Soccer fans know that the outcome of a match doesn’t always reflect what transpired on the pitch. Talking heads have long debated whether a team was lucky to win or unlucky to lose, often with little substantial proof to argue against the scoreboard. The expected goals statistic (xG) has changed that, equipping soccer enthusiasts with a metric for “what should've happened.”
The Bureau of the FIFA Council unveiled their proposal for the allocation of confederation slots for the 48-team 2026 World Cup today, and the recommendation will almost certainly be ratified by the FIFA Council on May 9th in Bahrain.
Here is the slot allocation as compared to the 32-team format:
MLS team valuations have soared in recent years, with the average now at $185 million according to Forbes, but the league is still a long way from fielding a product that competes with the upper-tier of European leagues.
Saturday’s match between the winless New England Revolution and the winless Minnesota United FC was never going to be billed as an instant classic. It never promised to raise hell in the cavernous amphitheater that is Gillette Stadium, but as far as home openers go, the people of New England should at least be expecting a product that befits the designation of America’s top soccer division.
The legacy of George Best will forever be a collection of astonishing brilliance and deep sorrow. As one part of the United Trinity at Manchester United, Best dazzled in the red No. 7 shirt.
In eleven remarkable years with the club, Best scored 181 goals, won the First Division twice and, most famously, lifted the 1968 European Cup.
We’ve never understood power rankings, especially when you can just look at the standings for an official, unarguable list of who’s the best (Portland) and who’s the worst (Minnesota, my God!). So, with a desire to not do something so unnecessary and redundant, but rather create a new list that makes very little sense, we present: The MLS Rankings of Power.
Every week, we’ll update this monstrosity in the hope of finding the most powerful person, place or thing in the most major of major soccer leagues. Let us continue.
Orlando City SC's new stadium is a beautiful piece of architecture that the team and their fan base will be proud of for years to come. It might also hold one of the most passionate fan bases in all of MLS as well.
Look, I think it's time we addressed the elephant in the room, the truth we all know but can't bring ourselves to admit, the monster hiding under the bed of our fandom.
Soccer is boring.
La espectacular celebracion de Luis Enrique cuando todavia no había finalizado el partido pic.twitter.com/XhfFqlVLvF
— FCBarcelona Live (@VidaBlaugrana_) March 8, 2017
Before Wednesday’s historic events at the Camp Nou, everyone had agreed that Barcelona would need to play a perfect match to turn the tide against Paris Saint-Germain. They would need to do unto PSG as PSG had done unto them. Sure, Barcelona could score four goals, but could they keep Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura, Julian Draxler and Angel Di Maria off the scoresheet?
We've never understood Power Rankings, especially when you can just look at the standings for an official, unarguable list of who's the best and who's the worst. So, with a desire to not do something so unnecessary and redundant, but rather create a new list that makes very little sense, we present: The MLS Rankings of Power.
Every week, we'll update this monstrosity in the hope of finding the most powerful person, place or thing in the most major of major soccer leagues. Let us begin.