Brazilian legend Marta will retire from international football this year.

The 38-year-old confirmed the news in an interview with CNN Esportes S/A that airs Sunday, saying she is at peace with her decision given the promising future of Brazil’s national team, which has a pipeline of young, blossoming talent.

“This is my last year, and I can already confirm it here. There is a moment when we have to understand that the time has come,” Marta told CNN. “I am very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes.”

Marta has appeared in five Olympics throughout her decorated career, winning silver medals in 2004 and 2008. It remains to be seen if she will be chosen to represent Brazil at the Paris Olympics this summer but she said that, regardless, she will no longer be with the team come 2025.

“If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team,” Marta said to CNN. “There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards.”

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Marta urges support for women’s football after final World Cup elimination

Marta’s impact on women’s soccer has been paramount.

That much was…

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has asked FIFA to expel the Israel Football Association (IFA) on the grounds of the country’s alleged human rights and humanitarian law violations committed in the war in Israel and Gaza.

The proposal was made by the PFA in a submission to the international football governing body for discussion at the 74th annual FIFA congress in Bangkok, where the 211 member nations will vote on a number of key issues — including confirmation of the host nation of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The PFA says they want to “address the unprecedented international human rights and humanitarian law violations committed by Israel” and called on FIFA to push the IFA to address discrimination and racism within its league and acknowledge violations of the federation’s statutes.

Article 4 of FIFA’s statutes prohibits “discrimination of any kind against a country or group of people” and says any breach of this non-discrimination obligation is punishable by “suspension or expulsion”.

The PFA cites a number of breaches which they believe contravene FIFA’s statutes and regulatory rules.

Those alleged violations include IFA’s alleged “complicity in the Israeli government’s violations against Palestinian football”.

The PFA accuses the IFA of…

It was another milestone moment for Lucy Bronze.

Her 121st England appearance last night, in the 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, drew her level with Steph Houghton as her country’s seventh most-capped female player. Yet questions remain as to whether the 32-year-old is more of a hindrance than a help to the Lionesses in the long term.

The trip to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium ultimately proved routine for Sarina Wiegman’s side. This was a game which had to yield three points, given England’s Euros qualifying group — which also features France and Sweden — is not going to be easy. Only the top two sides are guaranteed a spot in Switzerland next summer, even if the third- and fourth-placed nations will still get play-off opportunities.

But having gone two goals up early on, courtesy of Lauren James’ 12th-minute and Alex Greenwood’s 18th-minute penalty, England’s superior quality shone through, even if Ireland pushed them towards the end of the match. 

Wiegman made five changes to the starting XI from Friday’s 1-1 draw against Sweden but it was notable who kept their place. The front three of Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, and James remained, as did Keira Walsh at the base of midfield and Greenwood.

And there, at right-back, was Bronze. The Barcelona defender’s…

Former Wimbledon manager and Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Kinnear has died at the age of 77.

Kinnear played for Tottenham and Brighton and Hove Albion during an 11-year career as a player, making a combined 212 club appearances.

He also won 26 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team.

Kinnear went on to manage Luton Town, Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United — where he also held the position of director of football.

His passing was confirmed in a statement by Newcastle that read: “Newcastle United is saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Kinnear at the age of 77.

“Joe worked at the club as both Manager and Director of Football.

“The thoughts of everyone at #NUFC are with Joe’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

A statement from Spurs said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Joe Kinnear. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

AFC Wimbledon added: “A true legend of the Club, Joe gave us some amazing memories that we treasure.”

Former Premier League striker John Harton, who played under Kinnear at Wimbledon, said: “Sad news hearing that my ex-boss Joe Kinnear has passed away.. My thoughts are with Joe’s wife Bonnie and the Kinnear…

Tori Penso and Rebecca Welch are among the 21 referees who have been chosen to officiate football matches at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Penso, 38, became the first woman to referee a regular season Major League Soccer match in 20 years back in 2020.

The American official also took charge of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia.

Welch, 40, became the Premier League’s first female referee when she took charge of Fulham’s 2-0 defeat to Burnley on December 23. She has been refereeing since 2010 and became the first woman to officiate a match in the men’s Championship — the English second tier — at the start of 2023.

Welch told The Athletic in 2021: “My gender has never held me back in refereeing. There’s never been a point where I’ve come away from a game feeling that they have treated me a certain way because I’m female. They might treat me a certain way because I’m a referee and they don’t agree with a decision but I’ve not come under that scrutiny.

“I know other people who have. Ninety-eight per cent of people won’t bat an eyelid when a woman turns up to referee their game, but there’s another two per cent who will. In years to come, there won’t be that exposure around it. That sounds negative, but it’s really not. It…

Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales was detained and questioned immediately after landing in Madrid on Wednesday morning, as part of an anti-corruption investigation.

Rubiales, who resigned as RFEF president in September, having been suspended by FIFA over his kiss on Spain forward Jenni Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final in August, was travelling back from the Dominican Republic.

That is where he was on March 20, when RFEF headquarters in Madrid and Rubiales’ home in Granada were searched as part of an investigation into alleged corruption during his five years in charge from 2018.

Officers from Spain’s Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) were waiting for Rubiales to land at Madrid-Barajas airport. Footage broadcast by Spanish TV station La Sexta showed him being led away from a plane on the tarmac and into a black minivan.

According to Guardia Civil sources, Rubiales was informed he was being indicted and his lawyer was called so they could be present during questioning. Rubiales invoked his right not to testify and was released. However, he is expected to be called to testify when a warrant for his arrest is issued by an investigating judge, the same sources said.

Guardia Civil officers seized a mobile phone and a tablet from Rubiales on…

The German national team is ending its long-standing partnership with Adidas and has signed a deal that will see Nike make its kits from 2027.

Adidas last signed an eight-year contract with the Germany Football Federation (DFB) in 2018, meaning the men’s 2026 men’s World Cup will be one of the last times the German team’s kit is manufactured by the country’s most famous sportswear company.

During Adidas’ partnership with Germany, which has spanned more than seven decades, the team has won four men’s World Cups, three men’s Euros, two women’s World Cups and eight women’s Euros with the collaboration responsible for many iconic shirts during the 1980s and 1990s.

The DFB’s contract with Nike will run until 2034. “We are grateful to be able to look forward to an economically stable future again as an association thanks to Nike’s commitment,” DFB treasurer Stephan Grunwald said.

“The award to the future supplier partner Nike is the result of a transparent and non-discriminatory tender,” DFB chairman Holger Blask added.

“Nike made by far the best economic offer and also convinced with its content vision, which also represents a clear commitment to the promotion of amateur and popular sports as well as the sustainable development of women’s football in…

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) headquarters and the home of its former president Luis Rubiales have been searched as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the deal to play Supercopa de Espana games in Saudi Arabia.

Sources familiar with the case said it was planned that seven arrests would be made, with five further individuals to be placed under investigation in operations carried out across Spain.

The search on the RFEF offices was carried out by officers from the Guardia Civil — one of Spain’s two national police forces — in coordination with anti-corruption prosecutors and with the support of Europol.

Sources said 11 properties are to be searched — including the RFEF’s Madrid offices and Rubiales’ property in Granada.

Spanish media reports have said Rubiales, who resigned as RFEF president in September following the fallout over his kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, is currently in the Dominican Republic.

A warrant for Rubiales’ arrest has not been issued but the expectation is the 46-year-old will report for questioning or faces being arrested, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Rubiales initially refused to…

The United States have launched their new jerseys ahead of this summer’s Copa America.

Nike, which is the kits’ manufacturer, unveiled the home and away kits on Monday morning.

The men’s collection will be released on March 21 — the day the USMNT face Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final — while the women’s collections will be available to purchase in June.

The cuffs and collar of the home shirt feature a distinct red, white and blue graphic – the colours associated with the national flag of the U.S.

The away shirt is predominantly blue but features a splash of red and white in the bottom left-hand corner.

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How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

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Nike says that the kits “are tailored to provide mobility, breathability and venting so athletes can perform at their peak during this summer’s tournaments”.

From June 19 to July 14, the U.S. will host the men’s Copa America, joining as one of six guest nations for the prestigious South American tournament. It will be the second time in eight years that the U.S. has hosted some version of the event following 2016’s Copa America Centenario.

Ahead of the tournament, the USMNT will play two friendlies: one against Colombia on June 8, followed by a clash against Brazil on June 12.

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Copa…

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has officially launched its bid campaign to host the men’s World Cup in 2034.

Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the sole candidate to host the tournament in October, after Australia decided not to bid.

SAFF has now begun its campaign which includes the unveiling of its bid logo and official website.

Under the slogan “Growing. Together”, SAFF says its bid seeks to highlight the parallel between Saudi Arabia’s rapid development and the transformative potential of hosting the World Cup while the logo is made up of intertwined rows of multi-coloured ribbons, displaying football and cultural symbols.

Much like 2022 host Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has come under intense scrutiny as has the country’s treatment of women and its view on same-sex relationships.

Mass executions, for a variety of crimes, are still common and critics of the government face house arrest, imprisonment and even torture while the conditions the vast migrant worker population live and work in have been heavily criticised as they were in Qatar.

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Saudi Arabia to host 2034 World Cup – what does it mean for wider world of football?

Human Rights Watch’s director of global initiatives, Minky Worden, said in October: “With Saudi Arabia’s…