Pelé.
The mere mention of the name conjures grainy, black-and-white footage of a bright-eyed young man announcing his arrival on the world stage in Sweden. Of a triumphant, shirtless star carried off the pitch at the Azteca. Of a smiling veteran bringing the beautiful game to a new audience. Of a septuagenarian snacking on a Subway sandwich with swimming stud Michael Phelps.
Of the greatest footballer to ever walk the earth.
Pelé.
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé is expected to pass away soon. His family gathered around him at the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo earlier this week as he struggles with his battle against cancer.
Doctors from the hospital said that Pelé’s cancer had advanced and that he’s under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.”
Pelé's daughter: "Here we go, in the fight and in faith. One more night together." ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dn3iophYCW
FIFA has launched an investigation to determine how in the hell restaurant owner and famous chef Salt Bae got access to the field during Argentina's World Cup celebrations in Qatar.
"Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail Stadium on Dec. 18," the world soccer body said in a press release.
Although FIFA didn't name Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, you don't need to be a genius to know what's going on here.
For nearly 80 minutes it looked like the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final was going to be pretty straightforward. Lionel Messi and Argentina had dominated France and taken a 2-0 advantage, but Kylian Mbappé turned the game on its head over the final 10 minutes to force a thrilling extra-time period before a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
In the end, it was undeniably the greatest World Cup final in the event's history. Argentina had played some thoroughly enjoyable football with 10 shots on target, but France made them suffer to earn a first title 1986.
Tuesday's FIFA World Cup Tonight show put Clint Dempsey, Stu Holden, Maurice Edu and Chad Ochocinco Johnson on the spot by asking if Gregg Berhalter should be USMNT manager at the 2026 World Cup.
Berhalter's contract is over at the end of the year, but negotiations on an extension have begun between U.S. Soccer and the 49-year-old after the team reached the Round of 16 in Qatar.
Morocco's 1-0 upset of Portugal in the World Cup on Saturday made history as they became the first African nation to ever reach the semifinals. Congratulations came from all corners of the world after the Atlas Lions knocked Cristiano Ronaldo's side out of the tournament.
Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk — certainly happy for all the engagements and interactions that the team is generating on his social platform — sent some love.
Soccer fans were curious if there would be a modest dress code for women at the Qatar World Cup. Former Miss Croatia Ivana Knoll has gone on to prove that just about anything flies.
Despite Qatar’s tourism rules stating that visitors need to avoid wearing excessively revealing clothing in public, Knoll has done the exact opposite.
Antes del Mundial, la opinión generalizada en la afición era que México se devolvería a casa sin poder pasar la fase de grupos. Y si bien la realidad cumplió con ese pesimismo, esto no evitó que la gente se sintiera con el corazón roto una vez sellada la eliminación.
Sobre todo por la forma con la que el equipo se despidió, jugando su mejor partido y peleando hasta el pitazo final.
We've been plugged into the World Cup for well over a week now with the knockout rounds in sight. The tournament's group stage was at its busiest with four games a day, beginning at 5 a.m. ET and commencing with the 2 p.m. match — through it all, The18 stayed glued to their televisions and became close as kin with the FOX World Cup commentary teams.
Having spent all those hours listening to the broadcasters wax lyrical about semi-automated offside technology and air-conditioned stadiums, we're ready to provide a definitive ranking of the commentary teams.
There's no stopping the United States now after a nerve-racking 1-0 win over Iran. With millions of their countryfolk rallying around the U.S. Soccer crest, Tyler Adams and company are ready to teach the purveyors of Total Football a harsh lesson in Berhalter Ball.