Soccer correspondent, The Guardian US || Fmr: The Athletic || Putting the "bi" in byline 🏳️🌈
Saint Paul, MN
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Paolo Dybala had more goals for Juventus in 2017-18 (26) than minutes in this World Cup (22).
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Clint Dempsey, as Landon Donovan gears up to analyze #ElTri's lineup. "Your other favorite team!"
"I know that was coming. Thanks Deuce." - LD 😂
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BREAKING: The #USL is set for a milestone vote on the adoption of a promotion and relegation system, per sources.
• Plan for 3 pro tiers
• Potential restructure in 2024, pro/rel in 2025
• Sources optimistic, but vote may have opposition
w/ @tombogert: theathletic.com/4684339/2023…
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BREAKING: The #USL has informed U.S. Soccer that all 47 of its clubs will participate in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, sources tell The Athletic.
Report: theathletic.com/live-blogs/l…
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MLS teams keep rebranding to try becoming "global brands" with modern and simplistic crests.
Meanwhile, a team donning this gem just made it to the Premier League. A win for the purists.
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John Morrissey
Still such an odd world when players get longer suspensions for betting on sports than those who use hate speech on the pitch…but the same players are made to advertise for sports betting companies every single match.
Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney has been banned from football for eight months over 232 betting breaches.
It means Toney, who has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season, is unlikely to move this summer as his suitors are now likely to be deterred.
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I'm sorry, the Fulton County (containing Atlanta, GA) elections director is repping...the Portland Timbers?
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It’s really a shame FIFA only lets teams make a single substitution in a World Cup match. Imagine what could be done with all the good players the United States brought.
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Keylor Navas will never get enough respect, from his clubs and the general public alike. One of his generation's finest goalkeepers.
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A statement from Sherwin-Williams after the USSF’s investigation into the #NWSL named Racing Louisville:
“In lieu of the sponsorship, we have made a donation to Support The Players National Emergency Trust (NET), which will guarantee our funds go directly to the players.”
ALT A screenshot of an email (white font on dark background) including a company statement from Sherwin-Williams, which reads: The Sherwin-Williams Company is deeply saddened by the disturbing findings of the Yates report commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The abuse outlined in the report is reprehensible and we condemn the use of power to systemically harm women. In response to these findings, we have suspended our sponsorship with Racing Louisville Football Club. Any future support will depend on the National Women’s Soccer League creating meaningful change to ensure the health and safety of the players. In lieu of the sponsorship, we have made a donation to Support The Players National Emergency Trust (NET), which will guarantee our funds go directly to the players. Sherwin-Williams supports and admires these extraordinary female athletes for their bravery and courage to step forward.
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Nicolas Lodeiro spent a full 25-30 seconds using a towel to dry the ball and his hands before doing this with his ensuing throw-in… 😂
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A bit of personal news: starting Saturday, the Athletic has upped my content level to make writing about soccer my full-time gig. Three years ago, that seemed impossible. Huge thank you to all of our subscribers - can’t wait to give you near-daily #MNUFC content.
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Your MLS goalscoring charts:
Carlos Vela: 34
#FCCincy: 31
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 30
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Public request to FOX to re-air every match from the 2018 men's and 2019 women's World Cups so I can restock my YouTube TV dvr for the next month.
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After a team meeting, #Sounders are united in their preference not to play tonight’s game, sources tell @TheAthleticSCCR. #LAvSEA
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It appears Rick Schantz is saying “he didn’t mean it, they’re just playing soccer” after Landon Donovan states that Collin Martin was called a homophobic slur.
Clinton St. Clair
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#MLS has really gone from zero to "selling league" in, what, six months?
Alphonso Davies to Bayern
Zack Steffen to Man City
Miguel Almirón to Newcastle
Tyler Adams to RB Leipzig
Chris Richards to Bayern
Yoshi Yotun to Cruz Azul
Giovinco to Al-Hilal
Luciano Acosta to ???
Breaking: Luciano Acosta leaves D.C. United training camp ahead of possible transfer to PSG or Premier League club washingtonpost.com/sports/20… #dcu #mls
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#LAGalaxy: "Zlatan, we took out a full-page ad for you to write an open letter to Los Angeles sports fans. They'll love hearing what you have to say. We can't wait to see what you've got!"
Zlatan: nitter.app/DaleJohnsonESPN/status…
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NEW: On Friday afternoon, #MLS announced that it will have its Next Pro developmental teams participate in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup instead of its first teams.
The league will reassess participation for future iterations next winter. Report: theathletic.com/5141003/2023…
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FIFA: *tries everything to remove rainbows and LGBTQ+ solidarity from World Cup*
#FRAPOL:
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credit to MLS digital for having the foresight to throw a "v" between team acronyms in match hashtags. this Western Conference Final would have been...something
#SEAvMIN
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With MLS teams announcing their plans for limited capacity seating in 2021, it's important to follow best practices.
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Not gonna lie, I’ll be bummed if #MNUFC doesn’t make the Dethloon drone a thing at every match.
Between Clean Sheets | Cheyenne
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The Premier League restarts tomorrow!
With a double-header and games nearly daily, one important thing to track is whether or not the cops who killed Breonna Taylor are arrested.
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Just over a year before the impending MLS franchise led to Saint Louis FC‘s dissolution, the club notched a famous late U.S. Open Cup win over FC Cincinnati en route to the 2019 quarterfinal.
Look at what it meant to the fans. This is American soccer culture at its purest.
Holy shit. Late winner on a corner kick for St. Louis FC. Imagine not loving #USOC2019.
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NEW: Christian Pulisic did the Trump dance because he "just thought it was funny." Minutes later, he spoke of his status as a #USMNT leader.
With the world watching closely as the 2026 World Cup approaches, even a captain's dance sends a message. nytimes.com/athletic/5934687…
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Excited to share that I've signed a new contract with @TheAthletic! More coverage of men's and women's soccer to come.
I'm beyond grateful for everyone that's read my work, even if you didn't like BAM!. Working in this newsroom with these peers is truly a dream job. Thank you.
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people stanning Marine FC like their childhood club, but act like U.S. Open Cup doesn't exist
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BREAKING: Des Moines may be on the verge of landing a pro soccer team. Kyle Krause has struck a deal to bring the Iowa capital a #USL Championship club — if they can build a downtown soccer-specific stadium.
Much more in @TheAthleticSCCR’s report: theathletic.com/1222755/2019…
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I can't get over that Tomas Aviles flop to ground...
- in the box
- during a defensive sequence
- in a tied game
An all-timer of an error in MLS history.
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Molineux's atmosphere seems second to none at the moment. Love having Wolves established in the Premier League again.
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I suspect that in 20 years, we’re going to look back on the “focus group-tested” era of branding clubs with the same cringe that owners had about “soccer balls on fire” or “American mascot nicknames.”
Doesn’t seem wise to rebrand every decade!
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BREAKING: #MLS is finalizing a new reserves league which could be announced by the end of the week, sources tell @TheAthletic.
Details, plus why MLS is taking a second attempt at reserves — and how this all could impact the #USL. theathletic.com/2136000/2020…
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“The MLS announcement today about the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was a surprise to us and contrary to recent public statements. We will speak with U.S. Soccer, and with our owners, before making any further public comment about MLS’s position.”
-#USL president Paul McDonough
NEW: On Friday afternoon, #MLS announced that it will have its Next Pro developmental teams participate in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup instead of its first teams.
The league will reassess participation for future iterations next winter. Report: theathletic.com/5141003/2023…
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NEW: As a nation watched for updates while legal votes continued to be tallied, it saw a Portland Timbers lanyard on a Georgia official.
I spoke with Fulton County election director Richard Barron (and his brother) about #RCTID fandom and #Elections2020. theathletic.com/2182244/2020…
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Forget Spain winning Euro-World Cup-Euro in succession. It's waaaaay more impressive that Italy missed a World Cup, won a Euros, and missed another World Cup.
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I don’t think there’s any doubt left: Brian Schmetzer has locked in a place on MLS’s coaching Mount Rushmore.
Incredible run of many years by the entirety of the Sounders organizations.
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BREAKING: Reporting w/ @samstejskal: MLS has a tentative plan to resume play following #MLSisBack.
- Restart on Aug. 22nd
- 18 regular season games
- 9 teams from each conference qualify for playoffs, which begin on Nov. 20th
- MLS Cup on Dec. 12th
theathletic.com/1950606/2020…
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BREAKING: MLS is finalizing a plan for a new league expected to apply for U.S. third-division sanctioning, sources tell @MLSist and me. The league would launch in 2022 with over half of MLS clubs involved — plus potential independent members.
Report: theathletic.com/2626561/2021…
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I’d say Coffey and Shaw have played themselves into “must-bring” status for the Olympics. Both were massive for the #USWNT in overcoming an early shock today.
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As a queer writer, I have serious reservations about covering the #USL after this.
Here it is, from the league: Phoenix will host the final if they win.
Hard to put into words how disgusting this is. The #USL is rewarding a team for using homophobic slur in a match they were losing. No way to sugar coat that.
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REPORT: The #USL has been in talks with both EA Sports and Konami about being part of soccer video games in the near future. Plenty of details, insight from @CourtJeske — and which game (FIFA or PES) is the current frontrunner. theathletic.com/1786445/2020…
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I'll say one thing for this plan: it's a good way to finally put a playoff team in Orlando.
MLS proposing all 26 teams come to Orlando to resume coronavirus-delayed season. Details here: - The Washington Post washingtonpost.com/sports/20…
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You have months to choose a name. You have focus groups, input from many people, a range of names with varying uniqueness made public...
And you land on Charlotte FC. Disappointing, but not surprising.
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NEW: @kimischilling and I reflected on the #USWNT's World Cup showing and the preceding cycle to size up the Vlatko Andonovski era — and what should come next.
I will never be able to understand the squad management at play throughout these four games. theathletic.com/4754833/2023…
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Did some back-of-napkin math. Let's say LAFC, Austin, Philly, or Orlando make a push for glory.
- 34 games in #MLS
- up to 6 playoff w/o WC
- 5 in U.S. Open Cup (enter in 4th rd)
- up to 7 Leagues Cup games
- up to 8 CCL
...rosters aren't deep enough for 50-60 games.
NEW: #MLS has finalized its new playoff format with the 2023 season just five days away.
- "Wild card" game for 8/9 single-elim
- Best-of-3 for "first" round, no draws
- Last 3 rounds single-elim
On @TheAthleticSCCR, @MLSist and I have all the specifics: theathletic.com/4237475/2023…
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No team in MLS history has ever followed up a CONCACAF Champions League title with a U.S. Open Cup win. The most elusive double in soccer.
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Holy shit. Late winner on a corner kick for St. Louis FC. Imagine not loving #USOC2019.
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Pour one out for Christian Pulisic. Go figure the country’s best male player since Donovan coincides with the program’s worst run/biggest mess in decades. #USMNT
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NEW: #MLS sent memos to TV and radio broadcasters this weekend not to “belabor the point” when addressing the lockout between the Professional Soccer Referees Association and PRO, according to a memo obtained by @TheAthleticSCCR.
Details: theathletic.com/5313746/2024…
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I'm thrilled to announce that I've been picked up by @TheAthleticSCCR as a staff writer. Thankful beyond words for the opportunity to have increased stability as I pursue meaningful stories for your reading pleasure.
📣 Big news 📣
We're doubling the size of our full-time ⚽️ staff! Please welcome our new national writers:
@FelipeCar
@jeffrueter
@mattpentz
@MLSist
@samstejskal
& of course @itsmeglinehan, who joined last week. More from @quraishi on our coverage:
theathletic.com/925601/2019/…
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This is rock bottom. This isn't Klinsmann, or Arena, alone. This is a combination of miserable choices from the top down.
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BREAKING: The #USL is aiming to launch a women’s pro-am league in the spring of 2022, sources tell @itsmeglinehan and myself.
Details at @TheAthleticSCCR: theathletic.com/2338627/2021…
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COLUMN: With every decision, MLS weighs two camps: American sports’ standards and global soccer precedence. Friday’s reveal of their U.S. Open Cup plan firmly positions its own interests above the sport’s on these shores.
On the real magic of the cup:
theathletic.com/5141474/2023…
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BREAKING: The #USL is finalizing details of its upcoming pre-professional women's league, which is set to launch in 2022, sources tell @itsmeglinehan, @MLSist and me. An announcement may come as soon as this week.
Our report at @TheAthleticSCCR: theathletic.com/2638005/2021…
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Some of you have messaged me about this topic, so I figured I would open up about my own mental health journey. Hopefully it helps somebody out there.
This is why I always keep my DMs open.
Hard time of year for a lot of folks. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. A simple copy and paste might save someone's life.
Spread the word. End the stigma.
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BREAKING: The Miami FC is close to joining the #USL Championship, sources tell @TheAthleticSCCR. The club will buy Ottawa Fury’s franchise rights and play under the existing #TheMiamiFC brand. More on a potentially seismic move in U.S. soccer: theathletic.com/1452481/2019…
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I am 27 and have never heard any of my peers complain about games being “too long.”
If anything, they appreciate the dependable runtime to that of baseball and american football.
Florentino Perez to El Chiringuito: "If young people find football matches too long it may be because they are not interesting enough... or maybe we might have to make the football matches shorter". 🚨
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NEW: Over 4,300 #USMNT and #USWNT fans took our survey after Nike’s 2022 World Cup jersey drop. Nike is bullish that on-field results will help fan opinions of the kits.
Is it time for the U.S. to have a staple primary kit? If so: sash, stripes or hoops?
theathletic.com/3601395/2022…
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You shouldn't need me to say this, but as a queer man working in soccer: this entire sequence is atrocious, from the player using a slur to Rick Schantz trying to defend it unapologetically. piped.video/watch?v=Wg7BgFAy…
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