Among the most inspiring of soccer tales concerns American Samoa’s rise, so to speak, a dozen years ago when its national team, guided by Thomas Rongen, put behind it that record 31-goal travesty a decade earlier against Australia — and that dead-last position in FIFA’s rankings — by beating Tonga in a World Cup qualifier, […]
international
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Concacaf Nations League: Honduras stuns Mexico
• Honduras got goals from Anthony Lozano and Bryan Rochez and earned a fully deserved 2-0 win over Mexico in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series, which also serves as qualiying for the 2024 Copa America. Mexico goalkeeper and captain Guillermo Ochoa was injured and forced to leave the game in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Pogba, potions and impotence: the secret world of witch doctors in France
“There’s a lot of jealousy in football,” said Sheikh Issa, holding up a piece of bark and a bottle of a yellowish potion. Which is why many professional players beat a path to the African faith healer in the Paris suburbs looking for ways to ward off the “evil eye” and other afflictions. Since World […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
World Cup 2026 qualifying: Uruguay stuns Argentina
Uruguay ended Argentina’s 14-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory over the world champions in World Cup 2026 qualifiers on Thursday. Defender Ronald Araujo fired Uruguay ahead on 41 minutes before Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez made the game safe with an 87th-minute goal on the counterattack to settle a hard-fought clash at the Bombonera Stadium […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
UEFA Women's Champions League Preview: Barcelona refining perfection, Horan's back, no Macario
Barcelona kicks off its UEFA Women’s Champions League title defense this week, aiming to become only the fourth team to win the competition in consecutive years. Favorite Led by 2023 Ballon d’Or holder Aitana Bonmati and two-time winner Alexia Putellas (photo), as well as other World Cup conquering stars, Barcelona is tasked with refining perfection. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
What They're Saying: Luis Enrique
“I am not very happy with Kylian today. Why? Because managers are so strange. About goals, I have nothing to say, I have no complaints. But I think he can help the team a lot in a different way because he’s so important. I am going to tell him first, and after that I will […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Bundesliga: Unbeaten Bayern and Leverkusen leave rivals behind
Bayern Munich faces promoted Heidenheim, which has on Saturday the unenviable task of trying to stop the momentum of the side already vying with Bayer Leverkusen for this season’s Bundesliga title. Bayern and a skillful Bayer Leverkusen team coached by former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso head into the weekend as the only […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
The lesson behind David Beckham's long-range goal
We’ve all found ourselves confounded by this sofa-based dilemma. You’re flicking through the channels and the streaming services with your partner, and you can’t agree on something that you’d both really like to watch. Another breathless hospital drama filled with IV feeds, blinking heart monitors, improbably handsome doctors, and beds on wheels pounding down a […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Jude Bellingham wins Clasico for Real Madrid at Barcelona: 'It was my turn to make an impression'
Jude Bellingham‘s stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first LaLiga Clasico on Saturday. The England international, who has started his Madrid career in remarkable goalscoring form, unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance after Ilkay Gundogan had sent hosts Barcelona ahead at the Olympic Stadium. Bellingham […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Belgium-Sweden: Euro qualifier in Brussels abandoned after terrorist shooting
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 […]