Tuesday's soccer news starts with the leaked Garcia Report, FIFA's internal investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. It's German outlet Bild releasing that information through the work of reporter Peter Rossberg. The Press Association has the early details. The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby also looks at what making the report public might mean. Inside World Football's Paul Nicholson wonders . . .
USMNT players in Gold Cup camp
We start the soccer news with the USMNT players joining up in Nashville in advance of the 2017 Gold Cup. Bruce Arena's roster has some interesting names, the result of his choice to give the regulars playing club soccer in Europe a break. That doesn't mean a squad without European-based talent, with several players trying to break in. Arena said he thinks the roster "makes a lot of sense." Arena . . .
The power of the Premier League
Friday's soccer news starts with another example of how much things have changed in the Premier League. Crystal Palace, far down the list of Premier League clubs in general and London Premier League clubs in particular, is closing in on a new manager. Frank de Boer left Ajax for Inter Milan last season, losing that Italian job after three months. BBC Sport's David Orstein has the details on the . . .
Questioning instant replay
Thursday's soccer news starts with the growing complaints about how instant replay is working at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The quick take is that it isn't, at least not enough to convince that it's worth the effort. Instant replay, which of course FIFA would prefer the soccer world refers to as "video assistant referee", has been a long time coming. The discussions seem to have dragged on . . .
What’s wrong with DC United?
Wednesday's soccer news starts with games on the MLS schedule. DC United hosts Atlanta United with another chance to try to turn their season around. DC is bottom of the Eastern Conference, six points behind 7th-place Atlanta with both teams about to play their 16th game of the season. With DC sitting on 10 goals scored, the worst in MLS. The Washington Post's Steven Goff makes some unflattering . . .
The Cristiano Ronaldo situation
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Cristiano Ronaldo. Though many people's pick for the best player in the world is currently focused on Portugal's Confederations Cup schedule, it's his club situation making the news. Ronaldo has tax issues in Spain, leading to speculation that his time with Real Madrid could be coming to an end. Of course, none of this is straightforward. The Guardian's Sid Lowe . . .
David Villa’s goals
Monday's soccer news starts with NYCFC's David Villa hitting his 50th and 51st MLS goals. Villa scored from the penalty spot and the run of play in the 2-1 win over Seattle. It's easy enough to point to that as proof that a designated player works in Major League Soccer. Villa joined MLS in a familiar situation. He had the resume, but age was an issue. Unlike some of his contemporaries, however, . . .
Getting excited about the Confederations Cup
Friday's soccer news starts with the Confederations Cup. It's easy to dismiss an international tournament that doesn't involve the USMNT. Easier still if you want to jump on board with those who think it's a bit much for FIFA to run a mini-World Cup the year before the main event. Both are fair points, to some extent. They're also tough stances to take when one of the best runs in USMNT history . . .
Germany in the Confederations Cup
Thursday's soccer news starts with the Confederations Cup. FIFA's World Cup warmup starts on Saturday in Russia, and it's not a safe assumption that even the participating countries really care. Germany, for instance. The defending World Cup champions are having issues filling stadiums for friendlies at home, partly because their results seem like a foregone conclusion. If they lose, there's an . . .
USMNT stays 3rd in the Hexagonal
The rest of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers played out on Tuesday night, with the USMNT remaining in 3rd-place in the Hexagonal. World Cup qualifying resumes in September. Panama and Honduras drew 2-2 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Romell Quioto put Honduras up on the road in the 6th minute with Blas Perez equalizing in the 41st. Alberth Elis scored for Honduras in the 65th with Roman Torres . . .
