Soccer

Meet three women who have transformed the WSL into an international juggernaut

The Barclays WSL launched in 2011 with eight founding clubs and checks in with a whopping 14 teams for the 2026–27 season. The league has emerged as a worldwide leader in the development and expansion of women’s soccer — so today, we’re highlighting three women who helped turn it into a global powerhouse.

August 08, 2026

NWSL terminates contract with streaming platform Victory+, effective immediately

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The NWSL hasn’t yet confirmed or denied if it’ll be starting the 2027 season a full month earlier due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), but it did surprisingly reveal the immediate termination of its media rights agreement with streaming partner Victory+ last Thursday.

August 04, 2026

FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandons plan to sell World Cup equity after backlash

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino is in the “find out” phase after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity firms united the soccer world against him in record time. The proposal was officially abandoned on Friday but the backlash (and gaslighting) are just getting started.

August 04, 2026

Lack of planning impacts mysteriously postponed 2026 WAFCON

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July 30, 2026

NWSL mid-week preview, Esther González leaves Gotham FC for personal reasons

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Still missing the FIFA men’s World Cup? We have the perfect mid-week pick-me-up: The second half of the NWSL season is almost here and while teams like the Washington Spirit and Utah Royals are rising to the top, there’s still plenty of footy to play before the eight-team playoff field is finalized this fall. Here’s the latest moves and matches from the pitch.

July 29, 2026

Spain defeat Argentina 1–0 in extra time to win 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup

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Just over five weeks and 104 games later, Spain are your 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) champions, winning the biggest-ever edition by defeating defending champion Argentina 1–0 in extra time yesterday. Here’s how it went down — vamos.

July 20, 2026

An ode to the GOAT: Lionel Messi’s World Cups by the numbers

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Argentinian captain Lionel Messi likely played his final WC game yesterday, and while the greatest men’s soccer player of all time hasn’t officially retired from the international scene yet, we’re commemorating the 39-year-old’s incredible career with a look at his WC appearances, by the numbers.

July 20, 2026

Reigning European and South American champs face off in World Cup Final

Sports News

Reigning European and South American champs face off in World Cup Final

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July 19, 2026

There’s just one match remaining in the biggest FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) in history, and boy is it a doozy. For the first time ever, the reigning champions of Europe and South America will meet in the WC Final, with Spain taking on defending WC champs Argentina today at 3 p.m. ET.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #579

The week FIFA lost the plot

August 06, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

There’s been some major drama going down at FIFA headquarters. Last week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced a plan to sell stakes in future World Cups to private equity firms — an announcement that was met with immediate backlash. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Alessandra Puccio explain why Infantino’s failed plan caused such a stir and detail the potential fallout from his latest bungle.