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

World Cup

Get NPR's coverage of the FIFA World Cup

Thursday

Alex Morgan, right, celebrates with Lindsey Horan and Megan Rapinoe after scoring her 100th international goal on April 4 in Colorado. The three will represent the U.S. at the Women's World Cup next month in France. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Friday

The members of the U.S. women's national soccer team filed a lawsuit Friday against U.S. Soccer, accusing it of gender discrimination. The starting 11 are seen here before playing Brazil earlier this week in Tampa, Fla. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

U.S. Women's Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer For Gender Discrimination

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/701522635/701671646" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

U.S. Women's National Soccer Team forward Megan Rapinoe, right, tries to get around Japan's Risa Shimizu, left, with the ball during the first half of SheBelieves Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Chester, Pa. The U.S. tied Japan 2-2 in a friendly match in the run-up to the World Cup in June. Chris Szagola/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Szagola/AP

Sunday

Saturday

Referee Howard Webb of England, right, shows the red card to Netherlands' John Heitinga, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, July 11, 2010. Martin Meissner/ASSOCIATED PRESS hide caption

toggle caption
Martin Meissner/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-World Cup Final Referee Talks About This Critical Role Ahead Of Croatia Vs. France

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/629131928/629131929" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

In a June 22 World Cup Match in St. Petersburg, Russia, Costa Rica's Giancarlo Gonzalez fouls Brazil's Neymar (in blue at left), but the penalty was rescinded after Video Assistant Referee review. Brazil went on to win 2-0. Lee Smith/Reuters hide caption

toggle caption
Lee Smith/Reuters

Has Video Refereeing Ruined The World Cup?

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/628118868/628907392" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

The White Stripes officially broke up in 2011, but the band's presence is still felt in sports stadiums around the world thanks to the song "Seven Nation Army." Jessica Bindernagel/EyeEm/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Jessica Bindernagel/EyeEm/Getty Images

Why 'Seven Nation Army' Is The One Jock Jam To Rule Them All

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/626288758/628138037" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Thursday

Children play in the fountains near the Monument of Glory statue in Samara, Russia. The city's utility company is urging residents to conserve water during the World Cup. Stuart Franklin/FIFA via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Stuart Franklin/FIFA via Getty Images

Wednesday

Aleksandr Purgayev (left) and Aleksandr Selyukh grew up together, and both played for their town's soccer team in the 1970s. Purgayev is now the team's coach. Alina Selyukh/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Alina Selyukh/NPR

Reporter's Notebook: In Small-Town Russia, 'Football Is My Life'

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/624188051/625890164" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

France's Olivier Giroud, center, goes down after a header during the group C match between Denmark and France at the 2018 soccer World Cup at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Tuesday. The teams played to a scoreless tie — the tournament's first. David Vincent/AP hide caption

toggle caption
David Vincent/AP

Tuesday

Sunday

In the Sochi Olympic Park, the Bolshoy Ice Dome is seen behind the Olympic flame cauldron, which now has a singing fountain that performs for tourists after sunset. The 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, was the most expensive Olympics in history. Alina Selyukh/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Alina Selyukh/NPR

#Sochifornia: Locals Say 2014 Olympics Helped Sochi Shed Its Soviet Sheen

Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/621125312/623024829" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript