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Tag: Soccer

  • FIFA president says he has full confidence in Mexico as World Cup host despite cartel violence

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    MEXICO CITY — FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and that he has “full confidence” in Mexico as a host country for this year’s World Cup soccer tournament despite violent incidents following the death of a powerful drug lord that left at least 70 people dead.

    Last Sunday, the Mexican army killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes “El Mencho”, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CNGJ) sparking several days of violence. Cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states.

    “I had an excellent conversation earlier today with Mexico president, Claudia Sheinbaum,” Infantino said. “I reiterated our full confidence in the host country and look forward to it staging all scheduled matches there at what will be the most inclusive and the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.”

    Mexico is set to host 13 World Cup matches, four of them in the western city of Guadalajara, in the Jalisco state, the central hub for the Jalisco cartel.

    “I spoke by phone with FIFA President Gianni Infantino; we continue working as usual to successfully host the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Sheinbaum posted on X. “We reaffirm our confidence in the country.”

    Sheinbaum has vowed this week there was “no risk” for visitors, but on Thursday the World Cup diving event set to be held in a Guadalajara suburb next week was canceled over security concerns.

    Earlier in the week the Portuguese soccer federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” ahead of a friendly match against Mexico’s national team in Mexico City.

    Infantino said earlier this week in Colombia that he was convinced that “everything will go as smoothly as possible.”

    Besides the four World Cup matches, the western city of Guadalajara is scheduled to host an international playoff in late March. New Caledonia will play Jamaica and the winner will face Congo for a spot in the tournament.

    The president of the Jamaica Football Federation, Michael Ricketts, said this week that his organization is closely monitoring the situation in Mexico ahead of the Reggae Boyz’ scheduled international matches next month.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • 3 players targeted with racist abuse online after Premier League games

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    Three Premier League players were targeted with racist abuse online after their games this weekend.

    Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri shared images of racist messages they were sent privately over Instagram following their teams’ match at Stamford Bridge that finished 1-1.

    On Sunday, Wolverhampton striker Tolu Arokodare showed racially aggravated messages he received on Instagram after a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace, during which he had a penalty saved.

    The incidents came days after UEFA began an investigation into claims by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior that he was racially abused on the field by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in Lisbon.

    Fofana, who was sent off for receiving two yellow cards against Burnley, posted screenshots of messages he had been sent and wrote on Instagram: “2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished.

    “You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything.”

    Mejbri wrote on his Instagram story: “It’s 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please.”

    Chelsea said in a statement the abuse directed at Fofana was “completely unacceptable and runs counter to the values of the game and everything we stand for as a club.”

    “We stand unequivocally with Wes,” the statement read. “He has our full support, as do all our players who are too often forced to endure this hatred simply for doing their job.

    “We will work with the relevant authorities and platforms in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action.”

    Burnley said in its statement there was “no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly.”

    One of the racist messages sent to Arokodare on Sunday appeared to be from a gambler.

    Writing on his Instagram story, Arokodare said: “It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences.”

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Bodø/Glimt does it again! Norwegian side beats Champions League runner-up Inter in playoffs

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    BODO, Norway — Champions League runner-up Inter Milan became the latest big club to fall against Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, losing 3-1 away in the first leg of their playoff on Wednesday.

    The Norwegian outsider has been the surprise story of this season’s competition after beating Manchester City at home and Atletico Madrid away to make the playoffs.

    The club is located north of the Arctic Circle — which is farther north than any team in Champions League history.

    Serie A leader Inter was seeking a seventh straight win in all competitions but fell behind in the 20th minute when midfielder Sondre Brunstad Fet netted with a neat finish.

    Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.

    Both were similar, with quick passing and unselfish assists.

    For the second goal, forward Kasper Høgh rolled the ball for Jens Petter Hauge to launch a powerful shot into the top corner in the 61st.

    The winger, who once had a brief spell in Serie A with AC Milan, jumped and kicked the corner flag in celebration.

    The fans at the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion were cheering again three minutes later when Høgh scored the third goal after being teed up by Ole Didrik Blomberg.

    The return leg is next Tuesday. ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • More Sports (Sky Sports)

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    Great Britain have claimed a second gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics after Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes won the mixed team snowboard cross event.

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  • Man City close in on Premier League leader Arsenal with 3-0 win against Fulham

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    MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leader Arsenal to three points with a 3-0 win against Fulham on Tuesday.

    Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland all struck in the first half at the Etihad as City issued another statement of intent in the race for the title.

    Arsenal has a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s team, but will be feeling the pressure ahead of its visit to Brentford on Thursday.

    Second-place City followed up Sunday’s dramatic late win against Liverpool with a routine victory that was effectively wrapped up before halftime.

    Semenyo scored for the fifth time in eight games since his $87 million move from Bournemouth last month and his signing could be pivotal if City goes on to pip Arsenal to the title.

    He opened the scoring in the 24th minute and City scored two more in quick succession — through O’Reilly in the 30th and Haaland in the 39th.

    Successive wins for City have changed the complexion of the standings after Arsenal opened up a nine-point lead at the top on Saturday. With the top two still to play each other at the Etihad, the title race looks far from over.

    Third-place Aston Villa also picked up a much-needed victory after a run of one win in five in the league.

    Jack Hinshelwood’s own goal in the 86th sealed a 1-0 home win against Brighton. Villa is six points behind Arsenal and moved five clear of Manchester United in fourth.

    Second to last Burnley came back from 2-0 down at Crystal Palace to win 3-2.

    Palace’s record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen scored twice on his home debut, but his celebrations turned to disappointment as Burnley rallied late in the first half.

    Hannibal Mejbri sparked the fightback in the 40th and four minutes later the game was level Jaidon Anthony equalized.

    Burnley’s winner came before the break through an own goal from Jefferson Lerma in the second minute of first half added time.

    Nottingham Forest is just three points above the relegation zone after a goalless draw with last-place Wolves.

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    James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Rate named official mortgage lending partner of Alianza to expand bilingual homeownership education – Houston Agent Magazine

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    Rate has entered a multi-year partnership with Alianza, a national grassroots soccer platform serving Latino communities, to expand access to bilingual homeownership education and financial resources. 

    Rate will serve as the official mortgage lending partner of Alianza for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, building on a pilot program launched in 2025. The partnership will activate across eight U.S. markets. 

    Alianza hosts soccer events that collectively reach more than 200,000 attendees each year. Through the partnership, Rate will provide bilingual mortgage education, financial guidance and access to its digital tools at Alianza events held between May and September. Rate representatives will staff dedicated activation spaces and offer educational sessions for participating families. 

    The initiative also highlights Rate’s Language Access Program, which provides Spanish-language mortgage and financial services, including tools available through the Rate app. Materials and resources will be shared with registered Alianza families beyond event days through joint communications. 

    “Homeownership education is most effective when it is delivered in trusted spaces and in the language families are most comfortable using,” said Victor Ciardelli, CEO of Rate. “Alianza brings families together through sport, culture, and community. This partnership allows us to meet families where they already are and provide practical tools that support long-term financial confidence.” 

    Steven Powell, vice president of For Soccer, the parent company of Alianza, adds, “Our mission has always been to create opportunity for families through soccer. Partnering with Rate allows us to extend that mission by helping families access financial education and homeownership resources that support long-term stability.” 

    The expanded partnership coincides with increased interest in soccer in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in North America. 

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    Jacqui Mueller

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  • England v Nepal scorecard

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    Scorecard: England vs Nepal, T20 World Cup, Mumbai

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  • Man United Wins Again to Make It Four in a Row for New Coach Michael Carrick

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    MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It’s four Premier League wins in a row for Manchester United under Michael Carrick and a season that was unraveling just weeks ago now looks full of promise.

    “Michael has won everything here and he knows what it means for these fans, what it means for the club to win and how much is needed to win in this football. I think that adds something special to the team,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told TNT Sports.

    It was the first time in two years that United has won four straight league games and boosted its hopes of a return to the lucrative Champions League after missing out for the last two years.

    Bryan Mbeumo and Fernandes scored in each half at Old Trafford in a game that saw Spurs reduced to 10 men after captain Cristian Romero was sent off in the 29th minute.

    Carrick has transformed United’s fortunes since he was parachuted in to replace the fired Ruben Amorim last month. Initially given a contract until the end of the season — having previously had a three-game interim spell in 2021 — his impressive impact will likely put him in serious contention to keep the job as the club’s hierarchy consider its long-term plans.

    “I think Michael came in with the right ideas of giving the players the responsibility, but some freedom to take the responsibility on the pitch, doing the decisions that were needed,” said Fernandes. “He’s very good with the words.

    “I think he still remembers what I told him the last time he was our manager for our last game. I was sure that Michael could be a great manager, and he’s just showing it.”

    United is fourth and after moving up to 44 points, the 20-time English champion has already exceeded last season’s total of 42 points for the entire campaign.

    Fernandes’ goal, with a controlled finish off his shin in the 81st, was his 200th goal involvement since joining United in 2020.

    It sealed victory after Mbeumo had given United the lead in the 38th when firing low from a corner to score his 10th goal of his debut season at the club.

    While United’s captain was inspirational, Tottenham’s Romero did his team no favors with his sending off in the first half.

    Having described as “disgraceful” the fact that Spurs were reduced to 11 fit players for the draw with Manchester City last weekend, Romero hardly helped his team’s cause with his red card for a dangerous tackle on Casemiro.

    The league’s stats partner Opta said it was Romero’s sixth sending off since joining the club in 2021 — more than any other Premier League player in that time.

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

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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    Associated Press

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  • Stuttgart defeats Holstein Kiel 3-0 to reach German Cup semifinals

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    Holstein Kiel’s Jonas Therkelsen, center, battles for the ball with VfB Stuttgart’s Josha Vagnoman, left, and Chris Führich during a German Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 in Kiel, Germany. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

    The Associated Press

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  • Sri Lanka v England scorecard

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    Scorecard: Sri Lanka vs England, third T20

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  • British soccer union wants fewer headers for pros to protect players’ brains

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    BOSTON — The union representing British soccer players will announce on Tuesday the first comprehensive protocol for preventing the brain disease CTE, expanding the heightened concern over concussions to include the damage that can be caused by the less forceful blows from heading the ball.

    The guidelines from the Professional Footballers’ Association, which represents current and former players in the Premier League, the FA Women’s Super League and the English Football Leagues, recommend no more than 10 headers per week – including practice – for professionals. Children under 12 shouldn’t head the ball at all, the PFA said, part of a chronic traumatic encephalopathy prevention protocol designed to reduce head impacts across a player’s lifetime.

    “CTE is preventable. Period,” Dr. Adam White, Director of Brain Health at the PFA, said on Monday at the first-ever Global CTE Summit, which was held in San Francisco while the NFL descended on the Bay Area for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

    “It is the principles of less heading, less force, less often and later in life that matter,” White told The Associated Press. “These could apply to any sport and are the best hope we have of stopping current and future players from the same fate as former generations.”

    The degenerative brain disease now known as CTE was studied in boxers more than a century ago as punch drunk syndrome and first diagnosed in American football players in 2005. It has since become a concern in ice hockey, soccer and other contact sports and among combat veterans and others who sustain repeated blows to the head.

    A 2017 study found CTE in 110 of 111 brains donated by former NFL players. The disease can only be identified posthumously through an examination of the brain.

    The NFL, college football and many other sports have instituted protocols that guide teams and athletes on returning to play after sustaining a possible concussion.

    But the British soccer protocol is the first comprehensive plan to combat CTE by addressing the less dramatic, subconcussive blows that can be common in practice, according to Chris Nowinski, the founder of the Concussion and CTE Foundation.

    “For contact sports, CTE prevention protocols are equally important and possibly more important than concussion protocols,” he said.

    Among the more recent concerns are the routine head hits sustained by football lineman, and those from soccer players heading the ball. Research funded by the union and the Football Association found that Scottish pros have a risk of dementia that is 3.5 times greater than the general population; studies of brains from British soccer players found the majority had CTE, including Jeff Astle, Gordon McQueen and Chris Nicholl.

    “With what we know today about the disease, it would be a failure to our players to do nothing,” White said in a statement. “The science and solutions are clear, it just takes willingness from the sporting bodies to put athletes’ long-term health first and I am pleased that we have been able to do that in England. I encourage all sports to put as much, if not more, effort into CTE prevention protocols as they have concussion protocols.”

    The protocol also includes annual education, support for research and care for ex-players who suspect they are living with CTE. It follows the publication of a CTE prevention framework published in 2023 by researchers assembled by the Concussion and CTE Foundation and Boston University’s CTE Center.

    Nowinski called on sports leagues and their medical advisors to adopt CTE prevention protocols.

    “There is now overwhelming evidence that more head impacts in sports will result in more athletes with CTE,” Nowinski said. “Sports administrators aren’t risking CTE themselves, but the policies they set are sentencing some athletes to a life with CTE, a burden that will primarily be carried by their spouses and children. Enough is enough.”

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    AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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  • Rapids nearing deal to send star Homegrown Cole Bassett to Portland Timbers, source confirms

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    The best homegrown player in Colorado Rapids history is close to being dealt to a conference rival.

    The club is nearing a deal to send 24-year-old midfielder Cole Bassett to the Portland Timbers for a $2.65 million fee with an additional $1.05 million in conditional add-ons, a source confirmed to The Denver Post on Tuesday evening. The Rapids will retain a percentage of a transfer if Portland deals him in the future. The Athletic first reported the deal.

    The move is an intra-league cash trade, a new mechanism within MLS that no longer has a limit of two inbound and two outbound cash trades per season. The Rapids haven’t been too active in the winter transfer window so far, but have made two key signings and are now finalizing one imposing outbound move. If completed, the transfer will free up a U-22 slot on the roster.

    Bassett became the model for what the club’s academy could produce. After spending much of his youth days at Colorado Rush, he joined the Rapids Academy at the U-16/17 level and immediately made an impact, even playing games with the U-23 team (now known as Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro). He signed a first-team contract in 2018, just two weeks after turning 17, making the Littleton native the youngest signing in club history at the time.

    Bassett spent seven seasons in Commerce City, made 155 regular-season appearances for the club (128 starts) and scored 31 goals to go with 22 assists.

    He got some MLS Best XI buzz in 2024 in former coach Chris Armas’ first year in Colorado, when he played as a box-to-box defensive midfielder. He finished that campaign with career single-season highs of nine goals and seven assists while being in the league’s upper echelon in distance covered.

    That same season, he was a late scratch from the 2024 U.S. Olympic squad in France. After being told he was on the roster, U.S. Olympic coach Marko Mitrović changed his mind days before the roster was announced. Bassett responded by recording three goals and three assists in his next four games.

    Last season, though, his fit deteriorated and his production slipped. As the talent and system of the roster shifted, Bassett was forced into an uncomfortable position on the wing and couldn’t replicate his efficacy of the year prior. He finished with just three goals and four assists and was vocal all season about his discontent — but also willingness and desire to win — with playing out wide.

    And with first-time head coach Matt Wells now at the helm, the change in philosophy may have suited Bassett even less this year than it did last year. One of the splashes the club made earlier this month was a $3 million transfer for pure ball-winning defensive midfielder Hamzat Ojediran.

    That price tag alone signals a large role for the Nigerian, but it also indicates the club wants defensive reinforcement at the position, which isn’t naturally the best part of Bassett’s game. The club also spent $2 million in general allocation money on a transfer for CF Montréal winger Dante Sealy, who should start in the season opener.

    To put the money from Bassett’s transfer to use, the Rapids still have a couple of holes in the roster to fill, just 25 days from the opener at the Seattle Sounders. Defensively, the roster is stacked with young center-back talent to pair with English veteran Rob Holding and experienced MLS center back Ian Murphy, but one more solid, proven piece could turn that group from good to great.

    The same goes for both outside back positions, especially after late-2025 spark plug Rafael Santos’ 2026 option was declined and he signed with St. Louis CITY. Attacking-wise, the club could target a striker to complement Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi and provide better depth and more tactical flexibility.

    Bassett won’t wait long for his return to Colorado — the Rapids’ home opener is against the Timbers on Feb. 28.

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    Braidon Nourse

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  • Spanish league offers 50 euros for each tip-off on establishments illegally broadcasting games

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    The Spanish league is stepping up its fight against audio-visual fraud by offering 50 euros ($59) for each verified tip on the establishments broadcasting games without proper permission, it said Wednesday.

    Bars, restaurants, betting places and similar establishments need to subscribe to a specific package to be able to show the games. The league said such broadcasts have a letter on the corner of the screen to identify them, allowing fans to tell whether they are legal or not.

    If people see that an establishment is showing an unauthorized broadcast, they should email La Liga with images to help it verify the infraction.

    The league also said it has a channel where fans can anonymously denounce illegal broadcasts.

    La Liga has been one of the most active European leagues fighting piracy and audio visual fraud.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Brazil’s Corinthians defeats Gotham FC 1-0 in Women’s Champions Cup semifinal

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    LONDON — Corinthians captain Gabi Zanotti scored late as her team beat Gotham FC 1-0 in the semifinals of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup intercontinental competition on Wednesday.

    The 40-year-old Zanotti connected with a cross and shot with her left boot to the right of Gotham’s German international goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who got her hands to the ball but couldn’t stop it slipping through in the 82nd minute.

    It had been a scrappy game of few clear-cut chances for either team.

    Gotham, which qualified for the inaugural FIFA event by winning the first CONCACAF Champions Cup, had pushed hard for the opener in the second half. Jaelin Howell forced Leticia in the Corinthians goal into action, then fired another good chance high and wide.

    Gotham made a desperate push for a late equalizer with Berger going up for a free kick deep in stoppage time. Jaedyn Shaw sent it to the right of the post.

    Corinthians, the Copa Libertadores champion, awaits the winner between Arsenal and African champion ASFAR of Rabat, Morocco in the second semifinal later.

    Both the final and third-place match are to be played Sunday at Arsenal’s stadium.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Heading a ball contributed to brain injury suffered by late Scotland defender McQueen, coroner says

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    NORTHALLERTON, England — Repeatedly heading a soccer ball “likely” contributed to the brain injury that was a factor in the death of former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, a coroner found Monday.

    McQueen died in June 2023 at the age of 70, with the cause of death given as pneumonia after he became frail and bed-bound for months.

    In his narrative conclusions following an inquest, coroner Jon Heath said McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma.

    “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE,” the coroner said.

    His daughter, Hayley McQueen, was in court to hear the findings. She gave evidence during the inquest, saying her father had said that ’heading a football for all those years probably hasn’t helped” his condition.

    She said her father was relatively injury-free during his career but did suffer some concussions, adding: “They would just head back out and play.”

    Hayley McQueen, a TV presenter, said she hopes the findings of the inquest will lead to change in soccer and “make sure that this really real, horrible problem isn’t a problem for future generations.”

    McQueen played 30 games for Scotland between 1974-81, and for Manchester United and Leeds in a 16-year career.

    After retiring as a player, McQueen went into coaching and became a TV pundit.

    After his death, his family donated his brain to professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, the inquest heard.

    Stewart has conducted extensive research into brain injuries in soccer and rugby players. He told the inquest he found evidence of CTE and vascular dementia.

    Stewart said the only evidence available was that McQueen’s “high exposure” to heading a soccer ball contributed to the death and that heading the ball contributed to the CTE.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Real Madrid, Chelsea return to Champions League with rookie coaches in season of firings

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    Real Madrid and Chelsea resume in the Champions League this week after the winter break with new coaches working in the competition for the first time.

    Job losses are a strong theme in a season where patience has run thin in the board room and 11 of the 36 Champions League clubs changed coach.

    Nine of the 11 were fired, the latest being Xabi Alonso one week ago when Madrid removed him after barely seven months and well set in seventh in the Champions League standings.

    Madrid’s new coach Álvaro Arbeloa will take charge of just the third game of his career when hosting Monaco on Wednesday. The last time Madrid hired a novice coach mid-season, Zinedine Zidane’s appointment in January 2016 led to three straight Champions League titles.

    Chelsea replaced its Club World Cup-winning coach Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior — who had led sister club Strasbourg to top the third-tier Conference League standings — and will host Pafos on Wednesday.

    Monaco and Pafos have also changed coaches. Monaco fired Adi Hütter in October and went to another Champions League team, Union Saint-Gilloise, to lure its Belgian league-winning coach Sébastien Pocognoli.

    Pafos’s coach in the first half of the season, Juan Carlos Carcedo, bought out his contract this month to return to Spartak Moscow. Pafos hired another Spaniard, Albert Celades, who was in Madrid’s Champions League-winning squad in 2002 and later played at New York Red Bulls.

    Also firing their coach this season were Ajax, Atalanta — now fifth in the standings — Benfica, Club Brugge, Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, which gave Erik Ten Hag just three games before the Champions League even began.

    Benfica fired Bruno Lage one day after an opening home loss against Qarabag and hired José Mourinho. The two-time European champion was himself fired at Fenerbahce for losing in the qualifying playoffs to Benfica.

    Few would be surprised if Tottenham joins the list before the final round of Champions League opening-phase games next week.

    Stability reigns at Arsenal and Inter Milan, the Premier League and Serie A leaders who meet in the highest profile game of the week of first versus sixth in the standings.

    Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is the only team with six straight wins and now goes back to the scene of its only loss in last season’s league phase. Then, a Hakan Çalhanoğlu penalty was decisive at San Siro.

    Inter matched Arsenal’s pace through four rounds in its first season coached by Cristian Chivu, then lost back-to-back games to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

    Inter likely needs to avoid a third loss to stay on track for the round of 16. Last season it took 16 points to secure a top-eight finish and avoid the playoffs round in February.

    When UEFA made the match schedule in steamy, humid Monaco in August, a key question was who would have to visit the Arctic Circle in January.

    Manchester City was the answer, playing at Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday.

    Still, the forecast temperatures at game time are barely below freezing in the early evening in star striker Erling Haaland’s native Norway.

    Man City, the 2023 European champion, already has 13 points in fourth place, unlike the last-day drama last January needing to win just to squeeze into the knockout playoffs 22nd in the standings.

    Napoli forward Rasmus Højlund returns Tuesday to hometown club Copenhagen which once sold him for less than 2 million euros ($2.3 million) to Sturm Graz.

    The price soared to 77 million euros ($89.6 million) about 18 months later when Højlund moved to Manchester United from Atalanta. Napoli, where he is spending the season on loan, is the 22-year-old Højlund’s fourth club since leaving Copenhagen four years ago.

    Two teams in the far east of Europe — Qarabag and Kairat Almaty — both have home games this week because their distant times zones mean they will not host on the decisive last round.

    All 18 games on Jan. 29 must start simultaneously to ensure fair play, at 9 p.m. in Central Europe, when it would be 1 a.m. at Almaty in Kazakhstan.

    Still, it will be an early 4:30 p.m. in central Europe when Kairat kicks off against Club Brugge at 8:30 p.m. local time Tuesday. Qarabag hosts Eintracht Frankfurt in an early game Wednesday.

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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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

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    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.

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  • Land O’ Lakes soccer star scores on Senior Night

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    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.

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

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    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.

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

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    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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    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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