On June 9, the USMNT drew with France 1-1. On June 13, the United States was awarded the 2026 World Cup. On July 30, LA Galaxy phenom and California native Efrain Alvarez admitted that he’d still be open to representing the U.S. over Mexico. Ladies and gentleman, in the aftermath of missing the world’s greatest event because of a defeat to Trinidad & Tobago, I’m not at all opposed to calling this a new golden era in U.S. soccer.
With a squad comprised largely of players that led Portugal to glory at the 2016 European U-17 Championship, Portugal has now ridden what’s quickly becoming a golden generation to more international glory, this time at the 2018 European U-19 Championship in Finland. Portugal defeated Italy 4-3 in a madcap final that saw three goals scored in quick succession during the first period of extra time.
Joao Filipe opened the scoring just before halftime for Portugal. The Benfica youngster fired in a low drive after a brilliant piece of control at the top of the box.
The rumors were confirmed Wednesday that 17-year-old Canadian phenom Alphonso Davies would be joining Bayern Munich come January on a transfer that could rise to as high as $22 million, but for now, the Vancouver Whitecaps winger is free to continue his breakout season in MLS — Saturday night was perhaps his best performance as a professional.
Ezequiel Barco, the 19-year-old Argentine phenom who became Major League Soccer’s most expensive transfer when he joined Atlanta United for $15 million back in January, was withheld from Saturday’s match against DC United and will miss this weekend’s game against Montreal for “an act of indiscipline.” Now, SB Nation blog “Dirty South Soccer”
In the wake of Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 friendly victory over Liverpool on June 22, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp — a longtime admirer of the playing style of 19-year-old American Christian Pulisic — took a moment to discuss the Dortmund phenom. In essence, it was a call for America to wake up and learn how to play soccer.
After lifting the 2018 World Cup with one of the youngest squads at the tournament (average age of just 26), there’s been a growing fear that France could turn a bit tyrannical at the international level. That fear was further confirmed today when England’s U-19s were on the receiving end of a 5-0 beatdown from their French peers.
Alphonso Davies, the 17-year-old Canadian phenom who we’d really like to see race Kylian Mbappe, was omitted from the Vancouver Whitecaps match against Seattle on Saturday with multiple outlets citing well-developed talks between the MLS side and German power Bayern Munich.
Last night, some kid named Christian Pulisic decided what better time to light things up than back at home in the U.S. of A. against the Champions League runners-up/the team that has a growing interest in him.
Both born in 1998, France’s Kylian Mbappé and the U.S.’ Christian Pulisic are football superstars who, if both continue being great, will be of yet another generation that redefines the beautiful game. The question is, who’s the better 19-year-old?
If you say it now, you say it without a tone of mockery and without the ability to harvest likes through shit posting: The USMNT is in contention for the World Cup.
The road to Qatar begins in September with six high profile friendlies over the course of 74 days. It shouldn’t be difficult to get excited about tests against Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, England and Italy, but if you’re still having trouble buying into the new cycle, U.S. Soccer is here to help with a beautifully produced series profiling America’s new generation.