Ecuador 0:0 Curaçao 
Birmingham Legion 1:1 Loudoun United 
Forward Madison 3:1 NY Cosmos 
Colorado Rapids II 0:2 Portland Timbers II 
Little Rock Rangers 1:0 Mississippi Brilla 
Red River 4:1 Louisiana Krewe 
Brazos Valley 1:2 Lonestar 
Apotheos 0:1 Birmingham Legion II 
Charlottesville Blues 4:0 Virginia Marauders 
Memphis 901 3:1 Hattiesburg 
Maranhão 0:1 Paysandu 
FC Tulsa 1:2 Colorado Springs 
Corpus Christi 4:1 Sarasota Paradise 
Denton Diablos 2:1 Lubbock Matadors 
McKinney Chupacabras 2:1 West Texas 
Peoria 2:0 Sunflower State 
Spokane Velocity 0:4 One Knoxville 
Almaden 3:0 SF Glens 
Carlos A. Mannucci 3:1 Alianza Lima 
Boise 1:0 Union Omaha 
Oly Town 3:1 Midlakes United 
Monterey Bay 1:0 El Paso Locomotive 
Academica 3:5 Project 51O 
Redlands 5:0 Seahorses 
Tucson 2:2 Ventura County Fusion 
Clarence Zebras II 1:4 University of Tasmania 
Phoenix Rising 3:4 Oakland Roots 
Las Vegas Lights 2:3 Orange County SC 
Sacramento Republic 0:1 New Mexico United 
Maitland 1:0 Hamilton Olympic 
A Scottish coach named Austin MacPhee has become a key figure in Portugal’s World Cup campaign. He first made a name for himself by helping Aston Villa win a European trophy. Now he’s using his special skills to give Portugal an edge in the biggest tournament in soccer.
MacPhee is known as a set-piece specialist. That means he designs plays for corner kicks, free kicks, and throw-ins. These moments can decide games, and Portugal believes he can help them lift the World Cup.
From Club Success to International Stage
At Aston Villa, MacPhee worked as a set-piece coach. The team won the UEFA Conference League in 2024, and many credited his strategies for their success. He created clever routines that caught opponents off guard.
- His tactics helped Villa score crucial goals from set pieces.
- Players praised his attention to detail and clear instructions.
Bringing His Magic to Portugal
Portugal’s national team has world-class stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. But they needed an extra weapon: smarter set plays. MacPhee joined the coaching staff to design plays that fit Portugal’s attacking style.
He studies opponents’ weaknesses and trains players to execute precise moves. Portugal has already scored from his setups in qualifying matches.
The Art of the Set Piece
MacPhee’s approach is both scientific and creative. He uses data analysis to find the best spots to target. He also makes sure every player knows their role, from the taker to the headers.
- He works on timing runs and blocking defenders.
- His drills are intense but game-like, so players stay sharp.
A Game-Changer for Portugal’s Hopes
If Portugal wins the World Cup, Austin MacPhee will be a big reason why. His set-piece plans could make the difference in tight matches. For a coach who started in Scotland, this is a dream come true.
Fans around the world will be watching to see if his tactics lead Portugal to glory.