Jonathan Tannenwald

Banks: Die Tendenz geht zum DFB Die Heim-WM lockt, Gastgeber USA buhlt um die Dienste von Noahkai Banks, Innenverteidiger beim FC Augsburg. Doch das 19-jährige Talent tendiert offenbar Richtung DFB, will sich alle Möglichkeiten bewa...

German soccer magazine Kicker says Noahkai Banks "is leaning more towards" playing for Germany, not the #USMNT:

www.kicker.de/banks-die-te...

I wrote 3 recaps for my Substack blog on today's action in the CAA, SWAC & MEAC tournaments.

I didn't mean to write close to 3,000 words combined, but a lot happened.

SWAC: robknox.substack.com/p/swac-day-3...

MEAC: robknox.substack.com/p/meac-recap...

CAA: robknox.substack.com/p/caa-day-1-...

What if it's not?

Up the road, Lehigh is going to its first NCAA men's tournament since C.J. McCollum's junior year.

Do the Mountain Hawks get Duke again this time?

Aaaaaaand, Indiana goes one-and-done in the Big Ten tournament.

That should finish off the Hoosiers' tournament hopes, and probably elevates 17-15 Auburn to the last spot in the field (for now).

KC Current adds player with Kansas City ties ahead of this weekend’s NWSL opener She was Bay FC’s top scorer last season and her dad played pro baseball under the Kauffman Stadium lights.

New KC Current forward Penelope Hocking is the second professional athlete with the last name Hocking to don the uniform of a KC sports team.

Her Dad, Denny, was with the Royals in 2005.

More on Penelope, and what she'll bring to the Current. #KCBaby

www.kansascity.com/sports/socce...

If losing to Chris Beard's 13-19 Ole Miss team costs Texas an at-large berth, that'd be something.

Longhorns have no one but themselves to blame if they get left out. Dropped five of their last six, though a batch of good wins (at Bama, Vandy, vs. NCSU, at A&M, at Mizzou, UGa) probably saves them.

California bows out in its first ACC tournament game. The Golden Bears were already a dicey edge-of-the-field team because of a dreadful nonconference schedule.

Then they lost three out of four to completely torpedo their chances.

Fakenes confirmed by the thunder out the window just now.

North Korea’s shady tactics show Matildas must be ready for more than football Australia are no strangers to the team’s bizarre protests but they will need to keep frustrations in check in Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final

as the #Matildas prepare to face North Korea in the #AFCWAC QF, history shows they’ll have to prepare for more than just football if they want to win.

I spoke to a former Matilda who was there in 2006 and 2010 when NK resorted to their now-infamous dark tactics.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Club America now confirming the Achilles tear, Malagon will undergo surgery with a recovery time TBD

x.com/clubamerica/...

What's behind the Union's early struggles?

What's behind the Union's early struggles?

I have a few ideas, in video form here:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/whats... via @phillysport.bsky.social @inquirer.com

Alejandro Zendejas made Subaru Park a milestone in his race for the U.S. World Cup team

The attacking midfielder was one of the box office attractions in the Union-Club América game, his first contest on U.S. soil since scoring a big goal for his country last fall.

Very fake spring.

What happens if Iran does 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

And if you're wondering who would replace Iran — again, trivial in the context of war, but a question that's being asked — we've updated this explainer @theathletic.com:

That Spokane trip lines up with March Madness, and the NCAA told teams "extreme flexibility ... will be necessary" because of a nationwide charter aircraft shortage.

ESPN says this was its most-watched women's college basketball regular season since 2008-09.

Re-visiting the Chicago Stars trade, Bay FC paid out $250k in 2024 and $100k in 2025. Deal included an extra "10% on any transfer fee Bay FC receives in a future transfer of Hocking," so the Stars get an additional $35k on top of the initial $350k already received.
chicagostars.com/first-team/c...

Security funding for the 2026 World Cup is in jeopardy while Congress debates ICE enforcement Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is frozen as Congress negotiates immigration enforcement. $625 million in World Cup security funds are still locked up.

Inquirer colleague @mediabyhenry.bsky.social hears from Philadelphia officials about the city's piece of the federal money for World Cup security that hasn't been delivered yet:

www.inquirer.com/news/nation-... via @phillysport.bsky.social @inquirer.com

We're chatting about the World Cup with @p-steege.bsky.social, @shireenahmed.bsky.social, @soccerpolitics.bsky.social and @jtannenwald.bsky.social in just over a week!

🔗 Register: bit.ly/4azPaKx

Game recognizes game: Founder of La Salle hoops’ student section is a captain of the Explorers’ water polo team, too How does senior Paige Mitchell balance her responsibilities as a student-athlete with organizing the Olney Outlaws?

I am late to this from @phillysport.bsky.social colleague Conor Smith, but check it out if you haven't yet:

Game recognizes game: Founder of La Salle hoops’ student section is a captain of the Explorers’ water polo team, too

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Lawyered

Alejandro Zendejas made Subaru Park a milestone in his race for the U.S. World Cup team The attacking midfielder was one of the box office attractions in the Union-Club América game, his first contest on U.S. soil since scoring a big goal for his country last fall.

Nathan Harriel gave Zendejas a nice endorsement, as did Club América manager André Jardine.

"If not the best, he’s certainly among the three most important players in the entire Mexican league," Jardine said. "I also want to see him at this World Cup."

www.inquirer.com/soccer/aleja...

Alejandro Zendejas made Subaru Park a milestone in his race for the U.S. World Cup team The attacking midfielder was one of the box office attractions in the Union-Club América game, his first contest on U.S. soil since scoring a big goal for his country last fall.

Last night, Alejandro Zendejas played a game on U.S. soil for the first time since he scored for the #USMNT vs. Japan.

With two weeks until the last U.S. camp before the World Cup, he says "I’ll be working hard to make that roster":

www.inquirer.com/soccer/aleja... via @phillysport.bsky.social

What still hasn’t happened here is any official dialogue between FIFA and Iran in which Iran has told FIFA that it will not play in the World Cup.

Oop

Quite the matchup coming Saturday on big Fox, between the 12th and 13th-placed teams in the Eastern Conference:

Atlanta, Tata Martino preach process over quick fix for winless, success-starved club With no points in three games, the struggles continue for Atlanta United. So how long will it be before the club contends in MLS again?

Big read on Atlanta United and its humbling '26 start

Interviews with Miguel Almirón, Tata Martino and Chris Henderson

- Why Martino isn't willing to "sacrifice" his players
- Almirón's description of the team's culture
- Henderson's "frustrating" transfer window
www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Jessica Berman says there are "a dozen or so" prospective ownership groups in the mix beyond team 18, timeline to add more expansion teams will depend on their readiness and also the next media rights deal

#NWSL

#NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a start-of-season press conference:

- Denver Summit have sold 50,000 tickets for their home opener, which will break the league's attendance record

- team 18 will be announced sometime this year