DOHA, Jan 24, 2024 (AFP) – Japan’s football association on Wednesday condemned the “shameful behaviour” of fans who racially abused Zion Suzuki online following the goalkeeper’s performances at the Asian Cup. Pre-tournament favourites Japan were beaten 2-1 by Iraq in the group phase on Friday in Doha with Suzuki responsible for one of the goals. The US-born 21-year-old, whose father is Ghanaian-American and whose mother is Japanese, said he was subsequently racially abused on social […]
Tag: 2023
Canada thrash France as Basketball World Cup tips off
JAKARTA, Aug 25, 2023 (AFP) – Canada opened the Basketball World Cup with a statement win over France on Friday, while cohosts the Philippines fell short of a memorable victory in front of their raucous fans. There were also wins for Italy, Australia, Montenegro, Latvia, the Dominican Republic, Lithuania and Germany as the tournament tipped off in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Canada came into the tournament with a squad packed with NBA talent but […]
Philippines coach Stajcic steps down after Women’s World Cup exit
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippines coach Alen Stajcic has left his post after the national team’s exit from their first Women’s World Cup, the Philippine Football Federation said on Tuesday. The Philippines have shaken off their status as regional minnows since Stajcic’s appointment as coach in late 2021 — they have jumped from 68 in the FIFA rankings to a best-ever 46th. The Philippines were not expected to get out of their group, but caused […]
‘Angry’ Spain promise response to World Cup drubbing
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Spain coach Jorge Vilda says his “angry” players can shake off the mental scars of a 4-0 mauling from Japan and be a force in the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup. The sixth-ranked Spanish were left shellshocked by a Japan side who topped Group C with a brilliant counter-attacking display in Wellington on Monday, handing the Europeans their heaviest defeat in 11 years. Vilda is confident his squad […]
Hope for future despite New Zealand’s painful World Cup exit
By Daniel GILHOOLY Agence France-Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand’s proud players hope their performances at the World Cup will be a turning point for women’s football in the country despite the pain of an early exit. Some of the team were in tears as the tournament co-hosts bowed out on Sunday in the group stage in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd in Dunedin. Their 0-0 stalemate with Switzerland meant they finished […]
Holders USA held by Netherlands at Women’s World Cup
By Daniel GILHOOLY Agence France-Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Captain Lindsey Horan scored a second-half equalizer as holders the United States came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Netherlands at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday in a rematch of the 2019 final. Midfielder Jill Roord fired home a first-half opener to threaten a momentous result in the Group E clash in Wellington in front of a crowd of 27,312. But Horan responded […]
Caicedo opens World Cup account as Colombia beat blunt South Korea
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Gifted teenager Linda Caicedo scored as Colombia beat a disappointing South Korea 2-0 to open their Women’s World Cup campaign on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Real Madrid striker, who overcame cancer three years ago, was the beneficiary of a glaring goalkeeping error against a blunt South Korea. One of the best young attackers in women’s football, Caicedo has now scored at the Under-17 World Cup, the Under-20 World Cup and the biggest […]
World Cup will ‘wake up’ New Zealand’s love of football: coach
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AFP) — Staging the Women’s World Cup will “wake up” New Zealand’s passion for football, the co-hosts’ coach Jitka Klimkova said on Wednesday’s eve of the tournament. Football remains well behind rugby, cricket and other sports in popularity in New Zealand, which is jointly hosting the World Cup with Australia. New Zealand have also never won a Women’s World Cup game in 15 attempts, but they hope to change that when they […]
Philippines hope ‘meteoric rise’ to debut World Cup changes everything
By Allison JACKSON Agence France-Presse MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — In a country obsessed with beauty pageants, basketball and boxing, the Philippines women’s team hope to ignite interest in football when they make the nation’s World Cup debut this week. Long minnows in the sport, the Philippines have never played at a FIFA World Cup, either the men’s or women’s. All that will change on Friday when the women’s side under their Australian coach Alen Stajcic […]
Biggest ever Women’s World Cup set for lift-off in Australia and New Zealand
By Andy SCOTT Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The first-ever 32-team Women’s World Cup begins in Australia and New Zealand on July 20, with the United States aiming to win a third consecutive title in a landmark month for the women’s game. It has been a rapid expansion for a tournament that featured just 16 teams in 2011 in Germany and 24 sides in France four years ago, when the USA retained the trophy. […]
Qatar to host 2023 Asian Cup after China’s Covid pull-out
by M JEGATHESAN Agence France Presse Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AFP) — World Cup hosts Qatar will stage the 2023 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation said on Monday, after China withdrew earlier this year because of Covid. China pulled out in May because of its “zero-Covid” policy, leaving the AFC scrambling to find a new host for its flagship men’s 24-team football tournament. The tournament had been due to be held in 10 Chinese cities […]
PHL Arena to be the venue of 2023 FIBA World Cup, as PHL-Japan-Indonesia awarded hosting rights
(Eagle News) — The Philippine Arena will be the site of the 2023 FIBA World Cup after the three-nation consortium of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia was chosen to host the prestigious international basketball competition. The International Basketball Federation or FIBA on Saturday, December 9, awarded the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to Philippines/Japan/Indonesia. “This marks the first time in the competition’s history that it is to be staged in […]





