Gareth Bale said Lionel Messi will have less pressure to win in Major League Soccer because clubs “accept losing a lot better over there.” Earlier this month, Messi announced that he intends to join MLS club Inter Miami following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, although a deal is yet to be finalised. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The 2022 World Cup winner was linked with a return…
WIGAN, England — Charlie Wyke’s game-day experience starts at dawn. He wakes up, opens an app on his phone and sends his overnight heart rhythms to his cardiologist in Liverpool. His new routine continues when he reaches the stadium. Wyke, a striker for Wigan in England’s Championship last season, slips on a padded vest that sits under his jersey and protects the defibrillator in his chest. In the prematch warmup,…
Wrexham have learned their schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign in League Two after securing promotion back to the English Football League (EFL) last season. The Welsh club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will start their EFL campaign with a home game against Milton Keynes Dons on Aug. 5. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Wrexham will then face a three-game stretch in a…
Roma head coach Jose Mourinho has been banned for the team’s next four European games by UEFA for verbally abusing the referee after the Italian club lost in the Europa League final to Sevilla on May 31. Footage circulated of the Roma coach approaching English referee Anthony Taylor in the stadium garage after the game in Budapest, Hungary, and calling him a “disgrace” with an expletive. Roma lost a penalty…
In early January, roughly a week after Gregg Berhalter’s contract as the United States men’s soccer coach expired, Zinedine Zidane rejected an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to be the next coach. His lack of interest wasn’t surprising given his résumé, but the USSF’s pursuit felt instructive. It was a big swing. A World Cup winner with France as a player, Zidane doesn’t need much of an…
The summer transfer window is open for some leagues 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 City midfielder Bernardo Silva is close to finalising a move to the Saudi Pro League, according to Marca. The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Etihad this summer, with Paris…
The Qatar FA has said Yusuf Abdurisag did not use discriminatory language against a player from the New Zealand team, who abandoned their friendly at half-time on Monday in protest at an alleged racist slur. Qatar’s soccer governing body said on Tuesday that Abdurisag had an exchange of words “in the heat of the moment” where he was the victim of racial slurs. New Zealand said on Monday that their…
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first men’s footballer to play 200 international matches during Portugal’s European Championship qualifying win over Iceland on Tuesday. The Portugal captain, who made his international debut in 2003, achieved the milestone at Reykjavik’s Laugardalsvollur stadium and scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Iceland. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “I’m so happy. To reach 200 caps is the kind of moment…
Son Heung-Min has announced his intention to stay at Tottenham despite receiving a lucrative offer to join Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad. ESPN revealed on Monday that the 30-year-old had become the latest high-profile player to be targeted by Saudi clubs with Al Ittihad offering the forward a four-year deal worth €30 million ($32.7m) per season. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A source close to negotiations…
The Brazilian Football Association (CBF) are considering appointing Carlo Ancelotti’s son, Davide, in a coaching role with the national team, sources have told ESPN, to help with the transition as they wait to appoint Ancelotti himself in June 2024. CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues has repeatedly stated that Ancelotti is his preferred choice to take charge of Brazil following the departure of Tite after the 2022 World Cup, but the Real…