The soccer news starts with the US Soccer Federation announcing a November friendly for the USMNT. The USMNT will travel to Swansea to play Wales on November 12 at Liberty Stadium (2:45pm ET - FS1, UniMas). Concacaf sat out the September friendlies due to the pandemic, and US Soccer didn't schedule games in October. This will be the first time the USMNT has played since February 1. US Soccer also . . .
Wood’s Hamburg beats Erzgebirge Aue, Marsch’s Red Bulls draw
Thursday's soccer news starts in the 2.Bundesliga. Bobby Wood subbed on in the 72nd minute of Hamburg's 3-0 home win over Erzgebirge Aue. Manuel Wintzheimer opened the scoring in the 17th minute with Sonny Kittel making it 2-0 in the 57th. Khaled Narey finished off the Hamburg goals in the 72nd. "Altogether I'm satisfied with the game," Hamburg coach Daniel Thioune said. "I think we were dominant . . .
Dest, Pulisic, and Horvath get Champions League starts
Wednesday's soccer news starts with USMNT players in the Champions League. Sergino Dest's Barcelona had no trouble at home against Ferencvaros, winning 5-1 despite going a man down midway through the second-half. Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a 27th minute penalty and Ansu Fati doubled the lead in the 42nd. Philippe Coutinho made it 3-0 Barca in the 52nd. Gerard Pique saw red in the 68th . . .
Philadelphia, New England, and the East
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Philadelphia winning 2-1 at New England. An own-goal put the Union up in the 34th minute with Anthony Fontana doubling the lead in the 69th. Tajon Buchanan pulled a goal back for the Revolution in the 80th minute. The result has Philadelphia in 2nd-place, three points behind Toronto and four points ahead of Columbus. Toronto and Philadelphia have played 19 games . . .
More teams make the playoffs in the East
Monday's soccer news starts with the MLS roundup and more teams qualifying for the playoffs. Toronto, Philadelphia, Columbus, and Orlando have spots in the East. In the West, Seattle and Portland are at the top of the table on 31 points with the Sounders on 17 games to the Timbers' 18. Chicago and Sporting Kansas City drew 2-2 at Soldier Field. Erik Hurtado scored for Sporting in the 35th minute . . .
Brenden Aaronson makes his move
Friday's soccer news starts with Philadelphia announcing a deal to transfer midfielder Brenden Aaronson to Red Bull Salzburg. It's an interesting destination for a player not connected to the New York Red Bulls, and perhaps evidence of Red Bull management paying close attention across MLS. The transfer doesn't happen until the January window, with Aaronson remaining a Union player through the end . . .
Draws keep the Eastern Conference close
Thursday's soccer news starts with the MLS roundup and another postponement. Chicago vs Minnesota didn't go ahead as scheduled due to "a suspected case of COVID-19 among the Minnesota United team delegation." On the field, New England beat Montreal 3-2 at Red Bull Arena. Kekuta Manneh opened the scoring in the 13th minute with Teal Bunbury making it 2-0 Revs in the 20th. Amar Sejdic scored for the . . .
East and West questions for another MLS Wednesday
Wednesday's soccer news starts with another packed matchday in Major League Soccer. A dozen games are on the schedule, highlighted by Toronto vs Red Bulls in the East and the Galaxy hosting San Jose in the West. Will any of these games provide the kind of clarity we might expect as the league closes in on the playoffs? Probably not, with the schedule now growing more unbalanced in both . . .
Project Big Picture is already shaking up the Premier League
Tuesday's soccer news starts with the plan to reset how professional soccer works in England. Project Big Picture might not be the catchiest title, but it's pushed Premier League politics to the forefront in an international week. Manchester United and Liverpool's ownership is now the face of a plan to reduce the size of the Premier League, create a playoff for one promotion and relegation spot, . . .
Atlanta’s complaint, DC’s loss, and LAFC’s win
Monday's soccer news starts with the MLS roundup. Once again, Colorado was unable to play due to positive coronavirus tests, postponing their game with the Galaxy. On the field, Inter Miami shutout Houston 1-0 in Fort Lauderdale. Lewis Morgan converted a 57th minute penalty for the game's only goal. Inter goalkeeper John McCarthy made two saves to keep the clean sheet. The Red Bulls shutout . . .
