The MLS Cup Playoffs kicked off last night with matches at Toyota Stadium in Frisco and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and the attendance numbers were not good. It was, of course, Halloween night, which ruled out anyone with a kid, anyone attending a monster mash and anyone hellbent on finishing The Haunting of Hill House.
New York City FC defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-1 to advance to the MLS Conference Semifinals on Wednesday in the Bronx. On its face, it was a comprehensive victory, with the Union’s lone goal coming far too late in the 83rd minute. But one shocking no-call in the first half absolutely had an impact on the game, and MLS is being a bit tone-deaf in the aftermath.
Did you get your tickets for the Women’s World Cup semifinals and final in France? If not, you might be out of luck. Women's World Cup ticket sales have been through the roof, with the pack including the semifinals and final having already sold out shortly after going on sale.
If there’s one thing I’m sure of when it comes to America, it’s the fact we love ourselves some playoffs. We demand postseason tournaments to determine our sports champions and can’t even fathom ending a season without only rewarding the team that’s playing the best at the end of the campaign. But despite our affinity for such tournaments, it may still be hard to understand how MLS playoffs work.
If you’re like me, your FIFA Career Mode has played out in a similar vein for the last decade: (1) Select your favorite Premier League club. (2) Sign one or two big names for the starting XI (get in here, Daniele De Rossi, son of Rome). (3) Load the bench with Americans and create compelling backstories in your own head about how Jordan Morris is ready to take his chance against Macclesfield Town in the Carabao Cup second round.
The Stanford Cardinal women’s soccer program is at it again. The defending NCAA College Cup champion is the No. 1-ranked team in the land with an undefeated record of 15 wins and two ties. The Cardinal defeated No. 15 Colorado 7-0 on Oct. 21, and the side features the likes of Tierna Davidson (she’s been capped 12 times by the USWNT at the age of 20), 2017 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team selection Alana Cook and 2017 ESPNW Player of the Year Catarina Macario.
Major League Soccer’s Decision Day (the final match week of the regular season) came and went this past Sunday and served as the perfect precursor to the main event: we have absolutely no idea how this’ll all pan out. You’ll find our how to watch MLS Playoffs 2018 and a knockout round preview below.
We’re a good chunk into the National Women’s Soccer League off-season, which means speculation and rumors about what the 2019 edition will look like are already in full swing. Though there've been hurdles and uncertainties along the way, things have been so far, so good for the NWSL since it first kicked off in 2013.
With qualification secured and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup a little over 200 days away, the USWNT countdown to France is well and truly on. The world’s No. 1 ranked side will again be sporting Nike threads at the event (the partnership between the sportswear giant and U.S. Soccer has been going strong since ’95 and has a current deal through 2022), and the team will receive women’s exclusive jerseys for the event.