Soccer

China Kicks Off 'Great Leap Forward' On The Soccer Field

7:07pm May 21, 2015

by Anthony Kuhn

China is rolling out an ambitious soccer program. President Xi Jinping is reported to be a big fan who wants China to win a World Cup. Critics say there's too much emphasis on quick results.

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FIFA President Sepp Blatter kicks a ball during the inauguration of a football stadium in the village of Dura al-Qari near the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday. Blatter said he is on a

For Israel, Soccer Becomes A Geopolitical Football

8:39pm May 20, 2015

by Emily Harris

The head of FIFA visited Israel and the West Bank this week, where Palestinians are petitioning to expel Israel from soccer's governing body — and its biggest international tournaments.

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FC Barcelona plays Getafe in Barcelona, Spain, on May 3. Spain's soccer federation says it will halt all professional games

No Goooaaal? Spain's Soccer Federation Suspends Season In Row Over Law

6:59pm May 07, 2015

by Lauren Frayer

At issue is a new law that allows poorer teams to share TV airtime and revenue more fairly. The law would break the monopoly of the league's two richest teams, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Sports

Deford: Americans Don't Care About Major League Soccer

3:30pm April 08, 2015

by Frank Deford

The curmudgeonly sports commentator is pessimistic about the sport's prospects in the U.S.

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Guinea's defender Fode Camara (left) heads the ball over Ivory Coast's forward Wilfried Bony in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Africa's Soccer Tourney Takes Guinea's Mind Off Ebola

9:22am January 22, 2015

by Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

Today, Guineans had one thing on their mind: Would their beloved Elephants beat Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations?

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Dozens of elite women's soccer players have ended their fight against the use of turf at this summer's Women's World Cup. The plaintiffs included Abby Wambach, seen here in a 2013 US Women's National Team game.

Soccer Players End Lawsuit Over Artificial Turf At Women's World Cup

3:52pm January 21, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The suit accused the organizers of discrimination, saying elite men's teams would never be forced to play on an artificial surface instead of natural grass. The plaintiffs included Abby Wambach.

Sports

U.S. Women's Soccer Team Finishes Second In Brazilian Tournament

7:57am December 22, 2014

by Russell Lewis

Brazil and the U.S. played to a 0-0 draw in the final of the International Tournament of Brasilia, giving Brazil the first-place finish overall. None of the games was televised in the U.S.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter attends a press conference in Marrakech, Morocco, on Friday.

FIFA Votes To Release At Least Some Of The Controversial World Cup Report

10:51am December 19, 2014

by Eyder Peralta

Soccer's governing body also announced that it would not revisit the bidding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, because there were no legal grounds to do so.

Michael J. Garcia, head of FIFA's investigatory chamber of the ethics committee, resigned Wednesday in protest.

FIFA Begins Meeting After American Lawyer's Angry Resignation

11:22am December 18, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

Soccer's governing body will, among other things, discuss preparations for the 2018 World Cup. But it's the resignation of Michael Garcia over his corruption report that is likely to draw attention.

FIFA Dismisses U.S. Lawyer's Appeal On Handling Of World Cup Report

11:41am December 16, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

Michael Garcia had filed an appeal against how his report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 soccer World Cup was handled. FIFA said his appeal is inadmissible.