With the exception of Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, all the USA’s core players are in Qatar for the World Cup. That is a big change from qualifying when all the key attacking players on the wing and in midfield missed at least one window due to injuries. Having everyone in camp is one thing. […]
Paul Kennedy
Paul Kennedy edited Soccer America for 41 years (1985-2026). He began writing for SA in 1974. He started writing for France Football in 1978 and has served on in Ballon d'Or jury since 2007.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Wales' strange path to 1958 World Cup quarterfinals and a date with Pele
Wales, the USA’s opponent in their opening game at the World Cup, will be making only its second appearance in the finals. The Dragons reached the quarterfinals at the 1958 finals in Sweden. It was just the sixth World Cup in history. Only 55 teams entered the tournament, which had a history of no-shows. That […]
Posted inSoccer America Top of the News, Story
U.S. players open up, some more than others, about how to break down Wales
If the USA is going to advance to the knockout round of the World Cup, it will need to get a result on Monday night against Wales. With Group B top seed England to follow on Monday night, a loss to Wales will likely be the kiss of death. But each time that the USA […]
Posted inSoccer America Top of the News, Story
World Cup beer ban: Qatar wins both ways
Qatar’s decision on Friday to ban beer sales at the eight World Cup stadiums should come as no surprise. That it happened only two days before the start of the tournament, which kicks off with Qatar-Ecuador on Sunday, is par for the course. FIFA and Qatar had almost 12 years to nail down the details, […]
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Tyler Adams heads into World Cup in best form of his career
Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is playing the best soccer of his career. At least since his initial run of form after he first moved to German club RB Leipzig at the start of 2019. The difference: the stakes are considerably higher. Adams moved to Germany from the New York Red Bulls in 2019 and […]
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Gio Reyna is back with help from a friend soon to be his opponent at World Cup
Soccer players have close friendships, often developed when they are young or through adversity. Gio Reyna says his best friend at German club Borussia Dortmund is Jude Bellingham. Reyna turned 20 on Sunday, and Bellingham is 19. Reyna debuted at Dortmund in January 2020. Bellingham arrived the next summer. This is their third season together […]
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Tim Weah on being blessed, letting destiny take over, and hanging out at The Pearl
Tim Weah says he is blessed to have a chance to play in the World Cup. He knows not everyone gets the opportunity to go to the World Cup. One of them was his father, George Weah, the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner from Liberia. “My dad wanted to do it with his country,” Tim said. […]
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U.S. Soccer sends message from Al-Gharafa Stadium
The World Cup is all about boundaries. Who controls what space, and what you can do with it. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy — Supreme Committee or SC for short — is the World Cup organizing committee in charge of delivering the World Cup — stadiums and infrastructure — to FIFA and leaving […]
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Highs and Lows: USMNT midfielders make fast impressions
Nearly all of the U.S. midfielders in Qatar needed changes of scenery to get themselves back in the national team picture. Here are the stories of the seven U.S. midfielders. 1. Brenden Aaronson (22, Leeds United, England) Aaronson adapted faster after his move from MLS to Europe than just about any other young American player, […]
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Highs and Lows: USMNT's unlikely quartet of center backs
At the start of World Cup qualifying, the USA’s top four center backs on the coaching staff’s depth chart were probably John Brooks, Miles Robinson, Chris Richards and Mark McKenzie. For different reasons, none is going to Qatar. This USA’s unlikely group of World Cup center backs started a combined 10 qualifiers, nine by Walker […]