James Nalton
@jdnalton.bsky.social
Freelance sports and football writer for the Morning Star newspaper, Forbes, World Soccer magazine, Guardian US, FotMob, BBC, and the Soccer Times.
MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.
MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.
Pinned
James Nalton
@jdnalton.bsky.social
· Aug 1
📌 Heading into 2025/26, my freelance ⚽ writing will once again focus on Everton, Liverpool, and occasionally Manchester teams + others. Elsewhere, my coverage of American soccer from both sides of the Atlantic means I'm uniquely placed to cover the 2026 World Cup- I'm on the lookout for related work
Reposted by James Nalton
Monday's Morning Star back page: Who won't win FIFA's peace prize? #tomorrowspaperstoday
November 16, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Monday's Morning Star back page: Who won't win FIFA's peace prize? #tomorrowspaperstoday
Monday's Morning Star back page: Who won't win FIFA's peace prize? #tomorrowspaperstoday
November 16, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Monday's Morning Star back page: Who won't win FIFA's peace prize? #tomorrowspaperstoday
No Cameroon and no Nigeria at the 2026 World Cup
DR Congo knock Nigeria out of 2026 World Cup qualification on penalties to make it to the intercontinental playoffs! 🇨🇩
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
No Cameroon and no Nigeria at the 2026 World Cup
DR Congo knock Nigeria out of 2026 World Cup qualification on penalties to make it to the intercontinental playoffs! 🇨🇩
November 16, 2025 at 9:58 PM
DR Congo knock Nigeria out of 2026 World Cup qualification on penalties to make it to the intercontinental playoffs! 🇨🇩
🇮🇪👀
🇮🇪👀
November 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
🇮🇪👀
Reposted by James Nalton
Warrington Town on a pretty good run of form, apart from, erm, an 8-0 defeat in the middle of it.
November 15, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Warrington Town on a pretty good run of form, apart from, erm, an 8-0 defeat in the middle of it.
Reposted by James Nalton
🇸🇩 Last night in Bilbao, a historic friendly match was played between the Basque Country and #Palestine teams, in front of 53,000 spectators at the San Mamés stadium.
👇
👇
November 16, 2025 at 10:43 AM
🇸🇩 Last night in Bilbao, a historic friendly match was played between the Basque Country and #Palestine teams, in front of 53,000 spectators at the San Mamés stadium.
👇
👇
Reposted by James Nalton
Mauricio Pochettino has spent most of 2025 looking for options. On Saturday, he found another. And it's a big one.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Gio Reyna marks USMNT return with goal in 2-1 win over Paraguay
The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder scored on an early header for the US, who next play Uruguay on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Mauricio Pochettino has spent most of 2025 looking for options. On Saturday, he found another. And it's a big one.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
When Conmebol and Concacaf meet
November 16, 2025 at 12:03 AM
When Conmebol and Concacaf meet
Still find it strange how many top-level professional footballers just won't use their weaker foot when the situation calls for it in a game.
November 15, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Still find it strange how many top-level professional footballers just won't use their weaker foot when the situation calls for it in a game.
United States something like this vs Paraguay. Pochettino has them playing a fairly fluid system. Basic defensive formation on the left, combination of in and out of possession movement on the right #USMNT
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 PM
United States something like this vs Paraguay. Pochettino has them playing a fairly fluid system. Basic defensive formation on the left, combination of in and out of possession movement on the right #USMNT
Reposted by James Nalton
The UAE is heavily involved in football around the world, and reportedly involved in the atrocities in Sudan. This weekend's Morning Star column on how football's use as a geopolitical and sportswashing tool means it is often linked to conflicts and humanitarian crises.
November 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The UAE is heavily involved in football around the world, and reportedly involved in the atrocities in Sudan. This weekend's Morning Star column on how football's use as a geopolitical and sportswashing tool means it is often linked to conflicts and humanitarian crises.
All the (USMNT) streams are down
(all the streams are down)
(all the streams are down)
November 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
All the (USMNT) streams are down
(all the streams are down)
(all the streams are down)
Warrington Town on a pretty good run of form, apart from, erm, an 8-0 defeat in the middle of it.
November 15, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Warrington Town on a pretty good run of form, apart from, erm, an 8-0 defeat in the middle of it.
Reposted by James Nalton
Article online here morningstaronline.co.uk/article/manc...
Manchester City Sudan protests highlight football's links to humanitarian crisis
A DEMONSTRATION raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan took place outside the City of Manchester Stadium last weekend ahead of the high-profile Premier League match between Manchester C...
morningstaronline.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Article online here morningstaronline.co.uk/article/manc...
The UAE is heavily involved in football around the world, and reportedly involved in the atrocities in Sudan. This weekend's Morning Star column on how football's use as a geopolitical and sportswashing tool means it is often linked to conflicts and humanitarian crises.
November 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The UAE is heavily involved in football around the world, and reportedly involved in the atrocities in Sudan. This weekend's Morning Star column on how football's use as a geopolitical and sportswashing tool means it is often linked to conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Reposted by James Nalton
New York City FC have confirmed that Alonso Martínez sustained a knee injury while representing Costa Rica last week. Martínez returned to New York for further evaluation. There are fears it could keep him out for a while, which would be a big blow ahead of the Conference semi vs Philadelphia Union.
November 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
New York City FC have confirmed that Alonso Martínez sustained a knee injury while representing Costa Rica last week. Martínez returned to New York for further evaluation. There are fears it could keep him out for a while, which would be a big blow ahead of the Conference semi vs Philadelphia Union.
Reposted by James Nalton
Here's a quick look at how the current MLS spring-to-fall calendar and the new summer-to-spring calendars will line up.
Final schedule tbd, but estimating ~75% of full capacity match weeks (where all 34 teams play) will overlap.
Final schedule tbd, but estimating ~75% of full capacity match weeks (where all 34 teams play) will overlap.
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Here's a quick look at how the current MLS spring-to-fall calendar and the new summer-to-spring calendars will line up.
Final schedule tbd, but estimating ~75% of full capacity match weeks (where all 34 teams play) will overlap.
Final schedule tbd, but estimating ~75% of full capacity match weeks (where all 34 teams play) will overlap.
This is good. Alongside the change to a July-May season and the much-needed move to get the league out to a wider TV audience, MLS needs to be careful it doesn't do all this at the expense of existing and potential local match-going fans.
“Season-ticket holders across the league, who have previously received a complimentary subscription to MLS Season Pass, will now receive an annual Apple TV subscription at no additional cost.”
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
MLS matches moving to main Apple TV package in 2026
All MLS matches will be made available as part of the main Apple TV subscription offering beginning next season, bringing an end to the standalone MLS Season Pass subscription that Apple and the leagu...
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
This is good. Alongside the change to a July-May season and the much-needed move to get the league out to a wider TV audience, MLS needs to be careful it doesn't do all this at the expense of existing and potential local match-going fans.
Big game between Curaçao and Jamaica on the final matchday of Concacaf World Cup qualifying next week. Curaçao will become the smallest nation to reach the World Cup if they avoid defeat 🇨🇼
November 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Big game between Curaçao and Jamaica on the final matchday of Concacaf World Cup qualifying next week. Curaçao will become the smallest nation to reach the World Cup if they avoid defeat 🇨🇼
It didn't seem to be working. From introducing local TV replays of games to making playoffs available to all Apple TV subscribers, they have been moving away from Season Pass, for a reason. It's fine to say it wasn't working and we moved to a broader platform to make the league more widely available
“This wasn’t about Season Pass not working” -Don Garber in SBJ
November 14, 2025 at 3:12 PM
It didn't seem to be working. From introducing local TV replays of games to making playoffs available to all Apple TV subscribers, they have been moving away from Season Pass, for a reason. It's fine to say it wasn't working and we moved to a broader platform to make the league more widely available
Probably the most comparable European league to the new MLS timings from July to May, with a long winter break, is the Russian Premier League.
Reading a lot of comments on social media that suggest the soon to come MLS season structure will make it like Germany!
Not exactly. These days our winter break is less than 3 weeks & really just so that Christmas remains quiet as per tradition.
1/2
Not exactly. These days our winter break is less than 3 weeks & really just so that Christmas remains quiet as per tradition.
1/2
November 14, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Probably the most comparable European league to the new MLS timings from July to May, with a long winter break, is the Russian Premier League.
Suriname win 4-0. Handy goal difference that puts them closer to a World Cup spot, but Panama will want that automatic qualification spot too, and play Guatemala later. Big final matchday on Tuesday night regardless 🇸🇷
This Suriname v El Salvador game is also available to stream on Concacaf's YouTube channel in many countries outside the US and Mexico. Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2tZ...
Suriname-El Salvador kicks off from Paramaribo in 15 minutes.
It once again is in the MORE SOCCER tab on Paramount+ AKA Sickos Central.
NBC Universo has the game in Spanish!
It once again is in the MORE SOCCER tab on Paramount+ AKA Sickos Central.
NBC Universo has the game in Spanish!
November 14, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Suriname win 4-0. Handy goal difference that puts them closer to a World Cup spot, but Panama will want that automatic qualification spot too, and play Guatemala later. Big final matchday on Tuesday night regardless 🇸🇷
Also, MLS Season Pass is no more after MLS and Apple announced that all MLS matches will be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost.
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Also, MLS Season Pass is no more after MLS and Apple announced that all MLS matches will be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost.
The 2027 MLS mini-season ahead of the switch to summer to spring seasons could be great.
They need some version of the MLS IS BACK tournament.
November 13, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The 2027 MLS mini-season ahead of the switch to summer to spring seasons could be great.