Football

Sep 8, 2021 ESPN’s lead Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae returns with his regular column, this week looking ahead to a back-to-back Saturday treat for all German football fans. Super-Samstag is almost upon us. There was a certain eeriness about that train journey from Cologne to Munich on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. My colleagues at the

Sep 9, 2021 RB Leipzig are familiar with Bayern Munich, their opponents on Saturday (12:20 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+), and not just in the sense of competing in the same league. Defender Dayot Upamecano and playmaker Marcel Sabitzer both left Leipzig for Bayern in the offseason, as did their former manager, Julian Nagelsmann.

9:21 AM ET The United States men’s national team finished the opening round of World Cup qualifying on a high note with a win at Honduras after drab draws against El Salvador and Canada. Amid mounting injuries and off-pitch drama, the team learned tough lessons as it seeks to book its spot at Qatar 2022.

9:03 PM ET Lionel Messi has scored his 79th international career goal for Argentina, surpassing the South American men’s record held by Brazil legend Pele. Messi scored all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, giving him two more

4:45 PM ET Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo says his return to Old Trafford is not a vacation and he hopes to prove himself again with consistent performances over the next three to four years. The 36-year-old Portuguese spent six seasons at United between 2003-09, winning eight major trophies, and rejoined them from Juventus last

11:14 AM ET Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United and ready to wear the club’s No. 7 shirt for the first time since 2009 in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. But giving the Portugal forward his old number is the easy part for United; the big challenge now is

12:26 AM ET Ricardo Pepi scored a goal and had three assists as the United States raced to a 4-1 win at Honduras in a World Cup qualifying match that saw Christian Pulisic hobble off with an injury. – ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S.

11:31 AM ET Christian Pulisic said the United States men’s soccer team is focused on picking up its first win in World Cup qualifying when it faces Honduras on Wednesday, amid Weston McKennie‘s exit from the national team camp. McKennie was sent home by USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter for spending a night outside of the

4:00 AM ET Sevilla’s record in Spain is brilliant except when they run into the three clubs that dominate. Will that change in 2021? Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images If Sevilla are to become Spain‘s champions for the first time in 76 years, which is feasible, then aside from the obvious goal of registering more points

4:00 AM ET The transfer window closed on Aug. 31, with Europe’s top clubs spending plenty of money to enhance their squads even amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the financial constraints that has brought. 2 Related Manchester United splashed more than €120m on Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, while also bringing back Cristiano Ronaldo;

4:41 PM ET United States midfielder Weston McKennie was sent home by U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter for spending a night outside of the team’s COVID-19 bubble, as well as bringing an unauthorized individual back inside the bubble to his hotel room on a different evening, both of which violated the team’s coronavirus protocols, sources have

10:04 AM ET NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Christian Pulisic looked tired. Disappointed. Frustrated. His shoulders were bowed as he slid into a chair late Sunday night. His words were weary. Questions came about why the U.S. men’s national team is struggling to score, why it can’t do better than one goal in 180 minutes against two

3:39 PM ET Kyle Bonagura Close ESPN Staff Writer Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. Austin Lindberg Not every team was in action this past week across Major League Soccer, but we still saw plenty of decisive results as the jostle for playoff spots and good seeding continues up and

11:36 AM ET There’s no Premier League or LaLiga during the international break, but World Cup qualifying has captured the imagination around the globe, with talking points galore around Europe’s top sides (England, France, Italy) and high drama in South America between a pair of old rivals, Brazil and Argentina. – ESPN+ viewers’ guide: LaLiga,

5:30 AM ET NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The good vibes surrounding the United States men’s national team have evaporated following its 1-1 home draw with Canada, its second consecutive tie to start World Cup qualifying. Yes, there are 12 games left. It’s not time to panic just yet. But this result, combined with last Thursday’s 0-0

9:08 PM ET One of world football’s great moments, Brazil vs. Argentina, descended into pure farce in Sao Paulo on Sunday when the game was suspended after just four minutes after officials from Brazil’s health authority walked onto the field. The incident proves that the big problem hovering over these rounds of World Cup qualification

3:27 PM ET A World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was halted just minutes after kickoff on Sunday after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they say broke quarantine rules. Argentina walked off the pitch at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo after the officials entered the pitch to

5:32 PM ET Nine weeks after the final of the Copa America, Brazil and Argentina meet each other once more after the Albiceleste took home the continental crown. There is no title at stake this time. This is the eighth round of South America’s World Cup qualifiers. And the match is likely to have little