FIFA signed a partnership agreement with the board Feb. 19 to "actively source investment from international leaders and institutions harnessing the power of football to support recovery, stability and long-term development in conflict-affected regions." The board will assist by "providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development." The Board is chaired by Trump, with appointed members including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Tony Blair, businessman Marc Rowan, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel. The Board has also announced a large number of founding member states including Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, El Salvador, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Controversially, the Board of Peace announced Israel would be included as a founding member of the group on Feb. 12. Palestine has also not been listed as a founding member of the Board. A United Nations Commission concluded Israel has committed genocide in Gaza in a September report, and the commission said top Israeli officials like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were directly responsible for inciting these acts. Israel responded to the commission's findings by calling it scandalous. "FIFA wants as many people as possible around the world to participate in our game and benefit from the opportunities it creates. Together with the support of the Board of Peace, FIFA will drive this partnership which is built to deliver impact at every stage," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. Phase I begins with the construction of 50 FIFA Arena mini-pitches near schools and residential areas paired with a Football for Schools program that provides equipment and activities to children through FIFA. The second phase, starting at 12 months, will include "the development of five full-size pitches, enabling the establishment of organized local clubs and strengthening structured football pathways," according to FIFA. Between 18 and 36 months into the partnership, FIFA will create a "center of excellence integrating elite sport, education and accommodation." This will include "talent identification, professional pathways and skilled employment opportunities." "Implementation will proceed in line with ongoing monitoring of safety and security conditions," FIFA said. "Once circumstances allow, the activation of Phase I will begin, supported by structured stakeholder engagement and milestone-based progress reporting."

To meet the growing demand, Airbnb is offering a big incentive for new hosts willing to give up their space during the tournament. New entire home hosts in any of the 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the US who welcome their first guests between now and July 31, 2026, will be eligible to receive $750. That $750 is on top of what a host can earn from the guests' stay — and Deloitte estimates that residents of host cities can earn $3,000 on average just by renting out their space on Airbnb during the World Cup. In New York and New Jersey, where the final will be hosted at MetLife Stadium, Deloitte said hosts can cash in at about $5,700 — the most of any host city. Deloitte's study also noted that hosts Los Angeles, another host city, can earn up to $5,100. “As the world's biggest sporting event comes to North America, Airbnb is launching its biggest new host incentive ever,” Dave Stephenson, Chief Business Officer at Airbnb, said in a statement. “Demand for World Cup stays on Airbnb is surging, giving residents of host cities the opportunity to boost their incomes by sharing their homes and the communities they love. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would consider renting out space in their homes for the FIFA World Cup — and almost half said the extra income would be their primary motivation. Almost 90% shared that the extra cash would have either a significant or moderate positive impact on their financial situation, with residents hoping to use it to help clear debts (40%), cover living expenses (35%) and make home improvements (33%). Residents surveyed also noted that they would be most excited to share local hidden gems (52%) and their favorite restaurants, cafes and attractions (49%) with guests. A full list of eligible zip codes is available on Airbnb's website.

Josh Sargent is finalizing his transfer from Norwich City to Toronto FC, but all along there has been another MLS party with vested interest in the move coming to fruition. St. Louis City SC is set to receive up to $700,000 ($500,000 plus $200,000 in performance-based add-ons) in general allocation money from Toronto upon the transfer's completion due to a unique setup that goes beyond the normal MLS discovery process, sources tell The Athletic. Normally, when MLS clubs sign players who are on another team's discovery list, there's a formality fee exchanged for those discovery rights. It begins at $50,000 in general allocation money if the team holding a player's rights does not make an offer to sign the player, but it can be negotiated up if there was a genuine attempt to secure the signing. In this case, St. Louis is entitled to significantly more than the typical discovery fee, and there's a behind-the-scenes reason for it. That was a long-standing player-signing mechanism that related to specific U.S. men's national team players or stars who previously played in MLS and were returning to the league after leaving for a substantial fee. Sargent, a St. Louis area native and U.S. men's national team forward, was the pick. With the player instead heading to Toronto after a prolonged transfer saga with Norwich City three years later, it entitled St. Louis to a piece of the action. Sargent, meanwhile, is headed to TFC for a fee of around $22 million, with add-ons taking it up to $27 million in one of the biggest transfers in MLS history, sources say. Tom Bogert is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, providing exclusive, original and unique insights on MLS and the U.S. national team. He has previously written for MLSsoccer.com, The Guardian, and more.

Some major USMNT players made successful returns from injury this weekend, while others must contend with new set-backs. Antonee Robinson had hoped his misfortune was behind him this season. After finally recovering from the complicated knee injury that caused him to miss 12 league games earlier in the campaign, he returned ready to make up for lost time. In a World Cup year, the Fulham left-back had left no stone unturned — including doing extra work with independent injury specialists — to get fully fit. He was back in December and started nine consecutive games, quickly reminding everyone of the sensational form he has shown in the Premier League for some time. But whether it was the long-term impact of not having benefited from a regular pre-season, or ongoing soreness as his body fully recovered, his immaculate form tailed off a little last month. Robinson was not even in the squad for Sunday's win over Sunderland, prompting concern from fans of the London club and U.S. national team alike. As Silva revealed, an attempt to join a light session on Saturday was aborted when Robinson could not run properly. Nobody close to him fears this mishap will result in another lengthy lay-off, although they cannot say whether he will have recovered in time for Sunday's home match against Tottenham Hotspur. It is another unwelcome blip in a season when Robinson should be rampaging down the flank, creating chances and gearing up for the biggest international tournament of his career. It was not all worrying news for injured American players, though. For Ricardo Pepi and Tyler Adams, there were far more upbeat moments over the weekend. That break happened in the process of scoring a goal, and he made sure to score again after coming on as a late substitute in his side's 3-1 win over Heerenveen on Saturday. It was a clinical finish from the 23-year-old, even if his manager Peter Bosz admitted he had not been sure the striker would make such an immediate impact. He never doubted him when the chance beckoned, though. “I have to tell you, very honestly, that I didn't know what to expect from him,” he told the PSV website. “He shot two goals, one of which was disallowed. If he gets the ball there in that spot, you can count on a goal.” There is a world where he starts next season lining up alongside Robinson at Fulham. The 27-year-old, who suffered a tear to his medial knee ligaments in December, was able to start in Saturday's 0-0 draw at West Ham. He played over an hour before being substituted as a precaution, and his return will be a major relief for both club boss Andoni Iraola and Mauricio Pochettino. “We needed Tyler to start today, play for 66 minutes and we didn't want to risk any longer with him,” said Iraola. They need minutes training and minutes in games but it's good because we want players for the second half of the season.” He had created a couple of chances for his team, and had a shot which brushed the post but, ultimately, the defeat leaves Milan 10 points behind rivals Inter in first spot. Folarin Balogun's hot streak continues, with the striker having now scored three goals in his last two games. The USMNT forward built on his impressive double in the Champions League last week against Paris Saint-Germain with another strike, this time in Ligue 1, as Monaco beat high-flying Lens 3-2. Balogun's goal started the comeback for his team, who had gone 2-0 down but ran out winners thanks to a second-half rally led by the American. Two U.S. defenders had bumpy weekends in more ways than one. Chris Richards suffered a nasty head-to-head collision with Wolves player Santiago Bueno during their game at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Richards, who had earlier almost scored an own goal via an unlucky deflection that dropped just onto the roof of the net, was down receiving treatment for a while. In the end, he was celebrating as Palace picked up a hard-earned win to give them a sense of much-needed momentum after losing to Burnley and drawing with Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League in their last two games. In Scotland, there was no upside to Auston Trusty's painful afternoon. He was sent off for violent conduct after chopping at the arm of Hibernian's Jamie McGrath when he grabbed him in the penalty area before a corner. Celtic boss Martin O'Neill felt it was harsh — and the Glasgow club's afternoon got worse as they conceded an 88th-minute goal that cost them vital ground in the title race. See if Balogun can keep scoring and help Monaco pull off an upset by knocking out PSG on Wednesday (3pm, Paramount +) or whether Weston McKennie can help Juventus overcome their 5-2 loss at Galatasaray with a big win in Turin (8pm, Paramount +). In Spain, Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes of Atletico Madrid's 4-2 win over Espanyol at the weekend, so he will want to keep that positive form going as his team enter a finely poised second leg with Club Brugge in Madrid (Tuesday, 12:45pm, Paramount +). Finally, in the UEFA Conference League, Richards will hope for a pain-free evening as Palace try to progress in the second leg of their play-off with Mostar (Thursday, 3pm, Paramount +). He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.

Liverpool cult hero Emile Heskey believes that USMNT star Christian Pulisic could be a useful replacement for Mohamed Salah at Anfield. The American forward boasts Premier League experience from a stint at Chelsea and has starred in Italy for AC Milan. He has, however, cut a frustrated figure at times this season - delivering an explosive outburst at one stage - and seen his output dip. The 33-year-old has not registered a Premier League goal since November 1. Moves to the Saudi Pro League or MLS have been mooted for Salah, as Liverpool can still generate a fee from any sale, with rumours ramping up regarding potential successors in the Reds' right wing berth. United States international Pulisic is said to be in the mix there, as he delays the signing of a new contract at San Siro, and Heskey feels ‘Captain America' could be a shrewd addition to Arne Slot's squad. The former Liverpool striker told OLBG: “I actually quite like Christian Pulisic. He probably didn't get as many goals as I would have liked him to get at Chelsea but I thought he gave defences problems. “Obviously after a good World Cup, being at home with the pressure on him, he is definitely someone who could offer something different to Mohamed Salah or even Cody Gakpo right now. I think it'd be great to see someone like Pulisic come back into the Premier League in the same way because I'm guessing he would love to show that his time at Chelsea was just a little blip. Several other names have been added to the pot when it comes to attacking additions for Liverpool, with interest said to have been retained in Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon - a former Everton star who grew up as a Reds supporter. Heskey has named another couple of proven performers that could be considered, with one of those boasting Premier League experience at West Ham, while the other is a Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain. Ex-England star Heskey added: “We're talking about replacing Mohamed Salah and I think as fans you've got to look at something different because you can't replace Mo Salah. I'd love to have had that bad of a season! We're talking about someone scoring 20 plus, nearly 30 goals a season for 10 years. “I think we've just got to look at something different and it might not suit the manager anyway to have someone like Mo Salah. I think most players are a downgrade compared to Salah but to be honest with you Bowen is a different type of player and he would probably help the formation because he's going to work a little bit harder than Mo. Andrew Robertson was arguably one of our best signings and he came from Hull City.” Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting Two Premier League titles have been landed with the Reds, alongside Champions League and domestic cup honours, and whoever is charged with the task of filling his boots will have a sizable job on their hands.

If they didn't know it beforehand, then Sunday's north London derby seemingly confirmed one thing for those watching on as Tottenham succumbed to Arsenal: Spurs are in a relegation battle. But while they toil away looking for their first league win of 2026, those around Tottenham are picking up points and positioning themselves for late-season runs that they hope will lift them away from danger. Despite them finishing 17th last season, few felt heading into the new campaign that Spurs wouldn't have enough to steer well clear of the bottom three, with most predicting that they would be back competing for European qualification. They were, by most measures, 'too good to go down'. Except that's not true of any team should their performances dip below a certain standard, and Spurs' fell below that line a long time ago and are yet to recover. And so while Tudor plots his new team's escape, here's seven cautionary tales from Premier League seasons past of relegations that few saw coming before they happened... However, just two years after that memorable campaign that resulted in European qualification, the Canaries were on their way back to the second tier. The thought of Norwich being relegated seemed far-fetched as 1994 became 1995 with John Deehan's side sat in seventh place at New Year. The sales of key forwards Chris Sutton and Mark Robins, as well as an injury to inspirational goalkeeper Bryan Gunn, were blamed, with supporters protesting against owner Robert Chase as Norwich disappeared through the trap door. The 1996-97 season was one of great highs and lows for Middesbrough. They reached the final of both the FA Cup and League Cup (although they lost both Wembley showpieces), but endured a season to forget in the Premier League despite the presence of Brazilian midfield duo Juninho and Emerson as well as lethal Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli. However, a three-point deduction for failing to fulfil their December fixture against Blackburn Rovers due to a spate of players suffering from injuries and illnesses proved more than a little costly, as that led to them falling five places and suffering relegation on the final day of the campaign. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting West Ham had finished in the top half of the Premier League in four of the previous five seasons heading into 2002-03, and hopes were high that a squad containing the likes of David James, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Paolo Di Canio could push for European qualification under Glenn Roeder. However, expectations soon needed to be lowered after the Irons won just three of their opening 24 games. How quickly Leeds fell, however, still came as a huge shock given the players they managed to retain. Forwards Mark Viduka and Alan Smith had been the strike-force that led Leeds to those European heights three years earlier, future England No.1 Paul Robinson was a mainstay in goal and a teenage James Milner made waves, but neither Peter Reid or club legend Eddie Gray could find a consistent level of performance to lead the Elland Road outfit away from danger, and the 1992 champions of England slipped to the second tier with two games still to play. However, things soon began to unravel when fan-favourite coach Kevin Keegan fell out with the Newcastle hierarchy over transfers and resigned in September 2008. Caretaker boss Chris Hughton subsequently oversaw two disastrous runs of form that sandwiched Joe Kinnear taking charge for four-and-a-half months before he was forced to step down due to ill health. Newcastle icon Alan Shearer was eventually handed the managerial reins with eight matches to go, but his lack of coaching experience was horribly exposed as he won just one game on the way to the team from Tyneside being relegated. Foxes fans were getting used to European nights at the King Power Stadium, and while they could only dream of repeating their fairy-tale triumph under Claudio Ranieri, Leicester were establishing themselves as a force within English football. And then, in 2023, almost out of nowhere, they were relegated. A lack of transfer activity heading into the campaign suggested all was not well behind the scenes, and Rodgers seemed to lose both hope and interest long before he was sacked in April.

Dutchman steps down for personal reasons Caribbean island only has population of 150,000 Dick Advocaat led Curaçao to their first World Cup but will not be charge of the team at the tournament itself after resigning from the head coach's post for personal reasons. “Dick Advocaat has stepped down with immediate effect as head coach of the national football team of Curaçao,” the country's football federation confirmed on social media, the statement going onto say that the 78-year-old will “devote his full attention to his daughter, who is facing health issues”. “I have always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat added in the statement. The Dutchman, who has managed the Netherlands three times and took charge of Curaçao in 2024, will be replaced by his compatriot Fred Rutten, a former national-team defender who has managed PSV, Anderlecht and Feyenoord. Advocaat described leading the Caribbean island, which has a population of around 150,000, to the World Cup as the “craziest thing” he had achieved in a managerial career that spans nearly four decades. He would have become the oldest coach in World Cup history. Curaçao begin their World Cup campaign with a Group E match against Germany in Houston on 14 June.

Dick Advocaat has made the decision to step down as head coach of Curacao due to his daughter's ongoing health issues. Curacao will be the smallest nation by population to compete at a World Cup having qualified for the first time ever. The Dutch territory will surpass Iceland's record as they have approximately 156,000 inhabitants, in comparison to 350,000. The country secured FIFA's permission as they changed national eligibility to include players who already represented the Netherlands at youth or U-21s level. The Dutch manager released a statement saying: "I've always said that family comes before football. "So this is a natural decision, but that doesn't change the fact that I will miss Curacao, the people there, an my colleagues very much. Advocaat was a previous manager of Sunderland, appointed after Gus Poyet in March 2015. He lost his first match in charge, however he redeemed himself after winning 1-0 against Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby. He left the club a week later, announcing the end of his managerial career yet decided to reverse his decision a few days later and signed a one-year contract with the club. Fred Rutten has been named as Advocaat's successor, a manager with similar experience from clubs such as PSV and Feyenoord. Advocaat, an experienced national manager, has previously led the Netherlands and South Korea to World Cups. The Caribbean island booked their ticket to the international competition after topping their final stage qualifying group ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda. Gilbert Martina, chairman of the Curacao Football Association has said: "His decision can only be respected. Dick has made history with the national football team and Curacao will always be grateful to him." The well-travelled coach has also had a spell with Rangers, where he won two Scottish league titles and three domestic cups. This service is provided on talkSPORT Limited's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy.

Dick Advocaat was poised to be the oldest coach at World Cup finals Curacao will have a new head coach in charge for their World Cup warm-up friendly against Scotland on 30 May after Dick Advocaat stood down for personal reasons. At 78, Advocaat would have become the oldest coach in World Cup finals history. But Dutch media reported on Monday that he has stood down because of his daughter's health. Edinburgh pubs allowed to open late for all World Cup matches Fifa wants injured players to stay off for one minute Advocaat, who also managed the Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea, PSV Eindhoven and Sunderland, spent two years as Curacao head coach. Steve Clarke's Scots entertain Japan and Ivory Coast in March friendlies before Curacao visit Hampden for their final warm-up match before the summer finals in the Americas. He had most recently returned to PSV as assistant to Ruud van Nistelrooy and had a spell as caretaker after his fellow Dutchman's departure in 2023. Rutten's side begin their World Cup campaign with a Group E match against Germany in Houston on 14 June and also face Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland? Penis injections, swearing curlers and a wolfdog - Olympic stories you might have missed How safe is bare-knuckle boxing as it fights for mainstream appeal? From Stoke to the Arctic Circle - 30 years of BBC's Murray behind mic Vinicius: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse

Violence erupts after Mexican forces kill cartel boss ‘El Mencho' That did not make it unique Sunday morning in the state of Jalisco. In response to a federal operation that saw their leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes killed, members of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) put blockades all over the region – from central Guadalajara to the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta. In addition to buses and taxis being commandeered and lit on fire – a common tactic known as “narcobloqueos” – shops ranging in size from a Costco in Puerto Vallarta to corner stores also continue to be targets for arson and destruction. The city activated a red alert protocol, effectively freezing activity for ordinary citizens and encouraging them to stay home. Sports, too were affected: Sunday's Clásico Nacional between the women's teams of Chivas and Club América was postponed. So was a men's Liga MX contest more than 200 miles away in Querétaro. While no narcobloqueos had been confirmed there at time of writing, the wide-reaching CJNG operation and its affiliates had reportedly blocked roads in at least eight states. It all brings to the forefront long-simmering questions about what authorities will do to make sure fans are safe and this summer's tournament goes off without incident in Mexico. The idea that a World Cup match in this soccer-loving country would be targeted is something that has concerned political officials, soccer directors and fans for decades. In August 2011, a gun battle outside Santos Laguna's Estadio Corona sent players sprinting off the field to the locker room during a match against Monarcas Morelia. Panicked fans hit the ground, hiding under their seats. Players running for their lives or trying to find their families in the stands to protect them wasn't what the league needed, especially when Mexico already fights against a stereotype of being a dusty desert filled with cartel warfare. Dorados, a second-division club in the state of Sinaloa, have not played a true home match since October 2024 because of violence between warring factions of the Sinaloa Cartel – the team have temporarily relocated to another state, Baja California –though the local baseball team has played home matches without incident. With that context, plenty in Mexico had wondered what the government would do about security heading into this year's World Cup. The decision to go after “El Mencho” this week shows that the two governments ultimately went with a different strategy – or that a different opinion won out. Unconfirmed reports in Mexico are emerging that the Americans put pressure on Mexico to lock up El Mencho prior to the tournament. Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has been balancing domestic interests with Donald Trump's whims since the start of his second term. It's a tightrope Fifa also has been walking, as its president Gianni Infantino pals around with Trump. Fifa had seemed to be a source of common ground for the North American leaders, with Trump and Sheinbaum meeting in person for the first time when they were brought together by the World Cup draw. In front of the cameras, Fifa has expressed confidence. ”Fifa's Mexico office has been working for three years with the federal government, and all levels of the government, on the topic of security,” Fifa's executive director in Mexico, Jurgen Mainka, said in November 2025. State officials in Jalisco said before a 2025 friendly that they plan to add thousands of security cameras, purchase new law-enforcement vehicles and utilize technology aimed at preventing drones from entering restricted areas. “Security is being worked on,” Sheinbaum said this past fall. “It has been worked on in a very coordinated manner, with police departments in the host cities, the host states and the [federal] secretary of security and civilian protection, and there's really important work being carried out.” But that was all before Sunday's images went across social media, shocking for many around the world – perhaps including fans of South Korea, Colombia, Uruguay and Spain who are among fans planning trips to see their team in Jalisco.

Football's biggest game will be held in the MetLife Stadium just across the Hudson River from Manhattan on July 19. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. It was expected to draw millions of fans from across the planet. Tickets had already been sold for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, with fans guaranteed a perfect backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. But in a major U-turn, the entire event has now been canned. FOLLOW all the build-up to next summer's World Cup right here including England updates, ticket news and Donald Trump's latest plans. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill made the big call after weeks of negotiations and deliberations. Now New Jersey state officials will organise a series of events on the eight days when matches are played in the MetLife – including England's final group game against Panama on June 27, stumping up £3.7m to cover the costs. Footballer Youssou Diouf tragically dies after collapsing on pitch 'Threat' for fans if Ireland make World Cup as Govt 'advise against' game travel Cork ladies boss Joe Carroll reacts to upset win over league champions Kerry Three Lions fans without a ticket for the game were expected to flood the Fan Fest to roar on Thomas Tuchel's team from five miles away. Confirming the move, ticket supplier Ticketmaster said: “Unfortunately, the Event Organiser has had to cancel your event. A statement from Jersey City, which runs Liberty State Park, said: “It became increasingly clear that there was no workable, cost-effective way to manage the influx of tens of thousands of fans into Liberty State Park, while maintaining access to the members of the Jersey City community.” Blatter said: “Asking thousands of dollars for a World Cup match? “The World Cup isn't a slot machine. But that has never been the purpose of a World Cup.” But you'll have to be quick because this special saving is only available until February 28 – don't miss out. * If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Don't miss Spanish GP trip for just £569 This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/

The Delran native says she's "ready and excited" to be on Fox's lead crew of studio analysts once again for the World Cup. She handled it all in stride, finding her voice while taking cues from longtime on-air personalities Rob Stone and Alexi Lalas, but it was the first time she'd be a consistent presence, and a different look from what's customary, with her observations of each match being critiqued and analyzed by soccer fans all over the world. “It was a lot to learn really fast, a lot to take in,” Lloyd recalled during the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia last month. “But I was fortunate enough to learn from guys like Alexi and [Fox commentator] Stu [Holden] who helped me along the way really feel confident and like I can really do this.” Lloyd did it well enough that she'll be among Fox's lead crew of studio analysts once again for the 2026 World Cup as the tournament makes six stops through Philadelphia as part of a 104-match schedule this summer. It's a task she says she's “ready and excited for” after getting her feet wet in 2022, in addition to the commentary she's been able to provide in the years since — some of which along the way stirred up a bit of controversy. “I wouldn't say there's immense pressure in winning the World Cup,” Lloyd said. That tournament, she recalled, sparked her excitement and love for the sport. Follow that up with the unforgettable 1999 women's edition, also hosted in the States, and those two moments galvanized the idea that Lloyd would do all she could to pursue it as a career. The World Cup, Lloyd says, has that effect. Those 1994 and 1999 World Cups “jump-started my dream; they were life-changing for me. But it's not just on the fans' side. Lloyd said U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino's decision to leave a lot of the USMNT's bigger names off the roster for the Concacaf Gold Cup, deciding to bring top American talent from Major League Soccer and elsewhere — like the Union's Quinn Sullivan and Nathan Harriel — was an eye-opening experience for those players who might work a bit harder to remain on Pochettino's radar. There's no reason, she says, that Pochettino can't find similar success — despite being off to a noticeably slower start. “Obviously, the 2023 [women's] World Cup didn't end well,” Lloyd said. “But with the men's team, I feel like it took a lot of time, and I don't know why it took time. The U.S. seemed to find continuity during November's qualifying cycle with a pair of exhibition wins, against Paraguay in Chester and a 5-1 rout of Uruguay in Tampa, Fla., to close the year. Pochettino will call up a number of players for matches against Belgium on March 28 (3:30 p.m., TNT, Peacock) and Portugal on March 31 (7 p.m., TNT, Peacock), in what will surely be a final audition for many on that roster. Both matches will be in Atlanta, home of U.S. Soccer's new multimillion-dollar national training center. “I think we saw that fight [during this last FIFA window] in November,” Lloyd said. “You can see there's a different tone within this group. There were some big wake-up calls for some players ... and I think that's all we've been wanting to kind of see, these guys having the pride when you put on that jersey. And they sure showed that those last two games in November. “It's not a vacation when you come into the men's national team anymore. There should be an excitement around it where you want to come in and lay your body on the line and do everything possible for the team and for your country.”

Home for America's Passionate Soccer Fans At U.S. Soccer's Annual General Meeting in Atlanta, Cindy Parlow Cone was elected (unopposed) to a second term as U.S. Soccer president and the federation provided updates on its Soccer Forward initiative to expand access to grassroots soccer in the USA. We spoke to JT Batson, who has served as U.S. Soccer CEO and General Secretary since September 2022, about his own grassroots soccer history. It led to his current position and experiences such as refereeing Landon Donovan. Then — probably a mile from where we are now — I played my first competitive game with the Augusta Arsenal U-11s, and that was the team I played with my entire childhood, all the way up through U-18. SA: What positions did you play? If the team was not quite as good, like high school, I played center mid. SA: What was it about soccer that turned it into such a big part of your life? JT BATSON: I did play basketball and baseball in addition to soccer. And on my mom's side of the family, a lot of college football players, including Ohio State players. So a great history of sports. A big part of it was the people. Even though we haven't lived in the same city for 25 years, we're still very tight. SA: Did you also follow soccer as a fan? I remember watching the 1990 World Cup. I remember exactly where I was with one of my teammates on the Augusta Arsenal. I remember, of course, the 1994 World Cup, watching all those games. I was at Mark Berson‘s University of South Carolina soccer camp for the USA-Brazil game, which was at Stanford Stadium. All the campers were in there watching on one of those old-school projector televisions. I remember every one of those games. My first national team game in person was here in Georgia [Athens] for the '96 Olympics, watching the women's team's semifinal match and also the gold-medal match. They ultimately won the gold medal and I was completely hooked. *Limited time offer for new and returning subscribers. Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla has written freelance articles about soccer for more than 30 media outlets in nine nations. The winner of eight United Soccer Coaches Writing Contest awards,... More by Mike Woitalla Our expert editorial teams take readers inside the big soccer stories in America and the world. Interviews with U.S. and world news makers. 145 Pipers Hill Road Wilton, CT 06897 USAtel. Enter the code sent to your email.