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Belgium ousts U.S. from World Cup amid Trump red card furor
The 2026 World Cup was plunged into its most divisive episode in decades after President Donald Trump confirmed he personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension — a move…
Trump called FIFA to lift Balogun’s World Cup ban, report says
FIFA stunned the soccer world on Sunday by suspending the automatic one-game ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to play in Monday's World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle. Hours later, the New York…
FIFA reverses Balogun’s red card ban ahead of Belgium match
In a dramatic reversal that has upended expectations for Monday's World Cup Round of 16, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee announced Sunday that it has suspended Folarin Balogun's one-match ban, making the U.S. men's national team's leading striker available for the clash…
World Cup ball sensor overturns Croatia goal, sparking VAR debate
A stoppage-time goal disallowed by ball-sensor technology in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reignited a fierce debate over whether microscopic precision in officiating serves the spirit of soccer.
2026 World Cup breaks all-time attendance record
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially became the best-attended tournament in World Cup history on Thursday, surpassing the record of 3,587,538 spectators set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The milestone was reached after just 60 of…
FIFA allows rainbow flags at World Cup despite Iran, Egypt objections
FIFA has confirmed that fans will be permitted to bring rainbow flags into Seattle Stadium for Friday's World Cup match between Iran and Egypt, rejecting requests from both nations' football federations to restrict LGBTQ+-related displays at what local organizers have…
Nike to release gold cleats after Ronaldo’s World Cup record
Hours after Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score in six different World Cups, Nike is set to release a special-edition gold Mercurial Superfly 1 RGN cleat celebrating the 41-year-old's latest milestone. The shoe drops on June 24…
Trump to present World Cup trophy alongside Infantino at July 19 final
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and jointly present the championship trophy to the winning…
Canada routs Qatar 3-0 as World Cup matchday 2 begins
The 2026 FIFA World Cup shifted into its second round of group stage fixtures on Thursday, June 18, with four matches spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada as the expanded 48-team tournament builds momentum heading into a packed…
Ronaldo joins Messi in record sixth World Cup appearance
Cristiano Ronaldo became the second man in history to appear at six FIFA World Cups on Wednesday, starting for Portugal in their 2026 opener against DR Congo in Houston — just one day after Lionel Messi set the record during…
Canada opens World Cup with ceremony, earns first-ever point in 1-1 draw
Canada welcomed the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday with a star-studded opening ceremony at Toronto Stadium, blending music, cultural tribute, and national pride ahead of the host nation's historic first World Cup match on home soil…
FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks spark backlash at World Cup opener
FIFA's mandatory hydration breaks made their World Cup debut on Thursday in the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — and the backlash was immediate. The three-minute stoppages, called by the referee…
2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off as Mexico beats South Africa 2-0
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened on Thursday in Mexico City with co-hosts Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca, launching the largest edition of the tournament in history. The match, which featured three red cards, echoed the…
North America’s soccer fan base tops 136 million ahead of World Cup
North America's soccer fan base has expanded by 10.9% over the past five years to more than 136 million people, according to a Nielsen report released Tuesday, underscoring the sport's momentum as the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick…
2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 with 48 teams across three nations
The largest FIFA World Cup in history is days away. On Thursday, June 11, Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 tournament, launching a 38-day, 104-match spectacle spread across 16 cities in the United States,…
Soccer’s rule-makers approve sweeping changes for 2026 World Cup
The International Football Association Board has approved a landmark set of rule changes that will debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when the tournament kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The changes, announced…
Messi becomes fastest to 100 MLS goal contributions
BMO Field hosted the largest crowd in Toronto FC's history on Saturday as 44,828 fans packed into the newly expanded stadium to watch Lionel Messi's Inter Miami dismantle their hosts 4-2 in what doubled as a dress rehearsal for next…
2026 World Cup final to feature first-ever halftime show
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed this week that the 2026 World Cup Final will include a halftime show for the first time in the tournament's 96-year history. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Infantino…
FIFA chief says Iran ‘coming for sure’ to World Cup in U.S.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared on Wednesday that Iran's national soccer team is "coming for sure" to the 2026 World Cup, where all three of the country's group-stage matches are scheduled on U.S. soil despite an ongoing armed conflict between…
Estadio Azteca reopens as Portugal faces Mexico without injured Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is absent from Portugal's final pre-World Cup friendly window after failing to recover from a right hamstring injury, leaving manager Roberto Martínez without his captain for Saturday's match against Mexico at the newly reopened Estadio Azteca in Mexico…
Belgium routs USMNT 5-2 in World Cup warmup
The U.S. men's national team's five-game unbeaten streak came to a jarring end on Saturday as Belgium dismantled the Americans 5-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, raising alarm bells just 76 days before the opening match of the 2026 World…
Sargent, Rodríguez set for MLS debuts as Messi chases 900th goal
Major League Soccer's fourth weekend of the season brings 15 matches across Saturday and Sunday, headlined by potential first appearances from marquee signings and Lionel Messi's pursuit of a historic milestone. With expansion side San Diego FC sitting atop the…
Soccer’s global rule body adopts MLS time-wasting crackdown
The International Football Association Board voted Saturday to write two rules pioneered by Major League Soccer into the global Laws of the Game, marking a rare instance in which American soccer innovations have reshaped the sport worldwide.
Portugal weighs canceling Mexico friendly amid cartel violence
The Portuguese Football Federation said on Tuesday that it is "closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico" and will rely on government guidance before committing to a scheduled March 28 friendly against Mexico at the renovated Estadio Azteca,…