Seth Vertelney

1 week ago | prosoccerwire.usatoday.com | Seth Vertelney

After losing four games in a row, the U.S. men's national team now has a win streak. The USMNT clinched a spot in the Gold Cup knockout phase with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday, following a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago to kick off the tournament. Thursday's game wasn't one for the neutrals, as the Saudis set up in an ultra-defensive posture and tried to frustrate the hosts. It nearly worked, too, but Chris Richards scored the game's only goal off a set piece to seal all three points.

1 week ago | prosoccerwire.usatoday.com | Seth Vertelney

U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes planned on calling an all-NWSL roster for her team's three upcoming friendlies, but Naomi Girma had other ideas. Hayes named a 25-player roster on Wednesday for two matches against Ireland and one against Canada. With the USWNT's European-based players in the midst of their offseason, Hayes opted to give them the window off. But there was one exception.

1 week ago | prosoccerwire.usatoday.com | Seth Vertelney

Watching Juventus players awkwardly standing behind U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, it was pretty apparent that they weren't exactly relishing the moment. And why would they? Wednesday's visit to the White House was exceptionally strange. Trump answered questions about every political topic of the day, all while the Serie A side stood behind him like they were in a hostage video.

1 week ago | prosoccerwire.usatoday.com | Seth Vertelney

As U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about immigration, banning transgender people from playing sports and the possibility of war with Iran, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah stood uncomfortably just behind him. The preceding sentence is a real thing that occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. It may be worth reading a couple times, because the entire Oval Office scene seemed like a fever dream. But it wasn't.

1 week ago | prosoccerwire.usatoday.com | Seth Vertelney

Longtime U.S. women's national team and Portland Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg has announced her retirement. The 36-year-old made the announcement Wednesday in a post on Instagram. "This isn't a surprise. But it still feels big to say. It's time — I'm retiring from football," Klingenberg said. "It's taken me a lot of time and reflection to arrive at this place, but I've come to realize something important: For so long, I thought that soccer gave me purpose, joy and light.