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Pablo Maurer

@mlsist.bsky.social

4.8K followers 81 following 220 posts

Writer, photographer, washed-up mechanic, jerk. Writing about American soccer and all its weird, wild history. ⚽️ Get a hold me at [email protected] !

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Apr 28

*Some professional news*: After 7+ years, my time at The Athletic is coming to an end in June.

I have dozens of great feature ideas & am eager to keep doing great work ahead of the World Cup and beyond. Somebody hire me!

My DMs are open - please reach out, or find me at pablomaurer.com.

Pablo Iglesias Maurer

Pablo Iglesias Maurer is an award-winning sportswriter and photographer whose work focuses on the game of soccer in North America.

pablomaurer.com

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 5d

Guys, I think I need to talk to whoever makes DC Power’s score graphics

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 8d

We literally just played one in a country where the stadiums were built by slave labor and the president of FIFA seems to be besties with Trump so…. yeah I think it’ll
still happen, buddy.

jcstarbuck.bsky.social @jcstarbuck.bsky.social · 9d

Don't bet on the World Cup being played in Nazi America.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 9d

Filmed for a documentary yesterday in NYC and I was chatting w/a PA who played for the Nashville Metros in 2008.

I told him I grew up going to games in Nashville in the 90s w/a handful of other soccer weirdos. The rise of @nashvillesc.bsky.social still feels like a fever dream. Congrats, guys.

Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 9d

Sure do hope I end up covering the World Cup for an outlet becuase I feel absolutely certain that there's no way, shape or form I'll be able to afford even one game as a fan.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 11d

Maybe the best thing about coaching high school soccer is you get to witness moments where the kids support and love each other & lift each other up through tough moments. There’s plenty of bitching too, but it is so, *so* wonderful to witness kids that age showing kindness to each other.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 17d

@clintonyates.bsky.social look at this fam

Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 17d

thanks so much man. really. thank you for reading.

Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 17d

A random person walked up to me in the airport in Raleigh-Durham a couple of weeks ago and told me they loved my writing. It happens occasionally, and it’s always the nicest thing. In that moment, it felt so important I could’ve cried. It’s just been a tough few months. So if that was you, thanks.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 17d

To be clear, when I say "cut," I mean they were fired. They'll be replaced, in some form or another. Not clear yet by who.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 18d

Sources telling me that DC United has cut the entirety of its scouting department as the club continues its overhaul under new sporting director Erkut Sogut & head coach Rene Weiler. Assitant GM Caleb Shreve among those let go (that bit first reported by my guy @tombogert.bsky.social the other day.)

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 19d

tfw i come on here to tell everyone i have a new, obscure soccer history deep dive coming soon

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Reposted by Pablo Maurer

Matt Cohen @mattdcohen.bsky.social · 23d

it’s Constitution Day btw

FinTwitter @fintwitter.bsky.social · 23d

*DISNEY'S ABC PULLS KIMMEL SHOW INDEFINITELY, WSJ REPORTER POSTS

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 23d

Somewhat tipsy at a bar in DC - and old, so all of a sudden in recent months I can’t read up close well - and I read this as “Hat trick for Seu Jorge?” and I was so, so confused and so, so excited all at once.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 24d

Highly enjoyed all of this. 👀

Gregory Roche @gregoryroche.bsky.social · 24d

New ep! @mlsist.bsky.social and I unpack the Ally Mackay news and his rumored replacement as CSO of D.C. United.

Come for Pablo's witty cynicism, stay for my unhinged MLSNP rants.

Appreciate @blazindw.bsky.social & @dreyesceron.bsky.social for their reporting.

www.buzzsprout.com/8793/episode...

Ally Mackay is OUT at D.C. United - Pitch Pass

Another day, another change in leadership at D.C. United. Ally Mackay is out as Chief Soccer Officer of DCU and with rumors swirling of a new CSO already in place, it's a good time to reset (again) wh...

www.buzzsprout.com

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 24d

A really worthwhile watch. Cackling right now honestly.

Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 24d

So D.C. United's owners sat down with our local Fox 5 affiliate and for whatever reason, Fox uploaded the entire 15 min interview uncut

I watched the whole thing & will post some highlights I noticed of the entire thing
www.fox5dc.com/video/1708677

first up, the opening they forgot to clip (1/#)

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 24d

Love receiving a text like this from @gregoryroche.bsky.social, seems to happen every time there’s a new DC United shitshow…. So… see y’all on the show tomorrow.

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Reposted by Pablo Maurer

Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 27d

It hasn’t been said publicly but all the DCU SGs have agreed on no more drums, banners and flags (besides Pride tonight) for the rest of the season.

They’re done.

Jason Levien has also been made aware and was told this at the STM Q&A on Thursday night

Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 27d

76 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, perfect evening in Washington DC. Got roped into a DC United game for the first time in nearly two years. There’s nobody here to see it. The state of the supporters end in particular kills me.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 27d

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 29d

Doing some research at the National Soccer HOF archives in North Carolina today and doing my very best to alienate everyone here, too.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · 29d

Again, I never see DC United gear out and about anymore. Just this.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Sep 8

This is also a joke - and has been the attitude of folks in American soccer circles for years. A critical press and fanbase will do much more to grow the game, and the national team, than a bunch of cheerleaders. F**k this “grow the game” narrative that’s been peddled for decades. Face the music.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Sep 8

For someone who hails from a country whose national team has a truly passionate, engaged and sometimes angry fanbase, Pochettino is being extremely fragile when it comes to recent USMNT criticisms. Berhalter, Arena, Klinsmann and others have all faced similar.

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Sep 8

A truly unexpected & hilarious piece of MLS storytelling from @pablo.show on this week’s @thisamericanlife.org. The story of how the Houston Dynamo (possibly) got conned into signing the “Honduran Maradona.” IYKYK. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Watch Out for That Tree

Podcast Episode · This American Life · 09/07/2025 · 1h 6m

podcasts.apple.com

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Sep 7

There's no way around the fact that soccer, in this country, faces a near-century-long deficit in terms of mainstream history. It is going to take a long time, an entire generation maybe, for the "Eurosnobs" to fall away. The league is headed in the right direction, at least bsky.app/profile/ther...

Jeff Zeserson @therealzjz.bsky.social · Sep 7

How can MLS better market itself, if possible, to do a better job of attracting soccer fans in this country who choose to support a random Euro club over the one in their own backyard?

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Pablo Maurer @mlsist.bsky.social · Sep 7

My overall take on MLS: stop trying to be something you're not. You're not a league of choice. MLS is the Dippin' Dots of pro sports - "the ice cream of the future." Just give up. Be the weird, niche ice cream (or sports league) of the now. Also Dippin' Dots is good as hell. bsky.app/profile/ecol...

Colin @ecolin.bsky.social · Sep 7

What is your most optimistic and pessimistic MLS take for the years after the world cup?

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