Soccer

DOHA, Qatar — It is one year since the most controversial World Cup in history began with a sales pitch from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. After years of criticism over the decision to award the biggest sporting event of all to Qatar, taken prior to his appointment, Infantino launched a scathing attack on what he

Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCNov 22, 2023, 06:20 AM ET Open Extended Reactions And … breathe. The prospect of Italy, the defending European champions, not qualifying for Euro 2024 — thereby going one for four in their last four attempts to reach a major tournament — was the sort of ghoulish scenario no Azzurri

Tim Vickery, South America correspondentNov 22, 2023, 12:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions RIO DE JANEIRO — History was made in the Maracana stadium on Tuesday night, when Nicolas Otamendi‘s towering header from a corner gave Argentina a 1-0 win and, in the process, inflicted Brazil‘s first-ever defeat at home in World Cup qualification. To

ESPN News Services Nov 21, 2023, 07:59 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Brazil vs. Argentina Conmebol World Cup qualifier at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday was delayed after clashes between the police and fans in the stands in Rio de Janeiro. Lionel Messi led the Argentine team to the locker room before the kickoff after

Open Extended Reactions Mudryk and Ukraine couldn’t find a way past Italy on Monday night in Germany, pushing them into the March playoffs for a spot at Euro 2024. Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images LEVERKUSEN, Germany — There was no fairy tale for Ukraine on Monday night. Qualification for Euro 2024 now rests on the unpredictability of

Cesar Hernandez Nov 20, 2023, 09:47 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The U.S. men’s national team closed out its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Trinidad and Tobago with a 2-1 away loss on Monday, which was enough to win 4-2 on aggregate and qualify for the 2024 Copa America. Held at Hasely Crawford Stadium

Italy qualified for the Euro 2024 finals after drawing 0-0 against Ukraine in their final Group C qualifier on Monday. Defending champions Italy, who will make their eighth consecutive appearance at the Euros, dominated possession and created more chances, but Ukraine remained composed in defence while seeking opportunities on the counter-attack although they could not

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 20, 2023, 11:21 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions United States women’s national team interim manager Twila Kilgore has named a 26-player roster ahead of a pair of December friendlies against China, one that omits several USWNT mainstays,

Stephanie Brantz, ESPN ColumnistNov 19, 2023, 04:00 PM ET Close Stephanie Brantz has spent the past 20 years in sports media. With a particular passion for both football and women’s sport she now brings her experience and enthusiasm to the ESPN team. Open Extended Reactions Ten nations from around the globe came together in Sydney

Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Nov 19, 2023, 04:43 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Barcelona midfielder Gavi suffered a “significant knee injury” in Spain‘s 3-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win against Georgia on Sunday, a Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] spokesperson confirmed to ESPN. Gavi, 19, will undergo tests on Monday to determine the full severity of the

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 19, 2023, 09:00 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions Oct. 10, 2017, is a day that still sends shudders through the U.S. soccer ecosystem. It was on that day that the U.S. men’s national team lost 2-1 to

France recorded their biggest-ever victory with a 14-0 rout of 10-man Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 Group B qualifier on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe grabbed a hat trick and Warren Zaire-Emery scored on his debut. The margin of victory was also a record for European Championship qualification matches. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more

Sid Lowe, Spain writerNov 18, 2023, 04:29 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Gareth Bale’s recommendation came with recrimination and regret. It also came with a grin and on the set of a comedy game show, but, as with many a joke, there was truth in his words, a hint of hurt, too. This week, during

Goals from Anthony Lozano and Bryan Rochez led Honduras to a 2-0 win against Mexico in the opener of a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series that will serve as a qualifier for next year’s Copa America. Hosted in Honduras’ Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles on Friday, the match first began with early complications for Mexico

Nov 17, 2023, 07:31 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Everton have been deducted 10 points for a breach of the Premier League‘s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for the season ending 2021-22, the league said on Friday. An independent commission imposed an immediate deduction which will see Everton drop from 14th into the relegation zone,

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 17, 2023, 05:00 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions AUSTIN, Texas — Eighty-one minutes into Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal first leg against Trinidad & Tobago, the misery index for the United States men’s national team was redlining.

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerNov 17, 2023, 08:30 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor sprinted the entire length of the field to celebrate his goal in front of Arsenal fans in 2009. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Whether it be a single raised hand or a full triple-somersault, the goal celebration in all its

Cesar Hernandez Nov 16, 2023, 11:49 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The U.S. men’s national team kicked off their two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Trinidad and Tobago with a 3-0 win in Austin, Texas. Despite having a wealth of possession in their home leg on Thursday, the USMNT at first struggled with breaking