Steven Goff

IRVINE, Calif. — In January 2024, at the end of a low-key winter camp heavy with Major League Soccer players, the U.S. national team played a friendly against Slovenia at a small stadium in unseasonably cold San Antonio.

While the U.S. senior coaching job remains unclear in the wake of the World Cup campaign, the 2028 Olympic squad has a new leader: Steve Cherundolo.

Both teams will use the friendlies to continue preparations for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

France, Spain, Argentina and England are the last teams standing — and with little separating the four former champions, “it's all very tight.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — With all due respect to England's Three Lions and Argentina's La Albiceleste , to Harry Kane and Lionel Messi preparing for their

Spain’s coach called his side “unbeatable” when it plays as one unit. Against France, it was hard to argue.

NEW YORK — Two days from the World Cup final — and two days from his almost certain farewell from soccer's quadrennial spectacle — Lionel Messi

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It's hard to fathom Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium eclipsing the prior five weeks of soccer theater performed across North America.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The images were striking: Lionel Messi, tears streaking down his cheeks after surely the last of his six World

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When you're inside the World Cup bubble, covering one particular team, monitoring hamstring strains and learning “Country Roads” lyrics , you miss out on what is happening over the tournament at large.