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…
Mexico interim manager Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano said it would be a “dream” to maintain his position with the national team after helping it claim a title in the 2023 Gold Cup with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Panama in Sunday’s final in Inglewood, California. Substitute Santiago Gimenez scored the late winner at SoFi Stadium to push Mexico past a resilient Panama side and lift a Concacaf-record ninth Gold Cup title…
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Saudi Pro League’s rapid growth and spending won’t threaten the U.S. league’s potential expansion into emerging viewing markets. “You know, it’s not just about Europe, right? It’s about here. So I’m not threatened by that at all,” Garber told reporters Sunday night during a ceremony to present Lionel Messi as the newest player for Inter Miami CF. – Saudi Arabia transfer tracker: Done…
The owners of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers have assumed control of the English soccer club Leeds United. Leeds United announced on Monday that the English Football League had approved the sale of the club to 49ers Enterprises, allowing for “an immediate transition of ownership.” Leeds was relegated from the Premier League to the second-tier Championship for next season. “This is an important moment for Leeds United and we are…
Luis Suarez had a nice line in gentle mischief, many a true word said in jest and with a little bit of edge. Delivered with the Galician accent he never lost over 60 years living within a short stroll of Milan’s San Siro, that fit somehow. An understated dignity, a kind of reserved irony, supposedly defines people from the wet northwest of Spain which faces the Atlantic, a place apart,…