Our favorite time of the year is when Football Reference (Fbref.com) releases the map of the most-viewed soccer teams by state. In 2025 the two most popular teams were Liverpool and Arsenal.
American soccer fans were most interested in 10 MLS clubs, six Premier League clubs, three NWSL teams, Real Madrid and for some reason Ligue 1’s Paris FC.
FBref soccer map of U.S. 2025
Mexico's generational talent also disappeared before our eyes.
During the match against Mexico on Saturday night, 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora came on as a substitute and was nearly wiped out in a shocking studs-up tackle by Nández — when the ball wasn’t seriously 'in play.' Rather than a welcome to senior international soccer, it was a brutal initiation.
Inter Milan maintained their pursuit of the Serie A title with a hard-fought 2–1 away victory over Hellas Verona, highlighted by a moment of individual brilliance from Piotr Zieliński.
The Polish midfielder opened his 2025–26 league account with what can only be described as one of the finest goals of the season — and, perhaps, one of the most aesthetically pleasing strikes in recent memory.
Watch: Piotr Zieliński incredible volley against Hellas Verona
The art of the sweeper keeper has been nearly perfected by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but on Thursday Barcelona's Joan García proved that the role is harder than it looks.
In the 33rd minute García came way out of his box to stop a Real Oviedo attack. The 24-year-old did well to intercept and control the ball… but then he passed it right to an Oviedo player.
Joan García error vs. Oviedo
Wednesday’s MLS matchup between LAFC and Real Salt Lake was full of highlight moments which included a Son Heung-min hat-trick, an incredible bicycle kick for RSL and one of the more peculiar penalty saves.
The Hugo Lloris penalty save vs RSL caught our attention as we’ve never seen a goalkeeper stop a spot kick by sitting on the ball. In the 56th minute Real Salt Lake looked to halve the deficit after being awarded a penalty kick.
Rwan Cruz’s attempt then hit off the post and rolled to an unsuspecting Lloris who sat on the ball.
A 54-year-old Dorking Wanderers fan will make his debut in goal for the English sixth-tier side on Saturday after the club's first-choice goalkeeper suffered a spleen injury, leaving them without cover for the weekend game.
Terry Dunn, a "multiple promotion winner with several local clubs" according to Wanderers, hung up his gloves 28 years ago.
Club signs fan as goalkeeper
DUNN DEAL ✅
In one of the strangest national team stories in recent memory, Borussia Mönchengladbach and USMNT defender, Joe Scally, was reportedly left off the U.S. men’s national team’s September roster… for doing donuts in a golf cart.
Yes, you read that right.
Joe Scally golf cart rumor
MONACO — Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain will play Bayern Munich and Barcelona in this season's league phase while record 15-times winners Real Madrid will face Manchester City and Liverpool after Thursday's draw set up some blockbuster encounters.
PSG will also meet Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United along with Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen in the new league phase format which started last season, where each club plays eight games -- four at home and four on the road.
PSG get hardest UCL schedule this season
Matchday one of the Premier League left fans with plenty of questions, however one question stood out from the rest. Why are Mexico fans supporting Sunderland?
Why are Mexico fans supporting Sunderland? Timeline
Aug. 18 (Reuters) - Joy turned to pain in an instant for Nottingham Forest goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa, whose celebration of Chris Wood's opener against Brentford ended with six stitches and a dizzy spell for him in their first Premier League game of the new season.
Wood's fifth-minute goal, poked home following a corner, sparked jubilant scenes in the Forest dugout at the City Ground. However, Barbosa's enthusiasm turned painful when he smacked his head on the dugout during the celebrations.