International Soccer

• US women's soccer to play Germany in Cleveland
  The U.S. women's soccer team will play world champion Germany in an exhibition at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

• Beckham in London after surgery in Finland
  David Beckham arrived in London with his wife Victoria on Wednesday after flying in from the Finnish clinic where he had surgery for a torn Achilles' tendon.

• 2 injured in Brazil after mayhem sparked by bomb
  Brazilian police say fans of a losing soccer team hurled a homemade bomb into the visitors' locker room, leaving two people slightly injured.

• With wife at side, Beckham on feet after surgery
  With his celebrity wife at his side, David Beckham was back on his feet and walking on crutches Tuesday after surgery to repair the torn Achilles' tendon that will sideline him for about six months.

• Beckham projected to return in mid-September
  If David Beckham recovers from a torn Achilles' tendon in six months, he would rejoin Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy in time for the team's last six regular-season games.

• Beckham the player won't be hugely missed
  David Beckham won't be the only player forced to watch the World Cup on television, but he is going to be one of the most sorely missed.

• Glamour boy Beckham to miss World Cup after injury
  Unless David Beckham can mend it as well as he can bend it, soccer's now-limping glamour boy will miss this summer's World Cup - a blow to tournament organizers, sponsors, TV viewers and average fans.

• US to play Australia in South Africa on June 5
  The United States will play Australia in an exhibition in South Africa on June 5, the Americans' final game before their World Cup opener against England a week later.

• Chicago Fire signs 2 defenders
  The Chicago Fire has signed defenders Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Steve Kinney.

• Beckham's England career cut too short
  Some people may describe David Beckham as overrated, others might call him spoiled or pampered, but one thing that is very evident when it comes to Beckham is that he is persistent.

• Beckham move to Milan turned out to be in vain
  David Beckham's loan moves from the Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan were to ensure he played in his fourth World Cup for England.

• Dr. says Beckham's Achilles' tendon totally torn
  David Beckham's left Achilles' tendon was totally torn, and the doctor who performed the surgery said the England midfielder is expected to be out of action for about six months.

• MLS players say they're unified in labor talks
  Kasey Keller wants to make sure fans who hear about a possible strike in Major League Soccer understand the current standoff is about player rights and not salaries.

• Chicago Fire signs F John
  The Chicago Fire has signed Dutch forward Collins John, a free agent and former striker for Fulham.

• MLS strike may mean Donovan extends Everton loan
  Everton manager David Moyes says a possible Major League Soccer players' strike could enable Landon Donovan to extend his loan at the Premier League club.

• MLS players vote to strike if no deal by March 25
  Major League Soccer players voted to strike if a new labor contract isn't agreed to before the first season opener on March 25.

• Rooney returns to training for United
  Manchester United has been handed a big boost ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg clash with AC Milan after Wayne Rooney was able to take part in training on Tuesday morning.

• Crew opens against Toluca with no contract
  The Columbus Crew head into Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal without a labor contract, the first Major League Soccer team to play a competitive game since the five-year deal expired last month.

• Losing is not an option for Real Madrid
  Real Madrid snatched all the headlines this past summer after they embarked on a lavish spending spree that landed the club Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, among others.

• Fabregas to miss return leg against Porto
  Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will miss the second leg of his side's Champions League Round of 16 tie against FC Porto due to a hamstring injury.

• IFAB decides against goal-line technology
  Goal-line technology won't be introduced in soccer after the sport's rule-makers voted Saturday to end all experiments and rely on referees to rule on disputed goals.

• Federal mediator appointed for MLS labor talks
  A federal mediator will be at the bargaining table when Major League Soccer's labor talks resume next week in Washington, D.C.

• Everton wants to keep Donovan for longer
  Everton wants to keep American midfielder Landon Donovan beyond his 10-week loan period, but Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena says he doesn't intend to give an extension.

• NCAA may combo men's, women's soccer championships
  The NCAA is considering the possibility of combining the Division I men's and women's soccer championships into a single event in 2011.

• Blatter confident in SAfrica WCup security plans
  FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed confidence Friday in South Africa's security plans for the 2010 World Cup.