VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Orlando City agrees to deal with two-time MLS Cup champion Will Johnson – Orlando Sentinel
Orlando City has agreed on a deal that will bring two-time MLS Cup champion midfielder Will Johnson to the City Beautiful, league sources confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel Wednesday night.
San Lorenzo to repatriate Piatti from the Impact? – Mount Royal Soccer
For his part, Ignacio Piatti has been clear that he wants to remain in Montreal.
Houston Dynamo sign Panamanian international Adolfo Machado – Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo have signed defender Adolfo Machado, the club announced today. Machado joins the club on a full transfer from Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Mikey Ambrose surprised to be moving from Orlando City to Atlanta – Orlando Sentinel
Mock drafts rolled out in the days leading up to the MLS expansion draft. They streamed onto the internet from traditional media outlets, bloggers, league writers and fans. Everyone wanted to chime in on who they thought 2017 expansion teams Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC would take with their five picks.
Orlando City install grass at new stadium – MLS
Orlando City SC laid the grass for their new stadium on Tuesday, crossing another milestone ahead of the official opening of their new facility in March.
Renovations underway at Yankee Stadium – Empire of Soccer
Announced in October, the renovations involve the conversions of sections 201 and 239 from bleachers into an open-access landing area. The batter’s eye deck in centerfield will be expanded and a sports bar will be built at section 134 at field level. All of the new amenities will be open for New York City FC matches.
A look at the most interesting players available in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft – SBI
After a painfully uneventful first stage a week ago, the MLS Re-Entry Draft returns on Thursday with the second stage.
Sporting Kansas City exposes another dimension of homegrown rule – The Brotherly Game
Sporting Kansas City appear to have again taken advantage of another dimension of the homegrown player rule to acquire the rights to U.S. U17 star Josh Sargent.
MLS releases offseason draft calendar; Combine, SuperDraft heading to LA – MLS
Here are the important MLS offseason dates to keep track of.
Vancouver Whitecaps: The Airing of Grievances – Soccer Shorts
If the Holiday period is about anything it’s about people arguing over petty differences while terrible atrocities happen in all four corners of the world. But it’s also about judging other people in a harsh and unforgiving manner and so, with that in mind, this seems a good time to look at a few of the things that are most concerning about the current Vancouver Whitecaps.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Comsia claims academic award at NCAA soccer championships – North Shore News
North Vancouver’s Alex Comsia was named an NCAA Elite 90 Award winner following an impressive season with the University of North Carolina’s men’s soccer team.
Fifa: the video game that changed football – The Guardian
These days, Fifa is produced by a core team of roughly 100 people working in EA’s 400,000 square foot campus in the Vancouver suburbs. Although EA makes other games here, Fifa is the site’s flagship project (a three-quarter-length football pitch sits at the centre of the campus grounds). In the early days, the game was essentially the product of “a few people in their basements”, says creative director Matt Prior, who first played Fifa with his friends while growing up in Manchester in the mid-90s. “Now it’s a blockbuster-film-sized army.”
Business of sport racks up wins, losses in B.C. – Business in Vancouver
Three key sports events held at BC Place stadium during March drew more than 110,000 fans, the equivalent of six playoff games at Rogers Arena. The two-day World Rugby Sevens and Canada’s 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer qualifier against Mexico were both successes at the ticket gates, building off impressive performances at BC Place stadium in 2015 that included multiple games for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the final between the U.S. and Japan.
BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.
2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).
Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!
PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
Tickets now on sale for Canada Soccer Women’s National Team celebration match 4 February in Vancouver – CSA
Individual tickets to the Canada v Mexico Women’s National Team Bronze Medal celebration match on 4 February 2017 in Vancouver are now on sale to the public. Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.
MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach Mandate – BCSA
IMPORTANT: If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.
2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.
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.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Christine Sinclair: It all came together for Canada in 2016 – Sportsnet
2016 was a year to remember for Christine Sinclair. The long-time captain of the Canadian women’s soccer team captured her second consecutive Olympic medal, and she eclipsed Mia Hamm’s international scoring total of 158 goals to put her second on the all-time list behind Abby Wambach.
Borjan a finalist for top goalie honours – Hamilton Spectator
Milan Borjan, who calls Hamilton home although he plays professionally in Bulgaria, has made the shortlist for CONCACAF Male Goalkeeper of the Year.
What does Toronto FC’s playoff run tell us about the Canadian Premier League? – Waking the Red
The two-legged series between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact was one of the most exciting playoff matchups in MLS history. Ten goals were scored over 180 minutes before another two in the final thirty helped to alleviate so many years of pain for Reds supporters. In Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, a capacity crowd of 61,004 witnessed history as the Impact tied their highest-ever attendance for a match in the first leg (the record was previously set during their CONCACAF Champions League final clash against Club America).
More Competition For Windsor TFC As League 1 Expands – Windsor Square
The success of League1 Ontario is certainly catching on. Four new teams will join Ontario’s only pro-am standards-based league in 2017, with three new teams joining the women’s division and one team being added to the men’s division.
What Respect in Sport means for Coaches and Match Officials – OSA
The Ontario Soccer Association will begin phasing in Respect in Sport (RIS) programming for Coaches and Match Officials in 2017. The RIS Activity Leader Program is the risk management industry leading education and certification program for youth leaders to recognize, understand and respond to issues of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.
Dundas Youth Soccer Club merges with Flamborough club – Dundas Star News
The two minor soccer clubs are taking what is becoming a common route to revitalizing and strengthening youth sports programs.
Sheldon Kennedy will be third keynote speaker at Ontario Soccer Summit 2017 – OSA
The Ontario Soccer Association is proud to announce that Sheldon Kennedy will be the third and final keynote speaker at the Ontario Soccer Summit 2017. A former National Hockey League player, Kennedy has been instrumental in bringing governments, public and private sector partners together to influence policy change and improve the way child abuse is handled.
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WFC2, USL, NASL & NPSL NEWS
Reno 1868 FC signs two more – Reno Gazette Journal
Reno 1868 FC signed Jordan Roberts and Mackenzie Pridham, pending USL and federation approval. Both players are expected to play key offensive roles, complementing Monday’s signing, Dane Kelly.
Playoff Hero Cohen Headed to Phoenix – USL
Phoenix Rising FC announced Wednesday the signing of former Orange County Blues FC goalkeeper Josh Cohen for the 2017 season. The contract is pending league and federation approval.
USSF Decision on Division II Sanction Delayed Again – Empire of Soccer
The patience of supporters of NASL and USL teams will continue to be tested as the U.S. Soccer Federation has again delayed a final decision on the question of which league will be sanctioned as the second division.
FC Cincinnati: An End of Year Thank You and Update – FC Cincinnati
“As we look towards our second year, we have received several questions regarding the 2017 schedule, specifically about when it will be available. I can only answer that question by referencing what is occurring in the US Soccer Federation. Due to a variety of reasons, the Federation’s consideration of the USL’s Division 2 Application is uncertain. You may have seen the USL’s announcement that Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC, formerly of the NASL, joined the USL in October and we understand there is potential for additional teams to come into our league.”
Discussing Expansion and the Rumor Mill with NPSL Chairman – Scratching the Pitch
The NPSL has added 15 expansion teams since AFC Cleveland hoisted the championship trophy in August, and reports of other changes have been rampant. Joe Barone, the chairman of the NPSL, spoke with StP about the potential changes.
Tulsa Athletics Prove An NPSL Team Can Thrive With USL In Town – Midfield Press
The Tulsa Athletics turned heads in their debut season of 2013 when they drew average attendance of just under 3,300 fans per game. Playing out of a former minor league baseball stadium, the Athletics were able to renovate it to suit their purposes. The A’s tapped into dormant soccer market, one that had been eyed by Major League Soccer in the mid-2000s. They built on that success with an even stronger 2014 season with 3,439 average attendance.
Why Sting’s son has gone in search of the new Messi to launch City of Angels FC – The Guardian
It went largely unnoticed but something unusual occurred this week: two Englishmen became owners of a foreign football club. It is their creation too. The licence has been granted, a long-term business plan and proof of funding vetted and now City of Angels FC – the latest addition to the growing football scene in Los Angeles – has until the start of the National Premier Soccer League season in March to finalise terms on a stadium, appoint a director of football and construct its first team. No one ever said it was going to be easy.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
French federation releases SheBelieves Cup schedule – The Equalizer
The competition, which will once again feature the United States, England, France and Germany, is due to take place between the 1st and 8th of March, with games taking place in Chester, Pennsylvania (March 1st), Harrison, New Jersey (March 4th), and Washington DC (March 8th).
Sky Blues swoop for Nigeria superstar – W-League
Sydney FC have bolstered their attack with a big-name signing in the form of Nigeria striker Francisca Ordega, a prolific goalscorer and two-time Women’s World Cup representative.
Dash sign South Africa captain Janine Van Wyk – The Equalizer
The wait for the Houston Dash to unveil their new central defender is over after the club announced the signing of Janine Van Wyk on Wednesday. The 29-year old is the captain of South Africa’s national team and is the country’s most capped player across both senior programs.
The NWSL Doesn’t Need Alex Morgan – Backline Soccer
Alex Morgan has been known as the face of WoSo since her breakout year in the 2012 Olympics, although her momentum began to build in 2010 when she scored the goal that sent the USWNT to the 2011 World Cup. She sells the most jerseys, fills the most seats, and attracts hordes of screaming pre-teen girls wherever she plays. Come the start of the NWSL’s fifth season in April, Alex Morgan will be playing in France. So what?
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Crystal Palace sack manager Alan Pardew after disastrous run of results – The Guardian
Crystal Palace have sacked manager Alan Pardew. A club statement on Thursday confirmed that the former Newcastle manager has been asked to step down from his post.
Bayern clip 10-man RB Leipzig’s wings – Prost Amerika
RB Leipzig got a harsh reality check on Wednesday going into the Winterpause as Bayern Munich thumped them, 3-0, in the last match before the New Year. Bayern enter the Winterpause three points clear of RB Leipzig and having scored the most goals in the Bundesliga (38) while allowing the fewest (9).
Bordeaux frustrate nine-man Nice – Ligue 1
Girondins de Bordeaux held Ligue 1 leaders OGC Nice to a goalless draw at the Matmut Atlantique on Wednesday to conclude 2016 in the top half of the table.
Week 19 review: The title race hots up – Ligue 1
OGC Nice finished the first half of the season on top of the table, but the winter Ligue 1 champions were not able to sign off on 2016 with a win as AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain both closed in on them in Week 19.
David Moyes returns to Manchester United as Sunderland plot a shock – ESPN FC
Merry Christmas! Boxing Day and the festive fixture schedule can help shape a team’s season and there’s plenty of action to get excited about.
Barcelona’s reserves rout Hercules in Copa del Rey – Sportsnet
Barcelona’s reserves got the job done at the second attempt, leading the Catalan club to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 7-0 rout of third-division Hercules on Wednesday.
A guide to winter breaks across Europe’s major leagues – Sky Sports
As Premier League and Football League sides gear up for their hectic festive fixture schedules, clubs across Europe are preparing to put their feet up for the winter break.
Which teams have made the best starts to 2016/17? – UEFA
Who has had the best start to 2016/17, which teams are perfect at home, the attacking masters, defensive misers, the draw specialists? We crunch the numbers.
Argentina and France take Ranking awards – FIFA
Argentina will end the year on top of the world, leading the way in the final FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2016 from neighbours Brazil in second. La Albiceleste therefore take the ‘Team of the Year’ title from Belgium, who they overtook at the summit in April this year, and where they have stayed for the subsequent eight editions of the Ranking. In all, the Argentinians won ten of their 15 games in 2016, losing three and drawing twice.
Pressure on America in Liga MX final first leg – SN
When Club America meets Tigres in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final Thursday, the pressure will be squarely on the Mexico City side’s shoulders.
Bauza: Tevez is a player who can win matches – FIFA
Edgardo Bauza has stated that Gonzalo Higuain is Argentina’s first-choice spearhead and opened the door to Carlos Tevez earning an international recall.
West Ham’s Sakho will miss African Cup due to back injury – Sportsnet
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says Senegal striker Diafra Sakho will not be fit for the African Cup of Nations because of a back injury that will rule him out for six to eight weeks.
South Africa sack coach Ephraim Mashaba following public outburst – The Guardian
Ephraim Mashaba has been sacked as South Africa coach despite leading the side to a crucial World Cup qualifying victory over Senegal last month, the country’s football association confirmed on Thursday.
Panathanaikos owner Alafouzos handed year jail sentence by Piraeus court – Inside World Football
Panathanaikos chairman Giannis Alafouzos, a bitter and vocal opponent of Olympiakos owner Vaggellis Marinakis, has this week been sentenced to a year in jail for violating Greece’s Privacy Act.
Russia’s 2018 World Cup – A Conversation Beyond Sport – Futbolgrad
Sven Daniel Wolfe from the University of Zürich is looking ahead to some of the issues Russia could be facing when the county is hosting the 2018 World Cup.
Host cities gear up for the FIFA Confederations Cup – FIFA
Host cities for the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup are getting ready for next year’s ‘Tournament of Champions’ with a unique campaign being rolled out in Kazan, Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi.
The 100 best footballers in the world 2016 – interactive – The Guardian
Our panel of 124 experts from 45 nations compiled a list of the greatest male players on the planet. Now we reveal Nos 100-11.