Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden was abandoned at halftime and fans were kept in the stadium for security reasons after two Swedes were shot dead in an attack in Brussels on Monday. Spectators at the King Baudouin Stadium in the Belgian capital were told to remain inside the stadium following an announcement that the […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Chaos is coming: A guide to the NWSL's first-ever 'Decision Day'
A sold-out BMO Stadium in Los Angeles will be cheering on Angel City, aiming for its first playoff appearance, against defending champion Portland. * * * * * * * * * * The NWSL is unpredictable. It’s nature chaotic. I know it. You know it. The fans know it. And, well, the players know […]
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On Liberia's community soccer fields, George Weah still a star
Osman Fofana, a 17-year-old student in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, could not contain his excitement as he walked onto a new soccer field in his slum community of Clara Town. “It’s astonishing,” he said at a recent school gathering at a sports complex supported by President George Weah‘s government. “We, the youth, pray that George Weah […]
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Rebuilt and 'gritty' Orlando Pride on the cusp of NWSL promised land
It’s March 2023. Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines is seated in front of his club’s official backdrop wearing his trademark horn-rimmed spectacles. A chair, a table, a video camera, local media and a laptop with Zoom for those that can’t be present. The NWSL season is about to begin in 24 hours. Hines is […]
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Surprise LaLiga leader Girona thriving with 'City' help
When Girona circled Saturday’s visit of Real Madrid on their calendar, they could not have imagined they would be hosting Carlo Ancelotti‘s champions at their Montilivi stadium — capacity under 15,000 — as LaLiga leaders. And yet the Catalans, promoted in 2022 and in only their fourth ever season in Spain’s top flight, have racked […]
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FC 24: Electronic Arts' hit soccer video game adds mixed-gender teams, sheds FIFA name
The blockbuster soccer video game franchise from Electronic Arts, no longer linked to FIFA, will allow mixed-gender lineups in fantasy matches that have triggered sexist pushback even before the Friday release. Early access to the game, now renamed FC 24, began last week with the novel feature of female soccer stars virtually taking to the […]
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Ajax in 'existential crisis'
Once a giant of European soccer, Ajax is now mired in one of the deepest crises in its glittering 123-year history, 14th in the league, top officials fired, and the fans running riot. “The club is in flames,” screamed a headline on the supporters’ association website, describing the scrapping of Sunday’s ‘Klassieker’ against bitter rival […]
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The fitting long goodbye to the unique Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe celebrates her first goal for the USA, during a 10-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in which she scored twice, in Carson, California on Oct. 1, 2006. * * * * * * * * * * Megan Rapinoe is hanging up her cleats. But she’s not gone for good. Not quite yet. The […]
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Ligue 1: Adi Hutter has 'lofty ambitions' with leader Monaco
New Monaco coach Adi Hutter says he has lofty ambitions with the French club after a blistering start to their Ligue 1 campaign. Monaco, the only team with three wins after four games, visit Lorient on Sunday to stay top of Ligue 1 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain (which lost to Nice at home 3-2) and […]
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Spain's World Cup champions rule out Nations League call-ups
Almost all of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad said Friday that the recent changes by the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) did not go far enough for them to return to the national team. The statement came as the team’s new coach, Montse Tome, was poised to announce the lineup for two upcoming international matches, in the new […]