Spain and the Netherlands took the field. From American sports bars to remote outposts in Africa, much of the world tuned in, excited to see a World Cup final featuring two traditional powers that had never won the Cup. The Netherlands had rallied past Brazil and advanced past Uruguay 3-2,...

When we last left David Beckham, he was training with Tottenham Hotspur in England. Trying to keep fit and so forth.

Beckham missed part of the Los Angeles Galaxy's preseason but managed, unusually, to be on the field for the team's opening games. Perhaps his time in America...

Criticizing David Beckham is a matter fraught with peril. Even when Beckham and his camp aren't seeing reality.

The risk isn't just that he, like any celebrity, has a devoted fan base that will scream until they're blue in the face at any suggestion that he's making a misstep. The...

How petty is the International Olympic Committee?

That will be the key question Oct. 24-26 in Acapulco when the IOC once again takes up the issue of whether to approve women's ski jumping for the Winter Olympic program.

Women's jumping didn't make it onto the program in 2010 despite a...

In its second year of play, in the midst of economic turmoil and declining mainstream media, Women's Professional Soccer only makes the news when something happens off the field.

So in that sense, Tonya Antonucci and Hope Solo are taking one for the team. They're making news.

Solo did...

The tired line that Americans can't get into soccer because of the low scoring is refuted with two simple words: Indoor soccer.

The game has everything American fans and advertisers supposedly love -- lots of goals, no ties, physical play, loud PA systems, commercial breaks, etc. But while the World...

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing," said legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Well, maybe he said it. Like a lot of American sports folklore, this quote is shrouded in myth, and Lombardi and his family have argued that he was misquoted or misinterpreted.

LeBron James'...

The numbers are in on the World Cup, and it appears 400 billion Americans are watching on ESPN, another 800 trillion are watching on Univision, and another 120 gazillion are watching online. (Edited to make it clear that this is a comic exaggeration. More realistic numbers here.)

Two profound losses. Two different paths to move forward.

On Saturday, the U.S. men found their progress in the World Cup thwarted once again by Ghana. The USA has climbed slowly to soccer respectability, and while this game could've gone either way, no one can doubt the country's soccer program...

Given the muddled perception of the USA in international soccer, it's dangerous for those of us who live here to suggest changes to the game. So for purposes of this discussion, I'm English (mother's side), Irish (paternal grandmother), Scottish (great-aunts) and, sadly, French (hence the name).

But whatever your nationality,...

On June 12, Americans -- more of them than the rest of the world may realize -- will gather in the hopes that their national team will beat England.

On the other 364 days of the year, many American fans wish instead that their country could be England.

U.S. fans...

College soccer is to American soccer what newspapers are to today's media. Fewer people are paying attention to it, top talent is being drained, and critics are lined up to shovel on the dirt.

Half of the 30 players in camp vying for 23 slots on the USA's World Cup...

Nine years ago, with the glow of the 1999 World Cup still shining on women's soccer, 36,528 fans attended an RFK Stadium doubleheader -- the WUSA's Washington Freedom against the Boston Breakers, then MLS's D.C. United against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Much of the crowd didn't stick around...