BC SOCCER WEB SPECIAL: BC Taxpayers Deserve the Truth about the 2026 World Cup Bid – BC Soccer Web
The 2026 World Cup looks to be lost for Vancouver. That may not be a shame for some, but it will be for our children and their children. The questions of how it happened remain.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
ATLANTA UNITED 4 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 1
MLS MATCHDAY #3
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018
MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM, ATLANTA, GA.
Report and Reaction: VAR and Elf leaves Waston on the shelf in Whitecaps loss – AFTN
Elfath’s use of VAR to send off ‘Caps captain Kendall Waston in the 13th minute and award Atlanta a penalty was certainly a game changer as Vancouver went down to a 4-1 defeat on Saturday evening. Would a full strength line-up have prevented the loss? Questionable. Would it have helped stop Josef Martinez hitting a hat-trick? Possibly. But we wouldn’t be sitting here once again talking about MLS officials and one in particular.
‘Caps fight hard, but can’t overcome early red card in first visit to Atlanta – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-1-0) made their first ever visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, but were unable to overcome a controversial early red card to Kendall Waston as they fell 4-1 to Atlanta United FC (2-1-0).
10-Man Vancouver Fall On The Road – Eighty-Six Forever
In what would have been a fantastic, early season test of mettle, the Vancouver Whitecaps were never able to recover from an early and absolutely arguable red card to Kendall Waston, falling 4-1 away to Atlanta United.
A VAR’d red and Martinez hat-trick sink the ‘Caps in Atlanta – Red Nation Online
Vancouver Whitecaps FC went down to Georgia looking to continue their unbeaten streak against Atlanta United FC. Vancouver’s perfect start to the season did not continue as Atlanta turned up with a convincing 4-1 win in front of 45,003 spectators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Whitecaps Stand Tall in Atlanta but Glad They’re Not Going Back – Soccer Shorts
Let’s not get into the contentious VAR discussion again except to say that I was very definitely right about the whole thing.
Satan’s Little Helper?: The history of Ismail Elfath vs Vancouver Whitecaps – AFTN
I do like a good conspiracy theory, but yes, they are somewhat lame when sports fans trot them out as reasons for leagues and officials seemingly being biased against their particular team. I prefer to look at plain facts and when it comes to refereeing Whitecaps matches, Elfath’s stats are somewhat eye opening. Shocking some may say.
Kekuta Manneh added to US roster for Paraguay game March 27 – Metro
Mexican league midfielder Kekuta Manneh was added to the U.S. roster Monday for a March 27 exhibition against Paraguay at Cary, North Carolina.
Impact coach tinkers to good effect against Toronto with reinforcements in offing – Montreal Impact
Rémi Garde, the Impact’s first-year head coach, has complained about a lack of depth on his roster. But if Montreal can weather the storm of its early-season schedule, top-heavy with road games, some interesting scenarios could play out.
Toronto FC 0-1 Montreal Impact: The good, the bad and the ugly – Waking the Red
TFC only had two points at this time last year. Wins on March 30 and April 7 will put them right back on pace for a 69-point season. Don’t sprain your ankles jumping back on.
Montreal Impact signs Uruguayan midfielder Alejandro Silva – Montreal Gazette
Silva signed a three-year deal with the Impact and he will join the club after passing his medical and receiving his international transfer certificate.
MLS Weekend Rewind: Week 3 – SBI
Another week of the young MLS season is in the books. Penalties, red cards to big name players, and late goals told the stories in nine matches over the weekend.
MLS Week 3 breakdown: Orlando’s identity problem and more – Fansided
A look through Week 3, featuring Orlando’s struggles, the goalscoring mentality and improvements in Minnesota and Montreal.
The CCL hangover is real and more from Week 3 – MLS
The biggest winners from this week were Toronto FC, Chivas de Guadalajara, New York Red Bulls and Club America. Nothing that happens in Week 3 of the very long MLS regular season or Week 12 of the not-so-long-but-still-ongoing Liga MX Clausura can or does compare to winning one’s way into the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League. TFC and RBNY needed it for the obvious reasons, while Chivas needed something to hang their hats on in the midst of one of the club’s worst runs in its history.
Why parity in MLS makes American soccer so compelling – Burgundy Wave
Parity leads to a level of competitiveness we don’t see in other leagues.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ana Ivanovic announce the birth of their first son – Chicago Fire
News broke late Sunday evening that Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and wife Ana Ivanovic had at last welcomed their first son into the world, both announcing the new addition to their family publicly via their social media channels.
Our City: Soccer History Matters – The Mane Land
As opposing fans attempt to delegitimize Orlando City’s lower league successes, I’m reminded that legacy and history always matter, even if you support a team that doesn’t have any.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
PHOTOS: VMSL IMPERIAL CUP SEMIFINAL, Croatia SC 3, West Van FC 1 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
PHOTOS: VMSL IMPERIAL CUP SEMIFINAL, Rino’s Tigers 3, Club Inter 2 (PKs), March 17, 2018 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux.
VISL Cup Finals Set for March 24-25 Weekend – BC Soccer Web
All teams are now official, the pairings are set, here are the match ups for the upcoming weekend and all 4 Cup Finals.
Eight ‘Caps called up to Canadian women’s U-17 camp – Whitecaps FC
Eight players from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX program have been called up for Canada Soccer’s upcoming Women’s EXCEL camp in Markham, Ontario.
Vikes Female Rookies of the Year nominees announced for 2017-18 – UVic Vikes
The Female Rookies of the Year nominees for 2017-18 include soccer defender and Canada West All-Rookie team Brea Christie, basketball Canada West All-rookie team Ashlyn Day and Canada West women’s field hockey Rookie of the Year Anna Mollenhauer.
What does a typical day look like for a Whitecaps FC billeted player? – Whitecaps FC
More than 80 young players are part of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency program, working hard on and off the pitch every day to achieve their dreams of becoming a professional player, and playing for Canada’s national team.
World Cups soccer festival coming to Lochside Park – Saanich News
Victoria’s long running youth soccer festival, the Peninsula Co-op World Cups Soccer Festival, is set to return to Lochside Park on March 30 and 31.
TSS Rovers release Season Tickets for the 2018 season – TSS Rovers
A great summer of soccer is in store at Swangard Stadium with the PDL & WPSL TSS Rovers. Season yickets are only $70.
Victoria Highlanders FC 2018 Season Tickets now on sale – Victoria Highlanders
Spend your summer with the PDL Highlanders at Centennial Stadium for only $75.
Canadian legends Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil team up for Individualized Coaching Program – Dasovic-Neil Coaching
(Spring Sessions now available) Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil have teamed up to provide training programs for players & coaches. The programs specialize in individual, positional, age, and gender specific training for players, with a combined technical and physical focus while providing education and mentorship opportunities for coaches to improve their skills and deepen their knowledge base.
Canada’s College ID Camps set for Shawnigan Lake & Kingston, Ontario – Canada College ID Camps
Our purpose is to provide a space where players grade 9-12 can connect with college coaches from all levels in Canada and the USA. We hope to assist in the promotion of youth players into environments which will challenge them academically and athletically after high school.
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP PHOTOS: Vancouver Utd. 3, Mid-Isle Mariners 1, July 30, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
BC PROVINCIAL WOMEN’S A CUP PHOTOS: Surrey United 1 NSGSC Renegades 0, May 13, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
2017 VISL JACKSON CUP PHOTOS: Nanaimo Utd. 2 Cowichan LMG 1 (XT), April 2, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you. The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!
Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.
The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.
Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.
Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Soccer fans hope Edmonton bid in FIFA 2026 will bring more exposure to sport – Metro
On Friday, Minister Amarjeet Sohi confirmed Edmonton as a candidate host city in the North American United bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Unified World Cup bid defends decision to have U.S. host lion’s share of games – Metro
The group hoping to bring the 2026 World Cup to North America has defended its decision for a 60-10-10 split in games.
Morocco unveils $15bn World Cup 2026 plan, and a need to pay attention to detail – Inside World Football
Underdogs Morocco may be winning the sympathy vote in the race to land the 2026 World Cup but judging by last Saturday’s globally streamed press conference outlining their credentials, they have considerable ground to make up on the favourites from North America.
Canada Soccer announces squad for U-17 camp in Markham – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Women’s EXCEL Program will come together in Markham, Ontario as Canada continues their preparations for the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship in Nicaragua. The nine-day preparation camp runs 18 to 26 March and will be followed by a pre-tournament camp in early April.
The backbone of Blues soccer’s backline – The Varsity
University of Toronto Varsity Blues defenders Laura Krkachovski and Christine Mulligan reflect on their varsity careers.
‘Very optimistic about our chances:’ Iceland wants Canada’s support in World Cup – Metro
Cue that iconic Viking Clap, everyone. Iceland needs it badly. With a population of around 330,000, Iceland just made history by becoming the smallest nation to ever qualify for soccer’s World Cup. Now the island country wants to bring the biggest supporting cast to the world stage, and Canadians are their main target.
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USL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
Fresno FC and downtown Fresno throw a season-opening experience well worth attending – Fresno Bee
Though the Foxes lost 3-2 to the Las Vegas Lights to kick off Fresno FC’s inaugural season, Saturday’s biggest winners were those who got to experience Fresno’s first United Soccer League game, as well as partake in the vibrant party atmosphere prior to opening kickoff.
Fresno F.C Are Bad And They Should Feel Bad – Eighty-Six Forever
Since i’m full of impotent rage I thought I might as well use it productively and systematically tear apart the roster building strategy of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ USL affiliate Fresno F.C. It is my contention that Fresno F.C are bad from a development perspective and equally bad in terms of being competitive.
Fury falls to Independence to open season – Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Fury began its fifth professional season on Saturday in North Carolina with a visit to the Charlotte Independence that ended a disappointing 4-1 loss.
TFC II fall at Red Bull Arena in opening game of the season – Waking the Red
Matt Srbely scored an early goal for Toronto FC II, his first in USL, but a saved penalty kick from Ben Spencer at the start of the second half and a pair of goals from Andrew Tinari in a ten-minute window turned the tide in the first USL match of the 2018 season for the Young Reds.
USL Recap Week 1: NYRBII comes from behind, Lights win debut, and more – SBI
Week 1 of the 2018 USL season provided fans with plenty of great matchups and show-stopping goals.
Steel FC make statement against Kickers – Brotherly Game
In the most complete performance Bethlehem has ever seen, Steel shine in season opener.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Chelsea Ladies set for FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City – Evening Standard
Chelsea Ladies face a probable semi-final meeting against holders Manchester City in the SSE Women’s FA Cup after this morning’s draw put the clubs on a likely collision course.
NWSL Season Preview: Thorns hungry for more in defense of title – The Equalizer
Last year the Portland Thorns entered the 2017 season as the NWSL Shield holders and, as a result, were a favorite to win it all. However, the legitimacy of that seemed in question when midfielder Tobin Heath was sidelined for the vast majority of the season with a lingering back injury.
Seattle: Let’s Reign Down Together – Sounder at Heart
In less than a week, Seattle Reign FC returns to Memorial Stadium—hoping to find that spark again.
Madrid women’s derby attracts over 22,000 – She Kicks
Saturday’s derby in Liga Iberdrola saw leaders Atlético and newcomers Madrid CFF draw 2-2 in front of a crowd of 22,202.
Sam Kerr to lead Australian Asian Cup assault – Canberra Times
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has restored several key senior internationals to his squad for next month’s Asian Cup.
The pay chasm between male and female athletics – The Varsity
The pay gap in professional sports cannot be resolved in a day, or even a decade. Women’s professional leagues need more sponsorships, more airtime, more fans, better venues, better youth programming, and much more. But before all that, they need — and deserve — respect.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Euro world: Inter Milan’s Icardi hits milestone in Serie A – Sportsnet
Every Monday, I’ll pick out the best weekend highlights from the top leagues across Europe, and I’ll share what I think are some of the most insightful soccer reads on the web from the past week.
Barcelona takes 11-point lead; Ronaldo scores 4 for Madrid – Peterborough Examiner
Atletico Madrid’s title hopes were further damaged after it conceded two late goals in a 2-1 loss at Villarreal on Sunday, allowing Barcelona to open up an 11-point lead in the Spanish league with nine matches remaining.
Mohamed Salah is outscoring Lionel Messi and is on course to re-write the Premier League record books – The Telegraph
Comparisons with Lionel Messi have already started, and why not? Mohamed Salah has, after all, scored more goals than the five-time Ballon d’Or winner this season, despite playing in fewer games.
Hughes defiant after debut win as Saints boss – NBC Sports
Mark Hughes got off to the perfect start at Southampton as the new manager led his team to the FA Cup semifinals.
FA Cup: Pedro heads Chelsea into semifinals in extra time –Sportsnet
Pedro scored with a header in extra time for Chelsea to advance to the FA Cup semifinals with a 2-1 win at Leicester on Sunday.
Week 30 review: OL reignite race for third, PSG roll on – Ligue 1
OL’s remarkable 3-2 win in Marseille took them within two points of third place, reigniting the race for the Champions League play-off berth, while leaders PSG maintained their advantage atop the table with a 2-1 win in Nice.
Lyon risks season ban by UEFA for fan racism, disorder – Metro
Europa League final host Lyon is at risk of a one-season ban from UEFA competitions after more fan disorder.
John Gregory: Former Aston Villa boss wins Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC – BBC Sport
In a 28-year managerial career, John Gregory’s trophy cabinet has been rather empty, bar the 2001 Intertoto Cup. But on Saturday the former Aston Villa boss succeeded where no Englishman has before, by winning the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC.
Shakhtar Donetsk – What is next for the exiled club? – Futbolgrad
On Sunday it was back to business for Shakhtar Donetsk as they beat Mariupol 3-0 in the Ukrainian Premier League to widen the gap in the standings to six points over rivals Dynamo Kyiv. It was the fifth consecutive victory for Shakhtar Donetsk in the league, who are once again look to win the title in Ukraine this season.
Davide Astori: Fiorentina rename training ground after former captain – BBC Sport
Fiorentina will rename their training ground after former captain Davide Astori, who died aged 31 earlier this month.
FIFA finally approves video review to help referees at World Cup – Toronto Star
Referees can call on video assistant referees to review and overturn “clear and obvious errors” plus “serious missed incidents” involving goals, penalty awards, red cards, and mistaken identity.
US football chief believes rest of world will follow on youth heading ban – The Guardian
A top football executive believes the rest of the world will eventually catch up with the United States’ pioneering ban on heading in youth football.
Manchester City parent posts £71 million loss – Inside World Football
City Football Group Limited, the Abu Dhabi- and Chinese-owned entity that holds investments in various football clubs including Premier League champions-elect Manchester City, has posted a £71 million loss from continuing operations for the 13 months to 30 June 2017.
‘Fixing matches like nobody has done before’: Skenderbeu’s amazing tale – The Guardian
Albania’s leading club are accused in a leaked Uefa report of routinely manipulating games for betting purposes and may be banned for 10 years.