Japan captain Maya Yoshida calls Spain match most important of career

"Of course, it is possible to draw and see what happens with Germany against Costa Rica. But, basically, we have to try to win the ...

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Argentina outclass Poland despite Messi penalty miss to advance

Argentina to play Australia in first knockout round, while Poland takes on France.

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‘Golden generation’ disappoints as Welsh dragon fails to roar

Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale have long carried Wales on their shoulders, but the aging duo crumbled under the weight of expectation in Qatar.

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DeNA closer Yasuaki Yamasaki signs new deal, won’t seek MLB move

In a significant turnaround from two years of struggle, Yamasaki had a career-best 1.33 ERA while tying his career-high 37 saves in 2022 for the ...

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World Cup continues for the United States. Will Christian Pulisic be part of it?

Team USA advances to the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Iran in a politically charged showdown.

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U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter calls for focus on soccer before Iran game

In a tense and unusual news conference, Berhalter was questioned about U.S. immigration and naval policy while U.S. captain Tyler Adams was asked about discrimination ...

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Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says the buck stops with him at World Cup

After offering a mea culpa for his team's poor showing against Costa Rica, Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu said he is concerned with the degree of ...

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani named top DH for second straight season

Ohtani outdistanced Houston Astros standout Yordan Alvarez while becoming the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since David Ortiz won it five ...

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U.S. faced with politically charged, must-win match against Iran in group finale

The task is clear for the United States men's national team when it plays Iran in its final Group B game of the World Cup ...

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Japan captain Maya Yoshida thinks team can still reach knockout stage

Yoshida said Japan struggled to come down from the high of beating Germany in their opening game and found it "difficult" to prepare for Costa ...

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Japan’s magic fades with disappointing loss to Costa Rica

The magic Japan conjured up in its upset of Germany is gone, and only uncertainty awaits after an uninspired showing in a loss against Costa ...

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Germany rallies for draw against Spain to keep hopes alive at World Cup

All four teams in Group E still have a chance of progressing to the round of 16.

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Costa Rica beats Japan to hand Germany a World Cup lifeline

Costa Rica stunned Japan 1-0 thanks to a late goal at the World Cup on Sunday, blowing Group E wide open.

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Lionel Messi nourishes dream of matching Diego Maradona’s legacy

Maradona scored only 15 goals for Argentina in 41 competitive appearances — compared to Messi's 49 in 115 — but some led him to World ...

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Maya Yoshida insists Japan prepared for whatever Costa Rica tries

The Samurai Blue captain and three-time World Cup veteran says the team's focus has always been on winning three points from its crucial second game.

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Trademark escape puts Takayasu one win from first career title

Ozeki Takakeisho and No. 9 Abi also won to head into the final day at Fukuoka Kokusai Center with a chance to challenge Takayasu for ...

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England suffer reality check in 0-0 draw with U.S.

England will still qualify for the last 16 if they avoid a heavy defeat by Wales in their final group game, but they were greeted ...

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Cristiano Ronaldo remains as dependable as ever for Portugal

Following his tumultuous exit from Manchester United, the match against Ghana was his first chance to put himself in the proverbial shop window, and he ...

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‘Mr. Baseball’ endures as go-to resource for players headed to Japan

Many who accept offers to play in Japan will surely prepare for the experience the same way those before them have for 30 years: by ...

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Shunsuke Nakamura to join Yokohama FC as coach

Newly promoted J. League first-division side Yokohama FC will appoint retired player Shunsuke Nakamura as a coach, the club said Friday.The 44-year-old former Japan midfielder ...

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Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu in high spirits despite injury concerns

Veteran backup goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima praised his manager's game plan, saying there was never a sense of panic in the squad.

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Quarantine stable helps lure foreign horses

Races between Japanese horses and their foreign rivals may heat up again soon thanks to the addition of an on-site quarantine facility and a bulging ...

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Bills edge Lions on late field goal for Thanksgiving victory

The win moved the Bills to 8-3 and snapped the Lions' three-game winning streak.

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Brazil expects Neymar to continue playing at World Cup despite ankle injury

Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Brazil would wait 24 to 48 hours before assessing Neymar's injury.

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Spain coach backs Gavi to become star on global stage

Spanish teenager Gavi is set for global stardom after becoming the youngest World Cup scorer since Pele during Spain's 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica on ...

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Hajime Moriyasu praises Japan’s European education after upset win against Germany

Eight members of Japan's squad are based in Germany and it was two of those players who scored the goals that sealed a historic victory ...

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Fans heap praise on otter that predicted Japan’s World Cup win over Germany

Elated by Japan's 2-1 victory, Japanese soccer fans gushed over the otter online, calling him "amazing" and "extremely competent."

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Germany coach Hansi Flick says team was not distracted by protest during loss to Japan

"There will be no attempts (from us) to find excuses. We were not efficient enough and at the end we made several mistakes."

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Japan substitutes star in historic World Cup win over Germany

The Samurai Blue's shift of tactics to a three-back system paid dividends in the second half as Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late to ...

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Japan stuns Germany with late strikes in World Cup opener

As the game wore on, Japan's raids into the German half became more frequent, culminating in Ritsu Doan's equalizer and a brilliant finish from Takuma ...

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Hoshoryu gains outright lead in Kyushu after Oho’s loss

Fighting as a No. 13 maegashira, the 22-year-old Oho was thrust out by No. 9 Abi and joined No. 1 Takayasu on the second rung ...

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Wounded Argentina aims to move past Saudi trauma

Lionel Messi's fifth and final attempt to match Diego Maradona's immortality among Argentinians by winning soccer's greatest prize could not have started worse.

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Man United sale would bring unpopular Glazer family’s era to an end

The Glazers have been unpopular with the Old Trafford fan base since the day Malcolm Glazer took charge in 2005 with a $934 million takeover ...

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JFA boss says Samurai Blue sticking to sports in Qatar

Kozo Tashima told reporters that Japan players won't get drawn into the debate over human rights that has ensnared the ongoing World Cup.

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Saudi Arabia celebrates shock defeat of favorites Argentina in World Cup

Copa America champions Argentina had come into the match in Qatar on a 36-match unbeaten streak.

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Kaoru Mitoma confident Premier League form will translate in Qatar

In that first match in Qatar, the 25-year-old will face a German defense that some have labeled a liability, giving him a chance to make ...

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Lionel Messi determined to enjoy likely last World Cup hurrah

At 35 years of age, the diminutive magician is close to winding down his remarkable trophy-laden career.

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Olympic champion Andy Cruz training for pro debut after leaving Cuba

Cruz was expelled from competing for Cuba in July after what the country's boxing federation said was an attempt to "illegally leave the country" the ...

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Fighters to host opening game of 2023 NPB season at new stadium

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will begin their 2023 season at their new stadium on March 30 against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, a day before ...

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Japan must brave challenging climb to reach lofty ambitions at World Cup

Japan has set its sights on the quarterfinals in Qatar but may need to go through two former champions to get there.

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Eagles rally late to beat Colts

"That was a great win, it wasn't what you draw up but in this league it rarely is," said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni

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Penaud double takes France to ‘confidence-boosting’ win over Japan

France captain Charles Ollivon said Sunday's 35-17 victory over Japan helps "grow confidence" as they continued their winning run before next year's Rugby World Cup.

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Host Qatar loses to Ecuador in World Cup opener

Qatar will have another chance to prove it belongs on the sport's biggest stage when its plays Senegal on Friday.

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Hoshoryu, Takayasu among four wrestlers tied midway at Kyushu meet

Ozeki Takakeisho, the highest-ranked wrestler in Fukuoka, earned his sixth win of the tournament to stay one behind of the leading pack.

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On eve of World Cup, FIFA chief says: ‘Don’t criticize Qatar; criticize me’

In an extraordinary hourlong soliloquy delivered one day before the opening game, Gianni Infantino railed against critics of the tournament's first Arab host.

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France rocked as Karim Benzema ruled out of World Cup

France's hope of successfully defending the World Cup was dealt a huge blow late on Saturday as Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out ...

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FIFA chief blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Western nations on eve of World Cup

The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by concerns over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community, to the visible annoyance ...

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Hoshoryu beats Wakamotoharu to stay tied for lead of Fukuoka tourney

The rising star from Mongolia improved to 6-1 with his victory to match Takayasu, Abi and Oho.

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Lewis Hamilton focused on future in return to Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton returns to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend 11 months after one of the most rancorous days in Formula One history and ...

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Eddie Jones urges England to rise to challenge against New Zealand

England coach Eddie Jones compared playing New Zealand to climbing Mount Everest as he urged his side to reach the summit against the All Blacks ...

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World Cup mired in controversy set to kick off in Qatar

This edition of the tournament has generated far more headlines about what’s taken place off the pitch than what’s expected to take place on it.

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Brittney Griner moved to remote Russian penal colony

Russian penal colonies are known for their harsh treatment of inmates, unsanitary conditions and lack of access to proper healthcare.

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Max Verstappen hits back over unflattering portrayal in media

"All the things I have read are pretty disgusting," Verstappen said during a news conference.

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Japan falls against Canada in final warmup before World Cup

After kicking off its campaign against Germany, Japan will also face Costa Rica and Spain in a difficult Group E in Qatar.

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Yankees slugger Aaron Judge beats Angels’ Shohei Ohtani in race for AL MVP award

Judge, who set the AL record with 62 home runs, received 28 of 30 first-place votes in what was expected to be a tight race ...

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Japan hoping German experience can provide boost in World Cup opener

Daichi Kamada says the nation's large contingent of players from Germany's Bundesliga can draw mental strength from knowing they "share the same stage" as Germany's ...

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Shohei Ohtani and Naomi Osaka among star athletes sued over collapse of crypto exchange FTX

Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka were among high-profile celebrities who have been sued in a U.S. class ...

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Novak Djokovic cleared to compete in Australian Open in 2023

Australia's immigration minister, Andrew Giles, said Thursday he "personally" intervened in a visa decision that opened the door for Djokovic.

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Former Olympian working to protect female athletes from surreptitious photos

"Athletes are caught off guard after giving their all in a race," Ichikawa said. "It's terrible to take advantage of that kind of situation."

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Justin Verlander joins exclusive club with third AL Cy Young Award; Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara honored in NL

Verlander and Alcantara were unanimous selections. Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani was fourth in the voting.

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Nadeshiko Japan lose to World Cup group rival Spain in friendly

World No. 11 Japan lost its final two matches of the year, having suffered a 4-0 defeat to European champion England four days earlier.

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Reports: Novak Djokovic to get visa for 2023 Australian Open

The former world No. 1's three-year ban can be overturned at the discretion of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left government.

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Ozeki Takakeisho beaten by Takayasu in first loss at Kyushu meet

Takakeisho (2-1), seeking his third Emperor's Cup, failed to join five unbeaten wrestlers despite forcing former ozeki Takayasu (2-1) to the edge with his opening ...

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Julio Rodriguez and Michael Harris II earn Rookie of the Year honors

Mariners star Rodriguez was a near-unanimous selection for the AL, while Harris beat out Braves teammate Spencer Strider in the NL.

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Ozeki pair victorious as Kyushu meet sees no upsets on Day 2

Takakeisho dominated No. 1 maegashira Kotonowaka to stay unbeaten, while demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki Shodai earned his first win against another No. 1, Takayasu.

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Buffaloes and Swallows dominate 2022 Golden Glove selections

The pennant-winning Tokyo Yakult Swallows, who fell to the Buffaloes in the Japan Series, led the Central League with three selections.

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Hong Kong protest song replaces China anthem at South Korea rugby match

The tournament organizers issued an apology and played the Chinese anthem after the match.

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Ukrainian evacuees welcomed at FC Tokyo season finale

The J. League club has increased its cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, including the promotion of "Easy Japanese" for foreign residents.

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‘Electric’ support shows NFL will have staying power in Germany

Thanks to a vintage performance from star quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL was adopted with ease in Munich.

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Could Roki Sasaki become the future face of Japanese baseball?

The Chiba Lotte Marines starting pitcher reflects on the highs and lows of his breakout season.

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England steamroll Japan in World Cup preview at Twickenham

After going toe-to-toe with the All Blacks in a 38-31 loss two weeks ago in Tokyo, the Brave Blossoms surrendered momentum and try-scoring opportunities by ...

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France not interested in being tagged as Rugby World Cup favorite

"The notion of favorites is so subjective," France team manager Raphael Ibanez told reporters this week. "We leave other nations the statute of favorites."

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Lewis Hamilton hoping to deliver ‘home’ triumph at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

The seven-time world champion was confirmed as an honorary Brazilian citizen this week.

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Only certainty about upcoming Kyushu Basho is uncertainty

Predicting who will emerge victorious in the 2022 Kyushu Basho is almost impossible, but another first time champion or unexpected career breakout performance is a ...

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FIFA denies Denmark’s request to wear shirts with human rights message during World Cup

The Danish Football Association (DBU) said on Thursday that FIFA had rejected Denmark's request to train at the World Cup in shirts with the words ...

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Yokozuna Terunofuji to miss Kyushu tourney due to injury

Yokozuna Terunofuji's withdrawal from the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament was confirmed Friday, less than a month after he underwent endoscopic surgery on both knees.The ...

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Hall of Fame pitcher Choji Murata dies after fire at his home

The hard-throwing right-hander retired from professional baseball in 1990 with 215 wins, all of them for the then Lotte Orions.

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Kaoru Mitoma helps lift Brighton to upset of Arsenal in League Cup

The Samurai Blue speedster started the second half at Emirates Stadium and gave the visitors a 2-1 lead against the run of play in the ...

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Samurai Blue’s Japan-based members arrive in Qatar for World Cup

Japan will play its final warmup match before the tournament against Canada in Dubai on Nov. 17.

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Munetaka Murakami homers as Japan routs Australia in WBC warmup

The game was the first of two ahead of March's WBC, when Japan and Australia will square off in their first-round pool at Tokyo Dome.

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Should the Japan Sumo Association reconsider the Kyushu Basho?

While better ticket sales and increased income could potentially be found elsewhere, the value of holding a tournament in Fukuoka isn’t just monetary.

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Laywers say Brittney Griner on her way to penal colony

Neither Griner's exact whereabouts nor her final destination were known, the legal team said in a statement.

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Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo stretchered off after clash of heads

Local paper Stuttgarter Nachrichten reported the Samurai Blue regular was briefly unconscious after the 77th-minute collision.

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Buffaloes manager Satoshi Nakajima wins Shoriki Award

The award is given annually to the manager or player who makes the greatest contribution to Japanese professional baseball.

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NBA star Dwight Howard to play in Taiwanese league

Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, will join the year-old professional league and compete against teams including the Kaohsiung Aquas ...

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Neymar ready to carry the weight of a nation on his shoulders

The PSG star's form and attitude in the first three months of this season bode well ahead of Brazil's bid to win a record sixth ...

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Italy’s Olympic chief apologizes to gymnasts after bullying claims

Three former rhythmic gymnastics, including two double world champions, made claims of abuse which nearly drove one of them to suicide.

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Tottenham manager Antonio Conte ‘confident’ Son Heung-min will recover in time for World Cup

The Spurs star sustained a fracture around his left eye when he collided with Chancel Mbemba during the club's 2-1 win over Marseille last week.

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Hazuki Watanabe becomes youngest Japanese woman to win title at artistic gymnastics world championships

Watanabe joins an exclusive club in Japan as only the fourth woman to win a gymnastics world title.

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Munetaka Murakami homers as Japan’s WBC team edges Fighters

Japan is aiming for its third World Baseball Classic title next March, having won the first two of the four previous editions.

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Momoko Ueda seeks wire-to-wire win at Toto Japan Classic

After two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, Ueda delivered four birdies and a bogey on the back nine in front of the ...

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Yokohama F. Marinos win fifth J1 title after tense battle on season’s last day

Yokohama's win at Vissel was enough to give the J. League cofounder its first championship since 2019 and second under an Australian coach, denying prefectural ...

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Kaoru Mitoma set to realize World Cup dream after injury scare

Although he was named to Japan's 26-man squad on Tuesday, the 25-year-old feared for a time that his World Cup dream might be over before ...

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Kyogo Furuhashi shifts focus to Celtic after being left off Japan’s squad for World Cup

Asked what more he needed to do to earn national selection after scoring consistently for his club, Furuhashi said he would simply try to continue ...

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Astros top Phillies in Game 5 thriller to move to brink of World Series title

Houston Astros rookie Jeremy Pena had a home run and a run-scoring single and star pitcher Justin Verlander battled through five innings as the Astros ...

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Japan defender Yuta Nakayama ruled out of World Cup with Achilles injury

Japan defender Yuta Nakayama will miss the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after being ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles ...

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England’s Harry Kane on precipice of history — and more — as World Cup approaches

With 18 months left on his contract at Tottenham, Kane's career is at a crossroads.

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Astros throw combined no-hitter in Game 4 of World Series

The only previous World Series no-hitter was a perfect game by the New York Yankees' Don Larsen against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of ...

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Confident Brave Blossoms head to Europe after close call against All Blacks

"We're no longer the team that is going to be satisfied by games where we come close," flanker Kazuki Himeno said.

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Buffaloes may allow Masataka Yoshida to make MLB move via posting system under right conditions

Because Yoshida still needs to qualify to go to MLB as a free agent, any move would require Orix to approve a transfer via the ...

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Daichi Kamada nets as Frankfurt reaches Champions League last 16

Kamada, who started in defensive midfield and moved a position further up the pitch in the second half, vindicated his worth once again to the ...

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Rafael Nadal no longer fighting for top spot

Nadal has been ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks of his glittering career and has finished as the year-end No. 1 on five occasions.

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Trials of lower tackles in rugby to expand in New Zealand

Lower tackling was tested in selected competitions last year among growing concerns over head injuries in the sport.

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