The World Cup

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FILE - In this Sept.7, 2015 file photo, France's Mathieu Debuchy, controls the ball during a friendly soccer match France against Serbia in Bordeaux, western France. In many ways, Saint-Etienne's actual good run of form is down to the resurgence of Mathieu Debuchy, who has made an impressive return to the French league. With less than four months before the World Cup in Russia, the former Arsenal player has a decent chance to earn a France recall. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Debuchy pushing for France recall and World Cup selection

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN - Associated Press

$FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Neymar attends a training session in preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifying match, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Neymar will have surgery on a fractured toe in his right foot and could be out for up to three months, an estimate that would take the Brazil striker right up to the World Cup. Neymar was injured Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 in Paris Saint-Germain's match against Marseille in the French league. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)$

Neymar could be out for up to 3 months with toe injury

Associated Press

A games mascot stands alone in a deserted finish area after the men's downhill was postponed due to high winds at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Jeongseon, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

The Latest: NBC apologizes for analyst comment about Japan

Associated Press

Ireland says it will host US in soccer exhibition on June 2

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, right, meets with Spain's Sports Minister Ínigo Mendez de Vigo, in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. A FIFA delegation led by Samoura has met with Spanish officials on Monday to discuss concerns about government meddling in the local soccer federation. A suspension of the Spanish federation could potentially lead to the national team's exclusion from the upcoming World Cup in Russia. (AP Photo/Paul White)

FIFA meets with Spanish officials to discuss govt. meddling

Associated Press

Cahill to play for Millwall to help prepare for World Cup

Associated Press

United States midfielder Gyasi Zardes, bottom, falls to the ground after he was pushed by Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Daniel Graovac during the first half of an international friendly soccer match on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Opara, Polster, Steffen make US debuts in 0-0 tie vs Bosnia

By DAN GREENSPAN - Associated Press

Brazil coach rejects trip to capital to avoid politicians

By MAURICIO SAVARESE - Associated Press

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 file photo, Tottenham' Hotspurs Son Heung-min, left, and Dortmund's Marc Bartra challenge for the ball during the soccer Champions League group H match between Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur in Dortmund, Germany. Son Heung-min is in the form of his life at Tottenham at the start of a year when he will carry South Korea’s hopes at the World Cup and the Asian Games. There’s a growing appreciation of the South Korean’s artistry and end product that is establishing him as one of the best forwards in England. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Son rising to celebrated status in Premier League

By STEVE DOUGLAS - Associated Press

Russia defender Dzhikiya tears ACL, World Cup in doubt

Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 file photo, Portugal players including Pepe, center left, argue with referee Joseph Lamptey during their international friendly soccer match against Gabon in Libreville, Gabon. A FIFA investigation linked a referee accused of match-fixing a World Cup qualifier in 2016 to “numerous publicly documented scandals” in the previous six years. FIFA investigators said Joseph Lamptey of Ghana had “a history of being suspended for poor performances” before being banned for life and typically awarded more penalties than other African referees of his grade. Portugal’s 2-2 draw in Gabon in a 2012 friendly, which included three penalties scored, was among six games identified as suspicious that Lamptey handled before the game that ended his career. (AP Photo/Joel Bouopda Tatou, file)

Column: A World Cup fix & flaws in referee integrity checks

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

England to play Nigeria, Costa Rica in World Cup warm-ups

Associated Press

A view of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system pitchside, which will be used for the English FA Cup, Third Round soccer match at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton, England between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, Monday Jan. 8, 2018. (Gareth Fuller, PA via AP)

Soccer lawmaker says issue with ‘overzealous’ video referees

Associated Press

FILE - A Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 file photo showing PSG's Neymar, right, challenging for the ball with Marseille's Hiroki Sakai, left, and Marseille's Florian Thauvin, during the League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille. The biggest statement came from PSG which more than doubled the previous transfer record by splurging 222 million euros on Neymar _ an unexpected windfall for Barcelona but a deal that solidified the power shifts. (AP Photo/Claude Paris, File)

Soccer’s big clash of nations not only at World Cup in 2018

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec.13, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Flamengo Lucas Paqueta celebrates after scoring against Argentina's Independiente during the Copa Sudamericana final championship soccer match at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 20-year-old Flamengo midfielder has caught the eye of foreign clubs after the team's runner-up campaign in the Copa Sudamericana, South America's second most prestigious tournament. Paqueta is fast, skilled and hardworking. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)

Young South American footballers eye January transfer window

By MAURICIO SAVARESE - Associated Press

Former president of Spain's soccer federation Angel Maria Villar speaks during a press conference in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. The suspended president of the Spanish football federation under investigation for corruption has warned that FIFA could leave Spain out of the World Cup due to alleged meddling by Spain's government in the federation's affairs. Angel Maria Villar said that the &quot;risk is serious&quot; of FIFA suspending the Spanish federation for having removed him from office. Villar and three other soccer officials were arrested in July on suspicion of corruption. (AP Photo/Paul White)

Suspended Villar says Spain in danger of missing World Cup

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

France planning exhibition against US before World Cup

Associated Press

Australia sets February deadline for hiring Socceroos coach

Associated Press

World Cup of Golf returning to Australia’s Sandbelt in 2018

Associated Press

A girl poses for a photo in front of a clock counting down to the first match of the 2018 World Cup, which is installed on Manezh Square, outside the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. The Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)

The Latest: Lack of blockbuster opener won’t harm World Cup

Associated Press