Men's National Teams

Battle in the Bay Area: TBT to the last time the USMNT faced off against Japan

In the final international break before the World Cup, the USMNT faces an interesting set of matches against some infrequent opponents as Gregg Berhalter looks to formulate his final roster.

The international period begins on Sep. 22 with a friendly match against Japan at 8:25 a.m. ET in Düsseldorf, Germany. This is followed by a friendly against Saudi Arabia on Sep. 27 in Murcia, Spain. 

Here are the best, alright and worst-case scenarios for USMNT vs. Japan on Friday

Gregg Berhalter’s United States men’s national team plays its first of two friendlies on Friday vs. Japan. The game is being played on neutral ground in Düsseldorf, Germany. Here are some USMNT vs Japan predictions and scenarios.

USMNT vs Japan Predictions & Scenarios

Up first will be the overall scenarios, and then it'll be broken down by the three sections (attack, midfield and defense).

Belgium kit rescored: We all overlooked the greatest socks in football history

When adidas dropped the new Belgium kit for the 2022 World Cup, we all had a laugh about how it's something Guy Fieri would wear while eating his bodyweight in sloppy joes at a local dive.

Gareth Bale says he's on ‘good path’ to World Cup despite never going 90 minutes for LAFC

Wales captain Gareth Bale said he is on a "good path" towards full fitness ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, despite not completing a full game since joining Los Angeles FC in June.

Bale signed for the Major League Soccer club after leaving Real Madrid, where he struggled with injury in his last few seasons. He has made only two starts in his 11 appearances for LAFC, scoring twice.

Want tickets to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris? IOC reveals key details

It's almost impossible to believe, but we're currently just 671 days from the start of soccer at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and the IOC is revealing key dates for how to get tickets for Paris Olympics.

It's going to be a massive competition for U.S. Soccer as the USWNT looks to return to the top of the podium after earning bronze in Tokyo, while the USMNT U-23s are back at the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

If Berhalter plays his hottest hand, this is the USMNT starting XI vs. Japan

The USMNT begins its two-game September window Friday morning with a friendly against fellow World Cup participant Japan at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. 

It'll be a fascinating matchup with the Samurai Blue fielding the likes of Schalke's Maya Yoshida, Monaco's Takumi Minamino, Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo, while the U.S. is looking for some reassurances from its banner carriers (the goalkeeper position, Christian Pulisic). 

Luis Enrique is giving instructions to the Spanish national team players via walkie-talkies

Seeing a coach standing on the sidelines yelling at his/her players is part of the soccer weave. However, this traditional rite seems to have its days numbered after witnessing the new technology innovation in the Spanish national team camp: mini walkie-talkies.

Cuatro candidatos para tres cupos: Tata Martino habló de los delanteros que llevará al Mundial

Gerardo Martino habló. En la previa de los amistosos de la selección mexicana ante Perú y Colombia, el entrenador del Tri dio sus impresiones sobre los rivales que tendrá el combinado nacional durante la próxima fecha FIFA, pero mucho de la conversación en realidad se centró en los jugadores que llevará a la Copa del Mundo y en especial los centrodelanteros que piensa tener a disposición en Catar.

De todo lo que dijo hay dos conclusiones claras:

BREAKING: Ronaldo Makes Decision On Portugal Future Post-World Cup

On Tuesday evening at the Portuguese Football Federation's "Gala Quinas de Ouro 2022," Cristiano Ronaldo used an award acceptance speech to outline his international future with the national team.

Predicting 10 Of The Biggest World Cup Snubs

This week serves as the final international break before clubs must release players to their national teams just one week before the World Cup begins, so the latest squad selections should be huge indicators of the final 26-man rosters for the competing nations.

However, a look at the current teams indicates that this won't be a traditional World Cup of blockbuster snubs, but rather an exploration of player pools in an attritional battle against lingering muscle strains.

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