American soccer success in World Cup remains a dream
DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — American soccer success in the World Cup remains a dream. The U.S. team looked better in this year's World Cup, but the results were the same as in 2010 and 2014. “We didn’t qualify for the last World Cup and here we are in the round of 16. Defenders Miles Robinson (25) and Chris Richards (22) missed the World Cup because of injuries. ___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comWorld Cup 2022: Christian Pulisic's heroic goal downs Iran, propels USMNT into Round of 16
DOHA, Qatar — "Captain America" began his dart away from unbearable pressure into the Promised Land at 10:37 p.m., from out of Iran's view and toward the World Cup knockout rounds. It clinched the USMNT a Saturday Round of 16 date with the Netherlands, and ended an agonizing wait. For what seemed like ages, though, since the first half of its opener, it couldn’t find a goal. It was a moment he longed for, especially after the USMNT's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, which brought him to inconsolable tears. McKennie also came off in the second half, and seemed to be nursing his right upper-leg.
wftv.comWorld Cup 2022: USMNT's draw with England shatters American viewership record
The U.S. men’s national team shattered a viewership record on Friday with its draw against England at the World Cup. That’s up about six percent from the last record of 14.51 million during Italy and Brazil’s championship match in the World Cup in 1994. Though many saw the USMNT's draw as a successful outing, considering who they were up against, it left plenty inside the organization extremely frustrated . The Americans will wrap up Group B play on Tuesday with a must-win match against Iran. A win there will send the USMNT into the knockout round, though anything else will end their time in Qatar.
wftv.comWhy USMNT should gain confidence from disappointing draw with England
“USA WINS 1-1,” the tabloid bellowed in 2010, and inside that U.S. locker room, although players certainly didn’t proclaim victory, confidence soared. “Because we didn't win,” he said, plainly and bluntly. The USMNT didn’t just belong on the same field as England, which they’d already proved in 2010. They didn’t feel like an underdog, like the 2010 team so clearly was. I think it was a really tough opponent.”“Tonight didn't surprise me one bit,” he later continued, hailing the USMNT.
wftv.comUS earns respect at World Cup, but wins remain elusive
American players wanted more than a 0-0 draw with England on Friday night, likely the most-watched match of their lives. The U.S. had conceded goals in 19 consecutive Cup matches against European opponents until Matt Turner matched Frank Borghi’s clean sheet of 72 years earlier. “I talked before the World Cup about how seriously the team is taking, the staff is taking this responsibility to gain momentum in this sport in America, and good performances will do that. Iran upset the U.S. 2-1 at Lyon, France, in the second game of the 1998 World Cup, eliminating the Americans. “All we can ask for is to have destiny in our own hands,” Turner said, “and we have that.”___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comUS earns respect at World Cup, but wins remain elusive
American players wanted more than a 0-0 draw with England on Friday night, likely the most-watched match of their lives. The U.S. shut out a European opponent in the World Cup for the first time since 1950 yet left the tent-like stadium in the Arabian desert knowing a win in Tuesday’s politically charged matchup with Iran is a must to reach the knockout stage. England supporters booed loudly at the final whistle and American fans cheered.
news.yahoo.comUSMNT-England is more than a game. It's a chance to 'change the way the world views American soccer'
It was almost four years ago now, not long after an American soccer nadir. They will step onto sport's biggest stage, at the World Cup, in European prime time, to meet England, the self-proclaimed inventors of soccer. We want to change the way that the world sees American soccer. They emerged soon after the USMNT qualified for the 2022 World Cup, minutes and hours after they were drawn into a group alongside England. They wrote that "England's hopes of World Cup glory soared."
wftv.comUS returns to World Cup against Wales after 8-year wait
DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and Yusuf Musah were 11 years old the last time the United States took the field in a World Cup match. Only DeAndre Yedlin, a 29-year-old defender, remains from the American team eliminated by Belgium in the second round eight years ago. A total of 118 players were tried over 68 matches in a World Cup cycle interrupted by a pandemic, including 91 after Gregg Berhalter was hired as coach in December 2018. But now to be here as a part of this team actually at the World Cup, it’s special. And, yeah, I don’t want to take a moment of this for granted.”___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comWorld Cup 2022: USMNT still has lineup questions ahead of opener vs. Wales
Why Berhalter should start McKennie, Musah and AdamsThroughout World Cup qualifying and beyond, Berhalter seemed to have settled on a preferred starting 11, or at least a front six. Pulisic would start on the left wing, and Weah on the right, with Jesús Ferreira at striker in between them. So might it make sense to play Reyna centrally, as one of the three midfielders? So Berhalter could, and should, start his “MMA” midfield — McKennie, Musah, Adams — then bring Reyna off the bench at halftime, or at least within 60 minutes. It would allow the USMNT to play Reyna or Aaronson on the wing and get seven of its eight best players on the field together for the first time ever.
wftv.comUS battles injuries, idleness ahead of World Cup opener
DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — A World Cup jammed into the middle of the European season isn’t ideal, especially for the United States. Injuries and idleness run throughout the roster ahead of Monday's match against Wales. Defenders Walker Zimmerman and Aaron Long enter the Americans' first World Cup match in eight years on layoffs of more than a month after the ends of their Major League Soccer seasons. Al-Jassim was a video assistant referee at the 2018 World Cup and worked the United States' 1-0 win over Panama at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. “I don’t know what he said.”___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comWorld Cup: The 2022 USMNT's power is its diversity
They are the 2022 U.S. men's national team, and they, like the country they'll represent at the World Cup, derive their power from their diversity. They are as diverse, culturally, racially and otherwise, as any team U.S. Soccer has ever fielded. Nobody is under the illusion that they, a soccer team, can heal those divisions, or mend the many aspects of American society that are broken. But American soccer, for decades, hasn't been. "Don't be afraid of who you are,” Acosta said — to soccer players, but more so to everybody.
wftv.comReam, Wright make US Cup roster, Steffen, Arriola cut
NEW YORK — (AP) — Tim Ream, Haji Wright, Joe Scally and Sean Johnson made the United States’ World Cup roster, while Zack Steffen, Paul Arriola, Jordan Pefok and Ricardo Pepi were among those cut. Yedlin, Christian Pulisic, Kellyn Acosta and Ream are remaining players from the infamous loss at Trinidad that prevented the Americans from reaching the 2018 tournament. Ream captains Fulham in England’s Premier League and has gone a full 90 minutes in 14 of 15 matches this season. Carter-Vickers, Johnson, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, Scally and Wright did not appear in any of the 14 qualifiers. Jesús Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Wright are the three forwards, a position that provided just four of the Americans’ 21 goals in qualifying.
wftv.comUSMNT announces World Cup roster with a few surprises, and two stunners
Christian PulisicClub: Chelsea (England)Positions: Left wing, right wing, attacking midfieldThe kid dubbed "Captain America" has been a trailblazer for Americans in Europe. Now they're the core of a World Cup squad — and, in a way, the veterans, despite being just 23-24 years old. But throughout World Cup qualifying, every time Berhalter called upon him, he performed. DeAndre YedlinClub: Inter Miami (MLS)Positions: Right back, right wing backThe only player on the roster with World Cup experience, Yedlin was a fearless youngster back in 2014. Jordan MorrisClub: Seattle Sounders (MLS)Positions: Right wing, left wingMorris made his USMNT debut in 2014 while still in college at Stanford.
wftv.comWorld Cup 2022 injury list: Pogba, Varane updates add to doubts for defending champs
The eventual diagnosis offered hope: Varane is out until the World Cup, but not necessarily for the entirety of it. Below is an incomplete list of the most notable players who've been ruled out or doubtful for the 2022 World Cup. But a knee ligament injury has ruled him out of the World Cup. Injured players who are doubtful for the World CupRaphaël Varane, France — The diagnosis was a thigh muscle injury that will sideline Varane for 3-4 works. His club coach, Graham Potter, did not definitively rule him out for the World Cup, but James almost surely won't be in Qatar.
wftv.comThe USMNT's stars are rounding into form just in time for the World Cup
A month ago Sunday, the U.S. men's national team lost 2-0 to Japan, and its World Cup outlook seemed alarming bleak. It managed just two shots on target and zero goals in its last two games before jetting off to Qatar. And then, on Saturday, Gio Reyna announced his return from his latest injury scare with a cathartic goal for Borussia Dortmund. And yet he has hardly made an impact for the USMNT over the past year as he battled maddening injury after maddening injury. The single most important indicator of World Cup performance will be the performance of two dozen American players in the month leading up to the USMNT's Nov. 21 opener.
wftv.comLackluster US loses to Japan 2-0 in World Cup warmup
Daichi Kamada scored following Weston McKennie’s giveaway in the 24th minute, Kaoru Mitoma added a goal in the 88th, and Japan beat an lackluster and injury-depleted United States 2-0 on Friday in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the Americans’ next-to-last World Cup warmup. The 14th-ranked Americans already were without Tim Weah, Yunus Musah, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Zack Steffen, and Miles Robinson will miss the World Cup because of a torn Achilles. The U.S. has one last exhibition ahead of the World Cup, against 53rd-ranked Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at Murcia, Spain. Back in the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the Americans open in Qatar against No. Japan, preparing for its seventh straight World Cup, opens against No.
wftv.comUSMNT bossed by Japan in alarming pre-World Cup loss
The U.S. men's national soccer team spent 90 of its final 180 minutes before the 2022 World Cup getting bossed and pressed into submission by Japan. The USMNT entered Friday's friendly buoyed by excitement and hope; a 2-0 loss, though, set off alarms. Dest sprinting upfield just as Long played it into McKennie's feet. But even in the second half, Japan was the better team. The USMNT will be a different team when Pulisic, Musah and Weah, especially, return.
wftv.comUS missing many starters ahead of World Cup warmup vs Japan
Gregg Berhalter's U.S. roster as the World Cup approaches is as notable for its absences as for those set to play in Friday's warmup against Japan at Düsseldorf, Germany. Miles Robinson will miss the World Cup because of a torn Achilles. I can imagine at the World Cup some teams will be doing that for players that aren't playing 90 minutes and aren't completely fit." They have started together just four times: a 2019 exhibition against Ecuador, World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Canada in January, and a June friendly against Uruguay. We don’t play to be available for future games.”Berhalter plans to announce his 26-man World Cup roster on Nov. 9, 12 days before the Americans open against Wales.
wftv.comU.S. 2022 World Cup kits released by Nike, with players already 'angry' and fans unimpressed
Nike officially unveiled the jerseys early Thursday morning, along with 11 other World Cup kits, including those for Portugal, France and Brazil. In a press release trumpeting the U.S. kits, Nike said they were "inspired by insights and conversation with athletes." Nike releases other 2022 World Cup kitsNike also released jerseys for all but one of the other 2022 World Cup participants that it outfits. It said the material for all of them would be “cutting-edge” and “lightweight.”The only Nike kit not yet fully revealed is England’s. Adidas and Puma have already released World Cup jerseys for their national teams — including Mexico, Germany, Argentina and Belgium (all Adidas), and Ghana, Senegal and Uruguay (Puma).
wftv.comWeston McKennie is sidelined by injury, and with a World Cup looming, USMNT anxieties set in
And thus began three-and-a-half months of worry in a World Cup year unlike any other. Most of the 26 players who'll comprise the USMNT squad will play high-intensity games eight or nine days before their World Cup opener, and weekly or biweekly between now and then. For USMNT hopefuls, only two of whom have ever played in a World Cup, any wound that lingers beyond October will imperil a lifelong dream. It occasionally left the U.S. without key players for World Cup qualifiers, and ended McKennie's 2021-22 season months early. Together, they comprise a youthful and ambitious team that will take aim at a deep World Cup run.
wftv.comUS to open World Cup vs Wales, held to 0-0 draw by Uruguay
“It's full steam ahead, concentrating on Wales," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said after Sunday's 0-0 draw against Uruguay in a prep match. “The whole world was probably behind Ukraine and wanting them to go to the World Cup." Jesús Ferreira failed to convert a pair of first-half chances as U.S. forwards kept up their goal-scoring struggles in their second of four World Cup warmup matches this month. American forwards have one goal in the team's last 13 matches — by Ferreira in a 5-1 rout of Panama in a World Cup qualifier on March 27. The U.S. plays 170th-ranked Grenada on Friday at Austin, Texas, in its World Cup sendoff, the first of two CONCACAF Nations League matches, then is at No.
wftv.comTillman switching from Germany to US, Wright also on roster
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman is switching affiliation from Germany to the United States and is among 27 players invited to the Americans’ next-to-last training camp ahead of the World Cup. Brooks, a 29-year-old defender who was on the 2014 World Cup roster, has not been picked by U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter since qualifiers last September. The Americans plan a pair of friendlies in Europe in September, then will open the World Cup in Qatar on Nov. 21 against Wales, Scotland or Ukraine. Tillman, 19, was born in Germany to a father in the U.S military and a German mother. Wright played for the U.S. at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup alongside Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams and attended a national team training camp in May 2019 that included young players.
wftv.comWill the U.S. men blow their chance for a World Cup spot, like they did for the 2018 event?
Nearly five years after the United States men’s national soccer team famously blew a spot in the 2018 World Cup by losing to a vastly inferior Trinidad and Tobago squad in October of 2017 in the final game of qualifying, the moment of redemption has finally arrived for the Americans.
McKennie out 2 months with 2 broken bones in left foot
(AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (Alberto Saiz)American midfielder Weston McKennie has two broken bones in his left foot and will miss the United States' final three World Cup qualifiers next month. McKennie got hurt while playing for Juventus in a Champions League second-round, first-leg match at Spain's Villarreal on Tuesday night. Pervis Estupiñán made a two-leg, sweeping sliding tackle in the 80th minute, and McKennie fell to the field in pain. Juventus said Wednesday that an exam revealed a compound fracture of the second and third metatarsal bones. Because of injuries, McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams started together just once before this month, in an exhibition against Ecuador in March 2019.
wftv.comUS, McKennie beat cold, Honduras in dominant 3-0 win
“Once you get in that game mode, you just are out there competing, and that’s all that really matters,” Zimmerman said. The Americans beat El Salvador 1-0 on Thursday, when it was 29 in Ohio. Berhalter defended the USSF decision to play here, pointing to the thermal head coverings the Americans provided to Honduras before the match. The second goal was set up by Kellyn Acosta, who started in the defensive midfield for the first time since the October loss at Panama. Pulisic scored about three minutes after entering.
wftv.comMcKennie goal gets US going in frigid 3-0 win vs. Honduras
That was McKennie’s ninth international goal, his second in World Cup qualifying, and it would prove to be enough. The ball glanced off Zimmerman’s left leg, and he kicked it in with his right from 5 yards for his third international goal. Pulisic scored about three minutes after entering. He scored from near the penalty spot with his second touch of the game — his 18th international goal. Notes: Costa Rica won 1-0 at Jamaica as Joel Campbell scored his 22nd international goal in the 62nd minute.
wftv.comMore winter, Honduras next for US in World Cup qualifier
WCup US Canada Soccer Canada's Ike Ugbo, right, and United States' Weston McKennie (8) battle for the ball during the second half of a World Cup soccer qualifier in Hamilton, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. The bring-it-on attitude will be put to a stiff test Wednesday night in Minnesota, where the U.S. will stage a critical match against already-eliminated Honduras. Every player on the team, McKennie said, has plenty of experience in cold and rain and the negative effect those conditions have on the feel of the ball. “We’ve played in two cold places previously before this game so I think we’re kind of used to it now,” McKennie said. The top three teams advance to the World Cup, which the U.S. missed out on in 2018.
wftv.comMidfielders, defenders provide US goals in push for WCup bid
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)COLUMBUS, Ohio — (AP) — Midfielders and defenders are providing the goals the United States needs to reach the World Cup — by a wide margin. Three of the Americans’ 13 goals in the first nine qualifiers have come from outside defenders, with left back Antonee Robinson scoring his second in Thursday night’s arduous 1-0 win over El Salvador. Right back Sergiño Dest had the tying goal in the 2-1 victory over Costa Rica last week on the same Lower.com field. They are a big part of how we play, especially when we’re dropping our midfielders lower.”With qualifying at nearly the two-thirds point going into Sunday’s match at Canada, seven goals have been produced by midfielders. Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 19 points, followed by the U.S. (18), Mexico (17), Panama (14) and Costa Rica (12), with Jamaica (seven), El Salvador (six) and Honduras (three) lagging.
wftv.comRobinson goal lifts US over El Salvador 1-0 in Cup qualifier
WCup El Salvador US Soccer United States' Antonee Robinson (5) celebrates his goal with Weston McKennie (8) and Chris Richards (15) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against El Salvador, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. El Salvador is left with six and has virtually no chance to reach this year’s tournament in Qatar. The U.S. Soccer Federation scheduled the match in a cold climate to minimize travel and put the chill on El Salvador, which went to a sporting goods store to purchase additional winter gear. The Americans’ 15th straight home win over El Salvador since 1989 didn’t come easily. They outshot El Salvador 8-3 in the first half but put none on target.
wftv.comRichards, Busio enter US lineup for Cup qualifier at Jamaica
Jamaica U.S. WCup Soccer United States' players warm up during a training session ahead of the World Cup 2022 qualifying soccer match against Jamaica in Kingston, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (Fernando Llano)KINGSTON, Jamaica — (AP) — Defender Chris Richards and midfielder Gianluca Busio entered the U.S. lineup for Tuesday night’s match at Jamaica as the Americans started their second-youngest lineup ever in a World Cup qualifier. The pair replaced defender Miles Robinson, suspended for a red card, and midfielder Weston McKennie, suspended for yellow card accumulation. Right back Javain Brown, central defender Liam Moore and midfielder Lamar Walker also entered the lineup. Holdovers included goalkeeper Andre Blake, central defender Damion Lowe, left back Kemar Lawrence, midfielders Je-Vaughn Watson and Damion Lowe, and wingers Bobby Decordova-Reid and Leon Bailey.
wftv.comSteffen displaces Turner as top US keeper, starts at Jamaica
Zack Steffen is in quite an unusual position: The No. 2 goalkeeper with Manchester City is No. 1 with the United States. New England's Matt Turner started the first five U.S. qualifiers, and Steffen took over for the 2-1 win over Costa Rica last month.
news.yahoo.comPulisic sparks US over Mexico 2-0 in World Cup qualifying
WCup Mexico US Soccer United States' Weston McKennie celebrates his goal with Tyler Adams, left, and Christian Pulisic during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against Mexico, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)CINCINNATI — (AP) — Christian Pulisic sent a message — with his head and his undershirt. Pulisic scored on his very first touch in the 74th minute, Weston McKennie added a goal in the 85th and the Americans beat Mexico 2-0 Friday night in a World Cup qualifier — the "Dos a Cero" scoreline that became traditional early in the 21st century. The U.S. won four straight home qualifiers against Mexico by 2-0, all at Columbus, Ohio, before falling 2-1 in November 2016 at Crew Stadium. That started the skid that led to the Americans missing the 2018 World Cup.
wftv.comZimmerman, Musah, Arriola enter US lineup vs Jamaica
AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — Walker Zimmerman, Yunus Musah and Paul Arriola were given their first starts of this World Cup qualifying cycle and Weston McKennie returned from a two-match banishment when the United States played Jamaica on Thursday night. Forward Ricardo Pepi was the only other holdover from the starting lineup in the 4-1 win at Honduras on Sept. 8. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson and left back Antonee Robinson also were in the starting lineup against the Reggae Boyz after entering at the start of the second half in Honduras. They were joined in the starting lineup by right back Sergiño Dest, who missed the match at Honduras because of a sprained ankle. Zimmerman and Musah made their World Cup qualifying debuts, raising the U.S. total to 18 in four matches.
wftv.comMcKennie to start vs shorthanded Jamaica in WCup qualifier
The Reggae Boyz have one point as they seek to return to soccer’s showcase for the first time since 1998. “After three games I don’t think it’s panic mode for anyone in the table,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Wednesday. Jamaica learned Tuesday that Antonio, the Premier League's August player of the month for West Ham, failed to travel. Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitmore wouldn’t confirm or refute a report Antonio was angry he couldn’t bring along a physiotherapist. “Weston is going to start the game tomorrow.
wftv.comPulisic scores in extra time, US beats Mexico 3-2
Christian Pulisic converted a penalty kick in the 114th minute, backup goalkeeper Ethan Horvath stopped Andrés Guardado’s penalty kick in the 124th minute and the United States overcame an early defensive blunder to beat Mexico 3-2 in a final of the first CONCACAF Nations League that turned on three video reviews.
Reynolds, Odunze receive US call-ups but not Hoppe
(Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)CHICAGO – Defender Bryan Reynolds received his first call-up to the U.S. national team after the 19-year-old made his debut for Roma last weekend. Chituru Odunze, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Leicester, also could debut in exhibitions against Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, or three days later at Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke this season, was not called in for a possible debut. Germany), Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England). Forwards: Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Tim Weah (Lille, France).
Reyna follows dad, mom, among 6 debuts as US ties Wales 0-0
United States' Giovanni Reyna instructs his teammates during the international friendly soccer match between Wales and USA at Liberty stadium in Swansea, Wales, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Gio Reyna walked onto the field for his U.S. national team debut, just like mom Danielle in 1993, just like dad Claudio in 1994. Reyna played 78 minutes Thursday night and was among six debuts for the Americans in a 0-0 tie against Wales in an exhibition at Swansea. And overall, a 17-year-old debuting and he didn’t look like that.”Claudio Reyna made 112 international appearances from 1994 to 2006, playing in three World Cups. Reyna was in a mobile and dynamic midfield, combining with 21-year-old Tyler Adams of Leipzig and 22-year-old Weston McKennie of Juventus.
Gio Reyna makes US soccer debut, a day before 18th birthday
Gio Reyna made his U.S. national soccer team debut against Wales at Swansea on Thursday night on the day before his 18th birthday, joining his father and mother as the first three-member family in American history to make international soccer appearances. Reyna and Musah became just the 12th and 13th players to make an appearance before turning 18. Claudio Reyna was a U.S. captain and played in three World Cups. He was 20 years, 5 months, 26 days when he made the first of 112 national team appearances as a 61st-minute substitute in an exhibition against Norway at Tempe, Arizona, on Jan. 15, 1994. Adams makes his first appearance since March 21, 2019, against Ecuador, and Robinson makes his first since June 5, 2019, against Jamaica.
The Latest: Women's title fight called off because of virus
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___A women’s world middleweight title fight in England has been called off after a trainer tested positive for the coronavirus. The 29-year-old Marshall was scheduled to fight Hannah Rankin on Saturday in Peterborough for the vacant WBO world middleweight title. ___Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Canadian round of figure skating’s Grand Prix has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The five-round Grand Prix season is due to begin with Skate America in Las Vegas from Oct. 23-25 without spectators.
McKennie opens his 1st news conference with Italian flair
TURIN Weston McKennie opened his first news conference as a Juventus player on Monday with a bit of cultural flair, speaking in Italian. McKennie, who is black, has been outspoken about racism and led the protests in Germany after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Italian league has struggled with racism in the past and McKennie hopes he can continue to do his part. The idea of coming to play here, in a club with a great history, immediately thrilled me, McKennie said. In the United States, shops sell the jerseys.
Weston McKennie becomes 1st American player at Juventus
All rights reserved)TURIN Its official: Midfielder Weston McKennie has become the first American player at Juventus. The deal requires Juventus to purchase McKennies full rights at the end of the season for 18.5 million euros ($22 million), although the fee could reach 25.5 million euros ($30 million) with bonuses. McKennie can play any of the midfield positions, which makes him a flexible option for new Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo. McKennie started playing soccer while spending part of his childhood in Germany. At Juventus, McKennie will team with international stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini.
US could open WCup qualifying in Trinidad, site of '17 loss
NEW YORK The United States will open qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on the road next June, possibly back in Trinidad and Tobago where it was eliminated from reaching the 2018 tournament. The Americans will close their 14-match round in March 2022 at Costa Rica, where they have lost seven straight qualifiers. The Americans are among five nations with direct berths in the final round of qualifying known as the octagonal joined by Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica. CONCACAF had used the hexagonal for the final round of qualifying for the World Cups of 1998 through 2018. Canada headed six teams seeded into first-round groups that play a single round robin, with two games each in October and November.
Union Berlin's Anthony Ujah calls on players to fight racism
BERLIN Union Berlin striker Anthony Ujah has encouraged his fellow soccer players to be more proactive in the fight against racism. Everybody in the world of soccer knows who Thomas Mller is. I dont know how to explain, but sports has the power to bring people together, Mller said in a video that also showed other Bundesliga players gestures last weekend. Others, including American players Weston McKennie, Zack Steffen and Tyler Adams also expressed solidarity with social media posts and/or on-field statements. If I manage to get just five or 10 people to change their way of thinking about me, then Ive fulfilled my role, Ujah wrote.