Jose Mourinho and Xabi Alonso go back some time. The latter had the opportunity to learn under the Portuguese as a player when Mourinho coached Real Madrid. Then, before this game, Mourinho compared Alonso to his fiercest managerial rival, Pep Guardiola. Mourinho's Roma met Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Europa League […]

This episode of the World Soccer Talk podcast, featuring a Semra Hunter interview, is presented by Sling. Do not let the accent fool you, Semra Hunter is American. At least, that is what her passport says. However, her time in Spain has made her one of the leaders in coverage of LaLiga, and her experience […]

Arsenal defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and William Saliba are out of commission for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign. As the Gunners cling to Premier League title hopes, it will be without two of its integral players for the final three games. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, both players have injuries that rule them […]

ESPN decided to broadcast an upcoming LaLiga matchup between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano on ESPN2. The move is fairly unusual, as most Spanish top-flight games are typically available on ESPN+ or ESPN. The fixture between the two sides is set for Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m. ET. Real hunting its fourth trophy of […]

NBC Sports is launching a special episode entitled Match Officials Mic'd Up this Monday on its YouTube channel. The program allows us to hear previously unreleased audio of Premier League referees for the first time. The broadcast includes unreleased audio between referees and VAR officials from the 22/23 Premier League season with explanations from PGMOL […]

Xabi Alonso looks set to stay with Bayer Leverkusen beyond the current campaign. Fernando Carro, the German club's chief executive, confirmed his head coach's future in a recent interview with Spanish outlet AS. “He has a contract with us until 2024.” proclaimed Carro. "He is happy here and we are happy with him. We are […]

The latest battleground in the "Soccer Warz" appears to be set, on the coast of southern California. Newspaper reports indicate that a San Diego MLS franchise will be announced in the coming weeks, adding the league's 30th team as early as 2025. The new team would play at Snapdragon Stadium, home of San Diego State […]

The Colorado Rapids have suspended attacking midfielder Max Alves due to the player's connection with sports gambling. The club avoided naming the player in their official statement released on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, sources at ESPN and Brazilian outlet O Globo have claimed that the player was certainly involved. “We are aware of the reports regarding […]

New Burnley minority owner JJ Watt is drawing inspiration from Wrexham mania in his new investment. The former NFL star, along with his wife, recently purchased a stake in the Lancashire club. Watt has even spoken with Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds about his new endeavor. Reynolds apparently gave Watt some tips on how to hit […]

Major League Soccer is a vast improvement over the leagues that came before it in the US, and even over where the MLS itself was just 20 years ago. Even critics can't argue that MLS has raised the standard of the game significantly in North America. However, the league needs to decide whether it wants […]

Fans of the UEFA Champions League had the treat of a Derby della Madonnina in the semifinal stage. Every matchup between the two Milan clubs delivers some kind of story. Yet, few could have predicted the first half of this two-legged tie. It took all of 11 minutes for Inter Milan to stun the San […]

With the U-20 World Cup starting later this month, the US named its 21-man squad for the tournament in Argentina. It features some familiar names to even casual USMNT fans, with six players already earning call-ups to the senior squad. Gaga Slonina, Caleb Wiley, Justin Che, Joshua Wynder and Cade Cowell all earned call-ups. Many […]

The NWSL hopes to see 16 teams in the league in just three years. League Commissioner Jessica Berman, speaking to the Washington Post, sees consistent expansion over the next three years. Some of those are already confirmed. The Utah Royals are returning to NWSL play for the 2024 campaign. The side last played in 2020. […]

Oguchi Onyewu is joining the team at US Soccer in a newly created role. The former USMNT representative is going to be the Vice President of Sporting, working closely with new sporting director Matt Crocker. In terms of permanent roles, Onyewu will help manage relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and the […]

Ligue 1 is looking to heighten its marketing strategy in the US. There, it identified the growing soccer audience as a target. Therefore, the French top flight is partnering with rEvolution, a global sports and culture agency with headquarters in Chicago. The aim of the agreement is widespread for the league. Ligue 1 wants to […]