Major Link Soccer: Sepp Blatter has left the building.

World Soccer

In a world where nothing is secret anymore, it only took the New York Times a weekend to find the dirt on FIFA's top officials. With Sepp Blatter's resignation already accepted, FIFA will now turn their attention to secretary general Jerome Valcke who tried to blame the whole thing on a dead guy.  Just in case you were wondering, the FBI do have Blatter on their list and it should only be a matter of time.

Fear not fans of Blatter, you will have your opportunity to see how much of a hero he is to world soccer in a FIFA-financed film. The film is called "United Passions" and stars Tim Roth and Gerard Depardieu, to be released this Friday in US cinemas. No it's not a joke, just great timing.

Who will be the next FIFA president? Who would your vote go to?

Today is the 40^th anniversary of the New York Cosmos Signing Pele. Forty years later the US is a soccer hotbed, who would have guessed it!! To celebrate Pele and the Cosmos were in Havana, Cuba to play a diplomatic friendly against the Cuban National Team. The game ended in a 4-1 win for New York.

She grew up in the outback of Australia in mining towns, her dad was an Aboriginal tribal elder and her mom is from Oklahoma. Lydia Williams had many pets growing up, like crocs, dogs, and Kangaroos. Now she will stop shots in the World Cup.

Seattle

Yes it was a foul, no there was no card issued but video adjudication was swift and on Tuesday Osvaldo Alonso was suspended for one game and fined for "violent conduct that endangered the safety of an opponent" or in layman's terms he kicked the crap out of someone.

Sunday's winning goal looked to be scored by Clint Dempsey and in the stadium that is how it was announced as the fans cheered. But like Osvaldo Alonso's suspension the video sees all and the goal was awarded to substitute Chad Barrett as he had the last touch.

The Sounders bench will have the opportunity to shine Saturday against Sporting Kansas City. Obafemi Martins might be out after nose surgery, Osvaldo Alonso is suspended, Clint Dempsey is on baby watch and might miss the trip to KC, and  Brad Evans is in Europe playing for the U.S. against Holland and Germany.  Sigi Schmid has stated that the new signing Thomas "The Jaguar" Bedinelli is definitely in the 18 for Saturday.

The Seattle Sounders remained atop the MLS Power Rankings for Week 13. Seattle is also leading the league in the Supporters Shield standings.

Major League Soccer

The European season is over and it's time for the accolades. With many Americans playing overseas picking an "American Export Team of the Year." should be easy.

Sebastian "Formica Atomica" Giovinco has shown Toronto FC how to be a leading man. Giovinco is Major League Soccer's most expensive designated player with a $7 million a year contract, but for Toronto it is money well spent as Giovinco leads the team in goals and assists.

US Soccer

The U.S. U-20 national team is in the knockout round of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Tuesday morning the U.S. put four past New Zealand. New boy Gedion Zelalem earned his first start and showed exactly what makes Arsenal fans salivate. .

The U.S. U-23 team is participating in the Touloun tournament in France, Tuesday morning they also played and came up 1-0 winners over 2022 World Cup host Qatar.

Four years later the agony of defeat still burns for the U.S. Women, but come Saturday the past will be forgotten and the 2015 Women's World Cup will begin. Can the USA capture their third trophy?

Goal of the week Nominees: Volley, Free kick, Volley