Sports briefs

Friday, June 27, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

World Cup likely to stay 32 teams

The plan to expand the 2006 World Cup by four teams to 36 most likely will be rejected by FIFA's executive committee, which instead could grant South America a chance for a fifth berth.

South America's governing body proposed the expansion because it was angry at being cut from five teams to four. It contends an expansion would give more continents better representation.

FIFA's executive committee gave tentative approval last month and told South America to develop a workable format. The committee meets Saturday to decide.

Neuheisel makes case

Suspended Washington coach Rick Neuheisel and his lawyers met Thursday with athletic director Barbara Hedges, making their case that Neuheisel should keep his job. They argued that Neuheisel committed no major NCAA rules violations by participating in neighborhood gambling pools on the past two NCAA men's basketball tournaments.

Cancer survivor leads

Darron Stiles, who needed bone graft to repair a jaw damaged by a cancerous tumor found in 1989, shot a career-low 7-under-par 64 Thursday that gave him a share of a one-stroke lead with 49-year-old Jay Haas and tour rookie Richard S. Johnson in the suspended first round of the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

Capitals re-sign 2

The Washington Capitals picked up the option year on the contracts of right winger Peter Bondra and center Jeff Halpern. Bondra, the club's all-time leading scorer, will enter the third year of a four-year, $18 million contract. Halpern made $1 million each of the past two seasons, and his option year is worth $1.45 million.

Tyson defendant free

One of two men charged in a street brawl with Mike Tyson was released from jail Thursday after Tyson's attorneys failed to produce a sworn statement from the former heavyweight champion. Samuel Velez, 31, of Reading, Pa., had been held on $2,000 bail after being charged with misdemeanor menacing and harassment following the fight with Tyson last week outside a Brooklyn hotel.