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...

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring his side’s third goal as England’s Jarell Quansah (26) reacts to the score during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup goals record with 22 — and takes lead in Golden Boot race

By Alanis Thames

July 18, 2026 at 8:44 p.m.

France star Kylian Mbappé moved past Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring...

Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring England's fourth goal during the World Cup third-place match against France on July 18, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Saka scored three goals in England's 6-4 win. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

World Cup: Bukayo Saka’s hat trick lifts England past France 6-4 in 3rd-place thriller

By Alanis Thames

July 18, 2026 at 8:34 p.m.

Bukayo Saka scored three goals to lead England to a 6-4 win over France for...

Soccer fans watch TV screens playing a World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal, at Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

‘Live’ World Cup broadcasts are not really live. Here’s why.

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

July 18, 2026 at 1:08 p.m.

The World Cup is the latest major sporting event to bring into focus our out-of-sync...

The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, receives a replica of the World Cup from Ezequiel Cecchi, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani to attend World Cup final — but not together

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

July 18, 2026 at 12:22 p.m.

On Sunday, for the second time in just over a month, the president and the...

A 20-year-old Lionel Messi helps to bathe Lamine Yamal, who was merely 6 months old at the time, with Yamal's mother, Sheila Ebana, during a photo session in September 2007 in the dressing room of the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (Joan Monfort/AP)

Lionel Messi once held baby Lamine Yamal in his arms. Now they will battle for the World Cup title.

By Joseph Wilson

July 18, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Images of 20-year-old Lionel Messi and infant Lamine Yamal from 2007 have exploded in popularity...

Fifa Laopakdee walks off the 17th tee during a practice round for the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Southport, England. (David Goldman/AP)

Fifa draws cheers at the British Open — and it has nothing to do with soccer

By Steve Douglas

July 17, 2026 at 2:25 p.m.

There have been roars of support for Fifa around the links of Royal Birkdale this...

The New York skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke Friday, July 17, 2026, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

Will the wildfire smoke affect Sunday’s World Cup final? Uncertainty clouds the forecast.

By Stephen Whyno

July 17, 2026 at 4:46 p.m.

It remains unclear how much, if at all, the smoke from Canadian wildfires will affect...

A CTA “L” Green Line train runs through the haze in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota settles in the area Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Chicago Fire postpone match because of poor air quality, delaying Robert Lewandowski’s club debut

By baiduhai

July 16, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

The Chicago Fire's return from the World Cup break — as well as the potential...

Rikers Island inmates watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina at the jail complex in New York on July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NYC’s Rikers Island jail hosts World Cup watch party for inmates — and Mayor Zohran Mamdani stops by

By Philip Marcelo

July 16, 2026 at 9:25 a.m.

More than 100 inmates at the sprawling Rikers Island correctional facility gathered in a gymnasium...

Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso holds a banner with the words “The Malvinas are Argentine”, referring to the Falkland Islands, while teammate Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi gestures to him, at the end of the World Cup semifinal match against England on July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

British government urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup

By Jill Lawless

July 16, 2026 at 3:28 p.m.

The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with...