US Loses to Turkiye 2-1 – Plays Top 20 Switzerland Tonight 8 pm on TNT
So the US got off to a great start with a Goal by Jack McGlynn just a few minutes in but some horrific play by DM Johnny Cardosa led to 2 straight goals in about 2 minutes as Turkiye took the lead and held on for the 2-1 win. (highlights) I thought the changes by Poch to sub out Johnny with Adams & CB Miles Robinson with Mark McKensie – changed the flow of the game at the half as the US dominated play in the 2nd outshooting Turkiye & out possessing them for the game.
Tonight the US takes on Switzerland – another top 20 world team that should give us a real run. I will be interested to see how seriously Poch takes this? Does he give new guys a chance – or try to build on the good things that players did last game. I would like to see Richards & McKenzie back in the middle tonight to give them a chance to grow together. It sounds like Adams is out – does Johnny get another chance to show he can play like he does in Spain rather than the pathetic display he showed Sat or every other time he puts on the Red, White & Blue? Luca De La Tore was a bright spot as one of the few players who really took us forward – into the attack. I also thought Malik Tillman played better than his average play with our US starters. Unfortunately I think Poch is an clueless – and he’ll continue to experiment with his new found MLS players and get beat again 2-1. Hopefully I am wrong.
Shane’s Starters tonight White Aaronson/Tillman//McGlynn Cardoso //De La Tore Tolkin/McKensie/Richards/Harriel Turner Diving into the controversary regarding our US starters not showing up this summer. Let me start with I am hugely disappointed our starters are not here for these European friendlies. I really thought Poch should have asked everyone to come in for these friendlies – along with the MLS Gold Cup team and we should have tried to put our best 11 on the field for 10 days and these 2 games. I have this feeling if it was set up correctly – negotiated properly with the clubs (something Poch does not do) that a lot of the guys might have showed up for a 10 day stint. Asking them all to stay for the 5 week Gold Cup is ridiculous – even this summer. Sorry Landon Donovan since you NEVER pushed yourself to play at the highest level – EUROPE for an entire season – you have NO leg to stand on calling guys out. Especially since you took off 18 months for mental issues before your last chance at a World Cup. None of those old US players played the # of games or to the level of competition that the current US players are playing. We had more players in Champions League last year than the previous 10 years combined from our old regime. It simply does not compare to the load that our current European players playing at top clubs have. If US soccer had a clue they would have brought them in for the 11 days — like Portugal and Spain did in the Nations League final. Most of our guys were here for Nations League in the Spring. The bottom line is the Gold Cup has in the last 15 years been a warm-up B team roster for us – unless it meant Confed Cup placement. Under Berhalter/BJ we had grown beyond all of Concacaf included Mexico and Canada. Not so under Poch obviously. So what’s the real issue here? Hard to say – but calling Christian Pulisic – who is the Best American Soccer Field Player to have ever lived out for missing 1 Gold Cup is short sighted in my opinion. CBS/Golazo Discussion on PulisicState of the Union Discussion on thisTyler Adams is the US Captain
USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals):
Euro Nations League Final Portugal beats Spain 2-2 (5-3) on PKs
Wow – the Nations League Final between Spain and Portugal was simply spectacular the 2-2 thriller in Bayern Munich was magisterial as 40 YO Christiana Ronaldo scored the tying goal to put Portugal into Extra Time before coming off. (highlights). Ronaldo & Portugal lift Trophy
Indy 11 hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds and former Carmel High, CDC GK Eric Dick this Sat 7 pm Indy 11 Summer of Soccer is a cool promo going on with tickets and a chance to win a free trip to the Indy 11 Charleston game. Indy 11 will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with former Carmel High, and CDC player Eric Dick in Goal. The 2024 USL GK of the year has Pittsburgh in 6th place overall 3 notches above Indy 11. Zeke invites you to enjoy a tail-wagging good time as we welcome our furry fans to the stadium. Enjoy the match with your pup by your side, the perfect outing for dog lovers and Indy Eleven fans! Pups at the Pitch Tickets are just $29 for you and your dog – Tickets
Carmel FC Supplemental Tryouts
Carmel FC are looking for High School quality Players for its 2010 Gold Boys (mid 1st division team) and 2009 Gold Boys (Great Lakes) reach out to me shanebestsoccer@gmail.com if interested.
hum that American Coach is doing pretty well at Canada eh? Oh he added Michael Bradley to his staff
TV GAME SCHEDULE
GC=Gold Cup, WCC = World Club Cup in US Tues, June 10
2:45 pm Fox Sport2 Netherlands vs Malta 8 pm TNT, Peacock US Men vs Switzerland Fri, June 13 10:30 pm FS1 Portland Timbers vs San Jose MLS
June 13 – 29 GOLD CUP MEN June 13
10:30 pm Fox Sports1 Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes
June 14 4:30 pm Fox St. Louis City vs LA Galaxy 7 pm TV 8 & CBS Golaso Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds (Carmel GK Eric Dick returns) 7:30 pm Apple Free Columbus vs Vancouver 8 pm Univision Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Club World Cup 9:30 pm Apple Free Colorado vs Orlando MLS 10:!5 pm FS1 Mexico vs Dominican Republic GC
Sun, June 15
12 noon DANZ Bayern Munich vs Auckland City WCC 3 pm Univision PSG Vs Atletico Madrid WCC 6 pm Fox, Uni US Men vs Trinidad Gold Cup 8:15 pm FS1 Haiti vs Saudi Arabia GC 10 pm Danz Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders WCC 11 pm FS1 Costa Rica vs Suriname GC Mon, June 16 3 pm unimas, TUDN Chelsea vs LAFC 6 pm Danz Boca Juniors vs Benefica WCC 7 pm FS1 Panama vs Guadeloupe GC 9 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Guatemala
Tues , June 17 12 noon TNT Fluminese vs Dortmund WCC 3 pm Danz River Plate vs Urawa Reds WCC 8:15 pm FS1 Curacao vs El Salvador GC 9 pm Danz Inter Milan vs Monterrey WCC 10:30 pm FS1 Canada vs Honduras GC
Wed, June 18
12 noon DANZ Man City vs Wydad Casablanca WCC 3 pm unimas Real Madrid vs Al Hilal WCC 6 pm Danz Pachuca cs Salzburg WCC 7 pm FS1 Costa Rica vs Dom Republic GC 9 pm dazn Al Ain vs Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) WCC 10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Suriname
Thur, June 19
12 noon Dazn Palmeiras vs Al Ahly WCC 3 pm Dazn Inter Miami vs Porto WCC 6 pm Dazn Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid WCC 6:45 pm FS1 T&T vs Haiti GC 9 pm Dazn PSG Vs Botafogo WCC 9:15 pm FS1 US Men vs Saudi Arabia Gold Cup
Fri, June 20 2 pm TNT Flamengo vs Chelsea WCC 6 pm DANZ LAFC vs ES Tunis WCC 7:45 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Guadeloupe GC 9 pm TBS Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors WCC 10 pm FS1 Guatemala vs Panama GC
Sat, June 21
7 pm TV8, Golazo Indy 11 vs Las Vegas Lights FC 7 pm FS1 Curacao vs Canada GC 9 pm TBS River Plate vs Monterrey WC 10 pm FS1 Honduras vs El Salvador GC
Sun, June 22
12 noon Danz Juventus vs Wydad Casablanca WCC 3 pm univision Real Madrid vs Pachuca WCC 7 pm Fox US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup 7 pm FS1 Saudi Arabia vs T&T GC 9 pm TNT Man City vs Al Ain WCC 10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Costa Rica GC
Mon, June 23 9 pm TBS Inter Miami (Messi) vs Palmeiras
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=======RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20%=== Is Mauricio Pochettino’s style too slow for the USMNT?
Ryan O’HanlonJun 10, 2025, 08:14 AM ET
If anything will stick from the USMNT’s mostly unmemorable 2-1 loss to Turkey last week, it’ll be either Jack McGlynn‘s first goal with the team, or the unfortunate moment when Johnny Cardoso flicked the ball into Arda Güler‘s shin and into his team’s own goal.
But the most illustrative moment from the exhibition match happened a few seconds before the ball was trickling past goalkeeper Matt Freese and across the goal line.
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Alex Freeman had just won the ball from Juventus‘ Kenan Yildiz right outside the USMNT’s penalty area. He shifted the ball over to Cardoso, who had the opportunity to play a quick, long, forward pass into tons of space on the left side of the field. Turkey had just lost possession, so it hadn’t yet shifted into its defensive shape. Instead, Cardoso hesitated and then played a safe pass to Chris Richards. As this happened, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino threw his hands into the air, jumped up, spun around and yelled something toward the bench. A couple of seconds later, Freese was scooping the ball out of his net.While the goal itself was a freak play — somewhat bad luck that the ball was deflected in the first place, entirely bad luck that it deflected in such a way to then spin into the side netting — the entire possession was a microcosm of the team’s biggest problem under Pochettino: It plays too slow. While most of the modern USMNT era has been characterized by constant, hectic overactivity, the past couple of months have flipped back too far in the other direction.
Pochettino knows this; he addressed the play postmatch, reacting in the moment, and he made similar comments after the 1-0 loss to Panama in the Nations League semifinals. But if the team is going to make a run at the World Cup next summer, he’s going to have to find a way to get his players to, well, run.
Why Pochettino’s USMNT is the slowest on record
Pochettino has managed only nine U.S. games so far, and the general rule in the club soccer world is that we should wait 10 games before drawing any conclusions. But only three of those games were competitive, while a fourth, the third-place Nations League match, was what we’ll call “partially competitive.” Throw in the fact that the rosters and lineups have been significantly different across almost every international break, and it’s still way too early to say anything remotely definitive.he biggest difference between Pochettino’s tenure and the Gregg Berhalter era that preceded it, though, seems to be the structure in possession. The latter had somewhat rigid positional guidelines for where everyone should be, while the former has given the players license to solve defensive problems on their own.
“The way we press [under Pochettino] is a lot more aggressive, especially from goal kicks,” midfielder Luca de la Torre told ESPN after the Turkey match. “There’s the intention to play in the half of the other team. And there’s probably more freedom with Pochettino in terms of the positioning of the players to find the solutions in open play.”Midfielder Malik Tillman echoed De la Torre’s final point. “He gives us offensive players a lot of freedom to move around the pitch to find the right spaces,” the PSV attacker said. “With Gregg, there was a lot more focus on being in the same spaces.”Again, it’s still way too early to say which approach is more effective, or if one is even more effective than the other. And while strict positional guidelines provide built-in fundamentals that the team can play within right away, the more relational style should theoretically take more time to develop since the players need to understand each other’s inherent tendencies. The free-flowing approach could improve with time — or it could be impossible to establish due to the ever-changing personnel and limited game time on offer in the international game. Perhaps, too, this is why the team has struggled to move the ball at speed so far under Pochettino. It’s hard to make decisions when you’re not sure where your teammates are going to be. Stats Perform has full data for USMNT matches going back to 2010. And among the managers who have been in charge for at least five games, Pochettino’s team ranks last for:
– The speed it moves the ball upfield: 1.03 meters per second – The number of possessions it has per match: 82.1
The former is pretty straightforward — literally, how quickly do you move the ball toward the opposition goal? The latter represents, roughly, how much chaos you want your matches to have. For example: Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool played high possession games where the ball was constantly changing hands, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City rank last in the Premier League for possessions per game almost every season. For comparison: Berhalter’s teams moved at 1.34 meters per second and averaged 87.8 possessions per game. This isn’t to say that the slower approach can’t work; clearly, it can. Pep’s City won everything while playing slower than everyone else, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal play very slowly, and they’ve finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons. In general, European soccer has become more methodical and less hectic with each passing season. At the same time, the three best teams in the world right now — PSG, Liverpool and Barcelona — all tend to play faster and embrace more chaos than is popular at the highest levels of the game. And most of the USMNT’s best players are better off playing that way, too.
Why the USMNT player pool wants to run
When it works, the slower approach keeps the ball away from your opponents, prevents the kind of odd-number counterattacks that Hansi Flick’s Barcelona frequently face, and creates a low volume of high-quality chances.Defensively, the team has been totally fine under Pochettino. The loss against Panama had nothing to do with a dysfunctional defense. The USMNT conceded three total shots for 0.1 expected goals — if you could guarantee that the Americans would do that at every game at the World Cup next summer, then I’d tell you to go and bet on them to win the tournament right now.No, the problem against Panama — and more broadly — was that the USMNT created a low volume of low-quality chances. If you’re not going to take more risks and attempt more shots, then you have to be able to generate better shots with the few shots you do take. In Pochettino’s nine matches, though, the U.S. has attempted 10.4 shots per game — fewer than in any managerial tenure other than Dave Sarachan’s lame-duck interim stint between Jurgen Klinsmann and Gregg Berhalter. But they’ve also generated only five total shots worth at least a third of an expected goal. For comparison, Berhalter’s teams averaged 1.6 per game.
These are all of the 94 shots attempted under Pochettino, sized by the expected-goal value of the attempt:
Ultimately, the slower approach just doesn’t really seem to fit many of the USMNT’s best players. In attack, Folarin Balogun had his breakout season while playing in a transition-heavy approach under Will Still at Reims. Both Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah are at their best when they’re able to run at unsettled defenses. And at PSV, both Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman have been successful for Peter Bosz and his wide-open tactics. In midfield, all of Tyler Adams‘ best seasons have come for the embracers of chaos at Bournemouth, Leeds and RB Leipzig. Weston McKennie continues to flourish despite the relatively conservative tactics at Juventus, but I think a lot of that is because his managers all realize they need to find a way to embrace the risks he takes off the ball. And at this point in his career, Yunus Musah‘s most valuable skill is his ability to break through pressure and create transition moments for his team. Even at the back, Antonee Robinson is one of the most athletic fullbacks in the open field … in the entire world. Chris Richards plays for a former Red Bull manager in Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace. Sergiño Dest is probably the only first-choice player who seems totally comfortable in this possession-dominant, patient approach — and he’s still yet to play a game for Pochettino.
Now, there is a potential cheat code — set pieces — here. Without them, Arsenal would be a top-four challenger and a Champions League also-ran rather than a title challenger and a European semifinalist. If you can methodically create chances from set pieces, then you can afford to play a low-risk, slower style. Plus, if you score the opening goal from a set piece, then the defense has to soften up, and that makes it easier to attack. Although the U.S. hired famed set piece coach Gianni Vio, we still haven’t seen any of this yet. For all the possession the USMNT has had under Pochettino — 60.4%, more than under any other manager — it has attempted just 1.6 set piece shots per game, the fewest under any manager.
So, through the first nine games of the Pochettino era, we seem to have a coach who says he wants his team to play faster and a group of players who thrive at a higher tempo. Yet, somehow, they’ve struggled to ever get out of first gear. Perhaps Poch’s public frustrations don’t match with what he’s telling his team to do. Maybe these players need stricter positional guidelines. Or it could just be some early-tenure growing pains.The broader challenge for this summer, with the limited roster at the Gold Cup, and next summer at the World Cup, is for the USMNT to find a way to start consistently generating higher-quality chances on goal. And barring some development on the set piece front, the way to get there is to find an answer to what seems like a simple question: How do you get all of your runners to start running again?
Turkey loss gives Poch, USMNT more questions than answers
Jeff Carlisle Cesar Hernandez ESPN Jun 7, 2025, 07:41 PM ET
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. men’s national team, with a squad that is far from full strength, kicked off its Gold Cup preparation with a 2-1 loss to Turkey during a friendly at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Saturday.Initially up 1-0 thanks to a first-minute goal from Jack McGlynn, the U.S. then lost its lead with a rapid set of goals from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoglu in the 24th and 27th minutes, respectively.Next up for the USMNT in its final Gold Cup preparation tuneup is a match against Switzerland in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday. — Cesar Hernandez
More questions than answers for Pochettino
Outside of McGlynn, and perhaps Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman, it’s tough to find many positives from the experimental XI that had an average age of 23.8.Turkey won more duels, aerial duels and had a higher success rate of tackles against the Americans, who seemed to lose the mentality game and intensity as the match progressed — despite the fact that the home side had plenty more possessions that led to substandard half chances.The USMNT never mentally recovered after conceding those first-half goals, and looking ahead to Switzerland, it will be manager Mauricio Pochettino’s responsibility to find other members of this makeshift roster who were expected to “fight for a place” in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.At the moment, missing marquee members like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and a handful of others have left large cleats that have yet to be filled. If this crop of players doesn’t show any improvements or a stronger mentality against Switzerland, it could be a sign of a long — or perhaps shorter than expected — summer ahead in the Gold Cup with no real alternates stepping up in the depth chart. — Hernandez
Race for No. 9 place remains wide-open
Patrick Agyemang was hoping for a special kind of homecoming, given that he was born and raised in East Hartford, the same city as Saturday’s venue. It wasn’t to be, even as he was given the plumb assignment of the starting striker role.Agyemang used his size to good effect at times, and in terms of physicality, gave as good as he got from Turkey’s backline. But too often his touch was lacking, especially on those occasions when Diego Luna played passes into Agyemang’s feet. Agyemang wasn’t goal dangerous, recording one shot on target in the 52nd minute that didn’t force a difficult save.The performance left Pochettino still looking for a solution at the No. 9 position.Haji Wright got on the field for 25 minutes but was deployed out wide as opposed to a more central role. He rarely was involved save for one late run when he dribbled straight into the feet of his opponent.Agyemang was subbed out in the 75th minute for Brian White, but the Vancouver Whitecaps striker barely got a sniff of the ball, recording just seven touchesWhat Pochettino does against Switzerland in three days remains uncertain, although it seems worth giving FC Cologne forward Damion Downs a shot, or shifting Wright into the middle. — Jeff Carlisle
Saturday proved to be more of the same. With the U.S. leading 1-0 and Cardoso in complete control of the ball, he attempted to pass out of his own box, only for the delivery to ricochet off of Güler and into the U.S. net. It’s the kind of play one wouldn’t expect from a Sunday league player, let alone one of LaLiga‘s more highly regarded performers.
The play shook the Americans’ confidence, and they conceded a second three minutes later.
It wasn’t the first time Cardoso has disappointed. In a friendly against Colombia prior to last year’s Copa América, Cardoso was lackadaisical in coming to the ball, allowing the Cafeteros to counter and score their fifth and final goal. Against Turkey, it was another careless play that led directly to a goal.
Cardoso is in the lineup for his composure on the ball, but if he can’t showcase that trait, it’s tough to see him getting on the field. The news surrounding the U.S. midfield wasn’t all bad. Luca de la Torre was sharp in the first half, completing 38 of 39 passes, and was a bright spot throughout. But there isn’t quite enough steel when De la Torre and Cardoso are paired together. Fortunately, Adams was available, and Pochettino duly swapped the AFC Bournemouth midfielder in for Cardoso at halftime. The U.S. looked more solid in the center of the park in the second half, although Turkey didn’t seem to be pushing forward as much. All told, it was a day when Cardoso fell a notch down the U.S. midfield depth chart. — Carlisle
Dest, Robinson replacements need to find chemistry
Some slack should be given considering the inexperience of the fullbacks in the young starting XI, but Pochettino will still likely be unhappy with the ensuing lack of cohesion in defense that rapidly emerged in the first half. At left back, Max Arfsten, who was earning his fourth cap, struggled with winning duels and wasn’t able to connect many of his crosses going forward through his pressing runs. At right back, the debut of Alex Freeman was average at best, occasionally allowing opportunities for Turkey to run into the final third with dangerous and speedy counters. Coupled with Cardoso’s questionable start in front of the backline, the defensive puzzle quickly became scrambled when Turkey had possession, leading to difficult moments for Chris Richards and Miles Robinson in the heart of it all. Recognizing early on that the U.S. defensive experiment was proving to be porous, Turkey pounced on its recoveries in the final third and set the tone for the rest of the match. Pochettino will have little time to fine-tune his approach and might need to continue trying new faces in the fullback spots that would, ideally, be led by absent starters Robinson and Dest who weren’t available for the Gold Cup roster. — Hernandez
USMNT’s Tyler Adams out vs. Switzerland; Pochettino to rotate squad
By Paul Tenorio The Athletic June 9, 2025Updated 5:59 pm EDT
U.S. men’s national team midfielder Tyler Adams will not play Tuesday night in Nashville against Switzerland due to precautions around a foot injury. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday in a press conference that Adams would be rested in this friendly as the U.S. eyes his involvement in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup.“Tyler is out for tomorrow because he suffered a small issue in his foot,” Pochettino said. “But I think it’s not a big issue. Hope it’s not a big issue. I think we can manage it in a good way and rest it for a few days, and then see if he can be ready for the Gold Cup. That is why he’s not going to be involved tomorrow.” Adams played just the second half in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey, and after that appearance Pochettino said it had been a planned substitution due to the foot issue that Adams brought into camp from his Premier League season with Bournemouth.
Tyler Adams played the second half in Saturday’s loss to Turkey. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire/AP Images)
Pochettino also said the U.S. team would be heavily rotated for its second friendly in four days. The U.S. is entering the match at GEODIS Park on the heels of its first three-game losing streak under a single manager in 10 years.“Preparing for the Gold Cup, I think it’s good to make some changes now and to give the possibility to other players to play,” Pochettino said. “What I want to see tomorrow is to continue evolving the way that we started to play against Turkey. It’s a continuation of this feeling. If we will get tomorrow after 90 minutes, the same feeling, I think the progression is there and I’m going to be happy. The result also is important. But I think now, with a lot of new players, for the first time and building a team for the Gold Cup, I think the focus is more in the process to improve than maybe the result. And of course, I think the Gold Cup is going to be both progression and results.” Unused subs that could feature in this game include goalkeeper Matt Turner; center backs Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream; fullback John Tolkin; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter, Brenden Aaronson and Paxten Aaronson; and forward Damion Downs.The U.S. lost to Turkey on Saturday in Connecticut, but Pochettino was pleased with the effort and mindset his team played with against the world’s 27th-ranked team, according to FIFA’s table. Switzerland, No. 20, will provide another tough test for the U.S., coming off a 4-2 win over Mexico in Utah on Saturday.Following the friendly, the U.S. will turn its attention to the Gold Cup, where it will open group play against Trinidad & Tobago in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday. Matches against guest nation Saudi Arabia and Haiti will follow, as the U.S. seeks to wrest back the continental title from Mexico. The two nations have alternated winning the competition for the last seven editions. (Top photo: David Butler II/Imagn Images)
USMNT’s upbeat reaction to Turkey loss a telling sign of need to restore basics
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino had just finished delivering a long answer about Jack McGlynn’s performance in the U.S.’s 2-1 loss to Turkey on Saturday when he paused and looked around at the room in front of him.“It’s a good thing we are talking about soccer, eh?” he asked. “That is a good thing. Fútbol.”The implication, of course, was that much of Pochettino’s ire after March’s Concacaf Nations League failure — and really, the frustration of the fanbase — centered less around the actual soccer in losses to Panama and Canada. Yes, that team also failed to impress with what it did on the field, but more concerning was the lack of effort. The absence of fight. The appearance of indifference.The inclusion of several MLS players for this camp was meant to add a bit more hunger to a team that seemed to lack some of that internal motivation. The challenge changed a bit when 10 U.S. regulars weren’t available via Club World Cup commitments, injuries, personal reasons or a desire for rest, in the case of Christian Pulisic. Almost the entire group has been filled with hopefuls now.
However, in a way, it allowed Pochettino to lean further toward the goal of the Gold Cup tournament, which starts for the U.S. against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. He clearly wants to try to inject competition and desire into the group.So while it was odd, and certainly spoke to the negative state in which this program currently finds itself, that Pochettino and the players were mostly upbeat after a third consecutive loss, it was just as telling that they found satisfaction in hitting what had long been considered a bare minimum for the USMNT.“I think we need to be positive, because today I think only we can talk about fútbol action, soccer action,” Pochettino said. “The team showed great energy, great mentality, great attitude. And then it’s this type of game that maybe, if you make a mistake, you can lose. But you made a mistake because it’s soccer, it’s fútbol. That is why I think I am so, so happy about the way that I think we delivered the show and in the way that we tried to play.”
Malik Tillman missed a golden opportunity to score vs. Turkey. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
It wasn’t completely unfair of Pochettino to feel as if there were positives to hold onto in the loss to a talented Turkey side. The U.S. was the better team for the first 20 minutes. Pochettino correctly pointed out that, until Johnny Cardoso made an egregious mistake in his own box and gifted Turkey a goal, the U.S. seemed in control.The inexperienced American side struggled to regain composure after Cardoso’s extra touch and attempted pass caromed off Turkey’s Arda Güler, the 20-year-old Real Madrid winger, and into the net. Only about two minutes later, a poor clearance was easily put home by Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who plays his club soccer at Benfica, to give Turkey the lead.The U.S. held on through the rest of the first half, but came out after halftime with renewed energy and much more purpose. It created chances — a weakness for this team over the past two cycles — and they probably should have had an equalizer. Malik Tillman’s point-blank header was the best opportunity, but there were a few other decent looks, as well, including two at the back post from Max Arfsten.“So many positives to take away from that game,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I was saying before, as we were walking off the field, I think it’s one of the first times that we’ve gone down, and we’ve created so many clear chances afterwards. So I think that’s a huge positive for us. Now, it’s just about putting the ball in the back of the net.”After five days together, Pochettino felt the soccer could be fine-tuned and fixed. There were many more details that the group would continue to add and build into how they played on Saturday. And Pochettino felt the game provided important experience for many of the players. For one, he pointed to Patrick Agyemang, 24, battling with two center backs, Çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral, who have played at “the highest levels.”
Agyemang, who grew up miles from the Connecticut stadium, takes on Demiral. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
But Pochettino’s focus was on the type of effort the team showed on the field. It has been clear in the head coach’s comments the past few weeks that he was frustrated with the pool — or at least with how things played out in March — and that he was also tuned in to what people were saying about the team.This summer and the forthcoming Gold Cup seem to be about sending a message. On Saturday, Pochettino put up the first smoke signals of his intent.But there is now an odd sort of dynamic where this group, filled with debutantes and unproven national team players, can set a standard that is meant to carry through to next summer’s World Cup — and to the “golden generation” of players that carry so much expectation into that tournament.That’s not an assumption. Pochettino said as much.“If I decide in September (to call a) different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude,” the veteran coach said. “Today, who is going to tell me: ‘Oh, we have showed a lack of…’? ‘We showed lack of…’ Lack of what?“Today, I think we can all agree the team showed what it needed to show. And then if the opponent is better or had more luck or you made a mistake, it’s not a problem. But for sure, playing in this way, we are going to win most of the games.”Saturday’s “first step” in the rebuilding process was a loss. If the message is going to truly take hold, the U.S., and Pochettino, will need the results to follow, too.
Club World Cup Group A: Stylish Palmeiras should dominate but will Inter Miami make it through?
The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup will want to offer unpredictability as 32 teams from six different continents face each other.Palmeiras of Brazil, Portugal’s Porto, Al Ahly from Egypt and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami make up Group A of this year’s tournament, and beyond the Brazilian side, there is a case for any of the other teams to qualify for the straight-knockout round of 16.Miami’s defensive struggles might hinder them, despite the presence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack. Porto are looking at the tournament as an opportunity for redemption after one of their worst seasons of recent years at domestic and European levels. Meanwhile, Al Ahly have consistently done well in the previous annual format of this tournament, finishing third on four occasions this decade.Here, The Athletic picks out the group favorites, the fun facts, and the storylines to watch.
Fixtures:
(All kick-offs ET/BST)
June 14: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami (Miami — 8pm/1am June 15)
June 15: Palmeiras vs Porto (New York/New Jersey — 6pm/11pm)
June 19: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (New York/New Jersey — 12pm/5pm)
June 19: Inter Miami vs Porto (Atlanta — 3pm/8pm)
June23: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (Miami — 9pm/2am June 24)
June 23: Porto vs Al Ahly (New York/New Jersey — 9pm/2am June 24)
The favorite is…
Palmeiras.
Under coach Abel Ferreira, the Sao Paulo side have won Brazil’s Serie A in 2022 and 2023, the Copa do Brasil in 2020 and two successive Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021.
They are currently fourth in Serie A, Brazilian football’s top division, early in its March-to-December 2025 season and will play Universitario of Peru in the round of 16 of this year’s Copa Libertadores when that competition resumes in August, with talents such as Estevao Willian and Richard Rios key to the team’s success. The signings of Facundo Torres, Paulinho and Vitor Roque have bolstered their attacking options this season, too.
Ferreira’s side are tactically flexible and able to attack and defend in different shapes, depending on the situation.
“We are not exceptional at one very specific thing, but we are good at everything,” the Portuguese head coach recently told FIFA. “We’re good and balanced when it comes to positional, attacking football. We’re good and balanced at playing counter-attacking football, we’re good at set pieces, we’re good at boxing in our opponents and making life hard for them with our defensive structure.”
Considering their consistent success in recent years, the talent in the squad and the tactical maturity they bring to the table, it’s hard to look beyond Palmeiras as Group A winners.
Estevao Willian is a rising star and will be joining Chelsea later this summer (Daniel Duarte/AFP via Getty Images)
The standout match is likely to be…
The opening match of the whole competition between Al Ahly and Miami in the latter’s hometown.
Cairo’s recently-crowned Egyptian champions, who also held the African Champions League title until earlier this month, have stepped up their game before at international level, beating Palmeiras in the Club World Cup four years ago to secure the bronze medal, and in this new format they are eager to reach the knockout rounds.
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Miami will be hoping the same, and considering that their other two group games will be against Porto and Palmeiras, both sides are in a must-win situation in this opener. The footballing quality might not be of the highest calibre compared to other matches in the competition, but there is a case for this being an entertaining match.Al Ahly, the record 12-time African Champions League winners, know how to rise to the occasion regardless of their form. They are led by all-rounder midfielder Emam Ashour and Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, who scored a combined 35 goals this season, with the recent arrivals of Egypt international forwards Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Trezeguet strengthening the squad.
On the other hand, Miami’s big names speak for themselves: Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. However, the start of their 2025 season hasn’t been smooth.
New coach Javier Mascherano’s side have dropped 19 points in MLS already after 16 games and were knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the semi-finals by Vancouver Whitecaps.
Miami’s defensive fragility might make this more of an even contest than people expect.
Will Inter Miami’s underwhelming form carry over into the Club World Cup? (Rich Lam/Getty Images)
The group’s galactico
Even if they are well into their thirties, Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba make Miami as a team the galactico of Group A. However, if we have learnt something in football, it’s that simply having galacticos doesn’t make you a strong side.
After winning the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, the award for having the best regular-season record in MLS, the departures of less-famous players have affected Miami, especially defensively. Diego Gomez, Julian Gressel, Robert Taylor, Matias Rojas and Leo Campana had important roles to play last season, and their departures have resulted in a less functional unit.
In addition, Drake Callender’s ongoing absence because of a groin injury has kept 38-year-old Oscar Ustari in goal. Ustari hasn’t been the most solid this season, conceding 1.8 goals more than expected in the league.
Defensive set pieces are another area where Miami have been exploited, but the individual quality they have up front is still creating numerous chances and racking up the goals.
In 2025, Miami are a team whose individuals are shaping the core of the attack, but the lack of selfless players to complement that is hindering the side overall.
The player who could make a name for themselves…
Estevao.
The dazzling 18-year-old winger will join Chelsea after this tournament, with Palmeiras having reached an agreement with the Premier League club last summer. Chelsea will pay €34million (£28.6m/$38.8m) up front, with another €23m tied to performance-based incentives.
Estevao’s incredible performances at youth levels fast-tracked his career, making his debut for Palmeiras aged 16. In the 2024 season, he scored 13 goals and provided nine assists in Serie A as Palmeiras finished second behind Botafogo.
The teenager excels in one-versus-one situations, can dribble in both directions and has the pace to drive past defenders. He has a left foot that knows its way to goal regardless of the shooting angle, while also creating chances for his team-mates in open play and on set pieces.
(Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)
So far in the 2025 season, Estevao has been featuring more as an attacking midfielder, which is where he sees himself in the long term. “I started playing as a winger towards the end of my academy days, to avoid as much physical contact and give me more one-v-ones,” he told FIFA.
“That’s how I earned my spot in the Palmeiras side, where there’s a lot of competition for places in the middle of the park, but really, I’m more of a midfielder. That’s where I’m in my element. In a few years’ time, I’d like to get back to playing in my original position.”
Whether down the wing or in central areas, keep an eye out for Estevao’s tricks.
A story to look out for is…
Porto’s attempt to save their season.
The 30-times Portuguese champions finished the 2024-25 Primeira Liga in third place for the second year in a row, and weren’t competing with Benfica and eventual winners, Sporting CP, come the run-in, finishing nine and 11 points adrift respectively.
Add in taking just 11 points from their eight league-phase matches in the revamped Europa League and then being eliminated by Roma in its first knockout round, a last-32 exit from the Taca de Portugal (Portugal’s FA Cup) against fellow top-flight side Moreirense and losing to Sporting in the semi-finals of the Taca da Liga (League Cup) and it was a season to forget for Porto fans.
A positive performance in the Club World Cup could help them save face and prove to be the reset the club need.
Martin Anselmi was only able to guide Porto to a third-place finish this season (Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images)Another story is how Al Ahly will fare under manager Jose Riveiro, whose first official game in charge will be that opener against Miami. Predecessor Marcel Koller was sacked in late April following their 1-1 draw at home against Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final, which led to the holders’ elimination on the away-goals rule.Despite guiding Al Ahly to two league titles (and most of a third), two Egypt Cups (the country’s domestic knockout competition) and back-to-back Champions League triumphs, Koller was under pressure during the 2024-25 season due to a reactive style of play that didn’t suit the profiles of the squad.The manager’s seat at Al Ahly is always a hot one, and Riveiro, a 49-year-old Spaniard who was previously a manager in Finland and South Africa, needs a strong start to gain the fans’ approval.
You might not know this but…
Miami’s squad includes a midfielder with almost-perfect genes.
Federico Redondo is the son of former Argentina international and Real Madrid legend Fernando Redondo, who won two Champions League titles with the Spanish club in 1998 and 2000 and another as a Milan player in 2003. The 22-year-old is also the nephew of Santiago Solari, another former Madrid player, through his mother and is currently playing alongside Busquets.
Can Federico step up and emulate his family’s achievements?
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Captain America did it again as his goal vs Inter Milan help AC Milan advance to the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico on May 14 where a win would insure a Europa League spot during this disappointing 9th place season. Word is he’ll sign on till 2029 with a new contract and a hefty raise soon. Chris Richards anchored the 3 man defense for Crystal Palace in 3-0 thumping of Aston Villa Highlights in their FA Cup Semi and will face Man City in the FA Cup Finals at Wembley Sat, May 17 with a Champions League spot on the line. Both American’s play Monday. Awesome Call on Wrexham Final Goal as they become 1st team to win back to back to back promotions. Also cool to see Eric Dick a former Carmel High, CDC, & Butler Goalkeeper will be on TV Wed night on CBS Sports Network as his Pittsburgh Riverhounds host MLS NYCFC at 7 pm in US Open Cup play. Sunday we get NWSL action Gotham FC vs Chicago Stars on CBS at 1 pm. Oh and Good Luck everyone playing in the Challenge Cup this weekend at Grand Park – I will be reffing all day Saturday on F12.
Champions League Tues/Wed, Europa Thurs
Wow do I love Champions League football – no my favorite teams are not alive, and there are no American’s in this year’s final 4 – but the excitement of the World’s Top Club competition is exhilarating! Arsenal is down 1-0 to PSG on the way to Paris Wed, while Barcelona and 17 year old Messi like Yamal will host Inter Milan Wed on Para+ after a spectacular 3-3 tie highlights in Milan on Wed. In Europa action the 3 English teams rolled at home looks to be an all English final with a Champions League spot on the line, while the lone American still playing Johnny Cordosa & Real Bettis take a 2-1 lead to Fiorentina. (see some fantastic saves in both Competitions in the GK section below) Buckle up this week folks – gonna be a doozy Tues/Wed.
Tues Champions League
Inter Milan vs Barcelona (3-3) on Para+, Univision Wed Champions League PSG vs Arsenal (1-0) on CBS & Para+ 3 pm Thurs 3 pm Europa League on Para+ Man United vs Athletic Club Bode vs Tottenham CBSSN Djurgarden vs Chelsea Fiorentina vs Real Bettis (Cordosa) (1-2)
MLS Miami falls to Vancouver in Champions Cup to face Mexico’s Cruz Azul in Final
Its was prime time MLS viewing on Wed night as Miami and Messi returned home down 2-0 to the hottest team in MLS the Vancouver Whitecaps. After scoring early everyone of course assumed Miami would come back like always and close out the series – everyone but Vancouver. Behind goals from Brian White and Sebatian Berhalter (yes GB’s son) the Caps – capped Miami 3-1 to win 5-1 on aggregate setting up the final with Mexico’s Cruz Azul on June 1st. On TV Sat struggling Atlanta will host Nashville winners of 2 straight at 2:45 pm on Fox, while you can check out San Diego’s new stadium vs Dallas at 9:15 on FS1 Sat. Meanwhile word is Man City’s Kevin DeBruyne is in talks with Chicago Fire while Paul Pogba seems to be leaning away from DC United.
Indy 11 home vs Detroit City 7 pm Mental Health Awareness Night on TV8.
The Indy Eleven made its USL Jägermeister Cup debut in impressive fashion with a 4-0 victory at Forward Madison FC to take an early lead in the Group 3 standings with three points, followed by One Knoxville SC with two. Those two teams will meet on May 24 at Knoxville in the second of four Group Stage games. Join us for a meaningful and impactful evening as Indy Eleven hosts Mental Health Awareness Night—a special event dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting mental health initiatives in our community. Together, we’ll shine a light on the importance of mental well-being while the Boys in Blue take on Detroit City FC on the field. Discounted Tickets: For the first 500 fans, tickets start at just $12 exclusively via This Link! They play at the Philly Union Wed night May 7th in US Open Cup on Paramount+.
Congrats to the Carmel FC 2009 Boys Blue & Coaches for win at Terre Haute Tourney!
June 16th: 9-4 / June 17th: 8-3 12383 Cyntheanne Rd, Fishers, IN $595 Register
TV Games
Fr, May 2
2:45 pm Para+ Torino vs Venzia (Busio)
3 pm Peacock Man City vs Wolverhampton
8 pm Amazon Prime Washington Spirit vcs ACFC NWSL
10:30 pm Gola, Para Seattle vs KC NWSL
Sat, May 3
7:30 am USA Villa vs Fulham (Robinson)
10 am Peaccok Everton vs Ipswich Town
12:30 pm NBC Arsenal vs Bournmouth (Tyler Adams)
2:45 pm Golazo, Para Inter Milan vs Hellas Verona
3 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Real Valladolid
2:45 pm Fox Atlanta United vs Nashville SC MLS
7:30 pm Ion Portland Thorns vs Orlando Pride (Marta) NWSL
7:30 pm TV? Indy 11 vs Detroit City @ the Mike
9 pm FS1 San Diego vs Dallas MLS
10 pm Ion Utah Royals vs NC Courage NWSL
Sun, May 4
10 am CBSSN Monza vs Atalanta
11:30 pm Peacock Chelsea vs Liverpool
1 pm CBS Gothan FC vs Chicago Stars (Naher) NWSL
2:45 pm Para+, Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) vs Bologna
7 pm Apple TV Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy
8 pm Golazo, Para+ San Diego Wave vs Bay City NWSL
Mon, May 5
2:45 pm Para+, FoxD Genoa vs AC Milan (Pulisic)
3 pm USA Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Nottingham Forest
Tues, May 6 Champions League
3 pm CBS, Uni Inter Milan vs Barcelona
Weds, May 7 Champions League
3 pm CBS, Par+ PSG (1-0) vs Arsenal
7 pm CBSSN Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Dick) vs NYC USL
7:30 pm Para+ Philly Union vs Indy 11 US Open Cup
Thurs, May 8 Europa
3 pm CBSSN Bodo vs Tottenham
3 pm Para+, Uni Man United vs Athletic Club
3 pm para+ Real Bettis (Cordosa) vs Fiorentina
3 pm para+ Chelsea vs Djurgarden
Sat, May 17
ESPN+? Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Man City FA Cup Final Wed, May 21
Paramount Plus Europa League Final in Balboa, Spain
Wed, May 28
Paramount Plus Europa Conference League Final in Poland
Sat, May 31
CBS 3 pm UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany
5 pm TBS US Women vs China
Sun, June 1
Fox Sport 1 Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps CC Champions Cup Final
Tues, June 3
TNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Jamaica
Wed, June 4
2:45 pm Fox Germany vs Portugal – Nations League Semi
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This Week in the NWSL Records Fall and Rookies RiseThis past game weekend was perhaps the most action-packed weekend of the season so far, with dramatic comeback winners, rookie breakthroughs, and lots and lots of goals. Week 6 introduced 8 new goal-scorers to the books, with the NWSL now nearing 500 unique goal scorers in league history. The 40 club is also growing with the Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury and Houston’s Jane Campbell becoming the fourth and fifth goalies to have 40 career shutouts in the last two game weekends respectively. Casey Murphy needs one more shutout to add this milestone to her career.
The search for record-breaking continues as Lynn Biyendolo is only one assist away from the most regular season assists in league history. Catch Lynn at home with the Reign as the Current joins them in a high-stakes match, where the Current seeks to extend their league record for consecutive multi-goal games.
NC Courage complete historic stoppage-time comeback to beat undefeated KC Current
The North Carolina Courage delivered the upset of last Saturday night, storming back in the final minutes to stun the 5-0-0 Kansas City Current. This made the Courage the first team since 2017 to score both a game-tying and game-winning goal in the 90th minute or later. Read More San Diego Wave’s U-17 players make history
The Wave made history on Saturday night, all coming from their youth. For the first time in NWSL history, three 17-year olds started the same regular season match, and all three were U.S U-17 Youth National Team standouts. Read More Must Watch: Gotham FC vs. Chicago Stars this Sunday
With Esther González leading the Golden Boot race, she will be a force to be reckoned with, although historically Chicago has the edge in this match up. On the Chicago side, Alyssa Naeher needs one more shutout for her 50 career shutout milestone.
Watch this Sunday on CBS at 1PM ET. Read More Esther González scores another brace
Esther González scored a first-half brace shortly after her teammate and rookie Sarah Schupansky scored within 3 minutes of kick off. This proves to be the third brace in her last four matches, making her a forward to fear this season. Read More
USMNT Player Tracker: Pulisic saves Milan (again), Richards gets real, and Paredes setback
Across the Atlantic this week, the USMNT’s overseas contingent has savored titles (and tangerines) in Scotland and enjoyed the magic of the FA Cup at Wembley. But some things don’t change: once again, Christian Pulisic gave Milan something to cling to. Elsewhere, Johnny Cardoso and Paxten Aaronson turned heads in La Liga and the Eredivisie, but Wolfsburg’s Kevin Parades suffered a blow as he continues his return from a foot injury. Read on as this week’s USMNT Player Tracker brings you all the ups and downs of the players national head coach Mauricio Pochettino will turn to this summer.
Pulisic keeps Milan’s fading hopes alive
Pulisic’s nerves of steel meant Milan clung onto their hopes of Champions League football next season.The USMNT star was unflappable when presented with an early unexpected chance to score against Venezia on Sunday, on what manager Sergio Conceicao said was a small, dry pitch that wasn’t easy for his players.An error from the hosts at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, when they gave the ball away cheaply in their own half, allowed Milan’s Youssouf Fofana to seize possession and play in Pulisic at close range. Of course, the 26-year-old stayed cool and put it in the back of the net, giving the Rossoneri a major boost after just five minutes.That was it for another agonizing 91 minutes, as Milan had to fight against the relegation-battling Venetians before Santiago Gimenez made it 2-0 in stoppage time at the end. Pulisic’s big moment earned him the nod from Milan fans as man of the match, and he also put himself in elite statistical company. According to Opta, the goal meant he is now only one of the three Serie A players to have been directly involved in at least 50 goals (31 goals and 19 assists) in the last two seasons in all competitions, alongside Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman (50) and Lautaro Martinez (54) of Inter. In terms of what it means for his club, they are still eight points away from the Champions League qualifying spots with four league games remaining. It will be a tall order to drag themselves ahead of the teams above them, not least Weston McKennie’s Juventus, who are currently fourth and also won on Sunday. But after springing something of a surprise win over rivals Inter last week to reach the final of the Coppa Italia, then winning in Venice, at least Pulisic and co are developing upward momentum in the closing stages of what remains a below-par season.
Jeff Rueter’s graphic of the weekend
Champ Carter-Vickers sets Rangers record straight
It was an altogether more decisive win for Pulisic’s international team-mates in Scotland on Saturday.
But USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers probably did not envisage spending a few minutes picking tangerines off the field before later celebrating his team being crowned champions. Celtic’s 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United earned the 27-year-old a fourth title medal with Celtic in a game that was interrupted during the first half when Celtic fans threw the fruit onto the field as a protest against their opponents’ ticketing prices for the game. Around the 12-minute mark, the supporters in the away section threw the tangerines and unfurled a banner reading “£njoy th£ fruits of our labour”.
Staff clear tangerines from the Tannardice turf (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
That aside, it was easy work for Carter-Vickers and his team, who have now won the Scottish top flight 13 times in the past 14 seasons.
Carter-Vickers was a happy man, then, but he disagreed when asked afterwards whether Celtic had to set the record straight in their next game, which happens to be against rivals Rangers, who have dented an otherwise glittering season by beating them twice.
“Yes. I mean, some people might say set the record (straight),” he told the Daily Record. “I wouldn’t personally use that kind of language because for me, it’s not just like one or two games in the season, but the whole 38.“And I think we’ve shown over the 38 games that we are the best team. But, yeah, we definitely want to win the game next weekend and put in a strong performance because, at the end of the day, we know it’s something that the fans care about and we care about also.“Of course we want to win. We want to win every game we play. And that’s no different for who it is.”It might have been a less perfect afternoon for Carter-Vickers’ U.S. team-mate Auston Trusty, who was benched and did not make it onto the field in the game that confirmed their title. Trusty, who recently became a new father, has not featured in three of his team’s four most recent games. On Saturday, manager Brendan Rodgers preferred Republic of Ireland defender Liam Scales ahead of him. But he did not let that spoil the fun for him and was on the fruit-free pitch to enjoy the post-match celebrations.
Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels celebrate on a fruit-free field (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Straight from the horse’s mouth
The Champagne wasn’t quite uncorked yet for another USMNT defender on Saturday, but it could be on ice. Chris Richards took his usual place in Crystal Palace’s indomitable back three at Wembley in their hugely impressive 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa. The south London club will now face Manchester City in the final on May 17, after Pep Guardiola’s side beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the other semi on Sunday. Before Palace’s big win, Richards did the media rounds and chatted with Men in Blazers, who asked him about the USMNT’s woeful performances in March’s Concacaf Nations League semi-final and third-place games.
“I think the best adjective for what happened in the last camp was we got Concacaf’d,” he said. “We’re going to have to put this show pony-ness away.”
Richards and Ben Chilwell helped Palace shut out Aston Villa (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Then asked why the U.S. players haven’t always been able to translate successful club form onto the international scene, he added: “One of the reasons I think that everyone has been so successful at their clubs is you’re in that environment every day. “I know it’s hard to emulate that when it comes to national team, but I think that’s why guys seemed so much more in tune or sharper — you’re playing with these guys every single day and when you’re coming to national team, these are guys you only train with, depending on flights, depending on times, maybe two days leading up to a game.
Horvath experienced the low of relegation with his Welsh club on Saturday when their 0-0 draw with U.S.-owned West Brom sealed their EFL Championship fate.
It meant Cardiff will be in League One, England’s third-tier, next term, but the 29-year-old, who joined the Bluebirds in the winter transfer window, still made some excellent saves on a difficult afternoon.
Name: Kevin Paredes Club: Wolfsburg Position: Midfielder/wing-back Appearances: 2
Paredes was so impressive on his return from long-term injury last time out, creating a goal in the 2-2 draw with Mainz, that he kept his place for Wolfsburg’s game against Freiburg on Saturday.
However, it was a difficult afternoon for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, who were reduced to 10 men after just 26 minutes and ended up losing 1-0. Despite the result, Paredes looked sharp again until he was forced off just past the hour with a hamstring problem.
That is believed to be a minor strain and while he is likely to miss the next game against Gio Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund, he should be back in contention for Wolfsburg’s final two fixtures of the Bundesliga campaign.
Paredes grabs Freiburg’s Patrick Osterhage (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Perhaps Paredes will have the words of the national coach in his mind after Pochettino said last week that the USMNT needs players to “fight for the people that would love to be in your position” and “the right characters to be really competitive”.
The 21-year-old, who fell to his knees and sobbed when his young U.S. side were knocked out of the men’s soccer tournament during last summer’s Olympics, is hoping that his will to win (and electric talent) catches Pochettino’s eye. Now he must end the season with Wolfsburg strongly and earn a chance to feature in the USMNT’s summer friendlies or Gold Cup campaign.
Name: Paxten Aaronsen Club: FC Utrecht Position: Midfielder Appearances: 35
The 21-year-old is another young prospect hoping to gain more senior USMNT exposure this summer on the back of a strong season.
He grabbed an assist as Utrecht won 4-0 away at RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie. They’re now fourth in the table and level on points with Feyenoord in third. Aaronson has been a key part of this push for Champions League football, with seven league goals to his name so far and having created four more.
His success means the Dutch club, who loaned him for the season from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, want to borrow the American again next season.
“We are in talks with Frankfurt,” said Utrecht coach Ron Jans recently. “We hope we can keep him for another year. It will take a few weeks before it is clear whether it will work.”
Whether Frankfurt are inclined to oblige remains to be seen.
Een jongensdroom die uit is gekomen voor Paxten Aaronson 💭
Johnny Cardoso is having a fine old time with his club Real Betis. They’re sixth in La Liga, on course for Europa League qualification and only six points off the Champions League qualification places.
Last Thursday, they thumped Valladolid 5-1, meaning they head into their Europa Conference League semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday in fine fettle.
Cardoso’s performances have caught the eye and he has been praised by former USMNT player Charlie Davies.
“Johnny Cardoso: we have to talk about him now, at the moment,” Davies said on CBS Sports Golazo America. “(He’s) 23 years old, killing it at Real Betis, another massive goal for him at the club, and he was near perfect on the ball (in Betis’ previous win over Girona). I think he’s really found a good role within this team and Isco is the guy that makes this team tick, but in terms of being an outlet and being able to shuttle the ball across, he has great positioning.”
Watch them in that semi-final on Thursday (3pm, Paramount+).
Cardoso is enjoying his time with Real Betis (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
By Saturday, we will know if Antonee Robinson has recovered from the knee pain that has plagued him lately to face Aston Villa in the Premier League (7:30am, Peacock Premium).
Given the load on him this season for club and country and the possibility of further football in the summer’s Gold Cup, it will be vital that the left-back’s minutes are managed carefully to prevent his knee issue becoming worse going into the World Cup year.
Also on Saturday, Bournemouth and Tyler Adams are charged with trying to end their season on a high after their promise stalled, leaving them in mid-table. They travel to second-placed Arsenal (12:30pm, Peacock Premium).
Finally, next Monday, see if Pulisic and Milan’s belated mini-revival can keep going when they take on Genoa (2:45pm, Paramount+).(Top photos: Getty Images)
Barcelona are the world’s most fun team to watch – because they are flawed
Among all the things we learned on Wednesday night was the reassurance that Barcelona are the world’s most entertaining team — which does not mean the best.
How Lamine Yamal carried his team in a mind-blowing exhibition, the fact they scored three goals against a team that had only conceded four in 12 games in the Champions League this season, and the mentality the squad showed in coming back from a two-goal deficit, and then 3-2 down, were a treat to witness. But all of this happened because the Catalans were imperfect, as they have been throughout the whole season.
Since Hansi Flick took charge last summer, Barca’s approach in games has been enthralling but self-destructive. They are defined by a high defensive line, which they combine with a relentless counter-press. Flick’s system has been generally well adjusted during the season, and his squad’s offensive firepower has brought them to where they are right now — in sight of a remarkable treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey (which they won in similarly ridiculous fashion last weekend).
But their football is a high-wire act, and it feels like every play in a game has only two potential outcomes: Barcelona suffocates their opponent and destroys them, or as soon as a team slides through their first line of pressure, they find a vulnerable defence to capitalise on.
That was perfectly exposed in the Inter game. Barca registered 19 shots against Inter. They scored three goals and hit the woodwork two more times. Meanwhile, Inter had seven shots, three of them on target which resulted in goals, and had a fourth one disallowed because Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s toe was somehow in an offside position.
This is the price Flick has to pay in order to play like Barca do. The most extreme example is probably Yamal, a precocious talent who makes the difference like nobody else in the offensive end. However, that attacking output is offset by the knowledge that he will be less active in off-the-ball pressing or defending.
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Frenkie de Jong is similar. He is a luxury of a holding midfielder, a gifted technician that does not lose a ball, can split pressing lines driving the ball and is in the best form of his Barca career. However, as soon as he is not in possession, you will see him struggling to fill the gaps in defence, being as aggressive on duels as he should be and, therefore, making the team more vulnerable.
“We are not going to back down on our plan — in fact, I’d say the opposite,” said a source in Barcelona’s backroom staff — who prefers to remain anonymous in order to protect their position — in the build-up to the Inter game. “We’ll double our trust in the approach we have to the game. We’ll keep playing as radical as you’ve seen.”
Yamal is a genius on the ball but offers little protection (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi went on the same line while speaking to Italian broadcasters after the game. “Barcelona’s strategy is very risky, but it pays off,” he said. “They’ve scored over 150 goals, have already won two titles, and are still competing for two more.”
What happened in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals is not news to Barcelona. They arrived at the game after Saturday’s fascinating Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, when they won 3-2 with a comeback sealed in extra-time.
A week earlier, they came back from 3-1 down against Celta Vigo to claim another injury-time win in La Liga. Over the last five games Barca played across all competitions, they have conceded 11 goals.
There might be an explanation behind this recent tendency, though: Barca players are exhausted, and some are injured.
Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde were not available for the first leg, with backups Ferran Torres and Gerard Martin replacing them. Jules Kounde is very likely to miss the second leg through a hamstring injury suffered against Inter. Meanwhile, Pedri, arguably their most influential player, has spent so long on the pitch this season that he can hardly complete 90 minutes.
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“It’s not easy, when you play every three days, to train things as you’d want,” said Flick during his post-match media duties. “This is the situation. Kounde’s injury is also about playing every three days. It happens.”
It all comes at a time when Barca are facing some of the best squads in Europe as they pursue the treble. But the dressing room is not worried by that.
“It’s good to see what we do because we like to play attacking football, control the game and score goals,” said De Jong after the game. “We take some risks with that, but I think we also obtain many good things, so we will keep having the same mentality.”
De Jong says Barcelona will not sacrifice their principles (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“We wanted more,” added Yamal. “I believe we could have won the game. I’m happy to help the team but I always want to win and that’s why I ended the game a bit bitter.
“But we will go again like we did today. We are focused on the second leg, and we’ll go right after them.”
Hold on tight: next Tuesday’s decider in Milan promises to be a must-watch.
(Top photo: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Inter Miami has little to show for Messi, star-studded roster
Lizzy Becherano ESPN May 1, 2025, 01:40 AM ET
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Chase Stadium was vibrating just moments ahead of the first whistle as supporters filled every seat, with chants echoing throughout the stands and pink Inter Miami CF flags waving in the air. By the 72nd minute, however, the Vancouver Whitecaps managed to completely silence the once lively cauldron with a fierce attack as the large scoreboard read MIA: 1, VAN: 3. The life that once coursed through the rows of Chase Stadium in the moments prior to the goals felt like a distant memory as fans succumbed to the disappointment of an elimination in the knockout round of yet another tournament. Once the referee blew the final whistle, those still left in the stands clapped, but the players ignored those efforts, choosing to exit the pitch with haste. Lionel Messi rushed into the tunnel with his head down, stepping into the darkness of Chase Stadium’s infrastructure to leave everything about this series behind him on the pitch.
Inter Miami knew they faced an enormous challenge when entering the match with a 2-0 deficit from the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg, but no one expected the final 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
When signing the Barcelona boys, Inter Miami co-owner Mas vowed continuous success would enthrall spectators at Chase Stadium and fans all over the world. Though the club saw immediate results when winning the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy, in 2023, Inter Miami could not keep up with expectations. With each passing season, the club finds new ways to strengthen the playing squad and provide Messi with the necessary tools to thrive in the final third in a bid to keep that initial promise of trophies. But efforts continue to fall short, paving the way for the same, tired concern: where is the silverware for this star-studded roster?
Just over a year ago, on April 11, Inter Miami fell 5-2 on aggregate to CF Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Former head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino blamed MLS roster rules, insisting the constraints of the American system held the team back from competing against Liga MX giants who overspend on every position. Despite the initial declarations, Inter Miami vowed to come back stronger in 2025.This year felt different for supporters as the club made several changes to the roster in hopes of finding success after the 2024 disappointments. The team incorporated players like Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende and Maximiliano Falcón into the starting XI, while making necessary additions to the bench for depth. At the helm, Miami found new leadership to steer the club to triumph. Mesmerized by his football philosophy, Mas insisted Javier Mascherano would be the one to untap international stardom and guide the historic leap into the semifinals.”There is pressure here to win, and that pressure is going to continue. We expect it of ourselves, our coaches and players,” Mas said when introducing Mascherano as head coach in November 2024.To which the new coach reaffirmed: “I am convinced I can do it. I have no doubt.”But instead, history repeated itself as the team fell short and Inter Miami was once again eliminated just shy of the final.Inter Miami started the second leg strongly, kicking off the match with the energy of a team that needed a miracle to advance. Players chased every ball, won those 50-50 challenges that felt impossible in Canada, and connected well on the attack.By the ninth minute, Messi danced his way to the final third to find Luis Suárez and initiate the first goal-scoring play of the night. The pass from Messi to his former Barcelona teammate and current attacking partner ignited Suárez to connect with Jordi Alba — another Barça alum — for the left-back to fire truly home.
The goal made its way through the fantastic four, starting from Sergio Busquets, coming through Messi and Suarez before Alba found the net. But the magic fizzled out in the second half, after suddenly two defensive errors cost Miami two goals in the span of three minutes and ultimately the series. Those two goals dismantled the hope of a comeback for Inter Miami and, with that, the game plan Mascherano set out to complete through his players vanished.Instead, flashbacks of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals match against Monterrey began to crop up. On April 11, 2024, the team entered the second leg at a disadvantage, needing two goals or more to secure a positive result. Though players arrived at the BBVA Stadium in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, anxious to live up to the expectations that the coach, squad and team executives set for fans, efforts disappointed. When Monterrey gained the lead, the Herons took an anemic hit and began unraveling.
Herculez Gomez and Cristina Alexander debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
This time around, the game felt no different.
After the 53rd minute, when Brian White and Pedro Vite scored within four minutes of each other, desperation became the leading contributor to decision-making. The deep concentration and man-to-man marking that defender Maximiliano Falcon discussed during the pre-match conference could no longer be seen on the field.Players resulted to shoving and physical tactics over technique, while Mascherano made rash decisions from the sidelines. The two goals forced the Miami boss to make key changes to the line-up, incorporating Allen Obando for Segovia, and Gonzalo Luján to replace Falcon for the first time since signing those players in pre-season.On the field, those in the attack began to sporadically shoot in the direction of the goal in hope of finding the back of the net. Even Messi, who knows how to read the field with precision to perfectly plan his next move, began involving himself in every aspect of the game with angst. The player who naturally prioritizes calculated plays over impulsive actions could not hold back from attacking every opportunity with frustration. He didn’t wait for players to find him in the final third for the determining goal-scoring opportunity, instead he went out of his way to find the ball himself across the entire pitch.
With patience, smarter decisions could’ve been made to connect passes and dance through defenders to beat the goalkeeper, as the team has done countless times this season.
Gomez: More important Inter Miami win Champions Cup than MLS
Herculez Gomez speaks ahead of Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second leg vs. Vancouver.”In the span of three to four minutes they decided the series. We wanted to play a longer game, without rushing and with calm,” said Mascherano after the match. “We were one goal away from tying the series and what we pretended to do is have a long game.”The hardest part was done, which was to score the first goal. But this is football, especially in a semifinal. Two or three errors against a good opponent, obviously good because they reached the semifinal, but they end up hurting you and end up sentencing with the series.”The game plan dissipated and no amount of star power on the roster could save the club from elimination. Inter Miami have come to know this reality all too well. Mascherano couldn’t even rely on Tata Martino’s former excuse as the team played against three MLS teams and stood as one of the highest-valued rosters on this side of the bracket.After Wednesday’s match, Busquets vowed that Miami would come back stronger, like the team did in 2024.”We keep getting further and further every year,” he said. “But with that consolation although today it’s not much. We think ahead.”The difference this time around, however, is that time is running out, and the clock continues to wind down on the careers of Miami’s fantastic four. By 2026, the Herons may look wildly different as the contracts of Suárez, Messi, Alba and Busquets run through the end of the 2025 MLS campaign.Rumors continue to swirl, and talks remain ongoing about extending the contract of Messi, but his supporting cast may choose to retire come December, or play somewhere else, and Inter Miami will have little to show for their time in South Florida.One Leagues Cup trophy and a Supporters’ Shield is not the decorated silverware that Mas promised at the presentation of these players in 2023. Breaking the MLS record for most points scored in single season will not be enough for Inter Miami at the end of this star-studded chapter.Inter Miami still have three opportunities to win a trophy this season: MLS, the Leagues Cup and the Club World Cup. Wednesday night’s elimination has never made it more clear: this side has precious few chances left to win the silverware it so desperately craves.
Sebastian Berhalter’s arrival makes for a unique North American soccer plot twist
Study Sebastian Berhalter’s rapidly burgeoning goal catalog, and the majority of any clip’s duration leaves him out of the frame entirely.A breakout star on the Vancouver Whitecaps, currently the hottest team in North America, Berhalter is a regular starter as a right-sided central midfielder. He’s a vital part of the Whitecaps’ build-up, an increasingly expert progressive passer who rates among MLS’s best in the current season. Once the ball is among the forwards, he carefully picks his moment to arrive near the box. It’s a facet of his game that he’s been relishing in this year.Minnesota United was just the latest to learn about Berhalter’s late-arriving quality to open the scoring in their Sunday matinee.It’s perhaps a fitting calling card given Berhalter’s gradual rise as a player. Just shy of his 24th birthday, he was touted as a player to watch as a future MLS contributor but was often overshadowed. He didn’t break out before turning 20, as peers like Aidan Morris and Caden Clark may have, and he wasn’t a regular starter until landing with his third team in the league, joining Vancouver ahead of the 2022 season.These days, the son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter is making a name all his own, among the headliners of a Whitecaps side entering the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second leg against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in pole position.
“It’s kind of been a steady incline, and I think that’s something that’s kind of been consistent in my life,” Berhalter told The Athletic. “It’s never come for me all at once. I’ve had to work really hard to be where I’m at, so it’s kind of like — I don’t want to say it’s what I’m expecting, but it’s something that I have the confidence that if I just keep doing what I’m going to do, then eventually it’s going to come.”
The 2020 season was poised to be the dawn of Berhalter’s MLS career. He had just signed a homegrown contract with the Columbus Crew and was projected to earn MLS minutes. When the COVID-19 pandemic put the country into lockdown, however, his development went in an entirely different direction.
With the world displaying an abundance of caution, the sport stood still for clubs and countries alike. There were no games, no training sessions for young players to get their reps and be ready for a return to play. Sebastian headed to Chicago, joining his father and working under Gregg to refine his game as his professional career was just kicking off.Look beyond the family ties, and this was a rare chance for a still-developing young midfielder to get one-on-one guidance from an active national team coach. Throughout his upbringing, Sebastian had been told he’d need to forge his own path to reach his professional dreams.“That’s probably, when I look back at it, one of the most important times in my life, in terms of as a soccer player and as a person,” the younger Berhalter said of those sessions at a field beside Lane Tech High School.“He knows how to kind of keep me in check, how to push my buttons. It was fun, man. Looking back on it, that’s exactly what I needed. I needed to kind of be broken down a little bit, and that’s what he did.”Admittedly, Sebastian didn’t always “love it all the time.” There was no corner to cut, no eased expectations to keep the peace at that night’s dinner. These sessions were tailored specifically to bolster the young player’s chances of enjoying a successful career.
Former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter now runs the Chicago Fire in MLS. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
Among the most important takeaways from these sessions was helping Sebastian adjust his game to “physically, actually just grow into my body.” Speed was at the top of the list, recalibrating his stride and explosiveness to get as much from him as he could.“He did a great job, and I’m thankful for that,” Sebastian said, “because it was one of the only times in my life he’s really trained with me. He was super hands off (when I was) growing up. It was always, like, ‘You’ve got to do it by yourself.’ It kind of instilled that into me, my work ethic — ‘OK, if I want this, I’m gonna have to go get it.’”While he didn’t immediately parlay those lessons into a starting role, making nine league appearances as the Crew went on to win MLS Cup 2020, it was a vital crash course that provided a sturdy bedrock upon which to build out his technical skillset and mental acumen.When talking about those training sessions, Berhalter calls himself “one of the luckiest guys in the world.” If he feels he needs a keen observer to provide a tip or some advice, he’s able to pick the brain of the USMNT coach with the best winning percentage of anyone who has held the job on a permanent basis.There were times, however, when that status as a national team manager put Gregg and his family in a bright, if unwanted, spotlight — perhaps at no time more than after the 2022 World Cup.
Sebastian was in Qatar throughout the USMNT’s run, seeing his dad’s team advance from its group before falling to the Netherlands in the round of 16. Soon after, news broke that midfield star Gio Reyna — whose lack of utilization was a common talking point during the team’s run — had frustrated his teammates with a lack of effort in training before the opening match against Wales. Reyna apologized to the team later during the group stage, and the matter seemed resolved.
Public interest around Reyna’s situation sustained into early 2023, when Gregg Berhalter’s comments at a leadership symposium went public. He referenced the situation (omitting any player’s name) in what he said was supposed to be an off-record session. News also broke that Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle, had called U.S. Soccer to bring up a domestic incident between Gregg and his now-wife, Rosalind, while the two were in college — a perceived attempt at blackmail against a coach who didn’t start their child at a World Cup.That the two families were close and had shared deep ties with each other made for, without a doubt, one of the ugliest off-field scandals in program history. Berhalter was ultimately re-hired for a second tenure after an independent investigation, and his dynamic with Gio Reyna was a frequent point of discussion through the rest of his tenure, which ended after the 2024 Copa América. While it was undeniably a difficult moment, Sebastian felt it ultimately strengthened the Berhalters’ bond.“I think it definitely brought our family closer together, everyone,” Sebastian said. “Because of that, we’re closer together than we were before, which is cool, just to see everyone have each other’s backs. Now we know that we’re a tight-knit family.”Berhalter unequivocally said he’s proud of his father’s work with the USMNT, adding that he took cues from how Gregg handled media scrutiny.“It just never affected him. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, you’re doing your job. It’s something that I definitely take with me,” he said.Given their similar ages and parents’ friendship, Sebastian and Gio (who is roughly 18 months younger) grew up as friends. When asked if he and Gio have spoken about the saga, or if their relationship is in a better place, Sebastian simply said “no,” not displaying a desire to elaborate.
Sebastian Berhalter has had plenty to celebrate in 2025. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
To further Berhalter’s development after its 2020 MLS Cup title, Columbus sent him on loan to Austin FC for their inaugural season in 2021. Coached by Josh Wolff, a former assistant of Gregg’s with the Crew and USMNT, Sebastian Berhalter admitted he “got beat down a little bit,” but quickly assessed that it was what he needed to make it at the game’s highest level.
When Austin, whose sporting director at the time was Claudio Reyna, turned down the purchase option at the end of his loan, Berhalter was traded by Columbus to Vancouver for just $50,000 of allocation money — the lowest amount MLS allows teams to trade — with an additional $50,000 of performance metrics. Even when assuming he cleared those benchmarks, it’s among the best bargain acquisitions in recent memory.
Since joining the Whitecaps, Berhalter’s minutes have increased with each successive season, and he’s on track to eclipse his 2024 ledger of 2,021 in MLS competition. He has evolved into the archetypal box-to-box midfielder, a late-arriving number 8 who can keep the team moving towards goal while having an eagerness to track back and defend if possession changes hands. He’s part of an established core that have been together for multiple seasons, making movement patterns easier as many starters can dependably trust each other’s instincts.
“I think you see that when we play,” Berhalter said. “You can see it’s a group that’s been together for three to four years, and everyone trusts each other. Everyone believes in each other. We know each other so well. It’s nice to see that everything’s coming together.”
Goals like the opener on Sunday are also a byproduct of how the Whitecaps have had to adjust in the young season. Since 2021, Scotland international Ryan Gauld has been at the heart of Vancouver’s attack, among the best playmakers in MLS. However, Gauld picked up a knee injury in the team’s third game of the regular season, leaving reason to wonder if the club could maintain its form without its most important facilitator.Berhalter has picked up some of that responsibility, also benefitting from new coach Jesper Sørensen’s field-tilt machine that keeps more of Vancouver’s touches in the final third. As of April 29, he averages 37.4 pass attempts in the opponent’s half per 90 minutes, up from roughly 26 per 90 in each of the last three seasons. Despite the massive uptick in volume, he’s also displayed career-best accuracy, completing 87.9% of his attacking half passes and 79% of those attempted in the final third.
“It’s something I think I can do as a player, and it’s been fun,” Berhalter said of his increased utilization near the box. “I like arriving. I feel like when I arrive, I can still get back, so it’s not a big issue for me. I want to score, I want to assist, I want to help the team win games. I think that’s the most important thing, whatever role it is.”
“Arriving” is a word Berhalter uses often when talking about his progression over the past year or two, using movement to unsettle a defense as it establishes itself against an attack. Two players he studies closely in regards to arriving are Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Barcelona attacking midfielder Pedri.
“I think those two are ones that are a little bit different in ways,” Berhalter said. “But they both have that almost defining characteristic of having their specialties. With Tonali, it’s just powerful, being able to arrive (despite contact). Pedri, it’s the way he can take the ball anywhere and also still being able to arrive.”
He’s also a key figure on a team that’s often overlooked in the broader MLS landscape. Vancouver props up the upper-left corner of the league’s geography, some distance from other Canadian clubs in Toronto and Montreal while being overshadowed in the Pacific Northwest by a historic rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. This year has even more weight to it for Vancouver, as the club is actively up for sale.
Berhalter stops short of branding his team an underdog, even as it squares off with the superteam on the opposite corner of MLS’s map. He said Vancouver “doesn’t need the media attention,” and has gotten used to not getting much over the past three seasons. When bringing a 2-0 advantage from the first leg to Miami, it’s highly unlikely that the moment will phase the Whitecaps.
“Yeah, it’s one game at a time,” Berhalter said. “That’s probably been the biggest thing, because when you have that many games, you can’t look too far ahead. Especially with opponents like Miami, you can tend to look ahead and be like, ‘Oh, we’re playing this guy, playing that guy.’ It’s been good. It’s honestly been impressive with this group, how we’ve handled this. I think just internally, everyone’s been really driven, really focused, and everyone knows what they need to do to get the job done.”
Sebastian Berhalter marks Lionel Messi in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
The Berhalter family has never been more present in MLS, with Sebastian starring for an MLS Cup contender and Gregg attempting to rebuild the Chicago Fire as head coach and director of football. And we may again see a member of the family back with the USMNT given Sebastian’s play. Few midfielders in the U.S. pool are in as fine of form, and his two-way play and emergence stand in sharp contrast to the criticism U.S. players received after a shocking showing in March’s Nations League finals.
As of April 28, Berhalter said he hasn’t heard from manager Mauricio Pochettino or his staff about whether he’s being eyed for a possible call-up at this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. Then again, these things move quickly — Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang hadn’t heard from the federation either until just before his debut in January. While Berhalter is level-headed as always with his answer, it’s clear how much it would mean for him to represent his country.
“It’s been my dream since I’ve been a kid, but I think it’s something that I’m just taking one game at a time,” Berhalter said. “Being around the national team so much — I think I’ve watched every recent game more than probably anyone else has (laughing) — but yeah, it’s not something I’m thinking about. I just worry about winning games here and performing well.”
Those wins keep coming for Vancouver, which sits atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings at the end of April. Goal contributions and good team results are providing plenty of highlights and moments to bookmark. So, too, did the team’s sole defeat to date in league play.
On March 22, with the Whitecaps among many teams carrying depleted rosters during the international window, Vancouver welcomed Chicago to BC Place. For the first time, Sebastian lined up against a team coached by his father. The Fire won 3-1.
Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable instance for a player who has earned his starting spot. Regardless of whether he breaks through with the U.S. before the World Cup, or at all, his form since becoming a regular in the Whitecaps’ lineup last year has cemented his arrival.
“I went to him before the game,” Sebastian said of Gregg, “and right after everyone shook hands, he just came over and said he’s proud of me. That was probably one of the coolest moments in my career, where you have your dad on the sideline telling you he’s proud of you.
“It was a cool moment. That gave me the confidence to just go have fun and enjoy it; you know, you’ve earned this.”
The prospect of a Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final feels wrong – but is it really a shock?
n the other side of the bracket, Tottenham Hotspur took care of business in north London, beating Norway’s Bodo/Glimt 3-1. Glimt are excellent at home, and the Arctic conditions and plastic pitch at the Aspmyra Stadion will act as a leveller in the second leg, but Spurs’ two-goal advantage makes them firm favourites to reach the final.
It won’t be the first time a Premier League club has come close to European glory in unusual circumstances — England has produced a few unlikely Europa League finalists over the years. In 2005-06, when the tournament was named the UEFA Cup, Middlesbrough reached the final while toiling in the league’s bottom half, finishing 14th. They knocked out Roma and Basel, among others, before losing 4-0 to Sevilla in the final.
Fulham’s run to the final in 2009-10 was arguably even more impressive, eliminating Italian giants Juventus 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16 despite only finishing 12th in the league.
United and Tottenham’s status and financial strength meant they were both among the strong favourites to win the tournament before it started, but if they both make it to Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium on May 21, given their domestic struggles, it will rank among the Premier League’s most prominent displays of strength on the European stage.
Ruben Amorim’s domestic struggles have been forgotten in Europe (Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
Both sides are on course for historically poor Premier League seasons. After taking a 5-1 battering away to Liverpool on Sunday, Tottenham can no longer mathematically finish in the top half — the first time they’ll finish outside the top 10 since 2008 (also, coincidentally, the last year they won a major trophy, the League Cup).
Since breaking the top four in 2009-10, Spurs have established themselves as a near-perennial top-six club, but having already lost 19 times in the league (a club Premier League record), the prospect of restoring pride in the league is gone and winning the Europa League is the only way to save their season.Much of this narrative also applies to United, perhaps even unlikelier Europa League finalists. After a second-half collapse at Old Trafford in the quarter-final against Lyon, allowing the French club to come back from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 in extra time, United produced a fightback that was improbable even by their illustrious standards, scoring three times in seven minutes to win 5-4 on aggregate. Against all logic, both clubs, under the guidance of under-pressure head coaches, have displayed an ability to leave their weekend woes behind to step up on Thursday nights.
Should we be that surprised, though? The obvious caveat to any narrative regarding the “magic” of their European journeys, and the shock at seeing two teams who have struggled so badly in the Premier League stand on the cusp of a major trophy, is that Tottenham and United were the obvious favourites to reach this point given their financial strength.
The figures show that English top-flight clubs, particularly those in the ‘Big Six’, operate far above their Europa League competitors in terms of their transfer kitty and salary budget. Indeed, their resources dwarf many of the continent’s most prominent “legacy clubs”.
Tottenham have a vast stadium – and resources (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
According to the Deloitte Money League, United’s revenue in the 2023-24 season of £655million (€770million; £$870m) made them the fourth richest club in the world. Tottenham, whose revenues totalled £523m are ninth. The next club from this season’s Europa League in this table are 20th-placed Lyon, with revenues of £224m.
This is also the first season under the new 36-club format where third-placed clubs from the Champions League have not dropped to UEFA’s secondary tournament, eliminating the chance of facing clubs who started in Europe’s premier club competition and may come closer to financial parity.
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None of that will matter to the players or their coaches, both of whom have been under intense scrutiny given their Premier League records. The prospect of reaching a European final will also not be lost on the supporters, many of whom have travelled the country watching their clubs fail on a weekly basis. Irrespective of how likely their chances of reaching the final were before the first ball was kicked in September, the fact they’re on their way to one is remarkable given the wider context of their seasons.
Those at Old Trafford for the quarter-final second leg will be reluctant to assume the final is a formality, as will the Spurs fans who watched Glimt beat Lazio 2-0 in the quarter-final first leg in freezing temperatures Ange Postecoglou’s players are not accustomed to.
But if they meet in Spain on May 21 and Chelsea join one of them in lifting a European trophy in Poland a week later, this unlikely-ish meeting will perhaps be the most convincing display yet of the depth of quality in England’s top tier.
(Top photos: Casemiro, left, and James Maddison; Getty Images)
Is Lamine Yamal already the best footballer in Europe? And if not, who is?
“Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years,” said Simone Inzaghi after watching the 17-year-old Yamal shine against his Inter team during a breathless 3-3 Champions League semi-final first leg draw in Barcelona.
“One thing that amazes me in football is you always think that there is nobody better than Ronaldo and Messi, (Ruud) Gullit, (Diego) Maradona, a lot of people, and then Lamine Yamal arrives,” said Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward working for U.S. broadcaster CBS.
In the afterglow of a wonderful performance, in which he scored one beautiful goal, glided across the pitch, turned defenders inside out and showed off his range of tricks, there was no shortage of praise for Yamal.
Yamal bends in a beautiful Champions League goal against Inter (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The draw with Inter was his 100th appearance and brought his 22nd goal (along with 33 assists). At the same age, Cristiano Ronaldo had made 19 appearances (featuring five goals and four assists) and Lionel Messi had made nine, scoring once.
All of which makes it easy to conclude that he is already the best player in Europe. Or as the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand put it: “As a pure football talent, I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top five leagues in world football.”
But is he already the best footballer in Europe? And if he isn’t, who is?
We asked our writers.
‘It is when, not if, he wins the Ballon d’Or’
If I could watch anyone play right now, it would be Lamine Yamal. Every time Yamal got the ball against Inter, you expected something to happen — and that something could be anything because of his incredible talent and the fact that he plays with so much freedom. His goal was breathtaking — a sinuous run and then a shot that was not just beautifully placed but executed in a way (taken early, minimal backlift) that left Yann Sommer, the Inter goalkeeper, rooted.
I actually enjoyed Yamal’s run a few minutes later even more. Poor Federico Dimcarco, who went sliding on by (totally off the pitch) as Yamal, the master of the chop, expertly dragged the ball back inside the wing-back. But for Sommer’s fingertips, we would be talking about another exceptional goal.
To say that Yamal is the best in the world right now, at the age of 17, feels like a big claim. There’s an argument that he needs to score more prolifically – he’s averaging close to one every three this season in all competitions (six goals in 30 appearances in La Liga), and for that reason, I’d put him behind someone like Mohamed Salah, whose numbers are astonishing. But Yamal is a genius and it’s a matter of when, not if, he wins the Ballon d’Or.
Stuart James
‘I’ve never seen a better 17-year-old footballer… but…’
He’s phenomenal and I love watching him. I would go so far as to say — with caveats to follow — that I’ve never seen a better 17-year-old footballer.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were incredibly talented, but they were not influencing games at the highest level at 17. What Yamal is doing is almost unheard of, but a word of caution: what Ansu Fati was doing at 17 was also extraordinary. Progression is rarely linear.
The Messi/Ronaldo period has created what is an unrealistic perception of what greatness is. In the 1990s and 2000s, “best in the world” was always a fairly fluid debate; back then, it was arguably Rivaldo or (original) Ronaldo or Zinedine Zidane or Paolo Maldini or Luis Figo or Ronaldinho or Kaka or, indeed, Thierry Henry at various points.
Messi and Ronaldo shifted expectations, but Yamal is doing things beyond them at 17 (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
I expect the post-Messi era will be similar, with “best in the world” status more transient. This season has brought arguments, at various points, for Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior — not forgetting Rodri, the deserving winner of last year’s Ballon d’Or. It’s wonderful to think a 17-year-old might be part of that conversation for years to come if he continues to develop.
Oliver Kay
‘I’d still put Salah ahead of him’
He’s the player I most enjoy watching at the moment and to turn a Champions League semi-final in the way that he did, against players of that calibre, clearly describes ability that should terrify everyone.
But the best? I would still put Mohamed Salah ahead of him, just on numbers and the consistency of his output. And longevity. Salah is still dominating opponents at 32, having been studied and strategised against for years, which is a hard value to quantify but clearly worth something.
It’s extremely close, though, and if you ask me again in a year, I will probably have changed my mind.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
‘Yamal is uniting generations’
My 10-year-old nephew Flynn is in his football mad era. Last year, he asked me who Steven Gerrard was, which made me feel extremely old. He never needed to ask me who Lamine Yamal was, though. If anything, he’s the one telling me all about him. This 17-year-old kid is uniting generations with his talent.
On Saturday, my nephew, who spent the afternoon watching his beloved Tranmere Rovers secure League Two status after a dismal season, asked if we could watch the Copa del Rey final. Who was the player he most wanted to watch? You guessed it. The magic.
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When we grow up, the vividness of imagination that we enjoy during childhood fades, but when watching a player like Yamal, we are all back in time and feel capable of anything. He’s the best right now and will be high up on that list for a long time to come.
Caoimhe O’Neill
‘Mbappe is still the man’
At the top of his game, there’s no better footballer in Europe than Kylian Mbappe.
Not since Cristiano Ronaldo’s early days in Madrid have we seen a player more capable of dominating defences with an equally potent blend of skill and physicality. Whether it’s done by a shifty stepover or brute force and world-class pace, he has more tools to find a yard of space in a crowded box than anyone. Twenty-two goals in 29 league appearances in his debut La Liga season is an excellent return, but such is his quality that we expect much more in the future.
Mbappe has done it on the biggest stages (David Ramos/Getty Images)
When he inspired France to World Cup glory as a teenager, it appeared he was the immediate successor to Messi at the top. At 26, he’s yet to win a Ballon D’Or. Still, while the crown is not undisputed, Mbappe is the man in European football in my eyes.
Elias Burke
‘Clearly Barcelona’s most important player’
Yamal’s tremendous solo goal in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Inter showcased the teenager’s tremendous dribbling ability and outstanding shooting prowess.
Barca’s youngest player is already their on-pitch leader — his goal against Inter was the game’s key moment, coming with his team reeling at 2-0 down.
Over the 90 minutes, he had the most shots (6), most crosses (10), and most dribbles (6) of any player on the pitch. Only midfield colleagues Pedri and Frenkie De Jong had more interventions than his 102.
A superb fingertip save from Sommer denied him a second wonder-goal. He set up chances for team-mates Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, his dummy distracted the defence for Raphinha’s 3-3 goal, and he hit the crossbar with a late cross-shot.
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You keep having to remind yourself that he does not turn 18 for another few months. But he is already clearly Barcelona’s most important player, nothing seems to faze him at all, and the really scary part is that he can still get a lot better.
Dermot Corrigan
‘Let’s not forget Rodri’
Please, let’s not allow injury to make us forget Rodri’s existence. The Manchester City midfielder was Spain’s key player in their European Championship win last summer and is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.
If we’re talking about right now with the blinkered definition of a player who has literally kicked a ball in the last 48 hours, then it’s Yamal, sure. If we extend it to a player who has graced the pitch in the past week, it’s Salah.
Rodri has been absent from the pitch and maybe our minds? (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
But if we take a step back and ask who the best player currently operating is, the understated Rodri is that man. He may not play in the most heralded of positions, slaloming through and curving shots off the post, but his job is to play the position of two men. He does that at an elite level.
Only this week, he returned to Manchester City training and could return before the end of the season. Rodri, I remember you, and look forward to seeing you soon.
Jacob Whitehead
‘Is he better than Vinicius Jr at full tilt?’
In the maelstrom around Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or no-show and banners mocking him this season, it seems we might all have forgotten just how good Vinicius Jr really is.
When he is on top form, nobody comes close — in a very literal sense. Just look at the host of right-backs the winger has left in his wake while racking up 105 goals for Madrid.
That puts him ahead of Ronaldo Nazario as the top-scoring Brazilian in Madrid’s history and is even more impressive given how much he struggled to find the target at the start of his time in the Spanish capital.
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Vinicius Jr was unplayable in the first half of this campaign, best summed up by his devastating hat-trick in a 5-2 Champions League comeback win against Borussia Dortmund.
It seemed the 24-year-old was on a mission to claim the Ballon d’Or, so perhaps it is no surprise he has failed to hit those heights since missing out on football’s most prestigious individual award to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri in October (although he did win FIFA’s The Best award in December). The fallout did him and Madrid no favours.
Having another galactico alongside him in Mbappe has also taken some of the shine off his role for his club. Even so, there are few other players who can terrify an opposition defence in the way he does. When Vinicius Jr is at full tilt, you know something special is about to happen.
Indy 11 Win 1st, Face Lexington Tonite at 7 pm on ESPN+
Miami, Fla.- Indy Eleven scored three first-half goals off set pieces on its way to a 3-1 victory at Miami in its USL Championship season opener last weekend. Six players made their debuts for the Boys in Blue—Elvis Amoh, Hogan, Kizza, James Murphy, Bruno Rendon, and Oliver Brynéus. Rendon tied for team highs with six recoveries (with Maalique Foster) and three tackles won (with Aedan Stanley). Indy Eleven travels to Lexington SC today at 7 p.m. in a game streamed on ESPN+. The Boys in Blue host 2024 Champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Carroll Stadium to open the home slate on Saturday, March 29 at 7 pm. Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season, Flex Plan, Group, and Hospitality tickets are available here. For questions, call (317) 685-1100.
US loses to Panama 1-0 faces Canada for 3rd Sun 6 pm on Para+, Univision
I don’t even know what to say? Horrific Management, Horrific preparation, Horrific play! Those who were dogging Gregg Berhalter and begging for a foreign manager might need to rethink things. Pochettino was clueless in this game. Yes we are missing players but that was a B- team for Panama that absorbed pressure all game and countered to win 1-0. USa vs Panama Highlights The US had zero creativity in this game despite having 90% possession and 4 shots on goal. Musah at right back? Starting 2 #6s I mean — he got nothing right in this game. Yes the players were shit on this day – no spark, no aggression – only Pulisic seemed to friggin care they couldn’t score. But his subs? No Luna or Reyna at the 10 to try to find a pass on the subs. You can see now why POCH has NEVER won a trophy at any level. Sure he talks a good game working part time for 6M a year while still living in Europe. But I am not sure he has a clue. ESPN FC Questions Everything US Soccer Now for the players – this game lacked bite, lacked hard tackles, lacked what used to make the US strong – PRIDE. Not sure these millionaires playing overseas understand what US Soccer is supposed to be about. Always play like an underdog.
Sure we are missing huge players here – no Jedi Robinson was huge (the goal came from his side) and we had no movement down the left wing. No forwards up top (Pepi + Bologan are both injured) but Agyemang couldn’t hit the ocean from the pier on his 2 golden chances where was Haji Wright? I love Ream but if he starts the World Cup next summer the US will be out in 3 games. Oh and Matt Turner – its way past time for him to be replaced – I think Horvath is our best – but Matt can’t start again until he plays more in Europe. Men in Blazers Wrap Turner’s Goal I am so upset I don’t know what else to say. The US plays Canada and the man who should be our coach on Sunday at 6 pm. No one will be there again – who would pay money to watch this US team play (I was in LA last week-nothing about the game anywhere – but the Mexican’s bought all the tickets anyway). My buddy in The American Outlaws out there said they literally got no access to tickets.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals)
DEFENDERS (8):Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 17/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 67/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 50/4), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 19/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 4/0) MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 42/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 6/0) FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 45/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 76/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 27/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 42/7), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 3/1)
Was Turner out of spot on this one? Looked like a save-able ball during the game?
TV Schedule
Sat 3/22
1 pm Fox Sp 2 Modova vs Norway 7:30 pm Ion TV Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs KC (Chawinga) 8:30 pm Apple TV Salt Lake vs Dallas 10 pm Ion TV Bay FC vs Louisville NWSL 10:30 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Houston 10:30 pm Apple TV Vancouver vs Chicago
Sunday 3/23
3:45 pm FS2 Germany vs Italy NL 3:45 PM Fubo TV Spain vs Netherlands NL 4 pm Apple TV Austin vs San Diego 5 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gothem vs Orlando Pride (Marta) 6 pm Univision, Para+ USA vs Canada 3rd place NL 9:30 pm Uni, Para+ Mexico vs Panama NL FINAL
Mon, 3/24 3:46 pm FS 2 England vs Latvia WCQ Tues 3/25 3:46 pm FS 2 Israel vs Norway WCQ 8 pm Telemundo Argentina vs Brazil WCQ NWSL Schedule MLS Schedule USL Schedule
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Early blockbusters headline NWSL
Kansas City faces 2024 NWSL runners-up Washington on Saturday. (Kyle Rivas/NWSL via Getty Images)
The NWSL’s second match weekend promises some standout matchups, as last week’s winners look to build while its losers attempt to shift the energy.
Last year’s top-four finishers square off against one another this weekend, while a pair teams searching for their first points of 2025 will do the same.
What to watch: While not a carbon copy of the 2024 playoffs, these heavyweight clashes could set the early-days tone for 2025’s championship favorites.
Washington Spirit vs. KC Current, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Each coming off big regular-season opener wins, KC travels to DC for a game with great potential for attacking fireworks.Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride, Sunday at 5 PM ET (ESPN2): Orlando sit atop the NWSL table after battering Chicago 6-0 last weekend, but now face a pragmatic and talented Gotham side in a game with chess match written all over it.Chicago Stars vs. Houston Dash, Sunday at 3 PM ET (Paramount+): After suffering tough losses last week, both Chicago and Houston are eager to put their first points on the board with bounce-back performances.
Bottom line: With a number of teams already looking close to mid-season form, these early NWSL matchups really could have major implications down the line.
USMNT vs. Canada: A desirable matchup with undesirable third-place stakes
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Stephen Eustáquio began to look down at the floor in frustration before stopping to consider what lies ahead. It was less just a few hours after his Canada team came into their Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Mexico riding a wave of optimism and, they believed, preparation before a must-win match. That sense of optimism began to erode just 47 seconds after kickoff when Mexico scored the opening goal. It then disappeared completely with Mexico’s second goal to send El Tri to the final. The long-time bosses of Concacaf showed the savviness and experience Canada still lack.Canada’s midfield general knows this.“It’s experience,” he said of what Mexico has that Canada doesn’t right now. “It’s something that we will get in the future, we just have to continue to work.”
And when Eustáquio considered when the next opportunity to work, as it were, would come? That’s when his demeanor flipped.
“It’s a game against the U.S., and that motivates us a lot more,” he said of Canada’s opponent in the upcoming third-place game, following the U.S.’s stunning defeat in the other semifinal to Panama. “They’re our rivals. We beat them in (a September friendly). They want to beat us, and we want to beat them again.”U.S. vs. Canada: it’s the game so many at the Nations League – the Canadians especially – wanted. It’s just happening under wholly undesirable circumstances. The next chapter in this burgeoning rivalry will be more about avoiding catastrophe and humiliation rather than competing for a trophy. Both Canada and the U.S. should have woken up Friday morning feeling incomplete. With the World Cup a little over a year away, this third-place game offers each a chance to save face, and the opportunity to do so against an opponent equally as determined to set things back on course.
Against Panama, the U.S. couldn’t display the necessary work rate and emotion to properly influence the game, in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s estimation. A lackadaisical performance made for a wholly boring affair. Coupled with a premature Copa América exit, this group of skilled American players – many plying their trade for prominent European clubs – will aim to turn its talent into a more cohesive effort against Canada.The difference was the way they fight for the game,” Pochettino said of Panama. “They were hungry for every single ball. Every ball was the last one for Panama and, from the touchline, you feel that difference.”For the U.S., facing Canada presents a second match in which it can demonstrate the requisite enthusiasm, intensity and quality that’s been lacking, arguably dating back to the 2022 World Cup.“Just as we always do after games: We have to rest a bit, we’re going to watch back the game a little bit, see what we can improve on so we can get better and just get ourselves in the best physical and mental conditions to go again in a few days,” U.S. star Christian Pulisic said.
The Nations League semifinals made for a night of long faces for Christian Pulisic and the U.S. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
For Canada, it can probably sleep a little easier knowing the effort was front and center against Mexico. It dominated possession, tried to act as the aggressor by winning more duels and got close to goal on occasion. But once Canada got there, it faltered mightily. The questionable finishing and lack of quality final passes were once again Canada’s tactical undoing. Canada has now been shut out in half of manager Jesse Marsch’s 14 games in charge. The time to continue relying solely on his trusted forward pair of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin may have run out.
But beyond rectifying poor play in the final third, the intangibles will matter to Canada against the U.S. Canada knows its core is lacking a truly decisive win against the U.S. in tournament play. It may not be in a final, and perhaps a third-place match won’t carry the same clout, but this is an opponent the players have been eyeing, backed with supreme motivation.
“There’s no secret there’s a bit of a political issues surrounding this game more recently,” Canada’s Jonathan Osorio said. “There’s no hiding that it is the back of our mind. But at the end of the day, we are going to prepare for this game the best way possible: to go out and win.”
That’s been easier said than done for Canada. A group with talent that can stack up against the of the U.S., must show the kind of canny and game management that is necessary in pressure-filled, tournament situations. There was no doubting Canada’s intensity against Mexico. But the Canadians still lack the experience to turn intensity into quality attacking opportunities and close games out. The latter was alarmingly true earlier this summer as Canada squandered a lead in the Copa América third-place game against Uruguay.
“Now, it’s just that little bit of savviness that the best teams have and the best players have that we’re going to continue to push (for),” Marsch said.
Canada was left to grimace after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Nations League semifinals. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
As Osorio alluded to, this match could garner more attention than the average third-place game because of the wider implications.
The strained political relations between the two longstanding allies – and World Cup cohosts – serves as a backdrop. How each team channels that aspect – or elects not to – will reveal plenty. The recent Canada-U.S. games at the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament provided a window into what kind of intensity an inflamed political climate can create. There were three fights in nine seconds. Fans booing opposition national anthems. A final that went down as an immediate classic.
The third-place setting zaps some of the organic aura surrounding the game, but there should still be plenty of motivation considering each’s desire to respond to disappointment – and doing so amid the external factors.
Plus, outside of this summer’s Gold Cup, which will feature less-than-full strength squads given that FIFA has allowed clubs to take priority over countries for the expanded Club World Cup, this will realistically be each team’s final opportunity to play a truly competitive game before hosting World Cup games at home.
So no, there’s no trophy at stake. It’s not a final. But it’s still a matchup that both can use to apply to the games that truly matter in 15 months.
“Every game from now on,” Canada’s Jonathan David quickly and sternly answered, when asked about the third-place game, “is preparation for the World Cup.”
Yes, USMNT fans: It’s time to worry about the 2026 World Cup
Jeff Carlisle ESPN Mar 22, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
LOS ANGELES — In the wake of the U.S. men’s national team‘s 1-0 defeat to Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL), it’s fair to say it’s time for USMNT fans to worry about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. has shown flashes of stellar play since manager Mauricio Pochettino took over last September, especially in the CNL quarterfinal series with Jamaica. But Thursday’s semifinal exit exposed some old troubles. The USMNT’s lack of aggression to start matches, especially when the opposition cedes possession, remains a problem. That leads to an inability to break down tightly packed defenses. And though Panama has emerged in Concacaf as a tough-to-break-down unit, if the Americans can’t consistently get past the Canaleros, who have beaten the U.S. three straight times in tournament play, how can the USMNT expect to get out of a group at the World Cup? That isn’t to say that all hope is lost for the Americans — far from it. But with just 447 days between now and the start of the World Cup, Pochettino has little time and few opportunities to turn things around. This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup — the USMNT’s only competitive games before the World Cup — has taken on increasing importance. It will allow Pochettino an extended camp to further familiarize himself with his players. The U.S. will also host friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before Gold Cup matches to mimic the cadence of the World Cup.
The hope — which is not guaranteed based on Thursday’s performance — is that the players will get more experience in knockout games. But on this front, Pochettino’s plans are being undermined by the Club World Cup, with the Juventus duo of Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, along with Borussia Dortmund‘s Gio Reyna, all possibly unavailable for the Gold Cup due to their respective clubs’ participation.
After that, and with no CNL scheduled for 2026, there are just four more international windows in September, October, November of 2025 and March of 2026, plus some pre-World Cup friendlies. That is a scant amount of time to further refine things.
And there is plenty this U.S. team needs to refine, especially with the ball.
To get a sense of how toothless the American attack was against Panama: The U.S. had 811 touches, the 11th time the Americans have had more than 800 touches in a game since September 2017. But they had an expected goals, or xG, of 0.68, making it the first time in that span that the U.S. had over 800 touches but an xG below 1.00. That shows the U.S. had plenty of time with the ball, but struggled to create dangerous scoring chances.
The return of several injured players would greatly help the U.S. cause. The U.S. has badly missed right-back Sergiño Dest, who has recently returned for PSV Eindhoven after suffering an ACL tear 11 months ago. Dest is the ultimate attacking wild card who can deliver the unexpected, either off the dribble or striking at goal. Left-back Antonee Robinson and his marauding runs down the flank were also missed against Panama.
The two absences have a massive effect on the way the U.S. plays. Joe Scally is a capable, defense-first option, but isn’t one to contribute much to the attack. That’s why in Dest’s absence, Scally usually stays home and allows the opposite full-back to get forward. But Yunus Musah seems miscast as a wing-back, given his distribution limitations.
The frontline has also been beset by injuries, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi out for long stretches. Their returns would increase the competition for places in attack that have lacked a certain spark.
All these absences lead to questions about the depth of the USMNT’s player pool. But in situations like Thursday’s loss to Panama, the U.S. would also be aided by Pochettino tilting the lineup more toward attack. Against a team bunkering in, Tanner Tessmann‘s presence in the midfield seemed redundant given that the defensively dependable Tyler Adams was back in the team. That would’ve freed a spot for a more creative player such as Reyna or Diego Luna in the middle.
Herculez Gomez calls USMNT’s performance ‘pathetic’ in loss to Panama
Herculez Gomez rips Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men’s national team in their loss to Panama.
Yet the team’s mindset might be Pochettino’s most difficult challenge. The U.S. manager pointed to a “lack of aggression” in the first half, which he described as “painful” to watch.
This was illustrated by the Americans’ touches in Panama’s box. The U.S. had 32 touches in the Panamanian penalty area. That ranks 12th in the USMNT’s past 35 games. But only nine of those touches came in the first half. When Tim Weah started occupying wider positions in the second half, the U.S. made more headway.
Pochettino needs to create competitive tension for playing time. But are the players who could take on bigger roles good enough to unseat any incumbents? Solving the aggression puzzle won’t be easy. Some players are proving not as capable as their club reputations dictated at one point.
Pochettino has attempted to bring in reinforcements, mostly from MLS clubs, and has talked up how they’ll get chances to impress. But until he gives those players more prominent roles, his words will feel empty.
Still, there are limits to how much Pochettino can do as a manager. At some point, the onus is on the players to improve, and channel the aggression required.
“You always learn more from setbacks than you do from games that, say, we would’ve won, that you’re papering over the issues that I think everybody saw in terms of getting behind and aggression and all that,” U.S. defender Tim Ream said. “There’s always teaching moments, there’s always learning moments in every game, every training, every day that you step on the field and we have to look at that and make sure that we take on board exactly what he wants, take on board exactly what he needs and that starts with the duels and the aggression and the intensity.”
The USMNT will miss a chance to defend their CNL title after winning the past three, but Sunday’s third-place game against a very motivated Canada will be an opportunity to put those lessons into practice.
With Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin available, it seems likely Canada will be more adventurous than Panama in attack. But Pochettino shouldn’t change his entire starting 11. He should continue to establish chemistry. Playing time needs to be earned, as well. But there seems to be some opportunities for players.
Zack Steffen appears to be a clear choice in goal, given Matt Turner‘s suspect positioning on Cecilio Waterman‘s game winner, when he was shaded too close to his near post. Reyna or Luna in taking Tessmann’s place seems another obvious swap. Patrick Agyemang looked active in his 22 minutes against Panama.
At minimum, USMNT fans will want progress. That bar is low after the poor showing against Panama. But with just under 15 months left to the World Cup, the U.S. needs to show signs that it’s moving forward again.
Fighters wanted: USMNT effort called into question after Nations League loss to Panama
After getting easily bounced from the Copa America in the group stage, the USMNT is out of the Nations League in the semifinal with a loss to Panama. Mauricio Pochettino’s hire did not automatically reverse fortunes. Now it’s clear there is a lot of tough work to do with the team.
BY Brian SciarettaPosted March 21, 2025 12:00 PM
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LAST SUMMER, US Soccer hired Mauricio Pochettino as head coach and following a poor Copa America showing, it was expected that this would advance the national team to be in its best possible position to compete at the 2026 World Cup, which it will cohost. Now, after an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Panama in California in the semifinal of the Nations League, the team and Pochettino face difficult questions and potentially even more difficult answers. With two straight ugly early eliminations in tournaments it hosted inside of a year, alarm bells should be going off. There is always the temptation to be overly harsh following a loss. This is a team sport and upsets frequently happen. But the bigger problem for the USMNT wasn’t the loss. It was the effort. After the game, the comments from Pochettino were revealing because he wasn’t focused on the loss, but the fact that the U.S team was simply out-worked by a very disciplined and well-coached Panama team that deserved to win. “They were hungry for every ball like it as the last one,” Pochettino said of Panama. “You could feel the difference on the field.” He went on.
“We are the USA, but you cannot win with your shirt. You need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”“If you don’t have aggression, it’s impossible,” Pochettino said, “because the opponent knows that we are going to play into the feet. You are going to play safe. You are not going to take risk. If you want to play football, you need to take risks, you need to go forward, you need to win duels, sometimes 50-50.”It’s actually easy to envision a scenario way down the line when we look back on this loss and realize it was a good thing. For a long time, the team’s short falls have been blamed on Gregg Berhalter or the series of interim coaches the team had after the World Cup or after the Copa America. Fans and people in the Federation seem to be under the impression that a good coach was what was separating this team from greatness.But now, there is nowhere for the players to hide. The Federation broke the bank and went through extraordinary measures to hire Pochettino. Instead, we got a performance that was either equal or worse than we have gotten in the past with a number of coaches.This does not absolve Pochettino of blame. Sure, there are questions whether he needed more playmakers in the midfield to connect to the attack. Should he have started Joe Scally on the left side? Should he have started Matt Turner in goal with his lack of playing time. Those are fair questions. But they are a drop in the bucket of the real problem in as to why this team was outworked playing at home against Panama a year out from the World Cup? You can point out the talent on this US team, but talent only matters if you have desire when you step foot on the field to begin with. When you don’t, you get France at the 2010 World Cup. At least now, everyone’s eyes (players, coaches, fans, federation officials) should be wide open to the task at hand. The team is much further behind than many expected, maybe even Pochettino himself.
When he was hired, Pochettino spoke about when he played for Argentina. He emphasized that there was no difference between playing for his country in a friendly or in a World Cup – there was always maximum desperation for the shirt. He gave the impression that it was very important to him and, more importantly, it was instinctive to the Argentinian players. The loss against Panama revealed that the US team is missing some very basic requirements Pochettino demands or expects from his teams. There is a lot to break down from this game.
Specifics of the game
The specifics of this game are not nearly as significant as the big picture problems, but they are worth discussing nonetheless because there were some serious tactical problems.The most obvious tactical mistakes was that there was no link between the midfield and the offense. The from line of Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, and Tim Weah were all poor. Despite it having been a front line that has played together for years, including at a World Cup, there was nothing going on with them. Sargent was a bit unlucky and was starved for service (8 touches over 68 minutes and 2 completed passes) but Weah and Pulisic were very ineffective.
Weston McKennie had a decent moment when he set up Sargent in the first half for a shot off the post. Aside from that, McKinney struggled to be that link on a consistent basis.Scally and Musah were the outside backs and were tasked with pressing forward, but the opportunities with them were few and far between.There is some talk about the players who were not here or did not get off the bench. It is fair to note that the US team was missing some key players such as Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi, and Antonee Robinson. But any talk of them missing this game is to ignore the bigger problems. The US team had more than enough talent to win this game, and they were outworked across the board.
Now what?
After the team departs from camp next week, there is rightfully going to be a lot of talk about how this team will use this experience as a learning lesson for the future. Pochettino is going to have to strike a fine balance between not blowing everything up, but making a significant number of changes. The challenge Pochettino faces is that you cannot coach desire or passion – that needs to be instinctive for players upon arrival in camp. What is perhaps most disappointing for fans is that after the loss to Panama, Pachino said he wanted to make such passion and hard work part of the US teams DNA. But anyone who has followed this program for a long time will tell you that it used to be the team’s leading hallmark. In the years just before and just after the millennium, that was a key reason how they used to beat teams that were considered superior. It is how they advanced to the quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup. It’s not that Pochettino has to make this part of the team’s DNA, it’s that it has been lost and he has to reinstall it.
Starting this summer, Pochettino will need to make changes and he will need to hold some of these players accountable. It begins with scouting the entire player pool, both domestically and abroad.
There needs to be fewer lock starters and more of a need for the players to feel they need to continuously prove themselves in order to justify their selection to the team. This summer will be revealing in how Pochettino, after he has time to digest the March disappointment, how he makes changes. It would be very surprising if he makes only limited changes.
The USMNT has the same problems now that it did under Gregg Berhalter and Pochettino’s mere arrival didn’t automatically improve things. He is going to have to take active measures.
Once Pochettino can find players he trusts, then he rectify the tactical shortcomings we saw against Panama – such has better fullback setups, having a true attacking midfielders to bridge the gap between possession and chance creations. But many problems needs to be addressed before he gets to that point.
Third Place Game awaits
Before the players return to their clubs, the USMNT must play the third place game against Canada. It’s a game where participation offers only insult to injury. For Pochettino, this could very well serve as an important test and evaluation tool for players?
Any player wants to get called up for big and prestigious games, but who wants to play in a game that anything but important? The players who do could be the players that Pochettino wants in the future.
Expect Pochettino to make a lot of changes to the starting XI. He should give other players the opportunity to show what they could do. Fortunately for the USMNT, they will be playing a Canadian team that should be motivated to face the USMNT. Canada sees the USMNT as an important measuring stick and there is a growing rivalry between the two neighboring nations. Canada’s American head coach Jesse Marsch would love to kick the USMNT while it is down.
The USMNT needs a test when it is at a low point. A loss to Canada with a poor effort would be a morale killer with just 15 months to go until the World Cup. It should be a gut check moment and you can learn a lot about a team and its players at its low points just as much as the high points.
Same Berhalter-era USMNT woes linger under Pochettino in Nations League debacle
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Two hundred and sixty-two days had passed since the last time the U.S. men’s national team players walked disappointed off of the field after a premature exit from an international ournament on home soil. Four hundred and forty-nine days remain for them to figure out why — and fix it. The USMNT’s stunning 1-0 loss to Panama on Thursday night felt like familiar territory for anyone who has followed this team over the last six years. The U.S. changed coaches after falling in the group stage of the Copa América last summer. Gregg Berhalter was out. Mauricio Pochettino was in. The players, though, remained largely the same. And some of the problems this U.S. team displayed under Berhalter remained the same.It was, perhaps, the biggest benefit of hiring Pochettino, one of the highest-profile coaches in the world, who arrived in the U.S. with a reputation for winning in Europe and coaching some of the world’s biggest clubs and players. The attention, and some of the blame, would have to start shifting onto a player pool whose reputation had been built up but now had to start delivering.The loss to Panama, the same team that sent the U.S. on its way to Copa elimination in Atlanta last summer, had some of the hallmarks and warning signs we have long seen from this team. The players struggle to break down organized teams that play in a low block. They sometimes fail to meet the moment emotionally. They too often lack a killer instinct.Pochettino’s press conference after the loss hit on all of those ideas.
“Did we control the game? Yes. Did we dominate the game? Yes. Did we play in the opposition half? Yes. Did we create some strategy to move the ball quickly and (have) good positional game in the opposite half? Yes. But you need aggression,” Pochettino said. “If you don’t have aggression, it’s impossible. Because the opponent always knows we are going to play into the feet. You are going to play safe. You are not going to take risks. If you want to play football, you need to take risks. You need to go forward. You need to win duels. Sometimes, 50-50, the ball, that is my ball. ….“We need to find a way to compete better. And that’s it. I don’t (want to say) I like this (loss), no. But it’s (worth paying) attention, because, OK, we are (the) USA, but you can’t win with your shirt. Or you cannot win if you play here (at a big club), there, or, I don’t know. You need to show (it). And you need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”
It was a stern warning for players with 15 months left until the biggest possible spotlight is on them at a home World Cup. A tournament they’ll open in this same stadium.The Americans had won several trophies in Concacaf in spite of those flaws. They took home all three previous versions of this Nations League tournament. They had a Gold Cup trophy, too. But after losing to the Netherlands in the group stage in Qatar in 2022, the U.S. didn’t seem to be growing. In the end, the federation made a coaching change to address those issues. In his first true test, though, Pochettino failed to equal what his predecessor – and even an interim stopgap – had accomplished.
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino endures defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
If the Copa América wasn’t a wake up call on its own, then perhaps this was an even bigger warning shot. Changing the coach isn’t going to fix things on its own. Something else has to change.The U.S. started slowly in the first half. There was an overall lack of energy, and it hardly created much in the way of chances. The second half was slightly better. Second-half substitute Patrick Agyemang had two good looks at goal. But something was missing – bite and aggression. The U.S. didn’t seem ready to assert itself as the better team.“It was a perfect opportunity to start that rebuilding process right now,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It’s a bit disappointing in my eyes. I don’t know what we lacked exactly, whether it was that competitive nature, that mentality, but we need to look in the mirror before anything and just realize that when we have these types of games, we can’t wait for something to happen. We need to make things happen, put games on our terms.”Pochettino said this week that he preferred to learn lessons from winning games, but that sometimes the best lessons come in losses. Wins can allow you to paper over flaws. Losses fully expose those issues. They force you, as Adams said, to look in the mirror. Sometimes, they can be a turning point.This U.S. team learned a similar lesson early in the last World Cup cycle. They went on the road to Canada in a Nations League game in 2019 and lost, 2-0, in Toronto. A month later, the U.S. rocked their northern neighbor in the return leg, 4-1. They did so in part because of how they rebuilt the team’s mentality after the loss.“I think the message from that point on was intensity is the starting point,” former U.S. midfielder Sebastian Lletget said of the loss in Canada at the time. “We took a lot of pride in how we wanted to play and how we wanted to do things attacking wise — we felt like we had all the structure all down, but I think the mentality, I think that’s where we were lacking on that day. I think Canada sort of opened up our eyes to that.”Sound familiar?That loss in Toronto pushed the U.S. to a higher level. It showed that international soccer was as much about intensity as it was tactics, that talent or potential wasn’t enough on its own.On Thursday, Panama reminded the U.S. of that.Maybe, in the end, it will be a good thing. The U.S. must find a way to make it a turning point, rather than the continuation of a backslide.
Whenever you watch a game with a group and a commentator claims that a player “wanted it more,” you’re bound to hear a few scoffs.It’s a tried-and-true axiom rolled into a Bull Durham quote. In theory, every player at a sport’s highest level wants to succeed. If one player rises above an opponent to win an aerial duel, they may be able to credit their jumping reach, their strength, their reflexive timing or their raw height before even considering their intrinsic desire.And yet, rare occasions present themselves where passion and drive are at a perceived imbalance akin to a possession battle. Take, for example, Thursday night’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal between Panama and the United States men’s national team. The game was teeming with tension, as the USMNT hoped to exorcise its demons and avenge last summer’s defeat to their regional rival in the Copa América group stage.In the wake of that match, U.S. Soccer’s brass made an expensive bet that hiring Mauricio Pochettino to replace Gregg Berhalter would help get the program back on track to win such contests. The players on the field promised they’d “learn from it” and be better prepared, against Panama and other teams defending grittily in a low block.And yet, 266 days after that shocking defeat in Atlanta, the decisive moment for Panama sure seemed to embody that old cliché: Los Canaleros sure seemed to want it more.
Pochettino was the most obvious change from last summer’s sinking, but Thursday’s lineup presented a few more alterations.
First was the team’s shape, with the USMNT lining up in a 3-4-3 with a midfield box, rather than Berhalter’s preferred base 4-3-3. The emphasis was to retain possession in the middle against Panama’s usual 5-4-1 shape, ceding the wide areas as Tim Weah was asked to patrol in the left half-space.
Another was the personnel. Still without Sergiño Dest as he works back from his torn anterior cruciate ligament, the team saw its other first-choice full back — Fulham ace Antonee Robinson — exit camp before the Panama match with an undisclosed ailment. While Joe Scally struggled throughout his three Copa América games, Pochettino asked him to deputize for Robinson on the left.
It’s a spot Scally has played before, but seldom does these days; only 179 of his 2,017 Bundesliga minutes this year have come there, with the rest spent at right back. Unfortunately, the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender was exploited in the decisive sequence.
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The sequence begins with Christian Pulisic winning a header at the edge of the midfield third, hoping to head it down to Jack McGlynn. The ball takes a hop a yard in front of the Houston Dynamo midfielder, leaving him to swing a leg at it in vain.
Instead, it trickles towards Panama forward Cecilio Waterman. Four USMNT players immediately converge, desperate to force the ball off the striker’s foot and back into their own possession. Mark McKenzie unsettles Waterman, who prods the ball back into open terrain rather than ceding to his opponent.
Waterman’s poke rolls right into a patch with an amount of weight that puts the nearby United States players in a precarious spot. Most opt not to leave their posts, watching the loose ball as they follow conservative instincts and don’t open passing lanes. Ultimately, Scally stops his run toward the box and turns, but is beaten to it by one of the game’s final inclusions. Janpol Morales, a 26-year-old winger playing in Ecuador who debuted for Panama this month, is quicker to it and scampers to collect the ball in front of Scally. With one of his mere two pass attempts on the night, Morales gets the ball to his team’s chief string-puller, Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla.
The standstill nature of the United States’ defending doesn’t just allow Morales to make a decisive impact. It also leaves Carrasquilla with ample time to survey his options as the game enters its final minute, allowing Waterman to leave the scene of McKenzie’s convergence almost entirely undetected, especially once Scally commits to chase the ball alongside Morales.
Even after Scally has fully committed to Morales’ run, Tim Ream fails to stick with Waterman as he backsteps toward the corner of the box. Usually, this is where Ream would expect to find Robinson, his long-time starting team-mate for the USMNT and Fulham. With Scally already playing out of position and now drawn into the heart of the park, Waterman is some distance from his nearest defender with the game on the line.
Carrasquilla might be surprised by how open Waterman is, as the midfielder decides to recollect his initial windup to ensure he gets the weight right on his pass. That proved wise, as Waterman struggled to trap the ball — although it only served to give his shot some additional momentum given the total lack of defenders nearby.
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Waterman’s shot comes in with considerable power and expert angling, spotting goalkeeper Matt Turner hugging his near post and instead opting to send it across goal. Turner’s lack of recent match involvement is perhaps relevant here, given his conservative positioning and inability to force a difficult shooting angle once Carrasquilla had readied his eventual assist.
This was just Panama’s third shot of the match, and its first on frame. Nevertheless, miscommunication, a second-rate effort to collect a loose ball and some tired legs gave Panama all it needed to beat the USMNT in another cagey matchup.
As the Panama players rushed CBS pundit Thierry Henry to celebrate, the United States was left to appreciate the scale of this fresh failure.
Throughout the broadcast, commentators Chris Wittyngham and Tony Meola highlighted this Panama squad’s lack of experience at the highest levels of club soccer. At one point, Wittyngham cited some recent history as defender César Blackman became the first Panamanian to play in a UEFA Champions League game — although it was immediately hedged that his team, Slovan Bratislava, finished second-bottom of the league-phase table.
When compared to the over half-dozen Americans whose teams advanced to the Champions League playoff round, it seemed to suggest a talent imbalance. Of course, that only gets a national team so far.
Pochettino’s gameplan was not enough to overcome Panama’s energy and spirit. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos/Getty Images)
A year ago, there were excuses: playing a man down, alleged second-cycle syndrome causing a downturn in form under Berhalter, and an uncalled foul forcing Turner to exit at halftime.
On Thursday, all three of those factors were answered in full. At few points in the preceding 93 minutes did the hosts play with the confidence and explosiveness that should accompany a tournament’s three-time defending champion. There was little evidence that taking orders from Pochettino helped them improve after the “lessons learned” under Berhalter.
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Handed a fresh opportunity to rectify one of the program’s worst results in recent memory, the team instead one-upped that showing with an even poorer showing. Only they can know whether they had wanted to succeed enough in this window. Still in the wake of last summer’s debacle in the Copa América, however, it’s a group running out of opportunities to provide reasons for optimism heading into a World Cup on home soil.
(Top photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images) USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino not to blame for Nations League exit, Tyler Adams says
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Tyler Adams refused to blame head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the United States’ devastating 1-0 loss to Panama on Thursday as the squad came to terms with its sudden exit from Concacaf Nations League contention.“I’ve never blamed a coach in my entire career,” midfielder Adams said emphatically after Cecilio Waterman’s injury-time winner spurred Panama to a victory at SoFi Stadium. “I mean, the losses depend on the players unless you go out and try something completely random. … There was not a lack of communication after today. We knew exactly what we needed to do. We knew we needed to be competitive. I don’t think we were as competitive as we needed to be.”The USMNT’s exit dealt a massive blow to Pochettino’s feel-good process heading toward the 2026 World Cup. It will now face Canada in Sunday’s third-place game. The Argentine manager told reporters that the Panamanians were hungrier. At the international level, the consequences are dire.“We feel very disappointed because the way we approached the game wasn’t the right way,” he said. “In the first half, we were too comfortable on the pitch. We didn’t show aggression with the ball. We also didn’t show aggression in a defensive way. The first half was very painful to see.“This is not the way that we want to build this journey together. And moving forward, with the objective to play in the World Cup, the objective is to be competitive by seeing that this — it’s a good point to pay attention to — that this is not enough.”The Americans were sleepwalking in a poorly attended semifinal. Their lack of urgency was evident from the start, and despite perking in the second half and attacking with more purpose, Pochettino’s side always looked more timid. Panama relied on hard tackling and a commitment to defending in the low block and making the field as narrow as possible.
Weston McKennie claimed the USMNT needed more “nastiness” against Panama. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
“Knowing him, he brings a bit of that South American vibe into the group and that grittiness and makes it known to us that football isn’t always about being beautiful,” midfielder Weston McKennie said of Pochettino. “It’s always also about the grit, the desire, the nastiness that you put into the game, as well. … So I think it’s about time that our team starts doing that also.”Pochettino refused to blame the tame crowd atmosphere for the lackadaisical effort by his players. For a former player who was known as a cutthroat defender, he was perplexed by his players’ disappointing effort.“(The crowd) cannot be an excuse just because you didn’t have a full stadium with your fans,” he said. “Why weren’t we more aggressive? I think the analysis is simple. If we look at the duels won, it’s clear that we lost those to Panama. When the game is played in tight spaces, when winning duels is important, where recovering possession means you’re in a one-versus-one situation and you’re disorganizing the opponent, when possession is won consistently in the final third, that’s always going to favor a team as organized as Panama. And when you don’t show the best version of yourself, things get complicated.“Every single (duel) was the last one for every single player for Panama. We felt that from the touchline. We’re the USA, but we cannot win just because of the shirt.”
Thursday’s defeat rekindled memories of the Copa América defeat to Panama that ultimately sealed Gregg Berhalter’s fate. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)
This isn’t a new problem for the USMNT. There were multiple occasions under former head coach Gregg Berhalter when a lack of steel and grit led to subpar performances. Pochettino’s assessment now places the spotlight directly on a group of players who are less than 15 months from taking part in a home World Cup.“It’s disappointing, of course,” winger Christian Pulisic said. “We obviously had the ball most of the game, but we just couldn’t create enough. We weren’t dangerous enough. And yeah, you know, they got one shot at the end, and that was the story.”Panama defeated the U.S. in a penalty shootout in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals. The Central Americans then recorded a shock win over Berhalter’s side at the Copa América last summer. The defeat in Los Angeles on Thursday marked the third straight loss to Panama in a competitive match. Pochettino won his debut as U.S. head coach over Panama in a friendly last October.When a reporter reminded Pulisic of those facts, the AC Milan winger responded: “What do you want me to say? It’s tough. It’s tough. We want to win.” (Top photo of Tyler Adams: Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
Panama deals USMNT another deflating, exposing defeat in Nations League stunner
The goal came seemingly out of nowhere.The U.S. had actually shown a bit of life in what had been a mostly lifeless Concacaf Nations League semifinal. Patrick Agyemang, the substitute forward, had a couple of good looks at goal. Weston McKennie had just unleashed a shot from the top of the box.But Panama, which had been so disciplined defensively, pushed the ball down the field in stoppage time. On the counter, the ball found its way to the right side of the box to Panamanian forward Cecilio Waterman. He took control and picked out the far post, beating the outstretched hand of Matt Turner in the 94th minute.Waterman ripped off his shirt, jumped the boards and stood in front of Thierry Henry, pointing and screaming, “Eres mi idolo,” — “You are my idol” — into the face of the legendary French forward and CBS pundit before hugging him.A few minutes later the final whistle sounded, and just like that, the three-time defending Concacaf Nations League champions were dethroned. Panama had downed the U.S., 1-0, and secured a place in Sunday’s final against either Mexico or Canada.It was a second consecutive massive disappointment in international competition for the USMNT, which was knocked out of the Copa América last year in the group stage. Once again, Panama played a feature role in the exit. After coming up empty on his first real chance at a trophy as U.S. coach, Mauricio Pochettino now will be left to figure out a tough defeat.And instead of playing for a fourth straight title, the U.S. will play in a third-place game.“This is embarrassing,” legendary U.S. forward Clint Dempsey said in his postmatch comments on CBS’s broadcast. “You look at Copa América — hosting the tournament and not getting out of the group, and now look at this situation here on home soil, have an opportunity to win your fourth Concacaf Nations League — and Panama does it again. They are our bogey team. We weren’t good enough. We had four great chances. Of those chances you think we’d score at least one or two of those. We weren’t able to get it done tonight and it’s an embarrassment.”With just over one year left until it cohosts the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. clearly has much left to sort.Beyond the defeat, here are a couple of other thoughts on the result:
Crowd disappoints
The U.S. kicked off at 4 p.m. on a Thursday in Los Angeles. It was the start of March Madness as the NCAA tournament tipped off. Tickets were sold for the doubleheader, which meant anyone coming to see Mexico-Canada didn’t need to show up for the first game.Still, it was a bit jarring to see the swaths of open seats at SoFi Stadium at kickoff for the U.S.-Panama semifinal.The U.S. will play two of its three World Cup games at the venue in Inglewood. The hope is that they will draw a huge home crowd. And while Thursday’s crowd is likely no indication of what the World Cup atmosphere will look like, the lack of noise and excitement in the stadium contributed to a game that, at times, felt more like a friendly than it did a competitive fixture.
Robinson’s importance underscored by his absence
When left back Antonee Robinson withdrew from U.S. camp earlier this week with an injury, it was immediately clear that it would have a domino effect for the Americans.Robinson is not just the best left back in the U.S. pool, he is also one of the best players on the team — and there is no clear like-for-like replacement. Pochettino acknowledged as much with his lineup choices on Thursday against Panama. Joe Scally moved from right back to left back to replace Robinson, and Yunus Musah slid from a midfield position to right back for the U.S.Beyond the shuffling that had to occur to fill the hole on the left side, the U.S. clearly lacked the verticality and service that Robinson gives them from the left side. Without his runs on the left side, Tim Weah playing inverted was less effective. The U.S. tilted the attack to the right side through Yunus Musah, but Musah’s strength is carrying the ball forward more than looking for the final pass or cross — he ranks in the 99th percentile in progressive carries per 90 minutes and just the 48th percentile in progressive passes, per FBref.As a result, the U.S. struggled to take advantage of some of the space on the wings as Panama denied space centrally to Pulisic, Weah and McKennie.The U.S. seemed to figure it out a bit more in the second half with Weah staying a bit wider on the left side, but it wasn’t enough to find a goal.(Top photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Matt Turner and the challenge of being first-choice goalkeeper for the USMNT but not his club
It is so often the way with goalkeepers — 90 minutes of relative inactivity, one big moment, then a whole lot of judgement.
For Matt Turner, that’s what came deep into added time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, when Panama took their only shot on target all game — from the right side of the penalty area, drilled to the bottom left corner; Turner, who had taken position to the right of his goal, could not get his gloves to it.
Jack McGlynn and Tim Ream are dejected as Panama celebrate their late winner (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
That the USMNT won’t now win a fourth consecutive Nations League final is not solely down to Turner. Thursday’s defeat was a collective failure.
And although Panama, who also beat the United States 2-1 in a pivotal Copa America group-stage meeting last summer to set up the host nation’s early exit from that tournament, have now become their bogey team, there will be tougher tests on the horizon for Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they build towards the 2026 World Cup, also largely to be played on American soil.
That is where Turner’s status as second-choice for his club — he has made only four starts this season for Crystal Palace, all in the domestic cup competitions rather than the Premier League — but the USMNT’s No 1 for their biggest games will come under further scrutiny.
It’s something he got asked about by reporters in the build-up to Thursday’s match.
“Obviously, my club situation isn’t ideal right now,” said the 30-year-old, who is on a season-long loan at Palace from rival Premier League club Nottingham Forest. “But I’m giving every opportunity that I have to play the utmost importance and trying to put good performances together, just control what I can right now and then let the chips fall where they may.”
Not ideal then, but neither is it unprecedented.
Sergio Romero was Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper as they got to the final of the 2014 World Cup despite being second-string at Monaco of Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, and continued in his starting role for the national team despite going on to be the backup to David de Gea at Manchester United. Romero later described it as a “difficult situation”.
Former Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey also had spells as No 1 for Wales, despite hardly playing in the Premier League at the back-end of his time at Selhurst Park. Hennessey was then second-choice for Burnley and Forest while still getting games for his country, including at the 2022 World Cup.
Romero reached the 2014 World Cup final despite being second-choice at his club (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
For the USMNT it is not a new situation, either.
One of Turner’s current understudies, Zack Steffen of MLS side Colorado Rapids, played in the 2021 Nations League finals win against Mexico and in qualifiers for the following year’s World Cup while spending most of his two complete seasons at Manchester City of the Premier League on the bench.
“It’s come full circle,” says Matt Pyzdrowski, a coach and former goalkeeper who played professionally in the U.S. and Sweden, and is now The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst. “Matt was playing regularly in MLS (for New England Revolution, before a July 2022 move to Europe with Arsenal) and trying to get ahead of Zack, who wasn’t playing as much as he’d like in England. Now they have kind of switched places.”
For large parts of Thursday’s game, Turner was less busy than he had been when playing 45 minutes of Palace’s 1-0 win over Norwegian side Hamarkameratene in a friendly last week.
In that practice game, part of Palace’s warm-weather training camp in Marbella, Spain during a break in their domestic schedule, he made two saves in the second half after replacing first-choice Dean Henderson at the interval. He touched the ball 17 times, only seven fewer times than in the 99 minutes, including added time, against Panama (24).
The questions come from the one decisive moment that did not go his way, meaning the U.S. will not play in Sunday’s final. But despite that setback, Turner has generally played well enough for the national team to retain his place in it, keeping high-profile errors at a bare minimum.
“It’s obviously a problem but, at the moment, I don’t think it’s a big problem because Matt has always performed for the USMNT,” says Pyzdrowski. “That’s the biggest thing you need to consider. If he was making lots of errors and not performing, then of course it would be a more pressing issue. But he has always done pretty well for his country despite not playing regularly at all for his club.”
Henderson, who is in the current England squad, and Turner warm up for Palace (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether Turner stays in the team for Sunday’s third-place play-off against Canada.
Patrick Schulte of Columbus Crew was in goal the last time the countries met, a 2-1 win for the Canadians last September in a friendly while the USMNT had Mikey Varas in interim charge. Had it been an important fixture, it is likely Turner would have been in the team that day in Kansas City and not on the bench. That means his performances for the national team are generally buoyed by the feeling of being trusted as a regular, according to Pyzdrowski.
“It doesn’t matter who you are as a player, you just want to feel valued,” he says. “Then you feel more comfortable on the field and it’s important not to overlook it. Matt has built up a lot of credit with the national team.
“In a perfect world, he’d be playing every week, regardless of what that requires — if it’s going back to MLS — because he’d naturally be sharper. But at the moment it hasn’t caused him too many issues.”
Turner has largely been Palace’s cup goalkeeper this season, starting one of the three Carabao Cup matches they played following his late-August arrival and, more significantly, all three FA Cup ties to date. He will hope to retain his place in the quarter-finals on March 29 against USMNT team-mate Antonee Robinson’s Fulham.
The only potential downside to his inactivity in the Premier League, Henderson has been an ever-present for Palace to date and Turner’s last appearance in the competition was for Forest in January last year, is a potential lack of time facing key high-level-game scenarios.
“The biggest issue of not playing regularly is just rustiness,” says Pyzdrowski. “And the relationship with your back line and reading of the play — how deep the balls come, or crosses into the box.
“I wouldn’t say that saving the ball and the speed of the ball is that much of a problem, because you get a lot of that in training. You get a ton of reps (in training) even when you’re on the bench. It’s more situations that can only arise in games.”
Those daily sessions between games are also different as a club’s backup ’keeper, though. “In training, the focus is really on the No 1, so the drills you do are suited to them,” says Pyzdrowski. “A lot of the situations Matt will be in during training won’t be with the guys who play every week (other reserves), so he’s not building those relationships.
“But then that’s the important thing with the national team: that he’s familiar with the setup and the guys there. He built that up over time and really earned his spot.”
Turner during Thursday’s defeat by Panama (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Veteran goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had spells as a backup, and even third-choice, towards the end of his career with top clubs such as Liverpool and Everton. He feels Turner’s extra physical freshness, in contrast to a ’keeper going through the grind of playing every weekend in the Premier League, should actually be a positive.
“He’s fresh for these games, raring to go and experienced,” says the 41-year-old, now a player/coach at Wigan Athletic in League One, the third tier of English football. “I know Dean Kiely, who works with him at Palace and speaks very highly of him and says how good he is in training.
“He’s got hundreds of games behind him and has been at big teams now, so I don’t think he’ll be too concerned about the situation. He has no niggles, no injuries, and he comes to these USMNT camps champing at the bit. When you’re second-choice (at a club) but have something to work towards, like the cup games and then the international games, you have a good focus.
“Ideally you want to play all the time and keep that rhythm because it isn’t easy coming in every six weeks in the cup, and his last international camp was in November. But from his point of view, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.”
Pyzdrowski points out that, in theory at least, playing a Panama team ranked 36th in the world by FIFA (20 places below the United States) can be less taxing on a goalkeeper’s reflexes than a game in the English top flight. “International football is a little different from the Premier League,” he says. “A game against Panama will be different and have perhaps less intensity than a Premier League game, so that will also help him feel his way into it.”
Lonergan playing for Everton against Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2022 friendly (Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Bursty)
Like Pyzdrowski, Lonergan’s only concern would be whether players in Turner’s situation can stay sharp for in-game situations.
“Speaking from experience, the only fear when I wasn’t playing (regularly) but was a cup ’keeper with a game in six weeks’ time is that, in training, you’re doing small-side games so your reactions are bang-on,” he says. “But it’s your distances with the back four, balls over the top and through balls where you could be a little bit out of sync.
“That was always my concern, because training and 11-a-side on full pitches are different. In training, you’re on autopilot, flying around, but in games those decisions are vital.
“Through balls, distances and balls over the top are the hardest to practice as a ’keeper. You can do it in training but there are no consequences, whereas in a match if you decide to come (for a ball) and don’t get there, you’re in trouble. In training, you can keep doing it until you get it right.”
With the World Cup 15 months away, it could be that Turner — who made only seven appearances in his year with Arsenal before joining Forest, where he made 17 league starts last season — looks for a new team where he is more likely to be first choice. His loan at Palace expires in June and he has another two years to go on his contract with Forest, where Belgium international Matz Sels has established himself as a key player in goal as they make a surprise push for Champions League qualification.
“It’s not an unworkable situation as it is,” adds Pyzdrowski, who recently started a new role coaching the goalkeepers at Swedish top-flight side Malmo. “But the challenge it creates is because the goalkeeping position is so delicate, with so many small details. You really can only work on a lot of them in games.
“Goalkeeper training has evolved a lot in the last 10 years, in terms of the different repetitions and exercises you do compared to just lots of shots and volleys.
Turner catches a cross during Palace’s recent FA Cup win against Millwall (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“Now it’s more match relevant, but even if you have one or two goalkeeper coaches and they’re taking shots at you, it’s not the same as a top-class striker coming at you, with the speed and accuracy. Yes, you’ll do some exercises with the team, but training just isn’t built around the number two or number three.
“You’re important and you have a role, but the coach needs guys on the team (the starters) working together to build those relationships.”
With the national team, those bonds seem as strong as ever. But to face the game’s very best at a World Cup just over a year away, Turner may decide he needs to increase his weekly workload.
Panama defeat conjures memories of USMNT’s most devastating losses
The U.S. men’s national team’s 1-0 loss to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals was unquestionably a humiliating one. The USMNT, replete with stars playing abroad and coached by the reputable Mauricio Pochettino, looked listless against the Panamanians. Despite the fact that Panama has now beaten the Americans three times in the last 20 months, the result still felt like a gut-punch to the U.S. – the program and its fans.
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Not that many of them watched the match in person. Just before the anthems on Thursday, U.S. star Christian Pulisic was spotted grimacing at the large swaths of empty seats around SoFi Stadium. The dour atmosphere – it didn’t help that it was a 4 p.m. local time kickoff outside Los Angeles – only added to the heartburn surrounding the result. A significantly larger crowd turned up for the second match of the day, between Mexico and Canada.
Pochettino spent much of the run-up to the game doing media, offering bold predictions that the USMNT were real contenders to win the World Cup in 2026, which is a little over a year away. In other interviews, he spoke of returning to the EPL some day and yearned for a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Argentine is charming, for certain, but his guile will mean nothing if he can’t accomplish his stated goals. He was brought in in large part to motivate this “golden generation” of U.S. players, but very few of them looked committed or golden on Thursday night.
The loss is unquestionably the poorest result of Pochettino’s seven-match tenure to date, and the U.S. still has a chance to save a bit of face against Canada in the third-place game. A loss in that match, which certainly feels possible, would only add to the misery surrounding the USMNT’s recent performances, and with time running short when it comes to galvanizing the country around the sport and program, results like Thursday’s come with some added layers.
Perspective is important, though, and even a fourth-place finish in a Concacaf Nations League wouldn’t hold a candle to some of the U.S. men’s most devastating previous failures, ones that had massive consequences. If you’re the kind of fan that likes to lean into your grief, then keep reading.
Costa Rica 1, USMNT 0; May 31, 1985
By the time the USMNT’s final qualifier of the 1986 World Cup cycle rolled around, the whole of American soccer was in a tailspin. The North American Soccer League (NASL) — the first real, top-flight league in U.S. history — had closed up shop permanently just two months earlier. The national team was largely made up of players from the Major Indoor Soccer League, and they rarely played the outdoor game, outside of national team call-ups. Some team members even played in semi-professional leagues and held part-time jobs.
Mexico, the dominant team in the region for decades, had already qualified for the 1986 World Cup as the host nation. In an era where only two teams from Concacaf qualified, the USMNT was looked upon as a favorite to advance. It needed only a draw against Costa Rica to advance to the next round of qualifying and take a step closer to a first World Cup berth since 1950.
The NASL’s collapse and public apathy toward the sport put the U.S. Soccer Federation in a bind and made ticket sales an essential revenue stream. Consequential matches in the U.S, even World Cup qualifiers, frequently felt like away games, with crowds full of immigrants from Latin American countries. Such was the case against Costa Rica.
“There was an agent that represented some of the (Costa Rican) players,” remembered USMNT’s Perry Van der Beck. “The federation sold this game to him. The stadium was just full of Costa Ricans — the halftime show, even, was just full of Costa Rican music, all aimed at the Costa Rican fans.”
The U.S. was led by head coach Alkis Panagoulias. Born in Greece, Panagoulias was a “token offering,” remembers former USMNT defender Alan Merrick, “who truly believed that the so-called ‘American spirit’ would carry us alone.” He was short of technical acumen and long on inspirational quotes.
“In this country, somewhere out there, maybe in Harlem or Los Angeles, there is the next Pelé,” Panagoulias once said. “And not just one — maybe 20 or 30.”
None of them was present against Costa Rica. The U.S. had the lion’s share of possession that day and played a bright opening half hour, yet the Costa Ricans pulled ahead on a lucky strike. USMNT forward Ricky Davis, along with fellow upstart Hugo Pérez, had a half-dozen decent chances for the U.S., all of which missed the mark.
Then, in the 73rd minute, a ray of hope: Defender Dan Canter fired in a shot that appeared to go in. The referee signaled for a goal, which was later waved off. It had hit the side netting, and 20 minutes later, the match ended. So did the U.S.’s hopes of qualification.
“I don’t know where we go from there,” Davis told reporters after the match. “There was our best chance to make it to the World Cup. We won’t have another chance until 1990. Who knows where soccer in America will be by then?”
The defeat is among the darkest moments in U.S. soccer history, but it also marks a beginning. Panagoulias and a host of players would be shown the door, replaced by a generation of talent that would eventually lead the U.S. to its first World Cup qualification in 40 years.
Among the only players to survive that transition was Paul Caligiuri. Not only did the USMNT legend take place in one of the program’s darkest moments, he scored the famed “shot heard ‘round the world” against Trinidad and Tobago that qualified the U.S. for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Iran 2, USMNT 1; June 21, 1998
The USMNT entered the 1998 World Cup in France riding a wave of hype. It followed a respectable showing at the 1994 World Cup on home soil with a series of wonderful results: a shocking run to the semifinals of the 1995 Copa America, the country’s first (and still only) victory over Brazil a few years later and a host of other respectable encounters against legitimately good teams across the globe.
Under the surface, though, cracks had begun to show. Some of the squad’s veterans, many of whom were part of the ‘94 cycle, had butted heads with head coach Steve Sampson over roster decisions and their dwindling roles. Sampson added fuel to the fire when he brought in a series of foreign-born players, much to the chagrin of the team’s veterans.
And infamously, Sampson excluded U.S. legend John Harkes from the final roster after learning that Harkes had been engaged in an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda. A difficult draw made the U.S.’s task in 1998 even more difficult, and after losing the opening match to Germany and with Yugoslavia looming, the USMNT’s second match against Iran became a must-win.
The game was framed by decades-old turmoil between Iran and the United States, and as matchday approached, things grew tense. SWAT teams and snipers were present in the stadium and FIFA had mandated strict protocols for how both teams interacted before the match. The U.S. and Iran, seeking to make a statement, took a team photograph together, with the Iranians presenting the U.S. players with white flowers.
USMNT and Iran pose together at the 1998 World Cup. (Photo by Nader Davoodi ATPImages/Getty Images)
For his part, Sampson made a half-dozen changes to his starting XI from the Germany loss and altered his formation, as well. The U.S. started the game on the front foot, nearly pulling ahead on a Brian McBride header, which hit the post. But the Iranians were opportunistic, and they grabbed a pair of goals on the counterattack. The 2-1 loss, combined with other results, eliminated the USMNT from the World Cup after two games.
The writing was on the wall for Sampson, who’d be dismissed not long after the tournament’s conclusion. Many of the club’s senior players, most notably veteran defender Alexi Lalas, sealed Sampson’s fate by publicly criticizing him in the press. The 1998 debacle marked the end of an era for U.S. Soccer, with many of the team’s highest-profile players, those who’d taken part in the 1994 World Cup, moving on for good.
Czech Republic 3, USMNT 0; June 12, 2006
It’s nearly impossible to overstate the hype surrounding the USMNT in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup. The U.S. had shocked the world with a deep run in 2002 and stormed through qualifying for the ‘06 tournament, booking a ticket to Germany with three matches remaining. The U.S. roster was a who’s who of American soccer royalty, maybe the most talented collection of American players ever sent to a World Cup.
The qualifying run had pushed the U.S. up to fifth in FIFA’s (deeply flawed) world ranking, which was uncharted territory for the lowly Americans. They’d done something even more improbable — cracked the consciousness of the general public in the U.S., the most elusive of challenges in American soccer. U.S. Soccer and Nike only intensified the buzz, plastering the team all over American airwaves and even deputizing one of the team’s young stars, Clint Dempsey, as U.S. Soccer’s official rapper.
Even a truly difficult draw couldn’t dampen the spirits of the American faithful. Italy and Ghana were both respectable opponents but both seemed beatable. Rounding out the U.S. group was the Czech Republic, then one of the best teams in the world.
Any and all hype surrounding the U.S. evaporated within moments of their group stage opener against the Czechs. It was not the first time the two countries had met in a World Cup. In 1990, the U.S. played their first World Cup match in 40 years against what was then called Czechoslovakia, losing in a 5-1 bloodbath. Many considered it a miracle the U.S. had even qualified for that tournament and few paid the result any mind. Even fewer considered it any form of a humiliation.
But 2006 was a different story. The U.S. was comprehensively dismantled by a Czech side featuring names like Jan Koller, Petr Čech and Tomáš Rosický. After their showing at the ‘02 World Cup and despite the hype surrounding the squad, the USMNT managed just one shot in the drubbing.
Few words in the language of American soccer carry as much weight as “dos a cero.”
The USMNT’s rivalry with Mexico is the stuff of legend, with the Mexicans holding a historical edge on their northern neighbors. Mexico was essentially unbeatable at the Azteca in Mexico City and El Tri often got the better of the U.S. in the states, as well. It wasn’t until the USMNT started playing matches of consequence against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, that the U.S. had a true home-field advantage.
For a 15-year stretch, the U.S. were undefeated at Crew Stadium, going 8-0-3 and compiling a 6-0-2 in World Cup qualifiers at the venue. The greatest results came against Mexico. The U.S. won every match they played against the Mexicans by that 2-0, dos-a-cero scoreline during that stretch, creating a deeply important psychological edge that grew with every successive result.
By 2016, the thought that the U.S. would lose a match to Mexico in Columbus — even allow a goal there — felt borderline unthinkable. Yet something felt different ahead of the U.S.’s qualifier against the Mexicans that November, in no small part because of the presidential election only days earlier. Trump’s dangerous rhetoric about Mexican immigrants in the United States forced both teams to put sports aside for the moment. By the time the two sides posed together for a team photo as a sign of unity just before the match, the aura surrounding the match changed. By the end of the game, the mystique of Crew Stadium was gone.
Rafa Márquez gave Mexico its first World Cup qualifying win in Columbus in 2016. (Paul Vernon/AFP/Getty Images)
Mexican defender Miguel Layún gave El Tri their first goal in Columbus 20 minutes in before the U.S. equalized early in the second half through Bobby Wood. Mexico did not let up, though, and found the winner just a minute from full time. It came courtesy of a glancing header by Rafa Márquez, perhaps the most villainous player in the history of the rivalry to U.S. fans. It felt fitting. Four days later, the U.S. lost 4-0 in Costa Rica, and five days after that, manager Jurgen Klinsmann was fired, with qualification for the 2018 World Cup put in peril.
By the time the 2022 qualification cycle rolled around, Crew Stadium had been replaced with a gleaming new venue. It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyways — the USMNT chose to play their home qualifier against Mexico in Cincinnati instead, leaving Columbus and all of its accompanying magic in the rearview.
Trinidad and Tobago 2, USMNT 1; October 10, 2017
Few U.S. fans had heard of Couva (population 45,000) before the USMNT played a decisive World Cup qualifier there in the fall of 2017. Now, the little town in Trinidad is seared into the collective consciousness of every USMNT fan. The name alone is a trigger word.
It was there that a shocking result eliminated the U.S. from qualification for the 2018 World Cup, ending a stretch during which the U.S. had played in every World Cup since 1990.
The seeds of the defeat in Couva were planted by Klinsmann, who led the USMNT through a miserable qualification cycle. After losing to Mexico and Costa Rica in the opening matches of the final stage of qualification, Klinsmann was sacked and replaced by Bruce Arena.
Arena, by most metrics the most successful coach in USMNT history, set about trying to repair the damage. The U.S. breezed through a few games but stuttered late in the qualification cycle. Even still, it seemed in excellent shape entering the match in Couva, needing just a draw to book a trip to Russia.
Trinidad and Tobago entered the match with little to play for, having already been eliminated. But games between these two opponents are always tinged with that famous 1989 win, the one where Caligiuri put a dagger in the heart of the Caribbean nation. The U.S. did little to help its cause by posting video on social media of the field conditions in Trinidad, a jab many viewed as belittling and insensitive given the resources available to the tiny nation.
In turn, the Soca Warriors came to play. They scored first through an own goal by U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez. Things went from bad to worse after T&T right back Alvin Jones ripped a 35-yard curler by U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard. Pulisic, then 19, handed his team a lifeline with a goal early in the second half, but the U.S. never found an equalizer. Dempsey, reduced to a substitute, hit the post on the closest call.
Elsewhere in the region, other teams had pulled off their own upsets. Panama and Honduras had beaten Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively. and earned the right to advance. The unthinkable, to many, had happened: the USMNT was eliminated. To this day, the loss remains the worst loss in USMNT history, based on ELO rating.
Arena resigned almost immediately. USMNT fans, who had long grown accustomed to qualifying in every World Cup cycle, called for widespread change. The match marked the end of the line for a generation of U.S. legends — Michael Bradley, Dempsey, Howard and Jozy Altidore among them – and ushered in the new.
(Editor’s note: A portion of this piece was repurposed from a previous Athletic article from this writer detailing past significant USMNT defeats)
US Ladies Win 2-0 over Colombia, Play Australia Sun 5 pm on TBS, Wed 10:30 pm vs Japan It was nice to see the US look good vs Colombia with a whole lot of new faces on the field. A 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win over Colombia in Houston on Thursday night. Chelsea midfielder Cat Macario (back after 3 years from a torn MCL) and Utah Royals’ Ally Sentnor were the difference for the U.S., the latter scoring in her first start with the senior national team. US vs Colombia Highlights. I thought the whole team looked good – hard getting used to Captain Lindsay Horan being called her new married name of Heaps. The US really dominated play – Gothem’s Ashley Ryan had a couple of nice shots and an assist on the night playing in Rose’s role. Playing as the chief line-breaker behind Sentnor, Lindsey Heaps, and Ryan, 17 year old Lilly Yohannes continually slotted the ball between Colombian midfielders and defenders leading to the first goal. The D lead by Sonnet, Nighswonger were solid and Campbell was really not tested in goal. The US next plays Sunday at 5 pm with a match against Australia in Glendale on TBS. The final day of the competition is Wed vs Japan at 10:30 pm on TBS @ Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif.
Champions League see’s Most American’s Eliminated First it was AC Milan with Pulisic and Musah with a devastating loss at home to Feynord 2-1 knocking them out before the round of 16. Then Celtic with American centerbacks Cameron Carter Vickers and Aaron Trusty showing their quality but still barely losing at Bayern in the closing seconds. And of course the final had my precious Juventus losing a heartbreaking game at home to PSV 3-1 despite a goal from American Tim Weah and a full 120 for McKinney. Of course PSV has 4 American’s but only 1 is playing in RB Ledezma as the others are lost for the season (although Dest might return soon). Either way it was a heartbreaking 2 days leading into the Round of 16 as their were more Americans in the knock-out stages than ever before. As many as 9 American’s started in the knockout rounds and only a couple are moving thru.. 😦
MLS Season Kicks off 30th Season Friday night on Apple
So MLS is back underway in what is Messi’s 3rd year of a 3 yr contract with Inter-Miami. While Messi has sold out stadiums nationwide – MLS refusal to allow his games to be played on normal TV – in my opinion has drastically limited his impact. Yes you still need Apple TV and a $100 MLS Season pass to see MLS regular season games — and most of them are all played at the same time on Saturday nights. Absolutely clueless! I can’t say I am excited for the season — as honestly I watch about 1/10th the # of games I used to watch before Apple. I still love Seattle and try to follow Cincy, Miami and Atlanta United – but its so much easier to watch EPL – lets be honest. Anyway I have included a bunch of stories about MLS, season predictions and more. I will say Champions Cup games are on weeknights on Fox Sports 2 which many people have-I have included them on the TV schedule. Also rumor has it the Sunday night Games might be Free on Apple TV – trying to establish Sunday night Futbol by MLS.
Big Games this Weekend Liverpool @ Man City on Sun 11:30 am leads the big games this weekend, along with New Castle vs Forest on USA at 9 am. American’s will face off Sat at 10 am on Peacock as Fulham & Robinson hosts Crystal Palace and Chris Richards. AC Milan w/Pulisic & Musah travel to Torino at Sat at 12 on Para+ in a must win, while Juve with Weah/Mckinney play Cagliari on CBS Golazo/Para+ at 2:45 pm on Sunday. MLS has LA vs Minn United on Fox at 4:30 pm Sat along with Miami vs NYCFC at 7:30 pm free on Apple TV.
Here’s a bullet-point rundown of the USMNT players whose clubs were in action this week (Monday through Thursday). Well, there were 13 Americans alive in Champions League on Monday, and now it’s down to just 6 (Dest, Tillman, Pepi, Ledezma, Reyna, and Cole Campbell). And of those six, Dest, Tillman, and Pepi are out injured, and Campbell hasn’t been involved with Dortmund’s first team squad in a while. So, it’s basically Reyna and Ledezma now.
I divided players by position groups (for me personally, that helps my depth-chart-oriented brain to process this information most usefully). Within position groups, players are listed in order of when their games took place.
Strikers
19-year-old Kristian Fletcher is on loan at Nottingham Forest from DC United. Fletcher scored for Forest’s U21s on Monday, making it three straight games with a goal.
Kristian Fletcher’s goal for Nottingham Forest’s U21s on Monday. Would prove to be the winner in a 1-0 win over Stoke.
Brenden Aaronson started and played 78 minutes for Leeds United in a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Elland Park on Monday. The game was 1-1 when Brenden came off the field, Leeds got the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Christian Pulisic started for AC Milan and played 63 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord on Tuesday. Pulisic sent in a near-perfect cross to set up Milan’s only goal. Milan lost 1-2 on aggregate, and are eliminated from Champions League.
DREAM START AT THE SAN SIRO!
Santi Giménez stays hot for Milan with a scrappy goal inside the first minute against his former club pic.twitter.com/q2tzmpq9go— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 18, 2025
Djordje Mihailovic played the full 90 in the Colorado Rapids’ 2-1 Concacaf Champions Cup win over LAFC on Tuesday, scoring both Colorado goals. First, a penalty, to open the scoring, and then an 80th-minute free kick that curled into the top corner to give the Rapids a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg (highlights).
Gio Reyna played 21 minutes off the bench for Borussia Dortmund in a 0-0 draw with Sporting CP on Wednesday. BVB advanced 3-0 on aggregate, and will continue their Champions League journey.
Cole Campbell was an unused sub for Dortmund against Sporting CP on Wednesday.
Tim Weah played all 120 minutes for Juventus in the 1-3 loss to PSV on Wednesday. Weah scored Juve’s only goal. The goal was initially ruled offside before eventually being given.
Taylor Booth subbed on in the 106th minute to play 15 minutes for Twente in a 2-5 loss to Bodø/Glimt on Thursday. Twente lost 4-6 on aggregate, and are out of Europa League.
Center mids
Gianluca Busio played 33 minutes off the bench for Venezia in their 0-2 loss at Genoa on Monday.
Yunus Musah started and played 83 minutes for AC Milan in their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord on Tuesday. Milan lost 1-2 on aggregate, and are knocked out of Champions League.
Weston McKennie played the full 120 minutes for Juventus in the 1-3 loss to PSV on Wednesday, as Juve bowed out of Champions League.
Benja Cremaschi played 11 minutes off the bench for Inter Miami in a 1-0 win over Sporting on Wednesday.
Johnny Cardoso played 31 minutes off the bench for Real Betis in a 0-1 loss to Gent. Betis won the tie 3-1 on aggregate, and are moving on to the next round of Conference League.
Fullbacks
Reggie Cannon started for the Colorado Rapids and was subbed out in the 90th minute of their 2-1 win over LAFC in Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday (highlights).
Sergiño Dest was not in PSV’s squad for their 3-1 win over Juventus on Wednesday, but he is back in training!
Richy Ledezma started for PSV and played 78 minutes in the 3-1 win over Juve on Wednesday. A report on X claimed that USMNT staff was at the match, primarily to scout Ledezma.
Center-backs
Cameron Carter-Vickers played the full 90 for Celtic in their 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich. Alphonso Davies’ goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time was enough to eke out a 3-2 aggregate win for Bayern, knocking Celtic out of Champions League.
Auston Trusty also played the full 90 for Celtic in the 1-1 draw with Bayern.
Jackson Ragen played the full 90 for the Seattle Sounders in the 3-1 away win over Antigua GFC on Wednesday.
Miles Robinson played the full 90 for FC Cincinnati in a 4-1 win over Motagua on Wednesday in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Matt Miazga tore his ACL in October, he missed the Motagua game. FotMob lists him as expected to return in late June.
Goalkeepers
Diego Kochen was an unused sub for FC Barcelona in their 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at home on Monday.
Drake Callender was not in Inter Miami’s squad for their 1-0 win over Sporting KC on Wednesday. The club stated that he wasn’t 100% fit, making him unavailable for this match, but he appeared to be fully participating in training. Miami signed 38-year-old Argentine ‘keeper Oscar Ustari in September; Ustari got the start against SKC and kept a clean sheet.
Roman Celentano played the full 90 for FC Cincinnati in the 4-1 win over Motagua on Wednesday, making 4 saves (and conceding the one goal, obviously).
What were your takeaways from this weekend? What changes would you make to the format of these articles? Hit the comments to discuss.
MLS Predictions from Around the Web
American’s Tim Weah (who scored) and Weston McKinney were rated the best players in Juve’s loss.
Promising Champions League for USMNT stars turns dire in a flash
A once-promising UEFA Champions League campaign for Americans took a gruesome turn in the playoff knockout phase of the new-look competition after AC Milan, Juventus and Celtic’s eliminations took out a half dozen U.S. internationals in the process.
Although Borussia Dortmund have two U.S. players on their squad and PSV have four, both Dortmund players are late-game options at best, while PSV’s three-high profile Americans are all injured. The fourth at PSV, Richy Ledezma, started again at right back in Wednesday’s extra-time ouster of Juventus, but the 24-year-old earned his only call-up to the senior national team in 2020 and maintains eligibility for Mexico.In the meantime, high-profile core stars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah and Weston McKennie are done with European competition this season, while Celtic center backs and U.S. hopefuls Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty also won’t be tested by the continent’s finest anymore following last-gasp elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich (and Canadian goal-scoring hero Alphonso Davies).The final blow came Wednesday, when PSV outlasted Juventus, 4-3 on aggregate. This was the second consecutive day in which an Eredivisie side knocked off a team from Serie A in dramatic fashion, following Feyenoord’s surprising triumph over Milan.
It appeared Juventus were on their way through in the 63rd minute, when Weah, playing as a right back as he often does for the club, ran onto a cleared corner kick and connected with power and precision from 25 yards out. The linesman initially called the sequence off, spotting an offside Juventus teammate on the initial corner kick, but VAR intervened and left the center official to deem that Kelly did not influence the play in any phase. The awarded goal allowed Weah to become the fifth USMNT player to score in this season’s Champions League.
Weah was impactful throughout his shift, but a 74th-minute goal from Ismael Saibari forced extra time, while Ryan Flamingo put the tie away in the 98th minute on a scramble in front of goal following a well-executed free kick. The result sees PSV through to the round of 16 instead of Juve and another abrupt ending for Americans in Europe following a largely prolific run through the league phase.
With comparatively little laying ahead for marquee USMNT members in the Champions League now – Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and Cole Campbell join the PSV quartet in the last 16 – it’s worth examining how the full contingent fared up until the playoff round, digging into the numbers and finding a relative standing.
Through Wednesday’s knockout playoff second legs, USMNT-eligible players have logged 5,009 minutes across 82 games, with 53 of those shifts coming as starts. When they played, every American player had a record of at least .500 – meaning their teams won at least as many games as they lost when they were involved.Entering the round of 16, USMNT-eligible players’ involvement ranged from Trusty, who logged 815 minutes with Celtic, to Dortmund’s latest Yankee youngster, Cole Campbell, who made one 13-minute cameo. Extra time in Eindhoven helped the group exceed 5,000 minutes of play, comfortably eclipsing the previous high of 3,985 minutes logged in 2021-22. A year earlier, Pulisic became the first American man to play in a Champions League final, helping Chelsea beat Manchester City in Porto. Barring a surprising run to the final by either PSV or Dortmund, he’s likely to retain that distinction into 2025-26.
Understandably, an uptick in playing time helped the group set another record for goals scored in the Champions League by Americans (13; Pulisic led all U.S. scorers with four), an impressive feat reached well before the competition’s final four rounds. For context, American players scored 12 Champions League goals in the previous four editions – combined.
This season’s efforts ehaven’t been garbage-time scoreline-padders, either. Three goals proved to be game-winners, with Pepi swinging matches for PSV with both of his successful strikes and McKennie making the difference for Juventus on one occasion. Tillman, who keyed a comeback vs. Shakhtar Donetsk that Pepi finished off, also swung a result, playing a needed assist to Flamingo during the league phase. Weah’s strike on Wednesday was undoubtedly meaningful, even if its impact was short-lived.
So where does that baker’s dozen place the U.S. in the national golden boot race? Unfortunately, quite far from the podium places — but in impressive standing when given proper context.
Through the tournament’s playoff round, players from the U.S. are tied for the 13th-highest goal return, at level standing with Norway. Ten contingents above them are UEFA-affiliated nations, while the other two (Brazil and Argentina) have long been assimilated into the European game’s highest levels. As such, the U.S. has provided the third-most goals to this year’s Champions League of any non-UEFA nation, while they’ve chipped in more than any country outside of Europe and South America. Japan is next with 12 goals, while Guinea, Nigeria and Morocco are tied at 10.The fellow 2026 World Cup cohosts are a little further down the hierarchy. Canada is tied for 22nd with nine, most recently Davies’ late decider against Celtic, while all six of Mexico’s goals came from Santiago Giménez. The only other goal scored by a Concacaf player came from César Blackman, with the Panama right back scoring once for ŠK Slovan Bratislava.Some rationale for the Americans’ success this year is the inevitable result of the game’s globalization – an increase in opportunities from players who hail from beyond UEFA’s nations.
The new Champions League format also increases the number of paths into the competition. Teams operating a rung below their nation’s title favorites can still claim one of a healthy number of berths into the tournament field — teams of Dortmund, Juventus and Milan’s caliber at present. There is also more consistent access to the tournament for the best teams of perceived second-tier competitions, like the ones often dominated by Celtic and PSV. Any team that reaches the league phase is guaranteed more games than they enjoyed in the old group-stage format, with every participant playing eight games before the first wave of elimination.Still, none of this makes this week’s trio of eliminations any easier to digest. Milan will feel especially disappointed, having nearly finished high enough in the league phase standings to skip the playoff altogether. Ultimately, a tumultuous season that necessitated a December coaching change extended into Europe. Juventus will also rue its missed chances on Wednesday, having been just over a quarter of an hour away from reaching the round of 16. And while Celtic was a mighty underdog in its clash with Bayern, the Scottish giant performed admirably and nearly forced extra time at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.As such, the USMNT’s best player (Pulisic), one of its most consistent attackers (Weah), two vital midfielders (McKennie and Musah) and two World Cup hopefuls at center back (Carter-Vickers and Trusty) are all left to watch the knockout bracket transpire like the rest of us.Perhaps Reyna has one last star contribution to make for Dortmund. Maybe Ledezma’s shifts at right back will work him into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. After a week like this, however, those silver linings are hard to spot. The U.S.’s best chances to have another prominent player reach the Champions League final have all failed to materialize.(Top photo: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
USMNT’s Christian Pulisic denies rift with Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao
Christian Pulisic has denied any fallout with Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao and described such suggestions as “unacceptable lies”.Conceicao replaced Paulo Fonseca as Milan head coach on December 30 and oversaw a busy January transfer window, when five players — including Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez and loan arrivals of Joao Felix and Kyle Walker — joined the club.
USMNT captain Pulisic has not started the club’s last two Serie A games against Hellas Verona and Empoli, but did play from the start in both of the side’s Champions League play-off games against Feyenoord — which the Italian side lost 2-1 on aggregate.Following suggestions in the Italian media that he had asked to leave the club at the end of the season after a supposed rift with the 50-year-old head coach after last month’s Champions League loss at Dinamo Zagreb, Pulisic has responded via Milan’s social media.“I have never argued with the coach and I have never asked to leave,” Pulisic, 26, said.“I am very happy at Milan and I want to continue wearing this shirt. Reading these lies is unacceptable, but let’s all continue to remain united and fight together on the pitch, for the club and for our fans.”Pulisic has made 33 appearances in total in all competitions this season, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists.Milan, who are seventh in Serie A, are back in action on Saturday with a league match away at Torino (Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
USWNT 2, Colombia 0: Macario scores in her return, Sentnor stuns with first goal
The U.S. women’s national team’s 2025 opened up with a 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win over Colombia in Houston on Thursday night. Chelsea midfielder Cat Macario and Utah Royals’ Ally Sentnor were the difference for the U.S., the latter scoring in her first start with the senior national team. With plenty of rotation and debuts expected across the friendly tournament from head coach Emma Hayes, and a starting XI that was missing some of the team’s biggest names, the victory was a promising start to what should prove to be a year of evaluation.
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Beyond the two goalscorers, midfielder Lily Yohannes had a statement performance, making her first start for the team. Her passing game out of the midfield directly led to Macario’s opening goal, and she proved her mettle defensively against a tough Colombia team. In the waning moments of stoppage time, she nearly connected with Lynn Biyendolo with a pass off the outside of her foot that had a solid chance of being the third goal.
While Hayes has promised that she will allow Yohannes to develop on her own schedule, the 17-year-old’s performance showed she’s perfectly capable of fighting for a more consistent starting role on the USWNT.
Catarina Macario marks her return to the USWNT with a goal against Colombia. (Jack Gorman / Getty Images)
Welcome back Catarina Macario
This has been Macario’s third reintroduction to the USWNT pool, and she took full advantage of the moment. It wasn’t a shock that the European-based players looked a little sharper from the jump on Thursday, but Macario’s connection with Yohannes was immediately promising for the U.S.Her first-half goal was the final touch on a well-worked sequence that started with Yohannes, who sent a ball to Yazmeen Ryan. Streaking in off the right wing to a more central position, Ryan only needed to square it to Macario, who smashed it home from close range. The goal was her first with the national team since April 12, 2022, a whopping 1,045 days.“I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders,” Macario told the TBS broadcast after the game. “Just so happy, so thrilled to be scoring for the national team again, to be playing again. … It means the whole world.”It was Macario’s first goal in three years. She missed the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics recovering from an ACL tear.
Macario offers so much more than goal scoring though. Colombia’s physicality didn’t throw her — a promising sign for Macario, who has grappled with injuries for so long — but it did limit her ability to create with the ball at her feet. As Just Women’s Sports reporter Claire Watkins pointed out during the game, Macario’s service on set pieces and corner kicks is something the USWNT could certainly benefit from. It could also potentially free up someone like Mal Swanson. With Megan Rapinoe’s retirement, the team could use a new dedicated set piece maestro, and Macario makes a compelling case.Macario exited in the 64th minute as Hayes continues to evaluate her pool of players. Is the Chelsea midfielder set for a repeat of her 2022 SheBelieves MVP performance? It’s probably going to come down to how many minutes she gets over the next week — but Thursday was a solid start for her 2025 campaign.
— Meg Linehan
Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her first goal for the U.S. women’s national team. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
Who is Ally Sentnor?
In a camp full of players looking to work into Hayes’ plans for the coming years, it’s important to make a lasting impression. Sentnor, 21, certainly made her mark on Tuesday, scoring a golazo early in the second half to put the U.S. ahead 2-0.
This year has hardly started, but she arguably submitted the highlight of her budding career in the 60th minute against Colombia on Thursday. Collecting a pass through the midfield from Tara McKeown, Sentnor beat one opponent on her dribble, then a second, as she cut from the left half-space into the central channel. From there, she looked up and saw an opening, uncorking a knuckling shot from over 25 yards out that caught Colombia goalkeeper Katherine Tapia flat-footed as it curled into the far upper corner.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who was Sports Illustrated’s SportsKid of the Year in 2019, a year before USC basketball star JuJu Watkins, played collegiately with the vaunted North Carolina Tar Heels, overcoming a torn ACL in her freshman year to earn first-team All-ACC honors in her two seasons before going pro. She became the final player taken first overall in the NWSL’s draft before it was eliminated in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, landing with the Utah Royals.In 2024, Sentnor kept on shooting. Utah needed her to step up from the opening whistle of its first match, as the club thrust her into a starring role. She relished the responsibility, tapping into the bag of tricks she worked to refine as a youth player. As she told the TBS broadcast, her diminutive size forced her to hone in on her technique, both in terms of dribbling and shooting quickly with power before her opposing mark could contain her.Sentnor kept busy as a rookie, finishing ninth among all NWSL players by attempting 68 shots in 1,866 minutes. She also played a key role for the United States at the U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals en route to a bronze medal finish last year, the nation’s best showing at the tournament since 2012. She was a deserving winner of U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year award and earned two senior team appearances late in the year to cap a memorable year.
It was only her first start for Hayes’ side, but with her unpredictable ingenuity, Sentnor is bound to get a few more looks in this tournament and beyond. Two days after celebrating her birthday, it was a performance she and fans won’t soon forget.
— Jeff Rueter
Lily Yohannes earns her first start for the U.S. against Colombia. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
The Lily Yohannes era begins
Last year, Yohannes made history, becoming the third-youngest goalscorer in USWNT history. The then-16-year-old midfielder, playing against South Korea in a June friendly, calmly slotted the ball through a congested penalty box and into the net at Allianz Field. Although she didn’t score again on Thursday, her composure on the ball made her an undeniable standout.
The Ajax midfielder made her first start for Hayes in the SheBelieves Cup, donning the number 11 shirt in Sophia Wilson’s absence. It was Yohannes who sparked the sequence leading to Macario’s opening goal, spraying an inch-perfect lobbed pass into Ryan’s path.
Throughout the rest of her shift, she played with control and poise beyond her 17 years. Playing as the chief line-breaker behind Sentnor, Lindsey Heaps, and Ryan, Yohannes continually slotted the ball between Colombian midfielders and defenders. It wasn’t a case of an opponent being oblivious to one repeated trick, either. There were more lobbed balls over the back line and into the wings, as well as through balls rolling up the half-space hit with the outside of her foot and swift first-touch passes to pry the ball off an opponent’s boot.
For the fans who toughed out a brisk night in Houston, it was a display that radiated plenty of promise.
— Rueter
Tara McKeown makes her USWNT debut against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. (Maria Lysaker / Getty Images)
Trying out new players
Center backs aren’t often expected to rack up assists from the run of play. Their passing is often limited to short-range circulation, while a healthy portion of their passes are speculative launches that, statistically more often than not, miss their intended target.
As one veteran defender told me years ago: “I’m well aware I’m the last player fans pay to see on the ball.” Making her USWNT debut, Tara McKeown provided a compelling counterargument to that point.
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Earning her first senior cap as part of the starting lineup, McKeown played the ball that let Sentnor wreak havoc through Colombia’s midfield en route to her long-range goal. In the hour preceding that sequence, the Washington Spirit defender was tested often by Colombia, with Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez looking particularly eager to test the 25-year-old. The United States’ clean sheet speaks for itself, with McKeown and center back partner Emily Sonnett also keeping possession moving whenever the ball went their way. It was a fine showing that warrants subsequent looks.
Also making her debut, Gisele Thompson came on in the 76th minute. The Angel City left back made her club debut last year, joining her older sister (United States winger Alyssa) to kick off her professional career. By the time she joined the action, the scoreline was already 2-0 with neither team showing the same attacking verve that typified the game’s middle half-hour. With new Arsenal signing Jenna Nighswonger getting the start, we could see Thompson make one of Hayes’ two remaining starting lineups at the SheBelieves Cup.
— Rueter
What’s next?
In the first match of the SheBelieves Cup, Japan throttled Australia with a 4-0 victory. Royals forward Mina Tanaka was a standout, scoring a brace and adding an assist in the win. Thanks to the goal differential, Japan is currently atop the table for the tournament, followed by the U.S.
HOUSTON—For Catarina Macario, the euphoria she felt makes the moment hard to remember.Seventeen-year-old Lily Yohannes had just floated the ball to fellow striker Yazmeen Ryan, who only needed a simple touch to put the ball exactly where Macario knew she needed to be. In one swift motion, Macario shot the ball past Colombia’s goalkeeper, finding the back of the net like she’d done countless times before. This time, though, was special.Macario’s return to the pitch is, of course, a significant milestone. The team’s overall performance against Colombia is also another, as Hayes continues to emphasize player development and experimenting with their roster.The sequence between Yohannes, Ryan and Macario was the first time the trio had played together in a competitive setting. Despite their limited experiences during practice, their chemistry offered a promising glimpse into the possibilities that lay ahead for the national team and its growing player pipeline.“That’s what I was most proud of tonight,” Hayes said. “The team kept really good structure considering they haven’t played together before. What I’ve learned from coaching is, the better structured your teams are, especially at the higher level, the better they feel about expressing themselves within it – but you have to give them that foundation.”
Hayes was happy with the performance (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
That foundation appears to be bubbling.
Macario’s goal in the 33rd minute came just as the U.S. was finding its footing on the pitch against Colombia. This momentum continued into the second half, punctuated by Ally Sentnor scoring the team’s second goal in the 60th minute. This marked her first international goal, from an assist by Tara McKeown, who also enjoyed her national team debut that night.
“I felt it was a really important goal to really help us finish off the game,” said captain Emily Sonnett, who was honored for her 100th cap ahead of the game. “But I think that just really speaks to the younger players who are coming in, coming off the bench, but also how deep the pool is right now.”
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When Sentnor scored from outside the box, universal joy was evident on the players’ faces. The stadium erupted as players embraced the 21-year-old. Macario’s smile was so wide it was as if she had just scored another goal, too.
“That’s such a big moment,” Macario said. “Whenever anyone scores the first goal for the national team, that’s unforgettable.”
Macario exited the match four minutes later, with an emotional Hayes embracing her for her own unforgettable moment.
Hayes recalled telling her: “Everybody is super happy, super proud, and I’m sure everybody back in Chelsea is, too.”
Happy New Year – The Ole Ballcoach is back! Sorry I needed a solid Holiday break. But now that the US is playing this weekend and Champions League is back I figured its time to get back to it.
US MLS Only Team faces Venezuela Sat 3 pm on TNT, Telemundo and Max
A full MSL squad of mostly youngsters on hand for Poch as they face Venezuela on Saturday during the January Camp for the US. While Europe is going full speed – this is a fine time to get the MLS players together in camp and see if 1 or 2 can make a name for themselves. I like defenders Neal in the middle and Tolkin at left back to battle for inclusion on the full team soon while Luan and Mcglynn also have a chance to show something. Worth the watch just to see the youngsters I guess. Here’s my guess on starters.
Champions League Starts back up Tues/Wed
So it certainly has been an interesting Champions League we enter game 7 and the teams fight for those top 8 valued buy slots and top 24 overall in hopes of continued playing. Champions League Standings thru 6 games full schedule below. I will update UCL Stories on Sunday.
My Dinner on the Way home from Training at the Badger Indoor Facility Thursday night was a Bowl of Brunswick Stew from Racks BarBQ in Carmel on the corner of 131st Street & Hazelldell Parkway. Tell em the Ole Ballcoach Sent you and get 20% off!! Grab some Ribs and Pork and Stew on the way home from Training or Winter Indoor League at the Badger Fieldhouse. You won’t regret it !!
Brunswick Stew from Racks BBQ in Carmel
Huge congrats to our Carmel FC 2009 Boys coached by Jeremy Slivinski for their fine showing at the Disney Showcase in late December as they just missed the Championship round by 1pt after a 1-1-1 mark against some of the best teams in the Southeast.
10 am USA West Ham vs Crystal Palace (Richards, Turner)
10 am peacock Leicester City vs Fulham (Robinson)
10 am peacock Brentford vs Liverpool
11:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach vs Bremen
12 noon Para, Fox D Juventus (McKennie & Weah) vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
12:30 pm USA Arsenal vs Aston Villa
12:30 pm ESPN+ Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach (Scally)
2:45 pm CBS Galazo Atalanta vs Napoli
3 pm ESPN+ Getafe vs Barcelona
3 pm TNT. Tele USA Men vs Venezuela (Friendly)
6 pm FS1 FC Juerez vs Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
10 pm Apple ? Inter Miami vs America
Sun, Jan 19
9 am USA Everton vs Tottenham
9 am PEacock Man U vs Brighton
9 am peacock N Forest vs Southampton
10:!5 pm am ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Palmas
11:30 pm USA Ipwich Town vs Man City
2:45 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Empoli
Mon, Jan 20
3 pm USA Chelsea vs Wolverhampton
12:45 pm Para+ Monaco vs Aston Villa
Tues, Jan 21 Champions League
12:45pm Para+ Atalanta vs Sturm Graz
3 pm Para+Liverpool v Lille
3 pm Para+ Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Leverkusen
3 pm Para+ Bologna vs Dortmund (Reyna)
3 pm Para+ Red Star Belgrade vs PSV (Pepi, Tllman)
3 pm Para_+ Club Brugge vs Juventus (McKennie & Weah)
3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Barcelona
Wed, Jan 22 Champions League
12:45 pm Para+,TUDN RB Leipzig vs Sporting CP
12:45 pm Para+ Shakhtar vs Brest
3 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Girona
3 pm Para+ Celtic (CCV) vs Young Boys
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Dortmund UCL
3 pm Para+ Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb UCL
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg UCL
3 pm Para+ PSG vs Man City
7 pm TNT US Men vs Costa Rica friendly
Thur, Jan 23 Europa
12:45 pm CBSSN Porto vs olympiakos
12:45 pm Para+ offenhiem vs Tottenham
3 pm Para+ TUDN Man United vs Rangers
3 pm Para+ Fenervbahce vs Man United
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What a Fantastic Year Jedi Robinson is having for Fulham – 3rd in the league in Assists the Fulham captain with 9 from Left Back. Rumors rampant that a January transfer might be in order – Liverpool perhaps. Only if he’s guaranteed to play for me .
USMNT’s Christian Pulisic avoids injury, scans reveal no muscle tear
USMNT captain Christian Pulisic has avoided injury after being substituted off with muscle fatigue on Tuesday.Pulisic was substituted off at the break for Milan during their Serie A match at Como, having appeared to sustain an injury to his left calf area, but scans on Wednesday ruled out a muscle tear.The former Chelsea winger was seen clutching the back of his leg after a collision with Como defender Marc-Oliver Kempf just before half-time. The American received a kick to his left calf and immediately signaled to the bench that he needed to be substituted. He was replaced at the break by Alex Jimenez.Pulisic is having a productive season for Milan, with his 10 goals and seven assists from 23 appearances both team highs. The 26-year-old sustained an injury to his right calf in early December that kept him out for around a month and caused him to miss five games for his club.Pulisic returned on January 3 and helped his side win 2-1 against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup semi-final, scoring a penalty. He also scored in the 3-2 victory over rivals Inter in the final as Milan lifted the trophy for an eighth time.Pulisic’s international team-mate Yunus Musah was introduced as a half-time substitute during the Como game, which Milan won 2-1. That victory lifts Sergio Conceicao’s side to seventh in the Serie A table, five points behind fourth-placed Lazio.Milan’s next game comes against fifth-placed Juventus on Saturday.
It’s mid-January which can only mean one thing, time for a USMNT friendly which generally has little consequence and even littler attendance. Ah yes, January camp. It will be Mauricio Pochettino’s first foray into the wild world of friendlies that the national team participates in outside of FIFA windows. Over the years there has been much said about why this is a valuable or useless exercise.
On the valuable side there’s the idea that it gives MLS players who might be in the national team picture a chance to get into shape ahead of the domestic season. There’s also the fact that it’s a chance for the manager to call in players who otherwise wouldn’t get a close of a look with the national team so he can evaluate them during their club offseason. Poch will also be able to evaluate how his tactics will work with players he typically wouldn’t call in against teams whose manager is evaluating how his tactics will work with players he typically wouldn’t call in. Plus, it’s fun [sic] to watch soccer on a sleepy January afternoon.
The useless exercise argument boils down to – basically the same points as to why it might be valuable. That got a new wrinkle this week as Jurgen Klinsmann said words about why the federation scheduled the kinda cynical cash grab camp in the first place. As for this camp, the USA finds itself taking on Venezuela in the first match. The roster includes a lot of talented and promising young players, at the very least, and a few veterans to set the tone. While it might seem that the match is something of a… whatever Klinsmann described it as, there are some players worth paying attention to.
Matko Miljevic was a surprise inclusion not only because his performance in MLS and more recently in Argentina was subpar, but also because he holds the distinction of being banned from a Canadian indoor soccer league for punching a guy while under contract with CF Montreal. MLS barely tolerates players having health conditions so his contract was terminated. He moved to Newell’s and his play there sees him now out of contract. Poch is doing him a bit of a favor by including him so it will be interesting to see if he gets any playing time as an attacker or otherwise does anything ignominious on the pitch. Attacking midfielder Diego Luna is another player to keep an eye on during this window. He’s coming off of a breakout year and took home Young Player of the Year for Real Salt Lake. Luna had 8g/12a in 2219 minutes and is a player with solid potential should he continue to improve his game.
Tactically, the USA should manage to keep a lion’s share of the possession. That means watching to see how the team might break Venezuela down could very well be the main aspect of the game to pay attention to. Otherwise, expect some new faces and a bunch of subs as the game goes on.
The 2026 World Cup is 17 months away. Nations around the world are in the thick of qualification, hoping to secure a place in the expanded 48-team field. Meanwhile, as one of three automatically qualified host nations, the United States men’s national team is using this time to maximize their home advantage.
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Since Mauricio Pochettino took the helm of the USMNT in September, he’s had two camps to size up several World Cup hopefuls. His squads in October and November had considerable overlap, with several mainstays looking like World Cup certainties, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson.
His squad for the January camp skews far more speculatively as the Argentine surveys the depth of his player pool, with games on Saturday against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday and on January 22 against Costa Rica in Orlando.
More than a dozen spots are seemingly set in stone but don’t discount the chance of a late riser crashing the World Cup squad. At this point in 2013, few would have projected that Jürgen Klinsmann’s roster in Brazil the following year would include John Brooks, Julian Green or DeAndre Yedlin. Likewise, Gregg Berhalter’s squad for Qatar in 2022 included a couple of players (Joe Scally and Haji Wright) with minimal international experience.
Julian Green’s selection in 2014 stunned many but he scored against Belgium in the round of 16. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Internationally, Theo Walcott came from nowhere to be picked for England in 2006, Samuel Eto’o was a raw newcomer for Cameroon in 1998, and Pele was unknown to the wider world when he destroyed the field as a 17-year-old in 1958, leading Brazil to its first title.
In that spirit, here are a dozen players who haven’t debuted for the USMNT but have an outside chance of piquing Pochettino’s interest. Realistically, only one or two (if any) of these players will make the squad for the 2026 World Cup. Considering the hardship the team endured in 2024, any player who could raise the overall level can’t be discounted — and remember, things move quickly in international soccer.
It’s all an open tryout, with every action for club and country being closely assessed.
(Players participating in this year’s January camp are indicated with an asterisk (*) by their name upon first mention.)
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Forwards
The state of the forward roles is healthier than four years ago. Pulisic and Tim Weah have cemented themselves as dependable first-choice options on the flanks. After the 2022 cycle was headlined by struggles at center forward, the striker pool now has several players starting regularly and scoring often — Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Brandon Vazquez and Wright, who can also play out wide.
Nevertheless, the depth on both wings is concerningly thin. We can’t overlook alternatives at center forward, either. In-form strikers have previously landed on USMNT World Cup squads, including Herculez Gomez, Robbie Findley and Edson Buddle in 2010, before Chris Wondolowski made the cut in 2014.
Patrick Agyemang* is among the most intriguing members of Pochettino’s squad for January camp. The 24-year-old had led the line for Charlotte FC in 2024 with downhill determination and impressive finishing. No MLS player was more direct in possession, as 34.3% of his 338 carries made it at least five yards closer to goal. He also outperformed his expected goals (xG) by +1.74, finishing the regular season with 10 goals and five assists. He is a rung below the favoured quintet of USMNT strikers, but Agyemang has a unique skill set that works well against a low defensive block and is less reliant on accurate crossing service.
Patrick Agyemang has intriguing potential. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The established forward pool includes a few players who regularly look to get on the ball, including Pulisic and Gio Reyna (who will hopefully play more as a No. 10 instead of out wide). That leaves a need for confident off-ball operators who can collect long passes on the wing and allow the team’s top goalscoring options to get into dangerous areas to collect the next ball. Two uncapped options fit that profile, albeit with some differences in their approaches.
Since Balogun committed to the USMNT in 2023, few multi-national eligible players have been more coveted for this program than Luca Koleosho. The 20-year-old winger, born in Connecticut to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother, could have four options for his senior international career. All but Nigeria have called Koleosho into a youth camp.
Koleosho is a consistent starter for Burnley in the English Championship. He has mostly been used on the right but can operate on either flank and, while his end product still requires refinement, the less glamorous parts of his job come naturally. He carries the ball well (as illustrated above), can dribble past opponents with ease and is excellent at receiving passes in danger positions. He hasn’t committed his international future but playing in a North American World Cup under Pochettino is a sweet sales pitch.
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Griffin Yow is another capable off-ball operator, and has a bit more polish than Koleosho. Yow, 22, was a member of the 2024 Olympic squad and is regularly involved with Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League. He is a confident shooter, taking 3.2 attempts per 90 minutes over the past 12 months, and offers proactive front-line defending — vital for closing out a game.
Midfielders
McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah are regulars for their clubs, making midfield the strongest area of Pochettino’s squad. Several alternatives have established themselves in the pool, most notably Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre, Malik Tillman and Aidan Morris. However, injuries have plagued several of these options, and a more specialized alternative could come in handy.
Daniel Edelmanwas a surprise omission from the Olympic squad, having captained the under-20s to a 2022 CONCACAF Championship triumph that secured a place in the field. Nevertheless, 2024 was a strong year for Edelman, who came through the New York Red Bulls youth system. He became a consistent midfield anchor as the team returned to MLS Cup for the first time since 2008. Tidy in possession and tireless out of it (as illustrated in the graphic below), he could provide cover at defensive midfield.
Emeka Eneli* had a breakout second season with Real Salt Lake, finding a true home in defensive midfield after initially playing as a full back. His passing kept RSL whirring and he also provided a proactive defensive presence. At 25, he’ll need to make a strong first impression to reach the World Cup. He could emulate the mid-career breakthrough path previously taken by another RSL midfielder, Kyle Beckerman.
Few American players made more headlines in 2024 than the Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan, who broke Freddy Adu’s record as the youngest player to make an MLS appearance after signing a pre-agreement with Manchester City. He’s still a prospect, having made three MLS appearances while spending most of his time in MLS Next Pro.
Cavan Sullivan’s youth and inexperience make him a World Cup longshot. (Caean Couto/USA Today)
Still, Sullivan has been appraised to have as high a ceiling as any player in the pool, nearing a level previously hit by Pulisic and Reyna. If — and it’s a big if — Sullivan is selected, he could be in line to make some World Cup history. He will be 16 years and 256 days old when the tournament kicks off, and any appearance would make him the first man to appear in a World Cup before their 17th birthday. The current record holder is Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who scored in a victory against Spain in 1982, days after making his tournament debut at 17 years and 40 days. Last summer’s remarkable European Championship performances from Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 during the event’s final week, have put youthful excellence firmly in the spotlight.
Perhaps more likely is that Cavan’s older brother Quinn Sullivan cracks the rotation in time for the tournament. While his younger sibling commanded more attention, Quinn, 20, was among Philadelphia’s best players. He scored five goals and added 11 assists (eight from open play, illustrated below), with the latter figure leading all MLS players under 21.
He’s in direct competition with Reyna, Tillman and Brenden Aaronson, but shouldn’t be counted out if he continues to refine his approach in the final third.
Defenders
While the midfield is teeming with options, the USMNT’s defensive depth chart is concerningly lean by comparison. Ironically, only left back — the weakest position for decades — seems has a clear starter and one or two established backups.
The program’s lack of depth at right back was exposed in 2024, as Sergiño Dest’s injury left the USMNT short at the Copa America. The senior team has a few established center backs — including Chris Richards, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tim Ream and Auston Trusty — but its dearth of young up-and-comers influenced under-23s coach Marko Mitrović to use two over-age spots in the position (Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman) at the Olympics.
George Campbell* will partner with new club teammate Jalen Neal (who has six caps) as part of the January camp, with Neal being acquired by CF Montréal last week. Campbell logged nearly 2,300 minutes as Montréal finished ninth in the East and was solid (35th among MLS defenders with 900 minutes or more) in the ratio of aerial duels he won. Campbell also performed above average with his tackling win rate, and his short-passing acumen could help fit into a possession-heavy game model.
Another option from MLS is Jackson Ragen, a finalist for MLS’ defender of the year award in a breakthrough season with the Seattle Sounders. Ragen is a steady bedrock, winning 67% of his aerial duels while being more difficult to dribble past than most in his position. The 26-year-old is also adept at consistently breaking lines with his passes and is a threat to win headers on set pieces.
Although uncommitted internationally, Anrie Chase could bolster the position group if he elects to represent the U.S. instead of Japan. The 20-year-old center back has broken through with Stuttgart this season, logging 734 minutes in the Bundesliga and 138 in the Champions League. Chase is a very good ball-playing defender (as illustrated below) who has performed around the league average defensively.
Although he has represented Japan at youth levels, Chase told Sportiva that he “(hasn’t) ruled out the possibility” of representing the United States.
While Antonee Robinson is arguably the best left back in this season’s Premier League and is capably backed up by Kristoffer Lund, securing Nathaniel Brown’s international future would benefit the pool. The German American has started regularly for Eintracht Frankfurt since early November, scoring three goals and registering three assists in 10 Bundesliga appearances at left wing back. He has been no defensive slouch in this (relatively small) sample, either, and could be a worthy understudy beneath Robinson.
Considering the lack of alternatives to Dest, perhaps it’s time to right historical wrongs and look at Ryan Hollingshead. Among the finest American players to never feature for the USMNT, the 33-year-old has probably been the best right back in MLS since joining LAFC in 2022. He can also provide cover on the left, and can carry the ball on either flank (below).
He’s as much of a longshot as anyone on this list (save, perhaps, for Cavan Sullivan), but a grizzled veteran finally getting his chance is the stuff of Hollywood.
goalkeepers
The age of excellent bald American goalkeepers is long behind us, with eight years having passed since Tim Howard’s international retirement. Worryingly, the better-coiffed successors to Howard have struggled to find regular action at a high level. Matt Turner has made just two appearances on loan at Crystal Palace (both in cup competition). Gabriel Slonina’s loan at third-division Barnsley was cut short due to a finger injury and he is back at Chelsea. Ethan Horvath was replaced in Cardiff City’s lineup in early September.This position feels concerningly close to being an open competition. While Patrick Schulte* will hope to add to his two caps this month, a couple of uncapped alternatives also warrant examination.
Matt Freese* was among the best goalkeepers of any nationality in the 2024 MLS season, helping New York City FC outlast Cincinnati in the playoffs, including some shootout heroics. Freese “prevented” 11.1 goals compared to the xG on target he faced, trailing only goalkeeper of the year Kristijan Kahlina. He still has some work to do to claim crosses, and his new club coach (Pascal Jansen) didn’t ask his goalkeepers to play many short passes at AZ, but he has a similar profile to Turner and has fared far better than Zack Steffen in the same league.
The successor to Slonina in Chicago, Chris Brady made strides to improve his cross-stopping approach in 2024 during another poor season for the Fire. He also refined his approach in possession playing out of the back (above), and figures to further that development under new Fire coach (and former USMNT boss) Gregg Berhalter. Brady won’t turn 21 until March, but may be closer to more regular senior international involvement than Slonina.
Other uncapped ‘keepers to watch include Roman Celentano, who is a starter for perennial contender Cincinnati and is a dependable shot-stopper, and Diego Kochen, who is now first-choice for Barcelona Atletic (the club’s B team) and among the most promising teenage ‘keepers in the world.
(Top photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
USMNT’s next opponent Venezuela: Where sports and politics intertwine
On Saturday, the U.S. men’s national team will face Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The friendly is an opportunity for the United States to build positive momentum under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino. With the 2026 World Cup finals, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico, a little over a year away, Pochettino will look to identify squad alternatives from a group of players with little fanfare.
For the visiting South Americans, the match comes amid intense political upheaval back home. Last week, Venezuela’s autocratic president Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for another six-year term, despite accusations that he stole the latest election. Opposition leaders Edmundo Gonzalez (forced into exile in Spain) and Maria Corina Machado (recently detained and then released by Maduro’s security force) have urged Venezuelans to continue to fight for their freedom.
Venezuela’s dream of qualifying for its first-ever senior World Cup is still alive. Now they must balance their ambition to play on the sport’s biggest stage with the stinging reality of the country’s future.
(Editor’s note: The story below was originally published on Oct. 8, 2024)
As Venezuela gleefully navigated their way towards the 2024 Copa America quarterfinals in the United States, playing attacking and fearless football, the players’ South American homeland was bubbling with tension amid heightened political turmoil.A democratic election was set to take place on July 28 in which Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro would face a formidable challenge from the country’s opposition party. There was hope that a fair election would finally take place in Venezuela.The country has been gripped by the left-wing populist ideology that Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, have used to rule since 1999.For an even longer period, the men’s national soccer team has been a source of disappointment.Venezuela has never qualified for a senior World Cup, and the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF), which has for decades been riddled with corruption, has failed to maximize opportunities for the sport to grow there. The occasional run of good form and some positive results against South America’s giants have always been overshadowed by Venezuela’s penchant for poor performances in World Cup qualifying and Copa America.In a country where baseball is far and away the most popular sport, football/soccer has always teetered on the edge of obscurity. But recently, by way of a young and energetic team, Venezuela had gotten up off the proverbial mat.
Venezuela’s Yordan Osorio celebrates victory against Jamaica at the Copa America (Aric Becker / AFP via Getty Images)
When the Copa America kicked off in mid-June, Venezuela were seen as a dangerous side with nothing to lose.Led by Argentine manager Fernando Batista, the side known as La Vinotinto, because of their wine-red home kit, won a group that included Mexico, Ecuador and Jamaica. Venezuelan expats in the United States followed the team feverishly, many of them crying tears of joy as Batista’s side battled their way into the knockout stage.The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, has been expanded to 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history. Six of South America’s 10 nations will qualify automatically. The side finishing seventh will take part in a six-team intercontinental play-off tournament, from which two sides will earn the right to play at the World Cup.This new format has potentially opened the door for Venezuela to finally qualify for football’s biggest international competition.
Venezuela began qualifying last September with a 1-0 loss against Colombia, but then earned wins over Chile (3-0) and Paraguay (1-0), and an inspired 1-1 draw with Brazil.Two more draws, at home against Ecuador (0-0) and away to Peru (1-1), temporarily placed Venezuela within the automatic qualifying berths. But ‘Mano tengo fe’ (‘Brother, I have faith’) not only became a rallying cry for Venezuelan supporters of their national team, it also gave those who yearn for political change in the country hope that their voices and votes would be heard.
Protesters against the Maduro regime take to the streets of Venezuelan capital Caracas in July (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Venezuela were knocked out of the Copa America quarterfinals by Canada on penalties on July 5. Three weeks later, violence erupted throughout Venezuela following the elections on July 28.Maduro claimed victory, and his third consecutive term, despite the Democratic Unitary Platform’s (PUD) outright negation of the results. The PUD then announced their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, had earned 70 per cent of the vote, a landslide win. But the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled Maduro the winner. Before the election, Maduro had warned of a “bloodbath” if he lost. That came to fruition even as he celebrated his controversial victory, as clashes connected to protests led to the deaths of at least 23 people. Following the election, governments around the world refused to recognize Maduro’s win, urging the president to allow the democratic process to take place.Instead, Maduro made threats and jailed protestors and opposition leaders. Four journalists were detained by Venezuelan authorities and charged with terrorism. They all face up to 30 years in prison.
Venezuela’s National Guard move in to quell protests in Caracas in July (Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images)
Also arrested was Carlos Chancellor, 64, father of Venezuela national-team defender Jhon Chancellor.
The elder Chancellor is a local opposition leader who, according to reports in Venezuela, was the first political prisoner of Chavez.The arrest of Chancellor senior brought to light the close ties between football and politics in the country. In Venezuela, it was suggested by local reporters and opposition leaders that national team players were asked by the FVF to not comment on the election or Chancellor’s situation on social media. The FVF has yet to respond having been asked to confirm those reports.A scan of several of the current squad’s social media accounts lent credence to that suggestion, as players stayed away from Chancellor’s situation and merely posted support for Venezuela as a country rather than a particular political party. Jhon Chancellor, currently playing for Ecuadorean side CD Universidad Catolica, has not commented on his father’s arrest. His official presentation as Catolica’s new signing, however, was postponed when news first broke of his father’s detention.Americo De Grazia, a former government official and a close ally of Carlos Chancellor, first revealed details of the arrest on August 7. “The dictatorship maintains its repression,” De Grazia posted on X. “Maduro remains standing with bullets, not votes.”
Jhon Chancellor (centre) warms up before the Copa America quarterfinal against Canada (Omar Vega/Getty Images)De Grazia himself was detained a day later and, after being reported missing by his family, his daughter revealed he had been taken to Venezuela’s notorious prison El Helicoide. De Grazia has not been heard from since.One Venezuela-based football reporter — who requested anonymity to protect his identity out of fear of reprisals by Maduro’s government — told The Athletic that, upon hearing of Chancellor’s arrest and disappearance, he did not post about it on social media because “doing so is like putting a knife to my throat. The police would be outside of my house 20 minutes after posting that”.Asked about the status of the elder Chancellor’s situation and the silence that followed, the same reporter said that it’s a difficult subject to broach. “That’s a question that the entire country wants answered,” the reporter said regarding Chancellor’s arrest.Venezuelan members of the press tend to avoid asking players, coaches and FVF officials questions related to Maduro to avoid any consequences.
“I don’t think a Venezuelan reporter will dare ask (Batista) or a player a question about the current situation in the country,” the reporter said. “There’s fear, but we have to continue to do our job. I was raised under Chavisimo (the Chavez regime), so I understand all of this, but I’ve never seen it like this. There has always been repression, but not like people being taken from their homes because of a tweet.”
President Nicolas Maduro speaks to his supporters in Caracas in July (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
The 61-year-old Maduro has been accused by the opposition in Venezuela of ruling like a dictator since becoming president in 2013.
In 2020, he and 14 other Venezuelan government officials were charged by the U.S. government with corruption, drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and other criminal offences stemming from Maduro’s connections to Colombia’s leftist terrorist group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
“Today we announce criminal charges against Nicolas Maduro Moros for running, together with his top lieutenants, a narco-terrorism partnership with the FARC for the past 20 years,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S Berman in a statement at the time. Maduro responded on X by accusing the U.S. and Colombian governments of conspiring to “fill Venezuela with violence”.
However, Maduro, to those who support him, is a loyal patriot.
He is also an avid sports fan and has had allies within Venezuela’s sporting organizations for years, including the FVF. The football federation’s senior vice-president, Pedro Infante, is a former Maduro-aligned congressman and the country’s ex-minister of sport. In September, Infante was among 16 Maduro allies sanctioned by the U.S. government in response to voter fraud following the recent elections.Nevertheless, the FVF is enjoying a resurgence as the country’s political strife worsens. Federation president Jorge Gimenez, 37, whose tenure began in 2021, was re-elected in April through to 2028. He ran unopposed. Gimenez is a well-known construction entrepreneur and former president of the Venezuelan club Deportivo Lara.He is widely responsible for regaining the trust of private investors and corporate sponsors after the federation was embroiled in the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal, which resulted in the arrest and trial of former FVF president Rafael Esquivel. He pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to seven counts of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy and was later banned for life by FIFA’s ethics committee.“We can have a debate about that private capital, but there has been a modernization of the Venezuelan Football Federation,” said Esteban Rojas, a Caracas-based journalist who covers football for AFP News Agency. “Today, there’s stability within the federation that was non-existent in years past. Before, there was an open war for control.”
Venezuela’s football setup has made significant strides since Gimenez took over. The country hosted the 2024 men’s Pre-Olympic tournament last winter, although Venezuela failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in France.
The senior team has grown younger, though, and the federation has expanded its scouting network beyond the nation’s borders by recruiting players from abroad with Venezuelan heritage. Securing Batista as manager was seen as an astute decision by Gimenez after dismissing former head coach Jose Pekerman in 2023. Batista was an assistant on Pekerman’s staff and is a respected developer of young talent.
Fernando Batista (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
Still, Gimenez has his own links to Maduro — a worrying sign the FVF may not be free of the latter’s influence. Gimenez, through various businesses he owns, also has ties to the PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil and natural gas company. His allegiance to the current regime became public in 2020 when he was a passenger on a private jet that flew from Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, to its Spanish equivalent Madrid with several government officials, including Maduro’s vice-president Delcy Rodriguez, aboard. Gimenez has not commented publicly regarding his participation in that trip.
Then, last December, during an event at the Palacio de Miraflores, the headquarters of the Venezuelan government, Maduro introduced Gimenez as “the one responsible for taking us to the 2026 World Cup”.
“I always tell the national teams that you’re the silent godfather of the Vinotinto,” Gimenez replied. “You’ll become the first president to take Venezuela to a World Cup.”Late last month, Rojas asked Gimenez how the federation would be impacted following news of Infante’s sanctioning by the U.S. government. “FIFA and CONMEBOL have not taken a stance,” Gimenez replied. “Everything stays the same for us. What’s important is that we enjoy football and leave politics aside.”But football and politics are one and the same in Venezuela.
A man walks past a mural depicting President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina are Venezuela’s next World Cup qualifying opponents, with Thursday’s match set for the 52,000-seat Estadio Maturin, Venezuela’s largest stadium.With diplomatic relations strained between Maduro’s government and Argentina’s right-wing administration — Maduro has prohibited Argentine aircraft from flying above Venezuelan airspace — Lionel Messi and the defending world champions will train in the U.S. before the match, at MLS club Inter Miami’s facilities in Fort Lauderdale.And all of this backdrop coincides with Venezuela’s recent dip in form.The team have not scored in their last two qualifying matches, including a 4-0 defeat away to Bolivia, and are winless since defeating Jamaica 3-0 in their final group match of the Copa America. After initially rubbing shoulders with Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay in the CONMEBOL standings, Venezuela are now sixth on 10 points, just a point ahead of Paraguay and Bolivia.After facing Argentina, Venezuela will travel to Asuncion for a pivotal away match against the resurgent Paraguayans next Tuesday (early Wednesday UK time).The dream of qualifying for their first World Cup is still alive, and the faith that Venezuelans have remains strong, but their confidence is shaken.While the opposition party continues to dispute the election result, and with peace still elusive, the stakes have never been higher for the Vinotinto.
(Top photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Emma Hayes’ priorities for a busy USWNT camp. Plus, Marta’s back in Orlando
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic’s weekly women’s soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox.
Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan. It was a difficult week for many, especially those in Los Angeles. Hopefully, we can balance the hurt with some hope — welcome to Full Time!
L.A. Wildfires
USWNT forced to move camp
Sports are not immune to the effects of the devastating wildfires impacting much of Los Angeles.
The U.S. women’s national team was set to gather this week alongside a group of under-23 prospects at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., roughly 30 miles south of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods — areas that have both seen extensive damage. Late Friday, U.S. Soccer moved the camps to Inter Miami CF’s training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where the U.S. men are currently training.
L.A.-based teams in the NHL, NBA and NFL have also made schedule adjustments or postponements amid the fires. The NFL moved the wild-card playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, set for tonight at 8 p.m. ET, from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Riley has captained Angel City FC and the New Zealand national team. I watched her play in front of a packed Eden Pack in Auckland, New Zealand, to open the 2023 World Cup and listened to her postgame speech about the meaning of the moment. She laid bare her soul with rainbow nails and tears of joy. That’s just who Riley is. She’s never shied from showing her heart — one that beats deeply for her hometown of L.A.
Last week, the 37-year-old shared something different, posting photos of the rubble that used to be her parents’ home in the Palisades.
Despite the devastation, Riley also shared joy. She posted videos of her parents and, this weekend, wedding photos and videos as she married former Swedish footballer Lucas Nilsson.
“I’ve never felt love like this,” Riley wrote. “We hugged, cried, danced and laughed. My parents are incredible.”
The Orlando Pride finally finished one of their most crucial pieces of business this offseason, re-signing Marta to a two-year deal. There were no mentions of a potential retirement on the horizon for the 38-year-old, or even a last dance, when Orlando won the Shield and championship last year.So our mission — and we should all accept it — is to once again witness greatness while we can. We must appreciate everything else Marta brings to Orlando, the NWSL and the sport in general.And we can start with the contract extension announcement video. Did it have shades of Sam err’s Chelsea announcement with the fake-out of a potential departure or retirement? Sure. But Marta’s intensity is on a whole new level because her emotions for the city and club are so authentic — and because no one loves a good joke more than the captain.Now in the pantheon of images of Marta, alongside all the goals and the celebrations, I’m going to permanently have the one of her dancing in front of fireworks lit up just for her over the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. What an absolute legend.
🎧 The latest from the “Full Time” podcast: Gotham GM Yael Averbuch West discusses the team’s recent flurry of news.
Notables
Hayes looks to remedy a ‘lost generation’
As we’ve said before, this year is one Emma Hayes can actually use to take stock of what the U.S. player pool has to offer.
“None of us know what the roster is going to look like in 2027, so I’m desperate to make sure that we’ve got more players that are in a better position that can help us compete for the highest level,” Hayes said last week.
In addition to the 26 players called into the senior camp this month, 24 under-23 players were named to a “Futures Camp” which will also be coached by a very busy Hayes, who will bounce between training sessions.
The Canadians have been without a permanent coach since the federation’s Olympic drone spying scandal (former head coach Bev Priestman was officially fired in November).
Stoney, 42, most recently led San Diego to a 2023 NWSL Shield and an NWSL Challenge Cup victory before a seven-game winless streak in 2024 led to her firing. Meg says Stoney’s jump to the international game is “no surprise”:
At first glance, it’s a perfect match considering Stoney’s reputation as a defensive-minded coach and Canada’s history of winning games and tournaments on gritty defending. There’s also the sheer fun of potential matchups between Canada and the USWNT with Stoney and Hayes on the touchline.
Stoney said she’s “used to derby games” and welcomes the opportunity to compete against Hayes and the U.S.
Former Utah Royals goalkeeper Carly Nelson alleged she experienced “emotional and psychological abuse” during her time with the club in a post on social media Friday.
Nelson, who’s from Utah, joined the Royals after being traded from the Orlando Pride in December 2023. Nelson was regularly listed as an excused absence on game day and later took an extended mental health leave. A year after joining the club, the team announced that Nelson would not return for the 2025 season.
Nelson says there’s more to the story. Utah said it takes any allegations counter to “creating a positive and supportive experience” with the “utmost seriousness and urgency.”
Full Time First Looks
Good news: We recently shared the story of Celine Haidar, the 19-year-old Lebanese midfielder who suffered a serious head injury during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Haidar has since woken from a coma she was in for nearly two months.
Life after playing: In 1998, Julie Foudy was in the prime of her playing career with a potential path to medical school on her horizon. However, a chance encounter with a sports broadcast producer set her on a decades-long career in commentating. Now, the World Cup winner is helping other former and active players do the same.
On the move:USWNT forward Jaedyn Shaw is headed to the North Carolina Courage. Equalizer Soccer was first to report the move, which is expected to be announced this week. The move reportedly came at the 20-year-old’s request.
Attempting to make sense of a confusing Premier League season
There is little let-up in football’s ever-expanding schedule, but its sprawling nature allows just the occasional pause for reflection.
The past week has brought some big occasions in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Next week offers the unfamiliarity of European competition in January. This midweek Premier League programme has crept up almost undetected, yet much has changed since the last round of fixtures: managers have come and gone at West Ham United (Julen Lopetegui out, Graham Potter in) and Everton (Sean Dyche out, David Moyes back for a second spell); the beginnings of an unusually busy winter transfer window at Manchester City; a heightened state of anxiety at Arsenal in advance of Wednesday’s north London derby.
Just past the halfway stage, how has the Premier League’s 2024-25 season been for you?
If you are a Liverpool fan, then the answer will likely be one of cautious excitement. Nottingham Forest? Unexpected thrills. Bournemouth, Fulham or Brentford? Fun. Newcastle United? Much better than five weeks ago. Chelsea? Much worse than five weeks ago. Manchester City? The type of nightmare you thought was in your distant past. Manchester United or Everton? The type of nightmare that has haunted your present for too long. Southampton? Chastening. Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur? Maddening, in different ways, but ask them again after 10pm on Wednesday.
Some seasons take shape almost immediately. This one has been more peculiar. Manchester City’s nosedive in late 2024 is one reason for that, but there have been others. One team after another has looked strikingly impressive for four or five weeks before stumbling into difficulty. The only consistency — of the right type — has come from Liverpool and, to widespread amazement, Nottingham Forest.
What do we read into this? Are Liverpool really as strong as their commanding lead implies? Are Forest, who have the lowest share of possession in the top flight, as good as their run of six consecutive wins suggests? What on earth do we make of Manchester City’s struggles? And is all of this the sign of the high-quality, ultra-competitive league we demand? Or one where standards have slipped?
One consequence of Manchester City’s golden era under Pep Guardiola is that it has distorted expectations. It has normalised the abnormal.
Of the eight highest points totals recorded in the Premier League era, seven have come in the past nine seasons: Manchester City three times (including a record-breaking total of 100 points in 2017-18), Liverpool three times (only one of which yielded the league title) and Chelsea once (under Antonio Conte in 2016-17). The only previous team to have surpassed 91 points in a 38-game top-flight season was Chelsea under Jose Mourinho in 2004-05 (95 points).
This season has so far felt more… normal. As impressive as Liverpool have been so far under Arne Slot, they have not had quite the imperious look of their team that won 97 points under Jurgen Klopp in 2018-19 (only to finish a point behind City) and 99 points a year later. That side, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the forward line, was relentless. This one, with Salah joined by any two from Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, looks slightly less formidable.
But that has been the way of things of late. Between 2009-10 and 2015-16, no Premier League champion reached the 90-point mark. There followed a period between 2016-17 and 2019-20 when the title was won with totals of 93, 100, 98 and 99 points. Manchester City’s subsequent four titles in a row were won with 86, 93, 89 and 91 points. The standard remained extremely high, but in points terms, not as high as Klopp suggested in 2019 when he told reporters Liverpool would have to be “perfect” if they were to be champions.
Right now, Liverpool are on course for 92 points — a tally Arsenal and Forest, their closest challengers, can only reach by winning 17 and drawing one of their final 18 matches. They have also won six games out of six in the Champions League, beating Real Madrid, Milan and Bayer Leverkusen among others.
But as Slot pointed out on Monday, it is folly to imagine the second half of a season will simply mirror the first. “There’s more at stake,” the Liverpool manager said. “That’s what sometimes you feel. That’s why you sometimes see more shocking results in the second half of the season and that’s why we need to improve.”
The chasing pack will hope that Liverpool, held to a 2-2 draw at home by Manchester United last time out, can be pegged back. Forest, already performing beyond their wildest pre-season expectations under Nuno Espirito Santo, will hope to clip the leaders’ wings at a loud, passionate City Ground on Tuesday evening.
Every UK bookmaker already has Liverpool at short odds-on to be champions — a view shared by Opta’s “supercomputer” predictive model, which puts their chances at 88.9 per cent. But even their most bullish supporter might say that sounds rather presumptuous given they face away trips to eight of the 10 teams ranked immediately below them in the table at present. Both Manchester City and Arsenal can testify to the difficulty of a trip to Bournemouth. In both cases, an unexpected setback at the Vitality Stadium proved hard to shrug off.
Manchester City’s slump was so extreme, winning only one out of 13 matches in all competitions between late October and late December, that Opta rate their chances of a fifth consecutive league title at just 0.2 per cent. Pep Guardiola has been even less optimistic than that: “No chance”.
Mikel Arteta will not entertain talk of a regression in Arsenal’s standards, but he accepts his team have left themselves with an awful lot of work to do and that they must ensure they are ready to capitalise — “we have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, every day, every day”— if Liverpool stumble. So far in 2025, his own team have not looked ready to honour their side of the bargain.
The usual answer, in any given season, at just about any point in history, is that it is not as strong, as competitive or as entertaining as it used to be — an inevitable view, accompanied by the sweet smell of nostalgia, but one at odds with the reality of the league’s growing financial (and consequently on-pitch) strength.
Manchester City have drastically underperformed this season, but before that two-month tailspin, they had lost just one of their previous 50 matches in all competitions (the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May). They have also won their past three games in a manner that suggests they will be a force in the second half of the season — and that, even if the damage to their Premier League title defence looks irreparable, they remain one of the strongest teams in Europe.
Last season’s European competition brought a few jolts to Premier League pride, with no English club getting beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League or the Europa League, while Serie A and the Bundesliga claimed the highest coefficient ranking (and with it an extra ticket for this season’s Champions League).
Manchester City’s struggles apart, this season’s new-look Champions League, with Liverpool top, Arsenal third and Villa fifth in the 36-team Champions League standings, has brought a resumption of what passes for normal service these days.
Twenty First Group, a sports intelligence firm that advises clubs and investors, uses a machine-learning algorithm to generate a rating for every team in world football. From there, it calculates the strengths of each league.
Using its “World Super League” model, the Premier League is nearing its peak in quality this season, with a rating of 761. Only once before (the Premier League in 2022-23) has any league’s average quality been rated higher.
Some of us have a tendency to hark back to the late 2000s when the Premier League’s “Big Four” of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were consistently reaching the later stages of the Champions League. Twenty First Group’s model proposes that, in terms of overall strength, La Liga was stronger at that time and remained so until 2016-17 (and that the Bundesliga was second-strongest between 2009-10 and 2012-13), but that the Premier League has been strongest since 2017-18. All of that sounds reasonable to me.
To put Twenty First Group’s data into perspective, in 2008-09, only nine Premier League teams were ranked among the world’s top 50. The fact this number fell in the first half of the 2010s, to a low point of seven between 2011-12 and 2013, reinforces the feeling that competition regressed quality-wise around this time, overshadowed not just by La Liga but by the Bundesliga.
Since the late 2010s, it has risen significantly, with 14 Premier League teams currently ranked in the world’s top 50. Broadly speaking, though these rankings fluctuate from week to week, this suggests a mid-table team in the Premier League is roughly as strong as a top-five team in La Liga or a top-six team in Serie A.
So they should be given their financial advantage. Six Premier League clubs featured in the top 10 of Deloitte’s Football Money League, which ranks clubs by revenue. Extend that to the top 30 and there are no fewer than 14 Premier League clubs. Brighton & Hove Albion (23rd) made more money in 2022-23 than all bar four clubs in Italy, three in Spain, three in Germany and two in France.
When you look at the inequality that the Premier League’s financial power has brought to the transfer market across Europe, with so much talent flowing towards these shores, it is surprising English clubs are not even more dominant.
But that is another argument. What this is not, despite some localised difficulties in Manchester in particular, is a weak Premier League. The data suggests the level at the summit is not as strong as it has been in recent seasons, but that the average standard across the league is higher.
Manchester City’s struggles can be said to have undermined the quality of the league in one way but underlined it in another. The number of teams taking advantage of their struggles in late 2024 — Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Everton — is evidence of a league in which every club has talent on the pitch and on the touchline. If you coast, you will be punished.
Five weeks ago, Alan Shearer wrote a column for The Athletic expressing concern for Newcastle, saying his former club now seemed to be “drifting” under their Saudi Arabian ownership and at a crossroads under Eddie Howe’s management.
He felt the initial post-takeover momentum and a sense of purpose had been lost. With Howe’s team 12th in the Premier League, after two wins in their previous 11, many supporters were privately expressing the same concerns.
And look at them now. They have won their past eight games across all competitions, including away to Manchester United and Tottenham in the Premier League and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. A run of four winnable games lies ahead in the Premier League — Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth at home, Southampton away, Fulham at home — and suddenly their fans are dreaming of returning to the Champions League (and, even more longingly, glory in the Carabao Cup).
Newcastle’s ups and downs reflect the unpredictability of a league in which fortunes and form seem to be fluctuating like never before.
Sometimes it seems to come down to discrepancies in the fixture list, allowing teams to capitalise on a gentle run of games before the going gets tough again. But often it is nothing of the sort; Brighton and Fulham emerged with great credit from a daunting run of games, only to stumble in a series of matches they were expected to win. Aston Villa lost just one of their first nine games, juggling domestic and European commitments impressively, but have been stop-start over the past couple of months.
By mid-December, Chelsea seemed to be emerging as the team best placed to challenge Liverpool, having won six and drawn two of their previous eight matches. Since then, they have drawn with Everton and Crystal Palace and lost to Fulham and Ipswich Town.
It is a league full of talented but flawed, imperfect teams, almost all of them potent in attack (and particularly on the counter-attack) but few of them anything like so adept when forced to play on their opponents’ terms.
That is where Forest have been so impressive. They have had, on average, the lowest share of possession of any Premier League team so far this season, but they defend in numbers and attack as incisively as anyone. As Slot said in his pre-match news conference on Monday, Nuno “has done a great job at implementing a style of play that suits their players”.
Slot admitted he was surprised in September when Forest inflicted what remains his only Premier League defeat as Liverpool manager, but said that result was no longer “such a shock to me as it was then”.
The trip to Nottingham on Tuesday looks like a serious test of Liverpool’s credentials. Should Forest beat them for a second time this season, the sense of excitement at the City Ground will develop into something more, leaving those long-suffering supporters to wonder just how far this season might take them.
Football has changed an awful lot since the late 1970s, when they conquered England and then Europe (twice) under Brian Clough, but the opportunity to dream is still there.
There are parallels with the 2015-16 campaign when Leicester City came from nowhere to win the Premier League title. Those parallels include the underperformance of several leading teams. Back then, Chelsea were in post-title meltdown under Mourinho; Manchester City and Manchester United were drifting in their final campaign under Manuel Pellegrini and Louis van Gaal respectively; Arsenal were doing likewise as Arsene Wenger’s tenure neared its end; Liverpool were only just getting going under Klopp; Tottenham were progressing quickly under Mauricio Pochettino but, unlike Leicester, were unable to capitalise on the opportunity.
After 20 games, Forest have the same number of points (40) as Leicester had by the same stage of their historic title-winning campaign. The difference is that Forest are six points off the top, having played one more game than the leaders, whereas at that stage in 2015-16, Leicester were only two points behind first-placed Arsenal.
Chris Wood’s 12 Premier League goals have helped Nottingham Forest to third in the Premier League (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
That was the season that, more than any other, perpetuated the idea of the Premier League as an ultra-competitive league where anyone can beat anyone. It was also a season in which, as shown on the European stage as well as domestically, the bigger clubs fell drastically short of expectations, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity that Leicester seized in the most wonderful style, not just winning the title, but doing it by a 10-point margin.
Could 2024-25 bring something similar to the East Midlands? So many of the ingredients are there in a competition laced with unpredictability. There is jeopardy almost everywhere, not least in the risks that so many teams take when trying to play out from the back.
Forest, as Slot pointed out on Monday, have no interest in inviting such jeopardy. They appear happy to leave the chaos to others and stick to the serious business of winning matches.
As do Liverpool, content to keep racking up the points and avoid the kind of melodramas seen elsewhere. On one hand, the “best league in the world” hype demands wild twists and unpredictability. On the other hand, it requires its top teams to demonstrate quality and supreme focus and to keep standards high.
So far, at least, Liverpool have only looked interested in setting standards. If it is real unpredictability you want in the second half of the campaign, someone is going to have to do what Forest did to them at Anfield back in September. On a cold January night in Nottingham and throughout the months ahead, Liverpool will hope to keep the drama to a minimum.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Will Tullos)
he six moments of madness that sum up a Clasico defined by disarray
You rarely see a team score directly after an opposition corner — a heavy touch somewhere along the way, a misplaced pass or defenders tracking back in numbers often result in lost momentum and missed opportunities.
The Supercopa de Espana final between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday saw both teams score from the other’s corners in the first half alone.
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That summed up a chaotic first half (extended by 10 minutes of stoppage time) and set the tone for a match that often had the feel of an exhibition. It ended in a record-extending 15th Supercopa for Barca, who put four goals past Madrid in consecutive games for the first time in Clasico history, running out 5-2 winners.
Here, The Athletic breaks down six moments that summed up a match defined by disarray.
It took less than five minutes for Madrid to open the scoring through some direct play from Kylian Mbappe and some slack defending from Barcelona (a consistent feature of the first half for both teams).
Hansi Flick’s side had forced two good saves from Thibaut Courtois through Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the opening four minutes. Raphinha took the corner that was the result of the second of those stops, which Federico Valverde cleared. The ball fell in between Vinicius Junior and Marc Casado, with the Brazilian winning possession and charging forward before finding Mbappe.
Vinicius Jr’s pass put Mbappe into a one-vs-one against left-back Alejandro Balde (no offside concerns this time), who was indecisive. Mbappe feasted on that indecision, cutting inside and then out before clipping a finish over goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to make it 1-0.
The goal was thoroughly avoidable from a Barcelona point of view but, before the chaos, they had discovered two Madrid weaknesses. Raphinha’s shot came after Gavi ran off Eduardo Camavinga’s shoulder to get to the byline and float in a cross for the former Leeds United winger, who wandered into the space left between makeshift centre-back Aurelien Tchouameni and right-back Lucas Vazquez.
A combination of Camavinga’s slackness and that area of uncertainty between Tchouameni and Vazquez proved to be Madrid’s downfall later in the half.
There was some calm for the following 15 minutes, a period littered with errors from both teams and Mbappe going down with an apparent knock (the 26-year-old eventually played on), which made the game seem like an exhibition instead of an emotionally charged Clasico and final. But the tide was starting to turn, with Barca repeatedly dragging Madrid players out of position.
Their reward was a Lionel Messi-esque moment of Yamal magic that levelled the scores.
The goal was made possible by Robert Lewandowski’s neat pass and Yamal filling the space created by Gavi’s off-the-ball movement to drag Camavinga out of position.
The equaliser did not bring composure to the game. As a re-energised Barcelona pressed higher, Madrid were forced to go long, resulting in another bizarre sequence two minutes later.
A throw-in, after Szczesny came out of his area to clear a long ball, saw Vinicius Jr find Jude Bellingham, who passed to Vazquez on the right. Vazquez’s shot was blocked by Balde, but Madrid worked the ball to Valverde for another try. His attempt was weak but got deflected behind for a corner.
Tchouameni outjumped Kounde from the set piece to force a save by Szczesny, with the rebound spinning away beyond the post with Vazquez lurking.
This second corner was cleared at the near post before a third one was met by Tchouameni again, this time with space for an acrobatic kick from the France international which got blocked.
All in all, a sequence that would not have been out of place in a mid-season friendly played in the Middle East.
Barcelona’s clever play, and more slack defending, led to a third chaotic moment in the 33rd minute. Throughout the opening half hour, Lewandowski dropped to receive the ball with back to goal, with Camavinga or Antonio Rudiger stepping out to close him down, leaving space in behind for Barca to exploit.
On this occasion, a long ball from centre-back Pau Cubarsi was chased by Gavi instead of Lewandowski, with Rudiger winning the header. The tactical disorder of the game saw this fall straight to an unmarked Lewandowski, with Camavinga confused about whether to go after him or track Gavi.
As Barca recycled possession, Gavi stayed forward, with Yamal and Lewandowski occupying Camavinga’s attention. When Kounde’s cross deflected off Ferland Mendy into the box, Gavi was in position to reach the ball first and Camavinga, having failed to initially track him, lazily stuck a leg out, catching the Spain midfielder with his studs.
Having exploited that first weakness, Barca smelled blood and exploited a second less than two minutes after Lewandowski scored from the resulting penalty as Raphinha ghosted into the space between Tchouameni and Vazquez again to head home a Kounde pass.
Madrid’s desperation grew. They threw men forward, leading to yet more gaps in midfield.
These following screengrabs from the second and fourth minutes of added time in the first half emphasise just how much space Barcelona now had to dictate proceedings, and the potential pitfalls of Carlo Ancelotti playing Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Rodrygo together in attack.
Madrid were not done contributing to the chaos, though.
Exhibit four from the first half arrived after Madrid worked the ball to the right, loading up on Balde. This negated Barcelona’s high line and allowed Bellingham to slip Rodrygo in. He then cut one back for Vazquez, who tried to backheel it.
Balde intercepted but mishit his clearance, with Casado beating Mbappe to the ball but heading towards his own goal. Szczesny, unsure whether to catch or clear with his feet, was caught in an awkward position. Rodrygo, who was offside, slipped and allowed the ’keeper to gather.
That was quickly followed by a fifth moment of chaos — one which seemed unavoidable by this point.
Ronald Araujo, who had replaced an injured Inigo Martinez in the 28th minute, hacked at a routine clearance from a Mendy through ball to give Madrid a corner in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Rodrygo played a one-two with Camavinga before trying to find Valverde on the edge of the box.
Yamal anticipated his underhit pass and intercepted just beyond the D, with Raphinha and Balde now sprinting forward alongside him. Yamal found Raphinha, who cut inside Valverde. Balde then took the ball off his Brazilian team-mate’s toes before slamming a finish into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.
That end to the first half could not have been worse for Madrid — and they did not enjoy much respite after their trip back to the dressing rooms.
On 48 minutes — 90 seconds after Rodrygo volleyed a Vinicius Jr cross behind via the woodwork — Barca had their fifth goal.
Lewandowski dropped again to drag Rudiger out of position, allowing Casado to feed the ball to Raphinha after he ghosted in behind Tchouameni — the same errors from the first half happening again. He then did what Mbappe had done to Balde for the Madrid goal, stepping inside and outside an opponent, Tchouameni in this case, before lashing home.
You would imagine making it 5-1 would be enough to kill the game, with Barcelona happy to control proceedings and Madrid defaulting to damage limitation and Ancelotti did bring on centre-back Raul Asencio to replace Vazquez — but Barca gave them a glimmer of hope with a sixth moment of chaos in the 54th minute.
Raphinha attempted a ‘trivela’ pass just as Madrid began pushing men forward after a set piece. This was blocked by Asencio and fell to Bellingham, who beat Pedri in the air and passed to Mbappe as he ran in behind. The Frenchman took the ball past an onrushing Szczesny, who caught Mbappe’s trailing foot just outside the area.
After a VAR review, referee Jesus Gil Manzano sent the Barca ‘keeper off.
The resulting free kick was not taken until a full three minutes later, with Barcelona given time to bring on Inaki Pena to play in goal.
Pena was promptly beaten by Rodrygo, who arrowed a shot in off the replacement goalkeeper’s fingertips and the inside of the post to make it 5-2.
The remaining 30 minutes, with 11 men chasing the game against Barcelona’s 10, brought the calmest period of a frenzied contest, although did still have its moments.
The football cliche that previous results do not matter seems particularly relevant to El Clasico: the last 10 matches in the rivalry going back to the start of the 2022-23 season have produced a combined 40 goals and five wins for each team.
But with two lop-sided wins in a row against their rivals in the two most recent meetings, Flick’s team seem to have thrived in that chaos.
US Ladies Travel to England Sat 12:20 on TNT, then face Dutch Tues Excited to see the US ladies headed to Europe to face solid competition – though this is a mighty young and inexperienced roster Hayes is carrying over. Man I would love to see at least part of the Triple Expresso trio in England – but all 3 will be missing after draining NWSL Seasons. Also with US GK Alyssa Naeher announcing her retirement from international football after this 2 game set – interesting to see 2 new keepers in the mix this time – including youngster Phallon Tullis-Joyce the Man U keeper. (nice story about her below- along with tons on the game & Naeher). I’m guessing we lose a close one at England with so many players missing – but of course I won’t question our Gold Medal winning Coach – I trust she’s doing what’s right here. Cool Behind the Crest with the US Ladies. Man we are going to miss Naeher – seriously her saves and PK saves at critical times in the 2019 World Cup and this summer’s Olympics rank her as perhaps the best overall US GK ever. Naeher’s best moments (more below under GK)
Nice to See US Players Making a Difference in Champions League this week Love the first goal for AC Milan by Pulisic – Pulisic Scores another Champ League Goal here it is in proper Spanish – much better of course Capitan Ameri’ca. Also 2 American’s helped PSV come from behind to win 3-2 as Tilman scored 2 and Pepi scored the winner in stoppage time. Champion’s League Talk on Galazo.
NWSL Ends Fantastic Season with Orlando & Marta Winning the Championship Wow what a season for the Orlando Pride and NWSL – as Orlando won the Championship in KC over the Washington Spirit as over 1 million watched on CBS on a Saturday night head to head with College Football. The skills competition pulled another 1.5 million eyeballs Sun afternoon and was the most watched sport not called NFL on Sunday. The first Women’s Soccer Specific stadium in KC hosted 20K rowdy fans as Brazilian Superstar Marta finally brought home a trophy for Orlando. NWSL Final Highlights. In my eyes the NWSL is doing everything MLS is too stupid to do. With games on CBS, ESPN, & Prime – their 240 million dollar package is putting USWNT and world stars in front of a growing female audience begging for more coverage. Unlike MLS – NWSL doesn’t have MOST of their games behind a paywall – as only Prime’s Friday night games do that. Congrats NWSL – it was great seeing your playoff games on Real TV – keep up the good work !!
USWNT roster (club; caps/goals) vs England & Netherlands
Goalkeepers (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 0 -Cool story about her below), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)
Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 159/36), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)
Forwards (6): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 73/20)
Shane, Mike Arrington & T Ray Phillips at the Girls Showcase last weekend at Grand Park Friday- man I love reffing with these guys. And of course the chow – this time Chili was fantastic – thanks Nate !!
TV GAME SCHEDULE
Sat, 11/29 12 noon ESPN+ Dortmund vs Bayern Munich 12 pm TNT, Telemundo USWNT @ England 12 pm CBS Golazo AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Empoli 12:30 pm USA West Ham vs Arsenal 3:30 pm ESPN Des Real Valladolid vs Atletico Madrid 7:30 pm Sirius XM, apple Orlando City vs NY Red Bulls 8 pm Univision Cruz Azul vs Tijuana 10 pm Apple LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders Sun, 11/30 8:30 am USA Chelsea vs Aston Villa 8:30 am Peacock Tottenham vs Fulham (Jedi) 11 am USA Liverpool vs Man City 12 pm CBSSN, Para+ Fiorentina vs Inter Milan 2:45 pm Para+ Lecce vs Juventus (McKinney, Weah) Tues, 12/3 2:45 pm TNT? Netherlands vs USWNT 2:45 pm ESPN2 Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen 3 pm PAra+ AC Milan (Pulisic & Musah) vs Sassuolo 3 pm CBSSN France vs Spain (Women) Weds, 12/4 2:45 pm ESPN+ RB Leipzig vs Frankfurt 3 pm ESPN+ Athletic Club vs Real Madrid 3:15 pm Peacock Arsenal vs Man United 3:15 pm USA Aston Villa vs Brentford Thurs, 12/6 2:30 pm Peacock Fulham (Jedi) vs Brighton 3:15 pm USA AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham Fri, 12/7 12:30 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Parma 2:45 pm PAra+ Atalanta vs AC Milan (Pulisic & Musah)
American’s Ricardo Pepi scored the game winner for PSV after Mark Tillman scored the first 2 goals in the 87th & 90th minutes to beat Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League action.
Ricardo Pepi said his stoppage time winner against Shakhtar Donetsk was the most important goal of his career after he and USMNT team-mate Malik Tillman played instrumental roles in PSV’s “crazy” 3-2 comeback victory in the Champions League.The Dutch side had trailed 2-0 in the latter stages at the Philips Stadium on Wednesday before Tillman, 22, scored two goals in the 87th and 90th minute of the game to level proceedings. Pepi, 21, who came on at half-time, scored in the 95th minute to complete a dramatic comeback and secure all three points for PSV. Game-winner Pepi told PSV’s official club website: “I think definitely this one (is the most important goal of my career). It’s up there for sure. I think this one is important, we needed the three points and now we’re in a good spot to make it to the next round.“Emotions are all over the place, I was very happy. It was a crazy game, a lot of emotions in the game. It doesn’t feel real. I’m just very happy to help the team.
“It was crazy, to be honest, but I feel like we have something special in our group. We don’t stop until the final whistle blows. “That is something very special that we’ve worked on. At the end of the day, the result went our way and tonight was something very special.“As a striker, it is always important (to score goals) It’s a special feeling.”Tillman echoed Pepi’s sentiment, saying: “I think ‘disturbed’ is the only right word. What an amazing comeback, I’m really speechless. I’ve never seen Philips Stadium explode like this before.“I literally had goosebumps. To win a game like that, that’s just indescribable. Also all credit to Pepi. Bizarre that he scores so often at important moments.”
The victory leaves PSV 18th in the Champions League league phase.Tillman’s move to PSV from Bayern Munich was made permanent this summer while Pepi joined the club in the summer of 2023 from FC Augsburg and the pair are enjoying successful campaigns for the Dutch side.Tillman has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 19 games for PSV this season, while Pepi has scored 11 goals and provided one assist in 18 games, helping PSV to the summit of the Eredivisie.PSV, who are five points clear at the top of Eredivisie, face second-placed Utrecht on Sunday.
USWNT vs. England, 2024 Friendly: Scouting England
By Brendan Joseph Nov 28, 2024, 6:00am PST Stars and Stripes —
As the reigning Olympic gold medalists and top-ranked team in the world, the United States Women’s National Team reeled off three consecutive friendly victories over Iceland and Argentina. There are two remaining fixtures this year, against a pair of opponents that should provide a slightly sterner challenge than the previous foes. The first, England, has ascended to elite status in the footballing world and produced consistent results since claiming the 2022 UEFA European Championship, with the chance to lodge a resounding exhibition result. London’s historic Wembley Stadium, a 90,000-seat venue with a HATKO Hybridgrass Carpet surface, is set to host.
This is the 20th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a 12-5-2 advantage but failing in the most-recent match-up (1-2) in October of 2022. Ranked second internationally by FIFA, England booked a ticket over the summer to the 2025 UEFA European Championship with a second-place finish during qualifying in a difficult Group 3, drawing twice with Sweden (1-1, 0-0), grabbing two wins against Ireland (2-0, 2-1), and splitting results with France (1-2, 2-1). Recent friendly results include a defeat to Germany (3-4) and a tight result against South Africa (2-1).
The “unrivaled” Sarina Wiegman was appointed to the manager position in August of 2020 and stepped into the role in September of 2021, “succeeding Phil Neville at the end of his term” after “honoring her commitment to the Netherlands FA.” The 54-year-old former midfielder from The Hague earned 104 caps and served as captain for her birth nation before embarking on a coaching career that included stops at Ter Leede, ADO Den Haag, and the Oranje (Orange). Since taking over England, she has continued to add to her career legacy that includes two UEFA Women’s Championships, a Women’s Finalissima, and two runner-up finishes at the World Cup in 2019 and 2023.Here it is!
For the friendlies against the USWNT and Switzerland, Wiegman named a 24-player roster that is missing several notable talents. The domestic Women’s Super League is home to 18 of the call-ups, while three are on the books at National Women’s Soccer League clubs. Lauren James, Ella Toone, Niamh Charles, and Lauren Hemp are out due to various injuries. Maya Le Tissier was initially included in squad but was removed due to a concussion and replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
DEFENDERS (9): Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Gabby George (Manchester United), Millie Turner (Manchester United)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Jess Park (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ruby Mace (Leicester City)
Under Wiegman, England are praised as becoming “tactical chameleons” with the variations and flexibility to line up in a few different formations, notably pulling out an unexpected 3-5-2 during tournament play. She uses a “team-first” style with a “clarity of tactics” and “zonal defending with three midfielders” that also “allows players to improvise and make mistakes.” The squad has been trained to handle pressure, with practice matches featuring intentionally incorrect refereeing decisions in order to cause a heightened emotional state. According to The Mastermind Site, the high-possession attack is generated from “progression out of the back” through the centre-backs that builds with “short, sharp passes,” while the defense has struggled to handle the transition and “drops into [the] mid-block quite early.”
Projected England Starting XI (via BuildLineup.com)
Due to both injuries and the ravages of time, Mary Earps appears to be slowly losing her grip on the number-one role, replaced by relative-to-the-position youngster Hannah Hampton. The 24-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper is comfortable coming very far off of her line to claim the ball and has the athleticism to leap for crosses and beat out taller opposing strikers. Standing at five-foot-eight, she has the size and length to cover the goalmouth and displays solid reflexes on short-range opportunities, standing firm when facing an onrushing opponent. Her work in possession is beyond serviceable, playing line-drive passes at a variety of distances while under pressure, hitting deep kicks from restarts, and taking an active role to build out of the back.
The experienced Alex Greenwood is highly influential in possession with frequent distribution as “an exceptional progressor” but can also win her fair share of headers and “produces positive moments in the final third.” The 31-year-old Manchester City centre-back will often push forward into the midfield in order to serve as a safety valve for her pressured teammates and get the ball into the box. Leah Williamson was forced to miss the World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture but has regained her spot in the starting lineup, resuming her status as “the ultimate ball-playing defender” with a “delightful passing range” and “reliability under pressure.” She is reasonably strong in the air and utilizes her read of the opponent during the build-up and when blocking lanes, coming in from behind and stepping forward at the right moments. Imposing veteran Millie Bright could also feature in proceedings, describing herself as playing “on the front foot” and providing “power and a penchant for scoring spectacular volleys.” The five-foot-ten Chesterfield native “reads the game well,” is a constant danger on set pieces, dispenses “thunderous tackles,” and finds teammates with long-range efforts that will bypass multiple lines.
Artfully praised as “a stalwart of quiet calm,” Jess Carter has lined up in a variety of roles over her career due to her high level of athleticism, comfort on the ball, and ability to pick her moments for individual brilliance. The 27-year-old NJ/NY Gotham FC defender constantly presses forward and overlaps on the outside but can also move centrally in both phases of the game, best described as a somewhat reluctant fullback. One of the squad’s veterans, Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze is “a serial winner and versatile [talent]” with an attacking mindset guided by “pace, core strength, and composure in possession.” As a two-way player, she is strong in the air, plays a constant barrage of accurate passes, swarms the opponent’s lanes, and makes a crucial impact in the final third with delicate crosses.
Versatile and “brilliant” Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh boasts excellent “passing quality, range, and vision” but is also a master manipulator of space, serving as a metronome with a high usage rate. She can find any teammate on the field and has just enough guile on the ball to avoid pressure, spinning and darting around both halves in order to buy time. One of the creative roles is occupied by Georgia Stanway of Bayern Munich, a dynamic option who racks up assists for club and country by leading the transition and “working well in tight [areas].” Her aggressive nature will produce some crushing yet sometimes dangerous challenges, but the regular highlight-reel finishing and long-distance shooting are more than enough to merit constant inclusion in the lineup. There is also Jess Park, who has been getting an extended run with the squad and made two starts during EURO qualifying, earning praise as a “skillful, creative player with an eye for goal.” Hailed as “the future for England and Manchester City,” the multi-faceted option is a pacy, offensive machine with a daring nature that challenges both centre-backs and fullbacks alike.That is a CLASSIC Beth Mead goal #BarclaysWSL@ArsenalWFCpic.twitter.com/aG0Zymo2WO— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 8, 2024
Beth Mead is slowly moving out of her peak years, but the Arsenal forward can still grab the spotlight with her “ability to create chances, penetrate opposing back lines, and receive between the lines,” with the utilization of intuitive timing. She is equally comfortable on the inside and the outside of the field, with darting runs that slalom toward the center or physical battles in the box. Despite wanting for playing time at Manchester City, Chloe Kelly has been a reliable option off of the bench for England and should pick up a start due to several absences, providing the potential danger for a long-range blast. The 26-year-old attacker is always looking to cut inside and hit a searching shot with either foot but can also hang on the wing and pick out teammates with accurate crosses.
Former University of North Carolina Tar Heel Alessia Russo is the main scoring threat at the top of the formation and has found the back of the net five times this season. The 25-year-old Arsenal forward “is a very good dribbler and provides dangerous passes,” while also shooting frequently and winning aerial duels with “excellent positioning inside of the box.” As expected of a player with her abilities, she is dangerous with both feet, reads the opponent quickly, and can finish at any distance when given a yard of space. Marc Lamberts praises her progression of possession, high level of distribution, and prolific nature, enabling her to slot into a variety of roles and match the manager’s tactical shifts.
After a few less taxing friendlies, the USWNT has the privilege of a true test against a program that spent the past decade ascending into the elite level. England has a talented squad and a wily, experienced manager, which should provide a compelling physical and tactical match-up. The added bonus of the fixture taking place at Wembley adds interest for both fan and neutral viewer, although crucial absences on both sides dampen proceedings.The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 30th at 12:20 p.m. Eastern, 9:20 a.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Universo, truTV, Max, Peacock, and Fubo TV (free trial).
Why USWNT coach Emma Hayes was so happy in the basement of a London pub: ‘I’ve got my mojo back’
The first time Emma Hayes introduced herself to the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) she put a photo up on the big screen.The photo showed the intersection on Camden High Street, north London, just outside a pub called the World’s End. Hayes said to the players: “This is Camden, England. This is where I’m from. This is what made me.”
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So when Hayes returned to the UK ahead of England vs USWNT at Wembley on Saturday, U.S. Soccer decided to use the pub as the setting for her pre-match press conference. A press conference in a pub — that must be a first.
So, at 11am on a Monday morning, The Athletic was weaving our way down a pub’s staircase, round the bar, past some less-than-salubrious toilets, into Underworld, a black-walled basement club where Hayes spent much of her youth dancing until 3am.“I remember many an evening we would come in here, and thankfully it still smells of fart and feet,” said Hayes, who’d been greeted with a ‘Welcome back Emma’ sign outside. “It was a big indie place for me back in the day and I definitely have not seen this place in the daylight so that’s refreshing.”Although the music blaring from the speakers remains the same, the agenda and vibe at this time in the morning were slightly different — not least the fact that tea, coffee and pastries were being served.With a table and mics set up where Hayes used to rock and roll, the head coach looked out to a bizarre mix of her mum, sisters, school friends, former and current colleagues, and the international media.Asked how she felt to be in the Underworld with those closest to her, every word captured on camera, navigating questions from coaching at Wembley to Donald Trump, from USWNT’s Thanksgiving plans to the homophobic abuse aimed at her former player Sam Kerr, from developing the national youth team strategy to Hayes’ top tourist tips, Hayes said simply: “F****** brilliant!”
(U.S. Soccer/Getty Images/Brad Smith)
Hayes may be coaching in America but she has not changed, firmly shaped by her upbringing in north London.She credits her friends and family for keeping her humble. Those in the audience had shared her journey with her since she was a child, people who continue to run projects across the London borough at Camden Sports Development or youth leagues at Regent’s Park.“My community is what I am and what I care about,” she said. “I’m so stoked to be here with people that have been massive in my life. My friends have never changed and I’m grateful for that. If you say otherwise, there’ll be about 50 of them lining up at the door for you… I’m kidding.“Are you?” one heckled.“I probably shouldn’t say this in a press conference,” said Hayes, “but one of my friends used to live up in Delancey Street and she lived in a big posh house, a nice five-storey, it was lovely, gorgeous.
“I used to go up there and pretend, maybe one day, this would be a life for me. I used to come home with a little posh accent and my mum would say, ‘Your s*** still stinks’”.That was one way to keep your daughter grounded.When it comes to her tenure as the USWNT boss, Hayes is, in her words, “fresh out of the packet”, but she is already thinking about her legacy, explaining that unifying the US talent pool under a women’s football development strategy is “going to be the biggest piece” of what she leaves behind.She described herself as a “builder” who wants to lay foundations for the long term, and importantly she wants to devise a strategy for players and staff across all departments which is centred around a “female lens”.“Everything we create, the systems, frameworks, methodology, everything is done through a male lens. I seek to challenge that. If we value women and want to keep women in the workplace, we have to be creative because raising children is the hardest job in the world and your children need you too. But you’re entitled to be able to do that and have a job in football. We have to think through a female lens. That’s at the heart of everything.”Hayes said of her own accord: “I’m not going to answer any questions on men’s football. I know exactly where I am and what I want to do with my life. That’s in the women’s game, developing everything in and around that.”On Saturday Hayes will be a visitor at what she called her “second home”, Wembley. The 48-year-old will have to go through a “weird moment” of humming the English and American anthems because she “loves them” both before coming up against former Chelsea players like her ex-captain Millie Bright.Hayes momentarily feared making the jump from club to national-team management as she was unsure how the change in rhythm would affect her. For around 25 years, she had driven to the training ground six or seven days a week.“I worried about that for about four seconds,” she said. “Then I said, ‘OK, what are the benefits?“I get to get up and breathe, take Harry to school, go to the gym, create my schedule around those things, and not sacrifice the things that make me feel healthy.”She added: “I definitely didn’t feel healthy at the end of my time at Chelsea. I don’t want to say it’s pressure. I just think it’s the stress, the toll it took on me. Doing that during menopause, I realised, was even harder.“To get on top of all of these things, I feel like I’ve got my mojo back, my smile back and joy back. I didn’t realise how much I’d lost in that. I’m loving football more than ever.”(Top photo: U.S. Soccer/Getty Images/Brad Smith)
England vs USWNT: The Lionesses who were made in America
When England face the USWNT at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, all eyes will be on Emma Hayes.
The former Chelsea manager is making her first return to English soil in a managerial capacity since leaving the seven-time Women’s Super League (WSL) champions in May to lead the U.S. women’s team.
Footballing trips across the Pond are familiar territory for Hayes, though. Her coaching career began at summer camps in Long Island, New York when she was 25, when she headed to the States with just $1,000 (£1,250 at today’s exchange rates) and a one-way ticket. After eight years coaching club and college teams (with a three-year stint as Arsenal’s assistant coach in the middle), she returned to England in 2012, building Chelsea into a domestic behemoth, before heading back to America this summer and promptly leading her new team to gold medals at the Olympics in France.
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Hayes is not an anomaly. Where MLS was historically branded a “retirement league” for august but ageing male players, English women footballers (and coaches) have found early-career moves to the States foundational.
Of England’s current 24-strong squad, forward Alessia Russo and right-back Lucy Bronze, plus head coach Sarina Wiegman, credit time spent in the U.S. as being critical in their career development, while goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and defenders Esme Morgan and Jess Carter currently ply their trades in the top-flight National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Other England internationals with U.S. roots include Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, who attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker, who went to Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Now-retired internationals Rachel Daly, Demi Stokes, Karen Bardsley and Jodie Taylor also found value playing college and club football on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The American appeal is multi-faceted. There is the opportunity to develop within a more direct, physical style of football, and the boon of getting a university education alongside playing competitive football, as well as the chance of regular game time.
The Athletic takes a look at the England squad members “made” in America…
Alessia Russo, 2017-20, University of North Carolina
Russo was, at first, a gamble.
In 2017, North Carolina were being pipped to top American talents by rival universities, so their head coach Anson Dorrance needed to recruit from further afield. At England youth camps, a teenage Russo repeatedly caught the eye, to the point a full scholarship was offered. Russo accepted. There was anticipation — but then angst.
“I sent my assistant coach to watch her play and he calls me back in a panic and says, ‘Oh my gosh, Anson, I am so sorry. This kid can’t play, she’ll never play for us’,” Dorrance told the Press Association news agency in 2023.“I’m thinking, ‘Oh god, we’ve dumped all of our money into a player that can’t play’, and all of a sudden I’m having sleepless nights. Then I get a call a couple of days later, ‘Oh no, Anson, I’m wrong, they had the wrong (shirt) number on Alessia. She’s an a**-kicker’.”Upon Russo’s arrival, the No 19 shirt worn by USWNT legends Mia Hamm and Crystal Dunn during their time at UNC, was brought out of retirement for her — a sign of the potential they saw.
Russo in action for North Carolina in 2019 (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
To honour the history, Russo wore a Hamm patch on one sleeve of her jersey and a Dunn patch on the other. But Russo’s greatest tribute came in the form of her performances.
In three seasons, she established herself as one of the best forwards in the college game, being named a first-team All-American (awarded annually to the most outstanding athletes in their sport) in 2018 — the first UNC player to earn that honour since Dunn — and 2019, and helping UNC twice finish as runners-up for the national championship. Russo was also a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy, an honour awarded to the top collegiate player in the country, in those two years.
Russo’s triumphs were born out of challenge. A broken leg forced her to miss the end-of-season play-offs in 2019 (she was still named Offensive Player of the Year for UNC’s regional league and a first-team All-American). She later told Manchester United’s UTD Podcast that the mental strength the recovery process built was key to handling future setbacks.
The step up in physicality and athleticism was also steep. The game in America focused on slick, direct transitional play, where athleticism and physical fitness were lionised above technical skill. While Russo’s technical skill today is laudable, one of the Arsenal forward’s most impressive assets is her strength and power in the final third.
“Moving to America helped me develop loads, on and off the pitch,” Russo told Arsenal’s media team in a 2024 documentary. “I needed to grow up physically. I’d not really set foot into the gym or pushed my body. In America, you have to step up.”
Lucy Bronze, 2009, University of North Carolina
Bronze knows how to lift silverware. The Chelsea full-back has five Champions Leagues, three WSL titles, two Division 1 Feminine winner’s medals and one from Liga F, among others. She is the first English footballer to win the Champions League with two different foreign clubs and the first England footballer and first female defender to claim the FIFA Best Women’s Player of the Year award and a spot on the FIFPRO World XI (2020).
“That comes from my time in the U.S. and how competitive it was,” Bronze told Chelsea’s website after joining them from Barcelona in the summer.
Bronze in action for North Carolina in 2009 (Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Bronze’s spell in the States was brief but impactful. Her mum, Diana Tough, persuaded Bronze to attend summer training camps in North Carolina. There she impressed head coach Dorrance, who offered her a scholarship to UNC in 2009. Across 24 appearances, Bronze helped UNC claim the 2009 national title as she won All-American honours.Key to her development on the pitch were Dorrance’s training methods. The now-retired coach (he won 21 national titles over a 45-year career but also faced a lawsuit from two former players claiming sexual harassment, which resulted in a settlement in 2008 despite him denying the allegations) was known for pitting players against each other during sessions. Bronze often found herself up against Tobin Heath, a 2008 Olympic gold medallist with the USWNT. “I realised that I need to work a lot harder and push myself if I want to compete against those kind of players,” Bronze told Forbes.
After just a year in North Carolina, Bronze returned to England to continue her sports science degree at Leeds Metropolitan University, while playing for Sunderland, then Everton and Liverpool.
“It was tough being away from home, from where I’d learned to play football, but I think that made me the player I am,” Bronze has said. “That really shaped me, more than anything else in my career at such a young age. I then knew how to be a winner and that has driven me every year since.”
Sarina Wiegman, 1989, University of North Carolina
A glance at Wiegman on the touchline is a window into the soul. On the outside, the two-time European Championship-winning head coach is calmness personified. But behind that, her mind is whirring, analysing, competing.This has always been Wiegman’s way around the football pitch.“I think the difference between her and most of the kids I was coaching back then is the Europeans come in with a greater maturity,” Dorrance told the PA news agency. “We had a wonderful culture of great kids, very talented kids, but she always seemed to be a tad more serious than anyone else. You can even see her in press conferences — you’re interviewing a serious individual.”Where Russo credits UNC for instilling in her a physical and psychological strength and ronze also says it gave her a winning mentality, for Wiegman, her time on its campus was the start of her understanding the differing standards in women’s football — and importantly, how to raise them.In 1988, while competing in the FIFA Women’s Invitation Tournament with the Netherlands, Wiegman was invited by Dorrance to study at UNC and join the school’s football team. The following year, she was playing alongside Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Carla Overbeck, lifting the national championship trophy at season’s end.
Wiegman considered her time in the U.S. “an absolute trigger for me”, describing the quality of players and working conditions as operating at the “highest level”.
Upon returning to her home country a year later, the disparity in infrastructure and quality was stark. “When I went back, I thought, ‘If I can contribute in the Netherlands, to create what is in the U.S. in the Netherlands, I would be a happy person’,” she told UK newspaper The Guardian in 2023. “It took 20 years.”
The 29-year-old goalkeeper earned her first call-up to Wiegman’s England squad in July this year. A second call-up arrived in October, and she’s now had a third. The attention arrived as Moorehouse was having one of her best seasons between the sticks, helping Orlando Pride first to the NWSL Shield (given to the club with the best regular season record each year, and the first trophy in club history) and then, this past weekend, to the NWSL championship, thanks to a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit in the final.
Moorhouse has been integral, keeping clean sheets in half of her 26 appearances this season.
Moorhouse has become an influential player for Orlando (Elsa/Getty Images)
Her recent success in the States is more notable when considered in the light of her itinerant past. In the decade prior, Moorhouse spent time at Everton, Durham, Doncaster Rover Belles, Arsenal and West Ham United in England, before two mixed seasons with Bordeaux in France’s top division.
A move to Orlando came along in 2022, but her fortunes looked destined to follow the established theme. In that debut season, Moorhouse made five appearances, conceding 13 goals without keeping a single clean sheet nor being part of a win as the Pride finished 10th in the 12-team NWSL. Not until three games into the next season did Moorhouse play in her first victory (also the Pride’s first of the 2023 campaign), a 3-1 win against the San Diego Wave. In her ninth appearance last season, she kept her first clean sheet in a 1-0 defeat of Racing Louisville.Moorhouse was not helped by the quality of defence in front of her, but the league’s relentless transitional style also posed an initial challenge.“The biggest difference between the two leagues is the (NWSL) is a lot faster pace. You have athletes in every single position,” she told women’s football website INDIVISA this year. “You have so many transitions. The players are just pure athletic. When I first got here, I was trying to play and getting caught on the ball. I was trying to get up to speed. I think I’ve grown into that and I’ve changed that side of my game.“
Esme Morgan, 2024-present, Washington Spirit
After seven years with Manchester City, England defender Morgan made the bold call to move to the NWSL’s Washington Spirit in the summer, craving a new experience. “If I’d have got to the end of my career and just stayed in England the whole time, having heard how much other people have enjoyed going abroad, maybe I would have regretted it,” she told The Washington Post.
Her struggles to break into Gareth Taylor’s starting XI and the potential impact on her place in Wiegman’s squad had been evident. The 24-year-old featured in just nine WSL matches for City last season, starting five, and she spent most of her time with England on the bench.
The move to Washington represented an opportunity to shift this and so far, has. Following a thigh injury which delayed her debut until mid-September, Morgan has become a mainstay in the Spirit’s back line, helping them to finish runners-up to Orlando in both the regular-season table and again in Saturday’s play-offs final.
Morgan has been utilised mostly in central defence but has slotted in at right-back when required, a versatility that Wiegman will welcome, given Niamh Charles’s shoulder surgery. Her adaptation to the shift in style will also be crucial in setting her apart from other defenders at Wiegman’s disposal.
After the Spirit’s semi-final win against NJ/NY Gotham — in a penalty shootout — Morgan even lamented the number of fouls called by the officials: “This league certainly, comparing it to the English league, everyone’s so physical, so fit, so fast, so much less time on the ball, and so I really enjoy the challenge of it. No one ever plays to sit out and defend for a draw for 90 minutes or just low-block the whole time.
“I feel like it’s an element of my game that is developing a lot from being over here.”
From one league champion to another — Carter swapped Chelsea for NJ/NY Gotham in July after six seasons in west London.
Carter’s transfer was eagerly anticipated by the New York club’s fans: a six-time WSL and reigning European champion, the England defender’s pedigree spoke for itself. For Carter, the opportunity to challenge herself in a different environment appealed, particularly as the arrival of England team-mate Bronze posed a threat to her in terms of getting regular club minutes.
Jess Carter, right, scored against former club Chelsea in a pre-season friendly (Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
Carter, who has U.S. citizenship through her father, had always kept an eye on football across the Pond. But her move was also tinged with controversy after the defender said her decision was about wanting to be “surrounded by people who treat other people well”.Her off-field relationship with former Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who had moved to Gotham in April, was thrust into the spotlight after manager Hayes said in March that romances between team-mates were “inappropriate”. Carter liked a post on X condemning Hayes’ remark. Hayes later said she “let herself down” with the comment, but added, “I don’t take those things back”.lthough she did not mention Chelsea, Carter told women’s soccer website The Equaliser in an interview announcing her transfer: “Gotham shares my same values. How you treat people and how the team is treated are my biggest values. I think I can really become a better football player when I’m surrounded by people who treat other people well, and really care for one another as people before footballers.”
Carter has shown the power of confidence, instantly becoming a mainstay in the reigning champions’ defence as they progressed to the NWSL semi-finals, though they were denied a chance to play for successive titles by the Spirit.
While Carter, like her compatriots, has credited the league’s athleticism and physicality for aiding her development, she has also praised the positivity that comes with the American sporting culture.
“When I first came, I was like, well, this is a little bit much — everyone is so energetic!” Carter told football website 90 Minutes in October. “But it’s more the fact that I could probably count on one hand in WSL club football how many times my managers or coaches turn around and say, ‘You did really well. Good job. Well done’. That positive reinforcement I don’t think really happens much in the WSL, or not in my experience, anyway.”
Lotte Wubben-Moy, 2017-19, University of North Carolina
At 17 years old, Wubben-Moy was presented with a decision: say yes to a dream or choose the more difficult path to achieve it.
It is telling of the Arsenal defender’s mindset that she chose the latter, opting to leave her girlhood club Arsenal after 13 professional appearances and the offer of a professional contract to pursue higher education at UNC and further development under Dorrance.
Looking back, Wubben-Moy calls the decision “the hardest” of her life so far, but the upsides have been plentiful. After three years of starting regularly at centre-back and helping UNC to successive runner-up finishes in the NCAA College Cup, Wubben-Moy returned to England in 2020 and has established herself as one of England and Arsenal’s most aggressive and consistent defenders after two standout campaigns.
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“They definitely contributed to the player I am today, not just on the field but off the field as well,” Wubben-Moy told Arsenal’s website in 2020 of her time at UNC.
Dorrance specifically is praised by Wubben-Moy for his impact. The architect of the first U.S. World Cup win in 1991, Dorrance lionised the “winning mentality” that defines American sporting success. His tactics to develop the mental and physical side of a player’s game hinged on creating what he called a “competitive cauldron”, where players’ performances were analysed in front of peers and rankings posted on a weekly bulletin board for all to see.
As Wubben-Moy learned to adapt her game to the U.S.’s more athletic style of play in real-time, the visibility of her progression served as a catalyst.
“It doesn’t suit everyone and it is brutal, as in the numbers don’t lie,” Wubben-Moy told The Guardian in 2021. “But while so much of the game today is dictated by stats, the bottom line is still whoever scores more goals, whoever’s better on the day, whoever’s feeling more confident, that’s who wins.”
Wubben-Moy called the “competitive cauldron” a “masterpiece” due to the myriad mental components it demanded.“There are only going to be so many winners,” Wubben-Moy said. “But if as a team you can lift each other up while being competitive and go from saying, ‘Ah, I could be better there’ to looking at your mate and saying, ‘She’s gonna help me get there’, I think that’s next level.”
(Top photos: Getty Images)
USMNT Player Tracker: Pepi the hat-trick hero, Adams’ impact and Reyna returns
Ricardo Pepi’s growing dilemma at PSV Eindhoven, Paxten Aaronson’s key role in Utrecht’s remarkable progress and Gio Reyna’s much-anticipated return all play a part in this week’s USMNT tracker.
Throughout the season, we will bring you updates on the U.S. players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With a World Cup on home soil on the horizon and new national team boss Mauricio Pochettino monitoring from afar, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.
Issue of the weekend
His defending champions are top of the league, remain competitive in Europe and have an attack as formidable as their defence is mean — Peter Bosz cannot have much to grumble about.But the PSV manager does have one thorny issue to resolve and, even if he is probably tired of talking about it already, it is not going away anytime soon.Bosz is wedded to playing a lone centre-forward, so how do you make two go into one? Specifically, how do you give enough game time to a striker considered a club legend while also accommodating the Eredivisie’s best young forward in the team?Captain Luuk de Jong’s muscle strain at the weekend meant Pepi made successive starts this season for the first time. The 21-year-old duly followed his goal and assist from the 3-0 win over NAC Breda before the international break with a hat-trick in their 5-0 thrashing of Groningen.
Pepi celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth against Groningen (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
It puts Pepi on nine goals to date this term — he is joint-top scorer in the division alongside FC Twente’s Sem Steijn. But, while the latter has clocked nine goals from 11 starts for his fifth-placed team, Pepi has that many from just four starts. Other clubs across Europe are by now well aware of his prowess, and have taken note of his relative lack of opportunities.De Jong has five more starts than Pepi, and three fewer goals which would suggest that, at 34, his prolific powers are beginning to ebb. So how could Bosz perform a better balancing act between a club icon and what could be one in the making (if he stays in Eindhoven for long enough)?Could PSV go two up front, giving both men a chance to shine together? It appears not.Asked in his post-match press conference if it is an option, Bosz appeared to shut it down. “For years we have had a system that everyone thrives on and that is with one striker,” he said.When pressed further on whether Pepi’s remarkable form is making his selection task harder he was giving nothing away. ”No, I’m happy to have two good strikers,“ insisted Bosz.
The familiar sight of Pepi replacing De Jong (Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Almost as taciturn after the game was Pepi himself, who was grilled by ESPN on how it feels to be in and out of the team when playing so well — not least with three goals in his last four appearances for the USMNT under new manager Pochettino.“No matter when my name is called, I am going to be ready and I have been showing that,” he said. “I’m going to keep preparing and working hard. (Whether Pepi is picked) is not my decision. That’s the coach’s decision and it’s completely out of my control so I just focus on what I can control.Advertisement“I’ve said it before, mentally it can be difficult, but sometimes you get rewarded and get a couple of starts and all of a sudden everything changes a little bit.”Whether anything changes after his latest heroics remains to be seen. The team sheets for their next two games, Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk and Sunday’s top-vs-second clash with FC Utrecht, will be intriguing. But if there is a succession plan in the pipeline, Bosz needs to ensure Pepi enjoys more opportunities to thrive as he has in the last two league games.
Quote of the weekend
“Right now, everything he touches turns to gold. I think it’s very nice for him.”
PSV and Netherlands midfielder Guus Til, who also scored against Groningen, was another mightily impressed by the USMNT star’s hat-trick.
Player of the weekend
One young American who is getting the game time his performances deserve in the Eredivisie is Aaronson. And no wonder, with the 21-year-old involved in yet another goal for Utrecht as the team hot on PSV’s heels won again on Sunday.
Aaronson’s assist for Yoann Cathline in the 2-1 victory at NEC Nijmegen made it three goal contributions in three games. The loanee now boasts four goals and two assists in 10 starts so far this season.
The New Jersey native has knuckled down in another loan spell away from parent club Eintracht Frankfurt (who intend on making him a first-team regular next term), and is thriving in Holland after a harder spell in a doomed relegation scrap with Vitesse Arnhem last term.
Aaronson holds off NEC’s Rober Gonzalez (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Graphic of the weekend
Over 18 months since his previous consistent involvement at club level, Tyler Adams has logged consecutive starts for AFC Bournemouth — you’d be forgiven if you didn’t remember he plays there given how infrequently he has been fit to feature — on either side of the November window.
After a 67-minute shift against Brentford on November 9, the midfielder remained in Andoni Iraola’s lineup for Saturday’s visit from fellow south coasters Brighton, exiting after 65 minutes with a tidy performance to show for his efforts.
Iraola likely won’t conflate correlation with causation as the Cherries suffered defeat in both of Adams’ recent starts. Each was decided by a single goal, after all. Adams showed some signs of rust on Brighton’s first goal on Saturday, as Danny Welbeck and former Leeds team-mate Georginio Rutter deftly passed around him in the build-up. On both goals, Adams made recovery runs to get back into defensive position, showing he should still have the pace to be impactful at this high of a level.ow all that’s left is getting back that previously uncanny reading of sequences and more decisive defending when able.But sometimes, the most mundane of updates can provide the greatest comfort. Sometimes, just seeing a player make it through a pair of starts is its own kind of solace.Jeff Rueter
Pochettino was very complimentary about Tessmann after his performance in the second CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final win over Jamaica last week. The USMNT boss said he hoped to see him get more starts for Lyon too, but Tessmann was back on the bench for the financially troubled French club and had to be content with a nine-minute cameo in the 1-1 draw with Reims.
Name: Taylor Booth Club: FC Utrecht Position: Midfielder Games: 8
Another young American trying to make a bright impression at Utrecht is Booth, who has not had as many starts as Aaronson but features regularly for Ron Jans’ side from the bench. Booth got onto the field again on Sunday and did well, creating a chance and looking bright on the ball.
Booth replaces Miguel Rodriguez against NEC (ANP via Getty Images)
The 22-year-old scored in his Belgian side’s 4-0 win against Kortrijk, and looks fully recovered from the knee complaint that ruled him out for four games earlier in the season. Westerlo are seventh in the league.
The USMNT playmaker made his long-awaited return from injury for the Bundesliga side in their 4-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park. His 12 minutes off the bench were his first action for his club since August and manager Nuri Sahin was pleased.
“Gio trained brilliantly this week,” he said in the post-game press conference. “It’s important to get training minutes and, if possible, as many minutes as possible into the legs.”
The challenge for Reyna, once fully fit, is to convince Sahin he should be a regular starter — an objective that proved so difficult under previous manager Edin Terzic.
Reyna urges his team on against Freiburg (Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
When Mauricio Pochettino was a rugged enforcer, and why he wants his USMNT to follow suit
auricio Pochettino’s goals as United States men’s coach are big and bold and complicated by both historical realities and current perceptions. Turn the national team into a competitive international power. Capitalize on the opportunity of a lifetime presented by the next World Cup. Tap into the sport’s massive, unfulfilled American potential.His first impression to the U.S. audience is one of a smart-suited tactician of global repute with a $6 million annual contract, but in 1989, Pochettino was a rough-edged, 17-year-old defender trying to earn himself a pro soccer career. Back then, the tasks were less ambitious but more direct. ‘Go soften up the opposing No. 9,’ he was told by his veteran teammates and coaches at Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys. The instruction was clear, the execution bruising.A message-sending challenge. A knee to the back of the thigh. A cleat to the ankle. No quarter given. No apology offered.Could it be that kind of mindset the USMNT needs as much as implied promises of formational focus and technical improvement? Pochettino is perceived as a savant, but his methods and motivations are founded on willpower and ferocity.
Even after the 2022 World Cup cycle and winning several regional trophies, questions continue to be asked about this team’s mentality and whether they can tap into the spicier aspects of the world’s game.
It was billed as the newly minted Pochettino’s first major test. On Oct. 15, the Americans traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face their eternal rivals in a prime-time friendly with nothing but pride on the line.
As he’d played 67 minutes two days earlier against Panama, Pochettino allowed star Christian Pulisic to travel back early to his club, Milan, instead of being involved, to limit the winger’s minutes. Pulisic is enjoying the best moment of his career in Serie A, and his absence that night in Guadalajara left a leadership void. Mexico won their individual battles and bullied their visitors en route to a 2-0 win.
Pochettino’s side were listless, uninspired.Soft, perhaps?U.S. central defender Tim Ream seemed to think so.“It comes down to fighting for each other and being even more aggressive. We didn’t match (Mexico’s) intensity and that’s on us,” Ream told Sirius XM last week. “Bare minimum, you have to match the opponent’s intensity throughout the 90 minutes.”
Tim Ream during the loss to Mexico last month. (Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty Images)
The performances improved this month during a two-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal versus Jamaica. A 1-0 away win in Kingston was followed by a convincing 4-2 victory in St. Louis. But that loss to Mexico has not been completely erased.The overwhelming takeaway from it was that this U.S. team still lacks fight and grit. That it’s more naive than it is talented, and that without Pulisic, it lacks a decisive player. It’s a concern, with the next World Cup in 2026, an event largely hosted by the United States, looming ever closer.Coupled with an embarrassing Copa America on home soil over the summer, the events from Guadalajara raised doubts about this side’s ability to manage high-stakes situations. The two wins over Jamaica will have built confidence internally, but the Reggae Boyz are no world power. Pochettino likes to talk about “the other football,” the intangibles, the steeled edge, the dark arts of soccer.Gamesmanship and deception are attributes rarely associated with the game in America. Around the world, however, those characteristics come together and are ingrained in players from a young age. Soccer is played differently stateside, and that cultural disconnect has become Pochettino’s principal concern as he takes over a team that, at times, has come off as uninterested and privileged.Pochettino has sent a message early in his tenure that a squad place under him should not be taken for granted. “We have to challenge the players, because they have to feel desperate to want to be called up; that’s what other federations like Argentina do, where the players don’t choose which games they go to,” he said before the first leg against Jamaica.
“In terms of how to translate the competitive spirit to the players, we have to do it little by little and step by step. That’s something that we can’t do too quickly because in the end, the most important thing is creating a structure around the players that has that ideology and mentality, and that our priorities are all aligned.”It raises the question: Why is this an issue for this U.S. men’s national team?
As an Argentine, it’s perhaps impossible for Pochettino to grasp that an opportunity to play for the national team is anything less than a dream. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first cap or your 78th. Argentina, a star-studded side led by Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions, have come to epitomize what that commitment looks like.“The Argentinian player is desperate to be called up, doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly or a CONCACAF game, or Copa America, or a World Cup,” Pochettino said earlier this month during a video call with reporters. “The Argentinian player approaches a call-up like it’s a world final and like it’s their last chance.“I think our players have time to get into that mindset, and if we do, we’ll increase our level by 200 percent and we’ll have a chance, because we certainly have the talent to do something important.”
Mauricio Pochettino wants his players to be more cunning. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
The CONCACAF Nations League doesn’t carry much prestige, but it’s the only competitive tournament the U.S. will participate in before the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to reporters from Jamaica, Pochettino talked about putting his players in “uncomfortable zones” and raising the team’s emotional capacity to play do-or-die matches.“We need to build that expectation. We need to build that pressure,” Pochettino said. “We are USA. We need to perform and we need to win games.“If one of my players is kicked, we’re going to defend him. We have to be cunning enough to know when to kick the ball long or to stand in front of the ball. These are things that may seem like small details, but they have everything to do with playing this game. What we showed against Mexico was the opposite of what we showed against Jamaica. That’s the stamp that we want.”
Pochettino is being open about his first impressions of the players he’s inherited. It will be fascinating to watch the plan he and his staff implement as they try to turn the U.S. into a mentally hardened team — one that’s difficult to play against, as Pochettino put it. That certainly wasn’t what defined this same group under predecessor Gregg Berhalter, despite his best attempts to change their mindset.
When Pochettino was hired, his man-management skills were highlighted as a positive for this U.S. team. He had presided over the egos and personalities of Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. He coached in the Premier League and a UEFA Champions League final. His tactics, focused on aggressive pressing and quick attacking sequences born out of possession, were also noted as a match for these U.S. players.But it’s Pochettino’s background as a rugged Argentine central defender that could be the secret to success for the men’s side.
When Gerardo “Tata” Martino met Pochettino in 1989, he saw a nervous teenager who was about to face the pressures of football in Argentina. At the time, Martino was a title-winning captain at Newell’s Old Boys. Pochettino, still raw, had been discovered by Jorge Giffa, a renowned identifier of talent for the club, and fast-tracked towards the first team.“I didn’t meet the man who would become a head coach,” Martino told The Athletic in August. “I met a player who had the typical anxiety and expectation of someone who was just starting his career. There was no way for me to even fathom that (Pochettino) would go into coaching. I met him when he was 17 years old and he had a massive responsibility ahead of him because Newell’s was in a difficult situation, facing relegation.”
Mauricio Pochettino was an old-school defender. (Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)
Martino, who resigned as Inter Miami coach last week, knows Pochettino well. He has also coached and suffered through the idiosyncrasies of CONCACAF football as Mexico’s national team manager from 2019 to 2022.A Newell’s legend of three league titles as a player and another as the coach, Martino quickly spotted the young Pochettino’s fearless edge.“He was the prototypical central defender from that era, at a time when there was little talk about defenders making the first pass to break a line,” Martino said. “Rather, it was about how they defended, how they marked the opposition, their ability to anticipate and win balls in the air. That was Mauricio.”
In Guillem Balague’s 2017 book “Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs,” Pochettino described a run-in he had with Martino during one of his first Newell’s training sessions. “I was 17, young and hungry. Not scared of anybody, cocky even,” Pochettino said.According to Pochettino, Martino quipped, “I’m going to kill you” after receiving a tough tackle from the academy defender.“No, there’s no chance,” Martino said emphatically with a laugh when asked whether he had threatened his rookie teammate. “Surely something must’ve happened. I was a player who had been in the top flight for almost 10 years. Mauricio was a kid who was just starting. That happened often back then. Today, those types of things don’t happen as often. It was normal for an experienced player to have a word with a young player who was just starting out.”Pochettino the enforcer further thrived when Marcelo Bielsa took over as Newell’s coach in 1990. Led by Bielsa and playing alongside Martino, Pochettino would win two league titles and reach a Copa Libertadores final in 1992. That squad’s relentless, high-pressing intensity is a characteristic Pochettino later adopted as a manager. His hire as U.S. men’s national team coach comes at a time when Argentine managers are in high demand.U.S. Soccer officials didn’t pinpoint that when they announced his appointment in September, but Martino believes Pochettino’s heritage is part of a growing trend.
“I think that’s an important piece to all of this,” Martino said. “Right now, coaches from Argentina, because of everything that has happened with the national team, are well respected, and that opens doors to be considered for certain jobs. I wouldn’t simply compare Mauricio to other Argentine coaches, though.”
Pochettino has been largely molded by European footballing methodologies. He is a sophisticated student of the game who has lived and coached in Barcelona, London and Paris. His DNA, though, is from rural Argentina. His core memories as a player at Newell’s are replete with blood, sweat and massive pressure.“Argentine coaches have become accustomed to difficult situations that aren’t as common today,” Martino said. “There was a time when coaches wouldn’t get paid, or they had to deal with the club’s ultras and the hostility of difficult moments. But those negative experiences strengthen you, they give you thicker skin.”Martino, though, stressed Pochettino will have to “learn how to become a national team manager.” Regardless of Pochettino’s qualifications and his implementation of progressive tactics early on, he’s in his first-ever stint as an international coach. Although so was Lionel Scaloni when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.There were calls for the U.S. Soccer Federation to hire another American after Berhalter was fired.
Fans and pundits passionately discussed the importance of understanding the psyche of an American player. Tapping into the courage that defined previous U.S. teams was seen as a priority.Pochettino is an outsider who has read the room accurately. He knows a player’s resume and potential are secondary to their willingness to swallow their pride for the good of their country. Case in point, his response to that comfortable home win over Jamaica last week.“In the second half, we didn’t approach the game in the way we wanted,” he said. “The goal was to win the second half, and we didn’t approach it with the same intensity and mentality. It shows we still have things we need to improve.”
Internationally, the reputation of the U.S. men’s team eroded over the summer. They were humbled by opponents who were unafraid to test the limits of the sport’s rules. Their Copa America preparation, which included losing 5-1 against Colombia, and the group-stage elimination that followed, sent the wrong message to the world.he improvement Pochettino demands must come on the sport’s biggest stage in 2026. There is no other option.If the squad cannot align culturally with its new manager at a World Cup held mostly on home soil, the repercussions will lead to a renewed evaluation of the American player.
US Men Set to Play Mexico Tonight 10 pm TNT after beating Panama 2-0.
The US men got their first win under new manager Mauricio Pochettino Sat night with a 2-0 win over Panama. I thought the US was exciting with crisper ball movement and improved runs into the attacking third – that produced a solid goal in the 2nd half when Pulisic playing the inverted 10 along with Brandon Aaronson connected with his Milan teammate Yanus Musah for his first goal in a US Jersey. Overall I thought the US looked great until the subs came in around te 65th minute. Ream and Mark McKenzie were solid in the middle backline – with McKenzie looking spectacular along with left back Jedi Robinson who was darn near player of the match with his runs up the left side. His combos with Pulisic were fantastic – and he reminds me that he and Pulisic are truly our top 2 players playing in the Europe right now. I thought Josh Sargent blew chance after chance in the 1st half including a an absolute sitter than should have scored. Yes he hustles and has good movement but he’s got to score. Honestly Pepi came off the bench in the 65th minute and slotted one late – Sargent has to do the same while Bologen is missing.
No idea what to expect tonight vs Mexico – listen Poch won his first game and the boys looked sharper and had more counter attack and less just mindlessly passing the ball around vs an inferior team on Sat night – but sending home 5 guys before the Mexico game – including Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic is just nuts? Seriously we only have like 8 more windows of games – not many as tough as tonight might be vs Mexico and you send our best player and Talisman home before the game for load management? Are you friggin kidding me Poch? Absolutely crap decision in my eyes – if he loses tonight – we should be all over him – losing to Mexico – a team we haven’t not beaten in forever is NEVER ACCEPTABLE! In light of sending Pulisic home I see a 1-1 tie tonight – if we are lucky.
Indy 11 Tie Detroit to stay in 4th – Fan Appreciation Night on Final Game Sat 7 pm vs Birmingham
Hamtramck, Mich. – Indy Eleven goalie Hunter Sulte recorded his ninth clean sheet of the season and his second in a row to help his team to a key road point in a scoreless tie at Detroit City on Saturday afternoon. The Boys in Blue, who are 2-0-2 in their last four games, stayed two points behind third-place Detroit City in the USLC Eastern Conference standings with two games left in the regular season. The top eight teams in the East will compete in the playoffs the first weekend in November, with the top four teams at home. Indy Eleven hosts Fan Appreciation Night next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Birmingham Legion FC in the final home match of the regular season – Fan appreciation night. Single-game tickets are available at Ticketmaster. For information on all ticket options visit the Indy Eleven Ticket Central. For questions, email tickets@indyeleven.com or call (317) 685-1100.
High School – Carmel Girls & Carmel Boys Advance to Regionals – Wed/Thurs
The Carmel Boys took defending state Champs & #2 Ranked Noblesville to PKs (video) and beat them in the shootout in Sectionals Sat evening at Murray Field. Now they will travel to Lawrence North Thursday night. (Game preview)
LADIES
The 3rd ranked Carmel Girls will travel to Brownsburg Wed night at 7 pm in Regional Play vs Brownsburg (game preview) a team they beat 4-1 in the regular season. Win and Carmel comes home to Murray Field for Regional Finals on Saturday at 2 pm vs the winner of Franklin & East Central.
Carmel Girls Seniors all former Carmel FC’ers at some point – celebrate Sectional Championship. Carmel Boys Celebrate Sectional Championship Title after beating Noblesville in PKs Sat.What a Treat to get to the Ref the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Christian High School Boys Sat Night @ Mount Vernon with Ed Terrell and Charlotte Jones.
TV SCHEDULE
Tues Oct 15
2:45 pm FS2 Spain vs Serbia
2:45 pm TUDN Greece vs Ireland
7:30 pm FS1 Canada vs Panama
10:30 pm TNT/Univ Mexico vs USMNT
(American’s in Parenthesis)
Sat, Oct 19
9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart
9:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Frankfurt
9:30 am ESPN+ Mgladbach (Scalley) vs Heidenheim
12 noon CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Udinees
6 pm MLS Decision Day
6 pm Apple TV Inter Miami vs New England
7 pm ESPN+, TV Indy 11 vs Birmingham
9 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers
Sun, Oct 20
9 am USA Wolverhampton vs Man City
11 am USA Liverpool vs Chelsea
2:45 pm Para+ Roma vs Inter Milan
3 pm ESPN2 Barcelona vs Sevilla
5 pm ESPN NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Orlando Pride
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Mauricio Pochettino’s week of ‘speaking about confidence’ pays off for Musah and USMNT
It is a rarity to see Yunus Musah without a smile. An ear-to-ear grin is a mostly-permanent feature for the 21-year-old midfielder.But as he sprinted towards the corner flag on Saturday night in Austin, Texas, having scored his first goal in a U.S. senior men’s national team jersey in his 42nd appearance, the sense of gratification on his face shined through — even for someone who usually has a happy expression plastered on.“That moment,” said Christian Pulisic, his AC Milan and USMNT teammate who provided the assist, “that’s why you play.The 49th-minute goal in a 2-0 friendly win against Panama was also an immediate validation of the instincts of the team’s debuting head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
Musah’s joy was clear after his success in his new role (Tim Warner/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The 52-year-old Argentinian came into his first camp this week intending to spend time with every player on the roster and understand where they stood. The idea was to ensure each of them was handled the right way. It’s why Weston McKennie stayed on the bench on Saturday night; he had entered camp feeling some discomfort after playing in each of Juventus’ last six games, and Pochettino felt it was crucial not to take any risks with the midfielder. It was also why Musah was tested in a new role in his first game under the new regime. Musah reported to camp having played just 45 minutes in Serie A for Milan in September and zero minutes so far in October. Though typically a central midfielder cast in a box-to-box No. 8 role, Pochettino met with Musah and proposed deploying him wider on the right. Pochettino knew Musah had played that role before, both in Arsenal’s academy and also when he first moved to Spain’s Valencia five years ago. In that position, Pochettino felt Musah would have more freedom to push forward on the ball, one of his strengths, without the pressures of being a focal part of the build-up at a time when he isn’t playing regularly for his club and thus wasn’t in his best form.
It worked to perfection early in the second half, when the U.S. built up down their left side through Antonee Robinson, Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson, and Musah came crashing into the box from the right to finish off a Pulisic cross.“It’s always worth trying to build his confidence and to (make him) feel again (that he is) a player that can perform on the pitch,” Pochettino said. “It was an important moment for him, to (show) trust in him, but maybe not to give him too much responsibility in the build-up. It’s only to be in a position that can help the team, and then he arrived there and scored.“Fantastic for him, fantastic for the team. And now maybe he’ll start to perform and behave in a different way, full of confidence. That is the important (factor) in our decision, is trying to help. We are here to help the player to find their best.”
Pochettino and Pulisic speak during the win over Panama (Photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
If there was a theme to the first night under Pochettino, it was exactly that: creating and building confidence. Confidence for each player, but also for a team that was winless in its previous four games. Copa America group-stage elimination was a crushing experience for a squad that knew how expectations were growing and understood how valuable a tournament run would have been on multiple levels, for them, the fanbase and the sport in the United States.Pochettino’s hire was meant to restore some of the confidence and belief in the program.
Center back Tim Ream said Pochettino was “speaking about confidence all week”, and that it was reinforced and transmitted into the group by what he was asking the team to do against Panama. Mostly, players were told to be themselves, embrace their strengths and, as Musah said, “play free”.“He wants us to be solid defensively, and then have guys play the way they are comfortable playing and being confident going forward with the ball,” Ream said. “And everybody saw that, especially in the first 15 minutes. Guys were moving, (there was) intricate passing and getting the ball, moving quick and getting in and around their box. When he tells guys to go and be themselves, it’s a sign that he has confidence in you, and you can see that come out with all the guys out here.”
Things were not perfect. Panama had good chances in the game. Matt Turner was forced into a big double save in the second half and they should have found an equalizer late in the game. As USMNT veteran DaMarcus Beasley said on the Turner Sports broadcast, there were also some mistakes in the build-up that top teams would punish.But, the U.S. won, with Ricardo Pepi adding the second goal in stoppage time.
The result was needed, even if this was just a friendly.
“I looked back at our recent form, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve won’,” Turner said. “Since the Bolivia game (at Copa America, on June 23), right, since we’ve won a game and had a clean sheet? So, yeah, it’s nice to set off this era with a win and a clean sheet. It goes in waves, but winning is something that you learn. You can’t just take it for granted. It takes energy and focus for 90 minutes, especially at this level.”
Pochettino will know that this win was important in building trust and confidence that the ideas he is installing with the team will lead to success. Musah’s goal reinforced that.The job now is to keep carrying it forward.“It’s the first step,” Pochettino said. “To start to grow and be better.”
(Top photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
USA vs. Mexico 2024 preview: key players, predictions, more
Multiple contributors ESPN FC
Oct 15, 2024, 10:23 AM ET
Get ready for an exciting new chapter of the United States vs. Mexico rivalry!
With recent coaching changes bringing a high-profile figure in Mauricio Pochettino to the U.S. men’s national team, and a more tried and true veteran in Javier Aguirre to Mexico’s men’s side, both programs will have a chance to reach an early milestone when they meet Tuesday for a friendly.
Long gone are the former coaches who recently failed to impress at the Copa América. It’s now The Aguirre and Pochettino Show for Concacaf’s two biggest giants, and they will be eager to make their mark against one another.
Tuesday’s match at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron isn’t just about regional superiority either. With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something ahead of the 2026 World Cup that their countries will co-host, the upcoming friendly will also display what path they’re paving.
ESPN brings you everything you need to know about the clash, with team analysis, predictions, key players and more from former Mexico international Jared Borgetti alongside experts Cesar Hernandez, Daniel Rodríguez, Omar Flores and Lizzy Becherano.
Both teams are in reset mode right now. What led them to this point?
Like Mexico, there have been few positives for the U.S. to point to since the 2022 World Cup. With the goal of showcasing that they’re not just a big fish in a Concacaf-sized pond, the USMNT has struggled against elite teams, notably in the summer’s disastrous early exit from the Copa América. A couple of winless friendlies heading into the tournament also foreshadowed doom for the USMNT. There’s no lack of promising talent within the roster, but there was also little evidence that previous coach Gregg Berhalter was the right person to help elevate both the players and overall structure, which have a high ceiling. — Cesar Hernandez
A series of bad decisions and poor results. It’s amazing how in Mexico they could make the things worse each time and, after group stage elimination at the 2022 World Cup, managers, coaches and players have since shown that it could be even worse. With the United States, it hasn’t been very different. Even though it has important players at Europe, the reality is that it hasn’t been able to make a project work the right way after constant coaching changes, problems beyond the pitch and without the right process to grow as a national team. — Daniel Rodriguez
This change of coaches for United States and Mexico shows that they are looking to do things differently. Both teams feel that they have stagnated and that with the players they have, they perhaps should have achieved better things in recent tournaments. Mexico is bringing a coach (Aguirre) who already knows what it’s like to be there, who knows the Mexican soccer players well and who has helped them achieve important things in the past. The U.S. is betting on an international coach who has had a brilliant career as a player and manager. With the majority of each team’s players in Europe, the bet is quite interesting for both sides. — Jared Borgetti
What are the strengths and weaknesses of each team going into this game?
It was a small window through just one game, but there was a lot to enjoy about the fluid movement of the USMNT attack that had a dangerous player like Christian Pulisic (who will miss this friendly to rejoin his club side AC Milan) dictating things as a crafty winger who tucked inside. Alongside him, Brenden Aaronson had some brief moments of magic, as did goal scorers Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi.
When looking at weaknesses, it may take some time for the USMNT to fine-tune its defensive transition. Pochettino and his men were lucky to have not allowed a goal in his debut match vs. Panama, who occasionally launched forward and asked serious questions of the backline. — Hernandez
El Tri’s strength is team play. The squad identifies with the coach, and that will translate to its play on the field. The weaknesses? Well, I think that at the moment Mexico is experiencing a lack of confidence after poor results. It has to get the fans involved quickly and channel that support. I think that’s important because the fans have distanced themselves from the national team’s matches, and the team needs them now more than ever. — Borgetti
Mexico’s main strength is on the defensive side. César Montes and Johan Vásquez have played together since the under-23s, and they have already won a bronze medal. They have also been the most regular duo in recent years.
Mexico’s main weakness is on the other side of the field with the strikers. As managers, Diego Cocca, Jaime Lozano and Javier Aguirre have tried with different players to address the lack of a top scorer. During Copa América, Mexico scored only one goal in the matches against Venezuela and Ecuador. It is expected that, with the return of Raúl Jiménez, this problem will be fixed. — Omar Flores
Who are the players to watch for each team?
For the U.S., the crafty and clever Pulisic is the easy answer, although U.S. Soccer announced Sunday that he’ll be leaving camp early. Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Zack Steffen and Pepi will also return to their clubs.
Looking elsewhere, Mexico must find a way to stifle an energetic fullback/wingback like Antonee Robinson. The Fulham player covered an immense amount of ground on the left flank against Panama and provided a key pass that helped lead to a goal, all while being able to sprint back and halt counters.
It’s early days, but in Poch’s fluid tactical setup that can move between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-3, Robinson is an invaluable cog. — Hernandez
I think it doesn’t have to be one specifically, because we don’t have someone who is really going to catapult us into success. We haven’t had a player who carries the team for a while. The important thing is that the group grasps the idea of what it wants to accomplish and its playing style. That’s what matters the most, beyond whether someone individually can do something extraordinary that ends up winning a game. I would lean more toward the team’s game system rather than a singular player. — Borgetti
A problem for Mexico is the lack of stars. Still, the most important players from Javier Aguirre’s squad are the veterans Guillermo Ochoa and Jiménez. The goalkeeper of 39 years has another shot to prove that he’s the best option for the next World Cup after the great performances of Luis Malagón with his team (América) and the recent appearance of Álex Padilla with Athletic Bilbao.
Jiménez had a brilliant month in the Premier League with four goals and one assist. One of the greatest coaches, Pep Guardiola, says that “he is back” and that’s what Aguirre, alongside the national team, expects. — Flores
A huge strength for Mexico is their players with World Cup experience. It will be interesting to see if a “new” player is granted a huge number of minutes to prove that he can break into the starting lineup. Rodrigo Huescas or Marcel Ruiz could be an example of this. But the main story to follow is if Ochoa will start against the United States and the possible debut of forward Germán Berterame. — Rodríguez
Which team has more to lose right now and why?
It’s Mexico. Their national team is already on thin ice with a fan base that has already booed and jeered El Tri after its latest 2-2 draw with an alternate Valencia side. Unlike Pochettino, who is a fresh face still adjusting to his surroundings, Mexico’s Aguirre has returned for a third time and is expected to once again be a firefighter. Being unable to smother the USMNT’s flames would be a significant and early blemish for Aguirre, especially due to playing at home. — Hernandez
How the Pochettino USMNT era got off to a winning start
Check out some of the stats and figures behind the United States’ 2-0 win over Panama in Maurico Pochettino’s first game as head coach.
I think Mexico has much more to lose because it is playing on home soil. Friendly matches against the U.S. have rarely been played in Mexico. So today I think it would be important, under Aguirre, to play a good game, and it’s also important to forge a new connection with the fans. A good victory against the United States would sort out the laziness a little and help get things back on track. — Borgetti
It’s a simple friendly match, and it will only help both coaches gather some information about each other, but nothing beyond that. We could think that, with Mexico being the host, a defeat will only make things worse, and the crisis would just carry on, but if it wins it would also be wrong to assume that it could turn the page. — Rodríguez
What can we expect from the atmosphere in Guadalajara? How are Mexico fans approaching the game?
There has been a lot of chat around the game that fans are not buying many tickets. But we’ll see a good match at Guadalajara, which has a lot of expectation, and I think we can expect a sellout. Only with results will people fall in love again, not an interview or what you say ahead of the match. What people really care about is the outcome and a good display. — Borgetti
Mexico’s matches in its own country are less intense than in the United States. El Tri does not have a real connection at its own turf because most of the games are held on American soil, and the recent scores do not help. FMF is making an effort so the team can reconnect with the fans, and it hopes the anti-gay chant, which started in Guadalajara at Jalisco, doesn’t appear again. The best way to counterattack this is with goals and a good streak of matches. — Flores
It’s easy to assume that the fans in Jalisco could lead to a capacity crowd at the stadium because there aren’t many visits of the national team to that part of the country, even more so when you’re facing the biggest rival. Now, as always at Estadio Azteca or the games in United States, the atmosphere will depend on how the match develops and if the team is winning or losing. In the opening minutes, the fans will show support, but this could change quickly depending on how the game goes. — Rodríguez
What will it take for the USMNT to clinch its second win in Mexico following 2012’s victory?
Mexico’s attack won’t be as kind as Panama’s, so the USMNT must tighten up its defensive structure during transition moments. Going forward, focusing on the left with rapid overlapping runs from Robinson, as well as Pulisic’s substitute likely roaming inside in the same manner, will be sure to provide some avenues against a Mexican defense that has its own set of worries. — Hernandez
How will the absence of key players impact the USMNT’s preparations and team selection?
Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to rotate players against Mexico in Guadalajara, given the departure of five players from the U.S. men’s national team camp.
Fossey, Steffen, Mckennie, Pepi departed the October USMNT camp after the 2-0 victory over Panama on Oct. 12 due to injuries, while Pulisic returned to AC Milan to avoid work overload. The new manager admitted to feeling disappointed in their exit, but insists the friendly now serves as the last chance to observe players before the next international window. Alejandro Zendejas, Brandon Vázquez, Malik Tillman and Haji Wright could all see more time in the absence of Pulisic and Pepi.
Though the team expects a difficult match against Aguirre’s Mexico, Pochettino maintained that playing on Mexican soil will give his players the opportunity to learn and grow in the face of adversity. Playing against one of the USMNT’s biggest rivals in front of a sold-out crowd at Estadio Akron will challenge the United States to grow and improve ahead of the 2026 World Cup. — Lizzy Becherano
What are your score predictions and why?
2-2. With both coaches still trying to put their stamp on their teams, this feels like a match in which attackers will have chances to capitalize on defensive hiccups. Either way, it should be a fun one, with plenty of players wanting to make a name for themselves under their new coach. — Hernandez
Mexico will beat United States 2-1. It will be Aguirre’s fourth match in his new tenure, and he has more knowledge of his players than Pochettino does. Also, Aguirre was the last Mexico coach to beat the United States and is never afraid to sacrifice the team’s style if he can get the win. — Flores
This match should be a close one because it will be held on Mexican soil, and the home team should take advantage, even if we’re talking about a friendly match. Predicting a score isn’t easy, but Mexico should come out on top of this one 2-1. — Rodríguez
Lee Carsley’s England future no longer looks secure after confusing moments on the pitch and off it
It felt before this game that the one thing Lee Carsley had to do was to keep the ship afloat. Just guide HMS Carsball through the relatively benign waters of Nations League Group B2 and surely the permanent England manager’s job would be his.But over the course of Thursday evening at Wembley the ship ran aground, not once but twice. Suddenly, what felt like a secure future for the England team, a clear course from here to the United States, Canada or Mexico for the World Cup in 2026, does not look quite as certain any more.First, when England put in a disastrously bad performance, thoroughly outplayed by Greece, flattered by a 2-1 scoreline which should have been far worse. Carsley fielded an experimental system: no recognised striker, too much creative talent. England looked unbalanced, confused and painfully vulnerable whenever they lost the ball.The second time was after the game, when Carsley gave his press conference. Asked whether England’s defeat might damage his chances of getting appointed permanently, Carsley gave an answer which surprised the room: “I was quite surprised after the last camp, in terms of ‘the job’s mine’ and ‘it’s mine to lose’ and all the rest of it,” Carsley said. “My remit has been clear. I’m doing three camps, there’s three games left and then hopefully I’ll be going back to the under-21s.”
Carsley was asked to clarify his comments more than once and he took half a step back, reiterating that he “would not rule myself in or out” of the process, and insisting that being England manager was “one of the best jobs in the world”. But it was neither a firm statement that he wanted the job, nor that he wanted to fully wash his hands of it.
Carsley watches on as England lose to Greece (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
Maybe Carsley was trying to push back against the assumption that the job was automatically his. Maybe he was trying to say that he was relaxed about the outcome, whether he gets the top job or goes back to leading England Under-21s instead. Maybe he was trying to take the pressure off the FA. But the net result was to leave people with more questions than answers — much like the game we had all just watched.
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Coming into the Greece match, the big question was how Carsley would integrate Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer into the team that won both games last month without them. This was the conundrum that predecessor Gareth Southgate could never solve, as England failed to get anywhere near the best out of those three at the European Championship this summer. The hope was that Carsley, with his extra level of tactical nous, would be able to fit the pieces together.
The solution, with Harry Kane out injured, was for Bellingham to start up front, with Foden and Palmer in the midfield. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka were on the wings, leaving Declan Rice to do all the legwork in midfield. Here, finally, was an unshackled, unleashed England. Southgate’s handbrake had been ripped from the car and tossed out of the window.
And it was a mess.
England created only one real chance before Bellingham’s late equaliser — Palmer skying a shot from a Bellingham pull-back. Beyond that, it was plenty of possession around the edge of Greece’s penalty area that went nowhere, quite a few crosses to no one in particular and a strong sense that this was no solution at all to England’s problems. The more creativity they had on the pitch, the less they created.
And yet we have all seen England struggle to create chances before. That in itself is nothing new, even with this much firepower in the team. What truly stands out from this game is England’s weakness at the back.
It is difficult to think of a worse England defensive performance in recent memory.
In June 2022, they lost 4-0 to Hungary at Molineux in a Nations League game that saw the crowd turn on Southgate in a bitter, personal way. But that day Southgate chased the game in the second half and England conceded three late goals on the break.
England lost 2-1 to Greece on Thursday night (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Last night, the whole match felt like that. England were never more vulnerable than when they had the ball. Every time they lost it, Greece broke straight through them. On another day, they would have conceded five or six.
Watching Greece slice through England was to realise that maybe we got carried away last month. It was easy enough to assume that Carsley could take the good bits of the Southgate era — the team ethic, the defensive structure, the solid base — and sprinkle some tactical imagination on top. But here England had a surfeit of tactical imagination and very little else. Carsley had added the icing but lost the cake.
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It made you realise that, for all the criticisms thrown at Southgate, there was a reason he had such a consistent record as England manager. Gazball was maybe not to everyone’s taste but England have never been better at calmly negotiating games like this one than under their previous manager.
The tangle Carsley got himself into when talking about the job afterwards was also a situation Southgate would never have found himself in, given his knack of seemingly having a prepared answer for everything, and never starting a sentence unless he knew exactly how he would end it.
The good news is that England have another game on Sunday. HMS Carsball is now heading to Helsinki. This game could just be a bad one-off, a brave gamble that did not work.
If Kane comes through training on Friday and returns to the team, England will have their keystone back to face Finland. If England can get back to the structure they showed in September, there is no reason they cannot finish this Nations League campaign strongly.
But we will need to know what Carsley’s England, at their best, are meant to look like.
Is this a team built on paper or a team built for tournaments? Does Carsley think the problem with England at Euro 2024 was that they were too in awe of their creative stars, or not in awe enough? Does he know a route to winning a trophy that can bypass all of the methodical, functional aspects of the early Southgate era?
These are the pressing questions, even more than whether he actually wants this job or not.
As the Summer of Soccer continues – we now have Copa America in the evenings after Euro Cup games all day long all on Fox. I sure do with ESPN had The Euro’s while Fox had Copa. ESPN did such a good job showing Euro games on all of its channels back in the day. I still can’t believe Fox is not showing us all of the games – as the early morning 9 am kickoffs of less popular teams have been on Fubo only. Fox has like 5 stations and can’t find room for a game on Fox Sports 2 at least? Ridiculous. Either way having soccer on all day and night – even if it is all on Fox is glorious. Lots of commercials with Messi Adidas, Mastercard , Michelob , Lowes this summer – but its really cool seeing some US players get in on the action too – Mckinney & Adams in this Truly Commercial . Love these scenes from the Euro’s Awesome for Ukraine – Gotta Love the Scotts – that’s how you march to the game.
Copa America Starts & Euros Move into Games 2 of Group Stages
So with the Euro’s into the 2nd games of the group – Copa America has arrived. Of course defending Champs Argentina are the heavy favorites along with Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. Tons of stories below and of course predictions. Of course the US – if they advance from Group play should face either Brazil or Colombia in the knockout rounds – two of the favorites of the tourney. As much as I would love to see the US make the final 4 – I don’t think we get past either Colombia or Brazil who we would face in the Quarters. (sure hope I am wrong). The pick here is for Argentina and Messi to win on American Soil. As for the Euro’s – man some of the better teams have really had issues in their first games – England, Belgium and Italy really don’t look like they are gonna make a run. I am sticking with my earlier pick of Germany on home soil or Spain – who honestly looks like the best team so far. Man that Spain vs Italy game was fantastic. Some really great games. A hint if you are watching – be sure to tune in at least 10 minutes to game-time to catch the national anthems of the games. I am hoping that the Copa will only allow the US to play the song so we can all sing – rather than have some unknown come out and butcher the national anthem.
US Men Starts Copa America Sun vs Bolivia 6 pm
So its here – the last real chance for the US men to prove they are taking steps in the right direction was we prepare to host World Cup 2026 in just 2 years. Can the US actually beat a good team, a ranked team in a game that matters. Other than beating a Mexico team that is simply not what they used to be – the US has not beaten a top 20 ranked team since Berhalter took over. Now is the chance with Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil and potentially Argentina in the way of the US making history in the Copas. The US has actually make the final 4 before – but has a much tougher draw this team and will need to beat a top 10 team in the World to make it happen. Will the US actually have home field advantage in the US? Hard to say – the tickets are Crazy expensive – and the COPA seems to care less if there are empty stadiums as long as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico can fill their stadiums around the country like Atlanta did for the opener – with 90% Argentina fans. Not sure what to expect – but the US should take care of business in the first game and find a way past a tougher than normal Panama in the 2nd game. Hopefully the 3rd game vs Uruguay will be for seeding – if the US can win their first 2. Since Berhalter has NEVER actually surprised anyone with his team selection in the past – I look for the US to roll out the same back line with the same front line with perhaps the only decision being does Adam’s start at D Mid with McKinney and Gio? Or does Cardoso or Musah take the # 6 role to start. The US will face a low block with Bolivia so we will need Gio to unluck things. I would love to see Sargeant or Haji Wright at the #9 – but I am sure it will be Balogen. The US should win this game 2 or 3 to zero – this is the weakest team in our group.
Shane’s Starters
Pulisic, Bologen, Weah
Gio
Mckinney, Adams
Robinson, Ream, Richards, Scally
Turner
The 26-player Copa América roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic FC), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Indy 11 Win – Home again Sat Night vs Orange County 7 pm
Indy Eleven extended its unbeaten streak across all competitions to 12 after a 1-0 victory over San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. The Boys in Blue improve to 9-4-2 and move into a tie for second in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, The Boys in Blue have now scored 16 first half goals this season, the highest total for a USL Championship team. Defensively, the Boys in Blue have held their opponents scoreless in the first half in nine of 15 matches in 2024. The 11 remain at The Mike to host Orange County SC Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The match will air locally on WNDY and stream on CBS Sports Golazo Network.Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster. For more information on all ticket options click here. For questions, please email tickets@indyeleven.com or call 317.685.1100.
Carmel High Girls Soccer Camp July 22-25
2-4:30 pm @ Murray Stadium Register Here contact fdixon@ccs.k1.in.us for more info
Huge Congrats to former Carmel FC midfielder JD Slivinski playing this summer for USL 2 team Virginia Beach United.
TV GAMES SCHEDULE
Fri, June 21
12 noon FS1 Poland vs Austria
3 pm Fox Netherlands vs France
7:30 pm Para+ Hartford @ Tampa Rowdies (Jordan Farr)
8 pm FS1 Peru vs Chile COPA
8 pm Amazon Prime Orlando Pride vs Utah NWSL
Sat, June 22
12 noon Fox Turkey vs Portugal
3 pm Fox Belgium vs Romania
6 pm FS1 Ecuador vs Venezuela Copa
7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs OC @ the Mike Pride Night
9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA
10:30 pm Apple Seattle Sounders vs Dallas MLS
Sun, June 23
1:30 pm ESPN NY/NJ Gotham vs Washington Spirit NWSL
3 pm Fox Switzerland vs Germany
3 pm FS1 Scotland vs Hungary
4 pm CBS Golazo Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville NWSL
6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America
9 pm Fox or FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA
Mon, June 24
3 pm Fox Croatia vs Italy
3 pm FS1 Albania vs Spain
6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Paraguay Copa
9 pm FS1 Brazil vs Costa Rica
Tues, June 25
12 noon FS1 Netherlands vs Austria
12 noon Fox France vs Poland
3 pm Fox England vs Slovenia
3 pm FS1 Denmark vs Serbia
6 pm FS1 Peru vs Canada Copa
9 pm FS1 Chile vs Argentina Copa
Thur, June 27
6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA
9 pm Fox Uruguay vs Bolivia
Fri, June 28
6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Costa Rica
9 pm FS1 Paraguay vs Brazil
Sat, June 29th
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters A2 vs B2
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters A1 vs C2
8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Peru Copa
8 pm FS2 Canada vs Chile
Sun, June 30
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters C1 vs D/E/F3
1 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gotham vs Seattle Reign NWSL
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters B1 vs A/D/E/F3
7:30 pm CBS Golazo+Para Angel City vs Orlando Pride NWSL
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USMNT Copa America 2024 squad guide: A golden generation – how far can they go?
Paul Tenorio The Athletic Jun 15, 2024 They call it a golden generation, with big-name players who have experienced the highest levels in Europe and have World Cup experience too. As hosts, they will also have the crowds with them. Could the competition’s invited guests cause an upset at South America’s greatest party?
The manager
The former Columbus Crew coach Gregg Berhalter became the first American to play for and coach the USMNT in the World Cup, guiding a young group to the knockout stage of Qatar 2022 where they were eliminated by the Netherlands. Berhalter returned as coach despite a massive post-tournament controversy involving him, star player Gio Reyna and Reyna’s parents, including his former team-mate and longtime friend Claudio Reyna.
Berhalter’s U.S. teams have played mostly a transition-style soccer, but have shifted from the 4-3-3 used in Qatar to a 4-2-3-1 with Reyna sliding into the No 10 spot. New fans to the team may want to keep an eye out for Berhalter’s sideline bounce passes when the ball runs out of play.
Berhalter was appointed U.S. coach in December 2018 (Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)
The son of former FIFA Player of the Year (and former Liberia president) George Weah, the winger has won a trophy at every club for which he has played and has become one of the leaders and consistent producers for this U.S. team. He scored the opening goal of the World Cup and currently features for Juventus in Serie A.
The U.S. is best when they are playing a vertical game, pushing the ball up the field quickly in transition. With Pulisic and Weah running on the wings and a dynamic midfield that includes Adams, McKennie and Reyna, the U.S. can up the tempo and find space quickly to beat teams.
They will miss the attacking flair of right-back Sergino Dest, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but this team should still have enough about them to speed play up.
Weston McKennie playing against Jamaica in March (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Weaknesses
Creating chances with prolonged possession.
The U.S. has struggled against teams that sit in a low block, and even at times in an organized mid-block. It forces the U.S. to find ways to beat you through passing and movement in tight spaces and takes away the strength of players such as Pulisic, who prefers to run at players in space.
Robinson and Ream playing for Fulham in the Premier League last season (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
Expectations back home
This U.S. team is largely considered to be a ‘golden generation’ of American players, with the core of this team playing at big clubs in Europe and many of them moving across the Atlantic at earlier ages than ever before.
This was the youngest team, by minutes played, at the Qatar World Cup, so now the players must prove they are worthy of the expectation as they begin to move into their respective primes.
The expectation undoubtedly will be that the U.S. advance to the semi-finals — but it won’t be an easy road. A second-place finish in the group likely means a meeting with Brazil in the quarter-finals.
(Top image: Brace Hemmelgarn, Getty Images; design by Eamonn Dalton)
Copa America 2024 predictions: Who will win it all, how far will the U.S. go? Our writers’ picks
By The Athletic Soccer staff n 20, 2024
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Copa America kicks off today, with the United States as hosts. Reigning champion Argentina takes on Canada in the first game on Thursday.
What can we expect? Will Argentina complete a storybook last dance with Angel Di Maria as he plays one more major tournament with Lionel Messi? Will Vinicius Junior find a way to lead Brazil to a title? And how will the U.S. do in its fifth invitation to the oldest national team tournament?
Here, six of The Athletic’s writers give their predictions…
Paul Tenorio: I’m not going to break away from the crowd here. This tournament falls kindly for Argentina to navigate to the final. There, no matter the opponent, Messi and Co. win a third consecutive international tournament in his new home city.
Felipe Cardenas: Argentina’s quest for greatness has defined this Messi-led group of players. They will have learned plenty from the 2022 World Cup. They took a haymaker in their opening match against Saudi Arabia and got back up. Argentina won a quarterfinal penalty shootout and leaned on multiple players other than Messi to triumph in a tournament setting. The defending champions are battle-tested and very talented.
As reigning World Cup champion, Argentina is looking to defend its Copa America title (Carl De Souza, AFP via Getty Images)
Jeff Rueter: Although the U.S. is the host, doesn’t this still feel like Argentina’s tournament? Like their talisman, the federation has set up firm roots in Miami over the past couple of years. In what might be Messi’s swansong, La Albiceleste should replicate Spain’s feat at the turn of the 2010s: continental title, World Cup, continental title.
Melanie Anzidei: Winning a second Copa America in a row would solidify Argentina’s place as one of football’s greatest teams. This is not the same team that played on American soil in 2016. Far from it. This team is led by a captain who has once again found joy in playing and who has an entire nation behind him. Winning this tournament is personal for their players, and we’ll see that starting Thursday.
Joshua Kloke: Brazil might be a younger team but without the pressure that comes with World Cups, and the expectations Argentina clearly has on them (see the pack of picks above!) I could see Brazil’s talent taking over. If they can play liberated — which can admittedly be a challenge for Brazil — they should make their way through the tougher side of the draw and win their second Copa America title in the last three tournaments.
Thom Harris: Argentina are the sensible choice, but I’m going to be bold and say Uruguay.
They have been a joy to watch under Marcelo Bielsa scoring the most goals in World Cup qualifying, beating both Argentina and Brazil, before smashing four past Mexico in a pre-tournament friendly. Their roster is not only brimming with quality, but the kind of unstoppable athleticism that Bielsa needs to implement his man-to-man marking system, able to disrupt the opposition with aggressive defensive play and launch lethal counter-attacks.
With both nations tied on a record 15 Copa America titles each, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a meeting in the final.
Tenorio: Tough to go into a tournament predicting it will be anyone other than Messi. He is in good form and he will get his opportunities to score and change games.
Cardenas: Luis Diaz scored four goals at the 2021 Copa America, leading Colombia to the semifinals. Messi will take home the player of the tournament trophy, but Diaz will solidify his place as one of the sport’s best attacking players. Now 27, Diaz is hitting his peak. He’ll be a joy to watch this summer.
Rueter: It’s Messi like everything is these days, but Vinicius Jr will lead Brazil to a berth in the final and make a challenge for player of the tournament in the process.
Messi earned the title of best player during the 2021 Copa America (Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)
Anzidei: The obvious answer is Messi. Even when he doesn’t want to be up there on the podium, he receives the honor again and again. But something about him giving the penalty kick to Lautaro during Argentina’s friendly against Guatemala last week makes me feel like the Inter Milan forward will have a surprise showing this tournament.
Kloke: Brazil is Vinicius Jr’s team now and it feels entirely possible that he uses up all the runway afforded to him and takes flight this tournament.
Harris: I’m going to be bold again… James Rodriguez. Colombia have been in exceptional form under Nestor Lorenzo, unbeaten in over two years, and the 32-year-old has been central to his success. Given freedom to roam in behind the two forward players, he can drop deep to help with the build-up, but also pack a punch in the final third.
How far will USMNT (Canada for you, Josh) get in the tournament? How will their final match pan out?
Tenorio: My gut feeling is the U.S. will bow out in the quarterfinals to Brazil after coming second in a tight finish for the top spot in the group with Uruguay.
Cardenas: After the Copa America draw, I picked the U.S. to reach the semifinals. That’s a bare minimum requirement for the host nation. However, after being thrashed by Colombia 5-1 in a June friendly, I have serious doubts about the USMNT’s ability to win a knockout game at this Copa America. Berhalter’s side will bow out in the quarterfinals.
Rueter: A step behind their 2016 showing: second in Group C behind Uruguay (six points), then a cagey 2-1 defeat in the quarterfinal against Group D winner Colombia.
The U.S. has made it to two Copa America semifinals in previous tournaments (Jeremy Reper/Getty Images)
Anzidei: I’d like to believe the U.S. will surprise us all and push through to the semifinals once again, but that’s only if they finish at the top of Group C. If they are the runner-up in their group, which is more likely, I don’t see them ousting Colombia or Brazil in the second round.
Kloke: Finishing third in a difficult Group A, which would include a confidence-building win, feels likely for Canada. Running until their legs give way against Chile for a result in their final game should inspire some fans back home, but it might not be enough to get a still-developing team into the knockout stage.
Who will ‘do an Enzo Fernandez’ and get a big transfer off the back of a tournament?
Tenorio:Yaser Asprilla. My Colombian colleague Felipe Cardenas wrote in The Radar that the 20-year-old is the Colombian Phil Foden. High praise. He plays in England (for second-tier side Watford) already and has been very good in a short amount of time for Colombia. If he can do it on this Copa America stage, even coming off the bench, that’s a recipe for a big transfer fee.
Cardenas: Asprilla is a great shout by Paul. I don’t know how much he’ll play though. I’m going to choose Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie. His profile is rising after helping Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated season in the Bundesliga. He’s an athletic ball-playing center back who is also left-footed. That’s a coveted profile at the highest level. If he plays well for Ecuador, Hincapie could make a move to the Premier League.
Rueter: We at The Athletic have all fallen hard for Dario Osorio in 2024, and the Chilean winger seems poised to be Alexis Sanchez’s heir apparent. He’s played just one season with Midtjylland in Denmark, but the 20-year-old could be poised to make the leap to an even higher level.
Anzidei: I’m also excited to see how Osorio will do, as one of the young stars on Chile’s largely veteran squad. And I’ll be paying close attention to 23-year-old Santiago Gimenez, the Argentinean-born Mexican forward. He’s made a name for himself already for Feyenoord, and a breakout performance on the international stage will draw even more eyes to the rising talent.
Kloke: We know Jonathan David is finally going to move on from Lille this summer after being Europe’s next great striker for years now. But whether he goes to the Premier League or elsewhere remains up for debate. Snagging a few key goals for Canada, especially if one of those goals comes against Argentina, could boost his profile and land him at the upper-echelon club he wants to play for.
Harris: Osorio. He has been having his own goal-of-the-season competition in Denmark and one more flash of quality will have the biggest clubs on high alert.
Cardenas: The Copa America is such an important tournament for South American countries. I’m very intrigued to see how it plays out in the U.S. The 2016 edition seems like a distant memory. There wasn’t a North American World Cup on the horizon. This summer, every detail will be overanalyzed. But generally speaking, I can’t wait to see these elite footballers battle for a trophy. That’s what this is all about.
Rueter:Jamaica seemingly can’t get out of its own way lately. Since qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, the team and its federation seemed to be in a better way, with many of the program’s star players returning to secure qualification for this tournament. Leon Bailey appears set to skip out amidst a fresh rift, and time is running out for the Reggae Boyz to make the ambitious leap they aspired to before the 2026 World Cup.
Anzidei: The rematch between Argentina and Chile at MetLife Stadium in the group stage. I was there when Messi missed his penalty kick in 2016. I remember vividly watching a young boy in a Barcelona jersey cry into his father’s arms after the final whistle, and later learning the news that Messi retired. Messi has the chance to rewrite this story, and I’m excited to see what happens.
Kloke: Copa America is a dry run for the United States co-hosting the World Cup in two years. How will the cities and venues handle hosting these games? What kind of buy-in will local fans show? Then there’s the question of transportation around the games, which, boring as that might be, has come up as a topic of conversation during the European Championship. There are early signs of anticipation towards 2026 building in some of the cities, but Copa could determine whether that anticipation will continue.
Harris: From a personal perspective, the energy of the fans. I was at Colombia’s friendly with Spain at the London Stadium in March, and could hardly believe the noise. Yellow shirts were all I could see when I touched down in Miami airport earlier this week, four days and over 1000 miles away from their opening group game against Paraguay at the weekend.
Which team is poised for a big surprise?
Cardenas: Mexico could be a sleeper, but Ecuador is the obvious choice for me. They’re young, athletic and physical. If they can consistently create and finish their chances, Ecuador will emerge as the most dangerous side in the knockout round.
Ecuador has the fans, youth and energy to make a potential run (Michael Miller/Getty Images)
Rueter: Last time the Copa America came stateside, Chile surprised many by besting a pressure-riddled Argentina on penalties. Equally, that feat feels like a stretch, but they have a favorable Group A draw beyond Argentina and would face the winner of the projected weakest group (likely Ecuador). If Osorio dazzles and veteran holdovers have one last dance in their legs, a semifinal run could be in the cards.
Anzidei: I was at Red Bull Arena in March when Ecuador faced Italy in a friendly, and the crowd was split evenly for both teams. That energy fueled Ecuador, so I’m curious to see how their fans show up during Copa America. Ecuador’s group on paper might just be the easiest to get out of. For that reason, they may catch whoever they face in the quarterfinals flatfooted.
Kloke: I’m on the Ecuador train as well. Building confidence through a weaker group should help them in the knockout stage.
Harris: They are not going to win the tournament, but I’m hopeful that Venezuela can carry on their positive form. They look hungry to press, are energetic and gritty in midfield, and have real pace and zip on the wings.
Give us an outrageous prediction…
Cardenas: Messi will turn back the clock and play like he’s 10 years younger, but he’ll revert to 2010 form and end the tournament without a goal. You said outrageous, right?
Rueter: Groups B and C will be entirely absent from the semifinal and final round, as Group A (Argentina, Chile) and Group D (Brazil, Colombia) house all four podium challengers.
Anzidei: Brazil doesn’t make it out of groups, because of the bad juju from Ronaldinho’s publicity stunt last week. Talk about things you don’t do before a major tournament.
Kloke: Everyone knows what I’m going to go with, right? Canada dials up the intensity to 11 against Argentina in the tournament opener, tries to throw some elbows around, scores early and shocks the soccer world with a win. Big-time Senegal over France in the 2002 World Cup opener vibes here.
Harris: We will end the tournament with a new, all-time leading goalscorer at the Copa America, and it will be… Eduardo Vargas.
Lionel Messi needs four goals to equal the record of 17, while Peru’s Paulo Guerrero, like Vargas, needs three. But I fancy Chile to make it to the knockouts, and their No 9 has looked sharp at the top of Ricardo Gareca’s revitalised team. (Top photos: Getty Images)
USMNT’s Weston McKennie: ‘Everyone doubted me… but look at me now’
Weston McKennie summons the pain, transporting his mind to December 2022 and the United States men’s national team’s round-of-16 exit from the World Cup against the Netherlands.
“In a tournament,” he explains, “You have a lot of hope, and within the team, we are family. These are people you grow up with, sharing the same dreams, pushing each other, holding each other accountable and you build a bond. There are photos of us after the game up in the stands crying with our families and crying with each other.
“(The World Cup cycle) is like going to college with a buddy for four years. You make it to graduation and realise we’re going to go our separate ways — you’re going to have your life, I’m going to have my life. But in this case, we have another shot at this and we’re going to do everything that we can to not feel this same way again. You have the World Cup, Olympics and Copa America — they are the big tournaments. And Copa is one where we can showcase what we’ve learned.”
Christian Pulisic shows his emotions after the U.S. team’s exit (Maddie Meyer/FIFA via Getty Images)
When the USMNT meet up at camp, coach Gregg Berhalter greets them with a diagram, lit up on a projector, that shows a zigzagging road through to the home World Cup in 2026.
“It has a bus and shows where we’re stopped at that moment,” McKennie says. “That’s a great picture because it shows all these things are preparing us for 2026 but the bus is stopped here right now and we have to make the most of this moment.”
How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…
For McKennie, now 25, Copa America also provides another opportunity to continue a personal redemptive arc after his career, in his own words, edged to its “lowest point” during a loan spell in the Premier League with Leeds United in the second half of the 2022-23 season.
The first half of that campaign had continued McKennie’s steady progress, regularly starting for Juventus in Serie A and the Champions League, before heading to Qatar for the World Cup. In January 2023, McKennie, who also played in Germany for Schalke between 2017 and 2021, continued his European tour, joining Leeds United on loan as Juventus handled the fallout of financial investigations and point deductions within Serie A.
The deal included an option to make McKennie’s transfer permanent that summer, with a fee agreed in the region of £30million ($38m) for a player who had made 24 Champions League appearances. At Leeds, then coached by Jesse Marsch, he formed part of a growing American contingent alongside USMNT team-mates Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.
(Left to right) Aaronson, McKennie and Adams at Elland Road in March 2023 (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“My time at Leeds was probably one of my lower points, if not the lowest in my professional career,” says McKennie. “I always look at the positive because I was at Juventus, playing week in and week out, and maybe I developed a little bit of comfortability or complacency, knowing I was going to play on the weekend. By going to Leeds and having the performance that I had there and the way that it just turned out in general — four coaches in five months (Marsch was replaced by interim coach Michael Skubala, then Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce took over), just nothing going to plan or how I imagined it.”
Although McKennie’s deal included an option for Leeds to make the move permanent, he says he had aspirations of a return to Champions League football in the event he excelled at Elland Road.
“When I went there, my head was more, ‘OK, I want to go here, perform very well, put up numbers, help the team stay up and then hopefully another Premier League team, top five, comes in and sees how well I’ve played and then they would buy me’,” he says.
“With all the respect to Leeds and their fans, I love Champions League football. I love playing at the highest level. Leeds was more of a place I wanted to go to experience something new, the Premier League. But there’s no better place to be seen by Premier League teams than if you’re playing in the Premier League.
“I won’t be able to know what would have happened if Leeds would have stayed up because it didn’t happen that way. Things turn out the way they do for a reason. And now I’m exactly in the moment that I’m supposed to be in.”
At Leeds, the atmosphere between the club’s supporters, boardroom and players turned toxic. McKennie was caught in the crossfire.
“I like to think I’m someone that has a thick skin,” McKennie says, his voice softening. “When you get little comments here and there, it’s pretty easy to ignore. But then when you open up your phone and always the first thing you see on social is something negative, it’s hard to ignore it. I guess it’s hard for me because I do love it when people can relate to me and I feel like I’m always a happy person.
“Football is a world where it’s sometimes unforgiving. People obviously don’t know what football players go through and the stress football players put on themselves to perform, because it’s not like we want to perform badly. It’s not like we want to lose games. It’s just sometimes you have ups and downs, so it hurts.
Leeds were relegated after a 4-1 defeat by Spurs in the final day of the season (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“It was probably the first time besides for the World Cup exit where I cried, after the last game of the season at Leeds, when we officially got relegated. I hate to lose and I felt like I really let down the expectations that people had of me going there.”
He pauses briefly, before adding: “When people started attacking me — me as a person in general, not even with football — everyone knows that I’m more thick-boned than than some other players, in that my body shape is the way that it is. But when people started out saying, ‘You fat bast**d’ and ‘you pig’ and ‘you m*nkey’ and stuff like that, people don’t really realise the effect that it has on people. I like to be happy and to make people happy, to make people laugh. So that was a little bit hard.”
When the abuse turned personal, dehumanising and in some cases racist, where did McKennie turn for support?
“Luckily, I had my personal chef, Patrick Contorno, who works with me in Italy, and he was living over in England with me and I had my assistant Charles also living with me.
“If you’re in a down mood in England, it can be hard to deal with it because it’s also very bad weather most of the time. It’s rainy and gloomy and it just sets the mood for you to already be in a sad mood. I had those guys there with me and it helped a lot. If I was there alone, I would have definitely gone into, like, a state of complete depression because I wasn’t performing. I’m my own biggest critic.”
When McKennie returned to Juventus in the summer of 2023, he found another challenge on his doorstep. He appeared, initially, to have been written off, relegated into football’s version of the bomb squad.
“It wasn’t scary, or exciting (as a challenge),” he says, “but it was familiar to the experience of being an American playing soccer for a high-level club in Europe. It’s something that I feel like we all have to go through when we go over to Europe. But I thrive off of it when I have to prove myself again, because then it just makes me even more honest with myself in terms of my efforts, my concentration. Something just clicks.
“It’s like a recipe. I know the ingredients to make it happen and then I’m just… ‘boom’. Without doing any measurements of anything, I can just throw it in. I know it’s going to taste good.
“I knew it was going to be (challenging). I didn’t know it was going to be to that extent; where I didn’t have my locker, I didn’t have a room in the hotel, I didn’t have a parking space. I changed in the locker rooms with the academy kids, even when you had players in the main locker room who had never played a game for Juventus because they’d always been out on loan. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I’ve only been gone for six months. I come back and I am treated like this’.
“I couldn’t even get my shirt number (14), even though nobody else had taken the number. I was like, ‘OK you guys want to treat me like this? I’m just going to show you on the field’.
“I’m not someone that’s problematic. I don’t like to cause problems. I don’t like uncomfortable situations. I don’t like drama. I just try and let my football, my actions and my work ethic show everything about me, because that’s when I feel like I’m at my best.”
McKennie’s revival began when he was invited to join the squad on a money-spinning U.S. tour. It is tempting to wonder whether Juventus’ commercial team remembered at that point that they had a popular USMNT midfielder on the books, but it was on the field, in performances against AC Milan and Real Madrid, that McKennie reminded head coach Massimiliano Allegri of his talents.
“It put me back in consideration. My job was to make that decision much harder for them to make.”
McKennie faces AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California in July 2023 (Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
He looks back reflectively on the turmoil at Leeds and Juventus, however.
“It grounded me… what I’m most comfortable with and most honest with is when I put my head down and work. That’s where I’ve had my biggest success. I left Schalke and went to Juventus and nobody knew me. Everyone doubted me. It’s too big of a club. I’ll never play. But look at me now. Three and a half years later, more than 100 games for Juventus and I played a majority of those games. I thrive when my back’s against the wall and everyone’s doubting me. That’s how I became the player I was.”
Last season, McKennie made 29 starts for Juventus in Serie A and played the full 90 minutes of the Coppa Italia final victory over Atalanta. He benefited from his own performances and versatility, slotting in both at right wing-back and central midfield, while he also took advantage of the opportunity when midfield team-mates Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli were suspended for doping and betting offences respectively.
His contract at Juventus expires in 12 months and there has been speculation about a potential move back to England, this time to a club competing in the Champions League in Aston Villa. McKennie says he is in talks with his agent, acknowledging Villa are one of the clubs mentioned, but says the options will be laid out and resolved after Copa America.
He spoke to The Athletic this week as part of his partnership with Puma, the brand he signed up to in early 2024 alongside two USMNT team-mates, Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, who are also based in Italy with AC Milan. McKennie came to sign with the brand after wearing the Puma Future boot six months before agreeing a deal.
McKennie will resolve his future after Copa America (Puma)
“I did my pre-season in them,” he explains. “I played well. So I thought I may as well keep them. I have had knee problems in terms of patellar tendinitis and I have plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue connected to your heel bone) on my foot. And it was a boot that was super comfortable for my foot. I didn’t have to wear insoles in them and I was not feeling pain when I play. They flew over to Italy, had a whole scanning contraption device, put my foot in, looked at my arches, my size. Whenever I get boots sent to me, it’s specifically for my foot, which is amazing.”
Superstition plays a part, too, with McKennie saying he will not change the colour of his boot to an upgraded model if he’s in good form. He will be hoping this continues during Copa America.
He smiles: “Athletes don’t play competitions to go in there and say we want to get second place, or third. We want to try and win the whole thing. We know it’s a challenge. We know it’s hard. You have defending World Cup champions Argentina in the tournament. But at the same time, we know our quality. We know our ability. We always say we may not be the most talented group, but the one thing that we can be is the type of team that plays for everyone. It’s like a big family.”
Copa America 2024 preview: The Athletic’s complete guide to the tournament
Plenty has changed in North American soccer since the Copa America last came stateside in 2016.
The United States has fallen and risen, rebounding after missing the 2018 World Cup to boast a pool teeming with young and established players in Europe’s top five leagues. Mexico is experiencing an identity crisis and Canada has overtaken Costa Rica as the region’s third power, led by top players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.
The three nations needn’t fret over World Cup qualification thanks to being co-hosts in 2026, so the 2024 Copa America represents their only meaningful competition between now and then.
While this year’s tournament takes place in CONCACAF territory, its narratives and thrills will be dictated by CONMEBOL. Few tournaments can match the passion stirred by a Copa America.
Do you like stars? Of course you do. There are world-class players aplenty to be found in the 16-team field.
By summer’s end, you’ll be singing the praises of fresh faces such as Endrick, Dario Osorioand Kendry Paez. You’ll eagerly cue up “best of” YouTube compilations of Vinicius Junior’s dribbling prowess for Brazil, of Pedro Gallese’s acrobatics in goal for Peru, of Darwin Nunez’s unpredictable nature inside the penalty box for Uruguay.
This will be his first major tournament since Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and we could see the soon-to-be 37-year-old in a rare, pressure-free headspace. It may also be our last chance to catch him on a big international stage, as it’s unclear whether he’ll retire before 2026.
First up, who’s competing? Well… we’ve got individual nation guides on the 16 teams below, but here are a few things to look out for…
Argentina has finally figured it all out, winning the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. This isn’t a one-man band, though; Lautaro Martinez is among the world’s best strikers and their goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, revels in big moments.
Since reappointing Gregg Berhalter, the United States has looked like a team stuck in two minds. Its players often play dynamic roles for their clubs, but they resemble a more reserved collective under his guidance. A run to the semifinal would go a long way to restoring faith.
There was a 1-1 draw against the USMNT in Brazil‘s final tune-up friendly. The Selecao flamed out in the group stage of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, but were champions in 2019 and runners-up in 2021. How far will they go this time?
Canada surprised many by appointing Jesse Marsch as head coach in May. Players have grown disillusioned by a pennywise federation, but the talent that helped them top 2022 World Cup qualifying is ready to rebound.
Mexico left some experienced names off its roster — yes, Guillermo Ochoa really won’t be here. They are prioritising giving younger players big-game experience ahead of the World Cup.
When Marcelo Bielsa last coached internationally, he catalyzed the start of a strong decade for Chile. Uruguay will hope he can work similar magic, with Nunez the preferred strike partner for ageless Luis Suarez.
If your focus is more individually driven, there is The Radar: Copa America, which profiles 50 players to watch at the tournament, from established stars to ones on the rise.
There’s also our ultimate data guide to the squads, which will make you look even more clever to your friends. Did you know Jonathan David has the best goals-per-cap rate of any player at the tournament whose name isn’t Lionel Messi? No, me neither.
The United States were host nation and a dark horse in 2016, reaching the semifinal before falling to Messi and Argentina. That proved to be an aberration, as they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but they are back at the top of the CONCACAF pecking order and trying to size up if a deep run is possible in two years’ time.
It still is a bit odd when a guest nation joins a continental tournament, whether it’s Qatar in the CONCACAF Gold Cup or, well, the United States hosting a second South American jamboree in under a decade. Elias Burke charted the past performances of these guest entries. Perhaps this tournament will see its first champion outside the confines of CONMEBOL…
Antonee Robinson had a career-best season for Fulham, proving to be among the Premier League’s best left-backs. His focus now shifts to the international arena; as he tells Peter Rutzler, it’s time for the USMNT to take the next step toward being a global contender.
(Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Johnny Cardoso is among the squad’s fastest risers in recent years, going from a mysterious prospect in Brazil to a mainstay of Real Betis’ midfield. He gave a rare interview to Jack Lang, giving insight into what motivates him and what he aspires to be.
The USMNT exited the 2022 World Cup in the round of 16, but no player was harder done by than Gio Reyna. Eighteen months have passed since the drama around his lack of playing time and the signs a relationship with Berhalter needed mending. Last week, Reyna spoke with USMNT expert Paul Tenorio about getting his career back on track.
Predictions, Messi vs Ronaldo and the new generation
Elsewhere, our writers have given their predictions for the tournament: who will win it? Which players will shine brightest? And which dark horses could bust the bracket open?
The sport cannot live off those two forever and a rising generation of talent has been desperate to get more time in the spotlight. This tournament boasts quite a few of them…
Paolo Guerrero has his critics, but one thing is clear: the 40-year-old wants few things more than to continue playing for Peru. Here’s a profile on a career like few others.
For U.S. viewers, you can watch every English-language broadcast on FOX’s networks. The majority of group-stage clashes will be shown live on FS1, with select games bumped to FOX and a handful shifting to FS2. The tournament can be streamed on Fubo TV, as well. Spanish-language broadcasts will be shown on Univision and TUDN.
In Canada, you can find Copa America matches on TSN and TSN+ while UK viewers can find broadcasts on Premier Sports, as well as live streams on the Premier Sports Player.
How does qualification for the knockout stage work?
This is as straightforward as brackets get: four groups of four teams, with the top two finishers advancing to the quarterfinal. It’s a fixed bracket from there:
Winner of Group A vs. Group B’s second-place side
Winner of Group B vs. Group A’s second-place side
Winner of Group C vs. Group D’s second-place side
Winner of Group D vs. Group C’s second-place side
In the group stage, the tiebreaking protocol for any two teams on level footing — well, save for irrelevant ties between third and fourth — is as follows:
Cumulative goal difference across all three matches
Goals scored
Head-to-head records, with additional nested tiebreakers in the event of a three-team tie:
Number of points accrued in matches between relevant sides
Greater goal difference between relevant sides
Most goals scored between relevant sides
Fewest red cards
Fewest yellow cards
A random draw conducted by CONMEBOL
Group stage games will conclude after 90 minutes, even if they’re played to a draw. A tie game at full time in the knockout rounds will advance to two 15-minute halves of extra time and advance to a penalty shootout if the game is still deadlocked after two hours of action.
On top of all this, we will be covering all the off-pitch news as it happens, bringing you details from the team camps, media conferences, and any other breaking news.
Away from the Copa America, we will continue to cover the summer transfer window, with our weekly Transfer DealSheet coming out every Tuesday as well as The Athletic 500 Transfer Ratings, which you can read about here.
Go touch grass while you can — a second concurrent tournament is about to kick off.
(Top photo: Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Predicting every game of Copa America 2024: Who will win it?
Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN.com writerJun 20, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
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The last time the United States hosted a Copa America, in 2016, Brazil got knocked out in the group stages. The U.S. men’s national team lost 4-0 to Argentina in the semifinals. And Argentina lost the final in penalties to Chile at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets. It was Argentina’s second loss to Chile in a Copa America final in as many years, and it led to Lionel Messi — presumably distraught at being unable to live up to the legacies created by Eli Manning and Ryan Fitzpatrick on that same field — retiring from international soccer immediately following the match.
While Messi has spent his career expanding our collective imagination of what’s possible on a soccer field and in a soccer career, I don’t think anyone could’ve accurately predicted where we’d be eight years later. Messi is in Year 2 of playing for Inter Miami, a soccer team that didn’t exist in 2016. He spent two barely memorable seasons playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Oh, and he unretired so he and Argentina could finally win the Copa America and World Cup in consecutive years in his mid-30s.
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Elsewhere, Chile have since failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup. The other semifinalists in 2016 missed one a piece: the U.S. failed to qualify for 2018, Colombia for 2022. Brazil didn’t make it past the quarterfinals of either tournament, and just two players from their 2016 Copa team are still around in 2024 (Alisson and Marquinhos).
Mexico, meanwhile, continue to lose to the USMNT in the Nations League, a tournament that didn’t exist eight years ago. And Canada are managed by Jesse Marsch — a statement that would’ve been meaningless in 2016 but not so today because he’s managed multiple clubs in the Champions League and the Premier League since the Copa America Centenario.
The Copa America is the kind of tournament that can change the course of soccer as we know it, and it really matters to the teams that participate. So, given all the twists and turns we’ve had since the last time a Copa America was played on U.S. soil, why not look at the state of the 2024 tournament and make some predictions for where this all might end up?
It’s time to look into our stats-filled, analytics-powered crystal ball and predict how every single game of the 2024 Copa America plays out and who, ultimately, will be crowned the winner. Let’s go!
To rate all of these teams, I created a simple model that combines team performance with the talent level of the current squad. For the former, we’re using the World Football Elo ratings, which are a continuously updated set of ratings that either awards or subtracts points based on every game played — adjusted for scoreline, opponent quality and competitiveness of the match.
Given that they’ve won the last continental and global competitions, Argentina are, unsurprisingly, the highest-rated team in the world, with a rating of 2,143. For context: Eastern Samoa are the lowest-rated team in the world, ranking 241st with a rating of 377.
Elo accounts for 60% of the model, and then the other 40% comes from the overall squad value of each team, as estimated by Transfermarkt. We’ve normalized the transfer values to match the Elo scale, and then averaged the two values. And then we turned those numbers into a 0-100 scale — with 100 being the best team and zero being the worst. Here’s how everyone stacks up:
Argentina are in the top tier with Brazil and then … there’s no one from Group A in either of the next two tiers.
Through six matches of World Cup qualifying, Peru have two points and Chile five. The former ranks second-to-last in expected goal differential (minus-0.79) while the latter ranks third-to-last (minus-0.3). A big part of the problem for both countries is that neither one has been able to successfully turn over their team. The average age of Peru’s squad is 28.9, while Chile aren’t far behind at 28.6 — both significantly older than any other team in the tournament.
Canada, meanwhile, come into the tournament with one of the younger squads: 25.6. And the likes of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Lille’s Jonathan David give them higher-end talent than either Chile or Peru. Given how the managerial economy works — the best coaches get filtered up to the club game — Canada’s hiring of Marsch could also give them one of the best coaches in the tournament.
Game-by-game Group A predictions:
Argentina 2, Canada 0 Chile 2, Peru 1 Canada 1, Peru 0 Argentina 2, Chile 1 Argentina 3, Peru 0 Canada 2, Chile 1
This is the weakest group in the tournament. Not only that, but the winner of Group B will also get to play the second-place team in Group A, which is likely to be the weakest second-place team in the tournament.
Luck of the draw plays a bigger role in tournament soccer than anyone would like to admit (see: Croatia’s run to the 2018 World Cup final), and Mexico and Ecuador both got lucky before a game was even played.
Although El Tri feel like they’re at their lowest point in, I don’t know, 25 years, they got a cushy draw and will have a bigger home-field advantage than any other team in the tournament. Without the underlying quality of the talent or even the recent performances changing at all, Mexico could very easily make the semis and suddenly change the vibe surrounding the program.
With the second-youngest team in the tournament, budding young stars in Europe such as Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié, a solid start to World Cup qualifying (11 points, fourth place), and the favorable draw, Ecuador look like a classic dark-horse pick. The only problem: They don’t have anyone who can score goals. Only Peru and Bolivia have created fewer xG in South American World Cup qualifying, and their leading scorer is Félix Torres, who plays center back.
Venezuela tied Ecuador in a relatively even home match at the end of last year and they also drew with Brazil — in Brazil — a few months prior. They cross the ball an absurd amount: 28% of their final-third passes in World Cup qualifying have been crosses — way higher than any other team. That’s generally an incredibly inefficient strategy, but maybe its uniqueness throws their opponents off-balance.
Jamaica’s rating here is a bit inflated because of the inclusion of Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey. He was genuinely one of the best attackers in Europe last season, and although he was called up to the Copa America squad, it appears he’s going to reject the invitation as part of a protest against the unprofessionalism of the Jamaican federation. (History is certainly on his side here.) The likes of West Ham’s Michail Antonio and former Everton winger Demarai Gray are interesting names on paper, but neither one is as dangerous as he used to be.
Although Group B has the lowest average rating among its four teams, Group C has the weakest bottom two. As such, only Argentina has better odds to reach the quarterfinals than Uruguay, while those two, plus Brazil, are the only sides with a higher likelihood of advancing than the U.S. men’s national team.
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After Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay have the third most talented squad in the tournament. In Darwin Núñez, Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Ronald Araujo, Rodrigo Bentancur, and José María Giménez, they have six players who are at least Champions League-starter level. And at 37 and without functional knees, Luis Suárez continues to absolutely demolish whatever league he plays in. He was the best player in Brazil last year, and he’s been lights out with Inter Miami so far this season, too.
Throw in Marcelo Bielsa, easily the most accomplished coach in the tournament, and you’ve got the first-place side in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Unlike most international sides, Uruguay wants the game to be played in transition. Bielsa prefers for the ball to constantly be switching hands because he thinks he’s better at coaching these situations than anyone else in the world. In Núñez and Valverde, he has two of the best transition players in world soccer, too.
We should learn a lot about the USMNT when these two teams meet in Kansas City. The Americans are massive favorites against Bolivia — only Brazil (against Costa Rica) have shorter odds on matchday one — and they should be heavy favorites against Panama, too.
The most likely outcome is that both the U.S. and Uruguay have six points when they meet at the beginning of next month. In that case, they’ll both already be qualified. Sometimes that leads to 90 minutes of both teams staring at the ball, but I’m not sure Bielsa teams are capable of staring at the ball for 90 minutes. With their defined tactical approach and top-end talent, Uruguay might be the trickiest team the USMNT has faced in the Gregg Berhalter era.
As for the rest of the group: Bolivia are the worst team in the tournament. They have the worst results and the least talented squad. Without the advantage of playing at altitude in La Paz, they’ve been uncompetitive for a long time. Panama, meanwhile, took down the U.S. B- or C-team in the Gold Cup semifinals last summer. They also notched an impressive 3-0 win in Costa Rica back in November of last year, and they actually outshot Mexico, 18-6, in a 3-0 semifinal loss in the Nations League that was much closer than the final score.
Game-by-game Group C predictions:
USMNT 2, Bolivia 0 Uruguay 3, Panama 1 USMNT 3, Panama 1 Uruguay 2, Bolivia 0 Uruguay 2, USMNT 1 Panama 2, Bolivia 1
This isn’t your vintage Brazil. There’s no Neymar, you’ve possibly never heard of the fullbacks, and the midfielders almost all play for midtable Premier League clubs.
And yet, the forward line will include some combination of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, and the duo of phenom prospects in formerly-Girona-but-maybe-Manchester City’s Sávio and Real Madrid’s 17-year-old Endrick. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães and Atalanta‘s Éderson were two of the best two-way midfielders in Europe this past season. The potential starting center backs play for PSG, Real Madrid and Arsenal. And Liverpool’s Alisson is the best all-around goalkeeper in the world.
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Brazil’s results in qualifying have been substandard so far, but there’s just too much talent for that to continue.
Colombia, meanwhile, haven’t lost a game since February 2022, and that was against Argentina, in Argentina. They’ve moved up to fifth in the Elo ratings in the process, behind Argentina, France, Brazil and Spain — in that order. Liverpool’s Luis Díaz is their one star — and their squad value ranks fifth among all teams in the tournament, behind the USMNT, whom they just destroyed 5-1 in a pre-tournament friendly.
Perhaps most pertinent: Colombia’s previous two opponents in World Cup qualifying were group stage opponents Paraguay and Brazil. They won both matches, and created the better chances in each one.
Paraguay have one of the most exciting young players in the world — 20-year-old Brighton attacking midfielder Julio Enciso — but there’s not a ton of other talent behind him. Not one of their six World Cup qualifying matches has featured more than one total goal — there have been two total non-penalty goals scored across those games.
Incredibly, Costa Rica bring the youngest average team to the Copa America. They had the oldest team at the 2022 World Cup. It was time to turn the team over from their golden generation, but that also means that this is no longer Costa Rica’s golden generation. Their recent results have dropped them down to 59th in the Elo ratings — worse than every team in the tournament other than Bolivia.
Game-by-game Group D predictions:
Colombia 2, Paraguay 0 Brazil 4, Costa Rica 0 Colombia 3, Costa Rica 1 Brazil 3, Paraguay 1 Brazil 0, Colombia 0 Paraguay 2, Costa Rica 2
Predicted Group D standings
1. Brazil: 7 points, plus-6 goal differential 2. Colombia: 7 points, plus-4 3. Paraguay: 1 point, minus-4 4. Costa Rica: 1 point, minus-6
Predicting the quarterfinals
Argentina (77% to reach semifinal) vs. Ecuador (31.1%)
The past two times these two teams played, in World Cup qualifying and in a pre-Copa tuneup, both games ended 1-0 to Argentina. Over those two games, Ecuador attempted just eight total shots.
Although the presence of Messi is the main attraction, Argentina were a dominant defensive team in Qatar. That has remained true in World Cup qualifying — they’ve conceded just 2.3 non-penalty xG across six matches.
Predicted result: Argentina 1, Ecuador 0
Mexico (37% to reach semifinal) vs. Canada (9.8%)
Both of these teams would seem like “surprise” semifinalists — Mexico because of their recent struggles, and Canada because they’re, well, Canada. But the Canadians landed in a group without a strong second team after Argentina, and Mexico are currently the betting favorites to meet Argentina in the semifinals.
Hot tip: When the betting markets suggest that something counter to conventional wisdom is the most likely outcome, adopt it as your own opinion and impress your friends at a rate higher than expectation.
Predicted result: Mexico 2, Canada 1
Uruguay (50.8% to reach semifinal) vs. Colombia (33.9%)
Watching the World Cup qualifying match between these two teams induced emotional effects similar to those normally only associated with various illicit substances. Possession was almost even, both teams pressed high, they combined for 29 shots, and they created nearly 4.0 xG together. It ended 2-2, after a Darwin Núñez goal in injury time.
The big difference in the Copa America? This match won’t be in Colombia.
Predicted result: Uruguay 2, Colombia 1
Brazil (72.4% to reach semifinal) vs. United States (28.7%)
At 21, Ricardo Pepi has never played in an international tournament, but he gets it. “I think anything besides making it out of the group will be bad for us, so we just want to be able to compete and get the best out of it,” he told ESPN. And that’s just the reality facing the Americans.
They should get out of the group — the gap between them and Panama and Bolivia is big enough that not even bad luck should sink them. But after that, they’re just not at the same level as Colombia or Brazil, their most likely quarterfinal opponents.
Yes, they did just draw the Brazilians in a friendly last week, but they were outshot 24-12 and all of their high-quality chances came after the game devolved in the second half, like most friendlies do once substitutions are made:
The USMNT’s best bet for reaching the quarterfinals would be to win the group or hope Colombia win Group D.
In the Copa America, there’s no extra time until the final — a silly format that encourages underdogs to just try to hang on for dear life until the 90-minute mark so they can get to the coin flip of penalties. However, that format does favor the underdogs, which the USMNT will likely be if it makes it this far.
Predicted result: Brazil 3, United States 1
Predicting the semifinals
Argentina (51.5% to reach finals) vs. Mexico (16.3%)
That Argentina percentage above represents both how random soccer is and how much better Argentina is than every other team on their side of the bracket. Despite being so much better than everyone else, it’s still just about a coin flip that Messi & Co. reach the final game.
But if, say, every team in the tournament were equally matched, there would be a 12.5% chance (one in eight) that you’d reach the final. Argentina’s odds are more than four times as high.
Predicted result: Argentina 2, Mexico 0
Brazil (47.0% to reach final) vs. Uruguay (23.9%)
When these teams met in World Cup qualifying, they played a truly bizarre match where Brazil maintained 61% of possession but were outshot 6-2 and lost the game 2-0. Then-manager Fernando Diniz’s free-flowing possession tactics worked horribly with the national team.
I suspect — and most projection models agree — that Brazil will play up to their talent level this summer with a new manager who doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. They have the best goalkeeper in the tournament and the most attacking talent. This shouldn’t be that complicated.
Predicted result: Brazil 1, Uruguay 1 (Brazil advances in a shootout)
Predicting the 2024 Copa America final
Argentina (31.6% to win the tournament) vs. Brazil (26.7%)
A rematch of the 2019 semifinal and the 2021 final — a rubber match of sorts, with Brazil winning en route to winning the title four years ago and Argentina beating their neighbors to lift the trophy last time out. While Brazil have the most talented team in the tournament, we’re still working off a bit of projection here. They’ve lost their past three competitive matches, and we haven’t seen the team play a non-friendly match under manager Dorival Júnior yet. Plus, they’re probably going to have to beat at least two of Uruguay, Colombia and the USMNT — Nos. 3, 4 and 6 in our rankings — to get to the final.
Argentina, though, are maybe the most known quantity in international soccer: be defensively tough, have everyone else do the running for Messi on and off the ball, and then let Messi win the game once you have possession. We’ll see how effective Messi remains after a year of playing MLS and, simply, another year of aging, but this simplified formula just works so well in the international game.
It’s really hard to see Argentina screwing it up before the final. And with the title match in Miami, Argentina’s captain will be playing at home. After years of the opposite being true, you bet against Messi and Argentina at your own risk.
Predicted result: Argentina 1, Brazil 0
So … congratulations to Argentina, the 2024 Copa America champions!
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Will USMNT earn its “Golden Generation” tag at Copa America?
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 20, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
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When the term “Golden Generation” is attached to a group of players, it’s the ultimate mixed bag.
On the one hand, the expression points to the high level of excitement surrounding a team. The talent level is so high that fans — and yes, even a few pundits and coaches — begin to dream about what might be possible. They can let themselves dream about previously unexplored heights, the kind that if they’re achieved, they warm the heart years later as you sit by the fire.
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But such a label can be a trap as well — the expectations are so high that they become unrealistic and, rather than inspire the players, they can weigh heavy on a group.
Historically, the U.S. men’s program hasn’t had a whole lot to crow about. It’s high water mark at a World Cup was its semifinal showing in the inaugural edition back in 1930. In the modern era, the U.S. managed a quarterfinal finish at the 2002 World Cup. In the context of a Copa America, there have been two semifinal appearances, one in 1995 and another at the Copa America Centenario in 2016. Credible showings all, but nothing worth jumping up on a table and screaming at the top of one’s lungs.
So why the excitement about this generation of U.S. players? It all has to do with the caliber of the clubs that pay their wages, as well as what they’ve achieved with those clubs.
The number of U.S. players annually taking part in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League seems to regularly hit double digits. In a recent friendly against Colombia, the USMNT fielded a starting lineup comprised entirely of players attached to clubs in the top five leagues of Europe.
Yet, the excitement generated by such success with their clubs is tempered by the reality that, at international level, this generation has yet to surpass the ones that came before it. When the U.S. men reached the round of 16 in 2022, they achieved something that the U.S. men had already done four times prior in the modern era of the team. Winning a Concacaf Gold Cup or Concacaf Nations League, likewise, has long been considered routine.
A so-called “Golden Generation” needs a “Golden Moment” — a signature win or best-ever tournament finish — and without one, the label feels premature.
“They still have to win something of importance, and I think that as of today, they have not done that yet,” said former U.S. international and current analyst DaMarcus Beasley. “Do I think they have the capability? One-hundred percent. I’m a big fan this group, a big fan of how much talent they have.
“But they have yet to put it together when it comes to a big game, whether that’s a friendly or whether that’s a tournament. So it just remains to be seen if this is truly our Golden Generation.”
Herc blames Berhalter for USMNT’s problems finding a striker
Herc Gomez discusses USMNT’s biggest weakness heading into Copa America 2024.
That’s an assertion that U.S. captain Tyler Adams isn’t fighting. He notes that the “Golden Generation” tag is usually applied to teams “that haven’t won anything in the last 10 years,” or even longer. Think England of the mid-2000s, or even the most recent vintage of Belgium, whose current crop hasn’t quite made the international breakthrough so many predicted for it, despite possessing an immensely talented group.
Adams is mindful that achievements at club level aren’t enough.
“I think that when you look at our team and the group of players that we have, we are a talented group of players for sure,” he said prior to the USMNT’s 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil last week. “But I would say that the biggest thing when I think about this team is: That individual success doesn’t correlate directly to team success, and that’s what we’re working towards right now.
“So, it’s great to have everyone playing at a top club around the world. It’s probably the first time in a long time in U.S. soccer that we can be recognized at such a high level. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to have direct success. We’re working towards that success right now.”
For defender Joe Scally, the “Golden Generation” tag isn’t something that is occupying the team’s thoughts: “We never even talk about that at all,” he said.
Labels aside, expectations can still creep into a team’s psyche like a king tide. The water seeps in slowly, and before you know it, you’re enveloped by it. And it’s not just the fans and media that are feeding expectations about the current U.S. men’s national team. Head coach Gregg Berhalter had made his own contribution, speaking openly of taking the U.S. to a place — at least in the modern era — it has never been before. In the context of a World Cup, that means a semifinal. For a Copa America, that means the final.
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Keep up to date with all the results, news coverage and stories on the biggest names and teams in the United States as the tournament progresses. Copa América 2024
The talk heading into this Copa America has oscillated a bit. There have been comments, like those from Haji Wright, that the World Cup is the main priority. While true, the timing feels like a way of limiting expectations — the World Cup isn’t until 2026. Other comments have focused on creating the aforementioned “Golden Moment.” Scally mentioned wanting to “do something great for the country.” That is the direction into which Adams is leaning as well.
“I think that you have to have goals. You have to have expectations of what you want to achieve as a group,” Adams said. “But I think building off of 2022, that was a good benchmark of where we’re at right now. We’ve navigated a group stage as a young group. That was important to do with not a lot of World Cup experience.
“Obviously, now it’s about being able to win knockout games and big games, and we have yet to do that. So we need to continue to work towards that, and I think obviously Copa America is going to be a great opportunity for us to do that. But there’s work to be done still.”
The path to reaching that goal won’t be easy. Group C, which includes Bolívia, Panama and Uruguay, is one the U.S. should be able to get past, though there are no guarantees.
Bolivia is a wild card — less is known about them than the other teams in the group, though the Bolivians won’t be able to lean on the benefit of playing at altitude like they do in their home qualifiers. In a tournament setting, Panama has given the U.S. fits on more than one occasion. Uruguay is enjoying an impressive run of form under new manager Marcelo Bielsa.
If the U.S. progresses to the quarterfinals, the Americans will likely face one of two teams they faced in recent friendlies, those being Brazil or Colombia. Getting past either team will require a monumental effort, but it’s an opportunity for this USMNT to show that it is indeed capable of something special, labels be damned.
The USMNT has the experience now. It has been tested at a World Cup. Can it reach its goal? Or even go beyond?
If the U.S. doesn’t, however, what does that mean for Berhalter? So far in his tenure he has proven to be adept at meeting expectations, but nothing more. Would the U.S. Soccer Federation brass dare fire a coach for not being able to beat Brazil? That would be harsh, but it’s what happens when expectations around a team increase.
For now, Adams is thinking of what a win would bring rather than the alternative.
“I think [a knockout stage win] would put a lot of confidence in our team,” Adams said. “We have the belief that we’re able to do that, but now it’s about executing more than anything. Our team gets in situations and we need to be able to execute. That’s the bottom line.”
2024 Copa América team previews: USMNT, Argentina, more
ESPN
Jun 19, 2024, 10:07 AM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions524
It’s time for the 2024 Copa América. With the United States as the host, the next few weeks will be jam-packed with soccer as North American sides take on Central and South America teams in a bid to become the best team in the region. The USMNT boasts plenty of talent with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah, among others, but can they upset international heavyweights Brazil or current World Cup titleholders Argentina?
It might also be Lionel Messi‘s last major tournament as the 36-year-old enters the twilight of a sparkling career. Could he help his nation to back-to-back Copa América titles? Can striker Santiago Giménez lead Mexico to a deep run in the tournament? Meanwhile, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, arguably the best winger in the world, will attract plenty of attention as he looks to become the main man for his nation.
It’s all up for grabs, and though there are clear favorites, shock results are bound to happen in international soccer. ESPN previews each of the Copa América’s 16 teams in the tournament, with everything you need to know about the sides, split into their groups.
Nickname:La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) FIFA rank: 1 Manager: Lionel Scaloni Record in past 12 months: 12W-0D-0L Group stage fixtures: Canada (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET); Chile (June 25, 9 p.m. ET); Peru (June 29, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +175
Can’t-miss star: Ángel Di María.Lionel Messi would be too obvious — so it is time to pay tribute to Di Maria, who retires from international football after this tournament. The 36-year-old will be badly missed. Di Maria is that rarest of things — a genuine world-class player who seems without ego, consistently doing what is needed to improve the team. He has been key to all Argentina’s recent triumphs.
Breakout candidate: Valentin Carboni. The 19-year-old seems most likely to emerge as the Di Maria replacement. Alejandro Garnacho has more pace, but the lanky left-footed Carboni has enchanted the coaching staff with his elegant quality, sufficiently versatile to cover a number of attacking positions. Born in Buenos Aires, but used to play for Italy at under-17 level.
Why they won’t win it all: It is hardly a surprise that Argentina are at the top of the World Cup qualification table. They were the only team that went into the competition as a consolidated unit. The Copa gives the others a chance to catch up. Argentina, meanwhile, might have been treading water. Their friendlies this year have been too easy, teaching them little. And the big question remains unresolved: how long can the team go on with its model of Messi plus 10? Scaloni flirted with resignation last November, almost certainly provoked, at least in part, by a glimpse of the end of the Messi era. Much of the past 18 months have felt like a prolonged lap of honor after the triumph in Qatar.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Placed in by far the easiest half of the draw, it will take a major shock for Argentina not to reach the final. As the games become more competitive, an interesting dilemma emerges. Does the status of world and Copa champions mean that the pressure is off? Or might the fact of having something to lose prove nerve-wracking? Argentina go into the tournament as justified favorites, and there will be moments when their possession-based football delights fans, with the rhythm suddenly switching as they bear down on goal. And whatever happens, they should emerge from the Copa with one aspect of their 2026 World Cup challenge enhanced. A collapse at the heart of the defense so nearly cost them the title in Qatar. The Copa is a clear opportunity to consolidate Lisandro Martínez in the back four. — Tim Vickery
Messi: There’s not a lot of time left in my career
Lionel Messi says he’s enjoying playing football more because he knows “there’s not a lot of time left” in his career.
Nickname:Canucks FIFA rank: 49 Manager: Jesse Marsch Record in past 12 months: 4W-3D-5L Group stage fixtures: Argentina (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET); Peru (June 25, 6 p.m. ET); Chile (June 29, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+6600
Can’t-miss star: Jonathan David.Alphonso Davies is typically penciled in here, but David had the better club season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions for Ligue 1 side Lille. Davies is also slated to play left-back, which means his influence might be muted against the tough trio of South American teams — starting with Argentina — that comprise Group A. If Canada is to get out of the group stage, David will need to be banging in the goals.
Breakout candidate: Moise Bombito. The back line has long been one of Canada’s biggest weaknesses, but Bombito showed well in two recent friendlies against the Netherlands and France with his passing and speed. The Colorado Rapids defender has an opportunity to stake his claim to a starting spot and could prove to be an unlikely catalyst for Canada getting out of the group.
Why they won’t win it all: There just hasn’t been enough time for new manager Jesse Marsch — who was hired last month — to have implemented his high-pressing system and generate some cohesion. Granted, Canada did record a credible 0-0 draw against France, this after a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands in which the Reds played well for stretches but ultimately ran out of gas. Whether that effort against France can be replicated while generating a consistent attack remains to be seen. All told, the demands of Marsch’s style, as well as a talent gap when compared to the hemisphere’s best teams, make it too big of an ask for Canada to come close to being a contender.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Getting out of the group ought to be the primary goal here. On paper that’s certainly doable, especially given the pace of players such as Davies and Tajon Buchanan. While Argentina are heavy favorites to top Group A, Chile and Peru are beatable. Both teams have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying, occupying eighth and 10th place respectively, but they won’t be pushovers either. That will require limiting the damage in the group stage opener against the reigning World Cup and Copa America champions, and then grinding out results in the last two games. This tournament will be mostly about laying foundations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. — Jeff Carlisle
Nickname: La Roja (The Red One) FIFA rank: 42 Manager: Ricardo Gareca Record in past 12 months: 5W-3D-4L Group stage fixtures: Peru (Friday, 8 p.m. ET); Argentina (June 25, 9 p.m. ET); Canada (June 29, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+3300
Can’t-miss star: Alexis Sánchez. With more caps (163) and goals (51) for Chile than any other player, Sanchez is keen to point out that at 35 years old he is not a spent force. Enthused by the project of coach Ricardo Gareca, Sanchez is buzzing around behind the centre-forward, more involved these days in setting up the play than finishing off the moves.
Breakout candidate: Darío Osorio. After a long wait for another superstar, there is a cautious sense of optimism around the 20-year-old, a leggy left-footed winger who likes to cut in from the right. He had a fine season in Denmark and scored a splendid debut international goal against France in March, but is fighting to shake off a late season injury.
Why they won’t win it all: Chile’s second game is against Argentina in New Jersey — same venue and same opponents as the 2016 Copa final win, the greatest moment in the history of the national team. Eight years ago seems like light years ago. Chile did not make it to either of the two subsequent World Cups and have made a bad start on the way to 2026 — hence the recent change of coach. Theirs has been a typical South American problem: a drought of talent following a golden generation. The process of renewing the team has been extremely weak.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Chile have pinned their faith in the “Gareca factor” — the hope that Argentine coach Gareca can reproduce what he did with Peru and build a team that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The new man has certainly made a promising start, with goals and good performances in his first three friendlies. Can this be continued now that the competitive games have come? The group looks easy enough, so Chile can expect a quarterfinal, although a semifinal would seem to be the limit of their chances. The main aim is to build momentum for the coming six rounds of World Cup qualifiers. — Vickery
Nickname:La Blanquirroja (The White and Red) FIFA rank: 32 Manager: Jorge Fossati Record in past 12 months: 4W-3D-5L Group stage fixtures: Chile (Friday, 8 p.m. ET); Canada (June 25, 6 p.m. ET); Argentina (June 29, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+5000
Can’t-miss star: Pedro Gallese. Peru is not known for producing goalkeepers, but they can be proud of Gallese. Over a decade in the national team and with more than 100 caps, the Orlando City keeper has been reliable and occasionally outstanding. He would walk into a best all-time Peru XI.
Breakout candidate: Piero Quispe. He’s is a little, skipping, give-and-go midfielder who was Peru’s player of the year in 2023 and has since made an encouraging start in Mexico. Some say that he is too much of a lightweight for the top level. The Copa is a chance for him to prove them wrong and launch his international career.
Why they won’t win it all: For a few years, former coach Ricardo Gareca performed a minor miracle with Peru, building a team that added up to more than the sum of its parts. Post-Gareca, things returned to normal for a country that has gone 11 years without one of its clubs reaching the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores, and which is not producing many successful exports. Peru lie bottom of the 2026 World Cup qualification table with just one goal scored in six games. And midfielder Renato Tapia, probably the team’s best outfield player, walked out following a row with the local federation. Everything seems stacked against the Peruvians.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: After a few gentle friendlies, these will be the first competitive games in the reign of the new coach, Uruguayan Jorge Fossati, who has immediately implanted his trademark three centre-back system. Fossati will probably try to focus on defensive solidity, and trust that clever attacking midfielder Edison Flores can buzz effectively around the centre-forward. The opening game with neighbors and bitter rivals Chile is crucial. In a perfect world, this Copa will be to Fossati what the 2016 version in the USA was to Gareca. Eight years ago, Peru travelled north in apparent disarray, but in the course of the competition found the group and the momentum that took them to Russia 2018 and very nearly to Qatar. — Vickery
Nickname:La Tricolor (The Tricolors) FIFA rank: 31 Manager: Félix Sánchez Bas Record in past 12 months: 8W-2D-3L Group stage fixtures: Venezuela (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET); Jamaica (June 26, 6 p.m. ET); Mexico (June 30, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+1800
Can’t-miss star: Moisés Caicedo. He has been bestriding the Ecuador midfield like a prince since he was a teenager, and at 22 he already has more than 40 caps to his name. He is at the heart of everything that Ecuador do, winning the ball, driving forward, linking the play with quick passes and running beyond the strikers to shoot at goal.
Breakout candidate: Kendry Paez. He was making and scoring goals in World Cup qualification months before his 17th birthday. A left-footed attacking midfielder with the air of an Ecuadorian Phil Foden, he is full of surprise shots and passes at clever angles. This is an eagerly awaited first senior tournament for the Chelsea-bound wonderkid.
Why they won’t win it all: Despite a solid start to their 2026 qualification campaign, pressure is mounting on Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, who was in charge of Qatar in the last World Cup. Some even speculate that this tournament might serve as a referendum on his job security. One of his problems is that the wealth of resources at centre-back is not matched by those at centre-forward. The team are highly dependent on all-time top scorer Enner Valencia, who was overplayed during 2022 and 2023, and has since been paying the price.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Expectations in Ecuador are fluctuating wildly, from hopes of a semifinal to fears of group stage elimination. Both are possible, and plenty hangs on the opening clash with Venezuela. Pick up the points there, avoid Argentina in the quarters and a place in the last four is within the grasp of a young, physically imposing team who are not easy to play against. The key question is whether they can score enough goals, given their lack of depth at centre-forward and the absence of the strong, quick and direct wingers who have typically been a feature of recent Ecuador sides. — Vickery
Nickname:Reggae Boyz FIFA rank: 55 Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson Record in past 12 months: 12W-4D-5L Group stage fixtures: Mexico (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET); Ecuador (June 26, 6 p.m. ET); Venezuela (June 30, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+15000
Can’t-miss star: Michail Antonio. With Leon Bailey out of the picture, on paper, Antonio is the star. When healthy, the West Ham United striker is brilliant in the air and a clever dribbler. So why just on paper? That’s because the England native hasn’t solidified himself as a reliable big-game goal scorer for Jamaica since his 2021 debut, but that could change this summer.
Breakout candidate: Shamar Nicholson. A fully fit and available Jamaica roster likely wouldn’t have Nicholson in the XI, but that doesn’t deny the fact that he’s been an invaluable striker. Soon to be heading back to Spartak Moscow after a loan with Clermont, the 27-year-old has been lights out for Jamaica with eight goals in his past seven games.
Why they won’t win it all: Injuries have seriously hurt their chances, as seen in recent World Cup qualifiers where they narrowly sneaked past Concacaf minnows such as the Dominican Republic and Dominica through one-goal margins. As arguably the weakest team in their group — and with a worrisome Copa América past that features six losses in six games — one can argue that Jamaica may not have enough to even get out of the group stage.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Sure, Jamaica could be seen as the worst in their group, but on the other hand, the reality is that there isn’t a significant difference between all four teams. If they can at least steal a point from Mexico in their first game, and if Nicholson continues his impressive form, there’s no reason they can’t qualify for the knockout round. That said, there are plenty of questions regarding their roster, likely leaving them at third or fourth in Group B. — Cesar Hernandez
Nickname:El Tri (The Tricolor) FIFA rank: 14 Manager: Jaime Lozano Record in past 12 months: 11W-4D-8L Group stage fixtures: Jamaica (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET); Venezuela (June 26, 9 p.m. ET); Ecuador (June 30, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+1200
Can’t-miss star: Edson Álvarez. To quote West Ham supporters: “Midfield maestro, from Mexico, Edson ole ole ole.” For club and country, Alvarez is a rock in the heart of the XI, often doing the dirty work with crucial interventions and crunching tackles that stop opposition. At his best, the player is capable of producing defensive midfield masterclasses with his aggressive work rate and stamina.
Breakout candidate: Santiago Giménez. Recently finishing the Eredivisie season with 23 goals, the young Feyenoord striker is a dark horse candidate for Copa América’s Golden Boot award. More than just a sturdy goal scorer with surprising acceleration, the 23-year-old is also an excellent passer in the final third. Could a performance lead to a summer move to a bigger club?
Why they won’t win it all: With an eye toward the 2026 World Cup, Mexico are currently in the middle of a generational change. When the tournament kicks off, many fans will be surprised to learn that high-profile veterans such as Hirving Lozano, Guillermo Ochoa and Raúl Jiménez were left off of the roster. During part of that process, the latest losses against Uruguay and Brazil have further strengthened the notion that head coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano and his men are still a work in progress.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Mexico should finish in the top two of their group, especially with their status as the (slight) favorites among the four. Assuming no early hiccups and that a backup goalkeeper is able to fill the immense gloves left by Ochoa, Mexico’s knockout round fate probably will be decided by if/when they potentially meet Argentina. If they meet in the quarters or semis, that’s likely where they’ll exit. No Argentina matchup? It then wouldn’t be a stretch to see them as finalists. If Alvarez and Gimenez live up to their expectations, Mexico could make a deep run. — Hernandez
Nickname:La Vinotinto (The Wine Red) FIFA rank: 54 Manager: Fernando Batista Record in past 12 months: 4W-4D-3L Group stage fixtures: Ecuador (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET); Mexico (June 26, 9 p.m. ET); Jamaica (June 30, 8 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+6600
Can’t-miss star: Salomón Rondón. The tragedy of the Qatar World Cup qualifiers was that Rondon was either in China or England, and regulations stopped him going home during the COVID pandemic. Now their big centre-forward and the reference point of the attack is available, and he will want to use this Copa to show that he is not in physical decline.
Breakout candidate: Kervin Andrade. There are high hopes of 19-year-old attacking midfielder Andrade, a squat little figure with close control and a rocket shot who is making a good impression in Brazil with Fortaleza. He was called up this year to the Venezuela squad and is likely to be gently introduced during the course of the tournament.
Why they won’t win it all: Venezuela can cause problems to stronger sides, but they run into the problem of the underdog — if they charge forward, their defensive unit can look vulnerable, but hanging back can leave them too timid and passive. It is not an easy balance for them to strike, and there would seem to be almost no chance of them finding the right blend over the course of six games. They are the only side in the competition who have yet to play in a World Cup, and a Venezuelan triumph on July 14 would be one of the biggest shocks in Copa history.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: For Venezuela, everything is geared around qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and making their World Cup debut. The 1-1 draw away to Brazil last October was a massive morale boost, and Argentine coach Fernando Batista will be delighted that his side have conceded just three goals in the six qualifying rounds. The priority in this Copa, then, is to emerge with faith intact. There are no real hopes of winning, and even a repeat of 2011’s semifinal would be seen as a bonus. A quarterfinal would be nice, but the most important thing is that Venezuela emerge from the competition confident that they will be back in North America two years from now. — Vickery
Nickname:La Verde (The Green) FIFA rank: 85 Manager: Antônio Carlos Zago Record in past 12 months: 2W-1D-11L Group stage fixtures: U.S. (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET); Uruguay (June 27, 9 p.m. ET); Panama (July 1, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+15000
Can’t-miss star: Ramiro Vaca. He moved back home after failing to make much of an impression in Belgium with Beerschot, but he is an important player in the national team, bringing quality to the midfield with his range of passes, his well-struck shots and his set pieces. Vaca turns 25 during the competition.
Breakout candidate: Diego Medina. He made a good impression at the start of the year in the South American Under-23 championships as an aggressive and athletic right-back. He is happy in the wing-back role if Bolívia go with a back three, and will look to consolidate his place in the side during the Copa.
Why they won’t win it all: Thirty years ago, Bolívia went to the U.S. for the World Cup with a generation of talent that they have been utterly unable to replace. The recent retirement from international football of all-time top scorer Marcelo Martins Moreno has worsened matters still further. After last week’s 3-1 defeat to Ecuador, a local newspaper delivered a damning verdict, pointing out three areas where the team urgently needs to improve: defending, retaining possession and setting up chances.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Bolívia are frequently offered up to the hosts in the opening game in a move aimed to get the tournament off to a good start. Often they have refused to follow the script, rising to the occasion and holding out for a draw. But hopes are not high this time. There was optimism a year back, after some good results in friendlies, but all that was instantly swept away when World Cup qualification got underway. Following a disastrous start, Argentine coach Gustavo Costas gave way to Brazil’s Antonio Carlos Zago, without much improvement. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup, however, is still possible — Bolívia always look to pick up points at the extreme altitude of La Paz. Priority in this Copa is for a young side to emerge from the competition with self-esteem intact. — Vickery
Nickname:La Marea Roja (The Red Tide) FIFA rank: 45 Manager: Thomas Christiansen Record in past 12 months: 14W-2D-6L Group stage fixtures: Uruguay (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET); USA (June 27, 6 p.m. ET); Bolívia (July 1, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+15000
Can’t-miss star: Michael Murillo. The pacey Marseille fullback will be a handful for opponents who will have to deal with his take-ons and influence in the attacking third. Excellent in the air and also capable of finding the back of the net, Murillo is set to be one of the leaders on either end of the pitch.
Breakout candidate: Adalberto Carrasquilla. After earning the MVP award for 2023’s Concacaf Gold Cup, can Carrasquilla gain even higher praise at the Copa América? Well-rounded in the midfield but also a threat when carrying the ball forward, the Houston Dynamo player will easily be one to watch. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a European team took a chance on the 25-year-old after the tournament.
Why they won’t win it all: Credit should be given to the gradual improvements made by manager Thomas Christiansen. The coach and his players punched above their weight with a spot at the 2023 Gold Cup final and earned a respectable place within the top four of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League. But against CONMEBOL opponents? That’s a tough ask, and Christiansen doesn’t have the depth of talent needed to go far — let alone possibly making it out of the group stage.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Stranger things have happened in tournament soccer, but there aren’t very many scenarios in which the U.S. and Uruguay aren’t in the top two of Group C. Due to the luck of the draw, Panama just happen to be in a group with two teams that are in the conversation of dark horses.
Third or fourth in their group is the expectation, but if they can get at least one surprise result vs the U.S. or Uruguay, Panama might have an unexpected fighting chance to continue their run when they close out the group stage vs. a questionable Bolívia. — Hernandez
Nickname:La Celeste (The Sky Blue) FIFA rank: 15 Manager: Marcelo Bielsa Record in past 12 months: 8W-3D-2L Group stage fixtures: Panama (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET); Bolívia (June 27, 9 p.m. ET); USA (July 1, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+500
Can’t-miss star: Federico Valverde. He is the often overlooked quiet force of the Real Madrid team, balancing out the side with his spirit of sacrifice and extraordinary lung power. With Uruguay, he is free to shout louder. His midfield dynamism is at the heart of the side, working box to box and unleashing his ferocious shots.
Breakout candidate: Facundo Pellistri. Loaned out first to Alaves and then to Granada, Pellistri has been strangely neglected by Manchester United but has enjoyed a fine time with Uruguay. The 22-year-old might have been their most effective attacking player in the Qatar World Cup as a pacy right winger with the vision of a playmaker.
Why they won’t win it all: Bielsa’s football is notoriously high tempo and high energy. Can the team maintain the required intensity at the end of the European season? This could be especially difficult in the intense summer heat of some of the Copa venues. As Leeds United fans will recall, when the plan goes wrong, a Bielsa team can leave itself extremely open, and in the toughest half of the draw, where there is less margin for error, this could be a problem.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: It is easy to see why Bielsa was attracted to the Uruguay job. With the old generation leaving the scene after Qatar, he had a dynamic new generation to work with; an impressive spine of Ronald Araújo, Jose Gimenez, Manuel Ugarte, Valverde and Darwin Núñez, plus the wingers Uruguay usually produces and Bielsa loves so much. They ended last year as South America’s in-form side, comfortably beating Brazil and winning away to Argentina, and the recent destruction of Mexico has merely confirmed that impression. No one will relish facing them — and 100 years after Uruguay’s historic Olympic gold medal, they are candidates for a title once more. –– Vickery
Nickname: Stars & Stripes FIFA rank: 11 Manager: Gregg Berhalter Record in past 12 months: 11W-2D-5L Group stage fixtures: Bolívia (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET); Panama (June 27, 6 p.m. ET); Uruguay (July 1, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+1200
Can’t-miss star: Christian Pulisic. Pulisic has long been the face of the USMNT, and he largely delivered at the 2022 World Cup, scoring the game winner against Iran that put the U.S. through to the knockout stages. Now he is coming off arguably his best club season, having scored 12 goals and added eight assists for AC Milan.
Breakout candidate: Giovanni Reyna. Reyna is a known commodity among U.S. fans, but his club career has stalled due to a combination of injury and poor form. He has shined in recent competitions with the U.S., however, and was the Player of the Tournament at the Concacaf Nations League this past March. The Copa is a big step up, though. If the U.S. do make a deep run, they’ll need Reyna at his best playing in an attacking midfield role and providing the chance creation the team needs.
Why they won’t win it all: The 2022 World Cup revealed that the U.S. struggled mightily with chance creation, finishing in the bottom half in xG both among teams that reached the knockout rounds (tied for 12th) and for the tournament as a whole (23rd out of 32). Have the U.S. improved since then? Tough to say. Their only match since then against a non-Concacaf team ranked 50th or higher was a 3-1 home loss to Germany in which the visitors were far superior. Until the U.S. deliver against a top opponent, there will be doubts that their attack is good enough to push the tournament hosts into the elite.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: The U.S. have gone about managing expectations for the Copa in an odd way, talking about the opportunity in front of them while at the same time speaking of how the World Cup is the bigger priority. In a group featuring Bolívia, Panama and Uruguay, the U.S. will be expected to progress. Elimination in the group stage would be looked upon — justifiably — as a colossal failure, and put manager Berhalter’s status under threat. If the U.S. do progress, a likely matchup with Brazil or Colombia awaits in the quarterfinals, where the USMNT would be an underdog against either side. The U.S. recently were thrashed 5-1 by Colombia before securing a credible 1-1 draw against Brazil. Getting past either of those teams seems beyond the U.S. at the moment. The play of Reyna and oft-injured holding midfielder Tyler Adams will be critical to the U.S. team’s chances. — Carlisle
Why Gomez is preaching caution for USMNT against South American teams
Herculez Gomez warns the USMNT not to expect easy games against South American teams going into Copa America.
Nickname:Seleção Canarinha (Canary Squad) FIFA rank: 5 Manager: Dorival Júnior Record in past 12 months: 5W-3D-4L Group stage fixtures: Costa Rica (Monday, 9 p.m. ET); Paraguay (June 28, 9 p.m. ET); Colombia (July 2, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+225
Can’t-miss star: Vinícius Júnior. In the Qatar World Cup, Vinicius was the newcomer who had only recently forced his way into the team. Things have changed. He is now Brazil’s most dangerous attacking player, and to his stunning wing play he has added the capacity to operate more centrally. A good tournament could seal the Ballon D’Or this year.
Breakout candidate: Endrick. The stocky, left-footed Endrick, who turns 18 in July, came off the bench in three consecutive games this year to score three goals, all of them important, all of them in different styles. The talent of the Real Madrid-bound prodigy is such that everyone will want to see how he gets on in his debut tournament.
Why they won’t win it all: After a disastrous 2023 for the team, new coach Dorival Junior is attempting to steady the ship. The Copa is his competitive debut, and on the evidence of the first four friendlies, the team have yet to recover the defensive solidity that was a hallmark of the 2016-2022 Tite era. With Brazil in by far the most difficult half of the draw, they will surely be tested as they go through the competition, and it will be fascinating to find out how a young side responds under pressure.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: After winning four Copas in five between 1997 and 2007, Brazil have won only one of the past five — and that was on home soil. Even so, they are contenders for this title. In full flow they can be an exhilarating sight, and if Vini Junior, Rodrygo and company can be well backed up by the likes of Alisson, Marquinhos and Bruno Guimarães, then they will take some stopping. The prospect of a semifinal against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay is deliciously enticing. Whatever happens, Brazil should emerge from the tournament having put 2023 behind them and ready to put a swift end to any doubts about their presence in the next World Cup. — Vickery
Nickname:Los Cafeteros (The Coffeemakers) FIFA rank: 12 Manager: Néstor Lorenzo Record in past 12 months: 11W-3D-0L Group stage fixtures: Paraguay (Monday, 6 p.m. ET); Costa Rica (June 28, 6 p.m. ET); Brazil (July 2, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+1000
Can’t-miss star: Luis Díaz. The Liverpool winger is now the undisputed king of the team, especially after those two goals that brought a first ever World Cup qualification win over Brazil last November, just days after his father had been freed from a kidnap. He’ll cut in from the left and occasionally wander across the attacking line.
Breakout candidate: Richard Ríos. He was an unknown playing futsal in Brazil where he was discovered and transformed into a dynamic part of the Palmeiras midfield that won last year’s league title. The 24-year-old was successfully introduced to the national team this year and highlighted his value with a first goal for Colombia in the 5-1 rout of the USA.
Why they won’t win it all: The long unbeaten run under coach Nestor Lorenzo is a cause for concern for anyone who has followed the history of the Colombian national team. Their fans will be out in force, and expectations are high, but dealing with euphoria is vital in tournament football, and this has often been a problem. Older supporters will recall that 30 years ago Colombia went to the World Cup in the USA on a run of one defeat in 33 games — and that story ended in tragedy with a group stage exit. In by far the more difficult half of the draw, there are plenty of opportunities for their Copa campaign to go wrong.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Lorenzo was an inspired choice to coach the side. The Argentine was a long-term assistant to Jose Pekerman, who took Colombia to the World Cups of 2014 and ’18, and has an undoubted flair for the top job. Lorenzo’s teams is well constructed, with attacker James Rodríguez free to float in a side that is otherwise highly structured. They know where they seek to win the ball, either sitting deep with their lines compact or pressing high. A possible problem — and here the 5-1 win over the USA can be deceptive — is a lack of goals. It was the reason they missed the Qatar World Cup, and although they are off to a sound start in the 2026 qualifiers they have only six goals in six games. But the semifinals certainly look like a realistic target. — Vickery
Nickname:Los Ticos (The Ticos) FIFA rank: 52 Manager: Gustavo Alfaro Record in past 12 months: 7W-2D-8L Group stage fixtures: Brazil (Monday, 9 p.m. ET); Colombia (June 28, 6 p.m. ET); Paraguay (July 2, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+8000
Can’t-miss star: Francisco Calvo. No Keylor Navas? No problem. Following the retirement of the iconic goalkeeper, the captain’s armband has been in safe hands with Calvo in June’s wins in World Cup qualifiers. Forceful in his defensive abilities but also with an eye for long passes, the presence of the FC Juarez defender will be highly significant this summer.
Breakout candidate: Brandon Aguilera. Costa Rica’s latest No. 10 wasn’t a veteran superstar, but instead, a versatile 20-year-old Nottingham Forest player who just wrapped up a short League One loan. Earning an assist in his last Costa Rica appearance, the midfielder still has much to prove and isn’t a guaranteed starter, but there’s a reason he made his Premier League debut in January.
Why they won’t win it all: Aguilera is a young player to keep an eye on, as is Manfred Ugalde up top, but it’s difficult to see the two players and their teammates going far without the insurance plan of Navas in net. The goalkeeper was a literal savior between the sticks, and while Costa Rica’s roster can likely hold their own without Navas against Concacaf opposition, the same can’t be said when you throw CONMEBOL into the mix as well.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: World Cup qualifying is off to a great start and they have some future stars to look forward to, and yet, at the Copa América, Costa Rica face the unenviable task of trying to halt Brazil and Colombia in Group D. To make matters more difficult, those will be their first two opponents, possibly leaving them with a consolation match against Paraguay to close out the group stage. The consensus is that Costa Rica will suffer an early exit, although this is a good time to remind everyone that we just surpassed the 10-year anniversary of a similar Group D conversation at the 2014 World Cup when Costa Rica finished first ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England. — Hernandez
Nickname:Albirroja (The White and Red) FIFA rank: 56 Manager: Daniel Garnero Record in past 12 months: 3W-4D-4L Group stage fixtures: Colombia (Monday, 6 p.m. ET); Brazil (June 28, 9 p.m. ET); Costa Rica (July 2, 9 p.m. ET) ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024:+6600
Can’t-miss star: Miguel Almiron. With league titles in Paraguay, Argentina and the USA plus more than five seasons in the Premier League, Almiron is Paraguay’s main star. But at age 30, just two goals in competitive games for his country is a disappointing return. Might this be the moment when his speed and left foot make an impression?
Breakout candidate: Julio Enciso. He made his Paraguay debut in the last Copa shortly after his 17th birthday, but has yet to make much of an impact. The Brighton striker picked up an injury and missed all of last year’s World Cup qualifiers. Paraguay are desperate for him to return and kick start his international career.
Why they won’t win it all: Morale is on the floor, as coach Garnero confessed after last week’s 3-0 loss to Chile. Garnero replaced fellow Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto after a poor start to the World Cup qualification campaign, but things have yet to improve. In the six rounds, Paraguay have managed just one goal. The heyday of Roque Santa Cruz aside, a lack of firepower has been a frequent Paraguayan problem — made worse by the impression that the current defensive unit is not as solid as some in the country’s past.
Realistic chances at Copa 2024: With Colombia first up followed by Brazil, the fixtures have not been kind to Paraguay. Coach Garnero came in full of attacking intentions, but it could be that his team’s best bet is to defend deep and rely on traditional virtues of resilience. This is an approach better suited to tournaments than to the league format of World Cup qualification. Back in 2011, for example, Paraguay made it all the way to the final of the Copa without winning a single game and going through on penalties. Paraguay’s dogged tradition means that they should never be underestimated, but it would be a surprise if they get out of the group. — Vickery
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports illustration)
Welcome to Copa América 2024, the tournament that’s a bigger deal than it seems
Henry Bushnell Senior reporter Tue, Jun 18, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT·8 min read The 2024 Copa América — a mini-World Cup for the Western Hemisphere — kicks off Thursday in the United States. It will stretch from coast to coast, capturing TV audiences throughout the Americas. It will feature megastars, like Lionel Messi, plus a vibrant array of Latino flair.One of its core questions, though, is: Will casual fans in the host country care?Millions of Mexican Americans and Colombian Americans, of Argentine Americans and Venezuelan Americans, will joyously erupt for the Copa América. This, many of them know, is arguably the most competitive men’s international soccer tournament in the four-year interim between World Cups.But the 2024 Copa América, specifically, is a novelty in a country mostly unfamiliar with it.
Here, then, is an attempt to familiarize you — with the basics, the narratives, the problems, and the driving forces behind this one-of-a-kind event.
What is Copa América?
Copa América is the South American men’s soccer championship, a century-old competition among the continent’s 10 national teams (and often others).
Its cadence, size and format have varied over the years. Now, it’s a quadrennial tournament much like the European Championship (Euros), played in even-year summers between men’s World Cups.
It typically features 12 teams, with two invited from other continents. But in 2024, it will temporarily expand to 16. More on that below.
Is Copa América a big deal?
In South America, perhaps the planet’s most soccer-crazed continent, it’s a massive deal. It’s historic, prestigious, anticipated, fiercely contested and festive. For years, it was massive enough to crush Messi — before finally liberating him in 2021.
Outside the Americas, it’s a bit less so. Its global footprint is dwarfed by its European equivalent, the Euros. That, however, is largely due to western Europe’s economic might — and its willingness/eagerness to commercialize and market the sport.
At their core, the two tournaments are comparable. They’re soccer’s biggest outside the World Cup — the toughest to win, the most lucrative, the most acclaimed. And this year’s Copa América, in some ways, is even bigger.
How and why is this Copa América different? And who’s in it?
Struggling to find a satisfactory South American host, CONMEBOL — the 10-member South American soccer confederation — struck an agreement with CONCACAF, its North and Central American counterpart.
CONCACAF would help organize the 2024 edition in the United States; in return, it would get six spots in a 16-team field.
Christian Pulisic and the USMNT will compete against some of the powerhouses of South American soccer in the 2024 Copa América. (Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)
Wait, so why is the 2024 Copa América in the U.S.?
Copa América hosting duties typically rotate from one South American nation to the next — from 1989-2011, for example, each of CONMEBOL’s 10 members hosted once.
In recent years, though, the COVID-19 pandemic and instability have disrupted the rotation, and left organizers scrambling for stand-ins — first Brazil, and now the U.S.
In 2024, it was supposed to be Ecuador’s turn. But Ecuador, citing security and infrastructure concerns, relinquished the responsibility. “We’re not ready to organize the Copa América,” said Francisco Egas, the president of its soccer federation, in November 2022. So, with less than two years to go, CONMEBOL did not know where its 2024 championship would be played.
Brazil, its biggest, richest and most capable deputy, seemed willing and able to host. But Brazil had also hosted the previous two Copa Américas — first in 2019, in line with the standard rotation; and then in 2021 when Colombia and Argentina pulled out last-minute.
So, pushed by necessity but also pulled by financial and political benefits, CONMEBOL leaders turned to the States. Conversations accelerated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. An agreement was reached and announced in early 2023.
Hasn’t there already been a Copa América in the U.S.?
Yep, but that one was even more novel. It was a one-off “Centenario” edition in 2016. It was not moved to the U.S.; rather, it was essentially created by the U.S. Soccer Federation, in partnership with CONMEBOL, one year after the regularly scheduled 2015 Copa América, as a cash-grab and opportunity to pit the U.S. men’s national team against elite opponents.
Practically, though, the 2016 and 2024 tournaments will be very similar. Same format; six of the same host cities; 15 of the same 16 teams.
How did that 2016 Copa América Centenario go?
It was fairly successful. On the field, Chile beat Argentina in a glamorous but brutal final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In the stands, 1.48 million tickets were sold, an average of roughly 46,000 per game. In total, the event generated a “one-off profit of around $80 million” for U.S. Soccer, its then-vice president, Carlos Cordeiro, said a few years later.
In South America, fans always get excited about any Copa América, but some are unhappy that their crown jewel has been shipped off to North America again.
In North America, those who understand the gravity and importance of the tournament seem excited; but many non-Latinos in and around the American soccer community feel that the tournament has been poorly promoted and might fail to break through a crowded U.S. sports scene.
CONMEBOL’s commercial chief, Juan Emilio Roa, told Yahoo Sports that an estimated 25-30% of match-going fans would be ones traveling from South America; most of the rest will be U.S. residents.
How are Copa América ticket sales going?
Roa told Yahoo Sports on June 7 that just over 1 million tickets had been sold — a little more than 31,000 per game. That’s around 50% of capacity across all games, most of which will be played at NFL stadiums.
Naturally, matches featuring teams like Argentina and Mexico are close to or already sold-out; others, though, could be pretty empty.
Argentina, the defending 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa América champions, are the current favorites to win this year’s tournament. (Michael Miller/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
One reason that roughly 50% of tickets remain unclaimed is that the prices, to many, are obscene. A single upper-deck ticket for Argentina’s opener against Canada, in the second-to-last row of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, costs $307 at the time of writing. Even for Peru-Chile at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the following day, a standard 200-level ticket costs $208. The average tournament-wide ticket price, according to Vivid Seats, is $283.
Why are tickets so expensive?
It’s unclear who, exactly, is to blame for the obscene prices.
Roa confirmed that they are based on the “dynamic pricing” model often utilized by American ticket brokers such as Ticketmaster and SeatGeek.
For a standard Copa América in South America, CONMEBOL would have complete control over all aspects of the matchday experience, including ticketing. But here, they have had to work with a variety of interested (and capitalistic) parties stadium-by-stadium, city-by-city. Rather than sell tickets on a single platform, they have essentially delegated that task to each venue — some of which use Ticketmaster, some of which use SeatGeek.
The complexities, and the somewhat last-minute nature of all these arrangements, have been challenges, and presumably reasons that tickets did not go on sale until late February.
When and where are the games?
They’re scattered across the U.S., in 14 different cities, with each hosting no more than three games.
Some games, certainly in the knockout rounds, should be great. Others, between prideful but less-prominent teams stuck in cavernous NFL stadiums, will feel a bit soulless.
The tournament as a whole will probably struggle to differentiate itself from all the other high-level soccer being played in the United States this decade. But for CONMEBOL, financially, it will almost surely be successful.
“The North American market is an amazing market, in terms of everything — in terms of viewerships, in terms of sponsorship, in terms of exposure,” Roa said. The inclusion of Mexico’s national team has likely allowed CONMEBOL to tap into many millions more dollars.
“And for sure, having Argentina and Leo Messi play in this Copa America … increased the interest around the world,” Roa added.
“We received calls and emails and contacts through our [commercial] agency, directly to CONMEBOL, from all around the world, como nunca antes, like never before,” Roa said. “Because, obviously, they have interests in the States. And all the things that happen in the States — it takes another dimension.”
A young group of US Ladies is set to take the field Tuesday night at the US Women usher in the youngsters for the Women’s Gold Cup defense on ESPN + and Paramount+ at 10:15 pm. The US should have no issues in the first game until facing Argentina in the 2nd game of the group stage this Friday 10:15 pm. With the games all taking place in LA – it will be late night games for the US on all 3 set of Group stage matchups. (Games included in the TV Game schedule below). I am looking forward to seeing Mia Mishel and Jaedyn Shaw up top along with Trinity Rodman in the all under 23 forward line-up with Alex Morgan not called up – who can put the ball in the net? The midfield figures to be the same with Horan and Lavelle holding down the fort I presume – but Albert from PSG will be fun to watch. I suspect the backline will feature stalwarts Girma, Emily Fox and Davidson – who slides in beside Girma will be the question? I assume someone other than Naeher will get the net duties – probably Casey Murphy. I see the US winning this first warmup game 3-0.
Here’s the full Gold Cup roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns)
MIDFIELDERS: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
FORWARDS: Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Indy 11 Beat Columbus Crew II
Jack Blake scored three first-half goals to help lead Indy Eleven to a 7-1 victory over Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday afternoon at Grand Park. Blake now has a team-leading six goals through four matches of the 2024 preseason. The midfielder scored three in 30 matches last season. The Boys in Blue also picked up goals in the first 45 from Sebastian Guenzatti and Douglas Martinez. Cam Lindley dealt out a pair of assists, giving him three this preseason, while Augi Williams chipped in one. The second half saw Martinez score his second of the match off Lindley’s second assist, while Augi Williams connected from the penalty spot to increase the lead and close out the scoring for the day. Preseason action continues Saturday at Lexington SC. The match is closed to the public.
Complete Preseason Schedule Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | D, 0-0 Saturday, Feb. 10 vs Chicago Fire FC II | W, 2-0 Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Wesleyan University | W, 5-0 Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew 2 | W, 7-1 Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lexington SC | Closed to the public Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Detroit City FC | Closed to the public Friday, March 1 vs. Forward Madison FC | Closed to the public
Indy opens the 2024 slate on a two-match road swing beginning at non-conference foe Oakland Roots SC on March 9 before returning home to host 2023 Western Conference Champion Sacramento Republic FC at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on March 23. Single-game tickets are available now for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season Ticket Packages can also be purchased, as well as tickets for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on these options click here. The Defending USL WLeague Champion Indy 11 Women announced their summer schedule this week with 5 matches at Grand Park.
Games on TV –
Concacaf Champions Cup for MLS, the best teams in Mexico and the top teams from Central American, and is back – full schedule. Europa League Round of 32 on Thursday gives us American’s Pulisic & Musah and AC Milan traveling to French club Rennes at 3 pm up 3-0 on CBSSN & TUDN, & Unimas. While also at 3 pm American Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis travel to Zagreb on Paramount+. Pregame show starts at 2 pm. (see full Europa League schedule below) Pulisic finally got back on the board this weekend with a goal and assist for AC Milan – albeit in a shocking loss 4-2 loss on the road.
Tues, Feb 20: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven (Dest, Pepi, Tillman) vs Borussia Dortmund (return legs: Wednesday, March 13). Wed, Feb 21: Napoli vs Barcelona CBS 3 pm, Porto vs Arsenal TUDN Para+ (return legs: Tuesday, March 12).
Huge Congrats to our Carmel FC Goalkeepers who traveled to Memphis this past weekend to represent Indiana @ the ODP Tourney. CFC GKU!!
Tim P. Carmel FC U16 Boys Gold Olivia A Carmel FC 2012 Girls
working of pictures of our other 2 GKs who participated – PS – GK Training Thur 5 pm & 5:45 pm Badger Field House
Heading over to Badger at the Fieldhouse for Training or Friday night or Sunday games? Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ. Lets start with the BEST Brunswick Stew in Indiana — I am here to tell you my buddy Ryan has it – perfect for this cold whether during the winter. Come by or get it to go on the way home. I went for lunch today and stew was fantastic !
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USMNT midweek viewing guide: Champions are back in business
Our PSV trio of Dest, Pepi, and Tillman face Dortmund in Champions League knockouts, while Pulisic and Musah make their way in Europa League.
Everton vs Crystal Palace, 3p on USA, Universo, Fubo, Sling, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo: Chris Richards and Palace visit Everton in Premier League action.
Also in action:
NAC Breda vs Cambuur, 2p: Agustín Anello and Cambuur visit Breda in the Eerste Divisie.
Tuesday
PSV vs Borussia Dortmund, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, Fubo (free trial), and ViX: For anyone who has been frustrated with Dortmund recently and wanted to root against them, here’s your chance. PSV Americano, featuring Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi, and Malik Tillman face Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16.
Deportivo Saprissa vs Philadelphia Union, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, Sling: Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and the Union visit Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Also in action:
Cardiff City vs Blackburn Rovers, 2:45p: Ethan Horvath and Cardiff face Duncan McGuire just kidding, Blackburn weren’t able to finalize his loan from Orlando City.
St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo, 8p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Aziel Jackson and St. Louis meet the Dynamo in Concacaf Champions Cup play. Houston are without a serious USMNT prospect, but do feature Panamanian international Adalberto Carrasquilla.
Necaxa vs Chivas, 10p: Cade Cowell and Chivas visit Necaxa in Liga MX.
Wednesday
Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake, 8p on MLS Season Pass: Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, DeAndre Yedlin, and Miami host Diego Luna, Fidel Barajas, and RSL to kick off the 2024 MLS season.
Independiente de La Chorerra vs New England Revolution, 8p on TUDN, Fubo: DeJuan Jones, Noel Buck, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and the Revs travel to La Chorrera, Panama to face CAI in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Also in action:
Cavalry FC vs Orlando City, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, Sling: Ah, there’s Duncan McGuire. He and Orlando City journey north to meet Canadian side Cavalry in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
América vs Mazátlan, 10p on TUDN, UniMás, Fubo: Alejandro Zendejas and Club América host Mazátlan in Liga MX.
Thursday
Rennes vs AC Milan, 12:45p on Paramount+, TUDN, CBS Sports Network, Fubo, ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan make the return trip to Rennes, having won 3-0 at home in the first leg. If they advance on aggregate, they move into the Europa League round of 16.
Dinamo Zagreb vs Real Betis, 12:45p on Paramount+, ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Betis have their work cut out for them, having lost 0-1 to Zagreb in the first leg at home. They’ll need to mount a comeback if they hope to advance past the Europa Conference League round of 32.
Also in action:
Moca FC vs Nashville SC, 7p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, new arrival Tyler Boyd, and Nashville SC travel to the Dominican Republic to open their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign.
Cavalier SC vs FC Cincinnati, 9p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Brandon Vázquez has left FC Cincy for the Rayados of Monterrey, but Cincinnati still has USMNT-relevant players like Miles Robinson, Lucho Acosta, Matt Miazga, and Roman Celentano. They travel to Jamaica to open Concacaf Champions Cup play.
Friday
Utrecht vs Heracles, 2p: Taylor Booth and Utrecht host Luca de la Torre’s old club, Heracles Almelo, in Eredivisie action.
Coventry vs Preston, 2:45p: Haji Wright and Coventry face Duane Holmes and Preston North End in the Championship.
Juárez vs Monterrey, 10p on FS2, FOX Deportes, Fubo, Sling: Brandon Vázquez and Monterrey face the Bravos of Juárez in Liga MX.
Also in action:
Holstein Kiel vs St. Pauli, 12:30p on ESPN+: Manager Fabian Hürzeler and St. Pauli are tied with Holstein Kiel atop the 2. Bundesliga table. Born in Houston, Hürzeler has led St. Pauli to just 1 loss in 21 league matches this season. Former FC Dallas homegrown defender Nico Carrera is on the books at Holstein Kiel, but has only played for their reserves this season (in the fourth-tier Regionalliga).
Charleroi vs Genk, 2:45p on ESPN+ (free trial): Mark McKenzie and Genk visit Charleroi in Belgium’s top tier.
USA vs. Dominican Republic, 2024 W Gold Cup: What to watch for
The United States Women’s National Team take the field tomorrow against the Dominican Republic as they embark on a new journey with the start of the 2024 W Gold Cup. The inaugural tournament is the first chance in 2024 the USWNT have to play, and it’s the first opportunity to win a trophy.
2024 is a year of transition for the USWNT, as Emma Hayes will take over as head coach towards the end of May and Twila Kilgore continues to manage the team on an interim basis. There seems to be a movement of youth entering to establish a new younger core of the team. At the same time, they balance this transition with 2024 being a year of importance, with the W Gold Cup and Olympics serving as opportunities to claim a championship. The USWNT want to begin by claiming this inaugural edition of the W Gold Cup.
Their first opponent are Las Quisqueyanas, the upstarts from the Dominican Republic who have shocked everyone by getting to the group stage of a major tournament for the first time. They won’t back down and they will once again be looking for the monumental upset, so the USWNT cannot take them lightly as we embark on the maiden voyage of the W Gold Cup.
FORWARDS (6): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
*Becky Sauerbrunn replaced Alana Cook, who was withdrawn due to injury, on the roster
What To Watch For
Time for the new era? With some of the younger players getting their first shot at a major title, could we see a shift in USWNT’s approach by playing them? Players like Mia Fishel, Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert, and Jenna Nighswonger could factor into this match to show that the future is now. We await the lineup to see where Kilgore decides to go.
The midfield needs to be dynamic and crisp. The USWNT always struggle when their midfield isn’t dynamic and sharp with the ball. They have to be the ones to maintain possession and keep the ball moving forward, while also relieving pressure from the back line by keeping the ball in front of them on defense. Finally, crisp passes are the key. When we’re sloppy with the ball, it makes for a long day.
Don’t gift any hope to the opposition. The Dominican Republic is looking for the upset. The USWNT need to get out quickly and never let Las Quisqueyanas get any belief that they can pull off the shocker.
The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup starts this coming week, and 12 teams will fight for the chance to make history as the first champions of this tournament. 8 Concacaf teams are joined by 4 teams from CONMEBOL – Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay – in 3 groups, where the top 2 will advance as well as 2 of the 3rd place teams.
Group A figures to be an intriguing one, with the best team in Concacaf, the United States, taking on a couple of teams in Mexico and Argentina that desire to break into that next level of teams in the world and the Dominican Republic, who are looking to continue to provide the upset. It will be the group that likely commands the most attention, but the action on the field will surely bring some fireworks and tense moments for fans of each of the teams. We’re looking forward to these 4 teams challenging each other for Group A supremacy
Schedule
Tuesday, February 20th
USA vs. Guyana/Dominican Republic
Mexico vs. Argentina
Friday, February 23rd
USA vs. Argentina
Guyana/Dominican Republic vs. Mexico
Monday, February 26th
USA vs. Mexico
Argentina vs. Guyana/Dominican Republic
United States
The USWNT enter 2024 looking to re-establish themselves as the best team in the world. They are first focused on setting the pace in this competition and find the focus and drive that made them invincible for so long. They’ve brought in some younger players who are hungry to produce goals and defend, and it feels like the beginning of some change in the program. However, having younger players on the team means it’s the first time for many of them in big time competition like this tournament. That’s where the World Cup veterans need to lead the way and help the team take care of business.
FIFA Ranking: 2
Odds of Winning Group: Clear favorites
One to Watch: Mia Fishel is ready to announce herself officially on the international stage. Look for her to make a big impact up front.
Argentina
La Albiceleste enter this tournament looking to make a statement that they can move into the conversation as one of the best teams in the Americas. They have finished 3rd in the two most recent Copa América Femenina tournaments, and this is an opportunity for them to take the next step. However, Argentina have to overcome some history in this group: they are are 0W-5L-0D against the United States and 1W-8L-1D against Mexico all-time. To win this group, they will need to beat at least one of those teams.
FIFA Ranking: 31
Odds of Winning: Needs Help
One to Watch: Mariana Larroquette has 22 goals in 79 caps for Argentina, and she will look to provide some more goals for the team up front.
Mexico
Mexico enters the W Gold Cup with something to prove. They failed to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup as well as the 2024 Summer Olympics, so they’ve been working hard from within to improve their squad. They’ve brought in some younger budding stars, some of whom won the gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games. Now, they want to bring it in a tough Group A and re-establish Mexico as one of the teams to beat in this region.
One to Watch: Diana Ordóñez has become a star in the making in her short time on La Tri, and she could be poised for a breakout at this tournament.
Dominican Republic
Las Quisqueyanas upset Guyana in the Gold Cup Prelims to advance to the group stage. They’re complete underdogs in this group, but they will not be scared of any team they take on. This is the first major tournament that the Dominican Republic has qualified for in their history, and they want to continue to make history with this group.
FIFA Ranking: 107
Odds of Winning: Slim To None
One to Watch: Kathrynn González scored the lone goal in the Dominican Republic’s win over Guyana, and she’s going to be a player to watch as they enter the group stage.
USWNT’s Lindsey Horan apologizes for ‘poorly expressed’ comments
U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan opened her time in front of reporters by addressing the reaction to her comments on American fans’ knowledge of soccer, made in an interview with The Athletic published earlier this month.“First and foremost, I would like to apologize to our fans,” Horan said while speaking during a virtual availability ahead of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. “Some of my comments were poorly expressed, and there was a massive lesson learned for me.”In her interview with The Athletic, Horan shared frustrations with how viewers of matches took commentary at face value before joking that her mother did it while watching USWNT matches. On Thursday, she took time to clarify and express her appreciation for the fans.
“When I think about our fans, I love them so much. The team loves them so much, and I can’t begin to explain how much they mean to us. Every time we step out and train, every time we step out and play in games, you know we play for you guys,” Horan said. “You’re our inspiration, our motivation, and seeing you wear our jerseys and seeing you screaming our names, and chanting USA, that’s what we play for and I never wanted to take any of that away.“Continuing on that, the soccer culture in America is changing and growing so much in such a positive way. For me to experience that firsthand, playing for this U.S. women’s national team but also in the NWSL and for the Portland Thorns, is something just so amazing. It is my absolute honor, and I will always say that, to be able to put on this crest every single day. To be in this environment, to go out and play in front of our fans and represent this national team, that is something — again, it is my greatest honor. … The last thing I ever wanted to do was to offend anyone in that manner. So again, I deeply, deeply apologize.”When asked to elucidate what she wanted to express with her original comments, Horan replied that she did not think that “what I meant really matters right now.” She said that she’s just “a football brain” who loves watching as much soccer as possible.“I love talking about it, and the way people talk about Man City, Arsenal, the old Barcelona,” she said. “That’s what I want people to say about us. I want people to talk about how incredible we are on the ball, the possession, the style of play, the technical ability, the tactical changes mid-game, these types of things.”Horan said she apologized because of how she felt and that she wanted “to express how much the fans mean to me personally.”On the matter of the tournament ahead of them — the inaugural W Gold Cup — Horan joked that the goal is “the trophy.”More seriously, she said that the team’s main goal is to win, but it’s also a perfect preparation for the Olympics due to the tournament format and timing. “What we do here can really train us and mentally prepare us for what we might have to deal with in France,” she said. “We take each game at a time and we get better throughout the tournament, and we keep increasing now what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play.”
Horan stressed multiple times that she believes every player on the roster needs to be utilized throughout the Gold Cup to help get some players tournament minutes and more time on the field — and that the USWNT must take advantage of this time on the field together ahead of the Olympics.“It’s not just the new young ones, it’s all of us,” she said. “We’re all progressing together and we remain a team. Everyone needs to get on the same page leading into the Olympics, but first off, the first game here at the Gold Cup.”(Photo: Brennan Asplen, Getty Images)
Concacaf W Gold Cup preview: USWNT’s chances, format and more
Cesar Hernandez ESPN
Feb 19, 2024, 11:02 AM ET
An invaluable chance for redemption is within reach for North America’s two major powerhouses in women’s national team soccer. After the United States and Canada failed to live up to expectations in last year’s World Cup, the latest script for both sides can now be rewritten during the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, a 12-team international women’s tournament that is set to kick off for the first time on Tuesday.
Featuring eight Concacaf representatives and four guests from Conmebol (South America), a chance to make a claim as the best in the Americas will be on the line for not only high-profile squads like the U.S. and Canada, but also a handful of dark horses that are on the rise. The teams are split into three groups of four, with the top two from each group and the two best third-placed teams then moving onto the knockout round that concludes with a final at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on March 10.
Looking ahead to the tournament’s debut, there’s plenty of intrigue about how it will all play out and on the possible impact it can have for the women’s game, but before discussing what it means to those involved, let’s first dive into how and why the W Gold Cup came about.
The creation of the W Gold Cup
In an effort to increase the number of women’s national team games within the region, Concacaf, FIFA’s governing body for North American soccer, revealed a new four-year calendar in 2020 that would lead up to a revamped World Cup qualification tournament (eventually named the “Concacaf W Championship”) in 2022, as well as a brand new “Women’s Concacaf Nations League” in 2024.
“The new calendar prioritized more official match dates for all women’s senior national teams in Concacaf, and ensuring an elite competition to showcase the highest level of women’s international football,” according to a press release that included the qualification routes for both tournaments. “Through this new calendar, Concacaf will more than double the number of official senior women’s national team matches compared with the current cycle of competitions.”
Additional details were added in 2021. Along with qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, 2022’s Concacaf W Championship would also provide a path into the 2024 Olympics. The two invitees into the Olympics were then also granted entry into 2024’s Women’s Concacaf Nations League Final tournament, which was rebranded as the Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Why Herc won’t call Alex Morgan’s exclusion from USWNT roster a snub
Herculez Gomez explains why he wouldn’t label Alex Morgan’s absence from the USWNT’s CONCACAF Gold Cup roster a snub.
While the U.S. (winners of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship) and Canada (Concacaf W Championship finalists, Olympic play-in winners) claimed those two invitations, the rest of the Concacaf region would go on to take part in a preliminary “Road to the Concacaf W Gold Cup” competition. Resembling a Nations League structure that has recently been used to provide more meaningful games for men’s national teams, but with different branding, women’s national teams were now given a chance to do the same.
Building up to this month’s W Gold Cup — which, like the men’s Gold Cup, is to be played every four years according to the tournament’s 55-page regulations — a long-awaited push for more official games in women’s soccer was underway.
“The W Gold Cup Final [tournament] will not only crown the champion of what is now Concacaf’s flagship women’s international competition, but it will also cap off a 4-year cycle where teams from the region will have competed in a minimum of 195 official matches, which represents 118% increase in comparison to the previous four-year cycle,” stated a press release in 2021.
“Together, the 2021 Concacaf W Qualifiers, 2022 Concacaf W Championship, 2023 Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup, and 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup will accelerate the growth of Women’s Football and provide a consistent structure of matches and competitions for our Member Associations.”
More matches are undoubtedly better for countless mid-to-lower tier teams in Concacaf that don’t have the same opportunities or resources as those regional powerhouses above them. Providing a pathway to a tournament like the W Gold Cup, and the additional platform through it, is also crucial. Looking at those powerhouses though, this isn’t to say that the U.S. and Canada can’t benefit from the W Gold Cup either. Aside from eagerly wanting to bounce back from disappointment on the global stage with a continental title, there is significance beyond another championship for the traditional giants of Concacaf.
Olympic prep and showcasing a new generation
“This Gold Cup is amazing preparation for us for the Olympics,” said U.S. defender Emily Fox during a recent press conference. “It’s the longest time we’re going to have together as a team [before the Olympics], an entire month. So I think for us, our focus is on the Gold Cup and on the tournament and how we can learn from it and prep for the Olympics.”
While both the U.S. and Canada have explicitly noted that winning the W Gold Cup is the goal, there’s also the added benefit of having an extended period of time to train and take part in official matches just months before Paris 2024. It’s worth noting that of the 12 teams that will take part in women’s soccer at the Olympics, four (the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Colombia) will be in the W Gold Cup.
“It’s such a cool opportunity to have a major tournament like this that kind of exemplifies the Olympics and gets us prepared for that,” said U.S. captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan. “What we do here can really train us and mentally prepare us for what we might have to deal with in France, but first and foremost, this is a major tournament itself and we want to win.”
For Canada head coach Bev Priestman, it could also help ease some roster-related headaches. “I don’t know about you, but trying to get this to a 23 [player] roster was very hard and then to try and get it to 18 [players for the Olympics] — I think some of the principles that we’ve used in terms of trying to think about this Gold Cup is about players who could play in multiple positions, fitness.
“All these sorts of things around Olympic rosters is going to come into play,” said Priestman, who recently extended her coaching contract to 2027 last month. “We won’t be where we want to be in July by this Gold Cup, but what I hope we can do is continue the positive momentum in terms of what we’ve seen on the pitch. I think absolutely, we’re here to try and win this thing, but we also have July in mind.”
Through that process, there’s also a noteworthy changing of the guard for both teams that will be tested in the W Gold Cup.
For the U.S., 11 members of the roster are 25 or younger. In a transitional period under interim coach Twila Kilgore (prior to Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes taking the reigns in the summer), and without the likes of goalscoring veteran Alex Morgan or a retired legend Megan Rapinoe in the squad, prominent roles are up for grabs.
“It’s just a great opportunity to get in with the team and show myself,” said Jenna Nighswonger, the 23-year-old defender that won an NWSL title and Rookie of the Year award in 2023 with NJ/NY Gotham. “I think we’re going after gold obviously in this tournament and every game is looking to help us for the Olympics.”
“The younger girls coming in are so, so talented. They have such a bright future and they bring creativity and flair on the field,” said U.S. defender Abby Dahlkemper after a recent training session. “They’re fearless and passionate, they fit in and they gel in really well with the group. It’s an exciting time for this team, just kind of seeing the progress of younger players coming in.”
Canada are also looking forward to the impact of younger names. Without the iconic Christine Sinclair who retired from international play in late 2023, and through a roster (like the U.S.) that has 11 players that are 25 are younger, more will be expected from youthful call-ups that now have a chance to thrive at the W Gold Cup.
“I’m excited to see people step up and I don’t mean one individual, I mean a group of people now,” said Priestman. “Whenever you have a veteran group around, not by design just by nature, people kind of take that back seat a little bit more, but what I started to see at the back end of last year is people grabbing the reins a little bit.”
Underdogs from Latin America and the Caribbean
Of course, this tournament is much more than just the U.S. and Canada. Circling back to additional games provided in Concacaf and the ongoing development of women’s soccer across the globe, long gone are the days when elite squads could coast through competitions.
“Within my experience of being on the national team, the growth of Caribbean teams and Latin American teams have been huge…in general, I think as a whole, everyone [in women’s soccer] is getting better and better, which we love to see,” said Fox. “We saw that in the Euros, in Concacaf for [World Cup] qualifying for us, and then also in the World Cup last year. So I think for us, going into the Gold Cup, we know each game is going to be a challenge and a lot of teams have really amazing individual talent.”
That talent is best highlighted by Colombia’s young phenom Linda Caicedo, who was runner-up for 2023’s The Best FIFA Women’s Player award. In the same manner that she was a breakout star at the World Cup as Colombia reached the quarterfinals, other up-and-coming names from Latin America and the Caribbean can make a name for themselves in an official tournament like the W Gold Cup.
“These aren’t friendlies anymore,” stated Horan. “It’s tournament play and each team gives a different kind of game in tournament play. You’re going out to win games, you’re going out to get points…these teams are going to make it difficult for us.”
With recent World Cup experience under their belts and promising runs through the Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup, Costa Rica and Panama could pose a threat in this tournament. Elsewhere, marquee invites from Conmebol like Brazil, Argentina and Colombia won’t be walkovers after finishing in the top three of 2022’s Copa America Femenina. As for Colombia, no team in the W Gold Cup went further than them in the latest World Cup.
“The tournament is giving us totally different styles of play, which is brilliant, in terms of confederations and styles within South America, Concacaf,” said Canada’s Priestman. “It’s a great test for us.”
Of the rising teams, Mexico also look the most capable of possibly upsetting the order. Boosted by the hiring of new head coach Pedro Lopez, the women’s national team charged through 2023 without a single loss in all competitions. One week before the start of the W Gold Cup, and seeking redemption for his team that failed to qualify for the World Cup before he was hired, Mexico’s manager provided one of the more noteworthy pre-tournament quotes that conveys the confidence of a squad that has benefitted and grown through additional matches in their international calendar.
“Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Lopez when asked about the state of his roster. “In other words, people are seeing the sheep on the outside, but inside there is a wolf that wants to come out and wants to vindicate itself in front of the entire world.”
Will all go to plan for the U.S. and Canada as they search for a title and prepare for the Olympics? Will an underdog step out from the shadows and make a statement in the inaugural women’s tournament?
We’ll begin to find out when it all kicks off on Feb. 20.
MLS Season Preview: The Messi Effect
With a full offseason to prepare, Inter Miami and all of MLS are ready to reap the benefits of having the world’s biggest soccer star
One evening in late January, just days after starting their 25,000-mile preseason tour — the most extensive ever for an MLS team — in El Salvador, Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates boarded a boat at the Port of Miami clad in matching pink hoodies. Fortunately for the soon-to-be-weary travelers, they wouldn’t be setting sail that day.
The team joined hundreds of VIPs inside a domed theater aboard Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s new 1,198-foot cruise liner, to christen the ship and celebrate the club’s most lucrative corporate partnership to date. The players took the stage and removed their hoodies to reveal the club’s new black away kit for the 2024 season, featuring the cruise line brand’s recognizable crown-and-anchor logo.
The affair concluded with Messi, dubbed “The Icon of Icon” as part of a personal endorsement deal with the cruise line brand, placing a soccer ball atop a pedestal, at which point a bottle of champagne was sent whizzing down a zip line to ceremonially shatter on the bow of the ship.
Much like the international tour that also saw Inter Miami play exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan from Jan. 19 to Feb. 15, the celebration of an eight-figure-a-year sponsorship agreement — the largest ever for an MLS club — would have been unthinkable prior to Messi’s arrival last summer.
Also previously unthinkable: the more than $200 million in revenue that Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi expects the club to pull in during the 2024 season, Messi’s first full campaign in MLS. That would be a more than 60% increase from last season and four times what the club earned in 2022. Last year, LAFC topped MLS clubs in revenue at approximately $140 million, with Inter Miami second at $125 million. This year, thanks to Messi, Miami figures to take the top spot.
“People understand that we are living part of history, that we are contemporaries of something that will go into the history books of sports,” Asensi said. “People understand and want to be a part of it.”
After years of courting arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, Inter Miami signed Messi to a two-and-a-half-year contract last summer worth $50-60 million annually in salary, equity in the club and signing bonuses. The deal also includes an option for an additional year in 2026. On top of his compensation from the club, Messi will receive a share of revenue from international subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming service as part of a separate agreement with Apple.
Inter-esting Development
Xavier Asensi’s revenue projections for the club in 2024 will likely place Inter Miami tops among all MLS clubs.
$200M: Expected club revenue in 2024 $125M: Approximate club revenue in 2023 $50M: Club revenue in 2022
Asensi expects Inter Miami’s sponsorship revenue to be just under $60 million this season, roughly double the amount the club generated last season. That’s compared to a mean year-over-year increase of 15% for all clubs, according to the league. The average sponsorship revenue for an MLS team is approximately $17 million, according to industry sources, and revenue in the high $50 million range would put Inter Miami above some teams in the older traditional North American sports leagues.
In addition to Royal Caribbean, the club last season signed a jersey sleeve deal with Fracht Group, a Swiss logistics and freight forwarding firm. This offseason, it has forged renewals at higher rates with several partners and added new sponsors such as battery brand Duracell and Argentinian winery Trapiche. Several additional announcements are expected this week.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Inter Miami’s success in attracting major global partners following the Messi signing could serve as motivation for other clubs to take big swings of their own.
“We can now look at the success of the commercial business in Miami and show many of our other clubs that if you could think about your business differently, you could attract the attention of partners in ways that are not just about local and can be more about global,” Garber said.
Inter Miami has also roughly doubled prices for season tickets from 2023 and added 1,000 seats at DRV PNK Stadium, its temporary home in Fort Lauderdale, bringing capacity to 21,550. Asensi said the club aims to continue increasing capacity until the team moves to its new $350 million stadium in the forthcoming $1 billion Miami Freedom Park development (likely during the 2025 season). About 75-80% of seats will be sold to season-ticket holders, with the rest earmarked for single-game sales.
Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi predicts the club will bring in $200 million in revenue in 2024.COURTESY OF INTER MIAMI CF
While the club declined to share specifics on revenue expectations from the team’s preseason tour, Asensi said the appearance fees the club received from international promoters were significantly higher than what FC Barcelona received for its own exhibition matches when he worked at the Spanish club from 2010-2021.
“There will always be a before Messi and an after Messi,” said club co-owner Jorge Mas. “Commercially there has been a significant impact on the club’s revenue base and it is only Year 1.”
Inter Miami has naturally been the primary beneficiary of its investment in Messi joining MLS, but other clubs have also scored from the Messi Effect. Prior to hosting Inter Miami last Oct. 4, the Chicago Fire were averaging just 14,880 fans at Soldier Field and hadn’t sold any suites annually for the 2023 season. The Oct. 4 match against Miami drew a crowd of 62,124 and set an MLS record for the highest-grossing single match ever with roughly $10 million in ticket revenue. The Fire also leveraged that match to keep fans coming back to Soldier Field.
When it became clear prior to the match that Messi wouldn’t play because of a leg injury, the Fire offered fans a $250 credit toward a season-ticket membership for the 2024 season. Fire President Dave Baldwin said that of the 3,400 new season-ticket holders the team added for this season, 700 utilized the credit from the Inter Miami match. The team also offered a free suite for the Inter Miami match to anyone who signed up for a 2024 annual suite. That promotion delivered 15-20 of the 43 annual suites that the Fire have sold for 2024.
Using teams like the Fire as case studies, MLS’s newly established club performance group is now advising teams on how to make the most of their opportunities to host Inter Miami.
“Our focus is on retention,” said MLS Chief Club Performance Officer Chris McGowan. “If you have a lot of new people coming into the system, you want to make them lifetime, lifelong fans, and that’s what our opportunity is [with Messi]. So, we’re spending a ton of time evaluating great retention ideas for making new fans and new customers feel like they want to stick with it and become long-term season-ticket holders.”
Commissioner Don Garber (right) is watching the number of players following Messi to the U.S.GETTY IMAGES
Sporting KC, one of only three Western Conference teams scheduled to host Inter Miami this season, has moved the April 13 match from its 18,467-seat home field at Children’s Mercy Park to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 76,416-seat Arrowhead Stadium to maximize ticket revenue. Heading into 2024, season-ticket sales leaguewide are up 15% compared to this time last year.
Eastern Conference teams have also used their guaranteed home game against Inter Miami as a selling point for potential sponsors. Scott McIntyre, CEO of Virginia-based consulting firm Guidehouse, said D.C. United’s early-season visit by Messi to Audi Field was one of the top benefits of signing on as the club’s front-of-kit sponsor this year.
“It’s our brand on the front of the jersey, and [there will be] so many eyeballs becoming familiar with Guidehouse as a name during a game that features one of the sport’s leading global figures,” McIntyre said. “I’m also looking at it from the standpoint of somebody who’s going to be in the stands watching that game with my kids and my wife, so I’m excited as a fan and a sponsor.”
At the league level, the biggest early impact of the Messi Effect can be seen in adoption of MLS Season Pass. Apple and MLS have kept information about the subscriber count for the streaming service close to the vest, but two sources with knowledge of the data said the number of subscribers at the end of the 2023 season had eclipsed 2 million. That figure, which includes users who joined later in the season at pro-rated prices, is more than twice as many subscribers as the service had at the All-Star break, just prior to Messi’s Inter Miami debut on July 21. That match came in the revamped Leagues Cup between MLS and Liga MX clubs that gave an immediate boost of awareness to a key part of MLS’s growth strategy, and that awareness only accelerated as Messi led Miami to the title, the club’s first trophy in its four years of existence.
A special talent requires a special schedule, and when the new season starts this week, Messi and Miami will be out front. The club’s opener, a home match against Real Salt Lake, will be the only game to take place on Wednesday. The league’s 27 other teams will start their seasons three days later.
Messi missed Miami’s game at Chicago last year, which set a single-game revenue record at roughly $10 million.GETTY IMAGES
Heading into the first full year with Messi in the league, Garber said MLS is focused on how it might adapt its overarching commercial strategies to maximize the global superstar’s long-term impact.
“Ticket sales, sponsorship sales, subscription sales — the revenue will continue to follow Messi being in our league, but to me, it’s way more important to look at it strategically,” Garber said. Though he said it was too early to discuss specific plans, he pointed to player acquisition, corporate sponsorship and consumer products as areas that could see significant change in the Messi era.
More than anything else, Garber believes Messi’s decision to join MLS will organically influence more top talent from around the world to consider plying their trade in MLS. It’s already started to happen; last December Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez signed with Inter Miami to team up with Messi.
“Major League Soccer, due to Messi’s desire to come to our league and choose Major League Soccer and Inter Miami, we’re part of the global conversation,” Garber said. “As you read interviews with players around the world, the biggest names in the sport, MLS is constantly part of the message. That dynamic is something that I think will be part of the next generation of MLS growth for years to come.”
Americans Abroad Newsletter for this week
“He hasn’t been sitting on the bench as much as I have but when we do, we normally sit next to each other. We’re usually watching the game and talking about stuff. We have a good relationship. I knew something about him before I came, but we didn’t have this special connection then.”—Ricardo Pepi, on the friendship he has developed this season with PSV and USMNT teammate Malik Tillman. (The Athletic)PSV’s American Trio Makes European History:In a season filled with watershed moments for Americans Abroad, Tuesday saw yet another historic event for U.S. players in Europe.When Ricardo Pepi (21; El Paso, TX) subbed on in the 75th minute of PSV’s match against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday — joining Sergiño Dest (23; Almere, NED) and Malik Tillman (21; Nürnberg, GER) on the pitch — it marked the first time ever that three USMNT players appeared in the same match for a team in the UEFA Champions League knockout round. And earlier in that same game, Dest and Tillman became the first Americans to start together in a Round of 16 UCL match. The U.S. trio did its part in helping the Dutch leaders earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the legendary German side, with Dest constantly proving to be a handful on the left, while Tillman drew the penalty that led to PSV’s only goal of the night. Overall, a night to savor for U.S. fans, with an American trio playing side-by-side-by-side on Europe’s grandest stage. Then last Friday, Pepi made his first-ever league start for PSV in their 2-0 win over Heracles to extend their lead at the top of the Dutch table to 10 points.Beyond their shared levels of success on the field, the three Americans have also become quite close off the pitch this season, as shown in a feature written about them in The Athletic. The levels of respect the three have for each other is apparent throughout the piece.Tillman on Dest: “He is crazy in some ways. Well maybe not crazy but different from other guys. For example, the red card after Trinidad (in November’s CONCACAF Nations League defeat). He’s not like that at all off the pitch. He’s a good guy. He’s calm.”Pepi on Tillman: “I knew he was a good player before he came here. But just watching him on the pitch; some of the turns he makes and how aware he is of players around him, his technique, it’s great. He’s great in between the lines and can really give that final ball. Some of the moves he makes it’s like, ‘Woah, I didn’t see that coming’.”Love to see these levels of friendship and rapport being forged abroad for three of our own. Hopefully this will all pay dividends back home, both during March’s CONCACAF Nations League, and then Copa America in the summer.Pulisic Back in the Goals, Baby!After going nearly a month-and-a-half without finding the back of the net, Christian Pulisic (25; Hershey, PA) is back in the goals for AC Milan. And back with a banger, at that.Coming on as a second-half sub at Monza, CP11 found his chance in the 88th minute, gathering the ball on the right side of the box before unleashing a left-footed howitzer (WATCH) that brought back the famous “Come on, baby!” shouts from ecstatic Italian commentators. This after Puli assisted on Olivier Giroud’s goal in the 64th minute (WATCH).Having gone down to 10 men in the 52nd minute, Milan was unable to get a result on the road, and ultimately lost the match, 4-2. But it’s great to see Puli! Puli! getting Sic! Sic! once more. The Rossoneri remain in third place in Serie A, just two points behind Wes, Weah & Juventus.Brenden’s Bundesliga Bangerfreude:Life in the German top flight likely hasn’t gotten off to the fast start that the über-speedy Brenden Aaronson (23; Medford, NJ) quite would have hoped for. After joining Union Berlin from Leeds on loan in the summer, the USMNT attacker saw his side lose nine of their first 11 matches to start the season, leading the club to part ways with beloved coach Urs Fischer in November. This was followed by rumors that Aaronson’s loan to the German side could be cut short during the January window, which would have sent him back to the English Championship far earlier than expected. What’s the German word for finding joy in another person finding the back of the net? Bangerfreude? We’ll go with Bangerfreude.Aaronson scored for the first time in league play on Saturday, converting a vital 84th-minute match-winner in Union’s 1-0 victory at Hoffenheim. The goal was a poised and confident hit by Garden State Götze (WATCH), which will hopefully give B.A. and his teammates just that going forward.“It’s been a really tough season. A lot of ups and downs, but I think this is refreshing, and it pushes us and gives us confidence going into the next one,” said the American after the game.Union Berlin sporting chief Oliver Ruhnert, meanwhile, was very … German? … in his praise of the USMNT player afterwards. “Brenden is a super footballer who must accept the fact that in football a certain physical aspect is needed to win the ball & contest challenges.”Here’s to hoping a corner has been turned for Medford Messi either way.News and Notes:Josh Sargent (24; O’Fallon, MO) is on NBA Jam levels of fire for Norwich City. The USMNT forward scored a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City, giving him 10 goals in 13 league matches this season — even earning the O’Fallon d’Or (a.k.a. “Third First Michelob Ultra Of The Day”) from Rog himself. Only downside was the goals came at the expense of American keeper Ethan Horvath (28; Highlands Ranch, CO), though Horvath was off-the-line superb in Cardiff’s next match, a 0-0 shutout draw with Blackburn on Tuesday.Antonee Robinson (26; Liverpool, ENG) had an assist in Fulham’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday (WATCH). Cottagers are a bit up and down as of late, but it’s tough to find a left back hitting Jedi’s levels these days.Griffin Yow (21; Clifton, VA), take a bow. DMV Donovan had some hit for the match-winner (WATCH) in Westerlo’s 2-1 win over Standard Liege in Belgium, and is now up to six goals on the season. American teammate Bryan Reynolds (22; Fort Worth, TX) also went the full 90 in the win, as De Kemphanen (“Gamecocks”) are up to 10th in the Jupiler Pro League. Johnny Cardoso (22; Denville, NJ) was excellent in midfield in Real Betis’ 0-0 draw with Alaves on Sunday, and has now been nominated for the LaLiga U-23 January Player of the Month, alongside the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Lamine Yamal. ESPN NL is reporting that FC Utrecht star Taylor Booth (22; Eden, UT) will be out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury suffered in the 22nd minute of Utrecht’s 1-0 win at FC Twente on Sunday. We know you’ll be back in the goals soon, Taylor.After back-to-back substitute appearances, Gio Reyna (21; Bedford, NY) did not see the pitch in Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.
World Cup 2026: How do I get a ticket? Are tickets for sale? How much do tickets cost?
The next World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico and will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.It will be the first tournament to include 48 teams, expanded from the previous number of 32, meaning there will be more games than ever — 104 in total.The tournament is a long way off, so details on tickets are thin on the ground, but this is what we know so far.
Where are the matches?
The World Cup will take place across 16 cities in three countries, more than any tournament before.Three of these locations are in Mexico: Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.Two others are on either coast of Canada: Vancouver and Toronto.The remaining 11 are in the USA: Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Kansas City, Dallas and New York City.That U.S. list gives the nearest big city to each stadium. Some venues are located in lesser-known settlements nearby, such as East Rutherford in New Jersey for New York and Santa Clara for San Francisco.
Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico (Sergio Navarrete/Getty Images)
How does the tournament work?
Since 1998, World Cups have had 32 teams, enabling a neat symmetry, but this one is bigger and 48 teams means a somewhat more complex format is necessary.The tournament used to have eight groups of four teams in which each country played each other once. The top two in each group then progress to four knockout stages — a round of 16, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.The USA, Canada and Mexico all qualify automatically. The remaining 45 slots will be filled through qualifying competitions, which take place separately on each continent.n 2026, there will still be four teams in a group and the top two will still progress to the next stage, but there will be 12 groups rather than eight.And the eight best third-placed teams — of 12 — in the groups will also progress, a similar format to the European Championships (which has 24 teams).Thirty-two teams will progress to the knockout stage, meaning an extra knockout round, before the tournament continues from the round of 16 as it has in previous tournaments.
Where are the biggest games?
The U.S., Canada and Mexico will play their three group games in their home country.
Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, will host the tournament’s opening game. The U.S. will host 78 matches overall, while Canada and Mexico will host 13 each.
All of the quarter-finals and both the semi-finals will be in the U.S., along with the final. The quarter-finals will be in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City, while the semi-finals will be in Dallas and Atlanta.
The 23rd World Cup final will take place at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the outskirts of New York City, on July 19, 2026.
These stadiums are split into three regions, west, central and east, in an attempt to minimise travel for fans. Nevertheless, the distances within regions are vast, with Kansas City and Mexico City (1,385 miles apart) in the same region, as well as Toronto and Miami (1,239 miles apart).
(Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)
Are tickets on sale?
No. With more than two years to go until the tournament kicks off, there is little public information about tickets. A page on the FIFA website simply allows people to register their details to receive information about tickets when it is available. The Athletic contacted the tournament organisers for comment.
How will the ticketing process work?
We don’t know for sure, but looking at previous World Cups as well as similar events like the European Championships, it is possible to make some educated guesses. Tickets for major tournaments are essentially split into three categories. First, there are tickets allocated to member associations — the two countries playing against each other in a given match. These are generally given to supporters on the basis of loyalty, for example by points built up from following the country in qualifiers.How easy these will be to get hold of varies greatly depending on the country — they will be in high demand for the host countries, but easier to come across for nations far away with less of a travelling following.The second category is those tickets given over to sponsors and other members of what FIFA likes to call the “football family”.This does not just mean VIPs in glitzy hospitality boxes. For last year’s Champions League final in Istanbul, only about 40,000 went to fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan. The remaining 35,000 went to sponsors and all sorts of other people with links to UEFA. A small number of these may make their way into the hands of ordinary fans through tickets and giveaways.As the tournament progresses and the games get more glamorous, the demand from sponsors and other “neutral” supporters will get higher.The third is the rest. These are the tickets the public can buy without being a member of any country’s loyalty scheme or part of the football family.
How will these general sale tickets get allocated?
We don’t know for sure but can take a look at how Germany, the host of this summer’s European Championship, is allocating tickets.There have been two stages of ballots in which people can select to buy several tickets in four different categories. Cheaper tickets are generally in higher demand, so it is likely to be easier to get a ticket by entering the ballot in a more expensive category.UEFA has not released details of further ticket sales. Still, there will likely be a limited amount of tickets on general sale between now and the tournament beginning in June, likely for the matches featuring less glamorous teams at bigger stadiums.Demand for tickets in Germany has been extremely high for several reasons.
(Rob Pinney/Getty Images)
First, attending live football matches is a huge part of German culture, so demand from locals is high.Second, the tournament is the only European Championship or World Cup in Western Europe taking place between 2016 and 2028, except Euro 2020, which took place across the continent but saw travel heavily restricted by Covid.This means huge numbers of football fans across Europe want tickets for Germany.It remains to be seen how strong demand will be for World Cup 2026, particularly in cities like Kansas City and Houston, which are not normally associated with football — but things in the U.S. are changing quickly in that respect.
How much do World Cup tickets cost?
We don’t know yet, but we can look at precedent.It is often hard to give a definitive answer to this question because tournament organisers often sell some tickets at low prices, which are in reality very difficult to get hold of, with most fans paying far more.An analysis by German sports consultancy Keller Sports in 2022 found that an average ticket at the Qatar World Cup was £286, rising to £684 for the final. This was a 46 per cent increase on the tournament in Russia in 2018.xcluding restricted view tickets and a special category only available to Qatari nationals, group stage tickets ranged in price from 40 Riyals ($11) to 800 Riyals ($213).This steadily increased in price as the tournament progressed, with final tickets costing between 750 Riyals ($200) and 5850 Riyals ($1,560).There may also be tickets available on secondary resale sites where prices are likely to be far higher.These sorts of platforms are often risky to use in Europe, with football organisations not cooperating with them because of deeply engrained cultural norms against very high ticket prices.But in the U.S., this taboo is not in place and it was perfectly possible to buy a Super Bowl ticket through a credible reseller — if you have $10,000 to spare.It remains to be seen which approach the World Cup will take.
How much do tickets cost compared to the Super Bowl and other major events?
The cheapest face-value tickets for this year’s Super Bowl sold directly by the NFL were about $2,000, far higher than for any major football match.Tickets changed hands for about five times this on the secondary market.Tickets for the final are likely to reach similar eye-watering prices, but if you are not too picky about which game you go to, you will likely be able to get tickets for early World Cup games at far more affordable prices.
Is it possible to attend every game at the World Cup?
Football YouTuber Theo Ogden, known as Thogden, attended every game of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, the first person in history to do this at a tournament.This was possible because of Qatar’s tiny geographical size, although he did have to miss half of several of the games to fit them all in.But there’s absolutely no chance of anyone repeating the same feat in 2026.Over a manic 17 days from June 11 and June 27, the entire group stage will be completed — all 72 games of it. The last four of those days will have six games on each of them, spanning the entire continent of North America.With vast distances between stadiums, fans will have to plan their games carefully.
Real Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga to be their No 1 – now he’s lost his place
Who is Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper?A month ago, we asked that very question in an article on the club’s choice between Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Now, the answer seems clear. Lunin is leading the way. This represents quite a turnaround from the situation in the summer, when Arrizabalaga was brought in on loan from Chelsea — right after Madrid’s long-time goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury — to be Carlo Ancelotti’s number one for the remainder of the campaign.On the day of his presentation as a Madrid player on August 15, Arrizabalaga was glowing, super-happy and having turned down an offer from serial German champions Bayern Munich to take up the opportunity in his native Spain.When he was asked whether his goal was to convince Madrid to decide to keep him beyond his loan spell, he replied: “I hope so. Today is the first day, we’ll see, but hopefully with my performance I can make that happen.”Six months on, that possibility is looking remote.
When Courtois was ruled out on August 10, two days before Madrid’s first La Liga match of the season, some voices at the club believed it was Lunin’s time because it would be complicated to bring in another top-level goalkeeper.But Madrid moved quickly — very quickly — to get Arrizabalaga on board. Lunin started the first two league games, but the Chelsea loanee took over as soon as he’d had a chance to settle in.
“Kepa’s level is very high,” Ancelotti said at the time. “Lunin lacks a bit of experience. They won’t rotate much.”Starting with his Madrid debut on August 25, Arrizabalaga played 13 games in a row: 10 in La Liga and three in the Champions League, conceding 10 goals and keeping six clean sheets. He made some good saves, including an important stop in the October 28 Clasico in Barcelona, where Madrid came from behind to win 2-1.Other performances had perhaps not fully convinced, such as October’s away games against Sevilla in La Liga and Napoli in the Champions League, but the coaching staff were happy with him. Kepa and his family were happy too, and his wife even posted a photo in which she seemed to say goodbye to London for good, five years after his move to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao.But then Arrizabalaga was injured in the warm-up before the home Champions League match against Sporting Braga on November 8. Coaching staff sources — who, like all those cited here preferred to speak anonymously to protect their position — describe it as the “turning point” that saw the balance changed between the two goalkeepers.
Lunin and Arrizabalaga train earlier this season (Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Lunin came into the team and saved a crucial penalty that night when what became a 3-0 Madrid win was still goalless. Despite barely having warmed up, he seized his moment and reignited the debate over who should be the club’s starter.
Then Arrizabalaga ended up being out for longer than the two-match absence that was initially expected. He eventually missed four games either side of the November international break, as Ancelotti continued to insist publicly that he was first-choice. “If he is ready, Kepa will play,” he said on November 27. But when the Basque was back fit a few days later, he found himself on the bench not the pitch.
Just before Christmas, Ancelotti said, “I don’t have the idea of rotating goalkeepers. Both are doing well. Lunin has progressed a lot and has shown a lot of confidence and Kepa has maintained his level… in the second part of the season, I will choose one of the two.”Since suffering that injury before the Braga match three months ago, however, Arrizabalaga has played just five times — once in the Champions League, twice in La Liga, once in the Copa del Rey (against fourth-tier Arandina) and most recently in the Supercopa de Espana.That last appearance, in the January 10 semi-final against neighours Atletico, might perhaps be seen as another turning point.Madrid were 5-3 winners after extra time but Arrizabalaga faced some criticism for his role in the goals conceded, and Lunin was preferred for the final against Barcelona four days later, where Madrid triumphed 4-1.In the next league match the following weekend, Ancelotti turned back to Arrizabalaga, but again he looked far from his best as Almeria raced into a 2-0 half-time lead in the Bernabeu, with a third goal ruled out by the VAR, before Madrid eventually came back to win 3-2, thanks to a few more controversial refereeing decisions.Lunin, who turned 25 this week, has been selected to start the five matches since.
Ancelotti has not wanted to publicly clarify who his preferred goalkeeper is, but Arrizabalaga was a spectator from the dugout again as his Ukraine international team-mate performed to his very best in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory away to RB Leipzig in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 tie.
“Kepa’s injury opened up the possibility of Lunin challenging for his place, and he has won the game. Lunin has convinced with his play,” say coaching staff sources, who see the process as something natural and simple.
Sources in the dressing room say the 29-year-old loanee is close with Lunin, describing him as “an exemplary team-mate, as if he were the one who was playing every game”. When Arrizabalaga found himself in a similar situation at Chelsea, in the 2022-23 season, Edouard Mendy was the starter ahead of him and similar things were said of his disposition.Arrizabalaga’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of next season. This summer might be the best chance for the London club to seek a sale, but as previously reported by The Athletic, Madrid signing him then is highly unlikely given Chelsea would ask for around €20million (£17.1m; $21.5m) — a figure the La Liga side would not pay for a backup goalkeeper.Lunin now looks established as Ancelotti’s pick, although Arrizabalaga could well return to the starting XI and further impress before the season is out if an opportunity arises.In the meantime, he has continued training, convinced that he is ready to play and be a starter, although those close to him are no longer sure that he will remain in Madrid.
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Ryan O’HanlonJun 10, 2025, 08:14 AM ET
Tyler Adams played the second half in Saturday’s loss to Turkey. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire/AP Images)
Malik Tillman missed a golden opportunity to score vs. Turkey. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
Agyemang, who grew up miles from the Connecticut stadium, takes on Demiral. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Estevao Willian is a rising star and will be joining Chelsea later this summer (Daniel Duarte/AFP via Getty Images)
Will Inter Miami’s underwhelming form carry over into the Club World Cup? (Rich Lam/Getty Images)
(Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)
Martin Anselmi was only able to guide Porto to a third-place finish this season (Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images)Another story is how Al Ahly will fare under manager Jose Riveiro, whose first official game in charge will be that opener against Miami. Predecessor Marcel Koller was sacked in late April following their 1-1 draw at home against Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final, which led to the holders’ elimination on the away-goals rule.Despite guiding Al Ahly to two league titles (and most of a third), two Egypt Cups (the country’s domestic knockout competition) and back-to-back Champions League triumphs, Koller was under pressure during the 2024-25 season due to a reactive style of play that didn’t suit the profiles of the squad.The manager’s seat at Al Ahly is always a hot one, and Riveiro, a 49-year-old Spaniard who was previously a manager in Finland and South Africa, needs a strong start to gain the fans’ approval.
Staff clear tangerines from the Tannardice turf (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels celebrate on a fruit-free field (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Richards and Ben Chilwell helped Palace shut out Aston Villa (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Paredes grabs Freiburg’s Patrick Osterhage (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Cardoso is enjoying his time with Real Betis (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Yamal is a genius on the ball but offers little protection (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
De Jong says Barcelona will not sacrifice their principles (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter now runs the Chicago Fire in MLS. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
Sebastian Berhalter has had plenty to celebrate in 2025. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
Sebastian Berhalter marks Lionel Messi in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)
Ruben Amorim’s domestic struggles have been forgotten in Europe (Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham have a vast stadium – and resources (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Yamal bends in a beautiful Champions League goal against Inter (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Messi and Ronaldo shifted expectations, but Yamal is doing things beyond them at 17 (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
Mbappe has done it on the biggest stages (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Rodri has been absent from the pitch and maybe our minds? (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The Nations League semifinals made for a night of long faces for Christian Pulisic and the U.S. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
Canada was left to grimace after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Nations League semifinals. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino endures defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
Pochettino’s gameplan was not enough to overcome Panama’s energy and spirit. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie claimed the USMNT needed more “nastiness” against Panama. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
Thursday’s defeat rekindled memories of the Copa América defeat to Panama that ultimately sealed Gregg Berhalter’s fate. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)
Jack McGlynn and Tim Ream are dejected as Panama celebrate their late winner (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Romero reached the 2014 World Cup final despite being second-choice at his club (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Henderson, who is in the current England squad, and Turner warm up for Palace (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Turner during Thursday’s defeat by Panama (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Lonergan playing for Everton against Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2022 friendly (Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Bursty)
Turner catches a cross during Palace’s recent FA Cup win against Millwall (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
USMNT and Iran pose together at the 1998 World Cup. (Photo by Nader Davoodi ATPImages/Getty Images)
Rafa Márquez gave Mexico its first World Cup qualifying win in Columbus in 2016. (Paul Vernon/AFP/Getty Images)
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Catarina Macario marks her return to the USWNT with a goal against Colombia. (Jack Gorman / Getty Images)
Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her first goal for the U.S. women’s national team. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
Lily Yohannes earns her first start for the U.S. against Colombia. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Tara McKeown makes her USWNT debut against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. (Maria Lysaker / Getty Images)
Hayes was happy with the performance (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
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Julian Green’s selection in 2014 stunned many but he scored against Belgium in the round of 16. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Patrick Agyemang has intriguing potential. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Cavan Sullivan’s youth and inexperience make him a World Cup longshot. (Caean Couto/USA Today)
Venezuela’s Yordan Osorio celebrates victory against Jamaica at the Copa America (Aric Becker / AFP via Getty Images)
Protesters against the Maduro regime take to the streets of Venezuelan capital Caracas in July (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Venezuela’s National Guard move in to quell protests in Caracas in July (Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images)
Jhon Chancellor (centre) warms up before the Copa America quarterfinal against Canada (Omar Vega/Getty Images)De Grazia himself was detained a day later and, after being reported missing by his family, his daughter revealed he had been taken to Venezuela’s notorious prison El Helicoide. De Grazia has not been heard from since.One Venezuela-based football reporter — who requested anonymity to protect his identity out of fear of reprisals by Maduro’s government — told The Athletic that, upon hearing of Chancellor’s arrest and disappearance, he did not post about it on social media because “doing so is like putting a knife to my throat. The police would be outside of my house 20 minutes after posting that”.Asked about the status of the elder Chancellor’s situation and the silence that followed, the same reporter said that it’s a difficult subject to broach. “That’s a question that the entire country wants answered,” the reporter said regarding Chancellor’s arrest.Venezuelan members of the press tend to avoid asking players, coaches and FVF officials questions related to Maduro to avoid any consequences.
President Nicolas Maduro speaks to his supporters in Caracas in July (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Fernando Batista (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
A man walks past a mural depicting President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
Orlando Ramirez / Imagn Images
Chris Wood’s 12 Premier League goals have helped Nottingham Forest to third in the Premier League (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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(U.S. Soccer/Getty Images/Brad Smith)
Russo in action for North Carolina in 2019 (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Bronze in action for North Carolina in 2009 (Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Moorhouse has become an influential player for Orlando (Elsa/Getty Images)
Jess Carter, right, scored against former club Chelsea in a pre-season friendly (Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
Pepi celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth against Groningen (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
The familiar sight of Pepi replacing De Jong (Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Aaronson holds off NEC’s Rober Gonzalez (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Booth replaces Miguel Rodriguez against NEC (ANP via Getty Images)
Reyna urges his team on against Freiburg (Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Tim Ream during the loss to Mexico last month. (Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino wants his players to be more cunning. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino was an old-school defender. (Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)
USMNT looked better against Jamaica. (Tim Vizer / AFP / Getty Images)
Musah’s joy was clear after his success in his new role (Tim Warner/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Pochettino and Pulisic speak during the win over Panama (Photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Carsley watches on as England lose to Greece (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
England lost 2-1 to Greece on Thursday night (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Berhalter was appointed U.S. coach in December 2018 (Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie playing against Jamaica in March (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Robinson and Ream playing for Fulham in the Premier League last season (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
As reigning World Cup champion, Argentina is looking to defend its Copa America title (Carl De Souza, AFP via Getty Images)
Messi earned the title of best player during the 2021 Copa America (Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)
The U.S. has made it to two Copa America semifinals in previous tournaments (Jeremy Reper/Getty Images)
Ecuador has the fans, youth and energy to make a potential run (Michael Miller/Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic shows his emotions after the U.S. team’s exit (Maddie Meyer/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Left to right) Aaronson, McKennie and Adams at Elland Road in March 2023 (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Leeds were relegated after a 4-1 defeat by Spurs in the final day of the season (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
McKennie faces AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California in July 2023 (Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
McKennie will resolve his future after Copa America (Puma)
(Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
(Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 20, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
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(21; El Paso, TX) subbed on in the 75th minute of PSV’s match against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday — joining Sergiño Dest 
(25; Hershey, PA) is back in the goals for AC Milan. And back with a banger, at that.Coming on as a second-half sub at Monza, CP11 found his chance in the 88th minute, gathering the ball on the right side of the box before unleashing a left-footed howitzer (
(23; Medford, NJ) quite would have hoped for. After joining Union Berlin from Leeds on loan in the summer, the USMNT attacker saw his side lose nine of their first 11 matches to start the season, leading the club to part ways with beloved coach Urs Fischer in November. This was followed by rumors that Aaronson’s loan to the German side could be cut short during the January window, which would have sent him back to the English Championship far earlier than expected.
“Brenden is a super footballer who must accept the fact that in football a certain physical aspect is needed to win the ball & contest challenges.”Here’s to hoping a corner has been turned for Medford Messi either way.News and Notes:Josh Sargent 
(24; O’Fallon, MO) is on NBA Jam levels of fire for Norwich City. The USMNT forward scored a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City, giving him 10 goals in 13 league matches this season — even earning the O’Fallon d’Or (a.k.a. “
(28; Highlands Ranch, CO), though Horvath was 
(21; Clifton, VA), take a bow. DMV Donovan had some hit for the match-winner (
Johnny Cardoso 
(22; Denville, NJ) was 
Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico (Sergio Navarrete/Getty Images)
(Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)
(Rob Pinney/Getty Images)
Lunin and Arrizabalaga train earlier this season (Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
The Ole BallCoach 