FIFA World Cup

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Thousands of exuberant Mexican soccer fans took to the streets Sunday to cheer their national team's long-shot win against Germany in Mexico's first match of the 2018 World Cup soccer tournament.

The FIFA World Cup is officially coming to North America in 2026. Houston is one of 23 cities bidding to host some World Cup games. Only 16 cities from across Canada, Mexico and the US will be chosen for the 48-team tournament.

Qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup are some of the most exciting as teams compete for a chance to represent their country in a prestigious global event.

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the globe, attracting billions of viewers every four years as nations contend for the coveted golden trophy. While the World Cup is a stage where soccer icons forge their legacy and attempt the etch their names into history, it’s also a big deal for the countries they represent.

Eden Hazard ensured Chelsea's lackluster season ended on a high note by securing the FA Cup in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final on Saturday.

English soccer star Wayne Rooney will cross the pond to join DC United, according to reports.

Animal rights groups have condemned the use of a bear that performed before a Russian soccer match.

FIFA has urged Russia to speed up World Cup preparations at a stadium which needs "a huge amount of work" to be ready on time. With less than three months to go until the World Cup, the 45,000-seat Samara Arena is the only one of 12 stadiums which doesn't yet have a pitch installed.

With less than three months to go until the World Cup in Russia, the host nation's players are dropping like flies. A spate of knee injuries this year has left the Russians hurrying to find cover at the back and trying to replace a key attacking threat.

Eighty-seven days before taking on Germany in its first match of Russia 2018, Mexico appears to have only two major lingering questions for the final 23-man roster that will try to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in a tournament away from home. Is veteran defender Rafael Marquez going to be called? And if Giovani Dos Santos' lackluster performances put his spot in jeopardy?

Twenty-eight years after one of the United States' most important victories came in stunning fashion at Trinidad to end a four-decade World Cup absence, the Americans' chances for the 2018 tournament in Russia ended on this island nation off the coast of Venezuela.  

It’s not unusual for athletes to buy tickets for family, friends or even a few fans. But what soccer star Sami Khedira did during Germany’s World Cup Qualifier against Norway wasn’t just a matter of picking some tickets up from will call -- it was a goodwill call.  

CONCACAF member nations the United States, Canada and Mexico declared their intention to submit formally a unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Houston is part of 23 cities chosen to be included in the North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

NEW YORK (AP) - Bruce Arena quickly resigned as U.S. coach after the Americans' failure to qualify for the World Cup. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati is staying around, at least for now. Arena quit Friday, three days after the ruinous 2-1 loss at 99th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago that ended the Americans' streak of seven straight World Cup appearances.