Argentina's soccer legend Lionel Messi has some sad news for soccer fans as he revealed that the 2022 World Cup happening in Qatar next month will be his final one.
The soap opera that is sports always rivets for what takes place on the battle field. But often times the stories that take place far away from the pitch are just as unique and special. They make for some interesting conversation and add an element to the world of sports that moves into the social, political and economic realm.
This year featured a number of off-pitch events that continued to elevate the dynamics of soccer and add new elements that are rarely discussed. As part of our Best of 2014 feature series, writer David Salazar and Edwin Molina look at two off-pitch events that really brought the soccer conversation to a new level.
Global financial services company Credit Suisse believes Qatar would only suffer short-term economic consequences if they were to lose the rights to host the 2022 World Cup as FIFA's bribery investigation against the desert nation winds down.
