I don't have a great sense for how SA rates these days, but they did somehow beat Argentina last World Cup, so there is that.They are certainly way better than T&T. Nats board is somewhat of a mixed bag. Annointing some people and condemning others, the usual stuff. Sebastian Berhalter is now a shoo-in for the WC team because of his set piece deliver and they are very down on Agyemang. Those kinds of things. Complaints about Arfsten. I thought he was OK - just needed to be a little more aggressive. I notice that basically our whole attack basically goes thru Arfsten I guess because we overload the left side. Almost nothing happens on the other side because Freeman is often playing more like a 3rd CB. Occasionally McGlynn gets it and hits a left-footed diagonal cross that's cleared and everyone swoons. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Saudi Arabia isn't some doormat. They're in a bit of a funk caused (IMO) by many of their key players being confined to the bench at club level to the influx of stars to the Saudi Pro League, plus they're missing their Al Hilal contingent (Club World Cup obligations) but they can do some damage. The US team did a decent job making them look toothless. Funny enough, Alexi Lalas had the most level-headed and generous analysis in the postgame show. Maybe he wants this group to succeed so he can tee off on the A-team regulars.
Just saw this classic comment on that nats board, in the SA postgame. ”Well, I was somewhat impressed by this group in this match. But the play was not even close to good enough”.
Let's face it - the US is not going to be a credible team by WC26. We're mostly going to watch this one from the sidelines. I guess we'll see if the draw is Oceania and Concacaf....
I’m feeling like the biggest MLS winners in the Club World Cup will be the PRO referees — assuming they do good jobs in the CWC… E.g., Drew Fischer got to referee PSG
New-look Milan under Massimiliano Allegri with five new starters: Is Christian Pulisic’s spot in jeopardy?
Very competitive match between River and Monterrey. I thought River took control of the game but couldn't find the net.
Seattle played all their CWC games at home and lost them all. Scored 2, gave up 7. Womp womp. They were in a really tough group though. LAFC may also lose out. So far the only MLS team to win a game is Miami.
Well, that was fun. Miami led Palmeiras 2-0 in the 80th minute and blew the lead. 2-2 tie. Now they play PSG next - they finished 2nd in their group to Palmeiras. Womp womp.
Also, Palmiera's fans completely put Miami's fans to shame. I heard it was about 9:1 Palmeiras to Miami in attendance and they were loud all game long. This wasn't just their supporter's group chanting, this was their entire fanbase chanting.
Watch: Luis Suárez, the man with no knees … • Inter Miami 1-0, 16th minute: Chests long ball into Tadeo Allende’s path for assist. • Inter Miami 2-0, 65th minute: Beats two defenders on dribble and scores. Fans show their support during the Sounders’ match against PSG, their second that drew more than 50,000 fans at Lumen Field. Attendance day 10: Inter Miami 2-2 Palmeiras (in Miami Gardens, Fla.) 60,914 Seattle Sounders 0-2 PSG (in Seattle) 50,628 Porto 4-4 Al Ahly (in East Rutherford, N.J.) 39,893 Atlético Madrid 1-0 Botafogo (in Pasadena, Calif.) 22,992 WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: CRISTIAN ROLDAN — Cristian Roldan, following an outstanding tournament for the Seattle Sounders in the Club World Cup, which ended with a 2-0 loss to Paris St. Germain. After the match, Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said Roldan was arguably against both Botafogo and Atletico Madrid the best player on the field. (Seattle Times)
Watched Benfica beat Bayern for the first time in their history in 96 degree heat and it was a great game!
Masch: "Before the start of the tournament, if someone told me that we were going to have this kind of performance against these kinds of teams, I’d sign on. So I appreciate the team, the guys, all the players, because they gave more than 100 percent," Mascherano told DAZN pitchside after the match. "I think it's a historic night for MLS, because we are into the best 16 teams in the world. So I think all of MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami." My man, you've got the GOAT on your team, plus a bunch of other all-time great euro players - Suarez, Alba, Busquets, and some solid co-stars like Allende and you’re playing at home. You didn't exactly just set a record for improbable human achievement by making it out of your CWC group. :facepalm
Lionel Messi tops MLS salary list Lionel Messi walks out of the tunnel prior to the Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Inter Miami and Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Lionel Messi ranks first on the MLS Players Association’s salary list of every player in MLS with guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. Messi makes more than the total compensation of 21 of MLS’s 30 teams. The first of two releases includes the salary of every MLS player under contract as of May 23. By the Numbers: 131 players make $1 million or more (115) 50 players make $2 million or more (44) 33 players make $3 million or more (20) 19 players make $4 million or more (13) 11 players make $5 million or more (9) Note: In parentheses are the number of players hitting those thresholds in May 2024. Guaranteed compensation: includes a player’s base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player’s contract, including option years. Salary charge: MLS teams must meet league limits in terms of individual or team spending. Salary charges include additional player expenditures such as transfer and agent fees. Top 5 spenders 1. Inter Miami $46,836,635 2. Toronto FC $34,146,193 3. Atlanta United $27,627,164 4. FC Cincinnati $23,180,135 5. LA Galaxy $22,870,938 Bottom 5 spenders 26. Minnesota United $13,804,472 27. Houston $13,414,691 28. Philadelphia $13,365,549 29. Real Salt Lake $13,252,642 30. CF Montréal $11,993,946 Top 5 salaries 1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) $20,446,667 2. Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) $15,400,000 3. Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) $8,774,996 4. Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United) $7,871,000 5. Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC) $7,633,333 Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. Photo: San Diego FC Top 5 salaries (*First-year players) 1. Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC) $7,633,333.00 2. Jonathan Bamba (Chicago) $5,581,806 3. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Atlanta United) $4,030,546 4. Kévin Denkey (FC Cincinnati) $3,810,000 5. Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (NY Red Bulls) $3,530,667 *No previous MLS experience. Top 5 salaries (Americans) 1. Brandon Vazquez (Austin FC) $3,551,778 2. Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) $3,456,979 3. Jordan Morris (Seattle) $2,260,000 4. Jésus Ferreira (Seattle) $1,828,960 5. Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado) $1,775,000 Walker Zimmerman. Photo: Nashville SC Salaries (*USMNT players) 1. Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) $3,456,979 2. Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) $1,650,171 3. Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC) $1,535,331 4. Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) $1,127,750 5. Brian White (Vancouver) $1,000,000 6. Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia) $518,000 7. Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) $499,833 8. Matt Freese (NYCFC) $420,000 9. Max Arfsten (Columbus) $389,375 10. Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver) $385,000 11. Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia) $312,800 12. Jack McGlynn (Houston) $292,033 13. Chris Brady (Chicago) $273,246 14. Alex Freeman (Orlando City) $108,000 15. Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC) $104,000 *2025 Gold Cup team.
Of the top 5 spenders, 3 of them are bottom 3 in the standings. Of the bottom 5 spenders, 2 are in the top 3 in the standings. "It's not the money, it's the smarts".
How about Francesco Pio Esposito with a great goal for Inter against River Plate! Perfect time for Francesco Esposito to score his first Inter goal 😤(via @DAZNFootball)pic.twitter.com/zofaCyzaHg— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 26, 2025 He turns 20 this Saturday!
Benfica loses to Chelsea 1-4 in front of only 25,929 fans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Maresca questions US hosting Club World Cup