By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 13, 2019) US Soccer Players - There's more than one way to break a record. There's the subtle way, nudging just past the previous mark, barely setting a new record at all. Then there's the big and loud way. Smashing the record by going so far past the old number that it makes the old mark laughable. Sporting Kansas City's signing of Alan Pulido this week for a . . .
Changes for the 2020 US Open Cup
The soccer news starts with a surprise announcement from US Soccer that 11 of the 23 US-based MLS teams will start in the third round of the 2020 US Open Cup. This is a break with the setup that entered MLS teams in the fourth round. USL Championship and League One teams enter in the second round. The dozen MLS clubs entering in the fourth round are due to playing in the Concacaf Champions League . . .
“Soccer in the City” aims to tell a new story of the American game
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 12, 2019) US Soccer Players - Michael Holstein noticed something about the soccer scene he played in while growing up in the DC suburbs: By and large, it simply didn't reflect the region's dazzling diversity of cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities. "It's bigger here than most places, but it was always like this fringe sport and that always seemed weird . . .
Bradley stays with Toronto
The soccer news starts with Toronto announcing that club captain Michael Bradley will stay with the team. Bradley was out of contract at the end of the 2019 season, but there was little speculation of him ending up anywhere else. "I feel so attached to the city of Toronto, the club, the team. I love it here and I am really proud of what we’ve been able to do over the past six years," Bradley . . .
Alan Pulido’s choice to pick Sporting Kansas City
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 11, 2019) US Soccer Players - When star Mexican striker Alan Pulido decided to leave Chivas Guadalajara, he had plenty of options at his disposal. Pulido had suitors both domestically and abroad. With Europe already in his past, he had his pick of places to go. Somehow, he chose Middle America. It may seem like an odd choice, but Pulido's move to Sporting Kansas . . .
LAFC and the luck of the Concacaf Champions League draw
Concacaf announced the pairings for the 2020 Champions League for the round of 16 that opens the tournament for Liga MX and MLS teams. The first legs are set for February 18-20 with the second-legs on February 25-27. Concacaf seeds the round of 16 with only North American zone clubs in pot 1. For the five MLS teams, the goal was avoiding the lone Liga MX club in pot 2. Step up LAFC, who drew that . . .
Charlotte’s quick arrival as an MLS expansion target
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 9, 2019) US Soccer Players – The expansion sweepstakes to bring the 30th team to MLS has intensified over the past few weeks. As the ever-growing league looks to add yet another franchise, Charlotte has emerged as the frontrunner against Las Vegas and Phoenix. Last week, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the league was working with Charlotte to award it a . . .
Trying again at Orlando City
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Orlando City Soccer Club is no one's idea of a marquee Major League Soccer franchise. The Lions have a passionate fan base and an international flavor that comes from Brazilian ownership. Still, they can't or won't compete with the nouveau riche of the league dollar-for-dollar in the chase for MLS championships. Winning is harder . . .
Is American big money finally warming up to soccer?
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Not so long ago, soccer was an extremely tough sell among the investor class in the United States. That's putting it mildly. Even as the 1994 World Cup charmed American audiences by the millions, former US Soccer president Alan Rothenberg had such a hard time lining up Major League Soccer's ownership group that the league's launch . . .
MLS Power Rankings: 2019 Season Ender
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 5, 2019) US Soccer Players - The 2019 Major League Soccer season has been over for a bit now, with Seattle beating Toronto FC to lift the MLS Cup early last month. With the offseason already in full swing and two new clubs on the horizon, the focus has begun to shift to the start of a new decade and a continuation of the league's unofficial expansion era. Before . . .
