Soccer

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Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Uruguay at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Lionel Messi draws Brazilian fans to what could be the Argentine great’s last match in Rio

By Mauricio Savarese - Associated Press

Security forces clash with Bulgarian fans outside the empty Vasil Levski National Stadium prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 Group G qualifying soccer match between Bulgaria and Hungary in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Violent protests break out ahead of Bulgaria-Hungary soccer qualifier

Associated Press

Workers walk to the Lusail Stadium, one of the 2022 World Cup stadiums, in Lusail, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. One year after Qatar hosted the men’s World Cup, the gas-rich emirate and soccer body FIFA have been urged by human rights group Amnesty International on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, to do more for migrant workers. The workers' labor in mostly searing heat was essential to prepare stadiums, transport routes and hotels for the month-long tournament. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

One year on from World Cup, Qatar and FIFA urged by rights group to do more for migrant workers

Associated Press

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe speaks during a news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. When World Cup qualifying starts in Africa on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, Morocco will be a hub of soccer action a year after the national team's historic run to becoming the continent’s first semifinalist. Seven teams will play “home” games in Morocco over the next week, but Africa’s standout team will not be among them. Morocco’s first home game in qualifying for the 2026 tournament is in June. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

World Cup qualifying in Africa starts with 7 teams at ‘home’ in Morocco during stadium upgrade push

By Graham Dunbar - Associated Press

OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe, right, stays down after an injury as teammates midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) and midfielder Jess Fishlock, center, check on her during the first half of the NWSL Championship soccer game against NJ/NY Gotham, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe says her injury in championship game proves there is no God

By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times

Referee Michael Oliver shows a red card to Tottenham's Cristian Romero during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Premier League’s slow slide into video review chaos is far removed from FIFA vision for VAR in 2016

By Graham Dunbar - Associated Press

Brazil's Richarlison, right, is challenged by Venezuela's Jhon Chancellor during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Arena Pantanal stadium in Cuiaba, Brazil, Thursday, Oct.12, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

England and Brazil to face off in friendly at Wembley in March

Associated Press

Spanish football president Luis Rubiales grimaces during a press conference at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, Wednesday, June 13, 2018. FIFA has banned ousted former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales from the sport for three years. He was judged for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final where he forcibly kissed a player on the lips at the trophy ceremony. FIFA did not publish details of the verdict reached by its disciplinary committee judges. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Spanish soccer official who kissed unwilling star player is banned for three years

By Graham Dunbar - Associated Press

The screen with information that the French League One soccer match between Olympique de Marseille and Lyon is cancelled, at the Velodrome Stadium, in Marseille, France, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

French government says 9 people detained after violent attack on Lyon soccer team buses

Associated Press

In this photo provided by the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, children play with a soccer ball in Majuro, Marshall Islands, on Aug. 3, 2023. The Marshall Islands has no soccer team, and is often referred to as the "last country on Earth" without international representation in the sport. (Chewy Lin/Marshall Islands Soccer Federation via AP)

Coach hired, team still required: Soccer’s status in the Marshall Islands is a work in progress

By Dennis Passa - Associated Press

Argentina's Lionel Messi gestures during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Paraguay at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Messi’s 1st year with Inter Miami brings a trophy and shows what can happen in Year 2

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press

Newcastle's Sandro Tonali looks on during the Champions League match between AC Milan and Newcastle, at San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sept. 19, 2023. Premier League players Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo were sent back to their clubs from Italy’s training camp on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 after being notified by police of involvement in a betting investigation. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Newcastle’s Tonali banned for 10 months from soccer for betting violations, will miss Euro 2024

Associated Press

Switzerland's Seraina Piubel, right, and Spain's Oihane Hernandez fight for the ball during the women's Nations League group D soccer match between Spain and Switzerland at the Nuevo Arcangel stadium in Cordoba, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Spain’s women’s players want to focus on soccer again as Hermoso rejoins national team

By Tales Azzoni - Associated Press

Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli controls the ball during the 'Berlusconi trophy' soccer match between Monza and Juventus in Monza, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, July 31, 2021. A Lawyer for Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli acknowledged Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, that the player is being investigated by prosecutors in Turin for betting online via unauthorized websites. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

Banned Fagioli apologizes for ‘naive’ betting error, Newcastle giving ‘full support’ to Tonali

Associated Press

Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli controls the ball during the 'Berlusconi trophy' soccer match between Monza and Juventus in Monza, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, July 31, 2021. A Lawyer for Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli acknowledged Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, that the player is being investigated by prosecutors in Turin for betting online via unauthorized websites. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli gets seven-month ban from soccer for betting violations

By Daniella Matar - Associated Press

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, center, shows the name of Italy and Turkey elected to host the Euro 2032 football tournament with Gabriele Gravina, President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), left, and Mehmet Buyukeksi, President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), right, during the the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony after the UEFA Executive Committee, at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, Tuesday, October 10, 2023. UEFA has decided the future of soccer’s European Championship for the next decade. The United Kingdom and Ireland will host in 2028 and an unusual Italy-Turkey co-hosting plan was picked for 2032. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

UEFA picks U.K.-Ireland to host soccer’s 2028 European Championship. Italy-Turkey to stage Euro 2032

By Graham Dunbar - Associated Press

Carolina Panthers offensive guard Greg Van Roten slides while trying to tackle Atlanta Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen after an interception during an NFL football game on Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. When Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury just a few plays into his first season with the New York Jets, it reignited calls from NFL players to have all the stadiums in which they play use natural grass fields for their safety. In major college football, the players don’t have a union behind them to voice concerns. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes, File)

Grass vs. turf debated in sports. What does the science say?

By Carla K. Johnson - Associated Press

Paulinho of Brazil´s Atletico Mineiro gives thanks after scoring during the Brasileirao championship soccer match against Botafogo at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Paulinho has become a powerful voice for the often-marginalized practitioners of the Candomble religion. (AP Photos/Thomas Santos)

Soccer player Paulinho won’t let intolerance of his Afro-Brazilian religion stop his faith

By Mauricio Savarese - Associated Press

Spain's women's national soccer team during a training session in Gothenburg, Sweden, ahead of the UEFA Nations League soccer match against Sweden, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency via AP)

Spain removes word ‘women’ from national soccer team name to show ‘conceptual shift’

By James Robson - Associated Press

OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe (15) celebrates her goal by penalty kick with defender Lauren Barnes (3) during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against Angel City FC, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Megan Rapinoe’s legacy with U.S. team is bigger than soccer

By Anne M. Peterson - Associated Press