USA

The 2019 NWSL Best XI was released Thursday and boy is it a mess. Not even USWNT stars — some of whom were chosen on the team — could figure out how certain players were on it and others left off.

None of it is doing the NWSL any favors as it tries to build on the success of the 2019 Women’s World Cup and remain among the world’s best leagues amidst growing pressure from top European clubs.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been coy over his future in Major League Soccer. This much we know: He’s done for the season after failing to lead the LA Galaxy past LAFC on Thursday night. 

Carlos Vela had two goals and an assist as LAFC beat the Galaxy for the first time ever, 5-3 in the MLS Western Conference semifinals at Banc of California Stadium.

Ibrahimovic had a goal and an assist in what could be his final match in MLS, but said afterword it’s “too early to speak” about his future.

Vlatko Andonovski will replace two-time Women’s World Cup-winner Jill Ellis as head coach of the USMNT, according to sources.

First reported by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl and then New York Times’ Andrew Das, at least two officials close to the situation have said he will be introduced as head coach early next week. 

Some big news coming out of UEFA Youth League Group F on Wednesday — perhaps the biggest UEFA Youth League Group F news we’ve ever presented on the hallowed pages of The18: In the group’s early match, 18-year-old American winger Konrad de la Fuente scored two great goals as Barcelona thumped Slavia Prague 4-0. Later in the day, Inter Milan responded to Borussia Dortmund’s early goal with four unanswered, but that Dortmund opener was scored by Youssoufa Moukoko.

The latest FIFA World Ranking has been released, and it comes as no surprise that the USMNT has taken a slight tumble. Any good grace that was earned with a 7-0 beatdown of Cuba was subsequently withdrawn following a nightmarishly disjointed performance against Canada, and the U.S. has fallen two places to a global ranking of 23.

LAFC manager Bob Bradley raked in his third Coach of the Year Award after an incredible 21-win and 72-point season.

Bradley joined New England Revolution manager Bruce Arena as the only managers with three MLS Coach of the Year awards (renamed this year as the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award) as well as being the only two managers to win the Sigi Schmid in three separate decades.

 points (single-season points record)
+ goal differential
 Supporters' Shield

After the U.S. women’s national team won its fourth Women’s World Cup this summer they spent most of their celebratory parades and interviews discussing the gender pay gap. Women across the nation earn 79 cents for every $1 men earn and for the USWNT and female athletes everywhere, this is not acceptable. Not only did the USWNT start campaigning for its equal pay movement, but they have influenced other athletes both male and female, as well as younger generations to take a stand and help make a difference. 

As the NWSL season is coming to an end, two teams will go head-to-head for the NWSL Championship on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Cary, North Carolina, at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The North Carolina Courage defeated Reign FC 4-1 in extra time on Sunday to advance to the NWSL championship game with a chance to defend their title. Additionally, the Courage won the NWSL Shield for the third straight year with a league-best 15-5-4 record. The NWSL Championship is nothing new for the Courage, and manager Paul Riley said he believes they are ready to compete and win.

Colorado native Lindsey Horan recently shared her story about how she started her journey to achieve her dreams with The Players’ Tribune. Horan had her goals set from a young age, when she dreamed of being the best football player in the world. Her mindset remains the same today, except now she’s living out her dream.