Soccer America Archives

James Montague says that Bahrain, the poorest state in the Gulf, could be the region’s surprise qualifier for the World Cup.

Bilic Cool On Hammers’ Job

Croatian coach Slaven Bilic says he’s not keen on taking the vacant managerial post at his former side West Ham United.

Ex-Man. City Goalkeeper Gets 20 Months In Jail

“It is depressing that in a society where there is supposed to be more sexual freedom, some popular newspapers and magazines continue to dress their interest in it as some form of moral indignation when what they are actually doing is making money from their readers’ interest in sex and salacious gossip.” Part of the […]

Report: Barcelona Wants Miami Sister Club

Spanish giant Barcelona is considering a sister team in Miami, according to broadcaster Univision. It reported that Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has traveled to Florida to meet with MLS officials and local businessmen to discuss the “Barcelona USA” project, but there is as yet no timetable in place. Barcelona has played several preseason tours in […]

World Cup Tickets On Sale Early Next Year

Tickets for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will go on sale early next year, tournament organizers said Thursday. They will be sold in phases, with some available when qualification for the 32-team tournament is complete in late 2009. The first batch of tickets will be sold in host cities, at airport terminals […]

Youth Fails To Pay For Hyndman

The teething woes of FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman continued in the suburb of Frisco Thursday when his inexperienced team lost 1-0 at home to Colorado Rapids. If it’s any consolation, once you’ve lost at home to the Rapids, things usually can’t get any worse. “The one potential positive for FC Dallas could be […]

Cuba Just Needs A Little Luck

Cuban national team coach Reinhold Fanz thinks his team can beat the United States in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, but “you need a little bit of luck,” he told Doug McIntyre in Havana. Fanz added that “we had no luck against Trinidad” in the semifinal round’s opening game, and consequently they lost 3-1. True, […]

MLS To Rethink Schedule Rules

Major League Soccer is going to examine a change in its rules to avoid the schedule conflicts that have lead to several clubs missing key players for games this weekend because of international duty, reports Dean McNulty. He quotes “sources inside the MLS office in New York” as saying that the league’s competition committee […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

The weekend schedule is dominated by World Cup 2010 qualifying. Games from Concacaf (notably Cuba-USA), Europe, South America and Asia will be available on cable and pay-per-view.

Soccer America Confidential, Story

Noonan eager for Revs’ reunion

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 5, 2008

A hostile environment is anticipated at Toyota Park when former Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio returns to Chicago to lead his Red Bulls in a crucial Eastern Conference match against the team he abandoned during the offseason. But a far more amiable reunion is also on the docket in another conference showdown between the league’s top two teams. The Revs will line up at Columbus Crew Stadium to take on the conference-leading Crew having exchanged some pleasantries during the pre-match warmup.

MORNING BRIEFING: Irish look for another upset

by Paul KennedySeptember 5, 2008

One of the biggest women’s crowds of the season is expected at the Nike/Carolina Classic Friday night when No. 4 Notre Dame looks to knock off No. 2 North Carolina again.

MORNING BRIEFING: USF draws attention

by Paul KennedySeptember 5, 2008

One of this year’s hot picks for men’s national champions is USF. Not the University of San Francisco but the University of South Florida. The Bulls travel to South Bend, Ind., to face No. 3 Indiana and No. 13 Notre Dame at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament, where their reputation has preceded them.

Rachael Rapinoe suffers another season-ending knee injury

As Rachael and Megan Rapinoe, both coming back from season-ending knee injuries, prepared for their final season at Portland, they said they were thankful they would finally be able to fulfill their dream of playing college soccer beside one other. “Fate has a funny way — life has a funny way — of working out,” Megan told Soccer America before Rachael finished the thought, “And we’re just looking forward to getting back that Rapinoe attack.” Well, the Rapinoe twins were back together for only three games. Early in the Pilots’ 1-0 win over Portland on Monday, Rachael Rapinoe suffered a season-ending knee injury, re-tearing the ACL in her left knee.

SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Men’s Top 25

[FRIDAY UPDATE] No. 1 Wake Forest beat UCLA, 3-0, on Friday night. No. 3 Indiana and No. 5 USF played to a 0-0 tie. For all the Soccer America Men’s Top 25 results and schedules …

SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Women’s Top 25

[FRIDAY UPDATE] Notre Dame did it again. The No. 4 Irish beat North Carolina, 1-0, at Fetzer Field Friday night. Elsewhere, No. 1 USC edged No. 12 Santa Clara, 2-1. For all the Top 25 results and schedules …

Special Editions for Saturday’s Cuba-USA match

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.

World Cup 2010 Qualifying TV Schedule

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 …

Rapids win tightens up the West

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 5, 2008

[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.

CUBA DIARY: Letter from Fidel

by Mike WoitallaSeptember 5, 2008

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.

USA is motivated by Saturday’s historic Cuba clash in Havana

by Mike WoitallaSeptember 5, 2008

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.”

MAKING A LIST: MLS international callups

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!

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“It’s win or win.”

— Cuba forward Jaime Colome on what his team must do Saturday when it faces the USA in World Cup 2010 qualifying. A second loss in two games at home would all but knock the Cubans out of contention. (AP)

Rocha Still Upset At Substitutions

by Soccer AmericaSeptember 4, 2008

FC Dallas midfielder Andre Rocha and his coach Schellas Hyndman had supposedly ironed out their differences last week after the Brazilian-born playmaker had shown he was upset at being so frequently substituted. Yet Rocha told Diego Aparicio Wednesday that he wonders whether or not he will get to play a full game this season. […]

South African Current Account Deficit Weakens Rand

by Soccer AmericaSeptember 4, 2008

South African imports rose “as the government stepped up spending on stadiums, roads and power plants as the country prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.” The consequences include a current account deficit exceeding seven per cent for the fourth consecutive quarter, and a weakened rand. One analysts says the rand is “in big […]