Crystal Palace US tour match in Cincinnati to be live-streamed on Facebook
July 13 – Premier League Crystal Palace, currently on pre-season tour in the US, will have their second of three friendly matches streamed live on Facebook.
Concacaf
John-Williams fails to convince home support in bid to be Caribbean king
By Paul Nicholson
July 12 – Trinidad and Tobago FA (TTFA) president David John-Williams, who is bidding to become Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president with the apparent backing of CONCACAF’s leadership, FIFA and UEFA, has come under fire from within his own federation for not consulting his own members and for spending TTFA funds to promote his bid.
CONCACAF puts U15s title back into schedule with girls heading for Florida showdown
July 6 – CONCACAF has put its U15 national team championship back into the calendar and will hold the Girls edition August 9-21 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney in Orlando, Florida. Twenty three nations are entered.
US Soccer launches girls 25-club academy system as pathway to pro game and US team
By Paul Nicholson
July 5 – The US Soccer Federation has officially announced a new 25-club Girls’ Development Academy that will start matches in the Autumn of 2017. The academy structure is “an initiative designed to accelerate the development of world-class female players” in the World Champion nation.
Caribbean crossroads. Are football’s political elite creating a ‘new Warner’ for their own use?
By Paul Nicholson
July 1 – Controversial Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, David John-Williams, has officially declared his candidacy for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) presidency, amid claims that he has misused TTFA funds to finance his campaign and that he has been given significant political backing from CONCACAF and FIFA in return for his support of their new presidents Victor Montagliani (pictured) and Gianni Infantino.
Scotiabank Champions League builds momentum with group dates set
June 29 – CONCACAF has set the dates for the group stages of the Scotiabank Champions League, its blue riband event for clubs.
Chile burst Argentina’s bubble as Copa America closes with records and penalties
By Paul Nicholson
June 27 – The Copa America Centenario concluded in front of 82,026 fans in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a penalty shoot-out win for Chile over Argentina.
Montagliani, Gulati and Infantino manoeuvre Caribbean into submission
By Paul Nicholson
June 24 – Manipulation of football administration in the Caribbean is nothing new. But in a region desperate to shake off the long shadows of former presidents Jack Warner and Jeff Webb, the old ways of operating seem to be alive and kicking. They may have even taken a turn for the worse with regional confederation CONCACAF stepping into the game with the support of FIFA and its new president Gianni Infantino.
South Americans take control of Copa America as Argentina breeze into final
By Paul Nicholson
June 22 – Argentina swept USA aside 4-0 in Houston last night to progress to the finals of the Copa America Centenario, and setting up an all-CONMEBOL final with the winners of Chile or Colombia who play this evening in Chicago.
Copa America Centenario explodes into semis with goals galore
By Paul Nicholson
June 20 – The Copa America Centenario has moved into its semi-final stage with some football style with goals galore in the final two quarter-final matches. After a slow start the oldest international football tournament in the world has burst into life.
USA qualify for Copa America semis as organisers vex over Mexican songsters
By Paul Nicholson
June 17 – The USA became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario with a 2-1 win over Ecuador in Seattle.
CONCACAF play catch-up with boost to Champions League prize fund
June 16 – CONCACAF have boosted their prize money fund for their top tier Champions League club competition to $1.2 million for the 2016/17 season. They have also committed to supporting club travel costs in the early tournament stages.
Argentina put on the style as Copa America heads into quarter final stage
June 15 – While the Euro 16 Championship in France go into their second round of group matches tonight, the Copa America Centenario in the US closed out group play with an emphatic 3-0 win for Argentina over Boliva.
US Club Soccer to deliver $4.2m economic impact for national finals
June 15 – Big tournaments generate big money – from marketing and broadcast rights fees, tickets and merchandising. And for the host country there is a measurable economic impact for its cities as well as the enhanced profile for the country as a destination.
Copa America Centenario: USA and Mexico challenge Southern neighbours
By Paul Nicholson
June 14 – USA, Mexico, Peru and Argentina head the qualifiers for the next round of the Copa America Centenario tournament in the US, while dramatically, Brazil have crashed out after a controversial refereeing decision ruined their week.