Soccer

VANCOUVER — A vice president of soccer's global governing body says moving the Vancouver Whitecaps would be "a crime" and negatively impact the city's reputation after it hosts games at next year's World Cup.

The one-year countdown to the 2026 World Cup starts Wednesday, with clocks to be unveiled to mark the occasion in Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. Toronto and Vancouver are World Cup host cities.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday established a committee tasked with recommending how the college game can be better integrated with the sport.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen had surgery on his right knee on Tuesday and the team said he is expected to be sidelined for four-to-six weeks. Steffen was injured during training with the U.S.

MADRID (AP) — Dean Huijsen thanked former coach Jose Mourinho and talked about his "idol" Sergio Ramos as the center back was introduced by Real Madrid in what he called “the best day" of his life on Tuesday.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican national soccer team will change hotels in Los Angeles ahead of their Gold Cup match on Saturday because of safety concerns amid the protests against immigration raids in the city, a team spokesman said Tuesday.

Manchester City kickstarted the post-Kevin De Bruyne era by signing maverick France playmaker Rayan Cherki from Lyon for 36 million euros ($41 million) on Tuesday, in time to play in the Club World Cup.

MADRID (AP) — Spain's squad for the Women's European Championship does not include Jenni Hermoso, the player who was kissed without her consent by the former president of the Spanish soccer federation in the awards ceremony of the 2023 World Cup.

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — The Bellingham name is back at Borussia Dortmund.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged people not to ignore the suffering in Gaza amid Israel’s military campaign and longstanding blockade of the territory. “It’s so painful, what we see in Gaza.