分类： sports

BERLIN — In a high-profile development that has sent ripples through European soccer, German law enforcement carried out a series of coordinated raids across the country on Wednesday, launching an official investigation into alleged corrupt practices tied to the upcoming 2024 European Championship.

Multiple premises connected to the tournament were targeted during the operation, including the central headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB), Germany’s top governing body for the sport, according to initial reporting from German tabloid Bild. The inquiry specifically centers on Euro 2024 GmbH, the event’s official organizing body, which operates as a joint venture between the DFB and European soccer’s governing body UEFA.

In a formal joint statement released Wednesday, the Bochum Public Prosecutor’s Office and the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA NRW) outlined the core of the allegations. Investigations focus on claims of unapproved improper benefits received by a former employee of one of Euro 2024’s host cities. These benefits reportedly include, among other perks, complimentary access to a professional soccer match, provided by senior officials from the tournament’s organizing committee.

Prosecutors further detailed that organizing officials are accused of granting host cities unprecedented exclusive first-refusal rights to high-demand match tickets. Multiple host cities took advantage of these allocations, and the tickets were distributed for a range of unapproved uses, authorities say.

Bild, which first broke details of the scale of the raid operation, confirmed that Wednesday’s early-morning action deployed more than 150 law enforcement officers across multiple search sites. The investigation itself targets two suspects: a 66-year-old German citizen and a 46-year-old French national, who are both suspected of involvement in bribery schemes. The reporting adds that the probe has uncovered evidence suggesting thousands of Euro 2024 tickets may have been improperly diverted and allocated internally to hand-picked guests rather than sold to the general public as intended.

Alongside the DFB headquarters, search warrants were also executed at city hall buildings and municipal government offices across multiple host cities for the tournament, according to Bild’s reporting.

Prosecutors emphasized that as of Wednesday, the two named suspects have not yet been able to respond publicly to the allegations brought against them. Consistent with German legal procedure, the principle of presumption of innocence remains in effect for all parties involved in the ongoing investigation.

This developing story is part of Associated Press coverage of international soccer, with full updates available on the AP News soccer hub.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America delivered one of its most dominant and emotionally resonant displays yet on Tuesday, as pre-tournament favorites France crushed Sweden 3-0 to punch their ticket to the knockout round. The victory was far more than just three points: it was a powerful showcase of team unity, individual brilliance, and a heartfelt tribute to head coach Didier Deschamps, who made his return to the dugout just days after returning home to attend his mother’s funeral.

From the opening whistle, France’s attacking firepower proved too much for a Swedish side fighting to stay in the tournament. It was Kylian Mbappe, the tournament’s standout star, who broke the deadlock with a typically clinical finish. Instead of wheeling away in solo celebration, the Real Madrid forward sprinted straight to the touchline to embrace Deschamps, before the entire squad joined them for a warm group hug. In a moment that captured the tight bond of this French squad, the gesture spoke volumes about the team’s solidarity through a difficult week for their manager.

After the match, Deschamps highlighted that collective strength as the foundation of France’s success. “This group is united and they delivered when I was not here last week,” he told reporters. “Team spirit doesn’t guarantee you win matches, but without it, you can easily lose. Collective strength comes above everything else.” Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni echoed that sentiment, adding: “We know the coach is going through a lot right now, we all wanted to give everything to make him as happy as possible.”

Once the emotional opening settled, France turned on the style in the sweltering heat of New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Young winger Bradley Barcola slotted home to double the lead shortly after half-time, before Mbappe grabbed his second of the night, pulling him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi on six tournament goals at the top of the Golden Boot race. That strike took Mbappe’s career World Cup tally to 18, just one goal behind Messi’s all-time competition record of 19. He has now scored multiple goals in seven separate World Cup matches – three more than any other player in tournament history.

While Mbappe’s finishing grabbed the headlines, 24-year-old playmaker Michael Olise continued his stunning breakout tournament, notching two assists to take his total to five for the competition. That makes Olise the first player to register five or more assists at a single World Cup since 1994, marking a remarkable rise for a player who began his youth career at non-league Hayes & Yeading United just 18 years ago. Deschamps heaped praise on the former Crystal Palace man after the match: “Michael is playing top-notch football. He is a major influence within the squad, the link between our strikers and midfield. He may be a bit of an introvert off the pitch, but that changes completely when he steps onto the grass.”

Tuesday’s 3-0 win cemented France’s place in the history books before the knockout stage even begins: Didier Deschamps’ side became the first team ever to score three or more goals in five consecutive World Cup matches. Across their four group-stage games in the United States, France have already found the net 13 times, with individual statistics that outstrip every other contender in the tournament. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has contributed to six goals (four goals, two assists), while his combination play with Mbappe has produced six tournament goals – four from Dembele to Mbappe, two in the reverse direction – the most by any attacking duo since 1966.

The performance left footballing legends in no doubt about France’s status as the team to beat. Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright told ITV Sport: “You cannot stop this kind of ability. France are one of the most clear favourites I have ever seen in a World Cup tournament.” His former Arsenal teammate Patrick Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, added: “They showed to everyone that they are the team to beat.” Former England defender Gary Neville echoed that assessment, saying: “That starting front four – Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Barcola – they will cause nightmares for every single defender in this tournament. They are a level above. The rest of the contenders are looking at them thinking ‘that is the standard we have to reach’.”

Even Sweden manager Graham Potter conceded that his side had been beaten by a truly elite outfit. “It’s no disgrace to go out to this France team,” he said. “I haven’t seen a better team in this tournament.”

France will now face Paraguay in their round-of-16 tie in Philadelphia on July 4, kicking off at 22:00 BST. If they progress, a quarter-final clash awaits against either co-host Canada or Morocco at Boston’s Gillette Stadium on July 9. Despite the record-breaking form and overwhelming praise from pundits, Deschamps insisted his side would not get ahead of themselves. “Please, slow down,” he said when asked if his side could go all the way to the title. “There is always room for improvement, not everything is perfect. We have reached the round of 16, let’s appreciate that first. We know what is expected of us, we did what we had to do today even if the first 15 minutes were a bit timid. It’s only the round of 16, we have to stay calm.”

Four years after their penalty shootout heartbreak against Argentina in the 2022 Qatar final, this French side looks more determined than ever to claim a third World Cup title. With their attacking unit firing on all cylinders, and a tight team spirit carrying them through challenging moments, the question on every fan’s mind after Tuesday’s display remains: is there any side in the tournament that can stop Deschamps’ red-hot favorites?

For nearly a quarter-century, the United States men’s national soccer team has carried the weight of a stubborn, unwanted label: perennial underperformers in World Cup knockout matches. That narrative is set to face its biggest test on Wednesday night, when the Americans take on Bosnia-Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, aiming to secure their first win in an elimination round fixture since 2002.

The U.S.’s sole knockout victory in modern history came 24 years ago on June 17, 2002, when the team downed Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16 during the co-hosted tournament in South Korea and Japan. In the three knockout appearances the Americans have made since that upset over their regional rivals, they have walked away winless, a dry spell the entire squad is determined to break this time around.

A major boost for the U.S. camp comes as star playmaker Christian Pulisic confirms he is fit and ready to start. Pulisic was sidelined for the team’s second group stage match with a minor calf injury, and only saw 33 minutes of play off the bench in the final group fixture against Turkey, a 3-2 loss that saw the U.S. still clinch the top spot in their group. “I feel good and ready to go for tomorrow,” Pulisic told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s clash. “We understand what it means, you win or you go home. There definitely needs to be a lot of focus and attention to detail this week. But I think the vibe feels good. We’ve still kept it light and we still are going to be ready to battle once the whistle blows.”

For head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the build-up to the match included a public apology to the media for his sharp tone following the Turkey loss. Pochettino opened his Tuesday press conference by acknowledging his frustration got the better of him after the defeat, when he called out reporters for failing to celebrate the team’s already locked-in group title. “I want to apologize to the guys that were in my last press conference,” he said. “I was so frustrated. I was disappointed. I thank you and am sorry. It was my problem, not your problem. I was upset after the defeat.”

Geographically, Wednesday’s match carries a subtle layer of history for U.S. World Cup soccer. The 1994 U.S. host squad advanced out of the group stage and faced eventual champions Brazil at Stanford Stadium, just 15 miles north of Santa Clara, where they fell 1-0. Oddsmakers have installed the Americans as favorites to advance this time around, despite the team’s long-running poor record against European opposition: since returning to the World Cup in 1990 (their first appearance in 40 years), the U.S. has only one win in 21 matches against European sides, with seven draws and 13 losses.

Wednesday’s round of 32 slate features two other high-stakes fixtures: England will square off against first-time knockout qualifiers Congo in Atlanta at noon EDT, while Belgium will take on Senegal in Seattle at 4 p.m. EDT before the U.S.-Bosnia kickoff at 8 p.m. EDT.

England heads into their match facing mounting injury trouble at the right back position, with first-choice Reece James sidelined by a hamstring injury and backup Jarrell Quansah picking up an ankle twist in the team’s 2-0 group stage win over Panama. Head coach Thomas Tuchel, however, remains calm under early tournament pressure, confirming that winger Bukayo Saka—who entered the tournament carrying a minor injury—will be fit to start. Tuchel added that both injured defenders are close to returning, a goal that depends on England getting past Congo first. “They’re getting closer and closer,” Tuchel said. “The race was close even to make it into my squad this time. So we need to make sure that we have more matches. That is the main focus, and then that will be very soon.”

For Congo, this marks the first time the nation has ever advanced to the knockout round of a men’s World Cup. The side pulled off an impressive group stage run, holding powerhouse Portugal to a 1-1 draw before beating Uzbekistan to secure their spot in the round of 32. Head coach Sébastien Desabre said his team is not intimidated by the challenge facing them. “It is true we are looking at a difficult match, but in no way insurmountable,” Desabre said. “We have proven this against teams that were supposed to be superior to us, that we could actually put in a good performance. So we are focusing on our strengths, we are walking our path and once you get to this point in the competition, it’s difficult for everyone.”

Belgium, meanwhile, is looking to recapture the magic of its 2018 World Cup run, where the side claimed a historic third-place finish before crashing out in the group stage in Qatar four years ago. By topping Group G this year, including a 5-1 blowout of New Zealand in the final group match, Belgium has already exceeded its coach’s minimum expectations. “We wanted to finish first in the group stage and we succeeded,” head coach Rudi Garcia said. “Of course we wanted to win more — we know the story of our World Cup so far. Now it is time for the knockout phase. Senegal is a big team. But, you have to beat them, too, if you want to go far in a World Cup.”

The round of 32 will continue on Thursday with three more matches: Spain vs. Austria, Portugal vs. Croatia, and Switzerland vs. Algeria, before wrapping up on Friday with Australia vs. Egypt, Cape Verde vs. Argentina, and Colombia vs. Ghana. The round of 16 kick off will begin this Saturday.

On a sweltering, low-air-quality Tuesday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Kylian Mbappé delivered a career-defining performance that secured France a 3-0 victory over Sweden and etched his name deeper into World Cup history, booking Les Bleus a spot in the tournament’s round of 16 against Paraguay.

The match kicked off at 5 p.m. with temperatures hitting 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), with thick humidity and poor air quality testing the stamina of every player on the pitch. France dominated possession and chances from the opening whistle, outshooting Sweden 25-7 overall and 15-3 in the first half alone. Mbappé came close to breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute, his effort clattering off the goalpost, and four minutes later, Michael Olise’s acrobatic bicycle kick from inside the penalty area also hit the woodwork, leaving the French side frustrated going into the final minutes of the first half.

It was Mbappé who finally broke through in first-half stoppage time, netting a superbly crafted opening goal. After Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström tipped Olise’s original shot just wide of the post, Olise played a short corner to Ousmane Dembélé, who threaded a pass to Mbappé near the byline. The French superstar pulled off a clinical crossover step to shake off Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres, then curled a precise diagonal shot from just outside the six-yard box into the far corner of the net, putting France ahead 1-0 going into halftime.

Les Bleus extended their lead just eight minutes into the second half. When Sweden’s Gustaf Lagerbielke gave away possession deep in his own half, Aurélien Tchouaméni found Olise, who nutmegged Lagerbielke before playing the ball through to Bradley Barcola. Barcola took a calm controlling touch and slotted the ball past Zetterström’s outstretched right hand to make it 2-0.

Mbappé capped off the win in the 74th minute, putting the final stamp on a masterclass performance. The build-up featured a clever backheel from Mbappé to Barcola, who shifted the ball to Olise, who then played a through ball into the penalty area for the onrushing Mbappé. He settled the ball with one touch and fired it into the far post to secure the 3-0 final score.

With that goal, Mbappé claimed a new World Cup record: his 10 knockout stage goals are two more than the previous shared record held by Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo. The two-goal haul was his third in four matches at this tournament, bringing his total goal count at this World Cup to six, tying him with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the golden boot lead. His career World Cup goal total now stands at 18, just one goal behind Messi’s all-time record of 19.

After the match, Mbappé deflected praise away from himself, emphasizing the importance of the entire French squad. “I’m very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it’s not just about me,” he said via a translator. “The entire team is aware of what should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play well, but we were timid. We could have done better at the beginning.”

The French star also spoke out in support of head coach Didier Deschamps, who recently returned to the team’s camp after traveling back to France for his mother’s funeral. When Mbappé was substituted in the 85th minute, Deschamps greeted him with a bow to the standing star. “He knows that he will never be alone with us and we will support him,” Mbappé said of the coach.

As for the brutal playing conditions, Mbappé joked that his immediate focus after the match was not the upcoming round of 16 fixture, but the changing room’s air conditioning: “I’m looking forward to the changing room and the AC.”

Sweden captain Victor Lindelöf paid tribute to France’s quality after the final whistle, acknowledging his side had fallen to one of the best teams in the tournament. “They are skilled at knowing when to change the pace and increase it, when to possess the ball, when to fall back,” he said via a translator. “If we look at where we were not so long ago — we’re here and we’ve played in the World Cup. We lost against one of the best countries in the world.”

France, the 2018 World Cup champion and 2022 runner-up, enters this tournament as one of the favorites to lift the trophy, and is now targeting a third consecutive final appearance. They will face Paraguay in the round of 16 on July 4 in Philadelphia, with the winner advancing to a quarterfinal fixture against either Canada or Morocco five days later in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Through four matches, France has outscored its opponents 13-2, with Olise notching five assists to anchor the team’s attack.

Tuesday’s match at MetLife — the venue for this tournament’s July 19 final — also helped the expanded 104-match World Cup hit a new milestone: the total attendance for the tournament surpassed 5 million, with 80,663 fans filling the stands for the fixture, the majority backing France in blue, with a section of supporters cheering Sweden in yellow at one end of the ground.