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SEATTLE — Zlatan Ibrahimovic was succinct in saying he thinks that the United States men’s national team has a chance to win the World Cup. Defender Chris Richards doesn’t think it’s a wild idea at all, either. After the U.S. turned in a second convincing and largely-complete performance in beating Australia, 2-0, on Friday, Richards addressed Ibrahimovic’s one-word reply — “Yes” — when the former Sweden star was asked on…

SEATTLE – United States defender Alex Freeman celebrated a “full circle family moment” on Friday, scoring a goal in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Australia on the same field — kind of — where his father, Antonio Freeman, Jr. once had a banner day for the Green Bay Packers. The goal came in the 43rd minute, as Freeman was quickest to react when Sergiño Dest’s shot was deflected high in…

SEATTLE, Washington – Tony Popovic has said that, with hindsight, he perhaps should have made more changes to his starting XI, after a “flat and lethargic” first half condemned the Socceroos to a 2-0 FIFA World Cup defeat against the United States. Jumping on their opponents straight from the opening whistle, the Americans pressed and harangued the Australians to within an inch of their lives at Seattle Stadium and were…

Iran‘s soccer federation said on Thursday it will lodge a complaint with FIFA after its request to travel to Los Angeles two days before Sunday’s World Cup match against Belgium was denied. Iran’s base camp was moved from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the tournament and the team has said it is unfairly being made to travel to matches the day before games and return immediately after. – Welcome…

HOUSTON — Graham Potter has warned Sweden’s World Cup opponents that strike-duo Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres will get better as the tournament progresses. Sweden face Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, fresh from hammering Tunisia 5-1 in their Group F opener. Both Isak and Gyökeres scored in that game despite it being just the second time the pair have played together in a year, chiefly due to Isak’s long-running fitness…

SEATTLE – No Christian Pulisic? No problem. The United States men’s national team, playing without its injured star attacker, continued its captivating surge in this World Cup on Friday, beating Australia 2-0 to advance to the knockout rounds with one group-stage game remaining. The U.S. hasn’t won Group D just yet, but this victory — the first time since 1930 that the Americans have won back-to-back World Cup matches —…

Goalkeeper David Raya has backed Spain to be “more clinical” in Sunday’s World Cup game with Saudi Arabia, telling ESPN that the team’s morale hasn’t been hit by their draw with Cape Verde. Tournament favourites and reigning European champions Spain go into their second match in Atlanta under pressure, with star player Lamine Yamal continuing his recovery from injury, and criticism back home for coach Luis de la Fuente’s tactics.…

SEATTLE — For the second-straight game, Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has pulled a major surprise at the selection table, dropping Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe — the goal scorers from the side’s win over Türkiye — and replacing them with Mathew Leckie and Nishan Velupillay to face the United States. Scoring the 27th-minute goal that put his side in the ascendancy in what became a 2-0 win over the Turks,…

United States star Christian Pulisic is out of their World Cup clash with Australia due to a calf injury, with Ricardo Pepi starting in his place. Pulisic’s status has been up in the air all week after coming off at halftime against Paraguay, and the AC Milan forward has been limited in training since. Just before the lineups were announced, manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed his absence — but that he…