Netherlands have accused the Women’s World Cup of amateurish organisation as they complained about their training conditions in New Zealand, but they are still using the Bay Oval in Tauranga to prepare for their opening game on Sunday. Coach Andries Jonker told reporters he feared his players could be injured on the field, which has a hard cricket pitch in the middle, and which the Dutch had asked be taken…
One day before his expected debut in Inter Miami colors, former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets sat down with the media Thursday alongside his new — and former — coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino. As expected, the newly-turned 35-year-old was quizzed plenty about his feelings regarding the move from a world-famous football institution to the last-placed club in Major League Soccer. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “In terms of…
MELBOURNE, Australia — In an act of mutual solidarity, Nigeria and Canada said they will put aside clashes with their federations to focus on their football when they face off in their FIFA World Cup 2023 debut match. Both Nigeria and Canada’s World Cup preparations have been dogged by off-field issues, the pair speaking out on disparities in payment and bonuses, working conditions and resourcing and federation interference. – Stream…
AC Milan have unveiled their away kit for the 2023-24 season and, fittingly for a club who hail from one of the fashion capitals of the world, the new jersey is incredibly easy on the eyes. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The shimmering design is a salute to the first white jersey worn by Milan back in 1910, and the Serie A giants have worn that colour…
AMSTERDAM — When EA Sports and FIFA announced the end of their long-standing partnership last year, it sent shockwaves through both the gaming and football worlds. For the generations of people across the globe who had enjoyed playing the wildly popular soccer simulation for almost 30 years, the split marked the end of an era and a move into the unknown. Last week, EA Sports finally gave the world a…
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on the eve of the Women’s World Cup that although FIFA has for the first time started earmarking prize money payments to be paid to players, FIFA will still distribute money to federations rather than oversee direct payments to players. The world governing body of soccer announced in June that every player competing in the tournament would be paid at least…
BRISBANE — England star Lucy Bronze says the bonus row with the Football Association has not been a distraction ahead of the Women’s World Cup. Bronze says the team feel “very empowered” after they issued a collective statement on Tuesday in which they said they were “disappointed” that no resolution had been found with the FA over tournament bonuses and commercial structures ahead of the tournament. The announcement from the…
The former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Isco has claimed that Sevilla’s ex-director of football Monchi — now Aston Villa’s president of football operations — assaulted him during a tense confrontation at the club’s training ground. Isco, 31, who is currently without a club, left Sevilla in December 2022 just five months after joining from Madrid. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) In an interview with the newspaper…
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes has told ESPN he’s tired of talking about racism in Spanish football because no real decisions have been taken to tackle the problem. The forward’s Madrid and Brazil teammate Vinícius Júnior received support from around the world after being subjected to racist abuse from the crowd during a LaLiga game at Valencia on May 21. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Vinícius is due…
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson says “all eyes will be on football” during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and he believes the tournament will change the direction of the sport in Australia. New Zealand host Norway in the opening game of the tournament at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday, before the Matildas play Republic of Ireland at a sold-out Stadium Australia in Sydney. Australia and New Zealand then…