By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 6, 2020) US Soccer Players - Soccer is the world's most popular sport. It's been growing steadily in North America for the past four decades, as reflected by new leagues, clubs, commercial sponsors, and millions of fans and myriad other signposts of progress. There's even a second World Cup looming, with the 2026 event already expected to power another tidal . . .
Like other teams, LAFC ends up with questions from MLS is Back
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 5, 2020) US Soccer Players - LAFC had the stage set at the MLS Is Back tournament. Earlier scares were just that, games that startled but ultimately did not harm the club. Four games in and LAFC had established itself as the class of the tournament and the team to beat. Game five, though, did not go according to plan. Midway through an admittedly bizarre year . . .
FC Dallas and Nashville SC face a unique situation
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 5, 2020) US Soccer Players - While the rest of Major League Soccer played its way through an impromptu and unprecedented tournament in Orlando, two clubs watched from home. Now that MLS Is Back is down to the final four teams and will wrap up with a championship game next week, those two clubs, FC Dallas and Nashville SC, can move on from "what if" to what . . .
MLS is Back is full of surprises, whatever that means
By J Hutcherson (Aug 4, 2020) US Soccer Players - If Major League Soccer successfully restarts the regular season this month, it's a safe assumption that MLS is Back won't matter. Certainly, the group stage results counting in the league table becomes an issue, but that depends on how many games MLS expects to play. If it's enough, the clubs in the league of four-game losing streaks will manage. . . .
The interim tag in MLS
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 27, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS is Back Tournament had its first coaching casualty when Atlanta United FC parted ways with Frank de Boer. In his place, the team promoted Stephen Glass as interim. Glass, who coached USL side ATL UTD 2, takes over while the team conducts a coaching search. Moving on from de Boer seems bold, but going 0-3 last month at MLS . . .
The favorite and playing the underdog at MLS is Back
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 31, 2020) US Soccer Players - If Major League Soccer was going for "unpredictable" with the MLS Is Back tournament in Orlando, they couldn't have planned it any better. The group stage threw up plenty of surprises. The round of 16 delivered its fair share of eyebrow-raising moments. We can't expect anything less from the quarterfinals. This isn't to say you . . .
Concacaf’s new 2022 qualifying format sets expectations in the region
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 30, 2020) US Soccer Players - This week Concacaf rolled out its grand new plan for the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle. On Monday, the confederation unveiled a revised format and timetable for the road to Qatar in the wake of the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it released the rescheduled dates for the final phase of the inaugural . . .
Power Rankings: California in control
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 29, 2020) US Soccer Players - California is the most exciting state for MLS soccer. That much is clear through the completion of the Round of 16. LAFC has the most goals in the MLS is Back tournament with 15 while San Jose is in 2nd-place with 11. Even the LA Galaxy, unceremoniously crashing out in the group stage, is intriguing due to its many problems. The MLS . . .
Seattle, Toronto, and contending in this version of MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 29, 2020) US Soccer Players - Say goodbye to the champions. The Seattle Sounders exited the MLS Is Back tournament in Orlando on Monday night, humbled by LAFC. Call it revenge if you like, though the stakes are just a bit different. The Sounders knocked LAFC off of their championship path in the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs. Say goodbye to last season's MLS Cup . . .
MLS is Back already tells a story
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 27, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS is Back Tournament rolls into the quarterfinals this week. What we got in the first round were some high-scoring games and last-minute epic comebacks. Aside from a few rough starts and teams that never got out of first gear, the tournament has not disappointed. With the competition entering the knockout stage, we can expect . . .
