Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
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jonarnoldfc.bsky.social
Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
@jonarnoldfc.bsky.social
Happy wanderer + Soccer storyteller

https://getconcacafed.substack.com/
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Introducing: Football Cities

Starting with Mexico's World Cup host cities & hopefully continuing throughout the Americas & the world, I'm launching a video series offering soccer fans a practical guide to making the most of their travels in 2026 and beyond.

youtu.be/5eEZvee5v8U?...
2026 World Cup travel guide: Guadalajara | The stadiums, sights, food & culture of La Perla Tapatia
YouTube video by JonArnoldFC
youtu.be
Brian Tevreden helped put together a Suriname men's team that shocked the region & is on the brink of making the 2026 World Cup.

As 2027 Women's World Cup qualification begins, can the SVB GM do it again with the women's side?

open.substack.com/pub/getconca...
🇸🇷 Can Suriname's newly pro women match the men's success?
As 2027 Brazil qualification begins, SVB General Manager Brian Tevreden is using the men's rise as a blueprint, bringing in pros to boost the Natio Uma's level.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Lots to get to today, including a look ahead to the Liguilla, a look back at the ramifications of WCQ & a few notes on Women's World Cup qualification, the Concacaf Series & the last few Concacaf Champions Cup spots!

getconcacafed.substack.com/p/its-liguil...
🇲🇽 It's Liguilla time!
Your Liga MX playoff preview. PLUS: WCQ fall-out & series on series in the Conca-catch-up
getconcacafed.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
"When every moment of “discovery” is algorithmic, even when the information is technically good, we lose the joy of being surprised."

www.gq.com/story/what-i...
What I Meant When I Said Substack Isn’t Cool
The platform owns the newsletter space so completely its name is a synonym for the form, writes Chris Black, but it’s still just another algorithm.
www.gq.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
We’re starting to get awfully lucky for such an unlucky sports city.
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is headed to the Dallas Wings‼️

Who should they select?
November 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
Tonight, Rebeca Bernal will play in the NWSL final, months after leaving Rayadas a legend.

Then, she'll captain Mexico as it opens qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

It's a busy itinerary, but Bernal tells me it's "responsibility" she's always wanted to take on
open.substack.com/pub/getconca...
🇲🇽💛🖤 In NWSL & with Mexico, Washington Spirit's Bernal continues finding ways to grow
The final is today, qualification starts next week, but this busy schedule is what Rebeca Bernal always hoped for.
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Tonight, Rebeca Bernal will play in the NWSL final, months after leaving Rayadas a legend.

Then, she'll captain Mexico as it opens qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

It's a busy itinerary, but Bernal tells me it's "responsibility" she's always wanted to take on
open.substack.com/pub/getconca...
🇲🇽💛🖤 In NWSL & with Mexico, Washington Spirit's Bernal continues finding ways to grow
The final is today, qualification starts next week, but this busy schedule is what Rebeca Bernal always hoped for.
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
What a message from both sets of players to start the USL Championship Final, wearing t-shirts that say:

"USL HQ: PRO REL? TRY PRO STANDARDS FIRST" Major statement made from the USL Players Association.
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
It's a brisk morning here in Tulsa, likely to be around 51° at kickoff, and the crowd is starting to fill in nicely at ONEOK Field.

The last time Tulsa won a pro soccer title, it was the Tulsa Roughnecks in the NASL in 1983. #USL-C
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Jamaica has appointed well-known domestic coach Rudolph Speid as its manager from Dec. 15 through March of next year (when the playoff will be played) and is trying to bring Jamaican coach Miguel Coley in from Asia, where he currently is an assistant for Iraq's Zakho SC.
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It was supposed to be the easiest World Cup qualification cycle ever for Concacaf's habitual strivers, but just because Mexico, the US & Canada were out of the way didn't mean things went according to plan.

Looking back on the final day for @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
Concacaf World Cup qualifying burst into chaos minus USMNT, Mexico, Canada
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Bolivia DENIED extra altitude with their pathway taking place at 1,772′ above sea level Monterrey. Suriname breathes a little easier!

Guadalajara (5,138′) hosting the other pathway that includes Jamaica
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques was back in Chester today, after helping Haiti reach its first men’s World Cup since 1974.

“It has always been a dream to play in a World Cup, to qualify my country, so I’m very happy,” he said:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/haiti... via @phillysport.bsky.social
The Union’s Danley Jean Jacques celebrates helping Haiti reach its first men’s World Cup since 1974
“It has always been a dream to play in a World Cup, to qualify my country, so I’m very happy,” the midfielder said after returning to Chester.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said a six-match winless skid shows some players aren't up to the level needed for El Tri.

Frustrated fans are wondering if perhaps its the boss who can't get the job done.

A Mexico vibes check for @yahoosports.bsky.social:
sports.yahoo.com/soccer/artic...
Mexico vs. fans: El Tri's winless slide exposes new problems before World Cup
How quickly things change in international soccer.
sports.yahoo.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
The 2026 MLS schedule is being rolled out today - here's an overview, including the particularly notable feature of a VERY long 'pause' for the World Cup: from May 25 all the way to July 16:

www.mlssoccer.com/news/2026-ml...
2026 MLS schedule: Most important dates & key info | MLSSoccer.com
The 2026 MLS regular season schedule is HERE, setting the stage for the league's 31st campaign.
www.mlssoccer.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The situation hasn't changed from the Gold Cup. Haiti's team and delegation will get in, they'll be fervently supported by U.S.-based fans but they will not be 'whole'

Hopefully the World Cup qualification convinces more neighboring countries to reasonably consider visas for clubs/trialists.
U.S. State Department confirms to @theathletic.com no exemption for World Cup fans from Haiti (under a U.S. travel ban). They say applicants may be considered “if their travel would advance a U.S. national interest… expect such exceptions to be very rare”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
U.S. travel bans mean many Haitian fans will not be able to go to World Cup
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I can't remember if it was TikTok or Twitter, but someone commented this scenario on a post I made, like, five minutes after McClaren resigned.
November 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said a six-match winless skid shows some players aren't up to the level needed for El Tri.

Frustrated fans are wondering if perhaps its the boss who can't get the job done.

A Mexico vibes check for @yahoosports.bsky.social:
sports.yahoo.com/soccer/artic...
Mexico vs. fans: El Tri's winless slide exposes new problems before World Cup
How quickly things change in international soccer.
sports.yahoo.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
New FIFA rankings are confirmed. The #USMNT jumps Mexico for top spot in Concacaf.

Tough reading for El Salvador, which fell six slots to 100.

Suriname up 3 to 123 & Jamaica down 2 to 70 but doesn't shift playoff seeding.
November 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
FIFA has finally confirmed that the playoff tournament will take place in Guadalajara & Monterrey as had been reported for several months.

The draw is tomorrow morning. Jamaica & Suriname find out their path.
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Almost certainly his last official one. He tried to retire from Costa Rica once before & while he has been spared some of the criticism of the other old heads who got dragged back, Ticos won't have a meaningful match until September.

He deserves a testimonial in the Estadio Saprissa, though.
Do you think last night was Kaylor Navas’ last international?
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
NEW: Following our @us.theguardian.com investigation, Major League Soccer is reopening its own investigation into Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner.

The club says Tanner has since been placed on leave.

Details here: www.theguardian.com/football/202...
MLS reopens investigation into Philadelphia Union executive as team places him on leave
Tanner denies the allegations contained in a Guardian investigation into his conduct as Union sporting director, including claims of racist, sexist and homophobic behavior
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
A HUGE reason for this is countries getting to play in front of energized home fans.

Yet, soccer's business leaders continue to minimize the importance of match-going fans & teams maintaining a relationship with those supporters.
my hot take is that qualifying for the world cup is more exciting than the world cup. i will not be taking any questions on this matter unless you ask me questions and then i will probably answer them
November 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Who's with me?
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Jon | Watch Football Cities on YT
The Top Three is out now, looking at:

😢 The sheer emotion of the last day
🇵🇦 The professional Panama on display Tuesday
🇯🇲 Steve McClaren's abrupt departure echoing past Jamaica situations
🇭🇹 Haiti enjoying its deserved celebrations

open.substack.com/pub/getconca...
3️⃣ The top three: It really happened
Panama, Curacao & Haiti are going to the 2026 World Cup. Jamaica & Suriname play on.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 AM