Independent coverage of everything you need to see and know in American and U.S. men’s soccer — with a focus on the USMNT 🇺🇸 | Part of @MenInBlazers
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EDDIE JOHNSON NOW TAKES AIM AT ALEXI LALAS 😳
After calling out Landon Donovan, former USMNT striker Eddie Johnson is now going after Alexi Lalas.
Johnson says Lalas misrepresented his comments as a comparison of their careers. Eddie insists his point was about former players criticizing younger Americans while overlooking their own struggles abroad.
🗣️ “This guy sits behind a mic, talks sh*t as well.”
Clarifying his criticism of Donovan, Johnson wrote:
🗣️ “The message was clear: stop criticizing everyone else who was young and promising for not reaching their potential. Why don’t we talk about you not living up to the hype in Germany?”
Johnson also pointed to Donovan’s sabbatical, accusing him of a double standard over his criticism of Christian Pulisic:
🗣️ “He kills Pulisic in the World Cup … and he took a sabbatical. Make it make sense. If the shirt meant so much, play through it, you hypocrite.”
Sheesh 😯
PROMOTION/RELEGATION SET TO ARRIVE IN AMERICAN SOCCER IN 2028 🇺🇸📈
USL has unveiled new branding as it prepares to introduce promotion and relegation across three men’s professional divisions:
▫️ USL Premier — Division One
▫️ USL Championship — Division Two
▫️ USL League One — Division Three
Clubs would earn promotion, or face relegation, based on their results on the field.
The new look launches in January 2027, with USL Premier and the promotion/relegation system planned for 2028.
17-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Cavan Sullivan’s planned move to Manchester City is reportedly now considered a “DONE DEAL,” with his arrival scheduled for January 2028 🇺🇸👀
Sullivan remains committed to City Football Group despite interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid.
CFG has also discussed backup plans with his representatives if City’s financial case complicates the move — including a potential loan to another CFG club or a suitable team elsewhere to keep his development on track.
[TEAMtalk]
Country music star Megan Moroney may have accidentally fueled rumors that she’s dating USMNT and AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic by revealing her phone background 😂
26-year-old USMNT winger Tim Weah put in a MOTM performance in Marseille’s 5–2 win over Angers 🇺🇸👏
▫️ 2 assists
▫️ 8.9 FotMob rating (Player of the Match)
▫️ 90 minutes
▫️ 72 touches
▫️ 46/49 passes completed (94%)
▫️ 2 big chances created
▫️ 4 recoveries
▫️ 3 interceptions
▫️ 2 tackles
▫️ 2 clearances
All from right back while wearing the captain’s armband. 📈
23-year-old USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah in AC Milan’s 3–2 win over Atalanta 🇺🇸👏
▫️ 75 minutes
▫️ 55/56 passes completed (98%)
▫️ 65 touches
▫️ 4 duels won
▫️ 3 recoveries
▫️ 2 tackles
▫️ 1 interception
▫️ 7.4 FotMob rating
His shot also led to the handball penalty for Milan’s opening goal.
A strong shift. You love to see it 📈🇺🇸
17-year-old U.S. U-17 and Philadelphia Union striker Malik Jakupovic is reportedly attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Stuttgart and Monaco 🇺🇸👀
Dortmund reportedly had €2M and €3M bids rejected this past summer and recently scouted him in Spain. Philadelphia are reportedly seeking an eight-figure fee, with Jakupovic under contract through 2030.
The teenager recently captained the U.S. U-17s against Ireland and scored against the Netherlands during their camp in Marbella, Spain, where the group competed in U-18 fixtures.
Another young American making noise for club and country 📈✨
17-year-old USMNT winger Mathis Albert made his first Bundesliga appearance of the season for Borussia Dortmund — coming on in the 70th minute of their 0–0 draw at Union Berlin 🇺🇸👏
In his 20-minute stint:
▫️ 18 touches
▫️ 7/8 passes completed (88%)
▫️ 3 duels won
▫️ 2 tackles
▫️ 1 clearance
▫️ 1 foul won
You love to see it. Hopefully a sign of more first-team minutes to come 🇺🇸📈
SHOTS FIRED: EDDIE JOHNSON GOES AFTER LANDON DONOVAN 😳🇺🇸
On his podcast, Landon Donovan urged caution over the hype surrounding 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan, referencing several highly touted American prospects, saying: “I saw it with Freddy Adu. Santino Quaranta. I saw it with Eddie Johnson. I saw it with Gio [Reyna]…”
Former USMNT forward Eddie Johnson responded on Instagram 👀👇
🗣️ “I can’t speak for Freddy Adu or Santino Quaranta or Gio Reyna, but I will speak for myself, Landon Timothy Donovan.”
🗣️ “You talk so much shit about every other young upcoming player in the past but yourself.”
🗣️ “He came back home where it was easy for him, and now he talks shit about kids doing more than he did in a league he failed in.”
🗣️ “I did everything you did with fewer opportunities and [am] still considered one of the best strikers this country has seen.”
🗣️ “I salute these young boys for sticking it out in Europe and not taking the easy way out for a paycheck … and less pressure.”
😯😯😯
THE GROWTH OF SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES 🇺🇸📈
New Nielsen research shows U.S. soccer fandom reached 75.2 million in July 2026, up from 66.8 million a year earlier.
That’s 8.4 MILLION more fans in the year leading up to and including the 2026 World Cup.
▫️ 16 million more fans than in 2022
▫️ 27% growth over the World Cup cycle
▫️ MLS audiences on Fox/FS1 up 29% among adults aged 18–34 after the World Cup break compared with before the tournament
You love to see it 👏
[The Athletic]
BREAKING: FIFA president Gianni Infantino broke the global soccer body’s own rules and fixed the scrapping of USMNT forward Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card during a phone call with President Donald Trump, per the NY Post.
“He told President Trump that he would take care of it. One call and it was done."
“His demeanor. His attitude. His swagger.”
High praise from Thierry Henry on 17-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Cavan Sullivan 🇺🇸📈 xitter.cf/poulomib22/status/2110…
FC Barcelona and other top European clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on 17-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union wonderkid Cavan Sullivan and the situation surrounding Manchester City 🇺🇸👀
Sullivan already has an agreement to join Manchester City after he turns 18, though there is uncertainty surrounding City’s future amid their crisis.
[SPORT]
