• Jurgen Klinsmann is under pressure to win a trophy for the United States at the Gold Cup, but it's nothing compared to the pressure on Mexico coach Miguel Herrera. Most expect Herrera, and possibly director of national teams Hector Gonzalez Inarritu, to be fired if Mexico fails to lift the Gold Cup trophy. Herrera's job-saving quest won't be helped by injuries to Hector Moreno, perhaps Mexico's best defender, and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, the team's best striker. Both will miss the entire tournament.

• It will be interesting to see if the National Women's Soccer League receives a bump in interest, following the USA's triumph in the Women's World Cup. Twenty-two of the 23 American players and half the Canadian team will be back in the NWSL for the 10-game second half. Coverage of the U.S. team at the World Cup focused on the coaching and tactics, for once, rather than turning the whole squad into one teamwide Olympics-style human interest story; here's hoping that this new attitude translates into more serious NWSL coverage.

• New York City FC's signing of Italian midfield superstar Andrea Pirlo will make him the highest-paid player in MLS, at a rumored $8 million per year. Pirlo may be 36, but he was Serie A's player of the year each of the past three years, and led Juventus to the Champions League final last season. His huge payday means Pirlo will be making more than double the nominal salary cap for MLS teams, who can exceed that cap to pay three designated players. This doesn't seem like a sustainable salary model — and the MLS Players' Union has to be kicking itself for signing up for five more years under such a restrictive salary cap for its rank and file.

• Atlanta United FC, which will begin MLS play in 2017, unveiled its logo and colors this week. The logo suggests that the team might wear striped jerseys in the Atlanta Falcons colors of red and black — the same look as the Atlanta Silverbacks, the NASL club that United could drive out of business. "United" might be a misnomer; "Last Club Standing" sounds more accurate.