Notes

So the World Cup is less than 30 days away – and more details are coming in as Madonna, Shakira, BTS are set to headline final halftime show. Performers for the 3 Opening Games pregame have also been announced for the games in Mexico City on June 11, Toronto June 12 1:30 pm, & Los Angeles June 12 7:30 pm (I should be there), Speaking of World Cup coverage- heartwarming story on The Cantors- This father-son broadcasting duo is deep-rooted in the American soccer culture. US vs The World – Soccer Series on HBO has started also for US Fans – Paramount+ has a cool documentary (You Don’t Know Where I’m From, Dawg | Official Trailer) on US best soccer player ever – Clint Dempsey. Awesome new commercial with Pulisic, Messi & Ochoa. To the chagrin of HOAs everywhere, Lowe’s to sell 10-foot Messi yard decoration pre world cup. Cool Story below – Are we Ready for the World Cup? from Stars & Stripes.

MLS Salary’s Came out and Messi earns more than all other clubs’ wage bills except LAFC, all MLS Quarterfinals for US Open Cup are next week Tues-Wed eve.

The last time a team other than Rangers or Celtic won the Scottish league was 1984. Chasing a first Scottish title since 1960, Hearts really want to compete. Worth waking up to watch at 7:30 am on CBS Sports Network Saturday to see if Hearts can pull the upset at Celtic. Of Sat at 10:30 am gives us FA Cup Final with Chelsea playing Man City at Wembley on ESPN2. (Stories below).

Indy 11 win 2-1 Travel to Ft Wayne FC Sat 7:30 pm on ESPN+

Indianapolis – Indy Eleven used two second-half goals to rally from a halftime deficit to extend their USL Championship home unbeaten streak to seven (6-0-1) dating back to last season with a 2-1 win over Sporting JAX at Carroll Stadium. Indy Eleven resumes USL Cup play Saturday in their first-ever meeting at USL League One expansion side Fort Wayne FC at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Saturday, May 23 is “Pups at the Pitch” at Carroll Stadium when Indy Eleven returns to USL Championship play vs. Lexington SC at 7 p.m. Ticket options include the new Desnuda Tequila Deck, Family Four-Packs, and Flex Mini-Plans. The Girls in Blue opened their 2026 USL W League season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw vs. rival Racing Louisville FC, they travel to new Valley Division member Toledo Villa FC on Saturday at 3 pm on SportsEnginePlay. 

TV Schedule – Games on TV

Sat, May 16
7:30 am CBSSN Celtic vs Hearts Scottish Championship
9:30 am ESPN+ Leverkusen vs Hamburger
9:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach (Reyna, Scally) vs Hoffenheim
10:30 am ESPN2 Chelsea vs Man City FA Cup Final
6″30 pm Tubi, Ion NC Courage vs Chicago Stars NWSL
7:30 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Ft Wayne
7:30 pm Apple NYCFC vs NY REd Bulls
7:30 pm Apple Philly vs Columbus Crew
8:45 pm Tubi, Ion Denver Summit vs Orlando Pride NWSL
9:15 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy
9:30 pm Apple San Diego vs Cincy
10:30 pm Apple San Jose vs Dallas
Sun, May 17
6:45 am Para+ Genoa vs AC Milan (Pulisic)
6:45 am Para+ Juventus (McKennie) vs Florentina
7:30 am USA Man United vs Nottingham Forest
9 am Para+ Inter Milan vs Verona
10 am USA Leeds United (Aaronson) vs Brighton
10 am Peacock Brentford vs Crystal Palace (Richards)
10 am NBCSN Everton vs Sunderland
12:30 pm USA New Castle United vs West Ham
1 pm ESPN+ Sevillia vs Real MAdrid
3:15 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Real Betis
6 pm ESPN2 Portland Thorns vs Angel City FC
9 pm Univision Pumas vs Pachuca
Mon, May 18
3pm USA Arsenal vs Burnley
Tues May 19
2:30 pm USA Bournmouth (adams) vs Man City
3:15 pm USA Chelsea vs Tottenham
7:30 pm Para+ Orlando vs Atlanta United US OPen Cup
8 pm CBSCN St Louis City vs Houston US Open Cup
Weds May 20
3 pm CBSSN Freiburg vs Aston Villa Europa League Finals
7:30 pm Para+ Columbus Crew vs NYCFC US OPen Cup
8 pm CBSSN Houston Dash vs SD Wave NWSL
10 pm CBSCN Colorado Rapids vs San Jose US Open Cup
Fri, May 22
3 pm Para+ Hull City vs Southampton Champ Playoff
10 pm TUDN Mexico vs Ghana
sAT May 23
12 Noon CBSSN Barcelona vs OL Lyonnes (Heeps/Horan) Womens’ UCL
2:30 pm Fox St Louis City vs Austin MLS
7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Lexington
Sun, May 31
3:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Men vs Senegal
Sat, June 6
2:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Men vs Germany in Chicago Tix
Sat, June 12 WORLD CUP
9 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Paraguay World Cup
Fri, June 19
3 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup
Thur, June 25
10 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup

Complete 2026 World Cup schedule featuring match dates and start times
NWSL Schedule
MLS Schedule 

===RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ===

Coming home from Practice or Games at Badger Fieldhouse?  Need food for a Graduation, end of school party, World Cup or July 4th party? Call Ryan now to ask about catering options at 317-688-7290. 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% ======================

USA

Who will Mauricio Pochettino pick for the USMNT World Cup roster?
Mauricio Pochettino has it wrong – American soccer fans have plenty of emotions

It’ll take more than home soil: why hosting isn’t enough for a USMNT World Cup run
Johnny Cardoso likely to miss World Cup due to ankle surgery
USMNT’s Scally to make club call after World Cup
Who on the USMNT ‘has that dog in them’? xDAWG can quantify that

Pulisic gives Milan, USMNT positive injury update
Reyna: Hard to answer if I should make U.S. team
USMNT’s Cardoso needs surgery, WC in jeopardy
Christian Pulisic on handling World Cup pressure: ‘This is exactly where I want to be’

EPL & FA Cup Final

Manchester City will almost be at full strength for the FA Cup final against Chelsea
FA Cup final preview: Man City or Chelsea? Analysis, predictions
Weekend predictions: Celtic to break Hearts in title decider? Man City to win FA Cup final? Julien Laurens

Every Premier League team reranked: Explaining Man City rise, collapse of Chelsea and Liverpool
Dawson: Hearts want the Scottish title. What they want more is to compete every year
EPL relegation: Are Spurs or West Ham more likely to stay?

World Cup

One month out: Are we ready for the World Cup?
2026 World Cup viewer’s guide: Everything you need to know
World Cup Power Rankings: Who are the front-runners with 30 days to go?
2026 World Cup injuries tracker: Which stars could miss out, latest info

World Cup injury tracker: Which stars are going to miss out?
World Cup kit ranking: Which teams will look best in 2026?
Aggravation prompts fans to ask: Is World Cup worth it?
Neymar’s case grows for Brazil return after Copa call-up
🚨 De Ligt undergoes surgery and will miss the World Cup
France’s World Cup snub roster is worth nearly $349M
Deschamps refuses to rule out coaching Italy: ‘Everyone knows I’m available’
29 days to the World Cup: Who designs the kits?

GK

Will Matt Freese or Matt Turner be the USMNT’s World Cup goalkeeper?
MLS: Best Saves of the Week

Reffing

Ref under Police Protection 
Pressure of Reffing Scottish Title Game

https://www.achievetestprep.com/career-paths/highschool-clep

Proud Member of American Outlaws  http://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite 

Looking to Get a Professional Company Headshot? Check out https://capturely.com/ Tell Rob The Ole Ballcoach Shane sent you and he’ll give you a deal.

Lowe’s to sell 10-foot Lionel Messi inflatable yard decoration that looks like him sort of

The real Lionel Messi tries to evade his giant inflatable doppelganger. Photo courtesy of Lowe’s

By Larry HolderMay 14, 2026Updated 10:23 pm EDT

Run into Lionel Messi at a soccer stadium or randomly on the street, and he might feel larger than life despite only standing 5 feet 7. But soon you can have your own version of Messi at almost twice the size for less than $100.Lowe’s will begin selling limited-edition, 10-foot Messi lighted yard inflatables for $99, which will be available through the Lowe’s website starting May 18 for members of the company’s rewards program as part of its “Epically More Messi” campaign. Those living in the 11 U.S. World Cup host cities will be able to purchase a giant Messi inflatable in stores starting May 20.

With the World Cup in sight, we discuss what FIFA needs to do (and stop doing) to get ready.

by Donald Wine II May 11, 2026, 11:08 AM EDT Stars & Stripes

New York New Jersey Stadium (temporarily renamed from MetLife stadium) is seen from the inside ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

One month away. The sporting event that has been on the dawn of the horizon for four years is now almost here. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11th from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the pressure to perform is starting to reach its peak. It’s not just for the teams that are starting to assemble their final rosters in the coming weeks, but also for the tournament at large. For years, we have heard that this World Cup is going to be the biggest, the best, the most memorable. Now, the powers that be must follow through on that promise.

But, are we ready for the World Cup to kick off in a month? Are the United States, Canada, and Mexico? Is FIFA? Is the World Cup committee? Are we as fans? All of those questions likely have different answers and the level of readiness will vary. But in short, as the time ticks dow to kickoff, there is still a lot that needs to be done for North America to put on the greatest sporting event ever.

It starts with the overall excitement for the tournament, and for a lot of soccer fanatics, that’s not a problem. Even if their team is not in the tournament, life around the world will slow to a snail’s pace when the ball is rolled out to be kicked and the matches begin. But, some of that excitement has been dulled by money and politics, two things that the World Cup was always supposed to set aside for the greater cause of uniting the world to celebrate its favorite game.

The biggest thing that has lowered excitement and deterred many fans of the game, particularly here in North America from being all in for the World Cup has been the incredibly high costs to attend a match: the tickets, the travel, the hotels and home rentals, the public transit. Everyone seems to want to take financial advantage of the World Cup coming here with astronomical pricing. Even fan festivals in some cities are charging for entry with premium add-ons and many won’t even be open for all the matches of the tournament. FIFA vastly overestimated the premium American fans especially would pay to see a tournament match just a few miles from their home.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been on record as saying that the 2026 World Cup would be like “104 Super Bowls in a month,” and recently said that they priced the game tickets accordingly because they felt American fans were used to paying a premium for sports. Infantino also went so far as to say, “You cannot go to watch in the U.S. a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300. And this is the World Cup.” And that shows a fundamental lack of knowledge on what American sports fans routinely pay for games. Anecdotally, it’s much easier to pay less than $100 to get into almost any sporting event except for the Super Bowl than it is to exceed $300 to get into the same game unless you are opting for premium seat locations or amenities. With those statements, Infantino not only showed a lack of knowledge on what Americans will pay for a sporting event, but he also showed a wanton disrespect of how well educated the American soccer fan is on the game.

---

The United States has been the nation that leads all others outside of the home nation in tickets sold to every World Cup since we hosted for the first time in 1994. American fans routinely are relied upon to purchase tickets to big events that come to our shores. But because of this, American fans understand what World Cups usually cost. They immediately knew that an $1200 ticket for the USMNT’s opening match against Paraguay was over 3 times what people paid for the opening match 4 years ago in Qatar. They knew that a Cat 3 ticket to the USMNT match against Australia this year was twice as much as a Cat 1 ticket to see the USMNT play England in 2022. We’re the nation that has more access to soccer than any other, and because American fans travel for these games, they know what pricing is like everywhere. That was the biggest miss, and it’s costing them with all the reports of tickets going unsold because of the high prices. Hotels, flights, and public transit authorities jacking up the price of getting to and from the games in several cities has also put a damper on fan enthusiasm, and people are now just planning to wait and see if prices drop as inventory continues to remain unfilled.

So, what does FIFA and the World Cup committee need to do, besides consider drastically lower pricing? The biggest gap to fill is educating fans not familiar with attending World Cup on what to expect when the games begin. The education should have already begun months ago, but now is the second best time. Fans need to understand what it will be like attending the game, the security procedures, where people will access the stadium, how they can get there and the costs. There are many chances for people to get frustrated with the process, and lack of information should not be the reason for those chokepoints.

Let them know that the security perimeters are going to be vastly different from attending these stadiums for a NFL game or another soccer game. Let them know that they can’t bring in what they normally would for a routine sporting event at the same stadium. The last thing FIFA needs are entrances to be jammed by people who bring in items that normally are allowed in the stadium that are banned at the World Cup. Get them in the stadiums early by letting them know what will be there for entertainment prior to the match. Will they have screens to watch other games there? Other activations? Some of these stadiums are not close to anything else, so to not create a situation where tens of thousands of people try to enter the stadium at the last minute, bogging down security checkpoints, let them know the process and how long it can take so that people won’t miss the action on the field.

Finally, FIFA needs to get out of its own way. The World Cup is the uniter, the games on the field being the olive branches. The focus shouldn’t be on the revenue, but the action on the field. That’s what will carry in the minds of people long after the tournament is wrapped up. Lowering prices to get fans that generational moment inside the stadium is what’s necessary, but the focus shifted away from the game when the decision was made to price gouge at every turn. Get it back to the games, the teams, the players. We’ll do our part as fans, but as we tick down the days before kickoff on June 11th, soccer’s world governing body needs to do more. This is a pivotal moment in world sports history, and there’s a long way to go to ensure the moment is not fumbled.

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Break out the bubble wrap

Battling but hoping there’s no breaking by jcksnftsn S & S May 8, 2026, 10:31 AM EDT

OVIEDO, SPAIN – APRIL 23: (L-R) Alex Freeman of Villarreal , Javi Lopez of Real Oviedo during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo v Villarreal at the Estadio Municipal NMR Carlos Tartiere on April 23, 2026 in Oviedo Spain (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images)Getty Images

With World Cup roster announcements coming up in just a few weeks and players already dealing with injury (we’ll get to those below) we’ll be watching through squinted eyes the last couple weeks of the season hoping that the injury bug doesn’t further derail World Cup hopes and dreams. While injury is definitely a concern there are still significant things to play for as well including promotion, relegation, and Champions League positioning. We’re covering it all in this weekend’s edition of the viewing guide:

Saturday

Middlesbrough v Southampton – 7:30a on CBSSN: Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough drew with Wrexham last weekend, dropping Middlesbrough to fifth place while Wrexham were eliminated from the playoff race. Middlesbrough will now host Southampton in the first leg of the promotion playoff semifinals. Middlesbrough defeated Southampton 4-0 at home back in early January while the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Southampton early in the season.

Augsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Noahkai is apparently already on ice, he hasn’t appeared in five straight matches and just one of the last seven for Augsburg who undefeated in their last five. Augsburg will be hosting Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Monchengladbach who are mathematically safe from relegation and in eleventh place following their 1-0 win over Dortmund, a match which Scally once again started and went 90’ while Reyna came on for the final 20’, he has appeared in three straight matches.

Stuttgart v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Malik Tillman saw just a handful of minutes off the bench in Leverkusen’s 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig last weekend and actually has fewer minutes since the start of April than Gio Reyna. Leverkusen have won four of their last five and have pulled into a three way tie for fourth place with two matches remaining, a grouping that includes this weekend’s host Stuttgart who are coming off a draw with the third team, Hoffenheim.

Fulham v Bournemouth – 10a on USA Network: Antonee Robinson started for Fulham against Arsenal last weekend but Fulham fell 3-0 to the league leaders. Robinson had appeared as a substitute in the prior two matches and looks to be in a rotation with Ryan Sessegnon. Fulham are in eleventh place and will host Tyler Adams and Bournemouth who moved into sixth last weekend following their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace with Tyler Adams getting his first start since early March.

Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Kevin Paredes was on the bench for Wolfsburg as they fell to Freiburg last weekend. He had made a brief substitute appearance the the prior week in his clubs scoreless draw with Gladbach. Wolfsburg are currently in the relegation playoff spot, tied with St. Pauli for direct relegation. Those two teams will meet next weekend to decide the fates of Paredes and James Sands but first Wolfsburg must stay within shooting distance as they host Bayern Munich who are coming off a disappointing Champions League semifinal matchup with PSG midweek but have lost just once and drawn five times in their dominating Bundesliga campaign.

Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo – 12:30p on ESPN Select: Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid were also eliminated in Champions League action midweek and adding injury to insult Cardoso was injured in training in the following days and his World Cup hopes are now in doubt as he deals with a high ankle sprain that will keep him out the remainder of the La Liga season. Atleti are in fourth place and can lock up next seasons Champions League spot with with a win over sixth place Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Lecce v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+: Weston McKennie and Juventus hold a one point lead over Roma for fourth place and the final Champions League spot from Serie A after their 1-1 draw with Serie B bound Hellas Verona. They will need to bounce back quickly as the travel to Lecce to face the seventeenth place side that can secure their safety with a win.

Real Sociedad v Real Betis – 3p on ESPN Select: Pellegrino Matarazzo and Real Sociedad are suffering from a bit of a cup hangover as they have lost twice and drawn once in their three matches since winning the Copa del Rey. Sociedad are in ninth place four points back of the top six with four matches to play. They host fifth place Real Betis on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday

Celtic v Rangers – 7a on CBSSN: Auston Trusty has started the last two for Celtic after missing four straight. Celtic are in second place, trailing Hearts by three points with three matches to play in the Scottish Premiership and they will have an Old Firm Derby to contend with on Sunday morning.

Mallorca v Villarreal – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Alex Freeman has started two straight matches for third place Villarreal who defeated Levante 5-1 last weekend. Villareal will now travel to Mallorca to take on the fifteenth place side that are just two points removed from the final relegation spot. As an aside the La Liga relegation battle could be quite something down the stretch. Deportivo Alaves currently sit in 18th place, the final relegation spot with 36 points (just three points ahead of Levante). There are six teams within three points of them, including a logjam of three on 38 points, a group that includes Mallorca.

Crystal Palace v Everton – 9a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Crystal Palace completed their semi-final victory over Shaktar Donetsk on Thursday, winning 2-1 on the day and 5-2 on aggregate. Palace advanced to the UEFA Conference League final where they will face Rayo Vallecano near the end of May. With the extra cup schedule and not much to play for in terms of the EPL standings Richards saw a rare rest last weekend in Palace’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, coming off the bench for the final 14’. Prior to last weekend Richards had played nearly every minute for Palace outside of the four match stretch where he dealt with a foot injury at the turn of the year.

Koln v Heidenheim – 11:30a on ESPN Select: Kristoffer Lund picked up his second assist of the season as Koln drew with Union Berlin last weekend a result that guarantees their safety with two matches to play. Koln will host Heidenheim on Sunday, a team that could technically still pull into the relegation playoff position over the last two weeks, though no higher.

AC Milan v Atalanta – 2:45p on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic and AC Milan are limping into the end of the year, falling 2-0 to Sassuolo last weekend with Pulisic appearing as a substitute. Milan have scored just one goal as a team in their last five matches and as you’ve likely heard Pulisic himself hasn’t found the back of the next this calendar year. Milan are in third place, just three points ahead of Roma and in danger of missing Champions League qualification again if they cannot find some goals over the final three matchdays of the season. On Sunday they will host Atalanta who are in seventh place, ten points back of Juventus and the top four. Yunus Musah saw five minutes off the bench last weekend in Atalanta’s scoreless draw with Genoa, it was his first appearance in the last four matches.

Le Havre v Olympique Marseille – 3p on beIN Sports: Tim Weah was serving a yellow card suspension last weekend as Marseille fell to relegation threatened Nantes 3-0. Marseille dropped to seventh place and their slide to end the season, with just one win in their last six matches, has dropped them out of contention for Champions League qualification. Marseille still have a chance to make Europa League or Conference League but will need a result as they travel to take on a Le Havre side that are looking to secure their safety.

Monaco v Lille – 3p on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun was back on the scoresheet last weekend, scoring the first of Monaco’s two goals in a 2-1 win over Metz, a week after seeing his eight match scoring streak snapped. The win also snapped Monaco’s three match winless streak and moved them to sixth place. They will host fourth place Lille who they trail by four points with two matches remaining.

Toulouse v Olympique Lyon – 3p on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie and Tanner Tessmann’s teams will face off in Ligue 1 play on Sunday and while McKenzie and Toulouse don’t have much to play for Lyon are currently in third place, the final Champions League spot in Ligue 1, and leading Lille by just two points. Unfortunately, Tessmann was not included in the squad last weekend when Lyon defeated Stade Rennais 4-2 as he is apparently dealing with an injury that will now sideline him for the final matches of the season.

🇺🇸 Americans Abroad roundup 🇺🇸

• Christian Pulisic’s rough stretch continued as he missed AC Milan’s 3-2 loss to Atalanta with a glute injury. Milan’s slide is becoming a real concern, with the club now barely hanging onto a Champions League spot and questions starting to swirl around both the team and Pulisic’s form heading into the World Cup.
• Sergiño Dest reminded everyone exactly what he brings to the USMNT setup. The PSV fullback delivered a brilliant cross from the left side for Ricardo Pepi to head home in PSV’s 4-1 win, showing both his creativity and versatility after recently returning from injury.
• Ricardo Pepi kept his strong season rolling with another goal for PSV, his 14th of the campaign. With Balogun also red hot, the USMNT striker competition heading into the World Cup is getting very interesting.
• Gio Reyna finally had a breakthrough moment, scoring his first Bundesliga goal in nearly a year and a half for Borussia Mönchengladbach. It may not completely change his World Cup outlook, but it was a much-needed reminder of the quality he still possesses.
• Auston Trusty played a key role in Celtic’s huge 3-1 Old Firm comeback win over Rangers. The USMNT defender was strong defensively and helped keep Celtic’s title hopes alive heading into a dramatic finish in Scotland.

Other notes:

Alex Freeman made the bench for Villarreal but did not feature.

FA Cup Final betting preview: Man City favourites to beat Chelsea

Folarin Balogun’s hot streak cooled off in Monaco’s tough 1-0 loss to Lille, though he still has 8 goals in his last 10 Ligue 1 matches.

In other Ligue 1 news, Mark McKenzie’s Toulouse pushed past Lyon in a 2-1 victory — Tanner Tessmann did not play due to a minor injury (he is out for the club season but reports have him available for the World Cup squad… whew)

Tyler Adams came off the bench early in Bournemouth’s 1-0 win over Fulham, while Antonee Robinson played 90 minutes for the other side.

Weston McKennie put in another solid shift, this time in the number 10 position, as Juventus beat Lecce 1-0.

Chris Richards went the distance in Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with Everton.

Aidan Morris played all 90 minutes in Middlesbrough’s Championship playoff draw with Southampton.

Malik Tillman featured for about half an hourin Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-1 loss to Stuttgart.

Yunus Musah was an unused substitute in Atalanta’s win over Milan.

Rayan Cherki celebrates scoring for Manchester City Gareth Copley/Getty Images

By Graham RuthvenMay 14, 2026 11:30 pm EDT

FA Cup final day is one of the most cherished on the English football calendar. While the Wembley showpiece might not have the luster it did in past decades, Chelsea and Manchester City would relish getting their hands on the oldest trophy in club football.

This might be particularly true for Chelsea, who need to salvage something from a season that has quickly slipped through their fingers.Indeed, the Blues are on to their third manager of the campaign, with interim boss Calum McFarlane in charge for Saturday’s final. Chelsea’s only two wins in their past 11 games both came in the FA Cup, against Port Vale and Leeds United.

Chelsea are 21/10 to lift the trophy, reflecting how they are widely seen as underdogs against a Manchester City side that, in contrast, has improved over the course of the season.

Jeremy Doku could be City’s primary difference-maker, having scored four goals in his past four appearances. The Belgian is 11/4 to score at any time against Chelsea.

Doku is the most prolific dribbler in the Premier League and could give Chelsea all kinds of problems, no matter if Malo Gusto or Reece James start at right-back. Doku has the one-on-one ability to embarrass any defender in world football.

Rayan Cherki was in sparkling form the last time City met Chelsea, contributing two assists in a comfortable 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola’s title-chasers.

The way Chelsea have fared under Liam Rosenior and McFarlane, there is frequently space in front of the defensive line to exploit — see Ryan Gravenberch’s strike for Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.

Update your feed. Follow new interests below for the latest stories.

This could be where Cherki does the most damage, with the French playmaker 13/5 to find the back of the net at any point at Wembley. Chelsea might have to man-mark him to stand any chance of keeping him quiet.

Then there is Erling Haaland. It says a lot about the Norwegian’s goalscoring ability that many believe he has endured an underwhelming season, despite notching 37 goals in all competitions for City – including three in this competition.

City are 4/11 to lift the FA Cup this weekend and have not lost to Chelsea in their past 14 meetings, winning 11 and drawing three. The omens are not great for McFarlane and his players heading into the encounter.

Advertisement

Nonetheless, Chelsea can take some encouragement from the way they controlled large portions of Saturday’s match away to Liverpool, when most had predicted another loss.

On their day, Chelsea’s midfield trio of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer are capable of controlling any match against any opponent, including Manchester City.

Their best chance of stopping Guardiola’s side might be to control as much possession as possible, meaning McFarlane could once again deploy a box midfield of Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer and Andrey Santos like he did at Anfield.

Marc Cucurella’s mobility down the left wing will be key for Chelsea. They need the Spaniard to exploit the space behind Matheus Nunes in order to impose themselves as an attacking force.

Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their past 15 games in all competitions, and so there could be value in backing over 2.5 goals by Manchester City at 12/5.

Upsets can happen, especially in this cup, where the fabled magic of the competition frequently compels underdogs to perform above their usual standards.

Fatigue could be a factor. While Manchester City rested some players as they took on Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening in the Premier League, Chelsea have had a week off entirely since drawing away to Liverpool.

If Chelsea can somehow extend Saturday’s match into extra time, perhaps they could have the edge on a Man City side that is still in hope of snatching the Premier League title away from Arsenal.

Chelsea are 14/1 to win the FA Cup final in extra time, and the same price to win the match on penalties. The Blues have won four of their past six penalty shootouts, stretching back to the 2022 UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal.

Having already won the Carabao Cup, a domestic double is a very realistic possibility for Manchester City. Everything points to another trophy being lifted by Guardiola and his players at Wembley.

USMNT Tracker: Reyna finally off the mark, Trusty’s derby delight but more worries for Pulisic

Gio Reyna is finally off the mark this season Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images

By Greg O’KeeffeMay 11, 2026

Gio Reyna is finally off the mark for Borussia Monchengladbach this season but there was a worrying new injury for Christian Pulisic — while Auston Trusty helped Celtic win in the Od Firm derby against Rangers and keep the stage set for a nail-biting Scottish title race thriller.

Welcome to this week’s USMNT Player Tracker.

Advertisement

---

Reyna finally scores

It was a consolation goal for his team, and the simple finish that Gio Reyna rolled into the net on Saturday could help sooth his personal frustrations.

Reyna scored his first of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of a 3-1 defeat at Augsburg, his first domestic goal since January 2025.

Gio Reyna scoring his first of the season for Borussia MonchengladbachLeonhard Simon/Getty Images

The 23-year-old forward had started the contest, as usual, on the bench. But although it made no difference to the result, the American was in the right place at the right time to score a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the bottom-right of the net and take a symbolic step forward.Could that moment have come just at the right time to move the dial in his favour when it comes to World Cup selection?

Mauricio Pochettino values him. Reyna has featured in the USMNT’s last four fixtures, with Reyna scoring a superb header in the first of them, November’s 2-1 win over Paraguay.Selecting him to be part of the squad for the defeats by Belgium and Portugal, Pochettino later said, was reward for his “fantastic” form in November“Before the last decision, for the last roster for the World Cup, I think it’s good to see players that maybe are not playing too much,” said the USMNT head coach in March.What You Should Read NextUSA World Cup hopeful Zendejas heroic, but America’s Liga MX playoff comeback comes up shortAlejandro Zendejas delivered once again in a high-pressure situation for Mexican giant América, whose season ends in heartbreak

Well, Reyna is certainly in that category. He has started only four Bundesliga games for Gladbach this term, often used as a substitute by coach Eugen Polanski. In total, he has played 486 minutes in the league.Against Portugal and Belgium, he got a total of 31 minutes from the bench, and failed to do much of note in disappointing games that his team were already losing.That’s why moments like Saturday could still count. If they are indicative of a sharpness and prowess that remains ready when unleashed, they are much-needed positive optics for Pochettino to keep in mind as he begins to finalise his plans for the summer.Reyna could do with another moment in Gladbach’s last game of a disjointed campaign — they are currently 13th and finish against Hoffenheim on Saturday.

---

Pulisic injured and Milan struggling

Speaking about the need for a late revival, albeit in different circumstances, Christian Pulisic may also be feeling the pressure ahead of Milan’s next three games.Not to secure his spot on the World Cup roster, that’s practically a given. But the way things are going, he and Milan may not make next season’s Champions League.Their Scudetto hopes have long crumbled, and now Max Allegri’s team are making hard work of securing the top-four finish they need to play in Europe’s top competition next term.Their latest setback was the 3-2 defeat by Atalanta on Sunday. That’s now just one win in the Rossoneri’s last six games, and Pulisic’s personal struggle to rediscover top form has been well documented. What You Should Read NextWill Christian Pulisic’s crisis of confidence at Milan carry over to USMNT’s World Cup?The USMNT star’s scoring drought is up to 16 games with AC Milan, leaving plenty to wonder whether he’ll hit top form this summer

It didn’t improve yesterday, when he missed out on selection because of a muscle injury reported in training in the days prior.

The mood music around the American suggests it is not a serious problem. It is not something that should have Pochettino sweating. But the 27-year-old, who last week was on the cover of Time magazine, has dismissed any talk about his goal drought as “bad questions”.He prefers, he said in the article, to shut down the doubters by scoring. Missing another chance altogether on Sunday is not going to ease his frustration, or fourth-placed Milan’s worries, as their loss allowed Roma (on a three-game winning run) to move level with them on points.

---

Trusty’s Old Firm success

Things are shaping up nicely for a thrilling conclusion in Scotland, and USMNT defender Auston Trusty is going to play his part.

The 27-year-old centre-back and his Celtic team-mates came from behind to beat Rangers and win a pulsating Old Firm clash 3-1 on Sunday.

Auston Trusty and Celtic are involved in a thrilling title chaseIan MacNicol/Getty Images

Neutral romantics will probably still root for first-placed Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race, but as Celtic moved within a point of them (and will face them in the final game of the season on Saturday), nobody will be taking their eyes off the drama.

Advertisement

For Trusty, who had a game-long battle with Rangers’ attacker Youssef Chermiti but came out on top in the end, it will mean he is at full sharpness going into June.

---

What’s coming up this week?

This weekend marks the end of the domestic season for Americans in the Bundesliga. See if Gio Reyna can produce another positive reminder of what he’s about against Hoffenheim (Saturday, 9:30am, ESPN+) or whether Malik Tillman can sign off on a positive note for Bayer Leverkusen in their last match with Hamburg (Saturday, 9:30am, ESPN+).

Watch

How USMNT players influenced the design of their World Cup jerseys

Henry Bushnell and Reuben Pinder

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace kept their own momentum going on Sunday. They’re already in the Europa Conference League final later this month, but they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the Premier League, coming from behind twice to get a 2-2 draw with Everton. See how Richards & Co can do in a big title-reckoning game against Manchester City (3pm, Wednesday, Peacock Premium) before they take on fellow Londoners Brentford on the weekend (10am, Sunday, Peacock Premium).

Finally, Milan have to start winning again against Genoa on Sunday. See if Christian Pulisic can recover and help them (Sunday, 9am, Paramount +).

Greg O’Keeffe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering US soccer players in the UK & Europe. Previously he spent a decade at the Liverpool Echo covering news and features before an eight-year stint as the paper’s Everton correspondent; giving readers the inside track on Goodison Park, a remit he later reprised at The Athletic. He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.

Who will Mauricio Pochettino pick for the USMNT World Cup roster?

Time to predict who Poch will bring in. by Donald Wine II Stars & Stripes May 12, 2026, 8:59 AM EDT

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 28: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States runs the pitch during the International Friendly match between United States and Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Getty Images

We’re a month away from the United States Men’s National Team stepping onto the field at SoFi Stadium for their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. In a couple of weeks, we will know who will be some of those guys that step out onto that field. On May 26th, U.S. Soccer will announce the USMNT World Cup roster, and 26 players will see their dreams realized of making a World Cup on home soil.

But, who will make the roster? Who will USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino call upon to represent the United States at the world’s tournament? There are probably 35 players who could conceivably have a shot at one of the 26 roster spots. Ultimately, it’s up to Pochettino to decide who those guys will be that he thinks can advance far and try to become the first team to win a World Cup on home soil since France in 1998.

So, who will Mauricio Pochettino choose for his 26-man roster? Let’s predict who will receive the coveted tickets to the World Cup.

Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Matt Freese is the starter for the USMNT, and Matt Turner will be the main backup. Those two things seem to be givens at this point. The real question will be who will be selected as the third goalkeeper. Chris Brady has the leg up as he was named to the roster in March over Patrick Schulte, who was added as an injury replacement for Roman Celentano. In the end, Chris Brady edges out Schulte due to his form on the club level.

Misses cut: Patrick Schultz (Columbus Crew), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati)

Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Ream are the locks of the defensive unit to make the team. After that, there are guys that have clearly played their way into Poch’s plans. Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty are guys that Pochettino trusts and will get the call. Sergiño Dest, who returned to action with PSV recently, shows he’s fit enough to make the team and it’s welcome news for the USMNT.

Misses cut: Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Midfielders (9): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

There are some guys who are locks for the midfield: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman. The rest could change around depending on form down the stretch or, in the case of Johnny Cardoso, injury likely ruling him out of the World Cup. With Johnny likely sidelined this summer (and he was still a question mark to make the roster despite his form for Atlético Madrid), Aidan Morris gets onto the roster. Tanner Tessmann, Diego Luna, and Sebastian Berhalter feel like they will be solidly on the roster. Cristian Roldan will also be a guy on the roster as Pochettino finds him dependable and able to be versatile and provide cover for many midfield positions.

The final player, and the most controversial, is Gio Reyna, who Pochettino has said in no uncertain terms that his form for the national team is outweighing his lack of form and minutes in 2026 on the club level. He’s started to play better for Borussia Mönchengladbach recently, but Reyna will be included on the roster for what Poch believes he can do in that national team jersey.

Misses cut: Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid), Yunus Musah (Atalanta)

Forwards (6): Brendan Aaronson (Leeds United), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

The forward group might be the one that is in the best form, with the exception of the face of the team: Christian Pulisic. He’s been in a slump lately and hasn’t scored for the USMNT since November 2024. The USMNT will need one of the faces of the World Cup to deliver this summer. Tim Weah is a lock for the roster, and Brendan Aaronson makes it as a forward, but will also have an opportunity to provide relief in the midfield. Because of Patrick Agyemang’s terrible Achilles injury that has sidelined him for the year, Mauricio Pochettino avoids his biggest obstacle: choosing between several center forwards that are in peak form and scoring goals. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright (who can also play out on the wing) will all make the team convincingly.

Misses cut: Alex Zendejas (Club América), Josh Sargent (Toronto FC)

The World Cup will be here shortly, and we’ll know the roster shortly. For 26 guys, a dream comes true. For others, that dream is shattered if they don’t hear their name called on May 26th.

It’s Gozo time: Why USMNT should turn to uncapped teen for the World Cup

Rob Gray / Imagn Images

By Paul Tenorio May 14, 2026

When Mauricio Pochettino names his final U.S. World Cup roster in less than two weeks, he should make room for at least one surprise.Yet it will only truly be a shock for those who haven’t been paying attention.Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo, an uncapped 19-year-old winger, scored twice on Wednesday night in a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo. It was a performance that only added to what has been a breakout season, a continuation of the promise he showed last year when his overhead kick against LAFC put him on the map.AdvertisementThat highlight-reel finish was a preview of the dynamic and creative presence Gozo has in front of goal. He only reinforced that on Wednesday with his eighth and ninth goal contributions (five goals, four assists) of the season.Is there risk in introducing any new player to a core group this late in the World Cup process? Sure. But simply put: Gozo would undoubtedly make the U.S. World Cup team better.Pochettino’s preferred group lacks true game-changers. It’s why he has called in Gio Reyna despite the player’s continued struggles to stay healthy, effective and on the field. The U.S. coach understands there will be moments in this World Cup where he will look down the bench in search of someone who can add a spark — someone whose energy and presence alone boosts the team because it knows the player can pull out something different when the moment calls for it.The search should be over. Gozo is that player.

Zavier Gozo has given RSL fans plenty to cheer this seasonJamie Sabau / Imagn Images

And it’s not just about what he brings on the field, though certainly we can start there.Gozo has the physical profile to compete at the highest levels of the game. It’s why he has drawn interest from the likes of Atlético Madrid and Aston Villa, per The Athletic’s Tom Bogert — and why multiple sources around him and around the league expect the Utah native to be sold for eight figures this summer. He can run by defenders with pace. He can body up in the box when needed. He never plays afraid.

And that’s where what he does around the box becomes an important part of the conversation. Gozo tries things. He tests goalkeepers. He creates opportunities for himself — and for others.His finish earlier this month against the Portland Timbers was a good example of his savvy in front of the net. Gozo was a late runner in a counterattack. As he approached a rolling pass near the top of the box, he moved his eyes central, to where Diego Luna was lurking. It was enough to get the goalkeeper to lean to his right just a touch, and Gozo laced a shot inside the near post.His feel and creativity around goal were even better a month earlier against Sporting Kansas City, when he received a pass at the top corner of the box, flicked it up to himself and snapped a volley inside the upper corner of the far post, a brilliant finish that doubled RSL’s lead.Against Atlanta United in March, he showed another layer to his game, bringing the ball down out of the air in stride, dribbling at and then past a defender and onto his left foot, where he curled a shot to the far post.Time and time again, Gozo does stuff in games that makes you stand up. It has a similar feel to other top young players who have come before in MLS, guys like Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams, who simply seemed as though they were too good for this league.Gozo is clearly ready for more, and Pochettino has a chance to give him the ultimate stage to prove it.As his profile has grown, so has his place on the U.S. radar. Pochettino’s right-hand man, assistant coach Jesús Pérez, hinted as much last weekend.“(Watching a) few players, young players on both sides today,” Pérez said when asked on Apple TV why he was scouting FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake. “Very important for us to keep an eye on some of them. Obviously Luna is the one that has been more games with us, but there are a few other players that caught our eye and it’s important to be here today.”It’s not a stretch to conclude that Gozo is among that cohort, nor would it be unprecedented to call in a teenager without any senior caps to a World Cup squad.

Zavier Gozo, center, and Diego Luna, right, have teamed to great effect at the club level. Is country next?Rob Gray / Imagn Images

At the 2022 World Cup, 10 players made appearances aged 20 or younger with two or fewer pre-World Cup caps, according to TruMedia. That includes the Netherlands’ Xavi Simons, who made his debut in the knockout stage against the U.S. at 19.

Trent Alexander-Arnold had one cap when he made his World Cup debut in 2018 at age 19. Thomas Müller had two caps when he made his World Cup debut in 2010 at 20 (and scored five goals to win the Golden Boot). Christian Eriksen had three caps when he made his World Cup debut in 2010 at 18.

Experience is not an excuse when a player is both the right fit and ready for the moment.

It’s not even a unique scenario for the U.S.

Joe Scally made the World Cup squad in 2022 at 19 despite having just three senior caps. Julian Green (19, two caps) and DeAndre Yedlin (20, four caps) made the U.S. team in 2014, with Green scoring a knockout-stage goal and Yedlin emerging as a breakout player for the U.S. at the tournament.

Yedlin, now Gozo’s RSL teammate, is a great example of what the U.S. might be able to get from the young winger at the tournament. This U.S. team is not the young group of Qatar anymore. It could benefit from a wide-eyed youngster who comes in and injects a sort of awe, excitement and determination into the group. Yedlin’s supersub role added a different element for the U.S. in Brazil, and he impacted the game by helping set up the Americans’ second goal in a 2-2 draw with Portugal.

The most international experience Zavier Gozo, right, has came at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World CupJavier Torres / AFP / Getty Images

It was perhaps symbolic that Yedlin is the one who assisted Gozo’s first goal on Wednesday, which further reinforced his World Cup case. The U.S. has spent this last cycle searching for something different for a team that went into Qatar with such promise, but came out clearly needing more to truly make a run.

Advertisement

The U.S. has been practically begging for a player like Gozo to bolster the attack. Close your eyes and imagine that scenario late in the game: it’s the 75th minute against Turkey, and the U.S. needs a goal to secure a result. It may be crazy to consider given the extent of Gozo’s high-pressure international experience is last fall’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, but there are few players in the current pool that would instill more belief coming off the bench to make something happen than him.

When Pochettino took over the U.S., he insisted that he was always watching everyone. He has proved in his time here that he has no fear about shaking things up. In fact, that’s exactly what he has set out to do. His message has been clear and consistent: Every player in the pool has a chance, they just have to show they deserve it on the field.

Taking Gozo to the World Cup would show just how serious Pochettino is about that message. But beyond that, the teenager deserves to be at the World Cup. And he has a manager brave enough to make it a reality.

It might just be the biggest payoff of Pochettino’s earn-it approach with this group.