Football

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Vinicius Júnior endured frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Messi's Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, while Vinicius Júnior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela.Argentina remains atop the 10-team round-robin competition with 22 points from 11 matches, while Brazil is provisionally in third place with 17 points. Ecuador also played on Thursday, beating Bolivia 4-0 to stay in fifth place with 16 points.In Asuncion, Paraguay, Messi had few opportunities to touch the ball in the first half. However, Argentina took the lead in the 11th minute through Lautaro Martínez's crossed shot. Paraguay equalized with a bicycle kick by Antonio Sanabria in the 19th minute, and Omar Alderete scored the winner with a header in the 47th minute.Messi was visibly frustrated with the officiating, particularly after Alderete was not sent off for his aggressive tackles. "We came to a hard place where the national team always struggled," said Martínez. "We have to correct a lot of things we did wrong in this match, but generally speaking we are playing well. We are still in the lead, and we have to look forward."In Maturin, Venezuela, Vinicius Júnior is still without a goal in six matches of World Cup qualifying. He had the chance to score a potential winner after earning a penalty in the 67th minute, but his low spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.Brazil had the best chances in the first half, with Vinicius hitting the post once after dribbling past three Venezuelans. Raphinha opened the scoring from a free kick in the 43rd minute, but Venezuela equalized through Telasco Segovia in the 46th minute.Venezuela was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute after Alexander Gonzalez was sent off for hitting both Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Júnior in the face. The irrigation system then came on two minutes before the final whistle at the Monumental Stadium, angering Brazil players."When we don't win I leave the pitch a bit disappointed, we deserved to win this one," said Raphinha. "But it is an important point playing away, we are working hard to win the next one at home."

Qatar's human rights record came under scrutiny at the United Nations' Human Rights Council on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. While the country was praised for improving labor laws ahead of the 2022 World Cup, it was urged to fully abolish its employment system for migrant workers.Qatar's senior diplomat in Geneva highlighted the progress made in recent years, including the introduction of a minimum wage, freedom to change employers, and measures to combat forced labor and trafficking. However, the country was urged by France and Sierra Leone to pursue further reforms and consider abolishing the kafala system, which ties migrant workers to their employers.The Netherlands delegation commended Qatar's efforts but emphasized the need for more effective enforcement and implementation of labor laws. Other countries, including Brazil, Ireland, Italy, and New Zealand, called for the abolition of the death penalty and the decriminalization of same-sex relations.In response to criticism of Qatar's record on women's rights, the country's representative pointed to the increased number of women in diplomatic roles. However, Sweden and Iceland recommended further reforms in areas such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Iceland also urged the decriminalization of abortion and access to reproductive health services without the need for male guardian approval.Qatar's delegation highlighted the country's rise in the global press freedom index. Norway recommended ensuring that civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists can operate freely without fear of reprisals.Despite the progress made, Qatar is expected to face continued scrutiny as it prepares to host the 2036 Olympics. The country's sports ministry official emphasized the importance of sports as a platform for cooperation and empowerment, stating that Qatar will continue its efforts in the field of sport and empowerment.

Major League Soccer (MLS) has shattered its previous attendance record, with over 11 million fans flocking to games this season. This milestone surpasses the 10.9 million fans who attended games in 2024, marking a significant achievement for the league.MLS has averaged an impressive 23,240 fans per game, breaking the 11 million-fan barrier for the first time. The league attributes this surge in attendance to the arrival of international stars like Lionel Messi, whose presence has prompted teams to move fixtures to larger stadiums."The arrival of international stars and the work from clubs to create more unique fan-friendly ticket packages and game day experiences are among the key drivers of the continued surge of record-breaking attendance across MLS," the league stated.This record-breaking tally comes with the regular season still ongoing. Sixteen more matches remain before the season concludes on October 19. The attendance numbers mark the third consecutive year that MLS has drawn more than 10 million fans.MLS Commissioner Don Garber expressed his delight at the league's success, stating, "This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clubs, players, and fans. We are committed to continuing to grow the game of soccer in North America and providing our fans with an unforgettable experience."The league's expansion into new markets and the addition of new teams have also contributed to the increased attendance. MLS currently has 29 teams across the United States and Canada, with plans to expand to 30 teams in the near future.

Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to Inter Miami on Saturday night, leading the team to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union with two goals and an assist. The Argentine superstar, who had been sidelined since June due to national team commitments and an ankle injury, showed no signs of rust or lingering effects from the injury.Messi's first goal came in the 26th minute, leveling the score at 1-1 after Philadelphia had taken an early lead. He received a short pass near the large area, outmaneuvered Union defender Kai Wagner into the box, and converted a shot that landed inside the left post. Four minutes later, Messi received a crossing pass inside the box and beat Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick with a 15-yard shot.Luis Suárez also had a strong performance, assisting on Messi's first goal and clinching Miami's win with a strike on Messi's assist during second half stoppage time. It was Suárez's 17th goal of the season.Despite Messi's absence, Miami went 8-2 and clinched an MLS playoff spot. With the victory, Miami (19-4-5) took the lead in the Supporters Shield table with 62 points."It's nice to see that his injury has healed and that he's as effective as he was before," said Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel.Messi's return has boosted Inter Miami's hopes of making a deep playoff run. The team has been in impressive form this season, with Messi's contributions adding another dimension to their attack.

Mauricio Pochettino, the former manager of Chelsea, has been appointed as the new head coach of the United States men's national soccer team. The announcement was made by U.S. Soccer on Tuesday, September 11, 2024.Pochettino, who parted ways with Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the U.S. team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The Argentine manager, who previously led Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to coach the U.S. team."The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me," Pochettino said in a statement. "I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of."U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker praised Pochettino's track record and his commitment to developing players. "Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for developing players," Crocker said. "His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage."The U.S. team has been without a permanent head coach since Gregg Berhalter was fired in July following a disappointing performance at the Copa America. Berhalter had led the team to the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but his tenure was marred by a public dispute with one of the team's brightest young talents, Gio Reyna.Pochettino will take over from Mikey Varas, who has been serving as interim coach since Berhalter's departure. The U.S. team will play a series of friendlies against Panama on October 12 and Mexico on October 15 as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, will not be participating in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. The decision was announced by coach Javier Mascherano, who included four World Cup winners in the squad, including striker Julián Álvarez and defender Nicolás Otamendi.Messi, 37, has been struggling with injuries this year and is currently competing in the Copa America, where Argentina is aiming to defend its continental title. The Copa America victory in 2021 served as a catalyst for Argentina's triumph at the 2022 World Cup.Messi won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, his only Olympic appearance. The Olympic men's soccer tournament is reserved for under-23 teams, but three older players are permitted on each squad.Mascherano, who won Olympic gold as a player in 2004 and 2008, will add goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, Otamendi, and Álvarez to his squad after the Copa America concludes. Midfielder Claudio Echeverri, a recent signing for Manchester City from River Plate, will also join the team.Argentina will play two friendlies in France before its Olympic soccer tournament opener against Morocco on July 24. Argentina and Morocco are in Group B along with Iraq and Ukraine.

The United States' Copa America campaign came to an abrupt end on July 1st, as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final Group C match. The loss marked the end of a tournament that had been filled with both promise and frustration for the American side.Team USA entered the Copa America with high hopes, having won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021. However, their campaign got off to a rocky start with a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama last Thursday. That result left the Americans needing to match or better Panama's result against Bolivia in their final group game to advance to the knockout stages.But US coach Gregg Berhalter's side never looked like doing enough to seriously threaten a well-drilled Uruguay outfit who advanced to the last eight as group winners. "It's difficult to say right now, obviously the emotions are running high," said a disappointed US captain Christian Pulisic. "We had a good start and brought a lot of energy, but just didn't have enough quality. We just couldn't find a solution."Hopes of a great escape for the tournament hosts faded inside the first 30 minutes, as news filtered through that Panama had taken a 1-0 lead against Bolivia in Orlando. Those hopes were revived early in the second half after Bolivia equalised to make it 1-1, leaving the US on course for qualification provided they continued to hold Uruguay.Yet the US optimism was punctured just moments later when Uruguay took the lead in controversial circumstances through Mathias Olivera on 66 minutes. Ronald Araujo's powerful header from Nicolas de la Cruz's free-kick was parried away by US goalkeeper Matt Turner, but only into the path of Olivera, who tucked away the rebound. Replays appeared to show that Olivera was offside when Araujo first made contact with the ball, but despite a lengthy VAR review, Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega ruled that the goal should stand.The mathematics of qualification looked even more bleak for the US after news that Panama had scored again through Eduardo Guerrero to regain the lead at 2-1, and the final nail in the coffin came when Cesar Yanis added a third for Panama in stoppage time.The USA's first-round exit raises fresh questions about the future of US coach Berhalter, who remains deeply unpopular amongst swathes of American fans. Berhalter was only reappointed to the US job in June last year following a hiatus after leading the team to the 2022 World Cup. Yet the nature of Monday's early exit is certain to reignite debate about whether he is the best man to lead the United States into the 2026 World Cup on home soil.Failure to defeat Uruguay, 14th in the latest FIFA rankings, extends Berhalter's poor record against top 20 teams. Berhalter has just five wins in 20 matches against top-20 teams during his reign, and four of those victories came against regional rivals Mexico — who were also been eliminated from the Copa in the first round.That dismal sequence continued after a toothless attacking performance from Berhalter's side against Uruguay, where they registered only three shots on goal in a misfiring offensive display. US defender Antonee Robinson described the officiating as "amateur hour" but stressed responsibility for the defeat lay with the American players. "Just not enough quality in the final third," Robinson said. "At the end of the day we weren't good enough to get the result today. This is on us."

Cristiano Ronaldo's Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by both brilliance and frustration. The Portuguese superstar has been a constant presence in the spotlight, but his on-field performances have left much to be desired.Ronaldo's struggles began with a series of on-field incidents. He was booked for a rash challenge against a referee, booted away a water bottle in frustration, and remonstrated angrily in the dugout. These outbursts have raised questions about his temperament and whether he is still capable of handling the pressure of major tournaments.Compounding his on-field woes, Ronaldo has failed to score a single goal in seven consecutive matches at major tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. This is the first time in his illustrious international career that he has ended a group stage without a goal.Despite his lack of goals, Ronaldo's coach, Roberto Martinez, remains steadfast in his support. He has praised Ronaldo's work ethic and his ability to inspire his teammates. Martinez believes that Ronaldo's experience and leadership are invaluable to the team, even if he is not scoring goals.However, some critics argue that Ronaldo's continued presence in the starting lineup is a distraction for the team. They point to his declining mobility and pressing ability, which they believe are hindering Portugal's overall performance.As Portugal enters the knockout stage, the question remains: will Ronaldo's drama continue to overshadow the team's pursuit of a major title? Or will he rise to the occasion and prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with?

Novak Djokovic, Serbia's most celebrated athlete, has been an ardent supporter of his national soccer team throughout the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Despite his rigorous Wimbledon preparations, Djokovic made time to attend Serbia's crucial group match against Denmark in Munich.Before the match, Djokovic greeted the Serbian players with warm embraces and well wishes. However, Serbia's hopes of advancing were dashed as they were eliminated from the tournament after a goalless draw. Despite the disappointing result, Djokovic's presence and support were a source of inspiration for the team.Djokovic's appearance at the match sparked a frenzy on social media, with fans expressing their admiration for his unwavering support. His gesture was hailed as a testament to his deep connection with his country and its athletes.Meanwhile, Djokovic continues to prepare for Wimbledon, which begins on July 1. Despite undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear in June, he remains determined to participate in the tournament. Djokovic has been gradually increasing his training intensity and is optimistic about his chances of being ready for the Grand Slam."I'm taking things gradually," Djokovic said. "I'm not pushing myself yet 100 percent, but I'm hoping that's going to come within the next few days."Djokovic's return to fitness will be closely monitored as he aims to add to his record-breaking 24 Grand Slam titles. His presence at Wimbledon will undoubtedly generate significant excitement and anticipation among tennis fans worldwide.