Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Rugby league-World Cup heading to US and Pacific in 'Magic Round' format for 2030

The next edition of the Rugby League World Cup ​will be played in a series of 'Magic Rounds' in five cities across the Pacific and United States, International Rugby League (IRL) board chief ​Troy Grant said on Monday. The "Magic Round", where all the teams in a competition play ‌matches ​in a single city over one weekend, is already well established in Australia's National Rugby League (NRL).

Motor racing-Lawson scores points again as he awaits 2027 seat decision

Liam Lawson confirmed his status as the best of the midfield drivers with seventh place at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday but still can do nothing but hope for the best when it comes to a spot on the grid for ‌next season. The Racing Bulls driver swept past eventual race winner Lando Norris to take second place early on in a wet-dry race at Interlagos before being overhauled by quicker cars and settling for six points.

NFL roundup: Bengals rout Falcons in Madrid, tie AFC North lead

Joe Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns to help the Cincinnati Bengals blow past the Atlanta Falcons for a 34-17 victory on Sunday in the NFL's second-ever game in Madrid. Ja'Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown, while Tee Higgins hauled in ‌two touchdowns for the Bengals (6-2). Cincinnati won its fourth straight game and pulled into a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North.

NHL roundup: Jets' Mark Scheifele beats clock, Lightning on last-second goal

Mark Scheifele scored with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the ‌Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Cole Perfetti and Morgan Barron each scored a goal for the Jets. Brayden Yager netted his first career tally and Viggo Bjorck produced two assists for Winnipeg, which won its third straight game.

Seahawks QB Drew Lock (oblique) status uncertain vs. Raiders

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock sustained an oblique injury during Sunday's 17-3 home victory over the Arizona Cardinals, leaving his status for next week "kind of up in the air," coach Mike Macdonald said. Lock, who played in place of starter Sam Darnold (quad, ribs), said afterward that he is confident that he will be available next Sunday when the Seahawks (5-4) visit the ⁠Las Vegas Raiders (4-5).

Tennis-After ​winning Paris Masters, Alcaraz high on confidence ahead of ATP Finals

World number ⁠three Carlos Alcaraz said his Paris Masters victory on Sunday was the ideal platform to launch his campaign for a first ATP Finals title and that he had played his best tennis since returning from a wrist injury in August. Alcaraz defeated American Ben Shelton 7-6(5) 7-5 in Paris to seal his fifth title of the ⁠year and his third since returning to the tour at the US Open after a break of nearly five months.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert injures non-throwing hand in loss to Texans

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert expects to play next week after injuring his non-throwing hand Sunday as the team assesses the injury's ​severity. Herbert injured the middle finger on his left hand during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 44-22 home loss to the Houston Texans. Coach Jim Harbaugh said the injury could be a fracture and kept Herbert out of the game despite ⁠the quarterback's desire to continue playing.

Reports: Vikings to sign WR Odell Beckham Jr. to active roster

The Minnesota Vikings will sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their 53-man roster ahead of the team's Monday night home game against the Buffalo Bills, multiple outlets reported Sunday. Beckham has been on the Vikings' practice squad since signing with the club on Oct. ⁠12.

Motor ​racing-Norris wins in wet Brazil as Mercedes take constructors' title

Mercedes secured their ninth Formula One constructors' world championship and completed a title double on Sunday in a wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix won by McLaren's Lando Norris from pole position for the second year in a row. The title was Mercedes' first team crown since 2021 and came a week after 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli made headlines as the youngest drivers' champion with four races to spare in Mexico City.

WTA roundup: Coco Gauff takes down Jessica Pegula at WTA Finals

No. 4 seed Coco ⁠Gauff opened the WTA Finals with a stellar 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory over No. 5 seed and fellow American Jessica Pegula on Sunday in Indian Wells, Calif. Gauff saved 7 of 11 break points while breaking Pegula's serve seven times in 16 chances. Pegula ⁠saved one match point in the 12th game of the second set on ⁠her way to forcing the tiebreaker, but Gauff won the first three games of the decisive set and never looked back.

Tennis-Eala ready to disappear for a bit after breakout season comes to an end

Alex Eala said she is looking forward to lying low for a while after her breakout campaign ended on Sunday with a 6-3 6-0 defeat by American Claire Liu in the Hong Kong ‌Open final. The 21-year-old, who became the highest-ranked Filipino ‌and Southeast Asian player in WTA history earlier this season, has become a fan favourite this year and her run in Hong Kong ​will lift her to a career-high 15th in the world rankings.