November 18 – Canada took control of the Concacaf World Cup final qualifying in Edmonton with a win over Mexico putting them the top of the group. It was a night of drama that also saw the USA drop points and to third in the table as Panama forced themselves back into contention.
By Paul Nicholson
November 16 – This week FIFA’s inspectors resume their whistle-stop tour of cities bidding to be host venues for the 2026 World Cup, starting in Edmonton, Canada. It is a hugely important moment for this football city, but before they roll out the red carpet for the FIFA team, they have a more pressing football engagement.
November 15 – Goals from Chelsea star Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie saw the US take control of Concacaf’s final group stage of 2026 World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 win over rivals Mexico.
November 10 – Nike have agreed a record long term deal with the U.S. Soccer Federation, reported to be a 10-year agreement and one of Nike’s largest commitments to a national federation.
November 11 – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has announced a new expansion team in Vancouver that will start play in 2023.
November 9 – The crippling debt crisis that has plagued the Trinidad and Tobago FA (TTFA) took another turn yesterday with the TTFA seeking protection from outstanding litigation via the islands’ bankruptcy and insolvency laws.
November 8 – Concacaf has released the semi-final schedule for its 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League (SCL), the confederation’s second-tier club competition for clubs that haven’t progressed into the Champions League.
November 8 – Charlotte Independence has become the 23rd club to announce it will join the United Soccer League’s USL W League for its inaugural 2022 season which is set to kick off next May. It is expecting to have at least 30 teams by season opening day.
November 2 – Concacaf’s head of football operations, Karina LeBlanc, has been named general manager of American NWSL club Thorns FC.
October 25 – Speaking to Concacaf member associations at the confederation’s 36th Ordinary Congress, president Victor Montagliani (pictured) praised his members for their commitment to the game and highlighted the “groundbreaking moment” of the US Department of Justice’s award of $70 million.
October 18 – FIFA has sanctioned both Panama and El Salvador for discriminatory chants by their fans during recent World Cup qualifiers. Both incidents incurred in games against the US.
October 14 – Mexico and the US maintained their lead at the top of the Concacaf qualifying table for the Qatar 2022 World Cup with wins over El Salvador and Costa Rica but the team of the sixth round of matches was Canada who turned on the style to beat Panama.
October 14 – Amanda Vandervort, formerly of players’ union FIFPRO, has become the first president of the United Soccer League (USL) Super League, the organisation announced.
October 11 – Mexico are back at the top of Concacaf’s Qatar 2022 qualifying after another seesawing round of qualifiers that saw Panama stun the US and Canada draw with Jamaica.
October 11 – Concacaf has been forced to push back the start date of its Concacaf W Qualifiers to the FIFA Women’s Window in February 2022. The new timetabling has been necessary because of issues with travel and different quarantine restrictions across the region due to the Covid pandemic.