Of all the years in the 2020s, 2021 was probably the least bad one. Maybe. But worry not; 2022 can’t possibly be as bad as the first two years of the decade, right? According to our 2022 soccer predictions, it’s going to be the best year ever, or at least the best of the last three. 

The “UNITED 2026” name for the 2026 World Cup doesn’t hit home for me personally. The United States, Canada and Mexico will become the first countries to be part of a three-host World Cup and will unfortunately have a subpar name for the tournament.

Before jumping into my revolutionary alternate names for UNITED 2026, let’s quickly remind ourselves where the games will be played. The host cities for the 2026 World Cup will be announced at some point next year as the excitement grows.

In Europe there's a pretty established pathway to becoming a professional footballer: get signed to the academy of a professional club at an early age and hope that one day you're good enough to make the first team.

For an American with European dreams, the route is similar: either have a rich family that can send you abroad or hope that a European club somehow spots you.

My apologies and condolences go out to any poor unfortunate souls who canceled their Saturday night plans to watch the USMNT play Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. defeated Bosnia 1-0 in what was perhaps one of most mundane soccer games ever played.

With it not being an official international break, there was no Christian Pulisic or Weston McKennie caliber of starpower. The purpose of this friendly was a tune-up game ahead of World Cup qualifying in January. This was a chance for some youngsters and fringe players to prove themselves to head coach Gregg Berhalter. 

The USMNT Goal of the Year 2021 was announced on Wednesday with the fans voting correctly and picking Sergiño Dest as the winner.

USMNT Goal of the Year 2021

Sergino Dest’s BANGER against Costa Rica was voted best @USMNT goal of 2021

(via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/JgPi7bDlNL

The first 2021 award winner for the USWNT was revealed on Tuesday morning with the Goal of the Year being announced. The USWNT Goal of the Year 2021 nominees included a list of sensational goals. Here’s a quick refresher on what fans could vote for.

All of them were pretty great, but what was favorite goal of 2021?