Relevent and LaLiga resurrect US ambitions with Villareal vs Atletico proposal
October 21 – Plans to stage a La Liga fixture in Miami have been resurrected, this time involving Villarreal’s home game against Atletico Madrid on December 6.
Football Americas
Sacramento poised to take MLS’s 29th expansion slot
October 17 – Sacramento’s long wait may have paid off with media reports suggesting the new club franchise will become the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
Rapinoe ‘optimistic’ a pay deal can be done but says there will be no compromise
October 16 – US women’s football star Megan Rapinoe, who captured the hearts of her nation and millions more fans worldwide during the recent World Cup, says she’s “optimistic” that she and her fellow players can reach an agreement in their legal battle against the US Soccer Federation.
Performance data analysts PlayMaker becomes USL Preferred Supplier
October 14 – The United Soccer League (USL) that recently announced David Beckham’s Miami FC and MLS old-stager new England Revolution as entering development teams in its third tier League One division, has added performance data providers PlayerMaker as a ‘preferred partner’.
Beckham’s Inter Miami and New England Revolution commit to 3rd tier USL
October 10 – The USL, operator of professional leagues below the MLS, have won the commitments of David Beckham’s Inter Miami and MLS old stagers New England Revolution to enter teams in the second season of their third tier League One in 2020.
LaLiga joins with El Salvador government in new schools programme
October 4 – LaLiga, via its foundation, is to participate in the opening of 262 schools in El Salvador.
MLS overturns ban on anti-Nazi Iron Front symbol
September 26 – Major League Soccer is lifting its ban on the Iron Front symbol, an anti-Nazi symbol, for the remainder of the season and the playoffs after sustained protests from fan groups.
Trinidad FA canvases stakeholders with aim of restructuring national game
September 24 – The Trinidad and Tobago FA has begun a roadshow via its National Football Committee to canvas opinion and recommendations for a restructuring of the game within the country.
Foreign legion: Rooney calls for higher pay for local MLS players
September 18 – Former England captain Wayne Rooney, who has been playing with DC United in the United States, says American players in Major League Soccer (MLS) should get paid more.
MLS to hydrate with BodyArmor from 2020 season
September 18 – Major League Soccer has signed a multi-year partnership with BodyArmor making the brand the league’s official sports drink partner in the US, starting with the 2020 season.
USL game abandoned after missiles thrown but Phoenix keep rising
September 16 – Unusually for the United States, a second-tier game between Phoenix Rising and LA Galaxy II had to be abandoned at the weekend after objects were thrown on the pitch.
Relevent Sports accuse USSF and FIFA of conspiring to prevent LaLiga play in US
September 12 – Relevent Sports, the promoter of the International Champions Cup which is building a business on taking international clubs to play in the US, has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation (USSF).
#Nopaynoplay – Reggae Girlz say will boycott Olympic qualifiers unless JFF pay contracts
By Samindra Kunti
September 5 – The Reggae Girlz have had enough. In a payment dispute with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the Jamaican national women’s team say they will refuse to train or play until the players receive what the JFF owns them.
Concacaf Nations League to qualify 16 teams for 16th edition of Gold Cup in 2021
September 5 – Concacaf has confirmed that its Nations League – that kicks off its inaugural full edition during the current international window – will be the qualification pathway for the 2021 Gold Cup.
MLS Cup moves further up the dial with network return on ABC
August 30 – The MLS Cup final will return to a national American network in 2019 with ABC airing the November 10 showpiece match in the US domestic calendar.