Mexico advances in the World Cup and other top photos from Latin America and the Caribbean

June 12-18, 2026

Mexico became the first country to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup, beating South Korea 1-0. Merlín the duck is celebrated as the team mascot.

Conservative Keiko Fujimori leads progressive Roberto Sánchez as votes are slowly counted from Peru’s presidential runoff election.

A deeply divided electorate is preparing to vote for Colombia’s next president in a tight runoff election between a progressive and a conservative outsider.

This gallery was curated by photo editor Anita Baca based in Mexico City.

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

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FILE - An image of Taty Almeida, one of the founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group, is displayed on a screen during her wake in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

FILE - A man works on a classic American car in Havana, Cuba, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Luis Banos, File)

FILE - Girls wave to performers during the World Cup parade in Mexico City, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

FILE - A duck named Merlin, dressed in a Mexico national soccer team jersey, follows his caretaker Christian Gomez as they cross the street in Mexico City, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

FILE - Supporters of the Together for Peru party presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez march in protest against presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori of the Popular Force party, in Lima, Peru, June 13, 2026, days after the presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File)

FILE - Children play soccer at the sports and recreational complex Parque Deportivo José Martí, in Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)

FILE - Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella stands before supporters from inside a bulletproof booth during his campaign rally in Buga, Colombia, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga, File)

FILE - Fans watch Argentina's Lionel Messi on a giant screen during the World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Buenos Aires, June 16, 2026.. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

FILE - A fan, his face painted with The Uruguayan team's national colors, attends a watch party for the World Cup soccer match against Saudi Arabia, in Montevideo, Uruguay June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File)

FILE - A decorated street is seen at dawn as residents prepare to watch the World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco, in Manaus, Brazil, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File)

FILE - Fans celebrate after Mexico's Luis Romo scored during a World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Korea at the FIFA Fan Zone in Monterrey, Mexico, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia's Supreme Court on Friday upheld the incitement conviction of a prominent opposition politician while suspending the remainder of his sentence, keeping him out of prison but unable to practice politics for years.

The decision against Rong Chhun, a top adviser to the Nation Power Party, was met with anger by supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court complex in Phnom Penh.

The 56-year-old had been found guilty last year of inciting social unrest after meeting with villagers displaced by government construction projects, in what was widely seen as one of many legal moves taken by the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet to stifle criticism.

Under the decision, Rong Chhun will be prohibited from any involvement in politics for five years, including voting or standing as a candidate, and will be banned from traveling abroad for three years, the remainder of his original four-year sentence, his attorney Em Chantha told reporters. He had also been free while his appeal was pending.

Supreme Court decisions are final, but Rong Chhun said he and his attorney would study the verdict in detail to decide whether there would be a chance to ask Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni for a pardon.

Rong Chhun, a prominent Cambodian opposition politician, right, leaves his Supreme Court hearing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Supporters greet Rong Chhun, a prominent Cambodian opposition politician, center, as he arrives at his hearing at the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)