LA’s new MLS franchise gets official name and sets sights on Galaxy
By Ben Nicholson
September 18 – The official naming of LAFC has been formally decreed. They are to be called, LAFC – Los Angeles Football Club.
Concacaf
Orlando City apply to expand into women’s pro league with NWSL franchise
By Ben Nicholson
September 18 – MLS newcomers Orlando City SC are looking to establish itself in the women’s game, while, concurrently, Kaka and co continue to build on the success of the men’s side debut season.
US Club Soccer accelerates pathway to key changes in youth structure
September 16 – US Club Soccer, the 500,000 member organisation supporting grassroots clubs in the US, has backed the recent US Soccer federation proposals for a revamp of youth soccer in the country and unveiled the pathway to change for its clubs.
US Senate gets oblique answers to why USSF refuses transfer solidarity payments
By Ben Nicholson
September 16 – Following the U.S. Senate Hearing on July 15, where the integrity of international governance took center stage, Senator Maria Cantwell (pictured) followed up with questions for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) regarding training compensation to which USSF has now provided a written reply.
On or off? CopaCentenario 2016 turns into world football’s hottest potato
By Paul Nicholson
September 14 – While the South Americans seem convinced that the 2016 Centennial edition of the CopaAmerica will be played for the first time outside of the region in the US, in partnership with CONCACAF, the idea this is now a done deal does not seem certain.
20 years on, Garber celebrates MLS culture and Beckham’s Miami happening
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has vigorously defended the unique structure and calendar of his 20-team league, says David Beckham’s Miami franchise is close and insists MLS is not simply a retirement home for ageing foreign stars looking for a career-ending financial windfall.
Garber rebuts Carrard and says US is an ’emerging’ football nation
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
September 9 – Major League Soccer chief Don Garber has issued a hard-hitting response to the provocative suggestion by FIFA’s new reform guru that football is not a serious sport in the United States, accusing the former International Olympic Committee director-general of treating his country with disdain.
US Soccer faces NASL antitrust lawsuit over new rules ‘protecting’ MLS
By Ben Nicholson
September 3 – The North American Soccer League (NASL) is challenging the legality of the United States Soccer Federation’s (USSF) criteria change to Division 1 sanctioning. The new requirements allegedly serve as a “bait and switch” that gives preferential treatment to Major League Soccer (MLS) in violation of antitrust laws, which are laws that regulate the conduct and organisation of business corporations that seek to promote fair competition.
Caribbean storm brews in Cayman over claims of rigged elections and suspicious cash transfers
By Paul Nicholson
September 2 – The Cayman Islands have been plunged into new football controversy and allegations of election rigging and financial irregularities. With Cayman Islands and former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb currently being held in the US on corruption charges, back in Cayman the process of healing has been derailed.
While Beckham still seeks stadium, Maldini puts Nesta in at Miami FC
September 1 – While David Beckham continues to attempt to finalise a deal to set up his new MLS team in Miami, the city’s other professional side Miami FC, due to join the second-tier NASL, has appointed former Italian international Alessandro Nesta, who made 78 appearances for his country, as its head coach.
La Liga joins US Club Soccer Players First initiative as tech partner
By Paul Nicholson
August 21 – US Club Soccer, the 500,000 member organisation that launched its Players First initiative for youth clubs earlier this month, has officially launched its technical partnership with Spain’s LaLiga.
Forbes doubles MLS club values, with Seattle at top of the pile
By Ben Nicholson
August 21 – Forbes has published estimated values of MLS teams, showing an average increase in value of around 50% since 2013.
Turf wars: Soccer v Football in America’s back yard
By Mark Baber
August 19 – As the NFL inches gradually towards possibly setting up a franchise in the UK with the official support of the ruling Conservative Party, a set of data-points drawn together by Texas-based data specialists UMBEL give an insight into how soccer is rapidly becoming a mainstream sport in the USA.
US Club Soccer pushes for culture change with ‘Players First’ launch
By Paul Nicholson
August 19 – US Club Soccer, one of the largest and certainly most influential youth soccer organisations in the US with more than 500,000 members, has launched an amibitious ‘Players First’ initiative that will give its members a suite of tools to better manage their soccer experience.
US prepares to host men’s and women’s 2016 Olympic qualifiers
August 18 – Focus has turned to the Olympic 2016 qualifying in the CONCACAF region, which in 2012 in London took both Gold medals with Mexico taking the men’s title and the US winning the women’s with Canada taking the bronze.