Culture

The USMNT began 2023 with a frustrating 2-1 friendly defeat to Serbia at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, taking the lead through Brandon Vazquez's powerfully snapped header before clear defensive errors ruined Anthony Hudson's debut as interim manager.

With all six substitutions being made by the 73rd minute, quite a few players graced the pitch without making much of an impression. Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas went the full 90 on the right, but the 24-year-old's talent only came through in flashes. 

As Major League Soccer enters its 28th season, one example of the league's growing strength is just how difficult it is to determine which 10 stadiums you'd like to visit most. 

I'll whisper it, but I feel like I'm discerning some faint traces of light ahead with regards to the USMNT's direction. There's obviously still no permanent manager, but every day takes us further from Gregg Berhalter and closer to what's demanded when hosting the world's greatest sporting event come 2026.

Early stages of domestic cup play are consistently giving us unusual and peculiar moments we aren’t used to seeing in the professional scene: stadiums that hold less than 5,000 people, dressing rooms the size of a bathroom, players getting the chance to meet and play against their idols, etc.

Well, when PSG plays sixth-tier Pays de Cassel in the Coupe de France on Monday, the conflicts of interest might just be bigger than you average player-meets-idol story.

We finally got some credible information for the Ted Lasso Season 3 release date on Thursday. Apple TV+ gave us a first look at the upcoming season — an image of Coach Lasso squaring off with protégé Nate — along with confirmation of a release this Spring.

Manchester City have topped the Deloitte Football Money League for the second year in a row as the world's highest revenue-generating club in the 2021-22 season in which fans returned to stadiums as COVID-19 restrictions were eased.

Abu Dhabi-owned City generated total revenue of $790.65 million, followed by Real Madrid ($771.42 million) and Liverpool ($758.45 million).

City's rivals Manchester United generated $744.41 million and Paris St Germain made $706.59 million.

As Mary J. Blige once said, "No drama, no more in my life (no more drama in my life, no one's gonna make me hurt again)." I'm so tired of the USMNT manager discussion, so this is the only time I'm going to mention that or the fact that Anthony Hudson is serving as interim head coach for January camp. Let's get back to the only things that matter, the game and the players who play it.

We have discovered the next Alisson Becker — it's 18-year-old Braga prospect João Carvalho, who makes Alisson look about as talented as Loris Karius in comparison. 

On Tuesday, in Portugal's Liga Revelação U-23 division, Carvalho took possession in the 89th minute with his Braga side holding a slender 2-1 advantage over Rio Ave. In this situation you're supposed to "GET RID!" by smashing the ball 30 yards out of play, but Carvalho is built different.