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Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Dec 27, 2022

Iran reroutes plane carrying soccer star's wife and blames U.K. over unrest

Tehran said the arrests in Iran of citizens linked to Britain reflected its 'destructive role' in the more than three months of unrest.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 20, 2022

France's Karim Benzema retires from international soccer

Since his 2020 return to the international team, the Ballon d'Or winner had scored 10 goals in 16 appearances for Les Bleus.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 14, 2022

A winning World Cup strategy unites the Arab world

Morocco's success in the World Cup has united Arabs throughout the Middle East and North Africa behind a common hope.
Japan Times
EDITORIALS
Dec 12, 2022

After showing at World Cup, Japan is hungry for more

The Samurai Blue wins shocked many experts who expected European powerhouses to dominate their group and much of the World Cup competition.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 2, 2022

Too close to call? Japan’s winning goal joins list of controversies

Ao Tanaka's goal may have rescued the Samurai Blue's World Cup campaign, but it was Kaoru Mitoma's touchline assist that has fans and pundits debating technology's place in refereeing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 23, 2022

Looking for the Qatar World Cup winner? Don’t follow the money

Even in today's winner-takes-all economy, superstars won't always come out ahead.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo (left) and Harvey Elliott celebrate after the club beat Tottenham to clinch the Premier League title in Liverpool, England, on Sunday.
SOCCER
Apr 28, 2025

Liverpool roars past Tottenham to clinch Premier League crown

The win leaves Liverpool with 82 points, 15 ahead of Arsenal with just four games remaining.
Marta competes for Brazil in the gold medal match of the women's soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug. 10.
SOCCER
May 14, 2025

Brazil legend Marta returns for Japan friendlies

Widely considered the greatest female soccer player of all time, Marta last wore the Brazil jersey in the Olympic final last August.
Napoli's Pasquale Mazzocchi celebrates after his team won its fourth Serie A title, in Naples, Italy, on Friday.
SOCCER
May 24, 2025

Napoli back on top in Italy after sealing fourth Serie A crown

Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku netted in a 2-0 win over Cagliari at a packed and wild Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as Napoli secured its second league crown in three years.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Al Nassr during a Saudi Pro League match against Al-Qadsiah in Riyadh on Nov. 22, 2024.
SOCCER
May 30, 2025

Saudi officials working to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo posted "This chapter is over" on social media hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up this week.
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele controls the ball during the first leg of the team's Champions League semifinal against Arsenal in London on April 29.
SOCCER
May 30, 2025

New-look Paris Saint-Germain on brink of long-coveted Champions League glory

Luis Enrique, who took charge last year, said his team had long targeted this moment, which comes after it won the domestic double of Ligue 1 and the French Cup.
The New York/New Jersey 2026 FIFA World Cup logo is revealed during a kickoff event in Times Square in New York in May 2023.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2025

U.S. begins countdown to World Cup amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown

The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, is set to cohost the tournament, which will feature 48 teams and a record 104 matches.
Al Hilal's Salem Al-Dawsari pours water on his face during a break in play at the Club World Cup in Miami Gardens, Florida, on June 18.
SOCCER
Jun 27, 2025

Soaring temperatures during Club World Cup raise concerns for 2026 World Cup

Match times for the 2026 World Cup, cohosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, have yet to be announced, but organizers may face challenges if sweltering conditions return.
Switzerland's Pia Sundhage is by far the most experienced coach at Euro 2025.
SOCCER
Jul 3, 2025

Euro 2025 sets new record for female coaches

The 43.75% of female coaches is a major leap from Euro 2013, where just 18.75% of teams were coached by women.
Pallbearers carry a coffin at the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in Gondomar, Portugal, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Jul 5, 2025

Carrying red wreath, Liverpool players join family for Diego Jota's funeral

Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among the Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service.
England's Jess Carter attends a news conference in June.
SOCCER
Jul 21, 2025

England's Jess Carter receives racist abuse during Euro 2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted his support for Carter on X.
Former Canada coach Bev Priestman during a Women's World Cup group match against the Republic of Ireland in Perth, Australia on July 26, 2023
SOCCER
Jul 30, 2025

'I didn't feel safe': Banned Canada coach explains move to New Zealand

Wellington Phoenix announced Wednesday that Priestman would take over as head coach of its women's team.
Then-Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong after a World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Sept. 5, 2024
SOCCER
Aug 6, 2025

Shin returns to South Korea vowing to revitalize fallen powerhouse Ulsan

The 54-year-old has walked into a club attempting a rapid turnaround in the aftermath of a disappointing 13-month spell under predecessor Kim Pan-gon.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah prior to a friendly on Aug. 4.
SOCCER
Aug 10, 2025

'Tell us how he died': Salah criticizes UEFA tribute to 'Palestinian Pele'

The Palestine Football Association said that al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Fluminense's Fabio during training at the Club World Cup at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey on July 7
SOCCER
Aug 20, 2025

Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio claims world record for most games

The 44-year-old equaled the landmark held by former England stopper Peter Shilton on Saturday and has now gone one better.
The FNB Stadium, which hosted both the opening match and the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the cityscape of Johannesburg seen in the background, in South Africa on July 11
SOCCER
Sep 2, 2025

FIFA silence on sanction for errant South Africa a mystery

South Africa erroneously fielded midfielder Tebeho Mokoena in a 2-0 home win over neighbors Lesotho but insists it should not face a points deduction.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele (right) during a match against Toulouse on Aug. 30.
SOCCER
Sep 21, 2025

PSG star Dembele tipped to beat Yamal to win Ballon d'Or

Nine members of the PSG team that won the Champions League, demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, feature among the 30 nominees.
Yokohama F. Marinos players during a match against Al Nassr in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 26. Household appliance retailer Nojima has been floated as a possible buyer for the team if its sale by Nissan goes ahead.
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 1, 2025

Nojima may consider buying Yokohama F. Marinos

Nissan is considering selling off the club in the J1 top division of the J.League.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok in May 2024.
SOCCER
Oct 3, 2025

Gianni Infantino says FIFA must promote peace amid calls to ban Israel

Infantino "stressed the importance of promoting peace and unity, particularly in the context of the ongoing situation in Gaza."
Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo, seen during the Club World Cup in Miami, died at age 69, the Argentine Football Association announced Wednesday.
SOCCER
Oct 9, 2025

Boca Juniors manager Miguel Angel Russo dies at 69

Boca Juniors, in a statement, expressed "profound sadness" at Russo's death.
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday ahead of a game against Brazil the following day.
SOCCER
Oct 13, 2025

Moriyasu aiming for a result against Brazil

Japan has never beaten Brazil, but the Samurai Blue head coach says, "Our own players are now competing on the European stage, and we want to go toe-to-toe."
Japan's Ayase Ueda (center) scores the winning goal against Brazil at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Oct 15, 2025

Japan’s downing of Brazil puts world on notice

The turnaround was reminiscent of wins against major soccer forces at the previous World Cup in Qatar.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima players hold up the championship cup at National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 2, 2025

Throwing prowess makes the difference as Sanfrecce Hiroshima wins Levain Cup final

Shuto Nakano’s throw-ins were key in his side’s 3-1 triumph over Kashiwa Reysol at Japan National Stadium on Saturday.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes