Most Recent
Roberto Mancini out as coach of Saudi Arabia's national team
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 11:57 a.m. | Save Story
exiting the tournament in the round of 16. Mancini had been hired by Saudi Arabia in August 2023.
Miami's Lionel Messi earned more than 22 other MLS teams' payrolls in 2024
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 11:00 a.m. | Save Story
Lionel Messi earned more than the entire payrolls of 22 other Major League Soccer teams, and Olivier Giroud has a $3,675,000 in annualized total compensation under the contract he signed to join Los Angeles FC in July. The Major League Soccer Players Association released its salary update and Messi's $12 million base salary and $20,446,667 in total compensation from Inter Miami remained the same as in the initial listing in May. Miami, the league's regular season Supporters Shield champion. led the league with a record $41.7 million payroll,
Bologna-AC Milan soccer match postponed following extensive flooding
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 10:56 a.m. | Save Story
AC Milan's weekend match at Bologna in Italy's top soccer league has been postponed. Bologna officials made the announcement following extensive flooding in the central Italian city. The Serie A match had been scheduled for Saturday. Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region that has been hard hit by torrential rains and bad weather for days. The game was not immediately rescheduled.
UK government proposes more powers for soccer regulator to combat rogue owners and a Super League
James Robson, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 24 - 10:36 a.m. | Save Story
The U.K. government has introduced strengthened powers for a proposed soccer regulator to tackle "rogue owners and directors" and prevent a repeat attempt to form a breakaway "super league." An updated Football Governance Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on Thursday. It will "explicitly require clubs to provide effective engagement" with their supporters on changes to ticket prices or plans to relocate stadium. The bill is intended to ensure the financial stability of elite men's soccer in England to avoid community and cultural assets folding, as was seen in recent collapses of lower league clubs Bury and Macclesfield.
Spanish league working with FIFA to take Barcelona-Atletico Madrid game to Miami
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 8:29 a.m. | Save Story
The Spanish league is trying to get approval to play a match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Miami in December. The league says its U.S. partner Relevent Sports is working with FIFA to make sure the league is cleared to host the match outside of Spain. The league first tried to play a regular season match in the United States about five years ago but its plans at the time were scrapped after opposition by Spain's soccer federation and the players' union. Staging the match abroad is part of the league's goal of promoting soccer and its brand in other countries.
Denmark hires Riemer as permanent coach following departure of Hjulmand after Euro 2024
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 4:23 a.m. | Save Story
Denmark has hired Brian Riemer as coach after finally settling on a permanent replacement for Kasper Hjulmand following his departure after the European Championship. The 46-year-old Riemer was recently in charge at Belgian club Anderlecht. He has been handed a contract until the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Hjulmand stepped down after Euro 2024 where Denmark drew its three group games before losing to Germany in the round of 16. Since then, former Denmark international Morten Wieghorst was placed in interim charge until next year before going on sick leave with minor stress symptoms. Augsburg assistant coach Lars Knudsen then briefly took temporary control of the team.
France interior minister urges stopping soccer matches when homophobic chants start
Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 4:20 a.m. | Save Story
France's interior minister says he wants soccer matches to be brought to a halt when homophobic chants are belted out by fans in stadiums. Bruno Retailleau was speaking to France Inter Radio on Thursday. He says they have identified two individuals who were suspected of starting the homophobic chants among Paris Saint-Germain fans during a home game against Strasbourg last week. Retailleau says, "They should be severely punished. We can no longer put up with homophobic chanting." Homophobic chants are often heard at French league matches but have been tolerated for a long time by club officials, and soccer authorities have struggled to find appropriate ways of tackling the issue.
Vancouver's Ryan Gauld becomes the 3rd player with 4 goal contributions in an MLS playoff game
The Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 10:52 p.m. | Save Story
Ryan Gauld had a hat trick and added an assist to become the third player in league history with four goal contributions in an MLS playoff game, and the Vancouver Whitecaps knocked off the Portland Timbers 5-0. Vancouver matched the largest margin of victory in a postseason match in club history, joining a 5-0 victory against San Jose in 2017. The Whitecaps advance to a best-of-three series against top-seeded Los Angeles FC. Vancouver scored three goals in 11 minutes in the first half to take control. It was the most goals Vancouver scored in a game all season.
Brazil's Botafogo nears 1st Copa Libertadores final after 5-0 rout of Uruguay's Penarol
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 9:01 p.m. | Save Story
Brazil's Botafogo beat Uruguay's Penarol 5-0 to edge closer to its first Copa Libertadores final. The result makes it even more likely for another all-Brazilian final in South America's flagship club soccer tournament. Owned by American businessman John Textor, Botafogo scored all its goals in the first leg of its semifinal in the second half Wednesday. On Tuesday, Atletico Mineiro beat Argentina's River Plate 3-0 in the first leg of their semifinal. The Brazilian club won the Copa Libertadores title in 2013. Brazilian teams have won the tournament for the past five years, and played a home affair for the title for the latest four editions of the tournament.
'Freak' Haaland scores outrageous goal for Man City in the Champions League
James Robson, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 6:29 p.m. | Save Story
Erling Haaland scored an outrageous backheel volley in Manchester City's Champions League match against Sparta Prague. The Norway striker acrobatically converted from close rage after leaping in the air and flicking past Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl at the Etihad Stadium. That was Haaland's 12th goal in as many games this season and put City 2-0 ahead in the match. "He's a freak isn't he?" Haaland's City teammate Phil Foden said. Haaland later scored a second goal. Haaland is nominated for the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world, when he will challenge Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and City teammate Rodri for the prestigious honor. City set a new Champions League record of 26 games unbeaten.
Atletico struggles to understand penalty call after losing to Lille in Champions League game
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 4:34 p.m. | Save Story
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and his players struggled to understand the penalty call that went against them in a 3-1 home loss to Lille in the Champions League. The penalty was converted Wednesday by Jonathan David in the 74th minute to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Lille went on to win 3-1 at the Metropolitano stadium. The call came after a loose ball inside the area, with Atletico players saying that Italian referee Marco Guida made the decision after seeing a handball by midfielder Koke Resurrección. Replays did not appear to show any touch by Koke's hands or arms on the ball. It took several moments for the call to be confirmed. Simeone insisted "It wasn't a penalty."
Raphinha steals the show with a hat trick in Barcelona's statement win over Bayern
The Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 4:33 p.m. | Save Story
Barcelona's game against Bayern Munich was billed as a duel between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Then Raphinha stole the show and left to a standing ovation. Kane and Lewandowski both scored, but the Brazilian winger's hat trick for Barcelona outshone both of the famed strikers in Barcelona's 4-1 statement win in the Champions League. The loss throws Bayern's season under new coach Vincent Kompany into turmoil and reopens questions about the team's fragility in defense.
Xabi Alonso shows Leverkusen's depth with 8 changes in 1-1 draw with Brest
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 4:18 p.m. | Save Story
Xabi Alonso suggested Bayer Leverkusen's 1-1 draw with Brest in the Champions League was a sign of the team's strength in depth after staying unbeaten despite making eight changes to the lineup. Leverkusen missed a chance to make it three wins from three games in the Champions League in a game where it seemed Alonso was trying to balance the team's European ambitions with the defense of the Bundesliga title it won for the first time last season. Alonso may have to make do without Amine Adli after the Moroccan attacking midfielder went off hurt following a heavy tackle from Brest's Soumaïla Coulibaly.
Slot machine: Liverpool makes record-setting start to season under Dutchman after win at Leipzig
The Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 4:17 p.m. | Save Story
Liverpool's relentless start to the season under new manager Arne Slot is seeing the team pump out record after record. The scene of its latest win felt poignant. Liverpool ground out a 1-0 victory in the Champions League at Leipzig. That is one of the clubs that Jurgen Klopp, who recently left the Reds after nearly nine years as its popular manager, will soon be overseeing in his new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull. Few can have imagined that Slot would escape Klopp's shadow at Liverpool this quickly. Liverpool has won the opening six away games of a season for the first time, is top of the Premier League and has three straight wins in the Champions League
Atletico raises awareness of fans with disabilities at Champions League game
Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 4:12 p.m. | Save Story
Atletico Madrid has raised awareness about inclusion with activities for fans with disabilities in its Champions League match against Lille. The club and its partners were looking to host "the most inclusive Champions League match of all time" and break the record of 1,740 fans with disabilities set by Real Betis against Valladolid in the Spanish league last year. Activities before the match at Metropolitano stadium included an exhibition of wheelchair soccer.
Liverpool stays perfect in Champions League and Raphinha scores hat trick for Barcelona
Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 4:10 p.m. | Save Story
Premier League leader Liverpool moved level on points with Aston Villa at the top of the Champions League standings by extending its perfect record to three wins, and Manchester City set a new record for the most consecutive games undefeated in the history of the competition. Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a goal from Darwin Núñez. City routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice. Raphinha scored a hat trick as Barcelona finally beat Bayern Munich to end a series of six straight wins for the German team in their head-to-head that included a humiliating 8-2 loss for Barca in the quarterfinals in 2020.
Jonathan David sets scoring mark to help Lille beat Atletico Madrid
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 3:45 p.m. | Save Story
Jonathan David came through with a pair of goals to help Lille beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in the Champions League. He had scored the winner against Real Madrid in the previous round. David became the all-time top Canadian scorer in Champions League history with six goals, one more than Tomasz Radzinski according to UEFA. David came off the bench to replace Mohamed Bayo in the 65th, then converted a 74th-minute penalty kick for Lille's go-ahead go at the Metropolitano stadium. His second goal, to seal the 3-1 victory, was a strike from inside the area in the 89th.
Inter loses another player to injury ahead of key match against Juventus
The Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 3:34 p.m. | Save Story
Inter Milan has lost another player to injury ahead of a crucial Serie A match this weekend. Carlos Augusto was forced off early in the second half of Inter's Champions League match at Young Boys after the defender pulled up grimacing and clutching the back of his left thigh. It is likely Carlos Augusto has a hamstring strain, almost certainly ruling him out of Inter's match at home to Juventus on Sunday. Inter is already without key players Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Francesco Acerbi after they were both forced off with muscular issues in Sunday's match at Roma. Inter beat Young Boys 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal.
Leipzig's Xavi Simons helped off the field with injury in Champions League
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 2:56 p.m. | Save Story
Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons was helped off with a left leg injury in the team's Champions League match against Liverpool. The Netherlands international looked in distress as he limped off the field in the 77th. Simons was already limping from a previous tackle by Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister and he went up for an aerial challenge and landed gingerly. Simons stayed down, received treatment and then came off. The midfielder was one of the Netherlands' better players at the recent European Championship in Germany and has helped Leipzig make a strong start to the Bundesliga.
