SAN DIEGO — Major League Soccer expansion franchise San Diego FC has been steadily adding players to its inaugural roster from the United States, Mexico, Denmark, Wales and England.

Now it has someone to coach them.

San Diego FC has hired Mikey Varas, who most recently served as interim coach for the U.S. men’s national team, and will ...Read more

Lionel Messi returned to the Inter Miami starting lineup Saturday night for the first time since June 1, energized his adoring fans at Chase Stadium and reminded them of the magic they had been missing in his absence.

The 37-year-old Argentine captain, coming off a right ankle injury, scored twice in a five-minute span and had an assist on Luis...Read more

MIAMI — Lionel Messi is back! The Argentine star returned to the Inter Miami starting lineup Saturday night for a home game against the Philadelphia Union, his first game for the club since June 1.

He missed five games in June and July while playing for Argentina in Copa America, and then missed eight more after injuring ligaments in his ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — It is, to be sure, just one of many storylines swirling around the Union’s visit to Inter Miami on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). And it is not the biggest storyline, or at least it shouldn’t be — not when Inter is chasing the Supporters’ Shield for MLS’s best regular-season record while the Union are scrapping to ...Read more

MIAMI — Good news for Inter Miami fans: Lionel Messi was back on the field training Thursday morning after missing the Wednesday practice with a head cold.

Coach Tata Martino had targeted the home game Saturday against the Philadelphia Union for Messi’s return after a two-month layoff for an ankle injury. Martino will address Messi’s ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed as the new United States men’s national soccer team head coach Tuesday afternoon, which means Mikey Varas’ tenure as interim coach ended with that night’s 1-1 tie against New Zealand in Cincinnati.

Varas is available to be hired elsewhere, like … Major League Soccer expansion...Read more

MIAMI — Lionel Messi’s status for the Inter Miami home game Saturday against the Philadelphia Union remains up in the air.

The Argentine star returned to training a few weeks ago and was expected to make his return this weekend after a two-month injury layoff; but he was not on the field for the 15-minute media viewing window at training ...Read more

The U.S. men’s soccer team’s hiring of renowned manager Mauricio Pochettino finally became official on Tuesday, nearly a month after reports first emerged that he had agreed to take the job.

Pochettino will lead the team through the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil and will try to get the best out of Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — After winning the right to stage the 2026 World Cup, the U.S., Mexico and Canada had eight long years to put together teams good enough to make long runs in the tournament.

All while three teams have hired new coaches since May, when that marathon became a sprint, only Canada has momentum on its side heading into the final lap. ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Take a bow, Alex Morgan.

Make it a long and delayed one that allows the whole country, aspiring players, moms and daughters and sons to appreciate the doorway you helped kick off the hinges.

Pause to fully understand the fleet-footed soccer sharpshooter, trailblazer and change agent you’ve been. Breathe in the powerful fact ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Alex Morgan’s deft timing made her one of soccer’s better female strikers.

So it’s only fitting she now ends her playing career with a well-timed finish.

Authoring a graceful exit that will boost her employer’s attendance and free up minutes for young teammates, Morgan announced that Sunday’s match between the San Diego...Read more

LOS ANGELES — I wasn’t looking for Alex Morgan when I stopped by the San Diego Wave’s sprawling practice facility last month. I was there to talk to Landon Donovan, the other national team legend, who had just been named the Wave’s interim coach.

But Morgan sidled over after practice anyway and we talked for about 20 minutes. She ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The surprise news of San Diego Wave star Alex Morgan’s retirement resulted in an outpouring of commentary across the sports world on Thursday, with former teammates weighing in on her legacy in the sport of soccer, and fans posting their thanks and appreciation.

“A legend of our game. Thank you, Alex,” said a post from the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Magic Johnson wants to win another championship.

He won five with the Showtime Lakers and another nine as a partial owner for LAFC, the Dodgers, the Sparks, the Lakers (five times before selling his stake in the team in 2010) and esports' Team Liquid.

Some of those teams could deliver Johnson another title before the end of the...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Disney CEO Bob Iger and Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg school, have completed their purchase of a controlling interest in the Angel City Football Club, the team announced Thursday.

The team said the transaction lifts the club's value to $250 million, making it the most valuable franchise in women's professional sports ...Read more

The World Cup is coming to the U.S. in 21 months. And although the national team still doesn't have a permanent manager, it does have a roster, with interim coach Mikey Varas calling up 24 players Sunday for friendlies with Canada and New Zealand.

The U.S. will play Canada on Saturday in Kansas City, Kan., before meeting New Zealand three days ...Read more

MIAMI — On an Inter Miami team stacked with global multimillionaire superstars, it is sometimes easy to forget that Lionel Messi’s co-captain and one of the most valuable players is the unassuming, unflappable goalkeeper Drake Callender.

On the surface, the 26-year-old Sacramento, Calif., native seems too mild-mannered to dive and leap into...Read more

MIAMI — Lionel Messi has been training with his teammates after six weeks off with an ankle injury and has not been ruled out of the Inter Miami game Saturday on the road against the Chicago Fire, according to coach Tata Martino.

“He is better each day, still has not received medical clearance, but we will determine after training (Friday) ...Read more