If you’re anything like me, you’re starting to go through sports withdrawal. Not since I became consciously aware of sports has there ever been a period so void of sporting events to watch (or play).
With almost every single sporting event postponed, canceled or suspended by the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been reduced to watching replays of games to which we already know the outcome.
The cancellation of major sporting events and the decimation of the luxury, entertainment and travel industries is delivering a hammer blow to a global advertising industry that was already reeling from years of tech-led turmoil.
Remember back in 2014 when the USMNT was relevant and actually playing in a World Cup? Six years ago in Brazil, the U.S. escaped the group of death and had a valiant effort against Belgium, losing 2-1 in extra time. A teen phenom thought to be the future of the sport in this country scored the consolation goal against the Belgians. That teen has hardly been heard from since and the question is sometimes asked, where is Julian Green now?
So the spread of coronavirus means school’s been canceled or you have to work from remotely for a while? Not sure you can survive being confined to your home? Unclear what to do during quarantine?
Even the most introverted of folks will go stir crazy locked up at home for days on end, but soccer players (and fans) have it especially tough. How do you go from playing and watching soccer all the time to not leaving the house and having no live sports on TV?
Major League Soccer: suspended. NBA and NHL: suspended. NCAA March Madness: canceled. Broadway: going dark. Disneyland: shutting its doors. Champions League, Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and countless more leagues: suspended, delayed or canceled.
But what about youth soccer?
The U.S. vs. Portugal at the 2002 World Cup was one of the best games in men's national team history. With all this talk about the coronavirus crippling the economy and, more importantly, my soccer TV viewing schedule, I figured we could all use a little pick-me-up to get us through the rest of the week.
This game has to be the second most exhilarating game in USMNT history, at least of recent (maybe not so recent) memory.
The USWNT looks to clinch its third SheBelieves Cup title on Wednesday night with a rematch of the 2011 and 2015 Women’s World Cup finals against Japan. It should be appointment viewing for soccer fans, but those wondering how to watch USWNT vs Japan might have difficulty finding the game on TV.
Whether you’re watching, playing or officiating, soccer is a physical sport full of human-to-human contact. In addition to the action on the pitch, players and fans exchange handshakes, high-fives, hugs and more during the course of a game.
The race for the 2020 MLS Golden Boot is on with LAFC’s Carlos Vela looking to defend his title after setting a single-season record last year with 34 goals. The MLS top scorers 2020 will certainly look different with Zlatan Ibrahimović returning to Europe and Josef Martínez suffering an ACL injury, but the likes of Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Alan Pulido are newcomers that’ll challenge Vela’s dominance.
We’ll keep this list updated with the top 10 scorers throughout the course of the league’s historic 25th season.