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WWC upsets justify 32-team tournament – FIFA

BRISBANE, Australia — FIFA’s chief women’s football officer Sarai Bareman told ESPN the remarkable upsets at the Women’s World Cup justifies the decision to expand to 32 teams. The call to expand the tournament from 24 to 32 teams received criticism at the time, with some feeling it would lead to a host of one-sided results in the pool stages. While there have been a couple of heavy defeats, the…

Transfer Talk: West Ham set to sign Ajax’s Alvarez as Rice replacement

The summer transfer window is now open in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Manchester United are looking for a new midfielder and could turn to Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, according to Sport. Tchouameni, 23, has been linked with a move away, despite signing from Monaco for €80 million just last…

Matildas’ Steph Catley displaying virtue of ‘clutch gene’

As the world became enraptured with the ‘will she play or won’t she play’ saga surrounding Sam Kerr’s troublesome calf, Steph Catley went about her business for Australia. Without much fanfare, and with even less fuss, the 29-year-old defender stepped up to don the armband and lead the Matildas into the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. When the side needed her, she was there. Catley’s 52nd-minute penalty…

USWNT’s rich World Cup history with penalties: ‘The emotion of the moment’

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The just-concluded group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was arguably the most captivating in the tournament’s history, and surprises and chaos were the order of the day. Presumed heavyweights Germany, Brazil and Canada failed to make it out of their respective groups. The two-time defending Women’s World Cup champions U.S. barely scraped by, saved by the post in its group stage finale against…

Brady joins Mahomes, LeBron, Reynolds as a celebrity football club owner

Coming somewhat out of the blue (if you’ll excuse the pun), it has been announced that NFL legend Tom Brady has become a shareholder in Championship side Birmingham City. Brady, a former quarterback for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has entered a partnership with The Blues’ new owners to become a minority stakeholder in the club. The seven-time Super Bowl champion brought his long and successful NFL…

USMNT’s Trusty leaves Arsenal for Sheff United

United States international defender Auston Trusty has left Arsenal to complete a transfer to fellow Premier League side Sheffield United, the clubs announced Thursday. Trusty, 24, signed for Arsenal from the Colorado Rapids in January 2022 but never made an official appearance for the Gunners’ first team. He spent last season on loan in the Championship with Birmingham City, where he was named their player of the season. – Full…

Tom Brady takes minority Birmingham City stake

NFL legend Tom Brady has become a minority owner of Birmingham City, a club in English soccer’s second-tier Championship. The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback has entered into a partnership with Birmingham’s owners, Knighthead Capital Management LLC, and he will become chairman of the advisory board at the club. There Brady will, according to a statement from Birmingham, “apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across several components of the…

Italy great Buffon retires from football aged 45

Juventus and Italy great Gianluigi Buffon has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 45. The World Cup winner enjoyed a successful 28-year career and played his last two seasons at boyhood club Parma in Serie B. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Buffon terminated his contract with Parma, which was set to run until June 2024, before confirming his retirement. The Italian player posted…

Transfer Talk: Man Utd still eye Bayern’s Goretzka for revamp

The summer transfer window is now open in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Manchester United are still monitoring the situation of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, with West Ham United also interested, according to Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. The report states that the 28-year-old Germany international is on the…