LOS ANGELES — In the run-up to the opening World Cup match in Los Angeles next week, authorities on Monday announced a series of security measures — including a no-drone zone at all venues nationwide, with officials saying they will take down any unauthorized flying objects.

Federal officials have been scrambling to get countermeasures in ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — A little less than two months ago, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch wrote a piece entitled A World Cup in Trump’s America is insane. How this fan is coping."

In it, Bunch opined about what he labeled as corrupt capitalism (regarding ticket gouging) and unrestrained xenophobia (Trump travel bans), the likes of which ...Read more

SEATTLE — In a perfect world — one where the United States men’s national team (USMNT) builds some decent momentum, shows improvement as the tournament continues, the bracket breaks their way and they get some luck — Doug McIntyre thinks the U.S. might reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“To get any further than that,�...Read more

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Veteran centerback Tim Ream was named the U.S. team’s captain for the World Cup. It’s not surprising, since head coach Mauricio Pochettino has given Ream the armband in 16 of 23 games since arriving in 2024. But the manager still took a moment Saturday to make it official.

“I am so grateful that he is with us because...Read more

MIAMI — During the next few weeks, as the 2026 World Cup gets underway, South Florida will become even more colorful than usual as Scotland’s Tartan Army shows up in plaid kilts, Brazilians and Colombians in bright yellow shirts overtake the beaches, joined by Uruguayans in sky blue, Cape Verde fans in navy blue, Saudis in green and ...Read more

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Four years ago, Sebastian Berhalter was a fan in the stands at the last World Cup, watching his father, Gregg, coach the U.S. men’s team.

Though the son had been a pro for two years by then, barely anyone would have thought he’d be on the next American squad to make soccer’s biggest stage.

In fact, the idea wasn’t...Read more

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Mauricio Pochettino has done a lot of things in his 17 years as a manager, with big-time stops at Spain’s Espanyol, France’s Paris Saint-Germain, and England’s Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.

But nothing he faced in any of his 649 games at club level equaled one challenge of leading the U.S. men’s ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As one of the most monumental events in Kansas City history suddenly is just weeks away, the very nucleus of the event, Arrowhead Stadium, is being scrubbed to conform to FIFA World Cup standards consistent with the other 15 North American venues hosting the tournament beginning next month.

Sure, Arrowhead’s architecture,...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Just weeks out from Kansas City’s first soccer match, officials coordinating World Cup activities in the Kansas City metro published their human rights action plan as required by FIFA.

That 13-page plan, dated May 11, highlights the city’s awareness efforts for preventing human trafficking, training for regional small ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — On a recent spring morning, Championship Soccer Stadium, which sits in a corner of the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., was quiet and empty save for the dozen sprinklers quenching a newly laid grass carpet.

Normally the well-used stadium is a buzz of activity. But its main tenant, the Orange County Soccer Club, which ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Mauricio Pochettino knows the joy of making a World Cup roster. But he also knows the misery of being left off one.

In the first case, you want to celebrate; in the second, you want to be left alone.

The U.S. coach said he kept both emotions in mind when informing players they had — or had not — made the roster for next ...Read more

NEW YORK — Though it was no surprise to see many players from the Philadelphia area on the U.S. men’s World Cup team, Tuesday’s announcement of the squad still marked a moment of local history.

Four players from the region made the cut, the highest number since 1934. They are attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson of Medford, Burlington ...Read more

MIAMI — Lionel Messi’s status for the start of the 2026 World Cup is in doubt after Inter Miami confirmed the Argentine star is dealing with a hamstring issue.

The club announced late Monday afternoon that the reason he exited the field before the end of Sunday’s 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union is that he felt “physical discomfort.�...Read more

Inter Miami captain and Argentine star Lionel Messi appeared to grab the back of his left leg and was subbed off before Sunday’s wild 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union had ended, something he never does, sparking speculation that he felt a twinge of pain and didn’t want to take any chances with the World Cup kicking off in two weeks.

All ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Though the U.S. men’s soccer team’s World Cup roster won’t be officially announced until Tuesday, there’s a time-honored tradition in the sport of news getting out early.

That duly happened on Saturday, a day after U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told the 26 players on the squad that they were in. The Guardian and The ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — On Monday evening, Andrew Pickering was in Chicago for a work trip when he looked down at his phone and saw a concerning text.

It was in a WhatsApp chat of expats from Northern Ireland who now live in Philadelphia. One of his friends asked another, James Stephens, if he was OK.

Pickering didn’t know what was going on.

“...Read more

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that 1,000 FIFA World Cup tickets will be made available to New Yorkers for just $50 each — the lowest price on offer for the tournament.

The tickets, to be doled out through a lottery system, will be spread over seven matches in the tournament, and will also come with free bus rides ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A lot has changed since Jacori Perry attended Morningside High School.

Perry is now a renowned artist who goes by the names Mr. Ace and AiseBorn.

The school is now known as Inglewood High School United.

And the lecture hall on that campus now features a large, ornate mural of a soccer ball being grasped by the hands of two ...Read more

SEATTLE — Iran announced its preliminary World Cup roster Saturday following meetings with FIFA that appeared to make progress toward the country participating in the tournament.

Iran’s roster announcement of 30 players indicated the team planned to travel Monday to Antalya, Turkey, to begin the initial training camp before eventually ...Read more