4:30 AM ET Sophie Lawson Sweden came third in the 2019 Women’s World Cup and second in the 2020 Olympics staged in 2021. Could a long-awaited first-place finish at Euro 2022 be next? Ayman Aref/Getty Images Sweden‘s ascension to become one of the favourites at Euro 2022 this summer has been, so it seems, a long
Soccer
7:00 AM ET Erik ten Hag took charge of his first training session as head coach of Manchester United as his new squad — or at least a portion of it — reported back for preseason on Monday. The Dutchman was joined by Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No. 2 Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der
1:52 PM ET Wales forward Gareth Bale has joined LAFC on a 12-month contract, with options through to 2024, after his departure from LaLiga champions Real Madrid, the Major League Soccer side announced on Monday. The 32-year-old, who signed for Spanish giants Real from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then-record transfer
4:32 PM ET While New York City FC fought off an MLS Cup hangover and set its sights on an ultimately futile CONCACAF Champions League run, the Philadelphia Union established themselves as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference and a Supporters’ Shield rival for LAFC. In the past two months, though, everything had
10:00 AM ET What a year for women’s soccer. It’s hard to look past the achievements of Barcelona. They set the game’s attendance record, drawing 91,648 to the Camp Nou for a European tie against Wolfsburg. They won Spain’s Primera Division Femenina by winning 30 games in the 30-game season. They made it a domestic
5:08 AM ET Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will step down from his role as technical and performance advisor at the end of June, the Premier League club said on Monday, the latest staff member to leave Stamford Bridge following the takeover led by Todd Boehly. Cech, who was appointed to the role in 2019
5:00 AM ET The future of Wales forward Gareth Bale has been the subject of great interest over the past few years, as his contract at Real Madrid began to wind down. But now he’s on his way to Major League Soccer… with LAFC! 2 Related The most-expensive player of all time in 2013, when
4:00 AM ET Tor-Kristian Karlsen Striker Loum Tchaouna has starred for the France U19 side. Francis Gonzalez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The eight-team Under-19 European Championship is into the knockout rounds, with France taking on Israel and England facing Italy in the semifinals on Tuesday. But which players have stood out during the group stage? And
9:56 PM ET Associated Press Sophia Smith celebrates the first of her two goals against Colombia. Omar Vega/Getty Images Sophia Smith scored twice in the second half and the U.S. women’s national team beat Colombia 3-0 on Saturday night to extend its home unbeaten streak to 68 games. Taylor Kornieck, making her national team debut, added
11:53 AM ET LAFC is close to a deal to bring Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale to Major League Soccer, sources have told ESPN. The blockbuster move would be a free transfer as Bale’s contract is up with Real Madrid and is expected to be completed using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), as first
3:30 AM ET Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers to have ever played the game. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTON Clubs around Europe are deciding which players they want to bring in during the summer transfer window, but who would they pick if they could magically re-sign a former player? We went through some of the
3:30 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent “A healthy dressing room is worth more than 100 hours of tactics,” the legendary Spain and Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque told El Pais in 2014. Del Bosque, who lifted the World Cup and Champions League during his career, knew a thing or two about winning. But so does
7:00 PM ET Abbie Ingham Gabriel Jesus is leaving Manchester City in a bid for more playing time, and his destination is reportedly Arsenal. Simon Stacpoole/Getty Images The summer transfer window is here, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings
7:00 AM ET Four players, teams and tournaments to watch for this summer, from left to right: Lieke Martens, Netherlands, the Euros; Alex Morgan, USA, CONCACAF W Championship; Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria, Africa Women Cup of Nations; Debinha, Brazil, Copa America Femenina. Illustration by ESPN Ahh, summer — ’tis the season for the beautiful game’s biggest and
9:45 AM ET When U.S. Soccer sends out press releases to announce upcoming match rosters, there are always a few stats and facts included. But I think this bullet from the announcement of the 23-player roster for CONCACAF’S World Cup qualification tournament sums up the state of the U.S. women’s national team perfectly: Honestly, when
9:18 AM ET The European soccer season ended in May, and there’s no major men’s international tournament on deck this summer. The NBA season just ended, and the NHL season is about to. Happily distracted by the Men’s and Women’s College World Series? The latter is over, and the former will be soon. Granted, the
6:00 AM ET Chelsea may end up spending well over £100 million on new signings this summer, with a new centre-back, full-back, midfielder and centre-forward already on coach Thomas Tuchel’s list of priority acquisitions, but the biggest problem facing the Premier League club’s new American owners cannot be solved by any kind of transfer fee.
9:44 AM ET Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Kyle Bonagura Close ESPN Staff Writer Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. This summer’s transfer window will have a slightly different flavor than those in previous years. With the