A sellout crowd of 62,493 were in attendance for the 2019 Gold Cup Final on July 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The majority of the fans, though, weren’t rooting for the home team. The Soldier Field stands were a sea of green, white and red. The sights and sounds seemed more like Estadio Azteca. Continue reading “Jorge Campos Hopes to See More Mexican Players in MLS”
The popularity of soccer—both in participation and interest—is increasing in the United States. There’s no doubting that.
According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch, while 9% preferred America’s pastime baseball. Not only is soccer growing as a whole in the United States, but Major League Soccer (MLS), the top domestic league, has experienced a 27% rise in interest since 2012, according to Nielsen Sports Sponsorlink. Continue reading “Soccer’s Growth in U.S. Has Legends Excited”
Sebastian Velasquez placed the ball on the white circle of painted Bermuda grass that had carefully been measured 12 yards from goal. Like a combatant preparing for a duel, he took his paces, briskly stepping back six times and slightly off to the right of the ball.
“From community college. Miles Joseph, the assistant coach, found him for head coach Jason Kreis. He could be the hero…” Continue reading “How Alcoholism Nearly Wrecked Sebastian Velasquez’s Career”
Grant Wahl joined Sports Illustrated in 1996. Coincidentally, Major League Soccer played its inaugural season that same year in the United States.
Over the course of the past 20 years, Wahl has seen soccer and the MLS grow and improve in America. The league itself has doubled since its inception from 10 to 20 teams, will expand to 23 by the 2018 season and can be seen weekly on Fox Sports 1 and ESPN. Continue reading “Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated on Soccer’s Growth in United States”
The United States Men’s National Team did it again.
They built up the hopes of soccer supporters — fanatics and casual observers alike — in a major tournament, but faltered when it mattered most. The USMNT was brought back down to Earth thanks to Lionel Messi and Argentina, losing 4-0 in the Copa America semifinal on Tuesday.
(Hey, at least there’s a third-place consolation game, right?)
Continue reading “What it will take for U.S. Soccer to compete with world’s best”
Much of the criticism surrounding New York City FC since its inception has been around the club’s relationship with Manchester City FC.
New York City FC has been referred to as “Manchester City B” or the club’s “farm team.”
New head coach Patrick Vieira, who was formally introduced to the media Wednesday, wants to keep the two separate and give New York City FC, which failed to qualify for the playoffs its first season in Major League Soccer in 2015, its own identity.
Los Angeles Galaxy manager Bruce Arena made some pretty blunt statements regarding Major League Soccer, its players, its current state and its future.
Arena said the league needs to slow down its expansion — which has doubled from 10 to 20 teams since the end of the 2004 season with four more expected to join by the end of the decade — and focus on developing domestic players.
Continue reading “Major League Soccer needs homegrown players, not expensive aging stars”
