"Minor League Soccer" – a catch-all phrase that's been used to describe anything that isn't the top division in the United States. It's a phrase that was reinforced when our domestic first division league cleverly branded itself Major League Soccer when launching in the 1990s. "Minor league" carries a certain stigma here. In every other […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Klara Buhl has been ruled out of Germany's Euro 2022 semi-final against France after testing positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. "She is currently symptom-free and was immediately isolated. Further tests of the entire team and staff were negative," the German football association said in a tweet. The Bayern Munich forward […]

Washington (AFP) – Former US women's goalkeeper Hope Solo has pleaded guilty to driving while impaired, according to media reports, and says she is "slowly coming back" after undergoing alcohol treatment. The 40-year-old, who received a two-year suspended sentence, helped the US soccer squads win 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals and the 2015 Women's World […]

London (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo arrived back at Manchester United's training ground on Tuesday ahead of talks with new manager Erik ten Hag over his Old Trafford future. The 37-year-old, who missed the club's pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia for personal reasons, wants to leave the club he rejoined last year. He arrived at […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Alexandra Popp seem destined never to play at a European Championship due to injury, but the veteran striker is now leading Germany's charge back to the top of the women's game at Euro 2022. An Olympic gold medallist and Champions League winner at club level with Wolfsburg, the Euro had […]

Sheffield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sweden forward Kosovare Asllani described the use of fewer cameras for VAR calls at women's Euro 2022 as a "catastrophe" on Monday after being on the wrong side of a series of tight calls so far in the tournament. Asllani's side, who face hosts England in the semi-finals on Tuesday, […]

Osaka (Japan) (AFP) – Lionel Messi and Neymar combined to devastating effect as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Gamba Osaka 6-2 on Monday to finish their pre-season Japan tour with three wins out of three. The star forwards both played the opening 70 minutes in Osaka and Neymar scored a first-half penalty before setting up a goal […]

ESPN's English Championship deal is close to being renewed, sources revealed to World Soccer Talk. With the 2022/23 season scheduled to begin Friday, July 29, anticipation is building for the return of the English Championship, League One and League Two. While a deal has not yet been signed, World Soccer Talk understands that ESPN is […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Ghana captain Gladwin Awako completed the scoring in a 3-0 rout of Benin when 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying kicked off this weekend. Before Awako struck nine minutes from time in Cape Coast on Sunday, Daniel Barnieh and Mohammed Alhassan, two of his teammates at Accra club Hearts of Oak, […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig have reached an agreement for the transfer of French international defender Nordi Mukiele to Paris, AFP learned on Sunday from a source close to the negotiations. The two parties are committed to a full transfer and not a loan with an option to buy, as was initially […]

Las Vegas (AFP) – Raphinha made it two goals in two matches as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 1-0 on Saturday in their Las Vegas Clasico. Raphinha, signed from Premier League Leeds United earlier this month for around $60 million, followed up his debut in a 6-0 thrashing of Inter Miami with the lone goal of […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Gareth Bale opened his account for Los Angeles FC with a late goal in a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Bale fired in a low shot seven minutes from time to seal three points for LAFC, who remain four points clear at the top of the Western Conference […]

Miami (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus continued his impressive pre-season form with another goal as Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in a friendly in Florida on Saturday. Jesus, who only joined Arsenal from Manchester City earlier this month, took his goal tally to four goals in three games for his new club in a clinical win for […]

Green Bay (United States) (AFP) – Erling Haaland launched his Manchester City tenure with a goal as Pep Guardiola's men beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in a weather-disrupted friendly at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin on Saturday. Two delays because of lightning in the area — one before kickoff and one in the first half — saw […]

Rotherham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – France coach Corinne Diacre said Les Bleues are not satisfied with just breaking new ground by reaching the semi-finals for the first time at a women's Euro after beating defending champions the Netherlands 1-0 after extra-time on Saturday. Eve Perisset's penalty on 102 minutes finally broke the Dutch resistance in […]