any surprises in store for tonight’s edition of SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania 42.