National Teams

Two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz retires from professional soccer

Two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz retired from professional soccer with an announcement on social media on Thursday.

"With immense emotion and processing, I've decided it is time to hang up the boots," the U.S. women's national team icon and longtime NWSL defender posted on social media.

Spanish soccer boss' mother taken to hospital after hunger strike

MOTRIL, Spain – The mother of the Spanish Soccer Federation's beleaguered chief Luis Rubiales who started a hunger strike in support of her son on Monday, was taken to a local hospital on Wednesday after feeling tired and stressed out, the local priest said.

Angeles Bejar had locked herself in a church in her hometown of Motril in southern Spain to protest the treatment of her son in a furore over kissing World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth, which led to his suspension by FIFA on Saturday.

Megan Rapinoe will retire from national team and play her final game on Sept. 24th

The United States women’s national team will bid farewell to one of its biggest stars in September as Megan Rapinoe will play her final game.

When is Rapinoe's last game for USWNT?

Rapinoe’s farewell will be a friendly match against South Africa on Sept. 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game is the second of two friendlies that the USWNT will play against South Africa. Rapinoe won’t feature in the first game in Cincinnati on Sept. 21.

Spanish regional soccer chiefs come together to demand Luis Rubiales’ resignation

MADRID — Spanish regional soccer chiefs demanded federation boss Luis Rubiales resign for grabbing and kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, as the country's caretaker government promised on Tuesday to ensure women play a bigger role in running sports.

Spanish soccer chief's mother locks herself in church on hunger strike

The mother of suspended Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales locked herself inside a church and started a hunger strike to protest against her son's treatment over his kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the world cup victory, family members said.

"She has gone on hunger strike, she does not want to leave the church," Vanessa Ruiz, a cousin of Rubiales, told reporters outside the parish church of Divina Pastora in the family's home town of Motril, southern Spain.

USWNT drop to their lowest FIFA ranking in history following World Cup disappointment

The latest edition of the FIFA women’s world rankings was released on Friday and the big news is that the USWNT have dropped two places. For this first time in history the U.S. sit third in the world, their lowest ever ranking.

USWNT FIFA rankings

Women’s soccer world unites after Spanish federation boss refuses to step down

MADRID — Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales refused to quit on Friday for kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup victory, fuelling anger among players and government ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable macho behavior.

The government cannot sack Rubiales, who is head of the independent Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). But it will seek to suspend him using a legal procedure before a sports tribunal, the head of the state-run sports council, Victor Francos, told reporters.

Spanish soccer president will resign due to backlash over his World Cup kiss on Jenni Hermoso

MADRID — Spanish football federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales plans to resign on Friday after FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him over his unsolicited kiss on the mouth of player Jenni Hermoso during celebrations after Spain's Women's World Cup victory, Cadena Ser radio reported on Thursday.

Rubiales has been under fire after kissing Hermoso on the lips while handing the team their medals after they beat England 1-0 in the final in Sydney on Sunday.

Lindsey Horan hints that the players took over the plan and tactics vs. Sweden, not Vlatko

Lindsey Horan had strong words about the United States women’s national team’s coaching staff and their World Cup failure when she sat down with her former teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath on The RE-CAP Show.

Horan discussed that the team wasn’t set up for success at the tournament, had no joy throughout and dropped a bombshell about the team’s tactics during the Round of 16 loss vs. Sweden.

Spain’s prime minister calls out soccer federation chief for kissing player on the lips

MADRID — The Spanish soccer federation chief's public apology for his unsolicited kiss of national player Jenni Hermoso during celebrations of Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup was "not enough", Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday.

The incident - which happened as Luis Rubiales handed the women's team gold medals after they beat England 1-0 in the final on Sunday - sparked outrage within and outside Spain, with many, including ministers, demanding Rubiales' resignation.

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