VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Five Whitecaps FC players called up to upcoming Canada camp and friendly – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Tuesday that defender Marcel de Jong, and midfielders Marco Bustos, Russell Teibert, and Ben McKendry, as well as Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Sean Melvin, have been called up to the Canadian senior men’s national team for an upcoming training camp and friendly versus Bermuda.
Whitecaps’ McKendry can answer this Canadian call – The Province
Ben McKendry’s first call-up to the Canadian men’s national team came, cruelly, on the same September night he sprained his knee at B.C. Place.
Winnipeg’s Marco Bustos to tryout for spot on national men’s soccer team – Global
The 20-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has been invited to the squad’s upcoming training camp in Fort Lauderdale, FL. From the tryout, 18 players will be selected to play in Canada’s friendly against Bermuda on Jan. 22.
TSN had its playoff ratings miracle: Now it must build audience for MLS regular-season games – the11.ca
In the summer of 2016, Major League Soccer was the television property no one wanted. Despite strong ticket sales in the three Canadian MLS markets — and the fact that Toronto FC was, well, good, did nothing to move the needle when it came to people in this country turning on the television.
Sources: Timbers make offer for San Lorenzo attacker Sebastian Blanco – MLS
Multiple sources told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday that the Portland Timbers have submitted an offer for San Lorenzo attacker Sebastian Blanco.
Official (at last): Jefferson Mena loaned to Barcelona S.C. (Ecuador) – Empire of Soccer
After being prematurely introduced by his new club’s CEO, Jefferson Mena has officially joined Barcelona S.C. on loan from New York City FC.
Loons Add Experienced Defender Vadim Demidov – Fifty Five One
Minnesota United FC announced on Tuesday the signing of centerback Vadim Demidov with targeted allocation money (TAM). Last week, we reported on the Loons’ strong interest in the veteran.
New Quakes GM Jesse Fioranelli intends to build a winning identity – MLS
As he sifted through some 270 candidates for the position of general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes, team president David Kaval was searching less for someone who could recreate the alchemy of the club’s magical 2012 season and more for a person with the vision to avoid the four-year playoff drought that has followed that record-setting campaign.
Giovinco ‘hugely satisfied’ with life in Toronto – Waking the Red
Sebastian Giovinco has already confirmed himself that he is staying with Toronto FC for the foreseeable future, and now his agent has reiterated that stance.
Tampa Bay reveals MLS stadium plans for expansion bid – MLS Multiplex
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards reveals his plans for a $80 stadium renovation and push for MLS expansion. Do they have better chances than Miami?
‘Galactico’ to the Galaxy: How Brand Beckham conquered the US – CNN
Major League Soccer recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary. But did the league’s most pivotal landmark take place 10 years ago, on January 11 2007?
A decade on, did David Beckham’s move to MLS make a difference? – The Guardian
This week marks 10 years since the former England captain announced his move to LA Galaxy. But how did his decision shape soccer in the States?
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BC SOCCER NEWS
PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IS BACK AT SWANGARD STADIUM – TSS FC Rovers
TSS FC is proud to announce a new professional male soccer team to their family. TSS FC Rovers, who will begin play in the Premier Development League [PDL] for the upcoming 2017 season, is coming to town.
TSS FC Rovers Acquire PDL Franchise – USL PDL
“We are excited to bring soccer back to the grass at Swangard Stadium,” General Manager and assistant coach Will Cromack said, “and are delighted to be able to provide more professional player development opportunities to the wonderful soccer market of greater British Columbia.”
100 per cent domestic: New Vancouver-area PDL franchise will field only Canadian players – the11.ca
“We are solely Canadian,” says general manager Will Cromack. “We only have player spots for Canadians. We want to focus regionally as well, to focus on local players. That being said, if you’re Canadian and want to travel here and knock on our door, we’ll take a look.”
Everything you need to know about TSS FC Rovers – BC’s newest PDL team – AFTN
The new team will play out of Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, in a move that is bound to excite a number of long time and hardcore ‘Caps fans who long for the sunny Swanny barbecues in the park from the D2 era.
OFFICIAL: WA State down to one PDL club as Crossfire sells to Vancouver, BC outfit – GoalWA
It brings to an “American” end the story of Seattle Wolves FC, who played in the Pacific Coast League, then in the PDL, before being bought by Crossfire (an elite youth giant) in 2010.
Power struggle in Vancouver youth soccer triggers extraordinary meeting – CBC
Up to 1,000 people are expected at a special general meeting of the Vancouver Youth Soccer Association Wednesday night to vote on a contentious bylaw amendment put forward by the city’s largest youth soccer club.
VISL teams set for long road to Jackson Cup – Times Colonist
Unlike in Europe, sporting timelines in North America are rarely measured by the century. But the Jackson Cup is. It is among the most venerable sporting hunts on the Island and has featured eventual World Cup players, other highly capped Canadian internationals, pros and dynasty clubs such as Vic West.
Expanded FIFA World Cup could include games in Vancouver – CBC
The combination of a FIFA announcement that the World Cup will be expanded, and discussion of a joint bid that includes Canada to host the 2026 tournament, may well bring the biggest tournament in the world to Vancouver.
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
Canada Soccer announces January squad for Men’s National Team training camp – CSA
Canada Soccer have announced their squad for the first Men’s National Team camp of the 2017 calendar year. The camp will help prepare the team for an upcoming Men’s International Friendly in Bermuda on 22 January.
Bermuda Triangle: 28 Canadian players called, only 18 chosen – the11.ca
Canadian national-team coach Michael Findlay will have 28 players at the team’s January Florida camp, but only 18 will be on the flight to Bermuda.
Montagliani backs expanded 2026 as CONCACAF looks set for co-hosting bid – Inside World Football
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has given another strong hint that the first 48-team World Cup could be jointly staged by the USA, Mexico and his native Canada.
Even expanded World Cup no sure thing for Canada – CBC
The question is not if it’s right or wrong. It’s happening and all of us need to wrap our soccer heads around the looming onset of a 48-nation World Cup.
Kailen Sheridan, next in Canada’s keeper pipeline – The Equalizer
Canada’s pipeline of talented NWSL goalkeepers looks to continue with Kailen Sheridan. The 21 year-old Whitby, Ontario native, has entered the upcoming 2017 NWSL draft, and will hope to hear her name called on Thursday, January 12 in Los Angeles.
P.E.I. teens to get a taste of pro soccer – CBC
Four P.E.I. soccer players are getting a special training opportunity with the Vancouver Whitecaps major league soccer team in mid-February.
Over 35 soccer action back in session – Whitehorse Daily Star
Simon Pulido was in fine form last weekend in over 35 soccer action. He not only led the line well and scored two goals, but his second was a thing of beauty that will be remembered for many a year.
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WFC2, USL, NASL & NPSL NEWS
Fury FC Trio Lead USL Call-Ups in Canada Squad – USL
The Ottawa Fury FC trio of goalkeeper Callum Irving, defender Jamar Dixon and forward Carl Haworth have been named to a 28-player Canadian National Team roster ahead of the country’s international exhibition against the Bahamas on January 22.
Year as pro proved invaluable for Generation adidas signee Shamit Shome – MLS
Unlike nearly all of his peers at the MLS Combine, Shome already has a full pro season under his belt. The 19-year-old central midfielder played the 2016 season with his hometown club FC Edmonton, appearing in 26 games – 18 of which were starts – as the Eddies finished third in the combined NASL standings in 2016.
Cosmos in Early Talks to Play at Columbia, MCU Park Still a Possibility – Empire of Soccer
Rocco B. Commisso has two months and change to find the New York Cosmos a new home venue for the 2017 season, and the owner seems to be weighing a number options.
New Cosmos Owner Takes Credit For Forcing USSF to Keep NASL Alive in D2 – Empire of Soccer
Rocco B. Commisso was dubbed the “savior” of the New York Cosmos by returning Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover, but the storied club’s new majority owner believes his hard-line stipulations in the purchase also played a pivotal role in keeping the North American Soccer League alive.
Atlanta United on verge of announcing USL partner – AJC
Atlanta United may announce its USL affiliation as soon as next week, team president Darren Eales said on Tuesday while attending the MLS combine in Carson, Calif. Eales declined to say who the partner may be.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Seattle Reign FC 2017 open tryouts February 25 – GoalWA
Seattle Reign FC will hold open tryouts on Saturday, February 25th at Memorial Stadium in Seattle, Washington, as the team prepares for its fifth season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith retires – SN
Arsenal Ladies and England legend Kelly Smith has announced her retirement from football at the age of 38.
Kelly Smith: My message to the fans – Arsenal
Kelly Smith has announced that she has decided to end her playing career ahead of a move onto the Arsenal Ladies coaching staff.
How Kelly Smith, England’s greatest female player, overcame injuries and a drinking problem to inspire a generation – The Independent
Smith broke onto the scene with Arsenal before a troubled spell in the United States brought her back home to win the Champions League. Now she calls time on her unrivalled career, having left her mark across the globe.
Daughter of two athletes, Simone Kolander wants to keep playing soccer – The Equalizer
Simone Kolander, a 2017 NWSL draft hopeful, was named Big Ten Forward of the Year for the second straight season in October. The Minnesota native notched 11 goals and 6 assists en route to helping her team earn a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
SheBelieves Cup: England’s women face USA, Germany and France – BBC Sport
England’s women will take on the three top ranked teams in the world in the SheBelieves Cup in the USA in March.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Will a 48-team World Cup lead to a Concacaf-Conmebol merger? – The Guardian
The increase in teams at the World Cup will inevitably lead to qualification changes – and a proposal to merge Concacaf and Conmebol is an intriguing one.
Ruining World Cup with expansion to 48 teams shows FIFA hasn’t changed much – SN
The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams is such a terrible idea as to make the world’s soccer fans long for the days of Sepp Blatter’s FIFA.
Infantino’s World Cup: a dire prequel that will award itself every Oscar – The Guardian
We could be roused by the Fifa president’s claim that ‘football’s back’ – if it wasn’t for his bloated new-look tournament that flies in the face of sporting meritocracy.
World Cup 2018: 19 anti-doping chiefs call for blanket Russian ban on hosting – Inside World Football
The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO) statement calling for a ban on all Russian participation and hosting of international sporting events – which would include the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup – has been described as “strange” and “beyond the scope of their activities” by Russian minister of sport Pavel Kolobkov.
Mata, Fellaini help United inch closer to English League Cup final – Sportsnet
Manchester United closed in on the final of the English League Cup by beating injury-hit Hull 2-0 in the first leg of their semifinal thanks to second-half goals by Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini on Tuesday.
Why the League Cup has to stay, by Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt – The Telegraph
It seems that every year there are calls for the League Cup to be scrapped, but that fails to take into account how important the competition is to clubs like Accrington Stanley.
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller: I don’t like being classed as a striker – ESPN FC
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller has told Sport Bild he does not “enjoy being classed” as a striker and sees himself “as a mix between a midfielder and a striker.”
Inter signs midfielder Gagliardini in 28 million euro deal – Sportsnet
Inter Milan has signed midfielder Roberto Gagliardini in an extended loan from Atalanta in a deal that could end up costing as much as 28 million euros ($30 million).
Tax fraud case against Bayern Munich’s Xabi Alonso dropped – ESPN FC
A Spanish judge has dropped a tax fraud case against Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Monaco’s dramatic finish puts them into French League Cup semis – Sportsnet
Monaco needed a late equalizer from Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho and a penalty shootout before beating second division Sochaux to reach the French League Cup semifinals on Tuesday.
Partizan Belgrade get three-year ban from European competition – ESPN FC
UEFA has banned Partizan Belgrade from the Champions League and Europa League for the next three seasons because of unpaid debts.
Kazuyoshi Miura: Yokohama striker signs contract to play into his 50s – BBC Sport
Miura, who retired from international football 17 years ago, is the oldest scorer in the history of the domestic league after netting at the age of 49 last season.
Can Ghana win 5th AFCON crown in Gabon? – African Football
The Black Stars of Ghana will again be one of the favourites for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as they aim to clinch a fifth title after their last triumph 35 years ago.
Guinea-Bissau: intrepid outsiders who will make history at the Cup of Nations – The Guardian
Guinea-Bissau’s qualification for their first major tournament was a ‘complete surprise’ – now they plan to spring another in the curtain-raiser on Saturday.
China’s message to Premier League ‘hypocrites’: Oscar, Tevez & Witsel are only the beginning – SN
Yes, China is changing the financial landscape of the sport and these elite footballers are raking in astronomically more money than the majority of their contemporaries at clubs in England and elsewhere. But if top-class professionals opt for these astronomical pay packets instead of careers in already-elite leagues then, to borrow the oft-quoted line from Pope Francis, “Who am I to judge?”