Who were MLS’ Most Valuable Teams in 2019 and Why?

American football is the definition of sports in the USA, baseball is the national pastime and basketball lands itself a place as the nation’s third most popular professional sport. Now, this absolutely leaves our dear old soccer in a difficult position when it comes to finding its place in the American psyche. However, soccer is not the world’s number one for nothing, the legendary sport is slowly creeping into the hearts of the American audience and it just might have finally found its place in the world’s largest economy.

President and CEO of AEG Dan Beckerman looks on as team President of the Los Angeles Galaxy Chris Klein hands Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 his jersey during a press conference at StubHub Center on March 30, 2018 in Carson, California.

(March 29, 2018 - Source: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America)

History of soccer in America

The world’s game graced American soils from as early as the late 1800s. However, the first professional league of note was formed in 1921 and was referred to as the American Soccer League (ASL). The league thrived for about a decade, attracting European talent and scooping third place at the 1930 World Cup. However, as of 1931, in-house fights between the league and its member teams led to the ASL’s collapse and soccer in America fell off the map for 4 decades.

The USA did manage to gain a memorable victory over England at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. However, soccer was still less prominent compared to the days of the ASL until the 1960s when the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) was formed (1967 to be exact). Sadly, the NPSL only managed to last one season.

When NPSL went up in flames, its ashes gave birth to North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL managed to change the way people viewed soccer in the USA especially when the great Pele` joined New York Cosmos after his retirement. When the Cosmos signed Pele` who is arguably the greatest player in the history of the game, soccer was catapulted into the mainstream in the USA. Every fan wanted to touch Pele` and shake his hand and Cosmos drew large crowds to stadiums to watch their games. However, Pele` retired from the NASL in 1977 and took the league down with him, fans started to lose interest in the league and by 1984 the NASL had hit the ground.

It took 10 years to get soccer back to the scene in the USA. FIFA decided to host the 1994 World Cup in the USA and interest in the sport was awaken but most Americans were still a bit skeptical. However, efforts to convince Americans too fully like soccer continued to be made and this led to the formation of the famous Major League Soccer, simply known as MLS. Unlike the previous leagues, MLS has endured and managed to change the way soccer is viewed in the USA. MLS has led to a couple of national successes.

In 1999, the USA managed to win the Women’s World Cup and in 2002 the men’s team progressed to the quarter-finals in Brazil. Apart from those two, in 2010 the USA team made it through to the knockout stages when Landon Donovan scored a goal in the group match against Algeria. Finally, with MLS in the picture, the FIFA World Cup began to make sense to Americans. MLS has continued to make soccer a big part of the social and economic circles of America as a whole and the various teams that are part of the league have contributed to its success.

MLS’s most valuable teams 2019

Ranking MLS’s most valuable teams for 2019 can be summarized into a list of the top 9 according to revenue generated and value in dollars as below:

RANK TEAM VALUE($M) REVENUE($M)

1 Atlanta United 500 78

2 LA Galaxy 480 64

3 LA FC 475 75

4 Seattle Sounders 405 47

5 Toronto FC 395 43

6 Portland Timbers 390 47

7 New York City FC 385 45

8 Chicago Fire 335 23

9 DC United 330 41

Carlos Vela #10 of the Los Angeles Football Club dribbles down the field during action against the Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

(July 14, 2018 - Source: Katharine Lotze/Getty Images North America)

Atlanta United

Atlanta United found itself in pole position for the second time in a row. The team was worth $500 million at the end of 2019. They also generated $78 million worth of revenue. Apart from financial value, Atlanta United has notable on-field success which include winning the 2018 MLS Cup and making the playoffs in each of its three MLS seasons. This on-field success has increased the team’s fan base and their average home-game attendance of 52,000 fans per game ranks among the top soccer teams in the world. Atlanta United is also a leader in attracting cash flow from Europe’s top leagues, the most notable example being the sale of star midfielder Miguel Almiron to Premier League’s Newcastle United for $27 million, a transfer fee that no other team has ever received before.

LA Galaxy

The team fell second to Atlanta with a value of $480 million. Galaxy has been MLS’s model of success since the league’s genesis in 1994, generating $5.5 million from local media rights. It’s the famous MLS team that never ranks outside the top 6 in average home game attendance. Among all the MLS teams, Galaxy has been the most preferred landing for international stars from the likes of David Beckham to Zlatan Ibrahimović.

LAFC

Galaxy’s rivals have completed only 2 seasons but already finds itself in Forbes’ top 3 and is valued at $475 million. LAFC is reportedly worth annual payments of $6.7 million of naming rights and $6 million of jersey sponsorship. The team has sold out every one of its home games despite having the highest ticket prices in MLS history and ranks eighth in home-game attendance. Both LAFC and Galaxy drew an audience of nearly 900,000 viewers when they faced off in the 2019 semi-final playoffs.

“A good example of that investment is the purchase of Chicago Fire by billionaire Joe Mansueto. In September, the Morningstar Founder Joe Mansueto acquired 100 % ownership of Chicago Fire at $400 million valuation, a huge amount that is worth a value of more than 4 NHL  teams.”

— Lovejoy Tabeth Munamati, FirstTouch Africa

Stefan Frei #24 of Seattle Sounders FC 2 grabs the ball in front of Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United and Jordy Delem #21 of Seattle Sounders FC 2 during the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.

(July 14, 2018 - Source: Michael Chang/Getty Images North America)

Seattle Sounders

The league’s fourth most valuable team and the current MLS Cup champions are worth $405 million and comes second after Atlanta United in average home game attendance.

Chicago Fire

Forbes values the team at $335 million ranking it at number 8 in the list of MLS’s most valuable teams. The team has struggled to find its footing in terms of relevance and financial status for a long time, constantly being ranked in the bottom 5 in home game attendance since 2013. However, investors are looking for a possible bright future for MLS teams and USA soccer as a whole by investing large sums of money. A good example of that investment is the purchase of Chicago Fire by billionaire Joe Mansueto. In September, the Morningstar Founder Joe Mansueto acquired 100 % ownership of Chicago Fire at $400 million valuation, a huge amount that is worth a value of more than 4 NHL  teams.

The average MLS team is now worth $313 million, which is up to 30% from last year’s value. The year over year growth in MLS teams far outpaces the rising team values in NBA (13 %), the NFL (11%), MLB (8%) and the NHL (6%). MLS’ average attendance of 21,358 from 2013-2018 has been ranked number 8 in the world. In addition, Atlanta United, the MLS team which only joined MLS in 2017 has the tenth best average attendance of 51,547.

How soccer growth in the USA is impacting business decisions

Professional soccer at all levels is thriving in the USA with increased average attendance and media coverage and this is, in turn, attracting many markets to support MLS. Many businessmen are turning to MLS as a lucrative goldmine and are pouring in investments into the league. Most MLS teams are running at a loss but investors continue to pour in because they believe the future of USA soccer is getting brighter by the day.

“Expansion during the last 15 years has been enormously successful and the key driver behind the league’s continued rise, and we are pleased that some of the top business and community leaders representing great markets in North America are aggressively pursuing MLS expansion clubs,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

The question on people’s minds could be “is soccer powerful enough to create employment opportunities and restore the economy in the presence of NBA, NFL, and MLB? “

(L to R) DC United Managing Partner and CEO Jason Levien, Wayne Rooney #9 of DC United, and DC United General Manager Dave Kasper pose with a jersey during his introduction press conference at The Newseum on July 2, 2018 in Washington, DC.

(July 1, 2018 - Source: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images North America)

The answer to the above question is that it is indeed possible for soccer to be part of the driving force for a successful economy in the USA if serious reforms and investments are pushed towards the sport. This will guarantee the future growth of soccer in the USA to come close to the European level.

Huge investments are already being pulled into the Major League soccer for expansion teams. Joe Mansueeto’s purchase of Chicago Fire is a good example of a major investment by notable businessmen and billionaires. Regardless of the MLS team ranking eighth in the list of MLS’s most valuable teams, Mansueto purchased the team at a $400 million valuation. In July 2019, NBA star James Harden invested $15 million for a small stake in the Houston Dynamo. In August, Microsoft executive Terry Myerson led an ownership group that includes celebrities Ciara, Macklemore and Russell Wilson in buying a stake in Seattle Sounders. Another notable purchase was that of 9% of Orlando Sports Holding by Hedge fund manager Albert Friedberg.

In conclusion MLS and soccer in the USA, in general, is finally finding its place in the social and economic circles of Americans punctuated by increasing numbers of fans and investor. Soccer might just be the new goldmine for businessmen in the USA.

FirstTouch have a fireside chat with Portland Timbers' Jeremy Ebobisse

FirstTouch’s Topher Hegngi sat down with Portland Timbers’ forward, Jeremy Ebobisee to discuss everything collegiate soccer, MLS, becoming a pro, the state of US Soccer and more. Below is a rare but comprehensive transcript of their chat which definitely breaks down and helps shape America’s soccer landscape.

INTRODUCTION

The instant Jeremy Ebobisse picked up the phone, I could hear the adjusted tone in his voice, letting me know that he was still finding a spot to chat. I, sitting slumped in the passenger's seat of my brother’s car watching rain furiously pelt the windshield, immediately empathized with him. After a late evening bus ride from NYC to DC, the rainstorm had only grown in severity, so I was just happy he seemed to be able to hear me clearly. Jeremy, on the other hand, was experiencing much better weather in Chula Vista, CA, on his debut camp with the U.S. National Team, and was having a much more exciting evening.

One of the first things you notice when speaking to Jeremy is his poise, which is impressive given how his 2019 started and concluded. Selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Jeremy initially had a tough time breaking into the Portland Timbers rotation in his rookie season. After registering just eight minutes over the first 26 games of the 2018 season, the forward made the most of a surprise start against the Colorado Rapids in September, netting a goal in the Timbers’ 2-0 victory. He went on to start all six of Portland’s playoff games, bagging a goal and an assist as the Timbers made an eventual run to the MLS Cup Final. The breakout performance earned Jebo, now aged 21, his first-ever call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team in January, which he christened with a debut start against Panama.

Now after his third season with Portland, it was one of true breakout for the French-born forward of Cameroonian and Malagasy descent. Jeremy appeared in all 34 matches for the Timbers, starting in 25 of them. Cementing his importance for the club, he’s scored a career-high 11 goals in the process. “I think the team’s gotten more confident in allowing me to express myself a little bit more on the field,” Ebobisse said in an interview with the MLS regarding whether he’s playing with more confidence now. “I think sometimes when young players come to a team, they don’t want to ruffle any feathers. They kind of want to defer to other people and I think that’s natural. I think you have to earn the respect from players around you but myself and a lot of other young guys who have come in this year have done so very quickly.”

Confidence is perhaps the next thing you notice with Jeremy, but with a foundation of humility well beyond his years. Well, maybe not if you ask anyone in his direct family, who can all attest to the type of young man he is. They’d probably bring up a 12-year-old Jeremy audaciously announcing to his family that he was going to be a professional soccer player. While that might have sounded lofty to them at the time, Jeremy was about to back up his affirmations through his exploits for the Bethesda Soccer Club, a top youth program in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

By 15, Ebobisse had developed into a rather prolific goal scorer, and soon after, he accepted an invitation to train with the academy program at English Premier League club Fulham. Remember the humility I mentioned earlier? Even though Jeremy was beginning to live the dream that so many young athletes hope to experience in their young careers, you couldn’t tell his parents that any of that mattered more than his education. Well, at least not at first. His father Alain, who met Jeremy’s mother, Lisa, at an engineering school in France, continued on to earn an MBA in Switzerland. His life became a distinguished example of how education can open doors, ultimately giving him the opportunity to join the World Bank Group and bring his family to the States.

At home, the family would spend their time together engaging over a variety of topics, from sports or food to delving deep into challenging discussions about politics and current affairs. “We were definitely an education-first family for large portions of my childhood,” Ebobisse said. “But then slowly, as I started to play in more competitive tournaments and I started to be evaluated by scouts for professional teams overseas, it began to open different doors.”

If education opens doors, then the same can be said of humility. In the esteemed words of the late T.S. Eliot, “The only wisdom we can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility.” Alain made the trip to England to tour the Fulham facilities and watch his son play. When he saw Jeremy score against Chelsea’s academy team, he realized in that moment that his son actually had the ability to compete at the highest level. Even if visa issues eventually prevented Ebobisse from staying with Fulham, Alain was sold. Convinced. “I believe that either you do something fully or you don’t do it at all,” Alain said. “I realized that he had to decide to either pursue education studies fully or pursue soccer fully. At this level, where everyone is so good, you have to be fully there if you want to have a chance.” With the blessing and encouragement of his family, Jeremy immersed himself in the game with unrelenting confidence.

THE INTERVIEW

Topher: I know we talked about that moment when you're in high school and sort of made that realization, not only that you might have the talent to do it but more importantly it was kind of a realization of your work ethic and your drive that could give you the opportunity to make it. When did you make that kind of realization for yourself?

Jeremy: I can tell you we all have that dream, as a kid you’re watching morning soccer or whatever it might be and you envision yourself in the biggest stadium. It doesn’t become a reality until you know later on in life when we are given that opportunity you’ve been working for. In my sophomore year of high school, I had to go on trial in England. And my coach helped prepare me in a way where it took all the pressure off of me.

Topher: That is a surreal moment for a kid, isn’t it? When you’re starting to take your craft seriously.

Jeremy: You know what I mean? Anyways, my coach said I have a training opportunity for you, it will be really cool for you know to like get some training overseas and see what it's like over there and then when I get there I’m thinking you know like, whatever happens, I'm not staying. It’s not permanent. I’m not signing papers. I just needed to tell myself, “OK, take a deep breath, I'm here on trial, it’s whatever.” Approaching it like that helped calm me down and I ended up playing really well. I think I scored like 7 goals in 4 games.

Topher: Well after performances like that, there had to be interest right?

Jeremy: Yeah, immediately they really wanted to sign me and next match I scored against Chelsea coming off the bench, then scored against a couple of league one academies. They even flew my dad out, to the following trial that I went to two months later. And oh my God, it had been a really big education for this guy! He got to see the facility, the infrastructure, the outline and the goal that they set for me. And I bought into the idea that under the right circumstances, with the right tools and with the right drive that I could actually make it.

Topher: That sounds like quite a moment for both of you.

Jeremy: Probably the biggest moment for me and him. What he always preached to me was that he didn't care what I did, what field I went into, but that he wanted me to make sure that whatever I chose to do, I do it 100 percent. I think he always knew I was going to go the soccer route, and he was happy and very supportive.

Topher: What advice did they give you?

Jeremy: At the end of the day, you're going to have to work really hard in anything you do if you want to make it in life.

Topher: When in high school was this trip?

Jeremy: That was the summer after my freshman year, going into my sophomore year.

Topher: That’s pretty early. How did that end up impacting college recruitment for you?

Jeremy: My college recruiting process was a little bit more unique. I graduated a year early from high school and my whole youth career. So you know I remember getting letters and emails as early as 8th grade just because scouts would come to watch the sophomores and they would realize I was a strong athlete for my age, let me get on some radars. Even though coaches monitor high school soccer, they kind of needed to work around that. Slowly but surely, I started getting interest but it was all going through my coach because at that point they couldn’t contact me. Sophomore year, I got more interest after I started doing a few college camps as well.

Topher: Is that when Duke came into the picture?

Jeremy: Yeah, a couple of months into my sophomore year, Duke floated the idea to my club team at the time, that I graduate early from high school. I remember jumping at it because I liked the idea of having to find a new club team from my high school. So from that moment, you know word got to the college coaches that I was going to graduate early and that's when everything started to flood in and from there.

Topher: Were you considering any other schools?

Jeremy: I really only considered could Duke and Stanford and then Maryland a little bit as well, but I realized that Maryland was going to be a little bit tough for me being so close to home and maybe having a more distracting environment since I still knew so many people in the area. Between November and my sophomore high school that's when everything really got rolling.

Topher: That’s an exciting time. It’s really cool to hear how level-headed you were at just approaching that process. Like you said, graduating early would impact the decision that you're making but it's also cool to figure out how high you have the bar raised for yourself in terms of limiting the distractions. I feel like that is kind of an underrated perspective, for young players. It's so exciting and easy to kind of be attracted to where the most excitement is. But you also want to be yourself, prepare yourself up for success and not limit yourself with distractions too early you know.

Jeremy: Yeah, I mean it would have been really cool to play for Maryland, you know they’ve got 8,000 fans a game, I mean that's exciting. You know that was definitely a big draw towards the school but I was talking to one of my friends one year earlier before college and he was telling me how much harder it was to focus for him in that environment. I’ve heard the stories about people making it hard on themselves by letting the attention go to their head too early and by going out spending too much money and time on things that fill up their heads up and gives them an over-inflated sense of self.

Topher: So how did you analyze both opportunities at the time?

Jeremy: So, on one hand, mostly in Europe, you have all the tools to succeed. You have all the coaches, the fields, and equipment to get you there. You have the scouts watching you for the second you’re ready to jump into the next level but then you also have all the glamour that comes with that. And unfortunately, young players definitely diverge off the path. And that's when you know then who is going to make it and who is not. And I say that with college, because college although you don't have that immediate path to the 1st team, you have other positives.

A lot of these schools have state of the art facilities. I know Duke has an unbelievable practice field. You also have coaches and advisors that want to help you get the next level, but then it’s up to you to actually take matters into your own hands or do you fall for the regular college student life which I'll tell you I'm sure you experienced it as well. It’s attractive but at the same time can be short-sighted for someone who has the potential to at least experience a few years of the game.

Topher: It really is an opportunity to say hey, I have to maximize the time that I'm here because again you don't know how long you're going to be in school.

Jeremy: Definitely. I'm not saying to kids who want to go to college that they can’t have fun and go pro. But there’s a right place and time for that. Figure out what works for you and don't go with the flow, know what your goals are and then from there organize yourself accordingly. But there’s no reason why you can’t have fun as well.

Topher: Tell me when did you get your 1st National Team call up?

Jeremy: So I did a big ID camp when I was 14, it was like a big pool camp with 120 players, and was under a lot of pressure from my club coach and the regional U.S. national team scout at the time. I got called into a U-17 camp but ended up getting hurt 2 weeks beforehand. I didn't feel right to rush myself back into it with the back injury and ended up going to my 1st camp as a U-18 player. Slowly but surely I worked my way back into the fold.

Topher: What would you say to other younger players about what you learned from your experience being recruited and how you made your decision and I guess college soccer's overall role in the development of youth in the United States and kind of how you kept an eye on that and let it influence and impact decisions?

Jeremy: I think when I was recruited we were looking at a different landscape of the professional level in this country and the collegiate level. Unfortunately, I don't think the collegiate level is progressing as quickly as it could. So it only becomes harder. You find a USL team and takes a bet on you. Whether you to go college and try to balance the best of both worlds or take your luck in the draft which who knows where it's going to be as well in the next 4 or 5 years, the landscape isn’t the clearest right now.

Topher: Any advice to them?

Jeremy: My advice to a young player would be to honestly reflect on their own career and their trajectory and what they want as well. Do they want to be the best player that they can be? If that's the case, you have to find a professional team, be it in the second Division in Sweden or USL or somewhere in Mexico.

There are so many teams as well, if you have the right talent level you will find the right team. Now the flip side of that is do they want to just go to college, go with the flow and whatever happens, happens and by all means that's where colleges can still continue to help players. Programs that are turning out quality professional players, there’s no reason why you can completely discount college soccer, but I would admit that guys going to college tend to fall behind and I fell in that category 100 percent.

Topher: How did it make you feel watching some of your peers who chose to forego college?

Jeremy: While I was figuring how to prove myself in the next year and a half, I watched peers who signed pro at 17, and started breaking into the MLS. Their development trajectory was 2 years ahead of mine. And by that time I realized I'm 20 years old and I'm not even playing at all and so on the flip side there are 20 years-olds who by their 2nd season are full-time starters.

I don't hold any regrets because Duke taught me a lot of things and I have a lot of important relationships that I made while at Duke. I still have attained the level that I’m proud of and I can still get to where I hope to be.

I also recognize that this is potentially my 1st season as a starter, and if I win the job going forward, I'm looking at guys my age again now 3-4 years of starters. It’s important to recognize that in terms of experience around the world if I'm going to be competing in the Olympic cycle, I'm going to be behind the ball and I have to mature a lot quicker than some of the other guys out there.

Topher: You make a lot of good points. Young players are becoming more educated and empowered to understand that they have choices.

Jeremy: It was still taboo even as a young player when the people in your life are telling you to go and skip college, go overseas and play wherever you can play. That is a complicated decision and one that you have to weigh up. But I fully understand coming out of college and even spent like 4 seasons in college but you know what I mean? Again, like you said, it doesn't diminish you as a player because you still learn things and you develop, but as you said, you do look around and you're like hey even though I’m still talented, even though I trust myself and I have my dream of where I want to get to, you look around and see other players around your age and players that you played with or again who may have been outside of the system for a long year and you feel like you might be behind.

Topher: You said it perfectly! You do need to bust your butt that much more to catch up and then get ahead. It's great to hear how humble you are in that experience and the progress that you've made.

Jeremy: You look at guys around the world, a 19-year-old is starting in the Bundesliga, the Premier League and whereas here on the flip side, a 19-year-old is playing in college and naturally the guy in the Bundesliga is going to grow exponentially and the guy in college might grow linearly. When you look around in the Bundesliga, guys my age, to name a few, Justin Black, Tyler Adams, these guys have been playing since they were 16-17 in the league. And now Tyler finds himself breaking into the first team.

It's a little bit fascinating and also it just tells you that you know there is a reward and obviously for every Tyler, there's 100 kids who don't make it, if you want to be that person who takes a chance or do you want to be a person who was asking what if and we're in different ages now. You know we're in an age where a lot of these young athletes if you’re putting in the work in training, a lot of them or a handful of them will be given the opportunity to play because they recognize that they can make a profit off selling you. So you know, there's more infrastructure, there's more of a foundation for you to succeed and again Tyler was one of the 1st who signed for the Red Bull team and then in his next year signed with the 1st team and slowly but surely he’s integrating.

Again your path may be playing in an academy at 16 and then going to college. For others, USL may be better than college and you're already experiencing that as a young teenager. You know it's different for everyone and another piece of advice that I think is important is that everyone's path is different, I watched some of my best friends go pro at 14/15 and then I watched some guys and I've heard stories about guys who perhaps went D3, went D2, played NAIA and had to grind USL and NAFL and all that in order to get their shot, but they made it work too. So everyone’s path is different and you shouldn’t be ashamed of your path, that’s something important to mention.

Topher: It’s definitely important to keep in mind that at the end of the day as a pro or even an aspiring pro you do have to kind of take it with a grain of salt and focus on yourself and make sure that you're in tune with your own process.

Jeremy: I think that’s something that I hope to continue seeing change with younger players and their decision making. Whether it's pressure from parents or pressure from other people for whom the education and collegiate experience has been important, America still has the stereotype that there is one way to make it.

If you don't go to college, you don't do it this way, then people kind of make you feel like you're losing out on something, whereas I think that over the last 3-5 years in terms of self-education; many colleges and companies are accepting different certifications that are out there to empower yourself. If you're diligent and work hard enough you can still get a lot of opportunities to develop your professional career off the field. I think that will be something that continues to empower young athletes and to think, “Hey, if I have a talent, this is my window, I can go for it as hard as I want to, and as long as I have a plan later in life to kind of make up the ground and get to where you want to get to as a professional in your working career, I can still reach my goals.

Topher: Do you think this an issue specific to soccer in the U.S. or something athletes from all sports have to asses?

Jeremy: I think in a country this big and diverse in terms of sports, we’ve got to change. The soccer culture in the world is different than the NFL and NBA culture here. You know in the NBA and the NFL, the stars have to go to college but soccer players around the world don’t. So we're going to see young kids who are ambitious and who are watching the Christian Pulisic’s of the world, etc. all these young guys skip college and they're going to say I'm sorry, but I’m not saying it's going to work out for every single one of those kids, but I'm never going to shoot a kid down who has the talent and who has the drive.

I can look at a kid… I can look at a 16-year-old and tell you if he has that mentality to make it and it’s the same way I can look at an 18-year-old or a 19-year-old because I went through it.  I'm going to relive some really hard moments again; drop my career and I have some tough moments as well where I didn’t know if I was going to make it, but it's how you react to these moments that define where you’ll be in the next 6 months or a year. If a young athlete is willing to sacrifice the immediate benefits of social life, then there's no reason why you can't get to some sort of level. College will not run away from you and you don't need your body in peak physical condition to be in college. So that’s my wrap.

Topher: You’re definitely right, the culture is slowly changing That being said, it's good preparation for life because as a young driven person with a good head on your shoulders, you're proving to yourself that you can do the things that you set your mind and your heart towards. The periphery people in your life will always have their opinion.

Jeremy: There’s a lot of time off the field to figure out your life after your career. There's no reason to shut the door on the ball just because you're scared of what might happen or some else’s opinion on the matter. Like I said, there’s so many teams in this world, there’s one team that will fit you if you’ve worked hard enough from a young enough age and obviously you have some sort of talent. It's about how hard you're willing to go for it. I’ve got guys that are grinding in Slovakia. A friend of mine was working in Slovenia and now he’s moved on to Slovakia which is a solid league in Europe, even though not as glamorous as Ligue 1 or the Belgium one. But top football leagues in Europe know that Slovakia is a tough league and one that has a lot of benefits, so I’m happy for him.

When he was leaving college, he left before senior year and there were definitely people including coaches that were saying, “Why are you leaving?” That he didn’t have a guarantee there and he should be waiting and hoping to go to the MLS. For me, he's just a living example of what drive and determination can do. He tells me stories about how hard it was in Slovenia, and how he always wanted to come home. Not everyone is cut off for that, but he made it work and then he had an offer to come back and play in the USL which is closer to MLS. At the same time, he was able to land an important deal in Slovakia which is going to only further springboard his career because from Slovakia if he can play well, which I have no doubt that he will, he can bounce into Denmark or Sweden or the MLS and continue his journey to his own personal mountain top.

It doesn't mean that that's going to be a thing for everyone, everyone is different and that really excites me to see him go through that journey and then watching him grow from afar as a person and player.

Topher: What an inspiring journey. As you said, that's something that you do have to come to a realization for yourself and your personal mountain top. So I totally agree with you man. Touching on your journey from college to Portland, I feel like you've seen a lot of change in U.S. Soccer in terms of the collegiate experience and its role in developing young talent. U.S. Soccer is currently trying to find itself after a huge identity shift. With what you’ve seen, how has that impacted your experience with U.S. Soccer?

Jeremy: I mean it goes further back than that. Just watching the World Cup in the country that you live in and watching that country play, it’s something that inspires everyone. It creates a sense of bonding and appreciation for that and I'm sure that's what the players felt when France won. Slowly but surely you see the US making its own progress.

With highs like winning the Gold Cup and lows like losing to Mexico in the World Cup or even failing to qualify for the World Cup, we are seeing a rebirth and it’s exciting. There are a lot of players from the past who have inspired my generation of players to take soccer to a new heights and you see it with U-20 national team and U-17 in the last 2-3 cycles, they want to win, but they want to play, they want to run, and they want to show that we're just as talented as some of these other nations.

Topher: How is that culture being manifested in this first initial period with Berhalter?

Jeremy: We want to try and impose ourselves, I think that kind of fearlessness is going to drive us into what I'm going to say will be our most prosperous era. We have an ambitious coach who is set on changing the way that the world sees U.S. Soccer, and we have players who not only have the talent but have the mentality ready to fight hard against the hardest of situations that they could be in and then also bring joy that, quite frankly is uninspired right now. We’re taking it upon ourselves, whether it's the U-23 or the U-20 or both, to push the culture to a new level.

Building steps for the finished product there were some rough moments, but at the end of the day, you also saw some highs. From a national team standpoint, that's been exciting but even from a from a club standpoint, I've seen a lot too. I mean the rise for us, the rise in our academy system. The shifting demographic in college soccer to more homegrown findings in USL and the massive impact from our Women’s National Team has led the way. All of this is only good for soccer in this country. You know you have more options for young players to play in. You have more opportunities for local teams to get nationwide coverage. You have more money being spent on the sport and that's only going to improve and with the World Cup coming in 2026, I think that will be a unique referendum on the state of U.S. Soccer in general because we’re looking at 6-7 years from now, when we will be well into “this new era of rebirth.” And it's really exciting you know to watch as a fan but also hopefully as a player.

Topher: It's very exciting to see and I have no doubt that you will be playing an awesome part of that. Getting your most recent front-row seat being a part of Berhalter’s initial camp and initial games, what are some of the differences in playing style and identity in comparison to Klinsmann?

Jeremy: I can't speak for Klinsmann’s teams, but I can speak for Greg and his staff and they've been very clear about the identity that we want to have. They've been hammering it home every single day at that camp. We want to break lines, we want to control the game, we want to manipulate the defenders to open up certain passing patterns and crossing options for ourselves. Obviously the execution wasn't always there because it is a new system, this is a work in progress but all our laws are clear, we knew exactly what to do on the field. And that’s not a clarity I've always had in my youth and collegiate career, I didn't have that kind of clarity and that’s really refreshing.

In the camp, you really get to see what Greg is about. It's super exciting, getting my 1st cap was something surreal even if I was playing out of position. I think it spoke to the confidence the staff put in me, in an international game out of position and I just took it all in stride. It was really special and it just makes me want more. I can't harp on it enough, you get a taste of something, you get a taste of the next level and all you want to do is just continue to prove yourself, to show that you deserve to be back there and so on a personal front, I hope to be back in the senior national team when it's my time again. I understand I'm lucky because U-23 is going to be really important to US Soccer run each eligible player and for that again, we're talking about righting wrongs and inspiring the fan-base, I think this is going to be a unique opportunity.

Topher: Definitely man. I respect and appreciate your humility talking about the opportunity for yourself. Props to you and I have no doubt that you will continue to have your opportunities to show all of your talent and your work ethic in the upcoming U.S. Soccer events.

Jeremy: I mean there can be ups and downs as you know, but I think it's important to acknowledge from the get-go that it's about trying to limit the downs.

With that I can position myself in a place where you know my club coach has to play me, whether it's out wide, whether it's in the center or whether it's in a different position than I might have never played before, I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything I can to be on the field and ultimately to be a part of that national team because you know I think again there’s so many special moments to be having in the future, at the club and international level and I need to do what I can to try and be a part of all that. It's exciting, you know. It's something that professional players feel and I'm just lucky and I know that I worked hard and I fully believe I deserve everything that I've gotten following the good and the bad, but I think there's a lot to come and I need to be ready for it.

Topher: Acknowledging some of those down periods can be important for a young player. What have been some tough times that you've had along your career so far?

Jeremy: I would say my first year at Duke was one for sure. Coming in after a long season, laboring with some soft tissue problems. I was unable to take a break really and I took a week off and then I had to get in shape and then I didn’t pass the fitness test. Then they had me running 2-3 days for a few weeks which not only made my body feel worse but eventually broke my body down halfway through the year. The coaches were extremely disappointed and so was I.

The way they were treating me, they felt that they wasted a full ride. In the summer I was demoted to the second team and the assistant coach didn’t feel like I was performing to my potential. Personally, I thought I was being scapegoated and that was a really low moment in my career. I was wondering if I was even gonna make it anymore. It’s in those moments where you have some dangerous thoughts.

Topher: Was there anything you learned that allowed you to kind of pull forward and continue to build on the form and the work ethic that put you to where you even ended this most recent season?

Jeremy: Yeah I just think you take a step back and especially for this year I started meditating more. It's the little things like that, that definitely helped me stay focused. It's taking it day by day, like understanding that there’s going to struggle through your successes and not being too hypersensitive to everything that goes on.

Topher: How have figures like Giovanni or Michael helped with your development over the last few years?

Jeremy: I think they made it hard on me but in a way that benefitted me. Guys always come into the league and they feel that they're ready to start, they're ready to be the man, ready to get sold, ready to be whatever it might be and I think sometimes you know you've got coaches that have to humble you. And I'm not going to say that I was the most level headed player to come into the league, but I think I experienced that same kind of humbling under various coaches at various levels.

Topher: Some of the best coaches and developers in our youth teams today know how to do that. They know how to recognize the players that do need that and what level they kind of need to give it to those players to draw the best out of them and so it's kind of like showing it to the players.

Jeremy: Right? I’d even add that a lot of times that you have to take matters into your own hands. Again, because the coaches have to worry about the team as well, so you can't rely on the coach to be looking after you, you have to be willing to do what you have to do to get that for yourself and ready to force yourself into the conversation.

Topher: Speaking on that “conversation”, after being in the MLS for a few years, what are your thoughts on the MLS, it’s the current model of DP’s and clubs investing in older and more experienced players and how that affects the sustainability for young players?

Jeremy: I mean, being in this league as a young player, I think that you know the league is in a tricky spot where it's trying to grow a lot while still attracting the big-name players. And that's something that as a young player you have to deal with because you could go anywhere in the world and you're going to have that same issue. At the same time, you know there's a lot of complexity with that on how clubs spend money and invest in players. It gets everyone to raise their level, it makes it more attractive to the fans as well.

Topher: What are some of the players that you looked up to while you're growing up, whether that was in the U.S. or abroad?

Jeremy: I’d definitely say Karim Benzema. I grew up watching the French team a lot with my family having ties to the country.

Topher: True, definitely a top player but also an underrated one. I feel like it's taken Cristiano leaving Madrid for him to get even more space on the field and the offense is kind of centered around him a bit more.

Jeremy: His presence has been very understated. He's been there since Ronaldo was there and dealt with Ronaldo being seen as the best man in the world. Benzema has always been someone who has good chemistry, plays well with his teammates and can score goals. When I was younger, I didn't always understand that when he wasn’t always scoring. When I got older and I realized he does a lot of things. I aimed to replicate that at whatever level I played at because it makes the game a lot easier for your teammates.

Topher: Who have been your mentors in the MLS during your time with the Timbers and what are some of the most important lessons that you've learned so far?

Jeremy: You know I don't think one specific mentor in this league. I think the young guys who are Tyler Adams, and some other guys with the youth national team that I played with for a long time, you know we drive each other and we try to learn off each other's mistakes, you know we look up to each other for guidance and experience. Obviously a lot of organizing, a lot more is fully invested in that as well. We learn by taking it step by step and going through the process because it's going to be a long career hopefully for all of us and we are going to reach heights that you know might have seemed impossible as a kid or as a dream but in time with the right mindset and surrounding yourself with the right people, I think we all have the potential to be where we want to be.

How is soccer keeping Niger girls in school?

Education and football are working hand in glove to improve the lives of girls in Niger. The West African country is among the poorest in the world with the highest rates of early childhood marriage. A startling three in four adolescent girls are married before the age of 18, as a result, many girls do not finish school.

Photo Credit: Unicef.org

After dropping out of school and marrying at a young age, they lose out on the opportunities that education provides for young women.  A football program that is funded by UNICEF is helping to change the status quo for many out-of-school girls in Niger.  This program has been supporting soccer academies for young women, such as Academie Atcha in Niger’s capital Niamey. The academy combines both academics and football which is an incentive for the girls to attend school while also playing the game, which has effectively increased the student retention rates. Through education, these young women are widening their options for their future. Over the past two years, UNICEF together with the National Football Federation has been organizing a national tournament for girls under the age of 17.

“The organization of this tournament goes beyond the question of sport. It aims above all to challenge stereotypes and gender norms. Sport can help girls to place themselves on an equal footing with boys…When girls play, when girls go to school, when girls are no longer victims of violence, when childhood is not shortcut by marriage, the world wins!”- Felicite Tchibindat, UNICEF Representative in Niger.

Breaking boundaries on and off the pitch

As a predominantly Muslim country, it is not common for girls to pursue a career in football. The young women who play the game are faced with gender stereotypes and restrictions that become obstacles for them. Niger’s senior women’s national team has also shared struggles to be excepted from the community which believes that women should never play football as a profession. Despite the opposition from communities and religious leaders who disapprove of girls playing football, the families of the footballers give their full support to the girls. Football is not only giving the girls access to education but also gives these young women the confidence and agency to make decisions and use their talents to better their lives.  In turn, the girls are changing the rules and using the game as a vehicle to pursue their dreams, break gender stereotypes and change perceptions in their communities.

“Football is not just a man’s game. Girls can play as well.  In the past, after school, I went to the playground where boys practice football, but they refused to play with me arguing that football is not a sport for girls. I was shocked, and in my neighborhood, not a single girl plays football.”- 16-year-old Cherifa

Football with a difference

It is the right of every child to get an education. Sadly, millions of girls around the world are robbed of this right. Organizations such as UNICEF which are committed to partnering with communities to transform the lives of children are playing a pivotal role in showing the positive impact that sport and education have on young women.

Photo Credit: Unicef.org

Nelson Mandela once said that “sport has the power to change the world.” Football is more than just a game but a powerful force to support children and get them into school as is the case now in Niger. It builds confidence in their abilities and should be encouraged as they tackle the obstacles on and off the field. The young girls are breaking boundaries and shattering gender stereotypes despite being told by their community that they should not play football.

Put aside the 93% of Spanish women following in the footsteps of the USWNT, protests over pay and working conditions are just starting

Patricia Guijarro of FC Barcelona celebrates with her team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Chamoions League round of 32 2nd leg between FC Barcelona Women and BIIK Kazygurt at the Mini Estadi on September 26, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

(Sept. 25, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

The unfortunate state of affairs

Players in Spain’s top-flight women’s league are in talks with the Association of Women's Soccer Clubs after a strike that saw eight games postponed on November 16th. The strike was in protest over the payment structure in the Primeira Division with players demanding a salary revision and better working conditions. Despite being one of the top women’s leagues in the world, players in the league feel that they are receiving the short end of the bargain from the authorities and after a year of failed negotiations, the players finally took decisive action on the matter. The protest is the first of its kind in Spain and an overwhelming 90% of the players from the 16 clubs represented in Primeira Division signed up to take part in the strike. The standoff came to an end after the Association of Women's Soccer Clubs moved to reopen negotiations.

The players have since reduced their demands to about €16,000 as the minimum wage from the initial €20,000. They are also asking for protection in the case that protects their maternity rights, working conditions and an increase in the minimum hours per week from 20 to 40 hours. One major challenge is that many of the players in the league are not considered full-time players and are only employed on a part-time basis which cuts their earnings drastically. This type of situation can be seen all over Europe for example in England, players in the Women’s Super League women earn an average of £18,000 whereas the male players in the English Premier League earn an average of £2.6 million a year leaving some to have to supplement their football careers with jobs to make ends meet. Spain is just the latest to experience the current wave sweeping across women’s football of players demanding fairer working conditions. Football is one of the most unequal sports and for the women playing in the game, their voices can now be heard loudly; “enough is enough, we want a fair system.”

 USWNT: World Champions and women’s rights icons

The fight for better pay by women’s teams is all about fighting the system and demanding more equitable conditions and there is no better representation for this fight than the USWNT. Recently the world watched as the United States won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and immediately took the win as an opportunity to voice their issues in the press and sending a message to the world about the state of women’s football. Many would know of the ongoing dispute between the USWNT and the United States Soccer Federation over an unequal pay structure between the women’s and men's sides that has been playing out for a number of years. USA Women’s football team are champions and heroes off the field for their activism in the face of what they deem to be gender discrimination. In 2016, five players namely Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Rebecca Sauerbrunn, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan also filed a wage discrimination complaint against their employers, the USA Soccer Federation. In March 2019, 28 players signed a class action lawsuit revealing details of perks and benefits that only the male team receive which included private jets and winning bonuses that were substantially higher for the US Men’s team. A big argument for the USWNT is that their record is far more impressive with more games and trophies won that the male team but receive substantially lower salaries and benefits.

“To create a snapshot of the odds against female footballers we can take a look at the fact that Lionel Messi earns more in salaries that the professional women players in the top seven leagues combined.”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

 The example that USWNT has set in deciding to battle it out with their employers has undoubtedly caused the issue to be brought to the forefront and has had a cascading impact on the rest of women’s football. Their decision to take the fight to the public has seemingly inspired other players to do the same. Players speaking out on this issue, are actually starting to make a difference. For example, Norway's women’s football team won equal pay in 2017 after the men’s team forfeited some of their benefits. In other cases, the associations and the players settle their disputes outside of court and in private as in the case of the Australian national team which reached a deal where they would be awarded the same pay as the men’s team. The Matildas will also be allowed to travel business class for international travel and a commitment from the national governing body to raise coaching standards. Fighting this battle on the public domain has its benefits and most importantly that fans can see it all play out as is the case of USWNT. Fans have since backed and supported the team in their quest for equal pay chanting, “equal pay” as the players went up to receive their medals during the FIFA World Cup final. USWNT fearless approach in demanding fair compensation has galvanized support for the cause and a growing movement around equal pay in the United States and in the worldwide media. Although the USWNT case was under mediation, the talks stopped after what the federation was unwilling to meet the demands set by the players. Megan Rapinoe the co-captain and most vocal player said, “When [US Soccer] is ready to have a serious conversation about equal pay, I think the conversations will go better."

Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France.

(July 6, 2019 - Source: 5021154/Getty Images Europe)

Steps being taken by players around the world

In Italy, the Women’s team is still considered amateurs according to law and therefore they are currently allowed to earn up to €33,000 before taxes because of the amateur status a law that is archaic. Football in Italy is not traditionally a woman’s sport and as such there are many barriers for women. Despite this, the Italian women’s team qualified for their first World Cup in 20 years and made it to the quarter-finals. The momentum from their World Cup performance has led to more Italians backing the women’s team. The conditions in Italy still represent a culture that views football as a male sport, however, the perceptions in the country are beginning to shift due to the performance of the women’s team to qualify for the World Cup, whereas the Azzurri failed to qualify for the men’s edition in 2018.

One player who has been vocal about the issue in Italy and who is behind the movement to usher in Italian football into the modern era is Juventus player Barbara Bonansea. She believes that the increase in viewership should correspond with the remuneration for female players; “If there’s more coverage of our games and more sponsors come in, then we deserve more, too.” It is common that the women’s teams which in most cases have better records than the men’s teams do not get rewarded in an equitable manner for their exploits on the field. Taking the issue to the African continent, Africa’s most successful women’s team, Super Falcons have also been vocal in the conversation around unequal payment systems. While participating in tournaments, the men's team receives $10,000 for a win and $5,000 for a draw while the Super Falcons can expect $3,000 and $1,500. The Super Falcons have demonstrated in protest of unpaid allowances. Forward, Desire Oparanozie called for equal pay noting that the teams were just as successful as the men’s; "We are the most successful female team in Africa, yet we have the largest disparities between men's and women's pay," Super Falcons have won 11 AFCON titles and the last three competitions. Progress is being made elsewhere in Nigeria, in Edo State, where the women and men’s teams are going to be paid the same after the authorities saw that paying women less was more of a gender issue than a performance issue. It’s a small win for women’s football in Nigeria and with time, this trend will catch on to the rest of the continent.

Jackie Groenen of the Netherlands kisses the trophy following the Final of the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 between Netherlands v Denmark at FC Twente Stadium on August 6, 2017 in Enschede, Netherlands.

(Aug. 5, 2017 - Source: Maja Hitij/Getty Images Europe)

 What will it really take to achieve equality?

To create a snapshot of the odds against female footballers we can take a look at the fact that Lionel Messi earns more in salaries that the professional women players in the top seven leagues combined. The gap is saddening and reveals a desperate need for change. This is possibly the start of a push back from players on the working conditions and it’s good and welcome progress the sport. As Megan Rapinoe puts it, a paradigm shift and a completely new way of looking at women’s football is necessary if the change is ever to come to the game. Equal pay might still be an ideal today but through the continued work of women in the sport, it could soon be a reality. To achieve equality, we are talking about having to look beyond just beyond revenues that women earn and start making headway on trying to invest in teams and marketing of the sport. The women’s game is a long way to go in terms of receiving as much investment and attention it needs.

Jada Whyman of Western Sydney Wanderers FC and Sam Kerr of Perth Glory speak on stage during the 2018/19 A-League Season Launch at Fox Studios on October 15, 2018 in Sydney, Australia.

(Oct. 14, 2018 - Source: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images AsiaPac)

It’s a system-wide problem, even at the FIFA Women’s World Cup the players received less amount for an appearance fee and the tournament prize is only a fraction of the prize money awarded at the FIFA Men’s World Cup. The prize money for the 2019 FIFA World Cup was $30 million, twice the amount paid in the previous tournament. In 2018 FIFA prizes for the Men’s tournament went up to $400 million, a difference of more than ten times. FIFA has promised to invest half a billion dollars in Women’s game over the next few years. Progress is being made. For example, it increased the number of teams for the world cup to 32 from 24 as a way to boost women’s football and create space for talent. Although FIFA is not in charge of how prize money is distributed in each of the federations, there is room for regulations that allow female players to receive their fair share from the National federations.

Final thoughts

Currently, the male game is more popular and receives resoundingly more attention than the female game. Women’s football is more popular than it has ever been and as such, it is the appropriate time to iron out the issues in the game. Some countries that have reached positive agreements after giving equal pay at the national team level including New Zealand, the Netherlands proving that it is not so difficult to reach an equitable decision. These players are simply asking to be able to play the game as professionals just like in the men. It’s yet to be seen what will come out of the negotiations between the players and the authorities in Spain. The hope is that this strike can be added to the list of wins in women’s football.

The USA are back to back champs. Even though European nations are making progress, substance must always trump style.

Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.

(July 9, 2019 - Source: Getty Images North America)

Introduction

Over the past few months leading to the global showpiece that is the FIFA World Cup, the women’s football fraternity has been filled with both inspiration and disappointing news. Some of the issues caused an international uproar while a fair share caused the rest of the world to take a pause, sit back and critically think of the issues that are affecting our societies. We saw Ada Hegerberg refuse to appear in the 2019 World Cup because of a dispute between her and the Norwegian football federation over the amount of resources availed to the national team. Some fans were of the persuasion that the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner feels like she has gotten bigger than the Norwegian national team whereas others did agree that maybe it was time we looked at how our governments prioritize what women do. Even after we went past that wave of the tournament proceeding without Ada on the field, there were still more complaints about it. It was firstly, the fact that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was introduced very close to the world cup which did not give players and coaches enough time to get used to the revolutionary equipment that is meant to improve the quality of refereeing decisions. There was also the general misconception that the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) was a counterfeit of the men’s World Cup and its credibility got questioned by some. Cameroon’s “childish” behavior during their match against England in the round-of-16 and the “exaggerated” celebrations in the USWNT’s 13-0 win over Thailand also brought a lot of interesting conversations on the streets. In the midst of all that, nothing could stop the ladies from giving their best and we got to the end of the tournament where we saw the United States Women’s National team win the WWC for the fourth time, which is more than any other national team has won it. We want to analyse what this means for women’s football and think through some of the structures that have been put in place that enable the level of excellence shown by the USWNT.

“ Their win has brought even more attention to this crucial conversation in the society and given the champions and the rest of the world, more evidence to further their cause.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Lieke Martens, Stefanie van der Gragt, Vivianne Miedema and Anouk Dekker of the Netherlands make a defensive wall during the Final of the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 between Netherlands and Denmark at FC Twente Stadium on August 6, 2017 in Enschede, Netherlands.

(Aug. 5, 2017 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

USWNT winning formula over the years

When you win once, it could easily be discarded as odds being in your favor, but if you do it multiple times, then it means excellence has become part of your DNA. How that excellent character comes to life can only be as a result of intentional and systematic efforts in the form of structures put in place, enabling that kind of behavior. Here’s some of them:

 1.Thriving local soccer leagues and international exposure

The U.S. has generally invested a lot into structures such as the university soccer leagues that do not only enable the identification of talent, but allows this talent to be groomed into the powerhouse that the national team has become. A report by College Choice proves that soccer has become a key part of college life in the US spanning across decades. This places the country far ahead of any other country that they get to meet at the world cup. In essence, preparation for the world cup does not begin a few days before, but begins decades before the ladies get to hit the field.

Lucy Bronze of England celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Stade Oceane on June 27, 2019 in Le Havre, France.

(June 26, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

 Beyond the university leagues, there are also thriving local leagues that challenge the players to put on their A-game all the time. Leagues like the Women’s Premier Soccer League and the National Women’s Soccer League have become the breeding ground for talent in the US and even the go to destination for foreign players. Some of their players also get to play in other leagues outside of the country where they are chiseled into legends of excellence. Local leagues have raised stars that include Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan. As a national team, they have also always participated in the SheBelieves Cup, and numerous international friendlies. This goes to prove that you cannot build a great team without exposure to opportunities that yield continuous growth.

 2. Deeply inculcated “winning” mindset

The kind of attitude and character that has also been inculcated into the team is that of ruthlessness and unrelenting at all times. Only a team that has been groomed to be like that can polarize opinion by scoring 13 goals against Thailand and still play like they are trailing. This attitude is also supported by prominent voices in the US space that are calling for equal pay in the game and the investment of resources into growing women’s soccer in the US. Equally ingrained in the Stars & Stripes’ drive is the innate desire to want to excel at something they started. As one of the initial pioneers of the WC, it is not a surprise that the US have maintained that level of excellence over the years. They got to learn the winning formula way before anybody else joined the game.

 Setting a precedence and inviting others in

The 2019 world cup victory is actually not just for the USWNT, but extends to women’s soccer in general. Regional competitions like the Total Women Africa Cup of Nations and the UEFA Women’s Euro Cup have also gained prominence in the field. Their contribution to the development of talent in the game can never be overstated. Players who participate in these tournaments become the cornerstones and jewels of their national teams. The bigger wave of women empowerment across the world that advocates for women’s equal inclusion in sports is also something that is contributing to the exponential growth of women’s football. For example, Procter & Gamble donated $529K to further bridge the gender pay gap in U.S soccer. Other countries like France and the Netherlands have heeded the call for inclusion in sports and have made substantial investments in their local leagues.

 The investment in local leagues explains why the USWNT did not cruise through the tournament but faced fierce competition from Spain, England and France. Even Alex Morgan attested to the competitive nature of the 2019 finals by stating that “I think during the tournament it’s more emotionally exhausting. After, we are actually so sleep deprived — like it’s physically exhausting.” That exhaustion was a sign of how hard that win must have come for the US because other teams were equally determined to win the championship too.

Amandine Henry of France celebrates her team's second goal with team mates during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Round Of 16 match between France and Brazil at Stade Oceane on June 23, 2019 in Le Havre, France.

(June 22, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

 Even the progress of the African teams that were at the tournament highlighted the bigger conversation about the growing and maturing nature of the women’s game across the world. For the first time in history, two African teams, namely Cameroon and Nigeria, advanced to the knockout stages. The only team that could understandably not advance were debutants, South Africa. The improvement can also be accorded to the fact that African players are now able to play in other leagues outside of Africa. For example, Thembi Kgatlana plays for Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in the Chinese Women's Super League while Asisat Oshoala is blessing Barcelona Femmine with her presence. Such exposure gives them a feel of how the game is played on other sides of the world way before they go to international tournaments like the World Cup. In our past article, we gave a detailed analysis of how impressively unbeatable Lyon has become. Since it is an international club with players from diverse nationalities, their spirit, drive and energy is able to spread across to other countries as well.

 The world has also been impressed by players such as Thembi Kgatlana who was named the 2018 CAF’s Footballer of the Year and Hegerberg who has gone to be the first woman to win the Ballon d’Or. More notably, there is also a rise in the quality of coaches who offer technical support to their teams. Some legends have returned through their teams today. For example, former Manchester United legend Phil Neville is now managing England.

Alex Morgan of the USA is challenged by Lucy Bronze, Jade Moore and Nikita Parris of England during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France.

(July 1, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe

 Why USWNT’s win is important for women’s football

One thing we have gotten used to is the influence of the U.S. on the affairs of other countries. If the idea of equal attention, pay and investment in sports is successful in the U.S., it can then trickle down to other countries. Their win has brought even more attention to this crucial conversation in society and given the champions and the rest of the world, more evidence to further their cause. Other prominent figures like Megan Rapinoe who got both the Golden Ball award as the World Cup’s best player and the Golden Boot as its leading scorer have grabbed the attention of President Trump who was quoted saying, “the conversation is no longer about should we have equal pay, or should we be supporting women. It’s how do we support not only athletes but women in general.” The involvement of newspapers and cash donations from companies like Secret Deodorant have also given this discourse more positive attention.

 Conclusion

We can never congratulate the USNWT team enough, not just for the win but the consistent excellence. It has helped the rest of us recognize and appreciate the true meaning of commitment and being deliberate about setting ourselves up for success. We have seen that the U.S. win does not begin every 4 years but generations before. Beyond the championship, it is also important to recognize the contribution of such performances to the more crucial conversation about women in sports, inclusion and equal remuneration.

MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #6 Saphir Taider

Saphir Taider of Algeria controls the ball against Philipp Lahm of Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Germany and Algeria at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 30, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

(June 29, 2014 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images South America)

Taider is one of MLS’ top imports from Europe’s big soccer leagues. The 27-year-old arrived at Montreal Impact in the January of 2018 from Italian Serie A’s Bologna and took no time to adjust to new surroundings. By the turn of the year, Taider had started 34 competitive matches for the Canadian club, scored 8 goals and serving up 5 assists.In other words, he instantly became a crucial figure in the heart of Impact’s midfield. The Algerian international is entering his second season in the MLS and the club will be counting on the midfield maestro to run the show and help the club better their 7th place finish in the 2018 season.

Prior to joining Montreal Impact, Taider appeared for Italian clubs Sassuolo, Bologna and Inter Milan including a short stint at the English Premier League’s Southampton. His elder brother represents the country of his father’s birth,Tunisia, while Taider plays for the rivals, Algeria, the mother’s country of origin. The 27-year-old central midfielder made his international debut in 2013 and has since played 44 matches for the Desert Foxes, scoring 5 times. He helped the nation to reach the knockout stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was also a key figure as the North African nation reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Impact teammate and midfield partner, Samuel Piette, described Saphir as a complete player.

“We can see this year he has a lot of goals and assists, so he’s participating as well offensively. He’s got a good shot. I mean he hasn’t scored a screamer so far but he’s had a couple of good shots. He’s not an individual player, he likes to make plays [to] the others. Obviously we have Nacho [Piatti]  so he looks for him. He looks for the strength of the team and tries to play on that. He doesn’t really have weaknesses, to be honest. He’s a very complete player.”

— Samuel Piette, Montreal Impact

Sports and soccer betting banned in Uganda, hit or miss?

“As far as the President is concerned, the dilemma that young people are facing is choosing between hard work and betting, so much that removing one will inevitably work for the other.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

When the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni tweeted that Uganda will be banning sports betting by not issuing new licenses for betting companies nor renewing old ones, he got a “Praise the Lord” from religious leaders and skepticism from economists. According to the President, there are a couple of justifications for this directive and we cannot dispute that. However, the effect of an action is not always as noble as the intention of it. Will this decision yield the anticipated results?

Why was it done?

The directive seemingly stemmed from the President’s best interest for the youth. According to him, sports betting is the reason why most people are diverted from the core value of hard work and lie around idle. As far as the President is concerned, the dilemma that young people are facing is choosing between hard work and betting, so much that removing one will inevitably work for the other. Such an incredible dichotomy of choices! Even more importantly, the President touched on how most of these companies are foreign owned. After all the betting that takes place, they take most of the profits outside of the country which drains the economy. This is a common phenomenon amongst African states and it really does need to be curbed.

Hit or Miss?  

Uganda supporters cheer ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Egypt and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 21, 2017. / AFP / Justin TALLIS

(Jan. 20, 2017 - Source: AFP)

The government of Uganda is estimated to lose about Ush50 billion  (about U$13.6M) yearly from these companies if they go ahead with implementing this ban. This is probably way less than what these companies then take out of Uganda annually, but it sure does contribute to the welfare of some Ugandans. Should government then let go of it under a ban?  Mr Albert Baine, a tax expert from Global Taxation Services Ltd, said that in as much as government should care about the social impact of activities that happen inside the country, it should also ensure that does not come at a financial loss. This then proves that if the outcome is to satisfy both criteria, then a ban is probably not the best way to go about it. There is a way through which regulation could be crafted such that financial and social impact are maximised.

Betting is also one other way that adds excitement and commitment to sports, especially football. When people do not just associate a team with colours, but with their money, they are most likely going to attend the soccer matches or stream the game. They will be religiously following the team that they have sided with during a bet. This is the kind of support and attention that sports especially in Africa need. However, we agree that interest should not come at the expense of other things like academics and work. This then means that people need to be sensitised on the dangers of gambling addiction, which is something that companies can take up as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  Because a ban comes with a blanket wipe out, even of things that might be beneficial, like commitment to sports, it maybe a miss in some cases.

Mr Paul Lakuma, a researcher at the Economic Policy Research Centre also raised a point about how this ban could lead to the eruption of a gambling black market. If it is surely an addiction, people will not be stopped by legislation from practising it. Instead, they will find means to do it outside of the government’s eyes. This will even lead to a higher economic drain as government cannot account for this underground money and possibly lose tax from it.

Conclusion

What then shall I say, I am of the opinion that the President’s concerns are genuine and should be taken seriously. However, a ban seems to be quite a drastic approach. There are softer ways to deal with all the problems that he has rightly identified.

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #2 Eric Bailly

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United in discussion with Eric Bailly of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester United at Turf Moor on September 2, 2018 in Burnley, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Preamble

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

CB: Eric Bertrand Bailly

The Manchester United centre-back who has been in and out of the team. Eric Bailly was one of the most trusted players by Jose Mourinho in that shaky United defence but has somewhat failed to live up to the Portuguese’ expectations. Bailly has since been criticised by the former Real Madrid head coach and has found himself down the pecking order behind Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and even the returning Marcos Rojo. It is no secret that Bailly has the command, pace and aerial threat to get the job done but needs to learn from his mistakes.

My Verdict: The 24-year-old is at the right club and should up his game to deserve a place in the team.

FT Dream Team Series: Idrissa Gueye or N’golo Kante, who would you pick?

Idrissa Gueye of Everton slides in to tackle Luciano Vietto of Fulham as Lucas Digne of Everton looks on during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Fulham FC at Goodison Park on September 29, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

It’s about time we break ground with those conversations. Yes, those ones we have with our friends about who’s best. Today, we are not on about the GOAT debate. We compare two players who play in the same position and have the same influence in their respective teams. One has won the FIFA World Cup, and the English Premier League twice already yet the other is settled in a mid-table team battling it out for a European spot. The debate is between a French midfielder and Africa’s crown jewel. Kante vs Idrissa Gana Gueye of Senegal. Here’s, my rationale before making a pick.

More often than not, the best players have been considered to be the ones playing in the biggest of teams. Think of Ronaldinho and Messi at Barcelona, Ronaldo at Madrid only to mention but a few. Backed up by numbers, it’s easier to tell a story that they are the best above the rest. Therefore, it becomes a mountain climb if you try to make a claim for a player in a lesser team. However, one can argue to say that Kante plays with better players at Chelsea who bring out the best in him. With Jorginho, Fabregas, Kovacic, or Barkley next to him, it’s easier for the well-renowned midfield general to make an impact in the game. This gives an edge to Kante over Gana Gueye who plays with Schneiderlin, Davies and Gomes who are still yet to reach the level of the above mentioned players at Chelsea as well as maintaining that form. This will not be overlooked in my final judgement.

N'Golo Kante of Chelsea in action with Joe Bennett of Cardiff City during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge on September 15, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 14, 2018 - Source: Marc Atkins/Getty Images Europe)

In addition, such debates have been accompanied by the number of accolades won by an individual. Take the Ballon d’Or award for example, it is awarded to a player who was outstanding in terms of individual contribution as well as claiming a collective trophy with their club. This requires having a great manager, dressing room atmosphere as well as playing with the best players on the pitch. As a result, it is no surprise that Kante lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia trophy with a star-studded French team. To give you context, the fourth most expensive player in the world, Ousmane Dembele, could not make it into the first eleven of that French team. They had so much depth to choose from. At club level, Kante won the English Premier League with Leicester City and Chelsea. Gueye on the other hand, has not won anything with his club, Everton which would eliminate him from making it to the FIFA Best shortlist. This is an unfair criteria used by the authorities as it overlooks an individual’s outstanding contribution. Because of that, trophies will not be at the heart of my decision.

Take away the above, Kante is a regular midfielder with the same abilities as Gana Gueye. Let’s take a look at their current stats. You might be surprised to find out that Gueye is averaging 6 tackles per game and 2.7 interceptions as compared to Kante’s 1.9 and 0.9. The African star is shining in his position but such performances by African players usually go unnoticed. Does Gueye have to join a club of Madrid’s stature for the fans to award him the respect that he deserves for his mastery of ball recovery in the middle of the park

“Kante is a regular midfielder with the same abilities as Gana Gueye. Let’s take a look at their current stats. You might be surprised to find out that Gueye is averaging 6 tackles per game and 2.7 interceptions as compared to Kante’s 1.9 and 0.9.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

If I were to choose my pick between the two, Kante would not be my first choice considering his current form. He looks lost in the new look Chelsea midfield next to Jorginho and Barkley. He has been far from his best and has been living of his form from the World Cup. Gana Gueye has been doing bits and I reckon would be much better if he is handed the opportunity to play for a bigger club in England.

Who would you pick?