In Europe there's a pretty established pathway to becoming a professional footballer: get signed to the academy of a professional club at an early age and hope that one day you're good enough to make the first team.
For an American with European dreams, the route is similar: either have a rich family that can send you abroad or hope that a European club somehow spots you.
MLS needs more David Ochoas. It needs more players that “enjoy being the villain” and who aren’t — in a league that prides itself on providing the joyful unpredictably of parity — afraid of taking the spotlight and shining it firmly on themselves.
It makes the atmosphere in stadiums better. It makes matchups more intriguing. It creates headlines.
The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs began this weekend, rendering all other sports and leagues entirely meaningless over the next two weeks. If the snob in you says “no, I want to watch Liverpool stick four past Arsenal” or the masochist points you in the general direction of the Detroit Lions, let Saturday’s opening two games serve as a lesson.
Kansas legend and former USMNT center back Matt Besler announced his retirement on Wednesday. Besler made a club-record 348 appearances for Sporting KC, but we’ll always remember him for one night in Manaus. And one Instagram post, but we’ll get to that later.
Besler recorded 47 caps for the USMNT, including four starts at the 2014 World Cup. He made his retirement plans official with a tweet on Wednesday morning.
After a remarkable Decision Day that ended with Colorado atop the Western Conference and Salt Lake in the postseason at the expense of the LA Galaxy, it’s time to begin our countdown to the Cup final on Dec. 11 with some MLS playoff predictions.
Thankfully, this season’s action begins after the November international break so there’ll be no awkward space between the first round on Nov. 20 and the conference semifinals on Thanksgiving.
La MLS se transformó momentáneamente en un SmackDown de la WWE durante el partido que enfrentó a Seattle Sounders con Sporting Kansas City, luego de una brutal agresión del arquero Tim Melia sobre el seleccionado del USMNT, Cristián Roldán. Tanto impacto causó la acción que hasta Dwayne Johnson, La Roca, decidió meter la cuchara.
On Wednesday, Major League Soccer announced its 28-player roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. On Wednesday, Aug. 25, this group will play a highly anticipated match against the Liga MX All-Stars at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
Some of the players have been here before (LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Orlando City’s Nani, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman), but a number of players have been selected for the first time, including rising stars like San Jose’s Cade Cowell, Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi and New England’s Tajon Buchanan.
Raúl Ruidíaz scored one of the goals of his life against Austin FC on Thursday with an absolute missile from near midfield. Ruidíaz saw Austin’s goalkeeper off his line and made him pay for it with a sumptuous strike. This is one of the best MLS goals of the season.
RUIDIAZ FROM WAAAAAAY DOWNTOWN #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/BbZykUpvet
One day after FC Dallas phenom Tanner Tessmann signed for Venezia FC, another American youngster is linked to the newly promoted Venice club. Gianluca Busio has been on fire for Sporting KC and the USMNT and could be taking his talents to Venice. The Busio to Venice transfer rumors appear to be legit.
Sporting Kansas City scored three goals within 14 minutes in the second half to earn a 3-2 victory over the visiting Houston Dynamo.
The game was played in front of 20,086 frenzied fans in the first full-capacity match since March 2020.
In the 50th minute and trailing 1-0, Gadi Kinda drew a foul to set up a free kick. Gianluca Busio drove the ball from about 28 yards out, over the wall of defenders and off the side post into the goal.
GIANLUCA BUSIO!