VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
Atlanta United vs. Portland Timbers | 2018 MLS Cup Preview – MLS
A season that started in early March comes to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday when 70,000 fans will pack Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch Atlanta United take on the Portland Timbers in the 2018 MLS Cup.
MLS Cup Final preview: Timbers prepared to strike – NBC Sports
Things are going to get real loud in Georgia by the time 5 p.m. PT rolls around on Saturday night. That’s when Atlanta United tangles with Portland Timbers, the Georgian outfit a heavy favorite to win its first MLS Cup.
Almiron-Chara battle could be key to MLS Cup – Sportsnet
Greg Vanney knows a thing or two about the MLS Cup. As a defender for the LA Galaxy, Vanney started in a trio of MLS Cup finals during his playing career (including in the inaugural MLS championship game in 1996), coming out on the losing end all three times.
MLS Cup: Atlanta v Portland is much more than a battle of football hipsters – The Guardian
Critics and rivals of this year’s finalists often deride them as suspect newcomers. But soccer in both cities has been built over decades.
Positional outlook: MDS on midfielders – Whitecaps FC
Spend a few minutes talking shop with new Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos and you’ll quickly learn that he wants his teams to play with a high level of intensity.
Prospective Columbus Crew SC Ownership Unveils Plans for New Stadium – Last Word on Soccer
A new era continues to take shape for Columbus Crew SC. The latest example came on Thursday when the new ownership group that includes Pete Edwards and Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam announced plans for a new downtown facility to replace MAPFRE Stadium.
Back from Spain, Romero hopes to impress MLS clubs – the11.ca
Romero, a holding mid who played in Spain after coming up through the Montreal Impact’s youth system, has already worked out for the Columbus Crew, Toronto FC, the Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Dennis te Kloese hired as LA Galaxy general manager – MLS
Dennis te Kloese has agreed to become LA Galaxy general manager, a source confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Thursday.
Sources: Adams transfer to RB Leipzig checks in at $3m with large sell-on clause – SN
Tyler Adams’ transfer to RB Leipzig felt like a foregone conclusion for months, but one of the hurdles in completing the move for the U.S. national team midfielder was figuring out just how the structure of a transfer would look given it would be a transaction between affiliated clubs.
Montreal Impact tap ex-midfielder Patrick Leduc for operations post – Edmonton Journal
Former Montreal Impact midfielder Patrick Leduc has been appointed administrative director of soccer operations, the MLS club announced on Thursday.
Seattle Sounders sign Jordan Morris to lucrative five-year extension – ESPN
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris has signed a five-year deal to remain with the team, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC on Thursday.
A traveler’s guide to MLS’s west coast stadiums – Philly Soccer Page
With a visit to Portland’s Providence Park in August, I joined a fairly small club — the club for people who’ve attended a match at every active MLS stadium on the west coast.
Remember NASL champion Chiefs as Atlanta United goes for MLS title – Augusta Chronicle
Fifty years ago, in a fitting bit of symmetry, an upstart soccer team in a fledgling league gave an up-and-coming city a reason to cheer. The Chiefs won the very first title in the North American Soccer League, beating the San Diego Toros 3-0 before a crowd of about 15,000 at Atlanta Stadium.
Find a Team or Find a Player with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds!
BC SOCCER NEWS
BC Soccer announces new additions to its staff team – BCSA
BC Soccer is excited to announce and inform the membership and wider soccer community of four new staff members who are joining the association’s staff team to support its operations.
VISL Week 13 Upcoming Matches – BC Soccer Web
There is no doubt that the VISL Division 1 has not had this parity in many years.
VMSL Week 13 Round-up: Still tight at the top as West Van stay out in front (with video highlights) – AFTN
It’s a shame the Christmas break is coming up as the Vancouver Metro Soccer League Premier Division continues to serve up some great action and some twists and turns week upon week.
Cowichan LMG flips a switch in Comox – Cowichan Valley Citizen
After a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Cowichan LMG turned things right around in the second half as they powered to a 2-0 win over Comox Valley United in Courtenay on Saturday evening.
UNBC women’s soccer team lands talented Chilliwack fullback – Prince George Matters
The UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer team will be even tougher come next season. The program announced today (Dec. 6) that Chilliwack native Kalista Kirkness has committed to the Timberwolves, starting next season.
Vikes soccer announce commitment of Winnipeg’s Reese Peacock for 2019 season – UVic
The University of Victoria Vikes women’s soccer team are pleased to announce the commitment of 17-year-old Reese Peacock for the 2019-20 season.
Cowichan Niners limp to win No. 12, relish soccer’s winter break – Cowichan Valley Citizen
Despite their perfect record in the masters A division, the Cowichan Craig Street 49ers still felt themselves limping toward the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Christmas break.
BC Soccer hosts its second Technical Director Diploma Course – BCSA
Registration is now open for the BC Soccer Technical Director Diploma held at the FORTIUS Sport & Health Complex in Burnaby February 22-23, 2019.
Pacific FC now accepting memberships for 2019 Canadian Premier League season – Pacific FC
Join Vancouver Island’s new CPL club! Become a Member of Pacific Football Club for first access seat selection and tickets.
PHOTOS: 2018 BC Provincial Cup Parade of Champions – BC Soccer Web
See the winners from the 2018 BC Provincial Cup.
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
‘The right thing for soccer in Canada’: Edwini-Bonsu on returning to Edmonton, future of CPL – Canadian Premier League
Randy Edwini-Bonsu is coming home. The Edmontonian signed with FC Edmonton last week, becoming one of 10 inaugural players in Canadian Premier League history, and expects to see a shift in mentality among up-and-coming Canadians.
Players optimistic about Canadian Premier League’s standard of play – Sportsnet
It’s one of the more interesting and pressing questions surrounding the Canadian Premier League. Just what, exactly, will the standard of play be like?
Valour head coach Rob Gale ready for ‘the real stuff’ as pre-season, matches approach – Canadian Premier League
The new year is fast approaching, and with it, the Canadian Premier League’s head coaches will need to look ahead to the next 12 months with a new perspective – one that, as Rob Gale of Valour FC puts it, is the bread and butter of his profession.
Canadian international Janine Beckie scores four goals for Manchester City women – The Star
Canadian international Janine Beckie scored four goals Wednesday as the Manchester City women’s team thumped Sheffield United 6-0 to reach the knockout stages of the Continental Cup.
Clippers soccer club to be rebranded Junior Gaels – Whig-Standard
The Queen’s Gaels have partnered with the Kingston Clippers Soccer Club to rebrand all of its teams as Junior Gaels. Starting this spring, all house league and competitive Clippers teams will wear the familiar gold-and-blue uniforms of the Queen’s Gaels soccer teams and will be called the Junior Gaels.
The Real Madrid Way: A Canadian sports exec tries to win over — and sell —an iconic Spanish soccer club – Financial Post
‘Fearless and fun’ Dave Hopkinson was drafted by soccer giant Real Madrid to grow its global footprint after honing his market chops at MLSE.
USL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
FC Dallas launches USL brand: North Texas Soccer Club – Sportsday
FC Dallas has launched their USL League One franchise under the brand North Texas Soccer Club. The club will wear the same colors as FC Dallas but have its own logo and uniform (yet to come) as well as the unique name.
JDG on rebuilding the Fury: “You want people who are well in tune with what the league offers” – the11,ca
The Ottawa Fury missed the USL playoffs in 2018, but the team’s general manager has received a large vote of confidence from the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.
Las Vegas Lights FC goes its own way in Sin City – News Tribune
Eric Wynalda and Las Vegas Lights FC are running a job search unlike any other on the Strip at the moment.
Orlando City B Names Former U.S. MNT Defender Oguchi Onyewu as Sporting Director – Orlando City SC
Orlando City B hires former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu (O-gu-chi On-yay-woo) as Sporting Director ahead of its inaugural USL League One season set to begin in March 2019.
NWSL & WOMEN’S WORLD SOCCER NEWS
France 2019: Draw pots confirmed by latest Women’s Ranking – FIFA
The final FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers have made their mark on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s Ranking ahead of Saturday’s France 2019 Draw.
USWNT rolls out 10-match schedule pre-World Cup – NBC Sports
Jill Ellis should have the United States women’s national team well-drilled in its bid to reclaim the World Cup, announcing its warm-up schedule two days before Saturday’s WWC draw in France.
Houston Dash set to hire James Clarkson as head coach – The Equalizer
The Houston Dash are set to hire James Clarkson as their new head coach.
W League: Round Six features full slate for Dash contingent – Houston Dynamo
Amber Brooks, Veronica Latsko and Adelaide United remain unbeaten after the Dash duo combined for a dramatic second-half equalizer against Perth Glory FC on Thursday morning.
Washington Spirit re-sign Argentine forward Estefania Banini – Vavel
The Washington Spirit have re-signed forward Estefania Banini. Banini, who plays for Argentina’s National Women’s Soccer Team and their National Women’s Futsal Team, is one of the Spirit’s best playmakers when she is healthy. Unfortunately, her last few seasons have been plagued with injuries that have kept her from reaching her full potential.
The complex story of Ada Hegerberg, a star at peace with taking a stand – The Equalizer
At 23 years old, there is no question that Ada Martine Stolsmo Hegerberg is one of the best currently playing soccer in the world, a superstar of the level of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but one who remains relatively unknown to swathes of the populous. Although many could debate her Ballon d’Or win, asking whether or not she has been the best of the best in this calendar year, she remains a spectacularly talented player, humble to the last and an asset to any team.
The 100 best female footballers in the world 2018 – The Guardian
Seventy-two judges from 30 countries have had their say and here is our top 100 of the best players in the world.
Mexico 1971: When women’s football hit the big time – BBC
It was short lived…. but for three memorable weeks in the summer of 1971 women’s football flared brightly like a comet, before crashing back down to earth again.
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Inter needs to win, Juventus barely seems to care – CityNews
Inter Milan really needs to win. Juventus barely seems to care. A victory for Inter in the Derby d’Italia would slightly slow Juventus’ steady march to an eighth-straight Serie A title, but Friday’s match isn’t even the Turin team’s most significant upcoming game.
Manchester United, Jose Mourinho study in lowered ambitions – The Star
Perhaps the saddest indictment of the situation Manchester United finds itself under manager Jose Mourinho is the lowering of ambition that is permeating the club.
Half of French league matches postponed amid mass protests – Sportsnet
Half of this weekend’s French league soccer matches have now been postponed amid security concerns about anti-government protests across the country.
Copa Libertadores: Boca wants to start focusing on match – CityNews
Boca Juniors players have had enough of all the talk about the Copa Libertadores chaos and say it is time to start focusing on the match.
Arsenal to talk to players over nitrous oxide inhalation allegations – BBC Sport
Arsenal players will be “spoken to” by club chiefs after images emerged allegedly showing four members of the first team inhaling nitrous oxide.
Leicester helicopter crash caused by mechanical fault – Ottawa Sun
Investigators say the helicopter involved in a crash that killed the owner of English soccer team Leicester and four other people lost control because of a mechanical fault.
Integrity bypass? Saudis attempt to buy their way to respectability with Italian Super Cup – Inside World Football
The global condemnation of Saudi Arabia for its role in the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi appears to have had little effect on top-flight Italian football administrators.
FIFA supports case of detained Bahraini soccer player – NBC Sports
FIFA says it wants a soccer player who has refugee status in Australia to return to the country “at the earliest possible moment” rather than be extradited from Thailand to Bahrain.
The 2018/19 Guide to Soccer on TV in Canada (and online) – BC Soccer Web
Finding your match on TV or online in Canada has become more difficult in recent years. League broadcast rights change hands, new online services pop up, and some leagues and channels vanish from our screens altogether. Fear not! BC Soccer Web has got you covered! We’ve made our way through the web of cable channels and online services available so you can watch the matches you want.