By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 17, 2019) US Soccer Players - A piece of American soccer history will take its final bow on Saturday before heading into oblivion this winter. The USL Championship's Charleston Battery close out their 2019 regular-season slate vs Bethlehem Steel at MUSC Health Stadium, the last game in the stadium's 20-year history. Debuting as Blackbaud Stadium in 1999, the . . .
USMNT ready to “do the business” in Concacaf Nations League
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 10, 2019) US Soccer Players - Focus, grind, progress, get the job done. That's the short version of the USMNT's outlook as they prepare to kick off the first edition of the Concacaf Nations League. The United States is training in quiet isolation at George Mason University in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC this week ahead of their Nations . . .
The Portland Timbers’ Diego Valeri dilemma
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - Last week, Real Salt Lake marked the 10-year anniversary of their underdog 2009 MLS Cup win. The club honored the members of that squad during their game against the LA Galaxy. One face was a particularly welcome sight for the home fans. Javier Morales, the Argentinean playmaker whose creativity and class powered the . . .
Seattle Sounders among those staring at do or die situations as new MLS format sinks in
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 26, 2019) US Soccer Players - The away locker room at Audi Field was quiet. While grinning hockey star Alex Ovechkin and his entourage dropped in to congratulate the victorious home team across the hall, the Seattle Sounders were as subdued as you'd expect a losing team to be after DC United's convincing 2-0 win. It wasn't a shocking result per se. The . . .
New hope, old challenges for Chicago Fire
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - "Intense optimism and excitement." "Some of the most exciting and inspiring team news in more than a decade." "A moment of celebration for the Chicago Fire community the likes of which haven't been experienced for quite some time." It's not all that often that a soccer club makes a move that prompts its largest supporters' group . . .
Three themes from the USMNT’s September window
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 12, 2019) US Soccer Players - The USMNT got beaten by their main rival, then matched up stride-for-stride with global royalty. That's what the results of the past week's international friendlies vs. Mexico and Uruguay say on the scoreboard. They're also signposts amid a broader process of construction and education that is slated to continue into the . . .
Robin Fraser makes a rare breakthrough for black coaches in MLS
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Labor Day Weekend served up several surprising results across MLS. One of the most unexpected was the Colorado Rapids' efficient 2-0 road win over the New York Red Bulls, traditionally one of the league's strongest sides at home. It marked a sweet debut for Robin Fraser, Colorado's newly-hired head coach. The last time Fraser . . .
Gregg Berhalter dials up evolution process with latest USMNT roster
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 29, 2019) US Soccer Players - Gregg Berhalter signaled a gradual but measurable shift towards the USMNT's longer-term future on Wednesday with the unveiling of his roster for September's friendlies vs Mexico and Uruguay. Diversity of age, experience, and location defines the group that will gather in New Jersey after this weekend's club action. Players from . . .
Montreal, Wilmer Cabrera, and the shrinking shelf life of MLS head coaches
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 23, 2019) US Soccer Players - In Major League Soccer, a single-entity league with copycat tendencies, Montreal is different. Quebec's little slice of Europe on the St Lawrence River is like no place else in North America. That's also reflected in their soccer club. The Montreal Impact's rowdy supporters groups chant, sing and curse in French. Their home . . .
US talent aiming for spotlight in Bundesliga
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 16, 2019) US Soccer Players - It's no secret that US soccer viewers love the English Premier League. It's packed with superstars. There's no language barrier. NBC's coverage is widely accessible. Style of play and lively crowds makes it approachable for a broad range of viewers. The lavish hype around the opening of the 2019-20 Premier League season last . . .
