International Soccer

Women's World Cup odds: Is there any hope outside of USA or England?

With an expanded 32-team tournament and matches across Australia and New Zealand, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup (beginning with a crowd of over 100,000 for the Matildas opener against Ireland) is going to be the best in the competition's 32-year history.

The USWNT is favored for a three-peat but that's never been done before, and there will be fierce competition from European champions England, two-time world champs Germany and teams looking to take the next step like France and Spain. 

How a self-taught Detroit chef went from the dish pit to cooking on the biggest sports stage in the world

As the confetti fell and thousands of lightbulbs flashed in Lyon, France, on July 7, 2019, USA’s players climbed the podium to celebrate the fulfillment of a dream that had required years of sacrifice, total commitment and a single-minded belief in accomplishing it all.  

A captivated global audience delighted in what these 23 women had achieved — a historic fourth world title for the U.S. — but the players themselves took a moment to immortalize a staff member whose personal journey mirrored their own with the following chant: “Chef! Chef! Chef!”  

The18's 2023 Women's World Cup predictions

It's time to get laughed at. Here are The18's 2023 Women's World Cup predictions ahead of the biggest (first time with 32 teams) and farthest reaching (first time with two host nations) version of the tournament yet.

The competition's main storyline is the USWNT going for a historic three-peat, but England, the reigning European champions, are massive rivals and aiming for their first appearance in the final. 

Folarin Balogun on initial USMNT experience: 'Best month of my life'

Although Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game from the nation's capital will feature all the league's must-watch talent (minus Lionel Messi) and Arsenal's flourishing squad, the biggest cheer of the night might be reserved for a Gunners player who spent last season in France and who might not even be on the roster come September: instant USMNT hero Folarin Balogun.

Mexico national team finds viral kid who wanted to be Mexican, feeds him quesadillas

Sorry, Panama. I know the Gold Cup final is later Sunday night, but the tournament has already been won by Mexico after members of the national team met the child who wanted to be Mexican — so he could spend his days eating quesadillas — and presented him with that delicacy and an El Tri jersey.

It was revealed in the original video that the four-year-old boy has Ethiopian roots, but that's all over now — just look at how content he is to be wearing La Verde and eating that delicious cheesiness melted inside a warm tortilla. 

France’s new World Cup commercial has a must-watch plot twist

MANCHESTER — Soccer fans are buzzing about a Women's World Cup ad featuring French stars Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann - or so it seems at first.

In Telecom company Orange's campaign aimed at challenging people's perceptions of women's soccer, the two-minute ad appears to show a display of magical soccer skills from diving headers to curling free kicks by Mbappe, Griezmann and others.

Then comes the twist.

Sophia Smith haunts her opponents in horror-themed Nike World Cup commercial

Nike went all out on their latest commercial featuring United States women’s national team star Sophia Smith.

Released on Saturday, the 60-second commercial features an unnamed defender being haunted by Smith ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

The ad is a nod to the 2022 film “Smile” which I had to look up when writing this article and boy was that a little too spooky for me.

Thankfully Nike’s ad is a little more family friendly but will still be fear-inducing for defenders going up against Smith in Australia and New Zealand.

Ireland and Colombia abandon match after 20 minutes due to game being ‘overly physical’

A friendly match between Women's World Cup-bound teams Ireland and Colombia was abandoned after becoming overly physical, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said on Friday.

The game in Brisbane, Australia, which was played behind closed doors, was called off after 20 minutes.

"The game, which was held in Meakin Park, Brisbane, became overly physical and it was decided, following consultation with the match officials, to end the game," the FAI said in a statement.

Expect to see players bundled up at the Women’s World Cup as the weather will be brisk

The 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off next week and the hype continues to build. The Women’s World Cup weather will be one topic that fans back home might be discussing.

I was looking through some United States women’s national team content and was initially confused. Why were they all wearing jackets?

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Jesús Gallardo es el MVP de México en la Copa Oro – Aquí tenemos las pruebas

¿Se acuerdan de aquellos días en que decíamos – medios y aficionados – que Jesús Gallardo era un becado del Tata Martino y que debía agarrar sus maletas para nunca más volver a la Selección Mexicana? 

Qué equivocados estábamos. 

De un tiempo a esta parte – y lo siento por los fans de Gerardo Arteaga –, el bueno de Jesús ha demostrado que es uno de los jugadores imprescindibles en El Tri. Gallardo fue uno de los pocos rescatables en el desastre que significó el Mundial de Catar y ahora en la Copa Oro 2023 podemos decir que está en llamas.

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