FIFA World Cup
FILE - The Olympic Rings light up the stadium during opening ceremonies for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the Soccer World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.”(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, Pool, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

FILE - People gather around the official countdown clock showing remaining time until the kick-off of the World Cup 2022, in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup but soccer isn't the only sport played in the Gulf Arab country. From traditional pursuits to worldwide competitions, Qatar increasingly has marketed itself as a host for sports of all sorts. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
EXPLAINER: Sports in Qatar as country hosts 2022 World Cup

By Jon Gambrell Nov. 05, 2022 05:46 AM EDT

FILE - Denmark's Simon Kjaer scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during the World Cup 2022, group F qualifying soccer match between Moldova and Denmark, at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)
Denmark vs Moldova 10/9/2021

Oct. 25, 2022 04:28 AM EDT

Denmark's Christian Eriksen is in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Croatia and Denmark at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Denmark vs Croatia 9/22/2022

Oct. 25, 2022 04:28 AM EDT

FILE - Denmark's coach Kasper Hjulmand greets fans after the international friendly soccer match between the Netherlands and Denmark at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
Denmark vs Netherlands 3/26/2022

Oct. 25, 2022 04:28 AM EDT

FILE - Denmark's Simon Kjaer scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during the World Cup 2022, group F qualifying soccer match between Moldova and Denmark, at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)
Christian Eriksen back with Denmark at World Cup in Qatar

By Mattias Karén Oct. 25, 2022 04:26 AM EDT

United States' players hold the trophy as they celebrate winning the CONCACAF Women's Championship final soccer match against Canada in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, July 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
US women's team has new vibe, work to do before World Cup

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 25, 2022 04:07 PM EDT

Costa Rica's Priscila Chinchilla, front, and United States' Sofia Huerta fight for the ball during a CONCACAF Women's Championship soccer semifinal match in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday, July 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
US advances to W Championship final against Canada

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 14, 2022 09:10 PM EDT

FILE - United States' Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between the United States and Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Rapinoe's role changing as US preps for World Cup qualifying

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 03, 2022 03:26 PM EDT

A man walks past the Gazprom Arena, the stadium that was supposed to host the Champions League 2022 final soccer match in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 28, 2022, with a sculpture of one of Bolshevik's leader Sergei Kirov in the foreground. UEFA removed Saint Petersburg as the host of the final due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Sports court sets July dates for Russian soccer ban appeals

By Graham Dunbar Jun. 22, 2022 08:02 AM EDT

The 23 venues bidding to host World Cup matches in 2026

Jun. 15, 2022 02:07 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — A look at the 23 venues bidding to host soccer matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada: ___ ...

Denmark's Andreas Skov Olsen, left, challenges for the ball with France's Aurelien Tchouameni during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Denmark at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Denmark vs France 6/3/2022

Jun. 11, 2022 08:42 AM EDT

Japan team members warm up during an official training session at the National Stadium in Tokyo Sunday, June 5, 2022. Japan national soccer team will play a friendly soccer match against Brazil on June 6. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Brazil faces Japan in friendly with lesser focus on Neymar

By Stephen Wade Jun. 05, 2022 06:50 AM EDT

FILE - China's fan holds national flag before the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Iran and China at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 24, 2019. China withdrew as host of soccer's 2023 Asian Cup on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in the latest cancellation of the country's sports hosting duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
China cites pandemic and withdraws as host of 2023 Asian Cup

May. 14, 2022 03:56 AM EDT

Hertha fans during the Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC and FSV Mainz at Olympiastadion, Berlin, Saturday May 7, 2022. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)
UEFA decides Euro 2024 opener in Munich and final in Berlin

May. 10, 2022 11:27 AM EDT

FILE - IAAF President Sebastian Coe attends a press conference ahead of the Doha IAAF Diamond League in Doha, Qatar, May 2, 2019. Olympic great Sebastian Coe said Monday March 14, 2022, sports federations must remain firm to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out of competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
Sebastian Coe says sports must fight to keep Russia banned

By Chris Lehourites Mar. 14, 2022 12:10 PM EDT

A screen shows support to Ukraine before the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Russia ready again for urgent court case over World Cup ban

By Graham Dunbar Mar. 04, 2022 12:40 AM EST

FILE - Mexico's Hector Herrera plays during the first half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Houston Dynamo signed Mexican national team captain Héctor Herrera to a designated player contract Wednesday, March 2, 2022, that will run through at least the 2024 season. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Mexico vs USA 11/12/2021

Mar. 02, 2022 01:32 PM EST

FILE Poland's Robert Lewandowski controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between Poland and England, at the Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. Poland is refusing to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Polish soccer federation president said Saturday, Feb, 26, 2022. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, the nation's all-time leading scorer, immediately responded to say it's the “right decision!” (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
England vs Poland 9/8/2021

Feb. 26, 2022 11:46 AM EST

CONCACAF's W Championship to qualify 4 teams for World Cup

Feb. 14, 2022 07:51 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — CONCACAF's new W Championship tournament to determine four of the region's teams in the 2023 Women's World Cup will be held this July in Monterrey,...