Opinion

Eleven months ago, the wealthiest and most successful powers in European football broke away from their domestic leagues to form what was known as the European Super League. 

The league's motto was: "The best clubs. The best players. Every week." This meant no more away trips to Burnley for Manchester City or midweek Copa del Rey fixtures in obscure provincial towns for Barcelona. 

Every game would be under the lights at the Etihad or Camp Nou featuring the biggest names in the world.

The decision by FIFA on Feb. 28, 2022, to suspend Russia from international competition — a move that could see the national team excluded from the 2022 FIFA World Cup — breaks with a tradition of inaction by soccer’s world governing body over the ethical failings of member states.

This week, Russia initiated an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the largest attack on a European nation since World War II. Amid global condemnation of the needless aggression and as Vladimir Putin turns his country into an international pariah, sports organizations have quickly moved to strip Russia of major events. While soccer isn’t the primary concern in Eastern Europe right now, many in the footballing world are wondering: Will FIFA ban Russia from the World Cup? Can UEFA kick Russian clubs out of its competitions?

Hope Solo had some choice words for Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe on Wednesday. The former U.S. goalkeeper used a Twitter thread to blast the USWNT players for Tuesday’s landmark settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation, saying it was “an easy out of a fight they were never really in.” It highlighted the divide in opinion over whether the settlement was good or bad for women’s soccer in the U.S.

Being a sports fan in the modern age is, at best, a chore and, at worst, almost like having a second job.

Fans must keep track of which leagues are offered on which streaming services as they balance cost with the value of the product being offered.

If an American soccer fan wants to watch the Premier League, Bundesliga and Champions League, they will need three separate streaming services costing a total of $170 per year.

Locally, viewers have to deal with a different type of headache: blackouts, which prevent people from watching their local sports teams.

Following the addition of expansion side Charlotte FC, Major League Soccer's opening weekend features all 28 teams in action with nine matches on Saturday, Feb. 26, and five on Sunday, Feb. 27.

MLS opening day 2022 has one match on FOX (Portland vs. New England) and one streamed on Twitter (LAFC vs. Colorado — also on Univision and TUDN), and play also takes center stage across the nation Sunday with one game on FS1 (Atlanta vs. Kansas City) and one on ESPN (LA Galaxy vs. NYCFC).