Youth Soccer

Gaga Slonina leads USMNT roster for the U-20 World Cup

Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina headlines the USMNT squad playing in the U-20 World Cup in Argentina later this month. 

Mexican-American Jonathan Gomez and forwards Kevin Paredes and Cade Cowell are also on the list announced Wednesday by coach Mikey Varas. 

Sadly, Paxten Aaronson, who won the Concacaf U-20 Championship’s Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards last summer, will not feature in the tournament after German club Eintracht Frankfurt decided not to release him.

Volaron patadas y puñetazos cobardes: La brutal pelea entre el América y el Cruz Azul Sub-18

Cruz Azul dejó en el camino al América en los cuartos de final de la categoría Sub-18 con un global de 4-2. Sin embargo, el resultado y lo futbolístico terminaron siendo irrelevantes en un duelo marcado por la batalla campal que protagonizaron ambos equipos y que acabó con cuatro expulsados.

Pelea América Cruz Azul Sub-18

La bronca se desató al minuto 72, luego de que Cruz Azul marcara el tercero de los tres goles con que La Máquina derrotó a los azulcrema en el partido de revancha de la serie.

NEW youngest player in NWSL history — San Diego Wave sign 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas

San Diego Wave FC will start the 2023 season on Saturday, but the team has already made history this year. On Tuesday the club signed the youngest player ever in the NWSL when 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas penned a three-year deal with San Diego.

Mean, mean goalkeeper denies goal to a little birthday boy

If you think Emiliano Martinez is the most despicable goalkeeper out there, just wait to meet Zsombor Senkó, the man between the sticks for Hungarian second-division side DVTK. He's being rightly booed worldwide after denying a goal and crushing the dreams of a seven-year-old boy on his birthday!

Boooo! And another boooo!

Attention soccer purists: Get your kangaroo leather cleats while you still can

Nike announced on Monday that it will no longer produce kangaroo leather products, including its famous soccer cleats. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, the news is a real wake-up call. Since the 1970s, kangaroo leather has represented the pinnacle of what a football boot is and should be, providing players with a touch on the ball unlike any other boots on the market. 

LAFC and Bayern Munich announce player development partnership

Despite only beginning the club's sixth season in Major League Soccer, LAFC have already begun tapping into the hot bed of talent in Southern California with exciting homegrown players like Erik Dueñas, Christian Torres, Nathan Ordaz and Tony Leone all on the roster.

After viral indoor goal, Dutch phenom knocks Barça out of UEFA Youth League with another stunner

I've seen enough. I'm declaring 17-year-old AZ Alkmaar phenom Kees Smit the winner of the 2023 Golden Boy Award, and there's nothing some preciously talented La Masia graduate at Barcelona can do about it. 

Over a month ago, the Netherlands youth international came to my attention with an incredibly inventive goal during an indoor match. It's as beautiful as a Rembrandt.   

The United States qualifies for U-17 Men's World Cup with win over Guatemala

The United States have earned a spot at this year's U-17 Men’s World Cup with a hard-fought 5-3 win against Guatemala in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. It took four goals to defeat the tournament’s hosts in an extremely hostile home atmosphere. 

U-17 USMNT continues Concacaf Championship campaign with another emphatic win over Trinidad

Today’s heroes in Guatemala are looking set to be tomorrow’s golden boys. The U-17 USMNT is in the midst of its Concacaf Championship campaign and has gotten off to about as good of a start as possible. Saturday’s comprehensive 5-0 drubbing of Barbados was followed by another dominant performance and a 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Monday night.

Watch all 11 Puskás Award finalists right here, right now

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but if you've been following The18 for the past year then you've already seen all 11 FIFA Puskas Award nominees. We have exquisite taste like that. 

But in case you can't remember the strikes — arriving as early as Apr. 2 and as late as Kylian Mbappé's side-volley against Argentina in the World Cup final on Dec. 18 — here's a trip down memory lane with videos that you can watch right here, right now. I've also included a link to what The18 said at the time.

Pages