It has been a year of increased political tension between the United States, Mexico and Canada -- but in eight years' time the three countries will unite to host one of the world's biggest sporting spectacles.

France won the World Cup, with their stars Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé on the scoresheet, but Croatia will feel very hard done-by, thanks to an own goal, and VAR.

Global soccer body FIFA has been urged by its own human rights advisory panel to...

I mean they let him slip right thru the cracks -- thanks Obama!

The Gávea Tourist is an empty shell of a hotel, a 14-story modernist monument of disintegrating concrete and decaying beauty that has been abandoned for four decades. It is one of three huge, architecturally stunning ghost hotels in Rio de Janeiro, all of which are vacant in a city facing a chronic shortage of rooms for June’s World Cup soccer tournament.

adidas kit out their star man with a pair of bold new F50's, complete with an energetic all-over graphical print. Get all the details, here.

Barcelona player Dani Alves had the perfect response to a racist taunt in Sunday's game against Villarreal. In the second half, a fan threw a banana at him — something that still happens to black players with troubling frequency across Europe. Instead of ignoring it or informing the official, Alves picked up the banana, peeled it, ate it, and then took the corner kick with a mouth full of banana.

The 2014 World Cup is just one month away, but it’s not too early to start feeling intense emotions about the 2022 World Cup. Specifically, fury. That’s the feeling I left with after watching ESPN’s excellent E:60 documentary on the human rights disaster that’s unfolding eight years ahead of the Qatar World Cup.

Cool Front Flip Throw. Soccer next generation!

The World Cup continues to get bigger and better, aging like a fine wine. It’s not just the tournament itself, though, that is maturing, going from a tournament in 1930 where anyone who wanted to participate was invited, and where the European teams traveled by boat, to the current 32-team behemoth that involves years of qualification.

ESPN may have lost the broadcast rights to the World Cup, but the network is making the most of its last hurrah with the United States-Ghana match turning in a very solid 7.0 rating. That goes down as the highest-rated men's soccer match ever on the cable channel. The 2011 Women's World Cup Final scored a 7.4 rating.

Toward the end of each half of a soccer match, the fourth official on the sideline hoists an illuminated sign over his or her head that displays a number. This magic number indicates how much injury time (or "stoppage time," depending on your vernacular) the head referee has decided to add to the 45 minute half. But how is this calculated?

Goalkeeper Tim Howard scores a goal from a clearance kick thanks to the strong winds.

Soccer was a passion for 44-year-old John Bieniewicz, who lived and loved the game. The married father of two sons was refereeing a match on Sunday when authorities said a 36-year-old player punched him in the head, knocking him unconscious.

A little more than a decade ago, Andreas Bleicher, then a director of one of Germany’s Olympic training centers, arrived in the tiny gulf nation of Qatar, wooed there by its royal family to help turn the hopeless national soccer program into something worthy of the world’s respect.

An amazing life like experience.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side can still challenge Chelsea for the title but their squad is getting old, Yaya Touré's impact is diminishing - and FFP is coming to get them

As the MLS and its players union head to the negotiating table, signs abound that both sides are in for a long, heated process.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says third-party ownership of players will be banned after a "transitional period".

Jens Keller has been relieved of his duties as FC Schalke 04 head coach with immediate effect.

Metodi Shumanov: Last week Levski Sofia fans mocked the governing body with a banner saying ‘Say yes to racism’ but if the club, the Bulgarian FA and Uefa do not react then the problem will only get worse

SV Werder Bremen relieved head coach Robin Dutt of his duties with immediate effect as well as assistant coach Damir Buric and goalkeeper coach Marco Langner. Werder's management announced the decision Saturday after the managers discussed the move with the Werder advisory board. The new coach will be the previous U23 coach Viktor Skripnik, who will take over the control of the Bundesliga team with his coaching staff of Florian Kohfeldt, Torsten Frings and Christian Vander.

Striker Nils Petersen will leave SV Werder with immediate effect and play on loan until the end of the season for SC Freiburg, who also have a buy-out option for the 26-year-old.

Zlatan: ‘to finish second is like finishing last.’, ‘No disrespect to the others but I should be No1 to No5 on that list’

Fernando Torres returns to Atlético de Madrid after an agreement was reached with Milan as the international striker will play on loan for the remainder of this season and all of next season. In 2001, at the age of 17, he debuted with Atlético’s shirt, playing a total of 244 games in which he scored 91 goals.

Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

David Beckham is to celebrate his 40th birthday by flying his family and close friends out to Morocco.

Chelsea secure their fourth Premier League title as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty rebound defeats Crystal Palace.

The Spanish football federation suspends all end-of-season games amid disputes with the government, including over TV rights.

Pep Guardiola has stated in a press conference ahead of his sides Champions League semi-final second leg that he will see out his contract

Atlanta–based HOK has announced a multi-year partnership with the United Soccer League (USL).

Sepp Blatter has resigned as Fifa president amid growing pressure following widespread allegations of corruption at football's world governing body. Blatter - who won a fifth term on Friday - had been under intense pressure to step down since senior Fifa officials were arrested on a string of corruption charges last week. Blatter confirmed: "An extraordinary congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible."

Anyone else as excited about this as I am?

Liverpool reject a £25m bid from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.