International soccer
Wolfsburg's Dominique Janssen, center left, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Women's Champions League group A soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Servette FC Chenois at AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Swen Pf'rtner/dpa via AP)
Ellis says biennial Women's World Cup can help grow the game

By Anne M. Peterson 19 hrs ago

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Atletico Venezuela vs Caracas FC 10/14/2021

Oct. 16, 2021 03:33 PM EDT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
IOC voices Olympic concern at FIFA's biennial World Cup plan

By Graham Dunbar Oct. 16, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

Barcelona's Pedri, centre, passes the ball challenged by Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi during a Group E Champions League soccer match between Benfica and Barcelona at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Pedri to sign new deal with Barcelona through 2026

Oct. 14, 2021 09:07 AM EDT

Supporters of Haifa attend a group E Europa Conference League soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Maccabi Haifa FC in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Maccabi Haifa FC vs Union Berlin 9/30/2021

Oct. 01, 2021 05:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 file photo, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin listens to reporter's questions during a press conference at the end of the 43rd UEFA congress in Rome. Ceferin says he has “grave concerns” about FIFA’s plans to stage World Cups every two years and is astonished by the lack of consultation by Gianni Infantino’s governing body. The comments were made in a letter to Football Supporters Europe. Ceferin says he backed the group’s “extremely valid and important” concerns about the damage doubling the frequency of World Cups would cause to domestic and regional competitions. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
UEFA says FIFA snubs request for talks on World Cup concerns

By Rob Harris Sep. 22, 2021 12:05 PM EDT

U.S. midfielder Kristie Mewis (22) moves the ball between Paraguay's Mirta Pico (11) and Daysy Bareiro (4) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Paraguay vs USA 9/16/2021

Sep. 16, 2021 09:49 PM EDT

U.S. forward Carli Lloyd, right, and Paraguay forward Ramona Martinez (18) vie for the ball during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Cleveland. The U.S. team won 9-0. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carli Lloyd scores 5 goals, US women rout Paraguay 9-0

Sep. 16, 2021 09:48 PM EDT

CONCACAF under-20s instead of 23s to determine Olympic spots

Sep. 16, 2021 09:43 PM EDT
MIAMI (AP) — CONCACAF took an unusual decision to eliminate its men's Olympic qualifying tournament and will instead have under-20 teams determine its...

Sarina Wiegman is unveiled as the new England Women head coach at Wembley Stadium, London, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Setting out on her vision as England manager, Sarina Wiegman was sure of one thing — the Women's World Cup should remain every four years. “The Euros are great, the World Cup is great, the Olympics are great so that is three tournaments," she said, pitchside at Webmley Stadium on Thursday. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
New England coach Wiegman against biennial Women's World Cup

By Rob Harris Sep. 09, 2021 01:51 PM EDT

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a Politburo meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
IOC suspends NKorea from Beijing Olympics for Tokyo no-show

By Graham Dunbar Sep. 08, 2021 01:49 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday Nov. 27, 2020 file photo, United States' Tobin Heath plays the ball during their international friendly women's soccer match against The Netherlands at the Rat Verlegh stadium in Breda, Netherlands. United States international Tobin Heath is staying in English soccer. The 33-year-old forward has signed for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. She played at Manchester United last season. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool via AP, file)
US forward Tobin Heath staying in English soccer at Arsenal

Sep. 03, 2021 09:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, First Vice President of the International Swimming Federation, FINA, Husain Al Musallam, during the FINA World Aquatics Gala in Budapest, Hungary. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show two senior Olympic officials from Kuwait have been targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice for suspected racketeering and bribery related to FIFA and international soccer politics. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah is reputed to be the “kingmaker” of IOC elections. Husain al-Musallam is president of swimming’s international governing body. The documents include details of the DOJ investigation and a formal request to Kuwaiti authorities in 2017 for help to secure evidence. (Attila Kovacs/MTI via AP, File)
Documents show US investigation of 2 Kuwaitis in FIFA case

By Graham Dunbar Sep. 02, 2021 11:43 AM EDT

Barcelona's Sergino Dest, center, duels for the ball with Athletic Bilbao's Inigo Martinez, left, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona at San Mames stadium, in Bilbao, northern Spain, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao 8/21/2021

Aug. 26, 2021 08:55 AM EDT

Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino vies for the ball with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Luis Enrique names Spain squad with 7 changes from Euro 2020

By Tales Azzoni Aug. 26, 2021 06:27 AM EDT

Brazil's Antony embraces teammate Matheus Cunha after he scored his side's opening goal against Spain in the men's soccer final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Atlético signs Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Hertha

Aug. 25, 2021 11:09 AM EDT

United States' Christen Press, left, and Netherlands' Lieke Martens battle for the ball during a women's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Angel City acquires Press, hires Coombe for first season

By Anne M. Peterson Aug. 23, 2021 05:28 PM EDT

Real Sociedad's Joseba Zaldua, foreground, tackles Barcelona's Pedri during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Real Sociedad San Sebastian vs FC Barcelona 8/15/2021

Aug. 20, 2021 12:41 PM EDT

Canada national soccer team members celebrate after winning the women's final gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
CONCACAF heralds more competition opportunities for women

By Anne M. Peterson Aug. 19, 2021 06:35 PM EDT

United States' goalkeeper Adrianna Franch intercepts a shot challenged by Australia's Emily Van Egmond in the women's bronze medal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Kashima, Japon. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Thorns goalkeeper Franch traded to KC NWSL

Aug. 17, 2021 11:07 PM EDT