Drumroll, please. Here are the top 5 dumbest soccer takes taking over social media that we’ve seen.

Some of the dumbest soccer takes on X/Twitter

1. Landon Donovan

When the US Men’s National Team narrowly missed the cut for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it was a huge blow not just to the fans and players of US Soccer, but also to the bottom line.

At the time, Soccer United Marketing (Major League Soccer’s marketing arm) was the exclusive commercial sales partner for both the USA and Mexico national teams. So with no USMNT team in the World Cup, Soccer United Marketing decided to recruit USMNT legends to promote the Mexican national team.

Both Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan were hired, among others, but it was Donovan who broke the hearts of US soccer fans. The executives at SUM and Wells Fargo thought, “Hey, let’s get one of the greatest USA players ever to endorse rooting for Mexico!”

The advertisement stunt with Landon Donovan is now remembered as one of the goofiest, and most notorious, moments in American soccer history.

2. Alexi Lalas

FOX Sports pundit Alexi Lalas can always be counted on for dumb takes, but this one is top of the list.

Even when this question was asked, over a decade ago, the notion that you may not be a true soccer fan in the USA if you don’t support MLS is absurd. And it’s the kind of attitude and rhetoric, even if just tangentially mentioned, that continues to turn some fans off to the domestic game.

Alexi Lalas remains one of the most vocal and beloved, or hated, pundits in American soccer. And he rarely fails to make somebody angry with every post.

3. Matt Doyle

USMNT midfielder Djordje Mihailovic made the move from CF Montréal to Europe in January 2023, heading to AZ Alkmaar of the Eredivisie.

Before playing his first game for AZ, MLS pundit Matt Doyle predicted in a tweet how Mihailovic would do in the Dutch league:

In 31 total appearances over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Eredivisie and Conference League campaigns, Mihailovic made just nine starts, notching just one goal and one assist.

Almost one calendar year to the day after he made his European debut, Djordje moved back across the pond, joining the Colorado Rapids.

4. Joey Barton

Never one to shy away from controversy, former player and manager Joey Barton stoked ire from across the soccer world in December 2023 with his crusade against women commentators in the men’s game.

Throwing around terms like “woke” in various tirades on X, Barton has dug in and continues to stand by his initial comments. In recent years, women have finally begun to earn their long-overdue place in the commentary booth for professional sports – both men’s and women’s. But that’s not okay with Barton, who finds women simply talking about men playing a game as some kind of affront to the sanctity of the sport. A truly baffling hill to die on in 2023/24.

5. Major League Soccer

Nothing unifies a fractured populace like a dumb idea. Like the brains behind the failed European Super League, MLS learned this the hard way this past December. Fans and media across all levels of soccer in the US, including its own supporters, intensely rejected the league’s idea to back out of the US Open Cup. Of course, they likely knew nobody would like their plans, since they quietly pushed out the news on a Friday evening.

Social media was ablaze for about a week before US Soccer eventually rejected the proposal.

Which ones did we miss? Let us know in the comments section below

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Every regular season, Leagues Cup, and MLS Cup playoff game is featured on the service. And it is the only way to watch the majority of matches featuring MLS teams.

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MLS Season Pass 2024 – Key Dates

Here are the key dates to note for MLS Season Pass in 2024:

February 21 – Opening game of the season

The 2024 MLS season kicks off with who else? Lionel Messi and Inter Miami host Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale to get the ball rolling on the new campaign.

February 24-25 – …and the rest

A few days later, (almost) everyone else gets in on the action, with 26 of the remaining 27 clubs all playing their first games. With Miami and RSL both playing again after their midweek opener, the 29th team is left out of the party. Sorry, Vancouver Whitecaps fans. You’ll have to wait until March 2 for your first official game of the year (it’s at home though!).

May 11-18 – MLS Rivalry Week

The league’s annual attempt to cram as many rivalry games as possible into a short window arrives this May. Highlights include the “Hell is Real” Ohio derby on May 11, alongside an all-Texas Dallas-Austin affair. Timbers-Sounders meanwhile stands alone on Sunday, May 12. Things continue midweek with a classic MLS bout, DC United vs New York Red Bulls, on May 15, and another Texas battle between Austin and Houston kicks off. Portland takes on another NASL 1.0-era revival, facing the San Jose Earthquakes as well.

The Hudson River Derby, Red Bulls vs NYCFC, highlights Saturday, May 18 along with Houston vs Dallas, and is capped off with Seattle hosting Vancouver for a Cascadia Cup clash.

July 4 – El Trafico

Independence Day delivers one of the youngest, but fiercest, rivalries in the league as the Galaxy host LAFC at the Rose Bowl in a battle for SoCal supremacy.

July 24 – All-Star Game

The first half of the MLS season will be capped off with the annual MLS All-Star Game, this year hosted by Columbus.

The opponent for the MLS team has yet to be announced, but you can bet it will be a big-name club of some sort.

July 26-August 25 – Leagues Cup

Leagues Cup 2023 was the first edition of the expanded, now Concacaf-approved competition. It was boosted by the perfect timing of Leo Messi’s arrival, and Inter Miami winning the competition.

The 2024 mixup between every MLS and Liga MX team runs again this year from July to August.

October 19 – Decision Day

With an odd number of teams, it’s not as tidy as the league would like. Team #30, San Diego, joins in 2025. Until then, Toronto has to sit out the final day without a dance partner. TFC’s last regular season game is two weeks earlier on October 5 at home against Miami.

Everyone else however will take part in simultaneous kick-offs to decide the final rankings in the standings. Eastern Conference games are at 6 PM ET, and Western Conference games at 9 PM ET.

Seattle and Portland, regardless of how the standings end up, is always a tasty, and historic, matchup and highlights the day’s action.

December 7 – MLS Cup final

And finally, everything comes to a close when a champion will be crowned on December 7 at the MLS Cup Final.

But that’s not all that’s on MLS Season Pass this year.

Sprinkled in throughout the season we may see some friendlies popped in that will be available on the service. MLS Next Pro, the league’s 3rd division reserve circuit, kicks off in March and streams games live as well. Carolina Core and Chattanooga FC, two independent clubs, have joined for 2024 making the stakes a little higher, too.

Also, while not a part of MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+ will be debuting a new Messi documentary on February 21. “Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend” chronicles the star’s trips to the World Cup over the years, culminating in the victory at Qatar 2022.

Indeed, 2024 will be a big year for MLS Season Pass!

As of January 2024, tickets for preseason friendlies, the MLS regular season, and Concacaf Champions Cup are available. Other competitions, such as the US Open Cup and Leagues Cup, will be released at a later date as the games are scheduled.

Tickets to see Messi: 2024 Inter Miami schedule

Home games (DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL) in bold

January 22 – at FC Dallas (Friendly) – Browse Tickets
February 15 – vs Newell’s Old Boys (Friendly) – Browse Tickets
February 21 – vs Real Salt Lake – Browse Tickets
February 25 – at LA Galaxy – Browse Tickets
March 2 – vs Orlando City – Browse Tickets
March 10 – vs CF Montréal – Browse Tickets
March 13 – vs TBD (Concacaf Champions Cup) – Browse Tickets
March 16 – at D.C. United – Browse Tickets
March 23 – at New York Red Bulls – Browse Tickets
March 30 – vs NYCFC – Browse Tickets
April 6 – vs Colorado Rapids – Browse Tickets
April 13 – at Sporting KC – Browse Tickets
April 20 – vs Nashville SC – Browse Tickets
April 27 – at New England Revolution – Browse Tickets
May 4 – vs New York Red Bulls – Browse Tickets
May 11 – at CF Montréal – Browse Tickets
May 15 – at Orlando City – Browse Tickets
May 18 – vs D.C. United – Browse Tickets
May 25 – at Vancouver Whitecaps – Browse Tickets
May 29 – vs Atlanta United – Browse Tickets
June 1 – vs St. Louis City – Browse Tickets
June 15 – at Philadelphia Union – Browse Tickets
June 19 – vs Columbus Crew – Browse Tickets
June 29 – at Nashville SC – Browse Tickets
July 3 – at Charlotte FC – Browse Tickets
July 6 – at FC Cincinnati – Browse Tickets
July 17 – vs Toronto FC – Browse Tickets
July 20 – vs Chicago Fire – Browse Tickets
August 24 – vs FC Cincinnati – Browse Tickets
August 31 – at Chicago Fire – Browse Tickets
September 14 – vs Philadelphia Union – Browse Tickets
September 18 – at Atlanta United – Browse Tickets
September 28 – vs NYCFC – Browse Tickets
October 2 – at Columbus Crew – Browse Tickets
October 5 – at Toronto FC – Browse Tickets
October 19 – vs New England Revolution – Browse Tickets

2024 – full season of Messi in America

Since Messi joined up late in the campaign last year, many cities didn’t get a chance to see the star play in person. But now the tour will be making stops all across the entire league. Of course, Messi may miss a few games as Copa América and Argentina duties will be taking focus in the summer.

Unlike the Beckham frenzy that swept over America almost two decades ago, few teams are relocating matches to larger venues this time around. This includes Messi’s actual team, who is sticking with their temporary venue instead of moving to a larger nearby stadium. However, it’s certain that the MLS sides that already play in larger NFL or CFL stadiums will be opening those up to full capacity when Miami comes to visit.

Wherever the games are held, you can expect tickets to go fast and buildings to be sold out as fans try to catch a glimpse of one of the game’s legends while they can.

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Photo: Imago.

Streaming Copa America games in 2024

Copa America has broadcasting agreements in 2024 with FOX Sports (English-language) and TelevisaUnivision (Spanish-language).

That means games will air across TV networks like FOX, FS1, FS2, Univision, TUDN, and UniMás.

But when it comes to streaming options, there are a few ways to watch.

Fubo will have every game of Copa America 2024. Fubo carries all of the FOX and TelevisaIUnivision channels that are airing matches and thus will have every game available in English and Spanish.

TelevisaUnivision’s Spanish-language streaming service ViX will have select matches from the tournament. Note that ViX is no longer available for free.

You can watch Fubo with the service’s app on smart TVs, streaming devices such as Apple TV and Roku, mobile devices, game consoles, or via web browser on PC and Mac.

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In addition, while specifics have not yet been announced by FOX, games will likely be available to stream on the FOX Sports App and FoxSports.com. However, this route requires a cable or satellite subscription that includes FOX networks. If you have one, you can log in using your TV provider credentials and stream on the go this way.

In addition, you could cast the stream from a mobile device or computer to a TV if you have the applicable setup (such as Apple AirPlay or Chromecast). This is a handy option if, for example, you have multiple TVs in your home but only one cable box.

We hope these tips will help you stream all the action from Copa América 2024.

About Copa América 2024

The tournament kicks off on Thursday, June 20th with Argentina facing either Canada or Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match. The festivities will run for one month, with the final taking place June 14th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Overall, 14 stadiums in 13 cities across the United States will host games in the tournament.

CONMEBOL’s ten teams will be joined by six guest teams qualified from Concacaf. These include the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, and Panama. Canada /Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica/Honduras will contest play-in matches in March for the final two places in the tournament.

Argentina, whose side will likely feature Lionel Messi, are both the defending Copa América and World Cup champions.

2024 is just the second time ever that Copa América will take place outside of South America. The previous time, 2016, was a special tournament celebrating the competition’s 100th anniversary and was also held in the United States.

But not everywhere plays on the same schedule. Some far northern European countries play from (our) spring to fall. In South America, many leagues such as the Argentine Primera and Brasileirão also run over our summer (their winter).

In America, our soccer leagues have almost always run on the spring-to-fall calendar. There are only two notable exceptions. One was the short-lived American League of Professional Football, created by baseball owners in 1894 to fill stadiums during the winter baseball offseason. The other is the upcoming USL Super League, a new women’s division-one league that plans to kick off in August and play from fall to the following spring.

No matter which schedule format is used, it’s not ideal for everyone in the USA. With such a large geographic area and diverse weather conditions, it’s impossible for a good one-size-fits-all approach.

I know how I’d tackle this issue if it were up to me. But what do you think? Which calendar is the best for US Soccer?

Winter or summer calendar for US Soccer? Some Pros and Cons

First off, one of the major talking points in this discussion is how soccer overlaps and thus has to compete with other major American sports for fan (and media) interest and dollars. It is important to remember that the existing professional soccer season already overlaps with every major American professional and college sport. Shifting the calendar would only change which parts of which seasons would overlap, as outlined below.

First, the standard American summer, or spring-to-fall calendar:

Pros:

• Avoids unplayable frigid cold and snow conditions for northern teams
• Avoids conflicting with American football (pro and college) playoffs, bowl games, and Super Bowl
• The only major domestic pro sports competition from July-August is MLB/MiLB baseball
• Does not overlap with the middle of the NBA and NHL seasons

Cons:

• Teams have to play and train in the oppressive summer heat
• Rain, thunderstorms, tropical storms, and sometimes hurricanes can delay or postpone matches, and hurt attendance
• Conflicts with major international tournaments like World Cup, Gold Cup, Euros, Copa América, etc.
• MLB/MiLB played every day during most of the season, with many soccer markets also having pro baseball
• End-of-season soccer title races, playoffs, and cup finals compete with NFL and college football, plus start of NBA and NHL in the Fall

And now, the opposite, fall-to-spring or “European” calendar:

Pros:

• Avoids brutal and potentially dangerous heat and rainy weather, especially in southern areas
• Avoids conflicting with big international soccer tournaments and summer events
• Misses bulk of pro baseball season
• Aligns better with international transfer windows
• Title races and other important end-of-season moments not in competition with American football

Cons:

• Would likely require an extended winter break to accommodate northern teams
• Cold weather could, even with a break, affect attendance and cause game cancellations
• Overlaps with entire pro/college football, basketball, and hockey seasons
• Title races, playoffs, and cup finals would coincide with early NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as the NCAA basketball tournament
• Entirely overlaps with other major soccer leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, etc. (though most games would not directly overlap due to time difference)

So which one do YOU think is a better fit for American soccer?

It’s not an easy decision to make, as both options have their benefits and drawbacks. And as noted above, with a massive geography to cover, making everyone happy is pretty much impossible.

But let us know in the poll above and the comments below which way you’d schedule the American soccer season.

Streaming the Euro tournament

The broadcasting rights for Euro 2024 are shared between FOX Sports and Fubo (English-language) and TelevisaUnivision (Spanish-language).

For TV viewers, this means games will be spread across FOX, FS1, FS2, Univision, TUDN, and UniMás. However, not every match will be televised.

Fubo will have a selection of exclusive games in English that will only be available via the streaming service. This echoes other recent European competitions where they’ve shared the rights with FOX. Since Fubo also carries all the FOX television networks showing matches, every game will be available on Fubo one way or another.

ViX, the Spanish-language streaming service, will show every game live behind their streaming paywall. A small number of select matches are also expected to be shown on the three Spanish-language TV networks listed above.

Both Fubo and ViX have apps for smart TVs, streaming devices such as Roku, and mobile devices. Each also offers desktop browser-based platforms on Mac and PC. So there are plenty of ways to watch all the big games.

Stream Euro 2024 with Fubo

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Games airing on FOX Sports networks may also be available to watch on the FOX Sports App and FoxSports.com. There is a catch here, though. Typically, you’ll need a TV subscription (Comcast, DirecTV, etc.) that carries these channels. If you do, you can log in with your provider credentials and watch.

Many TV providers also offer streaming companion apps that allow you to watch live on your mobile device or computer.

If you’ve got, for example, a TV somewhere in your home not connected to a cable/satellite box, but that has smart TV features, you can cast games from these apps or a computer to that screen.

With the information above, you’ll be streaming Euro 2024 with ease.

About Euro 2024

The 2024 European Football Championship, aka Euro 2024, is the 17th edition of UEFA’s premier international competition. Germany is the host nation, hosting for the first time as a solo, unified nation (West Germany hosted in 1988, while Munich hosted matches in the multinational 2020 tournament). An East German city, Leipzig, will host Euro games for the first time.

Twenty four teams will participate, with three spots still up for grabs. Poland, Wales, Finland, Estonia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Iceland, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, and Luxembourg will battle for the final three places in March.

Italy enter as the defending champions of the competition. The Azzurri won Euro 2020 (which was staged in 2021 due to COVID-19).

Euro 2024 will run from June 14 to July 14, with Germany hosting Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich in the opening match. The final will take place at the historic Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Photo: World Soccer Talk

The AFC Asian Cup is the premier international soccer competition for Asia, spanning a massive area and many countries. Our Asian Cup TV schedule has all the games.

As of January 2024, CBS Sports is the rights holder for the tournament in the United States. Every game will be featured on the Paramount+ streaming service.

Watch the Asian Cup on Paramount+:

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The 2023 edition of the Asian Cup takes place in January and February 2024. Like the 2022 FIFA World Cup held there, high summer temperatures in host nation Qatar led to the tournament being moved from its traditional place on the calendar to the winter. Qatar’s participation in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup also was a consideration in moving the competition.

Despite the 2024 dates of competition, the tournament has retained its Asian Cup Qatar 2023 official name.

Games kick off on January 12 and run through the final on February 10. Qatar, in addition to being the hosts, is also the defending champions.

24 teams from all across Asia will compete, as well as Australia, which despite not being a part of Asia, competes as an AFC member. Six groups of four teams will compete in the group stage, with the top two in each group, and the four best third-place teams, advancing to the round of 16.

The final was played at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, which also hosted the 2022 World Cup Final.

Asian Cup History

The first Asian Cup was played in Hong Kong in 1956. This makes it the second-oldest competition of its kind in the world. Only South America’s Copa América (1916) is older.

The tournament, put on by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), features teams ranging from the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq, to the Far East like Japan, China, and Korea.

South Korea won the first edition and is the most successful nation in terms of overall medals with ten (champions twice, second and third place four times each). Japan has the most titles with four.

Other nations that have won the competition are Saudi Arabia (3), Iran (3), Israel (1 – no longer a member of AFC), Kuwait (1), Australia (1), Iraq (1), and Qatar (1). A total of 16 different nations have placed either first, second, or third in the competition’s history.

Australia, upon winning the Asian Cup in 2015, became the only nation to have ever been champions of two confederations. They won the OFC Nations Cup four times before joining AFC in 2006.

The tournament has used a group stage + knockout stage format since 1972. Prior, a single round-robin stage was contested. The number of teams has grown and varied over the years, with the current 24-team format adopted in 2019.

Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the next Asian Cup in 2027.

More resources for soccer fans

Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming.

To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).

If you have any questions about the Asian Cup schedule, please let us know in the comments section below.

Soccer fans flock to watch Copa America

As the 21st century has rolled on, Copa America has become much easier for fans in the USA to watch. To the point where now, every game can be seen live.

This in turn has led to huge TV viewership numbers as fans tune in to these high-quality matches.

In 2016 for the Copa América Centenario tournament staged in the USA, FOX Sports’ coverage averaged over 1 million viewers. Adding in Spanish coverage on Univision that year, live coverage of Copa averaged over 4 million viewers.

The 2019 and 2021 editions pulled in similarly large numbers. 2019 averaged 1.2 million viewers on Telemundo. In Spanish, the 2021 final match pulled in 3.5 million total viewers on Univision. Overall, knockout games averaged 1.8 million total viewers in Spanish that year. Early group games also drew big figures. Around 1.8 million watched the 2021 Final in English on FS1.

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Comparing Copa to other big events

Copa América is a huge draw for TV networks in the USA.

But it’s still nowhere near the World Cup in terms of capturing the public’s attention. A total of nearly 26 million people watched the 2022 World Cup Final across FOX, Telemundo, and streaming. But that wasn’t even the all-time record! In 2014, over 27 million watched the final game of the World Cup between Argentina and Germany across all platforms.

Worldwide, FIFA claims that over 1.5 BILLION people watched the 2022 World Cup Final.

Compare that to the 56 million that tuned in across the world for the most recent NFL Super Bowl, and it’s easy to see just how massive the World Cup is.

The recent MLS Cup final averaged just shy of 900,000 total viewers, which is comparable to many Copa América games. But usually, most domestic soccer games in the US draw far fewer eyeballs than any Copa matches.

Looking ahead to 2024, once again Copa América will be competing with UEFA’s Euro tournament for the attention of soccer fans in the USA. Euros will air during the morning and day, while Copa will take the evening shift.

Ratings between the two have been comparable in the past, so it’s unlikely viewer fatigue will set in. Soccer fans will no doubt eat up all the world-class international soccer they can get.

Photo: Imago

The USA at Copa America: A History

Copa America, originally known as the South American Championship until 1975, has a very long history. It dates all the way back to 1916. But from that first year through 1991, the USA was never invited to play in the competition.

It wasn’t until 1993, the year before they first hosted the World Cup, that the United States participated in the top international tournament in the Western Hemisphere.

Overall, the USA has played in four editions of the Copa América. The most recent was the 2016 Copa América Centenario. That tournament was played entirely in the US and was a celebration of the competition’s 100th anniversary.

Here’s a breakdown of every United States appearance at the Copa.

Ecuador 1993

This was the very first time any guest nations were invited to take part in Copa América. The two sides joining CONMEBOL’s ten nations were the USA and Mexico. It was a big tune-up event for the USA, which would be hosting the World Cup the following year. Placed in Group A with hosts Ecuador, Uruguay, and Venezuela, the USMNT was fairly competitive. They narrowly lost 1-0 to Uruguay in the opener, then fell 2-0 to Ecuador. But in the third group match, they drew 3-3 with Venezuela, with a late tying goal from the Vinotinto stealing a win away from the Yanks. With just one point, the US finished last in their group and did not advance.

Uruguay 1995

Once again the US and Mexico rounded out the twelve-team field, but this time the Americans were the surprise side of the tournament. They won their first game 2-1 over Chile but lost the second 1-0 to Bolivia (with D.C. United legend Marco Etcheverry scoring the lone goal). In the third match though, the USA blanked defending champs Argentina in a shocking 3-0 result. It put the United States on top of the group standings and into the knockout round.

In the quarterfinals, they would draw rivals Mexico 0-0, and advance via a 4-1 penalty shootout win. The Cinderella run was stopped however by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Brazil in the semifinal round. In the third-place match, Colombia easily handled the US by a score of 4-1, sending the Americans home with a fourth-place finish.

Venezuela 2007

Mexico and the US were again the invitees in this tournament – but the USA almost did not play. Initially, they declined the invitation due to the tournament overlapping with the Major League Soccer season. But eventually, the USMNT decided to play after all.

As it turns out, maybe the US should have stayed home on this occasion.

Losses to Argentina (4-1), Paraguay (3-1), and Colombia (1-0) left the Americans with zero points and a last-place finish in Group C.

USA 2016

This special centennial edition of the Copa América was the first ever to be held outside of South America. As the host nation, the United States had a much better showing than in their previous appearance.

The opening match did not go well, though, as Colombia came away with a 2-0 win. But everything turned around when the USA beat Costa Rica 4-0 in the second game, and then Paraguay 1-0 in the final group match. The big win vs the Ticos helped make the USA the group winner via goal difference.

The Stars & Stripes went on to defeat Ecuador 2-1 in the quarterfinal round. But Argentina was a brick wall in the semis, beating the US 4-0 in Houston and ending the dream for a home-soil victory. In the third-place match, it was a repeat of the first game of the tournament, with Colombia keeping a clean sheet, this time winning 2-0.

And so, fourth place remains the best-ever performance by the United States at Copa América.

2024 now beckons, with another chance for the USA to shake things up with a strong performance on home soil.

Photo: Imago.

2024 Copa America Groups

The 16 participants are broken into four, four-team groups for the first phase of the competition. Each team will play every other team in its own group once, for a total of three games. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each will advance to the quarterfinals of the single-elimination knockout round

Group A

Argentina / Peru / Chile / Canada or Trinidad & Tobago

Of course, the headline act here is the reigning South American (and world) champions Argentina. Leo Messi and co. should be expected to cruise to a place in the knockout stage, regardless of how much the aging but still magisterial star contributes. Argentina is tied with Uruguay for the most Copa titles ever – 15 – while Peru and Chile combined have just four. Chile, though, won back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, so they’ll be no pushovers. The toughest road no doubt will be for the winner of the CONCACAF playoff spot. Canada has improved of late, and T&T have played spoiler in the past, but you have to imagine it’ll be rough going for the North American guests.

Group B

Mexico / Ecuador / Venezuela / Jamaica

CONCACAF has better odds in Group B, with two sides in this quartet. Mexico will be a favorite to qualify for the quarterfinals, and then it should be a dogfight for the second spot. Neither Ecuador nor Venezuela have even appeared in a Copa final before, let alone won the competition. Mexico, meanwhile, has placed second as a guest team on two occasions. The Reggae Boyz making it through alongside Mexico would be a great statement for the North American contingent at the tournament.

Group C

United States / Uruguay / Panama / Bolivia

Make no mistake – if the United States plays the way they should, and on home soil, they should get out of this group. If they don’t – serious questions need to be asked. Uruguay will be the other favored side to quality for the knockout stage, but don’t look past Panama. They were runners-up at this year’s Gold Cup and always put up a good fight in CONCACAF games. Bolivia have only made it out of the Copa group stage once in their last nine tries, and find themselves currently in 9th place (of 10) in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying after six games.

Group d

Brazil / Colombia / Paraguay / Costa Rica or Honduras

It’s gotta be Brazil and Colombia as one and two in this group, right? Well, stranger things have happened. Either Costa Rica or Honduras will surely prove to be gritty opposition, and both have robust US fanbases that always turn out for games. Colombia’s been decent in recent tournaments, reaching the knockout stage every time since 2011, and finishing third in 2016 and 2021.

Photos: Imago.

Women’s professional soccer has been a struggling enterprise in the 21st century as the first pro leagues emerged in the USA and abroad. Both the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) leagues faltered after three seasons. Only now has there been some stability, with the NWSL celebrating its 12th season in 2024. But changes are on the horizon, as the USL Super League will join the NWSL at the top of the American women’s pyramid in August.

Only in the United States would you have two completely separate D1 soccer leagues competing against each other.

The “Soccer Wars” arrive in the women’s game

As long as there have been professional soccer leagues in the United States, the game has been rife with conflict. The ASL vs the US Soccer Federation in the 1920s. NASL vs the United Soccer Association in the late 60s. A cavalcade of lower division struggles have been fought over the years, most recently with the 2011 NASL breaking from USL, and eventually losing that fight.

Now Major League Soccer is encroaching into the lower division game, threatening USL after helping that league vanquish its rival in the 2010s.

But until now, the women’s side of things has been smooth sailing, at least in terms of not having cutthroat competition between different leagues.

That’s all about to change when the USL Super League joins NWSL as a division one league in the US.

It can be argued that USL started this front in the soccer wars by going for division one sanctioning. Originally, the Super League was announced as a Division Two league. But now, it will occupy the same place on the pyramid as NWSL.

This move surely has made NWSL a bit uneasy, despite having a 10+ year head start and plenty of star power.

NWSL vs USL Super League – going head-to-head

While the two leagues will play on opposite calendars – USL is playing Fall-Spring – they’ll be in direct competition for markets, owners, staff, players, and fans. In a few locations, teams from the two different leagues will be in relatively close proximity.

Only Washington, D.C., home to the NWSL’s Spirit, is a single market with entries in both leagues. But North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, and Washington are all states that will have clubs in both leagues. And Florida is particularly crowded. The Orlando Pride has been the lone women’s pro side in the state since 2016. But 2024 will see clubs in Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale join the Super League, with Jacksonville and Palm Beach announced as future expansion clubs.

Another interesting wrinkle is that two USL men’s organizations operate teams in NWSL – North Carolina and Louisville. Will they ever try to make the switch to the Super League? It’s something to watch out for.

As expansion continues in the women’s game, prospective owners will have a choice to make and certainly some will be courted by both leagues.

The Super League has yet to announce broadcast details, but USL’s men’s leagues have a new deal with CBS Sports. CBS, of course, is also among NWSL’s partners. How the TV side shakes out will also be an intriguing area to keep an eye on.

And will fans have to pick sides? Will there be league loyalty? It will certainly create tricky choices as fans decide how to spend their money. Since the announcement of the USL-SL Fort Lauderdale club, I have been running that Larry David gif inside my head constantly, as a die-hard Fort Lauderdale soccer fan but also an Orlando Pride season ticket holder.

This country ain’t big enough for the both of us. Or is it?

Does the USA have the market for another professional women’s league?

For some perspective, think about the rest of the world. The top women’s first-division leagues in Europe all feature between 10-and 16 clubs. But those are each for just one country, much smaller in both geography and population than the USA.

And the United States easily has the most developed and robust youth and collegiate setup for women anywhere on Earth. There’s no shortage of players – and they have limited options at the moment once they get out of college. The Super League will not use a college draft like the NWSL does, giving players perhaps more freedom to choose where they want to play.

Adding the NWSL and USLSL together makes for just 23 clubs, effectively for an entire continent. Whether fans or viewers turn out for additional WoSo is another issue. But the world is catching up to the USWNT, and if we want to keep our place at the top of women’s soccer, more clubs and more opportunities for players to stay at home and play at a high level are essential.

Sorting it all out

The main issues come down to logistics and governance. It makes little sense, for example, to have five professional teams, at the same level, all playing in Florida, but four of them playing over the winter, and one lone team playing over the summer and never playing the other four.

This is where stronger leadership and direct organization from US Soccer would be a welcome thing.

And, unlike the men’s side where there are now preexisting entrenched sides, it could have been done much smoother with the women’s pyramid. Especially when you consider that until recently, the USSF had a direct hand in running the NWSL. Similarly, an opportunity arose for the men’s lower division game in 2010 with the USSF Divison 2 Pro League, but the Federation turned control of the asylum back over to the inmates come 2011.

A straightforward, federation-run pyramid of divisions where new clubs simply register to play in the league system would be vastly preferable to independent competing league entities. But alas, that’s what we’ve got.

So forging other competitions where these rival leagues can compete on the field as equals will be a huge benefit to the game moving forward.

A future working together?

Assuming all goes to plan, we’ll have two division one women’s leagues playing side-by-side and nearly year-round. This has ramifications when it comes to external competitions, as both leagues would have to be given equal representation as D1 leagues.

There has been talk of Concacaf organizing a women’s Champions Cup-style event in the future. NWSL and USL Super League would certainly have to share the USA’s spots in such a tournament.

Then there is the possibility of a Women’s U.S. Open Cup. With division two and three leagues on the horizon, plus a bevy of amateur and semi-pro women’s clubs, forming an event like this seems like a no-brainer.

As we’ve learned with the recent MLS-USOC conflict, per the Professional League Standards, any American pro league must compete in all USSF and Concacaf competitions. And yes, a Women’s U.S. Open Cup is mentioned by name in that document.

If it happens, the NWSL and Super League teams would need to be seeded equally. Maybe this tournament would be a fair way to determine qualification for any future continental play.

But then when do you play it? With the leagues running on opposite schedules, finding time to play a cup could be problematic.

In any case, neither NWSL nor USL-SL should be content to reside in their self-contained bubbles. Challenging themselves in open competition should be welcomed. And if not, it should be enforced by the sports’ governing bodies.

Interesting times ahead

More clubs, and more opportunities for players, coaches, and staff to have careers in the game is a wonderful thing. Full stop. It will also be incredibly valuable to the game to see how a Fall-Spring league can run in this country. But many challenges await the women’s game as we move forward. Things aren’t as simple as they used to be.

Hopefully, the type of carnage we’ve seen in the men’s game when leagues compete with each other is avoided in this new frontier.

Photo: Imago.

Copa América

Arguably the second most important international competition in the world, after the World Cup, returns to the USA this upcoming summer in the form of the 48th Copa América tournament.

CONMEBOL’s ten nations will be joined by six from Concacaf, including the United States and Mexico, to battle for the crown of best team in the Americas.

The USMNT has a chance to prove themselves against the stars of South America in what will be a key tournament leading up to the 2026 World Cup, which will also be in the United States.

The tournament kicks off June 20 with Leo Messi and Argentina in Atlanta, while the final will be held in Miami on July 14.

In the opening round, the United States faces Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

MLS controversially attempted to pull its first teams out of America’s oldest national soccer competition for 2024. But the USSF nixed that idea and it appears, for now at least, the tournament will go on as usual for its 109th edition.

As always, we can expect plenty of drama and hopefully, a few giant slayings and Cinderella runs in this magical competition.

The Open Cup will run from March 19 to September 25.

New pro clubs and a new competition

The game continues to grow in the USA. We’ll have eight brand-new professional clubs hitting the field in 2024 across all three professional divisions and five leagues. This includes the return of the Utah Royals of NWSL, who previously played in the league from 2018-2020. Of the currently existing pro leagues, only Major League Soccer won’t see a new entry this season. However, San Diego FC is on deck for 2025.

Bay FC (NWSL – D1 Women)
Utah Royals (NWSL – D1 Women)
Rhode Island FC (USL Championship – D2 Men)
Spokane Velocity FC (USL League One – D3 Men)
Calabasas FC (NISA – D3 Men)
Irvine Zeta (NISA – D3 Men)
Arizona Monsoon FC (NISA – D3 Men)
Carolina Core FC (MLS NEXT Pro – D3 Men)

In addition, a new tournament joins the US soccer calendar. The still-unnamed competition will be an in-season cup for USL League One clubs.

When will all the action start? Here’s when everything kicks off in 2024:

U.S. Open Cup: March 19
MLS: February 21
NWSL: March 15 (Challenge Cup)
USL Championship: March 9
USL League One: March 9
League One Cup: April 27
NISA: TBA
MLS NEXT Pro: TBA

But wait, there are even more new clubs on the way. The women’s first division landscape will nearly double in size with the launch of an entirely new league with nine more new clubs:

The USL Super League

USL is launching the Super League, a new division one women’s league, that will kick off in August 2024. Unique in the US, the league will run on the international soccer calendar, from Fall-Spring.

The Super League is set to add nine additional first-division teams in its inaugural season. And more are queued up to join in the coming years. They don’t all have names yet, but these are the new clubs set to kick off in 2024:

Charlotte
Dallas-Fort Worth
Fort Lauderdale
Lexington
Phoenix
Spokane Zephyr FC
Tampa Bay Sun FC
Tucson
Washington, D.C.

Following the launch of the Super League in 2024, American domestic pro soccer will now be played nearly year-round, which is an excellent prospect.

CPKC Stadium

Keeping things in the women’s soccer sphere, new ground has literally and figuratively been broken in Kansas City.

CPKC Stadium is set to open in March for the new NWSL season as the home of the Kansas City Current. The 11,500-seat venue is notable because it is the world’s first privately funded venue ever built specifically for a women’s professional club.

This is a milestone moment for women’s soccer not just in America, but around the world. Women’s teams usually play in venues built for the men’s game or other sports. Not anymore. Hopefully, CPKC is the first of many such venues built in the US and abroad.

A full season of Messi

American soccer was turned on its head last summer when the legendary Lionel Messi left PSG and joined MLS’s Inter Miami.

He arrived just in time to take part in the revamped Leagues Cup, which Miami naturally cruised through and won in Messi’s first month in a pink shirt. MLS and Apple might not want you to know about it, but the club also found themselves deep in the U.S. Open Cup, where Messi helped them win a semifinal on penalty kicks and eventually finish as runners-up (he didn’t play in the final).

However, Inter Miami had a dreadful start to their season before Messi arrived, and they missed the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Fans and media will surely be eager to see what the Argentine maestro can do in a full season in America (though they may not be so eager to see the ticket prices).

Surely, American soccer should be in for a banner year in 2024. The first in a string of major international tournaments hosted by the US will kick off. Further, we’ll welcome more clubs and leagues all over the country. And surely many soccer memories will be made.

Photos: Imago / KC Current / Tampa Bay Sun FC

Mexico’s history at Copa America

Since 1993, CONMEBOL has guest teams to participate in every edition of the Copa América. In 2021, however, no guest teams participated due to COVID-19. Since CONMEBOL only has ten teams, the addition of these invited sides helps fill out the format of the tournament (usually three groups of four teams). Mexico has been one of these teams on every occasion except for 2019 and 2021.

While El Tri has not won Copa América – no guest team ever has – their performance has proven their quality going up against the best the Western Hemisphere has to offer in the sport.

In their first seven appearances at Copa, from 1993-2007, Mexico made it out of the group stage each time.

This period coincided with their strongest finishes a the tournament as well. Third-place honors were won in 1997, 1999, and 2007. Mexico made it to the final, but lost, in both 1993 and 2001. These runner-up finishes are the only two times any non-CONMEBOL nation has played in the Copa América final.

And only Honduras, in 2001, has also managed to place 3rd as an invited side.

Beating them at their own game

Despite not being a South American team, and only participating since 1993, Mexico has achieved more at Copa than some actual South American nations.

Ecuador and Venezuela have never made a final, nor placed third, at Copa América. So Mexico has both of them beat.

In terms of total medals won (1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd place combined), Mexico is actually ahead of Bolivia by a count of 5 to 2. Bolivia, however, has won the tournament and placed second. Mexico meanwhile is buoyed by three bronze finishes.

While Mexico did not make it out of the group in two of their last three appearances, their overall record remains impressive.

A total tally of 19 wins, 13 draws, and 16 losses, with a 66/62 goals for/goals against mark, has Mexico as a winning side overall in their history at the competition.

Competing against the likes of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, this is no small accomplishment.

Now Mexico will be looking ahead to 2024. The next Copa América will be held in the United States. But El Tri is a de facto home team in the USA. With group games slated for Houston, LA, and Phoenix, they’ll no doubt have massive support at each match. This “home” cooking helped them to the quarterfinals in 2016 – their last appearance at Copa – which was also staged in the US.

Besting their high water mark at the tournament will be no easy task. But with Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica in their group, they should have no issues making the knockout phase.

And from there, anything can happen.

Photos: Imago.

Get your free trial to Apple TV+

It’s really easy to start watching with Apple TV+. Best Buy is offering a free trial for three months. It’s available to new and returning Apple TV+ subscribers.

Here’s how to get Apple TV+ for free for three months:

1. Sign up for Apple TV+ through Best Buy. This deal is offering three months of Apple TV+ for free. Add the item to your shopping cart. You’ll need to register and add payment details, but don’t worry. It’s a free offer.
2. You will get an email confirmation after checking out.
3. Activate the offer from Best Buy at the Apple TV website.
4. After signing up, you have all the access to Apple TV+ programming.

After the trial ends, Apple TV+ is $9.99 per month (or you can cancel at any time).

It should be noted that Apple TV+ does not include access to MLS Season Pass. MLS’ streaming platform for every league match is a separate subscription, though a selection of matches is available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the season.

What can you expect to find on Apple TV+?

For the soccer fan, several selections might pique your interest. Messi Meets America chronicles the star’s arrival this past summer in MLS.

Real Madrid Until The End tells the story of the Los Blancos’ 2021-2022 season. Messi’s World Cup releases in February, follows the legendary Argentine’s journey throughout five World Cups and the 2022 title. Super League: The War for Football is a riveting tale of the initial announcement and dissolution of the European Super League that shook the footballing world in 2021.

And of course, there is the beloved soccer comedy series Ted Lasso.

There’s plenty more beyond the pitch though, with star-studded movies and shows like Hijack, The Morning Show, and For All Mankind. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, starring Kurt Russell, is out now and is set in the Godzilla universe.

New shows from Apple TV+ include the latest season of Slow Horses (starring Gary Oldham), John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial, and The Family Plan.

For the family, Apple TV+ is home to Peanuts – including all the classic holiday movies. Fraggle Rock, Strange Planet, and Luck are among other kid-friendly titles available.

So, whether you’re into soccer or nature docs, having a good laugh, or enjoying a riveting drama, there’s something for everyone on Apple TV+

And now you can check it out for free.

Image credit: Apple TV.

Games had implications from the top of the table to the bottom, and here’s a rundown of the action from the big day.

Boxing Day 2023 Premier League Results

Newcastle 1-3 Nottingham Forest

A hat trick from Forest at St. James’ Park sent the Toon Army home disappointed in the day’s upset. Newcastle got an expected lead, with an Alexander Isak penalty in at the 23′ mark. But a first-half stoppage time tally from Chris Wood leveled the affair for Forest. He’d add two more early in the second half, in the 53rd and 60th minutes, to put the match out of reach.

The result is a boost for Forest as it keeps them just out of the reach of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, for The Magpies, it’s a disappointing result for them as they remain on the outside looking in when it comes to European places for next season. They sit in eighth at the end of the day’s action, now five points back of fifth-place Manchester City.

Sheffield United 2-3 Luton Town

This one was a relegation zone battle – with both sides hoping to stay in the EPL after earning promotion just this past spring. Luton began the day in 18th, with Sheffield two spots below in last place. Alfie Doughy got the away side on top early, scoring in the 17th minute to put Luton on top 1-0. However, Ali McBurnie leveled things in the 61st, getting the Blades back in it. Just a few minutes later, Anel Ahmedhodžić put Sheffield on top 2-1, but an own goal in the 77th minute tied things back up again.

Remarkably, another goal in the 81st minute saw the Hatters somehow sitting on a late 3-2 lead.

When it was all said and done, the visitors would hold on and steal away from Bramall Lane with all three points. It doesn’t shake up the standings – both sides remain in the drop zone.

However, Luton have inched closer to safety while the Blades remain in dire straits at the bottom.

Bournemouth 3-0 Fulham

A mid-table scrap with the Cottagers visiting the Vitality Stadium on the south coast saw the home side retain their excellent recent form.

Bournemouth had won four of their last five matches heading into this one, and it was the Cherries snatching the lead late in the first half on a strike from Justin Kluivert that was simply too quick and powerful for Fulham keeper Bernd Leno to handle. At the 61′ mark, Bournemouth was awarded their first penalty kick in ages, and Solanke buried the chance to make it 2-0.

Late in the match, Leno gave a light push to a ball boy which drew ire from the crowd, though a later apology appeared to smooth over the incident. The cherry was put on top for the home side with an absolute missile of a hit from the top of the semicircle by Luis Sinisterra to make it 3-0 in stoppage time.

Both sides remain relatively comfortable in the standings, though with the loss Fulham will certainly have one eye looking over their shoulder as the new year begins.

Burnley 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool was visiting Burnley hoping to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the Table. Meanwhile, the Clarets came in struggling to stay in the Premiership, sitting at 19th place. The Reds were in the holiday spirit, donning their green and white secondary kits for the occasion.

Things started right as you’d expect, as a fine first-time strike from the top of the box by Darwin Núñez had Liverpool up 0-1 in just the 6th minute. It looked like the lead was doubled twenty minutes later. However, a foul call erased Liverpool’s second goal of the game.

About ten minutes into the second half, Liverpool looked to be up 0-2 again. Harvey Elliott punched home a give-and-go effort at the near post. But it was judged after VAR that Mo Salah was in an offside position and interfered with the line of sight of the goalkeeper, nullifying the goal.

Burnley held out hope for as long as they could, but the dam finally burst in the 91st minute. Diogo Jota snuck a shot through Trafford’s legs to make it 2-0 and seal the result.

For the moment, the win slides Liverpool up to the top of the standings on 42 points. Burnley is at the other end, mired in a relegation fight and just two points ahead of last-place Sheffield.

Man United 3-2 Aston Villa

United haven’t been at their best recently, losing three of their previous five (though a shakeup in ownership has lifted spirits for Red Devils fans). Aston Villa meanwhile has been flying high, in third place and only a few points from the top.

The good times for Villa kept rolling in the 22nd minute. John McGinn whipped in a free kick that nobody on either side touched, and it found its way into the far corner of the net.

Minutes later, disaster struck the Old Trafford faithful. Leander Dendocker doubled the advantage for the visitors, flicking in a headed cross to make it 2-0. Despite some chances from United, that’s how the scoreline would look at the half.

The second half seemed to get off to a brighter start for United, as Alejandro Garnacho broke in around the keeper and slotted one in at the 47′ mark. But after a VAR review, he was offside when receiving the pass, and the goal was disallowed.

Ten minutes later, however, in a near replication of the disallowed goal, Garnacho tapped home a cross and clawed United back into the game.

It was Garnacho to the rescue again in the 70th. The Argentine national team winger collected a loose ball from a broken play and fired it off a defender to level the proceedings.

Old Trafford turned electric when Rasmus Højlund scored off a corner in the 82nd minute to make it 3-2, completing the full comeback.

The loss stings for Villa – keeping them in third place while a victory would have seen them level on points with leaders Liverpool. United is now bumped up to sixth, and within striking distance of a spot in Europe as the calendar turns to 2024.

Photos: IMAGO / Action Plus IMAGO / PA Images IMAGO / Pro Sports Images IMAGO / Propaganda Photo IMAGO / PA Images IMAGO / News Images

Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues was removed from office by court order in early December due to issues with his election last year.

Two higher courts then upheld the decision this past week. The court’s rulings have decreed that a new CBF presidential election be held within 30 days.

However, FIFA does not look kindly upon governmental or third-party interference in soccer’s organizational affairs. The global governing body for the sport, along with CONMEBOL, do not believe the intervention is necessary and prefer such matters to be handled in-house.

They intend to conduct their own investigation in the situation, and until that takes place, insist that no elections take place.

If this decision is not respected, FIFA may hit Brazil with a suspension. They outlined the potential ramifications in a letter to the CBF.

FIFA suspension for Brazil: what would it mean?

Suspensions from international play are relatively rare but not unheard of. And they can happen for a number of reasons. Presently, Russia and all of it’s clubs are banned from international play due to the nations’ invasion of Ukraine.

In this case, it would be because of outside forces interfering in the operations of a national federation.

In any case, if FIFA follows through on its threat, it could be very bad news for Brazil. It would see both the country’s national teams and clubs barred from international competition until the situation is resolved.

This would be catastrophic for a country fanatical about soccer. The fans bring a passion to match their historical reputation on the pitch.

Brazil’s men are currently in sixth place – the last qualification spot – in 2026 World Cup qualifying. The next matches, however, are not until September 2024. Copa América 2024 however, is earlier in the calendar and more at risk from any potential ban.

It would also potentially affect 2024 Copa Libertadores participants Fluminense, São Paulo, Palmeiras, Grêmio, Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo, Botafogo, and RB Bragantino. Athletico Paranaense, Internacional, Fortaleza, Cuiabá, Corinthians, and Cruzeiro are also set for international play in Copa Sudamericana.

A ruling against Brazil would scuttle their travel plans as well. These international club tournaments are set to kick off in February and March, respectively.

José Perdiz, head of Brazil’s highest sports court, has been assigned to organize the new elections. He says he’ll “call for the elections within the established deadline, with the required transparency and integrity.”

Whether FIFA would indeed suspend one of the world’s highest-profile nations remains to be seen. There will be pressure to allow them to compete in a packed international calendar for both the men’s and women’s teams.

With Copa América on the horizon, World Cup qualifiers underway, as well as a bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in the works, hitting Brazil with the harshest of sanctions in this case would certainly be a seismic decision.

Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

All-time most Copa America titles

Ok, sorry, that’s a bit of a trick question. Because if you answered either Argentina or Uruguay, you’d be correct!

That’s right, these two neighboring nations are actually tied for the most ever Copa America wins in history. They each have 15 total titles. If you want to consider a possible tiebreaker, Argentina have been also been runners-up 14 more times, while Uruguay has only finished second on 6 occasions.

Argentina are the reigning champions, winning the 2021 Copa after not capturing the title since 1993. Uruguay’s last win came in 2011, and including that one, won seven titles as the host country. Argentina has won six times as the host nation of the tournament. Of course, no South American country is a host for 2024, as the USA will stage the competition this time.

The casual soccer fan might guess that Brazil would have the most South American titles. But they’ve only won nine, most recently in 2019. They have appeared in 20 total finals though, which is the second most times as runner-up after rivals Argentina.

Slim pickings after the big boys

After those three nations, the amount of titles won drops off substantially.

Paraguay, Chile, and Peru have each won two titles. Bolivia and Colombia, meanwhile, have one apiece. Venezuela and Ecuador, the other two members of CONMEBOL, have never even appeared in a final.

So while no team is truly a pushover in Copa America, in the end, things usually tend to be a little top-heavy.

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In addition to the normal ten members of CONMEBOL, the confederation often invites guest teams to participate in the tournament to make scheduling easier. That will again be the case in 2026, with six CONCACAF teams from North America and the Caribbean taking part. One of them, Mexico, has been a guest at nine previous Copa tournaments, placing as runners-up twice and third place three times.

To date, El Tri remains the only non-South American side to have ever made a Copa América final.

Chile took home top honors the last time the tournament was held in the United States, in 2016. This completed a back-to-back after winning the 2015 standard version of the tournament as the host country.

Will either Argentina or Uruguay break the deadlock at the top and claim the record for themselves? Can Brazil make up ground on their neighbors in the trophy room? Or will a newcomer, or even a guest team, finally claim the title of the top team in the Americas?

We’ll just have to wait until next summer to see.

Photo: Imago.

CONCACAF teams in Copa America

Overall, nine different teams from outside CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, have participated in Copa América. All but two have come from CONCACAF – the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean nations. The others are Japan (2 appearances) and Qatar (1), who are both members of the Asian Football Confederation, AFC.

Mexico (11 appearances), the United States (5), Costa Rica (5), Jamaica (3), Panama (2), Haiti (1), and Honduras (1) are the seven CONCACAF sides that have played in Copa América. El Tri has played in every Copa América since 1993 except for the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.

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Other nations, such as Australia, Spain, China, and Canada have been invited over the years but declined or withdrew for various reasons.

Since 1993, the tournament’s standard number of total teams has been 12. That’s the 10 CONMEBOL sides plus 2 guest teams. This makes for an easy three-groups-of-four format. However, there have been three exceptions to this format.

In 2021, due to repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, only the 10 members of CONMEBOL competed. In 2016, and the upcoming 2024 tournament, both hosted in the USA, the format features 16 teams. All 6 guest teams are from CONCACAF. Unlike 2016 where they were automatic entrants, however, both Mexico and the US had to qualify for 2024.

In addition to appearing in more than twice as many Copa América tournaments as any other guest nation, Mexico is also the most successful.

They have finished third three times, and runner-up twice. They are the only guest nation to have appeared in a Copa América final.

2026 CONCACAF teams in Copa America

So with six slots up for grabs for the upcoming tournament, here’s how things stand so far for the Northern half of the Americas.

Due to their finish in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League, Mexico, the USA, Jamaica and Panama have all qualified. The final two spots will be decided via a playoff next March 23.

Canada will play Trinidad & Tobago, while Costa Rica will battle Honduras, in winner-takes-all play-in games. These matches will both take place as a doubleheader at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX (home of FC Dallas and the National Soccer Hall of Fame).

Copa América 2024 kicks off on Thursday, June 20 with reigning Champions Argentina playing either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago in Atlanta. This happens to be the longest day of the year. And with the way Argentina is playing, it could be an especially long day for whoever their CONCACAF opposition ends up being.

Photos: Imago.

Here are the numbers.

Soccer clubs with the most social media followers

Per data put together by Football Benchmark, we can see who the most popular clubs are on social media. The top 20 has many of the sport’s biggest names and has a heavy European slant.

All but three clubs on the list hail from UEFA. The only non-European sides are from Brazil, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

The total numbers below, as of September 2023, are an aggregate of followers from Facebook, Instagram, X(Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, and Weibo.

So which clubs have the most people glued to their phones? Here they are:

Is it astounding that Real Madrid and Barcelona lead the way? With over 800 million total followers between the two, they are far and away the most popular teams on social. After Barça, it’s a steep drop off, with a difference of over 160 million followers between their spot at number two and Manchester United in third.

England’s six teams, the “Big Six” unsurprisingly, are the most of any league or country. Italy has four, Spain three, Germany two, and there is one each from France, Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

We can see the Messi/Ronaldo effect in full force, too. Even though they don’t play for them anymore, Man United, Juventus, and PSG all occupy places in the top seven. And while they normally would not be anywhere near this list, Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s current club, sneak in at #19.

One notable missing club

Messi’s Inter Miami, meanwhile, are not in the top 20. However, he experienced astounding growth since he signed. They gained 24.2 million followers, that’s +1197%, between September 2022 and September 2023. Most of those followers popped in after the legend signed in the summer of 2023. The Herons will no doubt make the cut before too long.

While El Clásico is the headliner on the list, two other massive rivalries appear here in the realm of social media.

North London neighbors Arsenal and Tottenham are back-to-back at 10th and 11th place, respectively. Then we have AC Milan and Inter Milan adjacent to one another in 12th and 13th.

While many of these clubs are huge and would be on the list no matter what, it’s interesting to see how the numbers shift as the game’s biggest personalities move from club to club.

Photos: WST

2024 Copa America Stadiums

The 2024 tournament will mostly utilize large American football venues that are the homes of NFL franchises. In fact, eleven of the fourteen stadiums fit this bill. However, two of these pull double duty as the home grounds of MLS teams, and all have hosted soccer games in the past. The other three are smaller, soccer-specific stadiums.

Without further ado, here’s the breakdown of each stadium for Copa 2024:

AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX

Opened: 2009
Capacity: 80,000
Soccer History: Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

AT&T Stadium is one of the largest venues in the United States, and in addition to being home to the iconic Dallas Cowboys, has hosted its fair share of soccer since opening in 2009. Up until now, the highest-profile matches have been CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League games. But Copa América will succeed those, and in 2026, the FIFA World Cup will come calling. The giant stadium features a central retractable roof section, similar to the distinctive hole in the roof of its predecessor, Texas Stadium.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

Opened: 2017
Capacity: 73,000
Soccer History: Atlanta United FC, Friendlies, MLS Cup Final, US Open Cup Final, Campeones Cup, MLS All-Star Game, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

Mercedes-Benz Stadium features a unique, origami-style retractable roof with a central, 360° ring-shaped video board. The home of Atlanta United has set MLS attendance records. It will be the site of the opening match featuring Argentina in the 2024 Copa América.

Q2 Stadium – Austin, TX

Opened: 2021
Capacity: 20,738
Soccer History: Austin FC, Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, FIFA World Cup qualifying

Q2 is home to one of MLS’s newest teams, Austin FC. Being one of the more recent grounds in MLS also has an added perk – a safe-standing supporters section. It will host two matches in 2024 at Copa América.

Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC

Opened: 1996
Capacity: 74,867
Soccer History: Charlotte FC, Friendlies, NCAA Championships, CONCACAF Gold Cup

Built as home to the expansion Carolina Panthers of the NFL in the 1990s, Bank of America Stadium is now also a full-time soccer venue. Charlotte FC of MLS calls the stadium home. It has undergone several renovations over the years, including to make it more soccer-friendly ahead of Charlotte’s 2022 arrival.

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ

Opened: 2010
Capacity: 82,500
Soccer History: Friendlies, Copa América Centenario Final, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

Built in the same location as its predecessor Giants Stadium, MetLife Stadium is just a few miles from the Hudson River and New York City. Normally home to both the Giants and Jets of the NFL, the venue has hosted big soccer matches in the past. This includes Copa América, where it was the site of the final in 2016 that saw Chile knock off Argentina via PKs.

NRG Stadium – Houston, TX

Opened: 2002
Capacity: 72,220
Soccer History: Friendlies, Copa América Centenario, MLS All-Star Game, CONCACAF Gold Cup, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

Built to host the NFL’s Houston Texans franchise and the Houston Rodeo, NRG Stadium sits across the street from the historic Astrodome – the first domed stadium in the world and, regrettably, the birthplace of artificial turf, aka AstroTurf. Since opening it has been a second home to Mexico, who have hosted numerous games there over the years. It was also the place where Lionel Messi became Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, CA

Opened: 2020
Capacity: 70,240
Soccer History: Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

Built to lure both the NFL’s Rams and Chargers back to their old stomping grounds of Los Angeles, SoFi will also be the main stadium for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The venue is owned by Stan Kroenke, who notably is also the owner of Arsenal, the Colorado Rapids, and numerous other sports enterprises.

Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA

Opened: 2014
Capacity: 68,500
Soccer History: Friendlies, San Jose Earthquakes, Copa América Centenario, CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

About an hour’s drive from San Francisco, in Santa Clara, which is right next to San Jose, sits Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL’s “San Francisco” 49ers. Location aside, it has hosted plenty of soccer, including being the sometimes home of MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes for big games. It was a major venue at the 2016 Copa América, and will host 2026 World Cup matches.

State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ

Opened: 2006
Capacity: 63,400
Soccer History: Friendlies, Copa América Centenario, CONCACAF Gold Cup

Another venue with past Copa América experience from 2016, this stadium is also no stranger to other soccer events. It’s been a frequent site of Gold Cup matches and friendlies over the years. State Farm Stadium has a retractable roof and a retractable field. To protect the grass playing surface, for non-sports events the entire field is rolled outside into the parking lot area.

Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV

Opened: 2020
Capacity: 61,000
Soccer History: Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League

Located just steps from the famed Las Vegas Strip, Allegiant Stadium is one of the newest stadiums of the bunch. It was built to host the NFL Raiders when they relocated from Oakland. In its short history, it’s hosted some massive soccer games, including big club friendlies and the 2021 Gold Cup Final. While entirely enclosed, it does have a natural grass field, which, similar to Arizona, can be rolled outside the stadium.

Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, MO

Opened: 1972
Capacity: 76,416
Soccer History: Friendlies, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

At over 50 years old, Arrowhead Stadium is by far the oldest venue being used for Copa América. Home to the NFL’s Chiefs since 1972, it is adjacent to the Kansas City Royals’ Kauffman Stadium. Early designs for the complex had a gigantic rolling roof that could have covered either of the two stadiums. From 1996-2007, Arrowhead was the home of MLS’s Kansas City franchise, then known as the Kansas City Wiz/Wizards.

Children’s MErcy Park – Kansas City, KS

Opened: 2011
Capacity: 18,467
Soccer History: Sporting KC, KC Current, Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, Olympic Qualifying, FIFA World Cup qualifying, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

Jumping across state lines to the other Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Park is one of the three smaller MLS venues being used for the tournament. It is home to Sporting KC as well as the NWSL’s Kansas City Current (who will soon be moving to their stadium, the first stadium in the world to be built specifically for a women’s pro team). Since opening, the ground has become a venue of choice for the US national teams.

Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL

Opened: 1987
Capacity: 64,767
Soccer History: Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup venue

A stadium of many names over the years, and also many uses. Originally opened in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium, it was named for the then-owner of the Miami Dolphins. Renovations in the 2010s have seen the venue dramatically changed, now with a roof covering all the stands. It hosted Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins from 1993-2011, a time in which two World Series were played there. Summer MLB baseball prevented the 1994 World Cup from hosting games at the venue. Six NFL Super Bowls and three NCAA college football championship games have been held at the stadium as well.

Recent expansions have added a Formula 1 Grand Prix track and professional tennis center to the grounds as well. When it comes to soccer, the stadium has hosted many games over the years, but the biggest are yet to come. It will host the 2024 Copa América Final, and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Exploria Stadium – Orlando, FL

Opened: 2017
Capacity: 25,500
Soccer History: Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, Friendlies, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, FIFA World Cup qualifiers

The much larger and nearby Citrus Bowl (today known as Camping World Stadium), which hosted 1994 FIFA World Cup games, has been passed over in favor of the smaller Exploria Stadium for Copa América. Home to Orlando’s MLS and NWSL sides since it opened in 2017, Exploria Stadium has emerged as one of the most frequent hosts to CONCACAF games. It will host two group games in 2024, Canada/Trinidad & Tobago vs Chile, and Bolivia vs Panama.

Photos: Imago

Soccer Goal Dimensions

As far as FIFA is concerned, the regulation size for an adult soccer goal is as follows:

The inner edges of the goal posts must be 8 yards (24 feet / 7.32 meters) apart, while the lower edge of the crossbar must be 8 feet (2.44 meters) off the ground. Goalposts and the crossbar cannot exceed 5 inches (12 centimeters) in width or depth, but these dimesions to not have the be the same. Should one side of the posts/crossbar be longer, the longer side must be perpendicular to the goal line. Most modern high-level goalposts are round in shape.

Posts must be white and made of wood, metal, or other approved materials. Many high-level professional goals today are made from advanced composite materials (though still sometimes coloquially referred to as “the woodwork”).

These regulations are the same for both men’s and women’s senior level games. Youth competitions often use smaller sized or even portable goals depending on the level.

Interestingly, it is not techincally necessary to have a net installed on goals. The laws of the game do not require it, only that any nets must not interfere with the goalkeeper. But it is unheard of in today’s organized game to see a field without nets installed.

History of the soccer goal

The first soccer goals did not have a crossbar, nor nets. This style of goal survives today in Australian rules football. But for soccer, disputes over whether or not a goal was actually scored led to adjustments in the 19th century.

The “Sheffield Rules” introduced the solid crossbar in the 1860s. Nets came later, in the 1890s. Similar to nets in basketball, goal nets help to confirm when a goal has actually been scored, and also prevent players from having to chase the ball around.

By the turn of the 20th century, the dimensions of the goal (and other rules) became standardized across the United Kingdom and these spread rapidly throughout the world of association football. Other than updates from wood to metal, net mounting systems and so on, goals have largely remained the same since.

Different styles of soccer goals

Sometimes you’ll see variations of goals in non-professional settings.

Commonly in the United States at schools and public parks, you will find “H” shaped goals. These feature a soccer goal with a net at the bottom, with uprights extending above that is used for American gridiron football. These are similar in appearance to the goals used in the traditional Irish sports of hurling and Gaelic football. Rugby uses H-shaped goals as well, however no nets are used and only the upper, above-the-crossbar portion counts for goals. This style of goal was once also used for professional American and Canadian football, but since the 1970s these were phased out in favor of a single support post, “Y” shaped configuration.

Another dual-sport variation that is becoming popular is a soccer goal builit-in to the structure of a basketball hoop, allowing the court to be used for small-sided street games.

A wide varierty of portable goals are used for youth games and pickup soccer. These can be smaller, semi-permenant goals on wheels kept in a single location, or compact travel goals designed to be moved from location to location.

Photo: Imago

When does Copa America start?

Things kick off on Thursday, June 20th in Atlanta, GA when Argentina takes on the winner of the CONCACAF playoff, either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago.

The group stage rolls on, through Tuesday, July 2nd, with the final game set for Q2 Stadium in Austin. The winner of the Costa Rica/Honduras playoff will play Paraguay in the final group match.

From there, the eight-team knockout phase begins.

The quarterfinals will take place from July 4-5. These games will be held in Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

The semifinals head to East Rutherford, NJ on July 9 and Charlotte, NC the following day.

Finally, the third-place game will take place on Saturday, July 13, with one of the semifinal losers staying in Charlotte. Everything wraps up with the final from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday, July 14.

Game times for the entire tournament range from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET, making for convenient primetime viewing. As a bonus for soccer fans, many game days will feature Euro 2024 matches during the morning and/or afternoon, providing for a full day of great soccer action.

Watch Copa América on Fubo

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How often is Copa America?

Currently, Copa America is set on a quadrennial – or every four years – schedule. This puts it right in the middle of the FIFA World Cup cycle and at the same time as the UEFA Euro competition. But that hasn’t always been the case.

In fact, the last Copa America was supposed to be in 2020 but was pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to that, Brazil hosted in 2019, just three years after the 2016 Centenario tournament which itself was held the year after Chile 2015.

Pre-2011, the competition was held inconsistently. Sometimes every three years, sometimes every two, sometimes four. The competition was actually played every year from 1912-1929. Then, it wasn’t played again until 1935.

Thankfully, a regular scheduling rotation will be used going forward.

That means in 2028, we can look forward to the next edition of this wonderful competition.

Photos: Imago.

In a statement released by US Soccer today, the federation said, “Major League Soccer has requested to allow MLS Next PRO teams to represent MLS in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After thoughtful consideration, we have informed MLS that the U.S. Soccer staff recommendation, which was adopted by the Pro League Taskforce, is that the request be denied.

“As we move forward, we will continue our review of the Open Cup to ensure it aligns with the U.S. Soccer strategic pillars. We remain committed to addressing the needs and concerns of all of our members, including MLS, and other stakeholders to enhance and improve the U.S. Open Cup.

MLS US Open Cup: Response from Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer’s response to the statement by US Soccer is as follows:

“MLS is committed to finding a viable solution for the 2024 tournament and is working to find a pathway that addresses its goals and concerns. Moving forward, MLS will remain focused on increasing opportunities for up-and-coming players, a key component of the League’s player development strategy that ultimately benefits the U.S. national team program.”

Hopefully, a solution can be reached between MLS and US Soccer for D1 MLS teams to participate in 2024.

The history of MLS and the US Open Cup

Approximately 100 years ago, when soccer was quite popular relative to other non-baseball sports in America, something very similar to this happened. In 1928, the American Soccer League (ASL) forbade its teams from playing in the National Challenge Cup (today known as the Open Cup). A few teams said they were playing anyway. This led to a massive battle between the American Federation, FIFA, and the ASL. In the end, this first great soccer war ended with the ASL collapsing and soccer becoming a backwater sport for decades.

Then the NASL came along. They didn’t play in the Challenge Cup at all from the get-go.

So fast-forwarding to the 1990s, cooler heads seemingly prevailed.

MLS enters the picture

Major League Soccer teams have participated in the U.S. Open Cup since the league’s inception in 1996. This marked the modern “pro era” of the tournament, as from the 1930s through 1995, the only clubs that competed were amateur or semi-pro sides.

MLS teams have also dominated the Open Cup. Just four times since 1996 has a non-MLS club made the final. Only once – the 1999 Rochester Raging Rhinos – has one of these clubs emerged victorious.

While the Open Cup offers a prestigious prize – a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS teams and executives have often regarded the competition as a nuisance. Gripes about travel, the quality of facilities, and schedule congestion have simmered amongst MLS circles over the years.

But nevertheless, they’ve sucked it up and played in the tournament, as required by US Soccer.

Not anymore. After more thinly veiled criticisms of the tournament this year, MLS now legitimately attempting to skip out on America’s oldest soccer competition entirely.

Well, almost entirely. Rather than compete normally in the tournament, they intend to field division-three MLS NEXT Pro reserve teams in their stead. It should be noted that, to date, no changes have been made to the three Canadian-based MLS teams participating in the Canadian Championship tournament.

This attempt to unilaterally change the fabric of the competition flies in the face of not one, but two US Soccer regulations. And it sets the stage for the latest, and biggest, American SoccerWarz of all.

Friends become enemies…

In the past, the US Soccer and MLS organizations were deeply intertwined. US National Team media rights were sold as a package deal with MLS. MLS’s marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing (SUM), was responsible for selling and managing these rights (as well as those of the U.S. Open Cup).

The competition that features and highlights non-MLS teams was largely an afterthought for SUM. As a result, the Open Cup languished with minimal coverage for many years.

… and partners become competitors

But that changed in 2023, as it was the first year where US Soccer took back control of its own media rights – including its 110-year-old national cup competition.

While it was shown on a patchwork of various streaming platforms and TV networks, the Open Cup received some of the biggest exposure it has ever seen. In part, this was due to MLS’s biggest-ever signing, Lionel Messi, happening to land with a team that already had a spot in the semifinals when he arrived.

The year 2023 also marked a turning point for how MLS presented themselves. A massive, 10-year deal with Apple TV kicked off. It even included a documentary on Messi coming to America. A documentary that conveniently, and entirely, left out his team’s participation in the Open Cup, where they lost in the final to Houston.

Not-coincidentally, the Open Cup is a competition involving MLS teams that Apple TV does not own the rights to. What they do show, however, is the Leagues Cup. This redundant competition in the middle of the season, which doesn’t even make sense in the CONCACAF club setup, must, like Canada, also not exist within the space-time continuum where schedule congestion is an issue.

The USSF is now at odds with MLS and has a massive decision to make on this issue. Do they bend to the will of MLS? Do they search for a compromise? Or do they bring the hammer down on their top domestic league?

The soul of American soccer is on the line

World Cups last a month, but then the stadiums empty, and the minds of the American public largely tune out soccer for another four years. The strength of American soccer does not lie in hosting things like the Copa América, or the Club World Cup. These events are fleeting. Sure they’ll come along, and the country will empty its pockets and make everyone a lot of money. But these glamorous flashes in the pan end. They’ll periodically come back, yes. But not for years, decades maybe.

However, the sport of soccer goes on every day. In every community. On patches of dirt, in parking lots, in gyms, and on fields across the entire USA. Hundreds, if not thousands of clubs that are not among the chosen few that play in MLS all contribute to the sport of soccer in this country.

The only competition in America where everyone really does have a chance

The US Open Cup is where those clubs can dream. It’s the only place for that because American soccer’s league system doesn’t operate on meritocracy as outlined in FIFA’s statutes.

Some of my greatest memories in the game are the 2016 Fort Lauderdale Strikers “Cupset” wins over D.C. United and Orlando City. We ended up as the last lower-division club standing that year. In that final season of impending doom and missed paychecks, these remarkable moments against first-tier sides were experiences that made it all worthwhile.

I was at the 2022 Final in Orlando where Sacramento and their impressive troop of traveling support from the other side of the continent came just short of winning it all. These moments are special. Lasting memories for clubs and fans who are locked out of America’s top tier.

MLS retreating away, phoning in their participation in the Open Cup (the only non-internal competition they have ever been able to consistently win, by the way) is an insult. Everyone who plays, works, or invests in soccer in this country should be deeply offended by this attempted move. It’s an affront to the history of the game – this is the third-oldest competition of its kind in the world. Lamar Hunt’s, one of MLS’s founding fathers (and saviors), name is on the tournament for crying out loud.

This is our version of the European Super League fiasco. The last shred of fair, open soccer competition in the USA is under attack. The question is, what is going to be done about it?

The ball is in USSF’s court

The US Soccer Federation has the leverage here.

As currently written, the USSF Pro League Standards require all US-based division one (i.e. MLS) teams to participate in “all representative U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF competitions for which they are eligible.” Thus, by not competing in the Open Cup, MLS violates the 2nd requirement listed for division one sanctioning.

Third-division clubs are also required to participate in the US Open Cup, and while reserve teams that are wholly owned by higher-level teams cannot compete, they are allowed if the higher-level team is not in the competition. This is MLS’s loophole. There is precedent – MLS NEXT Pro team St. Louis City SC 2 was allowed in the competition in 2022 because the main St. Louis City team was not playing yet.

Even if USSF wanted to rubber-stamp MLS’s watering-down of the USOC with reserve teams, the issue of the division one sanctioning requirement remains.

Hard decisions must be made

If they go along with it, USSF either has to

1) Amend the division one sanctioning rules, removing the requirement for teams to play in the Open Cup or
2) Grant MLS a waiver for this requirement

If they do either of these, the message is clear – US Soccer does not run the sport in this country. Major League Soccer does. It would mean one of the last dominoes falling on the way to the full “MLB-ization” of soccer. MLS has already latched its tendrils onto the youth game. It’s now in the lower-division professional market, picking off independent clubs and bringing them into the MLS ecosystem. And now this blatant disrespect to the US Open Cup is truly saying the quiet part out loud. Effectively, the rest of the pyramid is being told “If you’re not one of these 30 MLS franchises, if you don’t directly contribute to our bottom line, you are beneath us, you are not worth our time, and you do not matter”. And if the Federation doesn’t move to protect the Open Cup, they’re agreeing with that sentiment.

There’s another wrinkle to the consequences of how the USSF reacts, in addition to the Cup implications themselves. By kowtowing to MLS, the USSF would surely give the NASL (remember them?) additional ammunition in their antitrust lawsuit – which might make it to trial in 2024. This is an all-around mess, but it offers the Federation a chance to finally assert their rightful, independent, governance of the game.

What will the Federation do about it?

Would the USSF consider pulling MLS’s D1 sanction? Take away the league’s dedicated Concacaf Champions Cup spots and move them to the Open Cup? Give them to USL? De-sanction the Leagues Cup? Institute promotion and relegation? There are a myriad of hardline punishments being floated about in the American soccer social media universe. Hardly any, however, are realistic.

We’ll see if the backlash from the American supporter community has the kind of sway that scuttled The Super League in Europe. Maybe resistance from MLS fans can force the league to back down. Maybe, just maybe, the Federation has the stones to stand up for itself and say enough is enough.

For my money, the US Open Cup is the single greatest, most interesting, and most compelling sporting event in the United States. There is nothing else like it. It’s got history, drama, romance, and every so often, some guys sponsored by a liquor store go 1-0 up on a team of major league professionals. It’s crazy, it’s beautiful, and it’s our true connection to the heart of the world’s greatest game. Will the USSF step aside and let MLS tell the world that it doesn’t matter?

The decision is in the hands of US Soccer Federation as it continues its discussions with Major League Soccer. However it turns out will change soccer forever, and probably not just in America. Because every time MLS and the USSF get away with bending the rules, nefarious lightbulbs flicker on in Europe, South America, Asia, and everywhere else. The cogs start turning in the brains that populate the suits in the ornate offices everywhere in the footballing world.

“Maybe we can get away with that, too.”

Fort Lauderdale Strikers Photo: Jon Van Woerden
Orlando City Photo: Imago

MLS has in the past been dismissive of the Open Cup competition, but this was still a very bold move. Until now, they begrudgingly participated as required in the USSF Pro League Standards for all US-based professional teams.

MLS quits the US Open Cup – and social media lets them have it

The decision by MLS to back out of the nation’s 110-year-old national championship tournament, and send their 3rd division reserve teams in their stead, was met with overwhelming negativity across the American soccer community.

Media members, former players, executives, and supporters alike voiced opinions ranging from concern to calling for boycotts of the league. In short, nobody likes this, MLS.

“…a disservice to the fans but also to the sport itself.”

The Independent Supporters Collective – a collective representing supporters groups across MLS and all leagues in North America – released a statement condemning the move.

In part, the statement reads “MLS’s withdrawal of their first teams from the Cup is not only a disservice to the fans but also to the sport itself. It undermines the inclusive nature of American soccer, where dreams and ambitions are nurtured on the principle of open competition. The decision threatens to erode the very foundations of the sport’s heritage and its connection to communities.”

Individual groups within MLS, nearly universally, panned the decision as well.

Many media members weighed in as well, and the story has even made it to some outlets that usually don’t cover soccer.

The MLS is pulling it's first teams out of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup moving forward. @HiMyNameisSeton explained what that means and why it's a bad thing for the game of soccer in America. pic.twitter.com/naW2cZfHLg
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) December 19, 2023
 

Across the soccer landscape, very few defended MLS’s actions. It’s clear that this will go down as one of the most controversial and unpopular maneuvers ever made by an American soccer league.

Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez had some sizzling critiques on the issue. They hammered MLS for the move. They even went so far as to suggest US Soccer remove MLS commissioner Don Garber from its board and revoke MLS’s division one sanctioning.

Sacha Kljestan, who played for years in MLS, had 52 caps with the USMNT, and now works as an analyst for the league’s Apple TV coverage was also critical of the move. However, shortly after, he followed up with a softer stance surely more pleasing to his current employers:

It wasn’t just fans and soccer media who were riled up over the news. Former GM and president of the Chicago Fire Peter Wilt added to the discourse. Wilt, whose Fire won three Cups during his tenure, suggested fans should boycott MLS until they return to the competition.

Exclusivity over inclusivity

Former MLS and USMNT defender, and 2004 Open Cup champion, Jimmy Conrad noted his disappointment with the decision.

Conrad was quick to point out that MLS’s claims of schedule congestion were a flimsy argument. They created Leagues Cup, which added as many, if not more for some teams, to the calendar as the Open Cup.

The silver lining in this dubious situation is that it has united much of the American soccer community.

Both hardcore MLS supporters and critics of the league alike have joined in their disdain for the decision.

But no matter how much we hate it, the league’s intent has been laid out for all to see. Whether the USSF allows it to go through remains to be seen.

Photo: Imago

No guest team has ever won the Copa América before. So, if a North American, Central American or Caribbean side takes home the trophy it would be a historic first. It would also certainly be a dark day for fútbol fans in South America.

The four groups for the 2024 tournament are headed by Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA. Historically, these are the top two nations from CONMEBOL and Concacaf, respectively. Three of the four groups feature a past World Cup winner, while three also contain multiple Copa América champions.

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2024 Copa America Group Stage

Let’s break down each group, and guess who will escape to the knockout round.

Group A

Team (Copa America Titles)
Argentina (15)
Peru (2)
Chile (2)
Canada

The Argentines are reigning Copa and World Cup champions. They also currently sit atop the CONMBEOL 2026 World Cup qualifying table. Right now, it seems unlikely anybody can knock Messi and company off their mountaintop. Chile and Peru are past champions, but both are languishing at the bottom end of the World Cup qualifying standings. If either can light a spark, they could be dangerous dark horses in the tournament. Canada did well to reach the World Cup for the first time in 36 years in Qatar two summers ago. Yet, the side now under the leadership of Jesse Marsch faces an uphill battle to qualify based on the other sides’ talent.

Prediction:
1. Argentina
2. Peru

Group B

Team (Copa America Titles)
Mexico
Ecuador
Venezuela
Jamaica

This is the only group without a past Copa América champion. However, it should be noted that Mexico is, to date, the only non-CONMEBOL team to ever make it to a final. Mexico has finished runner-up twice, and third place three times in the past. Ecuador and Venezuela are the only two South American sides to never have played in the Copa final. Mexico should easily get out of group B, and after that, it could be a dogfight. I’m going all-in with a full Concacaf homer pick here – the Reggae Boyz will join Mexico in the quarterfinals.

Prediction:
1. Mexico
2. Jamaica

Group C

Team (Copa America Titles)
USA
Uruguay (15)
Panama
Bolivia (1)

The Americans have played in four previous editions of the Copa América – with the best results coming in 1995 and 2016 as fourth-place finishers. The USMNT is coming off a 2022-23 Nations League win and is feeling a bit more confident at the moment. Uruguay has 15 Copa titles – tied for the most ever – but hasn’t won it since 2011. Still, Panama and Bolivia are likely to be the ones on the outside looking in when the group stage wraps. Uruguay and USA go 1 and 2, with the South Americans taking the top spot via goal difference.

Prediction:
1. Uruguay
2. USA

Group D

Team (Copa America Titles)
Brazil (9)
Colombia (1)
Paraguay (2)
Costa Rica

Brazil is not riding high at the moment, sitting 6th in World Cup qualifying, and star Neymar is out with a serious knee injury. But you can never count out the nine-time Copa champions. Even at Brazil’s worst, the squad brims with talent. Many moons ago, Colombia and Paraguay became South American champions, but Colombia is looking like the stronger side at the moment. And while Costa Rica has proven often to be a tough side in Concacaf play, it has struggled in the Copa America. In five previous appearances, Costa Rica has only escaped the group stage twice. Group D will likely finish in the order it was drawn.

Prediction:
1. Brazil
2. Colombia

Copa América 2024 kicks off on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Atlanta with Argentina facing Canada. Coverage of the competition is available on FOX’s channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. The Copa America TV schedule provides game time and viewing information for those in the United States.

The new arrangement will see 100 total matches from USL divisions air live on CBS Sports Platforms. Both the USL Championship (D2) and League One (D3) are set to be featured. The women’s Super League has yet to have broadcast details announced.

The CBS deal includes 20+ games each season on CBS Sports Network. The Championship final and other select games will air on the main over-the-air CBS Television Network, with simulcasts on Paramount+. And 75 games will stream live on the CBS Sports Golazo! Network. Golazo! is available at no cost via Pluto TV, CBSSports.com, and other platforms (as well as being built into Paramount+).

USL, CBS Sports partnership huge for the league

Speaking to World Soccer Talk, USL Senior Vice President of the USL Championship Jeremy Alumbaugh said, “It’s huge. I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was until the day it got announced and friends, inside and outside of soccer, started hitting me up.

“As a young kid growing up, a number of the massive sporting events I watched were on CBS. For USL to have them as our home, and more importantly to have them as a partner, they are in this with us, that’s a big, big thing for us to move forward. And we’re really excited about this partnership and this deal.”

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Sporting JAX on the First Coast

Alumbaugh shared the remarks at the recent unveiling of Sporting JAX, which will be the first time that American professional men’s and women’s teams will share the same branding.

Other men’s clubs have fielded women’s teams using the same brand – examples include Detroit City FC and the Seattle Sounders. But the women’s teams were fielded in amateur leagues, not professional. There are examples of women’s pro teams sharing colors and similar branding with their men’s counterparts – Houston, Louisville, North Carolina, and Orlando come to mind. But they all use different team names and logos.

This is a novel case of American soccer conforming to what is standard practice in much of the world. Clubs such as FC Barcelona, River Plate, Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, América, and many more field both professional men’s and women’s sides under the same banner. But until now, it has been unheard of in the American game.

“We’re the only one [league] that has the pathway on both sides, for the men and the women. I think every community is different, every club is gonna be different” said Alumbaugh. “But when it makes sense, as it does here, I think it just proves our point that we’re a landing spot that has that opportunity where a young boy or girl can go through the pathway and end up at the pro level. And we’re the only place that has that, and that makes us unique and special.”

Quotes have been edited for clarity.

From 2024-2028, the United States will host Copa América 2024, followed by the brand-new 32-team 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup will come to North America in 2026. And starting the following year, in 2027, it’s the women’s turn with the USA and Mexico potentially sharing hosting duties with the Women’s World Cup. In 2028, the Olympic Games will be in Los Angeles, where soccer will be one of the many celebrated sports.

This absolute feast of high-quality soccer is unlike anything the USA has ever seen. If the next five years don’t finally push soccer into the mainstream American consciousness, nothing can. Right?

Soccer extravaganza comes after decades of growth

In a way, these marquee events being staged Stateside can be attributed as a reward for the way the game has improved here over the past thirty years.

There is certainly some truth to that. But in reality, the more substantial reason is that the USA is a massive market, with millions of fans (and local governments) that have money to spend. FIFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, and the IOC must be rubbing their hands together, with dollar signs popping out of their eyes like a cartoon character, when anticipating the next couple of years.

With as many as five consecutive summers of huge events, the soccer hype train will be running at full steam ahead. There’ll be little time for a lull when one tournament ends since the next will be right around the corner.

And this in theory can be the moment where soccer finally cements its place amongst the major sports in America.

Yes – astounding progress has been made since the 1994 World Cup. We have passionate fanbases for dozens of professional clubs. Arguably the best player in the world – ever – currently plies his trade here. The national teams as as well supported and relevant as ever. Overseas soccer like the EPL and Champions League are wildly popular. And Liga MX remains the biggest soccer draw overall on US TV.

But the sport still often finds itself largely irrelevant in many places in the US. Even in cities that have professional teams, it can often be backpage news behind things like the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and so on.

A new era? Or just another flash in the pan?

We’ve had brushes with soccer hysteria in the past. There was a brief flirtation with popularity in the 1920s. The fleeting glitz and glamour of Pelé’s NASL in the 1970s. And the madness that took over the country in 1994 and during subsequent World Cup tournaments. But it’s never truly stuck.

When the final match is played at the trophy is lifted, it all changes. The casual fans put their flags and Uncle Sam hats away. And the game retracts back into its insular pockets for another few years. The Mexican and South American communities. Early-morning European fans. The hardcore supporters groups and season ticket holders of MLS, NWSL, and USL. But that’s it.

Soccer still does not draw consistent, casual interest from the general public and the media in America the way that gridiron football, baseball, basketball, and to a lesser extent, hockey do.

So does the cavalcade of footy that’s heading our way represent the tipping point? Somewhat surprisingly, I don’t think so.

The potential back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back marathon of prestige tournaments from 2024-28 will be insane, and a joy to take in, no doubt.

But at the end of the day, it’s still just a series of brief spectacles. When fall American football season rolls around in 2024 or 2026, is soccer going to make the evening news in Oklahoma City? Or San Francisco or Phoenix? Doubtful.

An American team going far, or even winning, any of these tournaments would certainly prolong the boost in interest. But the day-to-day, year-long reality of soccer in the USA isn’t going to change.

Still building

When the bright lights fade from these tournaments, the fact is that the best soccer is still not played in the USA. With the (usually, anyway) exception of the women’s side with the USWNT and NWSL, the top players and teams in the world don’t play here. This is in contrast to the other popular American pastimes.

We mustn’t view these major tournaments as the culmination of over a century of growing the game. The hard work must go on, to improve the game that goes on all year – in all corners of the country. More pro clubs in more places, better organization, better facilities, higher pay, and addressing issues at the youth and collegiate levels are all important areas where the game has to continue to improve.

Don’t worry – the big-time events will still come around while we continue to shape the game in this country. The soccer powers that be can bank on the USA being a slam dunk money-maker for just about any major competition.

So let’s not pretend we’re getting anointed with a gold medal. This is not a “Mission Accomplished” moment. This is only the beginning. And in a way, that’s even more exciting.

Photos: Imago.

Local times for a local Copa America tournament

Normally, Copa América is hosted in South America. But, being in the same hemisphere with many overlapping time zones, this provides for relatively easy watching for American viewers.

The 2024 tournament is being hosted right here in the USA though, so it’s even easier to watch. Game times will line up with what sports fans are familiar with in our regular domestic leagues and competitions.

Every 2024 Copa América game will start at the top of the hour in the evenings (eastern time).

Games will kick off at either 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, or 9:00 PM ET.

Note that a handful of weekday games start at 3:00 or 4:00 PM local time on the West Coast.

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Key game times at Copa America 2024

A few of the biggest dates and times to be aware of are as follows:

Opening Match:
Argentina vs Canada/Trinidad & Tobago: Thursday, June 20 / 8:00 PM ET

Other Argentina Group Games:
Chile: Tuesday, June 25 / 9:00 PM ET
Peru: Saturday, June 29 / 8:00 PM ET

USA Group Games:
Bolivia: Sunday, June 23 / 6:00 PM ET
Panama: Thursday, June 27 / 6:00 PM ET
Uruguay: Monday, July 1 / 9:00 PM ET

Mexico Group Games:
Jamaica: Saturday, June 22 / 9:00 PM ET
Venezuela: Wednesday, June 26 / 9:00 PM ET
Ecuador: Sunday, June 30 / 8:00 PM ET

Brazil Group Games:
Costa Rica/Honduras: Monday, June 24 / 7:00 PM ET
Paraguay: Friday, June 28 / 9:00 PM ET
Colombia: Tuesday, July 2 / 9:00 PM ET

Key Knockout Round Games:
Semifinal 1: Tuesday, July 9 / 8:00 PM ET
Semifinal 2: Wednesday, July 10 / 8:00 PM ET
Final: Sunday, July 14 / 8:00 PM ET

Those 8:00 PM ET kickoffs on the weekdays are still a tad annoying for West Coast fans who’ll have to scramble right after work to watch the game. But overall, the tournament will be an easy watch for most viewers.

You’ll be able to see every game across the networks of FOX Sports (English) and Univision (Spanish). For a full listing of games and times, visit the Copa América TV schedule page.

UEFA Champions League Draw

The biggest ticket of all, of course, is the Champions League. The Round of 16 will kick off with the first legs taking place February 13, 14, 20, and 21. Second-leg fixtures are set for March 5, 6, 12, and 13.

Matchup – Dates:

FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City – February 13 / March 6
RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid – February 13 / March 6
PSG vs Real Sociedad – February 14 / March 5
Lazio vs Bayern Munich – February 14 / March 5
Inter Milan vs Atlético Madrid – February 20 / March 13
PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund – February 20 / March 13
Porto vs Arsenal – February 21 / March 12
Napoli vs Barcelona – February 21 / March 12

No big surprises here in terms of qualified clubs, with all the heavy-hitting leagues accounted for. Not a bad match in the bunch. Can Manchester City repeat it, or will someone else steal the crown?

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UEFA Europa League Draw

The second-tier tournament is, of course, a little different. The eight group winners are through to the round of 16, while the eight second-place finishers will face the third-place teams bounced from the Champions League in a playoff for a place in the final 16. The matchups for these two-legged ties are below:

Group Winners:
West Ham
Brighton & Hove Albion
Rangers
Atalanta
Liverpool
Villarreal
Slavia Prague
Bayer Leverkusen

Matchup – Dates:

Feyenoord vs Roma – February 15 / February 22
AC Milan vs Rennes – February 15 / February 22
Lens vs Freiburg – February 15 / February 22
Young Boys vs Sporting CP – February 15 / February 22
Benfica vs Toulouse – February 15 / February 22
Braga vs Qarabağ – February 15 / February 22
Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague – February 15 / February 22
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille – February 15 / February 22

Some very strong sides remain in Europa League play, which will no doubt produce some quality games. The UK is well represented, with West Ham, Liverpool, Brighton, and Rangers all group winners awaiting their opponents. The draw for the round of 16 will take place on February 23, 2024.

UEFA Conference League Draw

This is the last season before the Conference League drops the “Europa” portion of the name. Mirroring to the level above, eight group winners are already on to the round of 16. Eight second-place teams will face the eight third-place Europa League sides to fill out the rest of the field.

Group Winners:
Lille
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Viktoria Plzeň
Club Brugge
Aston Villa
Fiorentina
PAOC
Fenerbahçe

Matchup – Dates:

Maccabi Haifa vs Gent – February 15 / February 21
Sturm Graz vs Slovan Bratislava – February 15 / February 22
Union SG vs Eintracht Frankfurt – February 15 / February 22
Real Betis vs Dinamo Zagreb – February 15 / February 22
Olympiacos vs Ferencváros – February 15 / February 22
Ajax vs Bodø/Glimt – February 15 / February 22
Molde vs Legia Warsaw – February 15 / February 22
Servette vs Ludogrets Razgrad – February 15 / February 22

Despite being the third-tier tournament, Conference League’s knockout rounds have a few former European Cup winners in the mix – Ajax and Aston Villa. The round of 16 draw will take place the same day as the Europa League: February 23.

Photos: Imago.

Pro Soccer in Canada: Origins

A couple of names you’ll recognize from today actually date back to well before the existing leagues in Canada. The Vancouver Whitecaps were actually started originally in the 1970s, playing in the North American Soccer League. That league also had teams in Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, and Montréal over the years. However, none of those other teams lasted long nor inspired future team names.

After the NASL collapsed, a new team came to Vancouver in 1986, aptly named the 86ers. Eventually, this team would adopt the Whitecaps name, and later, join Major League Soccer in 2011.

Today’s CF Montréal got their start in 1993 as the Montréal Impact, playing in American lower division leagues until joining MLS in 2012.

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Toronto FC was the first Canadian team in MLS, however, starting from scratch as a brand new team in 2007.

Since no true Canadian professional league existed at the time, these clubs all joined American leagues at their start.

Today’s Canadian league setup

But that situation has changed. In 2019, the Canadian Premier League debuted, officially recognized as Canada’s division one professional league.

The three MLS teams have been grandfathered into the American system, and allowed to continue playing there by US Soccer and CONCACAF. This is similar to clubs like Swansea City and Wrexham AFC who are based in Wales but play in the neighboring English pyramid.

Both MLS and CanPL sides also participate in the Canadian Championship, the country’s national knockout tournament.

There’s more than one soccer league in Canada

At the lower levels, League 1 Canada consists of three provincial semi-pro leagues: League 1 Ontario, League 1 Québec, and League 1 British Columbia. The champions of these three leagues earn a spot in the Canadian Championship. Occasionally Canadian amateur sides will compete in American leagues like USL League Two, but they do not partake in the Canadian Championship.

Previously, teams like the Ottawa Fury, FC Edmonton, Impact, and Whitecaps played in American Division Two pro leagues like USL or NASL, but this is no longer sanctioned by CONCACAF.

The winner of the Canadian Championship, as well as the top two CPL teams, earn a place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The three MLS teams in Canada can now also qualify for the Champions Cup via MLS league play and Leagues Cup.

In the Champions Cup, Montréal impressively made the quarterfinals in 2008, when they were still a second-division side.

As of 2023, no professional or nationwide amateur leagues exist for women’s soccer in Canada. However, the League 1 provincial leagues include women’s divisions.

That’s just about everything there is to know about soccer in the great white North. And the game in the country will only continue to get bigger.

Photos: Imago.

Welcoming the world – and winning

The first-ever World Cup in 1930 was tricky to organize. While soccer tournaments at the Olympics had been contested before, no international event specific to the sport had been attempted.

Five nations put in bids to host the inaugural tournament, but four of them withdrew their applications. This left just one – Uruguay.

The small South American country would go on to welcome twelve other nations to their capital, Montevideo. Three stadiums, the Estadio Centenario, Estadio Pocitos, and Estadio Gran Parque Central were used to stage all the games.

Three additional nations had been invited, but were unable to participate: Egypt, Japan, and Siam (Thailand). The two Asian sides withdrew, and Egypt actually missed their ride. A storm in the Mediterranean caused delays, which made the only African representative late for their ship.

Indeed, the limits of travel at the time also limited participation. Only four European countries made the trip – France, Belgium, Romania and Yugoslavia. The lack of strong teams such as England, Italy, and Germany does put a bit of an asterisk on the first World Cup.

That asterisk gets a little bigger when you consider that the host nation, Uruguay, won the tournament.

First to win the World Cup – Uruguay

When you consider that they did not have to travel from even within South America, it makes sense that the home team had a leg up. Without the burden of a long trip, Uruguay was able to outlast their opponents and take home the Jules Rimet Trophy (the original World Cup trophy, pictured above).

La Celeste were perfect in the group stage, winning both of their games and not conceding a goal. Another advantage they had was being in a group with just three teams. Due to the uneven number of teams competing, one of the groups had four teams and thus an extra game on the schedule for each team.

In the knockout rounds, Uruguay smashed Yugoslavia 6-1 in the semifinals. Then, in a battle with neighbors from across the Río de la Plata, they took on Argentina in the final.

Uruguay struck early, with a 12th-minute goal from Pablo Dorado. It was the Argentines though who had a 2-1 lead in the 37th minute. However, Uruguay would score three unanswered goals to re-take the lead and eventually win 4-2.

This result made Argentina the first-ever runners-up at the World Cup, while the United States took third place.

Any doubts about Uruguay’s quality due to being the home team were somewhat silenced twenty years later. They’d win the World Cup again in 1950, this time in much more hostile territory in Brazil against a more robust field of opponents.

Photos: Imago.

Rain, rain, go away, let the soccer game be played

Rain itself will not necessarily put a halt to a match.

Thousands of soccer games over the years have been played in everything from a light drizzle to a torrential downpour. It all comes down to how well a given field can drain water, and if the condition of the pitch is deemed safe to play.

A bad few days of storms beforehand can force the delay or postponement of a match. Rainclouds opening up during a match can force the game to be suspended, or even abandoned if conditions become dangerous.

But most times, the game goes on. Kits get muddy, tackles are sloppy, and in venues without covered seating, the fans get wet. But as long as nobody gets hurt, these moist matches can be a fun time (perhaps as long as you have a plastic bag for your expensive phone).

While precipitation itself will not necessarily halt a match, something that often comes along with it certainly will.

Any lightning in the area of a match will cause a delay or suspension of the game. If the forecast calls for an extended storm, a game could be called off entirely. Whether rain is falling or not, lightning will 100% throw a wrench in getting a game in.

There’s one surefire way to almost entirely avoid this entirely, however…

Put a lid on it

If a soccer stadium has a completely enclosed, or retractable, roof, neither rain nor lightning will stop a game.

Venues such as Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or Frankfurt’s Waldstadion, can cover the entire field with their roof structures, protecting the pitch and fans from any inclement weather outside.

The only time you’d still see a match delayed in an instance like this is if conditions outside the arena are so bad that getting the teams, players, and fans to the match would be unsafe.

However, enclosed stadiums are exponentially more expensive than traditional open-air venues, so they are much less common around the world. Unlike many modern American stadiums, a lot of soccer venues around the world do have adequate covering for fan seating areas, protecting the spectators from the rain. But the field itself is usually open to the weather.

Unfortunately for American fans, most leagues play through the summer months when storms are at their worst and most frequent.

But the game will usually go on, and wet fans will be treated to some splashy soccer.

Photos: Imago

Soccer programming on Netflix: running the numbers

Netflix recently released their viewing figures for January to June 2023. Rather than by total views, Netflix sorts its data by hours viewed. And for some programming, that is a lot of hours. The most watched overall program in the first half of 2023? That would be season one of The Night Agent. Viewers totaled 812,100,000 hours of viewership. That works out to almost 34 million days of watch time.

For soccer-related programming, the numbers are not so mind-boggling. Soccer on Netflix can range from documentaries to fictional TV shows and movies. Selections from each category are featured among the most-viewed soccer programs on the platform. Note that these viewing figures do not include the new USWNT documentary Under Pressure, which came out this week.

So, what is the most-viewed soccer title on Netflix? The answer might surprise you.

Most-viewed soccer programming on Netflix

Yep. Remember that 2006 Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum movie where a high school girl pretends to be her twin brother on the school soccer team? That was the most popular soccer-related movie on Netflix in the first half of 2023. With over nine million hours viewed, it earned the top spot.

But beyond teen rom-coms, there is plenty of more intelligent football programming that was popular, too.

Content for the soccer fan

Documentaries on some of the biggest names in the sport like Pelé, Maradona and Figo were big. In addition, profiles on clubs including the acclaimed Sunderland ‘Til I Die plus exposés on Boca Juniors and Juventus made the list too.

Then there were lighter entries, like the 2001 Hong Kong comedy Shaolin Soccer and Holy Goalie, which chronicles a team of monks playing to save their monastery from being turned into a hotel.

Certainly, if you are looking to dive into some soccer programming when there are no games on, there’s no shortage of footy flicks available. Plus, there is more to come. Netflix announced plans for a documentary about the 2022 World Cup.

Copa América is the championship for South American national teams. Now held every four years, it pits the ten CONMEBOL nations against each other, usually with a few guest teams invited to participate.

The tournament is the second-most prestigious honor for South American teams, after winning the World Cup. It is equivalent to Europe’s UEFA Euro competition, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, and other continental championships.

Copa America beginner’s guide

Format

The present competition format is fairly straightforward. Teams are broken into groups for the initial round-robin phase, and then an eight-team single-elimination knockout bracket commences.

Depending on the number of teams in the competition, the group stage can vary. For example, as no guest teams participated in the 2021 Copa America, there were two five-team groups. Each team therefore played four group games, and the top four from each group made it to the knockout stage.

However, for 2026, there are sixteen teams, so a more manageable four-groups-of-four setup will be used. The top two teams in each group will advance, after playing three games, similar to the World Cup format.

While group games can end in a tie, awarding one point (teams get three points for a win), knockout stage matches need a winner.

In the final, if the match is tied after 90 minutes, two additional 15-minute halves will be played in their entirety. Should the game remain tied, a penalty shootout will take place. For all other knockout games, extra time will not be played and tied games will go directly to penalty kicks.

The PK shootout consists of five rounds with the team scoring the most goals declared the winner. Should the shootout be tied after five rounds, sudden death will begin, one round at a time, until a winner emerges.

History

Copa America started way back in 1916, which makes it the oldest still-running soccer competition of its kind in the world. Argentina hosted the first-ever tournament but finished as runners-up to Uruguay. This would be the start of the two nations’ battle as top sides in the tournament.

For many years, a simple round-robin format was used, but now the more common group stage plus knockout rounds are utilized.

In 1975, the current name of “Copa América” was used for the first time. Previously, the competition was called the South American Championship.

Every Copa América except two has been hosted in South America. In 2016, a special “Cenentario” edition was staged in the United States to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the competition. In 2024. the tournament returns to the USA, but this time as part of the normal rotation.

Notable achievements

Argentina and Uruguay each have 15 titles, the most overall. Brazil has nine to its name. Paraguay, Chile, and Peru (2 each), as well as Bolivia and Colombia (1 each) have also won the championship. Ecuador and Venezuela are the only two CONMEBOL sides to date that have not won the competition, nor have they appeared in a final.

Mexico, however, has finished in second place twice, in two of their many guest appearances. This is the best performance ever of any guest team, and the only time a guest team has made it to the final.

How to watch

If you’re in the USA, you can watch Copa América in a few different places, depending on what language you’re looking for.

FOX Sports (FOX, FS1, FS2) has English-language rights. For Spanish coverage, look to Univision Deportes (TUDN, Univision, etc).

Fubo has all of these networks, as well as DirecTV Stream.

In addition, with the 2024 competition in the USA, games will all be played at convenient, prime-time evening kick-off times.

Check out our Copa América TV schedule page for complete listings of all the games.

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Soccer Beginner's guides

• Beginner's guide to soccer rules

• Beginner's guide to Argentine Primera División

• Beginner's guide to Bundesliga

• Beginner's guide to Championship

• Beginner's guide to Champions League

• Beginner's guide to Copa América

• Beginner's guide to English Premier League

• Beginner's guide to Euro 2024

• Beginner's guide to FA Cup

• Beginner's guide to Korea's K League

• Beginner's guide to La Liga

• Beginner's guide to Serie A

• Beginner's guide to Women's World Cup

• Beginner's guide to World Cup

Sadly, the opposite is the truth. The FIFA Club World Cup is happening now, and you might not even know the tournament exists.

Professional soccer’s overlooked championship

The Club World Cup is unique. Soccer is the only major professional sport that annually crowns a world champion amongst club teams. That is a real-world championship where you have to defeat other continental champion teams worldwide. It is not the NFL or MLB’s idea of a “world” champion.

Some of the biggest names in soccer have won the Club World Cup. Real Madrid holds the record with five titles. FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Corinthians, Liverpool, Chelsea, São Paulo, Internacional, Milan, Inter Milan and Manchester United have also won titles in the competition’s modern form.

But whether the Club World Cup or its forerunner, the Intercontinental Cup, the competition has never carried as much prestige as you’d think that it would. Unlike its international cousin, the regular World Cup, which captivates the entire planet for a month, even the soccer world barely blinks an eye at the Club World Cup.

Why is this? Indifference from European clubs and fans is a big factor. And at least in part, it comes down to several things. Namely, the competition’s format, timing, location, and promotion caused a lack of interest from the soccer community. This has been the case since the tournament began decades ago.

Crowning a world champion – a history

The earliest attempts in earnest to have a true world championship for club teams were in the 1950s and 60s. But the Intercontinental Cup only pitted the champions of UEFA and CONMEBOL against one another. While a side from one of these two – the strongest soccer regions of the day – winning the title would have been a foregone conclusion, it did not include the entire world.

And on many occasions, European teams declined to participate for various reasons.

It wasn’t until the year 2000 that a true world championship with representatives from all six confederations happened. Corinthians of Brazil won on home turf. Even with a more robust field of entrants, the competition still has never captured the imagination of the soccer world.

Less than ideal circumstances to cultivate a popular event

Why don’t fans and clubs take it seriously? The format might be one reason. Since the second modern edition in 2005, the competition has used a knockout format. But FIFA gave byes to the European and South American teams. That allows them to enter the competition later. Thus, those sides have to win fewer games.

Since 2007, the champion of the host nation’s top domestic league earned a place in the competition. A champion nonetheless, these teams are not on the same level as the six other continental winners participating.

European clubs and supporters treating the tournament as a distraction certainly can also stem from the timing of the competition. It is smack in the middle of the European club season. Of course, there is no ideal time since leagues around the world play at different times of the year.

From 2005-2023, the Club World Cup has been played in either Japan, the Middle East, or Morocco. Aside from the Morocco years, this has led to odd kick-off times for fans of the biggest clubs in the tournament, making it harder to follow.

And then you have the promotion for the tournament. In the USA, the competition gets no publicity. After a few years on FOX Sports, this year the tournament is not on TV at all. Games are streaming for free on FIFA+.

While this all contributes to relative indifference to the tournament in Europe, South American clubs consider it to be a high honor to win. Boca Juniors recently released a commemorative shirt to celebrate their 3rd Intercontinental Cup victory in 2003.

Change on the horizon

Alas, this is the last ever Club World Cup – at least in its present form. Come 2025, a new, expanded version of the tournament will take place. And it could be just what is needed to elevate the competition to the global phenomenon it ought to be.

Moving to the European club offseason in June and July, the new revamped Club World Cup will have a familiar format. The 32-team, eight-groups-of-four setup used by the World Cup from 1998-2022 will be adopted.

The winners of the UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF top club competitions, including the Champions League, and Copa Libertadores, from each year in 2021-2024 qualify. OFC (Oceania) will get one spot, along with the host country. The remaining ten slots go to the highest-ranking teams from Europa and South America not already qualified, based on club rankings.

Some clubs have already qualified. Among them are Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Flamengo, Fluminense, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders and Club Léon.

Things will get a massive boost, though, with the host nation for this first edition. The United States, one year before co-hosting the regular World Cup in 2026, will put on the festivities. The USA always turns out in full force for summer friendlies, so there is no doubt a competition of this magnitude will be a huge event.

And with the timing just after the completion of the European season, the strongest teams should be put out on the field.

A new annual six-team event has been proposed to replace the current Club World Cup, but this will likely remain a niche event compared to the new expanded, quadrennial version.

A look to the future

While no plans have been announced past 2025, it is easy to see a future where the Club World Cup becomes one of the biggest events on the soccer calendar. The careful and purposeful selection of future host nations will be crucial. The USA is a terrific start. Imagine a 2029 competition staged in England, Germany, Spain or Brazil.

After a few editions in more established locales getting the competition on stable footing with the soccer-viewing public, then they can go back to places like Asia, Africa, or the Middle East. People will stay up late to watch something that is viewed as important and successful.

Back to the present, a 2023 world champion awaits. Urawa (Japan) advances to take on Manchester City. Fluminense of Brazil faces the winner of Al Ahly and Al-Ittihad. The final will be held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Dec. 22. All games can be streamed live on FIFA+.

Photos: Imago

The unnamed cup competition is very similar in overall structure to the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup. That competition, which has since been shelved in its previous form, also featured only the twelve teams within its league and was played within the confines of the regular season calendar.

The new USL cup will, at first, feature the twelve teams split into three groups of four. Teams will play a double-round robin against their group opponents, plus two games against clubs from other groups for a total of eight group games. Four teams will then advance to a knockout round. But there are a few wrinkles that make this USL competition different from other similar tournaments.

The groups for the inaugural version of the tournament are as follows:

East:
Charlotte Independence
Greenville Triumph SC
Richmond Kickers
South Georgia Tormenta FC

Central:
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
One Knoxville SC
Lexington SC
Forward Madison FC

West:
Central Valley Fuego FC
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Union Omaha
Spokane Velocity FC

USL League One cup competition changes the game – literally

In the group stage, similar to the MLS/Liga MX Leagues Cup held this year, there will be no tie games in the traditional sense.

Games tied after 90 minutes will go straight to a penalty shootout, with the winning team getting two points and the loser getting 1 in the standings. Regulation wins will be worth 3 points. This 3-2-1 point system is also used by some European hockey leagues.

The three group winners will advance to the knockout round, but even that is a little different. In the event of a tie in the table on points, the first tiebreaker will be goals scored, and not goal difference as is traditional. This is intended to produce more attacking, more entertaining, play.

Most interestingly, the final team that goes on to the knockout phase will not be the best second-place group finisher. It will be the non-group winner that scores the most goals – regardless of their point total.

Built to evolve

The tournament itself is great. It will add more games for fans and players for the involved clubs. With most lower-division pro teams only getting one or two U.S. Open Cup games each year, it’s a valuable addition to the soccer calendar.

However, the future plans might be the most interesting thing of all.

The league notes that “Over the next few years, the USL aims to grow the cup competition, including the integration of other leagues and the exploration of additional innovations geared toward the fan experience.”

League One president Lee O’Neill added “Our ambition is to include clubs from other leagues in the future. There are so many strong clubs across our country and our region, and we believe this competition can be a catalyst to bring many of them together to grow the game and create a unique and amazing experience for players and fans everywhere.”

You’d have to assume that USL Championship (division two) clubs will be added to the mix in the future. Maybe even a few USL League Two (amateur) sides too.

But the official USL release didn’t specifically mention the leagues in their own ecosystem. They just noted “other leagues”.

The USA does not have an equivalent of England’s League Cup or FA Trophy. Should USL extend an olive branch to independent clubs in MLS NEXT Pro, NISA, and perhaps amateur leagues like the NPSL or USPL, it would be a fantastic thing for the lower division game in the US.

USL Cup set for 2024

The winner of the tournament will earn prize money and a new trophy as well. Matches will be staged on dedicated cup match days during the season.

The name and logo for this new competition will be unveiled in the coming weeks. The tournament will start on April 27th, 2024, with the group stage running through the weekend of August 31. The final will be played on September 28/29 as the lone League One match of that weekend.

A fresh start – and a re-start

Sporting JAX is a brand new club – set to tentatively debut in 2025 on both the men’s and women’s sides pending the finalization of a stadium. They can count American football legends Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor among their owners. However another team has been around in Jacksonville since 2015, and they’re embarking on a rebirth of sorts.

Jacksonville Armada FC started play in the NASL in 2015 and played through the league’s final season in 2017.

Rather than moving to USL or NISA like other surviving NASL castaways, the Armada took a different path. Instead, they operated an amateur U-23 team in the NPSL from 2019 onwards.

For a time, Armada owner Robert Palmer was a major voice in the reform movement in US pro soccer. He even floated the idea of a “Division Zero” outside the scope of the professional league standards set by USSF.

But that tune changed earlier this fall, as the Armada announced they would be moving to the division-three MLS NEXT Pro league. This competition is almost entirely comprised of MLS reserve teams. The Armada will be one of a small number of independent sides not affiliated with an MLS parent team. The 2025 re-start in the pro ranks will come with a planned downtown 2,500-seat stadium.

This sets up yet another front in the seemingly everlasting modern era of Soccer Warz.

As noted above, Jacksonville is the largest city by population in the entire country. But its combined Florida-Georgia metropolitan area is only the 38th-largest in the nation. It would rank near the very bottom by that metric amongst all division-one professional outfits in the US.

Does it really make sense to have two competing soccer teams in one market of that size?

Only in America

Not only will these two organizations be fighting over a relatively small piece of the pie, but it comes with unique issues encountered almost nowhere else in the soccer world.

Sporting will play at the division two level, in USL Championship. The Armada meanwhile will be at division three, in MLS NEXT Pro.

For two teams located in the same city, they’ll rarely – if ever – play each other.

One of the great things about multiple clubs in one area is the local rivalry. Having a fierce derby can bolster support for both teams and improve the game and culture in the region. But if the clubs never really get the chance to play each other, that effect is stifled considerably.

Outside of getting drawn together in the U.S. Open Cup, or maybe a preseason scrimmage here and there, Sporting and the Armada will never meet. Of course, in other countries, teams at different levels on the pyramid don’t often meet either. But they do have the ability to end up at the same level via promotion and relegation. The USA, of course, does not have that mechanism in place.

So instead, these two clubs will be glaring at each other from across town and rarely meeting on the pitch, instead fighting over fans, sponsors, and media coverage.

But it doesn’t end there because this battle could bleed over into the women’s game, too.

Sporting JAX vs Armada: not just for the men

Only about an hour before Sporting Club Jacksonville unveiled its name and colors to the world, the Armada decided to make an announcement of their own.

Owner Robert Palmer is forming a new ownership group to pursue bringing an NWSL expansion team to the city.

The NWSL has been around since 2014 and is the only active first-division women’s professional league in the USA. In fact, it’s the only pro women’s league in the country at any level currently. But that’s about to change.

The USL Super League is planning to launch in August 2024, as a division one league – equal to the NWSL on the pyramid. It will have nine teams in its inaugural season, including Floridian clubs Tampa Bay Sun FC and a yet-to-be-named Fort Lauderdale side.

Not only was the timing of the Armada’s announcement incredibly petty, but it continues to illustrate the silliness that permeates the entire professional soccer system in the United States.

Florida will have at least four, possibly five, professional women’s clubs in the coming years. Two could be in the same city. But three will be in the USL Super League (Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville), and one (maybe two) in the NWSL (Orlando and theoretically Jacksonville).

More issues

Oh and by the way, the two leagues won’t play on the same calendar, either. Super League clubs will enjoy playing over the more pleasant Florida fall and winter months, while NWSL sides will be suffering through the brutal Sunshine State summer.

As of this moment, there are no plans for any meaningful cross-league play. NWSL recently unveiled its 2024 season structure plans. Included is a new, unnamed, tournament featuring every NWSL team and “international participants” during the break for the 2024 Olympic Games.

That would have been a perfect opportunity for US Soccer to introduce some sort of women’s U.S. Open Cup competition. A window when neither league is playing league games. A chance for all these Florida teams (and nearby sides from both leagues in Texas, North Carolina, Washington state, and Washington, D.C.) to play against each other.

But nope. It’s every man (or woman, as it were) for themselves.

More clubs, men’s and women’s, is a good thing. It means more opportunities for players and coaches. More jobs in the sport. That’s all fantastic.

But you can’t help but bang your head against the table when it comes along with all the frustrating caveats of the US professional soccer system.

Photo: Imago.

2024 W Gold Cup Groups

The twelve competitors – nine already qualified plus the remaining playoff teams – have been slotted into place for the upcoming tournament.

The twelve teams have been placed into three groups of four. Come tournament time, the top two finishers in each group, plus the best two third-place sides, will advance to the knockout rounds.

Group A

United States / Mexico / Argentina / Guyana or Dominican Republic

Hosts and four-time world champions the USWNT are the star attraction of Group A. They’ll be joined by CONCACAF rivals Mexico and Argentina. The last spot will be either Guyana or the Dominican Republic. They’ll contest a play-in game on February 17, shortly before the tournament proper begins.

Anything short of easily winning this group would be a massive disappointment for the USWNT. This is their first official competition after crashing out of the World Cup this past summer. Twila Kilgore will still be in charge on the sidelines for the US. New head coach Emma Hayes won’t take over until after Chelsea’s season wraps up late next Spring.

The battle for the second automatic knockout round spot will surely be between Mexico and Argentina.

Group B

Brazil / Panama / Colombia / Haiti or Puerto Rico

Brazil and Colombia have a decent chance to make this group an all-South American affair if they can finish 1 and 2. Panama did recently play in their first-ever World Cup, but their 0-0-3 record and -8 goal difference was not a great showing.

Group C

Canada / Costa Rica / Paraguay / El Salvador or Guatemala

Canada has to be the favorite to win Group C, as they are historically, and currently, the strongest side in the bunch. Like the USA, they’ll be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 World Cup performance which will provide some extra motivation for sure.

This could be one of the groups where the third-place finisher squeaks into the knockout round.

The 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup kicks off on Tuesday, February 20th in Los Angeles. But the preliminary playoff games all take place on February 17th to lock in the final teams.

The quarterfinals will take place on March 2-3, with the semifinals on March 6. The final, in San Diego, will be on March 10. The entire tournament will take place in Los Angeles (Group A, quarterfinals), San Diego (Group B, semifinals and final), and Houston (Group C).

Photo: Imago.

For the Nerazzurri’s clash with Udinese on Saturday, their shirts were swapped out for the normal Paramount+ sponsor logo with the symbol of the Autobots – the heroes of the Transformers franchise.

Limited edition Inter Milan x Transformers shirt

Why the special shirts? The day before Inter’s Serie A tilt with Udinese, the latest film in the Transformers series became available on Paramount+. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts debuted on the service alongside the first six films in the series on Friday, December 8.

It’s not quite the old Pirelli tires logo, but the Autobots icon doesn’t look half bad on the iconic black and blue striped top of Inter.

Two Transformers were actually at the game on the sidelines at the San Siro on Saturday. They also appeared at the women’s game vs Sampdoria on the same day. A limited number of the special shirts are on sale through Inter’s official store.

If you miss out on those, an eBay auction will take place for game-worn shirts with proceeds going to charity. Several jerseys will also be donated to children in pediatric hospitals across Milan.

If this sort of shirt-sponsor promotion seems familiar to you, you’re not going crazy. Atlético Milan ran a similar series of shirts onto the pitch in 2003-04. They were sponsored by Columbia Pictures at the time. Titles such as Bad Boys II, XXX, and Spider-Man were promoted on the front of Atleti’s shirts that season.

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Inter currently sits two points clear of Juventus, and nine ahead of rivals AC Milan at the top of the Serie A table season. They’ve also booked a spot in the knockout round of the Champions League. They can still win Group D, where they’re currently tied with Real Sociedad at the top of the standings.

Photos: Inter Milan.

As of press time, ticket resellers such as Ticket Network and Ticket Liquidator already have tickets available. Meanwhile, Ticketmaster has not yet made them available.

Another option is Vivid Seats, which is offering $20 off your first order for World Soccer Talk readers (see more details below).

Vivid Seats has a 100% buyer guarantee. It promises valid tickets delivered in time for the event or your money back. These are secure transactions backed by full-service customer care. Plus, there is full compensation for events that are canceled and not rescheduled.

Score 2024 Copa America tickets early

Copa América 2024 Get your tickets now for the big tournament!
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Copa America 2024 will be the biggest soccer event in the United States this summer. With teams competing such as World Cup winners Argentina, Brazil, USA, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and many South American countries, it’s going to be the hottest ticket in town. Based on the Copa America groups, the USA has a path that should see them through to the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Ticket prices are expected to fluctuate throughout 2024, but don’t leave it too late.

New Vivid Seats customers, get $20 off your $200+ ticket order. Use promo code SOCCER20 at checkout.

Event organizers have already selected the stadiums for the games:

GROUP STAGE

Thursday, June 20
Argentina vs Canada or Trinidad/Tobago (in Miami); Tickets

Friday, June 21
Peru vs Chile (in Arlington); Tickets

Saturday, June 22
Mexico vs Jamaica (in Houston); Tickets
Ecuador vs Venezuela (in Santa Clara); Tickets

Sunday, June 23
Uruguay vs Panama (in Miami); Tickets
USA vs Bolivia (in Arlington); Tickets

Monday, June 24
Colombia vs Paraguay (in Houston); Tickets
Brazil vs Costa Rica or Honduras (in Inglewood); Tickets

Tuesday, June 25
Peru vs Canada or Trinidad/Tobago (in Kansas City); Tickets
Chile vs Argentina (in NY/NJ); Tickets

Wednesday, June 26
Ecuador vs Jamaica (in Las Vegas); Tickets
Venezuela vs Mexico (in Inglewood); Tickets

Thursday, June 27
Uruguay vs Bolivia (in NY/NJ); Tickets
Panama vs USA (in Atlanta); Tickets

Friday, June 28
Paraguay vs Brazil (in Las Vegas); Tickets
Colombia vs TBD (in Glendale); Tickets

Saturday, June 29
Argentina vs Peru (in Miami); Tickets
Canada or Trinidad/Tobago vs Chile (in Orlando); Tickets

Sunday, June 30
Mexico vs Ecuador (in Glendale); Tickets
Jamaica vs Venezuela (in Austin); Tickets

Monday, July 1
Bolivia vs Panama (in Orlando); Tickets
USA vs Uruguay (in Kansas City); Tickets

Tuesday, July 2
Brazil vs Colombia (in Santa Clara); Tickets
Costa Rica or Honduras vs Paraguay (in Austin); Tickets.

No matter the price, though, fans will surely scoop up these tickets. High-profile games and some of the biggest stars always pack the house in the USA. And Copa 2024 should be no different.

Photo: Imago.

Euro 2024 action kicks off on Friday, June 14, while Copa America 2024 starts one week later on Thursday, June 20. Both tournaments wrap up on the same day, July 14. The Euro 2024 final is set for 3:00 PM ET, while the Copa finale is later that night at 8:00 PM ET.

Due to the time differences, the European games run from the morning through late afternoon. Then, Copa América gets going in the evenings. It will be wall-to-wall soccer on many days, as there is some decent overlap between the two competitions. On some days, there’ll be as many as six matches played. Depending on which day you want to watch games, there are as many as twelve hours of international soccer games.

With so much footy on tap, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of all the 2024 Copa and Euro games:

2024 Copa America and Euro Schedule

Friday, June 14

Germany vs Scotland: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Saturday, June 15

Hungary vs Switzerland: 9 AM ET — Fubo
Spain vs Croatia: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Italy vs Albania: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Sunday, June 16

Poland vs Netherlands: 9 AM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Slovenia vs Denmark: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Serbia vs England: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Monday, June 17

Romania vs Ukraine: 9 AM ET — Fubo
Belgium vs Slovakia: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Austria vs France: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Tuesday, June 18

Turkey vs Georgia: 12 PM ET — Fubo
Portugal vs Czech Republic: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Wednesday, June 19

Croatia vs Albania: 9 AM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Germany vs Hungary: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Scotland vs Switzerland: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Thursday, June 20

Slovenia vs Serbia: 9 AM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Denmark vs England: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Spain vs Italy: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Argentina vs Canada: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Friday, June 21

Slovakia vs Ukraine: 9 AM ET — Fubo
Poland vs Austria: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Netherlands vs France: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Peru vs Chile: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Saturday, June 22

Georgia vs Czech Republic: 9 AM ET — Fubo
Turkey vs Portugal: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Belgium vs Romania: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Ecuador vs Venezuela: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Mexico vs Jamaica: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Sunday, June 23

Switzerland vs Germany: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Scotland vs Hungary: 3 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
USA vs Bolivia: 6 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Uruguay vs Panama: 9 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Monday, June 24

Albania vs Spain: 3 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Croatia vs Italy: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Colombia vs Paraguay: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Brazil vs Costa Rica: 7 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Tuesday, June 25

France vs Poland: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Netherlands vs Austria: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Denmark vs Serbia: 3 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
England vs Slovenia: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Peru vs Canada: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Chile vs Argentina: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Wednesday, June 26

Slovakia vs Romania: 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Ukraine vs Belgium: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Georgia vs Portugal: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Czech Republic vs Turkey: 3 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Ecuador vs Jamaica: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Venezuela vs Mexico: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Thursday, June 27

Panama vs USA: 6 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Uruguay vs Bolivia: 9 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Friday, June 28

Colombia vs Costa Rica: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Paraguay vs Brazil: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Saturday, June 29

Switzerland vs. Italy (Euro Round of 16): 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Germany vs. Denmark (Euro Round of 16): 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Argentina vs Peru: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Canada vs Chile: 9 PM ET — FS2 (Fubo)

Sunday, June 30

England vs. Slovakia (Euro Round of 16): 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Spain vs. Georgia (Euro Round of 16): 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Mexico vs Ecuador: 8 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Jamaica vs Venezuela: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Monday, July 1

France vs. Belgium (Euro Round of 16): 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Portugal vs. Slovenia (Euro Round of 16): 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Bolivia vs Panama: 9 PM ET — FS2 (Fubo)
USA vs Uruguay: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Tuesday, July 2

Romania vs. the Netherlands (Euro Round of 16): 12 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Austria vs. Turkey (Euro Round of 16): 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Brazil vs Colombia: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Costa Rica vs Paraguay: 9 PM ET — FS2 (Fubo)

Thursday, July 4

Copa Quarterfinal: 9 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

Friday, July 5

Euro Quarterfinal: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Euro Quarterfinal: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Copa Quarterfinal: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Saturday, July 6

Euro Quarterfinal: 12 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Euro Quarterfinal: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Copa Quarterfinal: 6 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)
Copa Quarterfinal: 9 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Tuesday, July 9

Euro Semifinal: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Copa Semifinal: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Wednesday, July 10

Euro Semifinal: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Copa Semifinal: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Saturday, July 13

Copa Third Place: 8 PM ET — FS1 (Fubo)

Sunday, July 14

Euro Final: 3 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)
Copa Final: 8 PM ET — FOX (Fubo)

All in all, fans will be treated to seventeen days of all-day soccer. Euros during the day and Copa America provides the nightcap. And it all culminates with a double final on July 14.

It even gives fans in the United States a chance to watch Euros during the day, and then head to the stadium for Copa America at night. The opposite is true for European fans who are up for pulling an all-nighter to stay up and watch Copa.

It should be one outstanding summer of soccer.

All of the games are available on FOX Sports and Fubo.

LA Soccer History

Before we get to today’s teams, Los Angeles has a history of clubs that go back quite a ways.

Leagues started in the area as early as the first decade of the 1900s. Over the years, some of these local clubs went on to national glory. Maccabee Los Angeles won the US Open Cup five times, while the LA Kickers won the title twice.

The Los Angeles Wolves played in the United Soccer Association in 1967, which was a precursor to the NASL. They got their name because they were the English side Wolverhampton Wanderers playing in the US during their summer offseason.

Later, the LA Aztecs (co-owned by Elton John and featuring players such as John Cruyff) and California Surf (playing in nearby Anaheim) played in the NASL.

Various lower-division pro clubs also played over the years, such as the California Sunshine of the ASL, and later the LA Salsa of the APSL. The latter attempted to join the Mexican professional league system in 1994 after being rebuffed by Major League Soccer in its formative stages.

The LA Galaxy ended up being the Los Angeles outfit in MLS when it launched in 1996, and they went on to become one of the league’s most successful teams.

The Galaxy would be joined in the pro ranks by Chivas USA in MLS, in 2005, and the women’s club LA Sol of WPS in 2009. Sadly, neither side survives today.

But today’s professional soccer scene in LA is very robust.

Los Angeles soccer teams

As of 2023, Los Angeles has professional soccer teams at every level, plus a vibrant amateur setup as well. In total, we see 12 teams in Los Angeles.

MLS (Division 1)

LA Galaxy

The Galaxy has been kicking since 1996 and is one of America’s most iconic modern clubs. They have won five MLS Cups, four Supporter’s Shields, two Open Cups, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup. And you may have heard of some of their players over the years. Alexi Lalas, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Chicharito are just a few of the players to suit up for the Galaxy. Since 2003, the Galaxy has been based in suburban Carson.

LAFC

After the demise of LA-based Chivas USA in 2014, the Los Angeles Football Club was quickly established to continue a local derby (now called “El Tráfico”). Sporting a downtown location, LAFC quickly became popular and has also earned a reputation on the field. They already have one MLS Cup title and two Supporters Shields. And twice they have been finalists in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

NWSL (Women’s Division 1)

Angel City FC

The LA Sol folded in 2010, and their WPS league one year later. But in 2022 the women’s pro game returned to Los Angeles in the form of Angel City. Owned by a cavalcade of women’s celebrities including Natalie Portman, the team has become one of the most popular in the league. They share a stadium and primarily black color scheme with LAFC. They made the playoffs for the first time in 2023.

USL Championship (Division 2)

Orange County FC

OCFC plays in nearby Irvine at Championship Soccer Stadium, and began life in 1998 as the Los Angeles Blues, and joined the USL Pro league in 2010. Orange County won the 2021 USL Championship title.

USL League One (Division 3)

Santa Barbara Sky (2025)

The Sky is joining USL League One in 2025. While not really a true LA team (they are about 80 miles away as the crow flies), you cannot deny their SoCal cred. The club plans to play at a stadium, aptly named La Playa, located only a few hundred feet from the beach and Pacific Ocean.

Antelope Valley (2025)

Another, and yet-to-be-named, League One side is set to join the league in 2025 as well in the region. Slightly closer to LA in Lancaster (just north of LA), this new club will help establish a southern California presence and give another nearby rival to Fresno-based Fuego in the central part of the state.

NISA (Division 3)

California United Strikers FC

California United was supposed to be a NASL expansion team, but the modern version of that league collapsed before they could debut. They won the West Coast championship in the inaugural Fall 2019 NISA season. The club is officially on hiatus, but should they return, they will be one of FOUR professional clubs slated to call Championship Stadium in Irvine home in 2024.

Los Angeles Force

The Force plays in black and gold, similar to LAFC. It plays – guess where – at Championship Stadium in Irvine. The club were finalists in 2021, losing on the road to Detroit City FC in the title game.

Calabasas FC (2024)

This new club will be based in Thousand Oaks, just northwest of LA proper over the Santa Monica mountains. Originally to be known as Oaks FC, an ownership change occurred resulting in the name change

Irvine Zeta FC (2024)

The final entrant in the Irvine-based quartet, but the only one to use the suburb’s name as part of the club identity. They will get an automatic spot in the US Open Cup as a professional side in 2024. However, they’ll be sending two teams to the competition. Zeta’s amateur team in the USPL won a 2023 place as well through the open division qualifying path.

MLS NEXT Pro (Division 3)

LA Galaxy II and LAFC 2

These two sides are reserve teams playing in Major League Soccer’s MLS NEXT Pro circuit, which primarily consists of similar B-teams. Galaxy II started life playing in USL Pro in 2014 but shifted to NEXT Pro when it launched in 2022. While professional teams with paid players, as clubs outright owned by higher-level teams, they are not permitted to participate in the Open Cup.

With as many as nine fully professional, non-reserve, men’s clubs playing by 2025, Los Angeles is the closest American equivalent to many major soccer cities around the world. Angelinos certainly have no shortage of options to choose from when partaking in the beautiful game.

Photos: Imago

For instance, when Women’s World Cup winner Christen Press was recently interviewed, she said, “I can’t find my own team play. I’m injured right now, and when the team is away it takes me 10 minutes trying to find the content for my own team.”

If a Women’s World Cup winner can’t easily find out where to watch her team online, then you know the situation is bad. And if you use the Soccer TV Schedules app, it’ll take seconds to find your team.

Available for free on both iOS and Android mobile devices, the Soccer TV Schedules App has all the games and where to find them. Here’s how you can get the most out of this great resource.

Get the Soccer TV Schedules App Today

If you don’t have the app, you can download it for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

When opening the app for the first time, you’ll see today’s games, listed with the earliest games first. Selecting a different date will, naturally, show you that day’s games.

To see where you can watch your game of choice, simply tap the “How to Watch” button below each match listing. This will bring up a list of the providers who are showing that match (see example below).

Any applicable streaming services are listed at the top. These could be traditional TV-style services, which offer a variety of channels, such as Fubo, Sling, or DirecTV Stream as shown above. Or it could be services such as ESPN+, Paramount+, or Peacock that directly stream games.

Tapping any of these will take you to their website, where you can log in or sign up and watch immediately. Any television network airing a game will appear at the bottom of the list. If you have a cable or satellite plan that has that network, you can tune in and you’re good to go.

Fine-tuning your Soccer TV Schedules App experience

Scrolling through every game can help you stumble on matches you didn’t even know were available. But there are a few additional features that can make it easier to find the games you’re really interested in.

Filters

At the top right of the screen, you’ll see the “Filters” option. Tapping here will give you a list of every competition we keep track of, which is just about every professional and international soccer competition available to watch legally in the USA:

Just tap the competitions you’re interested in, and then tap apply. Now, the listings for each day will only show those competitions.

My Teams – Put your favorite teams front and center

In addition, you can set and follow your favorite teams. By tapping the “My Teams” tab at the bottom of the home screen, you can search for and add your favorite teams:

You can also click the star icon next to a team name on any match listing to favorite a team. To unfavorite a team, click the yellow star again. Once you’ve added your favorite team(s), any games featuring them will appear at the top of the page under “My Matches” on any date on the “Matches” tab:

Now you should be all set to make sure you don’t miss any games from your favorite teams.

The Soccer TV Schedules App is updated daily with the latest game listings. So if the networks or kickoff times change, you’ll be in the loop. Make sure you download it today to always have your teams’ games at your fingertips.

International soccer – nothing else quite like it

Almost every sport that is contested professionally also has international competitions, where players represent nations instead of individual club teams. But soccer is almost certainly the highest-profile of any international sport.

Not only do these matches carry the most weight and draw the most interest from fans and media worldwide. But international soccer teams also get together and compete on a more regular basis than most other sports.

For example, basketball and ice hockey have major tournaments at the Olympics every four years. But other events in between garner much less interest, and often the top professional stars do not participate.

Soccer, however, features the best players from each nation consistently suiting up multiple times each year. And “secondary” competitions are still hotly contested and are major honors for the teams that win.

Tip your cap

When a player is called up to their national team and appears in a match, they are commonly said to have been “capped” or “capped X times”.

This terminology has origins in the 19th century early days of the sport. Before matching team shirts were commonplace, many clubs were distinguished by the hats, or caps, they wore. Then, in the 1880s the practice began of awarding actual silk caps to members of the England national team. Ever since, the term “caps” has stuck around. Sometimes physical hats are still given to players for international duty or for milestones in games played for a team.

The logistics of international call-ups

In the weeks, and sometimes months, before an international window or major competition, the rosters for national teams are selected and players are notified.

When it’s time for the games to begin, professional leagues will usually pause for a week or more. This time allows for players to be released to the national teams. To avoid conflicts with club play, major tournaments like the World Cup usually take place between June and August, which is the offseason for many of the world’s top pro leagues. Leagues that do not have many international players, such as lower divisions, often do not pause during these breaks.

In many cases, players make their way to national team camps from all over the world. But for some countries, a large portion, or even all, of their national team plays domestically and doesn’t have to travel far. Sides like Saudi Arabia or South Korea often fit this description.

But to account for travel, even brief international windows for exhibition, or friendly, matches usually leave a few days on either side of the games to allow players to rest and get to and from their clubs.

Getting paid to represent the flag

Circumstances vary from program to program, but in most cases, players are compensated financially when playing for their national teams. This could be in the form of a per-game payment, bonuses, or even a full-time contract.

The latter option is sometimes the case when a nation’s domestic league system is underdeveloped and/or unstable. For example, it was not that long ago that members of both the United States men’s (pre-1990s) and women’s teams (pre-2010s) could count national team duty as their primary job.

Compensation can also come into play if a high-profile star gets injured playing with the national team. If a player gets hurt during a major international tournament, that nation’s football association may be required to compensate the club that the player is under contract with. With millions of dollars invested into players, losing someone to injury while not even playing for your club can certainly sting.

If the team wins or advances far in international play, they usually receive prize money. This purse is then usually split between the players. This of course is a nice cherry on top to getting to represent your country.

Players who perform well on the international stage can become even bigger stars in the game. And they’ll gain fans who, during club play, might normally hate them as supporters of rival teams.

While the duty may send them halfway across the world in the middle of an important season, international call-ups are amongst the highest individual honors in the game and opportunities that are treasured by players.

Photos: Imago

USA and Mexico propose joint bid, following 2026 men’s tournament

On the very last day to submit, the United States and Mexico officially threw their hats in the ring on Friday to become co-hosts of the 2027 event.

With the slogan of “New Heights” and a snazzy bid logo, the duo hopes to entice FIFA by utilizing the substantial infrastructure that will be built up from the year before at the 2026 men’s World Cup. The 2027 USA-Mexico bid logo features twin eagles – the Mexican golden eagle and American bald eagle. The central “27”, and the entire symbol, is a clever ambigram – it reads the same upside down. A quick graphic design sidebar: this logo is already miles better than anything that has been done for the 2026 World Cup.

The bid boasts that most of the venues will seat more than 65,000 fans. This indicates that the same major stadiums from ’26 will be preferred instead of smaller soccer-specific venues.

The USA, of course, has hosted two Women’s World Cups in the past – 1999 and 2003. 2003 was actually similar to the idea behind the 2027 bid, but for different reasons. A SARS outbreak in China forced FIFA to move that competition on short notice. And the US’s infrastructure made it an easy fit. This time it’s on purpose – to ride the hype from ’26 and the growth of the women’s game in North America to produce the biggest Women’s World Cup ever.

Potential Host Cities

The cities included in the dual bid are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay, and Seattle. From Mexico, Guadalajara, León, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Querétaro are included. All of the US cities will also host games in 2026 at the men’s tournament. Only Kansas City has been left off from the 2026 roster of host sites. Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey will host in ’26, with León and Querétaro as the only new additions for 2027.

It’s surely to be an enticing possibility for FIFA. But the USA and Mexico are not alone in the race to host.

Three bids in the running for 2027 World Cup

While they publically declared their intent months ago, the trio of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands officially sent in their bid book today as well.

With a catchy slogan of “Breaking New Ground” – BNG for Belgium/Netherlands/Germany – these three will be hoping to bring the competition back to Europe. France recently hosted the 2019 edition, while Germany (2011) and Sweden (1995) have been solo hosts in the past.

The club game has exploded in Europe recently, with many major clubs increasing investment in the women’s game. The European bid will be hoping to tap into that wave of growth for sure.

The lone solo bid for the 2027 tournament is from Brazil. The Women’s World Cup has never been held in South America before. This gives Brazil a leg up in that department. FIFA has been keen to “grow the game” by bringing big events to new regions in the past. South America is certainly no stranger to football, but on the women’s side, they have lagged behind.

FIFA will commence with on-site inspections next February. On May 17, 2024, at the 74th FIFA Congress, it is expected that the 2027 Women’s World Cup host(s) will be named.

Copa America draw revealed

Recently in Miami, the draw for the 2024 Copa played out, setting the stage for the tournament which kicks off June 20th in Atlanta.

The assortment of the four groups led to some fascinating matchups. Canada, fresh off qualifying for its first World Cup in 36 years, is playing in the Copa America for the first time. The only challenge is that it is in a challenging group that features a combined 19 Copa America titles. The highlight challenge for Canada will be Lionel Messi and Argentina, the reigning champions of the Copa America. Additionally, those two teams face Peru and Chile, which have had success at the Copa America. One CONCACAF team expecting to advance is Mexico out of Group B. In a group with Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica, Mexico is arguably the best team in that group. Having the best success at the Copa America among teams from CONCACAF, Mexico could make a run in this competition.

The United States is the de facto host for the tournament, even though it still had to qualify via the Nations League. Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia present some interesting matchups as the United States looks to reach another final four of the competition. That is what it did in 2016 when it was the host. Finally, Group D consists of Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica. Brazil and Colombia will certainly be the favorites for success in that group.

The USA will have group-stage matches in Arlington, Atlanta, and Kansas City. Advancing out of Group C would send them to either Las Vegas or Phoenix for the quarterfinals.

Download your 2024 Copa America bracket

To help you prepare for the tournament, we’ve put together a printable PDF bracket which you can download here (or click the image above).

It lays out the group pairings and knockout stages of the competition so you can track the action next summer.

How to watch the Copa America on US TV and streaming

As usual, FOX has the rights to broadcast the Copa America to fans in the United States. Therefore, games will be airing on FOX, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. The majority of the games in the Copa America are available on FS1. In total, 22 of the 32 games in the summer of 2024 are airing on FOX’s sports-centric TV channel. However, there are still seven games available on FOX, with the last three on FS2. Access to those three channels requires either a cable, satellite or streaming platform. Subscribing to Fubo is an affordable way to unlock access to each of those three channels.

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Additionally, TelevisaUnivision will have Spanish-language coverage of the Copa America for audiences in the United States. Although specific details for the Spanish coverage are still somewhat unclear, Fubo does have access to both TUDN and Univision.

Second ever Copa in the US

2024 will be just the second time the Copa América tournament has taken place outside of South America. Both times, the host has been the United States. But the 2016 edition was a little different. The “Copa América Centenario” came just one year after the normal 2015 tournament in Chile. It was a special commemorative edition to celebrate the tournament’s 100th anniversary. So 2016 carries a bit of an asterisk.

However, 2024 is a full-blooded version of the tournament on the standard four-year rotation. Expanded from the usual twelve teams (all ten CONMEBOL nations plus two invited guests), 2024 will have sixteen teams similar to 2016. While nations from outside the Americas have been invited in past tournaments, this time all six additional teams are from CONCACAF. In addition, these teams are not invitees – they all had to qualify to earn their place this time.

The opening game will take place June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of Atlanta United of MLS and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. The final will be held at the Miami Dolphins’ home, Hard Rock Stadium, on July 14. The full Copa America TV schedule provides game information, and tickets are available for each of the 32 games at the competition.

Will it be a short drive from his current home address to the final for Messi and Argentina? We will have to wait and see.

Copa America to light a footy fire in the United States

The USA has hosted major soccer tournaments and events before. World Cup 1994, and the Women’s World Cups in 1999 and 2003, were watershed moments for the sport, sure. Major international friendlies are staged here each year, and CONCACAF competitions headlined by Mexico and the USA national teams showcase the enthusiasm for soccer that exists in this country.

But nothing like the stretch we’re about to embark on has ever happened before.

Copa America will bring arguably the best continental competition on the planet here. As a bonus, popular home sides USA, Mexico, and possibly Canada will be added to the mix. That’s exciting enough. But Copa is only the appetizer to an incredible upcoming buffet of the beautiful game.

The fire that Copa America will spark next summer will be followed up with the debut of the new, 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. This will bring some of the biggest and most popular clubs on the planet to the US. And for the first time, as part of a real, meaningful competition.

That will be followed with something even bigger – the 48-team FIFA World Cup in 2026. This will no doubt be the biggest, most attended World Cup ever.

And if that’s not enough, the US has its hat in the ring to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, too.

That’s at least three, and maybe four, years in a row of absolutely massive soccer events on our shores. This of course will be added on top of things like MLS, Liga MX, Leagues Cup, a revamped Champions Cup, the NWSL, an ever-expanding lower division scene, and multiple new women’s professional leagues in the USA.

America the Beautiful (game)

Just the fact that Copa America will be played here will get the soccer community buzzing.

But imagine if the USMNT actually did well? Or even, as unlikely as it may be, make the final or even win the whole thing?

That would surely see the excitement break out of the soccer community and into the mainstream. We get the “World Cup bump” every four years for both the men and women. Everyone gets riled up. Attendance usually picks up for domestic leagues around the tournament. The mainstream media catches on.

But it all quickly fades away when either the men inevitably crash out, or the (usual) women’s celebration tour ends. This nation’s love for the sport ebbs and flows, but has never truly latched on with the general population.

However, the US men making the final or winning Copa América would be a massive achievement, easily their biggest accomplishment ever. Even escaping the group stage and winning a single knockout game would set the tone for the buildup to what would then be an even more insane 2026.

With the US automatically qualified as 2026 co-hosts, the otherwise meaningless 2025 Gold Cup and other games would suddenly become much bigger events.

Even if the USA doesn’t do well, though, Copa America will still be the harbinger of the next evolution of soccer in the States.

There was the age of the games’ immigrant roots and the establishment of the US Open Cup in the early 1900s. Then the dark ages for decades when the sport was nearly non-existent. The brief sparkling lights of the NASL in the 1970s. World Cup ’94 and three decades of growth that have followed. And now, this is the moment for the next step.

Bring it on.

Photos: Imago

Royal purple!

While the home shirt for England is a much more traditional affair, this away top is a sensational change of pace.

The entire shirt is a dark purple color, with trim in a light yellow. This includes the iconic Three Lions crest which is rendered in a sharp duotone.

The real bit of interest though is the side paneling. A mosaic of bold stripes runs down the length of the body on each side, creating a flash of color that goes surprisingly well with the rest of the relatively plain shirt.

This color scheme is mirrored on the inner collar striping. It’s also carried through in a styled St. George’s Cross in the inner neck. This is similar to the same graphic that appears on the home shirt, but this time with a few more colors added.

All over the purple portion of the top, there is a textured pattern that has become familiar with many Nike efforts in recent years.

Rating the England Euro away kit

The more traditional red or blue away shirt has been tossed aside this time, and it’s a great decision.

While it’s a stark departure from past designs, it still manages to feel distinctively English. Maybe that’s because this color scheme would look right at home on the head of the King or Queen. Surely Nike was inspired by the Crown Jewels when crafting the color palette for this shirt.

The wild color stripes on the sides don’t feel as loud as you’d think they should. They just work as a perfect complement to the dark purple base.

This time, Nike really knocked it out of the park. Perfect execution of a secondary kit.

Grade: A+

Love this new direction for England? Hate it? Let us know in the comments!

Kit renders: World Soccer Talk.