Accessibility links
World Cup Get NPR's coverage of the FIFA World Cup.
Special Series

World Cup

Get NPR's coverage of the FIFA World Cup

Tuesday

Friday

Thursday

Top FIFA Exec Suspended After Alleged World Cup Tickets Scheme

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, already accused of involvement in a $10 million bribe to help South Africa win the 2010 World Cup bid, has been suspended by FIFA after allegations were made that he was involved in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets. Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Top FIFA Exec Suspended After Alleged World Cup Tickets Scheme

In the latest scandal to hit the world soccer governing body, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke has been put on leave amid allegations of a plot to profit personally from ticket sales.

Sunday

U.S. Women Win World Cup Final 5-2, After Spectacular Start

To the delight of American fans, Carli Lloyd of the United States scored a hat trick in the first 15 minutes of the FIFA Women's World Cup Final against Japan on Sunday. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Women Win World Cup Final 5-2, After Spectacular Start

In the first five minutes, Carli Lloyd scored two swift goals. Lauren Holiday brought the score up to 3, and then Lloyd scored from midfield for a hat trick. The team led 4-0 after just 15 minutes.

U.S. Women Head Into World Cup Final With Dominant Defense

Japan fans are wildly outnumbered by red, white and blue ahead of the game on Sunday, but these three are decked out and ready to go. From left, Asuka Tsujimoto Keiko Tsujii and Yuri Nakayama came to Vancouver to cheer their country on. Melissa Block/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Melissa Block/NPR

The Two-Way

U.S. Women Head Into World Cup Final With Dominant Defense

The U.S. hasn't given up a goal since its opener against Australia — a stunning scoreless streak of 513 minutes. Now the team meets Japan for a hotly anticipated rematch of the last World Cup final.

Wednesday

Tuesday

U.S. Topples Top-Ranked Germany 2-0 To Reach World Cup Final

Carli Lloyd of the U.S. (in white) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick Tuesday night in the Americans' 2-0 World Cup semifinal victory against Germany. Elsa/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Elsa/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Topples Top-Ranked Germany 2-0 To Reach World Cup Final

In a battle between a fantastic attack and a fantastic defense, the latter prevailed, as two penalty kicks — one made, one whiffed — and a late insurance goal gave the U.S. the win.

Friday

U.S. Women Take Out China, Advance To World Cup Semifinals

Goalie Hope Solo of the United States celebrates with midfielder Carli Lloyd on Friday after defeating China 1-0 in the Women's World Cup quarterfinals in Ottawa, Canada. Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Women Take Out China, Advance To World Cup Semifinals

The win sets up a No. 2 vs. No. 1 matchup when the Americans will face Germany on Tuesday, as the U.S. continues its pursuit of its first World Cup title since 1999.

Tuesday

U.S. Women Beat Nigeria 1-0, Win Group And Advance To Elimination Rounds

Abby Wambach of the U.S. (from right) celebrates with teammates Lauren Holiday and Tobin Heath after scoring against Nigeria at the end of the first half Tuesday during the FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, Canada. Ben Nelms/EPA/Landov hide caption

toggle caption
Ben Nelms/EPA/Landov

The Two-Way

U.S. Women Beat Nigeria 1-0, Win Group And Advance To Elimination Rounds

The victory, thanks to a goal by Abby Wambach, eases the Americans' path toward the World Cup, while the Nigerians were eliminated by the loss.

Nigerian Soccer Fans Really Know How To Have A Ball

Nigerian fans stand and deliver cheers at a match against Australia, played during the Women's World Cup in Winnipeg, Canada. Russell Lewis/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Russell Lewis/NPR

Goats and Soda

Nigerian Soccer Fans Really Know How To Have A Ball

The U.S. team, which plays Nigeria tonight at the Women's World Cup, is a tournament favorite. But Nigeria's funtastic fans deserve a cup of their own.

Nigerian Soccer Fans Really Know How To Have A Ball

Listen · 2:12
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/414724730/414985849" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

U.S. And Sweden Struggle To 0-0 Tie In Women's World Cup

Defenders Meghan Klingenberg, left, and Becky Sauerbrunn of the United States sandwich Sofia Jakobsson of Sweden on Friday during their Group D World Cup match in Winnipeg, Canada. Wang Lili/Xinhua/Landov hide caption

toggle caption
Wang Lili/Xinhua/Landov

The Two-Way

U.S. And Sweden Struggle To 0-0 Tie In Women's World Cup

The Americans had hoped for more against their trash-talking former coach, who now leads the Swedes, but Friday night's tie in Winnipeg still leaves them atop their group.

Wednesday

Monday

Brazil's World Cup Legacy Includes $550M Stadium-Turned-Parking Lot

Brazil spent billions renovating and building World Cup stadiums. Almost a year after the tournament ended, the nation is still trying to figure out what to do with them. The Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil (shown here in April 2014), was the most expensive of the stadiums — at a cost of $550 million — and is now being used as a bus parking lot. Eraldo Peres/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Eraldo Peres/AP

Parallels

Brazil's World Cup Legacy Includes $550M Stadium-Turned-Parking Lot

Another lavish $215 million arena built for last year's event is now a homeless shelter. Touted as one of the best World Cups in history on the pitch, it's left a hangover of waste and mismanagement.

Brazil's World Cup Legacy Includes $550M Stadium-Turned-Parking Lot

Listen · 4:00
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/405955547/405955548" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Sunday

U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Cements Its Dominance

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team left its CONCACAF tournament competition in the dust. The team didn't give up a single goal all tournament. Abby Wambach, shown controlling the ball in the second half of the U.S. 6-0 win over Costa Rica in the finals, scored seven of the U.S. team's 21 goals. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Cements Its Dominance

The U.S. team didn't give up a single goal in the 5-game CONCACAF tournament. They capped off their performance Sunday with a near-perfect 6-0 game against Costa Rica.