Football, soccer, whatever you choose to call the game we all love, is a wonderful little piece of magic. People often talk about the “language of the game,” that allows for connections across cultural or actual language barriers. Football, as both a game and a culture, has more similarities to language than just being a way for people to connect and find common ground. It’s shaped by the places where it’s found, the demographics and geography of a region change how the game is expressed. From tactics and techniques on the field to the ways that fans celebrate, commiserate, and just generally show their support.
With AFCON and the Asian Cup both playing their respective finals this weekend after both tournaments were filled with drama and great play, all celebrated by anyone and everyone who watched, that sense of place in the game feels particularly poignant. Those two tournaments cause no small amount of frustration among fans and front offices in Europe as players leave their club teams to compete in the biggest tournaments their home regions have to offer. That unfairly and unfortunately colors the perspective for those who haven’t actually been exposed to two of the best competitions in the game. Maybe they’re not the highest quality or most polished events available, but they are beautifully and unabashedly African and Asian, and they are all the better for it.
That is the joy and power of embracing where you’re from and what that represents. Now that MLS teams are starting to hold their own a bit more in continental competitions, Americans and Canadians have started to embrace all that is Concacaf a little bit more. Jon Arnold’s Get CONCACAFed newsletter has helped those less familiar to celebrate all that deserves to be celebrated about our weird little corner of the world’s game. Our Champions Cup (née League) provides us with delights like one of the continent’s biggest clubs in Tigres making the trek out to Vancouver Island to face the Whitecaps in a 6,000-seat stadium for a humdinger of a 1-1, and Real Estelí claiming their first-ever win against Mexican opponents as they beat Club America 2-1.
Football is made better – really its best – when it’s a true expression of where it’s played. That’s what’s great about clubs embracing their homes. The Seattle Sounders bringing the heritage of the city to the front with kit designs like the Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee kits, or USL 2 teams Ballard FC and West Seattle Junction FC partnering with iconic local companies – Dick’s Drive-In and Easy Street Records – to create identities in the lower leagues of football that are truly Seattle. We’re all our best when we truly embrace who we are, whether that’s as individuals, clubs, communities or confederations.
– Tim
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Did you step away from the computer during the week? Here are our latest stories.
Men's World Cup
Reign
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Sounders
Defiance
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- Tacoma Defiance will play at Starfire in 2024
- Defiance hire Hervé Diese to be next head coach
Looking back at the week's news
Everything else you need to know.
Blue cards aren't happening. The IFAB was going to start testing a blue card with sin bins ala indoor soccer, but the program is being scrapped until more meetings can happen.
Inter Messi's world tour continues to have ripple effects. Busquets is injured; fans in Hong Kong are getting refunds; Argentina is probably losing friendlies. Things went the opposite of well.
Soon-to-be USWNT coach Emma Hayes is a Star Wars fan who wants to end her Chelsea career with a trophy. 'No cash machine in heaven' - Emma Hayes insists she didn't accept lucrative USWNT job for money as outgoing Chelsea boss sets sights on Olympic & World Cup glory
Merritt Mathias is back. She returned to team training at the start of the 2024 preseason, a moment that helped her recall her love for soccer.
CVC, Blackstone, 777 Partners, Silver Lake, Sixth Street Partner, Clearlake Capital, RedBird Capital Partners – they're all private equity groups buying into soccer.
Spokane Zephyr and the USL Super League are going to be considered Division One alongside the NWSL.
Easy Street Records is the front-of-shirt sponsor for West Seattle Junction FC
Former Sounder David Estrada is coaching the New Mexico United academy team now.
MLS is going to pay non-MLS academies for signed talent, if they are part of the MLS-run system.
Get to know LAFC and Chicago Fire ahead of the coming season.
Remember the Men's World Cup announcements using City Stadium for the names of host fields? That's actually what they'll be called by FIFA.
Jürgen Klinsmann-led South Korea lost to Jordan. He's not quitting as South Korea's coach.
Three of the largest media companies want to replace your cable with sports cable.
PSG are looking for a new home.
Tigres fans from all over the continent flew to Victoria, B.C. to watch Tigres draw 1-1 with the Whitecaps.
This study is for the nerds. It's a deep dive into the questions regarding finishing ability and expected Goals. There will be math.
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