Mexico's all-time top scorer Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has completed a surprise move to USL Championship expansion side Atletico Dallas. The 38-year-old former Manchester United striker, who last played competitive football for boyhood club Chivas in November 2025, has agreed to lead the ambitious Texas franchise ahead of their 2027 inaugural season.
Actor Cristo Fernandez, famous for playing the ever-joyful Dani Rojas in the hit television series Ted Lasso, has traded AFC Richmond for a real-life professional contract with El Paso Locomotive FC. Now back on the football pitch, Fernandez has promised fans that if he manages to score, he will recreate his iconic character's signature goal celebration in reality.
Cristo Fernandez, the actor who continues to bring the infectious joy of Dani Rojas to life in the hit series Ted Lasso, has officially fulfilled his dream of stepping onto the professional pitch. Two months after signing with El Paso Locomotive, the Mexican forward made his long-awaited debut in the USL Championship.
The goalkeeper was facing retirement as recently as December last year, but he has become a USL Championship hero after breaking the World Cup save record.
El Paso Locomotive have signed Cristo Fernandez, who played Dani Rojas in the hit show Ted Lasso, the club announced on Tuesday. Fernandez had previously been on trial with the club and played in a preseason friendly against New Mexico United. The forward was on track to play pro soccer before seeing injuries curtail his career at 15 after a stint at Tecos FC.
USL players will wear t-shirts calling for professional standards prior to U.S. Open Cup games Tuesday night, in a coordinated effort to put pressure on the U.S. Soccer amid tense negotiations with the league on a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The USLPA has been engaged in talks with the League office for months, and with no deal near, they have decided to take action.
The USL Championship is currently operating in the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement, but many around the league aren't optimistic that a decision will be reached soon.
Cristo Fernandez, who played Dani Rojas in the beloved Apple TV series Ted Lasso, trained with MLS's Chicago Fire last month, the club confirmed Wednesday. GOAL reported the Mexican-born actor was on trial with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive earlier this week, and could yet receive a contract. Fernandez played academy soccer in Mexico as a teenager.
Cristo Fernandez, who played Dani Rojas in the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, appeared in a preseason friendly for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive on Saturday, a club source confirmed. They are expected to make a decision on a professional contract early this week. Fernandez, who appeared in the first three seasons of the show, played youth soccer in Mexico until he was 15.
USL Championship side Sacramento Republic have signed former Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Memo Rodriguez, sources told GOAL. The Texan midfielder will pen a two year deal with the USL giants, who finished second in the Western Conference last season. It continues a busy winter for Sacramento, following the signing of Canada's Mark-Anthony Kaye earlier this week.
GOAL spoke to GMs and chief soccer officers across MLS about the league’s 3.0 vision: the calendar change is progress, but executives say the next steps must come faster.
The United Soccer League revealed the name of its new Division One setup Tuesday morning, announcing that it will be called "USL Premier", with a targeted start date of 2028. The new top division, which was first revealed nearly 12 months ago, will sit atop a three-tiered structure that also includes the pre-existing USL Championship and USL League One.
GOAL spoke to a number of former NCFC players, who outlined the harsh realities of a volatile league after being made redundant four days before a playoff game
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds claimed their first USL Championship title on Saturday, defeating FC Tulsa 5-3 on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw through regulation and extra time at ONEOK Field. Both teams were locked in defensively throughout, with each goalkeeper producing key saves to send the final to a shootout.
Texoma FC rejects the idea of “self-relegation,” yet their drop to USL League Two and surprise second club have pushed them into an unexpected multi-club future.
USL Championship side North Carolina FC announced Tuesday that they will not compete in the 2026 season. The club will release all players, after the playoffs, allowing them to sign elsewhere for 2026 and beyond. As part of the move, North Carolina said their focus will shift toward preparing an application for USL’s new Division One league, set to launch in 2028.
Brooklyn Football Club announced the appointment of U.S. soccer icon Brian McBride as General Manager, marking a significant milestone as the club builds toward its USL Championship debut in 2026. McBride will oversee all sporting operations for both the men's and women's teams, from roster construction, staffing, and performance analytics to long-term player development.
The USL has added an investor with significant capital as it aims to compete with MLS with a first division of its own starting in 2028. BellTower Partners, a private investment firm run by ex-Carlyle Group CEO Kewsong Lee, has purchased a minority equity stake in the North American soccer league. Lee reportedly has a net worth of $28 billion.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
