American Players Abroad

LONDON — West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen set up one goal and scored another to inspire his side to a 3-1 Premier League victory at the London Stadium on Sunday and deepen the relegation crisis at Leeds United.

Leeds remain in the relegation zone with 31 points from 37 games, two points behind 17th-placed Everton with the home visit of Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season next Sunday. Everton welcome Bournemouth to Goodison Park.

John Brooks was one of several surprise inclusions on the 60-man United States men’s national team preliminary roster for the Concacaf Nations League. There could be a chance for a John Brooks USMNT reunion.

The Concacaf Nations League resumes in June with the United States vs. Mexico and Canada vs. Panama as the semifinals. The tournament requires teams to release preliminary rosters with up to 60 players and those were unveiled on Friday.

Weston McKennie could be playing in the Premier League next season even if Leeds United end up getting relegated. That’s because Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen on his club signing the American midfielder this summer according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

When McKennie joined Leeds on loan in January many U.S. fans thought the move was going to be a smashing success. Fans hoped that Tyler Adams and McKennie were going to dominate the midfield for Leeds and form an unstoppable duo.

USWNT midfielder Catarina Macario is set to sign with FA Women’s Super League side Chelsea this summer per The Athletic. Her contract with Lyon expires at the end of the season. 

The 23-year-old standout missed all the 2022-23 season with an ACL injury to her left knee that she suffered in June 2022 during Lyon's final league game of the season. She’s nearing a return to action and will be hoping to recover in time for a shot to make USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 2023 Women’s World Cup roster.

The United States men’s national team made a massive announcement on Monday that 21-year-old Stade Reims striker Folarin Balogun will make a one-time nationality switch to represent the U.S. instead of England.

FIFA approved the switch meaning Balogun could be playing for the Stars and Stripes as soon as the Concacaf Nations League semifinal vs. Mexico in June. Balogun has been electric in France’s Ligue 1 this season with 19 goals in 34 games (fifth best in the league).

LEEDS — Defender Rasmus Kristensen scored a late equalizer to give Leeds United a share of the points in a thrilling Premier League 2-2 draw with Newcastle United that saw Leeds miss one spot kick, concede two more and have a man sent off in stoppage time.

Leeds are still in the relegation zone but move up one spot to 18th on 31 points, one point behind Everton in 17th, while Newcastle remain third in the table on 66 points, three ahead of Manchester United and four ahead of Liverpool.

The United States men’s national is set to face bitter rival Mexico in a month’s time in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a litany of injuries to the team we felt that a potential USMNT starting XI vs Mexico was necessary.

Mexico and the U.S. faced off in a snooze fest with their B-teams in the Continental Clásico in April, but on June 15 the star players should be back on the field.

The summer transfer window must be approaching because the Christian Pulisic transfer rumors are back. A week after Olivier Giroud said that AC Milan would love to have Pulisic, Napoli and Juventus are also showing interest.

There were a few bright spots for Major Leeds Soccer as they only lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Saturday and gave the league leaders a late scare. One of the rare positive moments from the game was the Weston McKennie long throw strategy.

If you support the United States men’s national team then you know all about McKennie’s throw-in abilities. For some reason Leeds have rarely asked the American to utilize his skills.

New Leeds manager Sam Allardyce was all over it and asked McKennie to huck a ball into City’s box in the 10th minute.

AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud said that USMNT star Christian Pulisic was a “happy boy” at Chelsea when they played together, compared the American to Eden Hazard and claimed he’d be welcomed in Milan.

Giroud made a guest appearance on the CBS Sports GOLAZO! Network on Thursday and shared his experiences of playing with Pulisic. The 36-year-old Frenchman and Pulisic played together for two seasons at Chelsea in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, winning the UEFA Champions League in the process.

Here’s what Giroud had to say about Captain America.