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By Brian Maurer Świderski when he was first signed by Charlotte FC (image courtesy of Charlotte FC) One of the hardest parts of following MLS is understanding the roster rules. There are more roster rules in MLS than most other sports in the US and they are far different from other soccer leagues around the world. To try and help break down the different rules I am using Charlotte FC’s roster to provide an example of how they work. Hopefully this will be of some help as the transfer window progresses. The information I used to discuss the rules was found on MLSsoccer.com in their 2022 roster rules section , as well as the MLSPA . I also used the MLS 101 series written by Ryan Bailey on Charlotte FC’s website. Full Roster The full roster consists of 30 spots; senior (1-20) and supplemental (21-30). Both parts of the roster have different rules and types of player contracts that are applied. Senior Roster (1-20) Consists of designated players (DPs), U-22 initiatives, homegrown players that are paid more than the minimum salary plus $125,000 (this is called a homegrown subsidy), and any other domestic or international players that are paid more than the minimum salary. Only salaries on the senior roster count against the salary budget, which is set at $5,210,000 for 2023. The maximum salary is 12.5% of the salary budget; $651,250 for 2023. Teams have to fill spots 1-18. Spots 19 and 20 are optional. Designated Players (DPs) - DPs are players whose salaries cost more than the maximum salary. Even though they are paid more than the maximum, they only are counted at the maximum salary against the salary budget. Teams are allotted two DP spots. Teams can elect to buy a third spot by paying the league $150,000. There are three types of DPs; Max DPs, TAM-Level DPs, and Young DPs. Max DPs - These are any players whose salary and transfer fee exceeds the maximum salary plus $1 million (this is called Max TAM-Level). In 2023, that number is $1,651,250. Transfer fees are calculated against the salary number by taking the total transfer fee and dividing it by the number of years on the contract. Charlotte’s first DP signing Karol Świderski, was brought in on ~$5 million transfer fee and was signed to a four year deal with an option for a fifth year. His salary would include an extra ~$1.25 million to his salary for calculating his salary budget charge. These players can not be “bought down” using allocation money. (More on buying down and allocation money later) TAM-Level DPs - These are players whose salary and transfer fee exceeds the maximum salary but does not exceed the maximum TAM-Level ($1,651,250 for 2023). These DPs are also 24 years old or older. These players can be “bought down” using allocation money. (Transfer fees are calculated the same as in the Max DP example.) Young DPs - This slot is for players who are 23 or younger and whose salary and transfer fee exceeds the maximum salary ($651,250). There are two different age groups for young DPs and they affect the salary budget differently. Age 21-23: Count as $200,000 against the salary budget. Age 20 and under: Count as $150,000 against the salary budget. (Transfer fees are calculated the same as in the Max DP example.) Charlotte currently have three DPs on the roster: Karol Świderski (Max DP) New signing Enzo Copetti (Max DP) Kamil Jóźwiak (TAM-Level DP) U-22 Initiative - These are slots provided to teams to encourage them to sign prospects who are 22 years of age and under. Clubs are given a certain number of these slots depending on their third DP’s status. Here is a breakdown of how U-22 Initiative slots are provided to teams based on their third DP: One U-22 Initiative slot is provided if the third DP is a Max DP. Three U-22 Initiative slots are provided if there is no third DP on a team OR that team’s third DP is a TAM-Level DP or a Young DP. Charlotte FC had three U-22 Initiative slots available in 2022 because their third DP, Jordy Alcívar, was a Young DP. Currently, Jóźwiak is Charlotte’s third DP and since he is a TAM-Level DP Charlotte can keep their allotted three U-22 Initiative slots. Here are the rules for players who can occupy these slots: Must be 22 or under and cannot turn 23 the year they are signed to MLS. For this upcoming season (2023) players who are signed to MLS cannot be a U-22 Initiative player if they turn 23 in 2023. Their salaries cannot go above the maximum salary charge ($651,250). Transfer fees to acquire these players are unlimited. These players must be on the senior roster. Here are the incentives to these slots: These players keep this status until they are 25. Making club’s incentivized to keep these young players for several years. These players have a reduced salary budget charge. The reduction charge is the same for U-22s as it is for Young DPs: $150,000 for players age 20 and under, $200,000 for players age 21-25. Clubs can also turn portions of the future transfer fees of these players into GAM. Charlotte currently have two U-22 Initiative players: Kerwin Vargas (turns 21 in 2023) Vinicius Mello (turns 21 in 2023) Domestic - The two primary ways players have domestic status for US based MLS clubs is they are either US citizens or they are documented as a permanent resident. Canadian players are not counted as domestic players for US based MLS clubs. However, US players are considered domestic for Canadian based MLS clubs. There is no limit to the amount of domestic players teams can have on their roster. Charlotte FC currently have seven domestic players on their senior roster: Brandt Bronico Jan Sobociński Joseph Mora Andre Shinyashiki Pablo Sisniega Anton Walkes Harrison Afful International - These are all players that do not fit under the domestic player rules. Each team is allotted eight international spots that are tradeable. Charlotte FC currently have seven other international players on their senior roster besides their DPs and U-22s: Guzmán Corujo Kristijan Kahlina Adilson Malanda Yordy Reyna Nuno Santos Ashley Westwood Nathan Byrne *SuperDraft pick, Hamady Diop, is also an international player. However he will not be on the senior roster as Generation Adidas (GA) players are allowed to be kept on the supplemental roster throughout the duration of their GA contracts Charlotte still has one open senior roster spot they can fill with another transfer, unless more players are released or transferred. They also have two more international players than international roster spots. Charlotte FC have traded for three additional international roster spots so far this winter, but have 13 international players currently signed. Allocation Money Before going into the supplemental roster (spots 21-30) it is probably best to dive into general allocation money (GAM) and targeted allocation money (TAM). Both of these types of allocation money are used to help increase the amount of spending that can be done on the senior roster. GAM - This is money that has to be spent each season, as it does not rollover. It can be traded or used to “buy down” salary budget charges from players’ contracts. For 2023, clubs are provided with $1,900,000 GAM. TAM - This money is also called discretionary, as there are more specific rules for how this money is used. TAM can only be used to “buy down” the salary of a player who makes more than the maximum salary budget. This is why the term TAM-Level can be used to describe the type of DP that Jóźwiak currently is. If Charlotte FC were to decide to sign a new player as a DP, they could “buy down” his contract with TAM to open a DP slot for the newly signed player. TAM does rollover. For 2023, clubs are allotted $2,720,000. Supplemental Roster (21-30) The supplemental roster is split into three groups that have different sets of rules for the types of players and contracts that can be added. 21-24 - These slots can be filled by players making the senior roster minimum ($85,444), homegrown players, GA players, and other players who were eligible for the SuperDraft. Charlotte FC currently have two players that are not GA players or homegrown players that fit into these roster slots: McKinze Gaines Adrían Zendejas 25-28 - These slots can be filled by players making the reserve minimum ($67,360) and homegrown players. These slots can also be filled by Generation Adidas players if they are making the reserve minimum. Charlotte FC have two players that are not homegrowns or GA players that fit into this roster designation: Adam Armour George Marks 29-30 - These slots are filled by homegrown players. *Charlotte FC also have three more 2023 SuperDraft picks besides Hamady Diop: Patrick Agyemang, Nick Scardina and Andrew Pivett. In total, they have 34 players under contract. Before the start of the season Charlotte FC will have to decide which players are staying with the senior team and which players are given time on the MLS NEXT Pro team. Homegrown Players Homegrown players are players signed to contracts from MLS academies. Clubs can sign players to homegrown contracts from their own academy and also trade for the rights to sign players from other clubs’ academies. Homegrown Subsidy - This subsidy allows homegrown players to be kept on clubs’ supplemental roster even if they have a salary above the senior ($85,444) or reserve ($67,360) minimum. Homegrown players are allowed to have a salary up to $125,000 above the senior or reserve minimum and can still be on the supplemental roster. Charlotte FC currently has six homegrown players (Academy in parentheses): Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union) Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting KC) Chris Hegardt (Seattle Sounders) Brian Romero (Charlotte FC) Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC) Brandon Cambridge (Vancouver Whitecaps) Generation Adidas (GA) Players These players are selected and signed by the league to guaranteed contracts before the SuperDraft. The clubs that draft these players can keep them on their supplemental roster through the duration of their GA contracts (generally three years). Charlotte FC have two Generation Adidas players: Ben Bender Hamady Diop

By Tyler Trent João Pedro Reginaldo with Athletico. Photo courtesy of Athletico Paranaense. Reports out of Brazil indicate that Charlotte FC will be signing 19-year-old defender João Pedro Reginaldo on a one year loan with an option for purchase. João Pedro typically plays as a centerback but is also capable of playing as a left back. He currently plays with Athletico Paranaense's U20 team and has spent time with the Brazil U18 National Team and Juventude's U20 squad. This signing will likely be for the MLS Next Pro squad in a similar situation to the signing of midfielder David Poręba.

By Tyler Trent The 2023 NWSL Draft begins later today in Philadelphia at 6 p.m. EST! This will be the eleventh draft in league history and the talent in this year’s draft is very exciting. If you haven’t given the NWSL a try, the season starts March 25th and is shaping up to be another exciting year in women's soccer. Coverage of the 2023 NWSL Draft will begin on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ, the free 24/7 streaming sports news network, 6 to 7 p.m. EST. The draft livestream will continue on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ from 7 to 11 p.m. EST. The first round of the NWSL draft will consist of 12 picks. Several trades have mixed up the order for this year’s draft including Angel City FC trading to acquire the #1 pick with clear intention to draft 18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson, who had previously committed to Stanford when she was 15. The order for the first round of the draft is as follows: 1. Angel City FC 2. Gotham FC 3. Orlando Pride 4. Racing Louisville 5. Portland Thorns 6. North Carolina Courage 7. Chicago Red Stars 8. Houston Dash 9. North Carolina Courage 10. Kansas City Current 11. North Carolina Courage 12. Portland Thorns While Alyssa Thompson is fully expected to be the #1 pick, this draft is filled with high potential talent that have earned their spot as professionals. Here’s a chance to get to know some of this highly regarded draft class before this evening! Forwards Alyssa Thompson celebrates while playing for the USA. Photo courtesy of Pro Soccer Wire. Alyssa Thompson (Age 18 – Total Futbol Academy) As previously mentioned, Angel City FC made a four-team trade in order to acquire the top pick in the draft from Gotham FC. Alyssa Thompson is one of the most highly touted prospects for the United States National Team and has already made her first appearances for the senior team as a 17-year-old. Previously committed to the prestigious Stanford women’s soccer team, the California native Thompson has declared for the draft and opted out of heading to college. Messiah Bright controls the ball. Photo courtesy of TCU. Messiah Bright (Age 23 – TCU) Messiah Bright played five years of college soccer and really added to her resume this past season with 11 goals and 4 assists in 24 games. In her previous season, she scored 16 goals and 6 assists as well. Bright has a very consistent and strong college career and projects well as professional. Bright has also been a part of the USA U-23 National Team in 2022 and will likely be a very highly valued prospect in a draft that is filled with top quality forwards. Penelope Hocking looks up the pitch. Photo courtesy of Penn State. Penelope Hocking (Age 23 – Penn State) Penelope Hocking is one of the most interesting prospects in the draft. Hocking played three seasons at USC and graduated with a computer science degree in 2022. She joined Penn State for her final season in college scoring 7 goals and adding 11 assists. In her time at USC, she became the all-time leading goalscorer with 48 goals, eventually moving that number up to 54. Michelle Cooper runs with the ball. Photo courtesy of Lindy Brown/Duke. Michelle Cooper (Age 20 – Duke) While she only played two seasons in college, Michelle Cooper is likely the hottest goalscoring prospect out of the college game. Last season she scored 19 goals and added 11 assists as the Blue Devils made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Cooper earned First Team All-American honors in both her seasons, as well as 2022 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy. If not for Alyssa Thompson, Cooper would likely be the nailed on first pick based on talent alone and she will likely be going to Gotham at pick 2. Per InStat via JJ Post Bright converted a massive 70% of her chances this season! Izzy D'Aquila celebrates during the College Cup. Photo courtesy of Santa Clara. Izzy D’Aquila (Age 21 – Santa Clara) A regular with the USA National Team as a teenager, Izzy D’Aquila continued to be a star in college scoring 50 goals in 78 appearances for Santa Clara and winning a NCAA Tournament Championship in 2020. With a high work-rate and willingness to fight for everything, D'Aquila has a chance to be a first round draft pick. She is great at creating chances for herself and her teammates as well. Alex Spaanstra dribbles down the pitch. Photo courtesy of UVA. Alexa Spaanstra (Age 22 – Virginia) Another five-year college player, Alexa Spaanstra appeared in 107 games for UVA scoring 37 times and providing 34 assists. Spaanstra provides a threat from out wide as a winger compared to other highly regarded draft-eligible players that primarily played up top. Spaanstra will likely be a first round pick due to her unique profile and strong college career. Midfield Grace Yochum prepares to pass the ball. Photo courtesy of Oklahoma State. Grace Yochum (Age 23 – Oklahoma State) Appearing in 86 games for Oklahoma State and scoring 41 goals, Grace Yochum is a strong finisher with a high work-rate. Her 41 goals broke the record for Oklahoma State scoring that was previously held at 35. Yochum is a skilled player that also can play with physicality in the middle of the pitch and will add value to whatever team picks her. Sophie Jones with her team. Photo courtesy of Duke. Sophie Jones (Age 21 – Duke) Sophie Jones started all 75 matches in her four-year college career. Playing both in defense and in midfield, Jones showed her versatility and fitness levels consistently throughout college. In 2022, she was part of the USA U-23 National Team. Jones would provide a team with a dependable midfield option capable of facilitating her teammates moving forward and helping to protect her backline. Jenna Nighswonger with FSU. Photo courtesy of FSU. Jenna Nighswonger (Age 21 – Florida State) The left-footed attacking midfielder Nighswonger was considered an elite corner kick taker last season for the Seminoles where she scored or assisted on 11 goals from corners kicks. Nighswonger appeared in 86 games in her four-year college career scoring 19 goals and providing 34 assists, 16 of which game in her final season. Nighswonger originally intended to look for opportunities in Europe, but was a late edition to the NWSL Draft list and will likely be one of the top 5 picks in the draft. Defenders Jyllissa Harris with South Carolina. Photo courtesy of South Carolina. Jyllissa Harris (Age 22 – South Carolina) Capable of playing both centerback and in central midfield, Jyllissa Harris appeared in 107 games for South Carolina in her five years scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists. Harris was at the core of a very successful South Carolina team in 2022 that won the SEC and made it to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament before ultimately losing in a close match against Duke. In 2022, Harris also became the record holder for all-time minutes played in NCAA Women’s Soccer surpassing Becky Sauerbrunn. Emily Madril passes the ball. Photo courtesy of USA Today. Emily Madril (Age 23 – Florida State/ BK Häcken) Emily Madril gave up her final season at Florida State last year and signed a deal with the NWSL through 2025. Instead of playing her last season, she joined BK Häcken in Sweden to continue to gain experience before she would be eligible in the 2023 draft. Madril was previously considered by most to be the best talent available in the draft prior to Michelle Cooper's emergence and Alyssa Thompson's decision to forego college for the NWSL. Tori Hansen celebrates with UNC. Photo courtesy of UNC. Tori Hansen (Age 21 – North Carolina) The Raleigh native had an up-and-down career to start at UNC after a very successful youth career for both club and the youth USA National Team. However, in 2022, Hansen made her mark starting all 26 games and scoring 8 goals ultimately helping lead her team to a heartbreaking second place finish in the 2022 NCAA tournament. Hansen's aerial ability and physicality will be a great value for a team in NWSL this season as she continues to develop. Reyna Reyes poses with a Mexican flag. Photo courtesy of Alabama. Reyna Reyes (Age 21 – Alabama) The Mexican-American fullback was one of the most impressive players this season for a very strong Alabama team. In her four years, she played in 79 games scoring 16 goals and adding 5 assists. Reyes is capable of playing as a left back and in midfield. Reyes has been a regular with the Mexico Youth National Teams since 2016 and started receiving callups to the senior Mexico National Team in 2021. Reyes versatility make her a top option in this draft for a player with strong defensive capability and strong passing and dribbling skills as well. She is arguably the best defender available in the draft and definitely the top fullback. Chaylyn Hubbard on the ball. Photo courtesy of TCU. Chaylyn Hubbard (Age 23 – TCU) Appearing in 105 games in her 5-year career at TCU, Chaylyn Hubbard is the top prospect at right back in the 2023 draft. While she wasn’t a regular goalscorer from right back, she was a very strong defender for the Horned Frogs in her career including 12 shutouts last season and 14 in the previous season.

By Jacob Sokol Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Charlotte FC have been meticulously assembling a roster for their second season in MLS. Besides the addition of Enzo Copetti and several promising MLS Superdraft selections, Ashley Westwood from Burnley FC becomes the newest addition in Queen City. The English defensive midfielder is coming off a serious ankle injury he acquired in a draw against West Ham in April of 2022. Prior to this injury Westwood was a staple for Burnley, playing nearly every match for them since 2018.  Westwood will be a potential starter for Charlotte FC, competing with Derrick Jones and Brandt Bronico for playing time. A long ball specialist, Westwood could also take corner kicks and other dead ball opportunities in the middle of the pitch. Beyond dead balls, Westwood is highly capable of the long ball in open play. Depending on fitness levels related to his ankle injury, we could see Westwood on the field when the first whistle blows on February 25th.  Injury Status Photo courtesy of Reuters. On April 17, 2022, Ashley Westwood went into a 50-50 challenge against West Ham’s Nikola Vlasic. Westwood wouldn’t get back up, causing an 8 minute delay in action before being stretchered off with a severe ankle injury.  By April 21st, Westwood had received surgery and released a message about the incident. His parting message read “To my teammates, I will be kicking that ball with every single one of you. I have had the honour to share the pitch with you for some years and I know the spirit, strength, and determination of the group. My surgery went very well and I can’t wait to be back on the pitch soon! #UTC”.  Westwood, while still at Burnley this Fall, stated that he was hoping for an October 31st comeback. He had rejoined training sessions during the first week of October with no player contact, phasing in contact over the next couple weeks. His comeback ultimately never came under Vincent Kompany, but that could be summed up to Burnley’s success in the English Championship. Kompany recently took over Burnley after their relegation from the Premier League. With only 2 losses in 26 matches, it is understandable Kompany wouldn’t want to shake up a formidable lineup.  While Westwood hasn’t received minutes since his injury, he has been in full training amongst players set for a return to the Premier League. There shouldn’t be too much doubt in his ability to strengthen Charlotte FC, even coming off this injury.  Battle For The #6 Slot  Images courtesy of fbref.com Experimentation was a big theme in Charlotte FC’s inaugural season. Świderski found his way from striker to a holding forward position. Malanda joined the squad in time to replace the injured Guzmán Corujo. Jordy Alcívar and Titi Ortiz left the squad after being regulars early in the season. Nuno Santos joined the squad late, adding another attacking option.  The position that Westwood will battle for has been held by a player who has been Charlotte’s most consistent by far- Brandt Bronico. Bronico found himself constantly moving in 2022, playing over 50 passes a game with an 85% success rate. What Bronico was lacking were lethal passes. While he managed to move the ball around, he wasn’t playing passes into the final third and the penalty area. On the alternate end, Westwood excels at long balls and passes into dangerous areas.  Defensively, Bronico had more success than Westwood, with nearly three times more tackles per game. It is important to note that the quality of play in the Premier League for Westwood could have a part in that though.  The other option for defensive midfielder is Derrick Jones. The player Eric Krakauer often referred to as the Velvet Tank, had an even better defensive presence than Bronico, but his lethal passes were worse than both Bronico and Westwood.  With Bronico and Jones having similar styles that would compliment Westwood, and Bronico having been the more consistent between him and Jones, a pairing between Bronico and Westwood would seem the most likely tactically. Bronico could continue to be an engine, receiving and distributing passes to keep the game flowing. Westwood on the other hand could slot the final pass when play opened up. Head Coach, Christian Lattanzio, should be happy with his options and newfound depth from bringing the Burnley man on board.  Expectations  Westwood should raise the floor, in terms of ability, in the defensive midfield. The signing establishes a new standard that will be expected from Charlotte FC’s midfield group, especially with his passing. Besides his play, style, and quality, Westwood should also bring a vocal leadership role on the field. This will be a role that is desperately needed after the team declined the option of former captain Christian Fuchs. Westwood reportedly has an aspiration to transition to coaching after his playing career. Having that sort of veteran influence and leadership on the field will be greatly beneficial on an otherwise very young team. Between Westwood’s leadership potential and providing new skill sets that Charlotte FC currently lacks, there will be multiple benefits to bringing the Burnley man on board. We can expect Westwood’s impact to come swiftly for Queen City.  Sources: https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/ashley-westwood-injury-burnley-kompany-25197063.amp https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10740515/amp/Ashley-Westwood-confirms-successful-surgery-suffering-horror-ankle-injury.html https://fbref.com/en/players/bd4460b1/Brandt-Bronico

From December 9-12th, 2022, 44 of the most elite players NCAA soccer has to offer headed to Raleigh, North Carolina for the Adidas MLS college showcase. Freshman sensation, CJ Fodrey, is a likely candidate to be St. Louis SC’s first pick after earning PAC-12 freshman of the year. Charlotte FC fans should remember last year’s Superdraft well, as Ben Bender was selected first overall. Bender, who produced 3 goals and 6 assists in 2022, shows how valuable a good draft selection can be.       The 2023 Superdraft, which is oddly taking place on Dec. 21, 2022, will be a different story for Charlotte FC than their first time around. With expansion teams getting first pick, Charlotte could choose anyone available during the 2022 Superdraft. With a year of hindsight it is easy to say that Bender was a worthwhile addition to the squad. In contrast, with the 20th pick for 2023, this year’s draft will be a smaller field to choose from.       With the action happening on Wednesday via conference call, it is important to be prepared with a list of top prospects. From Clemson left back, Isiah Reid, to UNCG midfielder, JC Ngando, let’s take a look at the realistic selections Charlotte FC will have available to them to bolster an evolving squad.  Moses mensah School- Campbell University  Position- Left Back  Year- Senior  Image courtesy of gocamels.com       The Left Back position is where Charlotte FC is most lacking. It is likely they will upgrade that position in the January transfer window, but it also makes sense to find depth for that position during the Superdraft. Mensah would be an excellent addition to Charlotte’s roster. With 13 assists across 73 games in his career, Mensah has shown his ability to get involved with the attack. He is the first player in Campbell University’s 60 year program history to be a 4 time All-Region honoree. His quick athletic ability will be a great asset if he found himself on the pitch in the Charlotte kit. There is a good chance the Campbell University left back will be available by the time Charlotte FC select. It will be up to the club to ultimately decide.  Valentin Noel  School- Pitt  Position- Attacking Midfielder/Forward  Year- Senior        The former Chamois FC attacking midfielder is also versatile enough to play forward. With 11 goals in 21 games in 2022 for Pitt, 4 of which were game winners, it’s clear that Noel provides an attacking presence. While Charlotte does have a good deal of depth at the striker position, a lot of changes are still expected in the upcoming months. It wouldn’t hurt to have a player who could slot in at the #9 or #10 roles if needed to close out a match.  Isiah Reid  School- Clemson  Position- Left Back  Year- Senior  Image courtesy of clemsontigers.com       Isiah Reid is one of college soccer’s exceptional left backs, and his hometown happens to be Rock Hill, South Carolina. Not only would Reid be close to home, but he would be strengthening Charlotte FCs weakest position at the moment.      While Reid is being viewed as a left back for professional purposes, he also found himself playing forward for Clemson. With 14 goals in his 4 year career, we could see Reid adding to Charlotte FC’s offense if selected 20th overall in the 2023 Superdraft.  Daniel Wu School-Georgetown Position- Center Back Year- Senior Image courtesy of guhoyas.com Wu, who grew up in Cary, NC, could be coming home. The Georgetown center back was invited to the MLS College Showcase earlier this month, as one of the 44 most elite players in college soccer. He is familiar with big games, having scored in the 2019 national championship against UVA. Wu, who was voted BIG EAST preseason defensive player of the year, followed up the hype by earning First Team All-East Region honors. With Corujo still on the mend and a lack of depth in the center back position for Charlotte FC, Wu could be a perfect draft pick. He has shown his ability to stay fit and healthy, playing nearly every minute across his four year career at Georgetown. It is likely he will be available by the time Charlotte is up to pick. Depending who is left on the board, we could see Wu in the white and blue for the February 25th home opener. JC Ngando School- UNCG  Position- Center Midfielder  Year- Sophomore      Ngando is a playmaker. 4 goals and 14 assists in 21 games shows he is capable of setting up goals. He was the SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2021. Playing at UNCG means he would be familiar with Charlotte.      While it seems like a great fit, Ngando is likely to be a top 10 pick. Like others on this list, it might take a stroke of luck to have the Paris native available to Charlotte FC.  Joey Skinner School- Clemson Position- Left Back Year- Sophomore     Skinner, being a part of the Generation Adidas class, may be out of reach for Charlotte. If he does manage to stay available, he would be the ideal choice. Born in Charlotte, Skinner started his collegiate career at UNCG where he was an All-SoCon player. He then transferred to Clemson where he started every game for the Tigers in 2022.     At the age of 19, Skinner is also one of the younger players in the draft. This is ideal for player growth. While it is likely that Charlotte FC pick up a left back during the January transfer window, Skinner could make an excellent back up. With injuries always being a possibility, it would be nice to have a player of Skinner’s caliber in the depth chart.     Going into the draft, Charlotte FC will be keeping a couple things in mind. Strengthening depth in keys areas like left back is certainly important. With draft selections rarely turning into solid starters though, Charlotte FC could simply choose the best available player left on the board. Between Ngando, Wu, and Noel there’s a good chance one of these players will be available for selection. Only time will tell who is chosen to join Charlotte FC. The Draft starts Dec. 21st at 5pm and will be live-streamed on Twitter, Twitch, Youtube, and MLSSoccer.com .

By Jacob Sokol The USMNT applauds the fans after their match. Photo courtesy of Clive Brunskill/Getty Images. A crowd of 44,846 onlookers gasped as Christian Pulisic’s strike bounced off of Andries Noppert’s left shin. The Dutch Keeper’s pivotal save came only a couple of minutes into the first elimination match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, between the U.S.A. and Netherlands. Less than ten minutes later, Memphis Depay finished off an attacking sequence of such precision and fluidity, that everyone was reminded why the Netherlands are considered the best team to have never won a World Cup. After 4 goals across 90 minutes, the Dutch national team advanced, 3-1. The United States’ World Cup campaign was over.      “We have a young group, players beginning their careers and we’ll catch up to that, but we don’t have Memphis Depay right now, who plays at Barcelona and has played in the Champions League for years. Those are not excuses, that stuff is going to come.” Stated U.S. Men’s National Team Coach, Gregg Berhalter, after Saturday’s match. Berhalter doesn’t exaggerate when he says the USMNT has a young squad. With an average age of 25 years and 214 days, they were the second youngest team at the 2022 World Cup. Ghana, the youngest team, was knocked out in the group stage. With the 2026 World Cup taking place in the United States, and a generation of young talent coming up, exciting opportunities lie ahead. Before moving forward there are many things to still consider. Will Gregg Berhalter still be at the helm in 4 years? What gaps still need filled? And what led The United States to elimination? In order to become a successful host country in 2026, these questions will need to be answered.  Match Breakdowns  Wales 1-1 36th minute- Weah Goal (USA)  82nd minute- Bale Goal (Wales)  Match summary         The United States came out of the gate running in this match. They dominated gameplay with 59% possession and an aggressive attacking style. The breakthrough came when #10, Christian Pulisic, placed a perfect pass for Weah to run onto. Weah easily passed it past the Welsh keeper.        The second half would prove a bigger challenge. The MMA midfield of McKennie, Musah, and Adams would run out of steam, especially McKennie. Brenden Aaronson would be the first man in to replace McKennie. Aaronson, known for his constant pressing and endurance, is a great replacement to keep the midfield engine running until the end of games. Three more substitutes would soon proceed in Wright, Yedlin, and Acosta for Sargent, Dest, and Musah. All of these changes were for the upkeep of a physical high paced game.         Eventually a poor tackle in the box by Walker Zimmerman would see Gareth Bale line up at the penalty spot. After a cool finish by Bale, the United States found themselves on the defense. A final sub, Morris for Weah, would see the game out to a 1-1 draw.  Takeaways  The United States can play a highly competitive, fast paced match, but never slowing the ball down will likely cause the team to run out of steam.  The United States’ subs can keep up the pace but not the same skill level. The team’s depth will likely increase with many young prospects coming up, but for now, managing the pace of the game could prove a better option. A single mistake can cost the game.  A substitute like Gio Reyna could have potentially been the type of player to slow down and help control a game.  Christian Pulisic drives the ball forward against England. Photo courtesy of Luca Burno/AP. England 0-0 Match Summary       Both teams produced dynamic moments that almost ended in goals. The most notable for The United States was when Pulisic had a strike from distance that banged off the crossbar. On the opposite end of the pitch, Harry Kane was denied from inside the box.        Either team looked dominant depending on what ten minutes of the match you were watching. At times McKennie and Musah seemed to make smooth play impossible for Rice and Bellingham. At other times they were chasing the technical passing play of the English.        Gio Reyna did find playing time late in this match. Even though his presence didn’t lead to any serious chances, it was clear his style of play could slow down a frantically charged game.        Overall, with most expectations leaning towards an England win, a 0-0 draw is a result for the young U.S. team to be proud of.  Takeaways  The USMNT is capable of competing with the best in the world, depending on the day.  A #9 presence is lacking. Chances were created, but ultimately the game ended scoreless.  A player like Gio Reyna can help slow a match  Iran 1-0 38th Minute- Pulisic Goal (USA)  Match Summary Possession was shared between both sides, but the lion’s share of opportunities went to the United States. With 12 shots, 5 on goal, it always appeared like a breakthrough would happen, just when? Christian Pulisic put his body on the line to answer that question, receiving a pelvic contusion after finishing off Sergiño Dest’s headed layoff. Pulisic would be subbed off for the second half in favor of a healthy Aaronson.  The second half held the same story as the first two group stage matches. After playing an aggressive and dynamic match, players began to tire. In the dying embers of the match, a goal nearly slipped through for Iran. The late substitute, Zimmerman, redeeming himself for his mistake against Wales, heroically cleared the ball. the United States were safe and headed to the knockout rounds.  Takeaways Cameron Carter-Vickers is a highly capable starting center back. At 24 years, old this is great news, because Tim Ream will be too old by the time 2026 comes around.  Pulisic has been, and continues to be, the playmaker for the United States Men’s National Team.  Zimmerman can make mistakes but can also make big plays. He remains one of the best options at center back for the United States.  Netherlands 1-3 10th minute- Depay Goal (Netherlands)  45th+1 minute- Blind Goal (Netherlands) 76th minute- Wright Goal (USA) 81st minute- Dumfries Goal (Netherlands)  Match Summary       The biggest chance of the match for the United States came a couple minutes in. Pulisic was denied by Noppert’s shin, only inches from scoring. For several minutes following it appeared as if the U.S.A. were the dominant side. One swift attack with a cool finish from Depay would silence those hopes in the 10th minute. Beyond that, the first half appeared equal for the most part. Both sides created chances. The United States just couldn’t finish theirs. With the match looking like it would go to halftime 1-0, a similar attacking sequence to Depay’s goal ended with Daley Blind finding the back of the net. Headed to halftime two goals down would prove demoralizing.         Berhalter showed his faith in Reyna, subbing out Ferreira at halftime. Ferreira had barely been a factor in the first half. Reyna added a confident element to the attack, but one half wouldn’t prove enough time to fully integrate into the team.        In the 76th minute, Pulisic would drive into the box, playing a pass to Wright. An incredibly fortunate deflection off of Wrights’ heel caused the ball to spin between two defenders, finding side netting. For five minutes the United States had hope. A high lobbed ball to Denzel Dumfries would end that hope as the Inter Milan player volleyed it past Turner with ease.  Takeaways Missed opportunities can be lethal at this level.  High quality opponents will finish good chances. Strikers can’t be left unmarked.  Aaronson and Reyna are bright spots for the future. Reyna’s style of play is the type capable of breaking down a highly disciplined defense.  The United States defense has trouble defending swift counter attacks.  Ricardo Pepi celebrates his goal for FC Groningen. Photo courtesy of FC Groningen. The Missing #9 Scoring twice and being scored on only once across three group matches is a good representation of the young U.S. team. While their defensive presence is sound, they lack a goal scoring threat. Against the Netherlands, chances were created but only scored by a stroke of luck. The finishing touch is greatly missed.            9 of the 11 starters for The United States started every game. Turner, Dest, Robinson, Ream, McKennie, Adams, Musah, Pulisic, and Weah were those players. Zimmerman, who started 3 out of 4 matches, holds responsibility for a penalty kick given to Wales. It is likely he wasn’t in the starting lineup against Iran for this reason.           The last starting spot up for grabs was, and is, arguably the most important. The central striker in any 4-3-3 line up is expected to deliver. Ferreira, Wright, and Sargent all saw starts in that position, trying their best to be the goalscorer. Even with Ferreira having the number stamped on his back, it was clear by the end of The Netherlands match, that we have no true #9.          One player, Ricardo Pepi, could potentially fill this void. With 6 goals in 9 games for Eredivisie club FC Groningen, many were surprised to see the young striker left out of Berhalter’s squad. At 19 years old, Pepi also managed 3 goals in 10 World Cup Qualifying matches for the United States. While there were reasons to leave him out of the 2022 squad, he will likely be an undeniable option by 2026.           A few other options that could break out over the next few years are Brandon Vazquez, Jordan Pefok, and Jesus Ferreira.          Ferreira was obviously already in the squad, and had little impact, but the young forward is currently only 21 years old. He just had his first breakout year with FC Dallas, scoring 18 times in 35 matches. Going overseas would be the best option for his development, but that is currently unlikely as Ferreira is FC Dallas’ first homegrown designated player.                    Vazquez, unlike Ferreira, is highly likely to be heading overseas in January. Vazquez’s season was similar to Ferreira’s, scoring 19 times in 35 matches for FC Cincinnati. Depending on where he lands overseas and how he develops, we could be seeing him spearheading the USMNT attack in 2026.          Jordan Pefok, like Pepi, was a player many were hopeful to see in Qatar. The Union Berlin striker offers a large physical presence that would work well in Berhalter’s squad. He also had incredible seasons in the past with Swiss Super League side, Young Boys. During the 2021-22 season Pefok found the net 22 times in just 32 matches. Depending on his form going into 2026, we could see him in the squad. By that time he will be a seasoned striker at age 30.           There are also many players aged 15-20 right now who are relatively unknown, but capable of breaking out. Most of us might not even know the name of the player who will score the United State’s goals as they host in 2026. Between now and then, the country will keep searching for their elusive #9.             Gregg Berhalter speaks with Yunus Musah after the Iran match. Photo courtesy of Glyn Kirk/Getty Images The Berhalter Situation  In December of 2018, Gregg Berhalter became the United States Men’s National Team head coach, after the team failed to qualify for the World Cup. Since taking over, his record is 37-12-11. His most notable achievement as head coach was the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup win,  beating Mexico 1-0 in the final.        When looking at the United States’ roster, it is clear there is potential for big wins and a run at a World Cup. With Berhalter’s contract up in January, will he be the man to continue to lead the United States?       “In the next couple of weeks, I’ll sit down and clear my head and think about what’s next.” Berhalter has stated. Beyond the possibility of being fired as coach, he may not even want to return. With a 61.6% winning record across his 60 games, a CONCACAF title, qualifying for the World Cup, and escaping the group stage in his résumé, it’s hard to believe he would get sacked. He may make a lineup decision that is disagreed with, or have a demeanor that fans don’t find passionate enough, but at the end of the day Berhalter has produced. We will know soon enough if his national team career will continue.      Moving Forward  Looking forward to 2026, the core of the United States team will be returning. A young average age at this World Cup, means seasoned veterans at the next. The core of the midfield in Adams, Musah, and McKennie can be expected to stay around for years to come. Pulisic and Weah will be the U.S. wingers in 2026 unless a new phenom replaces them. Both outside backs, Dest and Robsinon, will still be in their 20’s in 2026. With both only improving, they will also be expected to stay in the lineup for some time. Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson are also both young talents. They both will still be considered young come 2026. We could see both of them in 2030 even depending on their career trajectory. This team is only going to grow and continue to excite. If a few key roles can be filled, then their limits are beyond any U.S. team before them.        With a growing skill level has also come a growing fan base. Soccer is at an all time high in popularity in America. Nearly 20 million viewers tuned in to watch England face the United States on Black Friday. The fan base has also been propelled by Major League Soccer growing in popularity. 9 out of the 26 man roster sent to Qatar featured MLS players, including Zimmerman. With the ability to see World Cup stars at home, it is easy to see why more fans come out each season. A growing fanbase means more players and more potential talent. Expect to see more of a growing relationship between MLS and the USMNT heading into the 2026 host year.         Even with Saturday’s defeat and subsequent elimination from the World Cup, there is a lot to be hopeful about U.S. Soccer. Growing players, a growing fanbase, and being the 2026 World Cup hosts should be enough to make any fan of the USMNT smile.  Sources used in this article are listed below. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/17/sports/soccer/usmnt-world-cup-roster-ages.html https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/03/gregg-berhalter-bemoans-lack-of-world-class-striker-as-usa-exit-world-cup https://twitter.com/samborden/status/1599097276709842946?s=46&t=XN2YSQs1NtB0xv1rpViNcg https://en.as.com/soccer/what-is-gregg-berhalters-record-as-usmnt-manager-n-2/?outputType=amp https://variety.com/2022/sports/news/usa-england-world-cup-ratings-15-million-1235442592/amp/

By Jacob Sokol Ṥwiderski for Poland. Image courtesy of ESPN With the 2022 MLS season in the books, it is time to look ahead to the 2022 World Cup. 32 teams, from across the globe, will gather in Qatar at the end of November to participate in the World’s greatest tournament. With MLS growing every year, it is no surprise to see 36 players from the American league representing  their country. From Zimmerman to Swiderski, let’s take a look at each individual player and what we can expect to see from them in Qatar. USA Jordan Morris Current Team- Seattle Position- Forward  Age- 28 Morris making the final USA roster comes as a surprise to some. The Seattle forward hasn’t scored in any of his 6 World Cup Qualifying appearances, and he only scored 7 times in 29 appearances for Seattle this season. With Morris narrowly making the final roster ahead of Ricardo Pepi, the most he is likely to see the pitch is as a late substitute.  Jesús Ferreira Current Team- FC Dallas Position- Forward  Age- 21 The young Texan striker has been lethal for FC Dallas this year, scoring 18 goals in 35 appearances. Ferreira’s season ended in the Western Conference semi-final by the hands of Texas rival, Austin FC. Ferreira is a player who can spark magic and miss an easy opportunity in the same match. His playing time in Qatar will come down to his current form.  Kellyn Acosta Current Team- LAFC Position- Midfield  Age- 27  With an MLS trophy in hand, Acosta will be heading to Qatar on a high. The midfielder has been vital to LAFC’s success and consistency, winning both the MLS cup and Supporter’s Shield. With a roster filled with strong midfielders, it is unlikely Acosta will be in the starting line up. Acosta would be valuable to the United States as a substitute to finish off matches with a positive score line.  Cristian Roldan  Current Team- Seattle Sounders  Position- Attacking Midfielder  Age- 27 Roldan has been a consistent part of Seattle’s squad this season. Berhalter has also regularly included the Sounders midfielder in his plans. With a roster of players like Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, Roldan will have trouble squeezing into the lineup. In case of injury, or to finish up a match, Roldan could come in handy.  Aaron Long Current Team- New York Red Bulls Position- Center back  Age- 30  Long has been consistent for club and country heading into Qatar. With 4 goals in 30 matches for New York Red Bulls this season, Long also offers an offensive presence. Although there is a lot of speculation around the USA starting lineup, Long has a good shot of starting against Wales on November 21.  Shaq Moore Current Team- Nashville Position- Right back  Age- 26 Moore has recently started playing for Nashville after enjoying several successful seasons in La Liga. His presence has been consistent for each club he’s been on, but his international appearances have been more sporadic, with only four in World Cup Qualifiers. It is unlikely we will see much of Moore in Qatar.  DeAndre Yedlin Current Team- Inter Miami  Position- Right back  Age- 29 Having played for multiple English Premier League clubs, Yedlin is aware of what it takes to compete at the highest level. The 2022 MLS All-Star has been highly consistent this season with 35 appearances for Miami. With 9 appearances throughout World Cup Qualifiers, expect to see a lot more of Yedlin in Berhalter’s squad.  Walker Zimmerman  Current Team- Nashville Position- Center Back Age- 29 Zimmerman has been consistent for the United States throughout World Cup Qualifiers with 10 appearances and 1 goal. The MLS All-Star has 4 goals in 31 appearances for Nashville, showing off his aerial prowess. Alongside Long, the duo would be deadly off of set pieces.  Sean Johnson Current Team- NYCFC Position- Goalkeeper  Age- 33 Johnson has been one of the most consistent keepers in MLS for the last several seasons. With 14 clean sheets on the year, Johnson finished only second to MLS goalkeeper of the year, Andre Blake. The MLS All-Star will likely be viewed as third string, behind Horvath and Turner.  Canada James Pantemis Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Goalkeeper Age- 25 With only 13 appearances for CF Montreal in 2022 and no appearances for Canada’s senior side, Pantemis will likely be on the bench unless injuries arise.  Dayne St. Clair  Current Team- Minnesota United  Position- Goalkeeper  Age- 25 At. Clair has been consistently starting for Minnesota this season, though he only managed 5 clean screens in 32 appearances. He will be viewed as the backup to Borjan in Qatar.  Ismaël Koné Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Central Midfielder Age- 20 Koné managed to sneak onto the Canada World Cup roster thanks to a great season with Montreal. In 2022 he managed 3 goals and 4 assists with the Canadian MLS side. Koné has only managed 2 total appearances for Canada during World Cup Qualifiers. He is only 20, so this World Cup should be seen as a learning experience for him. It is unlikely he will see much, or any, playing time.  Alistair Johnston Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Right back  Age- 24 Johnston is known for his offensive abilities as a dynamic right back. With 4 goals and 4 assists, his dynamic runs paid off for a successful Montreal team in 2022. Having 19 appearances throughout World Cup Qualifying, Johnston is essentially a lock for a starting position in John Herdman’s lineup.  Richie Laryea Current Team- Toronto FC Position- Right back/midfield  Age-27 Like Johnston, Laryea is locked into a starting position under Herdman. With 17 appearances in World Cup Qualifiers, Laryea has been a consistent figure in Canada’s dominant run. With a short loan run at Nottingham Forest, Laryea has been matching up against World Class talent for both club and country. He ended the 2022 season back with Toronto.  Kamal Miller  Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Center Back  Age- 25 Miller has been starting the last several matches in World Cup Qualifying for Canada. With 13 total appearances during qualifying, he is expected to continue his run of form in Qatar. The MLS All-Star has also proven himself as an offensive threat with 2 goals and 3 assists in 29 matches for Montreal in 2022. Joining Montreal from Orlando City a couple years ago was the pivotal move that changed Miller’s World Cup trajectory.  Joel Waterman Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Center Back  Age- 26 With no international appearances under his belt, Waterman is genuinely lucky to sneak into Canada’s roster. His World Cup call up comes off the back of his most successful professional season, logging 32 appearances for Montreal in 2022. Prior to 2022 Waterman was still working his way into Montreal’s lineup. With his lack of experience it is unlikely we will see Waterman on the pitch in Qatar.  Mark-Anthony Kaye Current Team- Toronto FC  Position- Central Midfielder  Age- 27 Kaye spent most of the 2022 MLS season on the Colorado Rapids before moving to Toronto in the Summer to finish out the season. With 25 appearances across both MLS teams, Kaye has worked his way into a substitute role for Canada. He will likely be subbed in when Canada is controlling a match and needs to close it out.  Jonathan Osorio  Current Team- Toronto FC  Position- Central Midfielder  Age- 30 Osorio experienced a severe concussion during the 2022 MLS season. He was a regular part of Canada’s roster prior to the injury, both starting and coming off of the bench. It is unknown how much we will see Osorio in Qatar, but Herdman has said “feedback has been super positive.”  The Toronto midfielder has 9 goals in 23 matches for his club this season.  Samuel Piette Current Team- CF Montreal  Position- Defensive Midfielder  Age- 27 Piette has seen the field 8 times for Canada during World Cup Qualifiers. With a strong midfield, Canada will Piette as a good addition rather than a vital asset. In case of injury, Piette is a reliable player to fill a void. With 3 assists during the 2022 MLS season, Piette has also shown the ability to provide an attacking spark on rare occasions.  Lucas Cavallini Current Team- Vancouver Whitecaps Position- Forward  Age- 29 Cavallini managed 9 goals in 24 matches for the Whitecaps in 2022. With how difficult the season was for Vancouver, those are impressive numbers. The Canadian striker also managed 5 goals in 10 World Cup Qualifying matches. He most likely won’t make the starting lineup, but expect to see him come off the bench as a lethal late-game substitute.  Mexico Héctor Herrera Current Team- Houston Dynamo Position- Central Midfielder  Age- 32 Herrera has been making consistent appearances for Mexico throughout World Cup Qualifiers. He also started in a 4-0 friendly win against Iraq on Nov 9, getting subbed out at halftime. Herrera has been less consistent for Houston due to injury, only making 10 appearances this season. The former Porto Midfielder is likely to see plenty of playing time in Qatar, though he may be subbed out regularly in the second half.  Ecuador Diego Palacios Current Team- LAFC Position- Left Back  Age- 23 Palacios is coming off a championship season with LAFC, winning both the Supporter’s Shield and the MLS Cup. The MLS All-Star was consistent with 31 appearances for LAFC in 2022. He has only managed 3 appearances for Ecuador in World Cup Qualifiers. Palacios will most likely find himself on the bench in Qatar.  Xavier Arreaga Current Team- Seattle Sounders Position- Center Back  Age- 28 Arreaga has been in and out of the Ecuadorian lineup throughout World Cup Qualifying. With 9 appearances, often as a sub, his role in Qatar will likely be minimal. With 27 appearances for Seattle in 2022, he has shown he can be consistent if the time comes.  José Cifuentes Current Team- LAFC Position- Central Midfielder  Age-23 Cifuentes had a dominant season for LAFC as they won the Supporter’s shield and MLS cup. Cifuentes started nearly every match for LAFC, producing 7 goals and 6 assists. His impressive performances have allowed him to sneak into the Ecuadorian roster just months before Qatar. His first two international appearances came in Ecuador’s last two matches. With his current run of form, there is a good chance we see Cifuentes in the starting line up in the World Cup opener against Qatar.  Jhegson Méndez Current Team- LAFC Position- Defensive Midfielder  Age- 25 Méndez has been battling an injury during the 2022 MLS season with Orlando before making a move to LAFC. Making the move ended his season on a high as he lifted the MLS Cup with international teammate Cifuentes. Due to Méndez’s injury he was only featured 7 times during World Cup Qualifying. Even with injuries this season, he is likely to start in Qatar against the World Cup hosts.  Switzerland Xherdan Shaqiri Current Team- Chicago Fire Position- Right Winger Age- 31 Shaqiri brings loads of experience to the Swiss locker room, having played in two previous World Cups. The right winger has also played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, from Liverpool to Bayern Munich. With six appearances in World Cup Qualifiers, there is a good chance we will see more of Shaqiri in the World Cup group stages.  Cameroon  Oliver Mbaizo  Current Team- Philadelphia Union  Position- Right back Age- 25 Mbaizo was an integral part of the Philadelphia Union’s dominate season, last playing in the team’s MLS Cup Final loss. Mbaizo has also managed to log 4 appearances for Cameroon during World Cup Qualifiers and 3 appearances during the Africa Cup of Nations. Mbaizo will get a warm up match when Cameroon plays Panama on Nov.18, just days before the World Cup. Nouhou Tolo Current Team- Seattle Sounders  Position- Left back Age- 25  Tolo has come a long way since making his start at USL side, Tacoma Defiance. The right back has been a regular in the Sounders back line for the past several seasons now. He more recently has had success with Cameroon during World Cup Qualifiers, making 6 appearances. He is expected to see playing time in Qatar.  Poland Karol Ṥwiderski Current Team- Charlotte FC Position- Striker Age- 25 Ṥwiderski has been a pivotal part of Charlotte FC during their inaugural season in MLS. Scoring 10 goals in 30 games, Ṥwiderski was the club’s top goalscorer. With 5 goals in 9 games during World Cup Qualifiers, the polish striker has proven lethal for his country as well. He is expected to be in the starting line up next to Barcelona forward, Robert Lewandowski.  Wales Gareth Bale  Current Team- LAFC Position- Winger  Age- 33 Bale is heading to Qatar off of a fresh MLS Cup victory. It is true, Bale did not play much during his first season with LAFC, but it is likely he will be an integral part of the Wales roster during the 2022 World Cup. With 6 goals in 7 World Cup Qualifying matches, Bale is a dominate force for his country. He will be paired up against the United States in his opening match, November 21.  Costa Rica Daniel Chacón Current Team- Colorado Rapids 2 Position- Defensive midfielder Age- 21 Chacón plays for MLS NEXT side, Colorado Rapids 2, but has been on loan to Costa Rican club, Cartaginés. While being consistent for his club side, Chacón hasn’t been able to regularly play for Costa Rica. With only a handful of appearances for Costa Rica during World Cup Qualifiers, it is unlikely he will have a major impact for his country.  Bryan Oviedo  Current Team- Real Salt Lake Position- Left back/Left midfielder  Age- 32 Oviedo brings experience to the Costa Rican locker room. Having played in the English Premiership for both Everton and Sunderland, Oviedo will be familiar with the caliber of player that competes in the World Cup. With consistent appearances in World Cup Qualifiers, it is likely we will see more of Oviedo in Qatar.  Rónald Matarrita  Current Team- Cincinnati FC  Position- Left back Age- 28 Matarrita underwent ankle surgery in April which kept him out of Cincinnati’s lineup for six months. The Costa Rican left-back managed to start the last game of Cincinnati’s season, a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia. Being out of form, it is hard to tell what role he will have at this year’s World Cup.  Australia   Miloš Degenek  Current Team- Columbus Crew Position- Center Back  Age- 28 Degenek played 28 matches for Columbus Crew during their 2022 campaign. The Columbus Crew defender has also played for his national side 38 times, scoring once.  Degenek was a constant presence during World Cup Qualifiers, appearing 12 times. He has been an unused substitute in certain matches though, so it is uncertain what his role will be in Qatar.  Uruguay  Martín Cáceres Current Team- La Galaxy  Position- Center Back Age- 35 Cáceres brings a veteran presence to the Uruguay squad. Having played in England and Italy, he’s aware of the type of talent that will be displayed at the World Cup. The La Galaxy Center back managed 11 appearances during World Cup Qualifiers, though he is unlikely to see much playing time in Qatar.  The following World Cup teams do not have any MLS players on their rosters.  France Senegal Denmark Croatia Japan Brazil Qatar Netherlands England Iran Argentina Saudi Arabia Tunisia Spain Germany Belgium Morocco Serbia Portugal Ghana South Korea Sources are listed below.  https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-cincinnati-fullback-ronald-matarrita-out-6-months-after-ankle-surgery https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/world-cup-call-up-columbus-crew-defender-milos-degenek-joins-australia https://twitter.com/michaelsingh94/status/1587833431269982208?s=46&t=EP_rtMgUp77th6uaK7L11A

By Jacob Sokol Image courtesy of Atlanta United In the 128th minute of the 2022 MLS Cup Final, Gareth Bale equalized the match with a header to the top corner. LAFC would ultimately defeat the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout 3-0. The Welshman showed up in the final seconds and delivered, creating a true Hollywood moment for LAFC as they claimed their first MLS Cup. With Bale, the 5 time Champions League winner, clearly capable of such class, it makes you wonder where he was the rest of the season. Prior to the MLS Cup Final, Bale had played 347 total minutes across 12 games, scoring twice. For a player who used to score regularly for Real Madrid, these statistics can be seen as underwhelming. In the 2017/18 season, Bale scored 16 times in 26 games in La Liga, as well as 3 goals in 7 Champions League matches. Some looked at these numbers with high expectations for Bale to dominate MLS without acknowledging his most recent season at Real Madrid, where he played only 5 matches in La Liga, scoring just once. The “Retirement League” is the most common phrase used to describe the phenomenon of European superstars giving Major League Soccer their last few seasons before retirement. Bale’s signing was the latest example of the “Retirement League” moniker being tested. With Bale finding himself on an MLS bench the majority of the season, perhaps it is time we reevaluate and eliminate the term “Retirement League” from our rhetoric. “Retirement League” to Aspiring League On July 1, 2007, history was made in Major League Soccer. David Beckham had just announced a lucrative five-year contract with the LA Galaxy under the new Designated Player (DP) Rule created prior to the start of the 2007 season. The contract guaranteed Beckham $6.5 million a year and set a new precedent in MLS. This was now a league that could showcase global stars. Fifteen years later, with the clarity of hindsight, it is easy to say the signing of Beckham is one of the most important moments in the growth of MLS. There are now many designated players spread across Major League Soccer, which has elevated the level of play and profile of the league. Beckham, and those who followed in those initial years, would have more difficulty competing today in the environment they’ve helped to build. Bale, Giorgio Chiellini, and Lorenzo Insigne are among the recent players who still fuel the Retirement League stigma. They all left top European clubs after age 30 to come to Major League Soccer. It is important to note that only one of these three had a highly successful first season in MLS. In 11 matches the 31-year-old midfielder, Insigne, managed 6 goals and 2 assists. That is because Insigne does not seem to have come to MLS with the same outlook as Bale and Chiellini. Insigne had just come off of a 3rd place finish in Serie A with Napoli, producing 11 goals and 9 assists. He was, and is, still capable of playing at the top level in Europe. Bale and Chiellini were both on the brink of actual retirement. They came to MLS and gave neutral fans the sense that the MLS may still be a “Retirement League”. However, they have found themselves mostly on LAFC’s bench while the rest of the team achieved so much success. The DPs of today are different from what we are accustomed to in the past. Instead of Beckham, Thierry Henry, and David Villa, we are now looking at Karol Ṥwiderski, Thiago Almada, and Federico Bernardeschi. Players in their 20’s who have a strong desire for success and playing time that have now realized the benefits MLS has to offer. As a DP, you are automatically intended to be the star of the team, which comes with matching monetary benefits. For Ṥwiderski, DP status has also helped maintain a national team position with Poland. The European striker notched 10 goals for Charlotte FC this year as the club’s top goal scorer. We can expect to see him playing alongside Barcelona forward, Robert Lewandowski, at the 2022 World Cup. Dániel Gazdag does not have DP status but is still worth mentioning as an example of what MLS can offer to players looking for a national team spot. Gazdag has been receiving regular call ups for Hungary lately while also narrowly losing the Golden Boot race in MLS. New MLS Incentives For Roster Building Back in 2012, the MLS made a rule change to the DP rule to help incentivize teams to sign younger players. They created a young DP spot which would take a smaller cap hit than veteran DPs. This led to the league signing some very promising young players such as Miguel Almirón, Diego Rossi, and more recently players like Talles Magno, Facundo Torres and Cucho Hernández. The most recent roster incentive that MLS has implemented is the U-22 initiative, which started in 2021. This rules MLS clubs with three more roster spots to sign players under 22 years old to lucrative deals that would affect the salary cap less. Besides the reduction in the salary cap hit, these players keep their U-22 initiative status until they are 25. This provides clubs with the time to allow these young players to develop. This initiative is just beginning to take root but the league is already reaping some of the rewards from this new incentive structure. José Cifuentes is the first name that comes to mind as he has become a vital part of the LAFC squad that just won the MLS Cup. Another U-22 initiative that broke out this year was LA Galaxy’s Dejan Joveljić. While he never secured a starting role this season, he seemed to always find the net off the bench. This initiative could also develop into a way for MLS teams to retain their academy starlets for longer. This is already starting with players like San Jose’s Cade Cowell and LA Galaxy’s Efraín Álvarez. Overall, this initiative has added a new way to incentivize clubs to grow their rosters younger, with the intent of developing talent. Recent Exports Recently, MLS has shown an ability to sell young developing players on to other leagues. Over the last few seasons the league has broken several of their outbound transfer records time and time again. Here is a list of some of the more recent outbound transfer examples: Paxten Aaronson is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt in January for a deal worth around $4 million, after being featured in this year’s 2022 MLS Cup Final. He follows his brother, Brenden, to Europe with this move. The U20 Concacaf Golden Ball winner and Philadelphia Union Academy product is the latest trade, showing the class of Major League Soccer’s youth. Eighteen-year-old Goalkeeper, Gabriel Slonina, was purchased for $15 million by Chelsea earlier this year to break a Chicago Fire transfer record. Slonina has been consistent for Chicago all season, playing 32 matches. Real Madrid also showed interest in the young goalkeeper, which brought the initial bid of $5.8 million to $15 million from Chelsea. He also is now the 5th highest outgoing transfer fee for MLS as a whole. New England Revolution’s Adam Buksa was traded to RC Lens for $6 million this year. Buksa scored 17 goals in 32 matches in 2021, and 7 goals in just 10 matches in 2022, before transferring to RC Lens. Buksa has also scored 5 goals in 6 matches for Poland during World Cup Qualifiers. Taty Castellanos is enjoying a loan spell at Girona with NYCFC seeking a $15 million sum for the rising star. Palmeiras in Brazil and River Plate in Argentina both made bids for Castellanos, with neither matching the sum NYCFC hoped for. Premier League sides have also shown interest. Castellanos’s loan to Girona could be to show he can succeed in Europe and merit the high price tag. Tajon Buchanan was transferred for $7 million to the Champions League club, Club Brugge, after the 2021 MLS season. The price tag looks like a steal in hindsight with the 23-year-old becoming a regular for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League and the Champions League. Buchanan has also been consistent for Canada during World Cup Qualifiers and the Gold Cup. Miguel Almirón, a former Atlanta United midfielder, has been one of the best players in the English Premier League this season, scoring 8 goals for Newcastle United. Almirón produced 21 goals and 28 assists in 62 matches for Atlanta United, and won the MLS Cup in 2018. Almirón headed to Newcastle the following month, and now holds the record for highest MLS transfer fee at $26 million. Alphonso Davies made his start at the Vancouver Whitecaps and is now considered one of the best in the world at his position. The left back has won the Champions League and multiple Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. He is the second most valuable transfer out of MLS, behind Almirón, at $22 million. With over 100 appearances for Bayern Munich, he is arguably the most successful player to come out of Major League Soccer Daryl Dike enjoyed a loan spell at Barnsley in 2021, scoring 9 goals in 21 matches. Dike returned to the English Championship after West Brom offered Orlando City a $9.5 million transfer sum. Dike scored 19 goals in 41 matches for Orlando. Unfortunately he has been injured for West Brom so he has only managed 3 appearances so far. Brendan Aaronson, brother of Paxten, joined Leeds this year for a transfer fee of approximately $30 million, and has been essential to the club’s battle to stay out of relegation. With that transfer finalized, the Philadelphia Union ended up with $14 million for Aaronson because of prior negotiations with RB Salzburg. This makes him the 6th most valuable outgoing MLS player, just behind Slonina at $15 million. Aaronson is expected to be featured by the United States in the 2022 World Cup. Ricardo Pepi started a bidding war amongst Wolves, Augsburg, Wolfsburg, and an undisclosed Premier League club in the Winter of 2022. Augsburg eventually came out on top with a $20 million bid, making Pepi the 3rd most valuable outgoing transfer in MLS history. Djordie Mihailovic has been transferred to Dutch club, AZ Alkmaar, for January 2023. Mihailovic was in the running for MLS MVP during the early part of the 2022 season. He ended 2022 with 11 goals and 5 assists in 29 matches. At only 23 years old he has a bright future ahead in Europe. There is example after example to show the class of player being produced, developed, and maintained in Major League Soccer. Young players like Davies, Buchanan, Slonina, and both Aaronson brothers are being developed into top talent capable of competing against the best clubs on the planet. Major League Soccer is becoming a league where players can count on developing their potential. Players like David Beckham and those who followed hold an important part in the history of MLS. These stars attract buzz, sell tickets, and heighten the profile of the league. The more the league heads towards sustainable success, though, it is expected that these types of veteran players will be less of the lifeline of the league as they were in times past. If you come to MLS, today, expect to compete against young and hungry up-and-coming players. Major League Soccer has too many aspirations of developing stars to play the role of a retirement home. Here is a list of sources used for this article: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/nycfc-loan-striker-taty-castellanos-to-girona-fc https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/top-10-most-expensive-outbound-transfers-in-mls-history https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/11/30/david-beckham-departs-mls-after-earning-255-million/amp/

Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images With MLS Playoffs just a day away. Here are some predictions from the TopBin90 team and some of our content creating friends from around MLS: Jorge @topbin90 MLS Cup Winner: Montreal- One of the best teams in MLS this season. A team that had the second most wins in MLS and has shown to be strong both home and away (only three losses at home and two away). A strong midfield with the likes of Wanyama, and an MLS all star this season in Djordje Mihailovic, you add a striker who has been underrated this season in Romell Quioto (15 goals and 5 assist) they have a lot of ingredients of an MLS Cup Champion team. Montreal's biggest hurdle will be getting over Philadelphia Union, a team they weren’t able to beat this season but in my opinion Montreal are now a team that are more compact and have enough weapons to get them over the line. Dark Horse Team: Nashville. Without a doubt a big factor for Nashville will be how well Hany Mukhtar can be for them this postseason. With 34 goal contributions, Nashville will be looking at Hany to take them to glory and I think he’s a player that has proven he could do that. Not talked about enough is the fact that Nashville moved from the east to west and finished 5th. A team that will stay defensively compact and rely on the individual brilliance of a player like Hany is the perfect combination to cause upets in a one game playoff style tournament like MLS playoffs are. Player of the Tournament: Romell Quioto. Maybe a little Honduras bias on my end but I think Quioto will have a spectacular postseason. The Honduran has registered his best season in MLS in Montreal boasting 15 goals and 5 assists. Recently being named captain of Honduras and also becoming more of a veteran player with Montreal I think are important reasons for Quioto to transition from being a player that can contribute to a leader and a guy that Montreal look for in this post season. Brian @BAMaurerMedia MLS Cup Winner: Philadelphia Union - It just feels like it’s their time. Philadelphia has been historically good this season, and seem primed for another deep run. The difference this year to past campaigns is that they have a plethora of attacking options. Not only will the Union be defensively sound, but they will also be capable of putting multiple goals up on any opponent they face. Philadelphia should be able to return to the Eastern Conference Finals, the issue for them will be getting over the Conference Final hump mentally and pushing themselves into the Cup Final. Dark Horse Team: FC Cincinnati - Staying in the Eastern Conference with this one. If Cincinnati can get past the New York Red Bulls Pat Noonan will then likely go up against his former team, Philadelphia. A Cincinnati versus Philadelphia matchup could be incredible. Both teams have shown an ability to score a ton of goals all season. FC Cincinnati’s main three attacking options Brenner, Brandon Vazquez, and Luciano Acosta have combined for 46 goals this year. Cincinnati’s weaker defense has also made for some very entertaining high scoring affairs and against Philadelphia this would be no different. Plus you add the history Jim Curtin and Noonan have with working together in Philly and this makes for a fun potential matchup with storylines both on and off the pitch. If Cincinnati can outscore Philadelphia and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals that would be a major accomplishment for a team that just a year ago was a wooden spoon regular. For me they are a primed dark horse candidate because they have several playmakers who are in form and scoring goals, while they are lacking a bit defensively, they should be able to compete with anyone they face because of their ability to put goals in the back of the net. Player of the Tournament: Dániel Gazdag - Philadelphia have shown the ability in the past to stay defensively sound and keep games close. The difference in this Cup run and past seasons will be if their attack can stay hot and continue to score goals to get them across the finish line. If Philadelphia do indeed win their first MLS Cup then their playmaker Gazdag will be a key contributor to getting them there. Tyler @TTrent4 MLS Cup Winner: FC Dallas Dark Horse Team: FC Dallas Player of the Tournament: Paul Arriola I went full FC Dallas on this one. They have a perfect mix of veteran leadership, strong goalkeeping, and powerful attacking talents. Maarten Paes has been excellent in goal for Dallas and a strong defensive line in front of him, led by Matt Hedges, has led Dallas to concede the second fewest goals in MLS only behind the Philadelphia Union. The Dallas 3rd place finish could easily have been higher, with 11 draws on the season. In crunch time of the playoffs, being able to grind out results and keep games close is key. FC Dallas should be able to do that and they have several capable goal scorers to finish the chances they get with Jesús Ferreira, Paul Arriola, and Alan Velasco. Player of the tournament will probably come down to whoever is the difference maker in the final, so I went with Paul Arriola on a whim. However, I think Brenner from FC Cincinnati could have a big tournament on the Eastern Conference side of the bracket as well. Regardless of the outcome, I have a feeling that the Western Conference is going to take the Cup this season. Pierce MLS Cup Winner: LAFC - I hate to pick the odds-on favorite, but they are favorites for a reason. They are filled with star power, sure, but what makes them so good is their depth. When your players start to get tired, they can bring in guys off their bench that are just as good, if not better than your starters. LAFC are lethal up front and seemingly always attacking. This season, they were 2nd in the MLS in touches in the attacking third, 1st in touches inside the opponents penalty area, and 1st in both shots on target and xG. While their form towards the end of the season was shaky, they only lost 9 games all year, and 7 out of those 9 losses were decided by just one goal. This is the most talented team in the MLS this season and will have the trophy to show for it. Dark Horse Team: Cincinnati - I’m going to go with a pretty big underdog here and take Cincinnati. They were top 5 in the league in Goals, xG, % of shots on target, and chance creation. Do I think Cincinnati will win the cup? No. Do I think they will make a deeper run than they are expected to? Yes. It is their first playoff appearance in club history, so I expect the players to be extra motivated and their fans to travel well. They open up with New York Red Bulls, who have lost in the first round of the playoffs 3 years in a row. Cincinnati matches up nicely against them, as shown evident by them forcing draws in both meetings this season. I like Cincinatti to pull off the upset in the first round and potentially give Philly a hard time as well. Player of the Tournament: Sebastian Driussi - Driussi was runner-up to Mukhtar in the MLS Golden Boot race, but actually finished with more non-penalty goals than the leading marksman (Driussi 18, Mukhtar 17). He also created the 5th most chances in the league this season. I think he puts the team on his back and leads the tournament in G+A. He’ll help them cruise to the Western Conference Final and If anyone can take down LAFC, I think a Driussi-led Austin FC has the best chance. Lee @cltfcfantv MLS Cup Winner: CF Montreal Dark Horse Team: Austin Player of the Tournament: CF Montreal wins it all. Looking back over the last 6 games at least in the east and Montreal are the team in form. The added fact that Philly while winning the east there current form looks a little suspect to be able to carry it all the way through. Montreal also has a decent away record and should they run into Philly along the way I doubt that Philly has enough in the tank to beat out Montreal. Montreal have scored 63 goals this season which is the 4th best in the MLS while also boasting the best away record. The pressure to win out is more on Philly and LAFC. Montreal takes Austin in the final. Dark horse I am going with Austin. I think these are the guys Charlotte will look towards at least for the first few seasons to emulate.. To go from 2nd from bottom in the West to 2nd this season is impressive in itself plus I have a soft spot for these guys. Do they have enough in the tank to beat out LAFC? Probably not but they did take it to them during the season. The only concern I have for them is that the form seems to be dipping when it's most crucial. Shout out to the weareaustintv boys! Vaughn @vipollman MLS Cup Winner: CF Montreal Dark Horse Team: “Texas” Player of the Tournament: Romell Quioto History shows it is very hard for a team with regular season dominance to carry their success over to postseason glory. Let’s put it this way: Only once since 2012 has a #1 seed even made it to the final. That team was the 2017 Toronto FC side that won the domestic treble, winning the Supporter’s Shield, Canadian Championship, and MLS Cup. Last year saw the 4-seeds square off in the Final. So, odds are not in LAFC or Philadelphia’s favor. For that reason, I have selected Club de Foot Montreal as my pick to lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, or “MLS Cup”. Montreal has 1 loss since mid-July. Since then, they have gone 11W – 1L – 3D. As the two seed in the East, they will have the advantage of playing all of their playoff games at home unless they run into Philly. If they do, Montreal boasts the best road record in MLS, earning a post-shootout era record 35 points on the road in 2022. They are a tough team to beat, they routinely shred teams tactically, and if they go on the deep run I predict, Romell Quioto will be a big part of their success as he sort of quietly contributed 15 goals and 5 assists in the regular season. To choose a dark horse contender is really like shooting fish in a barrel. I’m going to cheat a little bit by selecting “Texas” as my dark horse front runner. While Austin and FC Dallas are the Western #2 and #3 seeds, respectively, I think they qualify as dark horse candidates as they are underrated by most, and they have to go through The Mighty Black and Gold, LAFC. For Austin they have the capability to follow the path laid by Atlanta United to become the 2nd team to win MLS Cup in their 2nd season. Sebastián Driussi can be “that guy” who can single-handedly carry a team to a trophy. Thanks in large part to his goal scoring prowess, Austin actually finished the season 3rd in the league with 65 goals scored, behind only Philadelphia and LAFC. If they can score while defending pragmatically, the Cup will not be out of their reach. Now, if you had to guess which team had the second fewest goals conceded during the 2022 MLS season you probably would not guess that it was FC Dallas. They say that defense wins championships, and FC Dallas is a team that has gone well under the radar for how good their defense has been, conceding a mere 37 goals, one fewer than LAFC. Their road record leaves a lot to be desired, and their offense doesn’t evoke fear in their opponents, but that’s why they are an ideal dark horse candidate because no one thinks they will realistically win the Cup, especially when you consider they’ve failed to win the Cup in their first…..26 seasons. Maybe this is the year they get the proverbial monkey off their back. Blake @MLSGoneWild MLS Cup Winner: Philadelphia Union- The Union are good at soccer. I should just leave it at that but that wouldn’t do their 2022 season justice. With a roster that consists of homegrown contributors, international bargains, and intra-league steals, they will go down as one of the best teams in MLS history. Defensively, their 26 goals conceded set an All Time MLS record for fewest goals conceded in a single MLS season. Offensively, they became the 1st team in MLS history to win 4 games by 6 or more goals. 49 of their 72 goals were scored at Subaru Park which ties the all-time MLS record for most home goals in a single season. Oh, and they were undefeated at home in 2022. I guess now would be the perfect time to mention they will have homefield advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs unless they match up with LAFC in the final. Notice I haven’t mentioned a single name yet? This is a team effort. Head coach, Jim Curtin, has this team bought in and playing one of the most distinct and efficient styles in all of MLS. They press from the front, are tough to break down, force you into mistakes, and are absolutely lethal in transition. Was that convincing enough? Dark Horse Team: FC Cincinnati & Real Salt Lake- Look, I know you just spent a minute or so reading why the Philadelphia Union were going to win MLS Cup but I failed to mention that there is a good chance they will have to go though the only Eastern Conference playoff team to beat them in the regular season to do so; FC Cincinnati. Former Union assistant and 1st year head coach for FCC, Pat Noonan, has transformed the 3x Wooden Spoon winners into the number 5 seed in this year's MLS Cup Playoffs in just 1 season. They added 29 points on to their 2021 total, conceded 18 fewer goals, increased their front 3’s goal contributions from 19g/15a in 2021 to 46g/22 in 2022, and rank 3rd in points v. EC playoff teams this season. But Blake, they’re going to be playing away for the majority of the playoffs! They earned 25 away points this season which is good for 4th in the Eastern Conference. If FCC are to make a run, every game is going to be an absolute shootout, but that’s exactly what we like over here at MLS Gone Wild. The saying usually goes, “offense wins games, but defense wins championships” but in FCC’s case, that defense isn’t going to win them anything. Their playoff success relies heavily on Acosta, Vazquez, and Brenner outscoring the opposition. Watch out, Philly. My Western Conference Dark Horse is a team that has played this role a number of times over the past half decade. As the 7 seed last year, RSL went on to take down 2 seeded Seattle and 3 seeded SKC on their way to the Western Conference Final. In 2018 as the 6, and last, seed in the Western Conference, they advanced over 3 seed LAFC. If they were to defeat Austin on Sunday afternoon, RSL will become the lone MLS side to advance in 4 of the last 5 postseasons. Not only does this team have a history of playing spoiler, they have playoff experience as they have 6 of their starters returning from last year’s playoff run, they split points with Austin this season, they understand that they don’t have to dominate a game to win it, and head Coach Pablo Mastroeni has this team believing. I didn’t pick the upset, but I won’t be surprised if it happens and you shouldn’t be either. Player of the Tournament: Andre Blake- I’ve got to go with my name partner Andre Blake on this one. He is 1st in MLS in clean sheets, 1st in save percentage, concedes the fewest goals/90, and has prevented the 2nd most goals in all of MLS with 10.7 goals prevented. The 2022 Union have been historically good defensively and a lot of that credit falls to the Jamaican international. If Philly do, like I predict, go on to win this year’s 2022 MLS Cup, I believe Andre Blake will join the likes of Tony Meola, Nick Rimando, Stefan Frei, and Sean Johnson as the 5th goalie to win the prestigious MLS Cup MVP award. Vas @boredastorian94 MLS Cup Winner: Nashville SC Dark Horse Team: New York Red Bulls Player of the Tournament: Hany Mukhtar Hernan @WeAreAustinTV MLS Cup Winner: LAFC, they have been the team to beat since early on this season. With a front three of Gareth Bale, Chicho Arango & Carlos Vela it’s hard to say that they will choke once again. I have my doubts on Gareth and how sold he is on helping LAFC win MLS cup but LAFC has an insane squad with tremendous amount of depth. Let's give credit to Cifuentes, a lowkey hero for the black and gold this season with 7 goals & 7 assists he's surely to pick up Bales slack going into the playoffs. Not only have they been solid in the attack, LAFC has only lost 3 points from a winning position, so if anyone lets these guys score first good luck on coming back. 38 goals conceded, 9 clean sheets, Giorgio Chiellini & Crepaeu yeah good luck. LAFC my winners for 2022. Dark Horse Team: AUSTIN FC, Why does it feel wrong typing this out? From bottom of the Western Conference in 2021 to 2nd seed in the Western Conference in 2022, Austin has shown that it can compete with the elite MLS clubs. A team that finds itself playing its best football when the media is against them has once again been “doubted” by the MLS experts. Lets not forget ATX has the Golden Boot & MVP runner up Sebastian Driussi who is looking to cement his name in MLS history, plus a hungry Diego Fagundez who is reminding the league just who he is with 15 assists and 6 goals in 2022. Austin has a home match vs RSL this sunday and if they win that then a home match vs Dallas/Minnesota will follow. Q2 will be packed to the rim and cheering on the Verde team, beware of this team when they are in full force. Player of the Tournament: Cristian Arango

By Brian Maurer Image courtesy of Getty Images The final international break before the 2022 World Cup is fast approaching. While the majority of the USMNT roster is locked in, these September friendlies will be a final opportunity for several players to try and book their ticket to Qatar. I compiled a list of players who are on the bubble of making the USMNT World Cup roster. This list includes these players’ recent form, and then I included a roster prediction after going through the list. Attackers The striker position, specifically, is going to continue to garner the most interest for most USMNT fans. This is because only one player out of a likely three could be considered a safe bet to make the USMNT roster. Jesús Ferreira, at this point, is close to a lock for the World Cup roster, but there are at least two other striker positions open that will be based on both form and performances during the September camp. Several USMNT strikers have come out of the gate firing during the start of their European seasons, while a couple MLS strikers have also continued to maintain solid runs of form late into their MLS campaigns. On the wings, Christian Pulišić and Tim Weah are both locked in. Brenden Aaronson and Gio Reyna can both be used as depth wingers as well. However, there could still be another wing spot open for a fringe player to make a push. Jordan Pefok - Union Berlin - Pefok is off to a flying start with his new club Union Berlin. He has notched three goals and three assists* in six starts in all competitions. This start has put himself firmly back into the striker conversation for the World Cup. Josh Sargent - Norwich City - Sargent has also forced himself back into the roster conversation with a solid start. He has been given the opportunity as Norwich City’s starting center forward for five straight games. He has five goals and an assist in those five games, and Norwich has won all five of those games. Haji Wright - Antalyaspor - Wright has continued his blistering club form with five goals in his first six starts for Antalyaspor. Whether this is enough to give him another look after failing to impress with the national team over the summer will be known once the September camp roster is announced. Brandon Vazquez - FC Cincinnati - Vazquez has been playing at an MLS all-star level all season. Over the summer he has been in particularly great form scoring eight goals and one assist in his past twelve games. Paul Arriola - FC Dallas - Arriola’s form has begun to dip. He has only one goal and two assists since the beginning of July. Jordan Morris - Seattle Sounders - Morris, and the Sounders as a whole, have struggled to maintain form all season. He does have seven goals on the season, but overall his form has been inconsistent. Malik Tillman - Rangers - Tillman has made noise since joining the Rangers. Especially in their Champions League qualifiers where he has a goal and an assist in three qualifiers. He has also firmly cemented himself in the Rangers starting line-up in the Scottish Premiership. Berhalter could definitely be giving Tillman another look in the September camp. Midfielders The USMNT midfield is just about locked in. Weston McKinnie, Yunus Musah, Tyler Adams, Kellyn Acosta, and Reyna (if he stays healthy) are all locks. Aaronson is also a lock but he has just recently been added to more of a midfield role from where he was initially used as a winger, so he is likely to be implemented as depth in both the midfield and on the wing. Reyna is another player who is likely to fill a depth role in both the midfield and on the wing, as long as he can stay healthy. There are still a few players who could challenge for a spot as depth midfielders, especially since the roster size was increased from the standard 23 up to 26. Djordje Mihailovic - CF Montreal - Mihailovic has returned from his injury and should likely get a call into the September camp as he missed out on the summer camp due to his injury. Since Mihailovic returned in July he has only scored one goal in nine games. However, he is averaging four shot creating actions (SCA) per game** and has 2.5 xA in that time, so the creativity has continued to be there, the final product has not. Montreal continues to be one of the stronger teams in MLS having only lost once since Mihailovic’s return. Luca de la Torre - Celta Vigo - De la Torre has only made two appearances for 12 minutes this season. His club situation continues to drag his potential down. However, Berhalter definitely seems to appreciate his talent in the midfield so he could still get a look in the September camp. Cristian Roldán - Seattle Sounders - Roldán and the Sounders continue to struggle this season and have only won three of their past nine games. He has one goal in that time, granted he has also missed the past few games due to injury. He, like Morris, are struggling to get results for their team, and are in jeopardy of being a part of the first Seattle team to not make the playoffs. Defenders This is another important position to keep an eye on as one of the locked in starting center backs, Miles Robinson, has gone down with an injury which will keep him off the plane. The other big question, outside of the USMNT’s striker situation, will be who is the starting center back alongside Walker Zimmerman. Sergiño Dest and Antonee (Jedi) Robinson are also locked into the roster. However, Jedi Robinson’s injury will need to be monitored and the adjustment to the roster if he indeed can not go will be a massive swing. DeAndre Yedlin’s experience also makes him a likely lock for the World Cup. However other depth fullback positions are likely up for grabs if someone can get on a heater going into the final months before the team is selected. Cameron Carter-Vickers - Celtic - Carter-Vickers continues to be a regular in the Celtic backline. The biggest performance so far this season was a 4-0 clean sheet that was kept against the other Scottish powerhouse, Rangers, in the beginning of September. Aaron Long - RB New York - Long has had a pretty strong resurgence this season since recovering from his injury. Of late, the results have not been as strong as they were earlier in the season. Long does continue to be a strong presence in the RBNY back line and has actually found the net four times as well. He is very likely to get a call up in September and could easily be on the plane for Qatar with the unfortunate Robinson injury. Chris Richards - Crystal Palace - Richards made a big move to Crystal Palace this summer. Although, it could take him some time to work his way into Patrick Vieira’s starting lineup. He is getting a few sub appearances, and got the start for the club’s first EFL Cup match against third tier side Oxford United, where he helped keep the clean sheet. A call up for the September camp is likely and his skills and ability even without regular club contributions likely gets him on the plane, especially with the loss of Robinson. Erik Palmer-Brown - Troyes - Palmer-Brown has been a regular starter so far this season for Troyes as they are in another relegation battle trying to stay Ligue 1. This past weekend he was subbed off a bit earlier than usual, but that was likely to try and push for a much needed draw. His passing percentage has not been superb this season (82%) but that is also because he is being asked to launch a lot of long balls forward as Troyes are forced to absorb pressure and defend. His short and medium passing accuracy has been great. It will be interesting to see if he gets another look in September. George Bello - Arminia Bielefeld - Bello continues to struggle to get minutes at Arminia Bielefield. The move to Europe has not been good so far for Bello and has likely hurt his chances of making the plane. If he gets an opportunity in September he will really have to showcase something special. Joe Scally - Borussia Mönchengladbach - Unlike Bello, Scally’s move to the Bundesliga has gone fantastically well. He has solidified himself as the starting right back at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and also scored a goal in their German Cup 9-1 blowout win. Scally has a great opportunity if he can make an impression in September, that is if he can shake off the rough performances he had for the USMNT over the summer. Although, his performances then might have already sealed his fate on missing out in this World Cup campaign as his summer performance was really really poor. Reggie Cannon - Boavista - Cannon continues to be a mainstay in Boavista’s backline. The difference between this season and his past couple seasons is the team is starting to get some results. It will be interesting to see if Cannon can continue to help Boavista if they can actually make a bit of a jump from where they have been in the past couple of seasons. Regardless, Cannon will likely be given a look in September, and unless something drastically changes he is also likely to be able to ink his place on the roster as he has been able to maintain a regular rotational spot on the USMNT for several years now. Sam Vines - Antwerp - Vines has been on an absolute tear this season for Antwerp. With the recent Jedi Robinson injury scare, Vines could easily be given another look in the September camp. Vines’ good performance in the 2021 Gold Cup tournament will likely be in the back of Berhalter’s mind as well. Keepers The keeper situation is close to locked in. Matt Turner and Zach Steffen are both locks for the World Cup. The third keeper slot is still up for grabs. Ethan Horvath - Luton Town - Horvath has finally found himself a starting job at Luton Town this season. So far he has two clean sheets and has been able to hold onto a decent save percentage (61.9%). If he can maintain his role and put up a few more solid performances he could likely stamp his place as the third keeper on the plane, although he does face some stiff competition from Sean Johnson. Sean Johnson - NYCFC - Johnson, who started out the season so well, is starting to feel what it's like to be a part of a team that is in really poor form. NYCFC went through the ringer this summer losing striker Taty Castellanos and their coach Ronny Deila. This has led to some really poor team performances, including some poor results from Johnson. While he has 13 clean sheets this year, he has only one from his past nine games. During that nine game stretch he has also given up 18 goals which is 4.5 more than the post shot expected goals (PSxG) he has faced in that time. If this poor run of form continues he will likely lose out to Horvath for the third keeper spot. World Cup Roster Prediction 1.0 With all these fringe players’ form in mind, here is my first prediction for the USMNT World Cup roster. I will likely update it with a 2.0 closer to the November roster release. Forwards (7) Midfielders (8) Defenders (8) Goalkeepers (3) Christian Pulišić Tim Weah Jesús Ferreira Josh Sargent Haji Wright Paul Arriola Malik Tillman Gio Reyna Brenden Aaronson Yunus Musah Weston McKennie Tyler Adams Kellyn Acosta Djordje Mihailovic Luca de la Torre Walker Zimmerman Sergiño Dest Antonee “Jedi” Robinson DeAndre Yedlin Chris Richards Cameron Carter-Vickers Aaron Long Sam Vines Matt Turner Zack Steffen Ethan Horvath *All stats found on FBref.com **These calculations do not include Mihailovic’s 45 minutes against Chicago Fire on 9/13/22

By Tyler Trent Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Charlotte FC’s play has picked up under the leadership of interim manager Christian Lattanzio, but will the black and blue still be able to make the playoffs? After Saturday’s heartbreaking loss against Inter Miami, Charlotte currently sits at 8th in the table with 26 points. Last year’s cutoff in points to make the playoffs with 7th place in the Eastern Conference was 48 points. With only 13 games remaining, Charlotte would need to average 1.69 points per game over the rest of the season. Throughout the season so far, they are averaging 1.24 points per game. The full TopBin90 writing team of Jorge, Brian, and Tyler, along with special guests Lee (CLTFC Fan TV), Vaughn Pollman (Guesting on all your favorite Charlotte FC podcasts), Carroll Walton (Charlotte Ledger), Kyran (QC Soccer Report), and Matt Swift (Mint City Soccer Show) give their takes on the remaining games on the schedule, result prediction, final point tally, and the big question – do we make the playoffs? The Remaining Games 7/23 - Toronto FC (Away) Jorge: Draw Brian: Win Tyler: Win Lee: Draw Vaughn: Win Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 7/30 - Columbus Crew (Home) Jorge: Win Brian: Win Tyler: Win Lee: Win Vaughn: Draw Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 8/3 - DC United (Home) Jorge: Win Brian: Win Tyler: Win Lee: Win Vaughn: Win Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 8/6 - Chicago Fire (Home) Jorge: Win Brian: Win Tyler: Win Lee: Win Vaughn: Win Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 8/13 - Los Angeles FC (Away) Jorge: Loss Brian: Loss Tyler: Loss Lee: Loss Vaughn: Loss Kyran: Loss Swift: Loss Carroll: Loss 8/17 - New York City FC (Away) Jorge: Draw Brian: Draw Tyler: Loss Lee: Loss Vaughn: Loss Kyran: Loss Swift: Loss Carroll: Loss 8/21 – Orlando City (Home) Jorge: Win Brian: Win Tyler: Draw Lee: Win Vaughn: Draw Kyran: Draw Swift: Win Carroll: Win 8/27 – Toronto FC (Home) Jorge: Win Brian: Win Tyler: Win Lee: Win Vaughn: Win Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 9/3 – FC Cincinnati (Away) Jorge: Loss Brian: Draw Tyler: Loss Lee: Draw Vaughn: Draw Kyran: Loss Swift: Win Carroll: Draw 9/10 – New York City FC (Home) Jorge: Draw Brian: Loss Tyler: Draw Lee: Draw Vaughn: Loss Kyran: Loss Swift: Draw Carroll: Draw 9/17 – Chicago Fire (Away) Jorge: Win Brian: Draw Tyler: Win Lee: Win Vaughn: Win Kyran: Win Swift: Win Carroll: Win 10/1 – Philadelphia Union (Home) Jorge: Draw Brian: Win Tyler: Draw Lee: Loss Vaughn: Loss Kyran: Loss Swift: Loss Carroll: Loss 10/9 – New York Red Bulls (Away) Jorge: Draw Brian: Loss Tyler: Loss Lee: Win Vaughn: Loss Kyran: Loss Swift: Loss Carroll: Draw Total Points: Jorge: 49 points Brian: 50 points Tyler: 47 points Lee: 45 points Vaughn: 44 points Kyran: 45 points Swift: 51 points Carroll: 50 points Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Team End of Season Awards: We thought it would be fun to look at three end of season awards as well to see if there was any consensus on the three main postseason awards for the club. Jorge Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Yordy Reyna Player of the Season: Guzman Corujo Brian Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Yordy Reyna Player of the Season: Karol Swiderski Tyler Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Sergio Ruiz Player of the Season: Guzman Corujo Lee Leading Goal Scorer: Andre Shinyashiki Assist Leader: Ben Bender Player of the Season: Guzman Corujo Vaughn Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Ben Bender Player of the Season: Guzman Corujo Kyran Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Ben Bender Player of the Season: Kristijan Kahlina Matt Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Ben Bender Player of the Season: Brandt Bronico Carroll Leading Goal Scorer: Karol Swiderski Assist Leader: Ben Bender Player of the Season: Guzman Corujo The Bottom Line Jorge (@Bellatorisjorge) Charlotte will be in and around playoff spots the rest of the season. The reality is that the squad build isn't as bad as Miguel portrayed it to be, but it also isn't as good as as a top contending team. Charlotte’s reality is 7th-10th and with a few good away performances and maintaining a good home form, I can definitely see Charlotte finishing 7th in the East. Charlotte have to capitalize on the recent form Yordy Reyna has displayed, the goals from Andre Shinyashiki, and hopefully a revitalized Karol Swiderski to continue to make their push. The away points are far and few now but I think the resilience this team has shown all season will get them the necessary results. Brian (@BAMaurerMedia) Thinking they can get themselves on a heater to end July and to start August. Predicting they grab their longest win streak of the season (4 games in a row) starting this weekend in Toronto. Also predicting Charlotte FC get a couple signings at the end of the transfer window to help provide some depth needed to get some extra points during the tough stretch of games at the end of the season. Overall, my bold prediction is that Karol Swiderski comes into strong finishing form, resoundingly becoming the team’s leading goal scorer, and player of the year. With Swiderski leading the way with his goal scoring the team sneaks into 6th place in the conference and a playoff spot on the road against CF Montreal with a chance to get some revenge. Tyler (@ttrent4) With 47 points, it will be hard to tell if Charlotte FC will make the playoffs. The magic number in past seasons has been 48. I think I have a pretty optimistic take on the above games, but points could easily be dropped in matches I predicted a win. With a potentially impending midfield signing, who knows what could change for Charlotte FC and their playoff hopes. Despite my 47 points prediction, I still have high hopes and belief that Charlotte can make the playoffs in their inaugural season. I think Swiderski will pick up his scoring and finish the season with 10-12 goals. Sergio Ruiz has a solid chance of passing Bender as the assist leader on the team with his recent run of starts and good performances under Lattanzio. Team MVP was a tough pick for me between Bronico and Corujo and I think both are deserving, so it was truly a coin flip for me. Vaughn (@VIPollman) 1.4 points per game. History tells us that’s the rough target for maintaining pace to be a fringe playoff team. Looking at today’s MLS Eastern Conference standings there are 6 teams vying for the 7th and final playoff spot who are chasing that 1.4 ppg target, and we’re among them. Projecting where we finish all depends on our ability to earn more wins on the road and I see our best opportunities to do that at Toronto, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Anything less than 7 points from those games and we will see ourselves on the wrong side of the playoff line unless we can earn some marquee wins against tougher opponents down the stretch. I have us finishing on 44 points, or 1.29 ppg, painfully short of a playoff spot. We’ll have to do better than I project to squeak into the playoffs, and as I predicted before the season, this isn’t necessarily a reflection of us and more so that we are part of a very strong and balanced Eastern Conference. Hopefully I’m wrong (the jinx is on), we can go on a run, and pick up 4 to 6 additional points by finding our scoring boots and finishing with a positive goal differential and a playoff appearance. Kyran (@QCSoccerReport) It will go down to Decision Day, but Charlotte, in my opinion, will miss out on playoffs by a point or two. We can compete against anyone at home, but away matches against LAFC, NYCFC, and Red Bulls will be tough. However, picking up maximum points against clubs at the bottom of the standings (CHI, DC, & TOR) is realistic. I think if there's a club we will pass it will be Columbus, therefore the match against them at home will be crucial. I don’t think we will catch Cincinnati because they are an improving side who we will lose to and 7 of their last 13 matches are against clubs that are not in a playoff spot right now. Swiderski will pass Shinyashiki to end up with 11 goals, especially if we bring in a midfielder to help supply him with chances. Bender will end up with the most assists. Reyna is going to continue to emerge as another playmaker. It’s not a coincidence that the matches where we dominated at home (vs NSH, FCC, & NER) all included Bender assists. Also, I feel McNeill will flourish as a supersub. For Team MVP, I chose between Corujo and Kahlina. Corujo has brought so much stability in our centerback situation. I have more concerns about our fullback situation. I went with Kahlina though. He’s had 3.3 saves per 90 and a save percentage of 72%. Matt Swift (@160_Swiftly) First and foremost, we were never "screwed," and fans will see just how much depth we have in this squad this second half of the season. With an in-form Yordy Reyna, a revitalized Karol Swiderski, and weapons off the bench, I can see us finishing with around 51 points, good enough for 6th place in the East. We have a favorable three-game home stand that should propel us forward and get us where we need to be to finish strong. Carroll (@CarrollRogers) To me, the next four games determine if Charlotte FC makes the playoffs. Do they carry the momentum of the Chelsea win into Toronto and pick up only their second road win of the season? Then they come home to play three games in a week at “the fortress” - all “winnable” games at Bank of America Stadium against Columbus, D.C. United and Chicago. If they win those four - is it possible?! - hold their own against some tough Northeast opponents down the stretch, Swiderski hits his stride, the team continues to grow under Lattanzio, and possibly adds another midfielder, Charlotte makes some more history this inaugural season. Buckle up! Final Thoughts Opinions are divided between the writers of TopBin90 and our guests. This seems to point toward what we all expect going into the end of the season: a team capable of making the playoffs, but still suffering from growth spurts and some poor results early in the season. We all hope Matt Swift, Carroll, and Brian's predictions are the most correct as their point totals would most certainly guarantee playoffs for the inaugural season. TopBin90 wants to give a special shout out to all our collaborating guests. Each of these individuals has put forth an incredible amount of time and dedication into supporting the team, creating content, and making the Charlotte FC community as special and inviting as it is. Please reach out and give each of them a follow and check out their work. Each guest's twitter profile is hyperlinked in the bottom line section above.

By Brian Maurer Image courtesy of FC Porto Charlotte FC are signing José Tavares from Porto's development program to be their first ever MLS NEXT Pro coach. Tavares was Porto’s U19 coach this past season and has been involved in various different positions in Porto’s development program for over a decade. He has also been an assistant coach for Luís Castro, who currently coaches for recently promoted, Brazilian side Botafogo. What Is MLS NEXT Pro? MLS NEXT Pro is the new developmental league for MLS teams. It is a professional league, considered a tier below MLS, but higher than the academy level. One way to look at MLS NEXT Pro is that it is a bridge for players from the academy level to MLS. 2022 was the inaugural season for the league. Charlotte FC will be joining MLS NEXT Pro for the start of next season. Tavares’ Developmental Background One of the great recent achievements was Porto’s U19 team winning the 2019 UEFA Youth League. At the time Tavares was the academy manager. Some of the players on that cup winning side have gone on to become big time prospects around the world. Here is a list of some of the elite talent that came from that team and whom Tavares has helped develop: Diogo Costa , who is now the starting goalkeeper for Porto’s senior team, and who helped them become the 2022 Portuguese champions. Fábio Vieira , who is now a regular contributing midfielder for Porto’s senior team, and also helped them win the Portuguese title this past year. He was sold to Arsenal this summer for a reported 35 million euros*. Fábio Silva, a highly touted prospect who is currently on loan with Belgian side Anderlecht from Premier League team Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton paid** a reported 35 million pounds for Silva in 2020. João Mário, starting defender for Porto’s senior team and 2022 Portuguese champion. Vitinha , starting midfielder for Porto’s senior team that won the 2022 Portuguese championship. Vitinha was transferred*** to Paris Saint-Germain this summer for a reported 40 million euros. What is clear from this recent crop of players is that Tavares is experienced at progressing players successfully through the youth ranks into being regular contributors for the first team. If he can provide a similar leadership role for the players on Charlotte FC’s MLS NEXT Pro team, then Charlotte should see players who are developing from the academy through to the first team using the MLS NEXT Pro team as a bridge to help get them the professional experience they need to succeed. Style Of Play: A Look At Castro’s Shakhtar Donetsk Based on Tavares being an understudy for Castro, Charlotte FC should expect a coach with a similar coaching philosophy to current head coach Christian Lattanzio. Based on an analysis done by Niklas Hemmer-Hiltenkamp on Total Football Analysis ⁺, Castro used an attacking style 4-2-3-1 which would transition into a 4-1-4-1 when defending while he was the coach for Shakhtar Donetsk. Hemmer-Hiltenkamp reported that Castro would have the fullbacks push up into the wide spaces and have his midfield stay compact in central areas to provide multiple methods of progressing the ball through the middle. Here is a diagram below to provide a visual example: This is one example of the shape that Castro used to progress the ball through the middle, according to Hemmer-Hiltenkamp. While there were several different methods that Castro used in attack, the main focus was to progress the ball centrally. This is a similar approach to how Lattanzio likes to set up attacking phases. As you can see in the above visual it looks similar to how Lattanzio establishes Charlotte FC’s shape. A difference being that Lattanzio would have a fullback pull inside to become a pivot alongside a single defensive midfielder. Philosophy and Development Tavares looks to be an ideal match to be Charlotte FC’s inaugural MLS NEXT Pro coach. He has over a decade of experience working in the developmental program at Porto, which is one of the best programs in the world. He has success developing players from the academy into high level senior prospects earning big time transfer fees to some of the most famous clubs in the world. This fits with Charlotte’s desire to develop stars in the Carolinas. Based on the attacking philosophy of Castro, who Tavares was an assistant under, it appears that Tavares will be preaching a similar philosophy with the MLS NEXT Pro team that Lattanzio preaches with the senior squad. *Transfer fees and stats were found in articles and links on transfermarkt.us , unless otherwise mentioned. **Found on theathletic.com ; article was written by Steve Madeley ***Found on ESPN.com ; article was written by Adriana Garcia. ⁺I highly recommend Total Football Analysis , they have a ton of different analytical breakdowns from many different writers from around the world.