Informational/Did You Know

The NWSL Playoffs Are Here And You Won’t Want To Miss Them

Much of the soccer world will be focused on the final World Cup qualifiers this weekend, with teams like the Netherlands, Argentina, Italy and the United States all in precarious positions with two matches to play. But hey, don’t forget about the NWSL playoffs, which begin this weekend.

MLS Western Conference Playoff Race Is Tighter Than A Ronaldo Speedo

A thrill in sports not typically associated with soccer, the MLS playoff race is a unique feature when compared to European leagues like the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga. But it sure does make the final weeks of the season exciting.

This year in the Western Conference, eight teams are competing for five remaining playoff spots with less than three weeks left in the regular season. With two three-way ties among the top eight teams, the race for the six playoff berths will go down to the wire, so let’s take a look.

28 Years Later, The U.S. Is In A Familiar Position Needing A Result At Trinidad And Tobago To Reach The World Cup

The United States has qualified for every World Cup since 1990. Only once in that span did the Americans need a result on the final day of qualifying. That came in 1989 when the U.S. traveled to Trinidad and Tobago needing nothing less than a win to procure a trip to the 1990 World Cup. The USMNT again travels to Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10 needing a result to extend its streak to eight straight World Cup appearances.

Crystal Palace Is Closing In On The Record For Longest EPL Scoreless Streak

Crystal Palace has played six, lost six, conceded 13 goals and scored none. That’s 540 minutes of English Premier League football without scoring, a record for longest goalless streak to start a season. In other words, one epic dry spell. But even if Crystal Palace manages to score this weekend against Manchester United, the Eagles will still hold the record for longest EPL scoreless streak.

Why European Soccer Teams Don’t Play The National Anthem Before Matches

In the United States, it’s ubiquitous. Whether it’s the Super Bowl or a high school basketball game, the national anthem will be played before a sporting event. So why don’t European soccer teams play the national anthem before matches? The answer lies in the history of America’s own devotion to the Star-Spangled Banner.

Puerto Rico Needs Aid, With Or Without A Soccer Tradition

In the last week, many in the football world have come together in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Mexico. It’s a wonderful to see soccer fans everywhere unite to help in the recovery process for Mexico, one of the world’s most devoted soccer nations. But it’s important to not forget about Puerto Rico.

The Players With The Most Appearances In Soccer History

The list for the players with the most official appearances in the history of soccer stretches from players who played in the 1940s to the present day. Goalkeepers like Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon have both entered the top 20, but there are still many players ahead of the two active legends.

According to Footballdatabase.eu, English goalkeeper Peter Shilton has accumulated the most official appearances with 1,390. 

Remembering Marvin Lee, The Young Player Who Died After Colliding With Landon Donovan

It’s been nearly 15 years since Marvin Lee last took a breath on this planet. Once a captain of the Trinidad and Tobago youth national team, Lee died at the age of 21 at his home in Arima after suffering a career-ending neck injury from a collision with U.S. legend Landon Donovan two years earlier. 

In 2001, Trinidad and Tobago was at its footballing zenith, ranked No. 25 in the world, the highest it would ever get. Marvin Lee was a defender on the U-20 squad. Some of his teammates would go on to take the Soca Warriors to their first and only World Cup appearance in 2006.

How Pitch Dimensions Impact Different Styles Of Play

For better or worse, FIFA does not stipulate an exact size for a soccer pitch. There is, in fact, a massive range of acceptable soccer pitch dimensions, from 5,000 square yards (4,050 square meters) all the way up to 13,000 square yards (10,800 square meters). While the range is smaller for professional clubs, there is still a variance that can create quite a home-field advantage. 

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