Henry Bushnell

Soccer fans are afraid. ICE and CBP say they're part of the Club World Cup security operation... but “how can we trust it's really for security?” one fan asked. “It just really feels like they're setting up a trap," he told me. So, he and others are staying home. sports.yahoo.com/soccer/artic...

So, after 8 years(!) at Yahoo Sports, some news… I’m joining the superteam at The Athletic (@theathletic.com). 🧵...

Annual reminder that, for all the talk of “hostile” environments, U.S.-Mexico games are mostly just a really cool, unique celebration of this sport

2.5 years ago, Sebastian Berhalter asked his dad if he had a chance to make a USMNT roster. "We had to have a real, honest conversation," Gregg tells @theathletic.com. And it helped drive Seb to the World Cup. Feature on the Berhalters' latest WC chapter, free to read:

Why has the United States, the richest and most successful sporting country in the world, never produced a world-class men's soccer superstar? In a word: culture. (And a "broken" system.) Full piece, free to read @theathletic.com:

Gianni Infantino, 2025: "It’s important to clarify this. There is a lot of misconception out there. Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year." FIFA today: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 👉 🇺🇸

The 2026 World Cup is here. It still doesn't have an American face. Almost time for the USMNT to change that. Column as kickoff week begins, free to read @theathletic.com:

The USMNT has been conceding 2+ goals per game. No team in the 21st century has reached a men's World Cup semifinal while conceding more than 1 per game. Chris Richards can close that gap, but...

📍Chicago Our live coverage of USMNT-Germany — analysis, scene, more — is right here @theathletic.com:

For 3.5 years, the USMNT has had injuries, inconsequential games, apathetic fans and no signature win. Now? Health, hype, vibes 📈 If they can beat Germany tomorrow, it’s basically the perfect pre-World Cup storm.

A week from today, Tim Ream, 38, will captain the USMNT at his second World Cup. Four years ago, he'd "made peace" with never getting to one (and had planned a family vacay to Disney World during Qatar 2022). This is the story of how, as he aged, he made himself invaluable:

Leg 2 of the pre-World Cup journey: ✅ The USMNT gets a send-off from staff at the National Training Center (+ the U19 boys national team) as they depart for Chicago. (If you’re counting players, don’t worry: Freese and Dest walked out moments later)

For @theathletic.com's Language of Soccer series, a piece on USMNT fandom. The goal was to find a word or phrase that epitomized it. We (and fans) chose: Diverse. Complicated. United. I wrote about why: