SOC NOTES

Pochettino guided the USMNT to first place in Group D at the World Cup with a 2-1-0 record. The team went on to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32 before falling to Belgium 4-1, one round shy of the quarterfinals while playing on home soil in Seattle.

It was the first time the United States earned three victories at a single World Cup.

Pochettino was hired to the USMNT role in September 2024 to replace Gregg Berhalter at a reported $6 million per year. Reports indicated he was offered an extension before the World Cup began.

The 54-year-old has been a head coach at some of the top clubs in Europe, including Tottenham in England, Paris Saint-Germain in France and Chelsea in England.

A four-year deal would potentially take Pochettino through the 2030 World Cup, which is primarily scheduled to be played in Portugal, Spain and Morocco, assuming he does not depart for a different role.

The USMNT will take the field for the first time since the World Cup in September and October for friendlies against yet-to-be determined opponents.

Reports indicated before, during and after the World Cup that clubs in Europe were interested in hiring the Argentina native.

FIFA opens disciplinary case over Argentina banner

FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina's football association and its players for several alleged breaches at the World Cup, including the holding up of a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Following Argentina's semifinal victory over England in Atlanta, some players brandished a banner declaring "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine").

FIFA said using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a potential breach of the disciplinary code.

In 2014, FIFA fined Argentina $26,560 for a similar banner held up by players before a friendly with Slovenia.

Other alleged breaches at the World Cup include discriminatory chants and gestures, late kickoffs, security protocol failures, inappropriate team and spectator messages, and objects thrown by fans across several matches during the tournament.

Meanwhile, disciplinary proceedings were also opened against several players after the final in New Jersey, where Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

A brief brawl erupted at the final whistle when Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes shoved Spain's Gavi to the ground as the European champions' substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.

Paredes faces three assault counts while Nahuel Molina faces two counts. Molina, Thiago Almada and Argentine official Roberto Ayala as well as Spain's Gavi face one count each for unsporting behavior.

"In accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the respondents have now been provided with the opportunity to present their position, following which a decision will be issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in due course," FIFA said.

Infantino: Plan to sell WC stake a proposal, 'not an obligation'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup a proposal but “not an obligation” after the idea provoked a furious response from some soccer authorities.

FIFA announced plans this week to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, and said it will offer stakes of up to 20% in it to external investors.

The proposal drew strong criticism from the sport's regional confederations, which said they were blindsided by the plan by world soccer's governing body to bring private investors into the sport.

But Infantino said strengthening the commercial side of the game is the natural next step in this evolution.

"It’s part of a democratic process — a consultation process — and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation, and as I said, it kicks off the consultation process," Infantino said in a video provided by FIFA on Wednesday.

FIFA is one of the world's wealthiest sporting organizations, generating billions of dollars in revenue, largely from broadcasting rights, sponsorship and other commercial deals linked to the World Cup.

Infantino insisted in his remarks that fans will remain the cornerstone of soccer and that FIFA will continue to govern soccer without any external interference.

Cup lifts MLS ticket sales, ratings

Major League Soccer ticket sales and television ratings have surged following the World Cup, with MLS Commissioner Don Garber declaring the tournament has provided the "rocket fuel" to grow the sport further in the United States.

Speaking to Reuters a little more than a week after the conclusion of the global tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Garber said the league was already capitalizing on an unprecedented wave of domestic fan engagement.

Ticket sales are up 62% and television ratings for recent league matches have jumped between 40% and 50%, according to league figures.

"We didn't want it just to be a moment in time," Garber said of the tournament, which had been the league's "North Star" since hosting rights were awarded in 2018.

"We wanted it to be the rocket fuel that would drive the next generation of growth for our league and of the sport in the United States at all levels."

To capture the post-tournament momentum, MLS has launched a national marketing campaign titled, "Thanks world, we'll take it from here."

Garber noted the strategy focuses on integrating World Cup stars into MLS rosters, expanding community fan festivals and collaborating with the U.S. Soccer Federation to capitalize on the sport's elevated profile.

Looking ahead, Garber pointed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the next major catalyst for the sport in the United States, expressing hope that the U.S. men's under-23 team can compete for a gold medal on home soil.

Garber, whose contract runs through 2027, said he expects to remain in a leadership role through that period, with further details on the transition to be announced soon.

Messi returns to Miami after WC loss

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi returned to practice for Inter Miami on Wednesday, 10 days after Argentina's World Cup run ended with a 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the final earlier this month.

The two-time defending MLS MVP missed Miami's first two matches after the World Cup break against Chicago and Montreal, both of which the team still won, extending its winning streak to six matches.

Messi also chose not to participate in Wednesday night's MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game in Charlotte, instead taking some time off to visit his father, Jorge, who the Messi family announced during the World Cup is battling an undisclosed illness.

Messi concluded this year's World Cup, his record sixth, with eight goals and four assists, coming one win away from leading Argentina to be the first team to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

He was the first player to break Miroslav Klose's record for career World Cup goals with his 17th in Argentina's second match, but French sensation Kylian Mbappe finished the World Cup one goal ahead of Messi, 22 to 21.

Inter Miami (11-2-4, 37 points) is two points behind Nashville SC atop the Eastern Conference standings. It isn't yet known if his return will come in Saturday's home match against the Columbus Crew.

BRIEFLY

DC UNITED: D.C. United announced the acquisition of Japanese defender/midfielder Kimito Nono on Wednesday. Nono, 24, arrives from the Kashima Antlers of Japan's top-flight J1 League and is signed through 2028-29 with an option for 2029-30. He will occupy an international roster slot. Nono recorded 13 goals and three assists in 87 appearances across all competitions over the past three seasons with the Kashima Antlers.

DYNAMO: The Houston Dynamo transferred forward Exon Arzu to Venezuelan club Carabobo FC on Wednesday. Arzu, 22, had three goals and an assist in 15 matches for MLS NEXT Pro side Houston Dynamo 2 in 2025. Houston originally acquired Arzu from Real Club Deportivo Espana in his native Honduras in August 2024.