Trophy Hunting: The 2025 US Open Cup semis begin today
Open Cup Digest #19: The semifinals arrive. It's a clash between Eastern Conference powerhouses Nashville and Philadelphia today, and Western Conference frenemies Austin and Minnesota tomorrow.
Michael Battista
Michael Battista is a New Jersey-based writer who covers the Tri-State Soccer Scene. His work appears in US Soccer, TheCup.US, and Protagonist Soccer. He was the NASL's last intern.
Cosmos name Davide Corti head coach ahead of 2026 season
Just the 9th head coach in Cosmos club history, the 53-year-old joins after stints at AC Milan Women and UC Sampdoria Women in Serie A Femminile.
Amateur Hour: 145 Teams compete for 16 US Open qualifying spots
Open Cup Digest #18: A total of 19 teams from New York and New Jersey – including 6 from New York City – are among the 145 lower-league clubs looking to qualify for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Poku Power: Tennessee Tempo win UPSL national championship
NYCFC cult hero Kwadwo Poku is the sometimes-player, co-founder, and co-owner of Tennessee Tempo FC — who just won a national title in the fourth tier of American soccer. Will the 33-year-old return to the field when Tempo compete in the 2026 US Open Cup?
Vermont Green 2-1 Ballard FC, Wins USL League Two Title: 4 Thoughts
A crowd that was double the capacity of Virtue Field watched hometown Vermont Green FC defeat Seattle's Ballard FC with a stoppage-time goal to win the national title for the non-professional USL League Two.
Vermont Green vs Ballard FC is the national championship American soccer deserves
When these two non-professional teams face off in the USL League Two title game on Saturday, it'll be more than a game — it's what grassroots soccer can be in this country when done right.
Cosmos CEO Erik Stover: 'You need good versus evil'
In this exclusive interview, Cosmos CEO Erik Stover tells us about plans to develop local talent, open a museum, cultivate rivalries, and function "much like a European club."
Low-Block Defending, High-Intensity Pressing: Chelsea silence PSG 3-0
Chelsea FC win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by shutting out Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in front of 81,118 at MetLife Stadium. Here's how the champs did it.
Oppo Research, FIFA Club World Cup Edition: Paris-Saint Germain
Paris Saint-Germain are favorites to roll over Chelsea FC and win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title — and lift their fifth trophy of the year.
Oppo Research, FIFA Club World Cup Final Edition: Chelsea FC
Chelsea needs Enzo Fernández and Caicedo to cook in the midfield – and João Pedro to find a way to score – if they're to upset Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final.
The Battle of I-95: The US Open Cup Quarterfinals begin
Open Cup Digest #17: It's an all-MLS lineup as San Jose hosts Austin, Minnesota hosts Chicago, Philadelphia hosts Red Bulls, and Nashville hosts DC United.
Fooled Around and Fell in Love: Why we're so into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
With the final three games of the 2025 Club World Cup taking place at MetLife Stadium, we take stock of a tournament that has won us over.
Are the New York Cosmos back?
Sources tell Hudson River Blue a new iteration of the Cosmos will debut in USL League One in 2026, and will play at historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ.
FIFA Club World Cup R16 Preview: Manchester City vs Al-Hilal
Expect a heavily rotated Manchester City squad as one of the tournament favorites look to dispatch Al-Hilal try in their campaign to salvage a disappointing season.
Is the FIFA Club World Cup winning us over?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage games are done and dusted: Michael Battista and Matthew Mangam discuss the highs and lows of the tournament so far, and what they're looking forward to seeing in the knockout rounds.
Porto, Al Ahly play 8-goal draw to crash out of FIFA Club World Cup
Both teams needed a win to have a hope of advancing beyond the group stage, but defense became optional in a wild 4-4 draw in front of a lively pro-Al Ahly crowd at MetLife Stadium.