Soccer

8:07 AM ET Ricardo Pepi, 18, chose to represent the U.S. over Mexico in August. He became an instant USMNT hero weeks later when he scored one goal and set up two more to help his team to a 4-1 win over Honduras. Brent Humphreys for ESPN IN THE TUNNEL of Toyota Stadium, Ricardo Pepi poses

Oct 5, 2021 Manchester United’s squad has a combined value of more than €1 billion in potential transfer fees, according to the CIES. Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images It may not come as a surprise that Premier League champions Manchester City and their local rivals Manchester United have the two most valuable squads in Europe,

8:16 AM ET USWNT and Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan on Tuesday called for the National Women’s Soccer League to end the systemic failure that led to a decade of alleged sexual harassment of players by league coaches. The North Carolina Courage last week fired coach Paul Riley amid allegations spanning over a decade of

9:57 AM ET Caitlin Murray Since the inception of the National Women’s Soccer League, its club owners, executives and coaches have loved to call the NWSL the best women’s soccer league in the world — and for the on-field product alone, they may have been right. But when it comes to just about everything else

4:00 AM ET The shocking recent setbacks suffered by Barcelona and Real Madrid, domestically and in Europe, aren’t caused by problems that will be instantly solved by the sackings of Ronald Koeman or Carlo Ancelotti. Barcelona, of the two, are more undermined by their coach. They remain a high-tone squad, capable of competing for trophies

11:26 AM ET Kyle Bonagura Close ESPN Staff Writer Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. It wasn’t that long ago that the Portland Timbers were on the outside looking in at the

8:30 AM ET The 2021-22 Premier League season is now in full flow and, after seven matchdays, looks like it could be one of the most exciting title races in years. Just two points separate leaders Chelsea and sixth-placed Brighton, with the top four positions already occupied by this season’s Champions League participants Chelsea, Liverpool,

5:42 PM ET It was a weekend on which several big clubs were upset, from Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain to Paris Saint-Germain in France and Manchester United in England. Meanwhile, Juventus‘ Manuel Locatelli had two reasons to celebrate and Mohamed Salah was superb for Liverpool. Here are Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland and James

10:26 PM ET The LA Galaxy and visiting LAFC struggled to find some separation in their intense rivalry, playing to a 1-1 draw on Sunday at Carson, California. With both teams desperate to move up in the Western Conference standings, each had to settle for a single point after a pair of first-half goals. Both

2:53 PM ET Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City backroom staff were spat at during Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Liverpool at Anfield, a City source has told ESPN. Champions City climbed into third position, behind second-placed Liverpool, after Kevin De Bruyne‘s deflected goal in the 81st minute claimed a point after Liverpool had

6:28 AM ET Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp likened refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine to drink-driving, saying such people endanger others. Klopp said he took the vaccine to protect not just himself but “all the people around me.” The 54-year-old also said that “99%” of his Liverpool players are vaccinated and that he did not

10:45 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended his decision to rest Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday. Ronaldo has scored five goals since returning to Old Trafford, but was left on the bench against Rafael Benitez’s side along with Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho. –

11:00 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent MANCHESTER, England — Nothing is coming easily for Manchester United at the moment, and it’s making life hard for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Three days after the dramatic late Champions League win against Villarreal, there was another frantic finish at Old Trafford. This time, though, there were no Cristiano Ronaldo heroics

9:36 AM ET Sid LoweSpain writer “Today, everyone knows what the problem is,” said Ronald Koeman, which was asking for it, really. The “insert your own joke here” thing was just too easy, the response far too obvious. Yes, Ronald: it’s you. Barcelona had been beaten again, this time by Benfica in Lisbon, leaving them

7:46 PM ET NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird and general counsel Lisa Levine have been removed from their roles, sources confirmed to ESPN. The Athletic was the first to report the news. No replacement for either role has been announced. The decision was made by the league’s Board of Directors and comes in the wake of

4:00 AM ET Pep Guardiola must feel as though there is sometimes no respite as Manchester City manager. Five days after seeing Lionel Messi consign his team to defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, he must now prepare to face Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in a game that could ultimately prove key to this

4:00 AM ET Cristiano Ronaldo has told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that Man United need to play quicker for him — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: Football’s push for mixed gender matches. Jump to: Mixed gender matches in football? | Taekwondo champ signs for Barca | Salah contract saga rumbles on | Lacazette edges

1:33 PM ET Progression to the mean is rarely so stark. After spending most of the 2020-21 season playing like a solid mid-table Premier League team on paper, but rarely translating that quality into points, Brighton has started 2021-22 in fine form. The Seagulls finished 16th in the league last season despite an expected goal