The voting form for your favorite North American Soccer photos of 2022 is now open.

With 334 submissions entered to this year’s North American Soccer Photo Contest, our judges have selected five (5) finalists from each of the following three (3) photo categories: Soccer Fandom, Match Action, and Growing the Game.

The winners will be decided by a popular vote, with the voting form closing at 11:59PM EST on January 30th, 2023.

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Soccer Fandom category finalists

Photographs capturing the essence of soccer fandom in North America. Congratulations to the following photographers, their photo entries have been selected by our team of judges as the five Soccer Fandom category finalists.

Lucas Kschischang
Nicolas Polo
Azael Garcia
Jon Demske
Howard Lao

Below are their respective submissions, in no particular order, accompanied by our judge’s commentary.

Photo by Lucas Kschischang

NYCFC fans at Citi Field.

Judge Commentary | Xavi Dussaq: “This photo's lighting is phenomenal, a great composition that highlights the fans and the pitch.”

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Photo by Nicolas Polo

Nothing speaks to me like "fandom" like sharing the beautiful game with your young ones.

Judge Commentary | Katie Cahalin: “I was really caught by the smiles on both of their faces, especially the dad. To me, this photo exemplifies what being a fan of the game is all about – sharing it with other people. It’s even more special when you get to pass it on to future generations and your own kids. I thought it was a unique approach to this category. You do see a lot of photos with smoke and big crowds, but this one stood out to me because it was a different angle. It’s an intimate moment from the crowd that catches your eye.”

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Photo by Azael Garcia

Los Roots ondeando la bandera.

Judge Commentary | Xavi Dussaq: “I love the motion of this photograph—very colorful and powerful image depicting supporters.”

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Photo by Jon Demske

Marina, former pro player for the Argentine women’s national team, naps among her fútbol collection after Argentina qualified for the Final.

Judge Commentary | Colleen Claggett: “Love this photo! The style looks magazine-esque and the attention to detail is great, from the signed flag and Messi jersey as blankets, and a ball as a pillow, to the placement of all the other balls and even down to her watch matching Argentina colors. To me, it conveys that after Argentina's win, this fan can finally rest as a champion. Great composition and storytelling.”

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Photo by Howard Lao

The Argentinian Fan Group of Portland celebrate the World Cup victory!

Judge Commentary | Colleen Claggett: “This is such a great moment photo! It's different from the typical explosive crowd celebration photo we normally see after a big win in the fact that it's in a crowd, and yet intimate. The room is packed but you're only looking at the couple's embrace. But if you do look away, you still have the context of the other fans celebrating and the fans on screen at the game. Also, the way the light is highlighting them couldn't have been better.”

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MATCH ACTION category finalists

The full 90. Match action, reactions, celebrations, and anything in between kickoff and the final whistle. Congratulations to the following photographers, their photo entries have been selected by our team of judges as the five Match Action category finalists.

Nico Loayza
Alana McCallion
Jordy Marsono
Jacob Gonzalez
Georgia Soares

Below are their respective submissions, in no particular order, accompanied by our judge’s commentary.

Photo by Nico Loayza

Moussa Djitté celebrates his hat trick by jumping into the feverish Austin FC fans, his three goals sealed Austin's first playoff birth.

Judge Commentary | Katie Cahalin: “Being a team photographer, I feel like you’re always hoping to be ready for most goal celebrations. This one caught my eye because it’s a very deliberate photo. They knew they wanted to do the slow shutter speed to get the blur, which I feel like is a very risky move. That’s part of why this photo jumped to the top spot for me. There was a lot of thought behind it, and they ended up with a great shot at the end of it. It’s super unique to attempt all that with a celebration during a game.”

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Photo by Alana McCallion

Charlotte FC's first ever player signing, Sergio Ruiz, celebrates his first and long awaited goal with the club.

Judge Commentary | Tagwa Moyo: “I really liked how it captured the emotion of the player. It’s a perfect shot, it’s totally sharp, and you can see how much that goal means to him. It’s important to be able to feel it with a photo, and with this photo, I felt it.”

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Photo by Jordy Marsono

The heart and soul of LAFC, Carlos Vela celebrating passionately an assist putting LAFC ahead 2-1 in the final.

Judge Commentary | Brandon Vazquez: “For me, this photo was all about the passion. I grew up in a household where we’d watch games religiously, and we’d throw parties every time the Mexican National Team would play. I grew up watching Vela, and he’s been one of my favorite players for a long time, so this one kind of hit close to home for me. It’s framed perfectly for me, and capturing Vela celebrating with such immense passion in the final carries a lot of emotion.”

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Photo by Jacob Gonzalez

Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver #1 celebrates after the first round playoff match win against Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Sunday October 16, 2022.

Judge Commentary | Xavi Dussaq: “One of my favorite images from 2022. Great sports photographs sometimes require luck. The decision to place the camera in a position where the fan base would also be captured makes this photograph stronger.”

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Photo by Georgia Soares

The perfect goal.

Judge Commentary | Colleen Claggett: “I love this photo. It’s the perfect contrast of emotions in a game. You can see Christen Press smiling because she knows the ball is going in, the keeper is reaching for it, and the defender looks distraught. It’s funny, and it captures the range of emotions you see in a game. It’s also great that the post didn’t get in the way, and the timing is absolutely spot on.”

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Growing the game category finalists

Photographer’s creative representation of growing the beautiful game in North America. Congratulations to the following photographers, their photo entries have been selected by our team of judges as the five Growing the Game category finalists.

Stoney Yoos
Benjamin Nichols
Morgan Tencza
Krystina Brown
Beau Chevalier

Below are their respective submissions, in no particular order, accompanied by our judge’s commentary.

Photo by Stoney Yoos

Pickup street soccer in Venice Beach. Locals watch on as the youth dominates the court.

Judge Commentary | Tagwa Moyo: “Everyone knows the story behind Venice Beach, but I like the angle chosen to capture it with the people watching it. It’s low and it uses the people on the sideline to frame the action. I think it shows and conveys the idea of a community growing around the game. It told a nice story for sure.”

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Photo by Benjamin Nichols

The 2022 SD Loyal Siempre Leal kit launch, with the Charros of Rancho La Laguna on the US/Mexico border.

Judge Commentary | Brandon Vazquez: “Being from San Diego, I know I’m a bit biased, but this one grabbed me. Growing up in a Mexican household, you just see the passion that Mexican culture has around soccer. Seeing this one, on a dirt field, with Mexican culture represented through the Vaquero cowboy in the back, while still incorporating soccer in there somehow, it just stood out. I thought it was a clever way to represent how the growth of the game transcends cultures.”

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Photo by Morgan Tencza

Father and son wear matching Liverpool kits while enjoying the game at Philadelphia's Premier League Fan Fest.

Judge Commentary | Katie Cahalin: “I interpreted the ‘Growing the Game’ category as passing the love for soccer to other people and sharing it with others. I have a sweet spot for that kind of stuff. I don’t know if it’s father and son, or brothers, or uncle and nephew, but just the fact that it’s an older person and a younger person with the same jersey on seemed perfect. If they’d had different jerseys, maybe I wouldn’t have selected this one, but the fact that it’s the same jersey, you get the idea that they’re passing on that love for the sport.”

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Photo by Krystina Brown

World class shoe tying from Sofia Huerta.

Judge Commentary | Tagwa Moyo: “This photo speaks exactly to what the category is, almost quite literally. It’s something so small, but I can guarantee that that little girl is going to remember that moment forever. It’s those types of moments that make people fans of a certain player for life.”

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Photo by Beau Chevalier

An accomplishment many thought impossible, Canada celebrate in the locker room after qualifying for their first Men's World Cup in 36 years.

Judge Commentary | Xavi Dussaq: “Incredible moment to be able to capture. The subject’s engagement while making the photograph makes this one extra special. When thinking of growing the game, this image represents that.”

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