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
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...
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
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...
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
How The Embarrassing Feud Within the Washington Spirit Organization is Actually a Huge Win For All NWSL Players
There’s been a long and publicly drawn out battle occurring within the Washington Spirit organization. Amidst accusations of abusive behavior and a toxic club culture, this is a situation the National Women's...
Fashion
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: 2022 MLS Kit Edition
With the season set to begin this weekend, we recap the beautiful, hideous, and near miss 2022 MLS kits in the latest edition of The Good, The Bad, and...
Naked Truth
The NCAA’s Recent NIL Policy is a Treasure Trove for College Athletes But Represents Only Fool’s Gold for Soccer Players
After decades of the NCAA resisting the ever-increasing demands for its athletes to receive financial compensation, a combination of various state laws and NCAA rules changes went into effect...
Naked Truth
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...
Naked Truth
Why ‘The Sopranos’ is the Greatest TV Show of All Time and What MLS Can Learn From It
There have been plenty of masterful TV shows over the years including Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Wire and many others. But with all due respect, the...
Naked Truth
The Biggest Hurdle in This Year’s World Cup for the USMNT ‘Golden Generation’ is Their Youth
The level of excitement around the United States men's national team has reached a fever pitch now that it is going back to the World Cup for the first...
Naked Truth
A 40-Year-Old Feud, a $5 Million Sports Rooster, and How the Unpredictable Diego Maradona Tied Them All Together
It’s serendipitously fitting in so many ways that as Diego Maradona’s infamous "Hand of God" World Cup kit goes to auction, it is accompanied by claims of falsehood and...
Editorial
‘King Otto’ May Focus on a German Figure, But It’s a Distinctly Greek Story
The latest soccer documentary to hit the big screen, King Otto is centered around how German head coach Otto Rehhagel was able to help orchestrate the Greek national team's famous...
Naked Truth
The Key Takeaways From the Kylian Mbappe Saga
It's Officially the Kylian Mbappe Era
We've known for quite a while now that Mbappe was the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. There was a brief moment...
Naked Truth
Boom or Bust: Gareth Bale and LAFC’s Desperate Moment of Truth
Gareth Bale's relationship with Real Madrid and its fans may have been doomed from the start. While his €100 million ($132 million) transfer from Tottenham in 2013 made him...
Editorial
The Death of ‘Més Que Un Club’: Why It’s No Longer Possible to Love FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona's dire financial situation has led to some massive changes within the club, but none are bigger than the shift in its identity.
It used to be possible...
Fashion
Controversial Kits: Arguing For and Against Liverpool’s Warrior Era
Welcome to Controversial Kits, a new series at Urban Pitch where we take a look at some of the most polarizing football shirt designs and argue both in favor...
Naked Truth
Racial Abuse is Still Prevalent in Football, But Public Outrage is Lacking When Perpetrated Against Asian Footballers
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-chan is one of two South Korean players in the Premier League, along with Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur. Last year in August, the Wanderers...
Art
‘The Figo Affair’ Reveals the Origins of the Super-Transfer
Centered around the record-breaking and controversial transfer of Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid, The Figo Affair reveals the deal's behind-the-scenes machinations that have been lost to time.
“So many people...
Naked Truth
Corruption, Exploitation, and Death: The Dark Road to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The controversy began from the onset when Qatar was announced as winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup. In December 2010, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter made the...
