Soccer

Leeds one win away from immediate return to Premier League after reaching Championship playoff final

LEEDS, England (AP) — Leeds is one win away from an immediate return to the Premier League. A 4-0 thrashing of Norwich at Elland Road on Thursday secured Leeds a trip to Wembley Stadium for the second-tier Championship playoff final.

May 16, 2024 3:09 PM Read more >

Messi's $20.4 million compensation with Miami exceeds all but 3 other MLS teams

NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Messi’s annualized pay from his Major League Soccer contract with Inter Miami is just over $20.4 million in his first full season, exceeding the payrolls of all but three other teams in the league.

May 16, 2024 3:08 PM Read more >

Squad sizes for Copa America teams expanded from 23 players to 26

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Teams in this year's Copa America will be allowed to have an expanded squad of 26 players instead of the usual 23, South American soccer body CONMEBOL said Thursday.

May 16, 2024 3:06 PM Read more >

France coach Deschamps includes Kanté and Barcola in preliminary Euro 2024 squad

PARIS (AP) — Midfielder N’Golo Kanté was surprisingly included in France's preliminary list of players for the European Championship on Thursday, with coach Didier Deschamps also giving a first call-up to Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.

May 16, 2024 2:13 PM Read more >

More trouble in Belgium for Miami-based 777 Partners after court authorizes seizure of assets

BRUSSELS (AP) — A Belgian court ruled Thursday that all assets in the country belonging to American investment group 777 Partners can be seized, in the latest legal setback for the embattled company that owns Standard Liège and several other soccer c

May 16, 2024 1:20 PM Read more >

Messi tops MLS salary list at US$20.45 million, Toronto's Insigne at US$15.4 million

Lionel Messi continues to lead Major League Soccer, on the field and off it, with a league-high salary of $20,446,977 (all figures in U.S. dollars) this season.

May 16, 2024 12:00 PM Read more >

FIFA wants global standard for punishing racist abuse and urges players to use crossed hands sign

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA wants all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense, and designate a crossed hands gesture by victims to alert referees to abuse.

May 16, 2024 11:45 AM Read more >

Nashville SC fires coach Gary Smith after 3-4-5 start in seventh season

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville SC has fired Gary Smith, the only head coach in franchise history. The club announced the decision Thursday, describing the move only as Smith's “departure,” along with assistant coach Steve Guppy.

May 16, 2024 10:21 AM Read more >

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri suspended 2 matches for his behavior toward refs in Cup final

MILAN (AP) — Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was suspended for two matches and fined 5,000 euros ($5,400) by the Serie A league judge Thursday for his behavior during the Italian Cup final.

May 16, 2024 9:52 AM Read more >

Hummels, Goretzka excluded from Germany's Euro 2024 squad

BERLIN (AP) — Reaching the Champions League final wasn’t enough for Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels. A strong finish to the season wasn’t enough for Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka.

May 16, 2024 9:46 AM Read more >