When it comes to the biggest of soccer teams coming to USA 2022 and the resulting schedule of summer friendlies, it doesn't get much better than Manchester City versus Bayern Munich at 81,441-seat Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday, July 23.
There’s nothing better than an all-inclusive, single-elimination sporting event in which teams with far fewer resources have a chance to knock off the blue bloods. It’s why the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments are some of the most popular events in the country and why you should be paying more attention to the U.S. Open Cup, particularly what Union Omaha is doing right now.
We're almost three months into the 2022 MLS season, affording us enough time to showcase some of the most exciting new stadium food options after collecting them from the Bible of arena grub, @FootyScran.
It's the best account around to make you both incredibly hungry and excited for Saturday, although the reaction to MLS food usually justifiably ranges from "that looks delicious" to "why the hell are they paying $25 for chicken over there?"
What is scran?
The 2022 US Open Cup third round goes down Tuesday and Wednesday with things getting serious as 17 MLS sides join the competition (the remaining eight enter in the fourth round). You'll need an ESPN+ subscription to watch, but the good news is that all 24 matches will be broadcast with no local blackouts.
Coming off a disappointing 2021 season in which Minnesota United clearly took a step backward, there wasn't much joy to be found among Loons fans at the start of the offseason.
One of the great Thanksgiving traditions — other than your annual Turkey Derby — is watching American football teams you don’t care about. Typically, you couldn’t pay someone to watch a Detroit Lions game, but on Turkey Day it just hits different. This year the Lions are so horrendous that we at The18 recommend these soccer games on Thanksgiving instead.
After a remarkable Decision Day that ended with Colorado atop the Western Conference and Salt Lake in the postseason at the expense of the LA Galaxy, it’s time to begin our countdown to the Cup final on Dec. 11 with some MLS playoff predictions.
Thankfully, this season’s action begins after the November international break so there’ll be no awkward space between the first round on Nov. 20 and the conference semifinals on Thanksgiving.
On Wednesday, Major League Soccer announced its 28-player roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. On Wednesday, Aug. 25, this group will play a highly anticipated match against the Liga MX All-Stars at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
Some of the players have been here before (LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Orlando City’s Nani, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman), but a number of players have been selected for the first time, including rising stars like San Jose’s Cade Cowell, Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi and New England’s Tajon Buchanan.
Cristian Dájome drew a penalty in stoppage-time of the second half, then calmly stepped to the spot and drove home the penalty kick to keep the Vancouver Whitecaps from a defeat in Saturday night's 2-2 draw with Minnesota United at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Dájome appeared to suffer a leg injury on the kick, but he converted. He got the chance when Minnesota's Ethan Finlay made contact with the hard-charging Dájome in the box, and, after a short video review, the call was upheld.
Any MLS club in Seattle’s shoes gets blown away on Sunday against Minnesota United at Allianz Field.
It’s an away day in mid-July with the temperature at 90 degrees. Minnesota is strong at home and hungry for a first-ever win over the Sounders at the ninth time of asking. Seattle, on the other hand, has nine players listed as “out” and has to call up two players from the Tacoma Defiance reserve team, including 15-year-old Alaskan Obed Vargas.
This is a recipe for disaster in America’s top division.