Champions League Final 8 Action is back Tues/Wed (must hear anthem)

Champions League returns with a surprise team in Sporting CP hosting Arsenal at 3 pm Tuesday on Para+. Arsenal are odds on favorites along with Bayern Munich and the holders PSG. Two English teams Arsenal & Liverpool remain while La Liga has 3 with Real Madrid, Atletico & Barcelona while France, Germany & Portugal have just 1 each in Bayern Munich, PSG and Sporting respectively. Lots of stories below!!

USWNT Faces Top 5 Ranked Japan in 3 Game Series Sat, Tues & Thurs on TNT

The US national Team brings an experienced roster into this top 5 match-up with Japan coming up this weekend & Next week as the roster marks the return of two players who add a tremendous amount of experience to the U.S. roster as both have played in World Cups and the Olympics. Forward Sophia Wilson, a member of the “Triple Espresso” front line who helped lead the USA to the 2024 Olympic gold medal, makes her first USWNT roster in 17 months following her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter in early September of 2025. The 25-year-old Wilson has 58 caps for the USWNT along with 24 goals, three of which were scored at the 2024 Olympics, to go with her two assists in that tournament. Defender Tierna Davidson, 27, has made a complete recovery from an ACL injury suffered in NWSL play at the beginning of the 2025 season. She returns to the USWNT after a 13-month absence. Coincidentally, Davidson’s most recent international match was against Japan on Feb. 26, 2025, in the SheBelieves Cup finale. The USWNT will begin its three-game series against Japan in San Jose, Calif. at PayPal Park, home of Bay FC and the San Jose Earthquakes, this Saturday – April 11 (2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. TNT, truTV and HBO Max in English and Universo and Peacock in Spanish).

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals) 2026 April Matches vs. Japan

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash, 10), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 8), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 6) DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 67/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 74/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 52/2), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 10/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 7/0), Emily Sams (Angel City FC: 9/1), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 115/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 7/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 4/0) MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City, ENG; 44/5), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 173/39), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 15/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 118/27), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 15/5),Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 34/10), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 16/1) FORWARDS (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 10/1), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars FC; 4/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 52/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 17/6), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current; 18/7), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 29/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 58/24)

World Cup Field is Set

The World Cup field of 48 is finally set. The World Cup playoff finals took place, and four teams from UEFA along with 2 FIFA inter-confederation playoff winners booked their place into this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. From UEFA, Czechia, Türkiye, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Sweden each won their playoffs, while DR Congo and Iraq/Bolivia won the inter-confederation playoffs in Mexico to complete the field. For USMNT fans, they now know who the team will face in their final group stage match on June 25th: Türkiye. They beat Kosovo 1-0 in a hard fought match to secure their spot and join the USMNT, Australia, and Paraguay in Group D. Mexico sees Czechia join their group alongside South Africa and South Korea, as Czechia took out Denmark on penalties. We are still looking for World Cup tickets in Seattle, June 29th if you have a lead on 2 or 3 tickets.

US Bows to Portugal 2-0 Where Are we Now?

Wow – not sure what to say after watching the US get slapped 5-1 and 2-0 at home in Atlanta in front of 70,000 fans in Atlanta. I will go back to what I said the minute they handed the keys to Pochitino – I still think its a HUGE mistake.
After looking decent — over the past window – BOTCHITINO returned to his idiotic ways vs the best 2 teams the US has faced in 4 years. I am sure many have forgotten but with AMERICAN coaches we have beaten the likes Spain, Brazil, England and the likes – we have gotten to a Quarterfinals where a handball vs Germany kept us from advancing to the Semi’s for the first time ever (20 years ago). But those days are long gone. This team, this World Cup, which the US will host was supposed to be our coming out party – to show that the US has really gotten better at the world’s game. We already have more players playing for better teams overseas than ever before. The US DA Program now replaced with MLS Next has help produce our strongest ever group of players – we had more players play more games in the Champions League this season than ever before – and that was with Christian Pulisic not being in it this year. But man Botchitino has really screwed this thing up.

Hopefully I am wrong – and these desperate moves in our next to the last 2 games before the World Cup were part of some master Plan to lull the rest of the World to Sleep thinking the US is so bad we won’t get out of our Group. At our current Ranking of below 20 – our lowest ranking in 20+ years – that just might happen. I will go into player by player details on what went wrong – and what we must do next. (Man I wish Real Madrid had offered the Gig to Bochitino a month back). Anyway lots of stories below about how we lost and what’s next. Hey at least we aren’t Italy right? I will offer up my opinions next week. Meanwhile lets get ready to watch our REAL US National Team – our Women as they match-up against top 5 Japan. Bet they won’t lay an egg – Hayes unlike Botch – can actually coach!!

Indy 11 vs Monterey Bay – Sat 7 pm at The Mike

Indianapolis – Indy Eleven midfielder Jack Blake tied the franchise record with his 27th career goal in the Boys in Blue’s 1-1 draw vs. defending USL champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Carroll Stadium Sat night. Indy Eleven goalkeeper Eric Dick (former CHS, Butler and Carmel Dad’s GK) made a season-high seven saves in the match against the team that he helped lead to the 2025 title, winning the USL Championship MVP and Prinx Playoff MVP after allowing no goals in 450 minutes in four playoff games. Indy continue their three-match homestand next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Monterey Bay FC in the annual “Kick for a Cause” game.  Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, is the spotlight partner.  The match is part of the 2026 Scarf Series, so fans can purchase a ticket + knit scarf here. The Family Four-Pack is available for all 2026 home games and it can be purchased online only.  Priced at just $49, the Family Four-Pack includes four tickets, FREE parking, $20 in Concession Vouchers, and a 20% Merchandise Discount, along with access to the Fun Zone/Kids Activation Area.

TV Schedule – Games on TV

Tues, Apr 7
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
3 pm Para+ Sporting CP vs Arsenal
8 pm FS2 Nashville SC vs America CCC
10 pm FS2 LAFC vs Cruz Azul CCC
Wed, Apr 8
3 pm Para+ Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
3 pm PAra+ PSG vs Liverpool
9 pm FS2 Tigres vs Seattle Sounders CCC
11 pm FS2 Toluca vs LA Galaxy CCC
Thurs, Apr 9 Europa League
3 pm Para+ Bologna vs Aston Villa
3 pm PAra+ Porto vs Nottingham Forest
3 pm Para+ Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Fiorentina
Sat, Apr 11
7;30 am USA Arsenal vs Bournemouth
9:30 am ESPN2 Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen (Tillman)
12:30 pm NBC Liverpool vs Fulham (Jedi)
4:30 pm Fox Portland Timbers vs LAFC
7 pm Indy 11 vs Monterey Bay Home
7:30 pm Apple Inter Miami vs NY Red Bulls
Sun, Apr 12
11:30 am USA Chelsea vs Man City
7 pm TNT, HBO US Women vs Japan
Tues, Apr 14
7 pm TNT, HBO US Women vs Japan
Tues, Apr 17
9 pm TNT, HBO US Women vs Japan
Sun, May 31
3:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Men vs Senegal
Fri. Apr. 17, 7:30 pm | IU vs. Notre Dame GRAND PARK
Sat. Apr. 18, 6:00 pm | Saint Louis vs. Xavier GRAND PARK
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

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US Women Sat vs Japan

Sophia Wilson Returns to USWNT With Fresh Perspective: “I Want to Enjoy It All”
USWNT Prepare for Series Against Japan with “Much More Developed” Roster
Hayes Names 26-Player Roster for April Matches Against Japan
Sophia Wilson Returns to USWNT With Fresh Perspective: “I Want to Enjoy It All”
Returning Wilson grateful for past USWNT moms

Champions League Tues/Wed

• Flick sends clear message to Barcelona squad ahead of Atletico UCL showdown
• Lewandowski sets ambitious three-part mission at Barcelona after World Cup setback
  Is Barcelona going to burn out Lamine Yamal?
  Harry Kane makes return to team training ahead of Bayern’s clash with Real Madrid
  Bayern isn’t afraid of Madrid: ‘Our attack is as dangerous’
  Frenkie de Jong still not back in training, set to miss Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid
  Álvaro Arbeloa: “Real Madrid has the best players in the world, but we must also be the best team”
  It’s clear we have to play differently with Mbappe and Bellingham’ – Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa

US Men

Mauricio Pochettino: USMNT ‘Little Details’ Away From Top-10 European Opponents
USMNT 2026 World Cup big board 6.0: Have March losses cemented Pochettino’s squad?
Pochettino’s USMNT World Cup process is about to hit the home stretch
USMNT’s Patrick Agyemang exits Derby match with apparent Achilles issue, World Cup bid in doubt
USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang stretchered off with non-contact injury
Poch, Pulisic agree, U.S. ‘not far away’ from best
USA vs. Belgium, 2026 Friendly: Man of the Match
Monday Morning Reflection: USMNT faces tough questions after 5-2 loss to Belgium
 Has USMNT finally fixed its lack of depth?
USMNT players reveal what Pochettino is really like
World Cup doomed for USMNT with Pulisic goal drought?
Player ratings: Pulisic 3/10 in USMNT’s loss to Portugal
Ogden: Türkiye will be USMNT’s stiffest test in World Cup group stage
O’Hanlon: Will USMNT’s depth be World Cup game-changer?

World

Erling Haaland makes history with hat trick in City’s thrashing of Liverpool
Barcelona close in on LaLiga with win vs. Atlético, Man City thrash Liverpool, more
Southampton stun Arsenal to reach FA Cup semis
 It’s make-or-break time for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal in ‘difficult period’ with shock FA Cup loss

O’Hanlon: What would Premier League table look like without set pieces?

MLS & NWSL

Beckham: Inter Miami stadium ‘dream come true’
With Messi goal, Inter Miami open new stadium with dream moment
Miami’s Nu Stadium opens Sat
MLS Power Rankings: LAFC are practically perfect atop the table

World Cup

• Mexico kept up with Belgium, Portugal. Can they take that momentum into the World Cup?
  Socceroos’ ‘mission to wreck’ USMNT’s World Cup
• ‘Apocalypse’ Italy verdict by national papers
• 
  
• 100 days to the World Cup: Half a billion viewers? That’s just a Tuesday for soccer
• 99 days to the World Cup: How much does the winning team get paid?
• 98 days to the World Cup: The greatest goalscorers in tournament history
• 97 days to the World Cup: 48 teams, 104 games and a Super Bowl-style halftime show
• 96 days to the World Cup: When the U.S. shocked England
  92 days to the World Cup: The USMNT is still chasing another deep run

Goalkeeping

Scandal as teen ball boy confesses to stealing Donnarumma cheat sheet
MLS: Best Saves of the Week
Donnarumma ‘cried with sadness’ after Italy loss
Hugo Loris Still making saves

Reffing

Just Thank the Refs
Hand Ball yes or no?

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Quarterfinals begin

follow along with all the USMNT action this week. by Justin Moran Apr 6, 2026, 8:38 AM EDT 77Comments (All New)

LARNACA, CYPRUS – MARCH 19: Djordje Ivanovic of AEK Larnaca controls the ball whilst under pressure from Chris Richards of Crystal Palace during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 second leg match between AEK Larnaca FC and Crystal Palace FC at AEK Arena on March 19, 2026 in Larnaca, Cyprus. (Photo by George Wood – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)UEFA via Getty Images

Midweek action is here. All kickoff times are in EST. All MLS games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as any other networks listed. Let’s get into it!

Monday

• Juventus vs Genoa, 12p on Paramount+, DAZN: Weston McKennie and Juve host Genoa in Serie A.
• Napoli vs AC Milan, 2:45p on Paramount+, DAZN: Christian Pulisic and Milan visit Napoli in Serie A.

Also in action:

• Cesena vs Südtirol, 6:30a on Onefootball: Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena host Südtirol in Serie B.
• Lecce vs Atalanta, 9a on Paramount+, DAZN: Yunus Musah and Atalanta visit Lecce in Serie A.
• Venezia vs Juve Stabia, 9a on Onefootball: Gianluca Busio and Venezia host Juve Stabia in Serie B.
• Blackburn vs West Brom, 10a: George Campbell, Daryl Dike, and West Brom visit Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.
• Derby vs Stoke, 10a: Can Patrick Agyemang and Derby County do it on a rainy night in Stoke? Just kidding, this is a home game for Derby in the EFL Championship. Stoke is coming to them.
• Watford vs Charlton, 10a on Paramount+: Charlie Kelman and Charlton Athletic visit Watford in the EFL Championship.
• Swansea vs Middlesbrough, 12:30p on Paramount+: Aidan Morris and Boro visit Swansea in the EFL Championship.
• Girona vs Villarreal, 3p on ESPN Select, ESPN Deportes, Fubo: Alex Freeman and Villarreal visit Girona in La Liga.
• Hull vs Coventry, 3p on Paramount+, Prime Video: Haji Wright and Coventry City visit Hull City in the EFL Championship.

Tuesday

• Nashville SC vs Club América, 8p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, ViX: Alex Zendejas and América visit Matthew Corcoran and Nashville SC in the first leg of this Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal.

Also in action:

• NK Istra vs Hajduk Split, 12p: Rokas Pukštas and Hajduk Split visit NK Istra 1961 in the HNL (Croatia’s top division).
• Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club, 6p on beIN Sports, Fubo: Matko Miljevic and Racing are on the road to begin their Copa Sudamericana journey (they’re in Group E).
• LAFC vs Cruz Azul, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, ViX: Timothy Tillman and LAFC host Cruz Azul to kick off their 2-game CCC quarterfinal.

Wednesday

• Tigres UANL vs Seattle Sounders, 9p on FS2, TUDN, UniMás, Fubo, ViX, Univision NOW: Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Jesús Ferreira, and the Sounders go to Monterrey to visit Tigres in this CCC quarterfinal first leg.
• Toluca vs LA Galaxy, 11p on FS1, TUDN, UniMás, Fubo, ViX, Univision NOW: Harbor Miller and the Galaxy kick off their 2-game CCC quarterfinal on the road in Toluca.

Thursday

• Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Chris Richards and Palace host Fiorentina in the first leg of this Conference League quarterfinal.

Also in action:

• Mainz vs Strasbourg, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Lennard Maloney and Mainz host Strasbourg in the first leg of this Conference League quarterfinal.

Friday

• Paris FC vs Monaco, 1p on beIN Sports, Fubo (free trial): Folarin Balogun and AS Monaco visit Italian-American winger Luca Koleosho and Paris in Ligue 1.
• Augsburg vs Hoffenheim, 2:30p on ESPN Select, Fubo: Noahkai Banks and Augsburg host Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
• Marseille vs Metz, 3:05p on beIN Sports, Fubo: Tim Weah and OM host Metz in Ligue 1.

Also in action:

• Düsseldorf vs Holstein Kiel, 12:30p on ESPN Select, Fubo: John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel visit Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.
• RB Salzburg vs LASK Linz, 1:30p: George Bello and LASK visit Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. Japanese-American defender Anrie Chase has made 3 appearances for Salzburg since joining from VfB Stuttgart last August.
• West Brom vs Millwall, 3p on Paramount+: George Campbell, Daryl Dike, and West Brom host Millwall in the EFL Championship.

That’s it! Did I miss anything that matters? Let me know in the comments below. Let’s see who stands out this week!

USWNT faces Japan, thrice Emma Hayes thinks Japan is “without question” one of the favorites to win the 2027 World World Cup. So what better way to prepare for such an opponent 444 days out than to play the team … three times in a row? A little over a year ago, Japan defeated the U.S. 2-1 and handed Hayes her first loss as USWNT’s head coach. The Nadeshiko went on to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, breaking the Americans’ five-tournament streak.  Like the Michael Jordan meme, Hayes took that personally. The U.S. hosts Japan on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET in San Jose, Calif.; on April 14 at 10 p.m. ET in Seattle; and on April 17 at 9 p.m. ET near Denver. The games will air on TNT and truTV and stream on HBO Max and Universo (in Spanish).

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US Open Cup Rd of 32 Apr 14 & 15

Every match from the Round of 32 will stream live on Paramount+ with select matches also co-airing on either CBS Sports Network or CBS Sports Golazo Network. CBS Sports will host The Golazo Show whip-around program highlighting every goal from eight April 15 matchups, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Round of 32 Schedule Set for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as 16 Major League Soccer Clubs Enter Competition
2026 U.S. Open Cup’s Second Round Concludes with Tight Contests from Coast to Coast

Round of 32 Schedule – 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Home teams listed first; host priority order for Round of 16 matches in each group also listed; visit the schedule section of ussoccer.com/us-open-cup for the most up to date details.

 Tuesday, April 14 (all times ET)

New England Revolution vs. Rhode Island FC – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

Louisville City FC vs. Austin FC – 7 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network)

Detroit City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network)

Westchester SC vs. New York City FC – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sporting Kansas City – 8 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Rapids vs. Union Omaha – 9:30 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network)

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Minnesota United FC – 10 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network)

Wednesday, April 15 (all times ET)

FC Naples vs. Orlando City SC – 7 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network)

The Golazo Show – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network)

Chattanooga FC vs. Atlanta United FC – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Richmond Kickers vs. Columbus Crew – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Red Bull New York vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Charlotte FC vs. Charlotte Independence – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

D.C. United vs. One Knoxville SC – 7:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

St. Louis CITY SC vs. FC Tulsa – 8 p.m. (Paramount+)

Houston Dynamo FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC – 8 p.m. (Paramount+)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Phoenix Rising FC – 10 p.m. (Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network)

Champions League quarter-finals predictions, star players and youngsters to watch

Will Kylian Mbappe and Viktor Gyokeres be celebrating after the quarter-finals? Getty Images

By The Athletic UK Staff April 6, 2026Updated 5:05 am EDT

This is an updated version of an article that was first published after the quarter-final line-up was confirmed in March.

The Champions League quarter-finals kick off this week, with the path to the final in Budapest on May 30 now clear.

Real Madrid host Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu this Tuesday in the competition’s most-played fixture, while Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to Lisbon to face Sporting CP.Barcelona will play Atletico Madrid in an all-La Liga affair at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, while holders Paris Saint-Germain take on Liverpool at home in a replay of last season’s round of 16 tie, which Arne Slot’s side lost on penalties.

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What is the most exciting tie?

Oliver Kay: Obvious answer: Real Madrid vs Bayern. I was surprised by how well Madrid performed against Manchester City and I’m fascinated to see whether they can repeat that against a Bayern team who appear to be coming to the boil nicely.

James Pearce: PSG vs Liverpool is going to be intriguing — the holders against the six-time winners. Their meeting at Anfield in the last 16 a year ago was an outstanding game. For Arne Slot’s Liverpool, it’s a revenge mission.

Mario Cortegana: Madrid vs Bayern. Bayern are the most in-form team in Europe, while Madrid seemed dead once again — until they returned to their fearsome best in their convincing win against City.

Joselu was Real Madrid’s unlikely hero when they faced Bayern Munich in the semi-finals two years agoDavid Ramos/Getty Images

Thom Harris: There have been plenty of goals in recent meetings between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, including a 4-4 draw and the recent Copa Del Rey semi-final, in which Simeone’s side took a 4-0 lead into the second leg and nearly threw it away. It should be action-packed.

Pol Ballus: There’s no debate: Bayern vs Madrid. The best team in Europe this season against the competition’s most successful club. Whoever wins, they will send a statement to the rest of the field.

Jack Lang: PSG vs Liverpool — their two games last year were absolutely absorbing and we have the added factor of Liverpool trying to salvage their season.

Amy Lawrence: Come on, everyone wants to watch boring Arsenal! Well, if not, it is hard to look beyond Real vs Bayern, which has all the classic feels.

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How will each team feel about their chances in the quarter-finals and the rest of the tournament?

Kay: Premier League sides hold no fear for PSG, who beat City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal en route to winning last season’s final in style, and who have already beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea this time. Last season, they were a surprise package, having scraped through the league phase, whereas nobody will dare to underestimate them now. That brings its own pressure.

Pearce: Liverpool will be underdogs, but if they play with the tempo and intensity they showed in the second leg against Galatasaray, they’ll have a chance. It came down to fine margins when the clubs met last year, with PSG advancing on penalties. The return to fitness of Alexander Isak after three months out will also be a timely boost. But the absence of Alisson, who performed heroics in Paris a year ago, could hurt them. The Brazil ‘keeper is out with another hamstring injury, so the Georgian Giorgi Mamardashvili will deputise.

Cortegana: There was a lot of pessimism around Real Madrid after the round-of-16 draw — the bracket seemed particularly difficult — but morale soared after eliminating City, even if it has been slightly dampened by Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Mallorca in La Liga.

Harris: Atletico will have taken confidence from that Copa del Rey semi-final first leg drubbing of Barcelona, but will know they are unlikely to be so ruthless in front of goal once again — they also lost at home to them on Saturday in the league. They have serious firepower at their disposal, and while they might not be expecting to win the whole thing with — potentially — Arsenal to play next, they’ll be thinking: why not?

Barcelona failed to overturn a 4-0 loss in the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Atletico MadridJoan Gosa/Xinhua via Getty Images

Ballus: Barca have reasons to be optimistic. Simeone’s Atletico can be painful opponents, but Hansi Flick’s side have already learned their lesson this season in that Copa semi-final, when they realised they sometimes had to be more pragmatic. They then got the 2-1 La Liga away win over Atletico this weekend. Flick’s team can’t have any complaints about the draw, although they could face Arsenal in the semi-finals. That would be a whole different story.

Seb Stafford-Bloor: Bayern will be respectful, but confident. Nobody has Real Madrid’s mythology in the Champions League, but Bayern have every right to see themselves as the better side. Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies remain injury doubts, at least for the first leg, but Kompany’s side will still pack quite a punch.

Lang: Just reaching the quarter-finals counts as a significant achievement for Sporting, especially given they lost the first leg of their round-of-16 tie 3-0 against Bodo/Glimt. They will know they are underdogs against Arsenal. The question is whether the Portuguese side can leverage the psychological advantage of having nothing to lose.

Lawrence: Arsenal have fresh memories of a 5-1 win at Sporting last season, so they won’t be intimidated. Unhelpfully, they have their most pivotal league game (Manchester City away) just after, but that’s the deal when chasing multiple trophies. Their draw is generous, but anything goes from semis onwards.

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Which star player will define these quarter-finals?

Kay: I can’t take my eyes off PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when I watch him. Vitinha does a wonderful job in the way he sets the tone for Luis Enrique’s team, but Kvaratskhelia is the beguiling forward who creates and scores goals from nothing.

Pearce: Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungary captain is having an outstanding season for Liverpool and he has the added motivation of the final being in Budapest. He has become Liverpool’s talisman.

Dominik Szoboszlai will be targeting a Champions League final in his native HungaryCarl Recine/Getty Images

Cortegana: Vinicius Junior. Real Madrid’s Brazil forward was the most decisive player against Benfica and City, and his impact in the knockout rounds of this competition is extraordinary at 25 years old.

Harris: If Atletico are to cause a ripple, Julian Alvarez will be front and centre. The Argentina striker is a relentless presser from the front, carries the ball forward with power and authority, and looks increasingly sharp in front of goal.

Ballus: Pedri. The Barcelona and Spain midfielder has a history of outstanding performances against Atletico in the past couple of seasons and is still returning to his best after recovering from a hamstring injury. Against Simeone’s entrenched defence, his wisdom in midfield could make the difference.

Stafford-Bloor: Harry Kane. The last time Bayern faced Real Madrid in the semi-finals in 2024, Kane was not really fit and was rushed on to the pitch because of the tie’s importance. Two years on, the England captain is fitter, arguably in the form of his career and is comfortably Bayern’s most influential player. If he runs the game, they will win.

Lang: Kane for me, too. He looked incredibly hungry in the second leg against Atalanta. Real Madrid’s defence is more vulnerable than City made it look — I expect Bayern to cause all sorts of problems, with Kane leading the charge.

Lawrence: If Arsenal are to keep going, Declan Rice and Gabriel have to continue being their powerhouses. But Bayern and PSG have that extra Champions League nous, so it’s between Kane and the Ballon d’Or-winning Ousmane Dembele as the attacking leaders of their packs.

Which up-and-coming player should I be looking out for?

Kay: What Pau Cubarsi is doing is pretty extraordinary. The Spain centre-back has only just turned 19 and is totally at home at the heart of Barcelona’s defence. He didn’t enjoy the first half against Newcastle United in the round of 16 second leg, but he is a serious talent with a great career ahead of him.

Ballus: Keep an eye on Marc Bernal, too — another 18-year-old from La Masia, Barca’s famed academy, with sky-high potential. Some suggested he was the heir to Sergio Busquets, but he also has an incredible sense for goal despite being a holding midfielder.

Pearce: Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger is unlikely to start either leg against PSG but could well make an impact off the bench. He’s quick and direct.

Cortegana: Bayern’s attacking midfielder Lennart Karl. At just 18, he has registered four goals and two assists in the tournament, and this is a great opportunity to see him on the biggest stage.

Lennart Karl is an exciting prospect for Bayern MunichAlexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Lang: I really like watching Fermin Lopez. The 22-year-old doesn’t quite have the technical grace of Pedri or the great schemers of Barca’s past, but he just consistently makes things happen. He scores goals, creates space for others, appears in big moments… the very definition of an all-action midfielder.

Stafford-Bloor: Aleksandar Pavlovic. The 21-year-old Bayern midfielder is still underestimated, but he relishes the big games and his metronomic passing always seems at its sharpest when the pressure is ratcheted up. Remember the performance he gave against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last time? He was nerveless for a then 19-year-old.

Harris: How about Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio? The 24-year-old is a strong, left-footed centre-back who can whip the ball through the lines and dominate aerial duels. He’ll be busy against Arsenal, but he is quickly emerging as a defensive leader who will be on the radar of Europe’s elite.

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How do you feel about the next round’s fixtures already being set?

Kay: Even as someone who is very ‘old man yelling at clouds’ about so many of the changes made to European football over the last couple of decades, I cannot find anything to dislike about this one. For one thing, it helps fans — and media outlets — plan travel.

Stafford-Bloor: Fine, because having a clear bracket actually helps build anticipation. It also saves us from having to suffer through a draw after each round and everything that entails.

Lawrence: I suspect the brackets are more interesting to those who don’t have a vested interest. If your team are involved, the excitement about who comes next or is avoided is a wonderful part of fandom. That is missed.

Who’s your prediction to win the whole thing and has it changed from the last round?

Kay: Arsenal. For one thing, without wishing to disrespect Sporting, Mikel Arteta’s team have by far the most straightforward route to the semi-final. For another thing, they have a defensive solidity that means they won’t be torn apart the way City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle United were in the last round. But, at some point, they will have to show more as an attacking force.

Arsenal will be pleased with their semi-final draw against SportingVince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

Pearce: I make Bayern favourites, but if Liverpool get past PSG, they’ll have a real chance. As erratic as they have been domestically this season, Slot’s side have beaten Real Madrid, Atletico and last season’s finalists Inter.

Cortegana: It will be Bayern or Arsenal, but I give Real Madrid a much better chance now than in recent months.

Harris: I echo the others. Bayern look pretty irresistible going forward and their constant rotations make them a nightmare to defend against, even for Arsenal. That would probably be my final, where the quality of Kane and Michael Olise will tell.

Ballus: Bayern, and that has not changed from the last round. They’ve been the best team in the competition so far and have the perfect combination of a top-end squad and an exciting coaching staff led by Kompany who are hungry for success.

Stafford-Bloor: It’s still Bayern. PSG have improved a lot in recent months and have found a menacing rhythm, and it’s hard not to be impressed by what Barcelona did to Newcastle. But with the Bundesliga basically won already and Bayern best-placed to survive these knockout rounds, I predict they’ll beat a jaded Arsenal in the final.

Lang: After watching PSG huff and puff their way past Monaco in the punishment play-off round, I wasn’t too hot on them defending their Champions League crown. Now, though, they look to be relocating a bit of the swagger that made them so good last season. Granted, Chelsea were in an incredibly generous mood over two legs, but even the best teams need a jumpstart now and then. I expect Luis Enrique’s team to make a statement against Liverpool and they’ll be hard to stop from there.

Lawrence: Assuming Bayern or PSG emerge from their brutal side of the draw, they have to be heavy favourites. If there is potential for an underdog, wouldn’t it be something to have a new winner (mentioning no names, ahem)?

Ranking the eight 2025-26 Champions League quarter-finalists

Arsenal’s David Raya and Bayern’s Harry Kane will both have designs on the Champions League this season Getty Images

By Anantaajith RaghuramanApril 5, 2026 The Athleitc

We are down to the final eight in the Champions League after a riveting round of 16 that saw an astonishing 68 goals scored across 16 matches.Seven of the eight ties saw one team score at least four goals. Two teams scored eight while Bayern Munich hit double figures against Atalanta on aggregate. We don’t know if the quarter-finals will be as explosive, but we do know that they will provide us with some classic matchups.Throughout this Champions league campaign, The Athletic’s projections — powered by Opta — have assessed each team’s chances of making it out of the league phase and each knockout round.

So here, with just eight storied clubs remaining, we rank their chances of lifting the famous trophy in Budapest on May 30.

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8) Sporting CP

Cards on the table, there is an argument to be made for our projections underestimating Sporting.

We backed Bodo/Glimt to beat them in the round of 16 despite being given a 37 per cent chance of making it past the reigning Portuguese champions after the draw. A 3-0 home win in Bodo increased that to an 87 per cent chance of making it through.

Sporting defied the odds (literally) to take the match to extra time and score two more to end the fairytale with a 5-0 win on the night. Unfortunately, their prize for doing so was a quarter-final against Arsenal.

Our projections give them just a 21 per cent chance of making it past a team they have beaten just once in seven meetings, scoring nine goals and conceding 15. It would take a Herculean effort from a team that does have stars in Goncalo Inacio, Morten Hjulmand, Maximiliano Araujo and Luis Suarez to defeat the best team in Europe.

Sporting produced a monumental comeback against Bodo/Glimt in the second legGualter Fatia/Getty Images

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7) Atletico Madrid

The attacking firepower Atletico possess is scary, but they can also look very vulnerable defensively, a marked change from Diego Simeone’s previous years in charge.

A desperate Tottenham Hotspur ran them ragged to win the second leg 3-2 after self-imploding to hand Atletico a 5-2 advantage after the first leg and Bodo beat them 2-1 in Madrid. Barcelona, who possess more quality across the board than either of those teams, will pose a challenge to a team trying to get into the last four for the first time since making two finals and a semi-final in four seasons between 2014 and 2017.

Our projections duly give them just a 34 per cent of making it past Hansi Flick’s side.

There are reasons to be positive, though. Across that four-season run, Atletico twice eliminated Barcelona, even seeing off the ‘MSN’ triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr in 2016.Most importantly, beating Spurs meant they inherited their league-phase home advantage, which ensures a second leg in Madrid. Having beaten Barcelona 4-0 in Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, they will be confident of overturning any deficit or holding on to any lead they bring back from the Camp Nou for the second leg.

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6) Liverpool

The 4-0 thrashing of Galatasaray should instil some confidence in Arne Slot’s team, who have enjoyed very few comprehensive victories in 2025-26. But even the most optimistic fans on the red half of Merseyside will be concerned about facing Paris Saint-Germain at this stage of the season.

There is scar tissue from just over a year ago when Ousmane Dembele scored at Anfield and set PSG on their way to the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout, and eventual Champions League glory. Watching PSG thrash Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate while dragging them all over the place will not have soothed those wounds, either.

Liverpool’s Galatasaray win was promptly followed by a 2-1 league defeat to Brighton, continuing a trend that has plagued their campaign. Their 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in September was followed by successive defeats. Their 3-0 win at Marseille in January was instantly succeeded by a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth. They beat West Ham 5-2 in February but then lost 2-1 to Wolves.

Our projections give Liverpool a reasonable-looking 44 per cent chance of making it past PSG, who they beat 1-0 at the Parc des Princes last season a week before the Anfield reverse, courtesy of an inspired Alisson performance in goal.

Liverpool found some form against Galatasaray, but can they do the same against the European champions?Michael Regan/Getty Images

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5) Real Madrid

Alvaro Arbeloa became the first Madrid manager to win each of his first four knockout games in the competition, seeing off Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in those matches. He has got the 15-time European champions playing to their strengths with a simple system that prioritises individual expression within a set structure.While Manchester City threatened them even after going down to 10 men at the Etihad, it was the kind of open game Madrid have often thrived in in the Champions League. The boundless athleticism of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, among others, along with the technical skill of Arda Guler, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Diaz, make that possible.But Bayern will pose the biggest test yet — a well-drilled unit capable of shutting teams down and destroying them too. Madrid could also be without Thibaut Courtois — along with confirmed absentee Rodrygo — for at least the first leg.But this is a rivalry in which they have had the upper hand in recent meetings. Madrid ditched Bayern out of the competition at the semi-final stage in 2023-24, 2017-18, and 2013-14, and in the quarter-finals in 2016-17.Our projections give them only a 40 per cent chance of making it through but ‘Champions League’ Madrid are a unique team — Bayern, of all opponents, will be well aware of that.

Few teams enjoy getting up close and personal with Real Madrid in the Champions LeagueCarl Recine/Getty Images

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4) Barcelona

An eventual 7-2 scoreline in the second leg may have flattered Barcelona given Newcastle United were on an even footing with them for nearly 75 per cent of the tie. But this has not been uncommon under Flick. When things click and the team shifts into gear, they overwhelm opponents, and the goals tend to flow at a frightening pace, knocking opponents to the floor and keeping them there.

That has not been the case much this season, though, with fatigue from a hectic 2024-25 and injuries to the playing squad preventing them from gathering momentum. But the Newcastle win — alongside a 5-2 thrashing of Sevilla days before that and a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano before the break — could finally kickstart their campaign.Pedri is back to full fitness, Robert Lewandowski is back among the goals and Lamine Yamal is… well, Lamine Yamal. Add in the eventual returns from injury of Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, and it is understandable why our projections give them the second-best chances of making the last four at 66 per cent.While the 4-0 loss to Atletico in the Copa del Rey will sting, Barcelona have beaten them by a combined 6-1 at the Camp Nou. They will also play Simeone’s side three times in 10 days: April 4 in La Liga and April 6 and 14 in the Champions League.

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3) Paris Saint-Germain

It’s March and PSG are a force to be reckoned with again — the sense of deja vu from 2025 will not be lost on the remaining seven teams.

The win over Chelsea saw Luis Enrique’s side at their ruthless best, punishing miscues and scoring eight times from an expected goals tally of just 2.1. The finishes were excellent but the fluidity in their attacking moves, facilitated by basically everybody except the centre-backs moving into whatever spaces they wanted, was a joy to watch.

Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola all look back to their sharpest. Fabian Ruiz is still out but Vitinha, Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery are driving a capable midfield, while Nuno Mendes can terrorise full-backs on one end and lock up wingers on the other.

Acoording to our projections, PSG trail Barcelona in the odds to reach the semi-finals (56 vs 66 per cent) and win it all (12 vs 16 per cent). But their modern-day pedigree keeps them marginally ahead.

Can PSG become the first team other than Real Madrid to retain the European Cup since Milan in 1990?Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

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2) Bayern Munich

Bayern are the best attacking side left in the Champions League and duly pummelled Atalanta 10-1 in the round of 16.

Harry Kane has been arguably the world’s best player in 2025-26, racking up 48 goals in just 40 club games. Michael Olise leads Europe’s top five leagues in assists with 17, adding 11 goals to that mix too. Luis Diaz has been a brilliant foil too, while Serge Gnabry is enjoying yet another renaissance.

Jamal Musiala, Lennart Karl and Nicolas Jackson round out an attacking unit that can hurt defences in every way possible.

Bayern have a solid back line too and have been creative with their out-of-possession work, with their players covering for each other admirably. Dayot Upamecano, Konrad Laimer and Jonathan Tah have been the team’s unsung stars.

Michael Olise has been arguably the most creative force in European football this seasonMarco BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images

Exorcising the ghosts of past losses to Real Madrid is a top priority. Our projections give Bayern a 60 per cent chance of making the last four, but it is hardly ever that straightforward against Madrid, who will aim to make this game as transitional as possible. Bayern have the pace in attack to make them pay but will their defence be able to hang on against Mbappe, Vinicius and company?

We are coming up to six years since their last treble in 2019-20 under Flick, which came seven years after their first in 2012-13 under Jupp Heynckes. With the league title wrapped up and the team into the German cup semi-finals for the first time since winning it in 2020, could a third treble in 14 years be on the cards?

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1) Arsenal

Their reliance on defensive solidity and corners may ruffle a few feathers, but Arsenal remain top of our projections with a 30 per cent chance of winning the Champions League.

The draw fell in their favour after topping the league phase in the way Liverpool must have been hoping for in 2024-25 when they did the same. Bayer Leverkusen posed a stiff challenge in Germany but fell 2-0 at the Emirates despite recording more possession (58 vs 42 per cent). Arsenal have a 79 per cent chance of defeating quarter-final opponents Sporting, which would pit them against Barcelona or Atletico.

Mikel Arteta’s side will need to adapt a little in Europe, especially regarding corners, with Champions League officiating more stringent than in England. They also need to move past their only knockout loss of the season in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in which they looked bereft of ideas in possession and were outfoxed without it.

Arsenal can surely be counted on to solve their out-of-possession issues, given it is the area Arteta has improved them the most in during his time in north London. Eberechi Eze suffering a calf injury that will rule him out for at least a month is a concern, but Martin Odegaard’s return from an injury of his own should add some much-needed verve and creativity.

Sophia Wilson, Tierna Davidson return to USWNT roster for Japan friendlies this weekend and next week

Sophia Wilson is back on the USWNT roster for the first time since October 2024. Denis Poroy / Imagn Images

By Tamerra GriffinApril 1, 2026

The Portland Thorns’ Sophia Wilson will make her return to the  roster for the first time since giving birth to her daughter. Wilson, who last featured in October 2024 before going on maternity leave, joins Trinity Rodman to form two-thirds of ‘Triple Espresso’ as the USWNT prepares for three critical matches against Japan,  and are ranked fifth in the world, according to FIFA. The last time the two sides met was at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, which Japan won after beating the U.S. 2-1. Center back Tierna Davidson has also earned her first national team call up since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last March. Davidson, who plays for reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions Gotham FC, . Winger Michelle Cooper of the Kansas City Current is also back in the lineup for the first time this year after missing previous camps due to injury. The USWNT will play Japan three times in as many venues: PayPal Park in San Jose on April 11, Lumen Field in Seattle on April 14, and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. on April 17.

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USWNT April roster in full

Goalkeepers (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash, 10), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 8), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 6)

Defenders (9): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 67/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 74/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 52/2), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 10/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 7/0), Emily Sams (Angel City FC: 9/1), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 115/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 7/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 4/0)

Midfielders (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City, ENG; 44/5), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 173/39), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 15/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 118/27), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 15/5), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 34/10), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 16/1)

Forwards (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 10/1), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars FC; 4/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 52/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 17/6), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current; 18/7), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 29/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 58/24)

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Wilson’s club form, Davidson’s recovery afford them USWNT invitations

Though she’s yet to score a goal or play a full 90 minutes with the Thorns this season, Wilson has provided plenty of evidence in the space of four games of what she is capable of. With roughly 15 minutes in her first regular-season match since her maternity leave (which happened to be against another “espresso shot” in Rodman and the Washington Spirit), followed by 30, 45, and 68, Wilson’s hold-up play, incisive defending, and nose for goal haven’t waned during her time away from the pitch. It’s possible she sees her first 90 minutes since her return with the USWNT in one of the Japan games, but no matter how much she plays, it’s an important time to get back in the national team fold as the team prepares for World Cup qualifiers later this year. Wilson needs time to adjust to head coach Emma Hayes’ tactics and system (which her teammates have spent the better part of last year doing), as well as building or rebuilding partnerships with players like Alyssa Thompson, Michelle Cooper, and Emma Sears, who have been called up more regularly in her absence. Davidson hasn’t played quite as many minutes on her own return to the pitch. Nonetheless, her inclusion in this squad reveals where Hayes’ head could be regarding her proximity to the core group of players bound for Brazil — especially considering it likely meant leaving Tara Rudd of the Washington Spirit off the roster.

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Consistency solidifying in the midfield

With the exception of 20-year-old Riley Jackson of the North Carolina Courage, the seven midfielders called up to this camp are the same who featured at the SheBelieves Cup last month. That includes Gotham FC’s Jaedyn Shaw, who has missed her last two club games due to a hamstring injury.

Emma Hayes appears to be building her team around a core midfield group that includes Jaedyn Shaw.Adam Hunger / Getty Images

As the USWNT backline and attacking front remain in flux, the consistency in call ups between the last international window and this one hints at Hayes’ core forming literally at the center of the pitch. She’s experimented with different line-ups among these seven players as well, demonstrating their malleability according to the needs of the game. It also helps that many of these players — Coffey, Hutton, and Moultrie in particular — have put on strong performances with their club teams lately.

Japan has exceptionally talented midfielders who are sure to pose the toughest test the USWNT has faced all year. Now that this emerging midfield core has played a tournament together, they will be asked to put what they’ve learned to use, not just once but three times.

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Campbell, Sams inclusions prove club form matters

Fittingly, Campbell’s last appearance on the USWNT was on Feb. 26, 2025 against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup finale. Should the 31-year-old earn another cap during this window, she could have an opportunity to display the form she’s had recently with the Dash, who are 2-1 and occupy the fifth spot in the NWSL table with a game in hand.

Campbell has made 12 saves so far this season, kept two clean sheets, and has saved 85.7 percent of shots on goal, according to Fbref. Since Campbell’s last call-up, Hayes had opted for younger goalkeepers like Bay FC’s Jordan Silkowitz as a replacement to an injured core player. That Hayes has opted for Campbell this time around feels a reflection of her club performances.

Sams has been called up more consistently than Campbell but does not always play significant minutes. Unlike Rudd, Sams missed out on the SheBelieves Cup but has since settled in nicely at Angel City. She’s started all three of their games and played next to veteran Sarah Gorden or Savy King in center-back pairings that have helped the Los Angeles side to their best start in club history at 3-0 and a clean sheet.

With the national team, Sams has been positioned as a full-back, though with Davidson presumably on limited minutes and the defensive flanks secured by Fox, Thompson, Reale, and Patterson, Sams could find her way back to the center of the pitch against Japan.

Pochettino admits U.S. World Cup roster selection will be ‘painful’ following Portugal loss

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the international friendly between his team and Portugal. Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

By Paul TenorioMarch 31, 2026

ATLANTA — Mauricio Pochettino admitted he faces a series of “painful” decisions in selecting his final United States World Cup squad after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Portugal left a number of questions unanswered.ochettino’s side now has no more friendlies remaining before the planned May 26th squad announcement in New York, and the coach insisted several places are still up for grabs.“They know that it’s going to be a competition,” Pochettino said, after goals from Francisco Trincão and João Félix sealed a second straight defeat. “They know we are going to see every single week, every single game and we are going to assess one year and a half or more and make the decision who (is) going to make the roster.”

Asked how many players remained in contention, Pochettino made it clear there is still some ways to go before he settles on who he wants to suit up for the nation’s first home World Cup since 1994.“Today, yes, maybe a few more (than 35),” when asked how many remain in with a chance. “It is going to be painful because that process … is going to be difficult to pick only 26 from 35, 40.

“Who will be there is going to be happy, who is not on the roster is going to be sad.”

Pochettino said he took positives out of this March window despite Tuesday’s result following a 5-2 defeat to Belgium on Saturday, saying that he felt the team showed well against two top opponents.

“We were competing well, but still we need to learn a lot,” Pochettino said.

“We are competing against Belgium, Portugal,” he added, pointing out that both European teams are ranked in the top 10 by FIFA. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, a few or some playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have. That is why it’s good to play against these types of teams.”

Pochettino said he was happy overall with the camp. With just a few months ahead of picking his World Cup roster, Pochettino said he felt he had a better idea of the players and what they needed to do to be ready.

“There are too many things we need to assess and see in the next few weeks,” Pochettino said. “I am more positive now than before, because seeing the team compete, we are not far away. It is only details we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas we need to match, we are going to have the possibility to beat them.”USMNT’s World Cup Group Is SetTurkey completes USA’s World Cup group, ramps up overall difficultyTurkey outlasted Kosovo for one of the final places in the 2026 World Cup and will be the U.S.’s last group opponent

It was a continued message throughout the press conference from the U.S. coach, who was focused more on what he felt the team learned and the way it showed a better understanding of what is needed to compete against top teams than he was in the result of a “non-official” game.

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Some of the mistakes that were being made in the game — he pointed to Antonee Robinson’s high position on Portugal’s first goal as an example — are small details that he believes will be honed and tweaked in a longer World Cup camp. They are “fixable” issues. The bigger learnings came from the level of the opponents.

“We are going to have three, four weeks to prepare for the World Cup and going to be pushing these types of situations (to learn),” Pochettino said. “After four months (away from the national team), you don’t have much time (together), you tell players, but players have to feel (it) on the pitch. These types of mistakes are not crazy, but in these types of games, players like (Portugal’s stars), when you give them a centimeter, it’s possible for them to score.”

Pochettino said he was pleased with Christian Pulisic’s performance as the starting striker for the U.S. on Portugal, even though he wasn’t able to break his scoring drought.

“I think he was very active and he did a good job,” Pochettino said. “He was involved in (a lot) of actions. It was a shame he didn’t score with the opportunities he had, but it’s normal he was a little frustrated, but I think we were a little bit frustrated the whole game.”

‘Why not us?’ Mauricio Pochettino asked the USMNT. Belgium and Portugal answered.

Omar Vega / USSF / Getty Images

By Henry Bushnell

April 1, 2026

ATLANTA — When Mauricio Pochettino gathered his U.S. men’s national team players on the first full day of a crucial March training camp, he spoke to them about belief. He exuded a calm confidence that built around the U.S. team this fall, that swept up fans who dared to dream. They talked then about doing “the impossible,” about charging deeper into a men’s World Cup than ever before. Now, standing on a training pitch outside Atlanta last week, Pochettino asked his players: “Why not us?”nd on Saturday and Tuesday, Belgium and Portugal delivered answers.The answer was Vitinha’s pass to Bruno Fernandes on Tuesday night. It was Jérémy Doku’s electrifying 1-v-1 ability three days earlier. It was, in Pochettino’s words, “small details,” the type that separated the USMNT and European powers over the past week — and over the past decade.

“Why not us?”Well, to win a World Cup, you almost certainly have to beat multiple top-10 European teams. And the U.S. hasn’t beaten one in nearly 11 years.It has now lost eight straight games to European nations, regardless of rank, the second-longest such streak in program history, per TruMedia. And it is winless in 10 World Cup matches against teams from the continent since 2002.

The U.S. believed, and players insist they still do. But they also made minor mistakes Saturday and Tuesday — mistakes that go unnoticed against lowly Concacaf teams but get punished by the likes of Portugal and Belgium. It’s a lagging recovery run. It’s a foolish pass or a poor first touch. It’s a jump into the wrong passing lane. It’s Antonee Robinson cheating too high, plus a half dozen other “details” that allowed Portugal to take a 1-0 lead.“In that situation, we need to read [the game] better,” Pochettino said of the sequence that led to the first Portuguese goal in a simple 2-0 win.“This type of mistakes, they are not crazy,” he continued. “But in this type of game, players like [Pedro] Neto, [Gonçalo] Ramos, Bruno, João Félix — when you give a centimeter, it’s possible that they can score. That was what happened.”

João Félix’s world-class ability made an impact against the United States.Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

That’s what happened Tuesday. That’s what happened Saturday. That’s what happened last June against Switzerland. It also happened in 2023 against Germany, and at the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands.For extended stretches of some of those games, the USMNT was competitive. It was better than Belgium for 40 minutes. It was on the front foot for 20 against Portugal. It looked like a coherent, well-coached team. It played with confidence and even attitude, just as it had for spells against the Germans and Dutch years ago.What it lacked was top-end talent. Individual quality. Pochettino essentially said this Tuesday.

“We are USA. And we are competing against Belgium, Portugal,” he said. “For sure, Belgiumand Portugal have, in the top 100 players [in the world], a few or some players in that top 100. I think we don’t have.”That, of course, is an oversimplified view of soccer, a wonderfully complex sport. Underdogs beat favorites all the time. Intensity and organization, intangibles and tactics, randomness and luck can all close quality gaps on any given day. They have for U.S. men’s national teams in the past. Someday, they’ll do so again.

But it’s been a damn long time since the USMNT sustained them for 90 minutes. And at the final whistle Tuesday, shoulders sank. Heads hung. Bodies moped. Chris Richards tugged at his jersey in frustration.Pochettino, when asked if he worried that the players would lose belief, seemed perplexed by the concept.

“Who start to lose belief? Which players?” he asked.

When told that none of them had ever beaten a top European team, he responded: “Yeah, but always it’s — hope the first time is going to be in the World Cup. We need to learn. That is why we are playing this type of game.”

Manager Mauricio Pochettino gives a miffed reaction as the U.S. fell to Portugal in AtlantaAndrew J. Clark / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images

The players, for their part, said they are indeed learning. Some have hardly seen this level before. The USMNT’s schedule is now largely filled by games within Concacaf.

When they met the likes of Portugal, Auston Trusty saw “the ruthlessness of the finishing.”

Sebastian Berhalter felt, for the first time, a different type of soccer. “When you play against these teams, it’s a lot less chaotic than you would think,” he said. “It’s a lot more controlled. Guys have great first touches, so, pressing, it makes it even harder.”

The U.S. did press effectively up until the game’s first hydration break. That, and the entire first half, fueled the players’ persistent belief.

“I mean, both first halves, we caused the teams a lot of problems, we put a lot of pressure on them,” Christian Pulisic said of Belgium and Portugal. “It didn’t seem like either game was out of control.”

Advertisementhe shortcoming, he acknowledged, was “just little moments, or being a little bit more clinical. It’s just the same story. But I feel really close. I feel like we’re in a good place.”

USMNT players have two more matches before the World Cup group stageOmar Vega / USSF / Getty Images

In that sense, their belief is totally valid and logical. In both games this month, just like against the Netherlands in 2022, they can point to moments, to specific chances that, if they’d been converted, could have led to very different conclusions. They are, or at least seem, within reach of international soccer’s upper echelons. It would be foolish to say they cannot beat Germany in June or Turkey at the World Cup or someone even better in the knockout stages.

But it was also impossible to escape the feeling that Portugal was toying with the U.S. — just like Germany and the Netherlands did a few years ago.

And it was hard to see how the U.S. would beat a team of that caliber. The Americans can, but there is increasingly little reason to believe they will.

Late last week, after repeating his “why not us” line to reporters, Pochettino was asked: Why? Can you sell to the average American why the U.S. is a contender for the World Cup?

The crux of his answer was: “Because we are American.”

And on Tuesday night, after all the momentum from the fall had fizzled, although he repeatedly reiterated a positive message, the belief felt a bit more like blind faith.

“When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match,” Pochettino said, “for sure we are going to have the possibility to beat them.”

Pulisic concluded: “We’re gonna figure it out. We’re gonna figure it out when it really counts.”

USA 0, Portugal 2: Decisive loss, Pulisic struggles cap last pre-World Cup window

Dale Zanine / Imagn Images

By Henry Bushnell and Paul Tenorio March 31, 2026

ATLANTA — The U.S. men’s national team get a second consecutive lesson in quality from a European power Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, losing to Portugal 2-0 in a friendly that brought the Americans further down to earth.They’d hoped to respond to Saturday’s 5-2 shellacking by Belgium. For around 20 minutes, they did — with energy and attacking intent.But Portugal slowly, gradually, took control of the game and punished the U.S. for a lapse — just as Belgium had three days earlier.

In the 36th minute, a few scruffy passes led to a U.S. turnover. The ball fell to Portugal’s Vitinha, who, with a quick glance, sent U.S. midfielder Aidan Morris jumping into the wrong passing lane. Vitinha played in Bruno Fernandes, who, as U.S. players lagged behind the play, set up Francisco Trincão for the game’s opening goal.USA’s World Cup Group Is SetTurkey completes USA’s World Cup group, ramps up overall difficultyTurkey outlasted Kosovo for one of the final places in the 2026 World Cup and will be the U.S.’s last group opponentAfter the break, the match fell into a familiar rhythm. The U.S. was never overwhelmed; but, with a lineup of mostly reserves, it never really looked capable of scoring or getting back into the game.In the 59th minute, Portugal struck again. João Félix pinged in a shot from outside the box off the post. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese had no chance.

By the midway point of the second half, the U.S. fans among the 72,297 in attendance seemed to have lost hope. The atmosphere felt dead. And a March window that began with optimism ended with a whimper.Here’s a closer look at the match:

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João Félix shoots past Aidan Morris and scores Portugal’s second goalJared C. Tilton / Getty Images

A similar script unfolds

It was impossible to ignore the similarities between the respective starts of the Belgium and Portugal games. In both contests, the U.S. players looked confident and dangerous as they attacked their opponent. They created chances. They combined nicely. They caused problems. Then the hydration break came. Belgium players talked on Saturday about how the first-half hydration break — which FIFA will mandate at the World Cup no matter the venue or weather — allowed a crucial opportunity for the coaching staff to reset tactics and adjust to what the Americans were doing. Belgium put more players into midfield. They looked to isolate Jérémy Doku more on the wing and create 1-on-1 opportunities. The U.S. would score first in that game, but Belgium seized control of the match and cruised to a win. On Tuesday, the U.S. again looked dangerous and competent in the attack. Defensively it was a bit more solid. Portugal seemed, like Belgium, to absorb that energy and figure out what the U.S.’s plan was. Then, after the hydration break, the visitors settled into the game and took control. They kept the ball and made the U.S. work. They pressed effectively. And after forcing a turnover at midfield, Vitinha needed just one pass to carve up the U.S. and set up Bruno Fernandes’ assist to Trincão.It’s a concerning similarity. The U.S. needs to be ready for adjustments at the World Cup. And it needs to be able to counterpunch. In both March friendlies, it was the opponents who took advantage.

Christian Pulisic couldn’t break his scoring drought vs. PortugalJared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Pulisic starts at striker but can’t break through

Pulisic entered this March camp without a goal in 2026, and without a goal for the national team since 2024. Two days after he missed a pivotal chance against Belgium and extended the drought, Pochettino spoke about tweaking his star’s position.

“We know that he can score,” Pochettino said. “Maybe we help a little bit, [and move him] a little bit closer to the goal.”

Up until Portugal’s first goal, the U.S. created better chances. The two best opportunities fell to Pulisic, whom Pochettino had moved to a center forward position in an attempt to get him out of a rut.

Instead, Pulisic dug himself deeper. In the sixth minute, when free in the box, his finish was weak and saved. In the 22nd, a Tim Weah cross fizzed right through Pulisic’s legs.

Like on Saturday, Pulisic looked dangerous running at the Portuguese defense but out of sync in the penalty box. He closed his 45 minutes kicking out at an opponent in frustration. He was then subbed out at halftime.

Tuesday was the first time since taking over as coach in 2024, Pochettino started Pulisic in place of a natural striker rather than alongside one. Pulisic has mostly played for the U.S. in a left attacking midfield role, somewhere in between a winger and a No. 10. Here he was a center forward, paired up top with fellow attacking midfielder Weston McKennie. And although his movements and role changed, his performance in front of goal did not.

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He combined well in the position with McKennie and Malik Tillman. He looked reasonably comfortable — which is unsurprising, given that Pulisic has played in a front two at AC Milan. His off-ball running was smart. His dribbling was purposeful and sharp. Anywhere outside the box, he looked confident.

But whenever he got within 20 yards of goal, he faltered. In addition to the missed chances, he botched a 3-v-3 break in the 45th minute, failing to pick the right pass. And by the end of the half, his frustration was evident.A decade of Pulisic with the USMNTChristian Pulisic’s 10 USMNT years and the 10 moments that have defined themIt’s been a full decade since Pulisic’s first U.S. senior cap. Here’s a look back at what’s been achieved – and what still awaits

The U.S. didn’t heed Poch’s call for intensity

There were moments, again, where the U.S. played well. And there were players whose efforts met the moment. But once again there were periods of play where the U.S. was too slow to react, too delayed in their recoveries and a step behind the required effort to make the play. Mauricio Pochettino highlighted the team’s lack of intensity in his prematch comments, but the challenge wasn’t met.Unsurprisingly, there were examples on both goals. Heavy touches in midfield from both Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman eventually led to McKennie’s turnover. Then, after Aidan Morris tried to jump the pass, which allowed Vitinha to skin the U.S., Morris and Tillman were far too slow to recover into the box to defend, which gave Trincão the space to trail Fernandes and score the opener.Portugal’s second goal, on a designed set piece, highlighted it again. João Félix had the time to take a touch and set up the volley he lasered into the bottom corner of the far post. Morris was the closest to it, and afterwards, the big screen in Mercedes-Benz Stadium showed the midfielder pointing to his own chest after the goal.Against teams like Belgium and Portugal, all that’s needed is that half second or half space. Over the last three days, the U.S. was taught that lesson multiple times.By the end of the game, it felt more like a training session for Portugal than anything really productive for the U.S. Portugal was given far too much time and space on the ball. It was toying with the U.S. at times. It felt so far removed from a game with stakes — just as it felt in September 2022 when the U.S. played neutral site friendlies in Germany and Spain. The U.S. recovered and had a solid group stage in Qatar. Pochettino & Co. hope this is similarly not much of an indication of what will come when the tournament starts in a few months.

Pochettino gives blunt assessment of whether USA has any world top 100 players

Andrew J. Clark / ISI Photos / USSF

By Martin Rogers

April 1, 2026

Mauricio Pochettino had numbers on his mind on Tuesday night. It wasn’t just the two unanswered goals his United States team conceded to Portugal, the nine weeks he has to name his World Cup roster, or the 35 (or 40) players still in with a chance of making the cut at that time.Pochettino also had the figure 100 running through his thoughts, namely the players he considers to be among the best 100 in the world. And, according to him, there aren’t any Americans among them.“We are USA,” Pochettino told reporters at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, after back-to-back losses following Saturday’s 5-2 setback against Belgium. “We are competing against Belgium, Portugal. I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, a few or some, players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have. That is why it’s good to play against these types of teams.”It was a long way from being the most incendiary thing he could have said, but, coming out of the final window before the tournament squad is announced on May 26, it was striking.Soccer is global enough that few countries on the planet can lay claim to having several of the 100 best, or even more than one.It would not be unreasonable, however, to suggest that Christian Pulisic might be disappointed with such a take from his national team coach. Such lists are, by their very nature, subjective and can use widely varying criteria to make a determination. But he has been on lists of that type before.At the end of 2024, for instance, Pulisic was among the final 22 players in the world shortlisted for The Best FIFA men’s midfielder award.And in The Athletic’s “Best 100 Players” who will be at the World Cup, compiled by Nick Miller and Tim Spiers last December, Pulisic was the only American, and came in at No. 39. The rubric used included factors such as current form, historical performance, importance to their nation, transfer value, and rating on the highly-researched FC26 video game.A Proper Top-100 RankingRanking the 100 best players at World Cup 2026Our writers attempt the impossible – ordering the best players who are in with a chance of being at the tournament in North America

Otherwise, Weston McKennie, based on his Juventus form of late, might also consider himself worthy of being in the mix. Given how national team coaches generally take the approach of cheerleading for their best players, Pochettino’s remarks were notable, at the very least, though they should be kept in context.The coach may be right, of course. At various times over the history of the USMNT, it is likely that only a handful of players would ever have been at a lofty enough point at any stage of their career to hold claims on a subjective top 100 spot. As for Pulisic, he made a stirring start to the current Serie A season after missing last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup but has tailed off of late. He has not scored for AC Milan during this calendar year, and hasn’t scored for the U.S. since 2024.The context of what Pochettino said was important, though. The intent was clearly not to downplay his players’ ability, but to reinforce that the U.S. is not, at this time, at the same level as the leading European powers, either as a collective unit or in terms of individual ability. The point he was making was that for this reason alone, scheduling matches and competing against such opponents is vital to future development and progress. “(It) is massive for us, it is about (learning),” Pochettino added. “We should play more games. Even though this is painful it is the only way to improve, it is the only way to learn, it is the only way to see how the top players and teams compete.” If the top 100 analogy came off as strangely specific, it should be noted that as a group, U.S. Soccer does have a tendency to think in such statistical terms. Last year, the federation hired the Twenty First Group, a sports intelligence consultancy. Among the firm’s research was analysis about how many players rated in the top 1,000 in the world a national team normally needs to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, or better.

Why Wrexham against Southampton has the potential to be another Easter classic

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is hoping to oversee a fourth successive promotion Harriet Massey/Getty Images

By Richard SutcliffeApril 6, 2026 7:00 am EDT

Is it really only three years ago?

Wrexham versus Notts County was a true game for the ages; so much so that, by the time the music stopped after almost 100 pulsating minutes of Easter Monday football, it felt as if the Welsh club had finally prised open the door marked ‘EFL Return’ after 15 long years in the wilderness of non-League.

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Ben Foster’s 95th minute penalty save to clinch a season-defining 3-2 victory may be the abiding memory of a top-of-the-table clash that lived up to its “biggest non-League game in history” pre-match billing.

But, really, all footballing life was present at The Racecourse Ground that spring day, as two teams who had already breached the 100-point milestone swapped places at the top of the table for the 15th and final time that season.

There was even a touch of Hollywood glamour, of sorts, as Ryan Reynolds declared Foster to be a “double-handsome b*****d” in the dressing room afterwards, just moments after co-owner Rob Mac had kissed the former England goalkeeper full on the lips.

No matter how far Wrexham go — and the 2021 pledge by the co-owners to reach the Premier League one day now looks far less wild than it once did — nothing will surely compare to the emotional rollercoaster that was Easter Monday, 2023.What You Should Read NextThe story of Wrexham’s epic 3-2 win over Notts County – told by people who were thereAn oral account of one of the biggest days in Wrexham’s history as they rallied to beat Notts County 3-2 and edge closer to promotion

And yet here we are again, looking forward to another holiday fixture in north Wales that has a similar feel to that winner takes all contest against Luke Williams’ Notts County, a team who finished the 2022-23 National League season with 107 points but still had to negotiate the play-offs to clinch promotion due to the relentless form shown by Phil Parkinson’s champions.

Wrexham’s clash with Southampton has been looming large for some time. Shifted back a day due to the south coast club’s involvement in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-finals, where they shocked Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 2-1 home win, Southampton’s first league visit to The Racecourse since 1959 pits two sides who, for the past seven or so weeks, have been embroiled in their very own game of pass-the-parcel when it comes to sixth place.

First, Wrexham had it. Then Southampton, whose inactivity in the Championship on Good Friday allowed the Welsh club to wrestle back possession via a stirring second-half fightback in the 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

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Derby County are also in the hunt along with Hull City but, really, Tuesday’s clash has felt for weeks to have the potential of providing the fourth and final play-offs qualifier. A point not lost on Wrexham’s Lewis O’Brien.

Wrexham’s Lewis O’Brien has been acutely aware of Southampton’s revivalJess Hornby/Getty Images

“When you look from the outside,” says the midfielder, “it is one of those games. We’re one point in front of them and they have a game in hand now. Before that, it was goal difference keeping us out of the play-offs.

“From that standpoint, people can big up the game as much as they want. But I don’t think we will be doing that. We stay in our own changing room and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

Wrexham may publicly be keeping it cool but the stakes will undoubtedly be high on Tuesday night at a venue whose reputation as the place to be for goals in the EFL is well deserved. There have been 26 league and cup matches at the SToK Cae Ras this season, games that have yielded 90 goals.

Whether a sell-out crowd will be treated to a contest as captivating as that famous Notts County game remains to be seen. But, judging by how Southampton turned a 1-0 deficit against Wrexham on 90 minutes into three points by the time the final whistle blew on the opening day of the campaign, the potential for more thrills and spills seems high.

Southampton’s resurgence — they were fourth bottom on November 1 when Will Still was sacked — means those late, late goals from Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens have taken on even greater significance.

Certainly, Wrexham fans will be ready. Early in the season, there was no mistaking how much promotion heroes such as Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Elliot Lee were missed following their respective departures. The matchday atmosphere suffered as a result.

Now, though, a new band of fan favourites have emerged, complete with their own terrace songs, and the supporter-player bond that had been such a feature of the charge through the divisions has been restored.

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“Playing at home is massive,” says O’Brien, one of 13 signings made last summer when joining from Nottingham Forest. “The fans finally feel we belong here, rather than are just here for a little bit.

“At the start of the season, they were a bit iffy as to what was going on. The team took time to gel. Now we have gelled, they believe we do belong here and get right behind us now.”

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has inspired the club’s revival after a slow start this termLeila Coker/Getty Images

Like Notts County going into that epic 2023 title showdown, Southampton will arrive at the SToK Cae Ras in great form, a 12-game unbeaten league run having yielded 30 points to cement the popularity of Tonda Eckert, Still’s successor as head coach.

Even the disruption of losing top scorer Adam Armstrong to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January — he is still the only player at St Mary’s with a double-figure tally of goals — has been overcome by the 33-year-old German, whose previous experience of English football had come as Gerhard Struber’s assistant at Barnsley.

“It is a massive game for us,” admits Parkinson, whose own side are in great form, too. Their haul of 36 points from 18 games since Christmas is bettered by only Millwall and Norwich City (37 apiece).

“At this stage of the season, though, it’s difficult to say one game is harder than the next because everyone is fighting for something. But, with Southampton’s resurgence, it has a special feel to it and we will be ready for Tuesday night.”

One huge difference between Wrexham’s first promotion under Parkinson in 2023 and today centres on stress levels, with supporters able to enjoy the push for the Premier League in a way that was unthinkable when trying to escape non-League.

Sure, every game matters in the quest to keep those dreams of a fourth consecutive promotion alive. And should Parkinson’s men triumph on Tuesday evening, the celebrations in the stands will be suitably raucous.

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But, unlike that memorable National League run-in when even drawing a game felt like the end of the world, this has been a season to savour for Wrexham supporters.

Wrexham fans have enjoyed a memorable season alreadyHarriet Massey/Getty Images

Already, their team is all but assured of securing the highest league finish in the club’s history, eclipsing the previous best of 15th in the old Second Division set in 1978-79. Then there is the sense that Wrexham’s ultimate destination under Reynolds and Mac will be the Premier League, be that next season or at some stage in the next few years.

That said, one look at the Championship table shows just what is at stake for both teams in this latest Easter six-pointer.

“Pressure is a privilege,” adds Parkinson, a manager with six promotions on his CV. “Absolutely, that’s the case. Football is about making the most of every season. I always feel every season is special and we have an opportunity to finish it well.

“We will do everything we can to do that. When you get into this position, it is important — like we have done in previous years — that we produce good performances. We have got to enjoy it and we will.”

By Richard Sutcliffe

Wrexham and Sheffield United Correspondent

Wisconsin’s Bajraktarevic crushes Italy dreams, sends Bosnia-Herzegovina to World Cup

Esmir Bajraktarevic scores to send Bosnia-Herzegovina to the World Cup Elvis Barukcic / AFP / Getty Images

By Felipe Cardenas

March 31, 2026Esmir Bajraktarevic, who grew up near Milwaukee, Wisc., became a national hero for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night, as his winning penalty clinched qualification for this summer’s World Cup and denied four-time champion Italy a spot in the tournament.The 21-year-old former New England Revolution winger converted a brazen no-look penalty past Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to complete a shootout triumph in Zenica, after scores were locked at 1-1 following extra-time.

Bajraktarevic’s strike broke the Italian hearts and prolonged the country’s World Cup drought – Italy has not qualified for the event since 2014.  After beating Donnarumma, he ripped off his shirt and raised it proudly as he celebrated with a rabid home crowd at the Stadion Bilino Polje. It has been quite the journey for the American-born playmaker, who is now at PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie.Bajraktarevic, who hails from Appleton, Wisc., was a U.S. youth international and invited to a senior camp in January of 2024, where he made his senior debut against Slovenia under former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter. That summer, however, he decided to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a dual national with what appears to be a high ceiling, Bajraktarevic’s decision made headlines in the U.S. But for the player, it was simply what felt right.

“The decision for me was very easy,” Bajraktarevic told The Blazing Musket in October of 2024. “It was something I knew I wanted to do since I was little. It was just a process that took a while. I’m very happy I made it. There’s no feeling like representing your country.”As Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared for the final stretch of European World Cup qualifying, Bajraktarevic reiterated where his heart has always been.“I’m very proud every time I play for Bosnia,” he said in February. “It’s a different feeling. It’s where my parents come from and it’s what I’ve always thought of myself as, as a Bosnian.”The questions will now be raised within the U.S. soccer community about whether Bajraktarevic would make Mauricio Pochettino’s current squad. That will certainly be debated, but what is evident is Bajraktarevic’s youthful flair and swagger on the ball. Against Italy, and deep into extra time, the left-footed Bajraktarevic attempted a rabona near Donnarumma’s penalty area. It flew out of bounds but that didn’t deter him from taking it even further moments later.He stepped up confidently to take one of the most significant kicks in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s soccer history, after the Italians had squandered two opportunities from the spot. As Bajraktarevic looked down and cleverly placed the ball to Donnarumma’s left, pandemonium ensued.

By Felipe Cardenas

Senior Writer, Soccer