Top games to watch this week
Friday, April 1
FIFA World Cup draw
Sporting Braga vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Union Berlin vs Koln (Bundesliga)
Saturday, April 2
Liverpool vs Watford (English Premier League)
Burnley vs Man City (English Premier League)
Man United vs Leicester City (English Premier League)
Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Freiburg vs Bayern München (Bundesliga)
Nice vs Rennes (Ligue 1)
San Diego Wave vs Angel City FC (NWSL Challenge Cup)
Portland Thorns vs OL Reign (NWSL Challenge Cup)
Sunday, April 3
Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich (Frauen Bundesliga)
Tottenham vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs Sevilla (La Liga)
Juventus vs Inter (Serie A)
Sporting CP vs Pacos de Ferreira (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs Lorient (Ligue 1)
Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy (MLS)
Monday, April 4
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Real Sociedad vs Espanyol (La Liga)
Milan vs Bologna (Serie A)
Porto vs Santa Clara (Primeira Liga)
Tuesday, April 5
Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul (CONCACAF Champions League)
Man City vs Atlético Madrid (UEFA Champions League)
Benfica vs Liverpool (UEFA Champions League)
Caracas vs Atlético PR (Copa Libertadores)
Olimpia vs Cerro Porteño (Copa Libertadores)
Colón vs Peñarol (Copa Libertadores)
Always Ready vs Corinthians (Copa Libertadores)
Deportivo Cali vs Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
Sporting Cristal vs Flamengo (Copa Libertadores)
Wednesday, April 6
Chelsea vs Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League)
Villarreal vs Bayern (UEFA Champions League)
RB Bragantino vs Nacional (Copa Libertadores)
América Mineiro vs Independiente del Valle (Copa Libertadores)
Talleres de Córdoba vs U. Católica (Copa Libertadores)
Deportivo Táchira vs Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores)
Deportes Tolima vs Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
Alianza Lima vs River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
Independiente Petrolero vs Emelec (Copa Libertadores)
Seattle Sounders vs New York City FC (CONCACAF Champions League)
Thursday, April 7
RB Leipzig vs Atalanta (UEFA Europa League)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Barcelona (UEFA Europa League)
West Ham vs Lyon (UEFA Europa League)
Sporting Braga vs Rangers (UEFA Europa League)
Feyenoord vs Slavia Praha (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Leicester vs PSV (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Bodo/Glimt vs Roma (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Marseille vs PAOK (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Fortaleza vs Colo Colo (Copa Libertadores)
Estudiantes vs Vélez Sarsfield (Copa Libertadores)
The Strongest vs Libertad (Copa Libertadores)
Most-watched soccer games on U.S. TV: March 21-27, 2022
A CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying clash between the USMNT and Panama topped the list of games broadcasted last week. FOX Sports 1's broadcast averaged 1,036,000 viewers, scoring a 0.41 viewership rating. The U.S. terminated Panama's hopes of participating in the 2022 World Cup, winning 5-1 on Sunday. On the other hand, Greg Berhalter's side practically sealed their tickets to the sport's biggest stage.
Another broadcast of an Octagonal match, this time on TUDN, screened a clash between rivals the USA and Mexico on Thursday, March 24. The broadcast received a 0.24 viewership rating after 484,000 average viewers watched. The Stars and Stripes were able to hold off a hungry Mexican side led by Tata Martino at Estadio Azteca, ending in a one-all draw. The result ended up helping the two nations, who eventually ended up claiming their tickets to Qatar 2022
The third most-watched soccer broadcast in the USA was aired by NBC on Sunday. It was an FA Women's Super League match between Manchester United and Everton. Man Utd forward Alessia Russo scored a brace in the Red Devils 3-1 win over the Toffees. The broadcast averaged 484,000 viewers and received a 0.25 viewership rating.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Man United vs Leicester live this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, fuboTV, and Sling TV
With the international break finally coming to an end, the return of club football is ushered in by none other than the Premier League, with Manchester United vs Leicester on Saturday being our first standout tie to make this list. This is the first game for the Red Devils since losing 1-0 at Old Trafford to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, a result which knocked them out of Europe. In their last Premier League outing, Rangnick's men beat Tottenham 3-2 thanks to a brilliant Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. Unfortunately, Leicester will offer them a stern test. Will Manchester United beat the Foxes and maintain their top-four push or will the English giants drop points and lose ground in the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League? Tune in to find out.
Juventus vs Inter Milan live this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and fuboTV
The next game to make our list comes courtesy of Serie A, with Juventus taking on Inter Milan in a highly-anticipated showdown. The Bianconeri bounced back from their embarrassing UEFA Champions League exit at home to Villarreal, beating Salernitana 2-0 right before the break. The Old Lady currently boast a healthy eight-point lead over fifth-placed Atalanta; however, Allegri's men will give it their all to beat their bitter rivals. Inter Milan, meanwhile, enter this game on the back of a two-game winless run, drawing against Torino and Fiorentina in back-to-back games. As a result, the Nerazzurri have dropped six points behind current leaders AC Milan and three behind second-placed Napoli. However, Inzaghi's third-placed side have a game in hand over the top two. Will they return to winning ways in Turin? Don't miss this clash.
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Barcelona vs Sevilla live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
An in-form Barcelona side return to action this weekend, with the Catalan giants taking on Sevilla in the highlight fixture of the upcoming La Liga round. Xavi's men enter this game on the back of their spectacular 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, which came just before the international break. Fun fact: Barcelona Femení also faced Real Madrid in El Clasico a few days ago and triumphed 5-2 in front of a world-record Camp Nou crowd. Pedri and Co. are currently third in the men's Primera Division table, with their opponents sitting only three points ahead in second. Victory on Sunday will see the Catalan giants leapfrog their nearest rival as they look to get as close as possible to league leaders Los Blancos.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid headlines the midweek European action as the UEFA Champions League and Europa League quarterfinals kick off
European action returns this midweek, starting off with the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Four games will take place, with the key fixtures being Manchester City's showdown with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and Chelsea's clash with Real Madrid the following day. Diego Simeone's men knocked out Manchester United in the previous round, beating them 2-1 on aggregate, and will be hopeful of repeating that feat against the Red Devils' bitter neighbors. However, that won't be easy as the defending champions of England aim to end their wait for a European title. As for the defending champions, Chelsea will lock horns with the tournament's most successful club in history. Will Los Blancos emerge triumphant at Stamford Bridge? Don't miss this encounter.
Elsewhere, Liverpool will visit Benfica while Bayern Munich travel to Villarreal in the other first leg quarterfinal ties. Thursday will see the UEFA Europa League return, with the competition also entering the last eight. All eyes will be on Barcelona and West Ham, the two favorites for the title, with the Blaugrana visiting Eintracht Frankfurt while the Hammers host French giants Lyon. David Moyes' men might have lost to Tottenham recently in the Premier League, but Rice and Co. should be high on confidence after their heroics against Sevilla in the earlier round.
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This week in women's football, watch six NWSL Challenge Cup group stage matches, Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich and Paris FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain live on ATA Football and three Liga MX Femenil fixtures in the USA.
How to watch six NWSL Challenge Cup matches this weekend
Six NWSL Challenge Cup fixtures will stream live exclusively on Paramount+ this weekend, including a clash between rivals Portland Thorns and OL Reign on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. Also on Saturday, the all-California showdown between 2022 expansion clubs San Diego Wave and Angel City FC will air live on CBS at 4 p.m. ET.
The Reign plan to take all three points at Providence Park. A win by a two-goal margin would launch OL Reign to first place in Group B with a game in hand. The Thorns have a chance to cement themselves as group leaders with a win at home.
San Diego Wave and Angel City FC meet again after a one-all draw in their first-ever encounter back on Saturday, March 19. Both sides are coming off losses to Portland Thorns. San Diego fell 1-0 to Thorns at home, and Angel City was punished 3-0 in Portland's fortress. The two expansion sides will leave it all on the pitch as they chase their first competitive win.
Saturday, April 2
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Kansas City vs. Racing Louisville at 3 p.m. ET
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San Diego Wave vs. Angel City FC at 4 p.m. ET
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Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash at 8 p.m. ET
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Portland Thorns vs. OL Reign at 10 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 3
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Gotham FC vs. North Carolina Courage at 3 p.m. ET
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Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride at 4 p.m. ET
Eight European league matches live on ATA Football this weekend
A clash between Frauen Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg and reigning champions Bayern Munich on Sunday headlines ATA Football's eight-game lineup this weekend. Seven other games will stream live on the platform across Saturday and Sunday, including the Paris Derby between Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain.
Saturday, April 2
FA WSL: West Ham United vs. Manchester City at 6:30 a.m. ET
Serie A Femminile: Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina at 8:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, April 3
Serie A Femminile: Roma vs. Hellas Verona at 6:30 a.m. ET
D1 Arkema: Guingamp vs. Olympique Lyonnais at 6:45 a.m. ET
D1 Arkema: Paris FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain at 6:45 a.m. ET
FA WSL: Leicester City vs. Arsenal at 7:30 a.m. ET
Frauen Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich at 8 a.m. ET
FA WSL: Chelsea vs. Reading at 1:45 p.m. ET
Liga MX Femenil live in the USA
Watch three Liga MX Femenil games live in the USA, including a first-placed Monterrey hosting fourth-placed Pachuca at Estadio BBVA Bancomer on Sunday. Fox Deportes will screen the game at 8 p.m. ET.
Friday, April 1
Club America vs. Juarez at 5:45 p.m. ET
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TUDN USA, TUDN.com, TUDN App
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ViX
Saturday, April 2
Pumas UNAM vs. Tigres UANL at 2 p.m. ET
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ViX
Sunday, April 3
Monterrey vs. Pachuca at 8 p.m. ET
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FOX Deportes
Biggest stories of the week
Meet "Al Rihla": Adidas unveil the official FIFA World Cup match ball for Qatar 2022
With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, Adidas have unveiled the official match ball for Qatar 2022. Titled "Al Rihla", which means "the journey" in Arabic, the official language of the host nation, it is the latest addition to an ever-growing line of match balls produced to celebrate world football's most prestigious international tournament.
Al Rihla, the 14th consecutive ball created by the German manufacturers, has been touted as the fastest ever in flight in the tournament's history, with the standout theme behind it being to "support peak game speeds". Additionally, it is said to offer "the highest level of accuracy and reliability on the field of play" partly due to its new panel shape and surface textures.
"The game is getting faster and, as it speeds up, accuracy and flight stability become critically important," Franziska Löffelmann, the design director of football graphics & hardwear at Adidas said via FIFA's official website.
"The new design allows the ball to maintain a significantly higher speed as it journeys through the air. For the biggest global stage in all of sport, we set out to make the impossible possible with radical innovation by creating the fastest and most accurate FIFA World Cup ball to date."
The design draws inspiration from Qatar's national flag, as well as the host country's culture, unique architecture, and iconic boats. The ball is made out of water-based inks and glues, the first of its kind in the World Cup, as sustainability was earmarked as a key element behind this latest edition.
FIFA stated that the ball will make its first public appearance alongside legends of the game such as Iker Casillas, Kaká, Farah Jefry and Nouf Al Anz. In addition, those icons will be joined by a "diverse mix of talents", including promising female footballers from the hosts Qatar and several other Arab countries, as well as next-generation players from Doha's Aspire Academy.
Messi secures multi-million dollar new endorsement deal
Although his time at PSG hasn't been up to the standards his fans have become accustomed to, Lionel Messi is nonetheless still a hot commodity as far as brands are concerned.
The 34-year-old Argentinian superstar, who recently won his seventh Ballon d'Or, shocked the world last year with his move from the Camp Nou to the Parc des Princes. Despite having a very subdued campaign for Les Parisiens so far - with only seven goals in 26 appearances for his new club, he has enjoyed success lately off the pitch, namely with the signing of a new sponsorship deal.
According to Reuters, Messi and Socios.com, a fan engagement platform, have signed three-year deal worth an estimated $20 million. Although he won't receive cryptocurrency payments, he'll feature in numerous different brand activations as an ambassador, especially with regards to promotional campaigns.
Barcelona: Busquets expresses readiness to give up captaincy in anticipation of Messi's return
Barcelona skipper Sergio Busquets has expressed his readiness to handover the captaincy should Lionel Messi make a remarkable return to the club, a report from Spain has indicated. The Spanish midfielder is dreaming of reuniting with his former teammate this summer amid claims that he is unsettled at Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi shocked the football fraternity last summer after securing a move to the French Ligue 1 club. The switch was necessitated by the fact that the Blaugrana could not register him for the season as their financial crisis did not allow them to meet La Liga's requirements. At PSG, the Argentine international has struggled to settle in and has been tipped for a move away less than a year after his switch.
Not long ago, reports from Spain suggested that his entourage had already reached out to Barcelona and were discussing his return. The claim was further fueled after new coach Xavi Hernandez left the door open for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner to make a sensational comeback to Camp Nou. However, Barca president Joan Laporta has cooled the rumors circulating, suggesting that a return of his side's former no.10 is not currently on the table.
Amid the conflicting narratives, Busquets weighed in on the prospect of Leo's return. In an interview with RAC1, he said: "Of course I miss him. On the field and off it.
"What he gave us... What he did, no one else did. He made a huge difference. After so many years, it's normal to miss him. I'm sure he will miss me too.
"At first it was difficult. It was a shock for us too. We are still here, but imagine it for him. Changing city, changing team, changing style...
"When you don't win, you're not happy. I wish him the best. I would like Leo to come back, but I know it's very difficult. He has a contract, how he left...
"If Xavi [Hernandez] told him that the doors are open, imagine me as his friend and teammate. I would give him the armband. He always has my admiration and respect," Busquets concluded.
Cristiano Ronaldo on the verge of making history as Portugal make it to 6th FIFA World Cup in a row
Portugal have taken the long road to play in their eighth FIFA World Cup, and maybe things would have been quite different if Cristiano Ronaldo had never decided to play football.
The Portuguese ace captained his team to qualify for the tournament set to be played in Qatar next November, handing out an assist for the opening goal against North Macedonia in the playoffs final. He may not have been as decisive as always, but he has helped his team reach their sixth FIFA World Cup edition in a row while also putting himself on the verge of joining an elite list of footballers if he can stay injury-free until the tournament.
As things stand, Cristiano Ronaldo has played in four FIFA World Cup editions for Portugal. One more tournament would see him equalize the feats of three players who have played in five different FIFA World Cup editions. The names of those players are Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Márquez, and Lothar Matthäus.
The first to accomplish such a feat was Antonio Carbajal, who played for Mexico during all World Cups held between 1950 and 1966. Sadly, he never made it past the group stage with El Tri.
The second footballer to play in five World Cups was the legendary German midfielder Matthäus, who won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and was part of the runners-up team in 1982 and 1986 editions with West Germany. Added to that, Matthäus holds the record for most FIFA World Cup games played, with 25 matches between 1982 and 1998.
Last, but not least, former Barcelona and El Tri defender Rafael Márquez joined this elite list of players in 2018, when he was part of Mexico's team playing in the competition. "El Kaiser" played 19 matches for Mexico in his five World Cups, where he was not able to lead their efforts to reach the quarterfinals between 2002 and the last FIFA World Cup edition to this date.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of several players who could join these footballers in playing five World Cups. That list could grow bigger in 2022 with names such as Sergio Ramos, Andrés Guardado, and none other than Lionel Messi, who has already booked his spot to play in Qatar with Argentina next winter.
Other key headlines from the world of football
FIFA set to investigate use of lasers and other incidents in Senegal-Egypt clash
The game between Senegal and Egypt that handed out a spot in the FIFA World Cup ended up providing quite a few headlines, including the appearance of lasers aimed at Egyptian players, which some believed to be a cause for their distraction and eventual elimination.
The incident regarding the use of lasers, added to the alleged racist abuse aimed at some of the Egyptians, especially against Mohamed Salah, prompted the Egyptian Football Association to publish a statement condemning these actions, while also urging FIFA to take action against those responsible for the behavior of the Senegalese fans.
"FIFA is currently analyzing all reports from the World Cup Qualifying match in question. All relevant information included in those reports will be evaluated by the competent disciplinary bodies before we take further action," FIFA stated in a short press release.
Premier League confirm reintroduction of five subs ahead of 2022/23 season
In the Premier League, three subs per game has been par for the course for decades, but five were permitted for a while. However, that was stopped starting in the current campaign, as many clubs voted to return to three, with some managers, especially those of smaller clubs, feeling that the five sub rule somehow favored more elite sides.
Yet, with several notable managers, including Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, being strong advocates for five subs, the Premier League's governing body have decided to make a huge change.
Starting from the 2022/23 season, five subs will be allowed once again, and a total of nine subs will be allowed to be named to the bench. This certainly will alleviate pressure on both players and managers, and perhaps reduce the number of injuries players sustain over the course of the season.
Mane reveals his message to Salah after Senegal beat Egypt to FIFA World Cup spot
Given that for the second time running, Sadio Mane handed the final blow to Egypt and Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, the former Southampton winger was asked what he would say to his heartbroken friend after Senegal beat the Pharaohs to a spot at Qatar 2022. Sadio's response was straight-forward: luck was what brought joy to the Lions of Teranga and commiseration to Egypt.
"I won twice and he lost twice, I was luckier to come out on top," the Senegalese ace told ONTime Sports, as per KingFut.
"I am very proud that we won the Africa Cup of Nations and now qualified for the World Cup, it's a dream I had."
