The Athletic is making big moves to bolster its soccer coverage ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
This week, the New York Times-owned outlet announced the hires of former U.S. Men’s National Team forward Charlie Davies and ex-Yahoo Sports standout Henry Bushnell. Their arrivals follow the departure of longtime staff writer Pablo Maurer earlier this year.
Davies joins as a regular contributor, making his debut in written journalism with The Athletic. In his first foray into the medium, the expectation is that Davies will regularly produce opinion columns, appear regularly on podcasts, and produce insightful explainer videos.
While Davies is new to written journalism, Awful Announcing has learned that the plan is for The Athletic’s editorial team to work closely with him to ensure his unique voice and personality translate flawlessly to the page.
Davies earned 17 caps for the USMNT between 2007-09 and played a pivotal role in helping the team qualify for the 2010 World Cup before a serious car accident effectively ended his international career. Last playing professional soccer in 2017, Davies has since become an analyst for CBS Sports, as well as a color analyst for the New England Revolution on NBC Sports Boston.
Bushnell, meanwhile, arrives from Yahoo Sports, where he built a reputation as one of the most respected U.S. soccer journalists. At The Athletic, he’s expected to keep that same edge as part of the outlet’s push to grow its soccer vertical in the lead-up to 2026.
So, after 8 years(!) at Yahoo Sports, some news…
I’m joining the superteam @TheAthletic.
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) July 29, 2025
While these additions point to why The Athletic chose not to renew Maurer’s contract, the outlet believes this refreshed lineup will better position it to deliver top-tier coverage heading into next year’s World Cup.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.