By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 28, 2020) US Soccer Players – 2020 was an unprecedented year loaded with obstacles, rescheduled games, and health protocols. Even when soccer came back, it wasn't the same. Tournaments played in bubbles, no fans allowed into stadiums, and piped in crowd noise became common this year. Despite all of this, enough of the games continued to create a new normal. . . .
USMNT gets Canada, Martinique, and a team to be named later
Tuesday's soccer news starts with the USMNT drawn into group B at the 2021 Gold Cup. Concacaf conducted the first ever Gold Cup draw, with the USMNT playing Canada, Martinique, and preliminary round winner 7. The tournament begins on July 10 with Concacaf eventually releasing the cities and schedules. "We're looking forward to competing in our confederation's premier event," USMNT coach Gregg . . .
Preview: The 2021 Gold Cup draw
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 28, 2020) US Soccer Players – The 2021 Gold Cup will mark the tournament's 16th edition. At the same time, the tournament will celebrate 30 years of existence. Over those three decades, the competition has both morphed and evolved with the times while making Concacaf teams more competitive at the World Cup. It's that evolving nature that, pandemic allowing, . . .
Concacaf adds Qatar to Gold Cup field
Thursday's soccer news starts with a lengthy press release from Concacaf nominally about finally adding a draw to the Gold Cup. Instead of setting the field and separating the United States from Mexico, Concacaf is opting for a draw to determine the group stage. From the knockout round "teams on opposite sides of the bracket meet from the quarterfinals onwards.... This change will provide more . . .
Concacaf’s new 2022 qualifying format sets expectations in the region
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 30, 2020) US Soccer Players - This week Concacaf rolled out its grand new plan for the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle. On Monday, the confederation unveiled a revised format and timetable for the road to Qatar in the wake of the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it released the rescheduled dates for the final phase of the inaugural . . .
Concacaf sets its schedule
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Concacaf deciding eight is better than six when it comes to the final round of World Cup qualifying. Instead of this being the swansong for the Hexagonal ahead of World Cup expansion for 2026, we get the Octagonal. Two rounds will determine the three teams that join the USMNT, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Honduras with the final round starting in the June 2021 . . .
Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT at the 18-month mark
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (May 22, 2020) US Soccer Players - In early June, Gregg Berhalter's tenure in charge of the USMNT will pass the 18-month mark. In a world without COVID-19 and the disruptions it's unleashed, he and his team would be set to gather for a camp to prepare for the Concacaf Nations League semifinals and final. Those games were on the schedule for June 4 and 7 in . . .
Europe considers its club calendar
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Club over country in completing the schedule
Tuesday's soccer news starts with comments from Concacaf and MLS about getting the games in once its safe to resume professional soccer. AP's Rob Harris with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani talking about the potential for no international soccer until next year. The idea for not using the international windows in September, October, and November isn't exactly a surprise, but it would mean 16 . . .
IOC sets dates for rescheduled summer Olympics
Monday's soccer news starts with the International Olympic Committee officially rescheduling the Tokyo games from July 23 through August 8, 2021. Concacaf is the only region that has yet to qualify teams for the men's soccer tournament. "These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organization of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and . . .
