Soccer America Archives

“When you play here, back in Mexico they think you are on vacation and that it’s very easy to come play here in the United States. They don’t know this league or these players, and that’s why I think the Mexican players were surprised by the American players because they hadn’t seen them before and […]

4. EUROPE: League contenders face UEFA Cup tests

Contenders in several major league races will be in action this week as European action resumes with the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. Defending UEFA Cup champion Sevilla, which is in second place in Spain’s La Liga, travels to Steaua Bucharest, and Werder Bremen, which is second in the German Bundesliga, faces Dutch […]

American Investors Ride Soccer’s Globalization Wave

Perhaps Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman’s hunch is best backed up by the sport’s sudden, meteoric rise in American media coverage since the beginning of the year. In early January, there was Beckham of course, then came George Gillett and Tom Hicks buying Liverpool, and now most recently there’s the Colorado-Arsenal deal. Greg Lalas writing for […]

How Did RSL Succeed Where So Many Have Failed?

Deseret Morning News columnist Lee Benson wonders how in the world Real Salt Lake ended up getting its stadium deal, especially after it was denounced by financial reports and flatly denied local taxpayer money. How, he asks, did it come to pass that the state saved soccer in Utah? “Overnight,” says Benson, “a deal that […]

Not Much to the Colorado-Arsenal Deal

Soccer pundit Ian Plenderleith, in a column for the U.S. National Soccer Team Player’s Association Web site, takes a closer look at the new deal between Colorado and English Premier League giant Arsenal, and concludes that there’s not all that much to it, really. For starters, Colorado owner Stan Kroenke takes no equity interest in […]

Colorado Investors Bet on Soccer

The Denver Post points out that each of these men believe the road to success in American soccer passes through Europe. Philip Anschutz, of course, is the man with enough millions to lure the European uber-celebrity David Beckham over from Real Madrid. Stan Kroenke last week orchestrated the sports marketing and management collaboration between Arsenal […]

Eventful Weekend in Europe

Paul Gardner of the New York Sun takes a look back what was a particularly eventful weekend in Spain and Italy. In Italy, Ronaldo made his AC Milan debut in a 2-1 win for the home side. He didn’t score, but he didn’t play half bad, either. League leader Inter walked through the motions to […]

TV RATINGS: Huge audiences for USA-Mexico

Last Wednesday's USA-Mexico game was the most-watched U.S. game in the team's history on ESPN2, outside of the World Cup and World Cup qualifiers. The game earned a 0.7 household rating on ESPN2, which translates to 1.1 million viewers, and averaged a 1.0 rating during the final 15 minutes. On Univision, the match also set […]

WOMEN: Boxx returns to training

The U.S. women's national team returns to training on Wednesday with 28 players in camp Feb. 14-21 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., to prepare for next month's Algarve Cup. Following the camp, U.S. head coach Greg Ryan will name 20 players who will travel to the tournament to be played from March […]

CHINA: Fans told 'free lunch' is over

In a sign of the times, China's 30 million English Premier League fans will have to pay $24 a month if they want to watch EPL games, beginning next season. Tiny WinTV (40,000 subscribers) won EPL broadcasting, Internet and mobile rights. Previously, fans could watch for free on ESPN-Star via local cable. ''The fans will […]

U.S. U-17 BOYS: Visit to the Office

The U.S. U-17 national team will get a taste of what they should expect to see in CONCACAF qualifying this spring when they travel to Jamaica to face an all-star team on Friday. Along with the match, the four-day trip will be beneficial for the U-17s, who will have the chance to practice in Kingston's […]

6. CHINA: Fans told ‘free lunch’ is over

In a sign of the times, China’s 30 million English Premier League fans will have to pay $24 a month if they want to watch EPL games, beginning next season. Tiny WinTV (40,000 subscribers) won EPL broadcasting, Internet and mobile rights. Previously, fans could watch for free on ESPN-Star via local cable. “The fans will […]

2. TV RATINGS: Huge audiences for USA-Mexico

Last Wednesday’s USA-Mexico game was the most-watched U.S. game in the team’s history on ESPN2, outside of the World Cup and World Cup qualifiers. The game earned a 0.7 household rating on ESPN2, which translates to 1.1 million viewers, and averaged a 1.0 rating during the final 15 minutes. On Univision, the match also set […]

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“What’s a little disappointing to me, but not unexpected, is that you can be a bad soccer player, OK, and you might not be the fastest or you might not be the most skilled, but don’t show up here and be out of shape. I mean, some of the beer guts that we see and […]

USA: Bradley opens first U-23 camp

Two days after the USA's 2-0 victory over Mexico, Bob Bradley was back to work — this time with the U.S. under-23 national team. Bradley, the interim national team head coach and under-23 head coach, called 20 players into training camp that began Friday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in preparation for […]

5. U.S. U-17 BOYS: Visit to the Office

4. U.S. U-23 MEN: Bradley adds three collegians

Bob Bradley added three players, all collegians last fall, to the U.S. U-23 national team training camp taking place at the Home Depot Center. Goalkeeper Justin Hughes (drafted by MLS’s Colorado Rapids out of North Carolina), defender Sean Franklin (Cal State Northridge) and midfielder Peter Lowry (Santa Clara) bring the roster up to 23 players. […]

SPAIN: Beckham shows flair for drama

David Beckham's storied career took a dramatic turn when he celebrated his return to the Real Madrid lineup with a goal on a free kick to help the Merengues beat Real Sociedad, 2-1, in La Liga on Saturday night. The win probably saved the job of Real coach Fabio Capello, who had banished Beckham from […]

WORLD: Ronaldo debuts at half-empty San Siro

Play resumed in Italy with four games played behind closed doors and Sunday's match between AC Milan and Livoro at the famous San Siro stadium restricted to only Milan season-ticket holders. The return came amid tight security measures all across Italy following the death of a policeman in rioting Feb. 2 outside Catania's Massimino Stadium. […]

3. WOMEN: Boxx returns to training

The U.S. women’s national team returns to training on Wednesday with 28 players in camp Feb. 14-21 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., to prepare for next month’s Algarve Cup. Following the camp, U.S. head coach Greg Ryan will name 20 players who will travel to the tournament to be played from March […]

GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV

(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings and soccerTV.com) MONDAY, Feb. 12 GALAVISION CONCACAF/UNCAF Copa de Naciones NICARAGUA-BELIZE, Group A (live), 6 pm ET/PT. CONCACAF/UNCAF Copa de Naciones EL SALVADOR-GUATEMALA, Group A (live), 8:30 pm. TUESDAY, Feb. 13 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England MIDDLESBROUGH-BRISTOL CITY, 4th Round […]

HIGHLIGHT & MAGAZINE SHOWS: A Sampling

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHT/NEWS SHOWS A TODO GOAL (All the Goals from around the world) Gol TV Monday, 1 pm. FOX SOCCER SHOW Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 10 pm ET SKY SPORTS NEWS Fox Soccer Channel Monday-Sunday, 7 pm ET FOX SPORTS NOTICIAS Fox Sports en Espanol Monday-Friday, 2 pm ET LEAGUE HIGHLIGHT SHOWS ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE […]

U.S. ABROAD: Howard wins battle of Yank keepers

Tim Howard was the only American who started in the 2-0 victory over Mexico on Wednesday and played in weekend English Premier League action. Howard shut out Blackburn, 1-0, to win the battle of the Yank keepers over Brad Friedel. Marcus Hahnemann also picked up a shutout as Reading beat Aston Villa, 2-0, for its […]

MLS PRESEASON: Hunt teams head for Arizona

By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor Soccer America MLS IN THE DESERT. Next week, the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas play their first preseason games. Dozens will be played by MLS teams leading up to the opening day of the season, April 7. But only a few will take place in Arizona. Grand Canyon College in […]

And Then There Were Two