Argentina's friendly versus Puerto Rico on Oct. 13 has been relocated from Chicago to Inter Miami’s stadium.

Ticket sales for the game in Chicago have been disappointing.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Welcome back!

Darlington Nagbe admitted that he "took soccer too seriously," and while he'll miss the competition, he's relieved that he will no longer compete against himself.

"I have a standard that I know I can play. So I always try to match my own standard."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

President Donald Trump revealed his thoughts regarding Bad Bunny's selection as this year's Super Bowl halftime performer.

“I don't know why they're doing it. They blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Inter Miami are in advanced talks to sign left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer.

Reguilon has been a free agent since his contract with Tottenham Hotspur expired in July.

✍️ @paultenorio.bsky.social, Mario Cortegana and more

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Nagbe goes down as an absolute legend of the U.S. game.

I'll miss watching him, though maybe not quite as much as Diego Valeri, who said this of the four-time MLS Cup winner:

"If I ever have grandchildren and they ask about soccer in the United States, I will tell them that I played with him."

Darlington Nagbe decided over the summer that 2025 would be his last season in MLS. He stayed quiet about until today.

Nagbe, and those closest to him, spoke to The Athletic about his decision and the emotional conflicts of his announcement.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Ticket prices for the USMNT's World Cup opener in LA:

– Category 1: $2,735
– Category 2: $1,940
– Category 3: $1,120

Prices for the 2026 World Cup final:

– Category 1: $6,730
– Category 2: $4,210
– Category 3: $2,790

More prices and info here @theathletic.com:

FIFA has deducted three points from South Africa and annulled their World Cup qualifying victory over Lesotho after an investigation found they fielded an ineligible player in the fixture.

More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

POTUS: "If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move into a different city, absolutely. It’s actually a very fair question."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Should Atlanta United call Tata Martino or bet on an uncertain future with Ronny Deila?

I spoke to Martino about the state of his former team.

"Looking at the squad from a distance, you might’ve expected a different outcome for the season.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Son Heung-min records his first MLS hat trick 🎩

I visited Guadalajara to get a sense of the culture and see how the city is preparing for the 2026 World Cup
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

For the first time in 215 years of Mexican history, a woman led the national cry of independence late Monday night: President Claudia Sheinbaum, the first female president in the country’s history. nyti.ms/4mjCqvh

1. We'll know Liga MX is serious about growth when they do a single media rights deal. Until then, this is just tooting their own horn--which is fine. But that's all it is.
2. A merger is one of the dwindling few game-changing opportunities left to improve men's soccer in this country. I back it.

Inject this in my veins. A combined MLS / USL / Liga MX / CPL with Pro-Rel, fewer teams in the top flight, increased interest from press is exactly what we need.

Some eye-catching quotes on this story by @felipecardenas.bsky.social

Finally got a chance to read this. Well worth your time. #LigaMXEng

“You talk to people in Europe about Liga MX, they’re like, ‘This is a sleeping giant.’

How league fixtures in the U.S. and a flood of foreign investment could transform Mexican football after 2026, leaving MLS behind.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Nine months after resigning as head coach of Inter Miami, Tata Martino is available again. He spoke to The Athletic about:

✅ His last conversation with Messi
✅ How MLS success can backfire
✅ On Luis Suarez
✅ Son Heung-min, LAFC
✅ And more...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

🟡 Lost six matches
🟡 Beaten in home qualifier for first time
🟡 Thrashed by Argentina

Brazil only just qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Now head coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a race against time to fix them before the tournament, writes @jacklang.bsky.social.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to play in the United States for the first time in more than a decade.

Atlanta’s 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host a 2026 World Cup tuneup between the #USMNT and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, per multiple sources‬⁩:
www.foxsports.com/stories/socc...

As part of a larger interview out this week, I spoke to Tata Martino about Mauricio Pochettino's troubled start with the USMNT, Christian Pulisic's absences, MLS and more.

Martino: “Coaches are judged by results, not by whether they gave players rest."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...