For the Chicago Fire, 2021 marked a fourth straight season without qualifying for the playoffs. After finishing 22nd overall in 2020 with an average of 1.00 points claimed per game, the Fire where remarkably consistent with regards to being terrible in 2021, finishing 22nd overall with an average of 1.00 points per game.
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.
Having not named an outright NWSL champion since the North Carolina Courage in 2019, it’s time to get down to business with the 2021 NWSL playoffs beginning on Sunday. It’s win or go home from start to finish, and the final at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium should provide a spectacular setting for the final on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Can Carli Lloyd lead Gotham to glory on her swan song? Can anyone stop that OL Reign attack? Is this the beginning of a Portland Thorns dynasty? What about a side like North Carolina or Chicago upsetting the odds?
As the world’s game, soccer is an unending cycle that serves to provide its fans daily entertainment. Between club play, international play and whatever FIFA is dreaming up next (intergalactic play?), the football is officially going on forever. But the easiest answer to how many games do soccer players play in a season is 38.
Ricardo Pepi won’t be playing in Major League Soccer for much longer. The 18-year-old American phenom has requested a transfer from FC Dallas and is being eyed up by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. In an interview with 90 Minute Football, Pepi revealed that his dream is to play for Real Madrid. That begs the question; has an American played for Real Madrid?
An incredible Portland Timbers bicycle kick goal from Dairon Asprilla rocked Providence Park on Wednesday night as his side defeated San Jose 2-0.
Asprilla’s goal instantly went viral. A bicycle kick from outside of the penalty box is a rarity in soccer and quickly was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.
Incredible goals by young talents are frequently accompanied by the phrase “remember the name,” and that’s the case here for 21-year-old FC Groningen winger Cyril Ngonge.
The Belgium youth international’s star has been steadily rising over the last few years, beginning with a successful loan spell with Jong PSV in the Dutch second division to engineer a move to the Eredivisie’s RKC Waalwijk for the 2020-21 campaign.
Carli Lloyd will play one final game with the USWNT on Tuesday against South Korea as the national team says goodbye to one of its greatest ever players. Lloyd — as has been the case since 2008 — will wear the No. 10 on her jersey for her sendoff.
The best players in the history of the sport have worn the iconic number ten. Marta, Pelé, Messi and Maradona are fitting company for Lloyd. The 39-year-old has been the USWNT’s No. 10 for almost 14 years. Before Lloyd, Aly Wagner wore the number and Michelle Akers before her.
Take a look at a list of Belgian First Division title winners and you'll find some familiar names at the top. Anderlecht leads the way with 34 league crowns, followed by last year's winner Club Brugge with exactly half as many titles.
But in third place is a club that even ardent fans of European soccer will struggle to recognize: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Union SG for short).
Located on the outskirts of Brussels, Union SG won six straight Belgian First Division titles between 1903 and 1910, plus another five over the ensuing two decades or so.
No slouch herself, Tobin Heath has played with some giants of the game. She’s called the two greatest goal scorers in the history of international soccer teammates, plus a few of the most iconic USWNT players of all time. But this week she revealed the best footballer she’s ever played with, and her answer might surprise you.