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HARARE - Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) has started recruiting youths for training in sophisticated murder and torture techniques for a massive campaign of violence against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) soon after the World Cup, a report said. Investigations by The Zimbabwean have revealed that the vicious campaign of terror is expected to roll into motion in July, soon after the soccer World Cup ends in South Africa and the media spotlight shifts elsewhere. High-level sources within both Zanu (PF) and MDC-T as well as the security services said the purpose of this horrific plan, if it succeeds, was...

What a score! Mayor Adams teamed up with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy early Monday to tout the huge economic boost expected from netting the next soccer World Cup Final for MetLife Stadium. “This is a big win for all New Yorkers,” Adams told Fox 5 New York Monday morning of the giant win. While the stadium is just across the Hudson in the Garden State, the 2026 tournament is projected to generate over $2 billion for the region. It is also expected to create at least 14,000 jobs as about a million people are expected to hit the region...

Spain recently won the Women’s World Cup (soccer). It was such a joyful event that during the medal ceremony Luis Rubiales, Spain’s soccer federation president, planted a celebratory kiss on the sweaty lips of player Jenni Hermoso. As a result, feckless FIFA (essentially soccer’s ill-reputed international governing body) have suspended him for 90 days.Unsurprisingly, that’s not enough for the fervid feminists, who want him dismissed for his “sexual aggression.” Rubiales mother is clearly subjective on the matter; nevertheless, she may be right about the criticism of her son being a “bloodthirsty witch hunt.” Luis himself remains defiant, referring to the...

Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales has admitted he “made a mistake” by giving Spain star Jennifer Hermoso a surprise kiss on the lips after the 33-year-old received her gold medal following the team’s Women’s World Cup final victory over England on Sunday. Rubiales has faced widespread criticism for the incident, with politicians and journalists labeling his behavior “unacceptable” and “simply disgusting.”

It was not the ending Megan Rapinoe had planned. She went so far as to call it "dark comedy" and a "sick joke", such was her dismay. After 17 years of putting herself on the line for the Stars and Stripes, the two-time Women's World Cup winner was in tears as she departed the global stage for the final time. On Rapinoe's 202nd appearance for the USA, the defending world champions dramatically lost 5-4 on penalties to Sweden after a last-16 goalless draw in Melbourne. Rapinoe, 38, ranks among the most successful players of her generation and announced before the...

The United States has crashed out of the Women's World Cup after losing a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden. The Americans created most of the chances during the match – but were foiled at key moments by Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, who made crucial stops against Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan. The Swedes will play Japan in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Friday.

The US Women's soccer team once again hit the headlines at the World Cup as they remained silent during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of their match against Portugal. The defending champions were accused of disrespect ahead of their 2023 World Cup opener against Vietnam when six of 11 US players stayed silent and did not put their hands over their hearts during the anthem.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson has helped create two milestones at the Women’s World Cup. With her 48th-minute goal in the tournament opener against Norway, she led the co-host Football Ferns to their first win in six trips to the Women’s World Cup. She’s also one of at least 95 out members of the LGBTQ+ community competing in this year’s tournament, according to a count being kept by Outsports, a website that covers the LGBTQ+ sports. The Ferns were greeted with a fan-made sign at their next match in Wellington: “Gay for soccer, gay for...

US women’s team refuse to sing national anthem before World Cup draw with Holland. Six players take part in silent protest labelled ‘disrespectful’ but Martina Navratilova tells critics to 'get a grip'. The US women’s football team have sparked a divisive row at the World Cup after six players elected not to sing the national anthem in a silent ‘protest’ that was labelled “embarrassing” and “disrespectful”. The defending world champions risked the ire of the American public for the second time in five days yesterday when more than half of the team stayed silent before their group game against Holland,...

Most members of the US women’s soccer team stayed silent during the national anthem before its World Cup opener Friday against newcomers Vietnam — who passionately belted their nation’s tune. The majority of the reigning women’s World Cup champion team stared stoically ahead as the “Star Spangled Banner” blasted across New Zealand’s Eden Park arena. Only five of the 11 players who stood on the field for the anthem — with young, aspiring players standing before them — placed their hands over their hearts, while their six teammates kept their digits clasped behind their backs ... Only three USWNT players...

A former World Cup star is believed to be trapped under the rubble of the deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria early Monday... Former Premier League member Christian Atsu, 31, is among the missing in Turkey, and has yet to be accounted for following the 7.8 magnitude tremor, News AU reported. ...Atsu plays soccer for the Turkish League team Hatayspor in the southern city of Antakya, which was decimated by the quake. Many of his teammates have been rescued, but Atsu is still missing... The Former Newcastle United winger had just scored a last-minute goal Sunday to lead Hatayspor...

Pelé, the Brazilian soccer icon who brought the World Cup trophy to his home country three times, becoming an international superstar and the highest-paid team athlete in the world at the time, has died. He was 82. Pelé's health had been deteriorating as he aged. Doctors at Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo said in late December that he was receiving "elevated care" related to "kidney and cardiac dysfunctions" stemming from the cancer he had been fighting for more than a year. He also had a respiratory infection, and his family said he would be staying in the hospital over...

Orchestrated hostility toward Israel: Morocco is not in Palestine You just have to like World Cup outsiders Morocco – don't you? Adding an anti-Semitic touch to the joy makes things difficult. Palestine plays along: Morocco's team after reaching the quarter-finals How could we not be happy that Morocco has one of the eight best football teams in the world ! Finally a team that doesn't come from Europe or South America! In addition - and now follows an interpretation that is surprisingly seldom read at present - a North African team that has gradually chased one colonial power after the...

Argentina's euphoric World Cup celebrations descended into chaos yesterday as violence broke out on the streets of Buenos Aires between fans and riot police after their star players were forced to evacuate to safety by helicopter. Officers armed with shields and batons were pelted with missiles at the Obelisco monument in the country's capital hours after fans tried to jump into the bus during the victory parade to meet Lionel Messi and his teammates. The World Cup heroes were met with a heaving crowd of an estimated five million fans who blocked their path to the Obelisco, then had to...

Argentina’s 2022 World Cup celebration almost took a catastrophic turn when a low-hanging power line nearly knocked Lionel Messi and four of his teammates off a moving open-top bus in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. In video footage from the team’s World Cup victory parade, Messi, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Otamendi can be seen sitting on the roof of a bus when De Paul noticed the cable and told his teammates to duck. All five players made it under the power line with seconds to spare as the bus carrying the team continued on the...

Elon Musk has been snapped pulling up to the Lusail City Stadium in Qatar to witness the hotly-antipated World Cup final between defending champions France and Argentina. The Twitter CEO, who attended the final alongside former US presidential advisor and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, posted a video from the stands moments before kick-off showing the impressive pyrotechnic display that followed the closing ceremony. Twitter users poked at Musk for revealing his whereabouts just days after he temporarily suspended the accounts of several journalists for 'doxxing' him. The Twitter owner on Thursday banned journalists from CNN, Washington Post, New York...

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in soccer as Argentina beat France 4-2 in a penalty shootout Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick as Argentina won after a 3-3 draw.

The excitement in France running high and media attention focused on the World Cup of football (soccer). Sunday's championship match in Qatar between France and Argentina follows last Wednesday's semifinal match between France and Morocco that brought French President Emmanuel Macron to the stadium in Qatar. Controversy over Macron going to Qatar as the "scandal" broke late in the week regarding the EU and alleged bribery of EU officials to paint a positive picture of the Persian Gulf oil kingdom. There were disturbances in France after the "Blues" defeated Morocco... Today protesters on the streets of Paris...

France have been hit with a virus that could see the team's starting centre-back pairing miss the World Cup final, sources have told ESPN. According to sources, Raphael Varane has small symptoms of the virus and fellow defender Ibrahima Konate has not left his room after feeling unwell. France coach Didier Deschamps said they were taking precautions to stop a virus spreading through the squad after Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot missed the semifinal win over Morocco due to sickness. "In Doha, temperatures have fallen a little bit, you have air conditioning which is on all the time," Deschamps said...

PARIS — According to reports, watching soccer is finally interesting as France descends into fiery chaos after a Morocco semi-final loss. "Wow, now THIS is entertaining," said one viewer while watching a Morocco supporter beating up a French guy with a stale baguette while several others lit the Louvre on fire. "Look at all the fighting and explosions! Why can't soccer always be like this?" Early reports indicate World Cup viewership is now at an all-time high as people around the world tune in to see massive, fiery street brawls. "Who knew watching soccer could be such an engaging experience?"...