USA U-17 Women Set World Cup Record with 17-0 Victory; DiMaria Scores Six

USA U-17 Women Set World Cup Record with 17-0 Victory; DiMaria Scores Six

The United States under-17 women's national team opened its 2026 World Cup campaign in record-shattering fashion on Monday, defeating Samoa 17-0 in Rabat, Morocco. This marks the biggest win at any level in World Cup history, surpassing Morocco's 16-0 victory against New Caledonia in last year's men's U-17 tournament, according to ESPN and Yahoo Sports.

Forward Maddie DiMaria spearheaded the U.S. attack, scoring the opening goal just 63 seconds into the match and netting six goals total. She became the first player in competition history to score six times in a single match and the first at any FIFA finals since Erling Haaland in 2019. Ten different U.S. players scored in the match, including two goals each from Carolina Reyna, sister of USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna, and Loradana Paletta, the youngest player on the roster.

The U.S. held a 9-0 lead by halftime, tying Germany's 2010 tournament record for first-half goals, and accumulated 58 shots over 90 minutes. Coach Ciara Crinion expressed pride in the team's achievement but emphasized that every game is different as they prepare to face Kenya on Thursday.

UEFA Demands FIFA Documents on World Cup Sell-Off, Balogun Red Card Reversal

UEFA has demanded that FIFA provide answers by November 2 to 42 questions concerning Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell off a portion of the World Cup, the reversal of USMNT forward Folarin Balogun's red card during the 2026 tournament, and the decision to establish and award a FIFA Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump. The letter, dated October 19 from UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafström, cites "serious concerns" regarding FIFA's governance and decision-making.

UEFA previously threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over Infantino's unilateral attempt to raise $20 billion with the World Cup sell-off plan to Thrive Capital, a private equity company led by Josh Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law's brother. Although the boycott threat was withdrawn, UEFA continues to oppose Infantino's leadership and his re-election bid in March 2027.

The letter requests explanations on who granted exclusivity to Thrive Capital without FIFA Council consultation, when the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was first raised, and what President Trump asked of Infantino during a phone call regarding Balogun's red card. Theodoridis stated that previous explanations have not satisfactorily addressed fundamental questions, and the requested information and documentation have not been provided.

Columbus Crew to Host St. Louis City SC in 2026 US Open Cup Final

The 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champion will be determined on Wednesday when the Columbus Crew host St. Louis City SC in the final. Columbus, champions in 2002, are seeking their second US Open Cup title, while St. Louis is targeting its first-ever trophy.

Both teams will compete for a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, prize money, and silverware. Columbus secured their fourth US Open Cup final appearance by defeating Antoine Griezmann and Orlando City in the semifinals, boosted by goals from Josef Martínez and Brais Méndez.

St. Louis City SC, under head coach Yoann Damet, is playing in its first tournament final after setting an MLS-record 21-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. In the semifinals, goals from Sang Bin Jeong, Simon Becher, and Alexandru Mățan secured a win against the Colorado Rapids.

Seattle Reign FC Climbs to Eighth in NWSL Standings as Playoffs Near

Seattle Reign FC boosted their playoff hopes with a 3-1 win over Chicago Stars, climbing into the NWSL's final postseason spot as the regular season winds down, Goal.com reported. The result helped Seattle secure the No. 8 spot, while Chicago, already out of playoff contention, saw Simone Charley score her first goal with the Stars.

Elsewhere in Matchday 25, the San Diego Wave defeated the North Carolina Courage 2-1, extending their winning streak to five games and solidifying their position as the No. 1 team in ESPN's Power Rankings. Melanie Barcenas and Trinity Byars scored for the Wave, with Byars netting her 11th goal of the season.

The Washington Spirit clinched a playoff berth with a 1-0 home victory over Gotham FC, with Lucia Di Guglielmo scoring her first NWSL goal. The Kansas City Current also secured a crucial 2-0 road win against the Utah Royals, propelled by a Haley Hopkins brace, moving them into fourth place in the standings.

USMNT Wonderkid Mathis Albert Nears UEFA Champions League Debut

Seventeen-year-old U.S. winger Mathis Albert could make his UEFA Champions League debut on Tuesday when Borussia Dortmund plays at Azerbaijan club Sabah FK, according to Soccer America. An injury to Dortmund's 18-year-old Greek-Belgian attacker Konstantinos Karetsas has increased Albert's chances.

Dortmund managing director for sport Lars Ricken revealed that Albert was "very close" to making his first Bundesliga start against 1. FC Union Berlin at the weekend, but ultimately played 20 minutes as a substitute in the 0-0 draw. Ricken noted that Albert's recent appearances for the U.S. national team have brought him more attention, as big clubs were already pursuing him when Dortmund signed him.

Albert, who made his debut for the United States last month, had been promised increased minutes by Dortmund manager Niko Kovač on October 9. After not playing in the two subsequent games, Albert finally received significant minutes against Union Berlin, recording 18 touches, seven successful passes, and three wins in his duels.

Atlanta City FC Appoints Richard Gunney as Chief Soccer Officer

Atlanta City FC, an expansion side in the National Women's Soccer League, has named Richard Gunney as its Chief Soccer Officer, the club announced on Monday. Gunney joins Atlanta from reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC, where he has served as director of scouting and recruitment since 2022.

Gunney brings a decade of NWSL experience, including previous roles as an assistant head coach for the San Diego Wave during its inaugural season from 2021-2022 and for the Portland Thorns from 2017-2021. His new role will involve developing short-, medium-, and long-term soccer strategies, aligning performance objectives, player development, and roster planning.

Atlanta City FC is set to debut in 2028 as the NWSL's 17th club, alongside Columbus, which recently named Lucy Rushton as its inaugural general manager. Gunney will assume his new position on November 1, reporting to Atlanta City FC President of Soccer Mauricio Culebro.

Indy Eleven's Aodhan Quinn Becomes USL Championship's All-Time Assists Leader

Indy Eleven midfielder Aodhan Quinn became the USL Championship's all-time leader in regular season assists on Saturday night, recording his 67th career assist against Louisville City FC. His corner kick delivery set up Makel Rasheed's second-half goal for the visitors.

Quinn surpassed the previous record of 66 regular season assists held by former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC playmaker Kenardo Forbes. The 34-year-old achieved this milestone in his 317th regular season appearance, adding to his record of 26,461 minutes of regular season action in the USL Championship.

Currently in his 13th season, Quinn has been a standout creator, notably recording double-digit assists on three occasions, including 11 assists for Phoenix Rising FC in 2021 and 11 last year for Indy, earning him the Golden Playmaker award. He has also been voted to the USL Championship's All-League Team three times.

MLS Team of the Matchday Features Toklomati, Pierre, and Miller

Charlotte FC forward Idan Toklomati was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 31 after contributing a goal and an assist in The Crown's 2-2 draw at the Philadelphia Union. Toklomati's 13th regular season goal set a new club record for Charlotte FC, bringing his total goal contributions for the year to 18.

Philadelphia Union Homegrown defender Neil Pierre also earned recognition on his 19th birthday for a standout defensive performance in the draw against Charlotte FC. Pierre recorded career-bests with 11 aerial duels and six clearances, helping extend the Union's unbeaten run to 15 matches.

LA Galaxy Homegrown defender Harbor Miller was named to his first career Team of the Matchday for Matchday 31 following his performance in the club's 2-2 draw with San Diego FC. Miller recorded his third assist of the season, driving down the right sideline and crossing to Erik Thommy for the Galaxy's second goal.

Inter Miami and Orlando City Show Strong MLS Performances

Inter Miami CF, the defending MLS Cup champions, have found their stride, going unbeaten since October after a challenging August and September. Their third consecutive win came against Atlanta United, with Lionel Messi scoring a brace and providing a record-breaking assist in a 3-1 road victory.

Germán Berterame, a Designated Player who had struggled earlier in the season, also contributed significantly with a goal and two assists against Atlanta, bringing his goal contribution tally to seven in the last three matches. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made a crucial save early in the second half, boosting confidence for the team.

Orlando City continued to be one of the most entertaining teams in MLS, scoring four goals in a 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Antoine Griezmann notched a brace, while Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić also scored. Orlando ranks in the top six in the league for both goals for and goals against.

Christian Pulisic Dating Rumors Resurface Amid Megan Moroney Links

Rumors that USMNT star Christian Pulisic and country singer Megan Moroney are dating have resurfaced after Moroney was photographed holding her phone with a picture of her and Pulisic as the background. The photo was taken after Moroney's performance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Sunday, October 18.

Previous indications of a relationship include the pair being spotted on a Nashville rooftop in July, Pulisic taking his cousin to Moroney's concert in Miami, and Moroney posting a TikTok video in Italy where she appeared to be wearing a shirt from Pulisic's Puma collection. Pulisic, 28, confirmed in May that he had broken up with professional golfer Alexa Melton.

On the field, Pulisic had a relatively quiet day in AC Milan's 3-2 win over Atalanta on Matchday 7 of Serie A. He started and played 75 minutes, but had an early goal disallowed for offside and only managed three touches in the opposing box without creating any chances.

Chris Richards Apologizes to Crystal Palace Fans After 5-0 Defeat

USMNT defender Chris Richards has apologized to Crystal Palace supporters for walking off the pitch without acknowledging them after the team's 5-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday. Richards stated on Instagram that he was "emotional and embarrassed with the result" and recognized how much the club means to the fans.

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has been granted more time to address the team's defensive issues, but his position is under serious scrutiny following the heavy loss. The defeat, which saw Palace concede three goals in the opening 10 minutes, equaled the club's 70-year record for its heaviest defeat against arch-rivals.

The thrashing means Palace has conceded 17 goals from seven games, the most in the Premier League. Club chair Steve Parish, who was reportedly not fully convinced by Sage since his summer appointment, decided against a change given that Palace is 14th and not in immediate danger.

Carolina Reyna Joins Brother Gio in U.S. World Cup History Books

Carolina Reyna's two goals in the U.S. women's national team's opening game of the U-17 World Cup, a 17-0 win over Samoa, have secured her and her brother Gio a place in American soccer history. The two offspring of retired USMNT star Claudio Reyna now hold the distinction of being the first brother-sister pair to ever score for the United States at a World Cup.

Carolina, who was only 10 when she saw Gio captain the U-17 side in 2019, needed just three minutes to score after coming on as a substitute against Samoa. Her second goal, a left-footed curler, made the score 15-0. Gio Reyna scored for the men's senior national team on home soil in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, marking the USMNT's joint-largest ever World Cup win.

While their father Claudio never scored in a World Cup, he captained the nation in 2002 and 2006 and reached the quarterfinals. Gio Reyna, 23, has recently found consistency for club and country, starting four straight international games and playing a full 90 minutes for Strasbourg against Paris Saint Germain.

Spain Extends Lead Over USWNT in Latest FIFA Rankings

Defending Women's World Cup champion Spain has tightened its grip on the top spot in the latest women's FIFA rankings, released on Tuesday morning, after recording a 1-0-1 record against the second-ranked United States this month. Spain defeated the USWNT 2-0 and then played to a 2-2 draw, extending their advantage to almost 80 points over the Americans.

The U.S. Women's National Team remained at No. 2 overall after their two-match October window with top-ranked Spain. Ashley Sanchez and Mallory Swanson scored the USWNT's only two goals of the month.

Germany completed the podium at third place, having won both of its home friendlies to gain ground on the Americans. The only change among the top 10 was the return of Denmark at No. 10, replacing the Netherlands, marking the Scandinavians' first appearance in the top 10 since August 2010.