Soccer

Decorated business vet Spiring announced as NSL Winnipeg president

Grace Anne Paizen 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:30 PM CDT

Manitoba’s own Dayna Spiring is no stranger to the sports world, but her latest venture into the world of football — this time of the kick-about variety — is a whole new ball game.

“I’m getting up to speed on that as quickly as I can,” Spiring told the Free Press Tuesday, shortly after the accomplished business leader was announced as Northern Super League Winnipeg’s president.

Spiring joins an already stacked roster on the first women’s professional sports team in the Keystone province alongside the likes of NSL Winnipeg’s decorated co-founders Desiree Scott and Rob Gale.

And her own stats sheet is just as historic. Spiring was one of the first women to serve on the CFL’s Board of Governors and was the first woman to serve as chair of the Winnipeg Football Club’s board of directors. She is also the first woman to have her name engraved on the Grey Cup when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers captured back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2021.

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Soccer

Aguirre hired by struggling Valencia after latest coaching stint with Mexico at World Cup

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Aguirre hired by struggling Valencia after latest coaching stint with Mexico at World Cup

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 5:12 AM CDT

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Javier Aguirre will take charge of a seventh different Spanish club after being hired by struggling Valencia on Wednesday, months after coaching his native Mexico at the World Cup.

The 67-year-old Aguirre’s third stint as Mexico coach ended with a last-16 loss to England in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Now he has returned to club coaching in Spain, where he has previously led Osasuna, Atlético Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Espanyol, Leganés and most recently Mallorca from 2022-24.

Aguirre replaces Carlos Corberán, who was fired on Sept. 14 after Valencia lost four of its first five games, and has a deal until the end of the season.

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Updated: 5:12 AM CDT

Soccer

Columbus Crew fires reserve coach Federico Higuaín after incident with female referee

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Columbus Crew fires reserve coach Federico Higuaín after incident with female referee

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 4:52 AM CDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew fired reserve-team coach Federico Higuaín late Tuesday, following allegations of physical abuse and sexist conduct toward a female match official.

Higuaín, the brother of former Argentina and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín, recently served a two-game suspension following an incident involving a female referee in an MLS NEXT Pro match on Aug. 23, according to local media.

The Professional Soccer Referees Association, a body representing match officials across the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement on social media that a male coach had been banned for two games after squeezing a female official's hand and refusing to let go, and also accusing him of saying to her: “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.”

The PSRA statement didn't specifically name Higuaín, a former Columbus Crew player and the coach of Crew 2 — the club's reserve team — since January 2025.

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Updated: 4:52 AM CDT

Soccer

Argentina players urge coach Lionel Scaloni to stay amid contract talks

Débora Rey, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Argentina players urge coach Lionel Scaloni to stay amid contract talks

Débora Rey, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:45 PM CDT

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — While coach LionelScaloni continues to mull over his future at the helm of Argentina's national team, his players have left no doubt about where they stand.

“For me, he is one of the most important coaches," midfielder Nicolás Paz said upon arriving in Buenos Aires on Tuesday for training camp. “He gave me my debut, and I hope he stays.”

Scaloni, whose contract is set to expire in December, had hinted at stepping down following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final in July. He remains in negotiations with the Argentine Football Association over a potential extension.

Veteran defender Cristian Romero added: “We hope he stays. He is the key figure in building this national team, so obviously we want him to continue.”

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Yesterday at 2:45 PM CDT

Soccer

Man City salvages draw at Bayern Munich in return to the Women’s Champions League. Arsenal wins late

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Man City salvages draw at Bayern Munich in return to the Women’s Champions League. Arsenal wins late

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:28 PM CDT

Manchester City rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich in its return to the Women's Champions League at the start of the league phase on Tuesday.

Two-time European champion Arsenal needed a stoppage-time winner to defeat HB Køge 1-0 at home, while Inter Milan, making its debut in the competition proper, edged visiting Häcken by the same score.

Benfica won 2-1 at Juventus with a pair of goals by Marit Bratberg Lund, and Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 in the Spanish capital, with Felicia Schröder scoring for the hosts two minutes into the match and PSG equalizing with a second-half penalty by Sakina Karchaoui.

Man City recovers from tough start

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:28 PM CDT

Soccer

Real Madrid calls for a new Spanish league president after criticizing Tebas’ refereeing remarks

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Real Madrid calls for a new Spanish league president after criticizing Tebas’ refereeing remarks

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:40 PM CDT

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid called for a new Spanish league president on Tuesday, arguing that Javier Tebas’ comments against the club regarding refereeing complaints were “intolerable.”

Madrid released a statement hours after Tebas criticized the club for attacking the refereeing crew in the team's 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid on Sunday. It said that “given this inappropriate behavior,” Spanish soccer “urgently needs a leader capable of managing it and developing its full potential with the fundamental duty of neutrality.”

“It needs someone who understands the nature of their role, as the president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition but a manager serving the clubs that comprise it and entrust him with its direction,” Real Madrid said. “The clubs need someone who serves this mission with honesty.”

Tebas responded to Madrid's statement saying he “fully" agreed with one thing: "The president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition. Neither is the president of Real Madrid.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:40 PM CDT

Soccer

Kylian Mbappé misses France training session with the flu as team prepares for Nations League

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Kylian Mbappé misses France training session with the flu as team prepares for Nations League

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:52 AM CDT

PARIS (AP) — France star Kylian Mbappé did not train with his teammates Tuesday because of a bout of the flu, the team said.

The French players have gathered at Clairefontaine, on the outskirts of Paris, for a training camp ahead of Nations League matches.

France plays away against Turkey on Friday and at Belgium next Monday before hosting Italy on Oct. 2 and Belgium on Oct. 5.

Mbappé, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, remains the team captain under new coach Zinédine Zidane.

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Yesterday at 11:52 AM CDT

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Soccer

Casey Stoney names Canada’s roster for Montreal, Toronto friendlies

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Casey Stoney names Canada’s roster for Montreal, Toronto friendlies

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:38 PM CDT

As Canada’s women’s soccer team prepares for a crucial fall schedule, Casey Stoney says her job is getting increasingly difficult.

The national team’s head coach unveiled on Tuesday the 24 players that will take on Denmark in a pair of friendlies next month.

“Listen, this has been probably one of the hardest in terms of picking and selecting because there's a few players that are definitely in the conversation that haven't made it this time,” she said.

The two dozen players include some of the country’s best-known talents, from Arsenal striker Olivia Smith and veteran Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan to Portland Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming and North Carolina Courage keeper Kailen Sheridan.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:38 PM CDT

Soccer

Borussia Moenchengladbach hires Blessin as coach to fix disastrous Bundesliga start

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Borussia Moenchengladbach hires Blessin as coach to fix disastrous Bundesliga start

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:13 AM CDT

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Borussia Moenchengladbach hired Alexander Blessin as its new coach Tuesday, tasking him with turning around a losing start to the Bundesliga season.

The former Genoa and Union Saint-Gilloise coach has a contract through 2028 as he takes over a team which is bottom of the league after losing all four of its games and conceding 16 goals.

Blessin replaces Eugen Polanski, who was fired nine days earlier after the team's third loss of the season.

Assistant coach Jan-Moritz Lichte took over as interim for Saturday's 4-3 loss to Mainz.

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Yesterday at 9:13 AM CDT

Soccer

Germany's Younes Ebnoutalib speaks during a press conference ahead of their match against Netherlands in the Nations League, in Herzogenaurach, Germany, Tuesday Sept. 22, 2026. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

Klopp factor makes the difference for Germany’s new faces ahead of debuts

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Klopp factor makes the difference for Germany’s new faces ahead of debuts

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:03 AM CDT

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany (AP) — Jürgen Klopp is having an effect on Germany's players even before his first game as coach.

The former Liverpool manager has called up 16 uncapped players in a supersized first roster of 44 for his first four Nations League games as he tried to reboot Germany following another disappointing World Cup.

Some newcomers say having Klopp in charge gives them a boost.

Forward Younes Ebnoutalib credited Klopp with helping persuade him to pick Germany, where he was born, over Morocco, which he'd represented as a youth player.

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Yesterday at 9:03 AM CDT

Soccer

Dayna Spiring, a former chair of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, has been named the president of the Northern Super League's expansion team in Winnipeg, joining the Canadian women's pro soccer league in 2027. Spiring is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — NSL (Mandatory Credit)

Former Blue Bombers chair Dayna Spiring first president of NSL’s Winnipeg team

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Former Blue Bombers chair Dayna Spiring first president of NSL’s Winnipeg team

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:55 AM CDT

The first woman to have her name etched on the Grey Cup has been named the first president of the Northern Super League's team in Winnipeg.

Dayna Spiring, a former board chair of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was announced Tuesday as president of the NSL's seventh team when the club joins the women's pro soccer league next year.

"I'm going to be very heavily invested in making sure that this is a success, both for the league, but also for Winnipeg," Spiring said.

"I'm a proud Winnipegger and I hope that I'll continue to make this city proud when we launch a brand new sporting team in the spring."

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:55 AM CDT

Soccer

Protests and fiery comments as Ireland and Israel prepare for soccer doubleheader

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Protests and fiery comments as Ireland and Israel prepare for soccer doubleheader

The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 7:54 AM CDT

DUBLIN (AP) — Tensions are high ahead of an international soccer doubleheader between Ireland and Israel, with both nations using inflammatory language about their opponents amid protests in Dublin urging a boycott of the matches.

The games taking place on Sunday and Oct. 4 — both on neutral territory — are going ahead following a request by the Football Association of Ireland that UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, suspend the Israel Football Association in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza. It was rejected by UEFA.

Campaigners stepped up their attempts to get the Ireland team to not play the first match between the teams in Hungary, with a group gathering outside the team’s hotel in Dublin on Monday evening.

More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter issued by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group, urging the FAI to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the fixtures and saying: “With this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing.”

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Yesterday at 7:54 AM CDT

Soccer

A dream debut for Esteban Lepaul as Zidane feeds him passes in France training

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

A dream debut for Esteban Lepaul as Zidane feeds him passes in France training

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 7:32 AM CDT

For Esteban Lepaul, receiving passes from football legend Zinédine Zidane during the newcomer’s first training session with the French national team felt a bit surreal.

The 26-year-old striker received his first call up with France last week when Zidane, the new national team coach, included him in his squad for upcoming Nations League matches. It's a well-deserved reward for Lepaul's stellar performances over the past year.

“What better way to practice finishing than to receive a few balls from Zinédine Zidane,” Lepaul told reporters Tuesday at France's training camp. “It’s a dream come true.”

Lepaul was without a club a few years ago when the Lyon academy released him. He spent several seasons languishing in the lower divisions of French soccer. At the time, making it to the national squad was far from guaranteed for Lepaul, a late bloomer.

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Yesterday at 7:32 AM CDT

Soccer

Juventus escapes with a 10,000 euro fine after fans disrupt Sandro Mazzola tribute

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Juventus escapes with a 10,000 euro fine after fans disrupt Sandro Mazzola tribute

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 7:12 AM CDT

MILAN (AP) — Juventus was fined 10,000 euros ($11,500) on Tuesday after a section of its supporters disturbed a minute’s silence in honor of former Italy and Inter Milan star Sandro Mazzola.

Juventus risked having that section closed for its next match but the Italian league’s sporting judge said “the sanction was mitigated in light of the club’s prompt, formal stance regarding said deplorable behavior, as well as the fact that the rest of the crowd present at the stadium dissociated themselves from it.”

The tribute was being held at all Serie A matches over the weekend after Mazzola, widely considered one of Italy’s greatest players, died on Friday. He was 83.

The minute’s silence was interrupted in Turin, ahead of Sunday’s match against Atalanta, as a section of Juventus fans turned their backs on the field and chanted songs about their own club legends instead. Inter and Juventus are fierce rivals.

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Yesterday at 7:12 AM CDT

Soccer

Gattuso takes aim at critics as he follows Italy debacle with a revival at unbeaten Lazio

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Gattuso takes aim at critics as he follows Italy debacle with a revival at unbeaten Lazio

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:58 AM CDT

ROME (AP) — Six months after presiding over Italy’s third straight failure to qualify for the World Cup, Gennaro Gattuso is taking aim at his critics during an unbeaten start at Lazio in Serie A.

Known for his grit and determination as a midfielder on the Italy team that won the World Cup in 2006, Gattuso said he’s not given enough credit for his attacking style as a coach.

“I’m a prisoner of my own persona,” Gattuso said. “I played for a lifetime and managed to win a few things — thanks to my character and the way I do things. It’s only natural when you have a nickname like ‘Ringhio’ (Snarl), it’s inevitable that you get branded with it. But this is a different line of work.”

Gattuso defended his coaching record and pointed to near misses for Champions League qualification when he coached AC Milan, the club he also played for, and Napoli.

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Yesterday at 6:58 AM CDT

Soccer

Zidane, Klopp start fresh and Ronaldo goes on as European national teams return after World Cup

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Zidane, Klopp start fresh and Ronaldo goes on as European national teams return after World Cup

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 6 minute read Yesterday at 6:22 AM CDT

GENEVA (AP) — Champions League-winning coaches Zinedine Zidane and Jürgen Klopp debut in their new careers this week when national team soccer returns in Europe after the World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo still in action at 41.

The Zidane era starting for France at Turkey and Germany under Klopp in the Netherlands highlight the Nations League program filling the first four-game, two-weekend break on the FIFA international calendar where coaches are the fresh attraction as much as their players.

Thomas Tuchel is a third Champions League winner among the 54 European national teams in action, with his England hosting Spain on Saturday in what was so close to being the World Cup final in July.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente — with a fresh contract extension through 2032 — is the current king of international coaches as a low-key hire in 2022 promoted from within the federation who then won European and world titles at the first attempt.

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Yesterday at 6:22 AM CDT

September 23, 2026

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