The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

From front-page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today’s top photos chosen by Associated Press photo editors.

Follow AP visual journalism:

AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

Young women wearing folk traditional costumes parade as part of celebrations marking the 102nd anniversary of the creation of the modern Turkish Republic, in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

A sculpture by artists Laura and Christel Lechner called "everyday people" decorates a garden of a hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Guests applaud as President Donald Trump speaks at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO luncheon in Gyoeongju, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

People line up to cast their votes during the general elections at Kwahani polling station in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Members of Israeli defense forces carry the coffin of the reservist Master Sergeant Yona Efraim Feldbaum, who was killed in the Gaza Strip, during his funeral at Mount Herzl military cemetery, in Jersualem, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Mourners react during the funeral of their relatives killed in an Israeli army strike, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A priest blesses the bodies of people killed the day before during a police raid targeting the Comando Vermelho gang in the Complexo da Penha favela of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

A woman in traditional Chinese clothing talks with a man underneath security cameras outside the Forbidden City in Beijing, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

People stay inside a shelter for families displaced by gang violence, flooded by rain brought by Hurricane Melissa, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Residents walk through Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A man carries a TV from his home flooded by Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — World Cup co-host Mexico was optimistic about its chances of advancing from the group stage after being drawn to play against South Africa, South Korea and a yet-to-be-determined European team.

While some TV analysts described the group as “easy,” coach Javier Aguirre was more cautious.

“We faced Korea and they are not an easy team. They do their job. They are disciplined and organized, while South Africa is not easy either," he said after the draw in Washington on Friday. “They are good teams, but we have a chance, we are at home and with our people.”

Mexico faces South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. A week later El Tri will play South Korea in Guadalajara. The last group stage match will be against the winner of a European playoff involving Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Ireland.

The country has high hopes despite being eliminated in the group stage in the 2022 World Cup and mixed results in international matches ahead of next year's tournament.

“There won’t be any easy opponents, but it could have been worse,” said striker Raul Jimenez, who plays for Fulham in the Premier League. “I think it’s a good group, from which we can learn a lot, and we’re taking it one game at a time because what we want is to win and finish first.”

Mexico has played South Korea twice in World Cup history and won both games, in France 1998 and Russia 2018. The teams tied 2-2 in a friendly match last September.

“It’s basically a European team, everyone is in Europe except the goalkeeper, they have a coach I know and they have physical strength which makes them a very strong opponent,” Aguirre said.

Mexico's only World Cup encounter with South Africa was a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the 2010 tournament, which South Africa hosted. That Mexico team was coached by Aguirre, who is now at the helm for the third time.

Mexico hosted World Cups in 1970 and 1986 and reached the quarterfinals both times. It lost to West Germany on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 1986 tournament. Aguirre, who was a member of that Mexico squad, said hot weather could be an advantage in next year’s tournament.

“I remember the 1986 World Cup match against Germany; it was very hot. It’s going to be a demanding situation for our opponents, but we’ll be preparing at home,” the 67-year-old coach said. “We hope to have our players who are currently playing outside of Mexico back soon so they can adapt.”

Even though it is co-hosting the tournament this time with the United States and Canada, Mexico also expects to receive a boost from playing its group stage matches — and possibly some knockout phase matches — at home.

“You feel a responsibility as one of the hosts to open this great event,” team captain Edson Álvarez said. “We rely on the extra support the fans give us, and opening the event against South Africa helps, and we can do great things.”

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

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum holds up the team name of Mexico during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)