Analysis

Jordan Pefok’s Union Berlin are serious contenders for the Bundesliga title

After Bayern Munich’s loss against Mönchengladbach on Saturday, a win for second-place Union Berlin against Schalke on Sunday could make Jordan Pefok's team league-leaders with a two-point gap.

If you’ve lived under a rock for the first half of the European season — or just completely disregard anything happening in the Bundesliga (rightfully so after 10 straight league titles for Bayern) — you’re probably not aware that Union Berlin actually has a shot at the title this season.

Preview: Women's World Cup playoffs begin with final 3 spots up for grabs

Portugal and Chile start with a slight advantage as 10 teams battle it out for the remaining three berths at this year's Women's World Cup in the final qualifying playoffs over the next week in New Zealand.

Cameroon, Haiti, Panama, Paraguay, Senegal, Thailand, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea are also involved in the tournament, which will complete the field for the first 32-team Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia later this year.

They've done it — USMNT officially qualifies for the 2026 World Cup

It was a qualifying slog that lasted a couple months, but the USMNT has finally, officially secured its place at the 2026 World Cup alongside co-hosts Mexico and Canada. 

FIFA announced the news Tuesday at its FIFA Council meeting, which also confirmed changes to the Club World Cup.

U-17 USMNT continues Concacaf Championship campaign with another emphatic win over Trinidad

Today’s heroes in Guatemala are looking set to be tomorrow’s golden boys. The U-17 USMNT is in the midst of its Concacaf Championship campaign and has gotten off to about as good of a start as possible. Saturday’s comprehensive 5-0 drubbing of Barbados was followed by another dominant performance and a 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Monday night.

PSG provides updates on Mbappé, Messi before Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern

PARIS - Kylian Mbappé was included in Paris St Germain's squad for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes after taking part in training although his participation in the clash was still in doubt.

The France forward, who had initially been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury he sustained on Feb. 1, was on the pitch with his teammates on Sunday and Monday.

3 things we learned from Man United's victory over Major Leeds Soccer

After drawing 2-2 last Wednesday at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Leeds did it all again at Elland Road on Sunday with the Red Devils coming away victorious, 2-0, thanks to late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. 

The 8 players to watch out for at SheBelieves Cup 2023

The World Cup is just 160 days away, so the 2023 SheBelieves Cup takes on added significance with teams looking to lockdown tactics and players battling to make an impression ahead of the final roster announcements for Australia and New Zealand. 

The18's Super Bowl preview: Which kicker is going to disappoint everyone?

Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts get all the hype, but true NFL aficionados know Sunday's big game comes down to the two most decisive players on the gridiron: kickers Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was Butker who sent "Joe Cool" Burrow packing in the AFC Championship with a 45-yard kick through gusting wind, while Elliott's already drilled nine extra points in just two postseason games.

5 American coaches who could carry on the revolution at Major Leeds Soccer

Damn, and just like that it's over. After Sunday's defeat to Nottingham Forest left Leeds above the relegation zone on goal difference, the club announced the end of manager Jesse Marsch on Monday. The American is survived by his three sons, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie.

The18's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 predictions

Football's greatest club competition resumes Feb. 14 with the beginning of the knockout stages. Accordingly, our 2022-23 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 predictions examine which eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

There's a lot of consensus around Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig and Napoli vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, but three matchups are almost too close to call: Chelsea vs. Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan vs. Porto and the big one between PSG and Bayern Munich.

Let's gaze into the crystal ball.

Pages