Tag: SoccerBlast

USWNT 2024 schedule: Results, fixtures, TV channel and streaming

All of the USWNT’s fixtures in 2024, including the Olympics and W Gold Cup

The U.S. women’s national team is looking at a busy 2024.

Two significant tournaments await. The first-ever Concacaf W Gold Cup will come up quickly in February and March, while the 2024 Summer Olympics will be the biggest priority.

New USWNT head coach Emma Hayes will join up in time for a pre-Olympics FIFA window, a short run-up before leading the team to Paris in pursuit of an improved showing after a disappointing 2023 World Cup.

Between those two events, the USWNT will face a revamped SheBelieves Cup in April, while there are multiple friendly windows after the Olympics finish up.

Here is a list of all of the USWNT’s fixtures for 2024.

Wimbledon disrupted by rowdy England fans celebrating Euro 2024 win

Euro 2024 briefly took over at Wimbledon, where England fans got loud

England’s dramatic success at Euro 2024 is such a big deal that it’s impacting other major sporting events.

That includes Wimbledon, which saw a third-round match between No. 2-ranked Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin briefly halted as celebrations broke out in the stands at Centre Court.

It wasn’t a spectacular rally or match-winning ace that brought a roar out of fans on Saturday. Instead, as Popyrin prepared to serve in the second set, the crowd suddenly began loudly cheering and applauding.

In tennis, noise as a player prepares to serve is normally a faux pas, and announcements urging quiet are common in major finals. Fans can be ejected for the kind of behavior that, in soccer, is utterly normal.

This time, though, everyone knew the deal. Both players eased up for a moment, as it was quickly clear what was going on. Roughly 300 miles east in Düsseldorf, England had survived a penalty-kick tiebreaker at Euro 2024, seeing off Switzerland 5-3 after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.

While it wasn’t being shown on any screens in the stadium, it became obvious that at least a few hundred attendees were also following Euro 2024 on their phones.

That meant that when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s penalty hit the back of the net, it was party time, regardless of what was going on between Djokovic and Popyrin.

As the crowd continued its applause, the tennis players even pantomimed a bit of soccer, with Djokovic pretending to kick a ball while Popyrin took on the role of goalkeeper.

Once Center Court calmed down enough for play to resume, Djokovic would go on to claim victory in four sets.

Watch England fans disrupt Wimbledon

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Klopp for USMNT? Lalas, Howard urge U.S. Soccer to approach ex-Liverpool boss

It might seem like a longshot, but the players-turned-pundits both want Klopp to be the next USMNT coach

Jürgen Klopp may be the ultimate pipe dream for U.S. men’s national team fans, but don’t tell ex-USMNT stars Tim Howard and Alexi Lalas.

With U.S. Soccer facing increasing pressure to dismiss coach Gregg Berhalter after the team’s embarrassing early exit from the 2024 Copa América, both Howard and Lalas went public in urging the federation to pursue Klopp.

The former Liverpool manager, who won six major trophies during an outstanding nine-year run at Anfield, has made no public pronouncements about interest in the USMNT job (or any other national team post).

That hasn’t stopped fans and pundits in the U.S. for citing him as the top target for U.S. Soccer.

“If you’re not going to go big, it flies in the face of what America is — we want big, we want bold, and dare I say we want arrogant in the things that we do, in particular in terms of maximizing the summer of 2026,” Lalas told the New York Post in an interview.

“Someone like Jürgen Klopp is out there. I know people scoff at the idea of someone with his pedigree and background would ever consider doing this. But until you have the conversation, you don’t know.”

Howard pledges in-person pitch to Klopp

Where Lalas was simply interested in U.S. Soccer touching base with Klopp, Howard went much further.

“If I was in charge of U.S. Soccer right now, I’d be on my way to the airport. Why? Because I believe I could make a very compelling argument to Jürgen Klopp,” wrote Howard in an opinion column in the Daily Mail.

“After the disappointment of Copa América, after the United States lost to Uruguay and exited at the group stages, I will personally fly to Spain. I mean it.

“I know Klopp has only been retired a few weeks and I know he wants a break. But if we sat around his villa in Spain, I think I could lure him over here. 100 percent.

“The money is certainly there. So my pitch would be simple: he has a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer, exactly like his Liverpool teams. And in two years’ time he can go to the biggest World Cup in history.”

Howard’s insistence that the money will be there might be a stretch. Klopp reportedly made $19.1 million per season at the end of his Liverpool contract.

By comparison, World Cup bonuses took Berhalter’s contract for 2022 up to $2.3 million.

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Reports: Angel City nears record-breaking sale including $300 million valuation

Willow Bay and Disney CEO Bob Iger are reportedly close to a record-shattering deal to buy a controlling stake in the NWSL club

Angel City FC is close to changing hands, and it’s a move that will likely reverberate throughout women’s sports.

On Tuesday, Puck News first reported that Willow Bay and husband Bob Iger, who is the CEO of Disney, were close to a deal to purchase a controlling stake in the Los Angeles-based NWSL club.

Semafor then filled in the details, reporting that the couple’s investment — which would see Bay replace Alexis Ohanian as the controlling shareholder at the club — would be at least $50 million. Should the deal go through, Angel City would be valued at somewhere over $300 million.

That would represent a rapid rise, as Sportico declared Angel City’s total value at $180 million in October 2023.

Bay, the dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, and Iger were in attendance as Angel City fell 3-0 to the Orlando Pride on Sunday.

Former Milwaukee Bucks part-owner Marc Lasry and Manchester United owner Avram Glazer were reported as competitors to purchase Ohanian’s stake. The Los Angeles Times reported in March that the Angel City board had voted to seek a new controlling investor amid internal disputes over spending.

Semafor’s reporting included a pitch deck submitted as part of the Bay/Iger bid, which asserted that the new owners would “enhance and promote ACFC as a premier women’s sports franchise and global brand,” noting that a practice facility and better team performance would be areas of focus under new ownership.

Since Michele Kang purchased the Washington Spirit at a $35 million valuation in February 2022, NWSL club values have skyrocketed. In September 2023, a consortium of Chicago-based business leaders purchased the Chicago Red Stars at a valuation of $60 million.

In 2024, the market has been even more active. The Portland Thorns were sold to siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal at a $63 million valuation in January, setting an NWSL record.

Not long thereafter, the Seattle Reign were sold to the Carlyle Group and the Seattle Sounders for $58 million in March. That same month, Ron Burkle sold the San Diego Wave to the Levine Leichtman family at a record-breaking $120 million valuation.

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Adams, Robinson urge USMNT to ‘give everything’ in pivotal Uruguay match

Per the USMNT duo, movement and sheer effort are musts to upset Uruguay and carry on at Copa América

The U.S. men’s national team may be facing an immense challenge to avoid an early Copa América exit, but Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson at least know what it’s going to take to pull off a statement win over Uruguay.

A 2-1 loss to Panama marred by Tim Weah’s red card has left the USMNT facing a difficult scenario in Group C.

While there are a range of outcomes that the U.S. could use to go through, a win on Monday in Kansas City is likely to end up a requirement.

“We’re gonna have to definitely be on our ‘A’ game,” defender Antonee Robinson told reporters at a Saturday press conference. “There’s no reason to hold anything back. We’re all gonna have to give everything in this game.”

As of Saturday, Uruguay is Copa América’s top-scoring team, ringing up eight goals after following a 3-1 win over Panama with a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia. Marcelo Bielsa’s trademark pressing tactics have defined both games, with Uruguay’s traditional intensity amped up to 10 even when both prior wins appeared decided.

Adams: USMNT ‘match up well’ vs. Uruguay

Still, as impressive as La Celeste have been, USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams was able to discuss his familiarity with how to solve the puzzle posed by Bielsa’s man-marking approach.

“We have a lot of players that match up well in this style of play specifically, so movement is going to be the biggest key in this game,” said the Bournemouth midfielder, who would go on to note that his club coach Andoni Iraola has learned directly from the iconoclastic Argentine manager.

“Man-to-man, you have to move, constantly be moving. Sometimes you’re not always going to be the first option in possession, it’s going to be second option and then find your space afterwards.

“They have a lot of athleticism in their midfield, as do we. I play under a coach now that plays a similar style as Bielsa and learned from Bielsa at Athletic [Club]. So, [I’m] kind of used to play against that.”

Beyond the tactical nuance and physical demands of that constant motion, Robinson added that the USMNT will have to find the spaces Uruguay leaves open while aggressively pressing the ball.

“Playing against teams who Bielsa has coached in the past, we know that they’re going to be extremely high-intensity, really forward-thinking,” explained the 26-year-old. “They play quite a high-risk, high-reward game… [The USMNT must] try and find a balance between being able to exploit their weakness and making sure we don’t expose ourselves too much as well.”

However, going beyond a game plan, the biggest task at hand is clear: the USMNT has to empty the tank to have a chance.

“If we’re looking at it realistically, there’s a chance that this is our last game in the tournament,” said Robinson. “I think it’s definitely going to come down to a massive effort from the team.”

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Dest completes PSV move after all, leaving Barcelona on free transfer

Dest’s much-wanted move just required a little patience, as the USMNT defender joins PSV on a four-year deal

Sergiño Dest and PSV just learned about the values of patience.

The U.S. men’s national team fullback has joined the Dutch champions on a free transfer, with Barcelona letting the 23-year-old walk now rather than letting him leave as a free agent next year.

Barça will, however, receive an unspecified percentage of any transfer fee PSV might get for Dest — who signed a four-year deal on Saturday — down the road.

“To start with, PSV believes in me and I am greatly appreciated here,” said Dest in a club release announcing the deal. “I have come to know the club as incredibly warm, like I have never experienced anywhere else. These are important aspects for someone in my situation and give me confidence that I can rehabilitate well here.”

Dest tore his ACL in late April while on loan with PSV, with the injury initially appearing to complicate plans to sign him. The club was said to have a €10 million transfer clause in Dest’s loan contract, but — likely over the fact that he’d be out for the first half of this coming season — reportedly told Barcelona that the price was too high.

Nonetheless, PSV managed to complete a deal with Barça that will get the USMNT right back into a good club situation going forward.

“We had a good discussion about it internally, but Sergiño convinced us so much last season that we absolutely did not want to pass up the opportunity to take over from him permanently,” said PSV director of football Earnie Stewart. “He has so many qualities. The new situation does not change that.”

Dest played in 37 competitive matches for PSV, helping the club win its 25th Eredivisie title and advance to the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in nine years.

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USMNT 2024 schedule: Results, fixtures, TV channel and streaming

All of the USMNT’s fixtures in 2024 as the team chases two major trophies

The U.S. men’s national team will compete for two major trophies in 2024.

In March, Gregg Berhalter’s side will look to defend the CONCACAF Nations League title it’s won two time in a row. Then in the summer, the 2024 Copa América takes center stage.

Aside from the major competitions, the USMNT will have several friendly windows to continue building toward its ultimate goal: a home World Cup in 2026.

Here is a list of all of the USMNT’s fixtures for 2024.

Jonatan Giraldez interview: New Spirit coach opens up on unusual transition

In an interview with Pro Soccer Wire, the new Washington Spirit coach explained how he plans to keep a winning team on course

The Washington Spirit are one of the most unusual projects in NWSL history, and the next step took place Tuesday, when new head coach Jonatan Giráldez addressed media for the first time.

Giráldez spoke with Pro Soccer Wire during a whirlwind day of media and other obligations for the Spanish coach, and quickly alluded to how part of his job at the moment is to simply not disrupt a positive first half of the season.

“It’s my responsibility to be smart, to decide what I should do in the next days [and] coming weeks,” explained Giráldez, who added that his focus was entirely on his new squad. “I am [becoming] part [of the team] in the middle of the season. That is not an easy situation, and we have to make a small transition to keep helping the players, because they are the protagonists.”

The former Barcelona head coach, who exactly one month ago won a second straight UEFA Women’s Champions League, has arrived in D.C. in a curious moment.

Normally coaching changes come after on-field turmoil or with the team’s previous manager leaving for another opportunity. The Spirit instead announced Giráldez would become its head coach over six months ago, with Adrián Gonzalez operating as interim coach while the 32-year-old manager finished his contract with Barça.

In the meantime, both have thrived. As the spring concluded, Giráldez lifted the UWCL trophy for a second time in his career and then celebrated a third Liga F crown.

The Spirit, meanwhile, recovered from the unexpected disappointment of the 2023 season to become one of the NWSL’s best sides. Washington sits third in the standings, just one point behind the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride.

Giráldez, in fact, arrived just in time to see his new club surpass its 2023 points total, as Washington’s 2-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC gave the club 31 points on the season (one more than last year’s total of 30).

While the mood within the Spirit camp is understandably high, Giráldez is cognizant of the fact that his arrival — no matter how much of a coup it is for the Spirit, and indeed for the NWSL as a league — could destabilize a team that has won 10 of 14 matches.

“When you’re winning, people are happy. That is normal,” said Giráldez, reflecting on his first impressions of the group after their win at Red Bull Arena. “The position in the table is good. We won against one of the best teams in the league, Gotham. And now, what they want is to take advantage about all these feelings to keep improving, to keep moving forward.”

González, who will remain on the Spirit’s staff as an assistant coach, was selected because he and Giráldez were familiar with each other, and had similar ideas in terms of style of play and ways to lead a team. However, the incoming manager recognized that he and his compatriot will impact the Spirit in different ways.

“I have a kind of leadership, for sure [González and I] are different,” admitted Giráldez. “We are not the same person. But in the end, for me it’s like, show as you are.

“Being smart on that and understanding that when we are speaking football, is much easier for me, because we are seeing the same thing, and then try to have a good connection with [the team].”

Coaching one team, particularly one with all the expectations placed on Barcelona, is enough of a challenge. The idea of trying to get up to speed on the Spirit on top of that is daunting, but Giráldez said he was able to be “100% focused on Barça” while still using some down time to keep up with developments in Washington.

“You have time to speak sometimes with the staff and Adri,” said Giráldez, before explaining that those conversations largely focused on club structure and culture.

“For me, the beginning was trying to connect all the players, work in the same direction and have a professional culture,” explained the Galicia native. “And then, try to connect as well all the staff members, understand which is the role of each one, know as best as possible all the persons who are working around the staff, to give them the opportunity to show their skills.

“If you are committed and everyone is working 100%, it’s much better for the players because they will be 100% ready for them. So on that side for me the beginning, it was like ‘Okay, we need to create this connection. Players and staff, be committed, training 100%.’ [I needed to] know exactly what they can do.”

Giráldez said that in terms of on-field matters, the discussions only focused on some general points, with González and assistants Mike Bristol, Mami Yamaguchi, and Morinao Imaizumi entrusted to take it from there.

Giráldez plans to ‘keep continuing with the dynamic’

Washington made the choice to let González remain interim head coach for Saturday’s win at Red Bull Arena, and in a separate interview with Pro Soccer Wire, Spirit general manager Mark Krikorian emphasized that the club is in a position to take its time and get the transition right.

“It’s not, ‘you guys figure it out,'” said Krikorian. “It’s more a matter of, how is it that we want to arrange this so that it can make sense?

“As we’re sitting here today [with our record] it’s far easier to have some flexibility in slow-playing this, and making sure that everything that we do makes sense. If you’re [struggling], there’s going to be a whole lot more urgency to make sure things change quickly.”

Krikorian also pointed out that no matter how good the Spirit have been after 14 rounds this season, “everyone knows nothing has been accomplished yet.”

Washington has considered the possibility that the arrival of a new leader, even one with Giráldez’s demonstrated success, can be destabilizing. However, from the club’s perspective, the fact that the process started with positive results has gifted all parties with room to proceed smoothly rather than moving in a hurry.

“[What’s] in the best interest of the team and the players is a slow step, rather than some major intrusion,” asserted Krikorian. “I think that certainly up to this point, I think the strategy we came up with has worked.”

With that in mind, the young manager emphasized patience, as much for himself as for everyone at the club.

“I don’t want to force any kind of situation, because they are performing well. And the only thing I want is [to] keep helping them,” explained Giráldez. “Keep continuing with the dynamic, not make big changes…the transition, for me it’s not [that it] has to be so fast. We have to take the rhythm, a good base to be part of.

“When you’re arriving away [from home] you don’t know the people. You need time. You have to be patient…you need your time, they need their time.”

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NWSL punishes Portland Thorns for ‘frivolous’ appeal of Smith red card

The Thorns are in hot water, but Smith isn’t after a convoluted series of appeals and punishment

Sophia Smith probably didn’t bargain for a playful moment on the touchline turning into such a kerfuffle.

The U.S. women’s national team star, after two appeals from different organizations, will be allowed to return for the Portland Thorns in Sunday’s NWSL match against the Kansas City Current.

However, the entire incident has ended with the Thorns losing a $10,000 bond and the right to appeal any further suspensions in the 2024 or 2025 seasons.

The convoluted issue began simply enough. In June 8’s 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage, Smith — sitting on the bench minutes after being substituted — found herself near the ball as it rolled out of bounds for a Thorns throw-in.

Seemingly as a joke, Smith crawled over to the ball and slowly dragged it under her seat on Portland’s bench.

However, referee Danielle Chesky, who had booked Smith for a different moment of time-wasting in the 89th minute, was not in a mood for such goofery. Chesky presented Smith with a second yellow card, sending her off and triggering an automatic one-game ban.

Smith served her suspension in a scoreless draw with the Seattle Reign on Sunday, but in the meantime the drama was going on behind the scenes.

On Tuesday, the NWSL announced that Portland had appealed the suspension, which per league policy allowed the Thorns to make their case to an independent review panel.

The panel, per the league, “unanimously (i) denied the appeal, and (ii) determined the appeal was frivolous.”

This may sound like simple public shaming from the league, but the word “frivolous” is specifically in the league’s operations manual, and appeals that cross that line come with a significant punishment.

Portland will lose a $10,000 bond (something the league requires all clubs to post as a deterrent for appealing suspensions without cause), as well as the right to appeal any further suspensions for the remainder of the 2024 season as well as the entire 2025 season, all the way through the playoffs.

Additionally, the league rules require that frivolous appeals are met with a doubling of the discipline involved, meaning that the NWSL initially extended Smith’s suspension and increased her fine.

However, the NWSL Players Association has the right to appeal discipline on a player’s behalf, and in this case it intervened on Smith’s behalf.

Per the NWSL, a review committee unanimously agreed with the NWSLPA’s position, making Smith eligible to play this weekend and helping her keep a little more cash in her pocket.

However, that has nothing to do with the punishment doled out for the Thorns, whose lost bond and inability to appeal further disciplinary action remain in place.

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USMNT lineup vs. Brazil: Berhalter makes two changes after Colombia blowout

Ricardo Pepi and Yunus Musah are in as the USMNT hopes for a far better showing against Brazil

The U.S. men’s national team is staying the course, with Gregg Berhalter making few changes to his lineup for Wednesday’s friendly against Brazil.

Despite losing 5-1 on Saturday to Colombia, Berhalter made just two alterations to his starting 11. Ricardo Pepi and Yunus Musah were given the nod against Brazil, with Folarin Balogun and Johnny Cardoso making way.

Balogun, after a high-profile recruitment battle for his services at the international level, has endured an underwhelming first season with AS Monaco. The 22-year-old posted eight goals and seven assists in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side, a step down after his 22-goal campaign at mid-table Reims in 2022-23.

With the USMNT, Balogun has struggled to influence games regularly. While his three goal/three assist haul in 11 caps is respectable, it is not quite the output many expected when the former Arsenal forward opted for the USMNT over England.

Pepi, meanwhile, found his minutes limited at PSV due to the spectacular form of starter Luuk de Jong. Still, the Texan was productive when he got the chance, scoring nine times in just 764 minutes played in all competitions. With the USMNT, Pepi’s 10 goals from 24 caps compare favorably with Balogun’s output, though neither striker has scored for the U.S. in 2024.

Musah, meanwhile, will give the USMNT a different look from the more defensively-oriented Johnny. The former has often functioned as a No. 8, while the latter plays deeper for club and country.

The USMNT is likely looking at its options in case starting defensive midfielder Tyler Adams — who has battled hamstring and back injuries for over a year — is not at 100% for the start of the Copa América. Earlier this week, Berhalter confirmed that Adams was available to face Brazil, but would be on a minutes cap.

USMNT lineup vs. Brazil

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