Major League Soccer’s youth system, MLS NEXT, is introducing a new way to evaluate young talent—Quality of Play rankings—for its U13 and U14 age groups. Rather than focusing on wins and losses, this system assesses individual player actions and performance during games, including off-the-ball movement and tactical decisions. The move aims to identify long-term potential…

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States, dating back to 1914. What makes it especially unique is its open format, allowing clubs from every level of the U.S. soccer pyramid—from elite professionals to local amateur teams—to compete in a single-elimination tournament. This structure leads to…

When watching a Premier League match, fans often direct their praise—or more often, their frustration—toward the officials on the pitch. But few know about the organization working behind the scenes to train, assign, and assess those referees. Enter PGMOL, short for Professional Game Match Officials Limited. A Brief Overview Established in 2001, PGMOL is the…