US Ladies Lose 2-1 @ Brazil play again tonight, 8 pm on TNT & HBO
The US Ladies got on the board first with a Sophia Wilson (Smith) Goal less than 5 minutes in as the forward returns to form after 18 months out on maternity leave. The lead was short lived however as the US gave up 2 goals in 5 minutes just 10 minutes later. Highlights The US backline was missing Naomi Girma (out with injury) and the foursome of Sonnet, Thompson, Fox & playing together for the first time – looked disorganized early before settling down in front of a hostile Brazil venue much like the US will face next summer in the World Cup in Brazil. The US showed its depth bringing Rose Lavell & Murge Pierce off the bench in the 2nd half as the US took control of the match. Despite our possessing nearly 2 to 1 and outshooting Brazil 8-2 in the 2nd half however – the US could not find the equalizer. As I mentioned last week – this is probably good for the US as most of this young team has not faced this kind of atmosphere before. I look for the US ladies to bounce back with a 2-1 win tonight and lets hope we get a dose of Triple Expresso this time.
US Men lose 2-1 in World Cup Sendoff game to Germany in Chicago -play Paraguay Fri 9 pm Fox (coverage starts 6 pm)
The US got off to a shaky start giving up a goal 3 minutes into the game on a free kick just outside the box. The Germans behind Chelsea’s Kia Havertz looked scary early before the US defense finally settled in and the offense got rolling. The US out-possessed and outshot the Germans in the first half and scored behind this banger from Antonee Robinson Stunner Spanish
US Highlights. So lets start with the good – the US offense was on fire in this game – as Pulisic was on fire again. I still the like Pepi up front with Pulisic more than Balogun but we’ll see. Dest and Robinson were dangerous down the wings in the 3-5 alignment that we have settled into. The biggest issue I see is Poch is going to have to put McKennie beside Adams to protect a backline that is as weak as any the US has carried into a World Cup. Tillman has to be further upfield as he can’t play the Dmid 6 slot for this team which limits how much Adams can get forward. The Backline as discussed here before with Tim Ream (grandpa) on the left, a solid speedy Freeman on the right and hopefully Crystal Palace man Chris Richards (if he recovers from angle ligaments) in the middle. I still prefer Matt Turner in goal – but he will probably go with Freese. Here’s my starters for what i pray will be a 1-0 victory for the US in LA. My daughter Courtney and I will be in the stands – so keep an eye out for us! Go USA! (PS) I will have my World Cup Winners later in the Week hopefully before the Friday game.
The Ole Ballcoach WORLD CUP POOL
Ok folks its time for the Ole Ballcoach World Cup pool. Simply pick the positions each team will finish in the group stages in their group. (Rank them 1 thru 4) and get points for each correct pick. Then you play the Sweet 16 – knockout round by picking the games and who will advance just like a NCAA hoops pool -You can change you picks on the Knockout Rounds until the day they play.
https://fantasy.espn.com/free-prize-games/sharer?challengeId=283&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=c8e3a35d-b655-4029-99cb-e3d19f3df2bd&joinKey=871d17bd-2733-395c-b51a-87fd39f40bc1
US World Cup Watch Party in Carmel – American Outlaws will be at Union Jack’s pub in Broadripple. https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite/
Indy 11 wins 2-0 play @ Pittsburgh Sat at 7 pm on ESPN+, Ladies play Wed 7 pm
Indianapolis – When halftime ended at Carroll Stadium, the floodgates opened, both for Indy Eleven and the sky. As heavy rain began to fall upon downtown, the Boys in Blue scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the second half to earn a 2-0 win over Forward Madison FC in Prinx Tires USL Cup play.For much of the first half, Indy Eleven peppered Forward Madison FC’s goal, taking 12 shots and putting five on target under cloudy skies. The final statistics revealed just how dominant the hosts were. Indy Eleven finished with 23 shots, 14 on target, and eight corners.15-year-old forward Tyler Lowden made his Indy Eleven debut with four minutes to go, becoming the youngest player to take the pitch with the first-team in franchise history. The Greenwood, Ind., native who attends Center Grove High School was signed to an academy contract just eight days ago.The final statistics revealed just how dominant the hosts were. Indy Eleven finished with 23 shots, 14 on target, and eight corners.The Boys in Blue are 1-1-1 in USL Cup Group 4 play with one group game remaining at Lexington SC on June 20. Indy Eleven resumes USL Championship action at Eastern Conference opponent Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC next Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The next home game for the Boys in Blue is on Wednesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. vs. Brooklyn FC. It is a 317 Night, so fans can purchase $11 tickets online. Ticket options include the new Desnuda Tequila Deck (sold out for this match), Family Four-Packs, and Flex Mini-Plans.
Westfield, Ind. – Indy Eleven secured its second win this week in a commanding 6-0 fashion versus USL W League Valley Division leader Dayton Dutch Lions FC Sunday night. The Girls in Blue will continue their four-match homestand Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm, hosting division leader and rival Racing Louisville FC indoors at the Community Health Network Events Center on the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield. Tickets are under $12 and they can be purchased online or after doors open at 6:00 pm.
Cup Goalkeeper in Chicago Sat. US 1994 WC Team
TV Schedule – Games on TV
Tues, June 9
8:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Ladies @ Brazil
Thur, June, 11 World Cup
3 pm Fox Mexico vs South Africa
10 pm FS1 Korea vs Czech Republic
Fri, June 12 WORLD CUP
7 pm ESPN+ Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Indy 11
3 pm Fox, Tele Canada vs Boznia/Hertz
9 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Paraguay World Cup
Sat, June 13
3 pm Fox Qatar vs Switzerland
6 pm Fox Brazil vs Morocco
9 pm FS1 Haiti vs Scotland
12 Mid pm FS1 Australia vs Turkey
Sun, June 15
12N Fox Spain vs Cape Verde
3 pm Fox Belgium vs Egypt
6 pm FS1 Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay
9 pm FS1 Iran vs New Zealand
Mon, June 16
3 pm Fox France vs Senagal
6 pm Fox Iraq vs Norway
9 pm FS1 Argentina vs Algeria
12Mid FS1 Austria vs Jordan
Tues, June 17
1 pm Fox Portugal (Ronaldo) vs Congo
4 pm Fox England vs Croatia
7 pm FS1 Ghana vs Panama
10 pm FS1 Uzbekistan vs Colombia
Wed, June 18
12N Fox Czechia vs South Africa
3 pm Fox Switzerland vs Bosnia & Hertz
6 pm FS1 Qatar vs Canada
9 pm FS1 Mexico vs South Korea
Fri, June 19
3 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup
6 pm Fox Scotland vs Moracco
8:30 pm Fox Brazil vs Haiti
11 pm FS1 Turkey vs Paraguay
Thur, June 25
10 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup
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Denmark’s National Team Doctor Morten Boesen said that Christian Eriksen is “doing well” after collapsing on the pitch and that “the expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home” (More); dive deeper into how Eriksen’s heart device saved him (More)
Reffing
World Cup ref from Somalia denied entry to U.S.
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In his 20 months in charge of the U.S. men’s national team, Mauricio Pochettino has won 15 matches, lost 10 and tied one. He has taken a look at 67 different players and whittled that down to a 26-man squad. He has overseen a pair of inspiring performances over the past 10 days, a 3-2 win over Senegal and a 2-1 defeat to Germany. And now, on Friday, he takes the USMNT into the FIFA World Cup.
It’s a moment that really has no parallel in program history. Sure, the U.S. has hosted this tournament before, and the 1994 edition was a magical, transformative moment for the game in this country, but that team was playing with house money.
“Not getting embarrassed” was the goal 32 years ago. But now? With a manager as recognizable as Pochettino, with players scattered across Europe’s most storied clubs, the bar is set significantly higher.
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Is this team ready for that? Just what is the ceiling for this group? To answer those questions and more, ESPN turned to those who’ve been covering the USMNT throughout this World Cup cycle and will continue spending every day of this tournament following the team: Jeff Carlisle, Herculez Gomez, Sam Borden, Cesar Hernandez and Ryan Clark.
Did Pochettino get his squad selection right?
Carlisle: I think he got things right for the most part. Injuries meant he could avoid some prickly questions, such as Patrick Agyemang vs. Haji Wright at center forward. The heart of the team’s defense looks a bit suspect, but I think Pochettino picked the best options available.
I, for one, wasn’t surprised by the exclusion of Diego Luna. He’s a talented player, but I think the other options in attack are a shade more proven. A player like Alejandro Zendejas is 100% deserving of his spot.
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Gomez: Essentially yes, given it’s been 20 months since Pochettino took over, finally we see something that resembles a starting XI. You have to imagine that if Chris Richards is healthy, Miles Robinson is out and Richards is in the middle and finally you have the potential starting XI that we want to see against Paraguay. Yes, he got it right, but it took 20 long months to get here, and that is concerning.
Borden: On balance, yes. All the most meaningful pieces are here, although I suppose that’s the easy part. Taking Gio Reyna was the right decision, in my opinion — his talent is undeniable. Leaving off Tanner Tessmann was a surprise to me, as he impressed at the Paris Olympics and only continued to rise after that. If there’s a weak point here, it’s definitely in midfield depth. If anyone picks up an injury or yellow-card suspension, it could be glaring, and that seemed avoidable.
Hernandez: I’m sure I won’t be the only person bringing up the midfield. I get wanting to have a more forward-thinking option next to Tyler Adams for a group stage that will need you to break down some defensive opponents, but I don’t see this as a recipe for success for a deep run in the knockout stages.
Clark: Maybe? Some options were taken away because of how many players are injured. That’s not to say there aren’t questions about who didn’t make the final roster. Luna and Tessmann stand out the most, especially with Tessmann playing an important role for a Lyon side that finished fourth in Ligue 1.
Where does this team look most vulnerable?
Gomez: In the transition phase, when they lose the ball. This is a team that commits a lot of numbers going forward, and when you do that and lose that ball, you leave vulnerable a lot of players at the back in one-on-one positions. That’s when mistakes happen.
Borden: Beyond that midfield question, the concern with the U.S. is always around scoring. Folarin Balogun is as good a striker option as the Americans have had and is coming off a productive season (19 goals, four assists for AS Monaco), but the historic question hanging over the American team — can they score enough? — is hard to shake. Add in Christian Pulisic‘s months-long goal drought that finally ended against Senegal, and offense is something that any American fan will always have on their mind.
Hernandez: Related to the previous question, I think this team is one injury/red card away from a crisis if Adams is unavailable. Pochettino has noted that there are plenty of options who could play in that central midfield role, but there isn’t someone who can do it at the same level as Adams. Not enough defensive midfield coverage.
Clark: Defense, with the notion that it’s not so much for the structure, but the personnel. It wasn’t like the German team the U.S. faced in the final warmup game is one of the strongest German sides we’ve seen entering a World Cup. Couple that with the performance they had against Senegal, and it left Antonee Robinson as the U.S.’s most consistent performer at the back.
Carlisle: The one nit I have with Pochettino’s selections is bringing in a fifth outside back in Joe Scally and not another central midfielder such as Aidan Morris. Adams has a history of picking up injuries. Yellow cards are likely to be a factor as well, especially in a part of the field where physicality will be required.
Pochettino looks like he has settled on having more of a playmaker type, such as Malik Tillman, alongside Adams than a destroyer, such as Cristian Roldan. We’ll see if the U.S. pays for not having more steel in the middle.
How heavily will the distraction of Pochettino’s future weigh on the team?
Borden: The short answer: not much. I don’t think it’s a terrific look from an optics standpoint, but this is professional sports and however much we bang the drum about team and family, everyone is always looking out for themselves. The players are trying to win World Cup games; where their coach goes after it’s over isn’t going to be front of mind for them in any meaningful way.
Hernandez: I’m going to file this under “big deal for fans and media, but not much of a thought for the players.” Maybe they know something otherwise, but all signs from the outside pointed to Pochettino heading out after the World Cup. The latest reporting is not much of a shock.
Clark: Probably not at all. Appointing Pochettino always seemed like one of those moves that was going to last until it wasn’t. That’s what makes his future with the USMNT discussion fodder at this stage. Besides, we’re in the silly season, when managers and players are always rumored to head elsewhere.
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Carlisle: I don’t think it will have much of a bearing on how the team performs. These players are used to having coaches come and go. That’s just the nature of the beast of being a professional soccer player. This is especially true for the guys in Europe, but coaches are fired with increasing regularity even in MLS. I think it’s a fairly professional group as well, able to tune out the noise that comes around transfers or coaches moving.
Gomez: I don’t think it’s going to weigh on this team at all. I think everybody here knew Pochettino was here for what was left of this World Cup cycle and then would most likely leave. It was for this World Cup only. So the fact that he has potential suitors I don’t think in any way, shape or form is on the minds of the players.
Who is the player you think will surprise everyone (in a good way) this summer?
Hernandez: Reyna will have something to prove this summer. He obviously hasn’t lived up to his once-lofty expectations, but he has enough talent to have a game-changing moment or two off the bench. We’ll see how much of an opportunity Pochettino gives him.
Clark: It could be Sergiño Dest. This World Cup offers him a chance to display a level of versatility that might be crucial. He has shown that he can get into dangerous positions in attack while getting back to help when the U.S. needs to press. Some club is going to see that and present an offer to PSV Eindhoven for his services.
Carlisle: I think Dest and Zendejas are the attacking wild cards in the group who could do some real damage. Dest showed how effective he can be on the wing against Senegal. He has always been capable of delivering the unexpected, and playing further upfield plays to his strengths while lessening his defensive responsibilities.
Zendejas is another player I think will surprise people. The spectacular goal he scored last September against Japan was a glimpse of what he can do. I just hope he gets the chance in this tournament to show off his skill.
Gomez: Weston McKennie has to be that player; he is the one player on this team who has true star power. He is a star player on the field, for the goals he can score and the plays he can make, and also off the field for how charismatic he can be.
There are millions and millions of casual soccer fans who don’t know who McKennie is — if he has a big World Cup, they’re going to find out.
Borden: If I can borrow a hockey cliché, the U.S. is going to need a hot goalkeeper to make the kind of run that it’s hoping to achieve this summer. For that reason, I’ll go with Matt Freese as the most likely — and needed — player to surprise. Freese isn’t playing in Europe, the way Tim Howard and Matt Turner did going into their World Cups with the U.S., but his ability is legitimate. Can he do it on the biggest stage? If he can, it’ll give the U.S. a great chance to go deep.
How far will the U.S. go in this World Cup?
What would make a good World Cup for the USMNT?
Clark: Reaching the round of 16 seems like a realistic destination. Beyond that is when it gets complicated because of what has happened since March. How the U.S. performed against Belgium, Portugal and Germany — all games it lost — means it would need a significant turnaround to go beyond the last 16.
Carlisle: I still think the round of 16 is where this team will exit. The U.S. is likely to play Belgium in that round if form holds, and we all saw what happened when the teams met in March. Yes, that was a friendly, but I can’t think of anyone on the U.S. roster who can stop Jérémy Doku. That’s not to say the U.S. has no chance. The team is playing at home after all, and can certainly ride the support of the crowd. The Americans are also going to need some good fortune to progress.
Gomez: The USMNT is going to go as far as the draw will take it. If it ends up as a first-place team in this group, the road into the knockout rounds is easy. Second place? A bit harder. Third place? It will be scrambling. But all roads eventually lead the U.S. to the round of 16.
Borden: The “good” draw that the U.S. supposedly got in this tournament cuts both ways; no juggernaut dominates the group, but there are no minnows, either, which raises the possibility for all types of outcomes. I tend to be optimistic here: I think the U.S. wins the group (beating Paraguay and Australia, losing to Türkiye), and gets one step farther than Qatar before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
Hernandez: An exit in the round of 16 seems like the right balance of not being a letdown but also not being a massive step forward either. Assuming the U.S. tops its group or finishes in second, a possible loss to Belgium or Argentina appears to be the expected outcome in the round of 16.
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American soccer’s stigma: Can USMNT’s World Cup change it?
Jeff CarlisleJun 8, 2026, 08:30 AM ETFollow
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Eric Wynalda had reached his breaking point.
The year was 1992, and “everybody” at then-Bundesliga side FC Saarbrucken, including Wynalda’s teammates, had regaled him with taunts of “scheiss Ami” or German for “s— American.” After six weeks of hearing this, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
“It resulted in me finally having enough and throwing one of my teammates to the ground and telling him that if he calls me that one more time, he’s going to the dentist,” Wynalda told ESPN. “And then everybody kind of backed off and said, ‘Right, let’s stop calling him that.'”
They quickly did, though what helped Wynalda’s cause even more was scoring both of Saarbrucken’s goals in a 2-0 win over local rivals Kaiserslautern.
Was the treatment Wynalda received simple banter, or did it speak to the stigma that American players have found themselves subjected to when they try to compete in the upper echelons of soccer abroad?
Ultimately, it’s probably a bit of both. Although Wynalda’s recollection falls at the extreme end of the spectrum, it wasn’t unusual for Americans making their initial forays into Europe to endure such treatment, be it from teammates, coaches, fans or media.
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Former Hannover 96 and U.S. men’s national team defender Steve Cherundolo said once he arrived at the German club in 1999, he was treated equally by players and staff, but he noticed a difference in the media. This was particularly evident in the dreaded player ratings, especially if he was playing more defensively from his outside back position.
“I don’t think there was ever a period where I didn’t” feel that stigma, Cherundolo told ESPN. This from a man who was dubbed “The Mayor of Hannover” and made over 400 appearances for the club.
USMNT great Landon Donovan felt the same during his days at Bayer Leverkusen, which signed him in 1999.
“This was not a personal thing against me or anyone else, but in the early days, you didn’t have to be as good as the player you were competing with. You didn’t even have to be a little better. You had to be significantly better,” he said. “If you were competing with a Turkish guy or a Brazilian guy or a German guy, you just had to [be much better] because they just assumed that Americans didn’t know how to play soccer.”
Not everyone buys the stigma argument. Current Chicago Fire manager Gregg Berhalter, who managed the U.S. from 2018 to 2024, spent time as a player in Europe in the Netherlands, England and Germany. To him, it was less of a stigma than it was ignorance — there was just a lack of awareness that Americans even played soccer.
“We’d just come off the [1994] World Cup, so everyone recognized Alexi Lalas and Tony Meola,” Berhalter said. “But other than that, they had no idea that the U.S. was even playing soccer. So, it was like, this is just a total new frontier. But it wasn’t like fans or coaches really held it against you.”
Red, White & Clueless
In the past, there was some justification for the skepticism of American players. The sport in the U.S. has gone through some excruciatingly lean periods. For huge swaths of the 20th century, soccer barely existed at a semiprofessional level. The U.S. endured a 40-year period between appearances at the World Cup. Between 1985 and 1995, the U.S. was without what would be considered a topflight domestic league.
Even following the advent of MLS in 1996, although the U.S. men’s national team has won seven Concacaf Gold Cups and reached the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup, the U.S. has never come close to winning a World Cup. The quarterfinal run in 2002 remains the furthest the U.S. has progressed in that tournament during the modern era. As a result, it was down to the likes of Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey to break down the doors, perform on the field and gradually improve the reputation of American players.
Solid performances at World Cups — the U.S. reached at least in the second round in the 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2022 tournaments — have helped raise that perception further. But other players toiled in relative obscurity, their presence helping to make incremental — but still important — gains.
“People forget how good Tony Sanneh was. They just do,” said Wynalda about the former Nuremburg and Hertha Berlin defender. “So, I mean, I think all those guys, I salute all of them. It used to be the one thing that they could say about America, ‘You might be good at everything, but you’re not good at this game. This is our game.’ And we’ve finally proven that we deserve to be in that conversation.”Thanks to the current group of American players performing overseas, the assessment of American players has never been higher. Players such as AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie have proved themselves with big clubs in Europe. The Premier League is dotted with steady performers such as Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams and Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson.
But the stigma has been difficult to shake. In talking to current players on the U.S. team, they believe there is still judgment and skepticism about American players although it’s less severe than it used to be. Nonetheless, the players aren’t playing the victim card and say they’re being judged fairly on their contributions. They carry with them a belief that their quality will see them rise to the top.
“Maybe I had some thoughts at the beginning that some teammates don’t view me the same because I’m American in the youth teams at Dortmund,” Pulisic told ESPN at a promotional event for Degree. “Maybe I had some of those thoughts, but I don’t know — I always believed and told myself that if you’re good enough, the coach is going to put the best players on the field. And I just always took that mentality.
“Is there a little bit of that stigma? Maybe there was. I think it’s definitely getting better with all the amazing talent that we’re producing now.”
For Toulouse FC defender Mark McKenzie, the stigma scale veers more toward banter, an arena in which he’s able to more than hold his own. Lately, the conversations have gone in some strange directions.
“With teammates, we go back and forth,” McKenzie told ESPN. “We poke and prod each other because it’s like, ‘Oh, America, you come over here, you talk about our food. Oh, you come over here, you talk about, Why don’t you do it this way? Or, Oh, facility’s not the way it would be back in the States.’ And for me, I try not to get into these debates. It’s subjective. It’s all about what you grew up in.
“Now the big thing is long throw-ins. Now I’ve destroyed the game with my American philosophy of using my hands and throwing the ball as far as possible. So, I got all my teammates talking about, ‘Oh, you destroyed the game now.’ Blah, blah, blah. So that’s the new dig.”
Former U.S. international and longtime Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who has also worked as a club executive with the likes of Besiktas in Turkey, believes that whatever stigma is attached to American players has become more subtle. For the bulk of American players, there isn’t a negative connotation — but they’re also not viewed as being capable of being the top player on a team.
“I think they look at American players [and decide] that, No. 1, the salaries are going to be a little lower at first, which is true,” Friedel said in reference to decision-makers at European clubs. “That their transfer fees could potentially be lower at first, which is true. And then they’re going to get a really honest, good professional that is going to possibly be able to start in the starting XI all the time but is not necessarily going to be the main reason they win every game.”
Pulisic is probably the lone exception to that statement, given he commanded a $73 million transfer fee when he moved to Chelsea in 2019. But until another player reaches those heights, that is one aspect of how American players are viewed that won’t change.
Even with all this progress, both on the field and with hearts and minds, there is still a way to go, with the stigma popping up in odd ways at strange moments. Current Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream spent over a decade in England with Bolton Wanderers and Fulham FC, and says he benefited from playing for two clubs that had previously had Americans on their books.
He says he never encountered a manager who held him in less regard because of where he was from. But at times, the perception of U.S. players among some teammates harked back to a previous era.
“Yeah, you would hear it. ‘Oh, really? You’re American. Do you actually know football?’ And you’re like, ‘Well, I’m playing in the same team that you are, so you tell me who knows and who doesn’t know, because we’re in the same boat here.’ So there was a little bit of that,” he said.
But nothing alters perceptions like a World Cup, especially if it involves iconic moments or an impressive performance against one of the presumed favorites. Ream found that to be the case after the U.S. tied England 0-0 at the 2022 World Cup, a match that on another day the Americans might have won. For some of his club teammates, it was almost like an epiphany.
“When we went back from that, guys were like, ‘Holy s—.’ They’re like, ‘You guys are a really good team, very good team,'” Ream said. “I think that’s when it clicked for a lot of people.”
The upcoming World Cup is another opportunity to alter perceptions and potentially inspire the next generation of players and the public at large. At present, the U.S. is viewed still as outsiders in soccer, but being one of the three host countries has upped the stakes of what can be achieved in both the near and long term.
“For me, it’s a lot bigger than just ourselves and our performance,” Adams said. “It’s about how can the next kid that’s looking up to us be inspired and want to play soccer instead of basketball, football, whatever it is. So for me, yeah, it’s a huge opportunity.”
Ream feels that any progress needs to be viewed with a longer time horizon. The quarterfinal run at the 2002 World Cup got people’s attention, but as Ream says the U.S. program has been on “a little bit of a slow burn” since that time.
The U.S. men’s national team is still waiting for its next breakthrough. There have been some humbling moments too, the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup among them. A deep run, building on the round of 16 performance in 2022, would project more consistency.
“If you can sustain a national team and the development and the players within that, and they’re playing at big clubs around the world, which a lot of our guys are, then you start to change that perception,” Ream said. “And now that the thought of, ‘OK, they do produce good players. They do produce players that can play with other top players that are from all over the world, that are from your traditional powerhouses, Brazil, your Frances, your Englands.’ But you have to sustain that. You can’t just be a flash in the pan.”If the U.S. can find that big moment — and consistency — perceptions could rise, and the last vestiges of any stigma might finally start to subside.
Is the USMNT ready for the World Cup? After loss to Germany, the jury’s still out
- Bill ConnellyJun 6, 2026, 07:32 PM ET
CHICAGO — Results matter most, and the United States men’s national team didn’t get what it hoped for in that regard in its pre-World Cup sendoff game, a 2-1 loss to Germany in Chicago on Saturday. But the Americans dictated the tenor of the match for much of the 90 minutes.
As has been the case for many recent matches, finishing made the difference — the U.S. didn’t do quite enough of it, and opponents did plenty.
After an early glitch led to a free Kai Havertz header and goal for the visitors, the U.S. established control around the 10th minute and rode it out for the rest of the first half. Antonee Robinson‘s wonder strike tied the match in the 37th minute, and the U.S. continued to create more dangerous opportunities (and earn plenty of corners).
But in the 57th minute, just as a number of stars were getting ready to leave the pitch, a long sequence of passes resulted in Havertz finding a surprisingly open Leroy Sané at the top of the box. The Galatasaray veteran gave Germany a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Backups for both teams created some late chances, and Giovanni Reyna, Joe Scally and Brenden Aaronson forced late saves from Germany’s Oliver Baumann.
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“I think it was an even game,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said afterward. “If you see the stats, some of the stats [were] for us. I am so happy with the commitment and … how the reaction was [after the early goal].”
The U.S. has played four consecutive matches against teams in the top 15 of FIFA’s rankings, winning one and losing three. In terms of chance creation, the team fared well, attempting shots worth 5.6 expected goals (xG) to opponents’ 6.2. But opponents finished their chances at a far higher level and scored 11 goals to the USMNT’s six. There’s perhaps some poor fortune in there for the Americans, but there’s no questioning that moments of defensive inattention have proved terribly costly.
When the results and the advanced stats disagree, you can basically see whatever you want to see. But the U.S. certainly provided reasons for both encouragement and frustration before the team’s first World Cup game Friday against Paraguay.
Antonee Robinson steals the show
In the first half, Germany attempted to attack quite often through Sané on the right wing, but Robinson mostly stonewalled him; he was one of the best players in the match even before his incredible equalizer. In 63 minutes, he led the team with 12 defensive interventions and six ball recoveries while also creating three chances (tied for the most on the team with Malik Tillman) and scoring the only goal.
“He was unreal,” midfielder Tyler Adams said after the match. “I told him after he scored, I was like, ‘Can you save that for next weekend?'” It was Robinson’s second national-team goal from more than 20 meters out and third goal scored off a volley.
Robinson appeared to be cramping at the end of his shift, but there shouldn’t be any longer-term concerns. “He’ll be fine,” Adams said. “I was like, ‘Bro, you’ve been in England too long. You’re [playing] in the MLS heat.'”
Defensive breakdowns continue
For the fourth straight match, U.S. opponents finished at a higher level than xG suggested they should have, but there’s no question that poor defensive execution has been hurting the cause, especially in the absence of center back Chris Richards. On Germany’s first goal, Adams committed an unnecessary foul to give Joshua Kimmich a very good free-kick opportunity, and Miles Robinson lost Havertz, Germany’s most dangerous attacker on set pieces, in the box for a free header.
On the second goal, Germany unleashed a lovely passing sequence, but the Americans were a step slow for the first time in nearly an hour. They were punished for it.
A good response to (self-created) adversity
Against a high-caliber team, giving up an early goal can lead to a landslide effect. But the U.S. established its footing and created most of the chances for the rest of the first half.
Christian Pulisic completed a pair of aggressive send-off performances, attempting a team-high 18 ground duels and pushing the ball relentlessly: He finished with a team-high six progressive carries and a total carry distance of 217 meters.
Meanwhile, three bench players tested Baumann, and another substitute, wingback Max Arfsten, completed four progressive carries with a total carry distance of 106 meters in just 18 minutes.
In all, Pochettino was satisfied with the team’s fight.
“Here we are not talking about the quality of the coaching staff, the quality of the strategy, the plan, the tactics, it’s about culture,” he said after the match. “If you don’t have the energy, you have the commitment, you don’t have the trust, the confidence, all the values that are really important in that sport, it’s impossible to play.”
Red, white and hell yeah: How the American Outlaws became the heartbeat of U.S. Soccer
Jay Busbee Senior writer
Mon, June 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM EDT·
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Elvis Presley lives, and right now he’s talking to Wonder Woman and a bald eagle in a gravel parking lot in North Carolina. All around Elvis, hundreds of American soccer fans of all ages, demographics and blood alcohol levels are snacking on hot dogs. Over near one fence, a drum circle is warming up, rat-a-tat-tats filling the sunny afternoon air. Red, white and blue is everywhere, from innumerable Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie jerseys, to dyed beards and wigs, to a T-shirt that simply reads, “WTF IS A KILOMETER?”Welcome to the land of the American Outlaws. America is co-hosting this year’s World Cup, but the Outlaws are the ones who are bringing the party to every stadium, festival, bar and brewery they possibly can, from sea to shining sea.httpsMuch like the Avengers, the American Outlaws began with an idea — an idea for a place that American soccer fans, and would-be soccer-fans, could gather, a place where they could enjoy their love of the beautiful game, a place where they could say the word “soccer” and not be exiled, a place where they could navigate the intricacies of international football systems.That idea, born in a basement in Lincoln, Nebraska, now literally spans the entire country, with more than 30,000 Outlaws and 200 chapters dedicated to spreading the word and the love about American soccer. Look in the stands of any U.S. team match, men and women alike, and you’ll see them, standing, chanting, celebrating with constant exuberance.In a time of American division, they’re a symbol of unity, a celebration of all things red, white and blue, from the noble to the ridiculous.
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“There’s no way everyone here voted the same way,” says Bryan Friers, one of hundreds of American Outlaws supporters in the Charlotte parking lot, “but we can all be here together today.”
He’s standing with high school friend River Young amid a fantastic cross-section of American humanity, from families with young kids to bands of Gen Z soccer fanatics to boomers still wearing American-flag headbands. The camaraderie is instant, the joy is evident, and the Americana is everywhere, from overalls to capes to tattoos to wigs.
Anthony Williamson, who regularly drums with the Orlando FC drum corps, is checking his equipment preparing to lead a pre-match hype circle. “This is the best,” he says as a chant leader who goes by the nom de soccer of “Ulysses S. Chant” begins teaching the assembled crowd the new chants of the day. In a few minutes, they’ll gather the Outlaws for a gloriously noisy march to the stadium.
The American Outlaws party is just getting started today, but there’s always room for more.
American Outlaws: The origin of a movement
The Outlaws came to life in the early 2000s, when founders Korey Donahoo, Justin Brunken and Ben Cohoon bonded over their love of soccer, and their realization that America had no true supporters’ group to welcome and energize fans of national soccer. (The men’s national team itself was struggling through one of its many well-documented identity crises, so this was not exactly a shock.) The three friends adopted some iconic American imagery, a classic cowboy bandanna, and the Outlaws were born.
The Outlaws debuted with that most American of traditions: a road trip. A busload of roughly 60 fans traveled from Nebraska to Chicago to watch the United States challenge Brazil in 2007. That kicked off a traveling party that now encompasses not just the game itself but a pregame gathering, a night-before party, and year-round friendship and camaraderie.
Starting with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 installment in Brazil, where the Outlaws arrived en masse, the group has traveled in massive packs that make Steelers and Cowboys fans look like homebodies. The cost, both financially and logistically, is considerable, and the USMNT players have long supported their own supporters.
“When the team comes over and claps and thanks our section at the end of a match, that’s huge,” says American Outlaws operations manager Whitney Zaleski, “to see that they recognize what we’re putting in and the energy that we’re putting in.”
Run almost entirely by volunteers, the American Outlaws are open to anyone with a love of soccer and a willingness to send in $30. The Outlaws now boast chapters from Anchorage to Miami, from Honolulu to Maine. Some chapters are massive and well-organized, others are small gatherings at a local watering hole, but all share a love of soccer in general and the United States teams in particular. It’s a love that’s taken on new resonance now that the World Cup is once again coming to American shores.
“When we go to these World Cups, these nations, leagues, friendlies abroad, we’re welcomed with open arms. The locals there are showing us a good time,” says D.C.-based American Outlaws member Donald Wine. “It’s our turn. … This World Cup is about showcasing our culture and we have this great opportunity to welcome fans from all around the country, that’s what we feel our duty is. And we’re ready to accept it.”
In a very real sense, then, the Outlaws represent the United States, and it’s a responsibility the group takes seriously. In a sport where racist, homophobic chants and hooligan-style lawbreaking make headlines, the Outlaws strive to promote inclusivity, so much so that they have a specified Code of Conduct page on their site.
“The American Outlaws will not tolerate any sort of hatred or attacks on other people for who they are, whether in the form of physical or verbal assault, clothing or signage,” the Outlaws’ conduct credo reads. “It is of the utmost importance that people can cheer, sing and exist as they are in our section, around the stadium, in chapter bars and anywhere in the world with comfort and free of threat.”
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The Outlaws are now large enough that they’ve built their own charitable arm, AO Impact. Focused on the No. 11 — the number of players on the pitch — AO Impact asks for just $11, to start, to help spread the word of soccer to local communities across the country. AO Impact works with local nonprofits around the country to build and maintain soccer facilities with the goal of exposing kids to the beautiful game, with the hope and expectation that they’ll continue to love it when they grow up.
It’s all part of the supporter-centric focus that the Outlaws espouse, with the guiding philosophy of giving the players on the pitch the best possible foundation for success, while at the same time making sure fans can appreciate all that soccer has to offer.
“One of our biggest [philosophies] is accessibility to fans,” says Zaleski. “Accessibility on the financial front (for ticket prices), but also accessibility for members. We try to educate. A lot of people don’t know how the ticketing process works for the World Cup or for international games.”
Plus, she adds, there’s always one overarching Outlaws goal: “Helping members and fans alike get the chance to have a good time in the stadium.”
She concedes that’s gotten tougher in recent years as the cost of travel and, particularly, tickets has escalated beyond all reasonable expectations. The Outlaws have worked with U.S. Soccer to keep prices for United States-run games at $45 apiece or lower, which allows for some cost certainty in an often unreasonably costly sport.
Naturally, that approach isn’t working with FIFA. It turns out that there was quite the catch to the $60 tickets FIFA offered to the Outlaws: for the USMNT’s first three group stage matches, the Outlaws — typically seated directly behind one goal — will be in the 300- and 400-level sections of the stadiums. “These are the worst tickets that I’ve ever seen out of the five World Cups I’ve been to,” American Outlaws president Brian Hexsel told NBC last week.
That’s classic FIFA, though, putting even the boundless faith of the American Outlaws to the test.
The beat goes on
About 45 minutes before the USMNT-Senegal friendly match begins in Charlotte, a circle forms around several drummers, including Williamson. Somehow the drum corps has come up one snare player short, so a young man — who clearly had some kind of high school marching band training — steps up and joins the group. He’ll spend the rest of the game right there next to them, drumming away, a perfect embodiment of the Outlaws’ all-are-welcome ethos.
In a nice bit of cross-sport solidarity, members of the Carolina Panthers’ PurrCussion drum corps join the party, adding heft and weight to the procession, along with some Panther-specific “Keep Pounding” riffs. Ulysses S. Chant and other leaders teach the gathered crowd some new chants built on the Terminator rhythm and “Crocodile Rock,” among other familiar tunes. Do the chants stick in the crowd’s memory? Not really, but the enthusiasm does, and that’s what’s important.
And then they’re off, marching down McNinch Street toward Bank of America Stadium. They’ll fill Section 121, and they’ll stand, chant and cheer for two-plus hours as Pulisic and the rest of the United States outlast Senegal 3-2. Then they’ll disperse into the North Carolina evening, the sounds of drums undoubtedly echoing in their ears for days.
Wherever the USMNT plays this summer, the Outlaws will gather, in person or around screens. They’ll drum, and chant, and cheer, and celebrate the very best parts of what it means to be American. And they’ll be open to everyone, including you. All you have to do to join the Outlaws is start clapping to the beat.
How a fiery friendly against Paraguay helped forge the USMNT’s World Cup identity
Paraguay and U.S. players fought during a friendly match in November Vincent Carchietta / Getty Images
By Tom BogertJune 9, 2026 Updated 2:13 pm EDT
IRVINE, Calif. — When the United States opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday, it will do so against an opponent that helped shape a defining characteristic of Mauricio Pochettino’s team.The last time the sides matched up, it could only technically be described as a “friendly.”A tense, physical game in Philadelphia in November erupted into a fracas in stoppage time. USMNT’s Alex Freeman and Paraguay’s Gustavo Gomez wrestled over a throw-in, with Gomez aggressively trying to take the ball away.AdvertisementThat moment — and the reflexive, visceral reaction for all American players who rushed towards danger to defend their brothers — served as a tangible moment of bonding. It showed every person in that locker room had each other’s back.“We got a lot of dogs on the team,” defender Miles Robinson told The Athletic recently. “It’s about letting ‘em out the cage.”Robinson swiftly was put in a headlock by a Paraguayan player during the melee. Pochettino ran over, slipped and was helped back up by Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro.“It was a spark for the group and for the fans,” Robinson said. “It was a moment we needed as a group to recognize, like, hey, we’re not to be messed with or taken lightly. We’re in it for the long haul and in it for each other.”
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The U.S. won 2-1 and had a strong performance beyond the kerfuffle, but it’s the fight that lingers more than the final scoreline.
It was the type of moment that the team needed as it ramped up preparations for the World Cup. The type that won’t soon be forgotten by either side, as the USMNT faces Paraguay to open up World Cup Group D on Friday outside Los Angeles.
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Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter was the first person to jump to Freeman’s defense, as he was closest to the incident. Robinson wasn’t far behind. Neither was captain Tim Ream. Even goalkeeper Matt Freese made his way from his own 18-yard box to midfield.
“When you have a group of guys who fights for each other and dies for each other on the field, anything can happen,” Freese said Monday.
Pochettino took charge of his first match as USMNT head coach in October of 2024, 13 months before the Paraguay game. Leading into the fall, there had been some highs, but more lows than the group had hoped for.
There were heavy defeats to two European opponents before the Gold Cup in the summer of 2025, when star attacker Christian Pulisic was not part of the squad. Pulisic told Pochettino he needed a break in the summer as he felt it was best for his body, a decision that led to a public spat between coach and star player. That Gold Cup had the potential to be a fraught time, but the group used it as an opportunity to pull closer together instead.
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“The spark actually started at the Gold Cup,” Ream said. “There were a few get-togethers in those games as well. The Paraguay game was a little bit extra. It had a feel that the game meant something more and now you look at it and it was a perfect test for us in that moment.
”So it’s good that we had that experience, but you come to this point and it is a World Cup and while you learn from it, it is in the rear-view mirror.
“For the guys in that camp it was a good learning experience.“
The U.S. will see familiar opponents at the World Cup, having faced all three group foes — wins over Paraguay and Australia, defeat to Turkey — under Pochettino.
As if World Cups aren’t intense enough, those matches were hotly contested. With some battle scars and bonding moments behind them, USMNT players are ready for whatever physical challenge comes their way.
“It’s just guys sticking up for each other,” said Robinson, speaking in association with Bounty. “Especially playing on your home soil, you got no time for any of that.”
Tom Bogert is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, providing exclusive, original and unique insights on MLS and the U.S. national team. He has previously written for MLSsoccer.com, The Guardian, and more.
Never know whose life you’re changing’: USMNT World Cup team can make 1994-like mark
Players from the 1994 U.S. World Cup team had an outsized impact on the sport — and this writer’s life Getty Images / Stephen Dunn
June 9, 2026 Updated 11:02 am EDT
The players from the 1994 U.S. men’s national team quite literally inspired me to follow in their footsteps.
I was only 7 when the World Cup came to America, and I didn’t know much about the game. I wasn’t studying tactics or paying attention to FIFA rankings. I’d never even seen the game played until my dad took me to a tryout. I was just a kid trying to understand this sport that had suddenly captured my attention.
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I remember watching them upset Colombia with a 2-1 win in front of more than 93,000 fans. Colombia were one of the best teams in the world at the time, but I was completely drawn in by the passion, courage and personality of that U.S. team.
The Americans made the most of Andrés Escobar’s infamous own goal, with Earnie Stewart scoring the winner in the second half. For them to grind out that result was inspiring, and it left its mark on me. They weren’t just soccer players, they were heroes.
More than 30 years later, what amazes me isn’t just what that team accomplished on the field. It’s that many of the same players who inspired me as a kid would later help me as a professional, a broadcaster and a person. That’s the real legacy of the 1994 team. They didn’t just grow the game in America. They helped shape the generation that followed.
I was this young kid learning about soccer on the fly. I would watch as many games as I could and was introduced to these stars. Naturally, I gravitated towards certain players – the ones who looked like me, played like me or players with the biggest personalities.
When I think of that group stage game against Colombia, I remember Eric Wynalda. He was a striker, like me. I also loved Cobi Jones. We had the same skin color and he was fast, like me. Then you had Tony Meola, who rocked that iconic mullet-ponytail look and came up with some big saves. Marcelo Balboa had this long hair and style about him that drew me in.
I was hooked by these guys. I wanted to follow them at every turn and, thankfully, Major League Soccer was just getting started. I had never seen club football before in my life. I didn’t know about the English Premier League or Serie A. I went from that World Cup to, ‘OK, what’s next?’
In 1997, I stood outside Foxboro stadium holding my 1994 World Cup ball, hoping U.S. men’s national team players would stop and sign it. They all did and I still have that ball today. It was an incredible moment – and little did they know they were inspiring a future U.S. national team striker. I couldn’t have imagined that one day I’d work alongside many of them, learn from them, and call some of them friends.
Charlie Davies runs towards Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Looking back, that team had some of the same appeal that the early WWF had for kids of my generation. The players weren’t just athletes, they were characters. Meola had the presence of a Hulk Hogan, while Alexi Lalas carried the unmistakable aura of the Ultimate Warrior. In a country where soccer was fighting for attention, those personalities helped draw people in. They certainly drew me in.
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First as a fan, and later as a player fortunate enough to learn from many of the same men who inspired me. I’m always thankful for them helping me fall in love with the game – and even more with their help along the way. Even so, I don’t think that generation receives the appreciation it deserves.
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Watching the 2023 CBS Sports documentary “The Billion Dollar Goal” taught me things I didn’t even know about the origins of soccer in this country. I knew the U.S. had qualified for the 1990 World Cup, but I didn’t fully appreciate what it took to get there or how much those players sacrificed to move the game forward.
The players of 1994 inherited a sport that still sat on the margins of American culture. The NASL had come and gone. The U.S. had missed four decades of World Cups before qualifying in 1990. The foundation wasn’t there and they had to help build it. But what has always stood out to me most isn’t what they accomplished on the field. It’s how they’ve treated the generations that followed.
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Every interaction I’ve had with members of that team has been defined by generosity. I’ve never sensed jealousy. I’ve never felt like they viewed younger players as competition. They wanted us to succeed.
One of my ’94 childhood heroes helped me navigate the transition from player to broadcaster. I work closely with Meola now for CBS, and I’ll always be grateful for the way he helped me when I first entered media through SiriusXM. It would’ve been easy for him to think, “I’m not helping this guy take my spot.” Instead, he and Brian Dunseth welcomed me, guided me and helped find my voice. That’s not something they had to do.
Mike Sorber coached me under Bob Bradley and pushed me because he wanted the best from me. Balboa worked with me at the U-20 level and was always someone I could reach out to. Lalas has been helpful whenever I’ve needed advice on camera. Tab Ramos has always been generous with his time.
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Then there’s Stewart. He was my sporting director at the Philadelphia Union. When I was traded from New England to Philadelphia, he picked me up at the airport himself.
Things didn’t always go smoothly for me there, but my respect for Earnie never changed. He always treated people the right way and was always willing to help. The same was true of so many players from that team.
I’ve had the chance to tell Cobi what he meant to me. I told him how much I admired him growing up and how much he influenced the player I became. Not everybody gets the chance to thank their heroes. But I did and it’s something I’ll always cherish.
U.S. star Earnie Stewart was a 1994 inspiration to Charlie DaviesChris WIlkins / AFP via Getty Images
What makes that generation special is that they never stopped giving back to the game. They inspired us as players, then stayed involved as coaches, executives, broadcasters, and mentors. They opened doors and held them open, more than three decades later.
Whenever I’m around those guys, I still find myself listening more than talking. Each of them has stories that feel like chapters from a book. They’ve seen the game grow from something that barely registered in the American sports landscape, to a sport preparing for another World Cup on home soil. When I look back on my own journey — the highs, the lows, everything in between — it’s hard not to feel grateful. None of it happens if I’m not that 7-year-old kid watching the 1994 U.S. men’s national team.
As the World Cup returns home and my own twins prepare to experience it for the first time, I hope this generation of U.S. players can do for them what Jones, Meola, Balboa, Stewart and the rest of that team did for me.
Because you never know which kid in the crowd is watching. And you never know whose life you’re changing.
Charlie Davies Former US men’s national team forward Charlie Davies is a contributor at The Athletic delivering hard-hitting opinion columns, straight-talking podcast appearances, and insightful explainer videos. Charlie made 17 appearances for the USMNT between 2007-09 and was pivotal in helping the team qualify for the 2010 World Cup, before his career was impacted by a serious car accident. He has remained firmly in the soccer spotlight with his TV contributions for CBS Sports and is one of the most prominent former USMNT voices in the country.
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