USA

Wales and Los Angeles FC winger Gareth Bale said on Monday he had decided to end his playing career at the age of 33, having reached exceptional milestones in both club and international football.

Bale played a Wales record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. He helped the Welsh reach the 2016 and 2020 Euros before leading them in their first World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022.

With Leeds United just two points above the Premier League relegation zone nearing the campaign's halfway point, an FA Cup exit to EFL Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday would've certainly left Jesse Marsch's job security on the brink.

It looked pretty hopeless at halftime after Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo scored to give Cardiff a 2-0 advantage while the 6,000 Leeds supporters who'd made their way to Wales booed their players and manager off the pitch.

French outlet L’Equipe reported on Saturday that U.S. Soccer had approached French legend and former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane with the idea of him becoming the new head coach for the USMNT. Gregg Berhalter’s contract has run out and U.S. Soccer is trying to figure out if he will stay for another cycle or be replaced.

National Women's Soccer League MVP Sophia Smith was voted the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, the sport's governing body said on Friday, after scoring 11 goals for the national team last year.

TFW @beckysauerbrunn crashes your Zoom to break the Player of the Year news

Congrats @sophsssmith! pic.twitter.com/YzdbEUPm4O

Taylor Twellman is leaving ESPN. An iconic and sometimes polarizing figure in the U.S. Soccer sphere, Twellman has been on TV screens for ESPN since Nov. 2011 providing us with his commentary and occasional rant.

Love him or hate him, the former USMNT player has played a big part in growing the game in the country with his work at ESPN.

Thank you @ESPN! pic.twitter.com/3FECcq1kCo

Christian Pulisic had to be substituted out in the first half of Chelsea’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Thursday after picking up an injury. The Pulisic injury happened in the 16th minute when John Stones put in a perfect tackle to deny the American a clean shot on goal.

Pulisic tried to continue playing but was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka in the 22nd minute.

NEW YORK - Veteran forward Alex Morgan heads a largely inexperienced roster as the U.S. women's national soccer team kick off 2023 with two friendlies on the road against World Cup co-hosts New Zealand.

The United States are gunning for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title — and fifth overall — when the tournament kicks off in less than 200 days, after a frustrating end to 2022.

The United States women’s national team is preparing for two January friendlies in New Zealand against the Football Ferns. USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski released the 24-player roster for the friendlies on Thursday and some fans were surprised to not see star player Mallory Pugh on the list.

What those fans didn’t realize was that a Mal Pugh name change had taken place since the last time the U.S. played. In December the Chicago Red Stars forward married Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson.

U.S. Soccer is experiencing a brutal period. Gregg Berhalter’s contract is up but is still being considered as a potential option for the men's head coaching gig. 

While the next coach is being decided there’s been an incredibly childish conflict between Berhalter and the parents of phenom Gio Reyna. The Reyna parents allegedly blackmailed Berhalter over an incident back in 1991 when he kicked his now wife, Rosalind.