By J Hutcherson (Jun 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - The biggest question in world soccer right now isn't who will host the 2026 World Cup. It's not if the World Cup will expand to 48 teams a cycle early in Qatar. It's not even what might happen in Russia. It's whether or not FIFA is overreaching. It's hard to downplay FIFA's recent moves. They've pushed through a World Cup expansion that may start . . .
Real Madrid vs Liverpool closes out the European soccer season
Saturday's Champions League final (2:45pm ET - FOX) marks the end of the 2017-18 European soccer season, a finale that might end up looking like last season and the season before that. Real Madrid is playing for a three-peat, something that hasn't happened since the first-half of the 1970s when the tournament was the European Cup and required winning four home-and-away series and the final. Real . . .
What does Europe want from the Champions League?
By J Hutcherson (May 24, 2018) US Soccer Players - On Saturday, Real Madrid plays Liverpool (2:45pm ET - FOX) in the biggest game on the European soccer schedule. The Champions League final is the de facto club world championship, something made clear by how many people watch it versus the actual Club World Cup. For Real Madrid, it's an attempt at a three-peat, the most dominant performance we've . . .
FIFA plans for a different soccer world
The soccer news starts with a problem for how the sport is covered on both sides of the Atlantic. The daily churn of what passes for news can downplay major issues for the sport. Right now, that issue is the countdown not for the decision on who will host the 2026 World Cup or even the start of this summer's World Cup itself. Instead, it's FIFA trying to push through plans to revamp the Club World . . .
The USMNT against Paraguay
The soccer news starts with the USMNT in action against Paraguay tonight in Cary, NC (7:30pm ET - FS1). The USMNT continues to bring in new faces as the program considers options. This is a path expected to lead to the hiring of a general manager and a coach, with the club moving forward under interim coach Dave Sarachan. The current setup has made it clear that young players are the focus, . . .
The Champions League quarterfinals problem
UEFA held the draw for the 2017-18 Champions League quarterfinals, giving us a rematch of last season's final. That Juventus vs Real Madrid meeting is by far the highlight of the round, with the bouncing balls keeping the other contenders apart. The all-Premier League meeting of Liverpool and Manchester City might be high profile with Liverpool in 3rd and City top of the table, but there's an . . .
Home and away in the Champions League
The soccer news starts with the Champions Leagues in UEFA and CONCACAF. The European version has what might have been the biggest matchup in the round of 16. Instead, Real Madrid vs PSG now looks like a foregone conclusion. Real Madrid is 3-1 up with Neymar out for PSG. The other game in Europe is even easier to predict. Liverpool is 5-0 up over Porto. Taking away the intrigue in the second-legs . . .
The soccer player as coach
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 18, 2017) US Soccer Players – The phenomenon of the player/coach in soccer may not be something currently in vogue, but some of the world’s best players have held that dual role. Legendary players such as Gordon Strachan, Kenny Dalglish, Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli, and Graeme Souness have all done so. Other sports have also used player-coaches. . . .
Moving past friendlies in UEFA and CONCACAF
By J Hutcherson (Nov 16, 2017) US Soccer Players - Peru finally gave the World Cup playoffs what it needed, a game worth watching. With all due respect to Australia's win over Honduras much earlier in the day on Wednesday, that game quickly became an obvious conclusion. Though Peru was the stronger team by any metric, New Zealand gave them a game. Peru's goals and both teams' near misses were . . .
The Nations League concept spreads
We start the soccer news with Reuters' Simon Evans reporting that CONCACAF is planning for their version of a Nations League potentially starting in the September international window. The Nations League is a UEFA concept, put in place to replace friendlies with games that count. It's a multiple league structure for national teams with promotion and relegation and playoffs for a champion. UEFA's . . .
