***Official USMNT Thread***

[BLRNerd]

CONCACAF confirmed that the new WC qualifying format. It's dumb, the hex is still there, but it's really, really, dumb

Basically the Top 6 teams in FIFA rankings on June 2020 will qualify for the hex automatically, Top 3 go to the WC.

FIFA rankings 7th-35th in CONCACAF will be split into 8 groups, 5 of 4, 3 of 3, The Top team of each go into an eight team playoff, winner will face 4th place team of the hex and the winner of that will play in the intercontinental playoffs to get into Qatar.

For those wondering it's likely that US will be in the hex alongside Mexico and Costa Rica, if it was decided today Honduras, El Salvador, and Jamaica would occupy the other spots.

It might not be written in stone yet but it's not looking good for the T&T, Canada, Panamas of the region

 

[AlaCyclone]

Yep, need to note that they're playing at Drake this year per fan request and Valley Stadium is getting returfed or whatever this summer.

First two games are at Cownie due to the Relays/State Track I think, one is their first round US Open Cup match.

I went to the Thunder Bay Chill vs. Des Moines Menace Game @ Drake tonight. 3-0 for the good guys to remain undefeated!

 

[BLRNerd]

We should be eligible to head into the US Open Cup again even if USL1/NISL/etc. gets more teams.

Hopefully if we do use more intimate venues we keep the fans away from the field if there's beer involved. that St. Louis match was cringey with how close fans were getting

 

[boone7247]

CONCACAF confirmed that the new WC qualifying format. It's dumb, the hex is still there, but it's really, really, dumb

Basically the Top 6 teams in FIFA rankings on June 2020 will qualify for the hex automatically, Top 3 go to the WC.

FIFA rankings 7th-35th in CONCACAF will be split into 8 groups, 5 of 4, 3 of 3, The Top team of each go into an eight team playoff, winner will face 4th place team of the hex and the winner of that will play in the intercontinental playoffs to get into Qatar.

For those wondering it's likely that US will be in the hex alongside Mexico and Costa Rica, if it was decided today Honduras, El Salvador, and Jamaica would occupy the other spots.

It might not be written in stone yet but it's not looking good for the T&T, Canada, Panamas of the region

This is dumb, and what was wrong with the old way of qualifying? US and Mexico didn't make enough on their pre Hex matches, so they pushed to get rid of them. Over the long term US and Mexico should be the only two team always in the HEX on FIFA rankings. And also, how are teams like Canada supposed to increase their FIFA ranking if they never have the chance to play the big teams of the region in meaningful competition.

I am all for the US qualifying for the world cup, but it should be open to one and all to qualify. This is stupid.

 

[BLRNerd]

Gio Reyna will be included on the Dortmund US tour, he's technically with the U-19 team but he's probably going to get at least some time with BVB's II team

Weston McKennie might be considered for the captain position for Schalke this upcoming season (David Wagner is managing the team as well, it's a rumor for now but after seeing his fire in the GC final, I think he'd be a good choice)

I'm kinda thinking about heading to the Saturday night Menace game, might want to go to one before we do come up to League 1 or Championship

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Tyler Boyd signed by Besiktas.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/07/15/tyler-boyd-besiktas-usmnt-turkey

 

[thatguy]

There is no evidence for this. Obviously MLS wants to piggy back off the national team to help grow itself--it wouldn't even exist without being a requirement of the '94 World Cup--but this is a bridge too far. I get this is the internet where we state opinions as facts, but there's load of evidence to the contrary. Not signing with MLS certainly didn't hurt McKennie with the senior team, nor Gloster, Soto, Llanez, Mendez and a host of others in the youth national teams. The USSF is a poorly ran, probably corrupt organization at the top, but the coaches pick the teams, the coaches want to win, and despite everyone's opinions on who's better than who, the players tend to pick themselves in national team camps.

Like, i'm gonna let you finish, but you are wrong. I work in and around US Soccer, so I have a pretty good insight into it. I'm not talking about the young kids, i'm talking about the lost generation. The reason Jurgen was fired, wasn't for his crazy tactics or micro-managing the players (although this didn't help) it was because he was telling the young talented players to go abroad, which is contrary to what US Soccer was trying to do, which was build up MLS academies and play. I know for a fact, Bradley left Roma to come back to MLS because he was permanently gifted a spot on the National Team. Same with Altidore, although his options were a little more limited abroad. Jordan Morris/Beasler/Zusi and several others had options to go over seas, but were politely asked to stay, and it had horrific results. The only one that spurred MLS and went over was Yedlin, and all he did was become a starter in the Premier League. Yes we have a ton of young talent overseas, but that has more to do with Jurgen than anything. The only proof you need to the contrary, was them hiring ultimate MLS apologist Bruce Arena as the coach when Jurgen left, and it cost us a World Cup as they tried to force MLS players into a NT role.

Anyway, onward and upward, and those kids you named have a ton of potential.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Gio Reyna starting in the midfield against Liverpool in Dortmund’s preseason friendly on TNT right now.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

There’s been lots of chatter that a mid table Premier League club has made a couple offers to buy Aaron Long. Apparently, NYRB are not interested in selling him.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.es...-reject-prem-offers-for-uss-long?platform=amp

 

[BLRNerd]

There's another one going around that West Ham wants to sign him but cannot obtain a work permit for him (sometimes just like America, they spin a wheel for stuff like this)

 

[BLRNerd]

IDK the right place to put this but since it's related to the USWNT lawsuit I'm going to post it.

Basically the USWNT and USSF want to keep it's lawsuit separate from Solo's lawsuit with the fed.

Solo doesn't because she doesn't think USWNT can get something good out of this. USWNT litterately released a statement saying "Oh yes we can"

Hope Solo's attorney's filed a Rule 11 motion against the USWNT attorney, basically saying there's illegal interference

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

U20 Alex Mendez has left Freiburg and signed a 3 year deal with Ajax.

 

[BLRNerd]

Jill Ellis will step down as USWNT Head Coach after the 5 game victory tour.
It was something known privately last year around christmas time.

Wonder if she'll take a break or will a team like England will splash the cash to get her for the 2023 cycle?

 

[BLRNerd]

Pulisic has opened his scoring account for Chelsea with Two Goals and drew a penalty today vs RB Salzburg

The FIFA Board of Governors have also unanimously voted to expand the WWC to 32 teams. Something that I think is absolutely necessary

 

[jmb]

Jill Ellis will step down as USWNT Head Coach after the 5 game victory tour.
It was something known privately last year around christmas time.

Wonder if she'll take a break or will a team like England will splash the cash to get her for the 2023 cycle?

Presser said she is going to work for US Soccer as an Ambassador.

 

[brett108]

Pulisic has opened his scoring account for Chelsea with Two Goals and drew a penalty today vs RB Salzburg

The FIFA Board of Governors have also unanimously voted to expand the WWC to 32 teams. Something that I think is absolutely necessary

Only going to indulge one off topic reply because of this statement. Why would we need more games like this?

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/wo...st-lopsided-game-in-womens-world-cup-history/

That's all you will get. There weren't good teams being left out like the Mens where Chile, Italy, and the Netherlands failed to qualify. It will be like watching a friendly in some of the group stages.

 

[BLRNerd]

NY Post is reporting that starting in 2020-21, The Bundesliga will be moving to ESPN+. Since there's a noted amount of Americans playing in Germany I'd figure it should be posted here.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Gio Reyna scores in his debut for Dortmund’s U19s, but he was just a tiny bit upstaged by one of his teammates.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/borussia-dortmund/story/3919504/dortmund-wonderkid14nets-six-for-u19s

Youssoufa Moukoko scored 6 goals in his debut for the U19 team....and he’s 14 years old. The kid had a hat trick 17 minutes into the match.

 

[BLRNerd]

Some organizational notes to report on

Katy Markgraf is set to be hired soon as USWNT GM, she will make the direct call on the new hire. The board wants the new coach to be a woman according to Grant Wahl

Earnie Stewart has been promoted to Sporting Director of all of US Soccer, there will be a search for a new USMNT GM as a result

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

So far this season, Sergino Dest has made sub appearances for Ajax in both the Eredivisie and in the Champions League. Yesterday he got his first start for the team. Not bad for an 18 year old.

Steffen got the start for Düsseldorf in their Bundesliga season debut and helped the squad to a 3-1 win making a handful of key saves in the second half to hold Werder Bremen at bay.