Jose is quick to point out that just 1 point from two road matches was a little bit unlucky this time around, and he has a point. San Diego’s single goal was a shot that most often goes wide. Portland Timbers exploited a formation change and brain fart from Dallas’ defenders to level things.

And still, both teams had opportunities to get more.

Meanwhile, we covered a lot of ground with player news, including a loan from the USL-C squad Rhode Island. What can we expect from the new midfielder?

We close out the show with a preview.

Thanks for listening. Your support makes so much difference.

Welcome back friends after a tough week for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club.

FC Dallas managed just a point on the past two road games — in a feisty 2-2 draw in Portland that felt like something was left on the table and then an overall disappointing match in San Diego that resulted in a loss.

The team will travel back out to the West Coast later this week and have a chance to rebound against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Other news though:

• New keeper Daniel likely out for a few weeks. Sirois back in?

• Petar Musa will compete in the MLS All-Star game this week

• FC Dallas has loaned in a midfielder from USL-C, Clay Holstad, on loan. He’s a Quill guy and helps boost midfield depth

North Texas SC did not fair much better, coming back to Mansfield on a high and then coughing up two early goals. They did surge back, with Edouard Nys again showing his quality. He’ll also be participating in some MLS Next All-Star skill work, but for this team to return home and not turn their new stadium into a fortress was a disappointment.

Benji Flowers, fresh with his FC Dallas contract, started for North Texas.

Let’s get caught up together and break down all of this news for both teams at 7 PM CST.

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Remember our mantra, Major League Soccer fans.

Road points are always good.

The big headline from FC Dallas’ road draw at the Portland Timbers, 2-2, was just how good the team looked despite some sloppy second half play from a back line that didn’t look quite so organized. Despite that and despite some feeling like three points were left there in the Pacific Northwest, you can still appreciate the effort and the point. It all adds up in the end.

In the first half, FC Dallas pinged the ball around like wizards. Kaick in particular had a strong game (even though he did fade a bit as the game wore on). Logan Farrington was unlucky not to get on at least one ball to punch through a breakthrough. Instead, Valiente found space in stoppage time of the first half and slid the ball over to Patrickson Delgado who took a step and slashed it home. Beautiful stuff.

But, really, FC Dallas should have had at least one other goal.

In the second half, Portland came out with extra fight and pinged the posts several times on near misses. They found a breakthrough of their own that started with some missed talks when Sam Sarver, who is no defensive wizard, couldn’t stay with the play. From my vantage point, the back line got disorganized. It happens.

But Petar Musa came on after a busy World Cup and snatched an errant pass to single-handedly put FC Dallas back on top. He is now the golden boot leader in Major League Soccer. FC Dallas, pay the man!

The lead would not hold, despite Dallas threatening a couple more times. Eric Quill’s second half subs attempted to boost some weary legs, but the second half formation never completely gelled when they didn’t have the ball. Bernard Kamungo struggled a bit to influence the game after a long injury — which is all true. Sam Sarver earned some hard fouls and wanted to blast past every Portland defender, even if that was a little bit wishful in the end.

Still, there is so much to like from this performance for the first actual action after a long layoff. Debutant Daniel in goal also found some nice saves, even if he could do little on the two given up. He will need some help.

With San Diego looming this weekend, Eric Quill is not going to apologize for fielding a team that is going to push hard for points. It’s worked. They have a lot of road games ahead, and there isn’t a ton of reason to go defense first in the matches. Roll the dice. Fight like hell. Go for the win.

Here are my questions:

• What role is Bernard Kamungo going to have? Frankly, I much prefer Nolan Norris on the left. He isn’t going to burn defenders, but he is a good passer and just helps balance that side of the field.

• When will Petar Musa start? Will he be ready to go on Saturday? I imagine he will.

• Is Patrickson Delgado going to be a rollercoaster? Will he find consistency? His goal was beautiful and deserved, but then he disappears. Will we see Kamungo or Logan Farrington in a more advanced role in his place?

Most importantly, let’s just enjoy watching Petar Musa while we have him.

But first, Jose, Collin, and Nathan broke down their thoughts on the World Cup. Was it a success? A memorable tournament? What did we like? What didn’t sit so well? While we agreed that Spain played masterful and annoying football, we also gave shade to Argentina for its behavior, especially in that last game. Lots of reckless fouls.

Will the tournament move to 64 teams? Will that be good?

Anyway, we spent a ton of time chatting before we got into North Texas Soccer Club’s continued moves to attract intriguing talent, in addition to the debut of the new stadium. There is so much positive with this squad right now, so many reasons why the games should be packed.

Including giving up one goal in the past three games. Do we see a surge up the standings in their future?

FC Dallas added a goalkeeper to boost their second half chances. Collin hints at rumors out of outbound players to free up some dead weight on the roster, but Jose reminds us that guys who were injured, like Kamungo and a refreshed Christian Cappis, might feel like new signings. Overall, we are positive that this team can keep the momentum going, starting with two away games this week - one at Portland and one at San Diego.

Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Well, friends and subscribers, thank you for your patience during this vacation and World Cup break.

Afterburn Soccer Show is back.

You can watch live with us over on YouTube or use the handy link above as we catch up on a lot of fun stuff.

World Cup: Yes, it was a big event, and in the end, despite lots of uncertainty and concerns, the tournament had plenty of thrilling moments. And made lots of cash for ticket resellers! Was Spain the deserved winner? Did the USMNT deserve more? What are the highlights for us?

North Texas SC: After debuting their long-awaited Mansfield stadium, North Texas have come out with fresh energy and new faces and are beginning to try to work their way back into playoff contention, most recently with a gritty 1-0 win at the Quakes II. Which new signing is intriguing? What is the stadium experience like?

FC Dallas: Yes, they had a friendly in Mansfield, but FC Dallas returns to Major League Soccer action on Wednesday night against a solid Portland Timbers team. Will this be a Santi Moreno revenge match? How will Petar Musa pick up after his World Cup campaign? Will new signing Daniel get the start in goal?

We will hit these topics and more.

Go live with us, especially if you want to learn more about FC Dallas as you cling to your World Cup high.

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Yes, tomorrow is the World Cup final, but tonight was for North Texas Soccer Club as they found the win in a gritty, hard fought victory on the road in San Jose.

Enzo Newman popped up in the box - right place, right time - as the ball bounced around dangerously after a NTSC corner kick late in the second half. His shot wasn’t necessarily pretty. It wasn’t the kind of goal you will see on highlight reels to take your breath away. In fact, it’s kind of hard to see on the replay and crowd of bodies desperately trying to make something happen, but the goal was enough to get a massive three points in Northern California.

Enzo was appreciative and humble after the goal. The right wing back has been on a long injury recovery journey after suffering a season ending injury last year, but his steady minutes at North Texas and practice time with the first team suggest he is fully fit and ready to make a difference.

“Enzo is a leader, a big personality. He was injured with the first team last year. He’s spent a lot of time with us,” North Texas head coach John Gall said after the game. “You could see how much it meant to him — I think his second game winner of the season. He is the type of kid you can count on. He certainly stepped up tonight.”

A big statistic? San Jose Earthquakes II had 20 shots on the night, but North Texas SC managed to block 9 of them in a defensive performance that highlighted Eryk Dymora and a much more organized and spirited back line. When the offense didn’t click behind Nys and Louis, which is going to happen from time to time, you need the boys at the back to be resolute. They did that.

“Sometimes you need to win ugly,” Gall told Afterburn Soccer. “One of the things we talked about all week long was a clean sheet. We probably scored the ugliest goal we could score, but I felt we deserved a goal. I think we had almost ten blocked shots. Eryk came up with some really big saves. It’s not just about flowing, pretty football - of course, we want to try to do that… but young professionals need to learn how to win games. Really proud of the defensive performance.”

Gall noted after the match that, in the past three games, the team has only given up one goal, a late stunner from the Rapids 2, a result he felt was unfair. He marks it as a sign that the defensive unit is beginning to turn the corner after plenty of rocky moments in the first half of the season. In short, there is light ahead.

Another stat? Quakes II sit just three points above North Texas in the table, a gap that could narrow quickly in the coming weeks as the next five out of six games are at home in Mansfield.

It’s a crucial stretch of the season ahead. Win all five home games? North Texas could be sitting at 40 points and seriously in the mix of postseason action.

Enzo Newman expressed appreciation for the fan support, especially with the honor of opening a new stadium in front of a large crowd and a desire to repay the investment in him and in the club in the coming weeks.

In other words, while the World Cup may come to a close today, there is a feast of soccer ahead for North Texas Soccer Club and FC Dallas. Stay tuned!

Welcome back, FC Dallas regulars, and welcome to those who are curious about Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro, and all the other wonderful leagues in this country that deserve our cash and support.

It’s a great time to be a soccer fan in this country with brand new stadiums opening every year, more and more access to professional matches all over the place, and talented players getting their chances.

FC Dallas is back in practice, and over the next couple of weeks, the team will get the second half of the season into gear. It’s going to be an exciting one. And as usual, there are rumors of all kinds to pay attention, as the team keeps trying to improve and capitalize on the anticipated World Cup bounce.

Here is what we are tracking:

Petar Musa Is an All-Star and Probably Here to Stay?

The big news this week is that Petar Musa will represent FC Dallas in the upcoming Major League Soccer All-Star game. The prolific striker is having another fantastic season, and he deserved to both get a chance to show his stuff at the World Cup and now get mixed in with the best of the best in North America. A worthy honor for the international!

Speaking of the World Cup, while Musa bagged himself a crucial goal for Croatia, his play and usage by the national team fell off pretty quickly. It had to be disappointing for the striker to not get more opportunities, especially when Croatia were pushing late for equalizers. Whether something happened in the locker room or he picked up a nagging injury, he did not feature in the final Croatian game.

Musa returns to FC Dallas in fine form, likely deserving a break before getting back into rhythm with the squad.

But the even bigger news is that the market has likely cooled for the striker. No doubt, there are teams out there keeping an eye on him, but it’s not likely his World Cup appearances raised his stock high enough to justify the price tag it will require to get him out of Frisco. Fans, while gutted for him not making a bigger impact with Croatia, can breathe a little sigh of relief. The Moose is likely going to be here longer.

Truth, I think this raises the expectations for the rest of the season. If Musa stays in fine form, FC Dallas will continue to stay in contention.

Of course, never say never. Who knows what happens in the coming transfer windows.

FC Dallas Stadium Is a Work-in-Progress

The other interesting news was some flurry of photos showing a temporary press box on the east side of Toyota Stadium being damaged during the continued construction and demolition of parts of the venue. Unfortunately, I can’t find the image, but it marks how the return to action in Frisco will continue to be a very much “work-in-progress” experience. Fans should pay attention to the changed seating charts and be as patient as possible. We won’t see the true Frisco experience for a while.

You can argue that the timing for these important upgrades could have been better planned, with a World Cup in town and all, but permitting, financing, and planning are what they are.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas will be playing at least one Leagues Cup game on August 5 down in Mansfield in the new Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. That should be a special experience to get a look at North Texas SC’s new venue and environment.

New Starting Goalkeeper On the Way?

Tom Bogert is reporting, that with San Jose signing Scottish international keeper Angus Gunn, Daniel is on his way to FC Dallas in a trade.

The move is an interesting one. FC Dallas came into the year pretty confident in Michael Collodi as the leader and starter between the posts, but after being benched due to some choppy play, Jonathan Sirois, acquired in a trade with CF Montreal, got a couple of starts. Daniel is a very solid goalkeeper and offers an immediate upgrade. Rumor is that he was on the outs with Bruce Arena recently, so he gets a fresh start.

Goalkeeper was not a position we thought the team was worried about, but this could be a very shrewd move. FC Dallas can claim excellent depth in the position, and the three will really push each other for that starting spot. I expect Daniel is going to win the position and help stabilize a defense that at times has given up too many mistakes in big moments.

This also likely means that Brooks Thompson, who the team loaned in from Lexington SC until June as a third option, will return to his team.

Is the Team Still in Play for Other Moves?

My other hope out of this World Cup was for Deedson to show well in the tournament and get an intriguing offer to depart the team, as his minutes have not materialized and his profile doesn’t quite fit where the team is headed. Maybe FC Dallas can find a trade suitor for a rebuilding team like Sporting Kansas City, open up that spot, and look to deepen their roster. It’s probably wishful thinking.

A left-footed player who can offer competition at wing back would be nice, though Bernard Kamungo should be getting healthy and back in the mix soon.

We plan to do another live show soon and break down these stories and more as Major League Soccer play begins to kick off in just a couple of weeks.

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I’ve listened now, at this late hour, to multiple takes from US Soccer fans and tactical gurus to celebrities and journalists on what went wrong for the USMNT, as they fell quite confidently to Belgium, 4-1.

The one through line? We weren’t good enough.

Of course, from the opening whistle, this team WAS NOT good enough. Despite a few days of hype, with a matchup that seemed somewhat favorable, Belgium looked in control within five minutes. Their opening goal against the run of play was a profoundly simple disaster and deflated the energy of the stadium and most importantly the team. Despite Malik Tillman’s miracle free kick goal, our national squad appeared passive to the moment, giving up a score that answered squarely what the rest of the game would amount to - rolling over in front of a raucous record crowd and millions of fans.

How do you not take this moment and seize it? How do you not at least show that the US are not going to go down without a fight?

Instead, the entire match, despite a few subs that provided momentary boosts, felt like a whimper.

What do we learn from this disaster?

The loss is not shocking; the manner of the loss is!

Honestly, Belgium were the favorites even before the weird narratives around Balogun’s suspension plopped in their laps. Were they the “out and out” favorites? No. The US were expected to score a goal, maybe two, compared to similar odds for Belgium. If the hard fought match had ended 1-2 to the visitors, it would have met those expectations. If it had gone into extra time, we all would have been satisfied. This was supposedly an even bout.

In truth, Belgium were a class above. Way above.

The fact that the USA could hardly manage to control the ball, despite boasting a strong home field advantage, undermines so much of what we thought about this team. Was it maybe just one bad game? Sure. But at this stage of the tournament, at this moment? A huge disappointment.

The two later goals, including a shocking goalkeeper error, add to the embarrassment of the day. None of this should have happened.

Politics did not help.

I imagine the United States were prepping to start Ricardo Pepi all week long. Or maybe it was Haji Wright? Or some other tactical lineup?

We will never know.

Learning that Balogun would be reinstated, perhaps due to some arcane FIFA rules process or perhaps due to political pressure by an unpopular, sports-killing President or both, changed everything. It may have given Belgium that cohesive purpose they had missed earlier in the tournament. Now, they felt like the underdogs against a system that was aligning against them and against fair play. You can argue all you want whether that is justified or not, but the US players had to answer questions about it and throw out their game plans. It changed the narrative, too.

That was a huge distraction for this team, who, no doubt, had to go back to the drawing board. Maybe they felt like they could just roll out what worked before and expect to win. Sorely, sorely, sorely… mistaken. They looked unprepared. The narrative did not work in their favor.

Ultimately, there was no savior for the US.

Yes, Folarin Balugon got the start, but he hardly contributed (beyond earning a key foul). Ricardo Pepi got some minutes, but what difference did he make? No one on the United States Men’s National Team offered brilliance in this game, beyond Malik Tillman and maybe some late energy from Reyna and Berhalter.

In truth, this was a game where one coach simply out-classed another, and there was no answer. Pochettino, who had rumors swirling that he could be re-signed for another four year contract, put to bed his future with the US program. In the one game where you really need to put your team in its best possible position, he had no answers. This is the kind of game you are hired to prepare for. Sure, you lose some in the group stages — you lose some in the Gold Cup lead up. And maybe you even lose in this moment. But this is the game you are paid big bucks to at least make sure your squad is ready for.

The USA were not ready; Pochettino was not ready.

It is time to move on, be thankful for what was developed, and find the next name who can help this team prepare for the next four years, with fresh faces and opportunities ahead.

Is the sky falling?

No. This was a historic tournament for the US. The expanded field helped. Winning the group was an important step for this program. The future, though, is uncertain. However, there is talent and a continually expanding soccer structure in the United States that opens the door to growth. So many eyes and ears were exposed to the beautiful game and more will come.

Even from four years ago, the competitiveness and quality in Major League Soccer, USL Championship, and MLS Next Pro is vastly improved.

The best thing you can do as a potential soccer fan is to support lower tier soccer. Support these young people who love the game and want to shine on the biggest stage. You never know who you might see take that next step to stardom.

We can still enjoy the rest of this tournament. There are amazing games to be played and world class stars who will show us what we only hope will one day to see on a regular basis for the US. Tonight hurts, but the future is still bright.

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Can you imagine a better start to the Mansfield era for North Texas Soccer Club?

In a gleaming new stadium and in front of a spirited, joyful crowd, North Texas SC burst back into the playoff mix with a 3-0 dominant, celebratory win at home.

From kickoff, you could tell there was extra energy and enthusiasm in the home side, as they looked to both turn the page on an up-and-down first half of the season and start writing fresh storylines for what this season can mean for the young squad.

The win was marked by a massive clean sheet from goalkeeper Eryk Dymora, who marshaled his back line expertly. Slade Starnes and Alvaro Augusto did not put a foot wrong. Whatever burden and weight or miscommunications the defense had been dealing with in previous matchups was not evident on the night. Yes, North Texas hadn’t won in four recent bouts with St Louis City 2, but you could hardly tell as they lined up against by all accounts a superior opponent.

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t overshadowed by me,” Slade Starnes told media after the match. “I think our biggest change over the last four or five games has been defending as a unit. During the first half of the season, we struggled at times and gave up goals because of our own mistakes. That became a big point of emphasis from the coaching staff. When we shift, we shift together. When we step up, we step up together. The spacing between us has to stay consistent because those little details can decide games. I think we’ve done a much better job of that recently.”

The offense was even better. While it took some time for the goals to get started, the promise was there from the opening whistle. Edouard Nys and Natty James zipped around the field to find space and create combinations. The final third didn’t click until Ricky Louis replaced Nicholas Simmonds at half (and probably a pep talk from head coach John Gall).

From then on, North Texas SC ruthlessly exploited space and chaos. Caleb Swann, once again transforming the midfield with a captain-like performance, dribbled into a dangerous spot to create a chance and then stayed with the play to slot home his first goal of the season. He earned an assist for the opening goal too. Late subs brought on two high potential players in Da’Vian Kimbrough and Benjamin Flowers. Rather than see out the win, they pushed, and Kimbrough came away with his first assist of the season through a dummy by Flowers to add a nice exclamation point to the victory.

“We made a few adjustments at halftime, changed some things tactically, and they worked really well. I’m really proud of the players for the way they competed in front of our home supporters,” Gall told media after the match. “From the day we knew we were coming to Mansfield, we talked about building a community. I grew up in the U.K., where many clubs are deeply connected to their communities, and this reminds me of that. It feels like the start of something special.”

Big Picture?

The stadium is gorgeous. And like I wrote yesterday, tighter crowds closer to the action is going to feed into the energy that this young team needs. I don’t know if St Louis City felt rattled a bit by the moment, but there was a marked difference in the atmosphere even on the livestream.

There is so much potential to grow the entire experience going forward.

“The atmosphere tonight was outstanding,” head coach John Gall said after the match. “It was the first time many of these players had performed in front of a crowd like this, and seeing them interact with the fans was part of their development. It was a special night, and no one can ever take away the fact that we’re 1-0 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. I’m proud of the players, proud of the club and proud of the work our staff puts in every day. We push these players hard because moments like this make it all worthwhile. Seeing the celebration in the locker room afterward reminded us exactly why we do it.”

Youth Shining

North Texas SC are well-stocked with talent. We’ve talked about Nys and James and Swann and Newman and others before. It was amazing to Kimbrough (on his debut) and Flowers make instant impact. Both are high ceiling youngsters who need to develop. Part of that development is putting them in a situation, even if they come off the bench, to take risks and grow. Look for more.

“Da’vian is a player with a very high ceiling. There’s been a lot of expectation and excitement around him since he arrived, but he’s a kid who has stayed grounded, and I know he’ll continue to do that. Tonight, he showed what he does best. He gave us some really good hold-up play, used his physicality well, got into good positions and picked up an assist. I’m really proud of him, and we’ll continue to help him develop and get the most out of his potential,” Gall told media about the youngsters. “The same goes for Benji Flowers. He came on late and might even claim a half assist for the dummy that led to Ricky’s goal. I’m really happy for all of our young players, especially those who have been moving between the first and second teams. That’s not an easy situation for young players, but they continue to handle it well. Overall, I’m pleased with the group and with the way the individuals took care of their business tonight.”

North Texas SC are still on the outside looking in for the final playoff spot in MLS Next Pro, but this result could be the beginning of a nice run to push them up the standings and gain ground with a couple of games in hand.

May this new era flourish!

Something big is happening on Saturday.

No, I’m not talking Canada taking on Morocco or Paraguay taking on France in the darn World Cup.

North Texas Soccer Club will play their first match at their brand new stadium in Mansfield, Texas, a project years in the making.

What a day it will be.

North Texas SC is, of course, a premier development club, part of FC Dallas’ storied academy system. When you see Ricardo Pepi play for the US in the next match of the World Cup, know that North Texas was part of that development journey. And so were other players populating lower leagues and upper leagues and all kinds of leagues. This is not a mere development team for FC Dallas — it’s an environment that can produce stars.

I admit I am a soccer sicko. Lower tier squads in the United States of America are where the future lies — a first chance to see the next national team regular ply their trade and emerge. The more you watch MLS Next Pro or USL Championship, the more you see the competitive nature of soccer and how a slight bit of speed, determination, and smarts can separate a player from one level to another. Pepi showed it. Nolan Norris displayed it. Michael Collodi lived it.

If you love soccer, truly love it, you go to lower tier games.

The economics are great — it’s a bargain in this economy. The truth is that you get to watch youngsters from all walks of life live their dream. That’s so special.

Saturday is massive for North Texas Soccer Club and massive for MLS Next Pro beyond just player development. Mansfield marks a more focused opportunity for marketing and widening the academy system’s reach outside of Frisco. They have a chance to build a stronger brand identity going forward. Next Pro can also add to its growing list of stadium venues to showcase their rising stars, making the experience of this league unique.

North Texas SC has been using Choctaw Stadium, former home of the Texas Rangers, over the past few years. It’s a solid and historic stadium. I loved watching baseball there. North Texas even won a championship in Choctaw in 2024, so it will forever have a special place in the hearts of fans.

But it’s cavernous for a lower division soccer club. Even when there are a solid number of fans in attendance, it can feel empty. This is a challenge not just for NTSC but for many lower tier soccer squads. You want an environment that can, yes, bring in some cash but can also create the intensity and support for home field advantage. You want young players who can thrive under the lights and atmosphere of a raucous crowd. You want fans feeling like their presence and voices matter, close to the action.

With Texas Health Mansfield Stadium and its 7000 seating capacity, North Texas has the right fit to build an amazing soccer experience.

For the club, I also believe it gives them the opportunity to develop some real home field advantage, something that they often lacked at Choctaw. Visiting teams need to fear playing at Mansfield in front of raucous crowds. There needs to be some tradition to offer character to the fan experience. I’m excited to see it develop.

Of course, I have big questions about the future.

• Will North Texas SC consider rebranding to embrace Mansfield?

• What will this day mean for the rest of the season? Will North Texas SC shift gears and start a run deep into the playoffs?

• Are recent rumored signings like Benji Flowers (who may eventually head to Chelsea) and loanee Da’vian Kimbrough just the beginning of attracting more talent to this squad and giving them a platform for success in a first class stadium experience? How easier will it be to entice promising talent like Edouard Nys to take their next professional steps in this organization?

I’m excited to see.

Even if you can’t make it this opening match, you can watch North Texas SC welcome St Louis City SC 2 at 7:45 PM CST over on YouTube. Just a heads up - it’s going to be a tough match for this young side against one of the better teams in MLS Next Pro. But maybe this is the moment the squad needs. Maybe this is the day to shift the narrative. Maybe the next era begins tomorrow.

My dog, a miniature black poodle, has anxiety, and it’s been something we have been working on slowly. He goes nuts frequently, especially when another dog shows up on the TV screen or any of us get excited about anything. We have him medicated now to deal with the rampant anxiety. It makes family movie nights a little challenging, though.

All of this is not an aside - it was the riveting problem I faced as I watched Malik Tillman confidently slot home a stunning free kick to confirm the United States Men’s National Team ticket to the next round.

I screamed. I jumped. I danced.

And my dog, who I had been trying to keep calm most of the day, scrambled up in panic. Was it fear? Was it agony? Or, as I think back, was it joy alongside my own? Is my dog sick with World Cup Fever too?

Three hours later, as I write these words, I still feel ready to party.

It’s true - this United States Men’s National Team feels different. They aren’t perfect and will need to grow into the next match. However, this group of guys found a way, even after the set back of Balogun getting a harsh red card. (No chance it will be rescinded.) Down a man, facing a Bosnian team growing in confidence, the US held their own, and more importantly, took advantage of a precious free kick to stun their opponents and seal the win.

In years past, the red card would have been the first domino in a result we know all too well, disappointment and resignation to defeat.

But this squad found a way. They did it. They stayed together and fought through surmounting odds, scrapping and clawing to a defensive shutout and a crucial free kick that shifted the narrative.

I add to others who find this midfield particularly impressive, three world class midfielders in McKennie, Adams, and Tillman who complement each other well in their movement and sets of tools.

I honor a back line that was competent and disciplined.

The challenges away in the next matchup. Belgium is beatable, but that team has experience and found their way through despite struggling against Senegal. Ricardo Pepi doesn’t need fill Balogun’s shoes, but he needs to be dangerous and help create the chaos that others can fill. The next man must step up.

When the final whistle blew, I could hear the roar of neighbors in a nearby backyard in celebration as the Southern California sun set.

This unbridled emotion is what the World Cup is all about, turning strangers into sudden friends, morphing a crowd from silence into rapture. I’ve hit my preferred pub multiple times this week, ordering a Diet Coke and a half salad (yeah, trying to be a good boy), and each time, I find a motley crew gathered around TV screens, most of them still trying to understand why a certain goal was offside and another wasn’t. It’s so much fun.

After a heated conversation about who the real contenders in the tournament are and why some nations do better than others, I recommended Inverting the Pyramid to a lawyer standing next to me. He promptly looked it up on Amazon and added it to his wish list.

A couple came in as I was finishing the final minutes of the Belgium/Senegal match, grabbing a spot next to me. The wife was decked out in American colors from head to toe. They spoke with Indian accents, but it was clear, they felt at home. We had a brief, friendly chat, and when I started to leave, she seemed surprised.

“Aren’t you going to stay and watch the game?”

I felt a little pang of guilt - I’d love to stay, but I had an anxious dog to take for a long walk first.

An anxious dog who is as invested as I am apparently.

What a tournament.

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I am back from some needed vacation time, and it was awesome to be in Tokyo and Seoul and watch South Korea and Mexico play in a fierce bout amidst thousands of fans.

Truth be told, I was on the fence about how plugged in I was going to be during this World Cup. Sure, I’d catch the US and a few other teams, especially charting Petar Musa’s progress on this big stage. Now, I am hooked. It’s hard to sit at my desk and get all of my important work — and I do have important work to do — with the tantalizing livestream (in Spanish) of whatever current matchup a finger tip away.

The World Cup is hugely important for the future of soccer in the US, despite a lot of deep-seated problems facing our nation. Many of my neighbors are afraid to go down to the grocery store. A core idea like birthright citizenship, so simple and so important to what this multi-racial democracy/economic national powerhouse has become, was nearly on the chopping block. If the decision had gone another way, it’s possible our USMNT star striker, who is only American because a plane got turned around, wouldn’t be American anymore.

And that decision won’t stop the hollowing out of so many vibrant neighborhoods, with good people just going to work and loving their families… and often producing a bunch of good soccer players, because people in power want this country to be less diverse and more… white.

Which sounds pretty boring to me.

I can’t help but notice that the better teams at the World Cup are looking more and more diverse, because producing good players isn’t a science. You don’t just grow them. They are shaped by their circumstances, by luck, and by having a growing society. You need people from all walks of life, with different ideas and ways of thinking and physical abilities.

And most importantly, you need strong domestic leagues.

On a larger scale though, the moments of drama and heroism that define the individual performances during a World Cup have the potential to inspire all kinds of young people to try out for a sport they may just dabble with. Yes, there are structural barriers that make soccer not so accessible at times. I live in the heart of Southern California’s pristine suburbia, where everything is expensive, including trying out for the highly competitive soccer clubs in the area.

Back in Maryland, I was a coach and helper with a community-based soccer club that had dues of like $70 for a season, where the purpose was just to get the kids on the field to enjoy the game. The fees covered the field rentals. Sure, we had some good players come through, lots of kids from French-speaking Africa, and after they dominated, they’d matriculate to a more competitive setup. For the majority of kids, it was just about getting them out there under the lights with a ball and a few goals and have fun. I wasn’t a great coach, but it was so much fun. Those kids were awesome.

When we moved to California, I was sort of excited to get my son to try out in something more competitive. We showed up for a couple of try-outs, including for some sort of Liverpool-connected outfit, and while he worked his butt off, he also didn’t impress the coach when he reached up and caught a ball rocketing toward him with his hands. He is now a starting offensive lineman for his high school football team, a sport that he really loves and better suits his skills and instincts.

Developing the next generation of superstars, however, is not what a good soccer culture is even about. It’s about community. It’s about a game that is fun and can be played with just a ball, some cones, and a field. It’s about fans who live and die with bated breath on every pass, every shot, every gritty tackle.

More than players, fans are made during these World Cups. I became an FC Dallas fan, because Landon Donovan stunned everyone with that late goal against Algeria in 2010. I was living in Dallas at that time, watching a sketchy, blurry feed in hopes that the United States Men’s National Team would do something special. I think I closed my browser window in frustration in extra time, resigned to defeat. And then was stunned when I saw the final score.

I made a commitment to support Major League Soccer that day and the growth of a sport I loved even when I didn’t get to play it beyond my youth years in Oklahoma. Initially, I chose to watch the Los Angeles Galaxy because of Landon Donovan’s heroics, but when I found a broadcast game of the Galaxy against FC Dallas, this player named David Ferreira enchanted me. Heck, the way Schellas Hyndman had his motley squad playing, including a handful of young and promising talents, was far more entertaining than whatever the Galaxy were trying to do.

That led to my first FC Dallas game tickets.

And then a first ever playoff match.

And then writing way too many comments on Big D Soccer’s website as I tried to understand the game, the league, and the intricacies of salary caps and roster rules.

And then contributing a few articles, since I love to write words about stuff I was only beginning to grasp… and now to even working my fledgling side gig as a sports journalist.

These days, I’m especially loving MLS Next Pro and USL Championship for the young talent who are given a chance to keep playing and dreaming of something greater.

It’s been fun… certainly not about the money… but a gift to see the growth of MLS, the rising stars like Ricardo Pepi, and the potential for special moments to manifest in a singular kick.

Today, the US will face off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and while the US should win, I admit a lot of hesitation. A part of me is ready to be disappointed — the USMNT have disappointed me plenty in the past. But there is also the chance someone else will be inspired - someone returning to this sport, experiencing it for the first time, or watching with wide eyes and imagining themselves suiting up in the Stars & Stripes. There is a chance for coach volunteers and former players and others to be inspired to give back to their communities and help young people experience a game that is simple in ways and profoundly complicated. There is a chance for the next superstar to start their journey or for one of our local clubs to get a season ticket holder.

So, yeah, the World Cup matters — for a nation that wants to win it all someday, for future talent, for FC Dallas and Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League and MLS Next Pro and high school sports and youth leagues, for journalists and writers, and even for an image of how society could be better and more diverse and more joyful. We need that, more than ever.

Unfortunately, my little wireless microphone didn’t work as great as I wanted, but the noise from the speakers, live band, and crowd was pretty intense. Talk about a multi-generational experience. Because of the crowds and the excellent crowd control by Seoul police, I was not able to wander around and interview fans like I had hoped. Quite a number of Mexican fans and a smattering of jerseys from around the world.

But, yes, the home crowd lit up with every attacking moment from South Korea.

Obviously, in these tight World Cup games, one mistake is all that your opponent needs for a breakthrough, and Korea’s single goalkeeping error gave Mexico the lone goal. The margins are super thin at this level, but both teams played pretty conservatively. Curious to see if Son Heung-Min can actually get healthy and turn a corner on his play as the tournament progresses.

Enjoy!

My plane landed in Tokyo last Wednesday, and while I wasn’t sure how the national buzz would resonate around the Samurai Blue, aka the Japanese National Team, it didn’t take long before the enthusiasm would become extremely evident.

I could have bought a Japanese national team jersey before leaving the airport, in fact.

That’s really cool.

Before we even got on the plane to Tokyo, we noticed that Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) certainly had a few meager displays up in the gift shops with soccer balls and general World Cup gear. Maybe there were one or two jerseys, but I don’t remember seeing many.

Vancouver International Airport had more buzz with some gear and advertisements around, including in the duty free section. My son grabbed a cold Coke, and inside the label, he came away with a sticker featuring a Colombian World Cup player. Nice.

But in our excursions around Tokyo, there were numerous pop-ups, one at almost every major subway station, featuring a variety of cool items including jersey collabs with brands like Thrasher. The slogans were confident and encouraging - “YOU GOT THIS!” This was national and cultural pride for a team that smart soccer nerds think can make some noise, something they already did with their opening 2-2 come-from-behind draw against Netherlands.

We turned a corner, noticing a crowd gathered for snapshots around an anime character chilling on a soccer ball, with a mural overhead.

More than a few folks, increasingly so with each day of our visit, were wearing their national team jerseys with pride.

I wondered what it might have been like to see a coordinated campaign like this across the States. Maybe there is, and I missed it? Imagine pop-ups in every major city, in every soccer hub. Anyway…

As we wondered through the Shibuya area, with its famous crossing nicknamed the Sibuya Scramble, a mall/garden complete with Taco Bell, Panda Express, skate shop, and more welcomed us with a ground floor Japanese National team shop. They had anime figurines as well as the normal assortment of scarves, banners, flags, keychains, and jerseys for purchase. But first, we hit a World Cup hype event where we enjoyed a photo booth as a family, played a little foosball, and earned stamps by visiting stalls by various sponsors. Those stamps led to swag - free stuff - like fans, stickers, and player cards.

Kind of like a church children festival but for soccer!

My two favorite things - a life-size pitch and wax figure of Japanese National Team head coach Hajime Moriyasu. I pretended to suggest they should score more goals as a winning strategy. And look to the FC Dallas academy for potential national team recruits.

Second best was this Japanese National Team beef curry that my son is going to really enjoy.

Of course, this Japanese National Team does have some American roots. Their starting goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, was born in New Jersey. Small world.

I came away with some fun stuff and a scarf to add to my meager collection and a bit more hype for this World Cup.

Will I be getting up at 4 AM to watch the US against Australia? Likely not. That is the downside of being out of the country in a different time zone, but look for a post about watching the South Korea - Mexico match in the heart of Seoul in a couple of days.

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Last week, a small nondescript white package landed on my front step, and before I let my wife see what terrible expenditure I had made, I whisked it away to my home office and recording studio, unpacking with excitement.

What greeted me was Sam Sarver, albeit a “brick-style” action figure, complete with trademark hair line and cold Modelo in his hand.

The Sarver figure was actually larger than I anticipated. For sure, this was going to just be a cute and over-priced Lego-style figure, but instead, the dude is a bit larger than life. The texture, if you care about such things, is fine. See the photo below for reference.

The Sam Sarver figure is courtesy of 1996NYDesign, an Etsy shop featuring custom-printed soccer “block or brick” style figures that just ooze with fun and trips down memory lane. The designer, Bill Reese, has pleasantly been working a bit extra to keep up with demands on these fun novelty pieces of soccer nerds like us. You’ll find some other fun ones in the shop, including a New York Red Bull era Dax McCarty that I almost added to the cart.

You can even order your own custom figures if you want.

But Sarver? I had to have this one to highlight the remarkable journey of our team’s unlikely talisman, a SuperDraft pick turned MLS Next Pro Golden Boot winner turned FC Dallas late game magic maker. It’s only a shame that Sarver didn’t make the cut with the 2026 World Cup. If he did, I imagine these collectives would skyrocket in price.

In short, it’s a fun memento to cap what is quickly becoming a memorable year of soccer in the US.

I recommend giving 1996 NY Designs a follow on BlueSky to see what else they have printing down the line.

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The US Men’s National Team just played to a decent 3-2 win over Senegal in their first warmup ahead of the biggest sporting event in the world. No surprises but our very own Ricardo Pepi was key to the opening two goals.

With the World Cup on our mind, I always like to have a little fun as an FC Dallas supporter. Imagine this pointless scenario: a future USMNT head coach irrationally believes that only FC Dallas developed players with American citizenship should be called up to the national team.

Could one build a roster for the 2026 World Cup? Yes.

Could such a roster win it all? Very, very unlikely.

Could the roster be competitive, like winning a few games or even escaping its group? Maybe, but it would need to be a favorable group.

My rules are pretty simple. To be chosen by this delusional head coach, the player needs to have an FC Dallas academy connection or have been a draft pick developed through the FC Dallas system. Guys like Paul Arriola would not make the list. In the future, you could imagine someone like Kaick qualifying, who joined FC Dallas as an 18 year old) if he were to gain citizenship in the US. But really, the key is development — I want guys who were formed in the Frisco way.

Below is my proposed 26 man squad.

Attackers (7): Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas, Jesús Ferreira, Logan Farrington, Bernard Kamungo, Sam Sarver, Dante Sealy

Headlined by Pepi, Zendejas, and Ferreira, the top of that lineup would put this mythical FC Dallas-saturated squad in a better position than lots of national team programs. Ricardo is a true star and goalscorer. Alex is dynamic star for one of the best Mexican teams. Jesus has had a decent national team career, even if he hasn’t quite gotten back to the form that earned him a spot on the 2022 World Cup squad. I don’t mind this attacking trio to start most games and give the team at least a shot to bang in some fun goals.

It’s the depth that gives us pause. Yes, we love Logan Farrington for his work ethic. Sam Sarver would be a joy to watch on the international stage as a late game sub and hype machine (also Modelo sponsorship money). Bernard Kamungo is oft-injured but did have his moment in the national team not long ago. In this thin group, he’s fine.

Closing out with Dante Sealy, who did have a great 2025 campaign with Montreal and is now with Colorado, doesn’t inspire much enthusiasm. But we need bodies.

There are simply not enough attackers. I’d love one or two more proven guys, but FC Dallas hasn’t quite developed those marquee talents in this area of the pitch recently. I am sure I could dig around at a few other former North Texas guys, but that’s just wishful thinking. I like Nicholas Simmonds, for example, but it’s way too early for him at this stage of his development.

Midfielders (8): Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann, Edwin Cerrillo, Christian Cappis, Matthew Corcoran, Kellyn Acosta, Brandon Servania, Caleb Swann

Again, the top end of this talent pool isn’t bad at all. We love Weston, and I’ve been beating the drum for FC Dallas to spend a lot to bring the jack-of-all-trades back to Frisco. It will never happen. Tanner Tessmann continues to rise after another good year in France. They form a solid pairing in the middle of the park.

Edwin and Christian are both good MLS guys, who give you some flexibility in midfield. Add in Matthew Corcoran, still developing here in MLS with Nashville despite making his debut with North Texas a few years back.

Beyond that it’s a bit more of a gamble. I chose a veteran near the tail end of his career, Kellyn Acosta, who is contributing to a good Polish team and would be a veteran leader with international experience, and then Brandon Servania, who has carved out a solid MLS career and has a single cap to his name. Youngster Caleb Swann gets the nod just for the fun of it, but you could argue Diego Garcia would give this group more attacking flair. It’s a toss-up between the two.

But, yeah, the drop off after the first couple of names is significant.

Defenders (8): Chris Richards, Nolan Norris, Shaq Moore, Reggie Cannon, Nkosi Tafari, Bryan Reynolds, Nico Carrera, Josh Torquato

The situation here gets more complicated. I tried not to worry too much about position needs but ended up with four central defenders and four guys who can give you minutes at outside back.

Obviously, Chris Richards is one of the best defenders the academy has ever-produced and is a lock. I think Nolan Norris has the potential to ascend into that status too and love that he can play on the left side. He just got called up to the U21s again. Bryan Reynolds is a regular at Westerlo in Belgium, so he likely becomes a lock starter too. Shaq Moore and Reggie Cannon have international experience and would be fine veterans to mix in.

Nkosi Tafari, now starting regularly with LAFC, is a good rotation piece, and as we know, sometimes he can be stellar.

Nico Carrera (at Atlante in Liga MX) and Ryan Hollingshead (at LAFC) round out the depth. Hollingshead has, of course, dipped a bit in his play late in his career, but he gives you flexibility and leadership.

I did have the luxury of leaving a couple of guys off, like Walker Zimmerman (at Toronto now), Justin Che (one appearance for New York Red Bulls), and Josh Torquato, who would be a nice left-sided option but needs a bit more seasoning.

Goalkeepers (3): Michael Collodi, Julian Eyestone, Antonio Carrera

This would be the toughest category. If we were talking late 2025 Collodi, we could feel some confidence that we had at least one in-form keeper to throw in goal and give the team a shot. Collodi has had a rough season and may have lost his starting job. Who knew that would happen?

Julian Eyestone is the next best option, signed to a deal with Brentford but yet to make his English debut. Maybe he starts over Collodi at this point? He too just got called into the US U21s, so maybe this is a timely article.

Beyond that, the pickings are slim, unless you really want to go super young or take a swing on some former North Texas SC guy. Antonio Carrera is with Tigres, and he has US citizenship. I will go with him over Nico Montoya at North Texas. Nico just got the nod for the Colombia youth national team, by the way.

And there it is — an FC Dallas 26 man World Cup roster that needs work but could make Frisco natives proud.

• Who did I miss?

• Who would you swap out?

• Which FC Dallas alum are you expecting to have a great tournament?

Due to scheduling issues and work conferences, there will be no usual Afterburn Soccer Show this week. Look for a makeup soon to celebrate that nice road win for FC Dallas over the weekend, a super gritty performance that has feeling optimistic about the season.

Right now, the 2026 World Cup is on my mind, and I can’t help but think about the scenarios that could impact FC Dallas’ season ahead through this unpredictable global tournament.

There are two FC Dallas players who are due to earn some key minutes for their nations starting in June, and depending on their performances, their trajectory could shift our hopes and expectations for the Burn. Could this roster get stronger after the World Cup? Sure. Could we also be heading toward a departure or two? Maybe.

First Scenario: Petar Musa stays in strong form, and FC Dallas gets an offer they cannot refuse.

It’s been talked about to death, but there is a strong possibility Petar Musa has played his last game in an FC Dallas kit. The Croatian international is one of Major League Soccer’s top goal scorers and, really, FC Dallas’ best striker ever. He is prolific and has produced even when the total product around him isn’t as good as it could be. Musa is a fan favorite - he is marketable and a joy to watch.

In short, we don’t want his time with FC Dallas to end so soon.

But strong possibility does not mean it is a foregone conclusion. Musa may not get a ton of playing time for Croatia during the World Cup. He could feature off the bench. He could bang in some goals, and he could also have a quiet performance. So much depends on the game state in this tournament.

Of course, if he does bang in some goals and guides Croatia to a deep run, the flip side of a potential departure for Musa is that FC Dallas will get paid. World class strikers don’t grow on trees, and big teams will be lining up to bid for an in-prime goal scorer. That return on investment will be nice, even it will be tough to say goodbye to a guy who is in contention for the golden boot in Major League Soccer.

If Musa leaves, expect FC Dallas’ contender status to take a hit. How the heck do you replace that many goals, that lethal of a striker, a guy who has elevated this team? As much as we love Logan Farrington, is he ready to be the guy who can replace Petar Musa? Can the team go out and find someone who can provide the same offensive output in the summer transfer window? It will be tough.

It will be a win for Musa and for the bank account - but not necessarily for the expectations this season. A Musa departure doesn’t close the door on a playoff run, but it does lower the ceiling. I am not looking forward to this change, even if I want Petar Musa to get the payday he deserves.

Second Scenario: Deedson gets hot and also gets sold.

I wish I could go back in time and head off whatever forces brought Don Deedson Louicius to FC Dallas. The guy isn’t the worst ever FC Dallas signing. As a regular Haitian international and with solid clubs like OB, he has banged out a decent career for himself and definitely has some quality. The problem is just that he doesn’t fit. He’s not a wing back, and Dallas, through other unfortunate circumstances (aka the Lucho debacle), had to shift to a more practical formation that doesn’t rely on wingers.

He’s just an odd man out at the moment.

Since his summer signing, he’s featured in 274 minutes with just 3 starts and a single goal to his name.

That is not good enough for the cap hit, the international roster spot given up, and the rest of the roster needs.

The good news is that Deedson has a chance to shine at the World Cup, to go out and score a goal or two and guide his country to a decent showing. If he does so, maybe some other teams will be interested. Could he move somewhere else in Major League Soccer? Perhaps a Mexican club will be interested in the Haitian winger? Maybe FC Dallas could open this roster spot and have room to bring in another face who does fit the current project.

In short, I want him to do well, because I think the Deedson experience should come to a close. That roster spot could then create room to grab a breakout star whose stock is on the rise… or heck, bring Edouard Nys up to the senior team.

Third Scenario: FC Dallas’ brand continues to rise.

With guys like Ricardo Pepi, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, and Alejandro Zendejas expected to play key roles, FC Dallas is going to get plenty of love from announcers and analysts. Their rise will only highlight that Dallas/Ft Worth has a talent pipeline to pay attention to.

And, who knows, maybe there is a chance Tanner Tessmann gets the call-up if someone is injured.

Add in the focus on games in Dallas — there will be international eyes and ears on Frisco throughout the tournament.

All of that will boost the FC Dallas brand as a destination and producer of talent. It’s a great moment for the club, and hopefully, it will boost attendance after the World Cup and lay the seed for the next golden talent to start making their way through the academy. It’s up to FC Dallas to make the most of this moment, and their social media work shows they are.

Shout out to the amazing media crew for being ready to highlight these stories. I highly recommend the work they are doing right now, with academy photos to highlight the long and winding path for guys like Weston, Ricardo, and Zendejas to rise to stardom. Let’s be ready for the next twist and turn on their journeys and the journey of this club.

Well, I love writing about both FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club after strong performances. It just makes life easier. We aren’t having to dwell on what choices the staff need to make to correct course. We don’t have to deal with players who aren’t contributing. We can feel pretty good about things.

Of course, this weekend wasn’t perfect, but FC Dallas went on the road and saw out a big 2-1 away win at Colorado.

North Texas SC closed out their Choctaw Stadium era with a disappointing home draw, but, as usual, there were positives for this young club.

Let’s get into some key points from both results.

FC Dallas Ride Out 2-1 Win at Altitude

Playing away games at Colorado has to be one of the trickier tasks in Major League Soccer. I don’t remember many years when the Rapids were at the top of the league as contenders but damn if they don’t have some great home field advantage playing up near the Rockies. Certainly, the Rapids have had some good years, buoyed by that home field advantage, and as Jose mentioned on the podcast, they can be streaky. I will always hate the team for that lucky bounce that put away Dallas in the 2010 MLS Cup, so a win on their home turf is always a sweet thing.

This season, the Rapids are no different — they look like a team that have talent and could go on a roll to carry them into playoff contention.

They also look like a team that could falter and disappear into the Western Conference morass.

On Saturday night, FC Dallas found a way. More importantly, they found a way against the kind of team they should be able to beat if they want to be contenders. I’ve moaned about this team’s disappointment at home, losses and draws that don’t mark the Burn to be in contention for any hardware. To go on the road and get the needed win, even if it was scrappy, even if it relied on two penalty kicks, makes up for dropped points in a big way.

Suddenly, those home losses aren’t season-ending. Just a bump in the road.

And with so many away games looming, FC Dallas is building a really solid resume for what they can achieve.

No Musa? No Problem - I didn’t make the World Cup availability press call in time to speak with Petar Musa and his call-up to the Croatian national team. My question would have been his role for the coming weekend. Is he available but hoping to be come off the bench? Are they going to rest him completely? Maybe he answered that question to the media on the call, but regardless, I don’t think any of us thought his national team duty would have already begun. Surely, he would have been available for some role on Saturday?

It makes sense, though to let him travel early. He is in excellent form. Why risk an injury ahead of one of the biggest moments of his career?

Logan Farrington took the start and got his career high sixth goal of the season, surpassing last year’s total. The striker is in good form. He’s hardly been at his best yet for FC Dallas, kind of up and down from game to game, but to make improvement over last year’s tallies is massive. If he can get to ten goals, watch out!

Penalty Kicks for the Win? - FC Dallas are too often on the negative end of penalty kick shouts. The whistle goes against our squad. Remember back in 2023 when Steve Davis did the math and tallied the last time FCD even earned one? Those were bleak days. Last night, Dallas got the benefit on two calls, and they have been long overdue.

Yes, you could argue the second one was a bit light, but there was contact. Binyamin went down in the box after getting into a dangerous position, and it was pretty clear that the defender made contact on his back foot. Thank you for the whistle, ref.

I love a team that is improving in its positioning and knows when to go down on contact. The margins are razor thin in the Western Conference - let’s take every advantage we can.

We deserve a bit of a lucky bounce for a change.

Rotated Squad and Sirois in Goal - I mentioned on the pod this week that this wasn’t a bad game to rotate some guys, to get minutes to some players who need to get on the field. Eric Quill chose to do just that, and while the result wasn’t perfect — that defensive performance still deserves shade for its inability to form into something cohesive — it was good enough. I like how we have a mix of guys, including Patrickson Delgado, who can do some damage. The challenge is figuring out how and when to deploy them, since they can also disappear.

I love Caleb Swann, Sam Sarver, and Nicholas Simmonds all getting minutes tonight. More, please.

The other key curiosity from our conversation this week was the future of Jonathan Sirois. The French-Canadian keeper got his first start in a massive road win at San Jose. He wasn’t perfect, but he came up big in a couple of moments to garner the three points. And in short, he did the same at altitude last night.

Was it a perfect goalkeeping performance? No.

But did Sirois do enough to keep getting an opportunity? Yes.

FC Dallas will return to action with a road game at Portland, another match that will tell us a lot about this team, after the World Cup break.

North Texas Disappoint With Draw at Home to Quakes II

When the final whistle blew and the shift to the penalty kick shootout began, we knew something pretty clear about this young, growing North Texas SC team — they have two potential golden boot contenders this year. Edouard Nys and Natty James are legit. These are talented kids who can lead this team forward. That gives room for serious optimism.

Yes, they could be disappointed for a final home draw at Choctaw Stadium, closing out an era at a quirky but historic stadium, but both goals clawed the team back from a loss.

Compare that to last year when Sam Sarver essentially provided the entire offensive output, North Texas SC have every reason to stay the course. Nys and James are capable of scoring against anybody. There are talented pieces, like Diego Garcia and Ian Charles, to complement them. Yes, the goalkeeping and defending is not there yet. John Gall and company need to coach these guys up, and if they can’t, look for mid-season reinforcements.

But while a home draw is disappointing, North Texas have avoided defeat in three games after a disappointing dip. Keep building. Keep growing.

Fun note - Natty James’ rebound goal was the first goal he has scored against a team other than Sporting Kansas City.

Goalkeeping Is Still an Issue - We’ve seen three goalkeepers get minutes for North Texas SC. Eryk Dymora got another tonight, and we have anticipated the Duke product to lock down the spot at some point. He hasn’t. And maybe his defense hasn’t been as good as needed — passive is the right word — but someone needs to make the big saves for this team. Who will?

I’m not trying to be harsh - Dymora had his moments on Saturday, in particular a clutch save after the missed penalty kick by San Jose. And a super late extra time save that preserved the point.

But it seems like the back line needs consistency in every position.

Augusto Alvaro? - I like typing question marks because they saw a lot in a tiny package, and really, we have a lot of question marks about Alvaro. The senior team player had a great debut with the first team, but he either hasn’t been able to build on it or just needs more seasoning. There is no indication that his minutes with North Texas SC are a sign that FC Dallas is giving up on the young defender, but he should be a leader, a rock, for this team.

But the defensive performances need a jolt. Can he prove his quality in the matches ahead? Can he make a case for more time with the senior team? What will light a fire in the Brazilian’s performances? Can he be the leader this young side is desperate for?

I’m not stressed about the result. It was the kind of setback we have expected from a young team against a good foe. North Texas SC can take the positives as they move forward.

What did you like about both performances this weekend?

Thanks for listening and subscribing. Your support makes a difference!

Welcome back to another live edition of our show, 7 PM CST.

You can watch us on YouTube right there above and bring your comments and questions as we look back at rollercoaster weeks for our clubs.

For FC Dallas, here are the big questions:

• Midweek home loss at Vancouver was a disappointment, despite a decent performance (3-2).

• Petar Musa with another fantastic goal in a big win at San Jose, 3-2.

• Patrickson Delgado continues to have a decent season (when he clicks).

• Is this Sam Sarver’s world, and are we just lucky to live in it? Viral sensation gets some love from Modelo.

• Jonathan Sirois with first start - does he have a shot at the starting job?

• Another marquee win for the club

For North Texas, here are the things we will look at:

• Has this team turned the page with a big 5-1 win at home over SKC 2?

• Natty James with a hat trick, all of his goals coming from matches against SKC.

• Second win in a row gives us optimism.

We close out with match predictions for what lies ahead, one more game before the World Cup break.