Bengals coach Zac Taylor goes hunting for Spain’s World Cup trophy ahead of NFL game in Madrid

MADRID (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor had something on his mind besides football — American football, that is — after arriving in Madrid for Sunday's NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Taylor was on a mission to find the World Cup trophy at the headquarters of Spain’s national team.

“Spain won the World Cup, right?” Taylor said Thursday. “I was here yesterday looking for it. It’s not here. It’s traveling around Spain. I learned that. It’s on a little tour of Spain. But I did my best to find it.”

The Bengals arrived in Madrid on Wednesday and held their first practice Thursday at the training facilities of Spain's national team, which won its second World Cup title in July in the United States. The Falcons are practicing at the training complex of Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

“You know, I know it is a big soccer country,” Taylor said. “That’s the No. 1 sport. I’m not quite sure how much they know about our game yet. Hopefully they’ll learn a lot over the course of this week. It’s a fun one."

Sunday’s game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium — the home of Real Madrid — is the seventh of a record nine NFL regular-season games outside the United States this season. It will be the second regular-season game in Spain after the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime last year.

Taylor seemed caught off guard, though, when asked which Madrid team he thought was better, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

“It’s always been kind of a tie for me,” he said after asking the reporter to repeat the question, drawing laughs from those in the news conference.

“I’ve always, you know, sometimes it’s one, the other times I watch them play and I’m like, yeah, I kind of like the other one, too. So, I like both of them. I like both of these teams that you’re talking about.”

Taylor said he was excited about the opportunity to play at the Bernabeu.

“I know the tradition of soccer here is unbelievable. People involved are very passionate, so I think to be able to be in a stadium where there’s so much history with the team ... It’s cool for us to have a chance, it might be the only chance to get a chance to see a stadium like that, with the tradition of soccer.”

Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that he didn’t know much about the history of the Bernabeu but had “a ton of respect for Real Madrid and what it means to global soccer, or ‘football,’ sorry.”

“I have two boys that are very into soccer and very into FIFA, so while I can’t tell you I’m as well versed as they are, I’m certainly well aware of how important this is, and I don’t take that for granted,” Stefanski said. “I don’t take it for granted how special this place is relative to the global stage. And to be able to be in the stadium on Sunday, we’ll get in there on Saturday for a walkthrough. I’ll be taking some pictures.”

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said Thursday he was “super excited” to play at the Bernabeu.

“We can't wait to go see it,” he said. "I already looked up pictures of it and stuff like that, so just can't wait to go see it. It's a big stadium for the soccer community and we're just so excited that we have the opportunity to be able to go play in there.”

Wide receiver Drake London said he “never really watched soccer" but it was “cool" that he still knew of Real Madrid.

“It's really cool and special that we get an opportunity to play in a stadium that holds so many legendary moments and legendary players,” London said.

The Falcons struggled in a 16-0 loss in the rain at Tampa Bay last weekend, while the Bengals rallied for a 43-36 win over the Tennessee Titans at home.

Taylor said the Bengals “were back on schedule” as far as the team's preparations.

“Our meetings were the same as they’ve always been on Thursday,” he said. "We’re doing everything we can to get ready for the game and keep our normal schedule to where they’re hearing the same things that they usually hear in the same rhythm weekly.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor attends a press conference before an NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Isaiah Foskey (51) stretches during NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Cincinnati Bengals players attend an NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gestures during a press conference before an NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor attends a press conference before an NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand was convicted Thursday of rape and sexual assault charges on allegations dating back more than 20 years.

Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand faces a “significant” prison term when he is sentenced Monday. He had been free on bail but was taken into custody.

A prosecutor said the British actor-comedian was a ruthless, calculating, manipulative “sexual predator.”

Brand, 51, denied the charges and testified that he was obsessed with sex as a young man and once led a promiscuous life but had never forced anyone to do something against their will.

He was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He was acquitted of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London’s Metropolitan Police said the conviction was “a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them.”

“Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women,” he said. “As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement.”

The jury of eight men and four women in Southwark Crown Court deliberated more than eight hours over two days.

Known for risqué stand-up routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show. He appeared in Hollywood films including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek” and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.

In recent years he has moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and built a large online following with videos mixing wellness, conspiracy theories and discussions of his religious devotion.

Brand said the criminal case had a devastating impact on his life and family.

“My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations,” he said.

Brand’s lawyers argued that the alleged victims were undermined by the fact that they only went to police years after the alleged assaults and following the broadcast of a 2023 documentary that contained anonymous allegations against Brand.

Brand testified that friends and colleagues had abandoned him.

His wife, Laura, who accompanied him to court, testified as a character witness in his defense, but no one with relevant evidence was willing to give evidence on his behalf, Brand said.

Comedian and actor Russell Brand, accompanied by his wife Laura Brand, leaves Southwark Crown Court in London, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, where he is charged with counts of rape and sexual assault against six women.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Comedian and actor Russell Brand, accompanied by his wife Laura Brand, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, where he is charged with counts of rape and sexual assault against six women.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych)