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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

A bookie at the Brighton races studies the field.

Soccer

Southampton In Hot Water Over World’s Most Conspicuous Spygate


<p>Leander Schaerlaeckens is a long-time soccer writer, currently contributing to <i>The Guardian </i>and elsewhere. He is the author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722130/the-long-game-by-leander-schaerlaeckens/"><i>The Long Game: U.S. Men&#8217;s Soccer and its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts</i></a>. He teaches journalism and sports communication at Marist University. He will cover his fourth World Cup in 2026.</p>


A photo of the author Leander Schaerlaeckens taken by Asha Fuller.

Leander Schaerlaeckens

USA COACH VELIBOR MILUTINOVIC SALUTES THE CROWD AFTER THEIR 2-1 VICTORY OVER COLOMBIA.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

When Team USA Needed To Get World Cup Ready, It Needed Boraball

Federico Valverde #8 and Aurelien Tchouameni #14 of Real Madrid C.F. react following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid CF at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The ONLY Thing More BROKEN Than Real Madrid’s TEAM SPIRIT Is News Aggregators’ CAPS LOCK BUTTON

Tom Ley

Gianni Infantino: We’re Just Here To Extract Wealth From You American Hogs

World Cup Tallies Another Human Rights Abuse

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England.

Arsenal Can Almost Taste The Glory

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Arts And Culture

Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted

Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United celebrates scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 3, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Manchester United Is Reaching Dangerous Levels Of Normal

Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team's third goal from the penalty-spot during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Parc des Princes on April 28, 2026 in Paris, France.

PSG-Bayern Was Everything Soccer Can And Should Be

Interviews

What’s Parenting Lily Yohannes Like? An Interview With Her Dad

Chelsea's English head coach Liam Rosenior reacts following the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on March 21, 2026.

Chelsea Manager Gets Fired, As All Chelsea Managers Do

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City Helpfully Extends Arsenal’s Freefall

Billy Haisley

Michael Olise of FC Bayern München celebrates his 4-3 goal with Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern München and fans during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF.

Bayern Munich Did Not Believe In Magic

Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool is checked on by Alexander Isak of Liverpool and Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain as he holds his ankle as he appears to be injured during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England.

Please End This Cursed Liverpool Season

Kathryn Xu

The NJ Transit logo is seen on a train at New York City Penn Station.

Transit

World Cup Transit Is Broken Before It Has Begun

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Report: FIFA Plans To Ask Peace Prize Winner If He Would Maybe Consider Pausing Domestic Terrorism Program For One Month

A side by side photo of Jorginho and Chappell Roan

Life's Rich Pageant

Chappell Roan And Jorginho Are No Longer Beefing

Marc Guehi of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on April 12, 2026 in London, England.

It’s Clear To Me Now That Manchester City Must Topple Arsenal

General view inside of the Levi's Stadium on June 3, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

Poor Suckers Who Ponied Up For Expensive World Cup Tickets Boned By FIFA

A general view of the UEFA Champions League trophy ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Tuesday November 25, 2025.

No One Is Safe In The Champions League Quarterfinals

Players of Italy reacts at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Oops, Italy Did It Again, Again!

Rayan Cherki of France gives the captain's armband to teammate Kylian Mbappe during the international friendly match between Colombia and France at Northwest Stadium on March 29, 2026 in Landover, Maryland.

Rayan Cherki Is A Human Highlight Reel

Linda Caicedo of Real Madrid CF scring her team first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 25, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

We’ve Got To Get Linda Caicedo Out Of Bum-Ass Real Madrid

Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the American Express Stadium, Brighton.

All Hail Danny Welbeck, The Lord Of The Premier League

A dejected Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.