NYT Soccer

• Soccer Watchalongs Like Stretford Paddock Offer a Broadcast Alternative

  Soccer fans are tuning out broadcasts in favor of watchalongs: streaming parties where you hear what you want to hear and see everything except the game.

• The Premier League Needs a Commissioner

  Allowing clubs to block rule changes and money to delay punishments feeds the perception that the same rules do not apply to everyone.

• Messi Surcharge: Red Bulls, Other M.L.S. Teams to Charge More for Miami Games

  A Red Bulls promotion has some fine print: If Inter Miami is the opponent, you get a different game.

• Swedish Soccer Prioritized Fans Over Finances. Now, Business Is Booming.

  While most of Europe’s leagues engage in a Sisyphean quest to source as much money as possible, Sweden has chosen a different model. But its rewards come with risk.

• North Korea’s Han Kwang-song Returns to International Soccer

  Han Kwang-song’s recent appearances in World Cup qualifiers were his first ones overseas since 2020, when U.N. sanctions led to an involuntary career break.

• How FIFA Handed Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup

  FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, cheered a plan to take soccer’s richest event to the kingdom. He has said little about his years of work to make that happen.

• Xabi Alonso Isn’t Coming to Save Your Team. Not Yet.

  The patience of Alonso, the Bayer Leverkusen manager, says a lot about him, and just as much about a sport perpetually chasing the next big thing.

• Everton Docked 10 Points, a Premier League Record, in Financial Case

  The penalty adds to the problems of a team operating under a mountain of debt. It vowed to appeal.