Good morning! Sydney here with this edition of the Scarves and Spikes Daily newsletter. Follow me on X, BSky, IG, and Threads.)
The final four
We began with 48 teams. Now, we’re down to just four.
- Later today in Dallas, France will face Spain in the first of two World Cup semifinals. Only two other countries have been to a final in three consecutive seasons: West Germany and Brazil. France becomes No. 3 if it comes out on top. Spain, meanwhile, hasn’t been this far since winning the whole thing in 2010, crashing out in the group stage in 2014 before back-to-back Round of 16 losses in 2018 and 2022. Mbappé vs. Yamal? This will be a good one. Here’s more on the matchup.
- Tomorrow, Argentina faces England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Remember the thing I said about France looking for a third straight final? The same thing applies to Argentina, a battle-tested team that got pushed to the brink by Egypt at the Benz last Tuesday in the final 16. England haven’t been this far in a World Cup since it hoisted the winner’s trophy on home soil in 1966. Our social media channels will be a must-follow throughout the day tomorrow (especially X and IG).
- ICYMI, here’s where to watch the semifinals (and the final) across Metro Atlanta. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying this resource during the tournament.
Nashville SC is everything Atlanta United should be
Gary Smith was fired from his post as Nashville SC head coach just over two years ago. The Englishman had been the only coach the club had ever known, guiding it through its USL Championship days (remember that rainy friendly against Atlanta United at First Tennessee Park in 2018?) to decent success in MLS. Eventually, things bottomed out, forcing Nashville’s front office to make a change.
Former USMNT assistant and interim head coach B.J. Callaghan was brought in, and the rest is history. Since then, Nashville has:
- Won the U.S. Open Cup in 2025, its first trophy in club history
- Seen Sam Surridge win the Golden Boot in 2025
- Entered the World Cup break in the Supporters’ Shield lead
As Southeastern rivals, the fates of Atlanta United and Nashville SC will always be tied. But the gap between the two clubs has never been as big as it is right now. When they meet at GEODIS Park on Friday (8 p.m. ET, Apple TV, FOX, 92-9 The Game), Atlanta fans will be looking for something, anything, to encourage them that better days are ahead.
Who knows? We may get a repeat of last year when Ronald Hernández’s header on a Steven Alzate assist lifted Atlanta to a 1-0 win in Music City.
Also…
- Former Atlanta United man Alan Franco is reportedly joining Tigres on loan from Sao Paulo. He’ll join another ex-Five Stripes centerback, Juanjo Purata.
- ATL UTD 2 striker Arif Kovac was named MLS NEXT Pro player of the matchday for the second time this season after a goal and an assist against Inter Miami II. That’s 13 goals and three assists for the 19-year-old. Time to call him into the first team?
- MLS’s post-World Cup advertising campaign launched yesterday. It’s garnered some….vigorous debate! Is the league doing enough to call attention to itself?
Help support independent Atlanta soccer coverage
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows and podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
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That’s it for now. See you in the next one.