Champions League Roundup

With Loss, Manchester City Is Left Fighting to Advance

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, right, scoring his second goal against Ajax. He tied Raúl’s Champions League record of 71 goals.

Nine-man Manchester City was upset at home by CSKA Moscow and dropped to the bottom of Group E with two games remaining.

TV Sports

If the summer heat in Qatar forces a change of dates for the 2022 World Cup, networks could seek financial relief — or even a release from their deals.

World Cup Shift Could Hurt, or Help, Networks

By RICHARD SANDOMIR

Moving the 2022 World Cup out of its traditional start in June could have ramifications for two of FIFA’s TV partners, Fox and Telemundo.

Richard Eckersley, left, hit a cross during Sunday's playoff victory over D.C. United. He has started at right back for the Red Bulls in the last six league matches.

Red Bulls Defense Raises Its Game

By JACK BELL

Red Bulls defender Richard Eckersley salvaged his season and is now part of a steady back four.

Hope Solo’s Court Date Is Set in Domestic Violence Case

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The trial of Solo, a goalkeeper for the United States’ women’s national team who is charged with two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, is set to begin Jan. 20.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure was sent off by referee Tasos Sidiropoulos during a match against CSKA Moscow.

Seeing Red and Feeling Blue in Manchester

By ROB HUGHES

Two Manchester City players were sent off as the English club lost at home to CSKA Moscow, leaving it last in Group E in the Champions League.

Chuck Blazer was a big figure, both physically and in American soccer, and he reveled in self-promotion.

A Bit Player in the Bigger World of Soccer Corruption

By ROB HUGHES

It needs to be remembered it was the former FIFA president João Havelange who was Chuck Blazer’s role model when it came to learning the ins and outs of soccer politics.

Andrea Pirlo marked his 100 Champions League match with a trademark goal on a free kick.

Confounding Success and a Maddening Tie in Champions League

By ROB HUGHES

Dortmund, which is struggling in the Bundesliga, improved to 4-0 in the Champions League, while Arsenal gave up a three-goal lead to tie with Anderlecht, 3-3.

Scottish Club Hamilton Academical Combines Soccer and Sobriety

By JAMES MONTAGUE

Hamilton Academical, excelling in the Scottish Premier League after an unlikely ascent, hosts regular meetings for recovering addicts and gives away tickets for the families of those affected.

Karim Benzema, right, after scoring in the 27th minute for Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund Are First to Advance in Champions League

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid beat Liverpool, 1-0, and Dortmund topped Galatasaray, 4-1, to move on to the Round of 16. Both teams have two games left to play in the group stage.

Bayern Munich players congratulated Robert Lewandowski, right, after he scored the first goal against his former team, Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Bares Its Fangs, on the Field and Off

By ROB HUGHES

Bayern Munich has had its way with its Bundesliga rival the past few years, battling with Borussia Dortmund on the field and off.

News From A.P. and Reuters »

Seeding the Field

Qatari Soccer Empire Buys a Foothold in Europe

By SAM BORDEN, STEVE EDER, JACK WILLIAMS and CHRISTOPHER HARRESS

Through a program called Aspire Football Dreams, the Qataris had scouted hundreds of thousands of young African players; needing a place where the best youths could play professionally, they found it in a team in a small Belgian town.

Seeking Soccer Respect, Qatar Looked Abroad NYT Now

Editors' Picks

Sports of The Times

Alecko Eskandarian, the top draft pick in M.L.S. in 2003, led D.C. United to a title in ’04, but later was forced to retire because of multiple head injuries.

FIFA’s Dazed and Dated Attitude

By JULIET MACUR

Soccer’s governing body has taken a misguided approach to concussions in large part because of the sport’s substitution rules, which allow for only three replacements per game.

On Soccer

After a largely successful World Cup, Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president, must face criticism regarding player safety, match-fixing allegations and possible corruption in the bidding process for future Cups.

Ugly Reality Intrudes On World Cup’s Glow

By SAM BORDEN

The 2014 World Cup was a runaway success, but significant issues like match fixing, player safety and the Cup bidding process need to be confronted.

On Soccer

Fans on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro watched the final match between Germany and Argentina.

Success for Brazil, Just Not on the Field

By JERÉ LONGMAN

Its team suffered a humiliating semifinal defeat, but Brazil is taking comfort in its success as host of the World Cup and in its archrival Argentina’s loss in the final.

Biggest Scorer in World Cup? Maybe Univision

By JONATHAN MAHLER

The huge exposure Univision received from the World Cup showed how the growth of America’s Hispanic population has reshaped the media landscape.

The Upshot

Best of the World Cup, From The Upshot

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

A collection of our interactives and analysis.

Multimedia

Interactive Feature

Spot the Ball: The Winning Goal

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

To say goodbye to the 2014 World Cup, we’ve put together a special round of Spot the Ball, featuring five views of that tournament-winning goal by Germany. See if you can guess where the ball went.

Video

After the World Cup, Glory and Heartache

Soccer fans in Berlin and Buenos Aires during the final match of the World Cup.

Photographs

The Redeemer’s View of Rio

Photographs by ALEXANDRA GARCIA

A panoramic view of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Lens Blog

Soccer in Brazil, and Outside the World’s Glare

By DAVID GONZALEZ

Mauricio Lima went to remote villages, up the river and even to a prison, to document his countrymen’s passion for the sport, as well as their lives, during the World Cup.