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TThe U.S. men’s national team is undergoing a quiet transformation under coach Mauricio Pochettino, and one of its key players is under the spotlight. Seattle Sounders star Cristian Roldan said the Argentine manager has restructured the roster to focus on performance rather than geography and is rewarding players who earn positions, both in Europe and in Major League Soccer.Roldan, 29, is part of a recent squad alongside emerging talents such as Diego Luna and Maximilian Alfsten. For midfielders, Pochettino’s approach suggests a meritocratic system that emphasizes adaptability, work ethic and the ability to deal with high-pressure situations.”I think we feel…

Manchester United are willing to cut their losses on Jadon Sancho at the end of the season rather than risk paying him his £200,000-a-week wages for another yearFebruary 18, 2026, 12:31Updated February 18, 2026 12:37Manchester United loser Jadon Sancho is set to become a free agent this summer (Image: Getty Images)Manchester United are said to have decided not to trigger an option in Jadon Sancho’s contract that could help secure a transfer fee for the out-of-favour attacker.Sancho, 25, returned to the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021 in a deal worth a total of £73 million.…

SYDNEY (AP) — sam carr Australia will be captaining their fifth Women’s Asia Cup, but Matildas coach Joe Montemurro decided to bet on Mary Fowler’s fitness on Thursday by naming her in the squad for the regional tournament hosted by Australia. soccer The tournament starts in 10 days.Fowler It is her first return to the Matildas squad since April last year, when she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final, requiring reconstructive surgery on her right knee.She has only played 15 minutes of game time since her injury, but returns…

TThe American sports world is bracing for a seismic shift. This Saturday, February 21st, MLS begins its season with 13 games, pitting defending champions Inter Miami, led by the incomparable Lionel Messi, against LAFC superstar Son Heung-min. But this year is not just another year. The 2026 season will include a six-week break from late May to mid-July to coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, this marks the final curtain call for the league’s traditional spring-to-fall format. Starting with the 2027-28 season, MLS will finally be on par with Europe’s powerhouses,…

Rio Ferdinand believes Gabriel Jesus’ title-winning exploits could prove invaluable as Arsenal prepare to take on Manchester City for the Premier League crown once again.Rio Ferdinand says Gabriel Jesus will play a big role for Arsenal as they aim to win the title (Image: 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)Rio Ferdinand believes Gabriel Jesus will be a key figure off the pitch for Arsenal in the coming months as one of the few players in Mikel Arteta’s side with title-winning experience.The Gunners are four points behind Manchester City in the Premier League summit, but dropped a point against Brentford last…

Not only did Vinicius Junior receive a racist insult from Benfica player Gianluca Prestiani during Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Benfica, the Brazilian star also endured racist gestures from a young fan in the stands, as seen on video. The Champions League’s anti-racism protocol was triggered after Gianluca’s alleged insult, but it lasted about 10 minutes and appears to have achieved little.Repeated racist incidents raise deeper questions. How can we truly eradicate racism from football if it continues to manifest itself on and off the pitch?As the players cross the line, young fans followFans, especially younger fans, may feel encouraged…

Benfica’s manager has come under heavy criticism after appearing to imply that Vinicius Junior was in some way responsible for the ugly scenes in Lisbon after he did not show “respect” at the celebrations.Mourinho’s comments were offensive and shameful (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)First, some of Jose Mourinho’s less heinous crimes. Rank hypocrisy. One of the most disrespectful managers in football history, who told his players they should show respect when celebrating goals. Mourinho is an expert in disrespect.But that particular irony is only part of what should go down as Mourinho’s darkest hour. And his worst sin was spreading…

BODO, Norway (AP) — Champions League runners-up Inter Milan will face the latest big club. Bodo/Glimt In the Champions League, they lost 3-1 away in the first leg of the playoffs on Wednesday.The Norwegian outsider has been the surprise news of this season’s competition. Beat Manchester City at home, Atletico Madrid away To get to the playoffs. The location of the club is north of the arctic circle This is further north than any team in Champions League history.Serie A leader Inter were aiming for their seventh straight win in all competitions, but midfielder Sondre Branstad Fett scored a stunning…

NThe Os London rivalry may be moving from the pitch to the transfer table. Tottenham and Arsenal are both interested in signing Christian Pulisic, with Milan reportedly valuing the winger at between $75 million and $88 million.The 27-year-old has been one of Serie A’s most productive attackers this season. After a period of uncertainty at Chelsea, Pulisic has rediscovered stability in Italy. With 8 goals and 2 assists in 17 league games, he became Milan’s top scorer and tied for second place in the scoring list behind Lautaro Marnez.Achievement at this level attracts a lot of attention from England.Milan’s contractual…

In the second installment of our World Cup untold stories series, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the journalists who covered the 2006 tournament in Germany.February 18, 2026, 13:44Updated February 18, 2026 13:47As we countdown to this summer’s World Cup, we’re launching a new series that takes you behind the scenes of key moments and untold stories from recent tournaments from 2002 to 2022.WAG’s origins preceded further heartbreaking events in EnglandAndy Dunn: As a group of journalists checked into comfortable accommodation in a German spa town, representatives from the Football Association couldn’t have been more surprised.She happened to be waiting…