Jordan Eliminated as Algerian Comeback Breaks Debutant’s Hearts

Like so many before them, Jordan had come to California to chase a dream. And for nearly an hour on Monday evening, that fantasy of a maiden World Cup victory looked like becoming reality. A deft finish from Nizar Al-Rashwan had put Al-Nashama (the Chivalrous Ones) into a first-half lead against Algeria at the BayContinue reading “Jordan Eliminated as Algerian Comeback Breaks Debutant’s Hearts”

Arnautović Seals Points for Austria Over Plucky Jordan in World Cup Opener

It might be an old cliche, but for Marko Arnautović, the third time really was the charm. Having first had a goal ruled out after VAR intervention and then failing to convert a chance when through on goal, Arnautović, Austria’s all-time leading scorer, struck from the penalty spot to secure his country a 3-1 winContinue reading “Arnautović Seals Points for Austria Over Plucky Jordan in World Cup Opener”

World Cup Buzz Hits Bay Area, But Some Fans Feel Left Out

After years of anticipation, the World Cup’s traveling circus has finally rolled into the Bay Area. As the tournament, being hosted in North America for the first time in 32 years, entered its first weekend, the region’s streets were awash with the hues of soccer jerseys. Red-shirted Swiss supporters, in town for their match againstContinue reading “World Cup Buzz Hits Bay Area, But Some Fans Feel Left Out”

SF City Claim Derby Bragging Rights as Pair of Penalties Sink Glens

Might a lower-division soccer club be San Francisco’s best sports team right now? With the NBA’s Warriors having missed out on the postseason as their dynasty fades, and baseball’s Giants currently a study in ineptitude, the city is not exactly a hotbed for big-league sporting success. Yet the San Francisco Glens traveled to face theirContinue reading “SF City Claim Derby Bragging Rights as Pair of Penalties Sink Glens”

Amidst Summer Fog and a Stadium Battle, Supporter-Owned SF City Are Quietly Thriving

Author’s Note: This is the first entry in the series “The World Cup in Sun and Shadow,” my attempt to document soccer’s progress across the Bay Area– and the U.S. more broadly– as the sport’s greatest spectacle gets ready to kick off one week from today. Stay tuned for more articles over the next sixContinue reading “Amidst Summer Fog and a Stadium Battle, Supporter-Owned SF City Are Quietly Thriving”