The Latest: Blatter says Paris meeting swayed vote for Qatar

PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the French investigation involving Michel Platini (all times local): 6:10 p.m. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he insisted for years that a meeting in Paris involving then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Michel Platini and Qatar's future Emir swayed the 2022 World Cup...

Former France soccer great arrested in 2022 World Cup probe

PARIS (AP) — Former UEFA president Michel Platini denied wrongdoing during police questioning Tuesday following his arrest as part of a corruption probe into the vote that gave the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Platini, a former France national team great who became one of soccer's most powerful administrators...

Justice official with knowledge of case tells AP former UEFA president Michel Platini has been arrested

For US men, Gold Cup finally brings chance for revival

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The overarching goal for the fledgling U.S. men's soccer team, as frequently stated by new coach Gregg Berhalter, has been to improve the perception of this sputtering program within the cutthroat hierarchy of global soccer. Though a strong performance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup probably...

Sunday's US win most-watched Women's World Cup group match

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Americans' 3-0 win over Chile set a record for the most-watched group-stage Women's World Cup match on U.S. English-language television. Fox drew 5,324,000 viewers for Sunday's game, topping 4,492,000 for the Americans' 0-0 group-stage draw against Sweden in 2015. The game was the...

Brazil not eager to advance by settling for a draw

PARIS (AP) — A draw is all it would take for Brazil to advance in the Women's World Cup. Brazilian star Marta has zero desire to play 90 minutes aiming only to tie Italy in the Group C match Tuesday at Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes. "To play for a draw? I don't like to enter a match thinking about...

Germany beats South Africa 4-0 to win World Cup group

MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — Germany is playing like a title contender, just at the right time. After seeing her team start the Women's World Cup with a pair of one-goal wins, Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg told her players to keep the game simple. Germany played to its status as the world's...

Chelsea mired in uncertainty as challenges grow

If there's any English club that thrives in chaos and adversity, it's Chelsea. And there's plenty of that at Stamford Bridge this offseason. Days after selling Eden Hazard — the club's best player and one of the greatest to pull on the blue shirt — Chelsea allowed manager Maurizio Sarri to leave...

France looking to close out World Cup group play undefeated

PARIS (AP) — France hit its first goal by advancing to the round of 16 at the Women's World Cup. Now the host nation wants to make a statement by rolling through group play undefeated. France closes its Group A play Monday against Nigeria in Rennes, and Corinne Diacre expects her squad to have a 3-0 record...

Julie Ertz scores 1st World Cup goal with husband looking on

PARIS (AP) — Julie Ertz scored her first Women's World Cup goal in the United States' 3-0 victory over Chile, and she was cheered on by her husband, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. Zach wrapped up Eagles' minicamp this week and got to Paris in plenty of time for Sunday's match at Parc des Princes....