London (AFP) – The English Football Association on Wednesday announced they will back Michael van Praag in the race to replace Michel Platini as UEFA president. Van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA, is competing with Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, after Spain's Angel Maria Villar Llona quit the contest on Tuesday. The 68-year-old will discover […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Brazil's march towards the 2018 World Cup gathered pace with a Neymar-inspired win over Colombia as Uruguay surged to the top of the South American qualification standings with a 4-0 rout of Paraguay. Just four days after their first ever victory over Ecuador in Quito, Brazil dug deep to beat Colombia 2-1 […]

Jacksonville (AFP) – Striker Jozy Altidore scored twice as the United States thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 to book their place in the final round of the CONCACAF region's 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Altidore scored twice in four minutes midway through the second half, either side of goals from Sacha Kljestan and substitute Paul Arriola […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Edinson Cavani scored twice as Uruguay bounced back to rout Paraguay 4-0 and go top of South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying competition. Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani scored a goal in each half at the Estadio Centenario in a one-sided win for the two-time World Cup winners. The victory was the response […]

Mérida (Venezuela) (AFP) – Nicolas Otamendi scored a late equalizer as Argentina fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a 2-2 draw against Venezuela in South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament. Manchester City defender Otamendi popped up in the 83rd minute to steer home a whipped in corner by Angel Di Maria to complete […]

Paris (AFP) – With Cristiano Ronaldo still missing due to injury, European champions Portugal began their bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Switzerland on Tuesday. Goals seven minutes apart in the first half from teenage sensation Breel Embolo and Admir Mehmedi gave the Swiss the […]

Athens (AFP) – An Athens prosecutor suggested Tuesday that shipping magnate and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis be held in custody before he stands trial for his alleged involvement in the establishment of a criminal gang which fixed football matches. Prosecutor Stamatis Daskalopoulos said that Marinakis, 49, violated an existing order that banned him from getting […]

Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) – South Africa defeated Egypt 1-0 Tuesday in the Nelson Mandela Challenge friendly match in Soweto, but the win may not save coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba from the axe. There is strong media speculation that Mashaba will be fired this weekend after a disastrous 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Tim Cahill came off the bench to score with only his second touch as Australia edged the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in 2018 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 36-year-old, who replaced Tomi Juric in the 71st minute at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, took only four minutes […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Tim Cahill came off the bench to score with only his second touch as Australia edged the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in 2018 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 36-year-old, who replaced Tomi Juric in the 71st minute at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, took only four minutes […]

FOX Sports kicks off its 2016 coverage of the National Women’s Soccer League on Wednesday, Sept. 7, when Christen Press and the Chicago Red Stars host Becky Sauerbrunn and FC Kansas City at Toyota Park in Illinois. Jenn Hildreth calls the match alongside Kyndra de St. Aubin. Coverage begins at 7:55 PM ET on FS1. […]

London (AFP) – England great Peter Shilton said Tuesday that Wayne Rooney should have retired from international football after this year's European Championships. Manchester United forward Rooney, 30, has said he intends to retire from England duty after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but former goalkeeper Shilton believes he should already have called time […]

San Salvador (AFP) – Members of El Salvador's national team say a businessman offered them bribes to ensure their World Cup qualifier against Canada on Tuesday helps Honduras make it through to the next round. At a press conference hosted by El Salvador captain Nelson Bonilla, the group played an audio recording they said was […]

Milan (AFP) – A Rome court on Tuesday rejected a 444-million-euro lawsuit by Italian champions Juventus over damages suffered by the loss of their 2006 Serie A title and consequent demotion to Serie B. Juventus were handed the sanctions following their role in the "Calciopoli" match-fixing affair which rocked the world of football in the […]

Shenyang (China) (AFP) – China's World Cup hopes brightened on Tuesday when they held heavyweights Iran 0-0 and group rivals South Korea slipped up in an embarrassing stalemate against war-ravaged Syria. Defeat to Asia's top-ranked side would have dented China's hopes of reaching only their second World Cup but in the end it was a […]