Whether or not FIFA goes ahead with an expanded World Cup in 2022, we already know it will happen for 2026. 48 teams, resetting what we know about the tournament. For Concacaf, the early issue is number of qualifying spots and how World Cup qualifying will work in the era of expansion. It's worth the reminder that Concacaf would've already changed World Cup qualifying had they gotten four . . .
2019 Concacaf Champions League set
The soccer news starts with Concacaf announcing the schedule for the 2019 Champions League. With clubs from the region's bigger leagues no longer having to play through a group stage, the tournament starts at the round of 16 for MLS and Liga MX. The home and away knockout rounds begin on February 19 and conclude May 2. Because the Canadian champion and the US Open Cup winner are MLS clubs, Major . . .
FIFA, the World Cup, and changes to world soccer
Over the weekend, reports linked CONMEBOL with the latest proposal for FIFA holding the World Cup every other year. How seriously FIFA decides to take that proposal is an open question, but it does raise a simple issue. If FIFA wants a global Nations League in the even years between World Cups, how is that different from a World Cup? It's CONMEBOL asking. “The proposal we have made to FIFA is to . . .
The end of the November window
We start the soccer news with the end of the November international window and the return to the club schedule. For the USMNT, the losses to England and Italy is the latest prelude to an announcement of the new coach. For the players, it's once again assuming that club performance will predict national team opportunity. In Europe, that puts the pressure on players who aren't getting time with . . .
Making the Nations League matter
The soccer news starts with an obvious point about the Nations League. It's going to take more than UEFA adding it to the schedule to make the games count. Everybody involved has to buy in. That's the challenge for any new competition, something that the Nations League is already struggling with at some levels. For all the upside when two big teams meet in League A, there's leagues B through D to . . .
2019 Gold Cup final at Soldier Field
Friday's soccer news starts with Chicago getting the 2019 Gold Cup final. Concacaf announced the decision yesterday, the third time Soldier Field will host the final. Concacaf will stage the competition in the USA, Central America, and the Caribbean. 15 US stadiums will host games. “Concacaf is very excited to bring once more our premier tournament to Chicago. This is truly a remarkable city that . . .
The importance of USMNT vs Mexico
The soccer news starts with something that's easy to overlook in this era of transition for teams and tournaments in Concacaf. The USMNT vs Mexico rivalry is still the biggest thing in this region. It doesn't take expanded Gold Cups, Nations Leagues, or changes to World Cup qualifying to miss that particular point. Mexico vs USMNT is what Concacaf is all about, its meaning for the rest of World . . .
The Concacaf Nations League
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 27, 2018) US Soccer Players – With MLS heading towards an exciting regular-season finish and Europe’s domestic leagues monopolizing our Saturday mornings once again, focus shifts quickly. The international schedule returns in early September, with the club game making way for national teams. For the United States, the 2022 World Cup cycle starts this fall with . . .
The USMNT works toward the 2019 Gold Cup
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 11, 2018) US Soccer Players – With the United States missing out on the World Cup, the focus shifts to a new coach, the Fall friendlies, and games that count in 2019. The next stop on the road to rebuilding is next summer’s Gold Cup. This is a tournament that has traditionally allowed the USMNT to assert itself as a regional power, test players, and create a . . .
Is FIFA overreaching?
By J Hutcherson (Jun 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - The biggest question in world soccer right now isn't who will host the 2026 World Cup. It's not if the World Cup will expand to 48 teams a cycle early in Qatar. It's not even what might happen in Russia. It's whether or not FIFA is overreaching. It's hard to downplay FIFA's recent moves. They've pushed through a World Cup expansion that may start . . .
