Original author: Chris Wright
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A week of World Cup miracles: Best stories, wildest celebrations from qualifiers
When entire nations are gripped by joy and heartbreak, it can be football at its very best.
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Eintracht Frankfurt were German darlings last season, but without star strikers Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush, how big of a step back will they take?
Original author: Derek Rae
Real Madrid defender Éder Militão sustained an injury to his right leg while playing for Brazil, the club said Wednesday.
Original author: Associated Press
Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House dinner hosted by President Donald Trump on Tuesday for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Original author: Associated Press
Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets admitted he'd like to see the sport grow by hosting LaLiga games in international markets, but cautions executives to set clear conditions and negotiations before confirming any specific match.
Original author: Lizzy Becherano
Mauricio Pochettino dismissed the idea of the United States having "regular players" after an alternate starting lineup thrashed Uruguay 5-1 on Tuesday in Tampa.
Original author: Cesar Hernandez
Veteran Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon said qualifying for his first World Cup at the age of 42 was worth all the turmoil he has endured in his career.
Original author: ESPN News Services
The top-seeded teams for the Dec. 5 World Cup tournament draw, including Germany but not Croatia, were set Wednesday when FIFA published new rankings.
Original author: Associated Press
Chelsea winger Estêvão said he followed orders and allowed teammate Lucas Paquetá to take Brazil's second penalty in Tuesday's 1-1 friendly draw with Tunisia.
Original author: Adriana Garcia
Defender Naomi Girma will return to the United States national team for the first time in nearly five months for a pair of upcoming friendly matches against Italy.
Original author: Jeff Kassouf
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Original author: ESPN
Sixteen months ago, the U.S. men's national team hit rock bottom, losing 1-0 to Uruguay to seal its group-stage elimination from the 2024 Copa America. Now things are very different.
Original author: Jeff Carlisle
Two weeks before the season, the Rookie of the Year nominee didn't even know whether she'd make a team.
Original author: Charlotte Gibson
With a World Cup spot on the line, Scott McTominay delivered a goal for the ages for Scotland against Denmark.
Original author: Nicholas Som
Scotland's Scott McTominay entered the overhead kick hall of fame with his superb strike against Denmark.
Original author: Chris Wright
There are still 64 national teams that can win the FIFA World Cup next summer. Let's go through them all and rank where they stand.
Original author: Ryan O'Hanlon
AC Milan have made veteran Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski a target. Transfer Talk has the latest news and rumors.
Original author: ESPN
The conveyor belt from La Masia, Barcelona's famous academy, to the first team continues to provide. So which players are the top picks in 2025?
Original author: Sam Marsden
Barcelona's new fourth kit for 2025-26 pays tribute to their famous Clásico win at Real Madrid 20 years ago.
Original author: Chris Wright
Introduction
Understanding the common fouls and set plays is fundamental to appreciating the game of soccer (football). The following provides a concise guide to these key elements under the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game.
Key Fouls and MisconductFouls are actions committed by a player that an official deems illegal. Misconduct covers more serious breaches of the Laws of the Game.
Offence Category | Example Fouls (Direct Free-Kick) | Example Misconduct | Resulting Sanction |
|---|---|---|---|
Contact/Challenges | Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent | Serious Foul Play (excessive force) | Yellow or Red Card |
Handling | Deliberate hand ball (not an accidental deflection) | Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a hand ball | Yellow or Red Card, Indirect Free Kick or Penalty Kick |
Obstruction | Holding an opponent | Violent Conduct (fighting) | Red Card |
Other | Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent | Using offensive, insulting or abusive language/gestures | Yellow or Red Card |
Sanctions Explained:
- Yellow Card (Caution): Shown for various cautionable offenses (e.g., unsporting behavior, dissent). Two yellow cards result in a red card.
- Red Card (Sending Off): Shown for serious offenses (e.g., violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity). The player is immediately sent off and cannot be replaced.
Set plays are strategies used to restart the game following a stop in play, often creating prime goal-scoring opportunities.
Free KicksThere are two types of free kicks awarded after a foul:
- Direct Free Kick:
- What it is: A goal may be scored directly against the opposing team from the kick.
- When awarded: For serious fouls, such as a trip, a deliberate handball, or a dangerous tackle.
- Placement: Taken from the spot where the offense occurred, unless inside the penalty area (which results in a penalty kick).
- Indirect Free Kick:
- What it is: The ball must touch another player (of any team) before a goal can be scored.
- When awarded: For minor offenses, such as offside, or playing dangerously without contact.
- Signal: The referee signals this by holding one arm vertically above their head until the ball has been played by another player.
- Penalty Kick: Awarded when a defender commits a direct free-kick foul inside their own penalty area. It is a shot at the goal from a fixed spot, 12 yards out, defended only by the goalkeeper.
- Corner Kick: Awarded when the defending team puts the ball out of play over their own goal line. The ball is kicked from the corner arc nearest to where the ball went out.
- Throw-in: Awarded when the ball is put out of play over the sideline. A player restarts play by throwing the ball with both hands from over their head, with both feet on the ground.
- Goal Kick: Awarded when the attacking team puts the ball out of play over the defending team's goal line. The ball is kicked from anywhere inside the goal area.
Helping players excel on the field isn't just about fitness and nutrition; it also involves taking care of their needs and stress away from the game.
Original author: Rob Dawson
As we approach the end of 2025, we've assembled 25 of the best original kit designs worn by top clubs from around the world since the year 2000.
Original author: Chris Wright
So much for Germany being at risk of missing the World Cup. The four-time champions clinched their spot on Monday, along with fellow European power Netherlands for the tournament in North America next summer.
Benjamin Sesko is set to miss Manchester United's Premier League fixture with Everton on Monday, sources have told ESPN, but he is expected to return in December.
Original author: Rob Dawson
A leading official has told a tribunal that a football referee coach "forcefully pushed her" and that his behaviour was influenced by her gender.
Original author: PA
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said his admiration and respect for mentor and Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa "is massive," while warning the Americans to be ready to suffer against his former coach's side.
Original author: Jeff Carlisle
Manchester United rejected Chelsea's offer of including Lavia or Nkunku as part of the Garnacho transfer deal, sources have told ESPN.
Original author: ESPN
FIFA World Cup ticket holders will be able to receive prioritized visa interviews before arriving in the United States for the tournament.
Original author: ESPN News Services
