US Men Face Copa America Qualifiers vs T&T on TNT tonight 11/16 9 pm & Monday 9 pm

The US men will go into their Nations League battles tonight w/o Pulisic and Weah as the US team will look to book their place in the Copa America. Still plenty of firepower for the US as forward Balogun and the Aaronson brothers take centerstage with 2 key wingers missing. Still T&T is terrible and anything short of a 3-0 and maybe 2-1 result on the road would be disappointing. Again the US MUST WIN this 2 leg battle to qualify for both the next round of Nations League and the ever important Copa America which the US host’s this summer.

United States Men’s roster (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)

FORWARDS (5): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1).

Shane’s Starters tonight

Women’s Soccer is hot!

So the NWSL Final between Seattle OL Reign and NY/NJ Gothem was a fantastic show on CBS Saturday night on Big CBS – the 2-1 game (hi-lites) was a thriller, Megan Rapinoe’s day unfortunately came to an end just 5 minutes in as she ruptured her Achilles in her last ever game. The game went on however with the Reign scoring first before Gothem came back with 2 goals before the half. Gothem held on despite the late game heroics needed when the Gothem GK Mandy Haught was red carded off and midfielder Nealy Martin had to dawn the gloves for the last few minutes. Just over 800K watched on CBS primetime as they battled college football at night – but still had the 2^nd largest audience to watch a NWSL game. NWSL inked a new TV deal with games on ESPN, CBS, Prime, Paramount+ and more and two new expansion teams join next year in San Fran & Utah with 2 more coming after that.

US Boys (U17 WC) Advance to Next Round Despite getting bombed by France

Got up early to watch the US boys U17s Sat morning –what a mistake. The US got slammed 3-0 by France despite having 65% possession. Even worse was 2 of US best players getting tossed out of the next round with 2^nd yellows and a STUPID last defender Challenge by our Captain Centerback. Funny how watching the US play in World Cups at ALL LEVELS is so disappointing. THE US CAN’T SCORE. We simply can’t score. The stupidity of the players missing the next round just sums up US Soccer. When we play the World’s Best teams – We ALWAYS LOSE because WE CAN’T SCORE. The US will get destroyed by Germany in the knockout rounds on Wednesday I’m sure. Two hours of my life I can’t get back. US Soccer – disappointing at all levels. PS I have enjoyed watching the U17 World Cup overall.

Indiana Referee in need

Our community has been given the heart-breaking news that one of our very own referees, Brian Mitchell, has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Please read the message below and consider donating to the Mitchell family as they will need our help during this very difficult journey. https://www.gofundme.com/f/friendsofbrianmitchell

Watch the US Games with The American Outlaws –Indy at Union Jack Pub in Broadripple

GAMES ON TV

Thurs, Nov 16

2:45 pm FS1 Liechenstien vs Portugal (Euro Quals)

7 pm Colombia vs Brazil (Copa Quals)

7 pm Telemundo Argentina vs Uruguay (Copa Quals)

8 pm TNT, Para+ US Men vs T&T (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+ Costa Rica vs Panama

Fri, Nov 17

1 am FS2 Euro Qualifiers Matchnight highlights show

4 am FS2 U17 Boys WC Senegal vs Japan

7 am FS2 U17 Boys WC England vs Brazil

2:45 pm FS1 England vs Malta (Euro Quals)

2:45 pm fuboTV Poland vs Czech Republic

7 pm Para+ Jamaica vs Canada (Copa Qualifying)

9 ppm Para+, TUDN Honduras vs Mexico (Copa Qualifying)

Sat, Nov 18

4 am FS2 Mexico vs New Zealand U17 Boys WC

4 am FS2 Germany vs Venezuela U17 Boys WC

7 am FS1, Tele USA Boys vs France (U17 WC)

9 am FS1 Armenia vs Wales (Euro Quals)

12 noon FS2 Latvia vs Croatia

2:45 pm FS2 Netherlands vs Ireland

Sun, Nov 19

8 am FS1 Euro Qualifiers Matchnight highlights show

9 am FS1 Hungary vs Montenegro (Euro Quals)

12 noon FS1 Belgium vs Azerbaijan (Euro Quals)

3 pm FS1 Scotland vs Norway (Euro Quals)

Mon, Nov 20

2:45 pm fuboTV Ukraine vs Italy

2:45 pm ? North Macedonia vs England

7 pm TNT, Para+ US Men vs T&T (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+ Panama vs Costa Rica

Tues, Nov 21

2:45 pm FS2 Wales vs Turkey (Euro Quals)

7:30 pm Para+ Canada vs Jamaica (Copa Qualifying)

9:30 pm Para+, TUDN Mexico vs Honduras (Copa Qualifying)

US Men

2023 CONCACAF Nations League Quarterfinal: Scouting Trinidad and Tobago Stars and Stripes By Brendan Joseph

USMNT Faces T&T looking ahead – Doug McIntyre Fox

Dallas-Fort Worth area to host Concacaf Nations League Finals, Copa América playoff

US Boys U17 World Cup

Berchimas! Charlotte FC youngster vaults US into U-17 World Cup knockouts

USYNT analysis: U-23 roster announced, U.S U-17s strong start

U.S. U-17s advance, Berchimas scores again, USMNT prepare for T&T, RBNY & Fire make news

How to Watch the U17 World Cup on Fox

US Team U17

Qualifying Europa & South America

Euro 2024: How teams can qualify, playoff system, draw seeds Dale Johnson ESPN

Brazil’s next generation not expected to fill Neymar’s role
Argentina vs. Uruguay: How much will Lionel Messi play in World Cup qualifying match?

Why Brazil’s Endrick is the ‘special one’
Trent Alexander-Arnold sets sights on Euro 2024 midfield role for England
Gareth Southgate: A lot of players are taking snus – I do not see how it can be good for you
Euro 2024 qualifiers: George Saville will carry hurt of past disappointments as he captains NI
Hungary reach Euro 2024 and starlet Yamal scores again for Spain
Hungary qualifies for Euro 2024 with own-goal in stoppage time in match marred by violence
Georgia 2-2 Scotland: Analysis
Salah scores four, Lesotho shock Nigeria in World Cup qualifying
Stubborn Palestine hold Lebanon at bay in World Cup qualifier

US Women

U.S. Soccer puts money where its mouth is with splashy Hayes hire

Hayes secured, but U.S. must play nice with Chelsea

Emma Hayes hired as USWNT head coach

NWSL expansion teams Bay FC, Utah Royals make first signings

Rapinoes final time on the field a disappointment

MLS

Analysis: Seattle, Houston, and Columbus deserving Game 3 winners

Predictions in Semi-Finals

MLS Cup – Crew ride highs and lows into Conference Semi-Finals

How to Watch the MLS Semi-Finals

Reffing

Become a Licensed High School Ref

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

Arsenal’s Arteta charged by FA over ref rant s
FA to punish clubs over managers attacking referees after Mikel Arteta charged

Goalkeeping

Gothem Goalie Mandy Haught Sent off late in Champ Game

Naeher Broke NSWL Record with this save

Great Women Goalkeepers 2023

Distance on Goal Kicks Training

PK Tips

USMNT PREPARES FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

The United States will host Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday night in Austin. The game is more than just typical Nations League stuff because it does serve as qualification for the Copa America – which the U.S. team still needs to qualify despite hosting. It’s not a great opportunity to learn about players as Trinidad & Tobago are struggling. Rather, this is just about securing results and then regrouping in March for the Nations League semifinal round which will be held in Dallas. “November turns the page and now it’s about competing,” Gregg Berhalter said. “We want to win the Nations League again, this will set us up to do this. We want to play in the Copa America, this will set us up to do this… It’s easy for us to sit here on this side and say we want to change soccer in America forever, but the real meat of it is that we have to win games like this. We have to position ourselves to win trophies in the Nations League and to compete in the Copa America.”

The big question, of course, will be the wing players given that both Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are out. Alejando Zendejas, Kevin Paredes, Brenden Aaronson, and his younger brother Paxten Aaronson are the most likely options. There are questions about each of these players. Zendejas hasn’t had a good first ear with the U.S. team but has been playing better for Club America. The elder Aaronson is stuck with a Union Berlin team where no one is playing well. Paxten Aaronson is still young and isn’t playing regularly. Kevin Paredes has only just recently become a starter for Wolfsburg.

“Obviously, I can agree that my Gold Cup wasn’t the best, but you’ve just gotta look at the next opportunity you have,” Zendejas said. “As they say in Mexico, ‘de menos a más’. I’m looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity. To play with my teammates and let them know what I bring to the table.” The other big question is the fitness level of Gio Reyna and how many minutes he can play. With top wing options out, he could be a useful playmaker. Berhalter said on Wednesday that there was no restriction on minutes for Reyna and there is no preplanned substitution for him. The rest of the team is mostly known. With Tyler Adams out, Yunus Musah could slide deeper into the midfield behind Weston Mckennie and likely either Reyna or Luca de la Torre. Fullbacks Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson should be able to push forward a lot and provide service to the forward, likely Folarin Balogun. If all goes according to plan, it should be an easy day for the centerbacks and Matt Turner in goal. “It was an interesting transition they have had,” Berhalter said of Trinidad & Tobago. “After the Gold Cup, they shed half their roster, basically, and said – ok, we’re starting over. You can see the hunger in this new group.”

USMNT ‘focused’ ahead of Nations League title defense

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer Nov 15, 2023, 03:34 PM ET

After two windows of international friendlies, the United States men’s team shifts attention back to competitive matches this week to defend its Concacaf Nations League title and attempt to qualify for next year’s Copa America. “November turns the page and now it’s about competing,” coach Gregg Berhalter said Wednesday. “We want to win the Nations League again. This will set us up to do this. We want to play in the Copa America. This will set us up to do that. So the guys are focused.”

The U.S. hosts Trinidad and Tobago Thursday in Austin, Texas (9 p.m. ET, TNT), before the teams play again Monday in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The winner of the aggregate series qualifies for the 2024 Copa America in the U.S., while the loser will drop down and play a second home-and-away series against another Concacaf team to be determined to qualify for the 16-team tournament.All 10 CONMEBOL teams will participate, with the other six other teams coming from Concacaf. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Timothy Weah (Juventus) and Tyler Adams (Bournemouth) will all be unavailable due to injury, with Adams the only of those three expected to be out long term. Monday’s return trip to Trinidad and Tobago will be the team’s first visit to the Caribbean nation since losing in 2017 to miss out on the 2018 World Cup. While the team has almost completely turned over since then, Berhalter said the defeat is “always still in our minds.” “Just like we can embrace the good stuff, we also have to embrace the bad stuff and it was a great learning moment for us collectively,” Berhalter said of the 2-1 loss in Couva that saw the Americans fail to make the finals in Russia. “The coaches involved, the players involved and, in my opinion, it’s not about ignoring that, it’s about embracing it and leaning into it.”And we talk about preparation in this camp, some of it stems from lessons learned in that camp as well.”

The U.S. has won all three matches against Trinidad and Tobago since 2017 by a combined score of 19-0, including a 6-0 win this summer in the Gold Cup, as Jesús Ferreira scored a first-half hat trick.Trinidad and Tobago qualified for this quarterfinal round of the Nations League after finishing second in its group behind Panama. The U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica all bypassed the prior round directly to the quarterfinals.Berhalter also addressed U.S. Soccer’s official announcement that it had hired Emma Hayes as the women’s national team coach, with a reported salary that will make her the highest-paid women’s coach in the world.”Everything you hear about her is how thorough she is, how process-oriented [she is], it’s how bright she is, how she’s so focused on team culture and teamwork,” Berhalter said. “And I think it’s an exciting step for the women’s team, which has already been a groundbreaking team and already been a team that has been — performance on the field, breaking down barriers off the field, you name it, they’ve done it.”

Emma Hayes deserves equal pay with Gregg Berhalter – this is why

By Nancy Froston Nov 15, 2023

If you do not think that Emma Hayes deserves to be paid the same as Gregg Berhalter in their roles as the head coaches of the U.S. women’s and U.S. men’s national teams respectively, then this article probably will not change your mind. In fact, you may as well dive straight into the comments.

Writing this is actually quite tedious because it is, effectively, just stating the blindingly obvious. Hayes deserves to be the highest-paid coach in women’s football because she is one of the best in the business, taking on the biggest job at the most successful national team in the women’s game.

Hayes was announced as USWNT coach on Tuesday after the news in early November that this would be her final season at Women’s Super League side Chelsea, where she has been manager for 11 years and has won 15 trophies. The line in the club’s statement that the 47-year-old would be leaving “to pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football” did not need much decoding to work out that she was bound for the U.S.Now official, the intriguing details of her pay — and the fact that it is commensurate with USMNT head coach Berhalter — reveal this to be a landmark moment in the sport.

Hayes and Berhalter are effectively doing the same job and so deserve similar pay, with the added context being the fact that Hayes will manage a far more successful team. She has higher status within the women’s game than Berhalter has within the men’s and, as such, equal pay becomes difficult for even staunch opponents to argue against.

https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/15746743/embed

It is a move that matters in the same way that the men’s and women’s players achieving equal pay to represent their country does — it is symbolic but reflective of one national team being four World Cup wins better than their male counterparts.But do not expect this to mean there will always be equal pay between the two positions. It would be naive to think that the same terms would apply if Berhalter left in a year’s time and the U.S. Soccer Federation, in purely hypothetical terms, managed to hire Pep Guardiola for the USMNT position. In that case, Guardiola’s market value would be such that his salary would, by necessity, be higher than Hayes’.

These are specific and unique circumstances based on the status of Hayes and Berhalter and their two national teams, which is why there has been a salary jump for the USWNT role since Vlatko Andonovski was in post.National team football is not like club football, either, so it would be optimistic to expect to see equal pay between managers or players sweeping through the game from now on. And broadly speaking, that is OK, given the disparity in finances between men’s and women’s football.There is also a recognition that the USWNT remains something of an outlier within the sport.

“The U.S. are in a special situation because the women’s team have been much more successful than the men’s team,” Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norway Football Association, told The Athletic. “They have been more successful commercially, and also filled the stadiums. And so they have to pay their way. The rest of us, like Norway, we haven’t qualified with the men’s team. So we don’t have that money. Very few countries can, in the way the U.S. have done it. It’s very unusual.”Klaveness believes the terms offered to Hayes are “very important and timely”, but is also conscious that some of the repercussions may not be helpful.“The problem for other federations would be the inflation,” she said. “Because what about the assistant coach, for example? It will push some of the rest of us to lift, maybe, to the same or escalate. It has to be some of the big, big flagships doing it, because they have the investments to do it.”In the meantime, what players and managers would most often like when it comes to equality is fair access to resources, facilities and the bonuses or pay they were promised.It is why the Jamaica women’s national team did not report for their Gold Cup qualifiers against Panama and Guatemala last month despite reaching the World Cup round of 16 against the odds after crowdfunding their way to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. They did so because they were waiting for their bonuses from the tournament, as well as clarity about the coaching staff, medical staff and more.

As always in women’s football, the situation is more complex than a simple headline about equal pay would have you believe. No two managers, no two clubs and no two national federations are the same and so, as she has been many times before in her career, Hayes is an outlier.She deserves equal pay, as do women in millions of jobs around the world, but all too often sport has a different standard that requires us to excel just to be considered equal. One day, the gap will close in all roles on the men’s and women’s sides of the game but, for now, Hayes’ appointment is the next baby-step towards that future.Nancy Froston is a n EFL Correspondent for The Athletic who covers the EFL. She previously reported on Sheffield Wednesday for the city’s newspaper, The Star, and is a keen follower of women’s football. Follow Nancy on Twitter @nancyfroston

Brenden and Paxten Aaronson celebrate being on the USMNT together for the first time

The Medford-born brothers and Union alumni have waited a long time to be on the same soccer team. Now, they’re teammates on the United States’ biggest team of all.

Paxten (left) and Brenden Aaronson together on the field at Tuesday's U.S. men's soccer team practice in Austin, Texas. — Paxten (left) and Brenden Aaronson together on the field at Tuesday’s U.S. men’s soccer team practice in Austin, Texas.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff

AUSTIN, Texas — It’s far enough here from Medford, N.J., where Brenden and Paxten Aaronson grew up; and from Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, the cities they currently call home.But in the soccer world, you take moments whenever — and wherever — they come. So here they were, a long way from a lot of places but sharing the same table at their first U.S. men’s soccer team camp together.As soccer’s growth in Philadelphia hits even more milestones, put this down as one of them — and know they feel it as much as everyone back home who’s cheered them on.Because both brothers are in Germany now, they see each other often enough instead of only being able to talk via video chat. They got to play against each other for the first time earlier this month when Brenden’s Union Berlin hosted Paxten’s Eintracht Frankfurt, both second-half substitutes in Frankfurt’s 3-0 win.

Brenden (left) and Paxten Aaronson posed with each other's jerseys after they played against each other in Germany's Bundesliga earlier this month. — Brenden (left) and Paxten Aaronson posed with each other’s jerseys after they played against each other in Germany’s Bundesliga earlier this month.Eintracht Frankfurt

They’ve played against each other often, in fact, going back to their childhood clattering around the family home’s basement. But they’ve rarely gotten to play with each other. Though both players grew up in the Union’s ranks and played for the club in MLS, now-23-year-old Brenden moved on to Europe just before 20-year-old Paxten reached the first team.“The first thing that comes to mind is that it’s really cool, it’s amazing — but it’s also sometimes weird really seeing him,” Brenden said, with Paxten across that table and this reporter at the end.“We trained together in Philly,” he continued, “but now it’s the first time, really, that we’ve been training at the national team [level], and that’s the highest thing.”A moment later, Paxten amended the record on the old days: “We trained together for, like, a week.”

Growing into the big time

They’ve so rarely been teammates that Paxten noticed when he and Brenden were on the same side in an intrasquad scrimmage session Tuesday morning.“I played him through three times,” he said. “Like he said, it’s just weird when I am driving at the back line and I see him on the left, trying to slip him through.”

Brenden Aaronson heads a ball during Tuesday's U.S. practice in Austin. — Brenden Aaronson heads a ball during Tuesday’s U.S. practice in Austin.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff

It’s also worth reflecting on one notable way where their paths differed. When Brenden turned pro with the Union in 2018, he backed out of a college commitment to the University of Indiana to do it. Everyone knew at the time it was the right move, but it still was a choice.By the time Paxten turned pro two summers later, there was no question about college. He went straight up from the Union’s academy, no questions asked.“I think the Union were just ahead of [their] time,” Brenden said. “Now you’re seeing the whole country kind of catching up to the Union and the academy and the way it works. Now you’re seeing so many young players playing in MLS and seeing the thing that I did, that they’re trying to push to go to Europe. And some guys are staying here and making a big name here.”It would be another sight if they share the field during the United States’ Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Trinidad and Tobago. It starts Thursday at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium (9 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62, Universo, Max, Peacock), then finishes Monday with the Soca Warriors’ home game (7 p.m., TNT, Universo, Max, Peacock).But this is a business trip, since the series doubles as qualifying for next summer’s big Copa América tournament that the U.S. is guest-hosting. So results come first, then style.

Paxten Aaronson (left) watches a bouncing ball during Tuesday's U.S. practice. — Paxten Aaronson (left) watches a bouncing ball during Tuesday’s U.S. practice.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff

Olympics coming, too

Brenden could have a big role in the series since star wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are out injured. His ability to play on either wing or centrally means he’s a natural pick to fill in for one of the absentees.Paxten’s role might not be big because he’s down the depth chart. His ticket for next summer is likely to be the Olympics with the under-23 squad, a group that could include former Union teammates Jack McGlynn and Nathan Harriel.He admitted he was “a little bit surprised” to be called up to the big squad, but he’s going to try to make the most of it before going back to the under-23s.“Hopefully, I can make the Olympic team at the end of the day,” Paxten said. “I think it’d be really cool to go to the Olympics.”The rest of the U.S. team knows how special this moment is, as the Aaronsons are just the ninth set of brothers to play for the senior U.S. men’s team. Veteran centerback Chris Richards relayed that striker Folarin Balogun didn’t know they were related, which led to a polite roasting.“He just thought they had the same last name,” Richards said. “I was like, ‘Bro, they look exactly the same, sound the same, play the exact same.’”

Brenden Aaronson (center) working out with Chris Richards (second from right) and other teammates.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff

To a veteran eye, they don’t look exactly the same anymore. (For one thing, Brenden got a haircut recently.) But Richards, an Alabama native, certainly got the rest right.

Planning a homecoming

The brothers haven’t been back to Medford since last summer, though their wait will end next month when the Bundesliga takes its winter break. They’ve seen their family some along the way, including father Rusty last month when he watched Brenden play for the senior U.S. men vs. Germany in Connecticut, then flew to Arizona watch Paxten play for the under-23s vs. Japan. It’s a family business now, literally and figuratively. Rusty runs soccer facilities in and around Medford, and his youngest child, daughter Jaden, is a junior at Shawnee High who has orally committed to Villanova. Rusty and his wife, Janell, will be in the stands at Thursday’s game, along with Brenden and Paxten’s girlfriends. Jaden, unfortunately, has to miss out for school.

WHAT IS IN THE AARONSON BLOOD??!!

Incredible goal, Jaden!!! https://t.co/chq89EPLS2— X – Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 6, 2022

The brothers know they play not just for themselves and their family, but for the city they call theirs — and that has embraced them in turn. They’ll be back home soon enough, and not just to visit the Shore and bang the Union’s pregame drum at Subaru Park. Someday, they’ll get the biggest homecoming of all, a U.S. game at Lincoln Financial Field. “I think it’s really unique, especially when I was back in the summer and I got to go to the Union game, just seeing all the fans embrace [his return] and just seeing how cool it is that they still follow the journey,” Paxten said of his turn on the drum this past June. Brenden’s turn came the June before. (The Union’s record in those games: 2-0.) “I think humbling is the first thing that comes to mind for the both of us,” Paxten added. “Just being two kids that grew up in New Jersey, but had the opportunity to go play for Philadelphia in the academy, and just worked our way up through everything — through Bethlehem Steel [the Union’s former reserve team], through Union II, then through the first team. The club and the city kind of guided us and helped us with everything.”

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest irrepressible, solid Trusty and Reynolds eyes Olympics

By Greg O’KeeffeNov 13, 2023

From the supremely confident revival of Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie’s glowing report card to another unbeaten weekend for Auston Trusty — welcome to this week’s instalment of the USMNT Player Tracker.Each week, we will be bringing you updates on the United States players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With the Copa America next year, and a World Cup on home soil on the horizon, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.

Issue of the weekend

The maelstrom of rumour that perpetually rages around Barcelona produced a curious one back in August. The Catalan club, so the gossip went, were considering terminating Dest’s contract.The suggestion was that, with their complex financial headache still throbbing, Barcelona felt that removing the full-back’s wages off their books made sense after his failure to impress on loan in AC Milan last term.Taking a step back, that rumour always felt dubious. Would they have entertained bids for him? Probably. But even a dearth of clubs willing to put money on the table for a permanent move was not realistically enough for Barcelona to stomach paying off the final year of his contract while taking a hit on a chunk of the £18million ($22m) they paid to sign him from Ajax in 2020.Even if Xavi just did not spy enough growth in a player who managed 14 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri, releasing him from his contract did not make much sense.he solution was to find another loan that could revive the 23-year-old’s fortunes and inflate his value. Fast forward a few months and the plan looks like it is coming together nicely.Also progressing nicely is the renewed belief, form and experience of a player to whom Gregg Berhalter can look as an important mainstay in his young, attacking team.Before getting too carried away, even the player’s biggest supporters can acknowledge that his supercharged loan at PSV Eindhoven comes in a league ranked two places below Italy’s Serie A in UEFA’s rankingsBut there is no denying the quality of his play for a team who have won all 12 of their Eredivisie games this term and sit comfortably top of the table.In their latest victory, the 4-0 win against PEC Zwolle on Sunday, Dest ran riot causing the opposition constant problems with his pace, energy and invention from left-back — he has started there in the league more than his traditional right-back berth.The highlight, especially for a player who idolised Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho as a child, was a deft no-look pass to set up USMNT team-mate Malik Tillman’s goal.His 100 per cent successful dribble rate (three out of three) stood out and defensively, Dest was on point: he won 86 per cent of his ground duels.Manager Peter Bosz was impressed. “He has extraordinary qualities when he has the ball,” he said. “Just look at the no-look assist. He is a versatile player who can occupy both the full-back spots. We help him improve as a defender.”

Dest is thriving on loan at PSV (NESimages/Raymond Smit/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

It might be easier to shine in an all-conquering team than in the pressure of San Siro, but Dest’s consistency and flexibility can only be positives for club(s) and country. To top it all off, PSV’s chances of progressing from the Champions League group stages remain decent.Dest has started each of those European games, including last week’s 1-0 win against Lens, notching more top-level experience along the way and restoring his self-belief after that difficult season on the fringes.

Player of the weekend

Hot on the heels of helping Sheffield United to their first win of the season, Auston Trusty ensured the green shoots of recovery underwent another growth spurt with a commendable point at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.The 25-year-old defender dealt with most of what the hosts’ formidable attack could throw at him and his team-mates in the 1-1 draw.Trusty had to face Barcelona prodigy Ansu Fati, Karou Mitoma and the pace and energy of Joao Pedro, but managed to contain Brighton — in truth, partly down to their own wastefulness and a red card for the hosts’ midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud.

Trusty has played a part in Sheffield United’s mini revival (David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images)

His defensive stats were solid — he won both of his two tackles, made four ball recoveries and won three of four aerial duels — and on the ball, he linked up smoothly with left wing-back Luke Thomas.

With fellow strugglers Bournemouth and Burnley next up for Sheffield United, dependable Trusty could help his side move away from the relegation zone if they can maintain their newfound resilience.

Quote of the weekend

“Wes is having a good season,” said Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri after yet another impressive performance from McKennie for the Serie A giants as they maintained the pressure on league leaders Inter Milan with a 2-1 home win over Caligari on Sunday. “He is maturing, too, after the experience on loan (at Leeds).

“He has physical strength that helps cover for a few technical errors, but when running into space, he can be devastating. I told him at the start of the season that this was a very important year for him. He would be a wing-back and so he had to run back and forth. He put himself at our disposal.”

McKennie has learned from a difficult stint at Elland Road (Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

There is undoubtedly more to McKennie’s tactical remit this term than running back and forth, but the dynamo certainly does a lot of that in his selfless performances.

The manager’s honesty over areas where McKennie can improve technically bodes well, too. After the disappointment of his Premier League spell with Leeds last term, he is learning fast at a high level under an exacting coach.

Graphic of the weekend

On Monday morning, U.S. Soccer announced the roster for its November pre-Olympics training camp. The under-23s squad comprises 20 players, eight of whom are with European clubs. A few of that octet have already appeared for the senior national team, including right-back Bryan Reynolds.

Nearly three years have passed since Reynolds left boyhood club FC Dallas to join Roma. He made just six Serie A appearances for the club, however, and instead spent 18 months loaned out to Belgium, first at Kortrijk and then Westerlo, whom he joined for £3m over the summer.

He was a regular starter as Westerlo finished seventh, their first campaign back in the top flight since 2017, and this year, his form indicates a wide defender who is doing more to progress play down the flank. He notched his second assist of the league campaign last Friday, supplying Westerlo’s first goal in a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Sint-Truiden.

The uptick in progressive passes and progressive receptions (balls that travel at least 10 yards closer to the opponent’s goal) is indicative of a shift from playing as a full-back to more of a wing-back role, taking greater initiative in build-up play and working to get the ball closer to the goal when dribbling.

He isn’t limited to crossing, either, as he has nearly doubled his box entries with the ball at his feet. With seven senior caps to his name already, he would be among the headliners if he’s part of the final Olympic roster.

The other squad members playing abroad are defenders Jonathan Tomkinson (Bradford City, on loan from Norwich City) and Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth); midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann (both Venezia); and forwards Agustin Anello (Sparta Rotterdam), Taylor Booth (Utrecht) and Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig).

Jeff Rueter

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Joe Scally
Club: Borussia Monchengladbach
Position: Centre-back
League appearances: 11
Goals: One

There was an exceptional performance from Scally as his side bagged an emphatic 4-0 win against Wolfsburg on Friday.

He contributed an assist for Alassane Plea to score the hosts’ fourth of the day, made four passes into the final third from defence and put in a near-flawless defensive shift with six ball recoveries and seven successful duels.

Scally competes for possession with Wolfsburg’s Jakub Kaminski (Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Name: Giovanni Reyna
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Midfielder
League appearances: Four

Another week without a start, but there were 30 minutes in the bank for Reyna in Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat away at Stuttgart at the weekend.

It was a difficult afternoon for the visitors, but Reyna did not lack application or spirit with three passes into the final third and three ball recoveries as he tried to make his mark.

Name: Brenden Aaronson
Club: Union Berlin
Position: Midfield
League appearances: Eight

A tough game on the road for Aaronson as Union were beaten comprehensively 4-0 at Bayer Leverkusen.

His side only had 31 per cent possession and it tells in the individual numbers. In his 26 minutes from the bench, the USMNT player managed just 11 touches and six passes (which were, at least, all accurate).

What’s coming up?

Scally and Jordan Pefok are back out for Gladbach on November 25, after the international window, in a big game against Reyna’s Dortmund (9:30am ET, ESPN+).

Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic could return for Milan alongside Yunus Musah as they face Fiorentina on that same Saturday (2:45pm ET, Paramount+).

The following day, McKennie and, if he recovers from a hamstring problem, Timothy Weah will try to help Juventus topple Inter and take top spot in Serie A’s game of the weekend (2:45pm ET, Paramount+). (Top photos: Getty Images)

Emma Hayes’ hiring by the USWNT is official, as is how much she wanted the job

Jonathan Tannenwald

I’m the Inquirer’s soccer reporter, covering the Union, MLS, the NWSL, the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, and Philadelphia’s place in the world’s game. I also pitch in with coverage of college basketball and the WNBA.

“The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run deep,” said the England native who made her coaching name in the United States in the 2000s.

Emma Hayes (left) will return to the United States to become USWNT manager. “You can’t turn the U.S. women’s national team down,” she said.Clive Rose / Getty Images

The U.S. women’s soccer team’s hiring of Emma Hayes as its next manager became official on Tuesday, and while not every factor in the move is settled yet, one big one is.For the last few months, there was much behind-the-scenes chatter that Hayes wanted to return to the country where she made her coaching name. Now she has said it aloud and with gusto.“This is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history,” Hayes said in remarks to the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website. “No one ever knows what the right time is in life for anything, but it’s the feeling I have for this team and for a country that I have a great connection with and a history with. I’ve dreamed about doing this job from my days as a coach in my early [20s].”And she added for emphasis: “You can’t turn the U.S. women’s national team down.”Her connection with this country indeed is that deep. Hayes moved from her native England to the United States in 2001 to begin her coaching career with the amateur Long Island Lady Riders from 2001 to 2003. She then took over the Iona College women’s program from 2003 to 2006.After a two-year return to England to serve as an Arsenal assistant, Hayes crossed the pond again to become the manager of the Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer, which preceded the National Women’s Soccer League. In 1½ seasons there, her players included Carli Lloyd, Kate Markgraf, a rookie Megan Rapinoe, Brazil’s Formiga, and Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani.

Following her exit in Chicago, Hayes did consulting work for the former Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom, then got the Chelsea job in 2012. She has held it ever since. But she has remained connected to the American scene, regularly visiting these shores for games and the annual United Soccer Coaches convention.“I’ve got so many fond memories of turning up in Long Island with a backpack and a thousand dollars and working for clubs across the whole of Long Island and Westchester and New York City,” Hayes said.Now age 47, Hayes also has brought three marquee American players to Chelsea over the years: Crystal Dunn in 2017 and Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario this year.

An open secret

It’s worth looking back to the moment a few months ago when word started going around that Hayes wanted the job — though not until she’d won the Champions League with Chelsea. The grandest prize in European club soccer is the only major title she hasn’t yet brought to the blue quarter of London.When Vlatko Andonovski departed after the U.S. crashed out of the World Cup in August, Hayes was in Australia as a studio analyst for England’s ITV. A few days before the final, she was a speaker at FIFA’s Women’s Football Convention. After her session, she met with a pack of English and American reporters — and an elephant in the room.“I suspected that question would come up,” Hayes said. “I’m very happy here at Chelsea, I’ve made that clear. I’ve been there for 11 years; it’s my home. I think the U.S. has wonderful players and perhaps the tournament didn’t go the way they wanted, but my focus is on getting home and preparing Chelsea for the start of the season.”It didn’t feel like a flat-out “no” at the time, and it feels like even less of one now.Still, there was genuine belief that she’d stay at Chelsea. So it was surprising when the club announced earlier this month that she’d leave after the season.It took barely an hour to connect the dots.“Her passion for the game, her coaching acumen, her ability to galvanize players and staff, her dedication to continue to evolve as a coach and her qualities as a person are all incredibly impressive,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said Tuesday in a statement. “She has a great appreciation for the legacy of this program and embraces the big challenges ahead.”Hayes praised Crocker in turn for the rigor of his work.“It was an extraordinary interview process that made me really think hard about who I am, what my teams are about, and the importance of the things that really, really matter if you’re going to compete at the highest level,” Hayes said. “Most importantly, it showed how serious the U.S. [is] in getting things right both on and off the pitch so that the team can compete on all fronts for every trophy.”

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker.Lucas Peltier / AP

Equal pay with Berhalter could happen

It helped that Crocker had U.S. Soccer’s backing to go to a place it and much of the sport have never gone to before. Hayes “will become the highest-paid women’s soccer coach in the world,” the announcement said, and that could mean pay equity with U.S. men’s manager Gregg Berhalter.A source with knowledge of the matter told The Inquirer earlier this month that plans are in the works to make that happen, though it’s not known exactly what the number will be. And it won’t be known for a while because the salaries are only disclosed retroactively in U.S. Soccer’s annual tax documents. (They become public because U.S. Soccer is a nonprofit entity.)

https://buy.tinypass.com/checkout/template/cacheableShow?aid=HtZYnkXBmA&templateId=OT8SBYWV37GF&offerId=fakeOfferId&experienceId=EX8AF5AIXCDS&iframeId=offer_9cdf7c4ee9bc79986e36-5&displayMode=inline&widget=template&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquirer.com

It also matters that Hayes isn’t going to take the job full time until May. Current interim manager Twila Kilgore will continue in that role until then, a span that includes a two-game friendly series against China next month, the Concacaf women’s Gold Cup in February and March, and another friendly window in April.Hayes will have four games on the bench before the U.S. heads to Paris for next summer’s Olympics, two games in June and two games in July. The Athletic reported that Hayes will not work with the Americans in the interim national team windows.“This is a unique situation, but the team is in safe hands with Twila,” Crocker said. “Her stewardship will be crucial during this period as we are focused on success at the Olympics. Emma has endorsed Twila, she will be a key part of Emma’s staff when she arrives and moving forward, and we are excited for what’s to come with our USWNT program.”The U.S. women’s team isn’t used to waiting for a manager it wants. Nor is it used to playing second fiddle to anyone, whether another national team or a club.But it believes the wait will be worth it for someone whose coaching resumé is as good as it gets: five English women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups, and reaching the 2021 Champions League final amid three semifinals. Hayes also won FIFA’s best women’s coach of the year award in 2021.Now to see if the personal touch of her past American experience will be the final puzzle piece.“I understand how important this team is to the people and culture of the United States, not just the soccer community,” Hayes said. “I fully understand the place this team has in U.S. society. I’ve lived it.”

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - SEPTEMBER 7: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during a match between Argentina and Ecuador as part of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at Estadio Mas Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on September 7, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gustavo Ortiz/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Copa America 2024: Everything we (don’t) know

Max Mathews and Ed Mackey Nov 16, 2023

As of Monday, November 20, it will be exactly seven months — 213 days — until the 2024 Copa America.Next summer’s tournament is the latest iteration of the quadrennial competition that usually sees the likes of Brazil and Argentina go head-to-head in South America for a prestigious trophy, while displaying the continent’s richness and depth of talent.This time around, things are slightly different, and the build-up has been marred by so many basic questions remaining unanswered: What stadiums will host matches? How much will tickets cost for fans? And why the delay?The Athletic is on hand to explain what we know and what we don’t ahead of next year.

When will the tournament be?

The only dates to have been announced are those of the first game and the final.The 2024 Copa America kicks off with the opening match on Thursday, June 20 and it concludes 25 days later on Sunday, July 14.Other than that? It’s a mystery for now.

Which country is hosting it?

Perhaps surprisingly, the United States is the host country, despite the tournament typically being made up of South American sides and hosted on the continent.The USMNT, however, are one of six teams from CONCACAF (the governing body for Central American, North American and Caribbean football) who can qualify for the 16-team tournament via the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League. Despite being hosts, they do not qualify automatically, unlike they did at the U.S.-hosted Copa America Centenario — a special edition in 2016 that marked 100 years of the tournament. That was also the first and only previous time a non-South American country hosted the tournament.The other 10 sides will be the 10 represented by CONMEBOL (South American football’s governing body). They are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.*Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are in South America but are affiliated with CONCACAF.

Why is the U.S. hosting a tournament for South American teams?

From 1916 to 1975, the Copa America was known as the Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol (South American Football Championship) and is a tournament organised by CONMEBOL.Why can North America’s most populous country host and play in that tournament, I hear you ask. And it’s a valid question. The answer is best broken down into a few parts.Despite one of CONMEBOL’s member federations, Argentina, being World Cup holders, off-field governance in South America has caused problems. A myriad of political issues across the continent makes it a challenge to select a suitable host.

South America has the world champions, but competent Copa America hosts are not forthcoming (Photo: ANP via Getty Images)

The Copa America has been rotated across its 10 member federations since 1984 and it was identified that next year’s tournament would be in Ecuador. But, last November, they declined the option.The U.S. and Peru were the two nations to express interest in replacing them and, in January, CONMEBOL announced that the U.S. would host it as part of the freshly signed strategic collaboration between them and CONCACAF.The ability to host a major tournament at short notice and the responsibilities of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico were key considerations. Fortunately, the U.S. is starting from a stronger base than most other countries as they have known for five years that they will be co-hosting the 2026 World Cup and have an array of large-capacity stadiums to choose from.

Has the U.S. competed in the tournament before?

Yes, they have experience of playing in, and hosting, Copa America.They have competed in four editions: 1993, 1995, 2007 and 2016, hosting the latter and finishing fourth.The involvement of guest countries has been a common theme of the last 30 years, with only 10 member nations making up CONMEBOL. Mexico has been invited to participate the most, with 10 Copa America appearances under their belts, then Costa Rica (5), the U.S. (4), Jamaica and Japan (twice each), then Honduras, Haiti, Panama and Qatar (all once each).

In which cities will matches be played?

Who knows? The host cities and venues have not been announced despite the above dates being publicly confirmed more than three months ago. At the time, CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani outlined plans for more information, including host cities, to be announced this fall. Technically, it’s not winter until December 21, but time is ticking.That said, there is likely to be significant crossover with the stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup.The 11 U.S. venues announced for that are:

AT&T Stadium (Dallas)
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey)
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area)
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)
Gillette Stadium (Boston)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Lumen Field (Seattle)
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

How will the tournament work?

All we have at the moment are broad brushstrokes rather than specifics. The 16 teams will be split into four groups of four, with one team from each of the four pots in each group.The top two sides in each group will then progress to the knockout stages, starting with the quarter-finals.

When are we going to find out more?

That is the million-dollar question as fans wanting to go to matches and sort their travel arrangements lose patience.The group-stage draw is currently set to happen at the James L. Knight Center in Miami on Thursday, December 7, at 7.30pm ET/4.30pm PT/12.30am GMT in the early hours of Friday morning for those in the UK.Teams will be seeded according to the FIFA rankings as of November/December 2023.

How does qualification work?

The six CONCACAF teams will have to earn their place.The 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League has reached the quarter-final stage with two teams left to be confirmed.Due to their ranking positions, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico and the U.S. were given byes to the last eight where they have been joined by Jamaica, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.The four quarter-final winners will secure qualification to Copa America. The four losing teams will drop into a play-in round which will follow the knockout format. The winners of the two play-off ties will qualify for Copa America.

The quarter-finals are:

Costa Rica vs Panama (first leg Nov. 16, second leg Nov. 20)
Jamaica vs Canada (first leg Nov. 17, second leg Nov. 21)
United States vs Trinidad and Tobago (first leg Nov. 16, second leg Nov. 20)
Honduras vs Mexico (first leg Nov. 17, second leg Nov. 21)

So why the delay?

It’s a good question without a clear answer. The World Cup may be diverting attention, but that tournament is two and a half years away, so planning is surely not yet in the urgent stages or requiring a huge amount of resources or attention at the moment.The fact the footballing infrastructure is already in place also means it is puzzling why things have taken so long so far.

What about the women’s competition?

There will be a new tournament, called the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the inaugural 2024 version played from February 20-March 10 next year.12 teams will contest the competition, with eight from CONCACAF and the top four from CONMEBOL invited to join them. Again, the United States will host it. The two CONCACAF teams who will compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (USWNT and Canada or Jamaica) qualify for the W Gold Cup, with the other six CONCACAF teams decided via the 2023 Road to CONCACAF W Gold Cup.And the four guest CONMEBOL teams have already been chosen according to the 2022 Women’s Copa America results: champions Brazil, runner-up Colombia, plus Argentina and Paraguay, who finished third and fourth respectively.

Anything else?

Yes. The winners of the men’s Copa America tournament will face the winners of the 2024 European Championship in the 2025 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions.Intriguingly, it has also been reported that the two federations are organising a ‘final four’-type tournament with two clubs from each federation, qualifying via existing CONCACAF and CONMEBOL competitions.That could see sides like Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, Boca Juniors and Palmeiras facing off for the (unofficial) title ‘King of the Americas’.The first such competition could be played in 2024, though probably in the latter stages of the calendar year.

Who are the most recent winners of the Copa America?

Argentina are the reigning Copa America champions – having won the tournament in 2021 before then going on to World Cup glory in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.Led by Lionel Messi, they beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final thanks to a brilliant goal from Angel Di Maria, ending their 28-year wait for a major trophy.As a result of winning Copa America, they faced European champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley and won 3-0; Lautaro Martinez, Di Maria and Paulo Dybala were the scorers.

Here are the teams that have won Copa America most:

Argentina – 15 (1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021)
Uruguay – 15 (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
Brazil – 9 (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019)
Paraguay – 2 (1953, 1979)
Chile – 2 (2015, 2016)
Peru – 2 (1939, 1975)
Bolivia – 1 (1963)
Colombia – 1 (2001)

(Top photo: Gustavo Ortiz/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Next up: Conference Semifinals in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Round One Best-of-3 series winners have their matchup locked in – Eastern Conference Semifinals are played on Saturday, Nov. 25, while Western Conference Semifinals are played on Sunday, Nov. 26. When matches resume following the FIFA international break, single-elimination returns and there’s extra-time/PKs (if needed). The four winners reach the Conference Finals on Dec. 2-3, building towards MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 9. As always, matches can be viewed via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Orlando City SC (2) vs. Columbus Crew (3)

When: Saturday, Nov. 25 | 5:30 pm ET
Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
Where: Exploria Stadium | Orlando, Florida

Orlando completed a Round One sweep of Nashville SC (No. 7), as goals from Wilder Cartagena and Iván Angulo powered two separate 1-0 victories and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese posted back-to-back shutouts. The Lions also made the Conference Semifinals in 2020, starting their rise under head coach Óscar Pareja.

Columbus outlasted Atlanta in their Round One series, cruising to a 4-2 home victory in Match 3. With Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernández the focal points, the Crew boast a high-flying attack in their first year under head coach Wilfried Nancy. They do have backline vulnerabilities, though.

FC Cincinnati (1) vs. Philadelphia Union (4)

When: Saturday, Nov. 25 | 8 pm ET
Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
Where: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

FC Cincinnati, after sweeping New York Red Bulls (No. 8) in Round One, are three games away from becoming the league’s ninth Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double-winning team. Luciano Acosta, the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner, has 1g/2a in the postseason, but Cincy will be without center back Matt Miazga due to yellow-card accumulation.

Philadelphia needed only two games to surpass the New England Revolution (No. 5) in Round One, closing out Match 2 on the road despite missing defenders Kai Wagner (suspension) and Jakob Glesnes (injury), as well as striker Julián Carranza (injury). In 2022, the Union won this Conference Semifinal matchup at Subaru Park en route to making the MLS Cup final.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Houston Dynamo FC (4) vs. Sporting Kansas City (8)

When: Sunday, Nov. 26 | 7 pm ET
Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass | FS1, FOX Deportes | TSN, RDS
Where: Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, Texas

Houston, after lifting the US Open Cup in late September, dream of adding a second trophy during head coach Ben Olsen’s first year at the helm. They squeaked past Real Salt Lake (No. 5) in Match 3, turning to fullback Griffin Dorsey and goalkeeper Steve Clark as their PK heroes. Star midfielder Héctor Herrera has 1g/1a in the playoffs.

Sporting KC swept St. Louis CITY SC (No. 1) in Round One, upsetting their Midwest rival and ending a dream expansion season. Peter Vermes’ group, led by striker Alan Pulido, has been the West’s best team since May. But their depth will be tested after left back Logan Ndenbe tore his ACL in Match 2.

Seattle Sounders FC (2) vs. LAFC (3)

When: Sunday, Nov. 26 | 9:30 pm ET
Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
Where: Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington

Seattle were pushed to Match 3 by FC Dallas (No. 7), yet won their Round One series thanks to Albert Rusnák‘s first-half goal. Veteran goalkeeper Stefan Frei has posted two shutouts this postseason, and the Rave Green’s veteran know-how has shined even as Nicolás Lodeiro and Raúl Ruidíaz shift to super-sub roles.

LAFC swept Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 6) in Round One, largely thanks to Dénis Bouanga‘s red-hot form. The Golden Boot presented by Audi winner, who had 20g/7a in the regular season, tallied three times to help the Black & Gold inch closer towards possibly being the first MLS Cup repeat winner since the 2011-12 LA Galaxy.

=======RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ===========

Heading over to the Badger Field for Training? Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

Save 20% on your order

(mention the ole ballcoach)

Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more. Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290 M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday. Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!

======================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ======================

Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

Proud Member of the American Outlaws https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite, Brick Yard Battalion – http://brickyardbattalion.com, Sam’s Army-http://sams-army.com

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools www.achievetestprep.com/shane Leave a comment