For more than two decades, Lionel Messi has been the most watched, celebrated, monitored, and scrutinized soccer player on earth. On Aug. 31, at the age of 39, he finally put down the Argentina jersey for good, bringing an extraordinary international career to an end. It was not quite the[Read More…]
Soccer
The Balogun scandal is just the latest instance of FIFA’s political pandering
On July 2, Folarin Balogun, star forward for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), received a straight red card in the 64th minute of the USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Round of 32 match in the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026. Balogun stepped on Bosnia[Read More…]
Lumumba’s legacy on football’s biggest stage: How one fan utilized FIFA’s fandom to remember a martyr of colonial violence
For the last month, the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup has produced beautiful stories, displayed tremendous underdog wins, and brought together fans from all corners of our vast planet: right here in Canada, as well as in the United States and Mexico. FIFA goes beyond simply[Read More…]
Trinity Rodman becomes highest-paid player in NWSL history
In January 2026, Trinity Rodman, one of the most prominent talents in women’s soccer, reached a milestone unseen in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). By signing a new contract with the Washington Spirit, Rodman became the highest-paid player in NWSL history and second-highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world.[Read More…]
Varsity Report Card: Fall 2025
Redbirds Baseball: C+ A rebuilding year showed in Men’s Baseball’s final record: 11–18, with a tough 3–11 mark on the road and no conference play on the schedule entering fall nationals. The team’s strong 8–6 home record kept the season from slipping further, as did steady pitching flashes and an[Read More…]
Battling the elements: The ‘icicle kick’ and other notable weather moments in sport
On Nov. 9, the Canadian Premier League’s final match turned into a full-blown winter wonderland. TD Place in Ottawa was buried in a blizzard, with visibility collapsed for players and spectators, grounds crews and even goalkeepers clearing snow away by hand, and extra time delayed while snowplows worked to clear[Read More…]
European football experiments beyond borders
A significant shift has taken place in the world of European football, as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has provisionally approved domestic league matches for Lega Serie A and LaLiga to be played outside their home countries. Specifically, UEFA has approved a proposed match between AC Milan and[Read More…]
Turning back time: What daylight savings teaches us about athletic career endurance
Daylight saving time: You hate it when you lose an hour of sleep in March, and love when you gain the hour back in November. This past Sunday, Nov. 2, our clocks turned back, and we attained that beloved hour. What if athletes could also ‘turn back the clock’ on[Read More…]
Losing the world’s game: FIFA’s ongoing ticket crisis
In anticipation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) 2026 World Cup, excitement for soccer’s biggest competition turned into anger from fans unable to afford tickets, highlighting public dissatisfaction with FIFA’s current ticketing model. Beginning on June 11, the 2026 World Cup will take place in 16 cities across[Read More…]
Tides and Roses split points as former Martlets reunite in NSL showdown
The Halifax Tides FC played the Montreal Roses FC in a crucial Northern Super League (NSL) match on Oct. 2, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The game was the final matchup this season between three McGill Martlets Soccer alumni: Sophie Guilmette (MA ‘25), Mara Bouchard (BA ‘24), and Stéphanie[Read More…]