FIFA World Cup (Men's)

Messi regrets Netherlands celebration, says Mexico was 'most difficult' opponent

It's been over six weeks since Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy and Argentina celebrated their long-awaited third star. Messi has since returned to playing for the traveling circus that is PSG, but the 35-year-old's thoughts won't stray far from that month-long odyssey in Qatar and the fulfillment of a life's dream for some time to come.

On Monday, a 45-minute interview in Paris between Messi and Argentine journalist Any Kusnetzoff for Urbana Play provided all the details from the triumph, fresh in the Golden Ball winner's mind. 

Edinson Cavani among four Uruguay players receiving bans for actions at World Cup

Uruguay's Fernando Muslera and Jose Maria Gimenez were hit with four-match bans by FIFA on Friday, while Diego Godin and Edinson Cavani were suspended for a game each after they confronted the referee following their World Cup match against Ghana.

All signs point to a new USMNT manager, but it's going to be a very long process

The future of the USMNT took another dramatic twist Thursday morning with a press release from U.S. Soccer confirming that sporting director Earnie Stewart — currently overseeing the search for the team's next full-time coach — is leaving his role next month to return to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. 

With this closely following the ongoing review of Gregg Berhalter and the departure of Brian McBride as general manager, there are two ways of viewing the current state of the men's program: either it's in shambles or it's a clean slate moving forward.

USWNT postgame show turns on Berhalter, leaving Alexi Lalas as his biggest champion

U.S. Soccer made its debut on HBO Max Tuesday night with the USWNT beating New Zealand in a friendly in Wellington thanks to four second-half goals, including Alex Morgan's 120th international strike off a ridiculous Rose Lavelle backheel. 

The Football Ferns were a little overmatched.  

FIFA fines Mexico over $100,000 and gives fan ban for offensive chant at 2022 World Cup

MEXICO CITY — FIFA sanctioned the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) for the offensive chants the country's fans made during their matches at last year's World Cup by ordering it to play a game behind closed doors and fined it $108,000.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has fined FMF with a fine of CHF 100,000 and one match to be played behind closed doors in light of chants by Mexican supporters during the Mexico v. Poland and Saudi Arabia v. Mexico World Cup matches," FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

Watch all 11 Puskás Award finalists right here, right now

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but if you've been following The18 for the past year then you've already seen all 11 FIFA Puskas Award nominees. We have exquisite taste like that. 

But in case you can't remember the strikes — arriving as early as Apr. 2 and as late as Kylian Mbappé's side-volley against Argentina in the World Cup final on Dec. 18 — here's a trip down memory lane with videos that you can watch right here, right now. I've also included a link to what The18 said at the time.

Marcos Acuña scores goal right after being honored by Sevilla for winning World Cup

Argentina's victorious World Cup squad members have all gone back to their club sides where they've been given receptions befitting the return of conquering heroes. PSG gave Lionel Messi a guard of honor on Wednesday when he returned to training, Alexis Mac Allister was serenaded by Brighton teammates and Enzo Fernández...

Lionel Messi's record-breaking photo was with a fake World Cup trophy

After getting more than 74 million "hearts" and becoming the most-liked post in the history of Instagram, the iconic photo of Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup trophy is again in the news. 

This time for a very different and weird reason: Two Argentina supporters claim the trophy Messi was holding is a fake. 

Gio Reyna’s parents were behind alleged Gregg Berhalter blackmail during the World Cup per ESPN

ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and Kyle Bonagura have revealed some of the most insane U.S. Soccer drama. The parents of U.S. phenom Gio Reyna — National Soccer Hall of Famer Claudio Reyna and his wife Danielle — were the ones responsible for allegedly blackmailing Gregg Berhalter during the World Cup about a domestic violence incident from 1991.

USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter was blackmailed during the World Cup

An attempt to blackmail USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter during the World Cup was revealed by Berhalter himself on Tuesday with the 49-year-old coach issuing a statement on Twitter from what was later confirmed as his personal account.

In it, Berhalter describes an incident from 31 years ago when, as an 18-year-old, he had a violent incident with his wife Rosalind. The two have now been married for 25 years but the actions occurred after they'd been together for four months.

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