International soccer
Asia reworks qualifying format for 48-team World Cup in 2026

Aug. 01, 2022 02:22 AM EDT
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed a new qualifying format to factor in its expanded number of direct entries for a 48-team...

FILE - United States goalkeeper Hope Solo takes the ball during a women's soccer game at the Rio Olympics against New Zealand on Aug. 3, 2016, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Former women’s national team star Solo pleaded guilty Monday, July 25, 2022, to driving while impaired, almost four months after she was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in North Carolina with her 2-year-old twins inside. (AP Photo/Eugenio Savio, File)
Hope Solo pleads guilty to DWI, gets 30-day sentence, fine

Jul. 25, 2022 07:32 PM EDT

FILE - Home of the NFL football Atlanta Falcons and the MLS soccer team, Atlanta United, the Mercedes-Benz stadium is seen, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in Atlanta. There are 23 venues bidding to host soccer matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
The 16 venues picked to host World Cup matches in 2026

Jun. 16, 2022 10:22 PM EDT

Fans wait along 6th Ave. for FIFA's announcement of the names of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
FIFA picks 2026 World Cup cities, predicts US `No 1 sport'

By Ronald Blum Jun. 16, 2022 09:07 PM EDT

New York City FC fans react to the announcement that East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during a selection watch part at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., Thursday, June 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Excitement and disappointment as World Cup 2026 cities named

By Anne M. Peterson Jun. 16, 2022 08:12 PM EDT

FILE - French soccer fans watch France play Belgium in a World Cup semifinal soccer game on a gigantic screen in New York's Times Square, on July 10, 2018, in New York. U.S. cities and states have lined up with tax breaks and millions of dollars in both public and private investments for a chance at hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games, set to be announced Thursday, June 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Belgium vs France 7/10/2018

Jun. 15, 2022 05:07 PM EDT

FILE - Soccer fans cool off in the water as they watch a broadcast of France playing Croatia in the World Cup soccer as they attend the "Ballyhoo Boat Bash" at the Haulover Sandbar in Miami, on July 15, 2018. .S. cities and states have lined up with tax breaks and millions of dollars in both public and private investments for a chance at hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games, set to be announced Thursday, June 16, 2022. (Carle Juste/Miami Herald via AP, File0
Croatia vs France 7/15/2018

Jun. 15, 2022 05:07 PM EDT

FILE - U.S. players run drills during a practice for the Women's World Cup soccer final under the open roof of BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Saturday, July 4, 2015. There are 23 venues bidding to host soccer matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
States offer tax breaks, funds for chance to host World Cup

By Summer Ballentine And Ronald Blum Jun. 15, 2022 05:03 PM EDT

The 23 venues bidding to host World Cup matches in 2026

Jun. 15, 2022 02:07 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — A look at the 23 venues bidding to host soccer matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada: ___ ...

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith addresses his team after a voluntary offseason NFL football practice Friday, June 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons' Pitts says stadium's new FieldTurf is soft but good

By Charles Odum Jun. 03, 2022 05:12 PM EDT

Will Wilson to quit as US Soccer CEO after 2 1/2 years

Jun. 03, 2022 10:18 AM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — Will Wilson is quitting as CEO of the U.S. Soccer Federation ahead of the World Cup, making the surprising decision to leave the job after just 2 1/2...

FILE - Wales' Dan Biggar, second right, tackles South Africa's S'Busiso Nkosi during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. The United States has landed another World Cup. The Rugby World Cup, in 2031. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Column: US lands 2031 Rugby World Cup, if anyone cares

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2022 04:12 PM EDT

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper stands with Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry ahead of the final vote for the hosting of the Rugby World Cups in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 12, 2022. World Rugby will announce the host nations for the men's and women's World Cups for the period 2025-2033 with Australia heavily favored to host the men's 2027 and women's tournaments in 2029. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
US to host men's and women's Rugby World Cups for first time

By Steve Douglas May. 12, 2022 01:58 PM EDT

Bayern's Thomas Mueller, right, and Bayern's Benjamin Pavard celebrate at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich 4/23/2022

May. 02, 2022 01:57 PM EDT

FILE - United States' goalkeeper Hope Solo takes the ball during a women's soccer game at the Rio Olympics against New Zealand in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Aug. 3, 2016. Former U.S. women’s national team star goalkeeper Solo was arrested after police say she was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in North Carolina with her two children inside. A police report said Solo was arrested on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in a shopping center parking lot in Winston-Salem and charged with driving while impaired, resisting a public officer and misdemeanor child abuse. (AP Photo/Eugenio Savio, File)
Hope Solo arrested on DWI, child abuse charges

By Tom Foreman Jr. Apr. 01, 2022 04:51 PM EDT

El Salvador's Roberto Dominguez, left, and United States' Christian Pulisic compete for possession during the first half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. won 1-0. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
El Salvador vs USA 1/27/2022

Feb. 02, 2022 06:39 PM EST

El Salvador's Roberto Dominguez, left, and United States' Christian Pulisic compete for possession during the first half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. won 1-0. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Pulisic benched among 7 qualifying changes in 3-degree chill

Feb. 02, 2022 06:38 PM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Dec. 21 1891 — Dr. James Naismith introduces the first game of basketball. Based on 13 rules created by Naismith, the game is tested by 18 students at...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Dec. 16, 2021 11:40 AM EST
Dec. 21 1891 — Dr. James Naismith introduces the first game of basketball. Based on 13 rules created by Naismith, the game is tested by 18 students at...

A soccer ball sits by the pitch line prior to the NWSL Championship soccer match between the Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars, Nov. 20, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. The U.S. Soccer Federation and the union for its women's national team agreed to a three-month extension of their labor contract through March, a move announced on the same day players filed a brief asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their equal pay claim. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, file)
Chicago Red Stars vs Washington Spirit 11/20/2021

Dec. 15, 2021 05:49 PM EST