The U.S. Men's National Team is on a 13-match winning streak. Can they keep that up Saturday against a perennial FIFA powerhouse? The USMNT will take on…
U.S. Soccer to Build Training Center in Atlanta; Backed by Falcons' Arthur Blank
Sep 15, 2023
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JULY 02: The USA logo is shown on a players jersey before the first half of the Concacaf Gold Cup match between the United States and the Trinidad and Tobago at Bank of America Stadium on July 02, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The U.S. Soccer Federation has plans to build a national training center in Atlanta backed by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
"This national training center will accelerate the growth of soccer in this country and will represent a commitment to developing elite soccer players for decades to come," USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.
Blank is contributing $50 million to the project and the site for the training center will be selected in January.
The new training center will become the federation's new headquarters and bring much of its operations under one roof.
U.S. Soccer has been based in Chicago since the 1990s. However, the federation's national teams have held training camps all across the country based on where they have games scheduled.
For example, when the men's national team has games scheduled in the Caribbean and Central America, players train in Florida.
The Atlanta facility will have fields, office space, a recovery center and much more as players will have "uninterrupted access to elite infrastructure for training, development, recovery and performance analysis," according to U.S. Soccer.
The training center will also host "youth tournaments, soccer community conferences and will be a gathering place for the broader soccer ecosystem," according to the federation.
In addition to the USMNT and USWNT, the facility will house a total of 27 of the federation's national programs, including youth teams, nine extended national teams, two futsal teams, two beach soccer teams, two cerebral palsy teams, two deaf teams, and one co-ed power soccer team.
"America's top athletes deserve the best when it comes to preparing them for competition on the global stage and I'm thrilled U.S. Soccer has chosen metro Atlanta as its new home," Blank said in a statement.
"Atlanta's incredible passion for soccer, corporate community and unmatched infrastructure make this a natural home for the national training center and I'm very confident our community will help America's finest soccer players compete on a global level like never before."
A centralized training center had long been desirable for the federation as many countries around the world have state-of-the-art facilities for their players. USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter had even advocated for a facility in the past, saying a facility would be "beneficial ... not only for consistency of the senior team, but also to have all the other teams."
While there doesn't appear to be a timeline for the finishing of the project, once the training facility is complete, it will signal the beginning of a new era for American soccer.
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi Excite Fans with Goals as USA Beats Oman in Friendly
Sep 13, 2023
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 12: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring with Kristoffer Lund #23 during the first half of a match between Oman and the United States at Allianz Field on September 12, 2023 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The United States men's national team has a battle brewing at striker.
Both Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi scored for the USMNT in a comfortable 4-0 win over Oman on Tuesday night.
Oman gifted the United States a pair of goals as well, as Brenden Aaronson's mediocre free kick somehow found its way through both the wall and goalkeeper before an Oman own-goal later in the contest.
But the story is the mounting battle Balogun and Pepi for the No. 9 role. It's now two goals in four games for the Monaco man, while Pepi has found the back of the net six times in his past six appearances.
And USMNT fans on social media were loving the sudden wealth at striker after the game:
I’ll say it again. 6 in 6 games!
We got ourselves a 9 battle.
Can’t wait till a healthy Josh Sargent is added into this equation. Great problem to have if you’re the #USMNThttps://t.co/8CqFGO5HJT
Must be said for Pepi that he is 20. Could have even played in the U20 World Cup if he wanted.
Not saying Balogun isn't the #1 or that Pepi will hit 20+ in a Top 5 League soon, simply that we're very lucky to have both. Sargent should be with the A-squad too with his versatility
Btw it seems like everytime Balogun scored , Pepi answers and whenever Pepi scores , Balogun answers . It’s almost like the two are pushing each other. #USMNT
For years, it felt as though the United States was searching for a reliable and clinical No. 9. Players like Jozy Altidore, Chris Wondolowski and Gyasi Zardes didn't scratch the itch, and the position was a continued concern after this past winter's World Cup.
Pepi had fallen out of favor before Qatar and Balogun hadn't pledged his allegiances to the country at that point, leaving players like Josh Sargent and Haji Wright to handle the position. They combined for one goal in four games.
Balogun (22) and Pepi (19) offer far more promise. Granted, context still matters—Oman is not a top opponent, and the United States probably should have pushed even more goals across the line.
But the United States now has a pair of really intriguing strikers at its disposal who appear locked in a battle for the starting role. Paired with the talent on the wings and in the midfield, the future appears to be bright for this group.
The United States men's national team finishes off the September international window with a friendly match against Oman. (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) Gregg…
Gregg Berhalter: USMNT 'Need to Improve' After Win vs. Uzbekistan
Sep 10, 2023
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 09: United States head coach Gregg Berhalter shouts instructions during the first half of a match between Uzbekistan and the United States at CITYPARK on September 09, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
A win is a win, but U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter thinks Saturday's 3-0 win against Uzbekistan will be best utilized as a learning experience.
"I think we use this game as a learning tool," Berhalter told reporters after the friendly. "We can improve and we need to improve and we will."
The U.S. scored the opening goal within the first four minutes but did not strike again until after the 90th minute. Berhalter said that he noticed better play in the later stages of the game and thinks the team can build on that.
"I really, really liked the mindset in the last 10 minutes of the game," Berhalter told reporters. "You could see the guys still wanted to push. It wasn't about holding onto the 1-0. It was about getting aggressive. As they moved to a back four, we had more space and I liked that the guys wanted to attack it. I think that it's a good baseline for us to start and say this is what international competition from other regions looks like and so that we use as we go."
Berhalter pointed out costly turnovers and slow defensive transitions were glaring issues that allowed Uzbekistan to pose some real threats.
The U.S. held possession for 64.6 percent of the game and were able to fire off 13 shots, six of which were on net, but they did surrender 15 total shot attempts and goaltender Matt Turner had to make some terrific saves to hold the score.
Still, it is a solid win for a U.S. team that is ranked No. 11 in the world. The team has another friendly on Tuesday against Oman, taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Tim Weah, Ricardo Pepi Draw Rave Reviews from Fans as USA Beat Uzbekistan in Friendly
Sep 10, 2023
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 09: Tim Weah #21 of the United States celebrates scoring with teammates during the first half of a match between Uzbekistan and the United States at CITYPARK on September 09, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
It took until additional time for the U.S. to gain a comfortable lead, but the men's national team emerged victorious in an international friendly against Uzbekistan by a score of 3-0.
It did not take long for the Americans to get on the board, as Tim Weah fired a blast from a difficult angle into the back of the net just 3:45 into the match.
This set the stage for a strong day on the scoresheet, but that was not in the cards, at least for much of the match. The U.S. held possession for 64.6 percent of the game and managed to take 13 shots with six being on target but could not find the back of the net again until after the 90th minute.
That goal was a beauty, though, as Ricardo Pepi scored his fifth goal in the last five international games.
Christian Pulisic scored a penalty kick goal right before the final horn to round out the scoring. While the lead ended up being pretty comfortable, the Americans owe goaltender Matt Turner for maintaining the lead.
While fans on social media conveyed some concern at the U.S.' inability to pull away from Uzbekistan, the praise for Weah and Pepi was the main focus.
5 - Tim Weah's 5 @USMNT goals have come against teams from 5 different confederations, the eighth player in @USMNT history to score against teams from five different confederations. Globetrotter. pic.twitter.com/KdooHv56wZ
The @USMNT's Weston McKennie and Tim Weah of Juventus are the first pair of European club teammates to combine for a goal for the U.S. since Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey (Fulham) against Barbados in 2008 🤯🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/okux1b8vUs
What a finish from the #PSV striker Ricardo Pepi who does well to find space just outside the 18yard box for a 🚀 of a shot that bests the @UzbekistanFF_en keeper and gives the #USMNT the 2-0 lead https://t.co/54zVKh1hBk
The United States men's national team should go through a stress-free 90 minutes on Saturday, The Americans play Uzbekistan in an international friendly…
Christian Pulisic: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami Move 'Absolutely Helps' MLS, US Soccer
Sep 8, 2023
Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi runs for the ball during the Major League Soccer (MLS) football match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 30, 2023. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS ARJOON/AFP via Getty Images)
Even from thousands of miles away, Christian Pulisic can feel the impact that Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami has had on the state of soccer in the U.S.
The USMNT captain, who's enjoying a successful first few weeks with AC Milan in Italy, has been watching from afar and can't help but get excited knowing how much the sport is going to grow thanks to the arrival of the GOAT.
"It absolutely helps. I mean obviously all the games that [Messi's] playing in MLS and these cups become massive games," Pulisic said ahead of Saturday's game between the U.S. and Uzbekistan in St. Louis. "It seems like everyone's there. It's exciting. It's fun.
"Obviously only a positive thing for this country, so I'm enjoying watching and following that Miami path. Obviously, some of our American teammates are there who've been playing really well, so it's fun to see how Messi has come in and help lift the level so much of that team as well."
Messi, 36, has resurrected an Inter Miami that was dead in the South Florida water prior to his arrival. With the World Cup winner's help, the team has yet to lose a game and he helped lead them to a Leagues Cup title.
He has 11 goals in 11 league and cup games, an incredible tally even for someone of his legend and stature.
And some of Pulisic's national team teammates have been direct beneficiaries of Messi's arrival such as DeAndre Yedlin and Benjamin Cremaschi, both of whom play for Inter Miami.
Pulisic's move to Italy will also be a great help for the national team as the 24-year-old is already receiving much more playing time than he was getting while at Chelsea over the last couple of years.
Other talents like Tim Weah and Yunus Musah also made the move to Italy and Serie A, one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
"Definitely it was the right time for me [to move] and I'm loving it right now," Pulisic said. "I'm definitely enjoying the game, obviously put in some good performances and just have to keep it going. I'm really excited for the future there."
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