Soccer news and analysis from The

England's soccer player Harry Kane and Spain's Alexia Putellas win the player of the year trophy during the Ballon d'Or ceremony at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026 . (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Harry Kane becomes first Englishman in 25 years to win Ballon d’Or and Alexia Putellas wins her third

By Ken Maguire

October 26, 2026 at 6:36 p.m.

Harry Kane has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize after scoring 73 goals for club...

Fire midfielder Anton Salétros, right, defends the Red Bulls' Ronald Donkor during the first half on May 9, 2026, at Soldier Field. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty)

Chicago Fire surpass 50 points for 2nd straight season after rallying for 3-2 win vs. Atlanta United

By Associated Press

October 24, 2026 at 9:50 p.m.

Anton Salétros had a goal and an assist to help the Chicago Fire rally for...

FILE – Seattle Reign midfielder Maddie Mercado follows the action as she runs during an NWSL soccer match against NJ/NY Gotham FC in Seattle, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)

Chicago Stars limited to one shot in 3-1 loss to Seattle Reign, falling to 5-21-2

By Drew Renner

October 18, 2026 at 11:35 p.m.

Maddie Mercado had two goals, and the visiting Seattle Reign controlled possession in their 3-1...

Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Another World Cup stunner: Cape Verde gets 1st goal of tournament and holds Uruguay to 2-2 draw

By Alanis Thames

June 21, 2026 at 7:44 p.m.

Cape Verde’s magical start to its first World Cup isn’t over. It might just be...

Germany’s Kai Havertz (7) scores a goal against Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room (1) during a World Cup Group E match June 14, 2026, in Houston. (Eric Smith/AP)

Larger World Cup led to criticism and predictions of lopsided affairs. The results tell a different story.

By Tales Azzoni

June 21, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Critics of 48-team World Cup argued that by allowing smaller teams to the expanded field,...

Gio Reyna, left, celebrates with Antonee Robinson and Sebastian Berhalter, right, after scoring the Americans' fourth goal during a 4-1 win over Paraguay in a World Cup Group D match June 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Pink boots are everywhere at the World Cup as the color becomes a star on soccer’s biggest stage

By Stephen Whyno

June 21, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Of all the colors of the rainbow at the World Cup taking place in the...

The United States' Alex Freeman, center, heads a ball past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach for a goal in a World Cup Group D match Friday, June 19, 2026, in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

US clinches a spot in the World Cup knockout round and wins its group with a 2-0 victory over Australia

By Andrew Destin

June 20, 2026 at 2:37 p.m.

The U.S. men's national team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite...

United States’ Joe Scally (23) and Alex Freeman (16) react after the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Flurry of goals and convincing wins are raising US World Cup hopes and expectations: ‘We want to lift a trophy’

By Jim Vertuno

June 20, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.

The early results are in: This U.S men’s national team is for real in this...

A fan, left, takes a photo with a dog named Osito, wearing a Mexico national soccer team jersey, next to Jorge Rangel before a World Cup Group A match against South Korea on Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Mexico City. (Marco Ugarte/AP)

‘He’s my daily companion’: Rescue dog Osito steals hearts at the World Cup, one bike ride at a time

By Fernanda Pesce

June 20, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

As World Cup fever sweeps Mexico City, one of the tournament’s biggest fan favorites isn’t...

Scottish fans drink and sing at a pub in central Boston ahead of a World Cup Group C match between Haiti and Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Martin Meissner/AP)

Scotland fans have descended on Boston for the World Cup, and bars are struggling to keep up

By Kyle Hightower

June 20, 2026 at 1:38 p.m.

World Cup fans in Boston, especially the Scots, have put a serious strain on the...

Alex Freeman, second from left, celebrates after scoring the Americans' second goal during a World Cup Group D match against Australia on Friday, June 19, 2026, in Seattle. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Alex Freeman, 21-year-old son of former NFL standout Antonio Freeman, scores for US in World Cup win

By Associated Press

June 19, 2026 at 7:55 p.m.

Alex Freeman, the son of Super Bowl champion wide receiver Antonio Freeman, scored on a...

Fans react during the World Cup soccer match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., June 16, 2026. TSome visiting sports fans are charmed by the United States. The country is even more charmed by them. (Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times)

Those World Cup tourists loving American food? They’re not all what they seem.

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

June 19, 2026 at 5:15 p.m.

Nobunaga, the Japanese wanderer whose reverential written meditations on X about bottomless baskets of chips...

England’s Harry Kane (9) cools off during a hydration break of the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

FIFA-mandated hydration breaks at the World Cup have sparked criticism. But what do they actually do?

By Dorany Pineda

June 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA is mandating all soccer players take...