Postgame Pontifications: Running out of runway
The Sounders’ once robust playoff chances are suddenly on life support.
Latest blog entries about MLS
The Sounders’ once robust playoff chances are suddenly on life support.
Analyst Brian Dunseth breaks down the MLS season’s final stretch, focusing on Real Salt Lake’s push for a playoff spot and previewing their upcoming clash with San Jose. He offers insights on key matches, roster moves, and what the team needs to secure postseason qualification.
Lionel Messi avoids a suspension for Inter Miami’s October 29 clash with the New England Revolution despite picking up his fifth MLS yellow card against FC Cincinnati. A special “Good Behavior Incentive” rule wipes a ban if a player goes five games without a booking, and Messi’s clean streak reset his tally to three active cautions. Reporter Michelle Kaufman confirms he’s eligible, highlighting MLS’s policy that protects star players from missing marquee games after occasional fouls.
The Seattle Sounders unveil their compressed 2027 Sprint Season schedule, a 14‑game slate that kicks off on Feb. 21 at home versus Real Salt Lake and wraps on May 8 with an away match against St. Louis City. The abbreviated campaign feeds into a new MLS calendar running mid‑July to late May, featuring a winter break and eight‑team playoff brackets with single‑elimination games at higher seeds, culminating in the MLS Cup on Memorial Day weekend. Notably, four of the first five games are against likely non‑playoff teams, while the final six pit the Sounders against current playoff contenders, including home dates vs. Portland Timbers (Apr 3) and LAFC (Apr 7).
MLS reveals the 2027 Sprint Season slate, giving Chicago Fire FC a 14‑match road‑heavy stretch that opens on Feb. 20 at Philadelphia Union and closes on May 8 at 2026 Supporters’ Shield champs Nashville SC. The Fire will host six games at Soldier Field before the planned move to McDonald’s Park for 2028‑29. Opponents include Orlando City, D.C. United, Charlotte FC, Inter Miami, Atlanta United, New England Revolution, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, CF Montréal, NYC FC, Red Bull New York, Toronto FC, and Nashville SC. The abridged schedule pits each conference rival against one another as MLS shifts to a fall‑spring calendar.
Major League Soccer announced key details Thursday regarding the 2027 "Sprint Season."
Real Salt Lake will begin its 2027 MLS Sprint Season with four consecutive road matches before returning to America First Field for a home-heavy stretch, according to the schedule released Thursday.
All 14 games of the special "sprint season" have been announced for Sporting Kansas City and the rest of MLS. The post 2027 Sporting KC Schedule Released appeared first on KC Soccer Journal .
FC Dallas opens the 2027 MLS Sprint Season at Austin FC on Feb. 20. Full 14-game schedule, kickoff times, how to watch, and what the Sprint Season means.
With only two games left in the MLS regular season, the Western Conference playoff race remains a nail‑biter. Vancouver Whitecaps clinched a top‑four spot after a 4‑1 win over San Diego, leaving three positions up for grabs. FC Dallas, now four points behind Vancouver, needs wins and a Whitecaps loss to challenge for the conference title, but a single point secures their fourth‑place berth. St. Louis CITY, despite a strong +11 goal differential, must win and hope Houston drops points to stay alive. Houston Dynamo surged into fourth with a 1‑0 win over Seattle and faces a must‑win against Portland. LAFC, sitting at 47 points, must win both remaining games and rely on rivals faltering to break into the top four.
The Seattle Sounders drop a 1–0 upset to the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 28, 2026, ending a 17‑year home unbeaten streak at Lumen Field. Despite generating nearly 2.0 xG and 21 shots, the Sounders' chances arrive late as Dynamo’s Lucas Halter scores in the 26th minute. Seattle’s Peter Kingston and Houston’s Agustín Resch each receive cautions. The loss leaves the Sounders eighth in the Western Conference, just two points above the playoff cutoff. Attendance was 29,036 under clear skies, and Dynamo’s goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made six saves.
A month ago, Real Salt Lake's season appeared to be in a death spiral, at least to outside observers.
Wednesday night at BC Place, the Vancouver Whitecaps came away with a confident 4-1 win over San Diego FC, moving closer to securing their first-ever finish atop the Western Conference. Jesper Sørensen, rather surprisingly, made a major tactical tweak going into the match, starting Rayan Elloumi up front alongside Brian White. This pushed Ryan Gauld into a more traditional wide role and asked a lot … Source
Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, stalls at 2-2 against Cincinnati, dropping to fourth with 56 points—the final MLS spot that currently guarantees a 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup berth. With Nashville on 71 points and New England and Vancouver on 58, Miami must win its November 1 road game at New England to retain control; a draw would cede the tiebreaker to the Revolution. A loss combined with a FC Dallas win could push Miami to fifth, forcing them to rely on MLS Cup outcomes or US Open Cup contingencies for qualification. The next two matches become decisive for Messi’s side to secure continental competition.
After FC Dallas fell 2-0 to Columbus, Eric Quill challenged his team to rediscover its discipline and resilience ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Landon Donovan and Tim Howard launch the Unfiltered Soccer podcast as a standout voice amid the 2026 World Cup on U.S. soil. The former U.S. men’s soccer stars, who made iconic World Cup moments in 2010 and 2014, partnered with Sinclair’s AMP Sports in November 2024 to create a candid, insight‑driven show. Season 2 already boasts 94,000 YouTube subscribers and guests like Jason Kelce, Don Garber, Clint Dempsey, Emma Hayes and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Donovan stresses that great players don’t automatically make great media talent, and both hosts use their on‑field and front‑office experience to cut through the noise of vanity‑driven sports content.
After a disastrous 1‑10‑4 start and a mid‑season coaching change, the New York Union surge to clinch an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons. The team went 15 games unbeaten post‑World Cup break, now sitting sixth with a 12‑1‑4 record since the break, despite missing key players against MLS powerhouse Nashville in a 0‑0 draw. The turnaround follows the firing of Bradley Carnell, the return of Kai Wagner, and interim manager Ryan Richter’s impact. Yet the Union’s regular‑season success has historically stalled in the postseason, prompting speculation on whether this year’s run will finally break the pattern.
Inter Miami salvages a point in a thrilling 2-2 MLS draw against Cincinnati on October 29, 2026. Luis Suárez gives Miami the lead in the 61st minute, but the FC Cincinnati side fights back, with Kenji Mboma Dim equalising in the 80th and Samuel Geddy netting the winner late on. Lionel Messi finishes the match goalless, marking his first MLS outing without scoring. The comeback underscores Cincinnati’s resilience and leaves Miami hoping to bounce back in their next fixture.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has been forced to give up his equity stake in prediction‑market platform Polymarket after the NFL clarified that players cannot own or promote gambling‑related businesses. Barkley, who invested in February before the league’s policy was public, told Front Office Sports he must comply with the rule. The NFL treats prediction markets like traditional sports betting, banning ownership and trading for players, coaches and staff. While the NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS have partnered with Polymarket and Kalshi, the NFL remains opposed, even seeking Supreme Court review. Barkley’s Polymarket exit is part of a broader tech investment portfolio that includes Ramp, Sequin and others.
Explore the thrilling history of El Tráfico—LA Galaxy vs LAFC, top highlights, and all-time results.
FC Dallas drops its first home game since May 13, falling 2-0 to the Columbus Crew on October 29, 2026. Columbus took the lead early with Tapia (assisted by Zaroury) at 18 minutes and added a second through Rodriguez at 70 minutes. Dallas recorded more shots (16 vs. 9) and higher possession (52%), but failed to convert, posting a lower xG (1.116 vs. 1.63) and three missed big chances. Notable moments include Anderson Julio’s return in the 76th minute and a red card for Dallas’ Norris at 16 minutes. The loss ends a 168‑day unbeaten home streak and a club‑record four straight shutouts.
A Lionel Messi question on the 1% Club eliminated 16 celebrities including an England legend and a former Liverpool player
The post Liverpool vs. Arsenal surprise referee named – first big six game since 2024 appeared first on This Is Anfield .
Jordan Henderson experienced a mixed reception from Liverpool fans on his latest return to Anfield.
Sir Alex Ferguson has a clear idea of the type of manager he'd like in the Manchester United dugout.