Category: Soccer America Daily

Cuba has two sets of currency. That’s why I accidentally paid 24 times more for a newspaper than the asking price. And why when I tried to buy a postcard with the peso bill that features Jose Marti‘s face I was told to use the one on which the 19th century Cuban hero is riding a horse. The CUC, or convertible peso, is what foreigners use. The CUP, or Cuban peso, is for locals and is the equivalent of four U.S. pennies – which is what the admission price is for Cuba’s World Cup against the USA on Saturday.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Since qualifying for the 1986 World Cup, Canada has had no luck in World Cup qualifying. Once again, the Canadians find themselves in trouble thanks to a 1-1 tie against Jamaica in Toronto last month in the opening game of the semifinal round of World Cup 2010 qualifying. If it doesn’t beat Honduras Saturday in Montreal, Canada is in danger letting another World Cup slip away.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Algeria, once an African power but on decline for two decades, is staging a comeback in World Cup 2010 qualifying. Its 3-2 win over powerhouse Senegal before 45,000 fans in Blida on Friday moved it into first place in Africa’s Group 6 with nine points, one better than the Senegalese and four better than Gambia.

Saturday’s Cuba-USA game is one of 15 games to be televised on cable or pay-per-view. The weekend schedule includes Day 2 of the Concacaf semifinal round and Day 1 of European group play. For all the matches …

There are 32 MLS players representing 12 clubs (all but Kansas City and San Jose) and playing for 15 national teams in World Cup 2010 qualifying during the double FIFA international fixture dates. Toronto FC will lose the most players for weekend league play — nine players!

On Thursday evening, the U.S. national team arrived at the Hotel Melia Cohiba, two blocks from Havana’s charming Malecon, the four-mile waterfront walkway. Before heading for the team dinner, Coach Bob Bradley discussed the significance of Saturday’s Cuba-USA game (TV: ESPN Classic & Galavision, 8 pm ET). “I don’t think there’s extra pressure,” he said, “but we do understand the fact that this game will bring extra attention.”

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
Walking down one of Havana’s longest streets, the Calle Infanta, I’m approached by man in a worn-out striped polo shirt who asks where I’m from. After I answer he says, in a friendly way, “You must come with me.” We walk past one of the street vendors who refills disposable lighters, then take a right turn toward the University of Havana and enter a stylish cafe. “This is where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara discussed many important things,” says my new tour guide, Victor. While now ailing, Fidel still has strong views, in particular on the state of Cuban sports.

[MLS] Colorado and FC Dallas, two of the three Western Conference teams to shake up their organizations with coaching changes this season, are just noses apart in the race to reach the playoffs after Thursday night’s 1-0 Rapids victory at Pizza Hut Park.

The first double date in World Cup 2010 qualifying begins Friday with the first three of 62 matches to be played over the weekend. Saturday’s Cuba-USA game is one of 14 games to be televised on cable or pay-per-view. The weekend schedule includes Day 2 of the Concacaf semifinal round and Day 1 of European group play. For all the matches …

Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla is in Havana to cover Saturday’s Cuba-USA World Cup qualifier (kickoff: 8 pm ET). Special editions of Soccer America Daily will appear on Saturday and Sunday with coverage before and after the game.

For the USA’s first game in Cuba since 1947, Coach Bob Bradley has brought in players based in Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Mexico — in addition to seven MLS-based men. The experienced squad — half of the 20 players have more than 30 caps — aims for a second straight win in the semifinal group phase of qualifying when it faces the Cubans on Saturday. Less suspenseful than whether the USA can beat a team ranked No. 71 in the world is whether the USA’s frontline finally finds its form.

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
In the hotel lobby of the Parque Central in Old Havana, the television is tuned to CNN, with coverage of the Republican Convention. Later in the evening, security guard Gustavo switches to ESPN for the Red Sox-Cleveland game. Gustavo, although a fervid baseball fan, is one of the few Cubans I’ve met so far who is aware that Cuba hosts the USA in a World Cup qualifying game on Saturday.

Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla is in Havana to cover Saturday’s Cuba-USA World Cup qualifier (kickoff: 8 pm ET). Special editions of Soccer America Daily will appear on Saturday and Sunday with coverage before and after the game.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Nothing has come easy for D.C. United this season, so its loud, boisterous celebrations after defeating Charleston in the U.S. Open Cup were entirely genuine.

[MLS] The Revs may be the deepest team MLS but one of their more valuable role players won’t play again this season.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The Puerto Rico Islanders rallied for two goals in the last three minutes to beat former champion Alajuelense, 2-1, and give the USL First Division two teams in the group stage of the Concacaf Champions League — the same as MLS will have.

[TRANSFER TALK] In contrast to the wild dealing in England, German clubs spent cautiously on the summer transfer market, which closed at midnight on Monday. Bundesliga spending reached 150 million euros ($217 million) — less than a quarter of the money spent in England.

[WPS] Weeks before its first player moves will be made, Women’s Professional Soccer, the new women’s league, announced Wednesday that it will add a team in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2009 and its Dallas team will start in 2010, not 2009 as planned.

Needing goals and wins to advance in the Concacaf Champions League, New England and Chivas USA – both shorthanded because of injuries and other causes – came up short. Way short.

Players and coaches come and go but the offseason exploitation of David Beckham isn’t likely to abate just because Bruce Arena has effectively replaced former head coach Ruud Gullit and ex-president/general manager Alexi Lalas..

[MONEY MATTERS] Eight of the English Premier League’s 20 teams are owned by foreigners, none a heavier hitter than the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment that has signed a memorandum of understanding with former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra for the sale of Manchester City. Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment is a holding company worth almost a trillion dollars and controlled by Sheik Mansur bin Zayed al-Nahyan. It’s first order of business was to sign Robinho for a British record $65 million from Real  Madrid.

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They also include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.