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Category: Soccer/Union

  • Ryan Richter balances wanting a deep Leagues Cup run for the Union with a packed August

    Ryan Richter balances wanting a deep Leagues Cup run for the Union with a packed August

    The question always comes around when the Union enter the Leagues Cup: How seriously will they take it?

    That moment arrived again Wednesday, as interim manager Ryan Richter prepared for Thursday’s group stage opener against perennial Mexican power Cruz Azul at Subaru Park (8 p.m., FS1, UniMás, TUDN, Apple TV).

    In theory, the tournament is the Union’s shortest path to a trophy this season. Each of the 36 teams in the field — 18 each from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX — plays three from the opposite league in the group phase. A win is worth three points, and there are no draws: Tied games go to penalty kicks, with the winner earning two standings points and the loser earning one.

    There’s then an MLS standings table and a Liga MX table, and the top four in each advance to the quarterfinals. The goal? Avoid matchups within the same league for as long as possible.

    Kai Wagner (right) and the Union last faced Cruz Azul in the 2024 Leagues Cup.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    But while a full run is six games, the Union have another factor to consider. Saturday’s win over Atlanta was the first of eight games this month, three in the Leagues Cup and five in the regular season. The tournament quarterfinals are Aug. 25-27, the semifinals are Sept. 1-2, with the final and third-place game on Sept. 6.

    That is a truckload of action, and it could easily flatten a team that needs every ounce it can muster just to make the playoffs.

    Jay Sugarman is glad ‘the Union spirit’ is back on the field, with Kai Wagner a big part of it

    “For us, we have to take it one game at a time,” Richter said at his pregame news conference Wednesday. “But we’re going to play a strong team against Cruz Azul. So we’re going to go for the win, and then you see the way the tournament’s structured this year: Then we have to go and see what the next game brings, and see exactly how far we can we can go in this tournament.”

    He later added: “We’re approaching this game against Cruz Azul with our first team, and we’ll continue to progress like that through the tournament until it’s maybe not possible. But we plan on going through this tournament with the first team, and hopefully advancing past this round.”

    The Union are coming off a dramatic win over Atlanta United that has the team on a three-game winning streak in MLS play.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    At the same time, he knows the ideal will collide with pragmatism pretty quickly, and lineup rotation will be necessary.

    “Yeah, we have to, that’s clear,” Richter said. “To ask the same group to play in those six games would be really difficult. But I’m totally confident in the players that we have in the squad, and I know there’s a number of positions that we can rotate and we don’t drop our level at all.”

    For Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a life in soccer became ‘a calling’ in quest to be MLS commissioner

    He also said he’s “excited to see the opportunities that present themselves for guys, and what they can earn, and the positions that they can earn with the minutes that come from a congested schedule like this.”

    That pointed toward something that has always been among the Leagues Cup’s biggest benefits for the Union: the chance to give young prospects a taste of the big stage.

    Frankie Westfield is one of the players who could have a big opportunity in the Leagues Cup.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    It’s especially important for young American players who might be able to earn looks from the national team. And since U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino has opened the door as he starts his second term, the Union can once again earn a spotlight: on Cavan and Quinn Sullivan, Frankie Westfield, Neil Pierre, Andrew Rick, and so on.

    Playing against Mexican teams is always valuable experience, even if all of the Union’s Leagues Cup games are at home — though it won’t always sound that way, with all three visitors expected to bring lots of fans.

    Ryan Richter’s courage is rewarded in a stunning late comeback win over Atlanta

    If the Union have some good performances, perhaps that will increase the odds their guys get a call from Pochettino for the September and October friendlies.

    “The intensity and the level of these games, when you play against a team like Cruz Azul, you find out who the real dogs are,” Richter said. “You find out a lot about players in the tough games against good teams, against really difficult opponents, in environments like this that are different. … Who can raise their level, and is up to the level of that game? And the only way you find that out is when they’re in that actual situation.”

  • For Larry Berg, a life in soccer became ‘a calling’ in quest to be MLS commissioner

    For Larry Berg, a life in soccer became ‘a calling’ in quest to be MLS commissioner

    NEW YORK — There are plenty of fun stories to tell about Larry Berg’s Cherry Hill roots, from his lifelong Eagles fandom to playing in New Jersey’s state high school soccer tournament against Peter Vermes’ Delran High in the 1980s.

    But Berg’s introduction as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner on Tuesday wasn’t just a time to tell them. There were other priorities.

    The biggest was finding out his vision for how the league will capitalize on the World Cup — especially when it comes to slashing the phone book’s worth of roster rules.

    As part of Los Angeles FC’s ownership group, Berg has recently been a co-chair of the league’s powerful sporting and competition committee, which means he knows that rule book inside and out. Now he knows which of those rules need to go to make MLS more competitive on the global stage, and thus more attractive to global soccer fans who look down on it.

    From left, longtime MLS commissioner Don Garber, new commissioner Larry Berg, Columbus Crew principal owner Jimmy Haslam, and Los Angeles FC part-owner Bennett Rosenthal at Tuesday’s event.Major League Soccer

    “We’ve accomplished an extraordinary amount over the last three decades, but success can never become an excuse for standing still,” Berg said, still with hints of a Cherry Hill accent after his years out west. “Status quo is not an option.”

    Current comissioner Don Garber said that when he appointed Berg to that committee in 2019, Berg “brought to that role an entirely modern and forward-thinking perspective as to where the product could be on the field.”

    MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    The league has long discussed an overhaul that will free teams to not just spend more money, but have more freedom in how they spend it. The latter is as important as the former, with rosters chopped into so many classifications: Designated Players, Targeted Allocation Money, Under-22 signings, and so on.

    “I didn’t accept this role to protect what we’ve already accomplished — I accepted it because I believe this league is ready for its next chapter,” Berg said. “We’ve come an incredibly long way in a remarkably short period of time, and everyone who has helped build Major League Soccer should be proud of that. But I also believe the opportunity in front of us is even greater than what we’ve accomplished so far.”

    Larry Berg has helped bring Gareth Bale (left) and other superstars to Los Angeles FC over the years.Marcio Jose Sanchez

    There is proof that overhaul is on the way. At Monday’s vote of team owners that elected Berg, Inter Miami’s powerful leader Jorge Mas was seen walking out of the lobby holding a printout of a presentation titled “MLS 3.0.” He was gone before reporters could ask him what was in it, but fans would like to know.

    “The platform is in place, the infrastructure is in place, the opportunity is in front of us,” Berg said. “Now it’s time to pull the right levers, make the right decisions, and build on everything that’s been created. Together, we’ll make the right decisions to elevate our competition, strengthen our clubs, develop more world-class players, and inspire the next generation of supporters.”

    MLS knows it needs to loosen its roster rules to get better. But how far is it willing to go?

    One of Berg’s fellow co-owners at LAFC, Bennett Rosenthal, was a co-chair of the committee that vetted commissioner candidates. He said choosing Berg “puts us in a position, and puts Larry in a position most importantly, to succeed and get consensus to make those changes.”

    Another major headline is that Berg is the first MLS commissioner to have a major soccer background before taking the job. It needs to be said that he’s only the third commissioner in league history: Doug Logan had the job first, from 1996-99, and Garber has had it since. He will stay in the job through the end of this year, then spend 2027 with the new title of chairman.

    Larry Berg (right) with Don Garber at MLS headquarters.Major League Soccer

    Logan worked in sports marketing, in particular around basketball and hockey. Garber came from the NFL, where he had spent 16 years in a variety of roles — the last leading the league’s international business.

    “In Larry, our league has found exactly the leader we need at this time,” Garber said, coincidentally speaking 27 years to the day since his hiring was announced.

    This summer created World Cup fans, but that’s not the same as soccer fans. MLS must bridge the gap.

    “He understands it because he helped build it,” Garber continued. “He knows our clubs and knows our league because he’s experienced it full time, and understands the opportunities and the challenges ahead. … I think your integrity, your ambition, your thoughtfulness, your smarts, your respect that you have for the game, is going to help take this league to where we all want it to go.”

    Berg, 60, has been around soccer since his childhood. He was a fan of the old Philadelphia Atoms back in the day, and has been a devoted traveler to U.S. national team games for decades.

    “I want to take you back to 1974: I was eight years old when my father saw a flyer taped to a telephone pole announcing a brand new youth soccer league in our hometown,” he recalled. “He didn’t know anything about soccer, to be clear, but he thought it looked interesting and signed me up anyway — there were only two teams, so we played the same opponent every weekend. I don’t think either of us could have imagined that one decision would eventually lead me here today.”

    Rosenthal said his committee believed from the start that “we needed somebody who had a passion for the game, and there was nobody who had a bigger passion than Larry. And when we say the word passion, Larry described this role as something he had ‘a calling’ to do.”

    This summer’s World Cup served as the ultimate proof of how big global soccer stars have become in America

    It remains to be seen how much of an impact that actually has. But there surely will be some impact, directly and subtly.

    “I’ve experienced this sport as a player, a fan, an owner, and now with tremendous humility as next commissioner,” Berg said. “The foundation has been built. Now it’s our responsibility to build on it, and that’s what excites me most.”

    Larry Berg with his wife Allison (right), a Philadelphia native.FilmMagic

    Berg specifically noted how important it is for the league to capture the afterglow of this summer’s World Cup, and ensure all the new soccer fans it created come to MLS specifically.

    “Millions of people across North America experienced that passion firsthand: they fell in love with the drama, the atmosphere, the supporter culture, and the emotion that makes soccer unlike anything else,” he said. “That creates an extraordinary opportunity for all of us. The question isn’t whether people are paying attention to soccer — they are. The question is what we do with this moment.”

    Union president Tim McDermott discusses signing ‘bigger name players,’ a Philly stadium, and much more after a World Cup reset
  • U.S. Soccer still isn’t saying much about the ongoing Gianni Infantino FIFA scandal

    U.S. Soccer still isn’t saying much about the ongoing Gianni Infantino FIFA scandal

    NEW YORK — U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson was among the VIPs at Larry Berg’s introduction as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner on Tuesday. After the event, Batson took questions from the media. But that didn’t mean he offered detailed answers to all of them.

    That was particularly true when questions about FIFA president Gianni Infantino came up.

    “As we shared publicly, we supported Concacaf’s statement on Friday with regards to FIFA Forward Enterprises,” Batson said, referring to Infantino’s plan to sell shares in a new FIFA private company — including to Josh Kushner, whose brother’s father-in-law is U.S. President Donald Trump.

    That “support” was a mere one-sentence post on X: “U.S. Soccer stands with Concacaf and its members.” It was attached to Concacaf’s post with its statement that formally “rejected” Infantino’s plan.

    Batson said nothing about Concacaf’s latest statement on Sunday, which said “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative.” Those words hit hard in the soccer world.

    “We have a board meeting in September where, among many topics, one of [them] is thinking about what the best future is for global soccer,” Batson said. “There’s so much more opportunity to grow soccer in more communities around the world, and to do it in a way where those communities are healthier, where they’re more sustainable, and everyone around the world is more connected. We’re looking forward to that discussion, and I don’t anticipate a whole lot of communication ahead of that.”

    Concacaf and UEFA step up attacks on Gianni Infantino, call for a ‘comprehensive reckoning’ with FIFA president

    What happens if the issue is forced with Infantino before then? Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA could call for an extraordinary FIFA Congress to try to overthrow FIFA, and might get Concacaf’s help in doing so.

    The Guardian reported Tuesday morning that all 41 of Concacaf’s member nations sent letters endorsing Infantino’s reelection before the World Cup, but “many are now giving serious con­sideration to withdrawing them.”

    Concacaf president and FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani (top) with FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia, in April.Darryl Dyck

    The report further said U.S. Soccer specifically “is understood to be deeply unhappy with Infantino,” with the backlash over President Trump’s intervention on Folarin Balogun’s red card a key point. But “given the political sensitivities,” the report added, U.S. Soccer “may not feel able to take him on.”

    When Batson was asked if U.S. Soccer wrote such a letter and might withdraw it, he answered: “I haven’t seen that story, so it’s hard for me to comment on it.”

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandons plans to sell World Cup profits to private equity

    He was also asked whether U.S. Soccer would back Concacaf president Victor Montagliani if he runs against Infantino, which looks increasingly possible. Batson didn’t answer that question directly.

    Current MLS commissioner Don Garber was asked his opinion of it all, not just as the MLS’ leader but as a member of U.S. Soccer’s board.

    MLS commissioner Don Garber at last year’s Club World Cup final.Pamela Smith

    “I’m going to wait for JT and Cindy [Cone, U.S. Soccer’s president], who I have a lot of faith in, and see what they want or don’t want to do,” he said. “But I haven’t spent any time thinking about it. I’m still reveling in the beauty and joy of the World Cup, disappointed that there’s negativity, but this is an issue that’s going to have to be addressed — but it’s going to be addressed by others.”

    Garber spent plenty of time in Infantino’s orbit leading up to this summer, including when three MLS teams played in last summer’s Club World Cup. But he claimed he had no inside knowledge of Infantino’s privatization plan.

    Former U.S. Soccer president quits role as top adviser to FIFA boss amid World Cup scandal

    “I found out when everybody else did by reading it on social media,” he said. “And I’ve been focused on today, and our Leagues Cup which starts [this week]. I have no information, and probably no more or no less than anybody else in the world.”

    Batson on Pochettino’s return

    The mood was different when it came to Mauricio Pochettino’s new deal for a second term as the U.S. men’s soccer team’s manager.

    Mauricio Pochettino (left) with JT Batson during the U.S. men’s team’s pre-World Cup training camp.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Contract talks started well before the World Cup, as Batson acknowledged when the U.S. team’s World Cup training camp kicked off in late May. An extension offer was put on the table back then, but both sides agreed to wait to see how the tournament played out.

    After the Americans were eliminated in the quarterfinals on July 6, both sides took a breather for a bit. But once they started talking again, it didn’t take long for a deal to get done.

    Mauricio Pochettino stays on as USMNT manager, and promises things won’t stay the same

    “We’re super excited that Mauricio and his staff are joining us for this next project,” Batson said. “We signed the contract Sunday, we announced it Monday, and at 7 a.m. this morning Eastern time, I was on with Mauricio, and Jesús [Pérez, Pochettino’s top assistant], and Dan [Helfrich, U.S. Soccer’s chief operating officer], about all the planning and everything around the next steps. They’re pumped, we’re excited, and we’re ready to get going.”

    Batson confirmed an ESPN report that there are “mutual protections” in Pochettino’s deal, which runs through the 2030 World Cup, in case he doesn’t see it all the way out.

    Mauricio Pochettino (center) has agreed a new deal to stay on as the U.S. men’s soccer team’s manager through the 2030 World Cup.Jonathan Tannenwald

    That is an unusual phrase, certainly not as simple as “a buyout.” But it feels like an implicit acknowledgment that European clubs might pursue Pochettino, and that the summer of 2028 might be a natural separation point if the circumstances are right — especially if the U.S. plays in the 2028 Copa América with South American teams.

    “Of course there are protections for both sides in this,” Batson said. “They were incredibly thoughtful, it was very straightforward, and we’re excited for the next four years.”

    Here’s how Mauricio Pochettino will start his second term with the USMNT

    Asked to put a dollar figure on it, Batson only said “it’s material.”

    If Pochettino does leave in the summer of ‘28, Steve Cherundolo would have an easy move over from the Olympic squad — mostly an under-23 age group — to the senior team.

    Steve Cherundolo played for the U.S. national team for many years, and was Los Angeles FC’s manager from 2022-25.Michael Wyke / AP

    But Batson believes Pochettino might stay for the whole term.

    “I know from the moment we announced Mauricio, there were lots of folks skeptical that they actually were committed, and that they cared about soccer in this country, and they wanted to do all the things necessary to make us successful as a men’s national team, but more broadly as U.S. Soccer,” Batson said. “I’m incredibly excited that folks now are getting — obviously this summer, they got to see — the Mauricio and staff that we all knew, and of course now we’re seeing with their very long-term commitment to U.S. Soccer.”

  • Here’s how Mauricio Pochettino will start his second term with the USMNT

    Here’s how Mauricio Pochettino will start his second term with the USMNT

    The long road to the 2030 men’s World Cup, and Mauricio Pochettino’s second term as U.S. men’s soccer team manager, will kick off in late September.

    FIFA this year combined the September and October windows into one long stretch in which teams can play up to four games. The U.S. will play all four, against a combination of familiar regional rivals and visitors from South America.

    Up first will be Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando. Then it’s off to the Midwest to face Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis. Both of those games will be played at the local MLS stadiums.

    Next up will be a renewal of the U.S. team’s most famous rivalry, against Mexico, on Oct. 3 in Glendale, Ariz. That gets an NFL stadium stage for the 80th edition of the matchup, and the first since last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup final.

    Mexico beat the U.S. in last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup final.Ashley Landis

    Because the nations cohosted this summer’s World Cup, they didn’t have to qualify. That meant there were none of what are usually the best clashes, on each team’s home turf in World Cup qualifying. And they might not return, because the World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams means Concacaf’s qualifying groups are spread out.

    So we will be left with friendlies and hopes for meetings in the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League, which officially are neutral-site games, even though they’re always in the United States.

    Mauricio Pochettino stays on as USMNT manager, and promises things won’t stay the same

    The last game of the slate will be against Canada on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn. That will give the U.S. a chance to renew acquaintances with an old friend, the Canucks’ Wisconsin-born manager Jesse Marsch. The Princeton alumnus undoubtedly will relish that, as he so often relishes tossing barbs across the border at a U.S. program that spurned him when it first hired Pochettino.

    Who will play in the games is an interesting prospect. Though the stars from the World Cup teams might sell tickets, many fans hope to see a new era of younger players get a shot. Potential call-ups include the Union’s Cavan and Quinn Sullivan, Frankie Westfield, and Neil Pierre; Red Bull New York’s Adri Mehmeti and Julian Hall; and Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo.

    Cavan Sullivan played for the United States at last year’s under-17 World Cup. He could get a shot with the senior squad this fall.Chris Ricco

    It’s notable that MLS is playing a full round of games during the FIFA window, on Sept. 26 and 27. We’ll see how that affects Pochettino’s selections, and if he can get all the MLS-based players players he wants. (Europe’s leagues will be off.)

    Keep an eye on goalkeeper, too. One of the U.S. pool’s top prospects, Diego Kochen, went on loan from Spanish superpower Barcelona to Denmark’s Lyngby — a team part-owned by the Union — for the upcoming European season.

    Though none of the venues are near Philadelphia, they might at least make a nice quick escape for fans looking for a trip. Presales for U.S. Soccer members start Wednesday, and sales to the general public start Friday.

    Brenden Aaronson looks back at the World Cup, and ahead to his future with the USMNT and Leeds United

    After the September-October window, the U.S. will enter the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League in the November window. That will be a home-and-away quarterfinal series, and the opponent will be determined by first-round contests during that September/October window. The top four teams in the region got a bye to the quarters: the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Panama.

    The 2027 final four will be played in its usual window, next March, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

    SoFi Stadium hosted two of the United States’ group stage games at this summer’s World Cup.Jonathan Tannenwald

    USMNT schedule (all times Philadelphia time)

    Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Peru at Inter.co Stadium, Orlando, 4:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

    Tuesday, Sept. 29: vs. Chile at Energizer Park, St. Louis, 8 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

    Saturday, Oct. 3: vs. Mexico at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 10 p.m. (TNT, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

    Tuesday, Oct. 6: vs. Canada at Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn., 8 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

  • Jay Sugarman is glad ‘the Union spirit’ is back on the field, with Kai Wagner a big part of it

    Jay Sugarman is glad ‘the Union spirit’ is back on the field, with Kai Wagner a big part of it

    NEW YORK — After a rough first half of the season, Union principal owner Jay Sugarman finally has some reasons to be in a good mood.

    Though there’s still a ways to go before the club is fully back, the current three-game winning streak has lifted everyone’s spirits at Subaru Park. Saturday’s wild comeback win over Atlanta United was the latest chapter, with the tying and winning goals toward the end of eight minutes of second-half stoppage time.

    “I have to say, that spirit, it’s really the Union spirit,” Sugarman told The Inquirer as he left the meeting where Cherry Hill native Larry Berg was elected MLS’s new commissioner. “You can feel it: the guys, they’re not giving up. They want to fight to the end, and that makes me really happy.”

    You can count the reasons why, including a new-manager bounce from Bradley Carnell’s dismissal and Ryan Richter’s promotion during the World Cup break. But it’s clear that Kai Wagner’s return at left back is likely the biggest factor.

    He has created 14 scoring chances in three games so far, and officially notched three assists. It would be four if his cross for Milan Iloski’s opener Saturday hadn’t taken a deflection along the way.

    For as much as Wagner wanted to return to Philadelphia, Sugarman had to get out his checkbook to seal the deal with Birmingham City. The Union paid a $4 million transfer fee, one of the biggest in their history (though not huge by current MLS standards).

    MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    But it’s certainly been worth the money so far. Wagner and his family are happy to be back, and one of the best left backs in MLS history looks like he didn’t miss a beat.

    “Kai checked so many boxes for us,” Sugarman said. “I always thought he was an incredibly valuable piece, and I think that was the piece we didn’t expect to lose. And so, say what you will about all the other decisions we made, but that was the one that was involuntary, and it had repercussions that were way beyond what we could have expected.”

    Union defender Kai Wagner has brought a spark to the team’s efforts to ascend the standings. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    He knows what fans’ responses will be to that. Some might have expected it given all the offseasons when Wagner wanted to leave; and it could have been expected that the Union would suffer a lot in losing him.

    There are other left backs in the world, though. Perhaps if the one the Union signed, Philippe Ndinga, had been better, there wouldn’t have been so much pining for what was lost.

    Ryan Richter’s courage is rewarded with a stunning late comeback win for the Union

    Sugarman knows this, because it can happen to any soccer team when a new player isn’t as good as the prior one. He also knows he might have to leave the checkbook open. But he has said often over the years that if the right move comes along, he’ll pay for it, and he did here.

    “So I was like, if you can get him back, get him back,” he said. “We paid up for him, but he’s been proven both here and there to be a difference-maker. And he’s been a difference-maker already.”

  • MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    MLS’s new commissioner will be Cherry Hill native Larry Berg, a LAFC part-owner

    NEW YORK – Larry Berg, a member of Los Angeles FC’s ownership group with roots in Cherry Hill, has been elected as the new commissioner of Major League Soccer.

    He will officially take the reins on Jan. 1, with current commissioner Don Garber keeping the job until then. Garber will then take the role of chairman.

    “Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead,” Berg said in a statement. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer’s place in the global game. Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next.”

    A formal news conference will take place Tuesday at the league’s Manhattan headquarters. Monday’s vote took place there, with representatives of all 30 teams’ ownership groups.

    Larry Berg poses for a photo at MLS headquarters after being elected as the league’s new commissioner.Major League Soccer

    “Having worked closely with Larry over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the qualities that make him an exceptional leader, and I have complete confidence he is the right person to serve as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner,” Garber said. “His integrity, judgment, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to building LAFC and the league have made him an invaluable partner. I look forward to working alongside Larry during this transition and supporting him as he leads MLS into its next chapter.”

    Berg, 60, has been part of LAFC’s ownership group since the team launched in 2018. He will be just the league’s third commissioner since it launched in 1996. Doug Logan had the job from 1995-99, and Garber has had it ever since.

    This summer created World Cup fans, but that’s not the same as soccer fans. MLS must bridge the gap.

    Berg topped David Nathanson, a former Fox Sports executive with ownership stakes in teams including the Seattle Sounders, NWSL’s Angel City FC, and NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

    Those were the only two candidates, and just one other was known to have been in the race: veteran San Francisco 49ers and Leeds United executive Paraag Marathe. He took himself out in mid-July.

    Don Garber has been MLS commissioner since 1999.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Berg has recently been co-chair of MLS’s powerful sporting and competition committee. That group is in charge of setting the league’s roster rules, including a long-anticipated overhaul to push the pace harder in the global game. That overhaul seems close to arriving, and no doubt Berg will be a leading figure in presenting it to the public.

    He also has quite a few ties to the Philadelphia area. He’s a Cherry Hill native who played soccer at Cherry Hill East High, and attended Penn’s Wharton business school. He’s a Philadelphia sports fan, from the Eagles to soccer’s Atoms back in the day, and his wife is from the city.

    This summer’s World Cup served as the ultimate proof of how big global soccer stars have become in America

    Berg’s career away from soccer has been in the investment world. He knows 76ers lead owner Josh Harris well, having worked at Apollo Global Capital and Harris’ newer 26 North investment firm.

    Of course, Berg’s fandom hasn’t extended to the local MLS team here, but that’s no surprise. He has helped build LAFC’s juggernaut, with a history of stars and a 2022 MLS Cup title at the Union’s expense.

    Now everyone will see if his business acumen with a club can translate to the overall league.

    Larry Berg (left) with his wife Allison, a Philadelphia native.FilmMagic

    Nathanson spent many years in the media world. His biggest feat was helping Fox land World Cup broadcast rights starting in 2015, after ESPN had held them for decades. He was also involved in deals for Concacaf tournaments and other soccer properties. After leaving Fox in 2017, Nathanson became an investor in a wide variety of areas, including sports teams.

    Coincidentally, he also has ties to Philadelphia as a Penn alum, and is a regular visitor to the city. His top selling point as a candidate is having TV rights experience, with MLS already starting to look for its next round of big deals. The all-in-one Apple package will end in 2029, and Fox’s small package of linear broadcasts expires after this year.

    Nathanson declined to comment when approached, but he no doubt will be heard from in other ways in the sport.

    Union president Tim McDermott discusses signing ‘bigger name players,’ a Philly stadium, and much more after a World Cup reset

    Union principal owner Jay Sugarman told The Inquirer he was pleased with Berg’s victory.

    “We had two very impressive candidates, and both of them had clear plans on how to build on Don Garber’s legacy, which gives us a lot of excitement for the future,” Sugarman said. “I think Larry understands this league inside and out, and I’m excited to move forward with him.”

  • Mauricio Pochettino stays on as USMNT manager, and promises things won’t stay the same

    Mauricio Pochettino stays on as USMNT manager, and promises things won’t stay the same

    Mauricio Pochettino has signed a new contract to remain the U.S. men’s soccer team’s manager through the 2030 World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced Monday morning.

    “I really believe that this is an exciting situation and moment for soccer in the USA,” Pochettino said in a roundtable talk with The Inquirer and other media outlets. ”After 18, 19 months working with the objective that was only the World Cup, now [the goal is] to start in a fresh way with a different approach, trying to create a different philosophy, different idea of what we need to do.”

    U.S. Soccer initiated talks on a new deal in late spring, with the understanding on both sides that it would be contingent on success in the summer. After the tournament, both sides took a few weeks, then returned to the table and finished the deal.

    “They really believed in us before the start of the World Cup,” Pochettino said, “and that, I think, is another positive point for us.”

    Mauricio Pochettino (center) talking with players and staff after the U.S.’ loss to Belgium that knocked them out of the World Cup.Nick Didlick

    The 54-year-old Argentine arrived in late 2024, hired through this year’s World Cup. He accomplished most of what he had set out to achieve, raising standards for players by challenging the big stars to shake off their past complacency.

    When the biggest moment came, Pochettino oversaw the first U.S. men’s team to win two group games at a World Cup since 1930, and the first knockout-round win since 2002. That led to an unprecedented wave of fan support across the country, and Pochettino seemed to be genuinely inspired by it.

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    “The magic thing that happened during the World Cup, in the connection with the people, of course with the whole organization and everything, was a key point to make that decision” to return, he said.

    But a blowout loss in the round of 16 meant he wasn’t able to take the program any farther than it had gone before.

    Mauricio Pochettino applauding the fans after the Belgium game.Abbie Parr

    Pochettino said Monday that he believes “that gap with the best teams the world is not too big. I think if we will be capable to do things in a different way, to reduce that gap, I think it’s possible.”

    The distance includes some of the hardest yards to cover in the sport. So there were serious questions to ask. And to his credit, he answered them pretty directly.

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    Will he last all four years?

    The first question was how much change Pochettino wants to enact, especially with a new generation of young players ready for a shot at the senior squad. He said he is ready for quite a bit.

    “I don’t want to think, and that you believe, that it is a continuity of the last 18 months or 19 months that we were working there‚” he said. “The good thing is that we have the experience and the knowledge about the players that were working with us. And of course, now [we] open the pool to bring, players that were playing in the last year or now they are playing more in MLS, but also for players that maybe we didn’t have time to assess during that process that was a very compact and very short period.”

    Quinn Sullivan (second from right) is one of many young players with Union ties whom Mauricio Pochettino has called up so far. Cavan Sullivan could easily be on the radar for the next four years.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Pochettino added: “It’s going to be key, it’s going to be important, to provide the young kids that we really believe have the potential to arrive in 2030, in four years, to start to work. And to start to know [them], and set up the principle that we expect from them.”

    Another big question, one that a lot of fans have in particular: Will Pochettino actually stay here for the duration of his deal? If he continues to do well here, European clubs will no doubt continue to call. It was no secret before and during the World Cup that there was interest, and he was looking.

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    “For us, every time that we sign a contract, it’s to go to the last day of the contract,” he said. “If now we sign a four-year contract, we need to think to arrive there. And we signed the contract because we really believe that we are going to be four years there.”

    But he also acknowledged the obvious: “Nothing is sure — in life, but it’s less in fútbol.”

    “Four years’ time is a really long period,” he said. “You never know what can happen in soccer. Today, people really love you, but in X time maybe that feeling changes.”

    Maurio Pochettino (right) giving instructions to former Union defenders Auston Trusty (left) and Mark McKenzie at a practice during the World Cup.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Will he make the U.S. his home?

    Another big question is how much time Pochettino and his staff, all of which is also returning, will spend in the United States vs. Europe. They were all based in the latter for the first term, usually only crossing the Atlantic for national team game windows.

    He isn’t alone on that count, to be sure. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has reached two straight World Cup finals with a home base in Spain, and Canada manager Jesse Marsch doesn’t live full-time in that country.

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    But there are some optics in the U.S. that aren’t the same in other countries.

    This summer’s long-term impact on growing soccer’s fan base here is still to be seen. The NFL and NBA will no doubt take back their pieces of the spotlight in the coming months (we’ll see about baseball’s piece if there’s a work stoppage), so a U.S. coach might have to do more publicity work than was needed heading into a tournament on home turf.

    Mauricio Pochettino and his longtime top assistant Jesús Pérez (left).Jonathan Tannenwald

    There are also the practical benefits of the senior national team manager spending more time at the national training center in suburban Atlanta, where many youth national team coaches and backroom staff are based.

    Put it all together, and it would be nice to see Pochettino and his staff be public presences at more MLS games, and at some of the big youth clubs and events around the country.

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    “Now [that] we finish with the negotiation and the agreement, I will consider it to move to the USA, of course, because that process is four years,” Pochettino said. “I think I have no problem, and all the coaching staff, we don’t have any problem to move to the USA.”

    That felt significant to hear.

    Toni Jiménez (right) is the goalkeeper coach in Mauricio Pochettino’s dedicated group of assistants.Jonathan Tannenwald

    And one for the bosses

    The last big question goes to U.S. Soccer’s leadership — including the big-money private equity donors who are once again paying Pochettino’s salary. By rehiring him, they are sending an implicit signal that he is better than any American candidate. Do they actually believe that?

    None of the top brass were made available to take questions from the media before Monday’s announcement. There were only statements from president Cindy Cone and CEO JT Batson. (Nor have they said anything about the scandal around FIFA president Gianni Infantino, despite repeated requests for comment.)

    “Mauricio has built a culture where players trust the group, trust the process and trust each other,” Cone said. “That culture, and the staff who helped build it, are exactly what we want to continue investing in for the men’s national team now and for the future. We are also excited about the experience and perspective Mauricio and his staff can bring across U.S. Soccer as we strengthen our pathways and seek to impact the broader soccer landscape in the United States.”

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    Batson said: “We know we have a lot of work to do to achieve our clear ambitions, including competing to win men’s World Cups and having soccer become the most played sport in every community.” And he was pretty clear that he believes Pochettino is the person for the job.

    “I couldn’t be more excited that Mauricio and team are committed to partnering with all of us to do the hard work to bring those ambitions to life,” he said.

    Mauricio Pochettino (left) speaks with JT Batson during the U.S. men’s team’s pre-World Cup training camp at the national training center in May.Jonathan Tannenwald
  • Rob Mac and Wrexham fans take over Subaru Park: ‘It’s just Philly but across the world’

    Rob Mac and Wrexham fans take over Subaru Park: ‘It’s just Philly but across the world’

    Subaru Park looked a tad different on Sunday morning. The navy blue, gold, and signal blue jerseys that would typically decorate the Union’s stadium were replaced by pools of red and white jerseys as it became a temporary home to Wrexham A.F.C.

    The football club based in Wrexham, Wales, finished its three-game United States tour in Chester, with a preseason friendly against Sunderland.

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    Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo grabs a corner kick by Sunderland on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    The gang takes on Pongadelphia

    With one large pong cup remaining, the Always Sunny star Rob Mac, a Philly native and co-owner of Wrexham alongside Ryan Reynolds, grabbed a soccer ball, lined up his shot, let it go — and missed.

    “Right on line,” Mac said. “ I mean that was right on line.”

    Ahead of the game, Mac joined former Wrexham players Ben Tozer and Ben Foster on Team Wrexham Lager for Pongadelphia, a large beer pong game that was a nod to the Always Sunny Flipadelphia, competing against Team Garage Beer, which featured Eagles kicker Jake Elliott, Jim Cramer, and Fit Dad CEO.

    Surrounded by dozens of Wrexham fans, Team Wrexham Lager took the lead early and never looked back — the same couldn’t be said about Wrexham A.F.C., who suffered a 1-0 loss to Sunderland.

    But no matter the result, Sunday’s game was a full-circle moment for Mac, who took over the team in 2021. Before the game started, a prerecorded message was displayed on the jumbotron to all the fans in attendance.

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    “I got into football … it was when I first heard the opening song from the Sunderland ‘Til I Die docuseries,” Mac said. “When I heard it, I immediately thought of my grandfather who worked over at the shipyards, just over there.

    “And just like the shipyard workers and Sunderland, were the coalminers of Wrexham, were the construction workers who built Liberty Place and the Ben Franklin Bridge. What I love so much about this game is that you can be Sunderland, Wrexham, or Philly, or any working-class town in the entire world and still discover that same connection to each other through a game that mirrors our biggest ups and downs.”

    A passionate fanbase that travels

    Passionate. Caring. Friendly. Amazing. Family.

    These were the words used to describe Wrexham’s fanbase. And all of that was on display Sunday. Wrexham fans traveled from New York, Pittsburgh — and even as far as Okinawa, Japan — to watch the team in action.

    Tessa Michael, 46, joined the team on their three-game tour, flying from Japan to Tampa to New York to Pennsylvania to watch the team.

    “Like most American fans I got into it from watching Welcome to Wrexham,” Michael said. “Now, I’ve been out on every summer tour. I’ve been out to Wrexham. This is my second one now where I’ve done all three games.”

    Tessa Michael, 46, (second from right), of Okinawa, Japan, watches “Pongadelphia,” an oversized beer pong game before the Wrexham and Sunderland match.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    After watching Welcome to Wrexham, a documentary following the club, which was released in 2022, she instantly fell in love with the fanbase.

    “Honestly it’s the people,” Michael said. “It’s the people of the town. They have great stories. They’re just like any town in America. You go to any sports town in Pennsylvania, in Florida, in Virginia or even out West, anywhere, they have the same struggles. They’ve dealt with the same things. They’re very relatable and the town is what keeps you a Wrexham fan.”

    To Rob Mac, the devout Eagles fan, there’s only one ‘football.’ To the rest of us, it’s called soccer.

    Michael has tried to bring the Wrexham fandom with her to Japan, her home for the last two years, but she’s found it to be more difficult with games airing between 11 p.m. and midnight — something she doesn’t seem to have an issue with.

    “I’m staying up and watching them,” Michael said.

    Wrexham to Philly crossover

    The Welcome to Wrexham documentary led to many new eyes on the team — making them one of the most popular teams in the English Football League, famously owned by both Mac and Reynolds.

    “It definitely helped this team,” said 31-year-old Chester native Evan Voicheck. “When you have two people that have an insane amount of money that are willing to put it into something they care about, then it helps.”

    Voicheck, who wore a Wrexham scarf, two red-and-white chains, and the Wrexham mascot around his neck, also became a fan through the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.

    The fanbase is so passionate, it reminds him of Philly sports fans.

    A Union and Wrexham fan shows their support during the Wrexham vs. Sunderland match on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    “Just like us in Philly,” Voicheck said. “Wrexham, from what I’ve seen, it’s just Philly but across the world. It’s like a family. Everybody here knows each other. And if they don’t, then they will at the end of the day.”

    Although Voicheck made the comparison to Philly sports fans, Buffalo native John Kania, 49, compared them to the Bills.

    “Being from Buffalo, we’re very similar to what Wrexham is,” Kania said. “It’s a small — used to be a much bigger city, and just kind of went down in the drain. We have the Bills, like Wrexham has their football team. There’s a natural connection there.”

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    However, there is one glaring difference between Wrexham fans and American football fans.

    “Everyone here is so friendly and nice,” said Chad Bemiller, of Derry, Pa. “It’s almost like a college football atmosphere here. Everyone is happy here and I don’t think we have that here with the NFL.”

    Rob Mac and his wife, actress Kaitlin Olson (center), watch the match between Wrexham vs. Sunderland on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Wrexham will start the season against Cardiff City on Aug. 17, as they prepare to make another push for the Premier League. And 14-year-old Logan Bemiller, who went to a Wrexham soccer camp in Long Island last year, has high hopes.

    “I think we can get a promotion,” Logan said.

  • Ryan Richter’s courage is rewarded with a stunning late comeback win for the Union

    Ryan Richter’s courage is rewarded with a stunning late comeback win for the Union

    It felt almost strange to have a game with some stakes in it at Subaru Park for the first time in a while. But the Union’s two-game winning streak coming into Saturday night gave Atlanta United’s visit the shine of a must-win contest.

    They’re all must-win in theory, of course, if the Union want to mount a charge toward the playoffs. Still, it mattered that Atlanta specifically was the visitor this time: the team the hosts climbed over last weekend to finally get out of the basement.

    For 95 minutes, it seemed the Union were going to not just lose, but lose badly. They’d been a man up since the 26th minute, yet Atlanta scored far-too-easy goals in the 30th and 66th.

    Even after Milan Iloski’s terrific backheeled flick in the 73rd cut the deficit, there were so many more heaves into the box that had no end product against the visitors’ massed defense. It was bad enough that Bruno Damiani only had one shot in his 71 minutes, but it was far worse that he didn’t even contest some of those crosses — the kind of play that’s supposed to be his bread and butter.

    Bruno Damini laments one of the Union’s many missed opportunities before their late comeback.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    There was, though, one reason to wonder if the Union might be capable of a comeback. Damiani’s departure came as part of not just a double-substitution, but a major tactical change by interim manager Ryan Richter. He gambled on switching from the usual 4-2-2-2 to a 3-4-1-2, withdrawing Nathan Harriel and leaving 18-year-old Neil Pierre as the only true centerback — flanked by outside backs Kai Wagner and Frankie Westfield.

    Players win and lose games more than anyone else, especially in soccer with its limited substitutions. But this time, coaching had a genuine impact. The wave of attacks finally broke Atlanta down, as Pierre jumped for the equalizer in the 86th and Ezekiel Alladoh volleyed in the winner 80 seconds later.

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    For once, Subaru Park was stunned in a good way. And Richter had made a point to people wondering if he should have the job long-term.

    “In these games — to me at least — home games in MLS, you have to go for the win,” he said. “It’s not satisfying to go for the tie. One point at home is not enough to make the push that you want throughout a season. So, in all these whenever we’re in this situation, it’s us trying to go for the win.”

    One part Richter wouldn’t say, understandably: assume Bradley Carnell wouldn’t have done it. Maybe a lot of managers wouldn’t have. But the point about Carnell needs to be made, because the Union’s bad record wasn’t the only reason to fire him. His stubbornness mattered too.

    When Richter was given the job, fans rightly wanted to know if he’d be as rigid. The initial hints were he might not go entirely as far, but was pretty committed, along with sporting director Jon Scheer.

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    Then Saturday happened. If the Union had lost, you’d be reading here about how the shine was off now. A little of it is anyway, because this game re-exposed this roster’s flaws despite the final score.

    For now, though, a win is a win. The celebrations on the field and in the stands were the real thing.

    “It’s a risk because you’re just basically saying you’re going to deal with one-v-one situations for the rest of the game,” the manager said. “You’re going to sometimes deal with a two-v-one situation where it’s a direct ball, and if you don’t win the header, it’s trouble. But also, just from a physical perspective, if you want to put someone there, it’s Neil when it’s a direct ball out, or it’s a situation where it’s a one-v-one that he has to win — you trust his physicality in all those moments.”

    But Richter was willing to try, and he was rewarded.

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    “It’s also taking a chance, that part is clear,” he said. “It’s taking a chance to try to go for the goal, and maybe it goes the other way, but it’s a risk that we have to take, because we needed to make that push at the end.”

    Wagner, who’s now playing for his third manager at Subaru Park, knew what it meant.

    “If I would be honest, this guy has some balls,” he said. “It showed a lot of character from him.”

    Union manager Ryan Richter watches the action in the second half at Subaru Park on Saturday.
    Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    It also matters a lot that Alladoh finally scored his first goal in a MLS game, after 16 league appearances without one. The only previous tally for the Union’s most expensive all-time signing came in the Concacaf Champions Cup rout of Trinidad’s Defence Force.

    “I mean, what a goal to score, what a moment to score it,” Richter said. “I think he can put himself in position to probably get easier goals than that. Happy for him, proud of him, and hopefully he takes a lot of confidence from this going forward, and shows a little bit of the talent that he has and what he can do to contribute to this team.”

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    The 20-year-old striker has been a man of few words throughout his time in Chester, and was again Saturday.

    “The feeling in that moment was happiness, because it was my first [league] goal,” he said.

    But Wagner had a lot to say, and it was clear he was speaking on behalf of many players.

    “It’s hard for a striker to come as the record [signing] — you come in, you have a lot of pressure on your mind already,” he said. “It’s hard to come to a new country. It’s always hard to adapt so fast … I hope that’s a door-opener for him.”

    When Alladoh was told of those remarks, he gave thanks.

    “That means so much for me, because I think everybody believes in me,” he said. “They know what I can do.”

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    The Union still have a long way to go in the standings. Saturday’s results put them 13th in the Eastern Conference (4-10-4, 16 points), seven points back of ninth-place D.C. United for the last playoff spot. It will be a while before that changes, because the scene now shifts to three straight games in the Leagues Cup group stage.

    But a three-game winning streak is grounds for a moment of optimism. Especially after a night when, for so long, it seemed like there was only going to be frustration.

  • Heroics from Neil Pierre and Ezekiel Alladoh vs. Atlanta United keep Union’s winning streak alive

    Heroics from Neil Pierre and Ezekiel Alladoh vs. Atlanta United keep Union’s winning streak alive

    The Union secured a 3-2 win over 10-man Atlanta United behind stoppage-time goals from Neil Pierre and Ezekiel Alladoh.

    Pierre scored in the 96th minute to bring the Union level, and Alladoh scored in the 97th to complete a stunning comeback.

    Atlanta played at a man disadvantage for more than an hour after Enea Mihaj was shown off for a dangerous challenge on Milan Iloski in the 27th minute.

    Miguel Almirón and Tristan Muyumba netted shorthanded goals to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage by the 66th minute.

    Milan Iloski scored the Union’s first goal in the 73rd before Pierre evened it and Alladoh scored the winner.

    The improbable victory is the third-straight win for the Union (4-10-4, 16 points), who are undefeated since returning from the international break for the FIFA World Cup.

    “That was the mentality,” Union interim manager Ryan Richter said. “That was the clear target for the game. Not come back and tie; get three points out of this. It was pretty cool the way that the guys pushed all the way through.”

    Mihaj was shown a red card in the 27th minute after sliding into a late challenge near midfield. Mihaj’s cleat scraped against the leg of Iloski, which led referee Allen Chapman to show the center back red without warning and sent last-place Atlanta (3-12-3, 12 points) down to 10 men.

    Despite going down a man, Almirón gave Atlanta the lead in the 30th. Fafà Picault lofted a ball for Almirón, who squeezed past Pierre and Frankie Westfield to get through on goal.

    Almirón finished the chance through a last-ditch tackle from Pierre, beating Andre Blake with a slow-rolling shot to his left and giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead.

    Iloski also was cautioned in the physical first half. The Union’s leading goal-scorer was shown yellow in the 28th for a tackle on Almirón.

    The two sides combined for 13 fouls and three cards in the first half, including Atlanta’s bench being shown yellow in the seventh minute for dissent.

    Pierre nearly brought the Union level with a header from a corner in the 43rd minute, but his attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back into play.

    Westfield also hit the woodwork with a shot from a corner in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Westfield’s shot was the final first-half chance for the Union, who went into the break up a man but down a goal.

    Both managers kept their sides the same to start the second half, which began with a prolonged period of control for the Union. The Union launched three shots from four corners in the first five minutes of the second half but could not break through.

    Nathan Harriel was shown yellow in the 53rd minute for a tactical challenge on Almirón, who was running past Harriel on a counterattack.

    Ryan Richter made his first set of changes in the 56th minute, bringing on Quinn Sullivan and Jesús Bueno for Indiana Vassilev and Jovan Lukić.

    Danley Jean Jacques produced another near miss from a corner shortly after. Jean Jacques beat Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos to Iloski’s cross, but his headed attempt sailed over the bar.

    Muyumba sent a curled right-footed shot into the back of Blake’s net from just outside the 18-yard box in the 66th minute to make it 2-0.

    “We fell asleep in two moments to give the goals,” Richter said. “That part isn’t good enough. It’s clear for everybody. And they were on each other about that, too.”

    Richter made another pair of offensively-minded changes in the 71st, shifting the Union to a more attacking formation by bringing on Alladoh and Agustín Anello for Bruno Damiani and Nathan Harriel.

    “In these games, home games in MLS, you have to go for the win,” Richter said. “It’s not satisfying to go for the tie. One point at home is not enough to make the push that you want throughout a season. So in all these, whenever we’re in this situation, it’s us trying to go for the win.”

    The changes paid off, as Iloski beat Hoyos with a crafty right-footed finish for his eighth goal in the last six games.

    Cavan Sullivan nearly brought the Union level twice as the game pushed on. Hoyos pushed a dangerous Sullivan volley wide in the 81st, and in the 82nd, Sullivan took a shot that went just wide of the left post.

    Elías Báez was shown yellow for time wasting in the 92nd minute as Atlanta killed off eight minutes of stoppage time.

    Pierre scored the game-tying goal off a Kai Wagner cross, smashing a header past Hoyos.

    “To be honest, I can’t even really remember it,” Pierre said of his goal. “I just really jumped up. I low-key closed my eyes, and then it just went in the goal, so I was happy.”

    Alladoh scored a minute later to secure the remarkable three-goal comeback for the Union in the game’s final moments.

    “Everybody knows the first half wasn’t good enough,” Wagner said. “But the reaction after the second goal showed that everybody on this team has belief at the moment. We were on the front foot. It showed a really good character from the team.”

    Up next

    The Union will open the group stage of the Leagues Cup against Liga MX side Cruz Azul at Subaru Park on Thursday (8 p.m., Apple TV, FS1).

    The Union will play three group-stage matches at home in the Leagues Cup, which pits 18 Mexican clubs against 18 MLS sides. The Union will host Necaxa on Aug. 9 before closing out Phase 1 of the competition against Santos Laguna on Aug. 13.

    The Union will return to MLS play with a match against New York City FC on Aug. 16 at Yankee Stadium.