Human Interest

In European soccer, as with most sports, rivalries are usually established by proximity — two clubs, a few miles apart, battle for control of the city. Sometimes these teams come from competing cities or even rival regions. 

This season there is a rivalry that destroys every preconceived geographic boundary. Instead of coming from two sides of the same country, these clubs hail from opposite ends of the continent.

The USWNT is the most dominant force in women’s soccer history. The U.S. has never been ranked lower than second in the world and has won more World Cups and Olympics than it’s lost. But if there’s one thing the players love more than winning, it’s dogs. 

It’s National Pet Day, apparently, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better group of people to celebrate with than the USWNT. 

Christian Pulisic was involved in an awesome charity event from the USMNT's training base in Houston, Texas, before the team's crucial World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Thursday night. Partnering with PUMA and the Champions Chess Tour, Pulisic played against a 10-year-old version of reigning five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen using the "Play Magnus" mobile app. 

For every move that Pulisic made before his inevitable demise, PUMA donated $500 to UNICEF. Very few people reading this article will appreciate how difficult a task that truly is.