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Washington Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
The USMNT is struggling mightily. Can the Gold Cup provide a cure?
SAN JOSE — Under its new coach, the U.S. men's national soccer team figured to use the Concacaf Gold Cup as a major stepping stone toward the 2026 World Cup. The tournament promised a stage for maturing players to hit their stride, for hopefuls to make their case to be on next year's roster and for the program to begin rallying the public before the sport's global spectacle arrives next June.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Potential host cities talk 2031 Women's World Cup after U.S. Soccer initiates selection process
The next five years could be an extraordinary era for soccer fans in the United States — if all goes to plan. The much-hyped, still-unproven, revamped and expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on Saturday and the men's World Cup is set to land here in summer 2026, when the U.S. co-hosts the tournament with Canada and Mexico. However, some organizers are already looking to the 2031 Women's World Cup. Advertisement U.S. Soccer shared bid information for that tournament at the end of May with 29 potential host cities across the nation, according to multiple people familiar with the planning. 'We've received the documents from U.S. Soccer,' Meg Kane, the executive director of the Philadelphia World Cup Host Committee, said during this week's 2026 men's World Cup host committee event in New York. 'There's incredible enthusiasm for the Women's World Cup.' Executive director for the Dallas Sports Commission, Monica Paul, said they've also received bid documents, but with the more imminent tournaments, they have not had a chance to review the 2031 documents closely enough to see what differs from the 2026 tournament. This Women's World Cup is very, very important to me as a woman, but also as somebody working in Dallas, trying to build the landscape, seeing the growth of women's sports in Dallas,' Paul said at the 2026 host event on Monday. 'This is something that's … at the top of our list for the future.' The list of cities is not exclusive, and the door remains open to additional ones interested in throwing their hats into the ring. But time is running short, especially with the news that the 2031 version of the tournament is expanding to 48 teams from the current 32. Cities are expected to make a verbal commitment by September, with formal bids due by late November, according to sources familiar with the process. As Sports Business Journal reported last month, the FIFA Congress is expected to approve the hosting roles for the U.S. and Mexico, as well as possible additional countries from the Concacaf region, on April 30 in the Canadian city of Vancouver. Those on the U.S. side of planning are juggling hosting the upcoming men's tournament with what's to come in 2031, including determining the balance of the NFL to smaller stadiums. This is made even more difficult, according to sources, considering maintaining equity with the expanding tournament that will inevitably include smaller match-ups. Advertisement The economic impact of any World Cup relies strongly on tourism and funding for transportation, security and fan festivals. With the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, many state and federal governments have already invested taxpayer dollars and public funds — something that may complicate the equation for 2031. For the 2026 men's World Cup, 17 American cities made the shortlist to host games, and 11 were selected. It will be the most ambitious World Cup yet, with 48 teams from the six global confederations playing 104 games across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in just over five weeks. The host nations involved in the 2026 tournament have already completed FIFA's meticulous bidding process, meeting infrastructure demands such as a minimum number of stadiums with specific seating capacities, hotel accommodations, an efficient transportation network, as well as navigating security protocols, and committing millions of dollars to logistics and fan engagement. For example, Miami-Dade County, which will host seven men's World Cup matches in 2026, is predicting $46 million in costs between cash subsidies, police services and other host-related expenses. Atlanta, which is hosting eight matches in 2026, has considered these costs, but is still eager to host games in 2031. 'Having flexibility on the fundraising side will be very important for us because, again, there's always so much public money that we can secure from the state or city to help publicly subsidize it, so we have to get the rest from the private sector,' CEO of Atlanta's host committee, Dan Corso, said. 'I think if we could get ahead of the public fundraising now for 2031 and maybe loosen up some of the categories that have been restricted currently for 2026. If we can open that up a little bit earlier and a little more broadly for us to go after more companies, I think that would help.' Advertisement However, with training facilities, transport plans and citywide activation strategies already in place, the existing host cities are well positioned to host again, with far less friction, in 2031. And as women's soccer continues to surge in popularity in the United States, these places have a chance to cement their status as true soccer cities, not just once, but twice in a decade. 'We're going to sit with the U.S. Soccer here in a few months, whenever they call that summit together for all the cities that are interested, and really go through the big specs with them and get their perspective of what they think they could do to help cities,' Corso said. 'We look forward to that opportunity, but I think cities that are hosting 2026 that are interested in 2031 are taking a lot of notes on what we could apply in 2031 and make it a bit more palatable in some ways.' Even a year out, some 2026 hosts are running into budget-related issues. In California's Bay Area, the issue of money not covered through the host committee's private investment or sponsorships will likely be covered by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers for operating matches at their home of Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the fee could be as much as $37 million, though the hope is that much of that can be offset. 'I want to bid, but for me to bid it, I'm running a business, so it has to work for the business,' Zaileen Janmohamed, the president and CEO of California's Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), told The Athletic at the same World Cup event in New York this week. 'We've had a lot of learning from the men's World Cup bid and what's worked and not worked in our region.' San Francisco, and more so the broader Bay Area, is well positioned to take advantage of the world's biggest women's soccer tournament, too. It has a successful NWSL team, Bay FC, and a team in the amateur USL W league, Oakland Soul. The women's youth soccer scene is also strong in the Bay Area. That region of northern California also has multiple venues available for the big event, including the NFL's 68,500-seat Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, which will host 2026 men's World Cup games; San Jose's PayPal Park with an 18,000 capacity, where Bay FC plays home games; and men's second-tier team Oakland Roots' home at the 63,000-seat Oakland Coliseum. Kansas City is another place with both interest and the ability to host in 2031. According to its host committee president and CEO, Kathy Nelson, Kansas City is going to bid. As one of the epicenters of women's soccer investment, boasting CPKC Stadium, one of the world's first purpose-built professional women's sports arenas, with its 11,500 seats, the Women's World Cup is a natural fit for the city. The same goes for New York. Sources close to the NY/NJ host committee are confident the Big Apple will bid to host as well. Advertisement In Texas, both Dallas and Houston also seem to be interested in hosting matches in the tournament. 'We are reviewing those documents,' Houston's host committee president Chris Canetti told The Athletic. While that body did not make a firm commitment to bid, Canetti said it is likely to do so: 'There's usually not an event that comes out where Houston doesn't want to be a part of it. So my guess would be, at the end of the day, Houston will be very aggressive when it comes to wanting to bring the Women's World Cup to town.' Paul also spoke about potentially bidding for 2031 for Dallas. According to Paul, Dallas, which recently wrapped up the inaugural season of its new professional women's team, Dallas Trinity FC, in the USL Super League, is already thinking about how to leverage the moment not just for a potential World Cup bid, but to boost youth development and the broader women's soccer ecosystem. A post shared by Dallas Trinity FC (@dallastrinityfc) In Miami, host committee president and CEO Alina Hudak won't be making the final call, but she noted that the area's leaders are exploring the opportunity. 'We're a city that loves to host major sporting events and, so, as a resident, I would welcome the opportunity to host a World Cup for women in South Florida,' she said during Monday's host city event. Others remain laser-focused on the men's tournament next year. Boston host committee president Mike Loynd, while enthusiastic about the city's new NWSL team that starts play when the 2026 season kicks off next March, said it's too early to discuss a 2031 bid. In Philadelphia, Kane echoed that sentiment. She said her priority is delivering a successful 2026 before turning attention to what comes next, while also acknowledging that the passion for the women's game is growing across the United States. 'Philadelphia, and (the state of) Pennsylvania, would be an outstanding host of the Women's World Cup. Right now, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is very much focused on delivering a great experience for 2026,' she said. Advertisement Next year's tournament will put host cities' infrastructure on full display. If the numbers add up, some cities may just want to go again. However, the 2031 Women's World Cup will not be just a matter of scale, it will be about impact, as some of the potential host cities told The Athletic. That tournament won't be a test of whether the cities staging its matches can handle a global soccer crowd, it will be about how seriously they are going to bet on the women's game. Adam Crafton and Melanie Anzidei contributed to this reporting.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Christian Pulisic admits worrying Mauricio Pochettino disagreement after missing latest USMNT games
AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic revealed that his decision to sit out the Gold Cup this summer for the United States came after his request to be included for a pair of friendly matches. The 26-year-old Pennsylvania native told US Soccer that he didn't wish to take part in this summer's Gold Cup proceedings after a lengthy club season that left him in need of recovery. Pulisic's move has been the subject of controversy among US Soccer fans and former players for weeks since the nature of his non-inclusion was revealed. But speaking to the 'Call it What You Want' podcast from CBS, Pulisic indicated that he asked to be a part of the team for their friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland - but was denied. Pulisic then said that he didn't understand why head coach Mauricio Pochettino wouldn't include him for the friendlies. 'So obviously, it sucks for me to miss out with the team,' Pulisic began. 'I want to be a part of the team always. But to be honest, towards the second half and towards the end of the season, my body just started talking to me and my mind, and then I started to think, what is best and what is going to be best for me leading into next year and going into the World Cup? "I did want to be a part of at least the two friendlies, but they said no... I had to make the best decision for myself and, in the long run, for my team." Christian Pulisic opens up on his decision to sit out the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup 🇺🇸 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) June 12, 2025 'And was that to play eight more games and then get no rest at all, go straight into preseason and then grind another year and go straight into the World Cup? That's not what I felt was best for my body. 'But the only point that I would make with that is that I did want to be a part of at least the two friendlies. I did speak with the coaches and I asked, and I wanted to be a part of the team in whatever capacity I could. 'And they said no. They said they only wanted one roster, and that's the coach's decision. I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is. I wanted to be a part of that. 'But yeah, that's just the way things went, and I had to make the best decision for myself and also in the long run for my team, even though clearly some people haven't seen it that way.' One of the hosts of the podcast, Jimmy Conrad, drew from personal experience with the USMNT where he requested some time off and was then 'frozen out' of the roster by then-coach Bob Bradley. Conrad then asked Pulisic why he felt that depriving himself of the final chance to play competitive football with the USMNT before the World Cup was beneficial. 'I think I was pretty clear I knew how I was feeling towards the end of last season,' Pulisic said. 'I was dealing with a couple of small things that just kept on lingering and to go on and straight into the summer and play for up to six weeks and then go directly into preseason with my team and get no rest and then go straight into the next season and straight into the World Cup. I had to make a decision, and this is what I feel is best for myself, and like I said, ultimately best for the team. 'Yeah, with everyone, people can question my decision. I just don't understand why also so many people are so big on just wanting to give out these takes when they've been through tough moments themselves. 'I don't understand the idea of wanting to divide this fan base against the players, against the team, and bring a negative light over it in any way. But we tend to do that a lot, and it doesn't make sense to me. 'But truly, I don't let it affect too much. And this is the right decision, like I said, for myself and for the team at the end of the day and people will see that.' has contacted US Soccer for comment on this matter. The USMNT had a worrying start to their summer which showed plenty of deficiencies in their squad selected for the Gold Cup - one missing plenty of starters, including Pulisic. After being dominated for most of their 2-1 defeat to Turkey in Connecticut, the team followed that up with an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Switzerland in Nashville.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Tyler Adams says US soccer team tunes out criticism from former players
Tyler Adams says the U.S. soccer team has tuned out criticism from former players. Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, who share the American goals record with 57 each, are among those who have been critical of current regulars not in the struggling roster preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We don't talk about that internally as a group,' Adams said Wednesday during a Zoom interview with The Associated Press. 'The noise on the outside is the noise on the outside. I think we need to focus on what we need to do as a group and continue to build.' Star Christian Pulisic is skipping the June camp and Gold Cup to rest after playing about 120 games for club and country over two seasons. 'Whether it was Gold Cup, whether it was Copa (América), whether it was Confederations Cup, whether it was the World Cup, I wasn't going to miss competitions,' Dempsey said last week on the 'Men in Blazers' podcast. 'For me, I don't understand it because that wasn't my mentality. I always wanted to play in those games.' Watching Portugal celebrate its win over Spain in Sunday's European Nations League final, Donovan said on the Fox postgame show: 'I can't help but think about our guys on vacation not wanting to play in Gold Cup.' Pulisic has not spoken publicly of his decision. The U.S. has lost four straight games, its longest skid since 2007, following a 4-0 rout Tuesday night by Switzerland. 'This is part of the process,' Adams said. 'You're going to win games. You're going to lose games. It's about continuing to build that. I think we're on the right path. We have to continue to build and try the things that we've been training. It'll take a little bit of time, but it will come together.' Adams didn't dress for the Switzerland friendly but is confident he will be ready for the Gold Cup, where the Americans open Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago. 'A little turf toe-type injury. More of an overuse thing probably than anything — overload. It was something that I picked up when I came into camp,' Adams said. 'Progressing well right now, but just trying to be smart and manage it.' Adams, who captained the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, funded a pair of mini-pitches at Pulaski Park in Poughkeepsie, New York, near his home in Wappinger. He spoke on the Zoom about his work with Allstate, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Black Star Soccer to construct fields about the size of basketball courts at the Fisher Magnet Upper Academy in Detroit and The Bell Avenue School in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. 'Before the World Cup hopefully we plan to do one more with a city unnamed yet,' Adams said. 'It's something that I think has real impact, continues to grow the sport, serves underserved communities.' Now 26, Adams is feeling back to his old self. He had back surgery last July with Dr. Robert Watkins and returned to the field with England's Bournemouth on Oct. 26. Adams played in 28 Premier League matches this season after being limited to three in 2023-24 because of leg injuries. 'It's definitely enjoyable when you're healthy,' he said. 'The 16-to-18 months that it was just on and off inconsistency is something I never had in my career and never had to battle. And then when it hits you and you go through that, you just learn different ways to navigate things, enjoy life, just not take things for granted, all the little things.' Since Mauricio Pochettino took over as U.S. coach last fall, players have had more autonomy to break away from rigid positioning employed by his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter. 'From a positional standpoint, obviously we had probably a little bit of a different structure under Gregg,' Adams said. 'Maurizio gives the players freedom to find spots they're comfortable in and see how they can affect the game in different ways. I think our attacking players definitely have freedom to try and find the ball and create things in the right areas of the field. So, yeah, I think he gives everyone freedom, but there's still structure to the way that we want to play.' Adams will be with the U.S. team in Austin, Texas, next Wednesday, and following intently when the Premier League releases its 2025-26 schedule at 3 a.m. CDT. He feels improved because of his time with Leeds in 2022-23 and Bournemouth the past two seasons. 'After you play in the Premier League, every game feels slow,'' he said. 'No matter what game I play in now the game feels slow. You look at your schedule when the season comes out and you have to play in a row Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United, all these big games back to back to back you just learn how to make decisions quicker and if you don't, you get punished.' ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
On first 4-game losing streak since 2007, US looks unprepared with World Cup a year away
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The only bright side for the U.S. soccer team is the World Cup starts in a year, not this week. The Americans conceded four goals in the first half, failed to get a shot on target and were embarrassed in a 4-0 blowout loss to Switzerland in a friendly on Tuesday night.
