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Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

How the World Cup became 'a great dry run' for the 2028 LA Olympics

Sports / Soccer /

LOS ANGELES — Like most good stories, this one requires planning. Organizers with the L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission spent nearly nine years preparing to bring the FIFA World Cup to L.A. The most popular sporting event in the world was just the start of a mega-event trilogy that turns the page to Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium and ...Read more

Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

MLS's new commissioner will be Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

Sports / Soccer /

NEW YORK – Larry Berg, a member of Los Angeles FC’s ownership group with roots in Cherry Hill, Pa., has been elected as the new commissioner of Major League Soccer.

He will officially take the reins on Jan. 1, with current commissioner Don Garber keeping the job until then. Garber will then take the role of chairman.

“Thanks to the ...Read more

Mauricio Pochettino stays on as USMNT manager, and promises things won't stay the same

Sports / Soccer /

PHILADELPHIA — Mauricio Pochettino has signed a new contract to remain the U.S. men’s soccer team’s manager through the 2030 World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced Monday morning.

“I really believe that this is an exciting situation and moment for soccer in the USA,” Pochettino said in a roundtable talk with The Philadelphia Inquirer and ...Read more

Rich Storry/Getty Images North America/TNS

Messi, De Paul return as Inter Miami settles for 2-2 tie against Columbus Crew

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were back in uniform for Inter Miami on a soggy Saturday night at Nu Stadium, 13 days after playing in the World Cup Final for Argentina.

De Paul was in Miami’s starting lineup against the Columbus Crew and Messi came in off the bench in the 53rd minute to a rousing ovation and chants of “Messi! ...Read more

Brenden Aaronson looks back at the World Cup, and ahead to his future with the USMNT and Leeds United

Sports / Soccer /

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Though the World Cup only just reached the rearview mirror, the soccer world is already speeding toward the new European club season.

Brenden Aaronson is proof.

After taking the three-week break that FIFA’s rules allow for players after major tournaments, the Medford, N.J., native returned to work at his club, Leeds ...Read more

What's it like to be a player in the 'Welcome to Wrexham' fishbowl?

Sports / Soccer /

If you watch the popular “Welcome to Wrexham” TV show, you might think you’ve gotten to know the Welsh soccer team’s players. And if you’re in Philadelphia, local favorite Rob Mac’s role as part-owner offers another reason to watch.

But the scenes that unfold are real life, with real players in a real English soccer league. They ...Read more

Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Infantino backlash grows as UEFA, CONCACAF demand FIFA reckoning

Sports / Soccer /

The rapid unraveling of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to privatize the football governing body’s commercial business has left his future in growing doubt, after two key regional associations demanded a reckoning for his leadership.

UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, issued a scathing rebuke of Infantino on Saturday, calling ...Read more

Carl Recine/Getty Images North America/TNS

Analysis: Why Gianni Infantino's secret attempt to sell World Cup stake backfired so spectacularly

Sports / Soccer /

LOS ANGELES — Heading into the final weekend of this summer's World Cup, the Guardian reported that support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino had climbed to record levels. More than 200 of FIFA's 211 member associations formally endorsed Infantino's bid for a fourth term as head of world soccer's governing body, the paper reported, making ...Read more

Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

FIFA, Gianni Infantino scrap plan to sell World Cup stakes after global backlash

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — FIFA president Gianni Infantino scrapped his proposal to privatize stakes in the World Cup after global backlash, including the resignation of one of his top advisors and threats of a boycott by European nations.

Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to run the World Cup and other ...Read more

Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Messi status uncertain for Inter Miami home game vs. Columbus Crew Saturday

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — Lionel Messi’s status for the Inter Miami home game against the Columbus Crew on Saturday remains up in the air, but the Argentine star seems to be itching to play.

Although he could have taken the allowable 21 days off following the World Cup, per FIFA rules, Messi returned to the Inter Miami training grounds on Wednesday, 10 days ...Read more

Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Carlos Cordeiro, top advisor to FIFA President, resigns over World Cup plan

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — Carlos Cordeiro, a top advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and a former Goldman Sachs banker who served on the White House World Cup Task Force, resigned on Friday amid global opposition to Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in future World Cups to private equity funds.

“As a Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, a former ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

With the World Cup's afterglow still on him, Danley Jean Jacques resumes his key role for the Union

Sports / Soccer /

PHILADELPHIA — When Danley Jean Jacques stepped back on to the field in a Union game on Wednesday, it had been just under a month since his first trip to a World Cup with Haiti ended.

But for as much as happened after that — 52 of the tournament’s 104 games, plus Major League Soccer’s return to action — the afterglow hadn’t fully ...Read more

Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images North America/TNS

Norway protests Trump call to FIFA regarding Folarin Balogun suspension

Sports / Soccer /

NEW YORK — Norwegian soccer officials plan to file a complaint formally protesting President Trump’s phone call with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which preceded the surprising reversal of U.S. star Folarin Balogun’s suspension from World Cup play.

Balogun received a red card penalty for committing a hard foul against a Bosnia and ...Read more

Inter Miami, without Messi, wins 3-2 as Lewandowski debuts for Chicago Fire

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — Inter Miami was back at Nu Stadium Wednesday night for a game against the Chicago Fire after a seven-week World Cup break, and with Lionel Messi on vacation after Argentina’s run to the final, it was up to his close friend and Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez to wear the captain’s armband and carry the load.

He did just that, scoring ...Read more

David Ramos/Getty Images North America/TNS

Why US TV viewers fell in love with the 2026 World Cup

Sports / Soccer /

LOS ANGELES — Fox TV executives knew their telecast of Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup Final would be big.

But bigger than every NFL game outside of the Super Bowl, the perennial ratings blockbuster, was not on their radar.

"I have to admit that I didn't see it coming, that we and Telemundo would combine for almost 65 million viewers for the ...Read more

Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Jonathan Tannenwald: This summer created World Cup fans, but that's not the same as soccer fans. MLS must bridge the gap.

Sports / Soccer /

PHILADELPHIA — After Sunday’s World Cup final, the walk out of the Meadowlands passed by deconstructed pieces of the stage where Spain lifted the trophy.

Like the quick transformation from Philadelphia Stadium back to Lincoln Financial Field, it was a sharp reminder of the end of an unprecedented spectacle.

This World Cup made a huge ...Read more

Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Over 66 million Americans watched the World Cup final, smashing the soccer record again

Sports / Soccer /

PHILADELPHIA — A historic summer for soccer in the United States was capped off Sunday with one more record broken, as 66.4 million Americans watched Spain’s title win over Argentina.

The audience showed up despite the game ending in a 1-0 score including extra time. Ferran Torres had the breakthrough in the 106th of what proved to be 140 ...Read more

Paul Ellis/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

Brazil star Casemiro signs with Inter Miami amid MLS tampering investigation

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — Inter Miami announced Wednesday the long-awaited signing of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, but not without controversy. MLS is investigating a tampering allegation against the club, which could lead to sanctions.

“Major League Soccer is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF,” the MLS statement read. “The league...Read more

Inter Miami returns to Nu Stadium without Messi for Lewandowski debut with Fire

Sports / Soccer /

MIAMI — The World Cup is over, but Major League Soccer kicked right back into action after a seven-week hiatus with the marketing campaign slogan “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here,” aiming to leverage the momentum of the World Cup to the U.S. domestic league.

Inter Miami makes its return Wednesday night with a home game at Nu ...Read more

Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Kerith Gabriel: Want to win a World Cup, America? Start doing better by the kids. And their parents, too.

Sports / Soccer /

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The completion of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday wrapped up truly one of the most captivating sports experiences North America has seen in quite some time.

As we speak, the last of FIFA’s traveling caravan has packed up, ready to move onto its next stop, while leaving American fans looking at the soccer landscape in ...Read more