Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist Josh Sargent was sitting on a plane heading back to the United States following another stellar season with English club Norwich City when the email from U.S. Soccer popped up on his phone.The 25-year-old striker, who had 15 goals in 32 appearances for the Canaries in 2024-25 — easily the best strike rate in the second-tier Championship division — read the message, which informed Sargent that he would not be part of the national team’s roster for the Concacaf Gold Cup, the national team’s last competitive games before next summer’s 48-team soccer extravaganza. “I was like, ‘Damn,…

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane sent Tunisia to the World Cup with a goal in the fourth minute of injury time that secured a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea on Monday in qualifying.Romdhane was teed up by fellow substitute Firas Chaouat to slot home the late winner and spark wild celebrations for the visitors on the track behind the goal.Tunisia needed a win to secure a spot at next year’s tournament in North America with two games to spare. It tops Group H with 22 points from eight games, 10 points ahead of second-place Namibia, which has a game in hand.…

Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist HARRISON, N.J. — If ever there were an example of statistics not telling the story of a soccer game, then what we saw on Saturday was it. Based solely on the numbers, it would be easy to think that the Americans were done in by two goals that came against the run of play. The USMNT out-shot the Taegeuk Warriors 17-5. They had more efforts on target, more possession of the ball, more total passes and better pass accuracy. They had twice as many corners and fouls.”Overall, I think we were better than South Korea,” U.S. coach…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to play in a record sixth World Cup began in typical fashion with two goals as Portugal made a winning start to its qualifying campaign by routing Armenia 5-0.2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: WHO HAS QUALIFIED? WHO CAN MAKE IT?Ronaldo’s goals extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to keep setting more benchmarks before his storied career comes to an end.The 40-year-old soccer great has recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League last…

Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist MORRISTOWN, N.J. — It’s been nearly two months since we last saw the United States men’s national team in action. Expect one thing to remain the same. Back in July, the USMNT narrowly lost the Gold Cup final to Mexico in front of a sold-out, heavily pro-El Tri crowd of almost 71,000 in Houston. On Saturday, the Americans are likely to be the away team on home soil once again, with most of the full house at 26,500-seat Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, expected to be rooting for Korea Republic and superstar forward Son Heung-min.It…

Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist How would you describe it when a soccer team is clicking? Do you refer to it as “camaraderie” or “a good locker room”? Perhaps it’s, as you hear players and coaches call it, a “tight-knit group.” Or maybe it’s what the younger folk today may refer to as “vibes.” Whatever the term, some think it isn’t nearly as important as just assembling a team with the players possible. The cream, they argue, will inevitably rise to the top. For the most part, they aren’t wrong. Only eight countries have ever won a men’s FIFA World Cup. The last…

Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist The United States men’s national team will take on two-time World Cup champion Uruguay in its final match of 2025, according to multiple sources.The friendly game, the second of two exhibitions the Americans will play during FIFA’s November international fixture window, will take place on Nov. 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida – the 75,000-seat home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The identity of the USMNT first opponent that month is expected to be announced in the coming days. That foe is also expected to come from the CONMEBOL region that includes the top…

Doug McIntyre Soccer Journalist The summer transfer window slammed shut across Europe on Monday. And while no United States men’s national team members switched clubs on Deadline Day, plenty of Americans made moves throughout the summer. And if these players want to solidify their U.S. roster spots ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, these are places where they’ll need to do it. Here’s how those moves rank, starting with the most impactful:Johnny Cardoso: Real Betis to Atlético Madrid Johnny Cardoso joining Atlético Madrid highlights the transfers involving U.S. men’s team players. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) Never mind that the 23-year-old…

Lionel Messi couldn’t add another trophy to his résumé, but the Seattle Sounders did so to fill out their impressive cabinet.The Sounders beat Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final in a match that was marred by a postgame brawl involving players and staff from both teams, including Luis Suárez.Osaze De Rosario got Seattle on board, Alex Roldan added a penalty kick and Paul Rothrock sealed the match in the final moments as a club-record 69,314 fans watched in attendance. Seattle adds their ninth trophy since entering MLS in 2009. The club has previously lifted four U.S. Open…

The return of Rodri in Manchester City’s starting XI was supposed to be a step in the right direction for the struggling club, but it was more of the same for the Citizens against Brighton on Sunday, and the Spanish midfielder defended his performance.”I’m not [Lionel] Messi,” Rodri said following City’s 2-1 loss at American Express Stadium. “I’m not going to come back and make the team win and win. This is a collective. When we won in the past, I needed all my teammates.”For sure, I have to recover and find my best level. It’s not because I’m back…