Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – Canada and Costa Rica qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup on Friday after winning group stage matches at the CONCACAF W tournament. Julia Grosso scored in the 64th minute to give Canada, the reigning Olympic champion, a 1-0 victory over Panama while Cristin Granados netted two first-half goals in Costa […]

Milton Keynes (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Spain rebounded from the loss of star midfielder Alexia Putellas by beating Finland 4-1, as Germany also got their Euro 2022 campaign off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Denmark on Friday. La Roja had been pre-tournament favourites until the cruciate ligament injury to reigning female […]

Milton Keynes (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Spain recovered from the loss of star midfielder Alexia Putellas and conceding after 48 seconds to get their Euro 2022 campaign off to a winning start by beating Finland 4-1. Linda Sallstrom exposed a huge hole in the Spanish defence to fire the Finns into a shock lead inside […]

London (AFP) – Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has retired at the age of just 30. Wilshere became Arsenal's youngest league debutant when he featured aged 16 and 256 days in 2008 after graduating from the club's youth academy. Widely predicted to emerge as a key figure for both Arsenal and England, Wilshere […]

Milan (AFP) – Paul Pogba is travelling to Turin on Friday ahead of the France midfielder's return as a free agent to Juventus, the Serie A club where he made his name. The 29-year-old all-but announced his comeback on Friday when he posted on social media a video filmed on the airplane taking him to […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were cleared Friday over a suspected fraudulent payment that shook the sport and torpedoed their time at the top. Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona acquitted the pair in a trial following a mammoth […]

Paris (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were on Friday acquitted following a two-week trial in June over a suspected fraudulent payment that rocked the sport and brought a premature end to their time at the top. AFP Sport looks back at the colourful careers of […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Manchester United and Liverpool will next week kick off a packed pre-season as European clubs return to the Asia-Pacific region for the first time since the pandemic, keen to tap back into lucrative markets. The English Premier League heavyweights face off in Bangkok on Tuesday for new United manager Erik ten Hag's […]

Milan (AFP) – Angel Di Maria landed in Turin on Thursday night ahead of his move to Juventus after being released by Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season. Argentina winger Di Maria will undergo his medical on Friday before signing a one-year deal with the Serie A club which will earn him a […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Norway eased to a 4-1 win over out-classed Northern Ireland in their Women's Euro 2022 opener on Thursday. Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum gave Norway the perfect start with goals inside the first 13 minutes at Southampton. Caroline Graham Hansen's penalty put the two-time European champions on course to ruin […]

London (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel with Manchester United for their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia after the Portugal striker was given additional time off to deal with a family issue. Ronaldo was absent on Monday when new United boss Erik ten Hag welcomed the club's international players to Carrington for the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Joe Gomez signed a new five-year contract with the club on Thursday. Gomez had been linked with a move away from Anfield after making only 21 appearances last season. The 25-year-old has fallen behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate in Jurgen Klopp's list of preferred centre-backs. Gomez […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain's Alexia Putellas, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, has been ruled out of Euro 2022 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee on the eve of the tournament. "Tests carried out on the Spain international this afternoon... have confirmed the national team captain suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament," […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England captain Leah Williamson said the Lionesses must embrace the expectation of a nation as they prepare to kick off Euro 2022 in front a record crowd for a women's European Championship match against Austria on Wednesday. Old Trafford is sold out for the tournament opener with hopes high that […]

Marseille (AFP) – French football giants Marseille will play a style of football that will make their passionate fans happy when they leave the stadium, new coach Igor Tudor said on Tuesday. The 44-year-old former Crotia international signed a two year deal and replaces Jorge Sampaoli. The Argentinian quit Marseille earlier this month because of […]