National Teams

Will China Qualify For World Cup? One Player Says Even “Harry Potter Magic” Might Not Save Them

Chinese soccer's problems are so deep-rooted that not even the best coaches in the world could get them to the World Cup without the help of a magic wand, according to former international Wang Xiaolong.

China's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002 are hanging by a thread after they lost three of their first four matches in the third round of Asian qualifying for Qatar.

What History Says About The USMNT’s Current World Cup Qualifying Chances

Qualifying for the World Cup from Concacaf is hard, the narrative goes. Away trips are brutal experiences and every point is hard earned, we’re told. And yet, a quick glance at social media over the last month or two since the USMNT began World Cup qualifying paints a different picture, one that suggests U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter is a stinking pile of flaming diapers for failing to win every single game in qualifying. It had us thinking about USMNT World Cup qualifying history, and how past teams have fared compared to this one. 

CONMEBOL En Llamas: Siete Selecciones Luchan Por Dos Cupos Y Medio Al Mundial De Catar

¡Oh, boy! El cliché dice que las eliminatorias de la CONMEBOL son las más difíciles del mundo y el camino a Catar 2022 sirve como buen ejemplo. Fuera de Brasil y Argentina -en el avión a Medio Oriente- y una virtualmente eliminada Venezuela, hay otras siete selecciones luchando por dos cupos directos y uno al repechaje.

Terminada la triple fecha de octubre, la pelea es estrecha. Quedando seis jornadas son apenas seis puntos los que separan al tercer lugar (Ecuador) del noveno (Perú).

Alphonso Davies Was So Good Last Night That Even Drake Was Left Stunned

Everyone is well-versed in Alphonso Davies’ game-changing pace and ability to dice any defender on the planet off the dribble, but it’s his increasing effectiveness in the final third that makes the 20-year-old standout as one of football’s brightest talents.

That’s not to say it’s a new development in his game. At the tender age of 17 Davies was already one of Major League Soccer’s most devastating players in attack, scoring eight goals and providing 10 assists in 31 games to help facilitate his $11 million move to Bayern. (He’s now valued at $155 million.)

USMNT Responds To Critics With Roaring Comeback Victory Over Costa Rica

The USMNT got its World Cup qualifying campaign back on the right track, baby, yeah, by defeating Costa Rica 2-1 in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night. Block every voice that tells you this isn’t something worth celebrating because after going down 1-0 to a strange goal early, the U.S. produced the sort of performance that makes this grind of qualifying more than worth your time. 

El Salvador Threw A Giant Rager Outside Mexico’s Team Hotel Last Night

After the USMNT escaped El Salvador with a 0-0 draw to begin World Cup qualifying, various Twitter accounts with profile pictures of teenaged USMNT stars chalked it off as unacceptable. 

Landon Donovan labelled that thinking as "crazy." 

FIFA Opens Investigation Into ‘Abhorrent’ Violence During Hungary-England Match At Wembley

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings looking into the clashes at Wembley Stadium between police and Hungarian supporters at Tuesday's game against England, saying it has "zero tolerance against such abhorrent behaviour."

World soccer's governing body added on Wednesday that it has also started investigating incidents during the game between Albania and Poland in Tirana, where bottles were thrown on the pitch after Poland scored.

Andonovski Names Carli Lloyd’s Teammates For Her Final Appearances In USWNT Uniform

Carli Lloyd’s playing career is coming to an end. But first, two final farewell matches later this month against South Korea. On Wednesday, coach Vlatko Andonovski named his USWNT roster for the upcoming friendlies, which are little more than a chance to send Lloyd off in style. 

Lloyd announced in August she will retire after the 2021 NWSL season, calling an end to an historic career.

Bayern, France Defender Lucas Hernandez Sentenced To 6 Months Prison

MADRID — A Madrid court has sentenced Bayern Munich and France defender Lucas Hernandez to six months in prison for disobeying a restraining order following a 2017 conviction of domestic violence against his wife.

A court document released on Wednesday said Hernandez, 25, had been denied an appeal by a criminal court in Madrid against a previous suspended prison sentence for defying the restraining order.

The document said Hernandez had been denied the appeal as he had been given two previous criminal sentences, both relating to the February 2017 incident.

Good God, When Is The Next FIFA Election So We Can Get This Guy Out?

Gianni Infantino, the ninth President of FIFA, has found himself increasingly in the news of late, which we’ve come to learn is never, ever a good sign when it comes to FIFA presidents. The 51-year-old’s latest fixation is a biennial World Cup that’s been panned by everyone with a genuine love for the game, so it’s only a matter of time before the plan becomes reality.

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