RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Felled by an opponent’s knee to the head as they both chased the ball, a player is seemingly out cold on a World Cup pitch. The clock is ticking. Millions are watching. National honor, careers and sponsorship dollars are at stake.Groggily, the player wakes up and argues furiously with his team doctor that he must play on. For anyone attuned to the dangers of concussions and head injuries, this is when alarm bells ring ― just as they did when this scenario unfolded at the Wo

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― A monitoring group has challenged FIFA to show leadership in tackling discrimination after the sport’s world governing body dropped an investigation of Mexico fans chanting an alleged gay slur.FIFA’s disciplinary panel ruled Monday that the chant heard during Mexico vs. Cameroon on June 13 “is not considered insulting in this specific context.”Closing that case ended potential FIFA action against Brazil’s football federation after fans exchanged the same chant during the ho

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The man who invaded the pitch during the Germany-Ghana match at the World Cup was a neo-Nazi sympathizer, according to a report that will be delivered to FIFA on Monday.The fans’ anti-discrimination network, Fare, is preparing a report on Saturday’s incident, when a shirtless fan interrupted play.Messages written on his chest and back included “HH,” signifying Heil Hitler, and “SS,” referring to the Nazi paramilitary unit.“There would be no other explanation for it,” Fare e

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Yonhap) ― It seems to be an unlikely scenario after South Korea was thoroughly defeated by Algeria 4-2 on Sunday at the FIFA World Cup, but the Asian side still has a fighting chance to reach the knockout stage.An earlier 1-1 draw with Russia and the loss Sunday leave South Korea with one point, last among the four teams in Group H. South Korea will face Belgium in its must-win finale on Thursday in Sao Paulo.Belgium already qualified for the knockout stage with a 1-0 win o

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― At midway point, the World Cup went from bad to worse for Asia and the tournament’s next host, Russia. But it went from great to even better for spectators hankering for goals.South Korea teeters on the verge of elimination after losing 4-2 to Algeria on Sunday. Asia is now at real risk of having no team in the next knockout round of football’s showcase.One of the four Asian nations ― Australia ― is already sure to be going home, regardless of whether it wins its last match

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― It’s hardly a secret weapon. Everyone knows Lionel Messi shoots with his left foot 9 times out of 10.Yet over 90 minutes there’s bound to be that one moment when he finds enough space to unleash a left-foot strike that can’t be stopped even if you see it coming.Against Bosnia, it was with 25 minutes left of the match. Against Iran, it happened in stoppage time.In fact, considering that Bosnia’s early own goal in the opening Group F match resulted from Messi’s free k

Cheers by tens of thousands South Koreans on the street across the country were muted early Monday following the national football team's defeat against Algeria in their second World Cup match.The Group H clash between South Korea and Algeria kicked off at 4 a.m. on Wednesday (Seoul Time) at Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, southeastern Brazil.Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul turned into a sea of red as fans packed the plaza, sporting their signature Red Devil shirts and hair bands, and ho