In 2024, The Athletic sought to strike a balance between the glorious jumble of North American soccer fandom that we find ourselves in now, tapping into the versatility of our writers, the breadth of fascinating topics on offer and the enduring intrigue of this country’s unique soccer pathway.
I came on board as Head of U.S. Soccer in November. The stories below in our “Best of 2024” list, plus many others that didn’t quite make this exclusive cut, are a major reason I was so excited to join this team. The ability and hunger that our writers have to tell stories, with richness and emotional commitment, is what continues to drive us forward.
In 2024, we attacked the news and went deep, beyond the headlines. As we move into 2025, we are intently aware that American soccer is in a potentially pivotal phase (doesn’t it always feel that way?) ahead of a 2026 joint home World Cup — now less than 18 months away.
The men’s World Cup is a global event, but it is also going to be very much a North American one, with Canada and Mexico as co-hosts. Over the next year and further, we will be here for everything you need to know about that tournament, as well as the men’s Club World Cup in June and July 2025. At this point in the cycle, we will naturally place a closer focus on national teams and the key figures within them, while maintaining our commitment to Major League Soccer (with an exciting announcement coming soon).
On the back of the U.S. women’s national team’s Olympic triumph and NWSL expansion, women’s soccer continues to boom and our coverage booms along with it. We were there for every part of the USWNT’s glory in France, but also for the less-heralded but equally vital moments of Emma Hayes’ dynamic start to life as national team coach. As money pours into the women’s game, with soccer at the forefront of a golden era in women’s sports, we will be here for all of it.
Across the men’s and women’s games, in terms of breaking news, exclusive interviews, and special features — expect more of the same, and even better to come, in 2025. But for all this talk of looking ahead, the end of any year is also a time for reflection.
Here’s a small sample of what we enjoyed publishing, and which the feedback suggests that you enjoyed reading, in 2024.
Martin Rogers, Head of U.S. Soccer
(Christopher Hanewinckel / Imagn Images)
By Pablo Maurer and Tom Bogert | February 28
The Athletic provided ongoing coverage of the dispute between MLS and its referees that marred the start of the 2024 season.
MLS played its first games of the year with replacement referees after representatives from the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) and the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) failed to reach an agreement in a labor dispute ahead of opening weekend. Eventually, the two sides came to terms, but not before replacement refs caused a riff in the league.
(Brad Smith / Getty Images for USSF)
By Jeff Rueter | March 8
On the way to winning the inaugural women’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, two U.S. national team members had the unique opportunity to vanquish lingering demons left over from the side’s 2023 World Cup exit. Jeff writes about how a semifinal penalty shootout helped Sophia Smith and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher get their grooves back.
(Kevin C. Cox, Matt Kelley, Maddie Meyer / Getty Images; design: John Bradford)
By Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio | March 28
An annual tradition now, the survey of MLS decision-makers gives readers a look into how the executives of the league thought the 2024 season would go. Tom and Paul surveyed 30 of the league’s executives, mostly chief soccer officers, and asked a wide variety of questions. Part 1 asked for their picks and preferences for MLS Cup predictions, the best players at each position, the top coach, and the best and worst ownership groups. In part 2, the execs were given more open-ended questions on topics such as the Leagues Cup, the Apple TV deal, U.S. Open Cup participation, and, of course, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. As always, hindsight is 20/20.
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By Jeff Rueter | May 31
Less than four years into his professional coaching career, head coach Wilfried Nancy led the Columbus Crew into the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. His former colleague Thierry Henry wasn’t surprised. Jeff spoke to Arsenal and France great Henry about his relationship with Nancy and why he tells everyone to “just watch them play”.
Exclusive interviews
The Athletic brought more trademark access in 2024, including exclusive interviews with key players across the game. Here are a few of those conversations.
(Getty Images; Design: John Bradford)
By Paul Tenorio | June 12
It had not been an easy 18 months for U.S. men’s national team midfielder Giovanni Reyna. Ahead of the United States’ ill-fated 2024 Copa America on home turf, Reyna sat down with Paul to discuss the unknowns of this future, the fallout around the 2022 World Cup and how his January loan from Germany’s Borussia Dortmund to Nottingham Forest of the Premier League didn’t go as he hoped.
(Scott Taetsch / Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)
By Pablo Maurer | September 20
As part of our My Game In My Words 2024 series, Pablo asked the player who would finish as MLS’ top scorer to analyze key moments from his career. From that overhead kick at Old Trafford to why he’s more comfortable setting up teammates at D.C. United and how his aerial prowess is all about timing.
(Brad Smith / Getty Images; Design: Meech Robinson)
By Emily Olsen | November 8
There’s a lot said about Washington Spirit and U.S. women’s national team forward Trinity Rodman, especially in a year when she, along with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, headlined the Olympic gold medal run as “Triple Espresso.” But this year, Rodman also used her own voice. She sat down with Emily to discuss her signature moves and how she sees herself as an entertainer above all else.
(Getty Images; Gabriel Bouys/AFP, Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press; Design: Dan Goldfarb)
By Adam Crafton | December 10
Adam spoke to Christian Pulisic amid the release of his self-titled documentary. Pulisic described how he’s introverted and “boring”. Still, the U.S. captain finds his voice on the big topics of the year, including his frustration with the stigma of American players in Europe, the team’s early exit at Copa America and what style of coaching new USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino brings.
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By Pablo Maurer | June 8
Raccoons. I think the headline says it all. A Pablo classic.
(Maddie Meyer, Megan Briggs/Getty Images; Design: Dan Goldfarb)
By The Athletic Staff | Summer 2024
The Athletic was on the ground covering Copa America 2024 from coast to coast. From the first game between Canada and Argentina, to the United States’ disastrous exit and subsequent firing of Gregg Berhalter to a chaotic final that was almost over before it began but brought another trophy for Argentina.
(Tnani Badreddine / DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Women’s soccer coverage at the Olympics
By Meg Linehan, Steph Yang, Jeff Rueter and more | Summer 2024
The Athletic was also in France for the Paris-hosted Olympics. While Meg followed the U.S. women’s national team around the south of France and then eventually to the French capital, where the side captured gold, The Athletic also covered the shocking Canadian drone spying scandal and its ongoing fallout. A special edition of the “Full Time” podcast, hosted by Tamerra Griffin and Steph Yang, ran throughout the tournament.
(Getty Images and Austin FC; design: Eamonn Dalton)
By Paul Tenorio | July 24
As commissioner, Don Garber navigated MLS through near-bankruptcy before establishing the league as a multi-billion-dollar industry. As he marked 25 years in the role, Paul talked to Garber and his colleagues to paint a portrait of the most powerful executive in American soccer.
(Tim Nwachukwu, Rich Graessle, Randy Litzinger, Katharine Lotze/Getty Images, iStock; design: Dan Goldfarb)
By Steph Yang | August 22
The NWSL and NWSL Players Association met over 10 months and for more than 20 bargaining sessions to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the next five years. Bargaining committees from each group met in person in Philadelphia from July 8-11 to finalize the deal. Steph broke down the details of the massive new agreement.
(Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty; additional photo credit to iStock; design: Dan Goldfarb)
Mauricio Pochettino hired as USMNT head coach coverage
The year started with U.S. Soccer rehiring Berhalter. But after a disastrous Copa America performance, the federation moved quickly. After a long meal in Barcelona over Argentine steak with U.S. Soccer officials, former Premier League coach Pochettino took charge of the men’s team. The Athletic took you inside the deal and followed the coach through his first couple of windows in charge. Oh, and lemons.
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By Felipe Cardenas | September 12
When Juan Izquierdo collapsed in a game in Brazil and died five days later, it sent shockwaves across South America and the world. Felipe captured the sobering moment and Izquierdo’s lasting legacy.
(Jose Breton / Pics Action / NurPhoto; design: Dan Goldfarb)
By Meg Linehan | September 12
This year saw several USWNT icons hang up their boots. Naeher, Becky Sauerbrunn and Alex Morgan each ended their playing career in 2024. However, Morgan’s abrupt departure, along with the announcement that she was pregnant with her second child, brought stories of nostalgia. Meg flew to San Diego to watch Morgan play her final minutes and shared reflections from those moments and beyond.
(Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)
By Felipe Cardenas | October 8
Venezuela reached the quarterfinals of the Copa America in July as a team on the up and hoping to reach a first ever World Cup. But within weeks, violence erupted across the South American country after Nicolas Maduro claimed victory in the election. Felipe writes how football and politics are one and the same in Venezuela.
(Leon Bennett / GA / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images; design: Meech Robinson)
By Jeff Rueter | October 10
In 2024, former USMNT midfielder Jermaine Jones was placed on coaching leave from Central Valley Fuego FC following a USL investigation that led to a suspension. Jeff interviewed three active players and an employee of the Californian team for insight into the club under Jones’ leadership.
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By Steph Yang | October 11
It was a banner year for the Orlando Pride, who made NWSL history in capturing the NWSL Shield and 2024 title. Led by the scoring prowess of Barbra Banda and the resurgence of Marta, the team made its mark. Steph covered the Pride’s big moments and went down to Orlando amid their early unbeaten run.
(Barry Chin / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOS Nation Coverage
By Steph Yang and Meg Linehan | October 11
NWSL’s expansion to Boston got off to a rough start during 2024, and the team is still a year away from actually playing. The club officially rolled out BOS Nation Football Club in October with a controversial campaign called “Too Many Balls,” which the team later took down and apologized for after some called the campaign transphobic. Now, the team is reexamining the name itself.
(Canada Soccer; design: Eamonn Dalton)
By Joshua Kloke | November 19
When Canada traveled to Suriname for a November friendly, The Athletic was granted unrestricted access on planes, in meetings and at pitchside. From head coach Jesse Marsch’s movie quotes to video analysis and Mafia games, Josh takes you inside an international camp with a team on the rise.
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By Meg Linehan | November 22
This year, Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang invested $30million in U.S. Soccer for the development of the women’s game. But before she became one of the leading investors in women’s soccer, she had to make her first business deal: convincing her parents to use her would-be marriage dowry in South Korea to send her to school in America. Meg spoke with Kang about investing and finding opportunities in women’s sports across the globe.
(Kyle Rivas / Getty Images)
By Meg Linehan | December 4
Orlando’s Barbra Banda lifted the NWSL championship trophy and the final’s MVP award. Days later, she was a lightning rod for bad-faith attacks and misinformation. While some stood up to reframe the conversation or celebrate Banda, Meg writes that the NWSL’s lack of action left much to be desired. Meg discusses how the league missed the moment to protect its player from attacks against her eligibility based on gender, including those from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
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By Pablo Maurer | December 8
Equipment manager Raul Cargas has been with the LA Galaxy for 29 years. His quick thinking gave the 2024 MLS Cup final its most emotional moment when winger Joseph Paintsil turned to him for teammate Riqui Puig’s jersey. Pablo met with the man behind the sentimental tribute from the Galaxy’s big win over New York Red Bulls.
(Top photos: Getty; John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF, Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos, Chandan Khanna/AFP; design: Dan Goldfarb)
