soccer

Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

World Cup Viewer’s Guide: Davies to play in Canada’s return

Canada opens Wednesday as a heavy underdog against Belgium

Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
FILE - England’s Harry Kane wears a rainbow armband as he takes the knee prior to the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in England. The captains of seven European nations will not wear anti-discrimination armbands in World Cup games after threats from FIFA to show yellow cards to the players. The seven soccer federations say “we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions.” (Justin Tallis, Pool Photo via AP)

World Cup teams won’t wear armbands seen as rebuke to Qatar

FIFA warned violators would be immediately shown yellow cards for human rights protest

FILE - England’s Harry Kane wears a rainbow armband as he takes the knee prior to the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in England. The captains of seven European nations will not wear anti-discrimination armbands in World Cup games after threats from FIFA to show yellow cards to the players. The seven soccer federations say “we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions.” (Justin Tallis, Pool Photo via AP)
The mascot of the Qatar World Cup is displayed during the opening ceremony, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Hassan Ammar

Amnesty calls on Canada Soccer to support compensation for migrant workers in Qatar

International organization says workers from Asia, Africa being underpaid, exploited

The mascot of the Qatar World Cup is displayed during the opening ceremony, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Hassan Ammar
Canada midfielder Jonathan Osorio stretches during practice at the World Cup in Doha, Qatar during on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada players say team belief is strong ahead of World Cup opener against Belgium

Team hopes to suprise viewers who see Canadians as underdogs, says midfielder Jonathan Osorio

Canada midfielder Jonathan Osorio stretches during practice at the World Cup in Doha, Qatar during on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

FIFA revenue hits $7.5B for current World Cup period

Commercial deals tied to 2022 World Cup in Qatar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
FILE - Bottles of Budweiser beer are on display in a shop window in London on Oct. 13, 2015. World Cup organizers reportedly have made another late change in alcohol policy only two days before games start in Qatar by banning beer sales at the eight soccer stadiums in and around Doha. Media reports say Qatari authorities are pressing FIFA to ban all sales of long-time World Cup beer sponsor Budweiser at the eight venues. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Qatar bans sale of beer at World Cup stadiums in about-face

Major sponsor Budweiser’s Twitter account tweeted: “Well, this is awkward…”

FILE - Bottles of Budweiser beer are on display in a shop window in London on Oct. 13, 2015. World Cup organizers reportedly have made another late change in alcohol policy only two days before games start in Qatar by banning beer sales at the eight soccer stadiums in and around Doha. Media reports say Qatari authorities are pressing FIFA to ban all sales of long-time World Cup beer sponsor Budweiser at the eight venues. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Qatar’s Alrawi, left, tries tp stop Canada’s Liam Millar during the international friendly soccer match between Qatar and Canada, at the Viola Park stadium in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)

Next-level opposition awaits Canada’s World Cup team in Qatar

No. 3 Belgium, No. 12 Croatia and No. 22 Morocco await the 41st-ranked Canadians in Group F

Qatar’s Alrawi, left, tries tp stop Canada’s Liam Millar during the international friendly soccer match between Qatar and Canada, at the Viola Park stadium in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter)
Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Davies has come a long way in a short time. Now the 22-year-old from Edmonton is set to shine on the world stage. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

After eventful year, Canada’s Alphonso Davies set to shine on soccer’s biggest stage

The face of Canada’s national soccer program ready to step into the spotlight in Qatar

Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Davies has come a long way in a short time. Now the 22-year-old from Edmonton is set to shine on the world stage. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Eden Hazard, left, and Tessa Wullaert, captains of the Belgian men’s and women’s national soccer teams, hold a globe during a farewell ceremony for the Red Devils, the men’s soccer team, at the airport in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. The Belgian team leaves for Kuwait where it will play a friendly match on Friday against Egypt and then fly onto Qatar to participate in the World Cup. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

Gambling group estimates US will bet $1.8B on World Cup

Survey: Less than 3 in 10 Americans who plan to watch the tournament say they will bet on it

Eden Hazard, left, and Tessa Wullaert, captains of the Belgian men’s and women’s national soccer teams, hold a globe during a farewell ceremony for the Red Devils, the men’s soccer team, at the airport in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. The Belgian team leaves for Kuwait where it will play a friendly match on Friday against Egypt and then fly onto Qatar to participate in the World Cup. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)
Canada celebrates a goal by Christine Sinclair during second half soccer action against Nigeria during the national team celebration tour in Langford, B.C., on April 11, 2022. Canadians face Brazil Nov. 11 for an international friendly series. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Canadian women look to extend 4-game win streak in 2-match series in Brazil

Women face Brazil on Friday

Canada celebrates a goal by Christine Sinclair during second half soccer action against Nigeria during the national team celebration tour in Langford, B.C., on April 11, 2022. Canadians face Brazil Nov. 11 for an international friendly series. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis predicts the ongoing labour talks with the Canadian men’s and women’s teams will produce “an epic historical deal for pay equity.”THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada Soccer president predicts labour talks will produce ‘epic, historical’ deal

President said he’ll guarantee women’s team pay equity

Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis predicts the ongoing labour talks with the Canadian men’s and women’s teams will produce “an epic historical deal for pay equity.”THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Canada’s Christine Sinclair reacts during a CONCACAF Women’s Championship soccer semifinal match against Jamaica in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday, July 14, 2022. Sinclair has played for the Portland Thorns since 2013, at the start of the National Women’s Soccer League. Now the Thorns are preparing for Saturday’s NWSL championship game in Washington D.C. against the Kansas City Current, in a match broadcast in primetime on CBS.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Canada captain Christine Sinclair challenges Canada Soccer to step up in new memoir

‘My fear is that we will soon be surpassed by countries that support their youth programs’

FILE - Canada’s Christine Sinclair reacts during a CONCACAF Women’s Championship soccer semifinal match against Jamaica in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday, July 14, 2022. Sinclair has played for the Portland Thorns since 2013, at the start of the National Women’s Soccer League. Now the Thorns are preparing for Saturday’s NWSL championship game in Washington D.C. against the Kansas City Current, in a match broadcast in primetime on CBS.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)
The Vancouver FC logo is shown in this undated handout photo. The Canadian Premier League revealed its newest franchise on Wednesday night, Vancouver FC. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Vancouver Football Club *MANDATORY CREDIT*

CPL unveils newest franchise Vancouver FC, names first head coach

Vancouver is set to take to the pitch for the upcoming 2023 season

The Vancouver FC logo is shown in this undated handout photo. The Canadian Premier League revealed its newest franchise on Wednesday night, Vancouver FC. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Vancouver Football Club *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada U-20 women’s soccer coach Bob Birarda arrives at provincial court for a sentencing hearing, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. Birarda, 55, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching for offences involving four different people between 1988 and 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

2-year sentence for former B.C. soccer coach Bob Birarda on sex charges

16 months to be spent in jail, 8 months in community

Former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada U-20 women’s soccer coach Bob Birarda arrives at provincial court for a sentencing hearing, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. Birarda, 55, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching for offences involving four different people between 1988 and 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Canada’s Scott Kennedy, left, and El Salvador’s Nelson Bonilla compete for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Canadian defender Scott Kennedy will miss the World Cup after injuring a shoulder. The 25-year-old, who has eight international appearances, was hurt Saturday, Oct. 29 while playing for Regensburg against Rostock in the German second tier. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Canadian defender Kennedy to miss World Cup

Training camp opening Sunday ahead of a Nov. 11 exhibition against Bahrain

FILE - Canada’s Scott Kennedy, left, and El Salvador’s Nelson Bonilla compete for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Canadian defender Scott Kennedy will miss the World Cup after injuring a shoulder. The 25-year-old, who has eight international appearances, was hurt Saturday, Oct. 29 while playing for Regensburg against Rostock in the German second tier. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
FILE- Young boys play soccer on a dusty field in Duduza, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, June 23, 2021. Soccer has embarked on probably its most ambitious global youth development program, an ultimate goal of delivering millions of soccer balls and a coaching program to 700 million children aged between 4 and 14 across the world. The Football For Schools project was launched in 2019 but came to a grinding halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now been relaunched. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)

Soccer’s ‘most important project’ begins, and it’s not the World Cup

Project aims to get soccer balls to 700 million children in poor and remote corners of the world

FILE- Young boys play soccer on a dusty field in Duduza, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, June 23, 2021. Soccer has embarked on probably its most ambitious global youth development program, an ultimate goal of delivering millions of soccer balls and a coaching program to 700 million children aged between 4 and 14 across the world. The Football For Schools project was launched in 2019 but came to a grinding halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now been relaunched. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Croatia and Denmark at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sept. 22, 2022. Denmark will wear team jerseys at the World Cup that protest the human rights record of host nation Qatar, with a black option to honor migrant workers who died during construction work for the tournament. “The color of mourning,” kit manufacturer Hummel said when releasing the black third-choice design. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

World Cup jerseys get mixed reviews ahead of Qatar

Millions at stake in retail sales, as soccer fans play rate the shirt

Denmark’s Christian Eriksen in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Croatia and Denmark at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sept. 22, 2022. Denmark will wear team jerseys at the World Cup that protest the human rights record of host nation Qatar, with a black option to honor migrant workers who died during construction work for the tournament. “The color of mourning,” kit manufacturer Hummel said when releasing the black third-choice design. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
FILE - Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty-kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match Thursday, June 9. 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Canada prepares for its 1st World Cup in 36 years

In 2021, the team went from No. 72 in the world rankings to No. 40

FILE - Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty-kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match Thursday, June 9. 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani leave the stage before the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, Friday, April 1, 2022. The first World Cup in the Middle East is only one month away. Qatar has been on an often bumpy 12-year journey that has transformed the nation. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Qatar’s 12-year journey as World Cup host has 1 month to go

All 64 games over the course of 29 days involving 32 teams will be held in the Doha area

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani leave the stage before the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, Friday, April 1, 2022. The first World Cup in the Middle East is only one month away. Qatar has been on an often bumpy 12-year journey that has transformed the nation. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Bayern's Leroy Sane, left, and teammate Alphonso Davies celebrate after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Oct. 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matthias Schrader

Canadian star Alphonso Davies returns to action with Bayern Munich after head injury

Davies took a boot to the head last weekend

Bayern's Leroy Sane, left, and teammate Alphonso Davies celebrate after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Oct. 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matthias Schrader