MLS expands play-offs to 14-team format
December 20 – Major League Soccer is revamping its playoff format from next season to include more teams in the post season MLS Cup and end the season nearly a month earlier.
Football Americas
USL League One unveils 140-game schedule for 2019 debut season
December 11 – The USL League One, the new third tier professional league that starts play end March next year, has released its 2019 fixture season schedule, that will see its 10 teams playing 28 games each.
US Soccer dumps U12 academy system in favour of players developing at their youth clubs
By Paul Nicholson
December 3 – The US Soccer federation is abandoning its controversial U12 academy system, which it launched in 2016, in favour of returning this age-group’s player development responsibilities to its youth club system.
Home from home: Mexico agree 4-year deal to play in Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium
November 30 – The Mexican football federation (FMF), which has long been touring the US with its national team, has agreed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, MLS’ FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission to make the AT&T Stadium its official home in the US four the next four year.
NISA unveils Atlanta as 4th team in US 3rd tier that will take the brakes off transfer business
November 21 – NISA – the National Independent Soccer Association – which will operate a third-tier professional league in the US, has announced a fourth club which will be based in Atlanta.
Beckham’s Inter Miami group get next stage go-ahead for new stadium build
November 8 – The David Beckham-led Miami MLS franchise took a step further realisation with Miami residents voting in favour of building a new stadium for the club.
USL unveils structure and teams for League One debut in US in 2019
November 2 – USL League One – a third tier professional league in the US – will make its entrance with 10 teams playing a March to October season in 2019.
Relevant and LaLiga launch fan petition to bring Girona vs Barca league match to Miami
November 1 – The much-publicised overseas La Liga game between Girona and Barcelona, which FIFA have insisted cannot go ahead in Miami in January, has taken another twist with US fans being asked to sign a petition in favour of the ground-breaking fixture.
Reggae Girlz win hearts and minds with Nottingham carnival of football
October 29 – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz attracted the biggest crowd for a women’s game in Europe at the weekend with 3,914 watching the World Cup qualifiers play Nottingham Forest Ladies at The City Ground.
US Club Soccer launches Players First grassroots licensing system
October 22 – Amateur club organisation US Club Soccer, which has more than 4,000 members across the US, has launched a club certification system based on its Players First philosophy.
NISA announces Philadelphia as second team location as it prepares for 2019 debut
October 22 – The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) has announced Philadelphia as the second city to have a team in the third tier league when it kicks off play in 2019. While the location in the City of Brotherly Love has been announced, the club’s home venue, ownership and team name is still to be released.
Mexico mourns loss of women’s football pioneer Marbella Ibarra
October 19 – Mexican football is mourning the loss of one the pioneers of the women’s game in the country following the murder of Marbella Ibarra.
New US pro-league NISA shakes off the covers with first team announcement
October 17 – The US will likely have more than one third tier league in 2019 with the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announcing that Connecticut will have team, though the club’s specific location, ownership and team name will be revealed in the coming weeks.
US and Canada secure France 2019 slots, Mexico crash as Panama and Jamaica battle on
October 15 – The US and Canada will contest the final of the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship this Wednesday. Both teams qualify for the France 2019 Women’s World Cup. The final automatic slot for France 2019 will go to either Panama or Jamaica.
Panama dump Mexico out of France 2019 contention, Jamaica and Costa Rica still in hunt
October 11 – Panama broke Mexican hearts with a 2-0 win in the Concacaf Women’s Championship, dashing Mexico’s hopes of qualifying for a third consecutive women’s World Cup. The United States hammered Trinidad and Tobago, consolidating their position of supremacy in the region.