World Soccer

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We’re coming up to the tenth anniversary of one of the maddest decisions in Liverpool’s history. I’ll never forget being in the Bernabeu, looking at the Real Madrid versus Liverpool teamsheet and sharing the widespread shock that Brendan Rodgers had

Football has reached a television saturation point. The only person who doesn’t seem to have appreciated the fact is the president of FIFA. Gianni Infantino was enraged when he had to bang the table to inveigle reluctant European channels into stumpi

“Ciao Toto” read the banners at every stadium from Rome to Milan to Naples in the days after Salvatore Schillaci passed away too soon at the age of 59. The Golden Boot winner at the 1990 World Cup wasn’t just an idol in his native Sicily; he was ador

When Mauricio Pochettino was appointed manager of the USA, he joined a growing tradition. In recent years, football coaches have become one of Argentina’s great exports. With the former Chelsea man’s appointment, there are now ten Argentinian head co

Cumulative votes through the season David Raya (Arsenal) 3 Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus) 2 Alisson (Liverpool) 1 Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig) 1 Franco Israel (Sporting) 1 Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino) 1 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) 1 Yann Sommer (Int

One semi-final of the Copa Libertadores is a meeting of recent competition heavyweights. Winners in 2013, Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro put in a strong challenge in each of the previous three seasons, while Argentina’s River Plate were the last non-Brazi

Since a deserved triumph at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria have been battling to grasp the new dawn that their success hinted at. An increasing pool of players from the diaspora in France promised to be the mainstay of continued success unde

Roma took the Italian football world, including many of their own fans, by surprise when they sacked their coach and much loved club icon Daniele De Rossi in mid-September, just four games into the new Serie A season. In theory, 41-year-old De Rossi

Amid a civil conflict that has been described as the most brutal war in decades, Sudanese football is fighting hard to not only keep going but also achieve against all odds. The brutal war that broke out in mid-April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the

In the Three Lions pub on South Bristol’s West Street, there is no place for decorative subtlety. To glance around the room is to be affronted by a bright and bursting exhibition of Bristol City fan culture. Wallpaper is made entirely from historic n

For any pro footballer, the unconditional backing of his team-mates is a priceless asset. Just ask young Athletic Club and Spain winger Nico Williams, who after his dazzling contribution to La Roja’s recent triumph at Euro 2024 – notably his goalscor

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What are your ambitions for the club in their first season in the A-League? “Auckland is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and we want to create a team that the city can be really proud of, one that’s deeply connected to Auckland. We

Usually by this stage of World Cup qualification, Indonesia are playing friendlies and planning for the next Southeast Asian Championship, a biennial big deal in the football-loving region of 650 million. This time, though, the Merah Putih (Red and W

More than a year after the Saudi Pro League (SPL) became the talk of the football world for a summer spending spree of nearly £800 million, CEO Omar Mugharbel believes that the journey to be one of the top leagues in the world is very much on track.

After retiring from football, you initially had no intention of becoming a coach or a manager. Why did that change? I couldn’t understand where my reward was as a coach. You don’t get the thrills you do as a player. But then a friend of mine, Harry K

Semi-finalists in four of the last five seasons, Paris Saint-Germain were the shock losers in Champions League qualifying as they were beaten home and away by Juventus – not the start that England goalkeeper Mary Earps, their new star signing, was ho

South America 74 76 Canada 84 Australia 80 United States 82 Caribbean & Basque Country 86 88 Africa 78

After a four-year gap, the return of the Basque Country’s representative team earlier this year looks set to be regular with the Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea (EFF) looking for more international matches. Like Catalonia, the Basque Country has fielde

Norwegian second-tier outfit Bryne are best-known to most European football aficionados for being Erling Haaland’s hometown club, but they are now attracting attention on social media for a different reason. In a nod to their agricultural roots, Bryn

Austria v West Germany 1978 World Cup, Cordoba Austria’s meeting with their neighbours in Argentina was not only an historic victory, it also proved to be the prequel to one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history. Austrian goal-getter