Michael Carrick is expected to sign a two-year deal, with an option of one additional year, to become the permanent manager at Manchester United. Carrick, 44, absolutely impressed the club's hierarchy (and the players) during his stint as interim boss this season. It has been widely reported that this deal will get done, but we're still awaiting the official confirmation, which … [Read more...] about Man United Team News at Brighton: Michael Carrick, Ben Sesko, Matthijs de Ligt
Football/Soccer
Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Says He’s Not ‘king’ of Europa League
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery rejects the idea that he's "king" of the UEFA Europa League competition. However, no manager has won the competition more times than he has (4). He's won the UEL three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. If leads Villa to a triumph over German side SC Freiburg in Istanbul tomorrow, he'll then have final UEL triumphs. The only other … [Read more...] about Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Says He’s Not ‘king’ of Europa League
Arsenal Visit Crystal Palace on Sunday with Premier League Title Already Secured
The 22 year wait is over for Arsenal and their supporter base. After three straight second place finishes, Arsenal are Premier League champions. AFC Bournemouth held Manchester City to a draw, on Tuesday night, and that result eliminated the Cityzens from the league title race. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, at least for today is as big an AFC Bournemouth supporter as you … [Read more...] about Arsenal Visit Crystal Palace on Sunday with Premier League Title Already Secured
What Previous World Cups Have Taught Us About Underdogs
The FIFA World Cup often follows the script for the first week or so. The big powers dominate headlines, attract most betting attention, and carry the highest expectations. Then an underdog changes the mood of the tournament. A smaller nation knocks out a favorite, reaches an unexpected stage, or forces elite teams into difficult matches. These runs are part of what keeps the … [Read more...] about What Previous World Cups Have Taught Us About Underdogs
The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the global expansion of legal soccer betting
The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives with the biggest structure in tournament history, so you can expect the competition to feel larger and more commercially connected than any previous edition. FIFA expanded the event to 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, which gives broadcasters, sponsors, sportsbooks and streaming platforms far more opportunities to reach … [Read more...] about The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the global expansion of legal soccer betting
Pep Guardiola Leaving Manchester City, Enzo Maresca Lined Up as Replacement
A big news bombshell was dropped on Monday night- Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City, at the end of the season. His final game will be on Championship Sunday, at home to Aston Villa. He'll lead Man City into AFC Bournemouth tomorrow night, and he'll do so likely needing to win that match in order to keep his side alive in the Premier League title race. It is still … [Read more...] about Pep Guardiola Leaving Manchester City, Enzo Maresca Lined Up as Replacement
Michael Carrick Says Luke Shaw Deserves Another England Call-Up
Last July, during the Premier League Summer Series, a collection of friendlies leading into the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Manchester United left back Luke Shaw opened up. Ahead of the exhbition match against AFC Bournemouth in Chicago, Shaw met the media on a 100 degrees Fahrenheit day and discussed a wide range of topics, including his notorious injury history and his … [Read more...] about Michael Carrick Says Luke Shaw Deserves Another England Call-Up
Aston Villa Team News vs Freiburg: Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelof, Amadou Onana, Allyson
The first of the three European finals kicks off on Wednesday night, when Aston Villa takes on SC Freiburg for the UEFA Europa League crown. This year's host city is Istanbul, and when Villa take to the pitch in the Turkish capital, they could be without the services of up to five players. It's the same quintet who missed out on the 4-2 route of Liverpool on Friday night. … [Read more...] about Aston Villa Team News vs Freiburg: Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelof, Amadou Onana, Allyson
FIFA Making 2026 World Cup the Most Exclusionary of All-Time
If there is one word to describe this upcoming 2026 World Cup, it's "exclusionary." If you wanted the right to buy tickets to the matches, you had to first win a lottery. As with all lotteries (an exercise that Voltaire called "a tax on stupidity"), a very VERY low percentage of entrants actually won. Which means you must turn to the secondary market, where ticket prices are so … [Read more...] about FIFA Making 2026 World Cup the Most Exclusionary of All-Time
USMNT Has Two More Chances to Inspire Excitement for Home World Cup
The run-up to every World Cup inevitably leads to a series of news stories that expose the worst inherent elements of the host nation. These "off-the-pitch concerns/problems/issues" are consistently in the public consciousness in the weeks leading up to the quadrennial soccer/footbal/futbol tournament. In the case of the United States of America and 2026, the sociopolitical … [Read more...] about USMNT Has Two More Chances to Inspire Excitement for Home World Cup