By J Hutcherson (Feb 9, 2022) US Soccer Players - There's a way of looking at the February 2022 edition of the 2021 Club World Cup as FIFA just delaying the annual conversation about its relative merit by a couple of months. The Club World Cup hasn't had it easy, replacing an unofficial world championship that only involved Europe and South America. Fast-forward to the 18th edition of FIFA's . . .
Preview: USMNT vs Honduras in 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying
By J Hutcherson (Feb 1, 2022) US Soccer Players - The USMNT closes out the January/February international window on Wednesday night (7:30pm ET - FS1) in interesting conditions to match an interesting situation. After losing 2-0 at Canada on Sunday, the United States plays its cold weather finale in freezing conditions in St Paul, Minnesota. They face the team with the worst record in the . . .
The Premier League at the January/February break
By J Hutcherson (Jan 25, 2022) US Soccer Players - This is not the time for sweeping conclusions for most of world soccer, much less one of the most popular leagues in the world. There's no such thing as a history of the Premier League at the January break because there normally isn't a January break. Needing room to finish World Cup qualifying, FIFA added this January/February international . . .
Building a competivive roster in MLS is not getting any easier
By J Hutcherson (Jan 11, 2022) US Soccer Players - Roster building in Major League Soccer is still a somewhat loose concept, working within the constraints of MLS budget rules but open to workarounds. Without a template, it becomes difficult to figure out what should work. For instance, Premier League clubs build rosters around total transfer spend. The more a club spends, the more likely it is to . . .
FIFA’s happiest New Year
By J Hutcherson (Jan 4, 2022) US Soccer Players - FIFA president Gianni Infantino's New Year message was about what we've come to expect during the current push for radical changes in world soccer. His organization's focus remains sharp. It's about already positioning the 2022 World Cup as a success while continuing to stump for it happening every other year as part of a revamped international . . .
The rest of the Octagonal
By J Hutcherson (Dec 28, 2021) US Soccer Players - What we've learned so far about the final round of the 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying cycle is that its due for a shakeout. One of the top four is heading towards a playoff, and the current standings may not be telling us all that much. The Octagonal is a new riff on an old concept, something that regularly provides a different take on the . . .
Does winning in MLS next season mean figuring out what happened this season?
By J Hutcherson (Dec 14, 2021) US Soccer Players - One thing that the pandemic disruptions have made clear in MLS is that clubs and the league itself will not wait to make changes. 2020 counted, judged by how many teams made significant roster and technical staff decisions. 2021 was more of the same, with general managers, technical directors, and coaches moving on as teams revamped before and . . .
What if FIFA gets its way?
By J Hutcherson (Dec 7, 2021) US Soccer Players - In theory, it's not that difficult to see FIFA's plan for the biennial World Cup as the obvious answer to an equally obvious set of issues. Holding the World Cup every four years uses the same logic as the Olympics with the same problem. Four years is a long time, especially in the short working lives of elite athletes. The calendar will adjust. . . .
One and done in the Eastern Conference
By J Hutcherson (Nov 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - The 2nd and 4th-place teams will play for the Eastern Conference's spot in the 2021 MLS Cup final, completing a bracket that saw one upset. Sure, it was the biggest possible with the 4th-seed NYCFC knocking out the Supporters' Shield winning New England Revolution on penalties, but otherwise, the seeding told the story in the East. Philadelphia . . .
How good was Ajax in 1971-72?
By J Hutcherson (Nov 18, 2021) US Soccer Players - Ajax started the 1971-72 season as the defending champions of Europe. They beat Panathinaikos 2-0 at Wembley to close out the 1970-71 season, lifting the European Cup for the first time. It wasn't their first trip to the final, however. In 1968-69, they lost 4-1 to AC Milan at the Bernabeu. That false start to the era of total soccer lasted all of . . .
