Debating the best soccer leagues in the world can be a fun exercise. But beyond personal opinions, it's possible to quantify the argument with some data to back it up. Thanks to the sports analytics gurus at Opta, we can do just that. Opta's Power Rankings assign an "ability score" of 0-100 to each club, […]

Wrexham is one of the most popular soccer teams in the United States. Despite the fact that it competes in the fourth tier in the English pyramid, millions of Americans have an affection for the side. Attribute that to Welcome to Wrexham, the FX docuseries that chronicles Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over the […]

Wrexham AFC Women would be interested in facing NWSL teams in friendlies in the United States if the opportunity presents itself in the future, a club executive told World Soccer Talk. "We would absolutely love to be able to do something like that," said Gemma Owen, Head of Women's Football Operations at Wrexham AFC. "Not […]

The United States' top-tier professional soccer league is going pretty well at the moment. But are there ways we could improve Major League Soccer? MLS is approaching its 30th anniversary, which will coincidentally dovetail with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted mostly in the USA. By 2025, there will be 30 teams in […]

Much of modern soccer is largely controlled by big-money owners, such as billionaires and state-backed investment funds. But there are a number of fan-owned soccer clubs – including some big ones – that give power to the people. These clubs, backed by their members and/or supporters, remain tied to the sport's working-class, blue-collar roots. Even […]

Soccer used to be an incredibly niche sport in the United States. Support for European clubs was largely limited to pockets of expats and areas with large immigrant populations. And on the business side of things, the idea of an American owner for one of these clubs was almost unthinkable. But those days are long […]

Throughout much of recorded history, humans have been participating in athletic activities. But what was once simple recreation or tests of skill and strength evolved over time. In the 19th century, sports took the first steps to transform into the colossal cultural pastime they are today. But what are the most popular sports in the […]

Goal-line technology represents the continued modernization of worldwide soccer leagues. Following the widespread use of VAR, top leagues and competitions adopted the use of goal-line technology. However, it is much less consistent across the world than VAR. The technology uses high-speed cameras in the stadium to create a three-dimensional graphic of the ball. From there, […]

Offside decisions are regularly some of the most debated topics when it comes to the sport of soccer. After all, these calls by referees can come down to mere millimeters on the pitch. This means that exciting and important goals can, and tend to be, chalked off for minuscule infractions. FIFA, with help from the […]

As the technology becomes more widespread and available, more soccer leagues and cups adopt the video assistant referee, or VAR. This fifth official works behind the scenes to identify several infractions that may go unnoticed on the field. VAR works to address fouls. That can be a foul in the build-up to a goal or […]

All pitch sizes in soccer are not equal. In fact, there is not a universally agreed upon set pitch size that all stadiums use. There are limits on the length, width, and size that the field can be. The two bylines of a soccer field must be equal on both sides and between 49 and […]

The magisterial, as Ray Hudson would put it, play of Lionel Messi has dazzled soccer fans for nearly two decades. Debates still persist, but he is undoubtedly the greatest player of his generation. Messi has the numbers to back it up. But how do Messi's stats compare to the legends of the past? The title […]

Declan Rice will join Arsenal for a club-record £105 million. Fans should be ecstatic right now. The transfer saga around the midfielder has dragged on for quite some time. Despite Manchester City's late arrival, fresh sources have suggested that a resolution is near. The pursuit of Rice by Arsenal has not been a well-kept secret. […]

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is nearly upon us. And you can download our free Women's World Cup bracket to keep track of all the action. For the first time, the tournament features an expanded field of 32 teams. The women's competition now resemble the men's tournament format used from 1998-2022. Also a first […]

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is nearly upon us. And you can download our free Women's World Cup bracket to keep track of all the action. For the first time, the tournament features an expanded field of 32 teams. The women's competition now resemble the men's tournament format used from 1998-2022. Also a first […]