ultras

Francesco Lettieri’s ‘Ultras’ Is a Gripping and Lifelike Look Into Die-Hard Supporters

Francesco Lettieri’s modern take on the ultras movement gives a realistic look at the grip of brotherhood and violence between different factions. Extreme supporters. Political paramilitary groups. Violent, organized fans....
best kits 2000s

The Great Football Kit War: A Battle to Create an Off-Pitch Club Identity In the 21st Century

While the world's biggest clubs race to create dominant rosters of players, another battle looms away from the packed stadiums and bright lights of the pitch. We examine which...
giuseppe rossi

An Ode to Giuseppe Rossi, Football’s Ultimate Comeback Kid

With a career full of both heartbreaks and redemption, Giuseppe Rossi's journey through football has been a test of will and resilience. He was set to start a new...
puma king

It’s Time We Give the PUMA KING the Love It Deserves

One of the few boots that can actually live up to its name, the PUMA KING has been worn by literal football royalty. Yet, it still gets overlooked in...
90s mls kits

It’s Time to Bring Back ’90s MLS Kits in Their OG Form

Forget retro-inspired. We need '90s MLS kits back in their true form, and sooner rather than later. As the league celebrates its "Jersey Week," we examine why bringing back...
mls skills challenge

Re-Imagining the MLS Skills Challenge

The MLS All-Star Game was recently canceled — but that doesn't mean that all the fun should go with it. We re-imagine the MLS Skills Challenge to make it...
mls is back

Breaking Down the Playground Cliques at the MLS Is Back Tournament

LAFC? Theater kids. Portland Timbers? Hipsters. Chicago Fire? Class clowns. We separate each MLS club into their playground cliques for the MLS Is Back Tournament.   In preparation for next week's...
nisa independent cup

NISA’s Last Stand: Why The Independent Cup Needs to Be On Your Radar

Though it may be similar to the MLS Is Back and NWSL Challenge Cup in the fact that it's a tournament, the NISA Independent Cup is truly one of...
the match netflix

‘The Match’ Shows Flashes of Promise, But Ultimately Fails to Score

Arriving on Netflix last month, The Match has a few fun moments, including a well-executed time jump twist, but a feature film might not have been the best package...
eric cantona kick

Do Fans Need to Be Held In Check For Their Heckling?

Last week, Hamburg defender Toni Leistner made headlines after he confronted fans who allegedly hurled insults towards his wife and daughter. In the wake of the brouhaha, we debate...
andrea pirlo juventus

Stop Hiring Legendary Players With No Coaching Experience

Hired by Juventus just ahead of the 2020-21 season, Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo has every quality you'd like out of a manager — except for experience. We examine...
the keeper

‘The Keeper’ Proves to Be More Than Your Average Football Film

Making its U.S. debut earlier this month, The Keeper will leave a lasting impression on any viewers expecting just another run-of-the-mill sports film.   One mark of a good film is...
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...

The True Reason Why American Soccer is Lagging Behind and Why Almost Everyone Gets It Wrong

There is an ongoing debate as to why U.S. men's soccer isn’t competitive with the top football countries in the world. Of all the various reasons and criticisms that...

Pay-to-Play is Good for Soccer and the Harshest Critics are Hypocrites

I'll begin by saying that I am not arguing that there aren't certain issues, unscrupulous practices, or problematic cracks within the pay-to-play model — there are. However, I am...
youth soccer

The Ugly, Hidden Side of Youth Soccer, Part 1: Bad Coaching, Wanton Poaching, and Jaw-Dropping Embezzlement

The fast-paced world of club soccer isn’t just about shuttling kids to practices, cheering them on at games, and traveling to high profile tournaments on weekends. Spurred on by...
youth soccer

The Hidden, Ugly Side of Youth Soccer, Part 2: Nightmare Parents, Feeble Leadership, and Dirty Politics

The fast-paced world of club soccer isn’t just about shuttling kids to practices, cheering them on at games, and traveling to high profile tournaments on weekends. Spurred on by...
best music 2020

The Year in Review: The Best Football-Adjacent Music of 2020

As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We begin with music, as we count...
best boots 2020

The Year In Review: The Best Boots of 2020

As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We continue with the 10 best boots...
best kits 2020

The Year in Review: The Best Kits of 2020

As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We conclude with the 10 best kits...