Soccer

The FIFA Club World Cup concludes its Charlotte stop Monday before continuing in other U.S. cities and wrapping up at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next month. While the tournament drew fans eager to watch top international teams, it also faced challenges, including extreme heat and concerns over a possible ICE presence at games. The event offers a glimpse at the cultural and economic impact on Charlotte — and what it could signal for the city’s future as a host for major sporting events.

The players are women over 50. The oldest this year is 87. They took the field in South Africa for their "World Cup." One team was crowned the winner but all the players consider themselves champions.

B Hylton, a 17-year-old who was born and raised in Charlotte, was recently called up to England’s national soccer team for women. She’s part of a promising crop of young talent popping up on Charlotte’s only professional women’s sports team — Carolina Ascent.

Charlotte has hosted several friendly matches between European soccer clubs over the last decade. This week, two of Europe’s best clubs, Real Madrid and Chelsea FC, took to the pitch. It was a chance for fans to see their teams play up close.

English club Chelsea and Spanish club Real Madrid will play a preseason friendly match this summer in uptown Charlotte.

Charlotte FC is going into the offseason searching for the club's third head coach in three seasons. The club announced Wednesday that it has fired head coach Christian Lattanzio and assistant coach Andy Quy.

A diverse group of students gathered Thursday in Huntersville to kick off this year’s fall Special Olympics in Mecklenburg County. The program gives students with and without disabilities a safe place to participate in sports.

Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer. Inter Miami has landed a global icon.

U.S. Soccer says it learned of the allegation against men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter last month — a week after the team was knocked out of the World Cup with a loss to the Netherlands.

The organization had displayed Iran's national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic to show "support for the women in Iran" ahead of the two nations' soccer match.