Quotes

Argentina’s 2-0 victory vs. Canada on Thursday in Copa América wasn’t smooth sailing. It literally wasn’t smooth because the Mercedes-Benz Stadium grass put in place caused issues for both teams.

Members of Argentina and Canada said that the grass put in place wasn’t up to par. Atlanta United and the NFL’s Falcons play on turf inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, however the artificial turf was replaced with grass on Sunday.

Copa América grass issue

The replacement grass was basically placed over concrete creating a uniquely bad surface to play on.

Lionel Messi has hinted to his retirement as he shared with ESPN Argentina on Wednesday that Inter Miami will be the last club he plays for.

Messi will turn 37 on June 24 and will likely be playing in his final major international tournament with Argentina this summer in the Copa América. The 2022 World Cup winner hasn't set an official retirement date but said that Inter Miami will be his curtain call.

His contract with the Herons runs until the end of 2025.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami final club quote

The United States will not change course in Wednesday's friendly against Brazil, head coach Gregg Berhalter said, despite a 5-1 mauling by Colombia in their Copa America warm-up last weekend.

Colombia scored three times in 11 second-half minutes to hand the U.S. team a thrashing on Saturday in Landover, Maryland, prompting alarm among the home fans.

June 10 (Reuters) - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his comments to an Italian daily that Real Madrid would decline FIFA's invitation to participate in the Club World Cup had not been interpreted the way he intended, as the La Liga side reiterated its desire to play in the tournament.

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid will not participate in inaugural 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes oversaw her first two games in charge and now must make the 18-player Olympic roster. One topic being hotly debated is who to bring as the forwards?

Perhaps a more appropriate question is how many forwards to bring? The USWNT has an Olympic-sized swimming pool kind of depth in attack. With only 18 players set to be on the plane to Paris, the decision is cutthroat.

Hayes led the USWNT to 4-0 and 3-0 victories against South Korea earlier this month and utilized all her forwards across the two games. 

Portugal will benefit from the wealth of experience veteran Cristiano Ronaldo brings to their squad, manager Roberto Martinez said ahead of this month's European Championship in Germany.

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in men's international football with 128 goals in 204 official matches, will be playing in his sixth Euros, having reached the final in his tournament debut in 2004 and winning the competition in 2016.

May 30 (Reuters) - Fans can expect a sharper United States women's national team with coach Emma Hayes on the sidelines for the first time, captain Lindsey Horan said ahead of Saturday's friendly with South Korea.

The U.S. are out for redemption after last year's disastrous World Cup campaign, eyeing the top of the Olympic podium in Paris this year with the former Chelsea manager at the helm.

Lindsey Horan — "You're going to see a lot of growth in the USWNT with Emma Hayes."

Fans have been dying to know when will USWNT Olympic roster be announced. New head coach Emma Hayes might’ve slipped the date it will come out.

A total of 18 players will make the cut for the plane to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. The roster is expected to be announced in June and Hayes hinted that it could be June 16.

New United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes is officially stateside and will coach her first game on June 1. In the meantime, an Emma Hayes Today interview took place on Thursday as she provided more insight on her plans for the team.

NBC’s Today crew sat down for a five-minute interview with Hayes where she provided her background with Chelsea, gave her thoughts on the USWNT’s waning world dominance and hinted at who will be on the roster for the Olympics.

Emma Hayes Today interview