At least three USL Championship clubs have survived to the final eight
The 2024 U.S. Open Cup is down to its final eight teams.
Pairings for the quarterfinals were announced Wednesday night, as U.S. Soccer held a draw that more or less determined the bracket for the rest of the tournament.
There will be a draw ahead of the semifinals which determines the priority order for hosting rights for this year’s final, which is set for September 25.
Five MLS teams have survived out of the eight that entered, with three clubs from the USL Championship also still alive.
The round of 16 was highlighted by a wild 4-3 upset win for USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC, who made headlines in the competition in 2022 by going all the way to the final.
The side from northern California is at it again, this time after having to come back in extra time to stun MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes. Both sides held the lead, and despite the Quakes going in front in the 100th minute, Sacramento would respond with two goals in under two minutes to claim victory.
Below are the quarterfinal pairings. Matches are scheduled to be played July 9-10, with the final schedule and venues for all matches still to be confirmed. Host sides are listed first in each pairing.
2024 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal draw
Sporting Kansas City (MLS) vs. FC Dallas (MLS)
Atlanta United (MLS) vs. Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Sacramento Republic (USL-C) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Los Angeles FC (MLS) vs. New Mexico United (USL-C)
The Washington Spirit rookies want to make sure their opportunities with the USWNT aren’t just a one-time thing
The first U.S. women’s national team roster of the Emma Hayes era is an intriguing mix of veterans and newcomers, and most of that latter group will be coming in from one NWSL club.
Hayes named a 26-player squad on Tuesday, with 23 eligible to play in upcoming friendlies against South Korea. Of that group, four will be experiencing the USWNT environment for the first time: Chicago Red Stars center back Sam Staab, and Washington Spirit rookies Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, and Kate Wiesner.
Speaking to Pro Soccer Wire, Bethune and Hershfelt were both still marveling at the speed at which they’ve gone from being amateurs with university courseloads to professionals preparing for a USWNT camp.
“I mean, it’s insane,” said Hershfelt, who as one of the six midfielders in Hayes’ squad may well be in line for a first cap. “I feel like if there was a time to expect it, I would have not expected it now… I was in college a couple of months ago.”
Bethune, who trails only USWNT star and perennial NWSL MVP contender Sophia Smith in total goals and assists on the season, said she was “grateful and blessed” to get the call-up.
However, showing the combination of confidence and focus that seems to be a job requirement for a national team playmaker, she noted that this moment was something she has had in mind for some time.
“I write out my goals,” explained the 23-year-old. “Believe it or not, I wrote this goal out last year while I was still [playing collegiately at] Georgia. So, six months later, and here we are.”
The speed of the call-ups may be a surprise, but then again, it’s hard to argue with results. Bethune made the NWSL Team of the Month for April/May, and (after a stat change on Tuesday) is now on seven assists, already the NWSL record for a rookie.
Hershfelt, meanwhile, has played 847 of a possible 900 minutes for Washington, helping the Spirit stay in the thick of the NWSL Shield race. The fifth overall pick has tacked on two goals while adding press resistance and physicality to the Washington midfield alongside Andi Sullivan.
Still, Bethune didn’t quite expect a U.S. Soccer email to arrive for this particular camp, admitting with a chuckle that she had made plans for this international window that will have to be put on hold.
Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
Hayes included Bethune on her roster as a training player rather than being eligible for a first cap. The Georgia native wasn’t deterred by that distinction, underlining the fact that getting into a USWNT training session is still a major opening to prove herself.
“Honestly, this is still an opportunity,” said the midfielder. “So, I’m gonna take what I’m given and just do the best that I can with what I have.”
Hershfelt, who was never once called in for a youth national team camp, admitted the call-up was “unexpected.”
“I’m not gonna lie, I cried a little bit,” laughed the 21-year-old. “I mean, you come in as a rookie, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna put my head down, I’m gonna work my butt off. See what happens.’ And I mean this is like, the best possible scenario.”
Both players said that at this point, most of what they know boils down to the basics of simply getting to camp: what flight to be on, when to be there, and so on. However, with Spirit teammates Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Krueger, and Trinity Rodman going into the same camp, the group got together on Tuesday for a meeting that both Bethune and Hershfelt felt was very beneficial.
“I feel welcomed,” said Bethune. “As the new player, you kind of think the best thing to do is just keep to yourself, but I have people that I’m with every day that can allow me to get out of my shell… a big group is a lot better than just going in solo.”
Hershfelt credited Kingsbury for reminding the rookies that they don’t need to change themselves to thrive in the notoriously demanding USWNT environment.
“It sounds so simple and like, kind of corny, but just, be you,” is how Hershfelt characterized the advice. “You’re in, you got thrown in there for a reason. So don’t try to be something you’re not. You have strengths as a player, use them.”
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
Whether it’s the training sessions with the Spirit involving so many players with caps for the USWNT, Canada, and France, or games against teams stocked with what Bethune called “the best soccer players in the world,” both pointed out that they’ve had the chance to weigh their own prospects against USWNT regulars.
Bethune said her approach to that idea is “just correlating to who I’m playing in club [games] that have also been into camps,” and doing whatever she can to exceed that standard.
“It’s like, ‘Do I have the chance?'” explained Hershfelt. “From a personal standpoint, just being around those types of players…lifts us up as rookies.
“We were around college teams, that’s completely different than what we’re around now. And I honestly think it just kind of pushes you to kind of like set those standards for yourself every single training.”
For both Spirit youngsters, the pleasant surprise has sparked a lot of gratitude, but also hunger to keep proving themselves at higher levels.
“Just grateful and blessed that I have this opportunity. I’ve been working toward this since I was younger,” said Bethune. “I’m just glad to go in and show them what I can do.”
“This is insane. I’m just so thankful,” added Hershfelt. “I’m trying to look at it as only the beginning. I don’t want to be going in there being like, ‘Oh, I made it,’ because I feel like that’s how you get complacent. So, I’m kind of turning it around and being like, ‘yes, I can be happy in this moment. I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity,’ but [also] I want to put my head down and work.”
It’s a downer ending for Adams in what was largely a lost first season with the Cherries
Tyler Adams didn’t get the end to the season he was likely hoping for.
The Bournemouth and U.S. men’s national team midfielder was held out of his side’s final match of the season on Sunday.
Following the Cherries’ 2-1 loss at Chelsea, manager Andoni Iraola told reporters that Adams did not play for precautionary reasons.
Adams ended a month-long spell on the sidelines with a 10-minute cameo in Bournemouth’s penultimate game of the season on May 11, but was not in uniform as the Cherries concluded the 2023-24 campaign.
The news is one more bit of frustration for Adams in what was essentially a lost season. Between recovery from a hamstring injury sustained 14 months ago with Leeds, a second surgical procedure on that issue, and back spasms, the USMNT midfielder played just 138 minutes for Bournemouth this season.
2023-24 largely a lost season for Adams
Adams was only in uniform six times, and his minutes came from just four appearances spread across the season. His comeback from his initial injury came in September, but after just one 20-minute appearance the 25-year-old suffered a setback, eventually undergoing surgery again.
The New York native would miss 21 more matches recovering from that procedure before being an unused substitute in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United on March 9. Adams finally made his Premier League debut for the Cherries four days later in a win over Luton Town, and had a standout showing in his one and only start (a 2-1 victory over Everton on March 30).
Between that and his unreal goal for the USMNT in the Concacaf Nations League final, it seemed like Adams was finally, truly back.
However, after being an unused substitute against Crystal Palace in early April, Adams ended up with back spasms that proved persistent. Iraola ended up having to leave Adams out of seven of the Cherries’ final eight matches of the season as a result.
However, it’s far from ideal that the best scenario for Adams this summer is having to play games of enormous importance after losing nearly an entire season in this manner.
Once again, Haaland is the top scorer in the Premier League
Add the 2023-24 Premier League Golden Boot to Erling Haaland’s trophy case.
The Manchester City striker scored 27 goals during the campaign, helping his side lift another Premier League trophy while adding to his own lengthy list of personal accolades.
Cole Palmer came closest to challenging Haaland, with the Chelsea forward notching 22 goals. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak (20) finished in third.
Here are the final standings of the top scorers in the Premier League for the 2023-24 season.
An updated list of the top scorers in the Bundesliga for the 2023-24 season
The battle to be the Bundesliga’s top marksman is over, with Bayern Munich star Harry Kane easily winning the Kicker-Torjägerkanone trophy.
In his first season in Germany, the England striker notched an incredible 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga games. Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy finished second with 28 goals.
Here are the final standings of the top scorers in the Bundesliga for the 2023-24 season.
Folks, this is not a drill, we have a raccoon on the field
The Philadelphia Union and New York City FC were honored by the presence of a raccoon who made the bold but indisputably correct choice to join the Wednesday night MLS clash.
The racoon strolled out around the 21st minute, setting up shop in the NYCFC penalty area as play carried on at the other end of the Subaru Park pitch.
Pro Soccer Wire cannot confirm whether NYCFC is interested in signing the raccoon as a goalkeeper, defender, or at some other position.
Expertly reading that the game was going on at the other end with an NYCFC throw-in, the raccoon jogged up to join the teams and presumably try to engage in soccer.
Sadly, the staff at Subaru Park preferred for the game to remain an 11-on-11 affair, and two people emerged from the touchline carrying empty gray trash cans.
Raccoons, of course, have a hot-and-cold relationship with trash cans: when full, they contain what any procyon lotor will tell you is an array of delightful and interesting food.
When empty, however, the trash can is a trap, and raccoons everywhere will surely take note of how things went down. Multiple staffers with multiple trash cans emerged, and though the raccoon put in some great moves to avoid several attempts to slow it down, the end result was…well, the raccoon got trapped in a trash can.
NYCFC’s Mitja IleniÄŤ could scarcely believe his good fortune as the scene played out in front of him, while Union players — one assumes out of a fear that the raccoon would be allowed to join the visitors — looked less amused.
Curiously, the Union aren’t the mid-Atlantic team associated with raccoons, an honor long held by D.C. United. However, since the club’s move from RFK Stadium — well known as a major attraction for raccoons — to Audi Field, raccoon sightings have plummeted down to zero.
A little good news, a little bad news for both the Wave and the USWNT
The San Diego Wave are set to welcome multiple U.S. women’s national team players back from injury, including star defender Naomi Girma.
Wave head coach Casey Stoney said that Girma would be available for Friday’s game against Bay FC, with the 23-year-old apparently having recovered from a thigh injury that sidelined her for San Diego’s last three matches.
“Naomi and Abby will be back,” Stoney told reporters during a Wednesday press conference, referring to Girma and another USWNT center back, Abby Dahlkemper. The latter has been out for roughly a month, also with a thigh issue.
Girma is considered a lock to start for the USWNT at the Olympics, but has now missed time over muscular injuries twice in the last six weeks. USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore had to substitute Girma in April’s SheBelieves Cup win over Japan after the defender pulled up with an apparent hamstring strain.
Dahlkemper, meanwhile, faces a battle to make Emma Hayes’ final 18-player roster for this summer’s Olympics, with multiple players vying to partner Girma at center back. Candidates like Tierna Davidson and Alana Cook have both lost time to injuries of their own this year.
Hayes will begin her tenure as the U.S. manager in the coming weeks, with friendlies against South Korea on June 1 and June 4 representing the one and only set of matches before the Olympic roster is announced.
Shaw questionable, Morgan remains out
The Wave had further updates on USWNT regulars, but the news for Jaedyn Shaw and Alex Morgan was more mixed.
Shaw limped off in the final seconds of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with NJ/NY Gotham FC with a possible ankle injury, and per Stoney, her status is still up in the air.
Stoney said Shaw is “day-by-day at the minute, so we won’t know [until Friday’s game],” leaving open the possibility that the star attacker could make a quick return from an incident that initially looked more worrisome.
Morgan, meanwhile, remains out with an ankle injury suffered during a loss to the Orlando Pride on April 19.
“Alex is still out,” said Stoney. “She’s been running. She’s been doing technical work this week. She’ll be available when she’s available.”
For her own part, Morgan last week posted on social media that she hopes to return “very soon.”
San Diego has two NWSL matches before Hayes is expected to announce her squad for the games against South Korea: Friday’s clash at Bay FC, and a trip to face Angel City FC on May 23.
VAR is still a big rival for Wolves, who want the Premier League to abandon it entirely
The Premier League’s VAR era may be on the verge of ending.
Wolves is behind a resolution to abandon VAR, with the Premier League set to vote on the matter on June 6 at its annual general meeting.
In a statement published by The Athletic, Wolves referred to VAR as being “at odds with the spirit of our game,” calling for Premier League clubs to end the practice starting with the 2024-25 season.
“There is no blame to be placed — we are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football — and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success,” read Wolves’ statement.
“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.”
The Premier League adopted VAR for the 2019-20 season and has used it ever since. However, many calls — particularly those involving offside, which the Premier League adjudicates with visible lines provided via Hawk-Eye technology — are narrow enough that controversy remains regardless, leaving few parties satisfied.
The Premier League, in a statement to The Athletic, said that clubs are “entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.”
However, the league added that it remains “in support of VAR.” The Wolves proposal will require 13 of the other 19 Premier League clubs to agree for the league to abandon the practice.
In April, the Premier League approved the implementation for semi-automated offside technology — something along the lines of what was introduced at the 2022 World Cup — for the 2024-25 season, though it may not be introduced at the very beginning of the campaign.
Premier League data supports continuing with VAR
Among the world’s top leagues, VAR is extraordinarily commonplace. 29 of UEFA’s 30 top-ranked leagues use it, with the only exception coming after clubs in Sweden’s top flight rejected a VAR proposal last month.
Multiple clubs have lashed out at VAR over the course of this season. Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said it was “it’s time to question whether someone remote disallowing that goal is really what football wants or needs.” after a 2-1 loss to West Ham in April that saw a Wolves goal called back by VAR.
Per the BBC, the Premier League claims that the rate of correct refereeing decisions was just 82% before VAR, and has climbed to 96% since its introduction five years ago.
Manchester United left club legend Roy Keane struggling for words after a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal.
The Red Devils fell behind on a 20th minute goal from Leandro Trossard, and though Erik ten Hag’s side threw numbers forward in pursuit of a result late on, the Gunners held on with relative ease.
Keane, working as a pundit, has often been seen as one of the more critical voices in English soccer. Still, even he was left searching for the words to describe what has become of Man United.
“That United team there…so bad,” said Keane on Sky Sports’ post-game show. “Arsenal, coming over to Old Trafford over the years, have found it difficult, but against that team today?”
Man United managed just two shots on goal despite trailing for 70 minutes, turning a match against an old rival played in a downpour into more of a grind than anything that might inspire hope going into the final days of this Premier League campaign.
“I bet you Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were,” continued Keane, who seemed in disbelief discussing his old club. “Whatever bits of possession they had, the end product, the lack of quality…
“Over the years the great teams that’ve been here for United, the great players they’ve had, and you’re looking at that last half an hour. Decision-making, nobody digging anybody out [of trouble], people making mistakes, falling over, and everyone’s just walking away, not putting demands on each other.”
The defeat marks Man United’s 14th in the league this season, a high for the club in the Premier League era. You’d have to go back to the 1989-90 season to find last time a Red Devils side lost more league matches.
That was also the last time Man United finished a league campaign with a negative goal difference, and the club will have to work very hard to avoid that fate. Man United currently holds a minus-four goal difference heading into its final two matches of the campaign.
Arsenal’s goal was the 82nd conceded by the Red Devils this season, something the club hasn’t managed in 54 years. Sunday’s victory was just the second time in 17 years that the Gunners have claimed three points at Old Trafford.
