US is world's top destination for international soccer tournaments

For more than two decades, we have seen many European clubs and foreign national teams visit the United States to play in international soccer competitions. In 14 out of its 16 iterations, CONCACAF has staged its Gold Cup tournament in the United States. Even then, we mustn't forget the United States hosted the 1994 World […]

Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – The United States qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday by defeating Tokyo Olympic champions Canada 1-0 in the CONCACAF W Championship final. Alex Morgan scored from the penalty spot in the 78th minute to seal victory as the reigning world champions avenged their upset loss to the Canadians in last […]

Paris (AFP) – French authorities faced questions Sunday over police tactics at the Paris Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid that descended into scenes of chaos before kick-off, with critics asking if the capital was ready to host the 2024 Olympics. Liverpool called for an investigation into the treatment of their supporters ahead […]

The United States has the unseen opportunity to host three successive sporting events on the world's stage. The FIFA World Cup comes to the U.S. in 2026 through a shared host with Mexico and Canada. Then, two years later, Los Angeles hosts its third Summer Olympics. Hosting the World Cup and the Olympics in a […]

Geneva (AFP) – The International Olympic Committee on Monday urged sports federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The recommendation could trigger further announcements with FIFA in "advanced discussions" to expel Russia from the 2022 World Cup, a source with knowledge of the […]

Doha (AFP) – The focus of the sporting world shifts to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following the Tokyo Olympics, with lingering questions over Covid safety and human rights. Unlike the Games, which played out to a backdrop of surging case numbers in Tokyo and without spectators to limit viral transmission, organisers of the […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Christine Sinclair, the all-time leading scorer in international football, enjoyed the crowning moment of her career Friday as Canada won Olympic gold for the first time. The 38-year-old Sinclair debuted for the national team as a teenager in 2000, and her 187 international goals are the most in the history of […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe saved two spot-kicks in a nail-biting shootout as Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 on penalties to clinch Olympic women's football gold for the first time Friday in Yokohama. Stina Blackstenius scored her team-best fifth goal of the tournament to give Sweden the lead, but Jessie Fleming's penalty in the […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Cuba's Julio la Cruz was shot in an armed robbery in 2014 — but now he is a two-time Olympic champion after victory in the heavyweight boxing final in Tokyo on Friday. Luckily, la Cruz was not seriously hurt when he was held up in Cuba and shot in the hip, and […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Cuba's Julio la Cruz, who was shot during a robbery just a few years ago, won his second Olympic gold on Friday with victory in the heavyweight boxing final. The 31-year-old defeated Russia's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov on unanimous points to add the Tokyo title to his Rio 2016 light-heavyweight crown. La Cruz, a […]