USA

Women’s soccer is rare in Europe and South America, the widely agreed-upon cradles of the game. It is not unheard of. It is rare. As an Italian, I like telling my American friends that women’s soccer is illegal where I come from. “Yes, the police come and take you away!” I tell them to get a laugh.

I finally got my chance to attend a women’s soccer match when the world-champion U.S. Women’s National Team took on Japan in a friendly last week at Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

The United States were punished 2-0 by Colombia on Friday night to open the 2016 Copa America Centenario. A heavily pro-Colombian crowd in Santa Clara, California, watched as Geoff Cameron carelessly allowed Cristian Zapata to put his side ahead early before James Rodriguez capitalized from the spot on a sophomoric handball from DeAndre Yedlin.

The USMNT face Colombia in the first match of the Copa America Centenario tonight, and they will have to put on a strong showing in order to get anything from the match. They have a potentially tough group that includes World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica and last year's fourth place Copa finishers, Paraguay. It is important for the U.S. to start strong in the hopes of grabbing what could be three vital points. 

The judge overseeing USWNT players' collective bargaining lawsuit against US Soccer has ruled in favor of the governing body, according to reports. As such, the USWNT does not have a legal right to strike before the Olympics.

BREAKING: the court ruled in favor of @ussoccer & not the players in CBA lawsuit. Getting more details now. #uswnt

The United States kicks off the Copa America Centenario on Friday against the world’s fourth ranked team, Colombia. For Jurgen Klinsmann and the US, the match is similar to their World Cup opener against Ghana two years ago. In a difficult group containing Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay, the USA needs a positive result if they are to harbor any hope of advancing to the quarterfinals.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s record and accomplishments with the United States national team are well known. After winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013, his fortunes have gradually taken a turn for the worse. The 2016 Copa America represents a massive chance for Klinsmann and the US squad to make the country proud again, but of the highest importance is the continued buildup to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Highlights are fun, and highlights are even more fun when narrated by the WWE's Jim Ross. Because of the massive beatdown New York Red Bulls put on New York City FC, and because of the Internet, we've ended up with one of the great match highlight videos of our time, with professional wrestling commentary overlaid on Red Bulls' 7-0 trouncing of their "rivals."

Andrea Pirlo criticized MLS and American soccer, saying that there is a cultural void that holds American players back. 

New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo had some critical comments for MLS and American soccer culture in the lead up to NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls.

Speaking to Reuters at an MLS promotional event last Friday, he commented on a “cultural void” that he believes exists in American soccer: