Major Link Soccer: It's now or never for USMNT's World Cup hopes

US Soccer

The US Mens National Team is in as close to a must-win situation as they've been in a while. The hand is hovering over the panic button, and if they don't win tonight (7:30 Pacific, FS1, Univision), the button will be mashed repeatedly. Here's their potential path to the World Cup.

Ryan Rosenblatt is predicting a 4-2-3-1-ish look with no Sounders starting and Pulisic pulling the strings from the middle.

Landon Donovan is working the broadcast this evening with Alexi Lalas and Rob Stone, and they stopped by the American Outlaws party Thursday night and climbed up on a taco truck. Then LD took a leap of faith into the crowd. Yep.

Michael Bradley will need to have a strong performance this evening as likely captain. Grant Wahl discusses how Bradley has "honed the voice of a leader."

The Honduran federation is unhappy with the options provided to them for training fields in the San Jose area this week, so they trained in Florida instead. They claim gamesmanship by US Soccer for failing to help them secure suitable field space and time. US Soccer disagrees.

Here's three reasons to be worried about tonight's game. One of them will be very familiar to Sounders fans: Romell Quioto.

Bruce Arena doesn't want to hear about the beautiful game, he just wants to win.

Meanwhile, Carli Lloyd is ready to change the way Women's soccer is viewed in England and across the world.

Major League Soccer

Atlanta United has strong support not just in Georgia but in the surrounding states, according to this fan survey.

Grant Wahl reports that the Krafts may be close to finally announcing plans for a soccer-specific stadium for the New England Revolution in the Boston area (but of course Revs fans have heard it all before).

Power Rankings Averages are back again from RSL Soapbox, and Seattle Sounders continue to climb. Two Western Conference foes are neck-and-neck for the top spot.

Have you ever sat and wondered what Roman emperor each MLS coach is most like? Well someone (Will Parchman) has, because Top Drawer Soccer has all the answers. Some prior knowledge of Roman history may be required to fully appreciate this link.

USL

Indomitable City Soccer continues their USL season previews. Here's a look at the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a team with MLS aspirations (and Darwin Jones). Another ambitious team is FC Cincinatti, where the arrival of Victor Mansaray on loan is highly anticipated.

FC Cincinatti also has a new expanded TV deal to include road games being broadcast locally as well.

And speaking of Mansaray, he makes the top 5 USL under 20 list.

World

Are you ready for a deep dive into CAF's inner workings? This piece from Two Hundred Percent goes over all the politics and shady backroom workings involved in the federation's presidential election.

Why put players on the posts when defending set pieces? Well, for no good reason, it's pretty much out of habit according to this piece.

The BBC has a beautiful feature on soccer in Syria from several perspectives: Football on the Frontline.