Soccer

4:30 AM ET Sophie Lawson Sweden came third in the 2019 Women’s World Cup and second in the 2020 Olympics staged in 2021. Could a long-awaited first-place finish at Euro 2022 be next? Ayman Aref/Getty Images Sweden‘s ascension to become one of the favourites at Euro 2022 this summer has been, so it seems, a long

7:10 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign Frenkie de Jong with an initial fee now agreed with Barcelona, sources have told ESPN. United are set to pay €65 million up front for the midfielder, who is Erik ten Hag’s top summer target. – Preseason schedule: When,

1:52 PM ET Wales forward Gareth Bale has joined LAFC on a 12-month contract, with options through to 2024, after his departure from LaLiga champions Real Madrid, the Major League Soccer side announced on Monday. The 32-year-old, who signed for Spanish giants Real from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then-record transfer

10:00 AM ET What a year for women’s soccer. It’s hard to look past the achievements of Barcelona. They set the game’s attendance record, drawing 91,648 to the Camp Nou for a European tie against Wolfsburg. They won Spain’s Primera Division Femenina by winning 30 games in the 30-game season. They made it a domestic

6:30 AM ET Barcelona have unveiled their away kit for the 2022-23 season which, like the home jersey, is inspired by the 1992 Olympic Games, but they’ve taken it to the next level. 2 Related The design of the new alternate uniform also draws influence from the Summer Games staged 30 years ago, which were

5:40 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United have told Cristiano Ronaldo he is not available for transfer this summer despite the Portugal forward’s representatives assessing interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, sources have told ESPN. Ronaldo has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but sources close to

4:50 PM ET LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington says his club is ready to put Gareth Bale “in a position to succeed” following Saturday’s news that the Wales international would be joining Major League Soccer’s top team this summer as a free agent. “We’ve done our diligence as you would hopefully expect,” Thorrington

5:00 AM ET The future of Wales forward Gareth Bale has been the subject of great interest over the past few years, as his contract at Real Madrid began to wind down. But now he’s on his way to Major League Soccer… with LAFC! 2 Related The most-expensive player of all time in 2013, when

3:30 AM ET Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers to have ever played the game. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTON Clubs around Europe are deciding which players they want to bring in during the summer transfer window, but who would they pick if they could magically re-sign a former player? We went through some of the

11:53 AM ET LAFC is close to a deal to bring Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale to Major League Soccer, sources have told ESPN. The blockbuster move would be a free transfer as Bale’s contract is up with Real Madrid and is expected to be completed using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), as first

3:30 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent “A healthy dressing room is worth more than 100 hours of tactics,” the legendary Spain and Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque told El Pais in 2014. Del Bosque, who lifted the World Cup and Champions League during his career, knew a thing or two about winning. But so does

4:00 AM ET Erik ten Hag played a key role in Ralf Rangnick’s sudden exit from Manchester United — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: Why Man City are happy to lose Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus this summer. Jump to: Liverpool receive FA support | Why City are happy to lose Sterling, Jesus

4:30 AM ET Lionel Messi is celebrating his birthday on Friday as he turns 35. 2 Related Messi is also entering the final 12 months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (though the club have the option of adding another year) in what could prove to be a significant period as he starts to wind

7:00 AM ET Four players, teams and tournaments to watch for this summer, from left to right: Lieke Martens, Netherlands, the Euros; Alex Morgan, USA, CONCACAF W Championship; Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria, Africa Women Cup of Nations; Debinha, Brazil, Copa America Femenina. Illustration by ESPN Ahh, summer — ’tis the season for the beautiful game’s biggest and

9:18 AM ET The European soccer season ended in May, and there’s no major men’s international tournament on deck this summer. The NBA season just ended, and the NHL season is about to. Happily distracted by the Men’s and Women’s College World Series? The latter is over, and the former will be soon. Granted, the

12:29 PM ET Associated Press FIFA has approved bigger 26-man squads for the World Cup in Qatar, deciding Thursday to extend football’s relaxation of rules that help coaches and players during the COVID-19 pandemic. The move was expected from the FIFA Bureau — comprising the presidents of FIFA and football’s six confederations — after 23-player

6:00 AM ET Chelsea may end up spending well over £100 million on new signings this summer, with a new centre-back, full-back, midfielder and centre-forward already on coach Thomas Tuchel’s list of priority acquisitions, but the biggest problem facing the Premier League club’s new American owners cannot be solved by any kind of transfer fee.

9:44 AM ET Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Kyle Bonagura Close ESPN Staff Writer Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. This summer’s transfer window will have a slightly different flavor than those in previous years. With the