:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58141669/78085293.jpg.0.jpg)
Seattle
Valve’s massive Dota 2 tournament, The International, may be moving from its Seattle venue to one in Vancouver. There’s no official word yet, but signs are pointing to a move away from Key Arena.
Just because it’s always worth watching again, here’s SoundersFC.com’s No. 4 Top Play of 2017, in which Joevin Jones nutmegs his defender and finds Nicolas Lodeiro, who scoops the ball right onto Jordan Morris’ head and into the goal.
Major League Soccer
It’s that time of year where we get to start scouting the Generation Adidas players and top draft prospects for 2018. Goal.com’s list includes a certain younger Roldan you may be familiar with.
According to this Bloomberg View, ‘America First’ didn’t work for MLS, and Atlanta United and LAFC signing South Americans with sell-on potential represent the shining path forward. In an unfortunate photo choice, Atlanta is shown facing Toronto FC, the team that won a treble with a team stocked mostly with Americans and Canadians.
United States
If you can stand it, take a look back at the highs and lows of the USMNT in 2017. Stars and Stripes FC point out things were actually looking pretty good for a minute before everything fell apart.
The NASL continues to be unhappy with their representation on the USSF Pro Council. They have published a letter to USSF arguing MLS, NWSL, USL and their own league should each have the same number of delegates.
Here are the seven biggest television stories for soccer in America this year, from the USA missing out on the World Cup to MLS’ continued ratings climb.
Currently, there is no official governing body for college esports programs, though there are plenty of players and leagues. The NCAA has begun research to determine how it could step into that void and more formally organize competition.
World
Paris and its suburbs and exurbs produce some of the world’s best soccer talent, year after year. ESPN explains why the Ile-De-France is such a deep talent pool.
Iraq Football has an extensive interview with Abdulla Al-Kalisy, a speedy 21-year-old winger who plays in New Zealand and recently received his first callup with the Iraq U23 squad.
Former Paris-Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Manchester City, and Chelsea player George Weah has been elected Liberia’s next president.