Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist Last month, after U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino summoned a squad half-filled with MLS players for 2026 World Cup tuneups versus Japan and South Korea, he suggested that his next two rosters would feature more of the European-based regulars. Pochettino made good on his word on Thursday, recalling Juventus’…
Sergio Busquets was a maestro in midfield, the one who recovered the ball, started attacks and delivered that key pass for superstar teammates like Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta to turn into goals in Barcelona’s heyday. The 37-year-old Spanish world champion will soon end his hugely successful career, retiring from soccer at the end of…
In partnership with GOAL.com. The long-rumored clash between World Cup champions Argentina and Mexico is now set, according to AFA president Claudio Tapia. Tapia said in an interview that the teams will meet in early June, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, with Javier Aguirre’s El Tri playing their first match of…
Is it even a World Cup without a mascot? Well, how about three? With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being the biggest edition (48 teams) of the marquee soccer extravaganza, we’ll also have a plethora of mascots for next summer’s edition. [WORLD CUP 2026: WHICH TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?] Three co-hosts. Three distinct mascots. Each of these…
Lionel Messi had two goals and an assist to reach 37 goal contributions this season and Inter Miami clinched a playoff spot with a 4-0 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday night. Miam (16-6-7), which won its third straight game, extended its league-leading goal total to 64 this season. Five of Miami’s last…
Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist U.S. men’s team manager Mauricio Pochettino learned plenty about his team during two games earlier this month (a 2-0 loss to South Korea and a 2-0 win over Japan). He even experimented with a three-man defensive line, a potentially intriguing wrinkle moving forward. There’s also still an awful long way…
Guillermo Ochoa’s AEL Limassol debut ended in disaster, as the Mexican goalkeeper conceded five goals in a heavy 5-0 loss to Omonia on Monday. The setback capped a turbulent summer in which Ochoa served as a Gold Cup backup and saw a move to Spanish side Burgos collapse before landing in Cyprus to chase regular…
Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmatí received the women’s award for a third successive year on Monday. Dembélé succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim…
Lionel Messi had a first-half assist before scoring two goals in the second half to take over the league lead and propel Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night. Messi scored the go-ahead goal in the 66th minute before adding some insurance in the 85th. He has 22 goals this…
Lionel Messi went to watch some soccer on Friday. He didn’t say a word about his own future. The Inter Miami star — who is closing in on a contract extension that will keep him with his Major League Soccer club through at least the 2026 season and likely beyond — showed up to watch…
