USMNT

America's most promising goalkeeping prospect is officially heading abroad, as Gabriel Slonina is set to begin a 13-day training spell with Chelsea.

The youngest signing in Chicago Fire history and the youngest starting keeper in MLS history, Slonina became Chicago's most expensive player ever on Aug. 2 when he joined Chelsea for a $15 million fee. The keeper was then loaned back to the Fire for the remainder of the MLS season.

The final FIFA rankings before the 2022 World Cup were released Thursday, revealing a top five that's largely in line with what the odds makers have for the tournament in Qatar. 

Brazil rightfully holds the top spot and is seen as the favorite after turning its qualifying campaign into a program on Joga TV, while the Seleção's eternal rivals, Argentina, sit third riding a 35-match unbeaten streak.

The New York Red Bulls announced a new four-year contract for defender John Tolkin on Wednesday.

The deal runs through the 2027 season and includes an option for 2028.

"We are very excited to sign John to a new contract and keep him with the club," NYRB head of sport Jochen Schneider said in a news release. "He had a very successful season, and we are pleased to have him on our team for years to come."

INKED ✍️

Ricardo Pepi scored Groningen’s sole goal in a 4-1 defeat to top Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar on Saturday. This was the second Ricardo Pepi Groningen goal in the club’s previous two games.

Before the international break Pepi scored in Groningen’s game vs. Sparta Rotterdam to end his 345-day goal scoring drought. Despite a poor showing during the U.S. friendly vs. Saudi Arabia, Pepi didn’t let that affect his club form.

Christian Pulisic made a great impression on new Chelsea manager Graham Potter after assisting the game-winning goal of the Blues’ 2-1 victory vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday. The game was Potter’s first Premier League game in charge for Chelsea.

Pulisic sat on the bench for 84 minutes of the match and was brought on late in the game with the score tied 1-1. He only needed six minutes to make an impact as he assisted fellow substitute Conor Gallagher for the 90th minute game-winner.

The overall opinion on Gregg Berhalter and the United States men’s national team has seen a dramatic shift after a heartless loss to Japan and mundane draw with Saudi Arabia. The team looked uninspired and flat, but Berhalter has tried to remain positive.

Gregg Berhalter and his United States men’s national team are on a one-way collision course with a nasty ass kicking in Qatar at the World Cup. On Tuesday the USMNT played its final friendly before the World Cup and pathetically tied lowly Saudi Arabia 0-0.

There are few words that can accurately describe how poor the U.S. has looked in the last two friendly games vs. Japan and Saudi Arabia. With no words to summarize these poor performances let’s just let one stat in particular speak.