Gotham can clinch first NWSL Shield as Decision Day settles playoff race

Gotham, San Diego and three teams chase NWSL goals on Decision Day

Gotham FC can claim its first NWSL Shield with a win or draw against Utah Royals on Nov. 1. Gotham has 58 points, three more than San Diego Wave, and can also clinch with a loss if San Diego fails to beat Bay FC. The Wave’s only path to the Shield is a win paired with a Gotham loss.

Seattle Reign sit eighth with 44 points, ahead of North Carolina Courage on 42 and Denver Summit on 41. Seattle secures a playoff berth with a win over Orlando; a draw is enough if North Carolina loses to Denver. All eight matches kick off at 5 p.m. ET, with every game affecting playoff seeding.

Atlanta and Columbus get roster-building tools before 2028 NWSL debuts

Atlanta City FC and Columbus NWSL can start assembling their teams in 2027, a year before their inaugural seasons. Each club will have access to $1.43 million in allocation money, which must be funded by the clubs and can be used for salary-cap charges, transfer and loan fees, or trades. Unused funds remain available through Dec. 31, 2030.

The expansion clubs will also get a $1.9 million transfer-fee threshold, compared with $665,500 for non-expansion teams in 2027, and a limited 2027 salary cap of $628,320. They can sign players in 2027 and loan them to other clubs, but cannot spend under the High Impact Player rule until Jan. 1, 2028.

Christian Pulisic signs AC Milan contract through 2031

Christian Pulisic has signed a new AC Milan contract that runs through June 2031, ESPN reported. The deal offers the USMNT player a sizable raise, according to sources cited by ESPN, and keeps him at the club under manager Ruben Amorim.

ESPN described the move as a choice for stability at a club still seeking to recapture past success. Milan have won the Scudetto once in the past 15 years and missed European competition after the 2024-25 campaign, while Pulisic’s career has included a Champions League title with Chelsea.

Nashville chase MLS points mark as New England and Miami meet

Nashville SC have 71 points after securing the Supporters’ Shield. A win over Red Bull New York would bring Nashville level with Inter Miami’s MLS single-season record of 74 points, with a chance to break it in the regular-season finale against FC Cincinnati.

New England Revolution host Inter Miami on Nov. 1 with second place in the Eastern Conference at stake. New England have 58 points, two more than Miami, and a win or draw would secure the Revolution the East’s No. 2 seed. Miami’s result could also affect its position in the race for a Concacaf Champions Cup berth.

Noahkai Banks says Germany choice is final

Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks has confirmed that his decision to represent Germany is final. The 19-year-old filed a one-time switch with FIFA, made his Germany U21 debut on Sept. 30 and is now cap-tied to Germany, according to FootballTransfers.

Banks told Sky Germany he chose Germany because he grew up there, feels German and wants to represent the country. He had previously played for U.S. youth teams and received a senior-team call-up in 2025.

MLS sets 14-game sprint season before calendar shift

MLS teams will play 14 regular-season matches each in a shortened 2027 season, with seven home games and seven away games. The season is scheduled to begin Feb. 19 and end on Decision Day, May 8, before the league shifts to a summer-to-spring calendar later in 2027.

The top eight teams in each conference will advance to single-elimination playoffs. MLS says the schedule change is intended to align the league with international windows and the transfer calendar of top European leagues.

U.S. U-17 women beat Spain to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Maddie DiMaria scored the winner as the U.S. U-17 women beat Spain 2-1 in the World Cup round of 16. It was the United States’ first win over Spain since 2004, and DiMaria’s 12th World Cup goal set a record for a U.S. player at a World Cup.

The U.S. now faces two-time reigning champion North Korea, with both teams seeking a place in the semifinals. DiMaria has scored 24 goals in 22 U-17 appearances, matching the career high of former youth star Sunshine Fontes.