Happy New Year! 2026 is here!
With the World Cup being hosted in North America, 2026 has been positioned as a cultural and financial catalyst for soccer in the United States. Some developments over the weekend could jeopardize this platform and weaken it's hype. Globally, the US's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has brought a lot of scrutiny from other countries with some even pressuring FIFA to strip them of their hosting duties. Locally, the ongoing USL labor dispute between the league and it's players has seen minimal progress following the CBA's expiry on New Years Eve. Just how much will these events affect the American Soccer dynamic?
ICYMI - Last Week's Newsletter:
Juan Fernandez
Topics
- 🌎 Countries Pressure FIFA to take action against the United States
- 💸 USL Championship Lockout Looks Imminent
- 🖋️ Summit Signings
🌎 FIFA Pressured to Revoke the US' World Cup Hosting Rights Following the Capture of Nicolas Maduro.
The first weekend of the New Year kicked off with a massive story. Americans woke up to the news of the United States' use of military force in Venezuela in their overnight capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. United States President Donald Trump has been blunt about his reasoning:
"We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country"
The World Cup is also projected to be "making money for the country", but threats of boycotts have started to percolate. In early December, FIFA notoriously awarded Donald Trump their inaugural Peace Prize. Not even a whole month later and the 2026 FIFA PP Winner has already put his title defense hopes in jeopardy following this attack: seven explosions were reported across Caracas.
Additional Reading: Venezuela operation sparks global calls to strip World Cup 2026 from US, FIFA faces double standards claims
So now the question remains: will they actually do it? Would FIFA strip the US of their hosting rights in a similar way they sanctioned Russia after their invasion of Ukraine?
There's so much on the table to lose now with the tournament only six months away. FIFA do not have the backbone to pivot away from their usual image of corruption much less stand up to the United States. The World Cup will happen, but it's hype won't be fully realized until it's actually underway. It will roll on with or without boycotts.
Now, if high-profile footballers were adamant about not participating in the World Cup, I think that could move a needle. If enough players on prominent national teams opted out of playing this Summer it could give FIFA some leverage. However, these are pro athletes; not sport martyrs. An event like this also won't be the last time. The economic power wheel of football spins along regardless.
💸USL Championship and Players Union Reach an Impasse Following the Expiry of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
It's become difficult to really assess much of the Switchbacks' offseason business given the big blight still looms in the form of the league's CBA. Despite clubs making their schedule announcements, with no agreement between the players and the league there could be a delay to the season if the players were to engage in a lockout.
The Switchbacks have had a busy offseason so far: Juan Tejada, Speedy Williams, Aidan Rocha, and Yosuke Hanya have all signed new deals at the club; new signings Patrick Burner (D), Colin Shutler (GK), and Frank Daroma (M) all look like starter level additions; and assistant coach Alan McCann became the club's newest head coach.
All of this strong offseason business could go into jeopardy if the players decide to lockout. When you look at the conditions you'd probably be looking for a better deal as well.
Additional Reading: The Back Four: CBA, etc.
Some conditions the players are looking for, according to the above article, include:
- Increased minimum compensation from the current floor of $26,000
- Twelve-month pay windows (USL players only get paid through ten months)
- Club-provided health insurance
- Image and likeness rights
Despite the USL making long business strides via the growth of their revenues coupled with their ambitions of a larger structural Promotion/Relegation pyramid, their current standards continue to exploit the work of the footballer here. If you can't afford to deliver top level standards to your players, you shouldn't be aiming towards top level league structure.
Time is officially up and we find ourselves deep in the limbo of this dispute. Without a resolution in sight, the USL Championship Season looks quite precarious right now.
🖋️Denver Summit continue to add to the roster with the signings of Carson Pickett and (the rumored) Ayo Oke
Another pair of players to add to the Summit FC Roster, these two signings are exciting and both bolster the backline.
Carson Pickett was signed on the same day that the Summit's proposed stadium plans were approved. Pickett, 32, is an experienced left back and has played for various NWSL teams including Seattle Reign FC, Orlando Pride, North Carolina Courage, and Racing Louisville.
Pickett boasts a strong list of honors as well. In 2024, she won the NWSL Championship and Shield with the Orlando Pride and in 2021 and 2022 she was a Defender of the Year finalist along with selections in both year's Best XI. This is a strong signing from the Summit Front Office and while the attack has been missing some firepower, a strong defense should in turn make for a strong foundation in the first year.
It's also been reported that the Summit have spent some money in their acquisition of Ayo Oke.
A $450,000 transfer fee is going towards Pachauca for the young UWSNT talent; a record fee for an American player. Oke, 22, helped lead Pachuca to their first Clausura in 2025 playing primarily on the right side of the pitch as either a right winger or a right back. Her ability to play in two positions should add some flexibility to the team and given the large transfer sum for a US player there's a lot that signals not only the growth of the women's game but also Summit's spending philosophy and plan.
Given the league is going through some growing pains in regards to retaining their top players, the Summit going towards a more younger player and offering them a path to both develop and elevate the team is all too similar to that of the Colorado Rapids. It's yet to be seen if this is the height of their business but I can't imagine the team spending more. (or is that just because I've been conditioned to?)
And that does it for this week's Newsletter. After a busy December the news has definitely slowed down. The offseason is sure to continue to surprise.
There will be no BSFN next week as I am currently moving apartments. If everything goes well, the newsletter should be back on the 20th. See you then!
