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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

<p>Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.</p>


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Abigail Segel

USA's forward #9 Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the SheBelieves Cup football match between USA and Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on February 26, 2025.

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Soccer

Emma Hayes Shows Us The USWNT She Believes In

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Albert Burneko

Ex-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales arrives at the Audiencia Nacional San Fernando de Henares on February 13, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

luis rubiales trial

Luis Rubiales Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Jenni Hermoso

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Billy Haisley

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is playing during the UEFA Nations League 2024 League B Group B1 match between Ukraine and Georgia , at the Poznan Arena in Poznan, Poland, on October 11, 2024.

Ukraine v Georgia – UEFA Nations League 2024

Even A Little Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Goes A Long Way

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Patrick Redford

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 18: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half against Jamaica leg two of the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals at Citypark on November 18, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri.

Jamaica v United States: Quarterfinals – Leg Two – 2024 Concacaf Nations League

The Best And The Worst Of Christian Pulisic

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Ray Ratto

Dante Rossi of San Marino and Ferhat Saglam of Liechtenstein compete for the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 League D match

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The World’s Worst Soccer Team Is Finally Something Else

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (L) and US' forward #09 Mallory Swanson (R) celebrate after US' forward #11 Sophia Smith (C) scored in the 95th minute during the women's semi-final football match between USA and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on August 6, 2024.

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Olympics

The USWNT Is Grinding Its Way Toward A Better Future

Zambia's forward #11 Barbra Banda shoots to score the first goal for Zambia in the women's group B football match between Zambia and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne on July 31, 2024.

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Even Perfection Isn’t Enough For Barbra Banda

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (3L) celebrates scoring the opening goal in the women's group A football match between the USA and Zambia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Nice Stadium in Nice, on July 25, 2024.

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The USWNT Still Has Questions To Answer

A specially trained police officer demonstrates a controlled landing of a drone using a drone jammer during the presentation of the Munich security concept for the 2024 European Football Championship at the Munich soccer stadium.

Presentation of the Munich security concept

Canada, Untrustworthy Nation To The North, Accused Of Massive Soccer Cheating Plot

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Tom Ley

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Aitana Bonmati of Spain scores her team's first goal whilst under pressure from Sakina Karchaoui and Amandine Henry of France as Pauline Peyraud-Magnin looks on during the UEFA Women's Nations League 2024 Final match between Spain and France at Estadio La Cartuja on February 28, 2024 in Seville, Spain.

Spain v France – UEFA Women’s Nations League 2024 Final

Everything You Need To Know About The Women’s Olympic Soccer Tournament, While It’s Still Worth Knowing About

Dave McKenna

Dublin , Ireland - 21 July 2024; Tony Kelly of Clare scores his side's third goal during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Clare and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin.

Clare v Cork – GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

Hurling

The All-Ireland Hurling Final Was A Historic Cracker

James Rodriguez of Colombia celebrates with team mates after scoring his goal , during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 4th Final Match between Colombia and Panama at State Farm Stadium on July 6, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.

Colombia v Panama – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

Wings Week

The Best Soccer Of The Summer Came From Colombia Just Winging It

Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain scores his sides second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Spain v England: Final – UEFA EURO 2024

Spain Was Unstoppable To The Very End

Gregg Berhalter, Head Coach of United States reacts after the first half during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 Group C match between Panama and United States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Panama v United States – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

The Era Of Low Expectations Is Over

Players of Spain celebrate on the bench as Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Semi-Final match between Spain and France at Munich Football Arena on July 09, 2024 in Munich, Germany.

Spain v France: Semi-Final – UEFA EURO 2024

The Legend Of Lamine Yamal Has Its First Chapter

Uruguay forward Darwin Núñez (19) engages with hostile fans in the stands after the CONMEBOL Copa America semifinal between Uruguay and Colombia on Wednesday July 10, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

SOCCER: JUL 10 CONMEBOL Copa America – Semifinals – Uruguay vs Colombia

The Copa América Semifinal Ended With Uruguay Players Fighting Colombia Fans

Ollie Watkins of England celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates from the substitutes bench during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

Netherlands v England: Semi-Final – UEFA EURO 2024

England Finally Got It Right

Lamine Yamal (17) and Nico Williams (19) of Spain celebrate during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Spain and Georgia at Cologne Stadium on June 30, 2024 in Cologne, Germany.

Spain v Georgia: Round of 16 – EURO 2024

Lamine Yamal And Nico Williams Are Here To Save The Euros

Gregg Berhalter Head Coach of the United States during the National Anthem before the CONMEBOL Copa America group C match between the United States and Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

United States v Uruguay – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

U.S. Soccer Is Happy To Make You Wait

Uruguay v Brazil – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

Sometimes Ugly Gets The Job Done

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States yells at referee Kevin Ortega during the second half against Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 01, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Noisy Loss Is Still Just A Loss

Jude Bellingham of England, scores his team's first goal with a acrobatic kick during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between England and Slovakia at Arena AufSchalke on June 30, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

England v Slovakia: Round of 16 – UEFA EURO 2024

England Was Finally Exciting, Still Not Actually Good

USA's midfielder #15 Joao Lucas Cardoso and USA's goalkeeper #18 Ethan Horvath gesture after Panama's forward #17 Jose Fajardo scores his team's second goal during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament group C football match between Panama and USA at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024.

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The USMNT Has Outgrown Its Manager

Salomon Rondon of Venezuela celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group B match between Venezuela and Mexico at SoFi Stadium on June 26, 2024 in Inglewood, California.

Venezuela v Mexico – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

Venezuela Is Making Some Noise

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (M) in action against goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin (r) of Ukraine.

Euro 2024: Ukraine – Belgium

It Sucks How Much Belgium Sucks

Internationals