ROME (AP) — A Slovak fugitive who had been on the run for 16 years was finally arrested when he turned up in Milan to support his national ice hockey team at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, police said Friday.
The 44-year-old man, who was not named, was wanted by Italian authorities for a series of thefts committed in 2010.
The carabinieri managed to track down and arrest the man Wednesday after he checked into a campsite in the outskirts of Milan, thanks to an automatic alert from the campsite reception.
The fugitive was then taken to Milan’s San Vittore prison to serve a pending sentence of 11 months and 7 days, according to the carabinieri, Italy's military police.
The man did not manage to see the opening game in which Slovakia’s hockey team beat Finland with a sound 4-1 at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday.
A shot by Slovakia's Adam Ruzicka (21) goes into an open net past Finland's Mikko Rantanen (96), and Finland's Roope, Hintz (24), and Finland's Miro Heiskanen (41) in the third period during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Mike Segar/Pool Photo via AP)
Slovakia's Adam Ruzicka, rear right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Slovakia and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — The 48-team field for FIFA ’s biggest ever World Cup is complete after a qualifying process that spanned more than two and a half years.
Iraq edged Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff at Monterrey in northern Mexico on Tuesday to secure the 48th spot, hours after Bosnia and Herzegovina upset four-time champion Italy on penalties in European playoffs. The result meant Italy was knocked out in qualifying for a third successive World Cup.
Eight teams from Europe were competing for four places on the last day of qualifying. The new intercontinental tournament staged in Mexico determined the other two remaining places. The next-to-last nation to advance was Congo, which edged Jamaica 1-0 in extra time at Guadalajara, Mexico.
Sweden, Turkey and the Czech Republic each qualified in European playoff finals.
Sweden beat Poland 3-2; Turkey edged Kosovo 1-0; and the Czech Republic beat Denmark in a penalty shootout.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will feature 12 groups of four teams.
With its big upset victory of Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified to join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
Sweden will play in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. Turkey will be in Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
After reaching its first World Cup since 2006, the Czech team will play in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
The World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 tournament started Sept. 7, 2023 with matches in South America.
Group A
Mexico, Czech Republic, South Africa, South Korea
Group B
Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland
Group C
Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D
United States, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey
Group E
Curacao, Ecuador, German,y Ivory Coast
Group F
Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G
Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H
Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uruguay
Group I
France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq
Group J
Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Jordan
Group K
Colombia, Congo, Portugal, Uzbekistan
Group L
Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama
This list has been corrected to show that Congo, not Jamaica, got the final spot in Group K.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
DR Congo's players and fans celebrate at the end of the World Cup playoff final soccer match between DR Congo and Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Bosnia's Esmir Bajraktarevic celebrates after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Bosnia's Esmir Bajraktarevic celebrates after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Iraq's Aymen Hussein, left, is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup playoff final soccer match between Iraq and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Iraq's Aymen Hussein celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup playoff final soccer match between Iraq and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
