Cyprus FA meets government and asks for help in bringing violence under control
February 1 – The Cyprus Football Federation (CFA) participated in today’s session of the Legal Committee of the Parliament of Cyprus to discuss the proposals of the Council of Ministers for amending changes to the law on the prevention and suppression of violence in sports venues.
USA
The USA go into the Nations League finals as favourites to retain their title won last June. If they win, it will be their third title and they will maintain their record of having been the only team to have won the Concacaf Nations League that was first played in 2019/20.
Snapdragon Stadium
The Snapdragon stadium will be host to the semi-finals and the final of the first ever W Gold. It will also be used for all Group B games.
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.