Bradley Set With Most Of Lineup
by Paul Kennedy (Preview | Soccer America - May 29)
After many starters sat out Tuesday's friendly against the Czech Republic, look for Coach Bob Bradley to field close to his first team for Saturday's friendly against Turkey in Philadelphia (TV: ESPN2, Galavision, live, 2 pm ET). more details | go to article

Athletica's Demise Another Blow To St. Louis Soccer
by Paul Kennedy (Article | Soccer America - May 28)
The Saint Louis Athletica became the second Women’s Professional Soccer team to fold in four months when its owners closed shop on Thursday. Athletica players, including such U.S. national team stars as Hope Solo, Shannon Boxx and Lori Chalupny, will be available as free agents to other WPS teams as of Tuesday. For now, AC St. Louis, the D-2 Pro League club operated by the same ownership group, remains in business. more details | go to article

World Cup At San Francisco's City Hall
by No Author Listed (Article | Soccer America - May 28)
If the choice is city workers heading home or off to a local bar to watch World Cup or have them view the games in their front yard, the city of San Francisco would prefer the latter. It will be showing games on a 13-by-18-foot video screen at Civic Center Plaza. more details | go to article

Will Soccer Heed Doctor's Orders?
by Paul Gardner (Commentary | Soccer America - May 28)
Just over a week ago I was talking of the refereeing clampdowns that invariably accompany each World Cup, wondering what would be clamped down on this time. more details | go to article

Eyes On Hurting D When USA Faces Turks
by Ridge Mahoney (Preview | Soccer America - May 28)
On a teleconference call Wednesday discussing his World Cup squad selection, U.S. coach Bob Bradley said he'd like to field his projected starting XI, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, against Turkey Saturday (1:30 p.m., ESPN2) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. more details | go to article

Star-Studded World Cup Concert To Air Live
by Julian Quisquater (Article | Soccer America - May 27)
With America's interest in the World Cup at an all-time high, ESPN2 is taking full advantage by broadcasting complete live coverage of the Kick-Off Celebration Concert a day before the tournament begins. The event takes place at the 30,000-seat Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg June 10 (2 pm ET). A highlight presentation of the concert will be shown on ABC during primetime on June 11 at 8 pm. ET/PT. more details | go to article

Obama Will Be Watching ...
by No Author Listed (Profile/Interview | Soccer America - May 27)
A day after the selection of the 23 players who will represent the USA at the World Cup, they headed to the White House for an official sendoff from President Barack Obama. more details | go to article

Lalas Rings The Alarm Bell
by Paul Kennedy (Analysis | Soccer America - May 26)
American voices will be almost entirely absent from ESPN's expansive coverage of the World Cup, but luckily it will have Alexi Lalas. He rang the alarm bell about the U.S. backline. And that was before the game started ... more details | go to article

U.S. Player Ratings
by Ridge Mahoney (Analysis | Soccer America - May 26)
Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players after the USA's 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic in Hartford, Conn. more details | go to article

USA 23: Lots Still Up In The Air
by Ridge Mahoney (Analysis | Soccer America - May 26)
The key issue arising from a 4-2 U.S. loss to the Czech Republic Tuesday night is: which questions have been answered, and which are still unresolved? more details | go to article

Beware Of Youth Soccer Orthodoxy
by Paul Gardner (Commentary | Soccer America - May 26)
I get a lot of enjoyment out of looking at the Cal South Magazine -- it tells me quite a lot about the youth situation in one of our most important regions, and anyway, there are plenty of photos of smiling kids, and that’s always fun. more details | go to article

By The Numbers: Few With World Cup Experience
by Mike Woitalla (Analysis | Soccer America - May 26)
e South Africa-bound U.S. squad is dominated by foreign-based players, but the majority have spent time in MLS. More than two-thirds played college ball, but most of them left school early to go pro. For U.S. World Cup team facts and figures ... more details | go to article

High School Soccer Still Gets Short Shrift
by Mike Woitalla (Commentary | Soccer America - May 26)
Long gone are the days when soccer in the USA existed on the fringes. Its massive popularity among the nation’s youth, among other factors, moved it deep into the American mainstream. So it's easy to forget there are still battles to be won. more details | go to article

Bradley Goes For Some Youth And Lots Of Speed
by Ridge Mahoney (Analysis | Soccer America - May 26)
In perusing comments and reaction to the 23-man World Cup squad chosen by Bob Bradley and announced Tuesday, I’m struck by how much hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing is aimed at how so-and-so can’t possibly stand up to Wayne Rooney, Aaron Lennon, John Terry, Frank Lampard, etc. more details | go to article

Final Audition For U.S. World Cup Hopefuls
by Ridge Mahoney (Preview | Soccer America - May 25)
The decisions faced by U.S. coach Bob Bradley to pick which 23 players will suit up for the friendly Tuesday against Czech Republic (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, Galavision) are shaped by players who are sure to be on the plane for South Africa as well as those likely to be excluded. more details | go to article