The U.S. women’s national team opened World Cup qualifying with a goal in the second minute against Mexico. The USWNT absolutely dominated the rest of the half without finding another goal.
The second half, though, was another story.
MLS is reaching its most interesting stage; no margin for error if you want to be in the MLS Cup playoffs and compete for the title.
Now, life in the Western and Eastern Conferences differs largely. Out of the four teams that have already secured a spot in the postseason, three of them come from the East (Atlanta United, NY Red Bulls, and NYCFC). The West, on the contrary, has FC Dallas as its only qualified representative.
As a 10-year member of the USWNT and a key contributor at two previous World Cups, attacker Tobin Heath is one of the more wizened veterans of the 20-player group selected to earn America’s place at the 2019 Women’s World Cup via the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
With 138 caps to her name, Heath is the fifth most-capped player on the USWNT’s Women’s Championship roster. At the age of 30, she’s the sixth oldest.
The 2018 Concacaf Women's Championship schedule kicks off Thursday in Cary, North Carolina, with the USWNT facing off against Mexico. The tournament doubles as qualifying for the 2019 World Cup. It’s kind of a big deal, with two of the world’s top five teams involved, fighting for three and a half World Cup berths.
Here’s everything you need to know, from the Concacaf Women's Championship schedule and preview to why it matters and how to watch it.
It’s been over 40 years since 49,572 curious fans entered the now demolished Metropolitan Stadium (now the site of Mall of America) to watch the ingloriously named Minnesota Kicks take on the San Jose Earthquakes in the NASL Conference Championship. That number has since served as the high water mark for a professional soccer team in Minnesota — until Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s LA Galaxy come to town on Oct. 21.
You hear that?
Writing is a craft that must be honed over years of practice.
But sometimes a GIF just perfectly sums up everything you want to put on a page.
YESSS!!
Handed the unenviable task of leading the USMNT forward following its worst result in program history, interim boss Dave Sarachan has named the 24-player pool for a pair of October friendlies that could mark the end of his stint as caretaker manager. The U.S. will host Colombia in Tampa, Florida, and Peru in East Hartford, Connecticut, and then it's rumored that USMNT General Manager Earnie Stewart could make his final selection by the time a pair of November friendlies against England and Italy roll around.
When the time comes, the 2018 MLS MVP award will almost certainly go to Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez. However, it says everything about the impact Wayne Rooney has had since arriving at D.C. United back in July that he’s even being mentioned in the conversation.
Before Rooney arrived, United had played 14 matches while totaling only 11 points. After United crushed the Montreal Impact 5-0 at Audi Field Saturday, the club has now played 15 matches with Rooney and recorded 27 points.
The Los Angeles Galaxy’s playoff hopes — and perhaps Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s future in LA — received a much-needed boost last night in the form of a 3-0 win over the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic LA Galaxy stats improved to a tally of 20 goals and nine assists in 24 MLS matches.