The World Cup

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FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, a Pantsir antiaircraft missile system, left, stands on guard of the air space above Saint Petersburg stadium which will host some 2018 World Cup matches in St.Petersburg, Russia. A year after hosting the World Cup, Russia is boasting the biggest club soccer crowds since Soviet days and participation at the amateur level is on the rise. Still, there are signs of trouble for the sport. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)

A year after World Cup, Russia toasts big soccer crowds

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH - Associated Press

Thailand's Orathai Srimanee congratulates United States' Megan Rapinoe, left, after their Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between the United States and Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. The US defeated Thailand 13-0.(AP Photo/Francois Mori) **FILE**

U.S. rout of Thailand exposes gap in World Cup field

By Anne M. Peterson - Associated Press

In this Tuesday, May 28, 2019, photo, Spain's women national soccer team train in Las Rozas, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain. Spain’s women players are hoping that a strong performance at the World Cup this month will give their sport a boost just at the moment when they are fighting for their basic rights as professional athletes. Women’s soccer has experienced massive growth since the 2015 World Cup. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Fighting for rights, Spain women aim for landmark tournament

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

In this Sunday, May 26, 2019, file photo, fans hold up a banner in support of the United States women's national team before they compete in the Women's World Cup during an international friendly soccer match between the United States and Mexico in Harrison, N.J. The World Cup is not just about soccer for many of the players and teams in France. For the defending champion U.S. women’s team, that means focus on the fight for equal pay to the men’s national team.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File) **FILE**

Women’s World Cup becomes platform for social change

By Anne M. Peterson - Associated Press

The Women's soccer World Cup trophy is on display during its presentation in a Paris school, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. When FIFA released its global strategy for women’s soccer last year, it was met by some skepticism. But soccer’s governing body is making some strides in implementing the long-range plan, against a backdrop of this summer’s World Cup in France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Bareman: FIFA takes positive steps in women’s game strategy

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

In this photo Sept. 20, 2018, file photo, North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley is interviewed by a reporter next to the trophy for the National Women's Soccer League championship during a media event at Nike in Beaverton, Ore. The National Women’s Soccer League opens its seventh season this weekend with lingering some questions about the overall health of the league but the encouraging possibility of a World Cup “bump.” (AP Photo/Anne M. Peterson, File)

NWSL’s 7th season opens, looks for bump in World Cup year

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

U.S. midfielder Samantha Mewis, center, celebrates her goal with forward Carli Lloyd, second from left, against Belgium during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Lloyd gets 2 goals in US’ 6-0 exhibition rout of Belgium

By GREG BEACHAM - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2017, file photo, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stops a shot against Japan during the first half of a Tournament of Nations soccer match, in Carson, Calif. Naeher recalls that as a freshman in college a teammate told her she couldn't afford to be intimidated. The U.S. national team goalkeeper carries that advice as she prepares for the World Cup. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Naeher sets sights on World Cup with her usual calm

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

Germany's Nico Schulz, fourth from left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the Euro 2020 group C qualifying soccer match between Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, Sunday, March 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

World Cup role reversal as Germany wins, Croatia struggles

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2019, file photo, United States' Megan Rapinoe reacts after scoring goal during the first half of SheBelieves Cup soccer match against the Japan in Chester, Pa. Just a bit of fine tuning and Rapinoe will be ready for the World Cup. While she’s physically fine at this point, Rapinoe said she isn’t as “sharp” as she’d like to be. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

Megan Rapinoe looks toward NWSL season, World Cup

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

Nikitina, implicated in Sochi, wins World Cup skeleton title

Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 13, 2018 file photo, Spanish football president Luis Rubiales gestures during a press conference at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Krasnodar, Russia. It probably wasn’t a good sign when one of the first actions taken by Luis Rubiales, the newly elected president of the Spanish soccer federation, was to fire the national team’s coach a day before the World Cup. At the time, his counterpart in the Spanish league, Javier Tebas, was already known for his unshakable determination to get things done his way. With two strong-minded men holding the most powerful positions in Spanish soccer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a power feud has emerged. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Power feud: Spain’s top soccer officials at odds

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, March 19, 2016 file photo, England's Anthony Watson, right, evades France's Wesley Fofana during their Six Nations international rugby match at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. France center Wesley Fofana will retire from international rugby after the World Cup later this year, it was announced Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. A powerful, fast center with good hands, the 31-year-old Fofana made his international debut against Italy seven years ago and scored 15 tries in 45 test appearances. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file)

France back Fofana retiring from tests after Rugby World Cup

Associated Press

Nigeria Women female soccer team players celebrates with the trophy after winning against Bayana Bayana of South Africa, at the end of the women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Accra, Ghana, Saturday Dec. 1, 2018. Nigeria won its 11th title in 13 editions of the Women's African Cup of Nations by beating South Africa in a penalty shootout in the final on Saturday. The game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes and although Nigeria missed its first penalty kick in the shootout, when Onome Ebi hit the post, South Africa missed twice and the Nigerians prevailed 4-3. (AP Photo/Alade Omowunmi )

No secret to building women’s soccer in Africa: Play more

By GERALD IMRAY - Associated Press

In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018 picture men perform modernization work on the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Eight stadiums scattered in a 30-mile radius that will host 32 teams from across the planet are in various stages of development, most of them trying to walk the treacherous line of paying homage to the region's history while simultaneously avoiding becoming an expensive and unused relic once the party ends and everyone else goes home. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Qatar’s evolution a work in progress as 2022 World Cup nears

By WILL GRAVES - Associated Press

New Zealand's Beauden Barrett, left, and New Zealand's Anton Lienert-Brown celebrate at the end of the rugby union international match between Italy and New Zealand at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. The All Blacks bounced back from their disappointing defeat to Ireland with a 66-3 victory against Italy on Saturday, but it was a far from convincing performance from the world champions. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

All Blacks coaches confident 1 year out from World Cup

By STEVE McMORRAN - Associated Press

Abraham Ancer of Mexico kisses his trophy after winning the Australian Open Golf tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

World Cup: Ancer seems to have the answer in Australia

By DENNIS PASSA - Associated Press

Brazil's Neymar scores a penalty during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and Uruguay at the Emirates Stadium, London, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Neymar scores from spot as Brazil beats Uruguay 1-0

By PAN PYLAS - Associated Press

Teammates celebrate after United States midfielder Julie Ertz (facing camera) scored a goal during the first half of a CONCACAF women's World Cup qualifying tournament soccer match in Frisco, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Jacobsohn)

U.S. headed to Women’s World Cup with win over Jamaica

By Anne M. Peterson - Associated Press

Manchester United's Paul Pogba goes off the pitch after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Man Utd won the game 3-2. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Paul Pogba back to friendly environment with France

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN - Associated Press