Jonathan Tannenwald
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Jonathan Tannenwald
@jtannenwald.bsky.social
Chief soccer correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pinned
A shout at the ether:

If you care about what I do, or about what any of my colleagues do, there's a Philadelphia Inquirer subscription discount going right now.

Maybe think about it. Or don't, whatever. But if you like my soccer coverage maybe think about it.

inquirer.com/tannenwald
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I haven’t been paying close enough attention to the rollouts, but here’s one from the Penn band:
December 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
MLS knows it needs to loosen its roster rules to get better. But how far is it willing to go?

"We will do whatever it takes, and make whatever decisions necessary, that will define our future," Don Garber said this week.

Now he has to back up those words:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/mls-r...
MLS knows it needs to loosen its roster rules to get better. But how far is it willing to go?
"We will do whatever it takes, and make whatever decisions necessary, that will define our future," commissioner Don Garber said in his State of the League speech. Now he has to back up those words.
www.inquirer.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
There are also two games that might - and I emphasize *might* - give local fans a shot at tickets without having to pay the exorbitant prices on FIFA’s in-house secondary market.

www.inquirer.com/soccer/phila...
Brazil and France headline the teams coming to Philadelphia for next year’s World Cup
Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius, Luka Modrić and Moisés Caicedo are among the soccer superstars who will play games here — and the Union's Danley Jean Jacques will get an unofficial homecoming with Haiti.
www.inquirer.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
“When Philadelphia put forth its bid documents in 2017, two days after the NFL draft, the idea of us standing here and talking about Brazil and France coming to Philadelphia to play in the World Cup was a dream,” local organizing committee CEO Meg Kane said. “And now it’s an absolute reality.”
December 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The ball is tipped:
December 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
At Villanova for the women’s Big 5 Classic. Penn-La Salle shortly, then Drexel-Temple at 2:15 and St. Joe’s-Villanova for the title at 4:30.
December 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
#InterMiamiCF #MLSCup Champion, Fafa Picault from Miami’s Cutler Bay.
December 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
After receiving his Big 5 Hall of Fame honor last night, I asked Temple great Dionte Christmas about his Owls memories:

“Where do I start? … That was probably the best four years of my life, man.”
December 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Auston Trusty starts:
Celtic lineup/formation in Wilfried Nancy's first game in charge, vs Hearts.
December 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
“I’m looking at Michigan,” Kevin Willard said. “I don’t think anybody wants to look at Michigan right now.”

The tune-ups are over for Villanova. Three power conference games are up next before Big East play starts: www.inquirer.com/sports/villa...
Villanova reclaimed its spot atop the Big 5, and ‘a big test’ awaits the Wildcats next
Villanova won the Big 5 Classic in a dominant win over Penn. Up next is Michigan, which Kevin Willard thinks could be one of the best in the country.
www.inquirer.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
🎥Jack Scheuer’s son Ken helps present the Jack Scheuer VGH (Very Good Hoops) Award to Villanova’s Duke Brennan.

“Sometimes little things that aren’t on the stat sheet really help a team win. That’s perfect for this award actually.”

I know Jack would love this answer.
December 7, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
A Whitecaps tribute from me at the end of a remarkable season theprovince.com/sports/socce...
Whitecaps' triumphant, spirit-filled season comes up short in MLS Cup final
The Vancouver Whitecaps lost the MLS Cup final 3-1 to Inter Miami, but the season will forever be remembered for its fighting, fun spirit
theprovince.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Fran McCaffery says Ethan Roberts is en route to the hospital, and McCaffery will go visit him after leaving the arena.

“You could see he was visibly not in a good place,” McCaffery says. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
December 7, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
Villanova wins the Big 5 Classic
December 7, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The banner.
December 7, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Final: Villanova 90, Penn 63. The Big 5 title finally returns to the Main Line in the tournament format’s third season.
December 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
Two posts, two legends, one indelible moment that defined the day for all of them. My final dispatch from MLS Cup:

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Double-post salvation gives Busquets and Alba a fitting farewell in MLS Cup final
Inter Miami survived a remarkable double-post escape before Messi and friends sealed the club’s first MLS Cup, giving Busquets and Alba a storybook farewell
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
Villanova leads 71-44 and is in the bonus for the final 10:28. Goodnight, nurse. Wildcats will finally win a Big 5 Classic title in the third season of this format’s existence.
December 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Penn's Ethan Roberts just took an inadvertent elbow to the jaw and was writhing in pain for a while.

Up and off the court under his own power, but that looked quite bad.
December 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Penn president Larry Jameson is here, in the front row behind the Quakers' bench.

He's been a much more visible presence at Penn sports events than soms of his predecessors.
December 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
Just filed my last story from a crazy week, the unofficial end of a wild year. It’s a true privilege to do this for my job and I thank every single one of you and all my colleagues for helping it happen. Next year is going to be insane and I can’t wait to report on it with and/or for you.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Make that 44-29 at halftime, after it was 27-27 with 5:49 on the clock.
Penn is hanging in early with Villanova. Ridiculous shooting start for both teams. Villanova is 7-for-12 from deep, Penn 7-for-13. Wildcats lead Quakers 35-29 with 3:40 until halftime.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The Big 5 still matters:
YOURE GODDAMN RIGHT
Deuce Jones at the horn! St. Joe’s 70, Temple 69.
December 7, 2025 at 12:51 AM
They do it at college basketball games in this town, but not soccer games.
Scheduled tweet from the Big 5 classic: Throwing streamers is fun
December 7, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Tannenwald
a final dispatch from Washington, DC —

Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann, Belgium’s Rudi Garcia and Portugal’s Roberto Martinez on navigating the “red flags” of North America’s hot and humid summers (and being lucky to avoid some of it at the World Cup)

www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...
World Cup coaches aim navigate 'red flags' of North American summers in 2026
The luck of the draw is more than just who you play as coaches aim to navigate the issues North America presents
www.cbssports.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:33 AM