Panama
Panama made a big leap forward at the last Gold Cup in 2023, beating the USA in the semi-final on penalties before losing to Mexico 1-0 in the final.
Mexico
Mexico open their Concacaf Nations League Final Four campaign against Panama in the semi-finals at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, in what is a rematch of the 2023 Gold Cup final, which Mexico won 1-0.
BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
The BMO Stadium, formerly Banc of California Stadium, is a 22,000 capacity soccer specific stadium in the Exposition Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
Jamaica
Jamaica qualified for their first Nations League final four tournament on away goals scored with a second half burst of three goals in a 3-2 away win Canada to tie the overall aggregate at 4-4.
Dignity Health Sports Park
The Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, greater Los Angeles, opened the tournament with a triple header of play-in matches on February 17, followed three days later by the opening of the tournament proper and the USA’s opening game.
Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas
Home to MLS side the Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League, the 22,039-capacity Shell Energy (formerly the BBVA Compass Stadium) was built as a soccer-specific stadium but has been used for lacrosse, rugby, and concerts.
Japan find form with Moriyasu saying they will improve again
January 31 – Japan stuck to the script to seal their spot in the quarter finals of the Asian Cup easing past Bahrain to put a shaky looking second place finish in the group stage behind them.
FIFA’s international transfer report charts record $9.63bn spent in 2023
January 31 – Clubs worldwide spent a record $9.63 billion on international transfers last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by more than $2 billion.
Klinsmann praises Mancini and Saudi but rues Korea not winning their group
January 31 – South Korea advanced to the quarter finals of the Asian Cup by way of penalty shootout on Tuesday night, as the Koreans left it late but got the job done over the high-flying Saudi Falcons.
Japan start to join the dots as they ease past Bahrain
January 31 – Four-time Asian Cup champions Japan secured their place in the quarter finals of the competition with a comfortable 3-1 victory over group-topping Bahrain.
Under-fire Mancini apologise for his early exit but not Saudi Arabia’s
January 31 – Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini has apologised for disappearing down the tunnel before his team’s Asian Cup fate was sealed in Tuesday’s 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat to South Korea in the last 16.
AFCON giant killing continues with Morocco latest to fall
January 31 – Morocco became the latest giants to be toppled at a shock-filled Africa Cup of Nations when they fell 2-0 to South Africa on Tuesday, while Mali also booked a quarter-finals place.
Taremi pays the penalty but Iran go though with shoot-out win over Syria
January 31 – Ten-man Iran survived a major scare against Syria winning 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to complete the quarter-final lineup of the Asian Cup. Sent off, Mehdi Taremi will have to sit out the last-eight clash with Japan.
AFC bans journalists who confronted Iraq coach Jesus Casas in post-match press room debacle
January 31 – Media representatives who accosted Iraq coach Jesus Casas at his post-match press conference following Monday’s shock Asian Cup last-16 defeat by Jordan have been banned from covering all Asian Football Confederation tournaments in the future.
ECA closes in on 500 members as exco meets in Doha to review strategic initiatives
January 31 – Meeting in Qatar on the sidelines of the Asian Cup, the European Club Association’s (ECA) executive committee held its first meeting of 2024 to review key strategic development projects.