We see them before seemingly every match on television. They walk out, hold hands with the players and look absolutely adorable. They are kids, but those in the know call them mascots. But what purpose do they serve? Do the players know the kids before they become mascots? Is there anything in it for the kids besides holding hands with a professional athlete? Quite simply, why do soccer players walk out with kids in the first place?
Since there are 24 teams participating in the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the knockout format is slightly different than the men’s format. To ensure 16 teams make it to the knockout stages, out of the six groups, four of those groups have three out of the four teams in the group go through the to the knockout stages. The way these four teams are chosen is simple: The third-place teams with the most points out of the six move on to the knockout stages.
The opening match of the Women’s World Cup is in the books, host France crushing South Korea 4-0. But more than the final score, the France vs South Korea highlights showed one thing: the American women will have to beat Les Bleues if they hope to repeat, and it won’t be easy.
The USWNT entered the 2019 Women’s World Cup as the favorite to win it all. Jill Ellis’ side is ranked No. 1 in the world, features some of the best attacking talent on the planet and has the experience to repeat as champion.
Yes, the Women’s World Cup is using VAR. Yes, people are going to complain. And yes, the VAR got the call right in its first usage during the tournament opener between France and South Korea on Friday.
France was the first victim of VAR at Women’s World Cup after a goal was disallowed for the narrowest of offside calls in the first half of the first match of the tournament.
According to reports from ESPN and the BBC, Real Madrid and Chelsea have finally agreed to a transfer fee to send Eden Hazard from Stamford Bridge to the Santiago Bernabéu. The Eden Hazard transfer fee is being priced at $113 million, but that sum could rise to as high as $165 million should the 28-year-old Belgian attacker reach “realistic bonuses” along with additional payments that Real will make.
After finishing in fourth place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and following that up with victories over Spain and Croatia in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, support for England is at a fever pitch.
There’s a profound sense of optimism surrounding Gareth Southgate’s side, and the nation is relishing an exciting crop of players that features Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford.
The UEFA Nations League semifinals kicked off Tuesday. The new competition began with group play in the fall and concludes this week with the top league’s group winners playing a mini-tournament in Portugal.
Portugal took a lead in the first semifinal against Switzerland through a powerful Cristiano Ronaldo free kick. The Swiss then equalized in the most unusual of circumstances.
After a minor injury that spiraled into 10 operations, an infection that ate away at his tendon and threatened foot amputation, a skin graft that resulted in part of his left arm tattoo moving to his right foot and ultimately, a spell of 636 days without football, Santi Cazorla made a remarkable comeback with Villarreal last season, appearing in 46 matches, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.
The U.S. has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup after shocking tournament-favorite France 3-2 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Tuesday. Trailing 2-1 with just over 15 minutes remaining, the USMNT U-20s came storming back with late goals from Sebastian Soto and Justin Rennicks.
Real Madrid’s youth movement continued apace Tuesday with news that 21-year-old Serbian striker Luka Jović had completed his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-year deal worth $67.5 million.