Landon Donovan Has Mind, Game In Sync For World Cup
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 25)
Four years ago, Landon Donovan was in a very different place. Amid high expectations, Donovan wilted, as did his U.S. men's soccer team, which exited the 2006 World Cup without a victory in the first round. more details | go to article

USA Could Have Its Youngest World Cup Team Since 1994
by Kelly Whiteside (Analysis | USA Today - May 25)
U.S. coach Bob Bradley is expected to name his 23-player World Cup roster on Wednesday, a day after his team plays the Czech Republic in the first of three pre-tournament exhibitions. This could be the youngest roster since the U.S.'s 1994 World Cup team in which the average age was 26.1. So does age matter? more details | go to article

USA Hurting At Center Back As World Cup Approaches
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 23)
With three defenders recovering from injury, the center of the USA's defense has become a center of concern. The play of Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit on Tuesday will either ease or intensify the anxiety when the Americans face the Czech Republic in East Hartford, Conn., their first of three exhibitions before the World Cup. more details | go to article

World Cup A 1-Month Ad In US For 'Beautiful Game'
by Nancy Armour (Analysis | USA Today - May 20)
From California to the Carolinas, from soccer aficionados to those who can just about pick David Beckham out in a tabloid photo, the World Cup is generating some serious buzz in the United States. more details | go to article

On U.S. Men's Soccer Team, It's A Family Affair For Bradleys
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 18)
For most, the conditions were miserable as a steady, bone-chilling rain drenched Day 2 of the U.S. team's World Cup practice. But to midfielder Michael Bradley, who's as serious and intense as a storm cloud, it was anything but dreary. more details | go to article

USA Just Fine With Its Underdog Role Heading Into World Cup
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 18)
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has played in the English Premier League for eight years, thinks that while the overseas perception of American soccer has improved, the world's heavyweights "aren't shaking in their boots when they see us." more details | go to article

Plenty Of Options At Forward As U.S. Squad Preps For World Cup
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 16)
As the U.S. men's soccer team begins its World Cup preparations Monday in Princeton, N.J., projected starter Jozy Altidore can't even guess who will be standing alongside him at forward when it ends. more details | go to article

Team USA
by Kelly Whiteside (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 13)
The coach and projected starting 11 (flash presentation with capsule biographies) more details | go to article

Herculez Gomez Ready To Give USA His Best Shot
by Joseph D'Hippolito (Profile/Interview | USA Today - May 12)
In five months, Herculez Gomez has emerged from a state of personal doubt to a place in history — and could find a place on the U.S. World Cup team. more details | go to article

Carragher Comes Out Of England Retirement For Cup
by Rob Harris (Article | USA Today - May 11)
England coach Fabio Capello has persuaded defender Jamie Carragher to come out of international retirement for the World Cup, while center back Ledley King has been selected in the preliminary roster despite chronic knee problems. more details | go to article

What Is MLS' Goal In The CBA Talks?
by Beau Dure (Analysis | USA Today - February 22)
How much confidence does MLS have in its business plan? And how much confidence does it have in itself? Those are two underlying questions as the league barrels into a potential work stoppage this week. more details | go to article

About Christine Brennan: Girls And Women In Sports
by Christine Brennan (Blog Entry | USA Today - February 9)
One of my favorite quotes from the past dozen years in sports comes from the then-10-year-old daughter of quarterback Doug Flutie. While watching a 1999 Gatorade commercial featuring two sports stars, Alexa Flutie turned to her father and asked, "Who's the guy with Mia?" more details | go to article

Red Bulls Holding Job Fair For 500 Part-Time Jobs
by Associated Press (Analysis | USA Today - February 2)
The New York Red Bulls are opening a new soccer arena and are looking to fill about 500 part-time jobs. more details | go to article

High Cost Of Doing Business, U.S. Version
by Beau Dure (Blog Entry | USA Today - January 28)
Here's something that doesn't happen often on the soccer beat: I'm on the phone with WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci, and I get an alert that MLS has a somewhat major development. Fortunately, she understood when I stammered through my next question or two. more details | go to article

Virginia Tops Akron In Penalty Kicks To Win College Cup Title
by Associated Press (Result | USA Today - December 13)
There are pictures of each of Virginia's national championship teams hanging in its locker room, and there's about to be an addition to the wall. more details | go to article