Messi makes lifestyle choice and heads for InterMiami and the MLS
June 8 – In a move that took much of the football world by surprise, Lionel Messi has turned his back on Saudi Arabia and is instead heading to the MLS and Inter Miami.
Concacaf
Concacaf rebrands Champions League to Champions Cup, expands entries and boosts prize money
June 7 – In a major rebranding move designed to embrace the confederation’s past and build identity around its new expanded club competitions, Concacaf has renamed its Champions League.
Concacaf unveils draw detail for new club competitions in Caribbean and Central America
June 6 – Concacaf has released details of the draws for its three regional cup competitions to take place August to November this year. The competitions will provide qualifying routes to the expanded Concacaf Champions League in 2024.
Club Leon beat LAFC to win Concacaf Champions League and re-assert Mexican dominance
June 5 – Club Leon from LigaMX beat the MLS’s Los Angeles FC 1-0 in the Final second leg at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, and return the title to Mexico.
LAFC’s added time goal cuts Club Leon lead to set up nail-biting Champions League finish
June 1 – LigaMX’s Club Leon, pushing for their first Concacaf Champions League title in a competition traditionally dominated by Mexican clubs, will take a one goal lead over LAFC to Los Angeles this Sunday.
Hudson quits US manager’s role with Nations League and Gold Cup just two weeks away
May 31 – Anthony Hudson has suddenly quit as interim head coach of the USA men’s national side, just two weeks before he was to lead them in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals.
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
SoFi Stadium, venue for the 2023 Gold Cup finals.
Perhaps the most spectacular of the US’s mega stadiums, the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with its wrap-around video screen, will host the final of the Gold Cup. It is the first time the Gold Cup has visited the SoFi and the stadium’s first major soccer showpiece final.
The SoFi will also be a host venue for the 2026 World Cup and the venue for the finals of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
The 2023 Gold Cup is heading to Las Vegas, the self-proclaimed entertainment capital of the world, for the second consecutive time in the city and in one of the shiniest and newest stadium facilities in the US.
Located adjacent to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, Allegiant Stadium is a 65,000 capacity venue that began construction in November 2017 and was completed at a cost of $1.9 billion in July 2020.
While Las Vegas’ soccer ambition was too slow to apply to be a World Cup 2026 venue,
Snapdragon Stadium,
Snapdragon Stadium
First time Gold Cup host
Initially known in the planning stage as the Aztec Stadium, the 35,000 capacity Snapdragon Stadium is an outdoor facility located on the campus of San Diego State University.
Following the departure of the NFL’s Chargers, focus began on building a new stadium for the university’s American Football team the Aztecs that was modern.
The stadium broke ground in August 2020 and opened two years later in August 2022.
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Quarterfinals venue in 2023, hosts in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2021. Capacity of 80,000 to 105,000.
Located in the west of Dallas in the city of Arlington, the 105,000 maximum capacity AT&T stadium is the largest domed structure in the world and one of the biggest sports stadia. Costing $1.2 billion to build, the continually evolving stadium is a facility like no other. It has more than 300 suites, numerous club facilities,
Bank of America, Charlotte, NC
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte North Carolina is a 74,867-seat stadium is located on 33 acres and is the home of the Carolina Panthers in the NFL and Charlotte FC in the MLS.
The stadium opened in 1996 as Ericsson Stadium, before Charlotte-based Bank of America bought the naming rights under a 20-25-year agreement at $140 million.
When Charlotte FC became the 30th MLS franchise in 2019 the stadium was announced as its home venue.
BMO Field, Toronto, CAN
BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
The Gold Cup returns to Canada and the BMO Field, Toronto, for the second time. The last time the stadium hosted Gold Cup was a double header in 2015.
A football-specific outdoor stadium located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, the stadium is the home of Toronto FC who play in the MLS and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football league.
Stadium capacity is currently about 28,000 but can be expanded to 40,000.
CITY Park, St Louis, MO
CityPark, St Louis, Missouri
This 22,423-seat soccer-specific stadium was only completed in November 2022.
It is the home of St Louis City SC that made its MLS debut in March 2023, beating Charlotte FC 3-1.
The stadium is located in the Downtown West district and next to Union Station.
The stadium has a grass pitch 12m below street level, surrounded by two tiers of seating totaling 22,423 seats – an additional 2,500 seats can be added.
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Prelims host 2021. 18,000 capacity)
DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced as Drive Pink Stadium) is the home of Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium which was the home of the now disbanded MLS team Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
The 18,000 soccer-specific stadium is the interim home of MLS franchise Inter Miami CF which is now in its third season as well as its USL League One reserve team Fort Lauderdale CF.
El Salvador bans fans for a year over Alianza stadium disaster
May 24 – The El Salvadorian football federation (FESFUT) has moved quickly to sanction the Alianza club after the crowd surge that crushed fans causing 12 deaths and more than 500 others needing medical attention.