At the 1998 men's World Cup in France, concerns about ticket shortages led to local authorities hatching a plan. Four years later, in South Korea, larger-scale public viewing areas were so successful that at Germany 2006, FIFA launched its own official branded events in each of the 12 host cities, attracting more than 18 million visitors, according to the organisation's website. Across the next three World Cups, supporters were encouraged to attend the “FIFA Fan Fest” in South Africa, Brazil and Russia, which, like in Germany, came alive around matches. Then, at Qatar 2022, a rebranded “FIFA Fan Festival” took things to the next level: a rolling, continuous “cultural, music and gastronomic” experience that involved 146 artists performing at Doha's Al Bidda Park across four weeks. Earlier in the tournament, eight other musicians appeared at eight different locations across Morocco at the same time as part of a strategy, according to CAF, that “highlights the richness and diversity of African music alongside Morocco's cultural heritage”. Front and centre in many of the videos produced by the organisation for online purposes were brands of multinational sponsors, such as Royal Air Maroc and Total Energies. CAF, like UEFA and FIFA, is not just hosting these spectacles out of benevolence, recognising that it might be nice if visitors or locals could engage, in some remote way, with what is happening inside the stadiums they cannot reach. It makes them even richer, and potentially drives money away from the places that would once have been the beneficiaries of having a major tournament take place on their doorstep — independent cafes, bars and restaurants where people traditionally gathered before rigorous, organised fun came along. Since 2006, FIFA has not set a charge rate, but in December, for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a website set up for the New York/New Jersey “FIFA Fan Festival” came with a link for “early bird tickets” and a page where supporters could select specific days to attend. The Daily Mail reported at the time that it would cost $12.50 (around £10) to watch Mexico vs South Korea on June 11 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Last week, that Fan Festival was scrapped, and organisers are now seeking a new location just four months before the whole thing kicks off, with the issue of admission costs uncertain. Perhaps it would be no bad thing if other cities, such as Miami, reached the same conclusion before the World Cup rolls into town, as it might due to a wider $625million funding delay highlighted on Tuesday by Ray Martinez, the chief operating officer of the city's host committee. “We've never handled anything like this,” he told reporters. “We are used to working on major events here in South Florida and Miami, but a 23-day fan festival in downtown Miami and at City Park is something that has never been tried and never been done.” That is precisely the point: it has never been tried, or done, because the U.S. does not have a “fan fest” culture across its sports. But sadly, it seems the U.S. is having to respond to FIFA's wishes of having a homogeneous way of doing things. If the spirit of any country is meant to be an important feature of tournament hosting, what is the point in delivering something that feels so unnatural? Alternatively, in a time of such depressing division, Americans might do the same and realise they have more in common than they assume. He has also written There She Goes, a modern social history of Liverpool as a city Follow Simon on Twitter @Simon_Hughes__

“Mexico is a great country, like in every country in the world, things happen; we don't live on the moon or another planet,” Infantino added. The Mexican army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on Sunday, sparking several days of violence. Four high-level soccer matches from the local leagues were postponed last Sunday, including one in the central city of Queretaro, where Mexico is scheduled to play against Iceland late Wednesday in a friendly match. Thirteen World Cup matches are scheduled to be held in Mexico, including the opening game in Mexico City on June 11 between the co-host and South Africa. “Our first two matches are in Mexico, but we know they will overcome this and move forward,” said Ramón Jesurún, the president of the Colombian Soccer Federation. The Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday that it was closely monitoring developments ahead of a planned friendly against Mexico in March. Jamaica is set to play New Caledonia in Guadalajara on March 26 in an intercontinental playoff semifinal, with the winner advancing to face Congo for a World Cup spot. "We will be listening out for CONCACAF and FIFA to give us instructions (on) whether they are playing the games or whether they are immediately looking for other options.” Another Mexican city, Monterrey, will host a playoff where Bolivia plays Suriname and the winner faces Iraq for a spot in the tournament. On Monday, Sheinbaum said there is “every guarantee” that the World Cup matches in Guadalajara will be played as planned and added that there was “no risk.” “The World Cup is going to be an incredible celebration”.

U.S. men's national team star Weston McKennie is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract with Juventus ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was unclear whether there was a place for McKennie with the Serie A giants while under the leadership of Igor Tudor. Yet his resurgence under new boss Luciano Spalletti has seemingly accelerated talks over a new deal. ESPN report McKennie is set to sign a contract extension with Juventus that will keep him with the Bianconeri through 2030. Teams from Italy, Spain, the U.S. and England were “monitoring” the 27-year-old, but they could not persuade McKennie away from his home in Turin. Two summers ago, McKennie was heavily criticized for his performances at the 2024 Copa América. He also continues to show his versatility, featuring in central midfield, at fullback, on the wing and even as a center forward under Spalletti. McKennie's impressive spell in Europe is exactly what USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino will want to see from one of his key players. Combined with his recent offensive output, the Juventus man is one of the most well-rounded players for the Stars and Stripes ... now he just has to prove it. Finding success at the club level is all well and good, but McKennie will ultimately be judged on his performance at this summer's World Cup. If he once again falters on the big stage for the USMNT, he will come under intense fire, and a new contract at Juventus will not ease the scrutiny. McKennie is one of the few established players that has yet to be truly ingratiated into Pochettino's new system. When the Stars and Stripes found their grove to close out the year with two victories over Paraguay and Uruguay, the midfielder was back in Italy. The upcoming March international break will be the first time McKennie tries to fit in with Pochettino's best XI for World Cup tune-up matches against Belgium and Portugal. Amanda Langell is a Sports Illustrated FC freelance writer and editor. Born and raised in New York City, her first loves were the Yankees, the Rangers and Broadway before Real Madrid took over her life. Had it not been for her brother's obsession with Cristiano Ronaldo, she would have never lived through so many magical Champions League nights 3,600 miles away from the Bernabéu. When she's not consumed by Spanish and European soccer, she's traveling, reading or losing her voice at a concert. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

You're watching the NBC6 South Florida News streaming channel, which plays local South Florida news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can find the “NBC6 South Florida News” streaming channel on your phone or computer, and on Peacock, Samsung, Roku, Xumo or on our app, so you can watch our local news on your schedule. FIFA and Miami Dade College hosted a discussion panel Wednesday morning at the Freedom Tower ahead of World Cup 2026, celebrating soccer's growing impact in Miami and across the United States. The event featured FIFA President Gianni Infantino, MDC President Madeline Pumariega, Miami World Cup 2026 co-chair Rodney Barreto, Jorge Mas, and other leaders. The panel was followed by a guided tour of the FIFA Museum exhibit, which was announced in 2024 as part of a collaboration between FIFA and Miami Dade College. “An exhibit from the FIFA museum about the history of football, the history of football in the Americas in particular, but all over the world, which is a history of opportunity, which is a history of chance and which links together with the educational purpose of an incredible institution like Miami Dade College, with which we are collaborating as well when it comes to internships in FIFA and lecturers at Miami Dade College courses through and with some professionals from FIFA. We are here to work together, we are here in Miami and will have great fun on top of it,” Infantino said at the time. Telemundo is the exclusive Spanish-language home of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will air all 104 matches from June 11 through July 19, 2026. Ninety-two matches will air on Telemundo and 12 on Universo, marking the most Men's World Cup matches ever carried by a U.S. broadcast network. Portions of this story were translated from Spanish with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.

Scotland fans have been given the all-clear to wear their sporrans at the team's matches at this summer's World Cup. Tournament rules only permitted certain types of bags into stadiums, and the pouch traditionally worn by Scots at the front of their kilt was deemed too large to meet the strict criteria. As a result, there were concerns that supporters would not be able to wear their sporrans to the matches against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, and Brazil in Miami. Talks between FIFA and the Scottish Football Association, however, have reached a positive conclusion for the thousands in the Tartan Army expected to descend on the United States. - Pubs to stay open until 2 a.m. for 2026 FIFA World Cup - if home nations reach knockouts - FIFA have 'complete confidence' Mexico can host World Cup despite unrest - Mexico coach Aguirre says everyone 'safe' for Iceland game An SFA spokesperson said: "FIFA have confirmed that sporrans will be permitted into the stadiums following the standard search and inspection procedures and will continue to work together with the Scottish FA to educate their matchday staff as they prepare to welcome fans to Boston and Miami. "The ticketing and membership team at the Scottish FA are in continued dialogue with the tournament hosts to ensure that the Scotland fans will be welcomed to venues in the way they have been across the world."

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has offered a fascinating insight into his footballing tastes, singling out a former rival as one of the most exciting talents in world football. This preference for the creative hubs of Spain and France suggests that Amad is particularly drawn to 'pure' dribblers who thrive in one-on-one situations. By omitting heavyweights such as Erling Haaland or Manchester City's midfield maestros, he has highlighted a personal bias towards the aesthetic and mercurial nature of the game. Diallo names Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz in his top three favourite wingers to watch, grouping him with Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr. It is a selection that bridges the gap between United's golden eras and Arsenal's "Invincibles" period, reflecting his respect for the league's heritage. As a proud Ivorian, Amad also paid tribute to the pioneers of African football. His list of the three greatest African players of all time featured his legendary compatriot Didier Drogba, alongside Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure. This selection highlights the immense influence these icons have had on the younger generation of African talents currently making their mark in Europe. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting Beyond his global tastes, Amad provided a glimpse into the dressing room dynamics at Manchester United. When asked about his closest friends at the club, he named Leny Yoro, Bryan Mbeumo and Ayden Heaven Having registered two goals and three assists in 22 appearances across all competitions this season, the young winger is starting to translate that inspiration into tangible output on the pitch.

Who could ever not be excited about the FIFA World Cup? Flashscore takes you through the best goals in FIFA World Cup history. We've seen our fair share of great World Cup goals over the years. Because who could forget when Hakan Şükür scored after just 11 seconds in 2002? Or when an 18-year-old Michael Owen introduced himself to the world with a beauty against Argentina in 1998? Unfortunately for them, all these goals are just honourable mentions. Flashscore takes you through them, in no particular order. Miss nothing of the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup news via Flashscore > Two-time World Cup winners Uruguay, who'd qualified for just their second World Cup since 1990 and were without Luis Suárez after his infamous handball against Ghana. With the score still at 0-0, nothing seemed to be going after Oranje created a handful of smaller chances in the opening 15 minutes. Then, after 17 minutes, Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst decided to just absolutely leather it. The ball landed perfectly in Fernando Muslera's top corner. When even the great Diego Armando Maradona himself says that his goal was a “dream goal”, best believe it's going to be one of the best goals you'll ever see. Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Fenwick, and Terry Butcher, who was beaten twice, were all left for dust by the magisterial Maradona, whose goal would be dubbed the ‘Goal of the Century'. Every FIFA World Cup has its standout player. For the 2014 FIFA World Cup, that was Colombia star James Rodríguez. In Colombia's round of 16 matchup against Uruguay, James showed that no lights were too bright for him. Rodríguez controlled a header from Abel Aguilar with his chest and hammered it at Fernando Muslera, who tried his best but could only watch the ball fly in via the crossbar. It was the gorgeous cherry on top of James Rodríguez's masterfully crafted World Cup. However, as fate would have it, Oranje would get their shot at revenge just one World Cup game later. And that was after going up 1-0 in the 27th minute. But as soon as Robin van Persie saw Daley Blind launch a deep ball in the 44th minute, magic was in the air. Van Persie, who'd go through life as the Flying Dutchman from there out, shocked Iker Casillas and the world with a world-class diving header. The Arsenal phenom was known for his fear of flying, but luckily for him, the 1998 FIFA World Cup was played in France. We continue our fair share of goals coming from Dutch or South American feet with Maxi Rodríguez, who lit up the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with an absolute wonder strike. It was Argentina against Mexico, who were looking to once and for all leave their World Cup curse in the past by making it to their first-ever quarterfinals. The game against Argentina looked to be heading towards extra time when Maxi Rodríguez was played a high ball from captain Juan Pablo Sorín, chested it and launched a rocket into Oswaldo Sánchez's goal from the very corner of the penalty area. When you talk about the greatest teams in football history, the 1970 Brazil team is very high up that list. It was stacked with talent, with the likes of Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Tostão, and the team's undisputed leader, Carlos Alberto. Tostão, Brito, Clodoaldo, Gérson and Pelé, who blindly laid it off to the storming captain, were all involved in the 4-1 before Carlos Alberto finished it off with a thunderous strike into Enrico Albertosi's bottom corner. And that's how 107,000 people were treated to one of the best teams goals, if not the best, in football history. 16 years after hosting their first FIFA World Cup, Mexico had a new star to build a team around: Real Madrid striker Hugo Sánchez. The superstar was paired up front with Manuel Negrete, who'd just concluded his seventh season at Pumas. And it wasn't Sánchez, but Negrete who would make the home crowd erupt in their group stage game against Bulgaria. Negrete controlled a high ball and lobbed it to Javier Aguirre, who lobbed the ball back to Negrete without letting it bounce. Negrete would make himself invincible in Mexico just one second later, when he took it beautifully and fired it in Borislav Mihaylov's goal with a stunning scissor kick. In their group stage game against the Netherlands, who'd beaten Spain 5-1 five days earlier, Australia had just conceded the first goal when Arjen Robben slotted the ball into Matt Ryan's bottom left corner. Just one minute later, however, the continent of Australia erupted with joy. Right-back Ryan McGowan fired a ball deep into the Netherlands' half and found national hero Tim Cahill, who didn't think about it and just volleyed the ball via the crossbar into Jasper Cillessen's goal. You can't reach a higher level of technical prowess. The tournament didn't see a goalless draw until nearly two weeks after the opening match, but saw perhaps its biggest highlight in the round of 16, when a certain Benjamin Pavard looked to have ended the hopes and dreams of Lionel Messi's Argentina. After Antoine Griezmann handed France the lead with a penalty, Ángel Di María and Gabriel Mercado got Argentina in front right before and after half-time. That's when Benjamin Pavard produced a moment of magic by majestically slicing in Theo Hernández's cross. Is there a more satisfying camera angle in football than the one that caught Pavard's goal from behind?

Violence has broken out across Mexico, raising concerns only four months before its co-hosting of FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA boss confident about Mexico World Cup despite violence FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he was “very reassured” about Mexico's hosting of football's 2026 World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader. It's going to be spectacular,” Infantino said on Tuesday in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, two days after cartel members went on a rampage – including in Guadalajara – over the army's killing of their leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera. At least 74 people were killed during the operation to capture him at a ranch near Guadalajara and subsequent clashes between the security forces and suspected cartel members. Only one was a civilian, according to the government, but residents and tourists alike were left scurrying for cover as cartel gunmen blocked roads in 20 of Mexico's 32 states and torched vehicles and businesses. “It feels like we're in a war zone,” Javier Perez, a 41-year-old engineer, told the AFP news agency on Tuesday in the car park of a grocery store replete with burned-out cars, in the Jalisco tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta. Infantino was speaking on Tuesday at a Colombian Football Federation event; however, his optimism was not reflected by the Portuguese Football Federation, which cast doubt on whether their team would play a friendly on March 29 in Mexico City. It added that the safety of players, coaches and supporters was a top priority, and security considerations would be the deciding factor. Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre was more upbeat, declaring: “All is going ahead as planned.” Earlier, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that there was “no risk” to World Cup fans and said the situation was “gradually returning to normal”. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, will host four group-stage matches. All eyes will be on the central state of Queretaro on Wednesday, when Mexico meets Iceland for a friendly, while a first-division game was suspended on Sunday in Queretaro over the violence.

The United States Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) will return to action in March with the 2026 SheBelieves Cup. It marks the 11th edition of the invitational tournament, featuring four nations who face each other in a round-robin format in a bid to be crowned champions. Relive the magic ❄️⛷️ Sign up free for full replays, highlights, and medal moments - anytime. As they do every year, the United States host this tournament. The nations invited to participate this year are: Much like Argentina, this will be Colombia's second outing at the SheBelieves Cup. They took part in the 2025 edition, winning one of their three games. The invitational tournament will follow a league-style format. Teams will play three games, facing each other once over the course of three match days (two matches per day). Three points will be awarded for a win in regulation time, while games that end in a draw will go to a penalty shootout, with the winner receiving two points and the loser one. All U.S. matches will be available to watch on one or more of the following: TBS, TNT, TruTV, Telemundo, Universo, and streamed on HBO Max and Peacock. All games not featuring the U.S. will be available on TruTV and HBO Max.

(AP video shot by: Alexis Triboulard and Marco Ugarte) Maria Dolores Aguirre's family corner store has lived off tourism that has flowed into her charming cobblestoned town of Tapalpa, tucked away in the mountains of Jalisco state. (AP video shot by: Alexis Triboulard and Marco Ugarte) Akron Stadium, a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stands in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2026. Charred vehicles sit in a parking lot outside a shopping mall in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, as authorities reported that the Mexican Army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” (AP Photo/Alejandra Leyva) Fruit vendors walk along a street in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Hugo Alejandro Pérez was in his house a few miles from the Mexican stadium that is slated to host FIFA World Cup games when gunfire and explosions erupted just outside his door. He saw a government that failed to fix basic things, like water service to his home, along with cartel violence in the surrounding state of Jalisco and shook his head. “I don't think they should host the World Cup here,” Peréz said. “We have so many problems, and they want to invest in the World Cup? With all the violence, it's not a good idea.” Soldiers guard a road leading to Tapalpa, Mexico, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, a day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked at her daily news briefing what guarantees there are that World Cup matches will be held in Jalisco. “Every guarantee,” she said, adding that there was “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament. Jesús Pablo Lemus said he had spoken with local FIFA officials, who have “absolutely no intention of removing any venues from Mexico. Jalisco, in western Mexico, was already facing scrutiny. The operation and waves of violence killed 70 people. Cartel gunmen set fire to cars to block streets in states across the country, namely Jalisco, and fought with Mexican forces into Monday as the government said the conflict was under control. The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico's government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups. On Tuesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to briefly reference the operation during his State of the Union address, saying “We've also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. Peréz, the restaurant owner, also commended Sheinbaum's efforts to go after cartels, saying the government has taken cartel violence more seriously than her predecessors. Killing capos, in what's become known as the “kingpin strategy,” has been criticized by Sheinbaum herself because it can often spark internal conflict between cartel factions and push rival cartels to make territorial grabs. Vanda Felbab-Brown, an academic at the Brookings Institution, said she doesn't see more acts of “revenge” by the cartel as likely, but the future remains uncertain, especially after leading figures in both CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel have been knocked out in recent years. “If there is no clear line of succession (in CJNG), we might see a lot of fighting within the cartel, its breakup, and there are a lot of scenarios,” she said. On Sunday, when firefights broke out between the cartel and soldiers, and gunmen began to burn a car just feet in front of Peréz's house, he let people on the street scramble inside his home to seek cover. National Guard patrol past a charred vehicle the day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in Guadalajara, Mexico, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. “It doesn't help us residents at all, honestly. They should move it to Monterrey or Mexico City. But right now here, we're not convinced,” he said. On Monday, some foreign tourists trapped in the violence in the city of Puerto Vallarta took to social media to warn of the violence, with a few remarking that they didn't plan to return. Despite that, Guadalajara was snapping back to its normal rhythm Tuesday. Many businesses opened their doors for the first time in two days, and streets were packed with traffic. Cyclists zipped around outside the stadium, and parents played with children in parks. Juan Carlos Pila, a 55-year-old taxi driver, rolled his eyes at the reports of violence after spending two days waiting with his family for things to calm down. Others, like Maria Dolores Aguirre, simply hoped for the best. Aguirre runs a small corner story in the cobblestoned tourist town of Tapalpa tucked away in Jalisco's mountains, where Mexico's military killed “El Mencho.” Now she worries bloodshed will deal a blow to her livelihood and change towns like hers. … The entire world just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming.” Associated Press writer María Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Los Angeles FC ace Son Heung-min (34) was replaced in just 45 minutes. As a result, LAFC won a total of 7-1 in the first and second games, and will meet Alahuelense (Costa Rica) in the round of 16. LAFC, which won 6-1 in the first game, operated a partial rotation. On this day, Son Heung-min started as a one-top striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation after wearing the captain's armband. Dennis Buanga, Amin Boudry and Tyler Boyd applied for the second term. The midfield was formed by Stephen Eustachio and Mathieu Chooniere, with Ryan Hollingshead, Nkosi Tapari, Kenneth Nilsson and Ryan Laposo in charge of the four backs. The goal was defended by Thomas Harshal. Real Spain, which collapsed due to consecutive runs early in the first half against LAFC, solved the game with a different tactic in the second game. After lowering the line, he efficiently blocked LAFC's attack, and operated mainly on counterattacks. LAFC had a high ball share of 6 to 4. However, Real Spain's defense was so tight that he could only try shooting twice. After the end of the first half, LAFC coach Mark dos Santos replaced Son Heung-min. Neither the main strikers Son Heung-min, Buanga, and midfielder Eustachio played in the second half. Nathan Ordaz, Timothy Tillman and Jude Terry took the ground. The game ended in a 1-0 victory for LAFC without additional points. LAFC continued its upward trend with three consecutive wins since the opening of this season. Son Heung-min's performance in the first game was already phenomenal. At that time, Son Heung-min scored only one shot (penalty kick) and showed an overwhelming performance of one goal and three assists. Masugar helped through a through pass following a solo dribble breakthrough in the 11th minute of the first half, then succeeded in a direct penalty kick and later helped Buanga and Tillman's goals in turn, sweeping four offensive points in 39 minutes. Son Heung-min smashed his opponent with a nine-point rating in the first round, including "Sofa Score" and "Foot Mob." A total of 27 teams from member countries such as the United States, Mexico and Honduras will participate in the tournament. Son Heung-min is still strong this season. Son Heung-min, who played an active role in the first game against Real Spain, helped Lionel Messi (39) to the first final against Inter Miami in the opening game of the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS). This translation was generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology solely for user convenience. For accurate and official information, please be sure to refer to the original Korean document. Accordingly, this translated document should be used for reference purposes only.

KC Current Continue to Set the Standard in Women's Sports KC Current Draw San Diego Wave at Coachella Valley Invitational Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Rough Start Match Thread: Sporting Kansas City at San Jose Earthquakes Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Marques Reaches Century Mark Sporting KC II Hire Lee Tschantret as New Coach Ike Opara Departs SKC II and the Team has Just Six Players Des Moines Menance Defeat Sporting KC II via Two Penalty Kicks Benny Feilhaber and Des Moines Menace to Play Against Sporting KC II What a battle we have at striker for the U.S. Men's National Team: Folarin Balogun scored, Patrick Agyemang notched an assist, and in his return from a broken arm, striker Ricardo Pepi scored for PSV Eindhoven. Meanwhile, Tyler Adams returned to the pitch, Antonee Robinson has a knock, and is it time to move Timmy Tillman up a notch or two on the defensive midfielder depth chart? Also, I did it (Peer pressure is a thing…). I added U.S. citizen and FC Augsburg center bank Noahkai Banks to the tracker. All in all, twenty-six of the top candidates for the U.S. Men's National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer started for their clubs across Europe and Major League Soccer with two others seeing time. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will be faced with whittling the roster down to 23-26 players for the three group stage matches… and beyond. Who fits the 3-4-2-1 formation Pochettino seems to now favor? Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Scored the first goal and went 85 in 3-1 comeback win at Lens, February 21. Next match: Wednesday, February 25 v PSG in second leg of Champions League round. Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Started and went 75 minutes in 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, February 21. Scored a hat trick – tap in, strong route one finish, and a well-placed pen – and went 82 minutes in 3-1 win to overtake Middlesbrough atop the Championship table on February 16. Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Garnered an assist and went all 90 in 4-2 loss at Hull City, February 24. Started and went 90, February 21, in 2-0 loss to Watford. Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: In his first match since returning from a broken arm, Pepi entered in the 75th minute and scored the third goal in a 3-1 win over SC Heerenveen, February 21. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Started and played 62 minutes in 1-0 loss to Parma, February 22. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Due to not being match fit, not in the 20 for a 2-1 loss at Freiburg, February 22. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Went all 90 in 2-0 loss to Como, February 21. Next match: Wednesday, February 25, v Galatasaray in second leg of Champions League series. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 73 minutes in 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, February 21. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Started and went 81 minutes in 1-0 loss at Union Berlin, February 21. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille (on loan from Juventus): Went 90 in 2-0 loss to Brest, February 20. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went all 90 in 3-1 win over SC Heerenveen, February 21. John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and went 69 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Karlsruhe, February 21. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Did not see the pitch in a 2-1 derby win over Valencia, February 22. Subbed on in the 88th minute of a 1-0 win over Levante UD, February 18. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in 3-2 loss to Portland Timbers, February 21. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Started first match in return from injury and went 66 minutes in a 0-0 draw with West Ham, February 21. James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli: Entered in the 80th minute of a 2-1 over SV Werder Bremen, February 22. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Started and went 58 minutes in 3-1 loss to Racing Club DE Strasbourg Alsace, February 22. Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Went 90 in 1-1 draw with Leicester City, February 24. Started and went 74 minutes in nil-nil draw with Oxford United, February 21. Next match: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in second leg v Real Espana. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Started and went all 90 in 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids, February 22. Next match: Saturday, February 28, v Real Salt Lake. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Started and went all 90 in 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, February 21. Next match: Wednesday, February 25, v CSC in second leg. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Went all 90 in 2-1 loss, February 22 v Hibernian. Next match: Thursday, February 26 v Stuttgart in Europa League. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went 90 in 2-1 at Freiburg February 22. Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Went all 90 in 1-0 win over Wolverhampton, February 22. Next match: 2nd leg v Zrinjski Mostar, Thursday, February 26, 2026. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Drew massive praise for 90-minute performance in 2-0 win over Atlanta United, February 21. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Started and went all 90 in 1-1 draw with St. Louis City, February 21. Noahkai Banks, D, 19, FC Augsburg: Started and went all 90 in 3-2 win over Wolfsburg, February 21. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in 2-0 win over Atlanta United, February 21. Next match: Wednesday, February 25 in second leg v OYM. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in 3-2 loss to Portland Timbers, February 21. New England Revolution (from Lyon): Went all 90 in 4-1 loss to Nashville SC, February 21. Next match: Saturday, February 28, v Red Bull New York. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Between the posts for all 90 in 1-1 draw with Los Angeles Galaxy, February 22. Amid a successful club and high school coaching career, Robert began writing for Major League Soccer as a stringer in 2004, doing weekly coverage and being sent to MLS Cup and the SuperDraft in subsequent seasons. Since then, Robert has continued playing and writing about soccer, although he chose to stop coaching in 2015. USMNT World Cup 2026 Tracker: McKennie on mark again! Malik Tillman heads goal class, Robinson struggles: USMNT Tracker pre-FIFA World Cup 2026 Shakeup and catching fire: USMNT Roster Tracker FIFA World Cup 2026