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Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 22, 2022

Brazil star Neymar keen to play in MLS

Neymar, who is under contract at Paris Saint-Germain until June 2025, said he was more likely to play in the United States than return to his home country.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Nov 30, 2021

Portugal finds 13 cases of omicron variant at Lisbon soccer club

A club spokesman said most of those infected were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, and that 44 players and staff were self-isolating and waiting to repeat tests.
Germany's Florian Wirtz scores his team's first goal in the opening match of Euro 2024 on Friday.
SOCCER
Jun 15, 2024

Another summer to remember? For Germany: So far, so great.

After a dominant opening win over Scotland, German fans may already be wondering if this will be another summer to remember.
Kawasaki's Yasuto Wakizaka (center) scores a goal during a game against Urawa last month. In the J. League's current season format, player performances tend to decline as Japan's scorching summer sets in.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 16, 2024

Why the J. League chose to shift its calendar starting in 2026

Over the past 30 years, the environment for Japanese soccer has evolved significantly and the J. League hopes the schedule shift will grow the game.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo takes a selfie with a fan during his team's match against Turkey during Euro 2024 in Dortmund, Germany, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Jun 24, 2024

UEFA tightens Euro 2024 security as pitch invaders seek selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo

UEFA said fans running onto the pitch will face "the filing of a formal criminal complaint for trespass."
Albania's players greet their fans after a UEFA Euro 2024 Group B soccer match between Albania and Spain in Duesseldorf on Monday.
SOCCER
Jun 25, 2024

Albania proud of battling with great teams despite Euros exit

"My players left everything on the pitch and they will remember this for the rest of their lives," said Albania's coach Sylvinho.
Georgia forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates his team's second goal during its group-stage win over Portugal on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jun 27, 2024

Georgia makes history by reaching Euro 2024 knockouts

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's finish with less than two minutes on the clock clinched Georgia's greatest soccer victory.
Belgium fans cheer before their team's match against Ukraine at Euro 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany, on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jun 28, 2024

Fans take center stage at Euro 2024 in Germany

Three years after the soulless experience of Euro 2020, played amid sparse crowds and restricted travel due to COVID-19, Germany is hosting a soccer festival at Euro 2024 as fans from across the continent take over the country.
German referee Felix Zwayer during the UEFA Euro 2024 match between Romania and the Netherlands in Munich on July 2. Zwayer will referee the semifinal clash between England and the Netherlands on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jul 9, 2024

England's Euro semifinal referee has history with Bellingham

In 2021, the midfielder received a fine of €40,000 for comments he made regarding Felix Zwayer.
England players celebrate after defeating Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Jul 9, 2024

'Grinding' England hope for spark against Netherlands in Euros semi

Former England striker Alan Shearer called the team "rotten" after staggering past Slovakia.
A Palestinian casts his shadow on a damaged wall as he inspects the site of an Israeli strike outside a school sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jul 11, 2024

Gaza airstrike hits gathering at school soccer match, witnesses say

The Israeli military said the strike, which Palestinian officials said killed at least 29 people, targeted a Hamas fighter who took part in the Oct. 7 raid on Israel.
Uruguay's Darwin Nunez (19) was involved in a brawl with Colombia fans after the teams' Copa America match in Charlotte on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jul 11, 2024

Uruguay players brawl with Colombia fans in stands after Copa loss

Liverpool star Darwin Nunez and other Uruguay players were involved in a brawl with Colombian fans on Wednesday.
Yokohama F. Marinos coach Harry Kewell before an Asian Champions League match against Ulsan Hyundai, in Ulsan, South Korea, on April 17
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 16, 2024

Harry Kewell fired by Yokohama F. Marinos

Despite reaching the AFC Champions League final, Yokohama has been poor in the J. League and lies 12th in the 20-team J1 table.
England head coach Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy after his side lost the final of Euro 2024 against Spain on Sunday in Berlin.
SOCCER
Jul 17, 2024

Southgate stands down: Who's next for England's hot seat?

Southgate announced his departure less than 48 hours after England's second successive Euro final defeat, this time a shattering 2-1 loss to Spain in Berlin on Sunday.
Japanese players celebrate after their comeback group-stage win over Brazil on Sunday in Paris.
OLYMPICS
Jul 29, 2024

Japan late show stuns Brazil in Olympic women's soccer

Japan scored two goals in stoppage time to stun Brazil and boost its hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa is challenged by Nigeria's Rasheedat Ajibade during their Olympic group stage match on Wednesday.
OLYMPICS
Aug 1, 2024

Japan to face U.S. in women's soccer after both nations advance

Japan finished second in its group after beating Nigeria 3-1 in Nantes, with Maika Hamano, Mina Tanaka and Hikaru Kitagawa scoring goals.
Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda consoles Fuka Nagano after their quarterfinal loss against the United States at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3.
SOCCER
Aug 22, 2024

Nadeshiko Japan parts ways with coach Futoshi Ikeda

The 53-year-old led Nadeshiko Japan to the last eight at the Women's World Cup last year, but the team was unable to improve on that showing in Paris earlier this month.
Kylian Mbappe will make his home debut for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid on Sunday.
SOCCER
Aug 23, 2024

Kylian Mbappe set for home debut as Carlo Ancelotti seeks to get Madrid on track

Mbappe was shut out by Mallorca and goalkeeper Dominik Greif in his first Spanish league match on Sunday.
Uruguay soccer star Luis Suarez addresses the media in Montevideo on Monday. The player announced his international retirement the same day.
SOCCER
Sep 3, 2024

Uruguay striker Suarez announces international retirement

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007.
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu announces his squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, on Aug. 29 in the city of Chiba.
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 4, 2024

Japan favored in next World Cup qualifying stage, but history gives pause

At this stage, the Samurai Blue lost 1-0 at home to Oman three years ago and also went down 2-1 to the UAE in front of their own fans ahead of the 2018 tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores for Portugal during a Nations League match against Scotland in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday.
SOCCER
Sep 12, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo labels Erik ten Hag's attitude as too negative for United

The Portugal star, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, fell out with Ten Hag before his second spell at Old Trafford ended late in 2022.
Pep Guardiola has guided Manchester City to six Premier League titles.
SOCCER
Sep 15, 2024

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola says Premier League clubs keen for team to be punished

A long-awaited hearing into charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023 is finally set to get underway on Monday.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (left) and Pau Torres celebrate after their win over Everton at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Sep 16, 2024

Aston Villa returns to Champions League looking to shake up established order again

Villa's 1982 European Cup final triumph against Bayern Munich still ranks as one of the most remarkable conquests in the history of the competition.
Fluminense and Al Ahly players line up prior to a FIFA Club World Cup match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last year
SOCCER
Sep 25, 2024

LGBTQ fans welcome in Saudi Arabia, 2034 World Cup bid chief says

In August, Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia failed to meet FIFA’s own human rights requirements in their bid for the World Cup.
Manchester City's Rodri reacts after injuring his leg during a match against Arsenal at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Sept. 22.
SOCCER
Sep 26, 2024

Rodri's injury raises more alarms as concerns grow over player workload

Former players and managers such as Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag also recently joined the growing chorus calling for change.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi reacts during a Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sept. 28.
SOCCER
Oct 8, 2024

MLS sets new attendance record with 11 million fans

MLS said the arrival of international stars such as Lionel Messi had helped boost attendances.
Spainish midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates after scoring the winning goal of the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands while revealing a shirt with a tribute to the late Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque, on July 11, 2010.
SOCCER
Oct 9, 2024

Spanish great Iniesta leaves indelible legacy after retirement

Admired and adored in Spain, even by fans of Barca's fiercest rivals, for many Iniesta will go down as the country's finest player.
England coach Thomas Tuchel speaks during his introductory news conference at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Oct 17, 2024

Thomas Tuchel takes England job with visions of winning 2026 World Cup

England head coach Thomas Tuchel strode confidently into Wembley Stadium on Wednesday with a single-minded vision to win the 2026 World Cup for the success-starved soccer nation.
Qatar forward Akram Afif speaks during a news conference after being named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year in Seoul on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Oct 30, 2024

Akram Afif driven to make history after securing second Asian crown

Afif joined Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata and Server Djeparov of Uzbekistan as the only players to win the Asian Football Confederation's top accolade twice.
Paris Saint-Germain players pose for a group picture prior to the start of a UEFA Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven in Paris on Oct. 22.
SOCCER
Nov 5, 2024

With Mbappe gone, misfiring PSG are under pressure in Champions League

PSG have just four points from three games, despite starting with kind home fixtures against Girona and PSV Eindhoven either side of a trip to Arsenal.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami