US Men Bring B Team Roster to Games vs Turkey on Sat 3:30 & Tues 8 pm vs Switzerland TNT

Sad to see that the US Men in their last competition before the World Cup at home next Summer – are once again bringing a B Team to the Gold Cup. Yes starters Matt Turner, Chris Richards (D) & Tyler Adams will be on hand but other than EVERYONE else is playing for the 3 or 4 spots left on what should be our World Cup team next summer. Sorry but I am still not convinced Poch is the guy to get us to the Final 4 or even Final 8 in the World Cup. It will be funny when Canada with Marsh & Asst Coach Mike Bradley finish higher/beat our pants off this summer.

USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals):

GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 51/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 0/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 19/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 68/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 24/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 32/3), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/GER; 4/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 43/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 47/8); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 44/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 24/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 4/1), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 17/0)
FORWARDS (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; 1/0), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 4/3), Damion Downs (FC Köln/GER; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 4/1), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 15/4)

US Ladies – Youngsters Show They Can Win Too

Wow the US Ladies looked dynamite in their past 2 wins last week over China and Jamaica- the kids were really impressive vs Jamaica (highlights) as youngsters 21 YO Ally Sentanor (2 Goals), 17 YO midfielder Lily Yohannes, 20 YO Alyssa Thompson, & 19 YO Claire Hutton were simply fantastic. Again coach Hayes is proving there are alot of players capable of making our next World Cup team.

Euro Nations League Final – Spain vs Portugal Sun on Fox 3 pm

Wow – the Nations League Semi-Final between Spain and France was simply spectacular the 5-4 thriller in Bayern Munich was magisterial as Spanish GK Unai Simon was the difference. (Highlights).  The Finals match Portugal and the legendary Ronaldo (who scored the winner Wed vs Germany) and Spain with Ballon D’Or finalist Yamal.

Indy 11 hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds and former Carmel High, CDC GK Eric Dick Sat, June 14
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.

Notes
Indiana Pacers Pascal Siakam from Cameron & Obi Toppin show their Soccer Skills at practice before win over OKC. Can’t wait to check out the Sports Bra when they open.  Messi was magisterial again last weekend with 3 assists & 2 goals vs Columbus.  Loved this from CBS pre Champions League – these guys are as good as the TNT crew of Shaq, Kenny & Barkley.  Vitinha (the 19 yo) was magical in the 5-0 win over Inter.  Man it was awesome to see PSG finally win a Champions League title – just 2 years removed from having Mbappe, Messi & – Manager Luis Enrique brought Paris the title – loved the tifo PSG unveiled pregame regarding his daughter. I have watched a few of the TST games with Patt McAfee on ESPNU check it out its pretty cool.  Nice to see Club World Cup ticket prices are coming down finally – $250+ to see these opening leg games was ridiculous (see below). Can’t wait to see former Carmel High & CDC GK Eric Dick – return to Indy to play the Indy 11 on Sat, June 14 for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds!

Carmel FC – 2025 Tryout and Evaluation Information 

Carmel FC’s scheduled tryouts and player evaluations for the 2025/2026 Season will be in the following dates: Birth Years: 2015 – 2007 on June 9th. To register to tryout please click on this link: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/941103K41?reg_role=player

June 9th and 10th (11U-19U) Tryouts

2015 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 7, 10:00am to 11:15am
2015 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 5, 10:00am to 11:15am”
2014 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 7, 12:00pm to 1:15pm
2014 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 5, 12:00pm to 1:15pm
2013 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 7, 2:00pm to 3:15pm
2013 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 5, 2:00pm to 3:15pm
2012 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 5A, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2012 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 7A, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2011 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 5B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2011 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 7B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2010 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 9A, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2010 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 1A, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2009 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 9B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2009 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 1B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
008 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 10A, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2008 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 2A, 5:30pm to 6:45p
2007 BOYS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 10B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm
2007 GIRLS: Shelbourne Soccer Complex, Field 2B, 5:30pm to 6:45pm

Greyhound Girls Soccer Camp – Murray Stadium
Girls Jul 07 – Jul 09, 2025 at 9:00-10:30 $95 (5th-8th Grade) Register

Carmel High School Soccer Camp- Boys – Murray Stadium 6:30-8:30 pm
June 23-25 (grades 5-8^th)  $125
July 21-23  $125
Questions? Please contact Coach Shane Schmidt at sschmidt@ccs.k12.in.us

GAMES ON TV SCHEDULE

Fri, June 6

2:45 pm fubo? Norway vs Italy WCC
7:30 pm Golazo Louisville City vs Utah NWSL
10 pm Prime Video San Diego vs Seattle Reign NWSL

Sat, June 7

12 noon FoxSp2 Andorra vs England WCC
1 pm CBS Gothem FC vs KC Current NWSL
3:30 pm TNT, Tele     US Men vs Turkey  
7 pm Ion Bay City vs Portland NWSL
9 pm Apple Free Colorado vs Austin MLS
10 pm Ion LA Angel City vs Chicago

Sun, June 8

9 am Fubo? Germany vs France 3rd place
2:45 pm Fox                Portugal vs Spain Nations League Finals
4 pm Golazo, Para+ Washington vs NC Courage NWSL
7 pm Apple Free Portland Timbers vs St Louis

Mon, June 9

2:45 pm FS2 Italy vs Moldova WCC

Tues, June 10

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 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

Sun, June 15

3 pm Univision PSG Vs Athletico Madrid
6 pm Fox, Uni          US Men vs Trinidad   Gold Cup
8:15 pm FS1 Haiti vs Saudi Arabia GC
11 pm FS1 Cost Rica vs Suriname

Thur, June 19

6 pm FS1                     US Men vs KSA  Gold Cup

Sat, June 21

7 pm TV8, Golazo Indy 11 vs Las Vegas Lights FC

Sun, June 22

7 pm FS1                     US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup

Thur, June 26

TBS, Peacock             US Women vs Ireland

Sun, June 29^th

TNT, Peacock             US Women vs Ireland in Cincy

US Men

What can fans expect from the Gold Cup this summer?
USMNT Gold Cup roster: Dest among missing stars, others see ‘big chance
For the USMNT, a successful summer is harder than ever to define
Dest latest USMNT absentee in Gold Cup roster
Walker Zimmerman, Paxten Aaronson, Nathan Harriel added to USMNT roster
USMNT’s Steffen (knee) set to miss Gold Cup
Injured Balogun dropped from U.S. Gold Cup squad
2025 USMNT Friendly: Scouting Türkiye Stars & Stripes
Taking a deep dive on Damion Downs as he prepares for his first USMNT call-up

US LADIES

What we learned about USWNT depth vs. China and Jamaica, from goalkeeper to forward
Emma Hayes has found her USWNT Triple Espresso alternatives
‘Momma Em’ helps LaBonta make USWNT history
Macario helps USWNT ease past China in friendly
Hayes: Starlet Yohannes has big USWNT future
Source: USWNT’s Albert leaving PSG for Lyonnes

Euro 2025 Power Rankings: England drop down; Spain top; Norway rise
Bonmatí: Why Spain can now match England, U.S.
England’s 10 days of turmoil leave Euro 2025 squad questions for Wiegman

Nations League Finals – Euro

Mbappé vs. Yamal: France and Spain dual in UEFA Nations League semifinal
Lamine Yamal adds further spice to clash with social media post
France vs. Spain guide: Schedule, how to watch and more
‘You’ve mistreated him’ – Luis de la Fuente goes to battle for Spain star
Lamine Yamal says he ‘did his talking on the pitch’ following historic performance vs France
Spain 5-4 France: a result not seen in nearly 60 years 💥

WORLD

World Cup Qualifiers: Norway vs Italy – probable line-ups and where to watch on TV
Tottenham fire Postecoglou after Europa Win
Yamal makes Ballon d’Or ‘statement’ in Spain win
Brazil twice crushed Ancelotti’s World Cup dream. Now it’s one they share
Brazil held to scoreless draw in Ancelotti’s debut
Julián Álvarez fuels Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Chile; Messi has quiet night
Julián Alvarez scores a delightful dink in Argentina’s win over Chile 🕷
World Cup 2026: Who is through and how does qualifying work?
Hendrick: “No valid argument for Mohamed Salah not win Ballon d’Or”

Happening in the US – Club World Cup

The Soccer Tournament (TST) 101: Dates, players, history
2025 Club World Cup power rankings: Where all 32 teams stand
The 2025 Club World Cup field is strong. This one would be better
Breaking down each major club’s Champions League need + LAFC clinch spot in Club World Cup!
Your complete guide to the Club World Cup stadiums 🏟️
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group F Preview
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group G Preview
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group A Preview Messi and friends take on a tough group.
Club World Cup poses new challenge for physical preparation

MLS

Whitecaps players, staff ill following CONCACAF Champions Cup
‘This feels amazing.’ Denis Bouanga scores in extra time to send LAFC to Club World Cup
LAFC stuns Club América to reach Club World Cup, becomes a perfect MLS representative
LAFC stun Club América to book Club World Cup ticket
LAFC book place in Chelsea’s group at Club World Cup
Sounders owner reportedly confronts players over ‘Club World Ca$h Grab’ shirts

Reffing

Ban  for life?
Yellow Card (after the play)

Goalkeeping

‘You’ve mistreated him’ – Luis de la Fuente goes to battle for Spain star
Best EPL Goals of the Season
USL Championship Save of the Week – Week 12
USL Jägermeister Cup Save of the Round – Round 2
How to Throw the Ball Properly  
GK Solo Training

The USMNT Summer of Destiny Begins

USMNT v. Türkiye (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO Max)

USMNT v. Switzerland (Next Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO Max)

The World Cup is 370 days away. The United States Men’s National could not appear less ready. After the stinging humiliation of last summer’s Copa America, and the self-immolation of back-to-back Nation’s League losses to Panama and Canada, we head towards a Gold Cup, the last competitive games before the World Cup, with almost all our biggest names missing—some by their own choice. In their place, a squad filled with understudies that best resembles an NFL roster stuffed with replacements during the 1987 strike season. Everyone stay calm.

Sergiño Dest is the latest USMNT star to pull out of the squad as he continues to return from a torn ACL, even though he made seven club appearances totaling 375 minutes at the back half of the season. “We determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,” Pochettino said. This sounds rational. But on top of the voluntary absences and unorthodox messaging around Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah’s omissions from the squad, it just adds to a sense of inertia around the program.

There are two schools of thought here: the rational sense that, for Pulisic, who has played 50 club games this season, “He’s too valuable long-term—let him rehab, lock in, and come back sharp for World Cup. It’s the smart move.” But there is also the context; this team has screamed into the abyss since the 2022 World Cup. The players themselves have admitted their fight and the program’s collective mentality has dropped. Pochettino has told them to leave their golf clubs behind, making it clear they have treated international duty like a vacation. This is a critical time for Poch to show he can sew his idea of Grinta—the willingness to suffer in the name of victory—into a squad whose recent displays have been the polar opposite of that. An all-hands-on-deck moment in which commitment, togetherness, and backs against the wall is the only way to go, if the squad is to spark an interest and belief, even amongst their natural diehard fanbase.

At a time when we do not know who our starting goalkeeper, central defenders, and striker could and should be at the World Cup, this current reality makes our game feel so small in the United States. Either we are not the serious program that we aspire to be, or the Gold Cup is not a serious tournament.

Having said that, as I wrote in our new United States Men’s National Team-obsessed newsletter, USMNT ONLY  (subscribe here, and please share this link with your football loving friends), as Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” And for the young, raw squad members, including five first timers, this is an open audition for a World Cup place. A chance to force out a big, established name who has become complacent. They have been handed a chance to make the biggest tournament ever, on home turf, by training so hard they become impossible to ignore. The footballing equivalent of a golden ticket to the Wonka factory. Watch Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter, and Quinn Sullivan seize their moment.

Really Thoughtful Analysis of World Cup 2026 as We Hit a Year-Out

The World Cup hits the year-out mark this Wednesday. It will change football forever in this nation. We clatter towards it with the magical news Uzbekistan qualified for the first time in their nation’s history. This sits alongside the parallel narrative of geopolitics and the dark chaos of the travel ban. This Miguel Delaney piece was really a fascinating read: casting an eye on the new format FIFA has created for the tournament. I do believe the World Cup is going to make our host cities sing to the world, but the bloat of 48 teams in 12 groups of four is worth thinking about. The geographical scale, with games far, far away from teams’ bases and time zones. The 17-day group stage features 72 of the 104 matches, which will be played merely to return the field to its current size of 32 teams. Seventy percent of the competition will be spent eliminating a third of the field.

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The Soccer Tournament (TST) 101: Dates, players, history

• ESPN Jun 3, 2025, 02:30 PM ET

Teams around the world are taking the pitch for a third consecutive summer in Cary, North Carolina, for The Soccer Tournament. The 7-on-7 event features 48 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams in separate brackets with $1 million on the line.

Check out more key facts about the tournament below.

When is 2025 TST? How can fans watch?

The tournament runs June 4 through June 9. ESPN+ will stream 27 matches, with 20 matches available on ESPNU. Fans can catch the action in the men’s and women’s streaming hub.
Who has won TST?

Newtown Pride FC won the inaugural tournament in 2023. La Bombonera and U.S. Women took home the titles in 2024, the first year with split men’s and women’s brackets.

What are notable rules?

The Soccer Tournament features target score time, which means a game finishes on a final goal as opposed to when time ends. The target score is determined by adding one to the leading team’s score after the full-time whistle. A player from each team is removed from the field of play every three minutes until the target score is reached.

Which teams and players are participating in 2025?

Teams such as Club America, AFC Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund will be fielding squads. Select men’s players include Sergio Agüero, Diego Godín, Andy Carroll, Nani and Sebastian Giovinco, while select women’s players include Hope Solo, Ali Krieger, Carli Lloyd, Allie Long and Heather O’Reilly.

Check out the ESPN soccer hub page for the latest news, scores and more.

USMNT Gold Cup squad: Dest out; Injuries shape Pochettino’s final 26-man roster

By Jeff Rueter June 5, 2025Updated 3:44 pm EDT

Sergiño Dest is the latest core member of the United States men’s national team who will not be playing in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. The PSV right back missed nearly a year after tearing his ACL in April 2024 but was able to make seven appearances down the stretch as his team stormed back to win the Eredivisie. Nevertheless, managing that injury remains the priority rather than throwing him into the competition despite his appearance in training over the last week.“The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said a statement.Dest joins a long list of mainstays who are missing this Gold Cup, including Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, and Antonee Robinson for injuries or personal reasons; Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna also miss out, as their clubs’ involvement in the Club World Cup precludes their international involvement. Josh Sargent was also omitted as a coach’s decision. As such, Pochettino didn’t have much work to do as he revealed the USMNT’s final squad on Thursday.Having initially called in a 27-man training squad that required a sole dismissal, Pochettino saw five players depart his camp. Goalkeepers Patrick Schulte (oblique) and Zack Steffen (knee) necessitated the late inclusion of 21-year-old Chris Brady. DeJuan Jones (lower body), Sean Zawadzki (knee) and Balogun (ankle) added to the departure list in defense and at striker.

Still, there are some mainstays of the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América rosters to headline the survivors. Matt Turner projects to start in goal, making up for lost action as he played just four times (three FA Cup starts, one Carabao Cup start) on loan with Crystal Palace. Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Walker Zimmerman provide tournament experience at center back. Brenden Aaronson, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre and Malik Tillman had squad roles in those recent tournaments, while Haji Wright is the sole goalscorer from either preceding major tournament to be on this Gold Cup squad.With all of their games on home soil, the USMNT will face Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia — an invited guest of Concacaf who made significant financial investment in the North and Central American confederation before its participation was confirmed — and Haiti in Group D. The top two teams from each of the four groups advance to a three-round knockout bracket.The Gold Cup title has alternated between Mexico and the U.S. for every installment since 2011, when Mexico beat the U.S. in a second straight Gold Cup final, with the USMNT going on to win in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Given how the groups are configured, their rivalry could resume as soon as the quarterfinal stage if one team wins their group and the other finishes second. If both teams have an identical finish in the group, whether it’s first or second, the bracket wouldn’t put them together until a potential final.As for some of the other intriguing elements on the final squad (full roster listed below):

Alex Freeman: the next man up

Right back has remained a rotational role since Dest suffered his knee injury. Joe Scally started in his place at the Copa América, but a series of poor performances with the national team leave him off of this squad entirely. Nathan Harriel was the United States’ starter at the 2024 Olympics, but 20-year-old Alex Freeman projects to be better suited to make Pochettino’s lineup.A homegrown product of Orlando City SC, Freeman has vaulted up prospect lists with a breakout first half to the 2025 season. The son of former Green Bay Packer wide receiver Antonio Freeman, he stands 6-foot-2 and has impressive and agile mobility for his stature. Among 57 MLS fullbacks and wingbacks who already have 500 minutes this season, Freeman ranks second with 27 chances created, averaging 2.88 chances per 100 touches of the ball. Despite his athleticism and skillset, Freeman has already displayed impressive positional awareness and seldom ventured too far from his post in Orlando’s team shape.reeman is already attracting European interest despite only becoming a regular first-division starter three months ago. He could be on a fast track to become Dest’s understudy in time for the World Cup — and, depending on how Dest looks in his first full season back from injury, provide a worthy alternative at the position.

Berhalter in for USMNT

Seven players on this Gold Cup squad could stand to make their USMNT debut by the end of the group stage. Perhaps most notable is Sebastian Berhalter, with the defensive midfielder having seen his stock soar along with the entire Vancouver Whitecaps squad under first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen.The son of Pochettino’s predecessor in the role, Gregg Berhalter, the 24-year-old can play defensive midfield but sees himself as best fitting in a more advanced box-to-box role. He’s got a knack for arriving late in the box to complete team attacking sequences that often involve him in their buildup, refining his first-touch shooting from just beyond 18 yards to give Vancouver another scoring threat beyond Brian White (who is among the strikers on this roster).hile he wasn’t far enough in his development to garner consideration under his father, the work he’s done with the Whitecaps makes him a deserving inclusion on Pochettino’s squad.

“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 told The Athletic in late April. “Being around the national team so much — I think I’ve watched every recent game more than probably anyone else has. I just worry about winning games here and performing well.”

Here is the USMNT Gold Cup squad in full:

GOALKEEPERS: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)

DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)

FORWARDS: Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Pochettino likens Pulisic to USA’s Messi, addresses stars passing on Gold Cup

By Paul Tenorio The Athletic June 3, 2025

U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said this week he hopes to instill in his team the type of urgency and desire to play for the national team that exists in other countries. Speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard podcast, Pochettino cited some of the biggest names he has coached — Argentine legend Lionel Messi, French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and Brazilian star Neymar — as examples of top players who remain “desperate” to play for their respective national teams.“The people need to prioritize the national team,” Pochettino said. “We were talking about Argentine players, or Brazilian players or English players or Spanish players, they are desperate. Even Messi, even Neymar, even Mbappé for France, these guys are desperate to go to the national team. For them, when they go, they don’t see if it’s a friendly game, if it’s an official game, it’s a World Cup, it doesn’t matter, because the possibility to defend one time more your flag, your shirt. It’s about to feel proud. And that is the responsibility to us to translate.”The comments are striking after Christian Pulisic made the decision, in conjunction with U.S. Soccer, to skip this summer’s Gold Cup. Citing his heavy workload with AC Milan and the U.S. — Pulisic is one of just 10 outfield players in the top five European leagues to appear in 50 games in each of the past two seasons — Pulisic felt he needed the rest in order to be healthy for next summer’s World Cup.Donovan compared Pulisic to Messi in that he has the most eyeballs on him of any American player and asked how the staff could handle competing in the tournament this summer without Pulisic. Pochettino praised his team’s top player and said he does not question Pulisic’s commitment to the group or the country.“I think Christian in the last year showed a great quality,” Pochettino said. “He’s performing in Europe, also he’s performing with the national team. He’s a very talented player that can help us to win. You say people compare Messi with Christian Pulisic. I don’t want to be disrespectful with Messi or Pulisic, but I think in this country, Pulisic should be our Messi, because he’s an iconic player, the kids on the street for sure if you ask one soccer player in this country, it’s Pulisic.

“We have very good communication with our players. Christian is a very nice guy, is very committed to the national team and he wants to help and of course is desperate to play in the World Cup and arrive in the best condition. All these conversations that we were taking with the players, I think that was the best decision to help him because every player are in different circumstances, and even if I want Christian here or another player here – Antonee (Robinson, injured Fulham left back) or like this – I think no one or another teammate is going to see badly about if I’m saying that, because I think … sometimes you need to put the interest in the medium and long term than in the present.“Because for me after the March camp, if I say, ‘OK I don’t care about [anything], I want to win tomorrow,’ [there] is [a] consequence after, because I think we are all preparing and focused on the World Cup. And sometimes we need to be open and flexible in some decisions. When we talk about these types of decisions for us, it was a tough decision  … It was our decision in the end, because if you say you need to come — you cannot force the player to come — but I think I need to be fair and say it was a collective decision to try to find the best for the national team and the best for the player.”“We are building something and always when you are building something, always there are up and downs in this period. It’s true that we are a little bit disappointed. We were really excited after January. not because of the two (games) … but how the players, how the team showed the responsibility that we wanted to translate. Then with all the circumstances in March, it didn’t help us to show that.”The Gold Cup was meant to be an important team-building month for the U.S. under Pochettino, his first extended camp with the U.S. since taking over after last summer’s Copa América failure. Now it takes on new meaning as Pochettino evaluates his wider national team pool. That being said, Pochettino insisted the goal was still to win.

Ultimately, even without Pulisic and other starters — Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna are also missing the tournament via injury, FIFA Club World Cup duty, or, in Musah’s case, personal reasons — the tournament serves as a step toward next summer’s World Cup.That is true for MLS players trying to break into the squad, but also for others, including World Cup starter Matt Turner. Pochettino said on the podcast he told Turner that the goalkeeper had to start finding minutes in order to be ready for the World Cup.“We are very open,” Pochettino said. “We don’t have fears to talk with the player. Sometimes it’s painful because you need to tell some players: ‘Look, you need to play.’ At the moment OK, so far it’s good, because we are checking your character, your personality, your capacity to be a leader, the leadership that you have, but at some point to be a leader you need to compete.”Pochettino also praised players like Diego Luna, who have started to show they bring value to the squad simply with their mentality and approach. Pochettino noted that Luna didn’t want to come out of the game after being elbowed in the nose during a January-camp friendly, then bloodied and taped up, assisted on a goal.Asked about who the leaders are on the team, Pochettino alluded to giving everyone a chance to prove their role — whether as a squad player, a starter or a leader.“When we arrived in October I think the picture changed in the national team. In the way that we like to translate the message and the way that we are open to give the opportunity to all the players to step up and show the character,” Pochettino said. “Because we don’t want to assume that because four years ago someone was captain now should be the captain, because the circumstance changed. I think we are very open and giving the opportunity to the group and the players that are involved to say, ‘Come on, show me.’ For me, it’s a natural process. Sometimes some players can surprise you and can step up.“The most important thing is to see in a spontaneous way who will step up when things are wrong, when the stress is there, when the pressure is there, who is going to say ‘Hey, I am here.’”There is, of course, an enormous amount of pressure on the team to perform in next summer’s tournament. The U.S. advanced to the knockout round in the 2022 World Cup with one of the youngest squads in the tournament, behind the belief that the payoff would come in 2026. Struggles in last summer’s Copa América, where the U.S. was eliminated in the group stage, and in this spring’s Concacaf Nations League, where it lost to Panama and Canada, have upped the stakes.“I feel the responsibility. We all feel the responsibility,” Pochettino said. “Knowing that it’s soccer or football, it’s about the joy, it’s about not to put too much pressure on the players, because the players need to perform. … But yes of course it’s a massive pressure. The mentality and the culture of this country is to win.“The size of this country puts you in a position that you need to deliver. You need to show that you are brave, that you are a winner, but not talking like I am now. It’s easy to talk. The most important is go and to show. Show on the pitch when you need to defend your flag there, fighting and being a team, that is a moment to say, ‘Yes we have quality, I am a good player, but now it’s about to defend your country.’” (Top photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Image

What we learned about USWNT from wins over China, Jamaica

• Jeff KassoufJun 4, 2025, 01:20 PM ET

It’s June, which means United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes is staring at her self-imposed deadline of figuring out the core of players on which she will rely going forward.A pair of comfortable victories — 3-0 over China on May 31, followed by 4-0 over Jamaica on Tuesday night — didn’t offer the same kind of revealing test Brazil offered in April, but Hayes continued to dole out debuts this window in her quest to find every possible solution. Hayes said prior to the two games that “we’re very much on track for identifying that core group” that she will develop on the road to the 2027 World Cup. She offered more specifics in the days that followed, including the most revealing clue yet about who will be the USWNT’s next No. 1 goalkeeper following Tuesday’s win over Jamaica.When I watch the team, they very much molded into an Emma Hayes team,” Hayes said after Tuesday’s victory. “That’s how I feel when I watch us. I feel like there’s a lot of composure to the performances.”Drawing too definitive of conclusions from these two games in a vacuum risks hyperbole, but the victories over China and Jamaica brought further confirmation of trends that were already developing.Who continues to establish themselves as part of that core, and who among the new players looks like they will stick around? Let’s look by position.

Goalkeepers: A clear favorite emerges

This moment of uncertainty and inexperience in goal is unprecedented in the USWNT’s 40-year history, but there is now a clear favorite to take the No. 1 job — something that could not be said previously.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce started both games for the USWNT this window, earning her second and third caps after her strong debut against Brazil in April. Tullis-Joyce wasn’t busy in either game as the USWNT dominated possession (including 82% against Jamaica, who had zero shots on target and generated 0.07 expected goals, per ESPN Research). That can be the life of the goalkeeper, however — especially for the USWNT against inferior opposition.Hayes tried to pour some water on the idea that any goalkeeper will be the No. 1 by stating it is necessary to develop multiple players for the role ahead of 2027. Yet she also made it clear how Tullis-Joyce is the leader.”I think it’s fair to say Phallon’s experience at this moment in time, with the current group that I’ve got, is ahead,” Hayes said. “I still want to develop the other goalkeepers, but I get a fair sense of where their level is, one in relation to each other, but two in relation to 2027.

“There’s no easy way to answer that question, because I don’t think it’s as simple as just saying you’re my No. 1 and develop one. I think it would be foolish of me to do that in case someone falls out of form or they get injured, or those things, but Phallon is doing a tremendous job with everything that I’m asking.”

Tullis-Joyce is the most in-form American goalkeeper at the club level — although Claudia Dickey‘s NWSL “data don’t lie,” as Hayes said recently before calling up Dickey for the first time — and she’s starting to establish the necessary relationships with her defenders.

The most recent games were also the first with all-world center back Naomi Girma available this year. Hayes noted after Tuesday’s match that it was important for Girma and Tullis-Joyce to “build connections.” There should be more of that in the future.

Defenders: Another debut in the books

Girma’s return brought a calming presence and experience to the back line. “Naomi is like getting the Rolls-Royce out of the garage,” Hayes said on Tuesday. “I mean, what an unbelievable football player — just like a Rolls-Royce is an unbelievable car.”Emily Fox shone as the high-and-wide fullback in Tuesday’s game plan against Jamaica, and she was rewarded with an assist on the opening goal as she pushed up to join the forward line in the attack. The newer faces on Tuesday were Tara McKeown, whom Hayes continues to test in different partnerships at center back, and Kerry Abello, who made her international debut at fullback.McKeown completed a game-high 101 passes (on 108 attempts) as she and Girma set a faster tempo from deep areas to maneuver around Jamaica’s lower defensive block. Tuesday was also the first time the two had played together.Abello’s debut on Tuesday was the most interesting. She has been a standout fullback and winger for the NWSL champion Orlando Pride over the past year-plus, and she enters the international scene as the USWNT is trying to figure out its depth chart at fullback, a quest that’s stretched through several cycles.Hayes said before this training camp that she has begun to see Abello round out her game as someone who can be an attacking fullback or a stay-at-home defender as Orlando builds out attacks in a three-back formation. Abello played that latter role against Jamaica, allowing Fox to push high with freedom, and nearly scored in the final minutes of her debut, which was relatively unremarkable (that’s a compliment). She looked like she fits just fine, as much as any debutant could in a game the USWNT thoroughly controlled from the opening kickoff.

Avery Patterson is also a strong challenger at the fullback position and at 22, has a bright future ahead. She came off the bench against Jamaica and delivered a picture-perfect assist to Lynn Biyendolo for the fourth USWNT goal.

Midfielders: The kids are all right

Let’s lay it out there again: Lily Yohannes is the real deal at 17 years old. Yes, she has plenty to work on, but her ceiling is so obviously high that Hayes’ biggest question is not “if,” but “where” in the midfield triangle she should play Yohannes in the long-term.On Tuesday against Jamaica, Yohannes lined up as the No. 10 instead of the box-to-box midfielder, and she delivered another signature through ball to lead to the USWNT’s first goal. Her vision is exceptional, and she makes it look casual. The next development of her game will be getting accustomed to some of the more direct, physical play like she experienced vs. Brazil in April.ellow teenager Claire Hutton also started against Jamaica to earn her third cap — this time as part of a double pivot in the middle alongside Sam Coffey. Hutton once again looked like a more experienced player as she and Coffey checked into wide spaces to receive the ball and draw Jamaica out of its defensive shape.The USWNT has had a love-hate relationship with the double pivot in recent years, and the truth is that the exact setup will depend on the opponent. But it was effective again against Jamaica, and Hutton playing alongside Coffey provides balance and support. Both Hutton and Yohannes have the makings of players who can be fixtures with the USWNT for multiple cycles.

Forwards: A Cat and mouse game

Catarina Macario is the USWNT’s No. 9 for the foreseeable future, especially with Sophia Wilson out on maternity leave. The unique way in which Macario plays that position affects everything and everyone around her.Macario is more comfortable as a No. 10 and thus plays the striker role as a false nine — a role the USWNT has not consistently played with in recent memory. There’s a Catch-22 to that: It allows Macario to play freely, combining with her attacking midfielder and drawing center backs out of shape, but it also could mean there’s a void left in the strike space at times.

Hayes is savvy and has accounted for this by encouraging her wingers to take the vacant space on the inside, and nobody is doing that better right now than Alyssa Thompson. The 20-year-old Thompson oozes confidence on the ball one-on-one and likes to cut in and combine or shoot from the left flank — which is exactly what led to the USWNT’s second goal on Tuesday.

Ally Sentnor scored that goal and registered a brace, giving her four goals in eight caps. Sentnor is exceptional on the dribble; former USWNT winger Tobin Heath recently said Sentnor “has demonstrated Messi-like qualities.”Sentnor also can fire a powerful shot on a short run-up and without much space — a signature skill of another two-time World Cup champion winger, Christen Press. While she still needs to improve her shot selection and accuracy, but she is already producing for the USWNT at 21 years old. She will be part of the solution at wide forward alongside Thompson and Michelle Cooper, among others.

Lynn Biyendolo also scored a brace off the bench as she continues to fill any role that Hayes throws at her — Biyendolo’s 12 goals as a substitute are more than any other USWNT player since 2016, per Opta.

“We really wanted to be ruthless in the final third,” Hayes said on Tuesday. “I don’t think we started out like that, but I think we ended like that.”There are tougher tests to come, most imminently against Canada on July 2, but as Hayes said on Tuesday, there is a maturity to the USWNT despite its inexperience. The progress from this time last year is clear both in the depth of the player pool and the team’s patterns of play.By this time next month, Hayes will have identified her core for the 2027 World Cup. From here, that process looks right on track.

USWNT honors former captain Becky Sauerbrunn with bobbleheads, fireworks and a dominant win

By Asli Pelit The Athletic June 4, 2025

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Former U.S. women’s national team defender Becky Sauerbrunn got a hometown hero’s welcome on Tuesday at Energizer Park ahead of, during and after the USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 to close out a successful international window.Having retired from professional soccer last December after a 16-year career, the former U.S. captain returned not only as part of TNT’s broadcast crew covering this friendly, but also to receive a proper send-off.“I’m not used to having a lot of spotlight on me for something like this, but it’s really about celebrating the people who got you here,” Sauerbrunn told reporters Monday.For someone who’s never been entirely comfortable in the spotlight, Tuesday night must’ve been overwhelming — in a good way. Sauerbrunn was born in St. Louis and developed her game here as a budding talent until she left for the University of Virginia in 2003. Her hometown sent her off in style with a celebration that included fireworks, a very realistic bobblehead, a standing ovation and a birthday cake (she turns 40 years old on Friday — June 6) fit for a legend.“You know you’ve made it when you’ve got a bobblehead,” U.S. head coach Emma Hayes told reporters in her pre-match press conference.A commanding presence at center back, Sauerbrunn made 219 appearances for the U.S., anchoring the backline to two Women’s World Cup titles and Olympic gold in 2012. It’s quite a legacy for someone who never sought the spotlight. And it’s one the current USWNT squad deeply respects and hopes to carry forward.As the team bid farewell to Sauerbrunn off the field, the next generation made sure she had no reason to worry about the future on it. Hayes’ squad delivered a dominant win, applying relentless pressure for 90 minutes, having 82 percent possession and allowing only two shots from the opposition.Though the accomplished defender never scored for her country, she came very close two years ago at the same stadium that bid her goodbye.On Tuesday, it was rookie Ally Sentnor who scored twice in the first half and Sauerbrunn’s close friend Lynn Biyendolo who added two more after she came on early in the second half. Meanwhile, the backline, Sauerbrunn’s old territory, was anchored by captain Naomi Girma, a fitting torchbearer for the legacy she left behind.“I know I just said nobody can (fill Becky’s shoes), but I think the next obvious person would be Naomi,” Biyendolo said. “The two things that they have in common are that they didn’t want the role, but it just found them. And I think that makes the best leaders, is somebody who just doesn’t want it, but is so natural at it.”Girma, now the most expensive transfer in women’s soccer history, had a rocky start at Chelsea after joining in January, left sidelined by a string of injuries. However, she is back and delivering. With both a Women’s Super League title and the FA Cup under her belt, she is proving to be worth every penny. As former Chelsea manager Hayes put it, bringing her back “is like getting the Rolls-Royce out of the garage.”Girma told ussoccer.com, “Becky was one of the best leaders this team has ever had.”That kind of legacy doesn’t happen overnight.

Girma has taken on a lot of the leadership responsibility left behind by Sauerbrunn. (Visionhaus / Getty Images)Listening to her former teammates after the match, it was clear: the trust and respect Sauerbrunn commands were built over years of grit, consistency and quiet leadership, beginning with her debut in 2008, when she earned her first cap against Canada at the Four Nations Tournament in China, playing with a broken nose.“Becky is a legend, an icon,” Kerry Abello, who made her debut Tuesday, said after the match. “The game of women’s soccer will never be the same without her.” Abello was eight years old when Sauerbrunn debuted back in 2008. Like many of the new generation of USWNT players, she grew up admiring her.On the pitch, Sauerbrunn was a tireless, dependable center back; off it, she was a steady leader who played a key role in collective bargaining negotiations with the U.S. Soccer, representing her fellow players at the table year after year, and helping the team achieve equal pay.She was always calm and composed, even when somebody made a mistake. “Becky doesn’t get mad often, but if you mess up, like pass to the wrong player… she’ll give you this look,” Biyendolo said after Tuesday’s match. “That ‘I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed’ look. That’s the Becky look.”Ask anyone who played alongside Sauerbrunn about the “Becky stare,” and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.Hayes didn’t get the chance to coach Sauerbrunn — she took over the team in May last year — but her admiration also runs deep, especially for how the defender has shaped the next generation.“It’s always nice when the people you leave behind talk about someone in such a way,” Hayes said. “I’ve got a locker room — not just the senior players, but less experienced players — that talk about her in the highest esteem, both as a leader and as a human being, and I don’t think you could want anything more than that in life.”(Top photo: Bill Barrett / Getty Images)

The USWNT basks in the return of Naomi Girma – their ‘security blanket’

By Jeff Rueter June 1, 2025

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Compared to the past few windows, Saturday’s 3-0 win over China was a game where the U.S. women’s national team looked in complete control.The attack kept the pressure on China at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, continuing to threaten their defense as it frequently adjusted the height of its line of confrontation. Catarina Macario provided a goal and an assist; Lindsey Heaps and Sam Coffey scored from their midfield roles.However, head coach Emma Hayes’ post-match press conference started with a question about the long-awaited return of Naomi Girma and how the team benefited from her 90-minute shift.“We’ve missed her, we really have,” Hayes said. “Just in terms of the way we control the game; her, in a deeper space, just making decisions when to play forward, when not to.”As the first million-dollar transfer in women’s soccer history, this year has only intensified the scrutiny that comes with being one of the world’s best players in her position. Her time at Chelsea was not as smooth as the club and player had hoped. She exited her debut in early March with a calf injury, feeling the strain having gone nearly four months without playing a club match. Her first minutes back with Chelsea came in mid-April and this international window marked her first with the U.S. in 2025.“I gave her a hug after the game,” said midfielder Coffey, who scored her second U.S. goal against China. “Having her on the field is like having a security blanket, and just like being wrapped in it.”

Girma celebrates with Coffey and Heaps (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

After some tense and at times disjointed performances against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup and Brazil in a pair of friendlies, the USWNT dominated the entire match on Saturday. The defense played its part, with Coffey shuttling around to shield the back-line and the partnership between Girma and Emily Sonnett giving goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce ample coverage whenever China reached the final third.Those threats were few and far between. The USWNT dominated the chance-creation game, generating 3.01 expected goals (xG) while holding China to 0.18 xG.“It does feel natural now,” Girma said of returning to the national team. “I mean, I was able to watch what we did before, and I think a lot of what Emma wants to do is layer on what we had done in the past year. I think the changes are good and easy for me to kind of adapt to, with that base knowledge of how we want to play.“It was just nice to be back on the field.”As was often the case during the triumphant run to Olympic gold last summer, Girma was at the heart of the team’s build-up. She logged a staggering 138 touches, per TruMedia, 41 more than the team’s second-most involved player (Avery Patterson, with the right-back notching 97 touches). Girma completed 95.3 percent of her 129 pass attempts, helping determine how the USWNT worked to break through China’s defensive structure.She also put in a defensive shift that embodied working smarter, not harder.She was not throwing herself into many challenges, though much of that work was done well before the ball even reached the U.S. defense. Still, she was quick on mop up duty, leading the USWNT with seven ball clearances (nobody else had more than three) while winning all three ground duels and her only aerial duel.

Girma listens to instructions from Hayes (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Having her in the back-line only helped the midfield feel more confident as they engaged defensively, with peace of mind that she was in position if they failed to win the ball.“I can’t put into words what she means to this team,” Coffey said. “I think everybody sees it on the field, but off the field as well. She’s just a joy in this environment and such a light for us. We have missed her so much. I thought she was exceptional today, as she always is.”In a year characterized by frequent rotation across Hayes’ squads and lineups, Girma’s return represents a different type of variable for the team. Throughout 2025, Hayes has called on a number of center-backs, each auditioning to be Girma’s primary partner. Sonnett represents a vital holdover from the team’s last World Cup win in 2019, having established herself as a hard-nosed veteran along the back-line. Emily Sams came off the bench against China, while Tara McKeown has earned five caps this year.The latter two in particular are emblematic of Hayes’ examination of her broader player pool, with both stepping into more important roles given positional absences. Not only has Girma been missing, but so has her partner last summer, Tierna Davidson, who tore her ACL in April.While Sams, McKeown, Sonnett and others have stepped into their roles, none can quite match the same comfortable benchmark established by Girma.

“I mean, she’s a world-class player,” Hayes said. “I thought she brought something to our performance that we’re looking for, so I’m delighted to have her back.”

Girma playing for Chelsea against Manchester United in the FA Cup final (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Once she returned to playing regular minutes for Chelsea in mid-April, she was eased back into the fold. While Chelsea kept clean sheets in each of her final four performances of the WSL season, only two of those matches saw Girma play all 90 minutes.“It was a lot of transition for me,” Girma said on Friday regarding her first months with Chelsea. “I think it was a huge learning experience for me. You always have those moments in your career where you’re up and down, up and down, up and down, so it was definitely like that.“But I think it was a good five months of getting settled, getting to know my team-mates, getting used to playing there, playing with a new team, and living in a new country. So it’s been really positive so far, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”Girma logged her 46th cap, an impressive total for a 24-year-old defender who seems destined to be the bedrock of this team for years to come. With its world class center-back in the lineup, the United States put together its most composed performance of the year. Then again, that revelation hardly comes as a surprise given Girma’s floor-raising performances since her debut in 2022.

TAFC: The start of a PSG dynasty, MLS clubs mix with the big boys, and a Neymar nightmare

By Phil Hay The Athletic June 2, 2025

Hello! Paris Saint-Germain are champions of Europe. Was it simply their night — or is this the start of something bigger?

On the way:

• PSG’s dynasty potential
• $10m bonanza for LAFC
• MLS surge in Forbes rich list
• Neymar’s handball red card

It May Be The Start Of A Dynasty

(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

But, as ever, mixed emotions at PSG victory…

Two thoughts occurred as Paris Saint-Germain went 2-0 up after 20 minutes of Saturday’s Champions League final.

Number one was that it felt like we had the most savage result incoming from this fixture since Milan dismembered Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona in 1994. European Cups aren’t won like this — and we’ve never seen a defeat as wide as Inter’s eventual 5-0 thrashing in Munich.Number two was that PSG were fresh as wet paint, in comparison to Inter’s deadweight legs, as if the Italians were going to the well once too often. You’d be forgiven for thinking PSG had been on the beach for weeks — and to a certain extent, they had.Earlier in the tournament, Luis Enrique, the PSG head coach, joked about Ligue 1 being “the league of farmers”, a slur used to criticise the perceived lack of competition in France (where, it should be said, his club have been insanely dominant for years). Beating the best that Europe had to offer in the Champions League was a neat riposte.But at the same time, PSG wrapped up their latest Ligue 1 championship two months ago. That allowed them to tailor everything for Europe, while Inter toiled on numerous fronts, including a Serie A title race which went to the wire. What transpired was a total mismatch. Inter’s fabled defence was vaporised.

PSG’s domestic environment works for them. They’ve also created a phenomenally talented team, whose third goal against Inter was a coup de grace and a masterpiece. Not everybody will rejoice in their breakthrough year. There’s no getting away from the nature of the Qatari money which is fuelling them. But you have to ask: is this the start of a dynasty? Because their first European Cup won’t be their last, surely.

For Luis Enrique, for Xana

(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

For Luis Enrique, Saturday was deeply personal. The death of his daughter, Xana, in 2019 formed a large part of the narrative in the build-up to the final. He wore a T-shirt in tribute to her after full time, and PSG’s ultras unveiled a huge tifo flag honouring them both (above).In purely coaching terms, he’s made PSG make sense. Finally crossing the Champions League rubicon is a demonstration of how a quality collective team can be greater than the sum of expensive individual parts. It’s incredibly telling that Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe haven’t been missed. And there’ll be no temptation whatsoever for PSG to return to that superstar-led model.Inter’s outlook from here is more sobering. They’re an older unit than PSG, and less sustainable. They might also lose head coach Simone Inzaghi, who is perfect for them but has Al Hilal trying to tempt him to Saudi Arabia. How much does he have left after a second Champions League final defeat in three years, this one so much more brutal than the 1-0 loss to Manchester City in 2023?

The darker side to PSG’s triumph

(Lou Benoist/AFP via Getty Images)

Sadly, full time in Germany was the catalyst for widespread civil disorder in France, with celebrations in Paris descending into violence. Police reported two deaths, close to 200 injuries and 500 arrests during intense rioting. Water cannon and tear gas were deployed. France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, was choice with his language, saying: “Barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris.”

Tom Williams was in France for The Athletic and covered two nights of trouble on the streets. It cut a depressing denouement to an occasion PSG craved for so long — and thought might never come.

News Round-Up

• There’s a whole load of transfer biz from the weekend. First up, Liverpool have made a £110million ($149m) bid for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz. We’re waiting to see how it landed. It would smash their transfer record (above).
• The Premier League champions could recoup £18m by selling goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford. A bid has been accepted. Brentford, in turn, are allowing existing first choice Mark Flekken to join Leverkusen for £8.4m. It’s one big roundabout.
• Manchester United’s deal to bring Matheus Cunha in from Wolverhampton Wanderers is sealed. He’s signed a five-year contract. Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen to Liverpool has also been finalised.
• Liam Delap has been pencilled in for a Chelsea medical today. His £30m switch from Ipswich Town is as good as done.
• A big change at Serie A club Atalanta. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has stepped down after nine years in charge. They’ve been revolutionised in that time, and it’s a plum European vacancy.
• 49ers Enterprises, the group which owns Leeds United, is now in control of a majority stake in Scottish club Rangers. A takeover had been on the cards for a few months.
• Wolves might be about to get raided for a second time. Manchester City have the hots for full-back Rayan Ait Nouri. In other City news, ex-Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders is joining Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.
• We recently covered the deal done by Disney+ to broadcast Women’s Champions League games in Europe. The U.S. rights have gone to CBS, through 2030.

Who’s Got Club World Cup Fever?!

(Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Three MLS teams made it. Who will do best?

Ticket sales for the Club World Cup are more pedestrian than FIFA would like — hence why it keeps dropping prices — but Saturday night’s play-in between Los Angeles FC and Club America sold out at a canter. Perhaps an actual ante helped.It was win-at-all-costs and LAFC did, despite the game looking lost. An equaliser in the penultimate minute and an extra-time decider from Denis Bouanga mean FIFA’s 32-team mash-up is complete, with LAFC nicking the final place. They’ll be a minimum of $10m richer for it.

Three Major League Soccer sides have qualified (cough, cough) for the Club World Cup: LAFC, Seattle Sounders and FIFA charity case, Inter Miami. I’ve been thinking about which of those sides has the best chance of progressing beyond the group stage — to which the answer can only be Miami, from a section featuring Brazil’s Palmeiras, Portugal’s Porto and Egypt’s Al Ahly.The variable in the United States is going to be squad strength, and how heavily the favourites commit at the end of hard seasons. Judging by Real Madrid paying £8.3m to get Trent Alexander-Arnold there, commitment levels will be high. But LAFC are in before the lock and they’ve landed on their feet in Group D. Not a doddle, but not beyond them.

• Last night, before their MLS clash with Minnesota United, the Sounders’ squad wore T-shirts protesting the collective bargaining agreement which is limiting the amount they can earn from the Club World Cup. The labour union is backing their complaints.

MLS Mix With The Big Boys

Rubbing shoulders with the great, the good and those who are neither isn’t going to dent LAFC’s status — or their value. Forbes published its football rich list over the weekend, and LAFC popped up in 15th place, with a tasty $1.25bn price tag.

MLS franchises en masse are going well. Inter Miami ($1.2bn) and LA Galaxy ($1bn) also made the top 20, and a further five teams — Atlanta United, New York City FC, Austin FC, the Sounders and D.C. United — are in a top 30 which features only two clubs from Germany and one from France (you know who).

It’s a little counter-intuitive because revenues and TV earnings in MLS are nowhere near European levels — but the competition has the appeal of salary caps, the absence of relegation and less red tape around the building of stadiums and brands. Plus, if a circus act like Manchester United are the second most valuable team in the universe ($6.6bn, by Forbes’ calculations) then it’s best if Europe doesn’t throw stones.

Around TAFC

(Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)

• You’ll enjoy Laurie Whitwell’s round-up of Manchester United’s post-season tour of the Far East. A comical bus ride, players giving fans the fingers, defeat to a line-up of footballers you’ve never heard of… all in all, a roaring success.
• Yesterday’s Concacaf Champions Cup final had us sucking the air through our teeth. Vancouver Whitecaps were 4-0 down by half-time and lost 5-0 to Cruz Azul. The Mexicans are seven-times winners and they’ve got this competition licked.
• Johnny Heitinga is the new coach of Ajax after leaving his role as Arne Slot’s assistant at Liverpool. It’s the dream job for a man who turned pro at Ajax in the early 2000s. James Pearce and Gregg Evans have the lowdown on what to expect from him.
• Retro football kits are a burgeoning industry. Now the industry is branching out into the restoration of old shirts, by repairing badges, numbers and sponsor logos. Elias Burke reports.
• Quiz answer: the three clubs who have reached Champions League, or European Cup, finals without ever winning one are: Atletico Madrid (1974, 2014 and 2016), Valencia (2000 and 2001) and Reims (1956 and 1959).
• Most clicked in Friday’s TAFC: Wrexham’s taste for Premier League transfers.

And Finally…

(YouTube/Fanatiz)

The only mentions of Neymar in Europe over the weekend were in reference to how much better off PSG are without him. But you didn’t think he’d keep out of the public eye for long, did you?Down in Brazil, 24 hours later, he was sent off during Santos’ 1-0 defeat to Botafogo, his punishment for the aberration you’re seeing above. It could prove to be his last appearance for Santos — his deal is about to expire — and he was evidently hell-bent on scoring just in case.As brazen handballs go, it’s a classic of the genre. With good grace (or no alternative), he apologised for it later.(Top photo: Franck Fife/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal and the curious finish that shows why he is different

Stuart James The Athletic – June 6, 2025Updated 5:40 am EDT

Lamine Yamal again. Adrien Rabiot again. Left-footed goals again.On a wild night in Stuttgart, where Spain and France played a game of basketball on a football pitch, the storyline had a familiar narrative running through it in more ways than one.It was 331 days ago when Yamal scored that goal against France in the European Championship semi-finals, his left foot sumptuously curling the ball into the top corner from 25 yards out, leaving Rabiot wishing he had not only got across quicker to try to block the shot, but that he had also chosen his words much more carefully the night before the game“If you want to play at a Euro final, you need to do more than he has done up until now,” the France midfielder said about Yamal, who was 16 years old at the time.

“Move in silence, only speak when it’s time to say checkmate,” Yamal replied on Instagram.Yamal posted again after scoring his wonder goal against France: “Checkmate”.What You Should Read NextPerfection, by Lamine YamalAs time travelled with the ball from out to inside the post, it opened a portal through which Yamal’s immense potential could be glimpsed

Eleven months later, it was Rabiot who scythed down Yamal from behind for a penalty that the 17-year-old calmly converted.

What is it with teenagers constantly wanting to have the last word, eh?

Except Yamal wasn’t quite finished. His second goal against France, 13 minutes later, put Spain 4-1 up and made him the standout candidate for the player-of-the-match award.

But it was a curious and highly unusual finish — well, unusual for anyone else, but maybe not for Yamal.

Some data first. In competitive games for club and country at senior level, Yamal has scored 31 goals and 29 of them have been with his left foot. His right foot isn’t, to borrow that old cliche, just for standing on. But it’s fair to say that he doesn’t use it much, which is why Philipp Lahm said what he did when telling The Athletic in April how he would try to mark Yamal.

“He has to be on his weaker foot at all times. He cannot have any space,” Lahm, the former Germany international, said.

One of Yamal’s two weaker-foot goals came in Barcelona’s 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu in October, after which he joked: “Real Madrid’s players didn’t know that I have a right foot too! I had to use it when needed.”

It looked like it would also be required against France in the UEFA Nations League semi-final on Thursday night, when Yamal broke into the penalty area in the second half after running onto a first-time pass from Pedro Porro. Holding off a challenge from France centre-back Clement Lenglet — Yamal’s wiry frame is deceptively strong — and with the angle against him, he somehow managed to slip the ball past goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

From a vantage point high up on the opposite side of the stadium — in other words, a long way from the goal — the first instinct was that Yamal had scored with his right foot, primarily because that was how it looked in the blink of an eye.

Indeed, that was still the assumption when a slow-motion replay started to be shown on the screen, partly because of the position of the ball, but also the fact Lenglet was on the inside of Yamal rather than the outside. By going with his left foot, Yamal surely risked the shot being blocked.

At least that was the theory.

Yamal had other ideas and instead of taking the more conventional route and shooting with his right, he prodded the ball beyond Maignan with his left.

It appeared as though the ball was almost pushed, which is why the soleplate of his boot is visible afterwards — Yamal has to work so hard to get enough purchase on the ball to send it past Maignan using this technique that his leg ends up horizontal after making contact.

It looks strange when you watch it back, but it was hugely effective and perhaps also goes some way to explaining why Maignan seemed to be caught slightly off guard and beaten in a way that you wouldn’t expect him to be in that scenario.In fact, the France goalkeeper ended up diving after the ball was already past him, which suggests that Yamal had taken him by surprise with such an unorthodox and instinctive finish.

It is also — and this is an area of his game where he is so different from his former Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembele, who genuinely has no idea which is his stronger foot — an example of how Yamal doesn’t suffer at all from being so dependent on his left.Why?First things first, his left foot is obviously a thing of beauty, whether passing, shooting or dribbling. There was a moment late in the France game, which Spain won 5-4, when Yamal was performing pirouettes in the centre of the pitch, the ball glued to his left foot to such an extent that the opposition left-back, Theo Hernandez, decided to change sport. Cue a rugby tackle.

Secondly, Yamal is able to improvise and use his left foot in so many different ways, including the ‘trivela’ — an outside-of-the-boot shot or pass that he executes brilliantly over a range of distances. Yamal uses that part of his foot with such precision that his technique doesn’t just negate the need to use his right, but at times it’s actually more efficient to play the ball with the outside of his left because it’s naturally in his stride pattern.What You Should Read NextLamine Yamal’s trademark trivela: Dissecting the Barcelona star’s work of artYamal is fast making the outside-of-the-boot pass known as the trivela his trademark. Where does it come from and how does he do it?

The mind wanders to other predominantly one-footed players, from Diego Maradona to Arjen Robben and Ricardo Quaresma.Ultimately, though, Yamal is one of a kind or, as the former Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi recently put it, “one of those talents that appear once every 50 years”.Against France, on his 20th cap for Spain, Yamal upstaged Dembele, one of his rivals for the Ballon d’Or, and Kylian Mbappe and Desire Doue, too.Next up for him is Cristiano Ronaldo when Spain take on Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final in Munich on Sunday.Ronaldo, for context, was another six months away from playing his first international match at Yamal’s age.(Top photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

MLS’ Whitecaps suffer teamwide illness after Champions Cup final in Mexico

By Paul Tenorio and Sarah Jean Maher June 5, 2025Updated 7:39 pm EDT

The Vancouver Whitecaps say a “significant number” of players and staff members fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms following the team’s 5-0 loss to Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup final on Saturday.At least 33 members of the traveling party were affected, a source familiar with the situation told The Athletic. The source requested anonymity due to the medical sensitivity of the situation. Only seven out of the 26 players who traveled did not present with any symptoms.The club canceled a training session on Wednesday out of precaution and instead held a modified individual closed session on Thursday.In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the Major League Soccer team said it was working closely with its medical team, local infectious disease consultants and Vancouver Coastal Health to monitor the outbreak. The club said each affected player has been provided with an individualized program by medical and performance staff to support their recovery and continued preparation.“The health and well-being of our players and staff remain our top priority,” the club said in its statement. “We are actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.”

The timing of the outbreak raises significant concerns about the Whitecaps’ ability to field a competitive roster for their scheduled match against their regional rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on Sunday in Seattle. The club has not yet announced whether the game will proceed as planned or if it will seek a postponement from MLS.What You Should Read NextCruz Azul dismantles MLS’s Whitecaps to claim Concacaf Champions Cup titleThis was never a contest, as La Maquina claimed a record-tying seventh Concacaf club title in emphatic fashion.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that nine Whitecaps players were already scheduled to miss Sunday’s game due to international duty. Canadian national team players Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson are among those training with the men’s national team ahead of the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament, per The Canadian Press.

The teamwide illness caps a disappointing week for the Whitecaps, who saw their impressive 15-game unbeaten streak across all competitions come to a crushing end with a resounding 5-0 defeat to Cruz Azul in Saturday’s Champions Cup final. Vancouver had been hoping to capture its first major continental trophy.

Cruz Azul’s dominant victory not only denied Vancouver the Champions Cup, but the trip created additional health challenges that could impact the team’s domestic campaign.

(Top photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

Curiosity and a new challenge drew former Bayern Munich Women’s coach to Angel City

By Asli PelitJune 5, 2025Updated 6:50 pm EDT

Alexander Straus, Angel City’s new head coach, didn’t arrive in Los Angeles on a whim. After turning down several chances to move to the U.S. in the past, he says this time, the stars aligned.

“Compared to other opportunities I’ve had, including the location, everything about this club, this team, which has been well documented all over the world in the media, intrigues me,” Straus told reporters on Thursday. “I think there is still a lot of work to be done, but it’s not done over 24 hours or one week or three weeks.”

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While leaving Europe wasn’t easy, Straus emphasized that curiosity and challenge played a major role.

“It’s a completely different culture. A different league. But football is a small world,” he said. “There’s this weird gap in understanding between Europe and the U.S. We don’t really know how good the best teams are on either side. I needed to find out. I’m halfway through my career, and I didn’t want to wait until I have grandchildren to take that leap.”Straus comes to Los Angeles after three years coaching German powerhouse Bayern Munich. He led the team to three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles from 2022 to 2025. Before joining Bayern, the 49-year-old Norwegian coached SK Brann in the top flight of his native Norway, winning the league twice.The hiring marks a significant shift for the ambitious Los Angeles club, which is counting on his UEFA Champions League experience and understandingof youth development to steer an Angel City team that struggles with inconsistency.If you ask him, there’s no question Angel City will find success.“Whether it’s in one year or five, I don’t know, but it will happen. Everything around this club says it will,” Straus said. “I want to be part of that.”The move isn’t just professional for Straus. California, with its weather and culture, was a draw, but so was the promise of a project where the women’s team isn’t playing second fiddle. And Angel City worked really hard to convince him to join.“In Europe, even with clubs like Bayern or Chelsea, there’s still a men’s team getting the lion’s share. Here, at Angel City, we are the team. That’s rare,” he said. “The facilities, the focus, the fan base, it’s a powerful setup. That’s something America has ahead of Europe right now.”The team has already made a signing that feels aligned with Straus’ leadership. Last month, Angel City signed former Wolfsburg forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir, who was used to seeing Staus on the opposite touchline in the Frauen-Bundesliga.“I’d already been talking to Angel City, and I was trying to decide what I wanted to do, and then I saw that he’s gonna be the coach, and it made me more excited about Angel City, knowing how well he’s done for Bayern,” Jónsdóttir told The Athletic ahead of her signing. “I know his style of play. He can make every team look good and play well. It made my choice even easier.”

Angel City signing Sveindís Jónsdóttir saw Alex Straus’ success playing against his teams in Germany. (Martin Rose / Getty Images)

Though there may be an understanding gap between Europe and the U.S., according to Straus, the difference between domestic and international players isn’t a factor in his coaching.“It’s not about where they’re from, it’s about the environment they’re coming into,” he said. “We often overstate the difference between American and European (soccer). The structure is different. There is a wage cap. It’s a playoff league. But ultimately, it’s about creating a good environment for good players.”Still, the transition won’t be instant. Straus acknowledges that he has to build that environment in L.A.“It’s early days. I’m still the new guy in class,” he said jokingly. “We’re just starting to create the culture, the behaviors, the habits that we want.”Strauss arrived in LA last Sunday, and this weekend will mark his first with the full squad, with many players away on national team duty last week. He’s had time to get acquainted with the team during the last few months through hours of videos on Angel City’s games over the last couple of years. But he isn’t in a rush.“First of all, you need to know people, not the players,” he said. “The players I knew long before I came. I need to know the people and I need to know what makes them tick.”Backed by one of the NWSL’s most powerful ownership groups led by Willow Bay, Bob Iger, Julie Uhrman and Kara Nortman, Angel City is the league’s most valuable club and a sponsor favorite, thanks to steady attendance and good brand awareness. But despite its off-field dominance, the club now finds itself at a critical crossroads; it’s time to deliver results on the pitch.I wanted to see what we can do to get the legacy of Angel City to become like the other big sports brands in the city, to become the same here,” Straus said. “That excites me.”

(Top photo: Melina Pizano / Getty Images)