VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. SPORTING KC
MLS MATCHDAY #1
(BUY TICKETS)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020, 7:30 PM
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC
TV: TSN RADIO: TSN 1040 ONLINE: TSN DIRECT
Stability of Whitecaps contract extension “priceless” for Tosaint Ricketts, whose locker room leadership will be vital for young Vancouver squad – AFTN
Tosaint Ricketts’ career has taken him around the world, playing his club football in seven different countries and representing Canada on the international stage. He’s won trophies in Canada and Lithuania, he’s experienced the highs and the lows of the game, but what he hasn’t had a lot of is stability for himself and his family.
Vancouver Whitecaps: 2020 Preview – Rebuild continues – MLS Multiplex
The 2019 campaign was one of the worst in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ history. They finished bottom of the Western Conference and were better than only FC Cincinnati over the course of the regular season, averaging just a point per game over their 34 matches. For the second successive season, the Whitecaps failed to reach the MLS Cup playoffs, winning just eight times.
Whitecaps counting on Cavallini to boost attack – TSN
The Vancouver Whitecaps finished at the bottom of the Western Conference standings in 2019 with the second-lowest goals scored total in all of Major League Soccer.
PODCAST: The Third Sub Episode 3: Let the games begin for the Vancouver Whitecaps – BTS
In their 3rd episode of the Third Sub, Alex and Sam are back to take a look at the start of the Vancouver Whitecaps season, which gets underway this weekend, as they take on Sporting Kansas City.
Five Things: What to know ahead of Saturday’s match between Sporting and Vancouver – Sporting KC
British Columbia will provide the picturesque setting for Saturday’s MLS regular season opener between Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.
A new tradition is born: Welcome your Whitecaps FC – Whitecaps FC
New this year will be a team arrival at the stadium, with all matchday roster players and coaches entering together. The team bus will park at the intersection of Robson Street and Beatty Street, 90 minutes prior to kickoff. From there players will walk up to Terry Fox Plaza, move through the Whitecaps welcome line, and enter through Gate H.
2020 MLS Western Conference preview – US Soccer Players
Surviving the Western Conference regular season and the playoffs have been more than enough preparation for succeeding in MLS Cup. This season, the field looks stacked once more. There are a few duds out West, but 2020 promises to be much more competitive than last year.
MLS 2020 top story lines: Atlanta United, LAFC chasing reigning champion Seattle Sounders – USA Today
Major League Soccer will kick off its milestone 25th season on Saturday with eight games, including Nashville SC’s inaugural game against league powerhouse Atlanta United at Nissan Stadium.
Henry on pragmatic Impact CCL advancement: “Style will come later” – SBI
After an enthralling first leg in San José, Costa Rica, the Montreal Impact played out to a 0-0 draw against Deportivo Saprissa on Wednesday night, progressing to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League. Thierry Henry’s men will now face off against the winner between the Seattle Sounders and Paraguayan outfit Olimpia.
MLS: So far, so good in CONCACAF Champions League – MLS Multiplex
The CONCACAF Champions League has not been a happy hunting-ground for MLS teams. But so far this season, it has been rather smooth sailing.
Lessons from the past can help guide TFC in 2020 – TSN
The last few seasons of Toronto FC football have brought with it the franchise’s greatest heights and some crushing lows. As the club readies to kick off its 2020 campaign this weekend, the Reds will have the lessons of recent history to guide them on their way back to glory by avoiding the pitfalls of the past.
LAFC pick up top spot in MLS allocation ranking in trade with Nashville SC – Angels on Parade
This is the second trade between the teams this month, after LAFC shipped starting defender Walker Zimmerman to the MLS expansion team in exchange for a boatload of cash. Now, LAFC are sending a portion of that back, in order to position themselves to sign a player.
MLS owners predict league will surpass MLB, Premier League – KCTV
Los Angeles FC lead owner Larry Berg predicts Major League Soccer will surpass Major League Baseball in popularity during the next 10 years and Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas maintains it will be of higher quality than the Premier League and La Liga by 2045.
‘Chicharito’ is the latest soccer superstar to migrate to MLS. Here’s what he means to the league. – Salt Lake Tribune
Enter stage right: Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, the Guadalajara native signed by the Galaxy to replace Ibrahimovic at the striker position. The Mexican national team staple brings with him more than 200 career goals for club and country and experience in the last three FIFA World Cups.
Nashville SC surpass 50,000 tickets sold for MLS debut, ready for big party – MLS
Just as the club have been saying all along, it’s going to be a big ol’ party in Nashville on Saturday.
David Beckham hopes MLS can challenge European leagues in next 10 years – The Guardian
David Beckham expressed his hope that Major League Soccer, which kicks off its 25th season on Saturday, can challenge the supremacy of the European leagues within the next decade.
Tickets for Inter Miami at Los Angeles FC season-opener Sunday are in high demand – Miami Herald
Nobody on the Inter Miami roster knows better than Lee Nguyen the enormity of the challenge the expansion team faces Sunday at 5:30 p.m., playing its inaugural match on the road against Los Angeles FC.
D.C. United signing Federico Higuain as player and assistant coach – Washington Post
D.C. United reached an agreement in principle, according to multiple people close to the situation, with Federico Higuain, a standout playmaker for the Columbus Crew over eight seasons who, at age 35, is attempting to rebound from an ACL injury.
MLS dropped the new anthem today and you need to listen to it right now – Burgundy Wave
In celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary, Major League Soccer has released a new anthem that will be played before each game when the teams walk onto the pitch.
PACIFIC FC & BC SOCCER NEWS
Pacific FC’s young stars on national radar – Times Colonist
Pacific FC players Terran Campbell, Noah Verhoeven, Kadin Chung and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère were named to the 50-player Canadian national team provisional list for the Olympic qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020.
Canadian Soccer Team Tracker: Promotion & Relegation in BC – Northern Starting XI
Promotion from one league to another is a major goal for lower division teams. The fear of relegation, on the other hand, is something teams strive to avoid. As the Fraser Valley Soccer League, Vancouver Island Soccer League, and Vancouver Metro Soccer League are all nearing the end of their regular season we have a good idea of which teams are up for promotion and which sides will be relegated in these Challenge Trophy leagues.
ZLC Thunderbird Scholarship Breakfast Celebrates 21st Anniversary – UBC
Even though it was bright and early, an enthusiastic crowd of over 1,000 UBC student athletes, coaches, supporters, alumni and donors gathered to celebrate the 21st annual ZLC Thunderbird Scholarship Breakfast Tuesday morning at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
VIDEO: From Decisions to Debrief – YouTube (BCSA)
Follow 3 Provincial Referees as they officiate a Jackson Cup match on Vancouver Island. This is BC Soccer’s “Adult Integration” Program, which allows referees to experience travel, different environments, and new teams .
Canada returns to Vancouver Island for March Men’s International Friendly – CSA
Canada Soccer will return to Vancouver Island for a 2020 Men’s International Friendly match on 27 March in Langford, British Columbia. The Friday night match will feature Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team against Concacaf rivals Trinidad and Tobago as Canada continues to prepare for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in the Fall of 2020. The home match also gives Pacific coast fans a chance to watch some of their favourite heroes while turning Westhills Stadium into a fortress for their Men’s National Team.
Tickets on sale for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team return to Vancouver – CSA
Tickets to the highly anticipated Canada-Australia Women’s International Friendly Match set for Tuesday 14 April at BC Place are on sale to the public today 29 January 2020 via Ticketmaster.ca and by phone at 1.855.985.5000.
Penticton & PCSL revives Kennedy Cup Tournament for 2020 – BC Soccer Web
The John F. Kennedy Cup has a unique history amongst North America’s trophies for soccer. Founded in 1960, the Kennedy Cup was the first (and only) sporting trophy to be sanctioned by the late President of the United States. It also was the base for some of the first meaningful matches between clubs from British Columbia’s PCSL, California, Oregon, Washington and Mexico. When President Kennedy was assassinated in November, 1963, it was one of the few sporting events in the United States to take place that month with the family’s blessing.
BC Soccer Web’s 2019-20 Guide to Soccer on TV and Online in Canada – BC Soccer Web
In our 2019-20 Guide to Soccer on Canadian TV, we do our best to sort through the leagues, service options and hardware needed to help you get the most out of your soccer weekends this season. The TV situation is constantly changing as leagues are added and Canadian broadcast rights are sorted out at the last moment, so come back for updates!
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL PHOTOS: FC Tigers Vancouver 4 Victoria Highlanders 4 (FC Tigers win 4-2 on PKs), July 28, 2019 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
Power Soccer in BC – SportAbility BC
We believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to participate in physical activity. We currently have programs in Vancouver, Surrey, Nanaimo, Penticton, and are still looking to expand. We are always looking for more athletes, officials, volunteers, and sponsors. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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.
CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE & CANADA SOCCER NEWS
CANADA WNT vs. AUSTRALIA
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
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TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020, 7:30 PM
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC
Canada names provisional Olympic soccer qualifying roster but no Davies, David – Airdrie Today
Alphonso Davies had a coming-out party Tuesday in Bayern Munich’s Champions League win over Chelsea. Jonathan David scored a hat trick for KAA Gent on the weekend and leads the Belgium League in scoring.
Men’s Olympic Qualifying will offer young Canadian players an opportunity – Waking the Red
With big names unavailable, there’s an opportunity for Canada Soccer to expand its player pool
Canada defeated by Jamaica at Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship – CanPL
Canada suffered another setback on Wednesday at the Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship in the Dominican Republic by dropping a 3-1 decision to Jamaica.
FC Edmonton off to Saskatchewan for pre-season friendlies – CanPL
The Saskatchewan Summer Soccer Series announced Wednesday its plans to host a pair of friendlies on March 28 and 29 in Saskatoon that pits FC Edmonton against a team of local, top-level players.
Simmons joins Cavalry after season with Wanderers – Leader-Post
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old U.K. soccer talent signed on with Calgary’s professional soccer squad.
Cavalry’s acquisition of Simmons marks a big-club declaration – CanPL
Cavalry FC announced on Wednesday the acquisition of former HFX Wanderers FC midfielder Elliot Simmons, bringing on the experienced 22-year-old in a move that doesn’t just strengthen Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s midfield – it also declares to the rest of the CPL’s young talents that Calgary is mining for gold.
Valour coach Rob Gale looking for ‘the next Tyler Attardo’ at Open Trials – CanPL
Rob Gale and the gang at Valour FC are looking for a few good men.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
The Lowdown: What to make of the impending Becky Sauerbrunn trade – The Equalizer
At some point in the next week or so, the Utah Royals and Portland Thorns are expected to announce a significant National Women’s Soccer League trade. As first reported by The Equalizer and Meg Linehan of The Athletic, the crux of the deal has Becky Sauerbrunn heading to Portland.
Pugh, Davidson return to USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup – ESPN
Mallory Pugh and Tierna Davidson have returned to the United States Women’s National Team roster for the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, U.S. Soccer has announced.
ALESSIA RUSSO TO JOIN ENGLAND SQUAD FOR SHEBELIEVES CUP, WITH LUCY BRONZE RULED OUT – The FA
Alessia Russo has been called into Phil Neville’s SheBelieves Cup squad after Lucy Bronze was withdrawn with a calf injury.
Finland’s women’s football league given gender-neutral new name – The Telegraph
A year after announcing equal pay for men and women footballers, the Football Association of Finland have confirmed they are renaming the highest division formerly known as ‘Women’s League’ to become the gender-neutral Kansallinen Liiga, meaning National League.
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Guardiola dips into his bible to find tactical blueprint for win in Madrid – The Guardian
Manchester City manager reverted to principles he wrote on his whiteboard in 2015 to beat a deeply ordinary Real Madrid
Tousart’s goal gives Lyon hard-fought win over Juventus – Sportsnet
A rare goal from combative midfielder Lucas Tousart gave hard-working Lyon a 1-0 home win against Juventus in the first leg of their round-of-16 game in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Europa League preview: Arsenal, Wolves, Man Utd look to advance – NBC Sports
Notable names Porto, Benfica, and Ajax enter their second legs with hills to climb, while the three Premier League teams have varying degrees of advantage.
Bayern striker Lewandowski out for a month – London Free Press
Bayern Munich’s prolific striker Robert Lewandowski was ruled out for around four weeks with a fracture on Wednesday in a blow to their Bundesliga title defense.
Klinsmann parting shots cause furor at Hertha Berlin – Yahoo Sports
The publication of details from a 22-page diary that Klinsmann wrote during his short time at Hertha has caused a furor at the club and tipped an already testy break-up even further into acrimony.
Hungary’s Honved isolate coach Sannino after Italian coronavirus contact – Inside World Football
Spare a thought for Italian coach Giuseppe Sannino who has done nothing wrong on the pitch but has been temporarily stood down by his team, Honved of Hungary, because of his nationality, given the effect of the coronavirus in his homeland.
Detroit City FC reunites band to take the plunge as professional outfit – Detroit News
Detroit City FC debuts Friday as a professional team in the vast unknown of the National Independent Soccer Association with the same core players who helped the organization reach unprecedented heights in semi-professional circles.
A look at the legal issues in Manchester City’s appeal against UEFA – Sportsnet
Manchester City’s legal fight with UEFA was expected, but how the English champion will organize its legal tactics is not yet clear.
Infantino relaunches expansionist vision with more FIFA competition at its heart – Inside World Football
The international match calendar, which has divided stakeholders throughout the game – all with vested interests – is to undergo its biggest ever review by FIFA.
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