Dynamo's Cruz: A Curious Route To M.L.S.
by Jack Bell (Profile/Interview | New York Times - February 28)
For most young American soccer players, the road to the pros — whether in Major League Soccer or abroad — usually begins as a precocious sprout, jersey reaching past his knees in the beehives of youth soccer. more details | go to article

St. Pete's Salkicic Solid Against Mexico
by Nicholas Murray (Result | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 25)
St. Petersburg's Tarik Salkicic was hoping to get to play in front of his home fans in Wednesday's curtain-raiser as the U.S. Under-17s played Mexico. more details | go to article

Attendance A Key If Tampa Wants To Host World Cup Games
by Brian Landman (Analysis | St. Petersburg Times - February 25)
If the United States wins the right to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, organizers will have to pare the list of cities, which includes Tampa, from 18 to 12 or, perhaps, 14. To make that final cut, which won't happen until five years before the event, U.S. Soccer president and USA Bid Committee chairman Sunil Gulati said cities will "need to distinguish themselves." more details | go to article

U.S. U-17 MNT Take Down Mexico 4-1 At Raymond James Stadium
by No Author Listed (Result | USSF - February 24)
The U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team topped regional foe Mexico by a score of 4-1, putting on a dominating performance at Raymond James Stadium as part of a double header with the U.S. Men’s National Team. more details | go to article

U.S. U-17 MNT Roster Available For Match Against Mexico At Raymond James Stadium
by No Author Listed (Press Release | USSF - February 24)
U.S. U-17 Men's National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera has finalized his squad for tonight's match against Mexico at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The 20 players will make the short drive from Bradenton to be part of a double header that also includes the U.S. Men's National Team against El Salvador. more details | go to article

USA U-17s Smash Mexico U-17s 4-1
by No Author Listed (Result | Goal.com - February 24)
The youth squads played out another edition of CONCACAF rivalry on Wednesday night. more details | go to article

Local Players Anticipate Selection To Under-17 Team
by Nicholas Murray (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 23)
It has been a big adjustment for local soccer players Atsouh Ayah and Tarik Salkicic since they joined the U.S. Under-17 Residency Academy last August. However, both say they are getting the most out of the opportunity given them. more details | go to article

Chicago Fire Blazes Trail In MLS By Taking Academy Teams To Training Camp
by Avi Creditor (Preview | Soccer By Ives - February 23)
The Chicago Fire could be on to something that might help Major League Soccer take the next step in its progression of player development. more details | go to article

Soccer Players Forced To Choose Between High Schools And Academies
by Dave Thorpe (Analysis | Carson Daily Breeze - February 22)
High school soccer teams in the South Bay always have shared elite players with club teams. Players often compete in club, then arrive in time for the high school season already in soccer shape, having been taught by top-notch coaches. So high school coaches - many of them also club coaches themselves - benefit from players competing in club soccer. But in recent years, prep coaches have been losing more elite players and are becoming increasingly disgruntled because of local soccer academies snatching the top prep players. more details | go to article

U.S. Under-20 WNT Defeats Norway U-23 WNT 1-0 In First Match At La Manga Cup In Spain
by No Author Listed (Result | USSF - February 22)
Forward Maya Hayes scored in the 53rd minute to lead the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory over the Norwegian U-23 Women’s National Team in the first of three matches for the young Americans in La Manga, Spain. more details | go to article

U.S. Men's National Team Set To Take On El Salvador On Wednesday Night In Tampa
by No Author Listed (Preview | USSF - February 22)
The countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup continues with less than four months remaining until the USA kicks off its campaign in South Africa with the June 12 match against England. Preparations for the tournament are reaching a head, as the next test for the U.S. comes in the form of fellow CONCACAF side El Salvador, with the two sides meeting on Jan. 24 in Tampa, Fla. more details | go to article

MLS Champs Sign Sheanon Williams
by Frank Dell'Apa (Blog Entry | Boston Globe - February 22)
US Under 20 national team starting right back Sheanon Williams has signed with Major League Soccer and joined defending champion Real Salt Lake, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. more details | go to article

Wizards Win Luis Gil Lottery
by Gianfranco Panizo (Blog Entry | Soccer By Ives - February 22)
According to sources, Gil would prefer to play for one of the Los Angeles-based teams or the Seattle Sounders, making a trade possible. Gil originates from Garden Grove, California. more details | go to article

On The MLS Labor Mess
by Ives Galarcep (Analysis | Soccer By Ives - February 22)
The 2010 Major League Soccer season may still kick off as planned, without a delay in the start of the season, but the process to get to that point is going to be a messy one after labor talks went public on Friday, leading to an ugly back-and-forth that might just be the beginning of a lengthy battle. more details | go to article

California Dreamin'
by Steven Sandor (Profile/Interview | Toronto Sun - February 22)
With a little luck, TFC could land rights to U.S. soccer sensation Luis Gil more details | go to article