World Soccer Talk

In its return from the October international break, the Premier League brings fans a full slate of games that spreads across three days. Viewers will have access to a London derby, relegation clashes and a fascinating contest at Anfield. All of the games are available on the NBC family of networks, with four exclusive to […]

The deal between Apple and MLS to broadcast every game in the American top flight was always a risk. In 2023, MLS Commissioner Don Garber even admitted it. On one hand, removing MLS from regional sports networks as well as only offering a slim number of games on FOX Sports has produced underwhelming results. On […]

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in the tournament's history, and broadcasters submitting a tender for rights may have to pay more. With 48 teams competing, the number of games for the 2026 tournament is 104. Therefore, countries that are out of a rights deal must start their bidding process. That is the […]

The German Bundesliga may be going down a similar path as the EFL because of its partnership with American media agency Relevent. Currently, the German top flight has a rights deal with ESPN through the end of the 2025/26 season. Until then, all games are available on ESPN+ with a small handful of games also […]

FOX has set itself as the home of international soccer in the United States with media rights for the men's and women's World Cup. The broadcaster has the rights to the men's World Cup through the 2026 tournament, which shapes up to be historic for those in the United States. However, after that, there is […]

Jose Mourinho welcomes his former club Manchester United to Fenerbahçe on Thursday in the Europa League. While the Red Devils have been unconvincing under Erik ten Hag, one of the best coaches of modern times is also playing second fiddle to Galatasaray’s hegemony in Turkish soccer.  “You need to win every game to be the […]

Hundreds of professional women's soccer players have signed a letter calling for FIFA to end a sponsorship deal with a Saudi oil company. In April, FIFA signed a sponsorship deal with Aramco. That oil company has 98.5% state ownership, meaning the government of Saudi Arabia owns the company. In a way, it is FIFA entering […]

Al-Hilal’s sensational 5-4 win away at defending Champions League winners Al-Ain saw Neymar make his long-awaited return to action. The Brazilian ace last played 369 days ago when Brazil lost to Uruguay. He featured in the last 15 minutes of the end-to-end action between Western Asia’s two finest clubs. Goals galore in Neymar’s return Just […]

After defeating Chelsea this past weekend to return to the Premier League mountaintop, Virgil van Dijk announced he is in contract negotiations. As things stand, the Dutchman's contract at Anfield expires at the end of the 2024/25 season. However, Liverpool executive Richard Hughes is in conversations with Van Dijk's representatives to keep the center-back at […]

An audit into the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, found unmarked expenses that totaled $16 million in another scandal. Official accounts and expenditure reports failed to mention $16 million in spending. Those financial numbers apply to the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2023. Consequently, there are new musings and reports of scandal […]

Athletics come to mind when people hear the name Ethiopia. But, by some distance (no pun intended), the most popular sport in Ethiopia has always been soccer, with European competitions drawing large crowds in show houses. Soccer from Europe even tops local competitions in terms of how regularly fans tune in. Despite the nationwide interest […]

Last summer's European Championships demonstrated something unsophisticated about modern international soccer. Europe's most prolific soccer nations faced off every few days with an abundance of world-class talent on display. Yet the end product often felt somewhat underwhelming. Games involving many of the tournament's favorites felt cluttered, disorganized and rigid compared to the highest quality of […]

The October international break was bizarre. Sure, there were some interesting games and notable storylines like Mauricio Pochettino's debut with the USMNT. However, a bigger trend made headway. Players left their national teams prematurely to return to their clubs and prevent the further risk of injury. Headline players like Christian Pulisic, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van […]

The English Football Association (FA) has reportedly agreed a contract with Thomas Tuchel to become the next England manager. The Three Lions have been without a permanent boss since Gareth Southgate resigned from the position in July. This came following England's loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Lee Carsley was eventually named interim […]

It seems strange to think of a Chelsea without Enzo Maresca that was once battling with Crystal Palace, Wolves, and West Ham for 12th place in the Premier League. The 2024 team in the hunt for their first league title since 2016 seems like a whole different entity than the squad Graham Potter had the […]

Gary Neville is this week's guest on the World Soccer Talk Podcast. During the conversation, Neville discusses the launch of the brand-new It's Called Soccer! digital series that includes Rebecca Lowe and Jamie Carragher. The trio launched It's Called Soccer! on September 18. The show, according to a press release, promises to "discuss and debate […]

Kartik Krishnaiyer and Christopher Harris are back to share their analysis regarding the latest announcement from CBS Sports where they reveal the new soccer rights they've acquired in the United States. We dive into what the EFL and Serie A deals mean for soccer fans, as well as how it'll impact viewers in the United […]

Nick ends the Inside Euro 2024 series with his memories of England's journey in major tournaments during his lifetime from World Cup 1966 to Euro 2024. It's a sad tale of depression, defeat, and the Dutch (as well as the Germans). Memories of Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker, David Beckham, Luke Shaw, and Harry Kane, it's […]

Nick Webster is back in the United States where he shares his thoughts about the Euro 2024 quarterfinals and semifinals. Watching the games in Los Angeles at a local pub, he adds his thoughts about England's win versus the Netherlands, and what a complete performance it was. Listen to the latest episode Launched in 2006, […]