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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.
Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi vies for the ball during his team's Champions League match against Arsenal in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Nov 7, 2024

Inter Milan sink Arsenal in Champions League

Arsenal continued its shaky run of form and sits in 12th place with seven points.
Dutch Police officers patrol on Dam Square in Amsterdam on Saturday.
WORLD / Society
Nov 10, 2024

The attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam were unlike usual hooliganism

Supporters of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv were targeted for beatings in the early hours of Friday following a match with Amsterdam's Ajax.
Perth Rectangular Stadium is one of several venues in Australia chosen to host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup.
SOCCER
Nov 13, 2024

Sydney and Perth to host bulk of 2026 Women's Asian Cup

The 12-team championship is Australia's biggest soccer tournament since co-hosting the Women's World Cup with New Zealand in 2023.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after his club clinched the Premier League in May this year.
SOCCER
Nov 22, 2024

Pep Guardiola signs two-year contract extension with Manchester City

Guardiola's decision means he will spend more than a decade at the club he joined in 2016 and has led to a dazzling array of silverware.
Vissel Kobe players celebrate with the trophy after the club knocked off Gamba Osaka on Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo to secure the Emperor's Cup.
SOCCER
Nov 23, 2024

Paper tiger no more as Vissel Kobe collects another trophy

Over the years, Vissel made more headlines for signing aging European players, but now it's starting to accumulate trophies rather than stars.
Kingdom Arena in Riyadh in January ahead of a match between Inter Miami and Al-Hilal.
SOCCER
Dec 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup bid presents 'medium risk' for human rights: FIFA

The release of the report Saturday comes ahead of the FIFA Congress on Dec. 11, when a vote will be held to officially appoint the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.
Fulham's Junichi Inamoto scores his third goal of the game during a match against Bologna on Aug. 27, 2002.
SOCCER
Dec 4, 2024

Japan's Premier League pioneer, Junichi Inamoto, retires at age 45

Inamoto became a national hero when he scored twice at the 2002 World Cup on home soil, including the winner against Russia.
Fans in Saudi Arabia celebrate after the nation was confirmed as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 12, 2024

Saudi Arabia awarded 2034 FIFA World Cup despite human rights concerns

FIFA also confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal will be joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, in which three games will also be played in South America.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts at the end of his team's loss to Juventus on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Dec 15, 2024

Man City boss Pep Guardiola says no regrets over contract extension

Following a series of disappointing Premier League performances, City finds itself in fifth place with 27 points, trailing leader Liverpool by nine points.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts after Matheus Nunes concedes a penalty against Manchester United during their match in Manchester, England, on Sunday.
SOCCER
Dec 16, 2024

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shoulders blame as slump continues

After an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, City's defense of the crown looks over before Christmas.
Indonesia takes on Saudi Arabia in a World Cup Asian qualifier match in Jakarta on Nov. 19.
SOCCER
Dec 24, 2024

Thohir determined to take 'sleeping giant' Indonesia back to World Cup

Thohir has overseen efforts to entice members of the Indonesian diaspora, mostly born in the Netherlands, to play for the land of their heritage.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou during his club's loss to Liverpool on Sunday
SOCCER
Dec 25, 2024

Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window

Spurs have been hit by injuries and suspensions during the past month, but Postecoglou has refused to rein in his attacking approach.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Nomura Holdings Inc. and SBI Holdings Inc. are among at least 20 companies that have invested in X&KSK Fund, which is set up by former national soccer star Keisuke Honda.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 3, 2025

Soccer star Honda’s venture capital AI fund raises $98 million

Keisuke Honda, who has scored goals in three World Cups, seeks to create a so-called decacorn in Japan — a closely held company with a market value of more than $10 billion.
Al Hilal's Neymar warms up before an Asian Champions League match in October.
SOCCER
Jan 8, 2025

Neymar hints at reunion in Miami with Messi and Suarez

Neymar has played only seven times for Al-Hilal since moving from PSG for a reported fee of €90 million in 2023, with injuries keeping the Brazilian sidelined.
Brazil forward Neymar (left) fights for the ball during a training session at Rei Pele training centre, in Santos, Brazil on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Feb 4, 2025

Neymar homecoming is reminder of promise unfulfilled

Last week, 12 years on, he returned to first club Santos — Neymar the celebrity with unimaginable wealth, but a player whose fragile body has been badly diminished by injuries.
Part of the Saudi Arabia World Cup bid exhibition is seen on Dec. 11, 2024, in Riyadh.
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 14, 2025

Saudi Arabia to ban alcohol at 2034 FIFA World Cup

The Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom quipped that much like Saudi Arabia's dry weather, "It's a dry country."
Jesse Lingard, seen with Manchester United in 2021, is preparing for his second season in South Korea.
SOCCER
Feb 14, 2025

Jesse Lingard aiming high in second year since surprise move to South Korea

The new K League campaign kicks off on Saturday.
Celtic's Daizen Maeda scored a late goal against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League match in Glasgow on Feb. 12.
SOCCER
Feb 17, 2025

Brendan Rodgers urges underdog Celtic to be bold against Bayern Munich

Bayern is in the driver's seat for a spot in the last 16 after a 2-1 win at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight