Concerns have been raised with the United States government, including an official meeting in the White House, over fears supporters may be deterred from the 2026 men’s World Cup owing to excessive wait times to process visa applications to visit the country. The tournament begins in 777 days and it will be at least another 18 months before many countries will be assured of qualification, yet the wait times for U.S. visa interviews in two Mexican cities are already in excess of 800 days, while it is 685 days in the Colombian capital of Bogota. In a statement to The Athletic, the U.S. Departme ..read more

Arne Slot is set to become Liverpool’s next manager after a compensation deal was agreed with Feyenoord. The 45-year-old Dutchman is poised to succeed Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January he would leave Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season. Slot led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, while this season they have won the Dutch Cup and are set to finish second in their league. It is believed that the attacking style of Slot’s teams, his personality and his ability to develop players are key factors in making him Liverpool’s choice for the job. Slot took over as Feyenoord manager in ..read more

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentApr 26, 2024, 10:00 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. The semiannual matchup between AC Milan and Juventus is one of those fixtures that fans make note of at the start of the season. After all, these are two of the most decorated teams in Serie A history, with Juventus winning 36 league titles and Milan having claimed 19. In this instance, Juventus is trying to chase down the Rossoneri for second place in the league standings. AC Milan is trying to shake off the bitterness of seeing Inter Milan clinch it ..read more

A “hugely important” Newcastle United hero could now stay put at the club beyond the summer transfer window, according to a new update regarding his future. Newcastle stars who could leave this summer The Magpies face a vital summer ahead of them, following a season that threatened so much at the beginning of the campaign, but has ultimately been disappointing. There could be lots of focus on new signings for Eddie Howe, in order for the manager to take his team to the next level, but there are also key players who the club need to do all they can to retain. Bruno Guimaraes is one such figur ..read more

Fans who have pined to have the day after the Super Bowl declared a holiday may soon get their wish. Appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he sees a future with more international games, an 18-game regular-season schedule and a Super Bowl that falls on Presidents’ Day weekend. Goodell said that his 18-game plan, which would likely feature a second bye week, would see teams play two preseason games, one fewer than the three-game preseason schedule that began in 2021. “I think we’re good at 17 now,” Goodell told McAfee. “But, listen, we’re looking a ..read more

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, talks between Arne Slot and Liverpool are in advanced stages as the Feyenoord manager looks set to take over at Anfield from Jurgen Klopp in the summer. The 45-year-old has not yet been confirmed as the new Reds boss but he is already eager to bring new players to the club. One player he is very much keen to sign for Liverpool is Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville, per Anfield Sector. Summerville has been a standout performer for Leeds United in their Championship promotion bid this season, having amassed 19 goals and nine assists in 41 app ..read more

With a combined 294 goals scored across domestic competitions this season, it’s fair to say Rangers and Celtic’s shooting boots are well worn in. When Jo Potter was announced as Rangers head coach, there was an expectation the former England international would lure some of her compatriots north of the border. Her second signing, Rio Hardy – who she previously worked with at Coventry United – has been among the best of the bunch. And there has been a few. With 28 goals to her name – two against Celtic – and a place in the PFA Scotland team of the year, she has quickly found her feet in the Sc ..read more

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has called on referees to take responsibility and stop relying on VAR. The head coach labelled the technology “a mess” but insisted Forest do not have a personal issue with Stuart Attwell – despite singling out the video assistant referee for Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton. Forest are expected to face Premier League and Football Association charges after a social media post on Sunday – now viewed more than 44m times – called Attwell’s integrity into question. They had three penalty claims rejected, with the club posting on its official X account minu ..read more

Highlights In 2002, Inter Milan looked set to win Serie A for the first time in 13 years, but a defeat on the final day saw them surrender the league title to Juventus. Under the management of Didier Deschamps, Monaco were unable to juggle a title bid with a run in the Champions League and ended up losing both. Newcastle United’s title collapse in the Premier League in the 1995/1996 season is the worst in European football history. There is nothing quite as exciting as a title race in football. Over the course of a nine-month season, the most enthralling tussles for the trophy are when ..read more

Ric Tapia/Getty Images The Falcons made one big swing in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft but nearly made another. Steve Wyche of NFL Network reported that the Atlanta Falcons tried to trade back into the first round after taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick. If Atlanta was successful, it would have targeted edge rusher Laiatu Latu. Steve Wyche @wyche89 In my report on the Falcons drafting QB Michael Penix with the No. 8 pick, I also added that they tried to trade up into the first to get edge rusher Laiatu Latu…who ended up with Indy at 15. pic.twitter.com ..read more