Football

11:57 AM ET Outrage can be a useful tool. It can clarify, it can focus, it can raise awareness and it can spur to action. It’s less useful when it does a better job at making the outraged feel good about themselves than it does addressing whatever it is that outraged them in the first

9:29 PM ET There is a strong temptation on roster release day, an unofficial holiday before the World Cup, to pick apart a coach’s decisions. It’s an inevitable part of the process in the lead-up to the tournament. More than anything, though, it’s a public relations exercise. An opportunity to build excitement — and in

8:22 PM ET United States manager Gregg Berhalter said it was “heartbreaking” to tell goalkeeper Zack Steffen that he had been left off the World Cup squad for Qatar. Steffen was thought to be a lock to make the team after featuring regularly for the U.S. during this World Cup cycle and battling Arsenal‘s Matt

8:30 AM ET Countless hours are set to be lost all over again after Football Manager 23 was officially released this week, and with it a comprehensive list of the top-rated players in the latest version of the long-running managerial simulation franchise. 2 Related Using the global scouting network employed by FM23’s producers, Sports Interactive,

5:03 PM ET Robert Lewandowski and Gerard Pique were both shown red cards during Barcelona‘s 2-1 LaLiga win over Osasuna on Tuesday night. Lewandowski was handed a second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Osasuna’s David Garcia in the 30th minute, while Pique, who was named on the bench in his last match for

6:30 AM ET The 2022 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and while teams are naming their squads and final preparations are underway in Qatar, our thoughts are with equipment managers of all 32 participating teams. They’re packing up and shipping out a colorful collection of kits and training tops — meticulously mapped

5:33 AM ET Gareth Southgate has told ESPN he believes Christian Pulisic has faced difficulties adapting to the Premier League but is still wary of the threat he poses when England face the United States at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Nov. 25. Pulisic has endured mixed fortunes at Chelsea since making a

4:00 AM ET The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is missing some big teams (Italy, Egypt, Nigeria, Colombia) and some big players (Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Victor Osimhen) but that’s what makes this tournament the best in sports. Brazil are looking to win their first World Cup since 2002, while England, Argentina and Germany are

5:16 PM ET Alex KirklandESPN FC MADRID — Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the LaLiga season to Rayo Vallecano, who pulled off a shocking 3-2 upset against the reigning league champions. The loss also sees Barcelona leapfrog Madrid into the top spot of the league table, with all sides having just one more

8:00 AM ET Two of the favourites to win the 2022-23 Champions League will crash out at the round of 16 in March after a box office draw paired Bayern Munich with Paris Saint-Germain and gave us a re-run of last season’s final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. 2 Related With the 2022 World Cup

5:09 PM ET It’s officially World Cup month, but before league action pauses ahead of the tournament, there are several storylines to follow across Europe. Arsenal claimed bragging rights over Chelsea, a club icon took a bow at Barcelona, and storm clouds are gathering over Atletico Madrid. ESPN correspondents Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland, James Tyler,

12:53 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Erik ten Hag branded Manchester United‘s tactics during the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa “stupid” while accusing his players of not following the game plan. United’s nine-game unbeaten run came to and end at Villa Park in Unai Emery’s first game in charge with Ten Hag afterwards calling the performance

9:30 AM ET LONDON — Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League courtesy of a 1-0 win over London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.) Gabriel put Arsenal ahead on 63 minutes with his second goal of the season to settle a hard-fought

11:12 PM ET Cesar Hernandez LOS ANGELES — Not even Hollywood finest could have written the script that played out Saturday in the MLS Cup title win for LAFC. Headlined by leading men such as Carlos Vela, Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale, who are massive stars on their own, LAFC were heavy favorites against the

7:18 PM ET LOS ANGELES — LAFC won its first-ever MLS Cup title, beating the Philadelphia Union 3-0 on penalty kicks after a thrilling, roller-coaster final at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday finished 3-3 after extra time. Substitute goalkeeper John McCarthy, in just his second appearance for the club, was LAFC’s hero, coming off

9:49 AM ET Associated Press Shannon Boxx, a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States and member of their 2015 World Cup team, has been appointed vice chair of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s participant safety task force. Maryland State Youth Soccer Association executive director Greg Smith was also picked as a vice chair. –

11:30 AM ET LOS ANGELES — It’s been 19 years since the No. 1 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences met in an MLS Cup, which LAFC and the Philadelphia Union will do on Saturday. MLS has changed an awful lot in that time. In 2003, there were only 10 teams in the league.

12:37 PM ET Bruce Schoenfeld In 2022, Manuel Pellegrini led Real Betis to their third Copa del Rey title. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) SEVILLE, Spain — When Manuel Pellegrini folds his lanky frame into a chair at the Real Betis training facility, he has time on his mind. He isn’t hurried, but his