With the World Cup coming to the Bay Area, local youth players say they’ve been waiting for this moment their whole lives.

For 13-year-old Aaliyah Prieto, soccer is more than just a game. It’s a feeling. Watch her play and you just might feel it too.

“I love soccer. It’s such a good sport. It’s the ball, when you’re running, when you’re kicking – almost like a rush,” she said.

When she plays, Prieto is all business. Just minutes into practice she scored a rather impressive goal. Prieto is part of a free after-school league in San Francisco’s Mission District, aptly named Girls Got Goals, where many come from lower-income families.

But right now, it’s not the championship that has her all fired up. It’s something bigger.

“I’m pretty excited about the World Cup,” Prieto said. “Me and my dad love watching it. If we could go in person, we would. It’s really expensive though.”

Soccer fever is sweeping the country. And nowhere more than in the Bay Area, host to six World Cup games.

If history is any indicator, this summer could give the sport just the kick it needs. The last time the World Cup came to the United States in 1994, it literally helped create Major League Soccer. The league started with ten teams. Today there are thirty.

In the Mission District, where soccer has always been more religion than recreation, the buzz is at a whole other level.

Ariel Esqueda, who’s run Girls Got Goals for nearly two decades, said for these players, many from families who came here from Latin America where soccer is everything, the World Cup landing in their backyard gives them something they don’t always get: a leg up.

“Statistically, girls who plays youth sports they perform better academically. Their confidence skyrockets,” she said. “It’s definitely a catalyst. They knwo there’s potential out there, whether it’s scholarships, whether it’s being able to have access or connections,” she said.

DENVER (KDVR) — Police are on the scene of a shooting on Thursday at the Montbello Recreation Center.

The Denver Police Department initially reported the shooting happened in the 15000 block of East 23rd Avenue.

Police said a juvenile was pronounced dead at the scene.

There is no suspect in custody at this time, but officers said they are gathering suspect information.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

This is developing news. FOX31 will update.

As defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season with one of the more complete rosters in the NFL. They did lose a few key players in free agency, but did an excellent job filling those holes in the draft, led by first-round pick Jadarian Price at running back.

Seattle will get together for their voluntary OTAs on May 26, and mandatory minicamp will begin on June 9. These practices will be vital to players on the roster bubble, especially the following three undrafted free agents who have a shot at stealing a spot on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster.

Uso Seumalo, NT

Seattle understands the importance of dominating at the line of scrimmage. Their expertise in this area was on full display during their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots and will be a focus again in 2026.

Even with the talent already on their defensive line, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Uso Seumalo make a bid for a roster spot. A mammoth 6-foot-3, 330 pound nose tackle, Seumalo excelled at stopping the run while at Kansas State.

He didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but Seumalo does the dirty work and clogs up lanes, which allows others to make the splash plays. That doesn’t always get noticed but it will under a head coach like Mike Macdonald.

Devean Deal, LB

A former tight end, Devean Deal moved to linebacker and was an impactful player during his two seasons at TCU. He had 99 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and eight sacks for the Horned Frogs.

Seattle has a crowded room at linebacker but there’s no reason Deal couldn’t push for a spot as a developmental prospect.

Aidan Hubbard, EDGE

Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, but did great work in replacing him with Dante Fowler Jr. at a fraction of the price. Seattle could still use more depth, as well as a younger prospect to groom.

Enter Aidan Hubbard out of Northwestern. Seattle clearly likes Hubbard, signing him to a deal with $267,500 in guaranteed money, which is more than twice as much as any other UDFA they signed.

During his four years at Northwestern, Hubbard recorded 105 tackles and 20.5 sacks. Seahawks On SI writer Michael Hanich wrote that Hubbard doesn’t win with great speed or power, but gives relentless effort and knows how to get off blocks. That might be enough for him to find his way onto the Seahawks roster.

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