Henry Bushnell
@henrybushnell.bsky.social
Senior ⚽ writer, The Athletic.
Tips, ideas, etc.:
hbushnell@theathletic.com
henrybushnell.03 on Signal
Tips, ideas, etc.:
hbushnell@theathletic.com
henrybushnell.03 on Signal
The full paper is here, and includes many more recommendations:
www.ussoccer.com/collegesoccer
Accompanying the men's soccer proposal, there are semi-helpful visuals.
But on the women's side, as detailed in the story above, there's more resistance, disagreement and uncertainty.
www.ussoccer.com/collegesoccer
Accompanying the men's soccer proposal, there are semi-helpful visuals.
But on the women's side, as detailed in the story above, there's more resistance, disagreement and uncertainty.
October 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The full paper is here, and includes many more recommendations:
www.ussoccer.com/collegesoccer
Accompanying the men's soccer proposal, there are semi-helpful visuals.
But on the women's side, as detailed in the story above, there's more resistance, disagreement and uncertainty.
www.ussoccer.com/collegesoccer
Accompanying the men's soccer proposal, there are semi-helpful visuals.
But on the women's side, as detailed in the story above, there's more resistance, disagreement and uncertainty.
via Poch on IG over the weekend...
(and yes, he says that's his handwriting)
(and yes, he says that's his handwriting)
October 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
via Poch on IG over the weekend...
(and yes, he says that's his handwriting)
(and yes, he says that's his handwriting)
October 2, 2025 at 2:33 PM
There were/are Category 4 tickets for cheaper — but hardly any of them.
Fans got first glimpses at stadium maps today, and...
Fans got first glimpses at stadium maps today, and...
October 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
There were/are Category 4 tickets for cheaper — but hardly any of them.
Fans got first glimpses at stadium maps today, and...
Fans got first glimpses at stadium maps today, and...
In the 11 days since we published this, and as it opened the first 2026 WC ticket lottery, FIFA has pushed Right To Buys *hard*.
FIFA Collect has done ~$3 mil in sales. Two of the platform's three biggest weeks on record.
(For those asking: these are totally unrelated to the lottery.)
FIFA Collect has done ~$3 mil in sales. Two of the platform's three biggest weeks on record.
(For those asking: these are totally unrelated to the lottery.)
September 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
In the 11 days since we published this, and as it opened the first 2026 WC ticket lottery, FIFA has pushed Right To Buys *hard*.
FIFA Collect has done ~$3 mil in sales. Two of the platform's three biggest weeks on record.
(For those asking: these are totally unrelated to the lottery.)
FIFA Collect has done ~$3 mil in sales. Two of the platform's three biggest weeks on record.
(For those asking: these are totally unrelated to the lottery.)
Different vibes than Saturday…
September 10, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Different vibes than Saturday…
One team (and their fans) seems ready for the World Cup…
Awesome Korean showing today
Awesome Korean showing today
September 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
One team (and their fans) seems ready for the World Cup…
Awesome Korean showing today
Awesome Korean showing today
overwhelmingly a pro-Korea crowd in Jersey
September 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
overwhelmingly a pro-Korea crowd in Jersey
Hello from the former Red Bull Arena, where Korean players just came out for warmups.
The reception was twice as loud as the one the USMNT got minutes earlier.
Sure looks like it’ll be another away game on home soil.
The reception was twice as loud as the one the USMNT got minutes earlier.
Sure looks like it’ll be another away game on home soil.
September 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Hello from the former Red Bull Arena, where Korean players just came out for warmups.
The reception was twice as loud as the one the USMNT got minutes earlier.
Sure looks like it’ll be another away game on home soil.
The reception was twice as loud as the one the USMNT got minutes earlier.
Sure looks like it’ll be another away game on home soil.
Sometime over the past few weeks, as the Crew brought in Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, the club updated its stadium website to include this, about an MLS policy on national flags. (It also referred fans to the policy.)
That policy, as the club now admits, does not exist.
That policy, as the club now admits, does not exist.
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Sometime over the past few weeks, as the Crew brought in Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, the club updated its stadium website to include this, about an MLS policy on national flags. (It also referred fans to the policy.)
That policy, as the club now admits, does not exist.
That policy, as the club now admits, does not exist.
And Jürgen Klinsmann, speaking to @sebsb.bsky.social in Germany, about Pulisic's decision to skip the Gold Cup...
August 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
And Jürgen Klinsmann, speaking to @sebsb.bsky.social in Germany, about Pulisic's decision to skip the Gold Cup...
shade > halftime show
(at least for most people here at the Club World Cup final)
(at least for most people here at the Club World Cup final)
July 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
shade > halftime show
(at least for most people here at the Club World Cup final)
(at least for most people here at the Club World Cup final)
Players waiting what seemed like ages for Michael Buffer to finish his thing so they could kick off the Club World Cup final
July 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Players waiting what seemed like ages for Michael Buffer to finish his thing so they could kick off the Club World Cup final
A global tournament final between an English club and a French club becomes very… America
(including the fact that it will kick off several minutes late)
(including the fact that it will kick off several minutes late)
July 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A global tournament final between an English club and a French club becomes very… America
(including the fact that it will kick off several minutes late)
(including the fact that it will kick off several minutes late)
New Jersey State Police, including five on horseback, escorted PSG Ultras from a parking lot to MetLife Stadium.
All smooth, until they turned in toward stadium… at a place that was not an entrance.
Had to stop the festive chants, turn everybody around, send them to another gate
All smooth, until they turned in toward stadium… at a place that was not an entrance.
Had to stop the festive chants, turn everybody around, send them to another gate
July 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
New Jersey State Police, including five on horseback, escorted PSG Ultras from a parking lot to MetLife Stadium.
All smooth, until they turned in toward stadium… at a place that was not an entrance.
Had to stop the festive chants, turn everybody around, send them to another gate
All smooth, until they turned in toward stadium… at a place that was not an entrance.
Had to stop the festive chants, turn everybody around, send them to another gate
📍MetLife Stadium…
where the Georgian pride is off the charts 🇬🇪
where the Georgian pride is off the charts 🇬🇪
July 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
📍MetLife Stadium…
where the Georgian pride is off the charts 🇬🇪
where the Georgian pride is off the charts 🇬🇪
The crowd at kickoff of the Club World Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
July 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The crowd at kickoff of the Club World Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
FIFA and MetLife Stadium have already blocked off most of two sections in the upper deck to set up for the halftime show at Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
July 8, 2025 at 6:58 PM
FIFA and MetLife Stadium have already blocked off most of two sections in the upper deck to set up for the halftime show at Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
Hello from the first Club World Cup semi at MetLife Stadium, where it is boiling.
94 degrees. Feels even hotter.
Any shade will do. Even the spindly trees in the MetLife parking lots.
94 degrees. Feels even hotter.
Any shade will do. Even the spindly trees in the MetLife parking lots.
July 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Hello from the first Club World Cup semi at MetLife Stadium, where it is boiling.
94 degrees. Feels even hotter.
Any shade will do. Even the spindly trees in the MetLife parking lots.
94 degrees. Feels even hotter.
Any shade will do. Even the spindly trees in the MetLife parking lots.
If you're confused about the USMNT's complaint on Mexico's second goal...
(I genuinely don't know if this should've been offside or not. Montes doesn't interfere with the first phase of play. Probably does impede Richards in the second phase, but at that point, he's onside.)
(I genuinely don't know if this should've been offside or not. Montes doesn't interfere with the first phase of play. Probably does impede Richards in the second phase, but at that point, he's onside.)
July 7, 2025 at 5:27 AM
If you're confused about the USMNT's complaint on Mexico's second goal...
(I genuinely don't know if this should've been offside or not. Montes doesn't interfere with the first phase of play. Probably does impede Richards in the second phase, but at that point, he's onside.)
(I genuinely don't know if this should've been offside or not. Montes doesn't interfere with the first phase of play. Probably does impede Richards in the second phase, but at that point, he's onside.)
Annual reminder that, for all the talk of “hostile” environments, U.S.-Mexico games are mostly just a really cool, unique celebration of this sport
July 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Annual reminder that, for all the talk of “hostile” environments, U.S.-Mexico games are mostly just a really cool, unique celebration of this sport
USMNT starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. Mexico: 9
Mexico starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. the U.S.: 26
Mexico starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. the U.S.: 26
July 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
USMNT starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. Mexico: 9
Mexico starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. the U.S.: 26
Mexico starting 11 combined starts in competitive matches vs. the U.S.: 26
📍Houston
Where the temporary grass pitch for USMNT-Mexico is… 😬
Where the temporary grass pitch for USMNT-Mexico is… 😬
July 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
📍Houston
Where the temporary grass pitch for USMNT-Mexico is… 😬
Where the temporary grass pitch for USMNT-Mexico is… 😬
The USMNT is going to win, BUT… 😬
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The USMNT is going to win, BUT… 😬
First-semifinal-in-29-years vibes
July 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
First-semifinal-in-29-years vibes