TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is withdrawing its bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Kyodo news agency quoted a source as saying on Monday, just days before football’s world governing body holds a vote to determine the successful candidate. The Japanese bid is o... More »
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean football fans will be left in the dark as their national team play in North Korea for the first time in 30 years on Tuesday, with Pyongyang refusing to broadcast the World Cup qualifier live amid a return of chilled relations wit... More »
KOBE (Reuters) – If Canada’s players are feeling nervous ahead of Tuesday’s Rugby World Cup game against twice champions South Africa they are not showing it, with coach Kingsley Jones saying the squad is in party mood ahead of the Pool B clash in Kobe. The Sp... More »
KOBE (Reuters) – South Africa are expected to breeze past Canada in Tuesday’s Rugby World Cup match but while the Springboks see the game as a chance to rest key players ahead of the knockout stages captain Siya Kolisi is happy not to have been left on the sid... More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will be cheering on his team from space when they take on South Africa in their pivotal Rugby World Cup clash. Parmitano will be watching Friday’s Pool B match from the International Space Station as it orbits... More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan may not win their home Rugby World Cup but they have already proved themselves world beaters when it comes to toilets. Going to the loo is a much more futuristic experience in the Land of the Rising Sun and touring fans have been fascin... More »
(Reuters) – Samoan players will wear their hearts on their sleeves – but keep traditional Pacific islander tattoos under wraps with skin suits during the World Cup in Japan to avoid offending their hosts. For the Japanese, tattoos have long been associated wit... More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Two octopuses in Obira, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, have predicted the hosts of the Rugby World Cup will not progress from their pool when the tournament begins later this month. The two molluscs selected the result of each o... More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Two octopuses in Obira, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, have predicted the hosts of the Rugby World Cup will not progress from their pool when the tournament begins later this month. The two molluscs selected the result of each o... More »
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May will host the victorious England cricket team at her Downing Street office later on Monday, after a “brilliant performance” that will live forever in the country’s sporting history, her spokesman said. Engl... More »
LONDON (Reuters) – England ended their 44-year wait for a maiden 50-overs World Cup title by beating a gutsy New Zealand side on boundaries after a tied Super Over amidst heart-stopping drama on Sunday. Chasing 242 for victory, Ben Stokes’ scintillating 84 not... More »
LYON, France (Reuters) – The United States won a record-extending fourth women’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands on Sunday as second-half goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle confirmed their status as the leading power in the women’s gam... More »
(Reuters) – With the United States preparing to play in the women’s World Cup final the team’s fight for pay equity resurfaced on Wednesday with the Democratic Women’s Caucus demanding answers from U.S. Soccer chief Carlos Cordeiro. The U.S. national team’s di... More »
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (Reuters) – A swarm of bees forced the players of South Africa and Sri Lanka to dive onto the ground during their Cricket World Cup clash at the Riverside Stadium on Friday — but for many on the pitch there was a sense of deja vu. Be... More »
(Reuters) – Australia central defender Clare Polkinghorne is unavailable for their final Group C game at the women’s World Cup, coach Ante Milicic has said, but 16-year-old striker Mary Fowler could get a runout against Jamaica. The Matildas, who have one loss... More »
(Reuters) – A Miami bar that offered customers “free shots” for every goal scored by the United States at the Women’s World Cup has scaled back its offer in the wake of the team’s record-breaking 13-0 thrashing of Thailand this week. The American Social Bar & ... More »
(Reuters) – Scotland’s hopes of reaching the last 16 at their maiden women’s World Cup were dented by defeat to England in their opener but they have responded by bringing out their secret weapon for their next game against Japan – rubber chickens. Footage pos... More »
(Reuters) – Customers at a bar in Miami had more reason than most to celebrate as the United States women’s soccer team went on a record scoring rampage against Thailand at the World Cup on Tuesday. The American Social Bar & Kitchen had used its social media p... More »
(Reuters) – Ante Milicic has only four days to resurrect Australia’s women’s World Cup campaign after an upset loss to Italy and nothing is going to be ignored before they face Brazil in Montpellier on Thursday. The heavily-favored Matildas were stunned by a s... More »
(Reuters) – England cannot afford to drop their intensity in the second half and must be ruthless in possession if they are to progress at the women’s World Cup, coach Phil Neville said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Scotland. England were leading 2-0 but tired a... More »
(Reuters) – A “harsh” early penalty took the wind out of Scotland’s sails in their debut at the women’s World Cup on Sunday but there were lots of positives to take from their 2-1 loss to England in Nice, coach Shelley Kerr said. Fran Kirby’s driven cross stru... More »
SANTA CLARA (Reuters) – The United States got a goal in each half through Samantha Mewis and a late third from substitute Carli Lloyd to earn a 3-0 win over South Africa in a Women’s World Cup warm-up in California on Sunday. Mewis got the opener after 37 minu... More »
(This July 15 story corrects to say “Euro 2020” instead of “Euro 2022” in the last paragraph.) By Mark Gleeson MOSCOW (Reuters) – Belgium will be acclaimed at celebrations in Brussels on Sunday with thousands expected to hail the team but they will carry mixed... More »
KRASNOYARSK, Russia (Reuters) – Buyan, a brown bear kept in a Siberian zoo, has predicted that Croatia will defeat France in Sunday’s World Cup final. Two halves of water melon were laid on in Buyan’s enclosure in the Royev Ruchey zoo in the Siberian city of K... More »
REPINO, Russia (Reuters) – There has been a relentless positivity and forward-looking tenor to England’s approach to this World Cup but before the adventure in Russia began, manager Gareth Southgate forced his players to confront a nightmare from the past. Two... More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Here is a brief history of previous World Cup semi-final appearances by England and Croatia, ahead of their last four match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday: – England’s first semi-final appearance at a World Cup came at their home ... More »
PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – It’s a showdown between “Asterix” and “Tintin”. Les Bleus (The Blues) versus Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils). France against Belgium. The World Cup equivalent of a local derby, with a heavy dose of national rivalry thrown in. In ... More »
REPINO, Russia (Reuters) – England manager Gareth Southgate says he is not about to change his team’s approach for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia, saying he wants the “same again” from his young side. Although Croatia are the most difficult o... More »
SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) – Sweden coach Janne Andersson has full confidence in his team’s straightforward but effective tactics as he prepares his side for their World Cup quarter-final clash with England on Saturday. Andersson’s men are aiming to reach the la... More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his country’s hosting of the soccer World Cup had helped debunk stereotypes about it. Russia’s host nation status had been met with resistance by some in the West who suggested the tournam... More »
SAMARA/SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Andreas Granqvist did not set the world alight during his two seasons with the then Premier League side Wigan Athletic, but Sweden’s defensive linchpin is ready to show how far he has come when his side take on England in the W... More »
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – The two Sweden forwards likely to start in Saturday’s quarter-final against England may have only one World Cup goal between them so far, but Swedish pundit Bojan Djordjic says that won’t bother Janne Andersson’s men in the slightest.... More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Germany should have considered leaving midfielder Mesut Ozil out of the World Cup squad following the furor caused by the player’s photo with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff has said. Ozil, a key member... More »
REPINO, Russia (Reuters) – England came into the World Cup with low expectations from their fans and much talk of building for the future but as they face a quarter-final with Sweden on Saturday, manager Gareth Southgate says this generation might not get a be... More »
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Sweden can beat England in Saturday’s quarter-finals and eventually win the World Cup in Russia if they can handle the pressure, former captain and record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said. Speaking to reporters at LA Galaxy’s tr... More »
KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – It has been a busy World Cup for Kazan’s mural artists and in the early hours of Thursday morning they were back at work again painting the face of Neymar on a wall behind the Brazil team hotel. The Brazil forward, in Kazan for Friday... More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The head of a Russian advertising agency tasked with decorating Moscow facades ahead of the soccer World Cup used the opportunity to commission a 12-storey high mural of his wife. The portrait shows Novatek Art director Ivan Panteleev’s wife... More »
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) – Already bored of the soccer World Cup with its single ball, earth-bound players and tiresome reliance on the laws of physics? More than 6,000 km away from Moscow, in the Italian city of Florence, the United States swept to victory o... More »
SEOUL (Reuters) – The Korea Football Association (KFA) has decided not to pursue charges against people who threw eggs at the national team after they arrived home from the World Cup, police said on Tuesday. South Korea lost their first two games in Russia, to... More »
PUSHKIN, Russia (Reuters) – Russian couple Yekaterina and Dmitry Vasilyev enjoyed a perfect wedding celebration on Sunday as they briefly halted their nuptials to watch the hosts defy the odds by beating Spain in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quart... More »
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Croatia showed none of the spark that marked their romp through the group phase but still did enough to edge Denmark in their round-of-16 clash on Sunday and ensure they will take on Russia in the World Cup quarter-finals ne... More »
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Croatia’s elated coach Zlatko Dalic lauded his captain Luka Modric who missed a penalty in extra time but then scored another in a shootout victory over Denmark on Sunday that put them in the World Cup quarter-finals. “I am ... More »
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Of all the Croatia players who mobbed Danijel Subasic after his penalty shootout heroics against Denmark on Sunday, none would have hugged the goalkeeper tighter than his captain Luka Modric. Subasic made three saves to help... More »
KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – Russian women wearing elaborate bridal dresses took to the pitch in the World Cup host city of Kazan on Saturday for a friendly soccer match intended to show their love for the sport. Wearing floor-length white dresses and running sho... More »
KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – Kazan artists worked through the night on Friday painting a mural of Argentina’s Lionel Messi to match one of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo on a building opposite, saving the blushes of the World Cup host city. The three-storey portrai... More »
VATUTINKI, Russia (Reuters) – Charts, graphs and statistical analysis will not explain Germany’s shock World Cup exit. The reason lies not in numbers but in German football’s complacency in recent years. Every aspect of the national pastime, and that includes ... More »
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Talisman Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury loomed like a dark cloud over Egypt’s World Cup campaign as they were quickly eliminated despite harboring high hopes of making an impact on their return to the finals after a 28-year... More »
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s top central bankers held an unusual vote during their policy deliberations this week – to decide which country is most likely to win the World Cup taking place in Russia. Switzerland – which achieved an unexpected draw against five... More »
YEKATERINBURG, France (Reuters) – While their attack has yet to sparkle, France have shown the grit and steel that could still take them to the deep end of the World Cup as they beat Peru 1-0 to reach the last 16 on Thursday. Les Bleus prevailed thanks to a Ky... More »
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Brazil talisman Neymar returned in style with a dazzling goal in a 2-0 World Cup warm-up win over Croatia and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea made a rare error in his team’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday. Peru captain Paolo Guerrero c... More »
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has given Vincent Kompany two weeks to recover from a groin injury in time for the World Cup, retaining the Manchester City captain in his squad but putting Laurent Ciman on standby for the tournament in Russ... More »
(Reuters) – Attacking midfielder Leroy Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Loew’s final Germany squad for the World Cup finals on Monday as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named among the 23 players heading to Russia for the defending champions. Neuer made t... More »
ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) – Like many soccer fans trying to predict the results of the World Cup, Achilles is busy studying the teams heading to Russia this month for the sport’s biggest global showdown. But he has one advantage: cat sense. The furry white felin... More »
(Reuters) – Mexico failed to turn possession and pressure into goals as they were held 0-0 by Wales in a World Cup warm-up at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Monday. Mexico, who have been drawn in Group F alongside Germany, Sweden and South Korea at n... More »
SEOUL (Reuters) – Son Heung-min’s long-range blast set South Korea on their way to a 2-0 win over Honduras in a World Cup warm-up on Monday but it was the performance of impish forward Lee Seung-woo on his senior national team debut that really caught the eye.... More »
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Trent Alexander-Arnold’s rapid rise from the fringes of the Liverpool starting line-up to securing a place in England’s squad for next month’s World Cup has brought back fond memories for former Anfield favorite Jason McAteer. Alexander-A... More »
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – The names of World Cup record holders are like a roll-call of footballing greats and every four years players such as Pele, Miroslav Klose, Diego Maradona, and Jose Batista must wonder whether their feats will be surpassed. Hold on. Jo... More »
BARCELONA (Reuters) – European champions Portugal spurned a two-goal lead against Tunisia, stumbling to a 2-2 draw, as France, one of the World Cup favorites, flexed their muscles with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ireland in warm-up friendlies on Monday. Portuga... More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian marketing agency has offered to help restaurants in cities hosting the soccer World Cup use fake reviews to bump up ratings on review site TripAdvisor, the agency’s owner has confirmed. Marketing company Bacon Agency says it can ci... More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – President Xi Jinping’s dream of China hosting and ultimately winning the World Cup may be as far away as ever but that does not mean the country will have no involvement when soccer’s elite meets in Russia later this year. China’s enthusias... More »
(Reuters) – United States president Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted his support for the North American bid for the 2026 soccer World Cup and issued a veiled threat to nations that might oppose it. Morocco is the only rival to a joint bid to stage the event fr... More »
BERLIN (Reuters) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday that Peru captain Paolo Guerrero and the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) have filed appeals over the player’s six-month doping ban. Guerrero had been suspended for a year by world socce... More »
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A joint South American bid to host the 2030 World Cup will feature eight cities in Argentina, two in Paraguay and two in Uruguay, the three nations confirmed on Monday. “Our country will have eight host cities, but those haven’t been d... More »
FILE PHOTO: Locusts are seen in a meadow near a wheat field near the town of Neftekumsk, Russia, May 24, 2012. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko/File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) – Swarms of locusts pose a threat to Russia’s soccer World Cup as they could attack stadium pit... More »
Peru national soccer team captain Paolo Guerrero talks during an interview with Reuters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 21, 2017. His tattoo reads “Faith”. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Peru captain Paolo Guerrero says he is innocent and... More »
Soccer Football – 2018 FIFA World Cup Draw Press Conference – State Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia – December 1, 2017 FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the press conference REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin MOSCOW (Reuters) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Fri... More »
Italian football boss Carlo Tavecchio said recently that failure to qualify for the World Cup would be the apocalypse and his worst fears came true on Monday as they missed out on the finals for the first time in 60 years. More »
Honduras accused Australia of spying on their training sessions with a drone on Monday, as tensions heated up ahead of Wednesday's decisive World Cup playoff match. More »
Beleaguered Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura denied that he had resigned and apologized to his countrymen after his team's astonishing failure to qualify for the World Cup on Monday. Speaking in the same monotone voice which has characterized his 18 months in ch... More »
FIFA's decision to schedule the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Honduras with just five days in between the two matches was "inhumane", the Central Americans' coach Jorge Luis Pinto has said. More »
Germany crushed Azerbaijan 5-1 on Sunday with talented Leon Goretzka scoring twice, to complete a record-equalling World Cup qualifying campaign with ten wins out of ten matches. More »
Head coach Bruce Arena has opted for a tried-and-tested group of players for the United States' upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras. More »
Qatar will build a stadium shaped like an Arabian skull cap for the 2022 World Cup, organizers said on Sunday, as the Gulf state moves ahead with preparations for the tournament despite a diplomatic rift with its neighbors. More »
A general view shows the Yekaterinburg Arena stadium under construction, that will host 2018 FIFA World Cup matches, in Yekaterinburg, Russia, December 9, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday said it had documented cases where wor... More »
FILE PHOTO – Football Soccer – Argentina v Chile – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers – Antonio Liberti Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina – 23/3/17 – Argentina’s Lionel Messi (C) reacts after scoring a penalty goal. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci Lionel Messi’s faltering Arge... More »
Football Soccer – Uruguay v Brazil – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers – Centenario stadium, Montevideo, Uruguay – 23/3/17 – Brazil’s Paulinho celebrates his third goal. REUTERS/Andres Stapff Brazil recovered from conceding an early goal to beat Uruguay 4-1 in Montevi... More »
Football Soccer – Argentina v Chile – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers – Antonio Liberti Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina – 23/3/17 – Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after scoring a penalty goal. REUTERS/Alberto Raggio Lionel Messi converted a penalty as Argentina la... More »
Iraq’s Justin Meram (7) celebrates with teammate Ali Fesny Faisal (8) after scoring against Thailand during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok September 8, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge Silva Iraq may ask United State... More »
Victor Montagliani, President of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) speaks to the media after a FIFA Council in Zurich, Switzerland, January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann CONCACAF will discuss a possible... More »
Australian soccer fans celebrate as they watch the 2014 World Cup soccer match between Chile and Australia which was broadcast on a large screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro June 13, 2014. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares Australian football fans must tone down... More »
