After campaigning for a 40-team World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is now leaning toward an even bigger expansion to 48. "I like 48 because it gives a particular flavor, but I'm still really torn," Infantino said Wednesday after meetings outside Paris. Infantino said he is also...

Lionel Messi looks set to return for Barcelona's Champions League trip to Celtic Wednesday after overcoming a sickness bug that forced the Argentine to miss Barca's 0-0 draw with Malaga Saturday. Messi was forced to pull out of Barca's matchday squad just hours before kick-off and the...

 Ineffective without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Barcelona was held to 0-0 by Malaga, missing a chance to move to the top of the Spanish league on Saturday. Despite playing at home and with an extra player from the 68th minute, Barcelona was unable to overcome the absence of the...

The English Premier League has sold its television rights in China to streaming service PPTV for $700 million (565 million pounds), a source familiar with the matter said, several times the size of past deals as it cashes in on a growing enthusiasm for football. A spokesman for PPTV, part of...