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☆ Thibaut Courtois urges soccer to use NBA as reference point in calendar congestion crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-31 | by ( Aleks Klosok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Rebecca Blackwell/APBoiling point was reached earlier this year when unions representing soccer players launched a legal challenge against FIFA’s “unilateral” decision to set the international match calendar – notably an expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. “This Club World Cup is something that has to exist, but it’s just hard to find the right way into it. “I think (soccer) players will not mind to play nine months non-stop with proper preparation and load management,” he says. “This year is a Club World Cup, then next year is the World Cup, then the year after something else, so there’s no rest for players.”Indeed, the Real Madrid goalkeeper knows all too well about the toll of fixture congestion. “We increased the number of participants for the (FIFA) World Cup but still it’s one month every 48 months,” he continued.

Persons: CNN —, Thibaut Courtois, ’, Amanda Davies, Rebecca Blackwell, FIFA’s, infringes, Gianni Infantino, Courtois, ”, “ FIFPRO, Jed Jacobsohn, “, He’s, “ Jude, Dani, Carvajal, Federico, Valverde, ‘, Kurt Desplenter, ” Courtois, Domenico Tedesco, Tedesco, It’s, UEFA’s, soccer –, Florentino Pérez, Vinícius Jr, Blancos, They’ll Organizations: CNN, Real Madrid, United Arab Emirates, FIFA Club, Unions, of Fundamental, FIFA, FIFA Congress, NBA, Belgian, UEFA, NFL, Member, ”, UEFA Nations League, AFC Asian, Africa, Nations, CONCACAF, US, Nations League, Central America, Belgium national, League, soccer, Madrid, Liga, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super, FIFA Intercontinental, FC Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Real Mallorca, Spanish, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, La Liga, Champions League Locations: what’s, Belgian, Dubai, United Arab, United States, Bangkok, Bellingham, Madrid, America, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Europe, North, Caribbean, Valverde, Saudi Arabia, La

☆ It started with an informal pick-up game. Now, this organized soccer club is a lifeline for many asylum-seekers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

But the Newcomers Football Club, an impromptu team made up of asylum-seekers, has helped provide him with a joy that erases his stress. And they were looking for a place to play soccer – an almost universal cornerstone of their daily routines back home. Leonard had never worked with refugees or asylum-seekers before, and he had never played soccer. In the months since, the ad-hoc project has ballooned from an informal pick-up game to an organized club that competes with other New York teams, joining forces with another similar project started by co-organizer Avram Kline. The mixed practices help Newcomers FC members meet new people and practice their English, Leonard says.

Persons: Lukaku, he’s, ”, ” Boubacar, Julian Rigg, Mars Leonard, Leonard, Avram Kline, ” Leonard, “, CNN Lukaku, Eric Adams ’, Bushwick Ayuda, Ibrahima Lô, Andreas, Eric Adams, ” Andreas, CNN Andreas, meanwhile, Andreas said, Helen, Adams, CNN’s, I Organizations: New York CNN, Football, CNN, Stockton House, New, Newcomers FC, United Nations, Amnesty International, Leonard ., FC, Guinean, Senegalese, Mauritanian, Central America, Soccer, Bushwick, ”, Autonomous Football League, Cop Locations: Brooklyn, New York, United States, Guinea, Guinnea, Bissau, Sierra Leone, Bushwick, Stockton, West, Mauritania, Senegal, Morocco, West Africa, Latin America, Williamsburg, Lukaku, Africa, Conakry, Guinea’s, Mali, Burkina Faso, Arizona, Mexico, New, New York City, Jefferson, “, American, South, York, Bushwick Ayuda Mutua, Queens

☆ Why soccer players are demanding change to a calendar that has left them ‘at the limit’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

FIFPRO‘An industry-wide issue’European club teams are preparing for a revamped UEFA Champions League – the most prestigious competition in European club soccer – which will see teams play at least an additional two games. Manchester City hoist the Club World Cup trophy in December 2023. Conflict between national teams and clubs over minutes could arise, star players could see the field less and league structures would have to change. Over 40% of World Cup players surveyed by Football Benchmark said that they experienced extreme or increased mental fatigue after the tournament. Instead, it’s the calendar and consultation process that need to change for those in the game.

Persons: England CNN —, “, Maheta Molango, ” Molango, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, ”, Javier Tebas, Molango, Vinícius Júnior, Ballon d’Or, Ronaldinho, Jude Bellingham, Florencia Tan Jun, Wayne Rooney –, –, David Beckham, Takumi Minamino, Simon Brundish, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Brundish, ” Brundish, Kevin C, Cox, David Terrier, ’ That’s, Richard Masters, you’re, Umberto Calcagno, FIFPRO, Jorge Mas, Lionel Messi, Henry Winter Organizations: England CNN, FIFPRO, ’ Association, PFA, CNN Sport, UEFA, League, FIFA Club, Manchester City, Reuters, La Liga, FIFA, des, Associazione Italiana Calciatori, CNN, Super League, Copa, Champions League, Vinícius, Madrid, Bellingham, Manchester United, Japan, French, AS Monaco, Sports, France, Football Benchmark, Premier League Chief, AIC, Inter Miami Locations: London, England, Wales, U.S, Canada, Mexico, Manchester, Europe, Real Madrid, Brazil, Bellingham, Qatar

☆ Matthew Briggs made his English Premier League debut at 16. 11 years later, he was left feeling suicidal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

That “surreal moment” seemingly was the start of an exciting career in the game – Briggs was once tipped as a future England captain. In the year when he walked away from soccer, Briggs moved in with his uncle. For the first time in his life, Briggs learned how to deal with the feelings he had struggled with for years. Briggs playing for England in the Under-20 World Cup in 2009. Thousands of young players are fed into the academy system every year, with only a tiny percentage ever making it.

Persons: CNN — Matthews Briggs, – Briggs, ” Briggs, “, ‘, ’, Briggs, ”, Middlesborough, Wayne Rooney, Lee Smith, I’m, Joe Giddens, Matthew Briggs, –, I’ve, Alex Livesey, “ I’ve, that’s, it’s, Matthew Ashton, ” Neil Saunders, Briggs leant, Harvey Elliot, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, Elliot Organizations: International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders Worldwide, CNN, English Premier League, Fulham, CNN Sport, Fulham’s, Arsenal, Premier League, Professional Footballers Association, England, Guyana’s CONCACAF, FIFA, US, Danish, HB Køge, Guyana, CONCACAF, Panama, Academy, PFA –, PFA, Liverpool Locations: England, Dubai, “, Guyana, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo set to play in 11th international tournament after 39-year-old makes Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in his 11th international tournament for Portugal later this year, after the 39-year-old was named in his nation’s squad for Euro 2024. It seemed as though Ronaldo might have made his last appearance in a major international tournament at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo made his first tournament appearance for Portugal at Euro 2004. Darren Walsh/Action Images/ReutersHowever, Ronaldo will not be the oldest player in the Portugal squad. “His communication, his positioning mean that, when he’s fit, he’s a very important player.”Portugal will play Turkey, Georgia and Czech Republic in Group F at Euro 2024.

Persons: CNN — Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d’Or, Roberto Martinez, “ Cristiano, It’s, who’s, ” Martinez, Ronaldo, “, Fernando Santos, Darren Walsh, Pepe, ” Organizations: CNN, Portugal, Saudi, Portugal’s UEFA Nations League, Al, UEFA, Porto, European, Champions League, Sporting Lisbon, Czech Republic, Czech Locations: Europe’s, Saudi Arabian, Portugal, Greece, Portugal’s, Qatar, ” Portugal, Turkey, Georgia, Czech, Czech Republic

☆ Al-Hilal: Saudi Arabia club sets record for most consecutive wins in men’s soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal set the world record for the most consecutive victories in men’s soccer on Tuesday, defeating Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the AFC Champions League. Before that, Dutch giant Ajax had held the record for 44 years after a 26-game winning streak between 1971 and 1972. “Everyone at Al Hilal is delighted to achieve world football history by winning 28 consecutive matches,” said manager Jorge Jesus. “It is up to everyone at Al-Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. According to Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin has the most consecutive wins in soccer – men’s or women’s – with 41 across all competitions between 2012 and 2013.

Persons: Hilal, Al Hilal, ”, Jorge Jesus, Romarinho, Yasser Al, Shahrani, Hilal's, Yasser Bakhsh, Abderrazak, Ali Al, Malcom, Jesus, ” Al, Al Ain, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al, Nassr, Neymar Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, AFC Champions League, Welsh, New Saints, Ajax, ”, “, Saudi League, Champions League, Saudi Pro League, Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin Locations: Saudi Arabian, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Jeddah

☆ Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both score twice as Inter Miami routs Orlando City
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both scored twice as Inter Miami cruised past Orlando City 5-0 in the Florida derby on Saturday. This was the biggest margin of victory in Miami’s short history, underlining the team’s credentials as a strong contender to win this season’s MLS Cup. Suárez scores his second goal inside 11 minutes against Orlando City. “We are aware of the team that we have and we are working towards fighting for the MLS Cup,” Messi said after the match. Orlando, which drew its opening MLS game against Montréal, plays Mexican side Tigres in the Champions Cup on Tuesday.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Messi, Suárez, we’ve, I’ve, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Julian Gressel, Orlando, Robert Taylor, Megan Briggs, Jordi Alba’s, ” Messi Organizations: CNN, Inter Miami, Orlando City, Miami, Orlando, MLS, Chase, Major League Soccer –, Getty Images Miami, Real, LA Galaxy, Eastern Conference, Nashville, Concacaf, Montréal, Tigres Locations: Florida, Barcelona, Argentine, Real Salt, Mexican

☆ Ange Postecoglou: How Australian coach is transforming his club and winning the hearts of soccer fans
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

However, the top flight of English soccer had never seen an Australian manager in its 31-year history – that is until the arrival of Ange Postecoglou. Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesThe Australian was greeted with a similar reception when he was hired by London club Tottenham in the summer of 2023. “He’s inspired Australian football and inspired Australian football coaches,” Dr. Craig Duncan, one of the nation’s leading sports scientists who worked with Postecoglou during his tenure with the Socceroos – the Australian national team – told CNN Sport. So much so that, according to Duncan, many Australian football fans he has spoken to will immediately check the score of Tottenham’s matches when they wake up. “This isn’t about us playing good football, it’s about us winning games of football,” Postecoglou told reporters after a recent 2-1 defeat by West Ham.

Persons: Ange Postecoglou, Postecoglou, Callum McGregor, Ian MacNicol, “ We’ve, “ He’s, ” Dr, Craig Duncan, –, Duncan, ” Postecoglou, “, Postecoglou’s, Craig Foster, Foster, unemployable ”, Ryan Pierse, Postecoglou's, ” Duncan, Spurs, Antonio Conte’s, you’re, ”, Anusak, “ Ricky Sacks, Sacks, Pedro Porro, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, ’, Mauricio Pochettino, Pochettino, José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, Conte, Harry Kane, Son Heung, he’s Organizations: CNN, Premier League, Spain’s Basque, Australian’s Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Scottish, Celtic, Glasgow, Scottish Premier League, London, Tottenham, Spurs, Socceroos –, Australian, CNN Sport, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, South Melbourne FC, FIFA, Australia, Panachaiki, Brisbane Roar, Roar, Melbourne Victory, Socceroos, Brisbane, Melbourne, Marinos, Tottenham Hotspur “, ” Spurs, ‘, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Spurs ’ Locations: Argentinians, Australia, Greece, Japan, Australian, Postecoglou, Athens, Victoria, Brazil, South Melbourne, Yokohama, Scotland, North London, West Ham, London

GENEVA (AP) — The near certainty that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men's World Cup unites two of the most influential men in world sports: the leader of soccer's governing body and the kingdom's crown prince. In the case of Saudi Arabia, U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was slain inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The men’s World Cup should earn Switzerland-based FIFA more than $10 billion in almost entirely tax-free revenue. “Mohammed bin Salman wants Saudi Arabia to be a hub of anything and everything,” Middle East expert James Dorsey said. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and FIFA canceled the planned June 2021 relaunch in China of its Club World Cup event.

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed, Infantino, King Salman, Prince Mohammed's, “ Abraham, ”, Donald Trump, ” Infantino, Mohammed's, Cristiano Ronaldo, “ Mohammed bin Salman, James Dorsey, Greece —, —, Australia –, they’ve, James Johnson, “, Yasser Al Misehal –, – Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Australia, Qatar, White House, “ Abraham Accords, United Arab, Soccer, Newcastle, Russia, Saudi, ” Football Australia, ” FIFA, FIFA Council, Fox News Locations: Saudi Arabia, Persian, Saudi, U.S, Istanbul, Riyadh, Switzerland, Gulf, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Europe, Swiss, China, Qatar, United States, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Greece, Africa, South America, Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabian, Australia

“I’ve always treated football refereeing in my games as if I were coming in to referee a World Cup final,” she says. Claudia Vasconcelos refereeing during the 1991 third-place playoff. Ingrid Jonsson, a lineswoman in the 1991 World Cup final, was the first female official chosen to referee a final. By 1999, all the officials chosen for the World Cup in the USA were women. Claudia Vasconcelos refereeing Flamengo vs. Vasco in the 1994 junior Campeonato Carioca.

Persons: Claudia Vasconcelos, ”, Vasconcelos, wouldn’t, hesitancy, Linda Black, Zuo Xiudi, Tommy Cheng, Brazil’s Vasconcelos, –, “ I’ve, Chen guo, ” Vasconcelos, “, Ingrid Jonsson, Matthew Ashton, ’ ” Vasconcelos, João Havelange, Pelé, Sweden’s Ingrid Jonsson, Stéphanie, Bibiana, Sian Massey, Ellis, Vasco Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Guangdong, Women’s Football, M’s, CNN Sport, Argentina, Premier League, Flamengo, Campeonato Carioca, trailblazer Locations: Guangzhou, China, Sweden, Germany, AFP, New, Australia, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, Mexico, Guangdong, EMPICS, Brazilian, USA

CNN —After the thrill of winning successive Women’s World Cup titles, the 2023 tournament – so far – has brought the US team very much down to earth with a bump. For a team that has been so historically dominant at the Women’s World Cup, performances throughout the 2023 edition so far have been underwhelming for women’s soccer’s most dynastic team. Fans of the US team get ready for the Women's World Cup group game against Portugal. 3 ranked in the world by FIFA, has plenty of World Cup history. Sweden drew with the US in 2015 and also beat them in 2011 – the last time any team defeated the USWNT inside regulation at a World Cup.

Persons: Ana Capeta’s, Vlatko Andonovski, “, Julie Foudy, Buda Mendes, Alex Morgan, ” Morgan, Thailand’s, –, Megan Rapinoe, Morgan, Andonovski, Mallory Swanson, Tobin Heath, Sam Mewis, Catarina Macario, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Andrew Cornaga, Trinity Rodman, Carli Lloyd, ” Lloyd, Crystal Dunn, Lloyd, ” Andonovksi, ”, Rebecca Welch, Rose Lavelle, Lavelle, Saeed Khan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sophia Smith, we’ll, Lindsey Horan, ” Andonovski, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, TNT, US, National, Getty, Portugal, New Zealand, Canada, Tokyo, Christen Press, Vietnam, Professional, Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Montreal Canadiens, UEFA, Leagues, ”, Sweden, FIFA Locations: Portugal, Buda, Thailand, Netherlands, Vietnam, England, New, New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, Auckland, Wellington, AFP, Real Madrid

☆ China was once a women’s soccer superpower. This year’s World Cup is a first step in reclaiming that status
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Simone Mccarthy Andrew Mcnicol Candice Zhu Cnn | Simone Mccarthy | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. I hope through these matches, we can form a clearer picture of the current position of Chinese women’s soccer,” she told state media earlier this month. China scores against New Zealand during a group match at the 1991 Women's World Cup in Guangzhou. That’s even as more than thirty years ago, when China hosted the first ever-women’s World Cup in its southeastern Guangdong province. But as norms change, seeing China’s women’s team competing on the world stage at events like the World Cup would also “inspire girls” to play, Peng added.

Persons: Shui, ”, Xiao Yuyi, Rajanish, Xi, –, China's Zhang Ouying, Carla Overbeck, Vincent Laforet, Wang Shuang, Germain, Zhang Linyan, Chan Yuen Ting, Chen guo, Chan, Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard, Zhang, they’d, China's, Gary Day, William Bi, “, it’s, Qi Peng, China’s, Peng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, AFC Asian, womens, FIFA, Americas, Roses, Denmark, Haiti, AFC, Asian, America, Rose Bowl, Veterans, Paris Saint, Swiss, Grasshopper Club, League, Jiangsu, CNN, New Zealand, Sports, AP Soccer, Xi, Sport Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Europe, China, England, South Korea, Mumbai, India, Pasadena , California, France, “, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Beijing

☆ The trans soccer team that’s making history
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Hannah Ryan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

On the rainy evening of March 31, 2023, he captained what he says is the first ever all trans masculine soccer team in Europe in a match. “I was quite nervous before the match,” Webber told CNN. They now also aim to make soccer a more inclusive sport and connect the trans community. “After the all trans feminine team played their game and once I’d played with the all-gender team, she took me aside and said she’d been thinking about what we could do next and asked if I’d be interested in captaining an all trans masc team,” Webber said. “One day, there’ll be hundreds of trans people playing football all over the country at all levels.”

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