By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 19, 2019) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer dropped two hefty pieces of news after its Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles this week. The first was no great surprise, official confirmation that the league will expand further, to 30 teams, in the coming years. The second was a bit more dramatic. MLS said it will now collect as well as pay training . . .
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 . . .
Concacaf sets the Gold Cup groups
The soccer news starts with Concacaf's big reveal of the Gold Cup groups. That's different from the Gold Cup draw, since Concacaf announced predetermined groups during their show. As expected, the tournament sets up a Mexico vs USMNT finale. Mexico is in Group A with Canada, Martinique, and Cuba. Costa Rica is the seeded team in Group B with Haiti, Nicaragua, and Bermuda. Group C is Honduras, . . .
The other Gold Cup seeds
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 8, 2019) US Soccer Players – The USMNT has gotten 2019 off to a strong start. The Gregg Berhalter era has brought with it wins, optimism, and depth at various positions. The aim this year will be winning the Gold Cup. While the US enters the tournament as one of the favorites, what about the region’s other contenders? With the Gold Cup draw set for Wednesday, . . .
Decisions, decisions loom for Tab Ramos as USMNT U-20s count down to World Cup
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 5, 2019) US Soccer Players - The USMNT U-20s are now less than two months away from the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Both optimism and uncertainty are swirling. The tournament, which the USMNT opens vs Ukraine on May 24, is the culmination of the U-20s’ biennial cycle and a potentially life-changing event for those who take part. One of the world’s most prominent . . .
Detroit City looks for its place in American soccer
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 5, 2019) US Soccer Players - Detroit City Football Club is the platonic ideal of a grassroots soccer team, at least when it comes to American soccer. Launched by five friends in 2012, the club garnered a surprising response from the soccer community in Detroit. That was despite being amateur and playing a short summer schedule. They parlayed that response into . . .
Taking stock of the USMNT’s March matches
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 28, 2019) US Soccer Players - Occasionally soccer matches turn out to be Rorschach tests, partially-consumed glasses of water that take on different looks from different points of view. You could certainly say that about the USMNT’s 1-1 draw with Chile on Tuesday. Watched in real time, on television, the eye test suggested that the hosts were lucky to grab a . . .
Another result for the USMNT in March
The soccer news starts with the USMNT's 1-1 draw with Chile to close out the March window. The USMNT moves toward the Gold Cup with a clearer idea about what's working under coach Gregg Berhalter's new tactics. With that in mind, the March window was successful for the USMNT, with all involved recognizing the work left to do. Injury issues Weston McKennie left the Ecuador game early with an . . .
USMNT 1 – Chile 1
The USMNT finished the March 2019 international window with a 1-1 draw with Chile at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium. Benefiting from a Gyasi Zardes pass on the break, Christian Pulisic chipped the goalkeeper for the opening goal in the 4th minute. Oscar Opazo equalized in the 9th minute with his shot taking a deflection. Pulisic subbed out in the 36th minute with a strained right . . .
Preview: USMNT vs Chile
The soccer news starts with the USMNT trying to keep their 2019 win streak alive against Chile tonight in Houston (8pm ET - ESPN2). USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter is installing a new system that has worked with a variety of USMNT players. That will continue at BBVA Compass Stadium, with Berhalter already saying he plans on using a different lineup than the one that beat Ecuador last week in Orlando. . . .
