Editorial
‘Neymar: The Perfect Chaos’ Paints a Complex Portrait of Football’s Most Maligned Star
Giving us an intimate look at Neymar's emotional struggles and triumphs throughout his career, Neymar: The Perfect Chaos is the latest athlete docuseries to hit Netflix. We present a (mostly spoiler-free)...
Naked Truth
Lorenzo Insigne’s $100M Record Contract is a Clear Signal That MLS’ Salary Cap No Longer Works
It has been widely reported that Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne has agreed to join Toronto FC in July after finishing out the 2021-22 season in Italy. The 30-year-old Italian winger notched a...
Naked Truth
The Murky Partnership Between US Soccer and MLS is Finally Coming to an End
The United States Soccer Federation announced that it would be parting ways with MLS-owned Soccer United Marketing (SUM) and not renewing their commercial rights agreement. The nearly 20-year partnership...
Naked Truth
Are the USL and MLS Headed Towards an Ugly Divorce?
Major League Soccer recently announced the official launch of its third division league, MLS Next Pro. Set to begin play with 21 teams in March of 2022, 20 of...
Editorial
High Fashion x Football Club Collaborations: What Place Do They Have in the Beautiful Game?
High fashion's foray into the beautiful game has opened doors for clubs and brands alike, but at what point does the continuous focus on luxury begin to alienate the...
Editorial
Is the ‘All or Nothing’ Brand Becoming Redundant?
With unprecedented access and replete with drama, the All or Nothing docuseries has been a success for Amazon. But now in its fourth football-centric season, we have to ask —...
Naked Truth
The Crypto.com Arena Deal Shows How Much the Business of Soccer Still Lags in the US
It was recently announced that LA's iconic Staples Center would be getting a new name in time for Christmas: Crypto.com Arena. The 20-year agreement, thought to be the biggest naming...
Naked Truth
Championship-or-Bust Expectations Led to the Downfall of Bob Bradley
In a big city like Los Angeles, with its siren-like call of glitzy Hollywood and seductive promises that seem just within reach, it has always been championship or bust...
Naked Truth
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...
Urban Hype
Analyzing the Latest USMNT Roster, and Debunking the ‘MLS Quota’ Theory
Heading into a vital World Cup qualifying round, USMNT Twitter has voiced its criticism of the current roster, directing most of its ire at the inclusion of MLS players...
Naked Truth
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...
Editorial
We Don’t Need a World Cup Every Two Years — But the Issue Isn’t as Black and White as it Seems
FIFA's push for a biennial World Cup continues to move forward despite pushback from fans, clubs, and players alike. The outrage at the idea is more or less warranted,...
Naked Truth
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...
Naked Truth
USL Players Are Set to Receive Higher Pay, But How Does it Compare Against the Underground Scene of Latino Leagues?
The USL and its players association reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement for the second-division USL Championship. It is being touted as a landmark achievement...
Urban Hype
Can MLS Avoid the Perils of Over-Expansion?
While it's impossible to deny MLS' recent growth, how much is too much? We take a look at how the league can avoid the blandness that often comes with...
Editorial
Questioning the Process: Why are USMNT Fans So Impatient With Head Coaches?
Ask Jürgen Klinsmann or Bruce Arena — being manager of the United States men's national team comes with plenty of scrutiny. But why are American fans so quick to...
Editorial
Pay-to-Play Critics Have No Defense For These Undeniable Truths
The pay-to-play model is the commonly accepted punching bag that is usually cited as the primary reason for what is wrong with U.S. Soccer. But is that really the...
Naked Truth
Venezia FC’s Meteoric Rise to Success Comes With Skeletons in the Closet
Venezia FC took the football world by storm this past May when they beat Cittadella in the promotion playoff final to earn a spot back in Serie A. This...
Naked Truth
American Professional Soccer is Basically That Cringeworthy, Rich, and Dysfunctional Family
Major League Soccer recently announced the launch of a third division league set to start in 2022. It is being touted as a bridge between MLS Next academies and...
Naked Truth
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...
