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Soccer

Emilio Morenatti / The Associated Press files The 18-year-old Barcelona and Spain megastar, Lamine Yamal, has barely had a break in two years and has been taking painkillers to keep him going.

Ever-growing player stress injuries point to only one remedy — less football

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read 4:21 PM CDT

Anyone seen Cole Palmer lately? How about Exequiel Palacios? At least Ousmane Dembélé, surely?

If not, it’s likely because the Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain players, who represent England, Argentina and France, respectively, are currently out injured.

Now, they’ve not suffered broken bones, major ligament damage or concussions. Their injuries were not sustained in tackles, knee-on-knees or any other sort of on-field clashes. No, they picked up their knocks over time — time they spent playing too much football without adequate rest and recovery.

They have stress injuries, and they’re not alone.

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Balogun’s second-half goal gives US a 1-1 tie against Ecuador in friendly

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Balogun’s second-half goal gives US a 1-1 tie against Ecuador in friendly

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 10:16 PM CDT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Folarin Balogun scored in the 71st minute, offsetting Enner Valencia's first-half goal, and the United States tied Ecuador 1-1 in a friendly on Friday night.

Balogun scored for the second straight game, his seventh goal in 20 international appearances, after Tim Weah intercepted a clearance and passed to Tanner Tessmann, who sent the ball wide to Malik Tillman.

Tillman crossed where Balogun got in front of Joel Ordóñez and from just inside the 6-yard box redirected the ball past goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez and in off the inside of the near post.

The 16th-ranked Americans remained with one win in their last eight games against top 25 opponents since March 2024, 2-0 last month over a mostly second-string Japan roster.

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Updated: 10:16 PM CDT

CORRECTS PLAYER - Ecuador's Enner Valencia (13) celebrates a goal against the United States during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
CORRECTS PLAYER - Ecuador's Enner Valencia (13) celebrates a goal against the United States during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Mbappé scores but limps off late in France’s World Cup qualifying win. Germany gets boost

Daniella Matar, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Mbappé scores but limps off late in France’s World Cup qualifying win. Germany gets boost

Daniella Matar, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 4:53 PM CDT

Kylian Mbappé showed little sign of a recent ankle injury as he scored with a slaloming run to help France beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in World Cup qualifying on Friday.

He added an assist for France's second goal but did have to limp off late after he had tussled for a ball with an opponent.

France maintained a perfect record after three games, while Germany got back on track by easing to a 4-0 win over Luxembourg.

France dominated Azerbaijan but struggled to create opportunities and it took an individual effort from Mbappé to break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time.

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Updated: 4:53 PM CDT

France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring during a World Cup 2026 Group D qualifying soccer match between France and Azerbaijan in Paris, France, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring during a World Cup 2026 Group D qualifying soccer match between France and Azerbaijan in Paris, France, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Jordi Alba’s unexpected decision: He sheds light on why he’s retiring after this MLS season

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Jordi Alba’s unexpected decision: He sheds light on why he’s retiring after this MLS season

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read 3:25 PM CDT

Jordi Alba thought he wanted to play another couple of years, which likely would have meant more time sharing the field with Lionel Messi.

And then, he simply changed his mind.

Alba spoke in advance of an Inter Miami training session Friday about his decision to retire, one that was announced earlier this week but was made a few weeks earlier. And one he stands by now.

“I think it's the best,” Alba said in his native Spanish at the team's training base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Physically, I still feel good, but ... I think it’s the most honest, the fairest thing to do. And it’s also a decision that I make alone and I think it’s the right decision.”

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3:25 PM CDT

Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba, who has announced his retirement, speaks with the media at the MLS soccer team's facility, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba, who has announced his retirement, speaks with the media at the MLS soccer team's facility, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Coach Adi Hütter leaves Monaco after run of one win in five games

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 4:33 PM CDT

MONACO (AP) — French league club Monaco parted ways with coach Adi Hütter on Friday after a run of one win in five games in all competitions.

Monaco did not immediately announce a replacement, although French media reports in recent days have heavily linked Monaco with a move for Sébastien Pocognoli. The 38-year-old Belgian coach guided Union Saint-Gilloise coach to the Belgian league title last season.

Hütter led the club to a second- and third-place league finish in the last two years but the club is fifth after seven matches this season and has one point after two Champions League matches. That included a 4-1 loss at Club Brugge, before a 2-2 home draw against Manchester City.

“Sometimes destinies will move apart, but I am fine with that. I am leaving behind a quality, well-functioning team with great individuals,” Hütter told the website of sports daily L’Equipe. “I wish the management, the players, the staff, and the entire club nothing but the best for the future.”

Ivory Coast and Senegal edge closer to 2026 World Cup after resounding qualifying victories

The Associated Press 2 minute read 2:12 PM CDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Ivory Coast and Senegal moved closer to qualifying for next year's World Cup after resounding victories in the latest round of African qualifiers on Friday.

Ivory Coast beat Seychelles 7-0 to remain top of Group F ahead of Gabon, which defeated Gambia 4-3 away thanks to four goals from captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — who also was sent off late in the game — to keep alive the team's hope of automatic qualification.

With one round remaining, Ivory Coast is one point ahead of Gabon and can clinch a spot at next year's tournament by beating Kenya in its last game.

Senegal beat South Sudan 5-0 to also remain top of its group, two points ahead of Congo, which won 1-0 away to Togo.

FIFA investigates Equatorial Guinea for not traveling to World Cup qualifying game in chaotic group

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 3 minute read 12:02 PM CDT

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Equatorial Guinea on Friday after the team didn't travel to a World Cup qualifying game, the latest incident in an increasingly chaotic campaign.

FIFA said its disciplinary committee will investigate why the Equatorial Guinea men's team did not go to Malawi for a game scheduled Thursday. Both teams were still in contention to advance to a playoffs by finishing runner-up in the group behind winner Tunisia.

Equatorial Guinea already forfeited its first two games last November as 3-0 losses after FIFA ruled that veteran captain Emilio Nsue was not eligible to represent the country. Nsue had scored the goals in 1-0 wins against Namibia and Liberia.

A post on the team’s official Instagram account said the players voted in favor of not traveling to the game because their health was put at risk by being asked to fly overnight and land in Malawi on the morning of the game in Lilongwe.

Scottish soccer club Rangers condemns fire damage to statue of storied former coach Walter Smith

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Scottish soccer club Rangers condemns fire damage to statue of storied former coach Walter Smith

The Associated Press 2 minute read 11:11 AM CDT

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scottish soccer club Rangers on Friday condemned a fire attack on the statue of former coach Walter Smith outside its Ibrox stadium, calling the incident “shameful.”

The statue of Smith, who died at the age of 73 in 2021, was unveiled last year. He led the team to 10 of its 55 Scottish league titles in two spells in charge, and also coached the Scotland national team.

Scottish police said it was investigating fire damage to the statue reported early Friday.

Rangers said in a statement it “strongly condemns this shameful behavior.”

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11:11 AM CDT

FILE - Glasgow Rangers' manager Walter Smith talks to the media during a press conference, at Ibrox stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, on May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
FILE - Glasgow Rangers' manager Walter Smith talks to the media during a press conference, at Ibrox stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, on May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

A look at James Johnson, head of Canadian Soccer Business and Canadian Premier League

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 10:43 AM CDT

A look at James Johnson, group CEO of Canadian Soccer Business:

Job Description: Johnson heads up both Canadian Soccer Business and the Canadian Premier League.

Personal: Born in England to an English father and Australian mother, Johnson was a baby when his family moved to Australia. Now 43, he is a father of three.

Playing Career: A midfielder/winger, he represented Australia at youth level and attended Boston University on a soccer scholarship from 2002 to 2006. After a brief pro career with his hometown Brisbane Strikers and Vietnam's Da Nang FC, he got his law degree.

Canadian Soccer Business looks to reset its identity while expanding the game

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Canadian Soccer Business looks to reset its identity while expanding the game

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:20 PM CDT

One hundred days into the job, Canadian Soccer Business boss James Johnson has released his vision for the future.

Titled "One Identity. One Story. One Collective, Fuelling Canadian Soccer Together," the 18-page document talks of everything from putting women's soccer centre stage to growing CSB's broadcast rights to include international soccer leagues featuring Canadians and expanding its media reach. 

In many ways, the document is also about trying to rebrand CSB, which has been seen as wearing a black hat by many, given its controversial deal with Canada Soccer.

Canadian Soccer Business, which shares the same ownership as the men's Canadian Premier League, looks after marketing and broadcast rights for both Canada Soccer and the CPL, now in its seventh season.

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Updated: 12:20 PM CDT

Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. lifts the North Star Cup after Cavalry FC defeated Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League Final in Calgary, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. CPL champion Cavalry FC, in its second trip to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, is preparing for its first Mexican foe in Pumas UNAM. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stuart Gradon
Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. lifts the North Star Cup after Cavalry FC defeated Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League Final in Calgary, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. CPL champion Cavalry FC, in its second trip to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, is preparing for its first Mexican foe in Pumas UNAM. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stuart Gradon

Estevao and Rodrygo score 2 goals each as Brazil overpowers South Korea 5-0

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Estevao and Rodrygo score 2 goals each as Brazil overpowers South Korea 5-0

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 9:37 AM CDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Two goals each from Estevao and Rodrygo powered Brazil to a 5-0 win over South Korea in Seoul on Friday in an early warm-up for next year's World Cup.

Brazil, which beat South Korea 4-1 at the 2022 World Cup, again proved too strong for the hosts in the friendly match watched by 66,000 fans at a wet Seoul World Cup Stadium. Brazil claimed just its third win in 12 away games.

Brazil, which finished fifth in qualifying for the 2026 tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Bruno Guimaraes split the Korean defense with a pass to Estevao. The Chelsea forward slotted home from close range. Seven minutes later, Casemiro had a goal disallowed for offside, and Rodrygo’s low shot before the half-hour mark was saved by goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

Four minutes before halftime, Brazil doubled its lead with a well-worked move. Casemiro found Rodrygo inside the box, and the Real Madrid star curled a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

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Updated: 9:37 AM CDT

Brazil's Rodrygo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly soccer match between South Korea and Brazil at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Brazil's Rodrygo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly soccer match between South Korea and Brazil at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains how Fabio Capello taught him to demand respect and become a superstar

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains how Fabio Capello taught him to demand respect and become a superstar

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 7:26 AM CDT

ROME (AP) — When Zlatan Ibrahimovic walked into a Serie A locker room for the first time at age 22 and saw the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Gianluigi Buffon staring at him, he acknowledges that it felt like a “fantasy world.”

The retired Sweden superstar, now an advisor at AC Milan after also playing for the Rossoneri over two different spells as well as city rival Inter Milan, credited the Italian league with shaping him into one of the world’s top strikers during an entertaining on-stage discussion at this week’s European Football Clubs assembly.

“When I came to Italy, it was the biggest competition in the world and all the big players were playing there. I was young. I didn’t have a lot of respect, to be honest, because I wanted to prove myself,” Ibrahimovic said.

“But the first time I came to Juventus was a little bit fantasy world for me because I came from Ajax. I came in a locker room to Juventus where I saw (Lilian) Thuram, Buffon, (Fabio) Cannavaro, Del Piero, Trezeguet. All these big stars and I was like one week before I used to play PlayStation with these guys. One week later I was with them in the locker room.”

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Updated: 7:26 AM CDT

FILE = AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts after his last game for the club at the end of a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on June 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
FILE = AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts after his last game for the club at the end of a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on June 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

Dallas looks to end road draw streak against the LA Galaxy

The Associated Press 2 minute read 1:16 AM CDT

FC Dallas (10-11-11, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. LA Galaxy (5-18-9, 16th in the Western Conference)

Carson, California; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Los Angeles +111, FC Dallas +192, Draw +294; over/under is 3.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas faces the LA Galaxy after playing to a draw in four straight road games.

Seattle Sounders play Real Salt Lake after shutout victory

The Associated Press 2 minute read 1:16 AM CDT

Real Salt Lake (12-16-4, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (13-9-10, sixth in the Western Conference)

Seattle; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Seattle -142, Real Salt Lake +319, Draw +308; over/under is 2.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: A game after shutting out the Portland Timbers 1-0, the Seattle Sounders play Real Salt Lake.

Berhalter and the Vancouver Whitecaps visit Orlando City

The Associated Press 2 minute read 1:16 AM CDT

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (17-6-9, first in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando City SC (14-7-11, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orlando City SC +109, Vancouver +208, Draw +274; over/under is 3.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: Sebastian Berhalter leads the Vancouver Whitecaps into a matchup with Orlando City after scoring two goals against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Alba leads Inter Miami against Atlanta United

The Associated Press 2 minute read 1:16 AM CDT

Atlanta United FC (5-15-12, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Inter Miami CF (17-7-8, third in the Eastern Conference)

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Inter Miami CF -225, Atlanta United FC +463, Draw +390; over/under is 3.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: Jordi Alba leads Inter Miami into a matchup with Atlanta United after a two-goal showing against the New England Revolution.

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