Mexico confirms Rafa Márquez will become national team manager after World Cup Mexico's succession plan after the 2026 World Cup is set

OFFICIAL:

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Both

Mascherano’s exit is proof volatility is Inter Miami’s brand Inter Miami is used to the spotlight, but it's the unwanted type of attention that keeps finding its way back to South Florida

Column:

Javier Mascherano’s abrupt exit isn’t a surprise. It’s part of the Inter Miami brand.

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U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker to leave role, set to join Saudi Arabian Football Federation The 51-year-old is set to take a up a new role with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker leaves federation for Saudi Arabian Football Federation just two months before the World Cup.

As first reported by @dougmcintyre.bsky.social:

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Headline on a photo of Lionel Messi: What’s With Messi’s Continued Lack of 
World Cup Commitment?

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: The World Cup is weeks away and there are all kinds of strange things going on with the defending champions, Argentina. nyti.ms/4cB8OYy

The latest on Argentina’s dubious World Cup run-up, Messi’s odd lack of commitment Argentina's World Cup preparations have come against lackluster opposition, all while its iconic captain won't go all in on this summer

The latest on Argentina’s dubious World Cup run-up, and why Messi won’t commit to playing this summer

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Chicharito joins Henry, Ibrahimovic as Fox Sports 2026 World Cup analyst Mexico's all-time leading scorer adds to a star-laden panel of TV analysts for this summer's World Cup

NEWS: Chicharito joins Thierry Henry, Ibrahimovic as Fox Sports 2026 World Cup analyst, addresses social media backlash

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Derby confirms Agyemang has a ruptured Achilles and will miss the World Cup. A blow to the U.S., as Agyemang was one of the few who helped his stock in March and surely had a role in store this summer.

Colombia’s James Rodríguez hospitalized for ‘severe dehydration’ day after loss to France The Colombian federation released a statement saying that Rodríguez's dehydration episode "is not linked to his footballing activities.”

The day after Colombia's 3-1 loss to France on Sunday, James Rodriguez required hospitalization in Minnesota due to "a severe dehydration episode," according to the Colombian Football Federation.

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This is a very funny quote from McKennie

Party atmosphere does little to give USMNT home advantage, unlike for Mexico Mexico City's Estadio Azteca gives the kind of home advantage the USMNT must crave

Mexico found their fight inside a hostile Estadio Azteca.

The USMNT were embarrassed inside a night club atmosphere in Atlanta.

On what home-field advantage will look like for two World Cup co-hosts.
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Wisconsin’s Bajraktarevic crushes Italy dreams, sends Bosnia-Herzegovina to World Cup The U.S.-born former New England Revolution winger, who has one USMNT cap, sealed a memorable triumph

Wisconsin’s Bajraktarevic crushes Italy dreams, sends Bosnia-Herzegovina to World Cup

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USA was outclassed but Belgium boss Rudy Garcia says hosts were ‘better than the result’ Ninth-ranked Belgium left Atlanta deservedly filled with confidence, but insisted the scoreline was harsh on the defeated USMNT

French hip hop and a swagger that left the USMNT punch drunk in Atlanta.

How Belgium routed the US and what the Belgian press had to say about the American’s WC chances.

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Criticized at Copa América, Atlanta’s grass has gotten a World Cup glow-up Two years ago, Atlanta learned its lesson. Now, the World Cup – and USMNT friendlies – host has a new and improved playing surface

Criticized at Copa América, Atlanta’s grass has gotten a World Cup glow-up

Next test: USMNT vs Belgium

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Past, present tales of the urgency and pressure of USMNT’s last pre-World Cup camp The aura around the last camp before a World Cup squad is picked is just different, which is what USMNT players are currently experiencing

After a 4-1 loss to 🇩🇪 in March 2006, Jimmy Conrad thought his World Cup dream was over. He went back to his room, laid on the bed and sobbed.

“I needed to get all of it out,” he recalled.

On the emotion and pressure of the last window before a World Cup cutdown.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

MLS commissioner Don Garber believes Liverpool's Mo Salah could make a significant impact in the top flight of American soccer, and has urged him to move to the U.S.

Former President of Tigres Mauricio Culebro announced as new President of Soccer AMB Sports and Entertainment.

Culebro will oversee all aspects of Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028.

Tigres obvs has a first-class mens and women’s program.

USA or Germany? Noahkai Banks’ personal decision more nuanced than casual discourse around it (Gift Article) The 19-year-old is eligible to play for both the U.S. and Germany and faces a tough decision amid a sea of outside noise

In U.S. Soccer circles, the opinions about German-American Noahkai Banks have become heated of late.

My column on Banks is now free to read:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

42 World Cup questions that will be answered during this international window (Gift Article) From the identity of the final six teams to key selection issues and the co-hosts' preparedness, these are the things we will learn in March

Should be a really interesting international break, which isn't always the case tbh. Final 6 (of 48!) WC spots from 22 Euro and Intercontinental teams to whittle down.

Joined big @theathleticfc.bsky.social cast of writers to get you ready.

🎁 Gift link / free read.
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The Verdict: LAFC, Nashville rise to top of MLS by winning in opposite ways LAFC has found a way to win without its attacking fully clicking, while Nashville's prolific front three has operated as advertised

The Verdict: LAFC, Nashville rise to top of MLS by winning in opposite ways

🦾 Honky tonk Halaand, Mukhtar and Espinoza are flying
🧤❌LAFC breaks MLS shutout record
0️⃣ Union and Crew remain winless

Plus: an embarrassing night for MLS in Mexico

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Imagine if every day a different reporter got Messi’s personal number and interviewed him

He calls MLS turf fields “de un torneo chico” (“Little league”); He threatens a hostile takeover of Inter Miami’s board; takes shots at Garber; calls referee Joe Dickerson “a real loser.”

Argentina's March window timeline

- Finalissima vs Spain
- Finalissima vs Spain canceled
- Guatemala replaces Spain
- Friendly vs Guatemala canceled
- Scaloni's March squad; Franco Mastantuono omitted
- Mauritania replaces Guatemala
- Franco Mastantuono selected a day later

Landon Donovan has a lot of good ideas. His idea cited in here about he thinks FIFA citizenship should work is an awful one.

USA or Germany? Noahkai Banks’ personal decision more nuanced than casual discourse around it The 19-year-old is eligible to play for both the U.S. and Germany and faces a tough decision amid a sea of outside noise

On German-American Noahkai Banks and why the dual nationals debate deserves more nuance than where you were born
www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Explained: Could Iran’s World Cup games be moved from the U.S. to Mexico? (Gift Article) Iran says it is negotiating to move its World Cup games to Mexico. FIFA says the schedule will not change. So what's going on?

Iran says it is negotiating to move its World Cup games to Mexico.

FIFA says the schedule will not change.

So what's going on?

Our reporters explain what's happened, explore how feasible it would be to switch venues and what happens if they can't.

Story updated with Marcel Ruiz out of the World Cup with a torn ACL

As Mexico’s World Cup injury woes worsen, door could re-open for GK Ochoa Manager Javier Aguirre has an injury problem on his hands, leaving Mexico in peril – and a 40-year-old legend on the cusp of history

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre has an injury problem on his hands, leaving the World Cup co-hosts in peril – and 40-year-old legend Memo Ochoa on the cusp of history

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Brazil reveals 2026 World Cup away kit with Jordan Brand collaboration Brazil is aligning with the Jordan Brand for one of its World Cup jersey offerings this summer

Brazil reveals 2026 World Cup away kit with Jordan Brand collaboration www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Trump says Iran would risk ‘life and safety’ by participating in World Cup In a statement on Thursday morning, Trump appeared to U-turn on what he told FIFA president Gianni Infantino less than 48 hours ago.

Latest on Iran at WC: Trump on Truth Social - Iran would risk ‘life and safety’ by participating & it wouldn't be 'appropriate'

Embarrassing for FIFA's Infantino - 48hrs ago on Insta he said that Trump told him country would be welcome

Story @adamcrafton.bsky.social
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One of Tata Martino's responses re: the health of the ATLUTD program got a bit lost in translation. When a reporter asked about his long-term plan, Martino pushed back.
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