FIFA and MasterCard settled the latter’s lawsuit, paving the way for FIFA to go ahead with its sponsorship agreement with MasterCard rival Visa International. MasterCard, which had sponsored the World Cup for 16 years, will drop its sponsorship of the next two World Cups under a $90 million settlement with FIFA announced on Thursday. FIFA will pay $87.5 million by June 30 and $2.5 million by Sept. 30.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
No Time to Overlook Canada
Given Canada’s performances so far — especially a comprehensive 3-0 cruise over Guatemala in the quarterfinal — the U.S. is in no position to look past its big neighbor to the North in anticipation of a final showdown against Mexico, says Grahame L. Jones of the L.A. Times. And it’s a good thing Coach Bob […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Newcastle May Lose Martins, Owen
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce just found out Obafemi Martins, his other first-choice striker, also has a buyout clause in his contract. That means that both he and Michael Owen are free to leave for a set price, and there’s nothing Allardyce or Newcastle can do about it. At just 22, the highly-talented (not to mention […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Celtic to Open 30 Youth Academies in U.S. and Canada
Yep, you read that right: Scottish giant Celtic plans to open no less than 30 youth academies in the U.S. and Canada over the next five years. Why, you ask? Like other major clubs — Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chivas de Guadalajara, Atletico Paranaense and Atletico Mineiro all have partnerships of some kind with Major […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Canada Embraces the World’s Game
Something strange is happening in Canada, writes Stephen Brunt of The Globe & Mail: the hockey-mad country has suddenly embraced the world game. Brunt remarks on how suddenly soccer has taken hold of the country. Toronto FC has already effectively sold out its entire inaugural MLS season, tickets to the U-20 World Cup at the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Prodigal Son Riquelme Returns Copa to Buenos Aires
It was always probable that Boca Juniors would ride out its 3-0 first-leg victory against Gremio to record a sixth Copa Libertadores title, but Juan Roman Riquelme’s two goals in Porto Alegre Wednesday night sealed the victory in grand style: the 5-0 aggregate win was the largest margin of victory in a final in the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Case for High School Ball
Club coaches and high school coaches can work together to develop a player not only in technical and tactical skills and awareness but also with the intangible experience for playing for something greater than themselves: their community.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chicago Fire fires Coach Dave Sarachan
The Chicago Fire, which won just one game in its last eight outings, has fired Coach Dave Sarachan. Denis Hamlett, an assistant coach for Chicago for 10 seasons, takes over as interim head. Sarachan coached the Fire since 2003, when the Fire finished MLS runner-up. The Fire missed the playoffs once during Sarachan’s four full seasons in charge, in 2004. It was eliminated last year in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks by New England. Sarachan guided the Fire to U.S. Open Cup titles in 2003 and 2006. “I don’t think this was a fair time to assess [Sarachan],” Chicago captain Chris Armas told the Chicago Tribune . “Why even re-sign him at the end of [last] year in the first place? He should have been given the year to get things back on track. We have injuries and guys at the national team camp. Our core group has been gone.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Confident Canadians aim at USA
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] Two decades ago, the U.S. team beat Canada, 3-0, in an Olympic qualifying match and began to shed the label of underdogs. In the Gold Cup semifinals Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago, it will be the Canadians seeking an upset. From Chicago, Ridge Mahoney previews the semifinal clash that airs on Fox Soccer Channel and Telefutura at 7 pm ET. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Crew breaks out of slump with win over Kansas City
The Columbus Crew picked up its first MLS win in almost two months Wednesday night when it beat the Kansas City Wizards, 2-1, for only the club’s second win of the season. Eddie Gaven and Stefani Miglioranzi scored goals — the first of the season for both players — to break a 0-0 deadlock in the second half.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Streaking MLS teams clash in Thursday night action
[TV PREVIEW] Houston and Chivas USA, both in the midst of three-game winning streaks, clash in ESPN2’s Thursday Night MLS game. Houston coach Dominic Kinnear figured he’d lose midfielders Dwayne DeRosario (Canada) and Ricardo Clark (USA) and forward Brian Ching (USA) during the Gold Cup, but he wasn’t expecting the emergency call-up of keeper Pat Onstad to the Canadian team.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Angloma and the ‘Gwadaboys’
The surprise of the Gold Cup has been Guadeloupe, the French department making its debut in the CONCACAF championship. The “Gwadaboys” have already beaten Canada and Honduras and meet Mexico Thursday in the quarterfinals. Here’s a look at some of its stars …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS launches free summer kids soccer program
Major League Soccer has launched a summer youth program, “Verano MLS,” that will provide 8- to 12-year-olds venues for twice-a-week pick-up-style soccer and “an opportunity to meet MLS players and coaches.” The six-week program, overseen by Colombian World Cup veteran Wilmer Cabrera, who is MLS’s Manager of Fan Development, debuts in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. The program, part of the league’s outreach to the USA’s Hispanic community, offers children a Verano MLS adidas soccer ball, a Verano MLS adidas T-shirt and a complimentary MLS game ticket for themselves and members of their family.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Wherever you can make love, you can play sports.”
— Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is leading the charge to get FIFA to reverse its ban on games at above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). The ban would prevent Bolivia from hosting games in its capital, La Paz (11,811 feet). (The New York Sun)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Speculation grows that Thierry Henry will leave Arsenal
[TRANSFER TALK] Will Thierry Henry leave Arsenal for Barcelona? There has been rampant speculation that Henry, reportedly unhappy about the Gunners’ future, has signed an agreement with Barca on a three-year contract (plus an option year) worth $11 million a year. There’s even been talk that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who brought Henry to Highbury in 1999, would take over for Frank Rijkaard as coach at Barcelona
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Defending national champion Valley Blast advances at Region IV youth championships
[REGION IV SCORES] The Valley United Blast, the defending national champion in its age group, moved into the quarterfinals of the U-15 boys division with a 3-0 win over the Honolulu SC Bulls on Wednesday at the the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Las Vegas. Valley United, HSC and LV Premier all finished with 2-1 records, but Valley United and LV Premier advanced to the quarterfinals on the tiebreaker. Laramie Blizzard will be the sole team representing its home state of Wyoming in the quarterfinals after advancing in the U-14 boys division with a 2-1 win over Helena Arsenal. For complete Region IV Day 3 scores and Friday’s quarterfinals pairings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Boca buries Gremio by record margin in Libertadores Cup final
Juan Roman Riquelme scored two second-half goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio, 2-0, in Porto Alegre on Wednesday to win the Libertadores Cup by an aggregate score of 5-0 — the largest margin of victory in the 48-year history of the competition. Riquelme, playing the final match for Boca under its loan agreement with Spain’s Villarreal, scored eight goals during the competition. He scored with a long-range effort in the 69th minute and slotted home a rebound 12 minutes later.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA U-21 championship semifinal decided after 16-round shootout
The host Netherlands advanced to the final of the UEFA Under-21 Championship on Wednesday after beating England, 13-12, in a shootout that lasted 16 rounds, Heerenveen’s Gianni Zuiverloon converted the winning penalty in the shootout that took place after the two teams played to a 1-1 tie. Dutch goalkeeper Boy Waterman made three fine penalty saves before England’s Anton Ferdinand hit the top of the bar with his spot kick, setting up Zuiverloon’s decisive shot. The 25 goals in the shootout were a record for a UEFA competition.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Television Schedule
The Gold Cup moves into the semifinals with two games on Thursday. The USA meets Canada at 7 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura followed by Mexico against surprise Guadeloupe on TeleFutura at 10 om ET …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Guadeloupe: Supplying the French National Team for Decades
The Boston Globe’s Frank Dell’Apa has a great story about Guadeloupe, the Gold Cup’s surprise package this year. However, if you take a look at the tiny French Caribbean nation’s past, then perhaps it’s not so surprising to see Guadeloupe in the Cold Cup semifinals. The following French national team players have Guadeloupe heritage: Pascal […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Boca Victory is no Foregone Conclusion
By most accounts, Boca Juniors already has the 2007 Copa Libertadores wrapped up: leading 3-0 after the first leg, Boca travels to Porto Alegre, Brazil, to face Gremio, a team that hasn’t managed to score more than three goals in any of its 13 matches in the tournament thus far. And surely, the great Boca […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lalas Blazes MLS PR Trail
L.A. Galaxy President Alexi Lalas is certainly doing his part: less than a month before David Beckham’s arrival, Lalas is everywhere, doing his best to feed the hype. In an interview with The Sun, Lalas moves away from the Premiership “delusion,” focusing instead on the merits of MLS. “I challenge anybody that says a player […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Inter in Financial Probe
An Italian commission has accused Inter Milan of inflating certain transfer fees between 2003 and 2005, saying the Serie A champion would have been financially insolvent before the 2005-06 season had it not made the illegal move. The commission accused Inter of failing to show “losses connected to the fictitious capital gains” which “would not […]
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
Maximize your worth to sponsors
Not too many moons ago, the idea of a youth soccer club having over 3,000 member/participants was, for many, both incredulous and overwhelming. Nowadays, however, such a size is commonplace, and there are now clubs whose headcount exceeds even the 10,000 threshold.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Crew looks to tighten D against KC
[TV PREVIEW] Two teams coming off six-goal games last weekend figure to tighten things up, so there might be a repeat of their May 5 meeting (1-0). Jose Burciaga slalomed through the Crew to score the only goal of the game in the 90th minute to end a Crew three-game shutout streak. That was also the game in which Ricardo Virtuoso’s shoulder cracked the jaw of Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and Guillermo Barros Schelotto debuted for the Crew. Columbus is a much different team than it was then, which it showed last week by rallying from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 tie with the Revs at Gillette Stadium.