USA

The current state of the world and limitations on socialization, especially for the elderly community, has left many people lonely and just wanting someone to talk to. One resident, Mr. Bill from the Phoenix Assisted Care in Cary, North Carolina, had a special request for a pen pal. An image of him asking for a pen pal that loves soccer and is a fan of the beautiful game surfaced the web and caught the attention of USWNT and NC Courage forward Jessica McDonald. 

Two-times World Cup winner and OL Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe is opting out of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) fall series starting next month, the Washington-based franchise said in a statement on Friday.

U.S. international Rapinoe is among 10 Reign players who are not available for the tournament, which is scheduled to start on Sept. 5.

Wednesday was a remarkable day in U.S. sports. For the first time in memory, athletes in this country chose not to participate in major professional team sports in protest of the continued shootings of Black men and women by police. It started with the Milwaukee Bucks, whose home arena isn’t far from where Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back earlier this week and where two protesters were murdered in the streets. It continued with the rest of the NBA and WNBA, a poignant message on the four-year anniversary of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee.

Several Chelsea players have not returned for preseason training after testing positive for Covid-19, according to reports in British media.

Chelsea did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Goal reported Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Christian Pulisic are among those isolating, but could not say whether any of them have tested positive for Covid-19. 

Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori are all isolating 

When soccer returned to play after shutting down for the novel coronavirus pandemic, players, teams and leagues around the world showed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Orlando Pride and U.S. women’s bational team defender Ali Krieger has joined Major League Soccer club Orlando City SC's broadcast crew. Krieger is one of the most respected and humble defenders in the game and she will be showing what she is capable of off the field, as she has joined Evan Weston and Miguel Gallardo. Her soccer intelligence and love for the game will help provide analysis and sideline reporting for the remainder of Orlando’s 2020 MLS season.