Puget Sound

The Guardian Footballer of the Year tells Suzanne Wrack about white privilege, feeling the wrath of Trump and what she makes of all the awards. Megan Rapinoe: ‘Everybody has a responsibility to make the world a better place’ | The Guardian

MLS / USL

Armchair Analyst: A long look back on 2019 in MLS | MLSsoccer.com

Inter Miami are set to announce their new manager, the man formerly at the reigns of Monterrey of Liga MX. Inter Miami to name Diego Alonso coach, signed Agudelo | Miami Herald

Charlotte has named Zoran Krneta as Sporting Director, the club announced Tuesday. Charlotte MLS hires Sporting Director - MLS Charlotte 2021

Montreal has had a thing lately for short-tenured coaches, but this could be ridiculously short even by their standards. Thierry Henry could replace Ernesto Valverde at Barcelona - report - Barca Blaugranes

A master plan for the proposed soccer stadium complex, valued at $95 million, includes a five-story building for office and retail and a 500-space parking garage. Blackacre pays $7.98 million for proposed soccer stadium site in Des Moines, Iowa

Bermuda will be represented in the USL for the first time in nearly a decade during the upcoming season. Bascome’s team to join US league | The Royal Gazette

NWSL / women’s soccer

Sam Kerr rampaging through a new league, a new NWSL season, the Olympics, and breaking a goalscoring record. What we’re looking forward to in 2020 - All For XI

”I’m not buying a product that’s like, ‘Little girls, blah blah blah,’” Rapinoe says. Instead, she and the NWSL’s first official beer sponsor are out to attract a new kind of fan. Megan Rapinoe, Budweiser revamping NWSL marketing | Yahoo Sports

The second half of the season kicks off January 5 against Reading; do not miss it! New Chelsea FC Women signings get straight to work — welcome Sam Kerr and Jamielee Napier! - We Ain’t Got No History

The arrival of three international recruits has heralded a shift in mentality both on and off the field. New York state of mind fuels Western Sydney’s W-League charge | The Guardian

US soccer

Usually, it’s held in Southern California, but this year, January USMNT camp is in Qatar. What’s up with that? Why is January Camp in Qatar this year? - Stars and Stripes FC

The USMNT has a rich history of dual-nationality players. Some were educated in the country, while some kicked a football for the first time in countries like Germany, Holland and Haiti. Today, everyone knows that this trend is key for the USMNT’s future progress. Dual Nationals - the Past and Future of USA Football — BabaGol

Morgan Brian interview: Six got her groove back – The rebuild to the repeat, for a world champion once Moe – Beats & Rhymes FC

World soccer

Monterrey defeated Club America on penalties in the second leg of the final, making them champions of the 2019 Liga MX Apertura. Rayados de Monterrey es Campeón de la LIGA BBVA MX MX | www.ligabbva.mx (Spanish)

Messi turns up at random gym, trains while watching his own goals, meets fans - Barca Blaugranes

Sean Person and Roland Benedict set up Legend Soccer to give shin guards a design overhaul, something they believe the product has needed for decades. Meet the men bringing bamboo to the beautiful game with sustainable shinpads

Culture

Wizards of the Coast put out one of the strongest lineups of product to date in 2019. Third-party producers also stepped up their game to fill in the gaps not covered by official books. My Favorite Five Fifth Edition Products Of 2019 | Forbes

The most hotly anticipated apple of the year has arrived. It’s not a iPhone, iWatch, iMac or iAnything. It is an actual fruit. Taste-testing the Cosmic Crisp, Washington state’s star-studded ‘apple of the future’ – GeekWire

What’s on TV?

7:00 AM: Newcastle United vs. Leicester City (Premier League) — NBC Sports Gold

7:00 AM: Southampton vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) — NBCSN

7:00 AM: Watford vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League) — NBC Sports Gold

7:00 AM: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Ipswich Town (League One) — ESPN+

7:00 AM: Queens Park Rangers vs. Cardiff City (English Championship) — ESPN+

9:15 AM: West Bromwich Albion vs. Leeds United (English Championship) — ESPN+

9:30 AM: Manchester City vs. Everton (Premier League) — NBCSN

9:30 AM: Norwich City vs. Crystal Palace (Premier League) — NBC Sports Gold

9:30 AM: West Ham United vs. AFC Bournemouth (Premier League) — NBC Sports Gold

12:00 PM: Arsenal vs. Manchester United (Premier League) — NBCSN

12:30 AM (Jan. 2): Brisbane Roar vs. Melbourne City (W-League) — ESPN+