Author Tom Hindle

Tom Hindle

US Staff WriterI'm an American soccer features writer who focuses on the weird stuff in the United States. I was born in central England, and haven't quite managed to let go of the fundamental Euro-snobbery that is entrenched in my footballing DNA. But since getting into the game in the States, I've delved into the unique oddities of American soccer, the beautiful game on the "wrong" side of the pond in all of its brilliant imperfections. I also write The Rondo, GOAL USA's weekly newsletter.My football story: I was taught to say "Steven Gerrard" and "Michael Owen" before "hello" and "how are you?" I was raised a proper Red by my Dad, and spent hours on muddy pitches in the English countryside with my parents. Moving Stateside sent me down other avenues of MLS and the USMNT, but I remain painfully connected to my roots (if I had supported any team other than Liverpool, I suspect I may have been disowned.) Areas of expertise:
  • American soccer stories that are a little off the beaten path 
  • USL, MLS and USMNT features 
  • The occasional European tactical insight 

Favorite footballing memory: Running downstairs to watch the second half of the 2005 Champions League final after being sent to bed at half time. I vividly recall sneaking a radio under my pillow, hearing one goal go in, and sprinting into my living room in a Steven Gerrard kit that didn't fit. Not a bad comeback from 3-0 down. Remains one of the best days of my life.

My All-Time XI: In a 4-3-3 (because I'm boring): Buffon; Cafu, Baresi, Van Dijk, Maldini; Zidane, Gerrard, Busquets; Messi, Pele, Maradona (with a little tactical liberty)

My favorite stories 

  • ‘It is the land of opportunities’ - Greenland’s national soccer team pursuing CONCACAF legitimacy as it fights for recognition and representation

  • How iShowSpeed stole the show, turning MLS All-Star week into his own livestream and upstaging the league's big-name ballers

  • 'Supreme underdog' - Why Auckland City supporters are enthusiastically spending big traversing the U.S. to watch their 5,074th-ranked team lose at the Club World Cup

Articles by Tom Hindle
  2. Mbappe Bellingham Real Madrid GFXGetty
    Player ratingsReal Madrid

    Mbappe & Bellingham have rare off-days as Madrid beaten

    Real Madrid's big guns went missing, and Los Blancos failed to conjure up any Champions League magic in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Liverpool. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, in particular, were kept curiously quiet as Madrid saw their perfect start to their European campaign end in fairly unremarkable circumstances against Arne Slot's struggling Reds.

  4. USL Soccer ball
    North Carolina FCUSL Championship

    USL's North Carolina FC announce they will not play in 2026

    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.

  6. dreyer
    A. DreyerSan Diego FC

    Anders Dreyer wins MLS Newcomer of the Year award

    Anders Dreyer, San Diego's offseason acquisition from Anderlecht in Belgium, has been named MLS Newcomer of the Year. The Denmark international scored 19 goals and added 19 assists to lead the expansion franchise to a first-placed finish in the Western Conference. Dreyer received 74 percent of the vote. LAFC's Son Heung-Min finished second, with just over six percent.

  8. Alexander-Arnold Anfield return GFXGetty/GOAL
    AnalysisReal Madrid

    Trent returns to Anfield still waiting for Madrid lift-off

    The conspiracy theorists were on it immediately. Less than 10 minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille, Trent Alexander-Arnold went down holding his hamstring. He had that resigned look on his face, combined with the shake of the head, the pained expression and the acceptance that something wasn't right, nor could it be immediately fixed.

  1. Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring Getty Images
    O. DembeleL. Messi

    Dembele, Yamal highlight stacked FIFPRO Men's World 11

    The FIFPRO Men's World 11 was revealed Monday, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele highlighting the side, but there no place for Inter Miami's Lionel Messi for just the second time in nearly 20 years. Five players from PSG's Champions League winning team, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, were named to the squad, which is voted for by players.

  3. Lionel Messi Inter Miami 2025Getty
    Player ratingsL. Messi

    Messi's late magic not enough as Nashville secure game 2 win

    Nashville started strong and held on to an early lead to beat Inter Miami in game two of their first round MLS playoff series, 2-1, on Saturday night. Lionel Messi scored the only goal for Miami, who threatened late but were unable to find a stoppage time equalizer, and could now face a second straight opening round elimination after taking a 1-0 lead.

  5. Laura Harvey Seattle Reign 2025IMAGN
    Seattle Reign FCL. Harvey

    Seattle Reign coach used Chat GPT to figure out tactics

    Laura Harvey, who has coached the Seattle Reign since 2021, revealed that she used ChatGPT to help form her tactics this season. The English manager admitted that the AI system helped her lay out a defensive system, which she then put into place for her playoff-bound Reign ahead of the campaign. They are currently fourth in the NWSL after finishing 13th last season.

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