Soccer

GAA and soccer grounds have taken ‘real hammering’ over the prolonged hot and dry spell

Israel continues to try to annihilate the population of Gaza and the West Bank

Friendly between Manchester United and Leeds United will draw 83,000 fans

In the News podcast: Dan O’Toole is chief of staff at Fifa but was a largely unknown figure until last week

Sweat and sacrifice shown by winners does not always pay off in the long run when it comes to treasured medals

Summer signing impresses in 5-1 win as Martin O’Neill absent after midweek hospital stay

Amsterdam club went on to conquer Europe after Ireland gave them their first professional manager in 1910

If he is to survive as Fifa president, he must continue to play the rest of the world off against the continent which allowed him to rise to power.

Goal now about channelling frustration of narrow exit from Champions League qualifiers to Ararat-Armenia

SOCCER-ITALY/BARESI (PIX):Former AC Milan and Italy defender Baresi dead at 66

All 55 Uefa nations have rebelled against Fifa’s plans to sell World Cup stake to private equity

Uefa has heavily criticised the proposal, saying it ‘crosses a line’

Soccer just may be entering a state of worldwide decline, and there are numerous disturbing signs that such is the case

Madonna kicked off the Super Bowl-style show, one of ​several American elements added to this year’s tournament

Alternative to Fifa runs own global tournament and has accepted Cumann Sacair Gaeilge, an all-island team for Irish speakers

Sky no limit as we witness Messi deliver from the wing seats

While the country partied, the Girls in Green overcame neglect and prejudice. Now they could be off to the World Cup

Look beyond the flashpoints and flare-ups, and there is something more profound at work here

My partner supports his country, but he approaches the matches with a confidence that I find both alien and deeply unsettling

Fans of the oval ball game must move away from elitism and tired prejudice

Collective effort and individual flair make Norway a wonderful team to watch, and increasingly hard to beat

Agreeing to play the games risks normalising a situation the Irish State has repeatedly condemned

Unthinkable: For some, football is a pointless, thuggish distraction; for others, it’s everything

Both styles of management and play can get results, but only one is unashamedly, joyously human

Top Montrose executive says coverage ‘provided on a cost-competitive basis’ reaped benefits

There are plenty of villains in the Donegal writer’s authoritative probe on how gambling has infected soccer’s soul

Paraguay drubbing raises the question, can the US break football?

Minister’s Olympics excuse sounds like scraping the barrel for pretexts to justify inaction

The 102-year-old Dubliner is being honoured for his services to football at a presentation hosted by the city’s Lord Mayor

While I fondly remember the World Cups I watched as a child, the ones I’ve watched as an adult were more enjoyable

Inside Politics: Two motions will be tabled this week calling for the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League matches with Israel to be called off

We all have our favourite World Cup memories, and in most cases, they involve sitting on a couch in a livingroom, staring at the screen

World Cup chief operating officer says hard-sided resealable water containers could pose ‘safety and security risk’

But squad is without Denise O’Sullivan, the team’s creative force, and Emily Murphy

The Republic of Ireland won’t be playing across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Who will you cheer for instead?

Rioting takes place in 15 French cities after Paris Saint-Germain won their second consecutive title on penalties

Former president praised Ireland’s Séamus Coleman for his remarks about it during the week

A guide for parents to the best Irish summer camps, from badminton and basketball to rock climbing and surfing

Many American soccer fans do not appear especially excited. Even Donald Trump has baulked at the ticket prices

Daizen Maeda’s VAR-assisted goal in the 87th minute put Celtic ahead before Callum Osmand scored a third