uswnt celebrations

How the USWNT Has Embraced Becoming the Ultimate Villain of the 2019 World Cup

Former Canadian national team defender and Olympic bronze medalist Lauren Sesselmann shares her thoughts on the USWNT celebrations in their now infamous 13-0 victory over Thailand and answers the...

Why 2022 is a Make-or-Break Year for Both LAFC and Carlos Vela

In February, LAFC unveiled their "Five Years Strong" slogan to kick off their 2022 MLS season. While intended to signify a milestone in their short history, a five-year mark...
european super league

Why I Don’t Think The European Super League Did Anything Patently Wrong

On April 18, 2021 the football world's foundations shook as 12 of the most famous football clubs announced that they were breaking away from UEFA competitions in order to...
us youth soccer

The Coddled Generation of U.S. Soccer Players Have No One to Blame But Themselves

There's a certain level of criticism regarding the state of the beautiful game in the United States that is fair. However, when unsuccessful players from Generation Y (millennials) or...
mls vaccine mandate

Will Kyrie Irving’s COVID-19 Vaccine Stance Affect MLS and Other Major Sports?

Kyrie Irving, NBA star of the Brooklyn Nets, has been indefinitely barred from playing or practicing with the team as a result of his decision to not get the...

The Legacy of The Guinness Soccer Six, the Indoor Soccer Boom that Never Was

The idea that footballers who play futsal develop into elite, uniquely skilled players, is not a new one among coaches and soccer experts around the world. In the late '90s,...
leagues cup 2023

Leagues Cup Thoughts: What to Change, What to Keep the Same

With the groups of the 2024 Leagues Cup now released, we take a look at how the tournament will look to build upon the success from last year, while...
uefa champions league

Urban Pitch Staff Picks: 2018 UEFA Champions League!

With the quarterfinals of UEFA Champions League play beginning today, the Urban Pitch staff has made its selections for who we think is the favorite, dark horse, most likely...
best premier league match balls

Ranking the Best English Premier League Match Balls from this Decade

The stunning Nike Merlin Hi-Vis match ball was released last week, representing the final ball to be used in English Premier League play in the 2010s. We take a...
lionel messi barcelona

Lionel Messi’s Historic Run at Barcelona is Over…But Who is to Blame and Where Can He Go?

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta made the shock announcement that negotiations to keep Lionel Messi at the club had ended. Expressing that...
black arrow naija to roma

Black Arrow’s ‘Naija to Roma’ is Worth 25 Minutes of Your Time

Hopeful and enlightening, Naija to Roma is about a radio host’s viral tweet and a magical trip to Rome, and football's power to connect and unite communities all over the...

The Adidas v. Nike Scorecard: How Adidas is Outperforming a Giant by Going Back to Its Roots

The race to be the biggest sports brand in the world has been a long, storied battle. It seemed like the contest was over after Nike established its empire and won...
best music 2018

The Year in Review: The Best Football-Inspired Music of 2018

Reminiscing on what has been an incredibly eventful year in football, we have compiled a list of the year’s best — from boots, to kits, to freestyle videos. We...

Allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Leave Has Been MLS’ Worst Mistake

Prior to his arrival there were months of tabloid speculation. Although the league had moved away from the practice of signing aging stars past their prime, rumors of Zlatan...
carlos vela mls dp rule

LAFC’s Carlos Vela is a Prime Example of Why the Designated Player Rule is Broken

The MLS Designated Player Rule allows clubs the ability to sign expensive players without exceeding the team salary budget. First introduced in 2007, the same year as the original...
lafc la galaxy

Is MLS Ready to Make the Jump to Becoming a Powerhouse League?

Although it has had many criticisms, Major League Soccer has begun to make strides indicating it is ready to enter the upper echelon of world football leagues. But just...
arsene wenger fifa

Arsène Wenger and FIFA: A Match Made in Hell 

Arsène Wenger may have been nearly universally beloved as a manager, but his approval rating has drastically lowered since his shift to the FIFA front office.  In football, perhaps the...
marta

An Ode to Marta, An Icon Who’s Finally Getting the Roses She Deserves

Perhaps the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots, Marta Viera da Silva is also one of the most influential players of her generation. Reportedly getting a...
sism street weapon

Searching for the Perfect Street Ball: The SISM Street Weapon, the Official Ball of Tournaments Around the World

They say all you need is a ball. True, but which ball is best? Pele would say a sock full of newspaper is just fine. A freestyler might say...
moise kean mario balotelli

Why the Player Comparison Trend Needs to Stop

It's human nature to compare today's rising stars to those of the past — but here's why the seemingly harmless practice can be problematic at times. It wasn’t long ago...