Concacaf – Inside World Football

LAFC to expand with acquisition of stake in Austria’s FC Wacker Innsbruck

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:56:28 +0000

April 18 – LAFC, the 2022 MLS Cup Champions, have announced they are investing in Austrian club FC Wacker Innsbruck.

No details of the investment or the LAFC stake in the club have been released. The deal is pending the approval of the FC Wacker Innsbruck Board and Association.

FC Wacker Innsbruck currently plays in the Hypo Tirol Liga, the fourth division of Austrian football.

Although only formed in June 2002 as FC Wacker Tirol,

Gold Cup draw sees Mexico head group of death as US paired with Jamaica in group

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:02:04 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles

April 15 – Defending champions USA have been handed what looks like a comfortable group draw for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, with the toughest challenge in the first stage likely to come from Jamaica and their contingent of English Premier League players.

Also in Group A are Nicaragua and one of the preliminary round qualifiers.

The draw was conducted live on television from the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles where the Gold Cup final will be played on July 16.

Concacaf launches Bigger Game social responsibility programme at the SoFi Stadium

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:44:02 +0000

April 15 – Using the backdrop of the 2023 Gold Cup Draw at the spectacular SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Concacaf officially launched its ‘Bigger Game’ social impact strategy.

The Bigger Game’s mission is to provide football and social development opportunities which benefit communities across Concacaf’s 41 member associations.

At the launch, on the pitch of the SoFi Stadium, which saw local youth training and playing matches, the mayor of Inglewood James T Butts thanked Concacaf for coming to the city saying: “Sports is a microcosm of social development… Focussing on a bigger game is focussing on the development of our game to contribute to a better society.”

The strategy will see Concacaf initiate and support grassroots football initiatives and social programs which aim to tackle some of the most pressing issues faced by communities in the region.

New York Red Bulls’ Vanzeir given 6-game ban by MLS for racial slur

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:57:51 +0000

April 14 – New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir (pictured) has been suspended for six games and fined by Major League Soccer for using a racist remark during last Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Play was stopped for 15 minutes after a confrontation involving Vanzeir.

The Belgian forward is also prohibited from playing in the U.S. Open Cup, in exhibition matches or in the third-tier MLS Next Pro league until the suspension is over,

Volkswagen Canada accelerates into another 5 years of Canadian Premier League sponsorship

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:05:27 +0000

April 14 – With just two days to go to the start of the season the Canadian Premier League (CPL) has announced it has renewed its longstanding partnership with Volkswagen Canada through 2028.

Volkswagen Canada was initially announced as a Founding Partner of the CPL in January 2019, ahead of the League’s inaugural campaign. Having completed five years at the end of 2023, the major sponsor is signing on for another five years.

Relevent returns to club market with EPL and LaLiga clubs in US and Mexico this summer

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 05:35:11 +0000

April 12 – Six Premier League clubs will play nine matches against each other in a friendly series on the East Coast of the US this July, while four LaLiga clubs will do the same at venues in Mexico and the US on the West Coast.

The friendly match-ups mark a return to the men’s club market for Relevent Sports Group, organisers of the summer International Champions Cup friendly series that was cut short in 2020 by the pandemic.

New York Red Bulls striker Dante Vanzeir ‘steps away’ after racial slur

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:37:21 +0000

April 12 – New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir (pictured) has taken a step back from playing for Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise New York Red Bulls “to avoid distractions” following his use of a racial slur in the match with San Jose Earthquakes.

The Belgian striker, who arrived this season from Brussels-based club Union St Gilles on a record fee of €5 million, had apologised for his behaviour, indicating that he’d accept the consequences.

Concacaf unveils 14 cities and 15 stadia for 2023 Gold Cup

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:27:49 +0000

April 10 – Concacaf has announced the 15 stadiums that will host matches in the 2023 Gold Cup in 14 US and Canadian metropolitan areas between June 16 and July 16.

The 2023 edition of the Gold Cup sees it visit four new stadiums in the US, including the already announced SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for the final.

Newly opened CITYPARK Stadium in St Louis, Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego and the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati are all first-time hosts.

CPL dials in telecoms giant Telus for 2023 kick off and a five-year deal

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:15:03 +0000

April 6 – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has unveiled Telus as the league’s Official Telecommunications, Digital Health and Home Security Partner in a five-year deal.

No value was given for the sponsorship that will run through to end 2027.

As well as the league sponsorship, Telus will be the main shirt sponsor of 2021 CPL winners Pacific FC in a one-season deal.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Telus is a global company with $18 billion in annual revenue and 18 million customer connections.

NWSL awards 14th franchise to Sixth Street backed Bay Area team

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:26:09 +0000

April 5 – The top tier National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US has awarded an expansion franchise to an investment group who will set up an as yet unnamed team in the Bay Area in Northern California.

Investment firm Sixth Street is putting its money behind the initiative of four former US Women’s National Team players – Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner – who had been looking for partners to bring an NWSL franchise to the Bay Area.