KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Embodying the best of what the FIFA World Cup might hope to be was the enchanting tale of Lawrence adopting Algeria and being loved right back.

Lifetime memories were created with Lionel Messi’s hat trick, goalkeeper Eloy Room’s sublime performance for Curacao, the Netherlands’ Oranje Fanwalk through the heart of the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A historic World Cup run for 10 African nations is slowly coming to a close.

Three of the nine that advanced through the group stage of the quadrennial soccer tournament have been sent home with losses. Six remain in the knockout rounds.

Ghana will be looking to avoid being the next African team sent packing on Friday ...Read more

SEATTLE — The U.S. men’s national team will return to Seattle to face Belgium in a round of 16 match Monday. It’s arguably one of the biggest sporting events in Seattle’s history.

It might be one of the most expensive ones to attend, too.

The U.S.’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 Wednesday evening confirmed ...Read more

SEATTLE — That red card doesn’t sit right.

Not just because Seattle soccer fans will be deprived of the brilliance of Folarin Balogun, who was sent off in the 64th minute of the United States’ 2-0 FIFA Men's World Cup win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. Not just because the 24-year-old forward has emerged as an irreplaceably potent ...Read more

SEATTLE — In the aftermath of Belgium’s unlikely comeback to top Senegal and advance in the FIFA Men’s World Cup, veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was asked where the match landed on his all-time list.

De Bruyne’s been around for a while now. He’s played in four World Cups and in massive matches all across Europe.

“I’ve been ...Read more

MIAMI — Lionel Messi disembarked from a private jet with his family at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on July 11, 2023, following a Caribbean vacation. He wore pink shorts and a smile. It was time to get back to work.

The airport is directly across the street from the Inter Miami training facility, where the next chapter of the Argentine ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Spain achieved its primary goal at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, defeating Austria, 3-0, and advancing to the World Cup round of 16 in front of a pro-Spain announced crowd of 70,492.

The Spaniards extended their unbeaten match streak to 34 games and their win streak over European teams to 35 dating back to 2023. They have yet ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In 2010, the Spanish men’s national soccer team, led by Andres Iniesta and Xavi and a long list of stars, staked its claim as the best in the world in winning the World Cup.

Since then, Spain has had early exits, from a group-stage disappointment in 2014 to consecutive round of 16 departures in 2018 and 2022, leaving ...Read more

It was the step seen ‘round the World Cup.

High-definition footage, slowed down and frozen, of United States striker Folarin Balogun stepping on the bent ankle of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic as they jockeyed for the ball.

The contact appeared unintentional, but after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, Balogun was assessed a...Read more

SEATTLE — Neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend Monday's USA vs. Belgium round of 16 FIFA Men's World Cup match in Seattle, a King County spokesperson said Thursday morning.

"We've been told that neither the president nor the vice president will be attending the July 6 match," Cameron Satterfield, ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Two sets of fans enjoyed the opportunity to relax and celebrate the World Cup scene on Thursday at SoFi Stadium.

Neither had a team on the pitch.

Sure, the stands were loaded with enthusiastic Spain supporters, including Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem — and seemingly a handful of Austria’s faithful — but Mexico and...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — What do you mean U.S. forward Folarin Balogun got red-carded? For that?

As a nation, we're pretty new to all this. And this VAR abomination we've all now been introduced to? Thanks, we hate it.

Soccer's video assistant referee system is worse than the NBA's tedious in-game reviews. Worse than the existential NFL ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Mauricio Pochettino's team continues to do things in this summer's World Cup that no U.S. team has ever done before.

Its three wins are the most in a single tournament. So are the 10 goals in four games. It has the best goal differential ever and its two shutouts ties a record.

Yet all that means absolutely nothing to ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eric Wahl began the trek to his first in-person men’s World Cup match from the familiarity of Pioneer Square, a half-mile walk to Lumen Field in Seattle.

He’d traveled along the same route several times, maybe dozens, but never like this. The road was so packed that his feet disappeared along the pavement, obstructed ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Levi’s Stadium shares a parking lot with the Great America amusement park, which was closed Wednesday to accommodate the sold out World Cup match.

The roller-coaster ride, it turned out, was inside the stadium.

The United States got a goal late in the first half against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then grabbed the ...Read more

SEATTLE — If you weren’t a soccer person three weeks ago, there’s a real good chance you are today.

If you were down on the aesthetics of the beautiful game, it probably looks like a Rembrandt now.

There has been no shortage of heart-racing drama. The average BPM hasn’t dipped below triple digits.

There are still myriad games to go, ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The U.S. cannot appeal Folarin Balogun’s red card and ensuing suspension for the Americans’ round of 16 match against Belgium, U.S. soccer officials confirmed.

FIFA rules governing the 2026 World Cup, first cited by the Athletic, state that “a sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The world’s best soccer teams don’t just play the beautiful game.

They know how to drag you into the mud, hold your head down and check their watches while you drown.

On Wednesday in Santa Clara, the U.S. Men’s National Team proved they can do both.

They didn’t just flash class. They flashed brass knuckles, too...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Levi’s Stadium’s capacity crowd, dressed in a red-white-and-blue bouquet, rose in unison and wildly celebrated Malik Tillman’s incredulous insurance goal that would secure the United States’ path to the World Cup’s round of 16.

Those fans remained on their feet until the undermanned USA side emerged with a 2-0,...Read more