Teams will be able to select up to 26 players for this year's World Cup after global soccer's governing body FIFA increased the maximum squad limit by three on Thursday.
FIFA said the change was due to the unusual timing of the tournament as well as the impact of Covid-19 on squads. The showpiece event in Qatar will run from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.
BERLIN — Transgender and non-binary footballers can now decide themselves whether to play for a men's or women's team instead of being bound by personal identification data, the German Football Association (DFB) said on Thursday.
It said the ruling was included in the DFB match regulation for amateurs, the junior regulation and the futsal rulebook.
BARCELONA — Former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o was handed a 22-month suspended prison sentence by a Spanish court on Monday after admitting tax fraud of 3.8 million euros ($4.00 million) while he was playing for Barcelona.
Eto'o agreed to pay a fine of 1.8 million euros and the 3.8 million in tax owed from image rights between 2006 and 2009.
Ryan Giggs confirmed on Monday that he has resigned as coach of Wales' national team.
The former Manchester United winger is awaiting trial after being charged with controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against his ex-girlfriend and her sister.
Giggs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains on bail. The trial at Manchester Crown Court had been due to start on Jan. 24, but has been delayed until Aug. 8 — a factor that lead to the 48-year-old deciding to step down now.
World soccer's governing body FIFA and World Athletics said on Monday that they are reviewing their transgender eligibility policies, after swimming passed new rules that restrict transgender participation in women's events.
Los Angeles FC striker Carlos Vela is bracing for the future with his current contract set to expire at the end of the month.
Vela, 33, has two matches remaining on the deal: June 26 against the New York Red Bulls and June 29 against FC Dallas. Both games are at home.
"I think we created a really good team, we are doing pretty well," Vela said on Saturday. "I feel good to be here. I enjoy to play in L.A. with our fans. And of course I have that thing in mind, to win a trophy with this club. So my head is always focused on that.
Paris Saint-Germain signed Lieke Martens on a three-year contract after the Dutch forward left Barcelona, the French club announced on Friday.
Martens joins PSG on a free transfer after her contract at Barcelona was set to expire this month. The 29-year-old had earlier confirmed her Barca exit on Instagram, saying it was "time for another adventure."
NEW YORK — North America's historical ambivalence to soccer is no match for the spectacle of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday, as he bids to make the world's "beautiful game" the preeminent sport in the region as well.
MADRID — LaLiga has filed a complaint to UEFA against Paris St Germain and Manchester City over alleged Financial Fair Play violations, the Spanish professional soccer league announced on Wednesday.
The organization said it would take "further legal action to the European Union, France and Switzerland" justice systems as it understands that "these clubs are continually breaching the current regulations" of financial fair play.
MADRID — France midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni said on Tuesday Kylian Mbappé tried in vain to convince him to reject Real Madrid's offer and join him at Paris St Germain instead.
The 22-year-old ended up signing a six-year deal with the LaLiga and European champions, who reportedly paid a fee of 80 million euros ($83.65 million) with another 20 million in add-ons to AS Monaco at the weekend.