Opinion

Winning is great, but it’s even better when it’s against a rival. Goals mean more, away games are more demanding and everything is personal. Though the matches count just as much in the table, it's a day the fans circled on their calendars as soon as the schedules dropped. MLS Matchday 12 featured red cards aplenty, late winners and fans who went home filled with an anger that can only be felt after a loss in Rivalry Week. 

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.

Shock results rocked the boat in MLS Matchweek 11, with upsets happening from Seattle to Miami and San Jose to Charlotte. Frontrunners have emerged in both the league standings and the MVP race as several big names set the scoresheets alight and dazzled in front of packed crowds. 

No one envies the job that U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has right now in trying to whittle down his roster to 23 for the World Cup. He will have many tough decisions to make, however one choice that shouldn’t be hard is including Lynn Williams.

The 29-year-old missed nearly all the last NWSL season with a hamstring injury she picked up in March 2022. In the offseason she made a move to Gotham FC and she’s off to an electric start to the 2023 campaign.

The hype is growing around The Soccer Tournament (TST) — brainchild of the folks behind the increasingly popular The Basketball Tournament (TBT) — but I don't think anyone's talking about it nearly enough.

On June 1, 32 teams will descend on WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, for a four-day tournament with the winners taking home $1 million. It's certainly not your traditional soccer tournament with different rules, procedures and a collection of squads comprised of legends, professionals, up-and-coming talents, amateurs, viral street sensations and everyone in-between.

Our 2023 UEFA Champions League semifinal predictions are coming in hot with certified locks for a rematch of last year's instant classic between Real Madrid-Manchester City and a historic Derby della Madonnina between rivals Inter and AC Milan.

Who will contest the final on June 10 at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul? Let's turn to our collection of Nostradamus-minded folks to find out.

UEFA Champions League semifinal predictions 2023

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City