11 Yawns during the first half, SDFC vs STLCitySC
On March 1, 2025, San Diego FC played its inaugural home match against St. Louis City SC at Snapdragon Stadium. This game resulted in a 0-0 tie. This game was a historic moment for San Diego FC, Major League Soccer’s 30th franchise. SDFC hosted a crowd of around 34,000 fans. San Diego dominated, but neither team scored. St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki had a shutout, while San Diego’s defense kept St. Louis to just 1 shot on goal.
Hirving Lozano, San Diego’s top designated player, unfortunately left the game in the 31st minute due to an injury. St. Louis City’s defense played well. Most of the first half was noticeably dominated by San Diego FC, as most of the play was away from San Diego FC’s third of the field. The final score kept San Diego unbeaten. Their MLS ranking was 1-0-1, following a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy a week before. St. Louis City SC ranking was 0-0-2, keeping their own unbeaten start after tying Colorado Rapids in their opener. Both teams created decent chances. Keep in mind, San Diego’s head coach Mikey Varas before this position, was named head coach of the United States Under 20 men’s national team on November 5, 2021. This was seen as a good move by US Soccer because of his proven track record in youth development. In 2022, Varas led the U-20 team to win in the CONCACAF Under 20 Championship. This was the team’s third consecutive title in that tournament. Varas was then named interim head coach of the US Men’s Soccer Team on September 1, 2024 during the team’s search to replace Gregg Berhalter. Mauricio Pochettino was named the new head coach a few days later on September 10, 2024.
Besides the great weather, San Diego has many reasons to attend games there. The only suggestion I would give to the team is to promote the metro train known as the Red Trolley Train there. For some reason the exit ramp to the main road in front of Snapdragon stadium had one lane blocked. I thought that was a dumb idea. The train looks more affordable and convenient than rideshare aka uber or lyft or possibly parking fee. The pickup area for rideshare didn’t have lit or obvious signs. As far as airline flights, I would like to see more flights to/from San Diego available and at convenient times, especially to/from LAX and St. Louis.
The only concerns I had about the stadium was related to the confusing entrance areas. When you enter the stadium, there was no one offering to show people where to line up to get into the stadium. It looked unorganized. A couple bottleneck areas inside East? entrance overcrowded – there should be roped off walkways, 3 going one way, 3 going the other way. In an emergency or a fight situation, there would be a lot of innocent people accidentally hurt in my opinion. As far as the seats, I was seated behind the goal about 6 rows back. The view was excellent, however the seat was not very wide. The seats should be wider. I felt like I was in a seat not even as wide as airplane seats. Having said that, there were places to stand to easily watch the game, in the corners up near the concession stands. The food choices and food, along with the staff, were excellent there. The stadium was very clean. You can tell many Southern Californians love soccer. I want to thank the ownership for the opportunity to view quality soccer in California.
Who oversees the US Men’s National Team?
The USSF, the United States Soccer Federation, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The USSF oversees the US Men’s National Team, rather than the US Federal Government.
The USSF, or United States Soccer Federation, is the official governing body for soccer in the United States. USSF manages national teams, including men’s and women’s senior teams, youth teams, and oversees player development, soccer governance, referee training, and coaching programs. USSF affiliations include being a full member of FIFA and CONCACAF, and USSF has a relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee. From what I understand, the USSF receives revenue via sponsorships, dues, and national team games.
I reached out to the USSF via email to try and have them explain their organization to me, but they either didn’t have time to read the email or maybe they didn’t understand how come I was
asking. I simply am trying to educate the general public that this is basically a 3rd party organization rather than the Federal Government that decides who is coaching the US Men’s Team, and who is playing on the team. If the USSF wants to call me and explain their organization so I can create a followup article for my next magazine, they hopefully know how to reach me. My focus is on who decides what coach is hired, and who decides at the regional level which players are invited to be on the main team. This is all related to my theory that the best players will win games, and that the best players need to be motivated to give their best performance each game, not just for their club teams. One of the questions I hope to find an answer is how come the US National Team doesn’t train in high elevation, such as Colorado Springs, rather than Atlanta. A few Central American and South American players train in high elevation cities. When these players descend to sea level games the players’ advantage is in the physiology of getting more oxygen than normal. Has that provided a World Cup to most of those teams, no. However, if the US Team is going to play Mexico for example, I would hope they spend the 2 weeks before the game training in Colorado Springs. For the European World Cup teams, I don’t have the answer to beat them. My wishes are that Coach Pochettino teaches the US National Team how to be the legendary Greek Trojan Horse and sneak through the European team defenses, score goals, and win games.
Tony Mercadante, MBA
Los Angeles, CA
We lost to a Van Halen song
As I sit here watching Mexico score early against Canada on replay from the other night, I’m reminded Panama had one chance, converted it. One Chance!! That’s called being hungry and winning. Congrats to Panama. If anything it shows the underdog can win upset games.
Turner isn’t the answer. I’m not sure Ream is the answer. The team physically looked worried from the start. Full credit to Panama. They wanted it more. In case you haven’t visited there Panama is a beautiful country. Waterman? wasn’t expected to score. Panama wasn’t expected to win. Turn that around on how USA isn’t expected to beat England or Italy, etc. That’s the only positive way to look at this situation. Upsets are possible.
The first half, Pochettino, like a driver’s education instructor, gave the wheel to Pulisic and McKennie, and from there I watched a 50 car pileup on the 405. Pochettino should have subbed someone after 20 minutes. Pochettino should have taken back the wheel to the car and started subbing. What seems to be happening is that if the starters don’t like something said before the game, or maybe who is picked to play alongside them, they just say “whatever” and don’t show up. So it really doesn’t matter who Pochettino picks or who Berhalter would have picked, or someone like myself would have picked to start. It’s time to learn how to play as a team. It’s time to figure out how bad you want to play on this team.
I recently talked to a former professional sports player in a different sport than soccer. He is well known in his league. I asked him what would
inspire current players in this generation to score in important games. He said the players these days are given a lot, and expected to just focus on the game. They don’t have to deal with using a payphone to call a hotel, call a taxi, get a ride back to the airport, or find somewhere good to get food. So maybe these current players in every sport are a little spoiled. Is it going to take FanDuel, Sports Clips, or some other corporation to donate to the USSF, and call the team at halftime, and say “Whoever scores the first goal gets $25,000 bonus.” Are we at that point? What motivates these players to get along with each other and enjoy playing together?
If you want my new hat, with the words SHOW UP™ on it, to wear at future overpriced-ticket games, and come together as a fan base, paypal me at tony@soccersoarusa.com. Whether the games are on Univision or some paywall channel, anyone seeing each other in the stands with these hats on, or back at home watching tv, is going to know what we expect, win or lose. Maybe the Uncle Sam look is over. This team isn’t representing Uncle Sam well. Is it going to take all the players to agree before the game to bet their next 3 years of salary, betting that USA will win, to motivate these guys to play as a team and actually win games? I hope not. Look inward, come up with a better strategy. Because it isn’t that Panama is great, they were just hungry enough to win. USMT should congratulate Panama for the wakeup call.
Tony Mercadante, MBA
Los Angeles, CA
money? People remember rock concerts, sports championship games, and things like New Years Eve parties. Everyone remembers crazy mascots, screaming fans, cheerleaders, great food, and cold drinks. You feel alive, you feel like it was worth the time, and most of the time you do it with friends and family.
The broadcast quality has to be legendary. Some people do want guys like Jesse Ventura, Harry Caray, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be outrageous, and quoteworthy. Who wouldn’t want to see an announcer jump out of the press box and argue with a linesman for a controversial offside call? Not only do you want them to be loud but make headlines the next day in the news. The broadcaster’s comments should be on the 5pm and 10pm local and national news.
The halftime show should be legendary. Whether it’s a tug of war, a jet flyover, some music, a $50,000 event for a couple random spectators to score a penalty kick, or just the Twin Peaks as well as the Black Pink girls dancing, it would be something most people would find entertaining.
The National Anthem should be featured live before every game. It should be sung by someone who loves the United States. It can even be just instrumental, and still legendary. Do I want to see Pitbull sing the national anthem, yes. Do I want to see Sammy Hagar sing it, yes. Kid Rock? Well maybe just instrumental in that case. Olivia Rodrigo, of course. If you want tv ratings, have Taylor Swift sing it at the World Cup Final.
How many USMNT players are on Wheaties boxes? How many of these players are on beer cans or soda cans? It makes you wonder how much more marketing should go into putting a name with a face, making the general public see these players and remember their names. Player profiles can be boosted easily this way. Hello Red Bull? Hello Coca Cola? Hello Modelo? Hello Corona?
Social media and magazine engagement is where I can help. My future quarterly online magazine
will most likely be available March 31st. Hashtag campaigns on all social media sites, as well as influencers can help out here.
Merchandise – I will be selling my own hats and shirts soon on my website for people to make a nonverbal impact at all USMNT games. Uncle Sam mascots are cool, but it doesn’t convey a message that we demand the USMNT win games. We are not here just to get our faces on TV in the background, we want the entire world to know this team is no joke, it is a force of unstoppable and invincible power.
Economic incentives – raffles, tailgate celebrity meet and greets, door prizes, tailgate cookoff contests, prizes for best car that shows up at the tailgate. Should Jessica Alba be at the game for meet and greet? Yes. Should Blake Lively be there? Yes. Should Taylor Swift be there, of course. I wouldn’t mind if Anna Kournikova shows up. Does Margot Robbie like soccer? Then yes she should be there too.
Whether you like sports gambling or not, fantasy sports apps may help engage younger generations as well as older generations of sports fans. How about getting Dave Portnoy, From Barstool Sports, to make fun bets on soccer? This would get the attention of non-soccer sports fans interested in watching the World Cup final and make it more interesting.
If the USSF wants to get Will Ferrell to make some funny tv commercials explaining the basic concepts of offsides, or penalty kicks, etc. that would gain general public engagement. Beer commercials can show funny moments related to soccer scenarios.
For the next few months, I expect people at the USSF to see this blog and not just hope, but realize the potential.
Tony Mercadante, MBA
Los Angeles
Hey USMNT…. How bad do you want to win the World Cup?
Hey USMNT….How bad do you want to win the World Cup?
Or do you want to just appear in a game and win one game or two? I think you want to win the whole World Cup. So I’m just curious what it’s going to take, to get you to become a goal scoring team.. a goal scoring machine when it counts.
If you want some inspiration, it’s all over youtube. you can see penalty kicks scored, and missed, from the collegiate level to the pro leagues. You can see undisciplined shots sent sky high, way over the crossbar, when the game could have been won. Somebody wins, somebody loses. What would happen if you told your club coach you just want to score in 1 regular season game, and score in one playoff game? Would you be allowed to start for that team? What would that look like to your team? How do you justify getting paid just to show up and not score goals? Would other uniform brands sponsor your team instead of Nike if given the chance, or would some other brand pay you less than other teams they sponsor, to let you wear their brand?
From a business perspective, do players contracts stipulate players must score one goal at least every 2 games to stay on the team? Would that motivate you? Who is responsible
for writing player contracts to play on USMNT?
I wonder if these contracts are public record. I hope to interview that hiring management team and see how lenient the contract is when they sign you up. I hope they give you bonuses everytime you score, or is that the secret missing ingredient to win the World Cup? Is it that easy of a fix? Or is there more to this? Someone once told me sharks swim and eat things, that’s all sharks do. Can players simply focus, and work as a team, score goals? You have the same 600 muscles, according to most sources, as every other opposing player during those games. So it’s a moneyball type of moment that your new coaches should know how to analyze and perfect.
Do you want to fight for this country? Show Up, Function, Score Goals, Win Games. Visit some top athletes in other sports, see what motivates them. Consider applying those mindframes, building yourself into the best player and best team the United States and the World, has ever witnessed. How bad do you want to win the World Cup?
By Tony Mercadante, MBA Los Angeles
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