After seven long years of waiting for NASL's antitrust lawsuit against US Soccer and MLS to go to trial, a verdict was reached earlier this week in favor of USSF and Major League Soccer. As my good friend Kartik Krishnaiyer wrote this week, "The complexity of business issues that impact lower division soccer in the […]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard an American make an excuse for MLS by saying “Well, the league isn’t as old as other leagues,” I’d be a rich man. Launched in 1996, Major League Soccer is celebrating its 30th season this year. In that time, the league has grown to become […]

Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Only New York City is bigger. But where LA has the edge is the number of professional soccer clubs it has. But how many soccer teams call the Los Angeles area home? Here is a rundown: LA Soccer History Before we get to today's […]

The failure rate of American soccer clubs in the United States is the worst in the world. It's abysmal, both on the men's and women's side of the game. From 1992 to present, the United States has seen more than 150 men's and women's professional soccer teams go out of business. However, listen to any […]

The world has lost a a true icon, as the legendary Pelé passed away Thursday in his native Brazil. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the Brazilian maestro dazzled the world in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, winning three World Cup titles over that span. And he spent nearly 20 years making 636 appearances with Santos […]

Pelé, one of the most recognizable athletes in history, died on Thursday. The three-time World Cup winner is a legend of more than just soccer. He was 82. For some time, Pelé's health deteriorated. Most recently, he had issues regarding colon cancer. He spent Christmas in a hospital in Brazil surrounded by his loved ones. […]

Another four years have passed and the FIFA World Cup is once again upon us. Like clockwork, the sport of soccer will see a sharp rise in overall interest in the United States during the tournament, with fans packing bars and public spaces all over the country to take in the matches. Even casual fans […]

The U.S. Soccer Federation yesterday announced an expanded Open Cup format and schedule, one that will incorporate all MLS and lower division teams in a newly and hopefully more condensed way. In essence, the changes allow the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to mirror the English FA Cup, where lower division and semi-pro teams have […]

U.S. soccer pioneer and long-time coach John Kerr Sr. pass away yesterday at his home in North Carolina. For newer soccer fans this name may mean nothing but for long-time American soccer fans, Kerr was a pioneer who was a mainstay in the American soccer landscape up through the early days of MLS. Kerr was […]

Amidst our discussions over USL-PRO and the USSF soccer pyramid, the NASL released some good news this week and announced its 2011 season schedule. The NASL, now composed of eight clubs, will have each club play 28 games and face each opponent four times. The season runs from April 9 through September 24, with the […]

This week USL PRO continued its development as a USSF minor league by releasing its playoff schedule. Last week it had released a season schedule and division format outlining how its clubs would compete in its first year of existence as USL PRO. The playoffs will consist of three rounds, with the top three seeds […]

As USL Pro is moving forward with its realignment and scheduling, the NASL has taken some huge step backwards. On Wednesday, A.C. St. Louis announced it was ceasing operations, depriving the fledgling NASL of a critical metropolitan area. But even worse news came right before the weekend, as Inside Minnesota Soccer reported the USSF was […]

As MLS prepares to begin its first season with 18 clubs, the recent talk on the Internet has focused on its possible 20th team. Recent talk on this site has centered on Don Garber traveling to Miami to meet with Miami soccer fans; if you have not read The Gaffer's article on the meeting then […]

The West Coast is getting USL PRO representation next year with the announcement of the new LA Blues franchise, set to begin play in 2011. The club, which had been rumored for about a month to be the newest franchise for U.S. soccer's new third division, will play in Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium and […]

Athletic Club of Saint Louis is on the verge of folding its North American Soccer League and Women's Professional Soccer clubs, sources have confirmed. The club's weakened cash reserves may not allow them to make their next payroll obligations, and despite ongoing conversations amongst the United States Soccer Federation, NASL, and WPS, no plan is […]