Soccer

Charlotte will host its first MLS-All Star Game after the World Cup this month — a milestone that supporters say reflects the city’s growing reputation as a soccer destination.

To prepare for their first World Cup since 1998, Scotland has turned to Charlotte FC facilities. The local teams' facilities have been decorated with the Scotland badge and colors. Charlotte FC officials hope Scotland’s arrival — the boys in blue — will help attract more fans across the state to the local club and grow soccer in the city.

Hundreds gathered at Matthews Social House for a World Cup watch party, filling the downtown venue with color, music and traditional dance performances.

The FIFA World Cup officially kicked off Thursday, drawing soccer fans across Charlotte to bars, restaurants and watch parties for the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

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.