Urban Hype
Addressing US Soccer’s Fan Problem
A generation of fans who have grown up watching the UEFA Champions League and following Real Madrid and Manchester City have put extremely high expectations on a team for...
Urban Hype
Eric Wynalda’s Free Kick in the 1994 World Cup: A Sliding Doors Moment for the USMNT
Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal against Switzerland in the USMNT’s opening match of the 1994 World Cup was marvelous, and almost three decades later, it still has a case...
Videos
The Tailgate Experience: A Wild El Trafico Playoff Match at the Banc of California Stadium
A playoff El Trafico? You knew we had to be there. The Urban Pitch Podcast Crew took to the Banc of California Stadium for the LAFC-LA Galaxy showdown in...
Urban Hype
Napoli’s European Explosion
With an incredibly dominant start to their 2022-23 campaign, SSC Napoli have made it clear that they are fed up with coming up short.
It all seemed so dire for...
Art
Andy Brassell’s ‘Football Murals’ is an Atypical Celebration of the Game’s Most Iconic Street Art
The football mural is a curious aspect of the beautiful game — not just for its oftentimes massive scale and immense beauty, but also for its tangibility in an...
Urban Hype
Canada Soccer Is Holding Back the Country’s Golden Generation
The Canadian national soccer teams are doing their best to propel the sport in the country to new heights. Conversely, Canada Soccer — the Canadian federation — is doing...
Urban Hype
10 Burning Questions Ahead of the 2023 MLS Season
The 2022 MLS season may have just concluded, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year.
Major League Soccer finished its 27th season in thrilling style, with...
Urban Hype
The Vibes Are Off: Why a Non-Summer World Cup Doesn’t Have the Same Impact
In most World Cup years, the rollout before the tournament begins is usually filled with effervescent anticipation across the world. But in 2022, that buzz has gone flat.
This November's...
Urban Hype
Despite the Portland Thorns’ Success On the Pitch, Calls to Sell the Team Remain Loud as Ever
Home to some of the most vocal supporters in the country, Portland, Oregon has rightfully earned its title of Soccer City, USA. But even with the success of the...
Urban Hype
Shady Meetings, Court Battles and the Metaverse: The Spectre of the European Super League Has Not Gone Away
Remember the European Super League? While many believe it to have been banished for good, its spirit continues to lurk, and we may see its return come 2023.
On the...
Urban Hype
Examining the Most Interesting 2022 World Cup Group Stage Scenarios
Not so much a set of predictions as it is a projection of our hopes, we take a look at what could make for the most intriguing group stage...
Urban Hype
The Rise of Japanese Football: How the Nation Has Not-So-Quietly Become a Dark Horse Contender
Competing in its seventh straight World Cup, the new golden generation of Japan is ready to shock the world.
When thinking about sports in Japan, football is not the first...
Urban Hype
Previewing the Highly Anticipated USMNT-England Match
A matchup that's been circled on calendars for months now, England and the United States will finally face off in what could be a Black Friday for the ages.
The...
Urban Hype
Football’s Dark Side: The Psychology of Football Hooliganism
Football hooliganism may have been at its worst in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but it is starting to make a comeback. Urban Pitch examines the culture from a psychological...
Urban Hype
The Urban Pitch World Cup Quarterfinal Preview
Only eight teams remain at Qatar 2022. We preview all four World Cup quarterfinal matchups, breaking them down into categories ranging from best kit clash to biggest upset potential....
Urban Hype
Barça Femeni’s Return to Camp Nou and the Bonafide Stardom of Claudia Pina
From another formidable crowd to the anointment of Claudia Pina, we examine FC Barcelona Femeni's recent return to Camp Nou for its latest Champions League match.
Last Thursday, as the...
Urban Hype
Canada’s World Cup Run: A Short-Term Step Back, But a Long-Term Step Ahead
It wasn't the World Cup campaign it expected, but the Canadian men's national team's first tournament appearance in 36 years is a net positive for the rising nation.
There's been...
Urban Hype
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...
Urban Hype
Looking Back at the Tenuous Glazer Era at Manchester United
It could be the end of the road for one of football's most controversial ownership groups in the Glazer Family. Let's revisit how we got here, and look ahead...
Urban Hype
Winners and Losers of the 2022 World Cup Group Stage
The World Cup group stage is in the books, but before we become fully immersed in the excitement of the knockout rounds, let's review the winners and losers of...
