latest articles by Lawrence Dockery
News
/ 2577 days agoUSA vs. Ecuador preview: USMNT likely to feature mostly MLS players
Gregg Berhalter's first camp in charge of the USMNT went about as well as could be expected, as the US won both games by a combined score of 5-0: 3-0 against Panama and 2-0 against Costa Rica. A pair of clean sheets and five different goal-scorers is certainly a bright spot. But that was the […]
News
/ 2587 days agoInaugural game for Memphis 901 FC shows love for soccer in Bluff City
The inaugural game for Memphis 901 FC was Saturday, and I had the opportunity to watch a little bit of history being made in Tennessee on a clear, gorgeous evening in downtown Memphis. Nothing was going to spoil the party that was the debut game for Memphis 901 FC. Well, nothing except the Tampa Bay […]
USWNT
/ 2596 days agoNashville continues to be attractive destination for soccer after USWNT-England 2-2 tie
A lot of talk has recently centered around the emergence of Nashville as a soccer town in the United States. Over the last several years, games in Nashville have drawn very well. In 2015, the USMNT drew over 44,000 for a friendly against Guatemala. In 2017, they drew over 47,000 for their Gold Cup opener […]
USWNT
/ 2597 days agoUSWNT vs. England WNT preview: USA faces tough test against high-flying Three Lionesses
The Women's World Cup is drawing ever closer and preparations are ramping up. The annual She Believes Cup is underway and the first day was full of surprises. England and Brazil got the tournament underway with the Three Lionesses earning a 2-1, come-from-behind victory on a wonder strike by Bethany Mead. Then it was time […]
SheBelieves Cup
/ 2599 days agoSuspense builds for 2019 SheBelieves Cup in advance of Women's World Cup
With the Women's World Cup in France fast approaching, the US Women's National Team is ramping up their preparations. The slate of warm-up friendlies is as challenging as it has ever been. Since securing qualification in October, the US has played four games, all of which were on the road against European opposition: a pair […]
Where to find on TV
/ 2625 days agoUSA vs. Costa Rica preview: Berhalter faces stiff test against Costa Rica
The Gregg Berhalter era got off to a flying start as the US trounced Panama 3-0 on Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona. With the win, Berhalter became just the third US manager to win his debut match. Five players made their first ever appearance for the US. A number of the new kids gave a […]
News
/ 2631 days ago7 milestones USMNT need to hit for success in next World Cup cycle
It’s been 15 months since the US lost to Trinidad & Tobago and missed out on qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In that time, the USMNT meandered aimlessly through a string of friendlies in 2018 without a permanent head coach. When a head coach was finally named, it did little to inspire […]
News
/ 2631 days agoUSA-Panama preview: Berhalter faces pressure to win
For better or worse, it’s time to accept that Gregg Berhalter is now the US Men's National Team (USMNT) coach. Unfortunately, he was done a disservice by the US Soccer Federation because instead of naming him coach soon after the Trinidad debacle and giving him 18 months to prepare for his first competitive games, they […]
News
/ 2668 days agoUSWNT TV viewership declines 20% in 2018
It’s been an ugly year across the board for US Soccer. Attendance is down for the USMNT and USWNT, while TV ratings dropped sharply for the US men's team. As it turns out TV viewership dropped for the US Women's National Team as well, though not as sharply as with the men. 2018 USWNT TV […]
News
/ 2671 days agoTop 45 most-attended soccer games on US soil in 2018
While attendances for both the USMNT and the USWNT were down in 2018, the trio of the Mexico National Team, International Champions Cup and Atlanta United all had very successful years with huge attendances in the United States. Out of the top 45 most-attended soccer games in the United States in 2018, an incredible 46% […]
News
/ 2673 days agoMexico’s average attendance in USA 146% greater than USMNT
One of the unique things about the American soccer landscape is the number of fans of other nations in the country. Nobody fits that bill better than Mexico. As has been the case in years past, Mexico’s attendance dwarfs that of the USMNT. But 2018 saw the gap reach historic proportions. This year, Mexico’s attendance […]
News
/ 2675 days agoUSWNT average attendance declines 22% in 2018
With average attendances for US Men's National Team games down 17% in 2018, it's even worse news for the US Women's National Team (USWNT) as their attendances dropped 22% in a horrible year for the US Soccer Federation. On the field, the USWNT had a remarkable year, posting a record of 18-0-2 and qualifying for […]
News
/ 2676 days agoUSMNT average attendance for 2018 worst since 2006
World Cup years are typically a boon for US Soccer. Attendance goes up, TV ratings increase, and revenue skyrockets. Of course, for all of that to happen, you have to qualify for the World Cup. The US did not. Predictably, interest in the team from casual and hardcore fans plummeted. It wasn't just that the […]
News
/ 2695 days agoLouisville City cements itself as most dominant club in US soccer
Louisville City appeared almost out of thin air in the summer of 2014. When Orlando City was granted an expansion slot in MLS, their USL slot needed to be filled and Louisville City was born. While there were some fans in Louisville that were quite enthusiastic about the new team, some scratched their heads. As […]
News
/ 2699 days agoUSA vs. Italy preview: Morale among US fans continues to plummet
If it wasn’t clear during the last round of friendlies, it sure became crystal clear during a 3-0 shellacking at the hands of England on Thursday: the USMNT needs to hire a full-time manager. Now. Not after the end of the international window, not after MLS Cup Final, but now. The team looked lost at […]