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Iraq's Ahmed Yahya (left) and Japan's Ritsu Doan fight for the ball during their match at the Asian Cup on Friday.
SOCCER
Jan 22, 2024

Physical Arab teams taking fight to heavyweights at Asian Cup

Jordan coach Hussein Ammouta said "Arab teams playing on Arab turf" in Qatar must take the fight to their opponents.
Japan's Zion Suzuki (top) and Yukinari Sugawara (bottom) in action with Iraq's Youssef Amyn in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Friday.
SOCCER
Jan 23, 2024

Japan goalkeeper racially abused online after Asian Cup errors

The news comes after two instances of racist abuse directed at players in Italy and England during matches.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma (left) in action with Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne at Selhurtst Park, London, on Dec. 21. Mitoma has not played since hurting his ankle in the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
SOCCER
Jan 23, 2024

'Worry' for Japan as Mitoma misses training ahead of Asian Cup clash

The Brighton winger has not played since hurting his ankle in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Dec. 21.
China's Lin Liangming (front) in action with Qatar's Almahdi Ali Mukhtar in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Monday.
SOCCER
Jan 23, 2024

China's Asian Cup hopes hanging by thread after Qatar loss

China began the tournament with two dour 0-0 draws against Tajikistan and Lebanon.
Tajikistan's Rustam Soirov celebrates with a banner after his team defeated Lebanon in an Asian Cup Group A match in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Monday.
SOCCER
Jan 23, 2024

'Big dream' as debutant Tajikistan reaches Asian Cup last 16

At the final whistle Tajikistan's players celebrated with the small number of their fans inside the stadium.
Palestine forward Mahmoud Wadi (19) and midfielder Oday Kharoub (6) greet supporters after the team's win over Hong Kong at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Jan 24, 2024

Palestine 'fulfills promise' after historic Asian Cup win

The 3-0 victory over Hong Kong was also their first win in the history of the competition and enough to squeeze into the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Japan players celebrate after Ayase Ueda scored the team's second goal during Samurai Blue's win over Indonesia on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jan 24, 2024

Japan cruises past Indonesia to reach Asian Cup last 16

Ayase Ueda struck in each half to go with a late Indonesia own goal in Doha to send the pre-tournament favorites through as group runners-up behind Iraq.
Photographer Robert Beck took the famous photo of Brandi Chastain celebrating the United States' victory in the Women's World Cup final in 1999 that appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
SPORTS
Jan 25, 2024

The Sports Illustrated cover, a faded canvas that once defined sports

Sports Illustrated's power to define sports discourse been steadily eroding, but it is hard to overstate the power it once had.
Qatar's Akram Afif in action with Palestine's Mohammed Saleh and Mahmoud Abuwarda in the two sides' Asian Cup last-16 match in Al Khor, Qatar, on Monday
SOCCER
Jan 30, 2024

Qatar ends Palestine run; Jordan stuns Iraq with Asian Cup late show

Qatar will face the winner of Tuesday's last-16 meeting between Uzbekistan and Thailand. Jordan will meet Tajikistan.
A young family member of Palestine defender and captain Musab al-Battat cheers as she watches the live television broadcast of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup football match between Qatar and Palestine, in al-Dhahiriya, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on Monday.
SOCCER
Jan 30, 2024

West Bank fans proud of Palestine's Asian Cup progress

Some of the Palestinian squad have lost loved ones or have relatives trapped in Gaza.
South Korean forward Cho Gue-sung (right) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during an Asian Cup match against Saudi Arabia in al-Rayyan, Qatar, on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Jan 31, 2024

South Korea sets up Australia clash as Uzbeks plot Asian Cup 'surprise'

Klinsmann's men dominated both periods of extra time but were guilty of over-elaborating.
Japan's Wataru Endo (right) and Bahrain's Mohamed Al-Hardan vie for the ball during their Asian Cup match in Doha on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Feb 1, 2024

Wataru Endo warns Japan about road ahead after reaching Asian Cup quarterfinals

Questions remain for Hajime Moriyasu's side, which was the tournament favorite but has yet to keep a clean sheet in four games in Qatar.
Iran forward Sardar Azmoun shoots the ball past Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu during the teams' quarterfinal clash at the Asian Cup in Qatar on Saturday.
SOCCER
Feb 3, 2024

Iran eliminates Japan from Asian Cup after late penalty

Iran, which won due to a converted penalty from the team's captain, had not beaten Japan in 19 years.
South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann speaks to star midfielder Son Heung-min after their loss to Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Cup on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Feb 7, 2024

Asian Cup final a step too far for South Korea's 'zombie football'

In Tuesday's semifinal, Juergen Klinsmann's side was beaten by a hard-working Jordan team that claimed a famous 2-0 win.
Qatar forward Almoez Ali scores his team's third goal during against Iran in the semifinals of the Asian Cup on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Feb 8, 2024

'Best yet to come' after Qatar set up Asian Cup final with Jordan

Almoez Ali struck in the 82nd minute in Doha to send Qatar into their second consecutive final.
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey runs with the ball during the team's win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 28.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Feb 8, 2024

McCaffrey sprints into Super Bowl as key cog in 49ers offense

McCaffrey heads into the biggest game of his life in blistering form after a regular season campaign that saw him amass 1,459 rushing yards.
Jordan midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari (right) and South Korea's Son Heung-min vie for the ball during their Asian Cup semifinal match in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Feb 10, 2024

'Jordanian Messi' Mousa Al-Tamari has Jordan on brink of Asian Cup glory

Jordan will face Qatar in the Asian Cup final.
Taylor Swift kicked off her four-night stint at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday while Lionel Messi played at the Japan National Stadium, just a few kilometers away.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 9, 2024

The Taylor Swift and Messi moment shows Tokyo is back

On Wednesday, Swift and Messi wowed their respective fans, just 5 km away from each other. Their overlap in Tokyo is proof of the city's great resurgence.
Qatar players celebrate with their hat-trick scorer Akram Afif after the team won the Asian Cup on Saturday in Lusail, near Doha.
SOCCER
Feb 11, 2024

Afif nets penalty hat trick as Qatar beats Jordan to retain Asian Cup crown

Jordan was playing in its first Asian Cup final and seeking its first major trophy, but it was Qatar that prevailed at home in front of 86,492 fans.
Cote d'Ivoire's Max-Alain Gradel lifts the trophy after the team's victory over Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday
SOCCER
Feb 12, 2024

Cote d'Ivoire edges Nigeria to win Africa Cup of Nations

Cote d'Ivoire displayed a never-say-die attitude on the way to a win over Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland (right) and Everton's James Tarkowski vie for the ball during their match in Manchester on Saturday.
SOCCER
Feb 12, 2024

Manchester City gets stars back as club eyes more Champions League glory

Pep Guardiola's men head to FC Copenhagen for the first leg of their last 16 tie on Tuesday on the back of 10 consecutive wins in all competitions.
Kawasaki's Jesiel (top) competes for the ball with Shandong's Cryzan during the first leg of their AFC Champions League matchup on Tuesday in Jinan, China.
SOCCER
Feb 14, 2024

Kawasaki surrenders late goal but leads Asian Champions League matchup with Shandong

Brazilian defender Jadson scored a crucial second for Shandong five minutes from time to leave the matchup in the balance.
Kylian Mbappe has reportedly informed PSG of his intention to leave at the end of the season.
SOCCER
Feb 16, 2024

Kylian Mbappe informs Paris Saint-Germain of intention to leave team

Mbappe declined to activate a clause that would allow him to remain with PSG for another year.
Ilia Topuria (left) and Alexander Volkanovski fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 19, 2024

Ilia Topuria's title win may unlock new international market for UFC

Ilia Topuria wasted no time in calling for his first title defense to be on Spanish soil.
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and teammates sit on the substitute bench during a match against a Hong Kong select XI in Hong Kong on Feb. 4.
SOCCER
Feb 20, 2024

Messi insists Hong Kong no-show was due to injury, not politics

Some nationalist politicians and outlets interpreted Messi's absence as a snub to China, without offering evidence.
SOCCER
Feb 21, 2024

Shandong eliminates Kawasaki from Asian Champions League

Brazilian Jadson hooked the ball home in added time to send the Chinese side into a last-eight showdown and eliminate the J. League powerhouse.
Ahead of the Paris Games, authorities are conducting three preliminary investigations into possible favoritism in the awarding of around 20 contracts worth tens of millions of euros, while a fourth is scrutinizing the pay of chief organizer Tony Estanguet.
OLYMPICS
Feb 21, 2024

Paris 2024: A 'new era' of corruption-free Olympics?

Ahead of the Paris Olympics in July and August, French prosecutors are working on four probes into possible wrongdoing.
Liverpool celebrates after defeating Chelsea in the League Cup final in Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
SOCCER
Feb 26, 2024

Liverpool's fearless youngsters topple Chelsea to win League Cup

The old saying that you can't win anything with kids was thrown out of the window on Sunday.
Japan's players pose for a group picture ahead of their soccer match against North Korea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Feb 27, 2024

Coach urges Japan to be 'aggressive' against North Korea

The teams drew 0-0 in Saturday's first leg in Saudi Arabia and the winners will claim one of two Asian berths at the Games.
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma after sustaining an injury in a match against Sheffield United on Feb. 18
SOCCER
Feb 28, 2024

Brighton's Mitoma set to miss rest of season with injury

The Japan international has scored three goals and provided six assists in 26 appearances in all competitions this season.

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