NYON, Switzerland (AP) — European soccer will pause before the 18 Champions League games this week to honor victims of flash floods and landslides in Nepal.
“A moment of silence will be held and a banner will be displayed as a sign of solidarity and support ahead of all UEFA Champions League matches,” the European soccer body said Monday in a statement.
The banner will say: “You are not alone Nepal.”
“We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said.
UEFA has previously paid tribute to victims of natural disasters outside Europe, including in September 2023 after an earthquake in Morocco and floods in Libya.
The Champions League starts Tuesday with six games, including Real Madrid hosting Inter Milan, and continues with six more on each of Wednesday and Thursday.
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FILE - Squads observe a moment of silence for victims of Morocco earthquake and Libya floods before the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Residents commute across the Trishuli river on a newly installed zipline in the aftermath of flash floods in Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
BERLIN (AP) — Emma Meesseman led Belgium to the quarterfinals of women’s FIBA World Cup and Puerto Rico finished strongly to eliminate Turkey in their final group games on Monday.
Meesseman had 22 points and 10 rebounds to help Belgium top Australia 80-68 for first place in Group C.
The European champions are now off until Thursday. Australia faces a qualifying playoff on Wednesday against the loser of the Italy-China matchup that takes place later Monday.
Belgium had a five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, before using a 11-2 run to start the period and gain a double-digit advantage. The Opals couldn’t recover.
The pro-Belgian crowd cheered on their team, waving flags in support.
Arella Guirantes led Puerto Rico with 21 points for a 75-71 win over Turkey.
Puerto Rico was trailing by seven points going into the final quarter, but Imani McGee-Stafford scored and Pamela Rosado followed with two 3-pointers to take a 59-58 lead.
Turkey fans at Berlin’s Max-Schmeling-Halle tried to put off but Guirantes but couldn’t stop her from securing the win with two free throws.
Puerto Rico next plays the winner between Italy-China on Wednesday.
The four group winners progress directly to Thursday’s quarterfinals, while the teams that finish second and third face playoffs Tuesday or Wednesday to determine which join the group winners already through to the final eight. The bottom teams are eliminated.
Host Germany (1-1) faces Mali (1-1), and Spain (1-1) plays Japan (1-1) later with all scenarios open in Group A. Any one of the four teams can win the group and progress to the quarterfinals or finish bottom and be eliminated.
France (2-0), already through to the quarterfinals, plays already eliminated Nigeria (0-2) later, with Hungary and South Korea (both 1-1) contesting second place in Group B.
Italy (1-1), after coming close to upsetting the United States Sunday night, faces China (1-1) to decide second place in Group D. The U.S. (2-0) has already advanced to the quarterfinals before its final group game against the Czech Republic, which was eliminated after two losses.
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Puerto Rico's Zaida Gonzalez fouls Belgium's Emma Meesseman fouls [b during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Puerto Rico and Belgium in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Puerto Rico's Denise Solís guards Belgium's Emma Meesseman during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Puerto Rico and Belgium in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
