Cavan Sullivan, 17, Sets MLS Teen Record as St. Louis City Clinches Playoff Berth

Cavan Sullivan breaks MLS teenage record as Union keep winning

Seventeen-year-old Cavan Sullivan set an MLS record with his 21st goal contribution of the season, the most ever by a teenager in a single MLS campaign, as the Philadelphia Union beat the Chicago Fire 3-1. The win was Philadelphia's eighth straight and stretched the club's unbeaten run to 14 matches.

Sullivan, who has a move to Manchester City lined up for his 18th birthday, downplayed the milestone afterward. "I played sort of terrible tonight, so I'm not really focused on any records or stats like that," he said. Interim coach Ryan Richter said "it seems like every week something else is popping up for him," and teammate Neil Pierre said Sullivan's mentality is great because "he thinks he can do better" even in victory.

Philadelphia has climbed from the bottom of the Eastern Conference in July to its current run, with games against Charlotte, New England and Nashville still to come this month. On CBS Golazo, Thierry Henry praised Sullivan's demeanor, saying "he won't back down for anyone, although he's young," and credited U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino for giving MLS talent a real look after eight teenagers, six of them MLS players, made their USMNT debut this fall.

St. Louis City sets MLS unbeaten record, clinches playoff spot

St. Louis City tied Vancouver 0-0, extending its unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 straight games, an MLS record that breaks the mark the Red Bulls set in 2016. The result clinched St. Louis a playoff spot, its first since its debut season in 2023. Roman Burki recorded his fourth shutout of the season.

Vancouver still leads the Western Conference with 52 points, one ahead of St. Louis. Yohei Takaoka made three saves for Vancouver and now has 13 clean sheets this season, tied for the league lead. St. Louis defender Conrad Wallem went off in the 40th minute after a head-to-head collision.

St. Louis travels to Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Saturday, October 17, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. Central.

Inter Miami and Nashville clinch playoff spots as Messi keeps piling up numbers

Inter Miami beat New York City FC 2-0 at Nu Stadium, clinching a playoff spot. German Berterame opened the scoring in the 20th minute off a Luis Suarez assist, his first goal since May 24. Rodrigo De Paul doubled the lead before halftime, connecting with Lionel Messi for his 14th assist of the season.

Messi leads the league with 23 goals and 14 assists. Miami moved up to second in the Eastern Conference with 52 points, with Nashville SC still first on points. Coach Kily Gonzalez called the playoff berth one of the club's season goals, now achieved, but said the team still needs to keep improving.

Nashville beat Sporting Kansas City 4-0, with goalkeeper Brian Schwake picking up another clean sheet. NYCFC hosts LAFC while sitting just outside a playoff spot, and Inter Miami plays at Atlanta United, both on Saturday.

U.S. women draw with Spain as midfield questions linger

The U.S. women's national team drew 2-2 with Spain at Subaru Park on Tuesday, after losing the first meeting 2-0. Spain led again through Alexia Putellas in the 27th minute and Salma Paralluelo in the 32nd, but Ashley Sanchez pulled one back in the 49th and Mallory Swanson equalized in the 86th minute off the bench.

Swanson called the moment "a little surreal," saying, "it's been like two years since I scored, and a lot has happened." ESPN gave both Sanchez and Swanson nine out of 10, while goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce received a three after an errant pass set up Spain's second goal.

The Guardian noted the midfield still isn’t settled and highlighted Emma Hayes’ ongoing experimentation, including calling in four uncapped players this window. The next match that matters is November 27 against El Salvador, which would secure a World Cup berth with a win.

U.S. Soccer unveils new women's cup with record prize money

U.S. Soccer announced the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup on Wednesday at the federation's summit in Philadelphia. The single-elimination tournament will include every NWSL and USL Super League club, with the winner earning a berth in the Concacaf W Champions Cup and a prize of $1.1 million, a record for a women's soccer competition in the United States.

The competition is named for Arthur Blank, who owns Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons and the incoming NWSL expansion side Atlanta City FC. U.S. women's coach Emma Hayes, who played in the Women's FA Cup with Chelsea, said in the federation's release that domestic cup competitions are an important part of the women's game and called the Crest Cup "an important step in the continued growth of the women's game."

FIFA set to change rule after Balogun red card controversy

Sources told ESPN that FIFA’s council will on Thursday consider ending future suspensions of automatic one-match red card bans, after the disciplinary committee suspended Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban in a decision that drew outcry once President Trump said he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review it. FIFA vice president Debbie Hewitt has pushed for the release of documents on how that decision was made.

Balogun told CBS Mornings in July that the situation put "a lot more pressure on us than we needed," and that a non-intentional red card "should never be a red card."

NWSL playoff race hit by injuries

Shield leader Gotham FC lost rookie Jordynn Dudley to a foot fracture after four goals and three assists in 25 matches, and defender Bruninha tore her ACL playing for Brazil, likely ending her 2027 World Cup hopes. Gotham still sits four points clear atop the table at 16 wins, four losses and seven draws.

Boston ruled out USWNT goalkeeper Casey Murphy for the season with a partial PCL tear, suffered in the team's October 3 win over Portland. Boston Legacy hosts Racing Louisville on October 18 at 5 p.m. as it tries to steady itself without Murphy.

Eastern Conference playoff race remains crowded

Fourteen of the 15 Eastern Conference teams are either in a playoff spot or within six points, equal to two wins, of one. New England beat Cincinnati 3-2, with Peyton Miller picking up two assists and goalkeeper Matt Turner making seven saves. Toronto FC drew with Orlando City on a late goal, and D.C. United beat Red Bull New York despite being outshot 15-3.

Alex Freeman shines in Villarreal loss to Real Madrid

Alex Freeman started for Villarreal in a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, finishing with the most defensive contributions on the pitch at 18, the most touches at 93, a 75% ground-duel success rate and 60% in the air. He handled record signing Yan Diomande for most of the night.

Freeman struggled for minutes last season, but his World Cup form this summer has carried into his club campaign, and he has started four of Villarreal's last five La Liga matches.