soccer

Soccer ball

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men

They "found that women tended to have damage to a greater part of their brain and to more discrete areas of the brain than the men who headed the ball the same amount."

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men
Italy players look dejected after their game with Sweden in a qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Italy's soccer apocalypse is served

Italy's soccer apocalypse is served
Jamal is a Syrian refugee living in Tokyo. He's made friends there and learned Japanese. But he misses Syrian food.

Meet one of the handful of Syrians granted asylum in Japan

Meet one of the handful of Syrians granted asylum in Japan
Players waiting for a decision after the referee asked for a video review of Australia's second goal against Germany during a Confederation Cup match in Sochi, Russia

Soccer flirts with making ‘let’s go to the videotape’ official

Soccer flirts with making ‘let’s go to the videotape’ official
Barcelona's Neymar looking dejected after a game at Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain, on April 19.

Now Barcelona's Neymar has to stand trial for fraud

Now Barcelona's Neymar has to stand trial for fraud
Bombus affinis, the rusty patched bumblebee.

How do tiny little bee brains do so much?

Bee neurons are extraordinarily networked. Researchers are hoping these efficient little minds can help us understand multitasking.

How do tiny little bee brains do so much?
Autonama

Germany has a soccer team made up entirely of writers

The Autorennationalmannschaft, or "Autonama," competes against literary teams from across the world.

Germany has a soccer team made up entirely of writers
fan during a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Atlante and Auckland City

How a bigger FIFA World Cup could lead to March Madness-style drama

The world governing body for soccer has decided to expand the format of its men's World Cup from 32 teams to 48, effective 2026. So, get ready for a big debate over this for the next nine years.

How a bigger FIFA World Cup could lead to March Madness-style drama
Bob Bradley during his first game as a Premier League manager, Arsenal v Swansea City, Emirates Stadium in London. October 15, 2016.

This American soccer coach was criticized for being too American

In October, Bob Bradley became the first American to coach in the English Premier League. In December he was fired. In between, he was criticized for speaking like an American.

This American soccer coach was criticized for being too American
Former Brazilian soccer captain Carlos Alberto Torres holds the FIFA World Cup trophy in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21, 2010.

Brazil says goodbye to its 'eternal captain'

Carlos Alberto was the captain of Brazil's World Cup-winning team in 1970, one of the best soccer squads ever. He was also a humble defender who led a bunch of attacking superstars like Pelé to glory in Mexico City.

Brazil says goodbye to its 'eternal captain'
Soccer player bites his with a trophy on the field

Euro 2016: Meet the player who scored 'the most important goal in the history of Portuguese football'

Portuguese fans are happy that a kid from Guinea Bissau chose to come to their country as an immigrant. And Éder is happy for what Portugal gave him: a chance to score a miraculous goal.

Euro 2016: Meet the player who scored 'the most important goal in the history of Portuguese football'
Iceland's Kari Arnason celebrates after the victorious match.

Iceland smites soccer giants with Thor-powered tweets

Iceland is a tiny island nation. But when it comes to social media, it wields the hammer of Gods.

Iceland smites soccer giants with Thor-powered tweets
FIFA's newly elected president Gianni Infantino poses with the Qatar Workers Cup trophy in Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2016.

Would FIFA really pull soccer’s World Cup from Qatar if human rights abuses there continue?

Soccer's governing body FIFA asked Harvard professor John Ruggie for guidelines on how to handle human rights issues. The big question now is whether FIFA follows his recommendations.

Would FIFA really pull soccer’s World Cup from Qatar if human rights abuses there continue?
FIFA's suspended president Sepp Blatter holds a news conference in Zurich, Switzerland, December 21, 2015.

FIFA corruption finally catches up to Sepp Blatter

Graft is the norm in FIFA. And it just took down its president.

FIFA corruption finally catches up to Sepp Blatter
Executive Committee member Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (R) congratulates FIFA President Sepp Blatter after he was re-elected at the FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, May 29, 2015.

The men who want to clean up world soccer all have mud on their shoes

FIFA has cleared five men as candidates to lead the organization. The world soccer body says all five passed a thorough 'integrity check.' But all of them are also tainted by their past associations with an organization saddled by years of corruption allegations.

The men who want to clean up world soccer all have mud on their shoes