Aram Gumusyan

Soccer fans are in heaven right now with the quality and quantity of games available on television and online. But the sheer number of options available can be overwhelming at times, especially when you're trying to figure out what channel each game will be on. To make things easier, World Soccer Talk has created a […]

Off the field, Brazil and Mexico are economic rivals who both boast the boundless natural resources, large populations, and political clout needed to be Latin America’s leader. But despite Mexico’s strengths, its never come close to emulating Brazil’s soccer success despite both nations sharing a near total sporting devotion to the sport. Let’s take a […]

Before we get to the lineups for Cameroon vs Mexico (thanks to Miguel Herrera for already revealing the Mexico's Starting XI last night), let's set the scene. Betamax to VHS. The Zune to the iPod. MySpace to Facebook. Napoleon to the Duke of Wellington. Alabama to Auburn in the 2013 Iron Bowl. “K-9” to “Turner […]

In 1558, the French drove the English from their stronghold in the city of Calais and out of continental Europe. England had held Calais and other lands in France for more than 200 years. It would be almost 200 more before England again seized a continental slice by snagging Gibraltar in 1704. Now, the Manchester […]

There’s been a lot said lately about MLS expansion, but on a recent edition of ESPNFC, analysts Taylor Twellman and Steve Nicol had a fiery exchange that distilled the MLS expansion debate right down to its essence. Lincoln v. Douglas-esque in its gravity, the showdown also evoked Kennedy v. Nixon in its stark visual contrast […]

A brief leadership vacuum emerged in the Premier League's upper echelon at season's end. But even though Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United moved swiftly to fill the void with Jose Mourinho, Roberto Martinez, Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes respectively, each manager steps into a precarious position. Can Roberto Martinez deliver Champions League football […]

E pluribus unum. It’s not only the inspiration behind a totally cool country, it’s also Nike's design process ethos. Many designs were crafted and considered before being culled down to the one chosen to be England’s new 150th anniversary kit. Nike’s meticulous selection system ensures that players and fans alike only put the finest shirt […]

West Ham United have finally ironed out a deal to move into London's Olympic Stadium come the 2016-2017 season. The deal puts an end to a stop-start struggle that has lasted almost as long as construction on the Stratford ground itself. West Ham’s East End neighbour, League One’s Leyton Orient, vigorously fought the move. Its […]

A recent Sunday morning in Portland, Oregon. Early. A brief gargling with Scope does little to wash out the heavy taste of Saturday night’s Rogue Ales and Jamesons. The streets are as deserted as those in The Walking Dead and the sun is only a dull hint in the sky. By all rights I should still be […]

“It is an ode to defeat” is how the organizer of an art exhibit at Paris’ Pompidou Center describes a recently-unveiled statue of Zinedine Zidane. The 16-foot work, by artist Adel Abdessemed, is unusual in that it doesn’t show Zizou in his pomp like most artistic depictions of athletes. Rather it depicts his “moment of […]

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there were 32 countries in UEFA, up only seven from the 25 that founded Europe’s governing body for football in 1954. The winds of change that would spur the Scorpions to lay down their greatest hit swept through Eastern Europe and redrew borders that had tenuously confined its people […]

It was nearly two years ago when Welsh wonder wizard Gareth Bale gave the White Hart Lane faithful one of their greatest international nights. His speed, flair, and precision fueled a 3-1 evisceration of Inter Milan in their Champions League group stage match. Such was Bale’s embarrassment of Inter’s right back Maicon that chants of […]

What else could you really expect from Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,000 Premier League match? On a waterlogged pitch against a hungry Southampton squad on the verge of a statement win, Manchester United’s most sensational summer acquisition, Robin van Persie, saved the day and his teammates from facing the ire of a disgruntled Sir Alex. Yet, […]

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” -Michael Corleone This has been the endless summer of soccer. The opening rounds of Euro 2012 brought pulse-pounding games almost every day before culminating in Spain’s crowning. Soon after came the men’s and women’s Olympic football tournaments, ending with Mexico’s upset over Brazil […]

In the final days of the transfer season which concludes on August 31, there could be a number of summer sagas and last-minute deals that can be resolved. With Deadline Day fast approaching, let’s take a look at eight potential deals which could be completed in the mad scramble which takes place in the final […]