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Tag: Soccer

  • C.J. Stroud’s 4 Interceptions Dig a Hole the Texans’ Defense Can’t Get Out of in Loss to Patriots

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — One interception after another, C.J. Stroud dug Houston into a deeper hole.

    And this time the Texans’ defense couldn’t save them.

    A week after Stroud committed three turnovers in a wild-card victory over the Steelers, the Houston quarterback threw four interceptions in the first half on Sunday to hand New England a 28-16 victory and a spot in the AFC championship game.

    “Ball security is everything, especially the way our defense has played all year, and it’s something that I’ve done a pretty good job of up to this point,” Stroud said. “I think my whole team trusts me. They believe in me. Today just wasn’t my day, and I’m appreciative of my teammates having my back once again.”

    Houston turned the ball over a fifth time when running back Woody Marks — a hero of the wild-card win — fumbled on the doorstep of a potential touchdown while trailing 21-13 in the third quarter.

    “We’ve done a great job all year protecting the football and running the ball well. That’s been our formula,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “To come here when we needed it most, and we didn’t protect the ball — it’s tough to think that you’re going to win a game and you turn the ball over five times.”

    On a cold afternoon that mixed rain and wet snow, Houston’s top-ranked defense hassled Drake Maye all game, forcing four fumbles (recovering two) and sacking him five times. The MVP contender finished 16 for 27 for 179 yards, but he also threw for three touchdowns.

    “When the snowflakes stop, I think it’s a little easier to throw the football, got a little better grip,” Maye said. “I think C.J. probably would say the same thing. We both probably had some throws that were tough, it was tough to get a grip on it.”

    The Texans only had 12 giveaways during the regular season and had a plus-17 turnover differential that was second-best in the league. Stroud threw one interception and fumbled five times at Pittsburgh last week, losing two, but the defense also scored a pair of touchdowns in the 30-6 victory.

    “For us to come out in these past two games and have the amount of turnovers we’ve had, it’s not winning football,” Ryans said. “So we’ve got to find a way to not have that, clean it up and get it fixed.”

    That will be a job for the offseason, with Houston reaching the playoffs for a franchise-record third straight year but losing in the divisional round each time.

    “We’ve got to play better football when we get in this moment. For the past three years, we have not,” Ryans said. “It’s not a magical elixir that’s going to happen to get past the divisional round.”

    The Texans took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter despite an early interception that cost the them a potential field goal. After forcing New England to punt, Stroud’s next pass was picked off by Marcus Jones and returned for a touchdown.

    The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year was also picked off on the next possession, just four plays later, and again coming out of the two-minute warning. In their last seven possessions of the first half, the Texans had four interceptions, two three-and-outs and one touchdown.

    “I think I’m a pretty self-confident person,” Stroud said. “I think when (the mistakes) started to pile up, I tried my best just to stay locked and realizing I’ve just got to be there for my teammates. … I’m just grateful my teammates were picking me up.”

    What might have been most damaging was Marks’ fumble at the Patriots 17 in a one-score game. After stripping the ball from Maye at the New England 33, Houston ran four plays before Marks — who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown last week — gave it right back.

    Though the Patriots only scored seven points off the Texans’ turnovers, the giveaways also twice took Houston out of position for a field goal and possibly more.

    Ryans said he never lost faith in his quarterback.

    In a sideline interview at halftime with his team trailing 21-10, the Texans coach said: “C.J. needs to understand: This team has his back. The first half is over. As bad as it looked, we still have a second half to go finish.”

    Afterward, Ryans said, “C.J. is our guy. I believed that he could come back out in the second half and flip it. I believed that he could play better, and he did that in the second half. He did play better.”

    Only a little bit better, though.

    After completing 10 of 24 passes for 124 yards and the four interceptions in the first half, Stroud finished 20 of 47 for 212 yards. More important, he led the Texans to 10 points in the first half and just a pair of field goals in the second.

    “We’re in this thing together from day one. It doesn’t change for me,” Ryans said. “When things don’t go your way, you have bad performances, it’s not a time to point fingers or say it’s on one person. … We stick together.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – January 2026

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  • Land O’ Lakes soccer star scores on Senior Night

    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — Senior Nights in high school sports are special. The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team honored 16 of them earlier this month at John Benedetto Stadium, nicknamed “The Swamp.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Eamon Carman is a star forward/midfielder for the Land O’Lakes High School boys soccer team

    • Eamon leads the team and is ranked in the top 10 statewide in goals scored

    • The Gators honored 16 seniors during their Senior Night game earlier this month

    • Shortly into the game, Eamon scored, giving him a memory he will never forget on his special night


    With some eyes far from dry, forward/midfielder Eamon Carman was adamant that there would be no tears from him out there.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s emotional, I mean I’m excited about it, last home game, I’m excited to just play. I’m ready to play and hopefully score goals and have some fun,” Carman said.

    But once he lined up with his family on the track, the tough skin on the Gators star softened a bit.

    “Now I feel a little emotional, but I’m still excited to play the game,” Carman said.

    His mom, Anne Gallacher, was honest when asked if she would tear up.

    “Oh yeah, I will,” Gallacher said.

    This moment means a lot to him because of how much the game of soccer means to him.

    “I started when I was 7 years old. It was the first sports I played when my cousin played it and got me into it, and I just wanted to play it and loved it ever since,” Carman said.

    The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team loves him as well, leading the team in goals scored with 26 entering that game.

    “I want to score, I want to win games, so I come out strong and put everything I have into the game and try to put the ball in the back of the net,” Carman said.

    “You know how kids are just born with a skill? He was born to put the ball in the back of the net. He just has a nose for the goal, his touch, his speed, his awareness and how he sees the game,” Land O’ Lakes boys soccer head coach Billy Jeremias said.

    The Fighting Gators lost a heartbreaker in the district finals last year, which put a chip on their shoulders.

    “After that loss it just hurt, so I was out training every day going to the fields over the summer just like wanting to improve myself and score goals,” Carman said.

    He’s done plenty of that this season, ranking top 10 in the state of Florida and third in Class 6A with 27 goals at the point of this story being published. Carman said he was happy to be up there on that list, but it wasn’t good enough for him.

    “Yeah sometimes I look at that but then I’m like ‘I want No. 1, I want to be the best player in the state best player in the nation’ so I want to get more goals,” Carman said.

    So what did he do 20 minutes into the game? He did what he does best, scoring a goal to lead his team to a 4-0 win.

    Hard to dream of a better senior night, playing the game that he loves.

    “I couldn’t play anything else, this is the sport that I love and I’ll play it until I can’t anymore,” Carman said.

    He will keep on playing into the playoffs as the Fighting Gators look to capture a state title.

    Michael Epps

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  • USWNT’s Rose Lavelle and Lilly Reale Earn US Soccer Honors as Best Players of 2025

    National team midfielder Rose Lavelle has been named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

    Lavelle, who also plays for Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, returned to the national team in June after recovering from ankle surgery and appeared in six matches with three goals and three assists.

    Lavelle, 30, also scored six goals with two assists during the regular season with Gotham. She scored the team’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit for the NWSL championship, winning the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

    “I wouldn’t have been in the position to even be up for the award without all of the support I received throughout the year just to get back on the field,” Lavelle said in a statement Friday. “So, this award is definitely shared with all the people I was lucky enough to have in my corner along the way.”

    A 10-year veteran of the national team, Lavelle scored in the 2-0 victory over the Netherlands for the Women’s World Cup championship in 2019. Lavelle was also on the squad that won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Over the course of her national team career, she has 27 goals and 27 assists.

    Lavelle, the 22nd different player to win player of the year honors, earned 29.2% of the weighted vote, ahead of Sam Coffey with 23.9% and Catarina Macario with 22.3%. Voters include national team coaches and players who earned a cap in 2025, members of U.S. Soccer’s board and athletes’ council, NWSL coaches and select media members.

    U.S. Soccer also announced Friday that Gotham defender Lilly Reale was named the Young Female Player of the Year.

    Reale, 22, played in all 26 of Gotham’s regular-season matches and started the club’s three playoff games. She earned her first senior national team call-up in June after playing for the United States at the youth level. She was part of the squad that played in the under-20 World Cup in 2022.

    Reale earned 48% of the weighted vote, followed by Jordyn Bugg with 29.6% and Micayla Johnson with 16.1%.

    “I think we all know that Rose is not only one of the best players in the world, but also one of the most fun to watch, and to coach, so it’s very satisfying to see her recognized in this way,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “As far as Lilly, it was a heck of a start to her pro career, but it wasn’t without adversity as well. She’s a mentally and physically strong young player and a great teammate, so we are looking forward to watching her continue grow into her roles for club and country.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – January 2026

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  • FIFA says it has received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026 World Cup

    CORAL GABLES, Fla. — FIFA said Wednesday it has received more than 500 million ticket requests for this year’s World Cup.

    Soccer’s organizing body said outside the host United States, Mexico and Canada, the most requests were made by fans residing in Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.

    FIFA is asking for up to $8,680 per ticket. After criticism, FIFA said last month it will offer $60 tickets for every game to the 48 national federations in the tournament, and the federations will decide how to distribute them to their fans who attended their previous games.

    It said the most-requested match in the third sales phase, which ran from Dec. 11 through Tuesday, was Colombia vs. Portugal on June 27 at Miami Gardens, Florida; followed by Mexico vs. South Korea on June 18 at Guadalajara, Mexico; the final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey; the opener between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 at Mexico City; and a second-round match on July 2 at Toronto.

    FIFA said it will notify people about their ticket applications no earlier than Feb. 5 and will allocate them randomly for matches in which demand exceeds availability.

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  • Minnesota United FC starts training camp with new head coach, Cameron Knowles

    With Eric Ramsay gone, on Monday the Minnesota United announced they have promoted former assistant Cameron Knowles to be their new head coach. It coincided with the first day of training camp.

    Loons veteran midfielder Wil Trapp said he wasn’t surprised by the timing of Ramsay’s departure.

    “He’s a very calculated, very smart, very intelligent person who knew what he wanted when he came to MLS, and I think he achieved that. So when opportunities come, I don’t think the club stood in his way and I think he knew what he wanted,” Trapp said. 

    “There were always rumors around him kind of constantly throughout his time here,” said defender Michael Boxall, entering his 10th season with the club. “But obviously, a good opportunity for him. Super grateful for all he did for me personally and for this club.”

    Knowles, who was the United’s interim manager in early 2024, will hold his introductory press conference on Tuesday. 

    “I can’t say enough positive things about Cam,” Trapp said. “The person, the leader, the motivator. Someone who humbly puts in their work every single day, and has been doing it since he had his three games in 2024, then became an assistant and now is back at the helm. I couldn’t be more pleased for him.”

    It was an offseason of major upheaval for the Loons. Robin Lod, the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, left for Chicago.

    “Less about him out there playing with me, I think more away from the field,” Boxall said. “Obviously our families were very close and we spent a lot of time off the field together, so I think that part we’ll miss the most.”

    Reigning goalie of the year Dayne St. Clair departed, too. Drake Callender will be the new man in goal.

    “Was looking for somewhere that maybe wanted me and needed me and was interested in me,” Callender said. “Being here, being part of the club. Once I heard that, I was really prepared to make the move.”

    Ren Clayton

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  • Trevor Lawrence has to ‘live with’ costly turnovers in Jaguars’ playoff loss to Bills

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s hard to blame Jacksonville coach Liam Coen for relying on quarterback Trevor Lawrence against Buffalo on Sunday.

    After all, Lawrence pretty much carried the Jaguars to the playoffs.

    But Lawrence looked little like the AFC player of the month for December and January in a 27-24 loss to the Bills that ended one of the franchise’s most surprising seasons.

    Lawrence threw two interceptions, including one on the final possession, and turned the ball over on downs early in the second quarter when replays showed his shin touched the ground on a fourth-and-2 run deep in Buffalo territory.

    It was a significant momentum swing in the game. The Jaguars (13-5) could have gone up 14-3 and put pressure on Buffalo (13-5). Instead, they failed to score off a turnover and allowed Josh Allen to lead a 92-yard TD drive.

    “I wish we played cleaner in certain areas,” Lawrence said. “I wish I had made one or two decisions a little bit differently, threw a better ball here or there. You’ve got to live with it. It’s life. You don’t get do-overs. It’s a bummer.

    “But I know that we left everything out there. I know I put everything into this this year. It’s sucks that we don’t get to keep playing. This is a special group.”

    Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, with three touchdowns to go along with the turnovers. He also ran six times for 31 yards. He was late on several passes and rarely looked crisp, especially early. He found a rhythm in the fourth quarter and put Jacksonville ahead twice.

    He became the third quarterback in NFL history to deliver multiple go-ahead TD passes in the fourth quarter of a playoff loss, joining Allen (at Kansas City in 2021) and New Orleans’ Drew Brees (at San Francisco in 2011), according to ESPN Research.

    He connected with Parker Washington and Travis Etienne for scores in final frame, putting the Jags up 17-13 and 24-20. But Allen kept carrying the Bills back into the lead — and ultimately the win.

    Coen surely will get questioned for leaning on Lawrence instead of running backs Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten. The duo combined for 118 yards on 15 carries, averaging nearly 8 yards a run against one of the NFL’s most porous run defenses.

    “Just called the game like I always call the game,” Coen said.

    It was an obviously disappointing ending for Jacksonville, which won its most games since 1999 and built a foundation of success in Coen’s debut season. Lawrence was a big reason for it. He accounted for 25 touchdowns in the team’s eight-game winning streak in which it averaged 33.6 points.

    He also played fairly cleanly in those games, with just four turnovers. But it ended against the Bills.

    “In any playoff game, mistakes are always magnified,” Lawrence said. “It always comes down to the end. You don’t see a lot of blowouts in the playoffs. Everything’s on the line, and everyone’s fighting.

    “So whether it’s turnovers or turnovers on downs – we had three of those today, total – those add up and take points of the board. … I got to be better, cleaner there.”

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  • Eric Ramsay leaves Minnesota United to coach West Brom in England’s second-tier Championship

    The Minnesota United on Sunday announced head coach Eric Ramsay will be leaving the club to join West Bromwich Albion.

    Minnesota was Ramsay’s first head coaching job after working alongside Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

    West Brom is currently 18th in England’s second-tier Championship.

    The announcement was made after West Brom beat Swansea in a penalty shootout to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

    James Morrison was in charge of West Brom for the FA Cup game following the dismissal of Ryan Mason on Tuesday.

    Minnesota United chief soccer officer and sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad said “Eric was instrumental in shaping a team that reflects the values of our club and our community.”

    Minnesota said it is “currently in the final stages of selecting its next head coach” and will have more to share in the coming days.

    “We’re incredibly grateful for our time in Minnesota,” said Ramsay, who will bring assistant Dennis Lawrence with him. “We’ve made friends for life, experienced a part of the world we may never otherwise have seen, and shared something truly special as a family. Two seasons have flown by, but I’ll look back with nothing but fond memories and real pride in what we achieved together.”

    CBS Minnesota

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  • Union Berlin beats the snow but has to settle for a draw in the Bundesliga

    BERLIN — Union Berlin fans spent the week clearing snow around their stadium so their Bundesliga game against Mainz could go ahead. They were rewarded with a late recovery to salvage a 2-2 draw with Mainz on Saturday.

    Only four of the six Bundesliga games scheduled for Saturday were going ahead after heavy snow forced two to be called off.

    Union’s game was in doubt, prompting fans to gather with shovels to clear snow from access routes at the stadium on Thursday. Those efforts and lower-than-expected snowfall on Friday allowed the game to proceed, though the damp field soon churned up.

    On his return to a club he led into the Champions League before his 2023 departure, Mainz coach Urs Fischer nearly left with a win.

    Nadiem Amiri’s volley gave Mainz the lead and ex-Union player Benedict Hollerbach refused to celebrate after scoring Mainz’s second goal. Union responded with goals from Jeong Woo-yeong in the 77th and a close-range finish from Marin Ljubicic in the 86th to take a point.

    A poor tackle cost Hamburger SV dearly in a 2-1 loss at Freiburg which finished amid steady snowfall.

    Hamburg had just taken the lead when defender Daniel Edfadli’s clumsy challenge gave away a penalty and earned him a second yellow card. Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo converted the spot kick before Igor Matanovic scored the winning goal.

    Heidenheim drew with Cologne 2-2. Marvin Pieringer’s audacious overhead kick gave Heidenheim the lead early before Cologne twice leveled the score.

    Bayer Leverkusen hosted Stuttgart later Saturday.

    St. Pauli’s game with Leipzig and Werder Bremen’s against Hoffenheim were postponed because of snow and ice.

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  • Defending Champion Crystal Palace Loses to 6th-Tier Macclesfield 2-1 in Massive FA Cup Upset

    MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — Minnow Macclesfield beat title holder Crystal Palace 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history on Saturday to reach the fourth round.

    Macclesfield is a team playing in the sixth tier of English soccer, five levels below its Premier League opponent, and took the lead when captain Paul Dawson headed in a cross from Luke Duffy in the 43rd minute.

    Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th, prompting wild celebrations.

    Following a scramble in the penalty area the ball pinged to Buckley-Ricketts, who came through the Manchester City academy, and he deftly clipped the ball with the outside of his right foot past goalkeeper Walter Benítez.

    “I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position,” Macclesfield coach John Rooney told broadcaster BBC. “We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads.”

    Rooney started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club — and is in only his first season coaching. He is the younger brother of former England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

    Yeremy Pino curled in a last-minute free kick over the wall to leave Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans broke out into chants of “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.

    Macclesfield held on against a Palace side whose dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. central defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time, giving possession back to Macclesfield.

    The fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — a modest 5,900-capacity stadium in northwest England — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.

    The FA Cup has a long history of dramatic knockouts and huge upsets on the day, such as when non-league Hereford beat Newcastle 2-1 in a third round replay in 1972 or when underdog Palace beat overwhelming favorite Liverpool 4-3 in the 1990 semifinals.

    “I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” coach Rooney said.

    Dawson said Macclesfield “means the world to me” and called the victory “an immense achievement.”

    Palace manager Oliver Glasner had “no explanation” for what he’d just seen.

    “You don’t need tactics. In these kinds of games, you don’t need a manager,” he told the BBC. “If you just show what you’re capable of and having a little bit of pride, then you perform in a different way, but today we missed everything.

    Palace captain Marc Guéhi walked over to speak with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.

    In an all-Premier League tie, Sunderland beat Everton on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.

    Enzo Le Fée put Sunderland ahead in the first half while fellow midfielder James Garner equalized for home side Everton in the 89th.

    Norway forward Jørgen Strand Larsen scored a hat trick as Premier League struggler Wolves routed fourth-tier Shrewsbury 6-1. The 2021 FA Cup winner Leicester, now playing in the second tier, won 2-0 at fourth-tier Cheltenham.

    Among Saturday’s later third-round matches, seven-time FA Cup winner Manchester City — the runner-up last season — took on third-tier Exeter, while Newcastle hosted Bournemouth and Tottenham faced Aston Villa in all-Premier League clashes.

    Also, eight-time champion Chelsea visited second-tier Charlton in the last game.

    Bournemouth sold Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo to City on Friday in a deal worth a reported 65 million pounds ($87 million).

    He thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the Bournemouth Echo newspaper.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Denver Summit FC signs Stanford star foward Jasmine Aikey

    Stanford’s star striker is coming to Denver.

    Summit FC signed forward Jasmine Aikey, the club announced on Thursday. Aikey played for Stanford the last four seasons, tallying 43 goals and 29 assists in 89 games as one of the program’s driving forces behind continued national success.

    In 25 games for Stanford in 2025, Aikey paced the team with 53 points, including 21 goals and 11 assists. She had 11 game-winning goals as she was named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and earned TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year for the ACC champion Cardinal.

    Aikey also helped Stanford win a Pac-12 championship as a freshman in 2022, and was a linchpin on NCAA Women’s College Cup teams over the last three seasons. She has high potential as a pro with her elite technical skills, vision on the pitch and ability to finish around the net.

    “Jasmine is an intelligent, creative player who has performed at a very high level in one of the best collegiate environments in the country,” Summit FC general manager Curt Johnson said in a statement. “She has a great feel for the game, the ability to unlock defenses, and the work rate to impact matches on both sides of the ball. We believe she has the tools to be an important part of our attack as we build this club for the long term.”

    Aikey signed a two-year contract with Summit FC that includes a mutual option for 2028. The 20-year-old Palo Alto, Calif., native is the third forward the club has acquired ahead of its inaugural 2026 season, joining Colorado Springs native Ally Watt (via trade with the Orlando Pride) and Spaniard Nahikari García (the club’s first international signing).

    More roster moves are coming over the next few weeks, especially at striker and midfield, as Summit FC continues to build out its offense. The team’s first home match is Saturday, March 28, at Empower Field.

    Kyle Newman

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  • TikTok picked by FIFA as video content partner at 2026 World Cup

    GENEVA — GENEVA (AP) — TikTok was picked by FIFA as the first “preferred platform” for video content on social media at a men’s World Cup, the soccer body said Thursday.

    The World Cup tie-in will see creators get special access at the 48-nation tournament being co-hosted in 16 cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — from June 11 to July 19.

    FIFA said World Cup broadcast rights holders can livestream parts of the 104 games at a dedicated hub on the TikTok app, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S.

    “Additionally, a wide group of creators will receive the opportunity to use and co-create FIFA archival footage,” it said.

    FIFA did not state the value of the deal, or details of any tender process and rival bidders. YouTube had a low-level sponsor deal that included access for creators at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    What kind of live content can be streamed this year, at a tournament where commercial partners’ exclusive rights are fiercely protected, also was not specified by FIFA.

    TikTok’s partnership with MLS and Apple TV led to the platform carrying footage from cameras dedicated just to following soccer great Lionel Messi playing in games for Inter Miami.

    FIFA promised fans would be taken “behind the curtain and closer to the action than ever before,” its secretary general Mattias Grafström said.

    TikTok’s in-app World Cup hub also will give fans “participation incentives” like custom stickers, filters and gamification features.

    “ TikTok GamePlan turns fandom into measurable business results for our sports partners, with fans being 42% more likely to tune in to live matches after watching sports content on TikTok,” said its global head of content, James Stafford.

    TikTok became the world’s most downloaded phone app while also under threat of being shut down in the United States as a national security threat.

    In December, TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance agreed to form a U.S. joint venture with investors Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX. That deal is scheduled to be sealed later this month.

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  • Messi would prefer to be an owner rather than a coach when he quits playing

    BUENOS AIRES — BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi would prefer to become a club owner rather than a coach when he quits as a player, the Argentina soccer star has said.

    In October, he signed a three-year contract extension with Inter Miami to take him through the 2028 season.

    “I don’t see myself as a coach,” the 38-year-old Messi told the Luzu TV streaming channel in an interview recorded in December that aired Tuesday. “I like management, but if have to decide for one of the three I would like to be an owner.

    “I would like to have my own club, to be able to grow it, to start from the bottom and to be able to give the kids, the people, the opportunity to grow and make it an important club. If I had to choose, that’s what would appeal to me most.”

    Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar in 2022, is already a part owner of Uruguay’s fourth-division team Deportivo LSM, which is co-owned by Inter teammate Luis Suarez.

    “Deportivo LS is a family dream that began in 2018. We have grown a lot with more than 3,000 members,” club founder Suarez said last May in a video alongside Messi. “I want to offer Uruguayan soccer, the place I love and where I grew up as a child, opportunities and tools for teenagers and children to grow.”

    The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi also has a future minority ownership stake in Inter included in his contract.

    Messi won the MLS Golden Boot this season after scoring 29 goals, five more than LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge. He also had 19 assists, and his 48 total goal contributions was one shy of matching the league record set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

    Messi also became the became the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards in MLS history.

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  • Rodgers and Steelers Win AFC North, Beating Ravens 26-24 After Loop Misses Kick at Buzzer

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left, and the Steelers beat the Ravens 26-24 on Sunday night when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, giving Pittsburgh the AFC North title.

    Pittsburgh (10-7) will host Houston (12-5) in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, Jan. 12, following an electric fourth quarter that saw four lead changes, including three in the final four minutes.

    The Ravens were poised to swing the lead back their way one last time after Lamar Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gain that put the Ravens within Loop’s range.

    The rookie’s kick never had a chance, sailing well to the right of the goalposts as the Steelers poured onto the field to celebrate their first division title in five years.

    Rodgers passed for a season-high 294 yards and his 26-yard toss to Austin made it 26-24. Chris Boswell missed the extra point, giving the Ravens a chance to win with a field goal.

    Jackson, dealing with a painful back contusion, passed for 238 yards and three scores, including a pair to Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter. Each of Flowers’ TDs put Baltimore in front.

    Pittsburgh responded each time, and will now welcome the Texans while looking to end a playoff victory drought that stretches to the 2016 AFC championship game.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • 11/30/2025: Polymarket; CRISPR Kids; Lamine Yamal

    First, Polymarket lets you bet on almost anything. Then, a look at teens’ innovative Lyme disease research. And, Lamine Yamal: The 60 Minutes Interview.

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  • Australia v England commentary

    Ball-by-ball Ashes updates: England face Australia in final Test at SCG

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  • Can Professional Women’s Soccer in the U.S. Keep Up with the Global Market?

    So the scrutiny on Rodman as she entered the N.W.S.L. final in November was intense. Her performance that day proved to be, by her own assessment, a disappointment. About twenty minutes after she came on, Gotham’s Rose Lavelle scored what would end up as the game’s only goal. After it was over, Rodman was visibly distraught. More than the loss seemed to be weighing on her. Her contract with the Spirit was expiring at the end of the year. She had made clear that she did not want to leave the team, but the championship was possibly her final game.

    There was little doubt that Rodman could command an eight-figure salary on the open market. In fact, the D.C. Power, a team in the new Gainbridge Super League, which is seeking to challenge the N.W.S.L. as the dominant women’s league in the U.S. and has no salary cap, reportedly offered Rodman upward of a million dollars. Rich European clubs were also interested in Rodman. Players have many reasons for choosing which club to join, including geographic considerations and tactical styles. Not everyone goes with the highest bidder. But money matters, too. Constrained by the salary cap, there was no way that N.W.S.L. teams could remotely compete with those sorts of deals.

    The stakes were high: if Rodman departed, not only would it fuel the growing sense that the N.W.S.L. is unable to retain top talent but it would also mean the loss of the league’s most charismatic and recognizable player. Alex Morgan is retired; Megan Rapinoe is now a podcaster. Rodman is sponsored by companies such as Adidas and Red Bull. Verizon put her in a commercial. Home Depot signed her for its “creator portal.” Dove Men built its advertising campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the men’s tournament—around her. During the annual state of the league address in November, just before the championship game, the N.W.S.L.’s commissioner, Jessica Berman, said that the league would “fight” to keep Rodman. But she also defended the need for a salary cap to maintain balance and encourage owners to continue to invest.

    Then, in early December, the Spirit reportedly presented Rodman with a contract that would average out to more than a million dollars—back-loaded so that most of the money would be paid after the N.W.S.L. negotiated a new television deal, which should lead to a rise in the salary cap. But the league office—which played a role in contract negotiations because, technically, players sign with the league, which operates as a single entity, and not directly with individual teams—rejected the deal, calling it not within the “spirit” of the salary cap. The logic was that Spirit had projected the league would grow at a rate that the league itself found unreasonable, and so would not be able to field a team while also paying Rodman. The Spirit could point to a mechanism where it could buy out the remainder of the contract if it turned out to be infeasible, but that didn’t sway the commissioner. In effect, the league was betting against a high projection of its own success.

    The commissioner’s office did little to elaborate on the decision. “Our goal is to ensure that the very best players in the world, including Trinity, continue to call this league home,” a spokesman for Berman told me in an e-mailed statement. “We will do everything we can, utilizing every lever available within our rules to keep Trinity Rodman here.” Except that it wasn’t clear which rules, if any, the Spirit was breaking. The N.W.S.L. Players Association immediately filed a grievance, saying that the league had interfered with Rodman’s free-agency rights—and so, potentially, every player’s rights. “Not a single person” pointed to a rule that had actually been violated by the proposed contract, the N.W.S.L.P.A.’s head, Meghann Burke, told me. Whether or not a contract was a wise contract was a question best left for individual teams and players to decide, she argued. It was, she added, “really difficult for me to understand other than the league wants control.”

    In mid-December, ESPN reported that the owners were crafting a new rule to create an exception to the salary cap for “High Impact Players”—not limited to Rodman but obviously built around her profile. Near the end of the month, the rule was officially enacted by the N.W.S.L., over the union’s objections. It allows for teams to use up to a million dollars to sign players who meet certain criteria, including the amount of minutes played on a national team, being recognized as an N.W.S.L. M.V.P. finalist in one of the two previous seasons, or being named to one of a number of lists, such as the top thirty in the Ballon d’Or, the top forty of the Guardian Top 100 football players, or the top forty of the ESPN FC Top 50 players in the two years prior. One of the lists—the SportsPro Media Top 150 Most Marketable Athletes—had no measure of sporting value.

    “There is not a single player I’ve heard of who supports this rule,” Burke told me. Some of the lists were famously Eurocentric. African players—who include some of the N.W.S.L.’s best—were less likely to be eligible for the funds. And the inclusion of marketability criteria created incentives that could better fit a social-media influencer than an élite athlete. The union’s proposal was to increase the over-all salary cap by a million dollars, and to give individual teams the right to use the funds as they saw fit, rather than dictate how the money could be spent. The C.B.A., in fact, allowed for the cap to be lifted in consultation with the N.W.S.L.P.A. at any time.

    Louisa Thomas

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  • How to Watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis: Live Stream La Liga, TV Channel

    Real Madrid face Real Betis in this La Liga matchup on Sunday at Santiago Bernabéu, and you can catch all the action with ESPN.

    How to Watch Real Madrid vs Real Betis

    • Date: Sunday, January 4, 2025
    • Time: 10:15 PM ET
    • Channel: ESPN+
    • Stream: ESPN (watch now)

    Real Madrid kick off the new year at the Santiago Bernabéu, eager to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona and reset after a tricky run in La Liga. Los Blancos have struggled for consistent results of late, dropping points in several recent matches and seeing their title challenge slip a bit, but they’ll be backed by strong home support and plenty of attacking firepower. With Kylian Mbappé ruled out of this match due to a knee injury, Real Madrid will look to other stars to step up. Vinícius Júnior will be key for his pace, creativity, and goal threat down the left, while Rodrygo can exploit spaces on the right. In midfield, Jude Bellingham’s box-to-box dynamism and playmaking ability will be crucial to linking defence and attack and unlocking Betis’s defence.

    Real Betis travel to Madrid confident they can cause problems despite being underdogs, buoyed by a side that’s shown it can score goals and compete with top teams. Antony, available after suspension, offers pace and directness in attack, and midfield orchestrator Isco can pull the strings with his vision and passing, a real threat if Betis can control possession. Betis will need to stay compact and clinical on the break to challenge Madrid’s back line, and defensive organization will be vital to frustrate Los Blancos’s wide attackers. On paper, Madrid holds the edge in depth and individual talent, but Betis’s resilience and attacking flair make this a matchup that could spring surprises if they execute their game plan well.

    This is a great La Liga match that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

    Live stream Real Madrid vs Real Betis with ESPN+, ESPN Select, or ESPN Unlimited: Start your subscription now!

    You can catch every La Liga match all season long with ESPN’s streaming service, as well as a wide array of other sporting events and shows.

    Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

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  • Chelsea’s Interim Coach Says Players ‘Really Focused’ on Man City After Maresca Exit

    LONDON (AP) — Calum McFarlane said he’s had a “whirlwind” 24 hours at Chelsea since being elevated from Under-21s coach to interim manager and then tasked with facing Pep Guardiola and Manchester City on Sunday.

    The Englishman was put in charge while Chelsea finds a replacement for Enzo Maresca. McFarlane led team training Friday after his security pass was upgraded so he could access the first-team building.

    “It’s been a crazy 24 hours, a whirlwind as you can imagine, but it’s also been really enjoyable and exciting,” McFarlane said.

    The London club announced on Thursday that Maresca left his position as manager — following a reported deterioration in his relationship with the team’s hierarchy.

    Liam Rosenior, who coaches French team Strasbourg — a club in the same ownership group as Chelsea, has been reported to be a leading contender for the job.

    “The energy and enthusiasm in training was exceptional today,” said McFarlane, who worked in City’s academy in the 2020-21 season before moving to Southampton and then Chelsea. “They seem really focused, they’re really driven, hungry. They know we’ve got a massive game on Sunday, and were going to have to be at our best.”

    Chelsea starts the second half of the Premier League season in fifth place. The Blues are three points back of fourth-place Liverpool but also just three points ahead of 11th-place Fulham.

    The game at City is the first of nine matches for Chelsea this month in all competitions.

    Chelsea is seeking a fifth full-time manager since the takeover of the club by American investors, fronted by Todd Boehly, in May 2022.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • In latest World Cup ticket phase, which ends Jan. 13, FIFA says requests are over 30 times higher than supply

    In the first 15 days of the latest World Cup ticket lottery, which began Dec. 11, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said over 150 million requests were received — which is 30-times greater than the allotted supply for the tournament.

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  • Roberto Carlos Reportedly Undergoes Heart Surgery While on Vacation in Brazil

    MADRID (AP) — Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has undergone surgery for a heart problem, Spanish daily sports newspaper Diario AS reported on Wednesday.

    The 52-year-old former full-back, who now serves as a Madrid ambassador, was reportedly vacationing in his home country when an examination revealed a heart dysfunction.

    According to AS, Roberto Carlos initially sought tests for a small blood clot in his leg. However, a full-body MRI showed his heart was not functioning properly. He was admitted to hospital for surgery to have a catheter inserted.

    The procedure, which was expected to last 40 minutes, extended to almost three hours due to a complication, AS said, adding the procedure was successful.

    Roberto Carlos is said to be out of danger but remains under close observation and will stay hospitalized for another 48 hours to ensure his recovery continues.

    The newspaper said it contacted the former Brazil star and his entourage, quoting him as saying: “I’m fine now.”

    Roberto Carlos, one of the most attacked-minded left backs of all time, won 125 Brazil caps and played for 11 years at Madrid.

    He was a member of the World Cup squads which reached the final in 1998 and won in 2002. He also helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1997 and 1999 and won the Champions League three times with Madrid.

    Roberto Carlos once produced a stunning “banana” free kick that seemed to defy the law of physics and was analyzed by scientists.

    In what many people regard as the best free kick in the history of the game, he struck the ball with the outside of his left foot from 35 yards, bending it around France’s three-man wall during an exhibition tournament in Lyon in 1997.

    The shot looked way off target, a ball boy standing 10 yards from the goal even ducked his head, but at the last moment it swerved dramatically into the net. The bewildered France goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, had not even moved.

    Roberto Carlos claimed at the time he had done it all before, against Roma when he was playing for Inter Milan, although he never quite managed to repeat his 1997 trick.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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