Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

MOTOR-F1-SAUDI/ (PIX)

Motor racing-Vowles says Verstappen would come with 'downsides' for Mercedes

Signing Formula One champion Max Verstappen would come with "a lot of downsides" for Mercedes, who would be better off keeping their current drivers, Williams boss James Vowles said on Friday.

SOCCER-FIFA/CALENDAR

Soccer-FIFA very careful with calendar, player welfare, Infantino says

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said player health and welfare remains a key consideration for the global governing body amid concerns about expanding tournaments in an already crowded calendar.

SOCCER-FRANCE-PSG-HAC/PREVIEW (PIX)

Soccer-Champions PSG eager to preserve unbeaten league run, says Luis Enrique

Paris St Germain have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare but the French champions remain highly motivated as they look to end their campaign unbeaten, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday ahead of a meeting with Le Havre.

UPCOMING

SOCCER

SOCCER-ARGENTINA-GIM-RIV/REPORT $(TV)$

Argentina - Argentine Primera Division - Torneo Apertura - Gimnasia La Plata v River Plate

Gimnasia La Plata play River Plate in the Argentine Primera Division.

18 Apr 16:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

SOCCER-GERMANY-HDH-FCB/REPORT (PIX)

Germany - German Bundesliga - Heidenheim v Bayern Munich

Heidenheim play Bayern München in the German Bundesliga.

19 Apr 09:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-WHU-SOU/REPORT (PIX)

England - English Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton

West Ham United play Southampton in the English Premier League.

19 Apr 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-EVE-MCI/REPORT (PIX)

England - English Premier League - Everton v Manchester City

Everton play Manchester City in the English Premier League.

19 Apr 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-CRY-BOU/REPORT (PIX)

England - English Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

Crystal Palace play AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League.

19 Apr 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-BRE-BHA/REPORT (PIX)

England - English Premier League - Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion

Brentford play Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League.

19 Apr 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

SOCCER-FRANCE-PSG-HAC/REPORT (PIX)

France - French Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Le Havre

Paris St Germain play Le Havre in the French Ligue 1.

19 Apr 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY-MON-NAP/REPORT (PIX)

Italy - Italian Serie A - Monza v Napoli

Monza play Napoli in the Italian Serie A.

19 Apr 12:00 ET / 16:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-AVL-NEW/REPORT (PIX)

England - English Premier League - Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Aston Villa play Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

19 Apr 12:30 ET / 16:30 GMT

SOCCER-USA-ATX-LA/ (PIX)

MLS - Austin FC v LA Galaxy

2025 MLS Season (Regular Season) - Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas

19 Apr 13:45 ET / 17:45 GMT

SOCCER-CAFCHAMPIONS/

African Champions League semi-final wrap-up

Wrap up of the two African Champions League semi-final first leg ties as Mamelodi Sundowns host holders Al Ahly in Pretoria and Orlando Pirates take on Pyramids in Soweto.

19 Apr 14:00 ET / 18:00 GMT

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

BASEBALL-MLB-PIT-CLE/ (PIX)

MLB - Pittsburgh Pirates v Cleveland Guardians

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

18 Apr 18:40 ET / 22:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-DET-KC/ (PIX)

MLB - Detroit Tigers v Kansas City Royals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

18 Apr 18:40 ET / 22:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-PHI-MIA/ (PIX)

MLB - Philadelphia Phillies v Miami Marlins

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

18 Apr 18:45 ET / 22:45 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-BAL-CIN/ (PIX)

MLB - Baltimore Orioles v Cincinnati Reds

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

18 Apr 19:05 ET / 23:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TB-NYY/ (PIX)

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

18 Apr 19:05 ET / 23:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TOR-SEA/ (PIX)

MLB - Toronto Blue Jays v Seattle Mariners

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

18 Apr 19:07 ET / 23:07 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-NYM-STL/ (PIX)

MLB - New York Mets v St. Louis Cardinals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Citi Field, Flushing, New York

18 Apr 19:10 ET / 23:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-BOS-CHW/ (PIX)

MLB - Boston Red Sox v Chicago White Sox

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

18 Apr 19:10 ET / 23:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-ATL-MIN/ (PIX)

MLB - Atlanta Braves v Minnesota Twins

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia

18 Apr 19:15 ET / 23:15 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TEX-LAD/ (PIX)

MLB - Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Dodgers

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

19 Apr 20:05 ET / 00:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-HOU-SD/ (PIX)

MLB - Houston Astros v San Diego Padres

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Daikin Park, Houston, Texas

19 Apr 20:10 ET / 00:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-MIL-OAK/ (PIX)

MLB - Milwaukee Brewers v Athletics

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

19 Apr 20:10 ET / 00:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-LAA-SF/ (PIX)

MLB - Los Angeles Angels v San Francisco Giants

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California

19 Apr 21:38 ET / 01:38 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-PHI-MIA/ (PIX)

MLB - Philadelphia Phillies v Miami Marlins

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19 Apr 13:05 ET / 17:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-DET-KC/ (PIX)

MLB - Detroit Tigers v Kansas City Royals

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

19 Apr 13:10 ET / 17:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-CHC-ARI/ (PIX)

MLB - Chicago Cubs v Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

19 Apr 14:20 ET / 18:20 GMT

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

BASKETBALL-NBA-ATL-MIA/ (PIX)

NBA - Atlanta Hawks v Miami Heat

2024-25 NBA Season (Additional) - State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

18 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-MEM-DAL/ (PIX)

NBA - Memphis Grizzlies v Dallas Mavericks

2024-25 NBA Season (Additional) - FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

19 Apr 21:30 ET / 01:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-IND-MIL/ (PIX)

NBA - Indiana Pacers v Milwaukee Bucks

2024-25 NBA Season (Postseason) - Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

19 Apr 13:00 ET / 17:00 GMT

GOLF

GOLF-LPGA-LACHAMP/

LPGA Tour - JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

Day three of the JM Eagle LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles. Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

19 Apr

MOTOR RACING

MOTOR-F1-SAUDI/ (PIX)

Motor racing - Formula One - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Jeddah hosts the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - qualifying ahead of the fifth race of the 2025 Formula One world championship.

19 Apr

TENNIS

TENNIS-STUTTGART/ (PIX) (TV)

WTA 500 - Stuttgart Tennis Grand Prix

The quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Tennis Grand Prix - a WTA 500 tournament.

19 Apr 06:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

TENNIS-MUNICH/ (PIX) (TV)

ATP 500 - Munich Open

The semi-finals of the Munich Open - an ATP 500 tournament.

19 Apr 07:30 ET / 11:30 GMT

TENNIS-BARCELONA/ (PIX) (TV)

ATP 500 - Barcelona Open

The semi-finals of the Barcelona Open - an ATP 500 tournament.

19 Apr 07:30 ET / 11:30 GMT

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS-BOSTON/ (PIX)

Athletics-Past winners bring starpower to strong Boston Marathon field

Kenyan Hellen Obiri will pursue a third straight Boston Marathon win while Ethiopian Sisay Lemma will defend his title in a speedy men's field at the iconic American major.

19 Apr 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

ICE HOCKEY

ICEHOCKEY-WORLD/WOMEN (PIX)

Ice Hockey - IIHF Women's World Championships - Semi Finals - USA v CZE - Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

USA play Czech Republic in the Semi Finals of the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championships in Ceske Budejovice

19 Apr 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-WORLD/WOMEN (PIX)

Ice Hockey - IIHF Women's World Championships - Semi Finals - CAN v FIN - Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

Canada play Finland in the Semi Finals of the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championships in Ceske Budejovice

19 Apr 13:00 ET / 17:00 GMT