New York (AFP) – A former president of Venezuela's football federation pleaded guilty Thursday over the massive FIFA corruption scandal, eight months after posting a $7 million bond and professing his innocence. Rafael Esquivel, 70, also a former vice president of the South American Football Confederation, pled guilty to seven counts of racketeering, wire fraud […]

Paris (AFP) – There will be a poignant mood at the Stade de France on Friday as France host Sweden in a World Cup qualifier a year on from the Paris terror attacks. It was on Friday, November 13 last year that France were playing Germany at the same stadium in a friendly when three […]

Arsenal Twitter nearly went into meltdown mode on Tuesday when reports surfaced that Alexis Sanchez suffered a torn calf muscle in training with the Chile national team. An injury of that magnitude would surely keep the superstar forward out of commission for a few months; however, the Chilean FA quickly released a statement claiming that […]

The final round of World Cup qualifying is set to begin with a bang with USA against Mexico, one of the biggest rivalries in this hemisphere. Every game between these two nations is gripping and intense. But with a good start to the final qualifying round at stake, this should be even better than previous […]

Milan (AFP) – New Inter Milan coach Stefano Pioli said he will be "expecting a lot" from Italy winger Antonio Candreva despite a rift between the pair when they were at rival Serie A club Lazio. Pioli was unveiled as the successor to sacked Dutchman Frank De Boer on Thursday. His appointment comes less than […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney will return to the starting line-up for his country's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Friday, interim manager Gareth Southgate announced on Thursday. Rooney, 31, started on the bench in England's last game, a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia, after losing his place in Manchester […]

Serravalle (San Marino) (AFP) – World champions Germany face minnows San Marino in a 2018 World Cup qualifier with a true David verses Goliath match-up on Friday. Germany take on fellow European powerhouses Italy in Milan next Tuesday in a friendly, their last international of the year, but before the Azzurri, the Germans look destined […]

London (AFP) – England and Scotland renew the oldest rivalry in international football on Friday in a 2018 World Cup qualifier that has been dogged by a pre-match row about commemorative poppies. The football associations of both countries have pledged to defy a FIFA ban on political, religious or commercial symbols by wearing black armbands […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – The Netherlands and Belgium played out a 1-1 friendly draw Wednesday where Premier League stars Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard struggled and the Dutch suffered injury setbacks ahead of a key World Cup qualifier. A penalty from Davy Klaassen gave the Dutch a 38th-minute lead from the penalty spot before Yannick […]

Carson (United States) (AFP) – Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said Wednesday he hopes Steven Gerrard can be persuaded to prolong his career in Major League Soccer amid reports the former England captain is seeking a coaching or playing role in Britain. Gerrard is out of contract with the Galaxy following the completion of […]

Doha (AFP) – A 29-year-old Nepalese labourer who died while working at a Qatar World Cup stadium site died after being hit by a water lorry, an investigation has concluded, according to a statement released Wednesday. Anil Kumar Pasman suffered "fatal injuries... in a tragic accident" at Al-Wakrah stadium, according to the statement from the Supreme […]

Berlin (AFP) – Scotland's teenage international Oliver Burke says his German league club RB Leipzig can knock Bayern Munich from their perch at the top of the Bundesliga. "I want to win the Bundesliga and I want to win it with RB Leipzig. Why not?" he told Sky. "We have the players, the quality. We […]

Columbus (AFP) – United States captain Michael Bradley says he expects the team's supporters to show respect to Mexican fans in Friday's World Cup qualifier which comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential vote. Trump's controversial rhetoric about Mexican illegal immigrants during the campaign adds to the already strong rivalry […]

Ticket prices for Friday's World Cup qualifier between the United States and Mexico have declined on the secondary market ahead of the game in Columbus, Ohio. The cheapest price on the secondary market for a ticket to USA-Mexico has decreased 49% from October 27. At the end of October, prices started at $268. But as […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA's ethics committee on Wednesday recommended a life ban from all football-related activities for former Honduras president Rafael Callejas, who is awaiting judgement in the United States on kick-back charges. Head of state between 1990-1994, Callejas previously pleaded guilty to racketeering to a New York court in March, and now faces a […]