U.S. Soccer

  • NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal

    Rishi Sehgal discusses pro/rel, NPSL

    “How do you manage to tweet all day?” Rishi Sehgal, interim commissioner of the NASL, teased. Given the trouble the NASL finds itself in, it was a relief to find Sehgal in a jovial mood as we caught up with him via a phone call. Sehgal had just returned...
  • part ii

    Project 50/50: Part II

    Welcome back to Project 50/50, my quest to find the best city in every single U.S. state for lower-division professional soccer. The idea is to put together a plan for a market that is theoretically Division 3 compliant, so that the city could join either the NISA or USLD3....
  • sunil gulati

    Rumor: Sunil Gulati considering not running for USSF president

    Sunil Gulati is considering not running for the office of U.S. Soccer president in February, according to a source close to the situation. Soc Takes could not independently corroborate the information. The Allahabad-born Gulati has served as president of U.S. Soccer since 2006 and currently also serves on the FIFA...
  • NASL antitrust

    USSF attempted to prevent NASL from future antitrust litigation

    As Soc Takes revealed on Twitter last week, the NASL and USSF were in discussions to facilitate a continuation of the league at the D2 level. This story was independently confirmed by former Empire of Soccer editor-in-chief Dave Martinez and Jeff Rueter. Since then, reports from Michael Lewis of Front Row...
  • USL franchise agreement

    What USL’s franchise agreement tells us

    Any discussion of the NASL vs. USL “soccerwarz” often sets off mad ideological arguments about the the pro soccer leagues and their “independence.” NASL proponents have long conflated the structures of MLS and the USL as one-in-the-same, when in fact they are very different. MLS employs a single-entity model...
  • calendar shift

    Opinion: U.S. Soccer calendar shift necessary, possible

    Following the United States’ failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, several days of robust discussion took place regarding changes that need to be made to the way the sport of soccer is governed and marketed in the United States. Most of the conversations centered on familiar...
  • Soc Takes

    Soc Takes Pod Ep. 34: Paul Lapointe on his candidacy for USSF president

    U.S. Soccer presidential candidate and UPSL Northeast Conference manager Paul Lapointe shares his wide array of ideas to improve the sport across all levels domestically. The panel covers everything from pay to play, pro/rel and equal pay for the USWNT, to making the position of U.S. Soccer president a...
  • calendar shift

    U.S. Soccer board member accused of sleeping by Commisso identified

    Last week, during the NASL’s conference call regarding its antitrust lawsuit against the USSF, New York Cosmos owner and NASL chairman Rocco Commisso accused a member of U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors of falling asleep while he was making his presentation. Donna Shalala was the board member Commisso referred...
  • NPSL owners

    NPSL sends letter of complaint to U.S. Soccer

    The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has sent a letter of complaint to U.S. Soccer about what they perceive as “continued tampering” with NPSL teams. The letter of complaint was sent during the week of September 25th-29th, 2017. The letter is addressed to Lydia Wahlke, legal counsel for the USSF...
  • Tony Meola

    Tony Meola on pro/rel: ‘Build a better mousetrap’

    Some argue it’s necessary for the U.S. to achieve its full soccer potential. Others think Major League Soccer might not even be where it’s at in a different model. Whatever your stance is on the issue of promotion and relegation, it remains perhaps the most divisive topic in American...
  • NASL antitrust

    Listen: NASL holds conference call on antitrust lawsuit

    The NASL held a conference call Thursday afternoon regarding its federal antitrust lawsuit against the USSF. NASL chairman and New York Cosmos owner Rocco B. Commisso, Winston & Strawn LLP co-executive chairman Jeffrey Kessler and NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal were the speakers. Each made opening remarks before taking...
  • Inverted Triangle Neil Morris

    Soc Takes Pod Ep. 32: Neil Morris chats NASL vs. USSF

    Inverted Triangle podcast host and WRAL writer Neil Morris guests on the Soc Takes Pod panel to talk about the NASL’s federal antitrust lawsuit filed against the U.S. Soccer Federation, as well as his background in sports journalism. LISTEN HERE Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to patron-only...