By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (June 19, 2019) US Soccer Players - Sixteen teams. Games in Costa Rica and Jamaica. Qualification through the new Nations League for two-thirds of the field. Each is a new element of the Gold Cup in 2019, meant to improve the tournament. For a region that is light on World Cup-caliber nations and overly dependent on the United States for hosting duties, these . . .
Preview: Everybody else at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (June 14, 2019) US Soccer Players - Starting Saturday, Concacaf will add its semi-annual championship to the pile of international summer soccer already underway. In Group A of the 2019 Gold Cup, Canada faces Martinique in Pasadena in the first game of the day, with Mexico opening its quest to reclaim the Gold Cup title against Cuba in the second game of the . . .
FIFA’s World Cup expansion and Concacaf’s problem
Depending on who you ask, World Cup expansion for 2022 is either a done deal or as close to that as possible. In other words, a little over a month out from the vote in Paris it now seems likelier that it does happen than it doesn't. That makes the obvious technical questions things that FIFA will deal with in time for the tournament. Top on that list might be figuring out where to stage the . . .
USMNT U-17s kick off qualifying with a new coach and old questions
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 26, 2019) US Soccer Players - The US Under-17 National Team begins their journey to the U-17 World Cup next week when the Concacaf U-17 Championship kicks off at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The regional qualifying tournament is the first big event under new coach Raphael Wicky. It’s also a timely signpost for a keenly-watched age level whose . . .
FIFA keeps pushing for a 48 team World Cup
We start the soccer news with FIFA president Gianni Infantino stumping for World Cup expansion. Like an good politician, Infantino is making sure he has the support for a 48-team World Cup in time for the FIFA Congress in Paris on June 5. That means finding at least one other country willing to host games in 2022. So far, that hasn't been easy. AP's Rob Harris reports that Infantino is working to . . .
A USMNT look at the 2019 Gold Cup
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 12, 2019) US Soccer Players - A bigger, more ambitious tournament, at least one new opponent, and a bevy of highly familiar ones await the USMNT this summer as they defend their Gold Cup title. This year’s remodeled event is 33% larger and takes place across three countries instead of just one. Costa Rica and Jamaica will each host a group-stage . . .
The future of the Gold Cup
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - The World Cup is the most important tournament in soccer. It is the pinnacle of the international game. It stands above all of the other tournaments on the soccer calendar. That doesn't downplay the importance of those other tournaments. They're important and necessary in the build-up to and preparation for the World Cup. Well, until . . .
Preview: USMNT vs Costa Rica
The soccer news starts with the USMNT in action on Saturday against Costa Rica (3:30pm ET - Fox). With a 3-0 shutout of Panama in Arizona last Sunday, the USMNT looks to close out January camp with another strong performance. As Charles Boehm relayed in his latest column for USSoccerPlayers, this version of the USMNT is about installing new tactics and teachable moments for coach Gregg Berhalter. . . .
2019 in soccer
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 31, 2018) US Soccer Players – The past year will stand out for years to come for the type of soccer it produced. That is almost always the case in a year with a World Cup. The USMNT continued to rebuild and got a new coach, while MLS gave us a new champion in Atlanta United FC that helped to showcase the passion for the game in this country. Indeed, Atlanta’s . . .
Liga MX and the Club World Cup letdown
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 19, 2018) US Soccer Players - Chivas Guadalajara claimed the Concacaf Champions League with a thrilling victory over Toronto FC in April, a fitting triumph given the club’s recent successes. Chivas had won Copa MX and Liga MX titles in 2017 and was passing through a period of stability. The club was not exactly a model franchise, but it was close. Chivas . . .
