Diego Luna strikes shaky USMNT to win over Guatemala, and into Gold Cup final

Published

5 days ago

July 3, 2025

ST. LOUIS — The U.S. men’s national team is heading to the Gold Cup final, and from the fourth minute onward here at Energizer Park, that outcome was rarely in doubt.

The USMNT raced out to an early 2-0 lead in Wednesday’s semifinal, and ultimately beat Guatemala, FIFA’s 106th-ranked team, 2-1.

But for long stretches of the first half, it struggled. At the 45-minute mark, Guatemala had more Expected Goals, and more than twice as many shots.

And over the final 15 minutes, after a Guatemala goal, amid raucous noise, the U.S. wobbled.

Fortunately for the Americans, they had Diego Luna.

Luna’s meteoric rise — from the outside looking in at the under-23 Olympic roster to the full USMNT’s starting lineup — continued Wednesday with a fourth-minute goal, then shot even further skyward with a 15th-minute banger.

With the confidence and borderline cockiness that head coach Mauricio Pochettino loves, Luna dropped his shoulder, shimmied, deked into the box, and slammed his second goal of the match past Guatemalan goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro.

“It’s just finding the rhythm and being able to get the freedom from the coaching staff and the team,” Luna said post-match about being the team’s difference-maker. “[Knowing] that they’re going to have my back and the trust of the defensive responsibilities, allows me to do what I do on the ball.”

He silenced a pro-Guatemala crowd, and sped for the corner flag, and pointed to the U.S. Soccer crest on his left pec. He pointed to the name on the back of his jersey, then danced as his teammates mobbed him, and as Guatemalan hopes seemed to dim for good.

But then, over a somewhat shocking half hour, those hopes were rekindled.

They were rekindled by 20,000 Guatemaltecos, who injected unceasing energy into the evening, just kept chanting.

“Gua-té!” they shouted. “Gua-té!”

And even after their team went down 2-0: “Sí se puede!” Yes we can!

And their players responded.

Los Chapines, as their known, could’ve hung their heads. They could have conceded that the USMNT was simply better. But instead, playing in their first Gold Cup semi in 29 years, they fought. And they fought some more.

They earned back territory. And gradually, they grew into the game. They created a few half-chances, then some legitimate chances. And the USMNT, which had spent the past 70 hours talking about fighting, didn’t fight back.

They nearly succumbed to the pressure. Their intensity slipped, and for around 20 minutes, the game was relatively one-sided — in favor of the side that not a soul expected to be in this semifinal.

Rubio Rubin, the Oregon-born Guatemala striker, got free in the box more than once, and nearly pulled the underdogs back into the match.

In the end, they simply didn’t have enough quality. They gave Luna and Malik Tillman too much space in the opening 15 minutes. And they couldn’t take advantage of the space that the USMNT, after a strong start, began to give them.

In the second half, the U.S. stabilized. But Patrick Agyemang, Pochettino’s choice to start at striker throughout this Gold Cup, had his worst game in a USMNT jersey. His touches were sloppy. His passes were off. His finishing was wayward. He and his U.S. teammates seemed to get discouraged, and exhibited frustration.

Then, in the 80th minute, they conceded, and Energizer Park erupted.

The U.S. threw on a second left back, then a second center back, Walker Zimmerman. They held on for dear life against a team whose entire roster is worth about one-fourth of Tillman. Matt Freese scrambled to make a stoppage-time save.

And in the end, they held out for a victory to advance to Sunday’s final.

But that, they surely know, will be a much tougher game. They’ll meet the winner of Wednesday’s second semifinal between Mexico and Honduras. They’ll have a chance to win a trophy. But still, in many ways, they haven’t proven anything yet.

A blow-by-blow recap of Wednesday’s game is below.

Wednesday, July 2

USA vs. Guatemala (7 p.m. ET, FS1)

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Passengers at some U.S. airports no longer have to remove footwear, sources say

Published

1 hour ago

July 8, 2025

Kiki Intarasuwan

Passengers at some airports across the U.S. no longer have to remove their shoes during regular preflight security checks, two sources familiar with the change confirmed to CBS News on Monday.

The change appears to be a phased approach, sources said, and the first airports where the no-shoes requirement is expiring include: Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Portland International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina.

However, CBS News correspondents at Los Angeles International Airport and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport reported Monday night that they and other passengers didn’t have to take off their shoes.

Travelers with TSA PreCheck already didn’t have to remove their footwear. In order to have PreCheck, travelers must submit an application and go through a clearance process with the TSA.

The change comes amid reports that the Transportation Security Administration has let the security rule expire for fliers going through the standard TSA screening lines.

In a statement to CBS News on Monday, TSA said the agency and the Department of Homeland Security “are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Kris Van Cleave and

Kathryn Krupnik

contributed to this report.

Kiki Intarasuwan

Kiki Intarasuwan is a news editor for CBS News & Stations.

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Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from enforcing funding ban against Planned Parenthood

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Sarah Owermohle, Kaanita Iyer

CNN
—

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a provision of President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy law to defund Planned Parenthood’s health care services.

The order from US District Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, blocks the provision’s enforcement for 14 days. The measure would bar Medicaid users from coverage with a health care provider that also provides abortion services.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America – along with Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah – sued the administration earlier Monday, arguing that the funding ban would have devastating consequences across the country.

While the legislation, which Trump signed on Friday, does not explicitly mention Planned Parenthood, the nationwide family planning and health care provider is in its crosshairs. The law prohibits federal funding for providers “primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care” that also provide abortion.

Planned Parenthood has warned that nearly 200 clinics nationwide – which also provide birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screening – could close as a result of the bill’s one-year ban on funds.

Ninety percent of those clinics, Planned Parenthood says, are in states where abortion is legal.

“This case is about making sure that patients who use Medicaid as their insurance to get birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment can continue to do so at their local Planned Parenthood health center, and we will make that clear in court,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.

The bill originally barred funds for ten years, before the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, reduced the measure to one year.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the two local networks celebrated Monday’s order, while warning in a statement of the consequences if the provision is ultimately allowed to take effect.

“Already, in states across the country, providers and health center staff have been forced to turn away patients who use Medicaid to get basic sexual and reproductive health care because President Trump and his backers in Congress passed a law to block them from going to Planned Parenthood,” the groups said. “There are no other providers who can fill the gap if the ‘defunding’ of Planned Parenthood is allowed to stand.”

CNN has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for comment.

Earlier Monday, anti-abortion advocates quickly railed against Planned Parenthood’s suit.

“Planned Parenthood’s desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making,” said Susan B. Anthony’s Pro-Life America director of legal affairs and policy counsel Katie Daniel.

Planned Parenthood is also battling the Trump administration in court over cuts to a federal teen pregnancy prevention program. Lawyers for five Planned Parenthood networks argued in a federal District of Columbia court this June that administration’s changes to the program, including limits on language around diversity and equity, were vague and could bar Planned Parenthood from providing longtime services.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

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Denise Richards said she’d ‘never’ divorce Aaron Phypers months ago

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Whitney Vasquez

This didn’t age well.

Denise Richards vowed she’d “never” end her marriage to Aaron Phypers, just four months before his shock divorce filing.

The actress, 54, made the remark in a March episode of her reality series, “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.”

“It’s not easy being married to me,” she confessed, with Phypers responding, “It is not, and she said it! But this is it. I’m done.”

“Yeah, I’m never getting divorced again. Even if we hate each other, I’m not gonna f–king get divorced,” chimed in Richards, referencing her divorce from Charlie Sheen. They married in 2002, and she filed for divorce while pregnant in 2005. It was finalized the following year.

“No, we’ll just have different homes or something,” Phypers added. “But we’re not gonna hate each other.”

All that changed on Monday, July 7, when the fitness guru, 52, filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason behind their breakup after six years of marriage.

In the documents obtained by The Post, Phypers listed the date of their separation as July 4.

He also asked to be awarded spousal support from Richards, claiming he’s made zero income since closing his business last year.

In his filing, Richards’ estranged husband alleged she makes over $250K per month on various projects like her TV shows, brand deals, appearances and her OnlyFans.

Phypers estimated his monthly expenditure is $105K, including $20K on clothing, $18K on rent, $15K on entertainment, $15K on eating out, among other expenses.

He doesn’t only want spousal support from his ex.

Phypers also asked the court for possession of his power tools, 2018 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle and his Shelby GT500 sports car.

Richards married the businessman on September 8, 2018.

The “Wild Things” actress has two older children — daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20 — whom she shares with Sheen.

The reality star also adopted her youngest daughter, Eloise, 14, in 2011, with Phypers legally adopting her 8 years later.

The Post caught up with Richards and Phypers at an event in May, and the duo gave no indication their marriage was about to end.

The former Bond girl even pitched her then-husband as the next possible 007, telling The Post exclusively that Phypers “would be an amazing Bond,” as casting for the leading man has not been announced.

Richards played Dr. Christmas Jones in the 1999 franchise flick “The World Is Not Enough” alongside Pierce Brosnan.

While the pair appeared happy, Richards’ oldest daughter recently revealed she’s “not even that close” with her stepdad.

In an April podcast episode of “Casual Chaos with Gia Giudice,” Sami disclosed the nature of her relationship with Phypers.

“We don’t ever hang out, we never talk,” she shared, but noted, “He makes her [Richards] happy.”

Richards wasn’t the only one married before their relationship.

Phypers wed “Desperate Housewives” star Nicollette Sheridan in 2015. Their marriage was short-lived as Sheridan filed for divorce in July 2016, just a few months after they tied the knot.

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