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Tom Ley

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool waves to the fans at full time during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on December 6, 2025 in Leeds, England.

Liverpool’s Nightmare Season Now Features Mo Salah Drama

Luis Paez-Pumar

Here’s The 2026 World Cup Draw

Nice's fans cheer their team with smoke flares during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on November 21, 2025.

OGC Nice Fans Physically And Verbally Attacked Players After Loss

Zohran Mamdani holding up a photo of Ian Wright

This Is So Stupid

Can Zohran Mamdani Keep New Yorkers Safe From Remembering Some Arsenal Guys?

Idrissa Gueye of Everton receives a red card for a disagreement with Michael Keane of Everton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England.

You Can Get Slapped By Your Own Teammate And Still Beat Manchester United

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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

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Rose Lavelle #16 of NY/NJ Gotham FC celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammates during the 2025 NWSL championship game between Washington Spirit and NJ|NY Gotham City FC at PayPal Park on November 22, 2025, in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Elysia Su/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Gotham Grabs The Crown Of An NWSL At A Tipping Point

<p>Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.</p>


Lesley Ryder


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A detail of the NWSL logo on a game ball prior to the NWSL match between the Houston Dash and the Angel City FC at Shell Energy Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

The NWSL Received 43 Complaints In 2024, And Five In The First Half Of This Year, Public Records Show

Scotland's Kieran Tierney (R) and Kenny McLean celebrate at full time during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, on November 18, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Scotland Stunned Its Way Back To The World Cup

Billy Haisley

Ireland's forward #07 Troy Parrott celebrates his 2-3 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F European qualification football match betweem Hungary and Republic of Ireland at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on November 16, 2025.

The World Cup Is The Best, Even When It’s Not The World Cup

Norway's team players ans staff celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025.

Norway Is So Much More Than Just Erling Haaland

Luis Rubiales and editor Gonzalo Sichar speak during the presentation of "Matar a Rubiales"on November 13, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. The former president of the RFEF presents his book "Matar a Rubiales" in which he tells his version of events about the non-consensual kiss to Jenni Hermoso.

Life's Rich Pageant

Luis Rubiales Egged By Uncle Who Is Also Named Luis Rubiales

Ray Ratto

Przemyslaw Adam Frankowski (29) of Galatasaray receives yellow card during Turkish Super Lig week 33 football match between ikas Eyupspor and Galatasaray at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 27, 2025.

Turkish Soccer Is Eating America’s Lunch When It Comes To Gambling Suspensions

Brian Brobbey of Sunderland AFC scores a late equalizing goal for Sunderland during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium Of Light in Sunderland, England, on November 8, 2025.

Sunderland Doesn’t Need To Die To Get To Heaven

Carlos Forbs of Club Brugge celebrates after scoring the team's first goal against Wojciech Szczesny of FC Barcelona and Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Club Brugge KV and FC Barcelona at Jan Breydelstadion on November 5, 2025 in Bruges, Belgium.

Barcelona Is Falling Into Its Own Offside Trap

Chicago Stars FC fans chant Trans Rights are Human Rights while holding up a Transgender flag behind Alyssa Naeher #1 of Chicago Stars FC during the first half during a game between San Diego Wave FC and Chicago Stars FC at Seatgeek Stadium on April 26, 2025, in Bridgeview, Illinois.

The Anti-Trans Grifters Are Coming For The NWSL

Aaron Timms

Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, during the conference about 'Present and Future of the Football Industry' by ISDE Sports Convention at ISDE Madrid on March 27, 2025, in Madrid, Spain.

In The Fight For Soccer’s Soul, Europe Wins A Battle But Is Still Losing The War

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Erling Haaland Has Taken Control

Roma's Spanish defender #22 Mario Hermoso celebrates with Roma's Argentine forward #21 Paulo Dybala after scoring his team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AS Roma and Parma at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on October 29, 2025.

The Best Title Race Is, Once Again, In Serie A

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on alongside teammates during the Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool at Gtech Community Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Brentford, England.

Alright, What The Damn Hell Is Going On With Liverpool?

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal Shows No Mercy

Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth at Selhurst Park on October 18, 2025 in London, United Kingdom.

It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than Bournemouth-Crystal Palace

Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv stage a pro-Israel demonstration at the Dam Square, lighting up flares and chanting slogans ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 07, 2024. Maccabi fans clashed with pro-Palestinian citizens and ripped off Palestinian flags hung on the streets. In the lead-up to the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, several areas of Amsterdam have been designated as security risk zones.

Keir Starmer Won’t Tolerate Racist Hooligans Being Barred From Aston Villa’s Stadium

Ange Postecoglou Head Coach of Nottingham Forest looks dejected with empty seats behind during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025 in Nottingham, England.

Big Ange Has Never Been More Out

Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates during the European qualifier Fifa World Cup 2026 match between Italy and Israel at Friuli stadium. Final score; Italy 3 : 0 Israel.

Italy Makes Up For UEFA’s Cowardice By Ending Israel’s World Cup Chances

Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 league phase match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munchen Frauen at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 07, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.