CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nuno Mendes of Portugal runs to the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2025 final match between Portugal and Spain at Munich Football Arena on June 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Soccer

Nuno Mendes Made The Nations League Worth The Hassle

Billy Haisley

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is playing during the UEFA Nations League 2024 League B Group B1 match between Ukraine and Georgia , at the Poznan Arena in Poznan, Poland, on October 11, 2024.

Even A Little Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Goes A Long Way

Damaris Egurrola of the Netherlands celebrates with teammates after scoring her teams third goal Romee Leuchter of the Netherlands during the UEFA Womens Nations League - League A Group 1 match between Netherlands Women and Belgium Women at Koning Willem II Stadion on December 5, 2023 in Tilburg, Netherlands

The Wildest Soccer Match Of The Week Was Between Two Teams That Didn’t Even Play Each Other

Gio Reyna #7 of the United States scores a goal and celebrates during a Concacaf Nations League game between Trinidad and Tobago and USMNT at Q2 Stadium on November 16, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

The USMNT Only Has One Gio Reyna

Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final against Canada at Allegiant Stadium on June 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Folarin Balogun Is Exactly Who The USMNT Has Been Waiting For

A shirtless Christian Pulisic celebrates his badass, game-winning penalty goal with his USMNT teammates.

Even At Its Worst, Soccer Is Still The Fucking Best

Gio Reyna #7 of USA advances the ball against Diego Rodriguez #23 of Honduras in the first half during Game 1 of the Semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League Finals of at Empower Field At Mile High on June 03, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.