DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson signed a new contract on Thursday ahead of the World Cup qualifying playoffs and kept him through the 2028 European Championship where Dublin is a host city.
Hallgrímsson, who led Iceland at its first World Cup in 2018, said there was “big pressure” from the Irish soccer federation to sign before the playoff games.
Ireland plays at the Czech Republic next Thursday with the winner advancing to host Denmark or North Macedonia five days later. The winner on March 31 advances to a World Cup group with co-host Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.
Hallgrímsson guided Ireland to the playoffs with remarkable back-to-back wins last November in a qualifying group that looked lost.
Ireland beat Portugal 2-0 in Dublin — where Cristiano Ronaldo was famously sent off then not suspended by FIFA from any World Cup games — and won 3-2 in Hungary to take second place.
All five Irish goals were scored by Troy Parrott capped by a dramatic winner deep in stoppage time in Budapest that entered soccer lore.
“Signing this now, before the playoffs, is a statement of our shared belief and allows us to focus 100% on the massive task ahead of us in March without any distractions,” Hallgrímsson said.
He was appointed two years ago and had given to the team “a clear vision, a strong tactical identity, and a sense of belief,” federation chief executive David Courell said.
Euro 2028 is being co-hosted by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Ireland's Troy Parrott, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)
FILE - Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson stands near the bench before the World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)
PHOENIX (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a grand slam in a 10-run fifth inning and the Minnesota Twins clobbered the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-8 on Saturday night.
Buxton has 24 homers to tie Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead. He has three career grand slams.
The Nos. 6-9 batters combined for 13 of the Twins' 20 hits, with Brooks Lee having four and missing a cycle by a home run. Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kreidler each had three hits.
The Twins had 16 hits in the fourth and fifth innings when they sent a combined 24 batters to the plate.
Minnesota started the fifth with three hits to chase Zac Gallen (3-6), who was charged with nine runs and 12 hits — both career highs — in four-plus innings to raise his ERA to 6.10.
Buxton’s home run, to right-center, came off Yilber Díaz, who gave up seven hits and seven runs. He threw 44 pitches and recorded two outs. Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.
Taj Bradley (6-3) went five innings, giving up three hits and two runs — both on Jorge Barrosa’s second homer of the season. The Twins have won five of their last six games.
Ildemaro Vargas’ three-run double was the big hit in the Diamondbacks’ five-run seventh against reliever Justin Lawrence.
Vargas, who entered midgame for defense as both teams went to the benches, eventually finished the game on the mound for Arizona, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings.
Minnesota's Mike Paredes (0-0, 4.20) was set to face Arizona's José Cabrera, making his MLB debut, in the series finale Sunday.
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Ryan Kreidler's last name.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa (1) celebrates his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley works against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Minnesota Twins' Brooks Lee, center, gets high fives from teammates after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton (25) celebrates after hitting a grand slam with teammates Josh Bell (56) and Ryan Kreidler (5) in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, right, hits a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
