Paul Tenorio

100 days til the World Cup.

Massive effort from 100+ folks across @theathletic.com and @theathleticfc.bsky.social to set the stage for a massive (and massively complex) event.

Go dive in!
❓ www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...
⚽ www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
🏙️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

The truth about World Cup ticket demand and why USA’s opener has struggled to sell out FIFA's unexpected sales window raised plenty of questions but also hinted at some realities about the ticketing situation this summer

A week after Gianni Infantino claimed that “every” 2026 World Cup match is “already sold out,” FIFA... launched an unexpected sale of 2026 World Cup tickets.

At least 64 of the 104 matches were available, according to fans who sent information and screenshots to @theathletic.com.

🤔

The takeaways:

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the most popular MLS player that you've never heard of, a social media sensation in his native South Africa and the main reason why the Chicago Fire has seen its social media accounts explode with popularity.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

The Messi Effect 9781250364173 - Macmillan In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, draws on coveted insider access to bring readers behind Lionel Messi&#82...

Some exciting news: My book pub date was moved UP to June 2!

Preorder The Messi Effect now wherever you buy your books. Read the story of behind-the-scenes story of Messi's arrival in MLS and how the league's owners debated their own change and growth.

read.macmillan.com/lp/the-messi...

What happens if Iran do not play at the World Cup? Explaining the possible fallout if Iran were not to take up their place at the tournament this summer - and who could replace them

101 days before the World Cup, a host nation is bombing a participant.

An unprecedented situation that is, of course, way larger than sport, with implications that aren't yet clear.

That said, if Iran can't or won't play...

Explainer @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie agrees Juventus contract extension until 2030 The 27-year-old has featured in all but one of Juventus' matches this season and started all 10 Champions League fixtures.

Weston McKennie has agreed a new Juventus contract through to 2030.

McKennie’s existing deal expires in June this year and he has been free to negotiate a pre-contract with an overseas club since January.

More from @jameshorncastle.bsky.social & @paultenorio.bsky.social

Yes, def pertinent. Just saying that DCU signed for the followers. Fire signed the player and then got the followers as a surprise/bonus!

Yes but Mbokazi played for South Africa at AFCON and is a starter for the Fire…so not quite the same

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the most popular player in MLS you’ve never heard of The rising South African talent has brought his skill – and intense following – with him to the Chicago Fire

When Messi and Son came to MLS, they brought their many social media followers with them.

Meet the player you (might not) have heard of who boosted the Chicago Fire's social media following by more than half a million people.

The Mbokazi Effect.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

So what you're saying is that MNUFC already plays home games in the cold without the calendar flipping? Interesting.

MLS Next Pro’s experimental efforts to curtail time-wasting yield quick results Time-wasting has long been an issue in soccer, but with a few new rules, MLS Next Pro is making meaningful improvements

Back in 2023, I wrote this piece on the effectiveness of a new set of rules introduced in MLS Next Pro aimed at gamesmanship, how they came to be and why they were coming to MLS.

Now, after an IFAB vote, those rules will be in the World Cup.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/501...

Inter Miami to visit White House next week to mark MLS Cup win The team will visit on Thursday, March 5, according to a White House official.

Inter Miami will visit the White House on Thursday, March 5 to mark the team’s MLS Cup win, according to a White House official.

A representative of Lionel Messi did not respond when asked whether the Argentina international will join.

More from @adamcrafton.bsky.social

Josh Sargent is in Toronto and looking forward after ‘complicated’ Norwich transfer saga Sargent was banished to Norwich's U-21s after making his transfer request, but he finally has his wish: a new start in MLS

#USMNT's Josh Sargent is in Toronto and looking forward after ‘complicated’ Norwich transfer saga.

“I don’t want to get into too much about everything at Norwich. It was complicated. But happy to finally be here and start this new chapter of my life.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

🇬🇦⭐️ BREAKING: LAFC has signed star Denis Bouanga to a new contract, sources tell me and @paultenorio.bsky.social

New deal ends speculation after bids from Fluminense most recently and Inter Miami earlier this winter.

Yunus Musah holds out hope for his U.S. World Cup dream: ‘I believe it’s possible’ Musah, a 2022 World Cup constant, hasn't been in U.S. camp since March 2025, and time is running short for a triumphant return

Atalanta's two first-half goals makes it 2-2 on aggregate with Dortmund in Champions League.

Could Yunus Musah play in the second half? James McNicholas spoke to him recently.

“I believe it’s possible,” Musah said of getting back into the USMNT picture.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Who is the real Gianni Infantino, FIFA president and ‘the king of soccer’? Before the Club World Cup, The Athletic has spoken to dozens of people to gain a clearer picture of the most powerful man in football

"The sun king", "an empty suit", Donald Trump's "great friend", "sort of the king of soccer... I guess… in a certain way"

Ten years ago this week Gianni Infantino became FIFA president, pledging to "restore the image and the respect of FIFA"

It's been ... a ride

www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Bødo/Glimt hasn't played a league game since Nov. 30. Has since beaten Manchester City, Atlético and now Inter across two legs in the Champions League.

No more MLS Concachampions schedule excuses from me.

🤐

2026 MLS Anonymous Executive Survey, Part 2: World Cup impact, league’s future In the second half of our annual survey, MLS club decision-makers address the league's outlook after what could be a formative summer

GM survey Part II

🔋 Would superteams help MLS?
🇺🇸 Who is the next breakout USMNTer?
⚽ Breakout MLSer at World Cup?
⭐ Would you sign Cristiano this summer?

“I think I'd be nuts if I said I wouldn't want to sign Cristiano.”

With @felipecardenas.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Antoine Griezmann in advanced discussions to join Orlando City from Atletico Madrid Orlando City sporting director and general manager Ricardo Moreira has been to Spain multiple times to work on the deal.

BREAKING: Orlando City is in advanced discussions to sign Atlético Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann as a DP.

Nothing agreed. Orlando still engaged with other targets. But Griezmann is the focus.

With @tombogert.bsky.social and Mario Cortegana.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Was a joy working on this survey for a second straight year with my guy @felipecardenas.bsky.social 👊

No one is allowed to vote for themselves, their teams or their players in any category.

Sure, you can criticize us while also acknowledging The Athletic is not in the business of MLS, but rather in covering sports and in my case American soccer. Our decisions about MLS coverage are fundamentally different than the league itself on its own channels

The Verdict: MLS still thrives off brand-name stars, needs better self-promotion The opening weekend of the 2026 season underscored some valuable truths for a league that yearns for domestic and global acclaim

The Verdict: MLS must focus on signing more good players. But as they do (and figure out roster rules to do it better), there is still an important role for big-name stars.

If done right, they serve an important purpose: they up quality and audience.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

We polled 22 MLS soccer execs on the league's best ... including best/worst facilities.

"Their field is a disgrace," one GM said of an MLS venue. "It’s not at our level.”

Who had the best value contract? Sebastian Berhalter, per execs

Part 1 out now: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffer on MLS opening night as Son and LAFC run riot in front of 75,673 The Argentine icon and Miami's other stars could not prevent LAFC dominating a game that drew the second-largest crowd in MLS history

Did a wrap-up column on MLS's first night of action, leading with LAFC dominance over Miami, then RBNY's youth movement and into my other quick observations from the games I was able to check in on.

Another column on opening weekend coming tomorrow...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

No. 90% of transfer business is done in the summer. They will now be buying and selling at a time when everyone else is. They'll be able to buy more players and better players. (This is contingent on MLS changing its rules to go along with the calendar flip!)

Expansion fees have eased pain of losses. Can’t keep expanding as a biz model. Have to focus on the product now and making summer window the main window is enormous to that end

Yes 30 years of “owning the summer.” Doesn’t move the revenue needle enough bc Gameday revenue isn’t enough to sustain the business now. Media revenue drives pro sports leagues

The folks in the stands are not enough to sustain the business. There is not enough revenue. That’s why we are at this point. If there was enough then they wouldn’t weigh any changes.