NWSL releases league and revamped cup schedules for 2023 season
February 10 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced its full schedule for the 2023 regular season that will kick off on March 25.
Concacaf
AFC and Concacaf sign new accord to develop competitions and share knowledge
February 2 – The AFC and Concacaf have signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focussed on increasing competition between the two regions for men’s and women’s national teams and clubs.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico qualified from their Nations League A group with a win and a draw against Trinidad and Tobago, but lost twice to Mexico. Their win over Haiti in the preliminary round play-off was a seismic result.
What to expect
With a team based primarily around US-based college players, and with very little experience of international football, they did well to reach the preliminary round, but their 1-0 win over Haiti who had qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup was as an act of giant killing.
NISA to debut three new clubs for 9-club 2023 season
February 1 – The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the US third tier professional men’s league today, is bringing in three new clubs for the 2023 season, but is losing two clubs from its 2022 roster.
Argentina
Argentina qualified as one of the four Conmebol guests at the W Gold Cup with a third placed finish at the 2022 Copa America Feminina.
USA
Having qualified thanks to winning the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, hosts USA will be looking to recover from a severely underwhelming World Cup campaign that saw them lose their place at the top of the FIFA world rankings.
Mexico
What to expect
Unbeaten in the past year, Mexico enter the W Gold Cup as dark horses to lift the trophy. Ranked 30th in the FIFA world rankings, they haven’t made the list of tournament favourites but certainly have an outside shot at going all the way.
The qualified via winning League A Group A, dominating all four games versus Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, conceding just once whilst scoring 12 of their own.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic qualified for the preliminary knock-out stage as winners of Group B in Concacaf Nations League B, winning five games and losing just once, scoring 24 goals in the process.
El Salvador
El Salvador qualified for the preliminary play-off after topping Group B of League B in the Concacaf Nations League when they won all six of their matches, with 24 goals from a number of different players.
Panama
Panama qualified for the W Gold Cup by topping their League A Nations League group ahead of Guatemala and Jamaica.
Paraguay
Paraguay qualified as one of the Conmebol guests for the Concacaf W Gold Cup by finishing fourth in the 2022 Copa America Feminina.
Canada
Canada qualified for the Gold Cup as CONCACAF Olympic play-off winners, making them the first team to officially join hosts USA. The Canadians have a strong a footballing pedigree having won Gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Brazil
Brazil qualified as 2022 Copa América Femenina winners which gave them automatic qualification to the W Gold Cup. As a result, they were seeded in pot 1 of the group stage draw alongside fellow favourites USA and Canada.
U.S. Soccer adopts Yates report recommendations into new ‘Safe Soccer’ regulation
January 31 – The United States soccer federation is to introduce a more thorough vetting system for coaches and officials as part of reforms after an investigation found widespread misconduct in the top-flight women’s league (NWSL).
NWSL plans expansion teams in Boston, Utah and San Francisco
January 30 – The 12-team National Women’s Soccer League is in advanced discussions to expand with three new teams in Boston, Utah and the San Francisco Bay Area.