FIFA has released the shortlists for both the men's and women's Player of the Year Awards, the first since the sport's governing body separated its award from the Ballon d'Or. By Peter Nolan

"Thank you, I appreciate it." It is not often that a lowly scribe is thanked by a professional athlete at the end of an interview but that was my experience Sunday evening at Yankee Stadium. By Peter Nolan

Harrison, N.J. - "I thought they outplayed us and outcoached us," is how U.S. MNT coach Bruce Arena put it after his team lost to Costa Rica, and it was hard to disagree. With that in mind here are a few thoughts on the game. By Peter Nolan

MLS Rivalry Week kicked off Wednesday night, with one of the promoted rivalries tucked in amongst six regular matches. So, let's start with the first of the six., making this week's MLS Big - 5 the Big - 6. Home teams listed first. By Peter Nolan