USA

Jordan Pefok has made his presence known with his new club Union Berlin. After scoring a bicycle kick in a DFB-Pokal match a week ago he opened his Bundesliga scoring account on Saturday during Union Berlin’s 3-1 victory in the Berlin derby vs. Hertha.

Pefok opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a nicely placed header at the near post. Last season’s Swiss Super League golden boot winner shows no signs of slowing his lust for goals.

American and Leeds United fans couldn’t have had a better Saturday as USMNT forward Brenden Aaronson grabbed a game-winner, sort of, in a 2-1 victory vs. Wolves. He and Tyler Adams looked great in their first Premier League game.

With the score tied at 1-1 late in the second half and Wolves looking the more threatening side, Leeds and manager Jesse Marsch needed something special. 

A dangerous and precise pass from Adams got the move started for Leeds and then a cross from Patrick Bamford found Aaronson for the winner in the 74th minute.

The latest women’s FIFA rankings were released on Friday and, to no one’s surprise, the USWNT remains No. 1. The last time the Americans fell out of the top spot was for a few months in 2017. England and Germany surged up the Top 10, but coming in at No. 10 is yet another baffling appearance from a team that hasn’t played in three years.

The Top 9 of the women’s FIFA rankings include all the usual suspects: USA, Germany, Sweden, England, France, Netherlands, Canada, Spain and Brazil, respectively. 

Chelsea’s roster is going through some serious changes this summer with big names leaving the club and being replaced. The potential Chelsea starting XI 2022-23 lineup has some fresh faces and new names.

First, let’s look at the potential lineup and then explain the additions. Spoiler alert to fellow Americans: Christian Pulisic doesn’t make it into this potential lineup. The formation is manager Thomas Tuchel’s preferred 3-4-2-1 look.

Christian Pulisic is no stranger to pressure. 

He put the USMNT on his back as a teenager during the failed 2018 qualifying cycle, played in and won a German Cup final at 18, took on the burden of a $70 million price tag at Chelsea, played in and won a Champions League final there and has continued to handle the strain of being the national team's game-changer in the final third with incredible consistency, like Landon Donovan before him but without the emergence of a Clint Dempsey to work with.  

Last week, Gotham FC captain McCall Zerboni was nominated for the NWSLPA’s Ally Award, which recognizes leadership and character in unsung players. A week later, she was being called out on social media for using racist language. Then Angel City’s Madison Hammond gave a master class in how to respond to those who perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Multiples sources have now confirmed that the Riqui Puig LA Galaxy contract has been agreed to, with the 23-year-old joining from Barcelona on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.

Barça manager Xavi told Puig back in May that he wasn't part of the club's midfield plans for the new campaign, and after being left off the team's preseason tour of the United States, the "next Iniesta" has signed a three-year deal ahead of the MLS transfer window closing Thursday.