GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including trophy hopes for multiple U.S. internationals
It's trophy weekend for Americans in Europe. Both Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah fell short midweek with AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, but six Americans have a chance to seek glory this weekend in England and the Netherlands.
The trio of Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest, along with Richard Ledezma, can clinch the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands if PSV defeats Sparta Rotterdam in the final day of the regular season. With a one-point lead over second-place Ajax, three points would secure them their second consecutive Eredivisie title.
In England, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will look to make history in the FA Cup on Saturday against Manchester City. The have never won the coveted English trophy, and both Richards and Matt Turner will hope to be celebrating with the Palace faithful over the weekend.
In Italy, it's make-or-break for Juventus's season. The are in must-win territory if they want to clinch a berth in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. They cannot afford anything less, and U.S. men's national team regulars Tim Weah and Weston McKennie face a crucial match against Udinese.
GOAL looks at some of the biggest storylines to follow among Americans Abroad this weekend.
Getty Images SportCrystal Palace seek FA Cup glory
Richards has had a fantastic season with Crystal Palace, and an FA Cup title would be the ultimate reward. Turner is also on the Palace books as backup goalkeeper, and has only made three appearances all season after joining on loan prior to the start of the 2024-25 season.
In the run-up to the FA Cup, Richards has appeared in five matches, starting every game while recording one assist. Across the Premier League season, he has made 22 appearances, scoring one goal as well.
On Saturday, the USMNT's central defender will look to shock the world and lift the FA Cup after taking on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, which beat Palace last month, 5-2.
Manchester City enter their third consecutive FA Cup final as the clear favorites and with plenty of incentive. Winning the FA Cup would be the best way to salvage their season – they are currently trophyless and have not ended a season that way since 2016-17, Guardiola's first season in charge.
If Richards, Turner and Palace do lift the FA Cup, the two Americans will be in illustrious company. The only other American to win that trophy is Tim Howard, who started in the 2004 FA Cup finale as Manchester United took down Millwall.
Other Americans have reached the finale. John Harkes and Sheffield Wednesday fell to Arsenal in 1993. Christian Pulisic's Chelsea fell in the finale in three consecutive years – although the Blues' Champions League triumph in 2021 will ease the pain of that a bit. Brad Guzan watched on from the bench in 2015 as Aston Villa were thumped 4-0 by Arsenal.
AdvertisementAFPPSV's USMNT trio on the verge of silverware
In a remarkable turn of events, PSV are now in pole-position to win the Eredivisie title. All they need is three points against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday. and they'll claim their second consecutive regular season title. The astonishing part, of course, is how Ajax have allowed this to happen.
Ajax needed just six points from their final five games to clinch a 37th Dutch title. On April 20, Ajax went into their game at FC Utrecht with a nine-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie, and they had the chance to extend the lead to 12. They lost 4-0 and are 0-2-1 since. They now trail PSV by one point heading into the final day of the regular season.
U.S. internationals Malik Tillman, Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi, as well as American Richard Ledezma, could become Dutch champions on Sunday if they can come away with a win on the road in Rotterdam.
Pepi is currently sidelined with an injury, but Tillman is coming off of a midweek brace in a win over Heracles in which both Dest and Ledezma played.
AFPJuventus fighting for UCL lives
With just two Matchday's left in the campaign, Juventus are in must-win territory if they want to clinch a berth in the UEFA Champions League next season. The clash with Udinese on Sunday, and both McKennie and Weah will look to play a major role.
Sitting in fourth place in the final UCL spot heading into the weekend, Juventus are level on points with fifth place Lazio at 64 – and have just a one-point lead over sixth place Roma. They can't afford to drop points, as a draw won't suffice.
McKennie has become a regular in the squad and has been a reliable player all season long. Weah, meanwhile, has logged consecutive starts in a wingback role for the seemingly gaining the trust of manager Igor Tudor in recent weeks after coming off the bench in three-straight games prior.
The two sides last clashed in November, with Juventus winning 2-0.
Getty Images SportAround the continent
+ Christian Pulisic and AC Milan face a must-win game as the take on with Roma in a meeting of the sixth and eighth place teams in Serie A. If Milan win, they'll draw level with Roma on points heading into the final Matchday.
+ After a big win over Fiorentina on Monday, Gianluca Busio's Venezia have climbed out of the relegation zone in Serie A. They visit Cagliari on Sunday in a match in which they need to secure a result.
+ Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund end their season against Holstein Kiel this weekend, trailing fourth place Freiburg by one point in the table. If they gain three three points at home against already relegated Kiel, and Freiburg lose or draw, the will clinch a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season.
