All articles tagged with #us soccer
All 27 U.S.-based MLS teams will compete in a revamped U.S. Open Cup next season, marking MLS’s return to the competition after withdrawing in 2024. The final will be played in December, with MLS teams entering in July. The Open Cup is run by U.S. Soccer and is the nation’s oldest cup competition, a status that has historically seen MLS prioritize other tournaments in some seasons.
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to a contract extension with U.S. Soccer through 2030, expanding his role to lead the senior national team and broader development efforts, with billionaire Ken Griffin funding the deal; the extension follows a World Cup run that saw the U.S. exit in the last 16 and sets the stage for a 2030 quarterfinal push.
Mauricio Pochettino has extended as USMNT head coach through the 2030 World Cup, with his staff to guide broader development of the national-team pathway, youth soccer, coaching education, and league collaboration, as the team begins a fresh cycle after a rebuilding phase and a disappointing World Cup.
U.S. Soccer is close to renewing Mauricio Pochettino as the USMNT head coach with a four-year contract through the 2030 World Cup, following ongoing talks after the 2026 World Cup. The deal would extend his tenure beyond 2026, with discussions focusing on commitment through 2030, salary, and a long-term plan for American soccer, including development reforms; U.S. Soccer has also hired Steve Cherundolo to lead the 2028 Olympic team as part of broader planning.
A personal essay arguing that America’s pay-to-play, travel-team culture stifles technical development and national-team potential. It advocates replacing the current ladder with European-style club academies, ruthless scouting, inclusive public facilities, and a reduction of private-equity influence, drawing on Dutch, Norwegian, and Spanish models to propose a more accessible, skill-focused path for every kid.
A postmortem on the U.S. men’s World Cup exit argues seven structural flaws—pay-to-play youth development and limited public-school pathways, uneven grassroots coaching, no clear tactical identity, competition from other American sports, lack of a game-changing star, an insufficiently challenging schedule, and a controversial Balogun incident—left the team short of advancing beyond the round of 16 despite hosting and a Europe-based roster under Mauricio Pochettino.
The final U.S.-Belgium Round of 16 World Cup audience in the United States reached 50.1 million viewers across Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock, up from an initial 42 million, outpacing NFL conference championships and a England-Mexico matchup while underscoring soccer’s surging popularity in America.
Belgium routed the U.S. 4-1 in the World Cup Round of 16 and celebrated with a Trump-style YMCA dance, turning controversy over Balogun’s red-card ruling and a goalkeeper’s doping test into motivation as they eye a quarterfinal versus Spain.
Carli Lloyd defended her criticism of Christian Pulisic on X, saying she owes no apology after Pulisic revealed a bone bruise and microfracture in his leg during the World Cup, and arguing that his rest/absence from parts of the schedule was a factual, not personal, matter despite the criticism.
US forward Christian Pulisic suffered a microfracture and bone bruise in his right leg during the 4-1 World Cup last-16 defeat to Belgium and will begin rehab with AC Milan; recovery is expected to take several weeks.
US Soccer issued a statement after the World Cup noting positive talks with Mauricio Pochettino about his future and saying conversations will continue after a rest; Pochettino said he’ll take time to decide and expects to discuss with the federation in coming weeks. The federation expressed respect for him and his staff and signaled that retention is a priority, as the USMNT delivered a strong group stage but a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium highlights ongoing work ahead for the next cycle.
The piece argues that the U.S. will only produce a global soccer superstar if the sport becomes a mainstream youth pursuit, as competition with football, baseball, and basketball drives player development. A large talent pool will raise the ceiling for future stars and help the U.S. contend at World Cups, but it’s a long-term cultural shift that won’t happen quickly.
US Soccer released a noncommittal statement saying it will continue talks with Mauricio Pochettino after a rest period post-World Cup, with the coach having a contract through the tournament and reports of an extension through 2030 offered before the event. Pochettino indicated openness to discussions but said now is not the time to decide, amid ongoing Premier League links and rumors of AC Milan interest following a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller said Mauricio Pochettino wouldn’t be surprised if he left his U.S. managerial post after the World Cup, citing perceived inconsistencies since his 2024 hire. With the USA eliminated by Belgium, talks about extending his contract had been ongoing, but a departure could come soon as Pochettino weighs options in club soccer, with links to AC Milan, Tottenham, and Real Madrid, while U.S. Soccer had floated keeping him through the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA quietly suspended U.S. Soccer team manager Sam Zapatka and security chief Frank Pannell ahead of the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle; the reasons weren’t disclosed, though the move intersects with ongoing controversy over Balogun’s red card and disciplinary handling at the World Cup.