By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Mar 13, 2023) US Soccer Players – If there's a common trend when looking at MLS clubs finding success early in the 2023 season, it could be the two tactical formations already standing out. The 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 have proven to be part of the formula in both conferences so far. It is obviously very early, in addition to the small sample size. Formations are largely . . .
LAFC is the latest defending MLS Cup champion to try to add a Concacaf Champions League title
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 8, 2023) US Soccer Players - In 2022, the Seattle Sounders became the first Major League Soccer team to win the Concacaf Champions League. The achievement ended 13 years of Liga MX dominance in the competition, turning the Champions League from a Sisyphean exercise for American and Canadian clubs into a real chance at continental glory. If Seattle could do . . .
Lagerwey in Atlanta, Wood to New England, and Nancy with Columbus
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 7, 2022) US Soccer Players - With much of the world focused on the World Cup, Major League Soccer is going about its winter business. If not for the biggest sporting event on the planet happening simultaneously with massive news dropping across the North American competition, there might be more attention available. As it is, it's a great time to catch up on . . .
DFB Pokal wins for Union Berlin and Eintracht, Seattle vs Dallas
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Jordan Pefok scoring in Union Berlin's 2-1 win at Chemnitzer in the DFB Pokal. Trailing from the 62nd minute, Pefok equalized in the 64th to force extra time. Union Berlin's Kevin Behrens scored in the 114th minute with Pefok subbing out in the 105th. Timmy Chandler subbed on in the 67th minute of Eintracht's 4-0 win at Magdeburg. Daichi Kamada put Eintracht up . . .
Montreal at Seattle in midweek MLS, the US Open Cup semifinals
Tuesday's soccer news starts with tomorrow's MLS schedule, highlighted by the 3rd-place team in the East on the road at the 7th-place team in the West. While that might not immediately put that game at the top of the seven on the Wednesday night schedule, Seattle hosting Montreal has more going for it than their current positions in the table. Let's start with 3rd-place CF Montreal. Since the . . .
FIFA’s 2026 World Cup stadiums, Seattle hosts LAFC
Friday's soccer news starts with FIFA announcing the 16 stadiums that will host games during the 2026 World Cup. Toronto's BMO Field and Vancouver's BC Place for Canada, Guadalajara's Estadio Akron, Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, and Monterrey's Estadio BBVA Bancomer for Mexico, and Arlington's AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium (New . . .
Seattle’s MLS situation
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 9, 2022) US Soccer Players – Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer is so successful in part because he truly worries about the little things. Whether it's scribbling notes on a pad during games or watching hours of videotape in between matches, Schmetzer is always concerned about what comes next. The Sounders made history last Wednesday night by defeating . . .
MLS wasn’t good enough until it was
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 6, 2022) US Soccer Players - No late dramatic collapse. No bad luck. No questionable referring decisions. No wasted chances. No hearts in throats. No twist of fate to undo rounds of advancement at the final hurdle, preventing a breakthrough achievement for a club and a league. In the end, no doubt and no curse. If we’re being accurate, no one called Major . . .
Steffen’s Manchester City exits the Champions League, Seattle wins the CCL
Thursday's soccer news starts with Manchester City exiting the 2021-22 Champions League at the semifinal stage. Zack Steffen was on the bench for City's 3-1 loss at Real Madrid after extra time, losing 6-5 on aggregate. Up 4-3 from the first-leg, City's Riyad Mahrez extended the lead in the 73rd minute. Real Madrid responded with goals from Rorygo in the 90th and a minute into stoppage time. With . . .
MLS teams looking to make moves in May
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 4, 2022) US Soccer Players - This May might as well be called moving month in Major League Soccer. The league kicked off at the end of February, meaning May will be the third full month of play for the 2022 season. Believe it or not, the schedule is close to one-third complete. So the time to say "it's still early" is rapidly slipping away. March and April . . .