SoCal Teenagers Living the Dream
It was a near perfect afternoon for Lynwood native, Ulysses Llanez. Imagine growing up in Southern California with the dream of playing soccer at the highest level possible. Add to that the opportunity to play for the US Mens National Team in your home town at just the age of 18. That is exactly what […]
Tokyo 2020 is coming! US Men’s Olympic Soccer 101
2020 is an Olympic Year. All those sports Americans barely know exist in any other year — we love watching them all. Like Team Handball — why isn’t that a bigger deal here in America? It looks so fun! But back to soccer… Olympic Soccer 101 Soccer, of course, is an Olympic sport. It’s not […]
2-0, ey? USA falls to Canada for the first time in decades
What are the problems, and how will they be fixed? Long term: Is “Pay to Play” the problem? Kyle Martino hinted that eliminating “Pay to Play” needs to be the focus if American soccer is to be improved. He said on Twitter: …nothing will improve our USMNT more than unlocking soccer in the cities of […]
One on One with Jermaine Jones
In the wake of the United States Men’s National Team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, several thousand people have voiced their opinions regarding what went wrong and what needs to change in order for the USA to never miss another men’s World Cup. One individual whose voice carries further than […]
Mexico City (Part 2): Therapeutic Nostalgia at the Azteca
When I woke up Friday morning, September the 8th, 2017, I had that old Winston Churchill line echoing in my head. “The GREATEST thrill a man can experience,” Churchill once said, “is to be shot at and missed.” Walking around Colonia Roma that morning, I could feel this quote being applicable to almost every man, […]
Episode 42 – Good Thing That’s Over [plus reaction from the NASL news and like one or two other things]
Dike and Nate return for the latest edition of the SoccerNation Podcast – [powered by soccerloco] to break down the most recent two international fixtures of the United States Men’s National Team against Costa Rica and Honduras. It wasn’t pretty, nor was it fun to watch, but the USA still has a chance of qualifying […]
Mired in Mediocrity: Honduras 1 USA 1
For 84 minutes in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday, the United States looked incapable of completing even the most simple of tasks. Chance creation? Goals? These things are mere fantasies for a team struggling to link a few passes together. Bruce Arena’s side, which featured nine MLS based players from the start, was utterly abysmal […]
Honduras vs. USA: Dempsey and Pulisic hold the keys in San Pedro Sula
The last time the United States Men’s National Team played Honduras, there was angst in the air. With the U.S. losing their opening two CONCACAF Hexagonal World Cup Qualifying fixtures to Mexico and Costa Rica, thus completing the final chapter of Jurgen Klinsmann’s rocky reign as manager, the fear of missing out on Russia 2018 […]
Backs Against the Wall: USA bordering on Crisis Mode after 2-0 Loss to Ticos
What were you focusing on in the wake of the United States’ 2-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Friday night? Perhaps it was the abysmal performance put forth by the U.S. players and manager Bruce Arena. “We didn’t make any plays that mattered and we probably were outplayed at most positions on the field,” said Arena. […]
Magical Morris: Late Winner Sees USA Top Jamaica For Gold Cup Title
Less than two years ago, Jordan Morris was busy leading Stanford to victory in the NCAA College Cup. A year later, at the conclusion of his first professional season, he lifted MLS Cup with the Seattle Sounders. On Wednesday night, he was the difference maker in the most crucial of moments in Santa Clara as […]
The Unexpected Final: USA battle Jamaica for Gold Cup Glory
When Kemar Lawrence’s free kick hit the back of the net at the Rose Bowl on Sunday night, shock waves were sent through the footballing region. The New York Red Bulls left-back affectionately known as Taxi froze Mexico goalkeeper Jesus Corona, Lawrence bending his attempt up and over the wall and under the crossbar from around […]
The Deuce is on the Loose: Texas Boy on Texan Stage Guides U.S. to Gold Cup Final
A historic night in Arlington saw the U.S. advance to the final of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over Costa Rica. Texas native Clint Dempsey came off the bench midway through the second half, entering a scoreless affair and proceeding to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Dempsey, […]
Yanks and Ticos: Spot in Gold Cup Final at Stake as USA Face Costa Rica
One more win and the United States will be playing in the Gold Cup Final. In four tournament matches, Bruce Arena’s side has played far from perfect soccer. Inauspicious performances from a discombobulated squad have induced the dissatisfied groans of fans and pundits alike. That group seeming to lack cohesion happens to be on a […]
A Fortuitous Five Minutes: USA 2 El Salvador 0
A five minute flurry in the waning moments of the first half was enough to guide the United States past El Salvador and into the semi-finals of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Goals from two U.S. defenders, Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj, helped see the Americans past a determined and quite ferocious La Selecta, a 2-0 […]
What’s The Point of all This? Yanks Look Ahead to El Salvador
The cavalry has arrived. The bizarre chapter that was the Gold Cup group stage now seems a distant memory. The United States somehow managed to finish atop Group B. Their seven points and +4 goal differential don’t look too shabby. Their overall performance in their opening three matches, particularly the first two, was pedestrian. An […]
Somehow Back in business: USA 3 Nicaragua 0
They pulled it off. They did exactly what they needed to do. Nothing more. Nothing less. The United States defeated Nicaragua 3-0 in the final Group B match for both sides on Saturday night. Goals from Joe Corona, Kelyn Rowe, and Matt Miazga sent the U.S. atop the group table and onto the quarterfinals while Los […]