ESPN examines web model for MLS broadcast distribution
May 30 – ESPN may start offering coverage of Major League Soccer (MLS) games online, without a required subscription to ESPN.
Concacaf
US pro women’s league NWSL secures ESPN broadcast deal
May 29 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the USA has struck a deal with ESPN to televise nine matches televised this year. Six regular season games are scheduled to be televised on either ESPN 2 or ESPN 3, whilst both playoff semifinals and the championship game will be shown on ESPN 2.
Central American Cup to finish with a triple-header in LA
May 28 – The Central American Football Union (UNCAF) which is playing its Central American Cup 2014 in the USA later this year, has announced that the final will be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 13. This is the first time the regional championship has been played outside the Central American region and the 13th time the Cup has been played, as UNCAF prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Jamaica to play at Copa America 2015 in Chile
May 27 – Jamaica will join Mexico in CONMEBOL’s Copa America tournament in Chile in 2015, the 44th time the competition has been held. The 45th edition in its hundredth year – Copa America Centenario – will be held by CONCACAF in the US in 2016.
Gulati wants rules of bidding game changed before US will bid again
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – The head of US Soccer says has reiterated his country will only target the 2026 World Cup if FIFA’s bidding rules are significantly tightened up – including votes being made public. Sunil Gulati and other senior executives within his CONCACAF confederation have long been uncomfortable with the way the joint ballots for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were conducted.
Beckham turns to Plan B for Miami stadium
By Ben Nicholson
May 23 – David Beckham, in his bid to build a Major League Soccer stadium in downtown Miami, is envisioning a new location for his home turf. Having met with opposition for a waterfront park, largely from disgruntled businessmen from the port area, he has switched his attention to filling a water basin with a 20,000-seat stadium.
UNCAF to play its 2014 Cup in the US in September
May 21 – The US has rapidly become the country of choice for Central and South American championships. Earlier this month CONCACAF announced it would be hosting the Copa America Centenario in the US in 2016. Now the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) have confirmed they will play their 25th anniversary Central American Cup in the US.
US to host CONCACAF 2014 Women’s Championship
May 17 – The US will host the CONCACAF Women’s Championship 2014 this Autumn. The championships also serve as the finals of the Confederation’s qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.
Copa Centenario logo unveiled as Univision sign up for TV rights
By Paul Nicholson
May 16 – Wasting no time following the announcement two weeks ago that the Copa America Centenario will be played in the US in 2016, CONCACAF and South American Football Confederation Conmebol have unveiled the tournament logo and named their first broadcast partner, Univision as the US Spanish-language television rights holder.
CONCACAF kicks off Interpol alliance with match-fixing workshop
By Paul Nicholson
May 15 – Just days after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), CONCACAF has hosted a three-day joint FIFA-Interpol Workshop in Miami. A second workshop will be hosted next week.
MLS secures bumper new eight-year TV deal
By David Owen
May 14 – Major League Soccer (MLS) has secured a big financial boost, agreeing a new eight-year television and media rights partnerships with a total of three US networks.
CONCACAF beefs up its policing with Interpol hook-up
By Paul Nicholson
May 13 – CONCACAF has taken another step forward in the battle against match-fixing, signing a memorandum of Understanding with International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL). The co-operation agreement will enable joint efforts in what CONCACAF calls “sports integrity initiatives”, particularly in the sharing of resources and experiences. The aim is to intensify on-going work to combat match-fixing.
Copa America Centenario raises importance of Caribbean Cup
By Paul Nicholson
May 5 – Initial reaction to the announcement last week that the Copa America Centenario will be played in the US and hosted by CONCACAF in 2016 has been positive.
Copa America Centenario poses a challenge to the accepted old world order
By Paul Nicholson in Miami
May 2 – The unveiling of the Copa America centennial tournament to be played in the US and hosted by CONCACAF June 3 to June 26, plants a huge new football tournament right in the middle of what is already a packed sporting calendar with UEFA’s 2016 European Championships in France and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
History made as CONCACAF joins with CONMEBOL to host Copa America centennial
By Paul Nicholson in Miami
May 2 – The invitation promised history and the event delivered it. North American and Caribbean confederation CONCACAF and South American confederation CONMEBOL announced that the centennial edition of the world’s oldest international football tournament, the Copa America, will be played in the US in 2016.