Folks! It’s #USMNT game day at @us.theguardian.com! Me on the center backs: www.theguardian.com/football/202... @jeffrueter.bsky.social on the midfield: www.theguardian.com/football/202... @mlsist.bsky.social on the pressure: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

A quick look at the #USMNT center back situation, which is now extremely interesting with injuries to Chris Richards and Miles Robinson. No replacements are coming, so it's a dry run for the kind of adjustment they might need to make at the World Cup: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Not surprised in the least to find that the interviewer with the good sense to have more questions about Chili's is @pcattry.bsky.social

NEW: Mauricio Pochettino isn’t one to undersell the importance of a well-calibrated midfield. With a bevy of quality options all in fine form at their clubs, the USMNT boss is “suffering two months in advance” at his inevitable hard cuts. MD-1 in Atlanta: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Gonna go ahead and nominate this, from Chris Richards, as one of the best USMNT quotes of all time. www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...

A quick look at the #USMNT center back situation, which is now extremely interesting with injuries to Chris Richards and Miles Robinson. No replacements are coming, so it's a dry run for the kind of adjustment they might need to make at the World Cup: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Chris Richards is my new favorite nat

Mauricio Pochettino suggests modifying the style guide of international soccer, saying that a "Friendly" should instead be called an "Unofficial game," or something of the like. "A friendly is when you are playing with friends," he says.

Quite the statement. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Here's @mlsist.bsky.social on Gio Reyna, who spoke today and seems very aware that some people might be wondering why he's with the #USMNT this window: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Gio Reyna says he doesn't need a pump-up song before games. Clearly a man that has yet to hear Angine de Poitrine.

Mauricio Pochettino will use friendlies against Belgium and Portugal to sort some final questions about the World Cup roster

If you want to read about this exchange via the journalist who was actually subject to it, despite an eminently reasonable question, you should read @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

NEW: Friendlies against Belgium and Portugal serve as Mauricio Pochettino’s final chance to rehearse and assess his USMNT before the World Cup. A few things I’ll be watching in Atlanta, from “elbow backs” to CB partnerships, and the impeding cruel midfield cuts. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

It's the US window, and @jeffrueter.bsky.social has some things to watch! www.theguardian.com/football/202...

“Most of the big stars, superstars, don’t want to come to Charlotte." What do you do when you're an MLS team in a non-glamor market? According to Zoran Krneta, you try to become the Seattle Sounders. On one MLS club immitating another, for @backheeled.com ⤵️

Wow I really fucked up by not heading there til today huh

It's out! The second episode of Football Cities is live. I went to Monterrey to explore the rivalry between Tigres & Rayados, let you know how to get to the gleaming Estadio BBVA, &, of course, show you the best tacos, coffee & activities the Sultana del Norte has to offer. youtu.be/v93pQ9sWW_8?...

Forgot to watch this when March Madness started but I watched it now and guess what, still rips: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyP...

Great stuff from @catabush.com on three players whose names you should know so you can sound really, really incredibly smart a few years from now (or sooner) www.theguardian.com/football/202...

i'm sold!

I absolutely did. This is incredible.

NEW: MLS Matchweek 5 was a doozy. Marcel Hartel's worldie powered St. Louis City into its new era, while Jonathan Bamba buried the Philadelphia Union in historic ignominy. Plus: Sam Surridge can't stop scoring, Marc Dos Santos can't lose, and goalfests galore! www.theguardian.com/football/202...

This is definitely one of the weeks of all time for the USMNT press corps to be traveling to and from Atlanta.

A few more words on the Philadelphia Union, who are facing a fan protest in regards to their now-suspended sporting director, Ernst Tanner: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘Under any other circumstance for any other country, we’d be talking about moving the tournament’ Taken from The Guardian’s Football Weekly live with @brendanhunting.bsky.social and @anabnos.com at SXSW. @maxrushden.bsky.social @theguardian.com @us.theguardian.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO7O...

Let it be known that the USA ‘94 jersey @maxrushden.bsky.social wore for this is mine, and is a hand-me-down from my uncle Jon, the person who introduced me to soccer. Shoutout uncle Jon. youtu.be/nO7OKJSQrrk

Happy March Madness Day 2 to all who celebrate! We've had a ton of women's basketball stories up on @us.theguardian.com of late. (With much more to come this spring + summer 👀) You can find a selection of them in this thread! Kicking things off with another batch of predictions:

While the #USMNT players are rounding into form and fitness nicely ahead of a World Cup on home soil, co-hosts Mexico and Canada face injury crises and steal nervous glances at the calendar. Because sometimes a World Cup's timing favors you, and other times it catches you out. Me @theguardian.com

Despite the nature of this particular clip (which I stand by!), I really did have a fun time on Football Weekly. Give it a listen/watch/whatever it is that you do.

🎥 It's here! ⚽ Football Weekly's live show from @sxsw.com featuring @brendanhunting.bsky.social and @anabnos.com is now live on our YouTube channel and wherever you listen to your podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO7O... @maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social

Entire TUDN crew absolutely nailed this moment.

Apparently Queens University (of Charlotte) is soon to merge with Elon University. I presume the resulting school will be rebranded No, Not That One College.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ SPRNT SZN 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Absolutely howling at this quote from Bruce Arena in the Guardian's 2002 preview of the US team ahead of that year's World Cup. www.theguardian.com/football/200...

NEW: Miami entered 2026 aspiring to be the king of CONCACAF. Bounced by Nashville SC in the Ro16, all that’s left is to repeat past accomplishments. Examining a missed opportunity, perhaps the club’s best in continental play, as time’s arrow marches forward: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Happy Match Mardness, time for the video that plays on a loop in my head all tournament long: www.facebook.com/RebeccaSweet...

Happy March Madness to all who celebrate! Made some predictions for @us.theguardian.com that will certainly definitely all be 100% correct. I also mentioned a classic March tradition: trying to go 68/68 on the Sporcle quiz of team mascots. 62/68 on my first attempt this morning!

Insanely good work by colleagues @wcraft.bsky.social @jgedeon.bsky.social & Andrew Witherspoon. Six days!!! www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Cristian Espinoza is excelling in a knockout competition, making it even *more* criminal that we’ve only seen him play 2 MLS playoff games in his seven full seasons stateside.

"There is no doubt that Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo had a nightmare during the AFCON final.... but once [he] took the decision to resume play, the result could only be determined on the field of play and not in the court of football justice." @osasuo.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The USA players deserve the criticism they're getting about their whole vibe & approach to this tournament....but I'm a little surprised this is part of it. Runners-up take off the medal all the time in other competitions (Olympics being the exception).

We hear “stick to sports” too much, but let’s be clear here: Team USA itself refused to stick to sports, eschewing representation of so much great American culture for, uh, Da Troops and nothing else.

Cracking up at the Fox broadcast, breathlessly and with awe, describing how the Venezuela fans have not left the stadium yet. Their team just won a championship and are about to get the trophy, where the hell else do they have to be??!!

Immediate entry into the "self-owning bulletin board material" hall of fame. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

This absolutely killed me

extremely thrilled for all the Venezuelan fans www.cnn.com/2026/03/11/s...

Salvy got another ring ❤️

Somehow I doubt the US baseball team will be drawn into completely absurd bad-faith culture war discourse like the USWNT was when they didn't sing the national anthem in 2023. Can't imagine why that would be.

Insane!!