2014 FIFA World Cup
England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, right, goes for the ball ahead of England's Tyrone Mings, left, and Croatia's Bruno Petkovic during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia, at Wembley stadium, London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths, Pool via AP)
The Latest: Spectators injured by parachuting protestor

By The Associated Press Jun. 15, 2021 08:15 AM EDT

Netherlands' Georginio Wijnaldum, left, and Georgia's Giorgi Aburjania vie for the ball during the friendly soccer match between The Netherlands and Georgia, in the run-up to the Euro2020 soccer tournament, in Enschede, eastern Netherlands, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Latest: Blind overcame 'mental hurdle' at Euro 2020

By The Associated Press Jun. 13, 2021 07:32 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday March 25, 2021 file photo, England's Phil Foden attempts to control the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between England and San Marino at Wembley stadium in London. Exciting talents like Phil Foden, Joao Felix and Ferran Torres are among a host of young players set to play their first major international tournaments at Euro 2020. UEFA has expanded squads from 23 players to 26 and that could encourage coaches to take a chance on more up-and-comers.(Adrian Dennis/Pool Photo via AP, File)
EURO 2020: Phil Foden leads continent's young stars

By James Ellingworth Jun. 02, 2021 05:57 AM EDT

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro attends the launching ceremony of the Asphalt Giants Program, at the Planalto presidential palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the program offers facilities such as offering special lines of credit to purchase trucks or maintenance, predictability in the price of diesel oil, and faster vaccination of truck drivers against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Bolsonaro wants Copa America in Brazil; Aguero casts doubts

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 01, 2021 12:26 PM EDT

Brazil's President Jair Bolsoanro smiles after a motorcycle tour with supporters,in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Brazil named Copa America host after Argentina is stripped

By Mauricio Savarese May. 31, 2021 10:37 AM EDT

ESPN to have most Euro matches called from Bristol studio

By Ronald Blum May. 18, 2021 11:51 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Champion has had to adjust to broadcasting soccer off a television screen during the pandemic. ESPN will have just one...

Bayern's Benjamin Pavard tries to control the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool)
Bayern nearing 2nd league title under departing Hansi Flick

By James Ellingworth Apr. 22, 2021 08:01 AM EDT

Porto's Pepe, left, and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo embrace at the end of the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Juventus at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Europe starts World Cup qualifying amid pause for pandemic

By Graham Dunbar Mar. 22, 2021 11:38 AM EDT

The head coach of the German national soccer team, Joachim Loew, walks down stairs prior to a virtual press conference at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Two days ago Loew announced to step back from his post after the European Championships. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Germany coach Joachim Löw says time is right to step aside

By Ciarán Fahey Mar. 11, 2021 08:44 AM EST

FILE - In this June 14, 2018 file photo, Coach of German national soccer team Joachim Loew carries two balls during a training session at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Vatutinki near Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Michael Probst,File)
Löw to quit as Germany coach after European Championship

By Ciarán Fahey Mar. 09, 2021 06:11 AM EST

Hertha Berlin signs Khedira, Radonjić; Schalke gets Mustafi

By Ciarán Fahey Feb. 01, 2021 05:38 PM EST
BERLIN (AP) — Hertha Berlin brought Sami Khedira back to the Bundesliga after 10 1/2 seasons away on Monday, hopeful the World Cup winner will help lead the...

File - In this Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 file photo, Germany's head coach Joachim Loew arrives ahead of the international friendly soccer match between Germany and Turkey in Cologne, Germany. The German soccer federation is sticking with Joachim Löw as coach of the national men's team despite poor results including a chastening 6-0 defeat to Spain. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
Germany sticks with under-fire Joachim Löw as coach

By Ciarán Fahey Nov. 30, 2020 11:17 AM EST

Switzerland's Remo Freuler, right, scores aigainst Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon, left, during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Switzerland and Spain at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday Nov. 14, 2020. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP)
Ramos causes missed spot kick drama on record-setting night

By Graham Dunbar Nov. 14, 2020 06:50 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2014 file photo, Former FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke speaks during a news conference for the 2014 World Cup in Florianopolis, Brazil. Qatari soccer and television executive Nasser al-Khelaifi will go on trial starting Sept. 14, 2020 in Switzerland in September, implicated in providing a holiday villa to a FIFA official linked to a World Cup broadcasting deal. The court has listed 10 days in September to hear the case against al-Khelaifi, former top FIFA official Jerome Valcke and another broadcasting executive who was not identified. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)
Swiss court puts Qatari on trial in soccer case next week

By Graham Dunbar Sep. 11, 2020 12:31 PM EDT

Quarantine order delays FIFA ban case for Brazil's Teixeira

Aug. 24, 2020 09:38 AM EDT
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — An appeal hearing for former FIFA official Ricardo Teixeira to challenge his life ban for bribery was delayed because his lawyers...

World Cup winner Höwedes retires from soccer at 32

Jul. 31, 2020 07:55 AM EDT
BERLIN (AP) — Benedikt Höwedes, a defender who helped Germany win the World Cup title in 2014, retired from soccer on Friday citing family reasons. ...

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 file photo, Dortmund's Andre Schuerrle celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Cologne and Borussia Dortmund in Cologne, Germany. Borussia Dortmund has released World Cup-winning forward Andre Schuerrle from his contract a year early, the German club said Wednesday. The 29-year-old Schuerrle last played for Dortmund in May 2018 before loans at Fulham and Spartak Moscow. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
Schürrle leaves Dortmund with 1 year left on his contract

Jul. 15, 2020 08:01 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, Portugal coach Fernando Santos talks to journalists after the draw for the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament finals in Bucharest, Romania. Coach Fernando Santos will remain in charge of Portugal national soccer team until the 2024 European Championship, the Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday June 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, FILE)
Portugal coach Santos extends contract until 2024

Jun. 16, 2020 12:26 PM EDT