Do Seattle Sounders Have the Best Soccer Fan Culture in America?

This clip from our friends at Copa90 provides unique insight into the fan culture around MLS side Seattle Sounders.Known for having some of the best supporters in the nation, the Sounders have created a culture all their own, as highlighted in this excellent film. Find out more about Copa90 here.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Insider: Getting to Know Philadelphia Union’s Maurice Edu

This week's MLS Insider clip takes an up close and revealing look at Philadelphia Union's Maurice Edu. [MLS Insider] Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Insider: The Story of United States Soccer Legend John Harkes

In this week's MLS Insider, we are told the story of United States legend John Harkes, who played 90 times for his country and twice won the MLS Cup with D.C. United. [MLS Insider]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Insider: Graham Zusi’s Rise from Besler’s Basement to Brazil World Cup

It's been quite the journey for Sporting Kansas midfielder Graham Zusi, who will be at the World Cup this summer with Jurgen Klinsmann's Team USA. In this episode of the award-winning MLS Insider series, we hear from those who know Zusi best and learn more about his remarkable rise from Matt Besler's basement to Brazil. [MLS Insider]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Bobby Burling to Auction Chivas Jersey, Tribute Shirt for Kidney Cancer Charity

In the above clip, Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling powers home a late header to win their MLS season opener against Chicago Fire. The goal was especially poignant to Burling, as he dedicated it to his late friend, Tommy 'Tomcat' Phillips, who had died of a rare form of kidney cancer, aged just 28, two weeks before. Burling planned to reveal a tribute t-shirt during the game at some point, but, having already been booked, he would have been sent off for doing so in celebration, so opted not to. Instead, Burling will be auctioning off the t-shirt he had on, along with the Chivas jersey he wore in the match and the match ball, at a pub crawl to pay tribute to Phillips in May. All monies raised will be added to an endowment set up in Phillips' name by his friends and relatives, which has already seen almost $60,000 donated to cancer research.    Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

6 Potential Transfer Targets for New York City FC in 2015

MLS will have a new team in 2015. New York City FC will be majority owned by Premier League Manchester City and partially funded with investment from the New York Yankees. A global sports mega-brand is in the offing.Read Tuesday's press release here. The news has excited football fans all over the world and upset a few, too—especially those who believe the southeast U.S. was more deserving of an expansion MLS franchise than the New York area (consolation may be on the way if David Beckham buys a franchise down that way, of course).What we know so far is the team will compete for the first time in 2015 and be located inside the five boroughs of New York City. The grand plan is to build a new stadium in New York, but that won't be ready in time for their launch."New York City FC is committed to seeking a new permanent stadium in New York," read the statement on that matter. "Until that time, the new team is arranging to play in an interim home beginning in its inaugural MLS season in 2015." In the meantime, the speculation begins as to who might be play for the inaugural NYC FC team. ...

Orlando City Plan $110 Million Soccer Stadium, Target MLS Expansion

Orlando City are making plans to be the next big thing in U.S. soccer. The Florida franchise, who compete in the USL Pro league, have paid $4 million for land on which they reportedly intend to build a $110 million stadium (via Orlando Sentinel).They don't have planning permission and they don't have an official invite to become an MLS expansion team yet, but we can only assume both are believed sure-fire certainties by the club's owners—led by president Phil Rawlins, the ex-pat Englishman who is also a director at Premier League club Stoke City, and bolstered by a "significant investment" this month from Brazilian businessman Flavio Augusto da Silva."Orlando believes in MLS," reads the slogan on a campaign website the club have recently launched, inviting fans to sign a petition backing their proposed elevation to the top tier of U.S. soccer. Add your support and you're advocating the following call to arms: I believe in MLS in Orlando! I want to give my support to Orlando City SC in their bid to bring a second major league franchise to Orlando, and urge the governments at City, County and State level to do everything within their power to help make this happen. Orlando City currently ...

David Beckham Goes out on Top as LA Galaxy Fight Back to Win MLS Cup

David Beckham has made a habit of going out on top.Beckham left Manchester United a Premier League winner in 2003, Real Madrid after conquering La Liga in 2007, and on Saturday night, he said goodbye to LA Galaxy with the MLS Cup triumph his legacy demanded.It was just one game, but the significance of Beckham winning a second title in MLS will loom large in the way his Galaxy quest is viewed in years to come.Two years ago, the most expensive import in the league's history was struggling to justify himself as a footballer. He stood accused of failing to deliver on both Galaxy's investment and the enormous hype that came with it.He could have walked, but Beckham was not going out that way. In 2011, he produced his best season in MLS and was hugely influential as Galaxy drove to the title. A year later he made it two in a row as Galaxy fought back to beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 at the Home Depot Center.In added time, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena withdrew his biggest star to take in the fulsome appreciation of a crowd that—in part at least—once doubted him. They don't doubt him anymore and neither should ...

Is Smart Soccer in the MLS the Dawn of Football’s Moneyball Era?

There will be no place to hide in the MLS next season. Smart Soccer technology will provide coaches with real-time data tracking the performance of every player on the field—offering new insight and ushering in a new era of football analysis.The implications are far-reaching. Coaches will be able to monitor players' activity so closely they could in theory calculate substitutions in the same way Formula One racing teams plan tire changes. Trades may end up being subject to statistics in the same way house sales are subject to inspections.Some players will prove themselves worth every cent. Others may show themselves to be contributing far less than their talent demands. Smart Soccer could make or break careers, and it will almost certainly influence the way we think about footballers and the contribution they make.Read the official press release from adidas: By measuring every move, heartbeat and step and relaying that to a coach on the touch line in less than a second, the technology enables a better understanding of the physical and physiological impact on the team, or any individual, during a game or training session. From analyzing trends to preventing overtraining and risk of injury, the micoach ...

Thierry Henry Exclusive: New York Red Bulls Striker Talks MLS, Arsenal and More

Thierry Henry's glittering resume boasts 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 success with France, two Premier League titles won at Arsenal and a Champions League triumph with Barcelona.The striker, now 34 but still going strong, can now be found playing in the MLS with New York Red Bulls—for whom he's scored nine goals in nine appearances so far this season.Here's what Henry had to say when I caught up with him on the phone.WILL TIDEY: Hi Thierry, thanks for taking the time to talk today. Let's start with life at New York Red Bulls. Is it everything you expected it to be? What have been the biggest surprises so far?THIERRY HENRY: When I first arrived I had no expectations. I didn't know what the league was about or anything. I just wanted the guys to accept me. Now it's different. Now I know about the MLS and I'm ready to perform. I know my teammates better and it's going really well.WT: How does the regime and training schedule at the Red Bulls compare to those you experienced at Arsenal and Barcelona?TH: It's difficult to compare. I used to play at teams who had three games a week. When you play ...