Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Mikey Varas was officially named the first head coach in SDFC history. Varas was most recently the interim head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, but he made a real name for himself in the coaching ranks as the leader of the United States youth movement.

Varas took over the U-20 national team in 2021 and led them to a Concacaf championship a year later, helping Team America qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Prior to joining USA Soccer, Varas was the Academy Director for both Sacramento Republic and FC Dallas, earning the U.S. Soccer Development Academy West Conference U-14 Coach of the Year award for the 2016-17 season.

“I am honored to join San Diego FC as the Club’s first Head Coach,” said Varas in a statement to NBC 7. “The opportunity to build something special from the ground up, with such ambitious and committed ownership, and in a city with such a passionate fan base, is truly exciting. I look forward to working with the team and the community to develop a winning culture from the start. I will give everything to this club and the people of San Diego.”

Obviously, player development is his passion, something that made him extremely appealing to a Major League Soccer expansion club. Fluent in English and Spanish, Varas was a natural choice for a franchise that is already building a loyal following in both San Diego and Northern Mexico.

“Mikey embodies the values and ambitions of San Diego FC,” said SDFC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps in a statement to NBC 7. “We have big aspirations for SDFC, and we believe Mikey has the right drive, passion, and leadership to help us build a winning culture. I’m looking forward to welcoming him to San Diego and continuing to build out the staff that will support and help us accomplish our goals.”

Varas will be formally introduced in a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC begins its inaugural season in February of 2025.

Jorge Mas, one of the team’s owners, previously told multiple outlets that he was targeting a 2025 opening for the stadium. The team, in its announcement Wednesday, did not reveal any reason why the expected opening has changed.

Legal challenges and logistical issues led to many other delays along the way; in 2018, for example, the team said it was hoping to play at the Miami stadium by the start of the 2022 season.

“Miami Freedom Park is the culmination of years of hard work and a desire to realize a vision and create a lasting legacy for the fans and the community of Miami and South Florida,” said David Beckham, part of the team’s ownership group. “I’m so happy to see that dream finally coming to life.”

The team joined Major League Soccer in 2020 and has played in a stadium in Fort Lauderdale since. The capacity of the stadium was expanded last year when Lionel Messi signed with the club.

It’s unknown if Messi will ever play in the new stadium. He is under contract to Inter Miami through 2025, with an option for 2026.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Brunetta (Tigres) scored in transition in the 68th minute to make it 3-1 and set up Meza (Monterrey) soon after before a record crowd of 20,931 at Lower.com Field.

It was the first MLS All-Star Game victory for Liga MX in three tries. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and won on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year earlier.

There were plenty of big names on the field, but the absence of the brightest and biggest one took some luster out of the event. The league announced Monday that Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi was unable to play because of ligament damage in his right ankle.

The 2022 World Cup champion was injured while playing for Argentina in its victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14.

Fans cheered when Columbus forwards combined to tie the match 1-all in the 17th minute, about a minute after Germán Berterame (Monterrey) scored for Mexico on a header.

From the left flank, Diego Rossi found Crew teammate Cucho Hernandez racing unmarked down the middle of the box for the equalizer.

Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) made it 2-1 in the 41st with a strike from the top of the penalty area.

MLS had two chances to tie it in the 63rd when Riqui Puig (Los Angeles Galaxy) hit the crossbar and on the follow, Luca Orellano (Cincinnati) was denied on a goal-line clearance by Unai Bilbao (Tijuana).

Minutes later, Liga MX put the game out of reach.

The Crew’s Wilfried Nancy coached the MLS All-Stars. He had five players from his squad, which won the 2023 MLS Cup. Hernandez and Rossi were joined by midfielder Darlington Nagbe and defenders Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira.

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Cavan Sullivan, a 14-year-old prodigy, made his MLS debut in the Union’s showdown with the New England Revolution, making him the youngest player ever to appear in a game for any major sport – the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL or MLS.

Sullivan signed with the Union in May as a homegrown player. At the time, it was the largest deal for a homegrown player in league history.

He entered the game in the 85th minute, just moments after his older brother, Quinn, scored a blistering goal to give the Union a 5-1 lead. Cavan rushed the field in his warmup to celebrate with his big brother.

Two minutes later, Cavan entered the game as a late-moment substitution for forward Tai Baribo, who had already scored a hat trick in the game.

In doing so, Cavan became the youngest player in any sports league in North America to appear in a regular-season game at 14 years, 293 days old, beating out Freddy Adu, who played in a game for DC United at 14 years, 306 days back in April of 2004.

Entering to an already euphoric Subaru Park crowd, the debut of the younger Sullivan sent the Union faithful to a new level of fanfare as he played the final five minutes plus stoppage time.

Sullivan will eventually leave the Union for English Premier League franchise Manchester City, which has agreed to a transfer deal when he turns 18 years old. Current EPL rules prohibit foreign-born players from playing in the league prior to their 18th birthday.

“This is just the first chapter in Cavan’s career,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said after Sullivan’s debut. “For those who don’t know, we do have a plan for him. It’s not just minute-by-minute or day-by-day, there is a plan in place.”

“You guys saw him dominate the academy level, even up three years [from his teammates]. You saw him score some good goals for Union II and do really well. You guys don’t get to see him every day in training, but the staff does. The time was right top give him an opportunity.”

“Is her perfect? Is he the finished product? He’s 14, so I understand that he’s not.”

“I thought it was a special, special night. Cavan deserved to be in the group and did a great job. Even his touches in the game, you see his fearlessness, it was fun to watch.”

Quinn’s goal capped off a much-needed 5-1 win for the Union, snapping a 10-match winless streak for the club (0-4-6).

Cavan’s next opportunity to play will be in just three days, when the Union host Nashville SC.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

The team announced the move on Monday two days after blowing a two-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Vancouver. St. Louis City (3-7-10) is 12th in the 14-team Western Conference a year after becoming the first expansion team to win a conference regular-season title.

The team lost to Kansas City in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

Technical Director John Hackworth will manage the team on an interim basis.

“Given Bradley’s many contributions to the club, this was not an easy decision,” St. Louis City Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel said in a statement released by the team. “Unfortunately, based on our Year 2 results to date, we believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club as we regroup and look to improve both our performance and our results.”

Carnell was hired as the team’s first manager in January 2022 and received a contract extension before this season.

St. Louis City faces San Jose on Wednesday night.

The Earthquakes announced it parted ways with head coach Luchi Gonzalez, two days after a 6-2 loss away to LAFC.

The loss dropped the Earthquakes to 3-2-14 on the MLS season. San Jose’s 11 points is the lowest in the entire league, with Sporting Kansas City having just 14, though the Quakes have a game in hand.

Assistant head coach Ian Russell will take over as interim head coach, with assistants Steve Ralston, Luciano Fusco and Adin Brown staying in their roles.

“We want to thank Luchi for his hard work, commitment to the club and professionalism,” general manager Chris Leitch said in a statement. “Luchi and his staff have worked extremely hard the past year and a half, but we have not met expectations this year as a club. We felt that we needed to make a change, and it was in the best interests of the club to move in a different direction.”

San Jose named Gonzalez head coach on Aug. 17, 2022, but he joined the club after the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to being an assistant with the U.S. men’s national team.

Gonzalez led San Jose to a wild-card playoff qualification in 2023, but the team lost to Kansas City in a penalty shootout. He ended his tenure with a 13-24-16 win-loss-draw record.

“I want to thank ownership, leadership and our fans for the opportunity and the support they gave me during my time managing the Earthquakes,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “I am very grateful to all the staff and players that worked hard every day to improve our situation and wish them the very best moving forward. I plan to take some time with my family to reflect and prepare for the next step in my journey.”

Russell, 48, spent the last year and a half as an assistant coach with San Jose and has experience managing Reno 1868 FC, the Quakes’ USL affiliate.

New signings in Hernan Lopez and Amahl Pellegrino have shown promise, with right winger Cristian Espinoza still the mainstay in attack.

However, the team lacks significant quality and depth to compete elsewhere, especially in midfield and defense.

Russell’s first game in charge will be against prime rivals LA Galaxy on Saturday, June 29.

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With 12 goals and a league-leading 13 assists, Messi has helped push Miami to the top of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference. Questions loom about whether Miami can weather his absence during the Copa America, which starts on Thursday.

But it’s not just the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who will be missed.

Inter Miami also will be without Luis Suarez, who has been named to Uruguay’s roster for the tournament, as well as Matias Rojas, who will play for Paraguay. And rising star Benjamin Cremaschi is likely to make the U.S. Olympic team.

Suarez and Messi have combined for 24 of Miami’s league-leading 44 goals this year.

“The important players are missing, but there is nothing that surprises us. We knew the schedule from the first day of the preseason in January and we tried to prepare ourselves and have a team according to the absences,” Miami coach Tata Martino said.

Thirty-nine players from Major League Soccer, and one from MLS NEXT Pro, were called up by their national teams in the run-up to the tournament. The players come from 21 of the league’s 29 teams.

“I always say that opens up opportunities for other players that need more opportunities, more time or more minutes,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said. “The national teams, you cannot avoid that, players are with their groups. But the ones that stay here, we’re just trying to become stronger and just review the things we need to.”

The Houston Dynamo will miss midfielder Coco Carrasquilla, who was named to Panama’s roster.

“We’re in as good a shape as most teams. Some teams are losing four or five,” Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said. “So the more accomplished players you have on your team, the ones that are at international level, that’s a great thing most weeks — until you lose them and then you don’t have them.”

The league also is losing eight high-profile players to the European Championship. LAFC’s Olivier Giroud and Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdag are among the players headed to Europe.

It is just the second time that the United States is hosting the Copa America, which will feature 16 teams from South and North America and runs from June 20 to July 14.

“It’s a great time for soccer in America,” Olsen said. “I’m looking forward to soaking it all up.”

The participation of MLS players in the Copa America demonstrates the league’s ever-growing reach into Latin America. But some national teams, notably Mexico and Brazil, did not call up any MLS players.

The tournament is adding to an already congested schedule for many MLS players. In addition to the Copa America, the European Championship and the Olympics, there’s the Leagues Cup, which involves club teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX and will take place from July 26 to Aug. 25.

“The schedule is what it is. We have to make the most of it,” Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin said.

Gazdag, who is with Hungary for the European Championship, has scored 10 goals for Philadelphia. At the Copa America, Damion Lowe is playing for Jamaica and Jose Martinez is with with Venezuela. Goalkeeper Andre Blake was called up for Jamaica, although he is injured and likely won’t play at the start of the tournament.

“When you lose your leading goal scorer this season and a guy who does a lot for us defensively — and I wish him all the luck in the world — but he’s going to be missed, you know? So, everybody has to step up,” Curtin said.

It remains to be seen if MLS takes an attendance or viewership hit because of absent players — or simply because there’s just so much soccer to consume. Apple TV broadcasts MLS games, while FOX Sports will air many Copa America and European Championship matches across its channels in the United States.

Inter Miami’s Julian Gressel told reporters he wants players to “take ownership” of the team in the absence of Messi, Suarez and Rojas.

“This is our time to keep the train rolling; we want to be top of the Supporters Shield standings at the end of the season and every game is a big part of that,” Gressel said. ”(I’m) just trying to emphasize that and trying to make it clear to the guys that it’s our time and we can do it without those guys as well.”

Dallas has gone 3-8-5 this season and sits in second-to-last in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. Dallas, winless in its last five matches, was coming off a 1-1 draw on the road with Minnesota United on Saturday.

“It is always a difficult decision to part ways with your head coach. A great deal of thought and deliberation went into this move as it is still early in the season. We believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club,” FC Dallas President Dan Hunt said in a statement Sunday. “I want to thank Nico for everything he has done for the club, including some great playoff memories.”

Assistant coach Peter Luccin will serve as interim head coach, the team said.

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Estevez, who is from Spain, was hired before the 2022 season and led the team to the conference semifinals in the playoffs. Dallas returned to the playoffs last year and advanced to the knockout round of the Leagues Cup.

Dallas was 28-27-29 in the regular season over Estevez’s tenure as Dallas’ coach.

Estevez is the third MLS coach to depart his team this season. Last week Atlanta United dismissed coach Gonzalo Pineda last week and Nashville parted ways with Gary Smith in mid-May.

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San Diego FC has signed Mexican star winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano to a four-year contract, keeping him with the newest MLS club through 2028. Lozano will remain with his current club, PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, through the end of the year.

Lozano is the team’s first Designated Player. Major League Soccer reserves that designation for high-priced stars whose lofty salaries do not count against the club’s salary cap. According to ESPN, Lozano’s salary will be in the range of seven to nine million — making him one of the highest-paid players in the league.

“It’s an honor to join San Diego FC as the Club’s first Designated Player,” said Lozano in the club’s announcement. “It’s exciting to be part of history as we build a Club that will compete for championships in MLS. In every country I have played, I always strive to leave a mark, and making an impact in San Diego and MLS is very important to me … I am beyond excited and look forward to finishing the year strong with PSV Eindhoven and joining San Diego FC at the start of 2025.”

Lozano will be introduced to media and fans on Thursday, June 13. SDFC will hold a public event for fans at the Rady Shell at 7 p.m. PT.

The 28-year-old is perhaps most well known for his goal against Germany in Mexico’s victory over the defending World Cup Champion in the 2018 World Cup. Lozano has over 70 caps and 18 goals since making his national team debut in 2016.

“Signing a player of the international stature of ‘Chucky’ Lozano is the biggest possible endorsement of our project in San Diego,” said San Diego FC Owner and Chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour in the team’s announcement.

His club career began in Liga MX with Pachuca. In 149 matches Lozano netted 43 goals and 31 assists.

In 2017, he went overseas, joining PSV. His first season included 17 goals and 11 assists in 29 appearances. Lozano helped them take the Eredivisie title in 2018. He also helped them lift the Dutch league crown in May. In 112 games with PSV, Chucky had 46 goals and 26 helpers.

Lozano has also spent time in Italy playing for Napoli, where he claimed the Serie A championship in 2023. While with Napoli, he recorded 30 goals and 17 assists in 155 matches.

“’Chucky’ is a world-class talent, and we couldn’t think of a better star to be the face of our Club and represent our region,” San Diego FC CEO Tom Penn said in the team’s statement. “We are thrilled to have him join our Club as we look to build a team that will challenge for trophies. ‘Chucky’ is one of the most decorated Mexican internationals in the world, and we look forward to seeing him shine in San Diego and MLS in 2025.”

Tom Bogert is a Major League Soccer insider for The Athletic and told NBC 7 he believes Lozano could be a top-10 player in the league.

“I can not say enough good things about this signing,” Bogert said. “In (his) prime, somebody who is gonna move the needle on the field first and foremost, that’s most important. But off the field, this is really gonna help with relevancy. This is really gonna help with pushing them center stage in the league and a way to announce to the rest of MLS, ‘hey we’re here.'”

Lozano is the fourth player San Diego FC has signed. The first was San Diego native Duran Ferree, who played for the Loyal and is now in goal for Orange County SC of the USL. They also added forward Marcus Ingvartsen and midfielder Jeppe Tverskov from FC Nordsjælland, a Danish club within the Right to Dream network that San Diego FC is now joining.

“That’s obviously huge,” Tverskov told NBC 7 about Lozano’s addition. “That’s one of the things that they talked to us about, that they had a dream to bring a big star from Mexico and I think they brought the biggest one. So of course that’s gonna be big for us, it’s gonna be even more hype.”

“A great player,” Invgartsen added. “Been doing well in his last couple of years, so yeah it will be fun to link up there.”

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Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Miami has not issued any statements about the availability of Messi or his teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets. But the Whitecaps said it was their understanding the trio would not travel with the club for its first visit to Vancouver since signing Messi last year.

More than 50,000 people had been expected to attend the match.

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The 36-year-old Argentine star has 10 goals in 10 Major League Soccer games this season and leads the league in assists with 12. Miami leads MLS’ Eastern Conference standings and Vancouver is seventh in the West.

Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said the team knows there will be a lot of disappointed fans, but the club “remains committed to making this a special experience for everyone.”

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, widely considered one of the best ever in his position, reportedly “expressed interest” in San Diego FC, The Athletic reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

De Bruyne’s camp had one conversation with San Diego, which is slated to begin play in the 2025 MLS season.

San Diego is a location the Belgian would consider should be make the switch from the English Premier League.

But that’s as far as conversations have gone, the report added. A deal currently is not imminent.

De Bruyne, who turns 33 in June, has a contract with Manchester City that expires next summer. There have been rumors of De Bruyne extending his deal to retire with the club at a later date or moving onto another team, with Saudi Arabian sides also said to be interested.

MLS May 16

Here are the highest-paid MLS players in 2024 season

MLS Mar 4

MLS reverts to having All-Stars face best of Mexico's Liga MX in 2024

He’s coming off a season in which City won the Premier League title for the fourth straight year and six in the last seven, though 115 financial charges still loom over the club.

Despite battling injuries, De Bruyne recorded four goals and 10 assists in 18 league appearances.

San Diego has also been linked to legendary Spanish center-back Sergio Ramos, as well as Mexican winger Hirving Lozano.

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An agreement in principle to sign the-then 13-year-old Messi was written on the napkin almost 25 years ago at a Barcelona tennis club. A more formal and detailed contract with the club followed soon after.

An undisclosed percentage of the sale price pays administrative fees for the online auction, in what’s called the buyer’s premium.

Bonhams said the auction was on behalf of Horacio Gaggioli, an agent from Messi’s home country of Argentina who was part of the deal.

The contract language, written in blue ink, was intended to reassure the teenager’s father, Jorge Messi, that the deal would go through.

Jorge Messi had threatened to take his son back to Argentina because negotiations with Barcelona had stalled.

The napkin, containing the date Dec. 14, 2000, bears the signatures of Gaggioli, another agent, Josep Maria Minguella and Barcelona’s then-sporting director, Carles Rexach, who met at a tennis club.

MLS May 16

Here are the highest-paid MLS players in 2024 season

MLS May 15

Austin to host MLS All-Star game in 2025 as Texas capital continues to grow as a soccer market

Rexach had asked a waiter for paper and was given a blank napkin.

The starting price was 300,000 pounds ($379,000).

Messi spent nearly two decades with Barcelona after arriving from Argentina at 13 to play in its youth squads. He made his first-team debut in 2004 and played 17 seasons with the main squad. He helped the club win every major trophy including the Champions League four times and the Spanish league 10 times.

Messi left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021. He has since joined Inter Miami.

Unsurprisingly, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi leads the way by a comfortable margin, with fellow teammate Sergio Busquets not far behind.

But there are some surprises, like 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta not being among the top 10. The FC Cincinnati star is just a few spots away, though.

So, who are the highest-paid MLS players? Let’s look at the 2024 salaries, as provided by the MLSPA:

MLS May 16

Nashville SC fires coach Gary Smith after 3-4-5 start in seventh season

MLS May 15

Austin to host MLS All-Star game in 2025 as Texas capital continues to grow as a soccer market

Who are the highest-paid MLS players in 2024?

Messi comfortably leads the list of highest-paid MLS players. Here’s a look at the top 20 in terms of guaranteed compensation:

• RW/AM Lionel Messi, Inter Miami: $20.4 million
• LW Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto: $15.4 million
• DM Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami: $8.7 million
• AM Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire: $8.1 million
• AM Sebastian Driussi, Austin: $6.7 million
• RW Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto: $6.2 million
• AM Emil Forsberg, New York Red Bulls: $6 million
• CM Hector Herrera, Houston Dynamo: $5.2 million
• CF/AM Hany Mukhtar, Nashville: $5.2 million
• AM Carles Gil, New England Revolution: $4.4 million
• ST Christian Benteke, D.C. United: $4.4 million
• CF Luis Muriel, Orlando City: $4.3 million
• AM Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati: $4.2 million
• LW Denis Bouanga, LAFC: $3.6 million
• ST Alan Pulido, Sporting Kansas City: $3.6 million
• ST Teemu Pukki, Minnesota United: $3.5 million
• ST Hugo Cuypers, Chicago Fire: $3.5 million
• CB Walker Zimmerman, Nashville: $3.4 million
• LM Diego Rossi, Columbus Crew: $3.3 million
• RW/LW Joseph Paintsil, LA Galaxy: $3.3 million

Here are some other notable names who are not among the top 20:

• CF Cucho Hernandez, Columbus Crew: $2.8 million
• CF Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle Sounders: $2.7 million
• CM Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy: $2.4 million
• AM Thiago Almada, Atlanta United: $2.2 million
• CF Jesus Ferreira, FC Dallas: $2.2 million
• CF Christian Arango, Real Salt Lake: $2 million
• RW Christian Espinoza, San Jose Earthquakes: $2 million
• ST Luis Suarez, Inter Miami: $1.5 million
• LB Jordi Alba, Inter Miami: $1.5 million
• GK Hugo Lloris, LAFC: $350,000

What is Lionel Messi’s MLS salary?

In the 2024 season, Messi is making a guaranteed $20,446,667 with Inter Miami.

Who is the highest-paid MLS defender in 2024?

Nashville and USMNT center-back Walker Zimmerman is the highest-paid MLS defender in 2024 with a guaranteed compensation of $3,456,979.

What is the highest-paid position in MLS?

Based off the 2024 salaries, it’s typically attacking midfielders who are paid the most in MLS. Forwards trail right behind as goals are where the money is.

The club announced the decision Thursday, describing the move only as Smith’s “departure,” along with assistant coach Steve Guppy. He is the first MLS coach to be fired this season.

Former Nashville player and current player development coach Rumba Munthali will serve as interim head coach starting with Saturday’s game against Atlanta United.

Nashville improved to 3-4-5 this season with Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Toronto FC, when Smith was booed during pre-game introductions.

Smith’s seven-season tenure included six consecutive playoff appearances in the USL Championship and Major League Soccer, and the Leagues Cup Final in 2023.

MLS May 15

Austin to host MLS All-Star game in 2025 as Texas capital continues to grow as a soccer market

Smith led Nashville SC to 52 MLS wins and three playoff victories. The club reached the playoffs four times and the Eastern Conference semifinals twice.

He won the MLS Cup in 2020 with the Colorado Rapids and later with Atlantic Silverbacks FC in the NASL.

The state-of-the-art 20,738-seat stadium opened in 2021, the first year of play for the franchise. The club has hosted U.S. women’s and men’s national team matches for World Cup qualifying, pre-Olympic warmup matches, and Gold Cup matches. It will also host two group matches during the Copa America in July.

Austin FC has sold out 60 consecutive matches, the longest current streak in MLS.

“This city has embraced this team as we always hoped it would, and in many ways expected it would. This is a way to say ‘Thank you,’ to their fans,” Garber said at an event staged at Antone’s, a concert hall in the city’s live music entertainment district. “This city has shown the rest of the world that MLS can thrive and succeed in brand new markets that didn’t have soccer history.”

MLS was the first major professional sports league to put a franchise in the Texas capital.

MLS Mar 4

MLS reverts to having All-Stars face best of Mexico's Liga MX in 2024

The exact date of the match and the opponent for the MLS all-stars team will be announced at a later date. The league stages a week of events around the all-star match, including an all-star skills challenge, an all-star game for its development league, and concerts.

“This is one of the original visions of the club when Austin FC was formalized, to bring events to Austin,” said Andy Loughnane, the president of Austin FC. “If you’re a new club, or even in a new stadium, you have a really good opportunity to host the all-star game, but you have to earn it on merit.”

Columbus, Ohio, will host for the 2024 all-star events with the MLS All-Stars facing a group of all-stars from Mexico’s LIGA MX on July 24.

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The Argentine scored a brace and added an assist to help lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 home win over Nashville in league action on Saturday.

After a 3-2 road win over Sporting Kansas City last time out, Miami conceded an own goal off a corner kick in just the second minute. An incoming ball deflected off defender Franco Negri and past Drake Callender for an early deficit.

But Messi, as usual, didn’t let the early goal dissuade his team. In just the 11th minute, he found a scrappy equalizer to tie things up and make it his sixth goal in as many games.

Messi kept the pressure coming in the first half and helped his side take the lead in the 39th minute. The Argentine delivered an inswinging corner kick that former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets flipped home with his head.

Messi then put the nail in Nashville’s coffin in the 81st minute via a penalty. Nashville backup goalie Joe Willis, who came on at halftime for Elliot Panicco, was sent the wrong way.

It marked Messi’s first penalty since the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and he had no trouble slotting it away.

The win put Miami three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference, though it has played two more games than second-place New York Red Bulls.

With 22 goals scored as a whole, Miami currently is the highest-scoring team in the league. However, Miami has conceded 15 goals, which is the worst among any current playoff-bound team if the league ended on this matchday.

Messi and Miami will next be in action on Saturday, April 27, at the New England Revolution, who are currently dead last out East.

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The club on Tuesday reportedly agreed to a deal with World Cup winning French striker Olivier Giroud, multiple reports said.

Giroud would join the team in the summer after the 2024 Euros, which ends on July 14. The MLS summer transfer window begins on July 18.

The 37-year-old striker would have his deal guaranteed through 2025, The Athletic’s Tom Bogert added. LAFC possesses Giroud’s discovery rights, so it has priority to sign him over any other MLS club.

Despite his age, Giroud, who won the 2018 World Cup with France and helped reach the final in 2022, is still going strong with AC Milan in Italy. He has 12 goals and eight assists in 26 league appearances.

MLS Mar 26

MLS and referees reach 7-year labor deal, ending 37-day lockout that led to replacement officials

MLS Mar 4

MLS reverts to having All-Stars face best of Mexico's Liga MX in 2024

He first rose to fame with English Premier League side Arsenal in 2014 before moving to rival side Chelsea in 2017. He joined Milan in 2021 and has scored double-digit league goals in every season after struggling to consistently perform for the Blues.

Giroud is also the French national team’s all-time leading scorer and remains a focal point to Didier Deschamps’ side.

LAFC in the winter window signed French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was teammates with Giroud in the 2018 World Cup.

But Steve Cherundolo’s side could definitely use attacking reinforcements with Carlos Vela still a free agent and Denis Bouanga, the 2023 Golden Boot winner, shouldering the burden on the left wing.

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Match officials will average a 28.36% increase this year, followed by hikes of 3% in 2025, 6% in 2026, 3% each in 2027 and 2029, and 4% apiece in 2029 and 2030, according to Peter Manikowski, president of the Professional Soccer Referees Association. He said a top-scale referee will earn a minimum $200,000 starting in 2028.

The Professional Referee Organization, which supplies match officials to MLS, the NWSL and some lower-tier leagues, locked out officials on Feb. 18, three days ahead of the MLS opener, after the union rejected a tentative five-year deal to replace the expired deal.

PRO and the union, which has about 260 members, said they had ratified an agreement reached last week that runs until Jan. 31, 2031.

Replacement officials were used in the first 69 games over the opening five weeks of this season, drawing some criticism.

“Human beings make individual mistakes, but it’s the avoidance of mistakes and it’s the situational awareness that make our officials the most experienced and the best ones in North America, in some cases in the world,” Manikowski said. “It’s not what happens on an individual call, but what leads up to that which is, I think a big change that folks will see on the field of play this coming weekend.”

MLS Mar 4

MLS reverts to having All-Stars face best of Mexico's Liga MX in 2024

Lionel Messi Mar 1

Tim Howard: How MLS goalkeepers can gameplan to stop Lionel Messi

PRO did not have any comment beyond a prepared statement.

MLS also used replacement officials for the first two weeks of its 2014 season before reaching a five-year contract after the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service entered talks.

Messi checked out of Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Nashville just a few minutes into the second half, and coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said the 36-year-old was experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring area. He was removed from the game as a precaution.

“He is overloaded in the right posterior,” Martino said through a translator. “We don’t want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go further along (in the game), but it was bothering him so we preferred to have him get out of the game.”

Messi had a goal and an assist before leaving the game in the 50th minute.

Inter Miami advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with the win and 5-3 advantage in aggregate goals in the total-goals series.

Martino said Messi will likely be rested for Inter Miami’s MLS match against D.C. United on Saturday as further precaution.

Messi had played every minute of the season before being rested in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal.

Inter Miami Mar 6

Inter Miami's Federico Redondo used to watch Lionel Messi. Now he shares a locker room with him

Argentina Feb 22

Messi's Argentina to play against El Salvador, Nigeria in the US, replacing China tour

He was injured late in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 at Nashville last Thursday. Messi went down late in regulation of that game when Nashville defender Lukas MacNaughton stepped on his calf. A trainer checked on Messi, who writhed in pain on the pitch, but he remained in the game.

He had been listed as questionable with a shin injury entering Sunday’s game against Montreal.

Martino said Wednesday that Messi will undergo tests, and the team will evaluate from there.

Inter Miami is currently amid a busy March that includes seven matches — four of which have come in a 10-day span. Messi is expected to join the Argentinian national team in a pair of Copa America warm-up matches on March 22 and 26.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

He has a better vantage point now that he shares a locker room with them.

Things are happening quickly for the 21-year-old Redondo, a midfielder who signed a four-year contract with Inter Miami last month. The son of longtime Argentina national team player Fernando Redondo — a former Real Madrid and AC Milan player — was formally introduced by his new club on Tuesday.

“It’s awesome,” Redondo said. “I grew up seeing these kind of players. And it’s a dream come true to play with them.”

Inter Miami sees short- and long-term benefits from signing Redondo. He was brought in as a season-ending injury replacement for Facundo Farias, who was lost to a torn ACL in a preseason match back in January. And on a roster that’s led by four players all in their mid-30s — Alba is the youngest of Inter Miami’s Big Four and he turns 35 later this month — it’s important to stockpile young talent for the future.

“We believe in his potential,” team sporting director and chief soccer officer Chris Henderson said when Inter Miami signed Redondo.

Acclimation to a star-heavy locker room isn’t going to be difficult for Redondo, given that he’s been around top players for his entire life. His father was UEFA’s Club Footballer of the Year for the 1999-2000 season. Messi won that award in 2008-09, then won it twice more when it was essentially rebranded to UEFA men’s player of the year in 2011.

MLS Mar 4

MLS reverts to having All-Stars face best of Mexico's Liga MX in 2024

Feb 21

MLS Fanonomics: Here's the price of passion for the 2024 MLS season

Another winner of that club footballer award: David Beckham, part of Inter Miami’s ownership group. He won it in 1998-99, the season before Fernando Redondo got the trophy.

“For me, it’s more like an honor,” Federico Redondo said of carrying on his family’s soccer legacy. “I know my dad was one of the of the best at his position. It helps me a lot because we always talk about the matches. He teaches me a lot of things.”

Redondo has some goals for the season — he’d like to play with Argentina at the Paris Olympics (and has a chance), plus he knows Inter Miami has high hopes of collecting multiple trophies this year including what would be the franchise’s first MLS title.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this,” he said.

MLS said Monday the July 24 game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, will have the format used in 2021 at Los Angeles, which was won by MLS on penalty kicks, and 2022 in St. Paul, Minnesota, won by MLS 2-1.

Arsenal beat MLS 5-0 In last year’s game at Washington, D.C.

Lionel Messi Mar 1

Tim Howard: How MLS goalkeepers can gameplan to stop Lionel Messi

MLS Feb 26

Minnesota United makes Manchester United's Eric Ramsay youngest MLS head coach

MLS had announced last June the game will be held in Columbus, which also hosted the All-Stars in 2000 and 2005 at Columbus Crew Stadium. The league originally announced a July 17 date but shifted it a week in December.

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Messi and Súarez scored two goals each and Inter Miami routed Orlando City 5-0, the largest victory margin in team history.

Messi had consecutive goals during a quick span early in the second half. It was his first two-goal game in MLS action.

The 37-year-old Súarez became the latest ex-Barcelona teammate to join Messi at Inter Miami and made an immediate impact in his third MLS match. Suárez also had two assists.

“He knows everything about me, and I think we will continue to do so,” Suárez said of excelling with Messi again. Former Barcelona stars and Messi teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also are in their first full MLS season with Inter Miami after joining Messi last summer.

“Those guys aren’t here to put their feet up,” Julian Gressel said. “We’ve seen it over the last few weeks. They’re trying to do everything for the team to win. Tonight is a really good example of that.”

With a prolific career that has resulted in 381 club goals over 19 seasons, Suárez scored his first two in the MLS within a seven-minute sequence early in the first half.

“We know what Luis is capable of,” Messi told Apple TV after the match.

Robert Taylor scored the fifth goal and Gressel had two assists for Inter Miami (2-0-1, 7 points), which is unbeaten through three games for the first time in club history. Orlando City dropped to 0-1-1.

Inter Miami fans were barely settling in when Suárez struck four minutes into the match. Messi initiated the strike as his long pass found an open Gressel on the right wing. Gressel then centered to an open Suárez, who one-timed a shot inside the right post.

“The first goal, that changes the whole game, doesn’t it?” Messi said.

The combination of Gressel and Suárez clicked again seven minutes later. From the left wing, Gressel sent another crossing pass to Suárez. Suárez beat defender Wilder Cartagena to the ball, dribbled into the large area and converted past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese from 12 yards.

Suárez turned distributor for Taylor’s goal in the 29th minute. Suárez’s cross from the right wing found an open Taylor against an unsuccessful offside trap by the Orlando City backline. Taylor tapped in a 15-yard shot.

“I try my best every time I’m out on the pitch,” Suárez said. “Today we did a really good job and I hope the Miami fans are happy.”

Messi joined the scoring onslaught with his first goal in the 57th minute. Suarez’s shot deflected off the crossbar and an unmarked Messi easily tapped in the shot inches from the goal line.

Suarez’s centering pass from the left wing found an open Messi, whose header in the 62nd minute closed the scoring.

“Very satisfied with our performance,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. “Everyone played well. Suárez was fantastic not only with his goals but with the assists. We also preserved the shutout, which is very important.”

Tensions escalated when Suárez exchanged words with Orlando players as they walked off the field for the halftime break.

Saturday began a month of seven matches for Inter Miami while Argentina also has called Messi for two exhibitions during a four-day stretch later in March.

Martino said Friday that Messi’s playing time will be carefully monitored. Messi played the entire match Saturday and Suárez was replaced in the 67th minute.

“It’s a long road that is just beginning,” Messi said.

In addition to five league matches, Inter Miami will face Nashville SC in a home-and-home set of the CONCACAF Nations Cup round of 16. Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 and Costa Rica on March 26 as precursors to Copa America later this summer.

“We are good, we are enjoying, we are growing,” Messi said. “Today was an important game to win to continue on that path of growth and the truth is that this has to make us very strong for everything that is to come.”

Shortly before Saturday’s kickoff, Jaime Herrera replaced Guiherme Ceretta as center referee after photos of Ceretta on social media created a possible conflict of interest.

___

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Ramsay will join the club once he receives his work visa. The native of England who was raised in Wales comes from Manchester United of the English Premier League, where he served as a first-team coach under current manager Erik ten Hag.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining a club with such a strong football culture, a fanatic fan-base and a brilliant infrastructure,” Ramsay said in a statement distributed by the Loons. “I’ve spoken to a lot of the club’s staff throughout the process and you can’t help but feel everyone’s passion for moving the club forward. There is a really exciting pathway for the future.”

Heath, the club’s first head coach upon joining MLS as an expansion team in 2017, was fired Oct. 6 shortly before the Loons missed the playoffs after making the postseason the previous four years.

Feb 21

MLS Fanonomics: Here's the price of passion for the 2024 MLS season

MLS Feb 1

When does the MLS season start? Key dates for 2024

Sean McAuley was named interim coach, but he resigned in January. Cameron Knowles was appointed as the next interim coach and guided the Loons to a 2-1 victory at Austin in the season opener on Saturday.

Minnesota United also recently hired Khaled El-Ahmad as its chief soccer officer.

Messi on Sunday scored a stoppage-time goal to help Inter Miami salvage a 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy.

It was all LA Galaxy who had the better chances and moments throughout, though the squad couldn’t bury enough chances to prevent Messi from making a play.

Former Barcelona youngster Riqui Puig had a clear-cut chance in the 13th minute on a penalty after Sergio Busquets fouled new signing Joseph Paintsil. But Drake Callender saved the attempt.

Callender saved another big attempt from Puiq in the 29th minute, which clanked off the crossbar as well.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 75th minute when center-forward Dejan Joveljic tapped home from Marco Delgado’s pass.

Delgado, however, was sent off with a red card in the 88th minute. Messi equalized in the 92nd minute.

Messi and former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba brought back their tiki-taka movement, which the former finished with style.

LA Galaxy will feel hard done by the result given the chances they botched. They had 24 shots, nine on target, five big chances and four big chances missed.

Galaxy also accumulated 3.37 expected goals, via FotMob. Miami only had 0.63 for comparison’s sake, with just one big chance and none missed.

It marked Messi’s first goal of the 2024 season after he assisted in Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over Real Salt Lake. Galaxy hadn’t played yet this season but showed promise of what could be a bounce-back campaign.

Messi and Miami will next be in action on Saturday, May 2, vs. Orlando City.

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The Professional Soccer Referees Association picketed in New York and Dallas on Wednesday, less than a week after the organization overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement with the Professional Referee Organization — which supplies match officials to MLS, the NWSL and other leagues.

“I can’t remember, in my 40 years in sports, of having a bargaining unit reach an agreement and not have their members support it,” Garber said. “Very disappointing.”

Garber said MLS remains hopeful that an agreement is struck, and said he was left to wonder if the rejection of the deal suggests “a disconnect between the members and their elected negotiators.”

“It almost seems as if this was intentional,” Garber said. “I don’t know how you get to a point where there’s a work stoppage and not know what it is that you’re disagreeing about. That’s frustrating. I imagine it’s frustrating for fans. It’s certainly frustrating for us, but we’ll see how it plays out.

“I will tell you that we are very prepared and are more than willing to manage this in a way that’s in the best interest of our players, our teams, the best interest of our fans.”

Earlier Wednesday, MLS — citing the labor issue — said it would postpone implementation of new rules and procedures regarding timed substitutions, off-field treatment and plans to make in-stadium announcements when VAR is utilized.

PRO locked out the union on Sunday. The PSRA said the tentative agreement lacked a sufficient economic package and quality-of-life improvements.

MLS Feb 21

Lionel Messi assists in Inter Miami's 2-0 season-opening win vs. Real Salt Lake

MLS Feb 17

MLS to lock out referees. Lionel Messi's Miami could open season with replacement officials

Cristian Campo Hernandez, who worked some MLS Next Pro and USL Championship games last season — as well as some women’s college soccer matches last fall — was the referee Wednesday night.

“The solidarity and support we’re receiving from so many in #MLS is truly amazing,” the PSRA wrote on social media Wednesday. “Not only in Dallas and NYC today at our pickets, but all around the league. We thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing everyone in the stadiums soon.”

MLS previously said PRO’s proposal for wages, benefits and travel was a 25% improvement from last year.

PRO said the tentative five-year agreement included guaranteed pay increases this year of 10-33% for referees, 75-104% raises for assistant referees and 15-100% for video match officials along with increased match fees. Salaries and match fees would have increased 7% in 2027 and 3% in other years.

It’s not the first time MLS has needed replacement officials. They were also used in the first two weeks of its 2014 season before the sides reached a five-year contract after the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service entered talks.

There has been no announcement of any scheduled meetings to resume talks.

“I’m sitting here today with officials who I am confident will do a good job,” Garber said. “Not knowing what it is and how far PRO is apart from the PRSA, and that is just not something that I can say is normal in the bargaining dynamic.”

Messi steered Inter Miami to a 2-0 win at home over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, putting a stamp on the league already.

The 36-year-old Argentine was simply brilliant throughout the night and was unfortunate not to net one himself. He set up the opener to Robert Taylor in the 39th minute, who was fortunate goalie Zac MacMath couldn’t handle it.

The first half was all Miami, though the team couldn’t score a second before halftime. Messi, Taylor and league debutant Luis Suarez all made an impact in the first half and dominated in the final third. Julian Gressel was also heavily involved in a midfield role.

But the momentum quickly changed after the interval, as Miami’s legs noticeably looked heavy after a hectic preseason while Salt Lake appeared sharper.

Salt Lake had multiple chances to secure the equalizer, including a header from a corner in the 72nd minute that goalie Drake Callender parried over the crossbar.

Chicho Arango got more involved as well, but Salt Lake couldn’t capitalize despite being camped inside Miami’s defensive third for a good portion of the second half.

MLS Feb 17

MLS to lock out referees. Lionel Messi's Miami could open season with replacement officials

MLS Feb 1

When does the MLS season start? Key dates for 2024

Then came Messi’s moment of individual brilliance in the 83rd minute that sealed the win. On the counter, Messi showed off his superb dribbling and hold-up play to advance the ball into Salt Lake’s defensive third. Messi slipped the ball to Suarez, who then gave a one-touch pass to 20-year-old Diego Gomez for a solid finish.

Suarez noticeably limped to finish the game and was substituted in the 90th minute, but it marked a solid MLS debut for the 37-year-old Uruguayan.

Miami finished the game logging 1.19 expected goals, via FotMob. For comparison’s sake, Salt Lake managed 0.77 but couldn’t find the finishing touch.

Salt Lake recorded 17 total shots, though only two hit the target. Miami had 15 total shots and eight on target, along with two big chances missed. Messi was on the end of those.

Miami will next be on the road on Sunday to face LA Galaxy, while Salt Lake will be on the road again as it meets St. Louis City on Saturday.

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The stadium will no longer be known as the DRV PNK Stadium and will now be known as the “Chase Stadium”, according to a press release from the team.

The deal marks the first time Chase will have naming rights on soccer stadium after already forming partnerships with leading sports industry brands like Madison Square Garden, the US Open, F1 Miami Grand Prix, the NBA and much more.

“Inter Miami is honored to partner with the country’s largest bank, JPMorgan Chase,” said Inter Miami CF Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi, in the press release. “We could not have envisioned a more fitting new main partner, as we look forward to chasing our dreams at Chase Stadium in 2024 and beyond.”

The new partnership will offer exclusive deals to Chase credit and debit card holders like an exclusive entrance to enter the stadium called the ‘Chase Fast Lane.’

Chase customers will also have special promotions that include presale ticket access, preferred seating opportunities, plus, merchandise and food discounts, the team announced.

The team also said that Chase customers attending Inter Miami’s home opener match on Wednesday will be able to access a 25% discount at select concession stands by presenting their Chase debit or credit card to the “Chase Ambassador” at the participating concession stand.

For fans visiting for the first time this new season, the look of the stadium will be different as the Chase logo will be featured more prominently throughout the interior and exterior of the stadium, the press release said.

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With the offseason and preseason in the rear view, all focus now shifts toward what will be a busy yet riveting campaign.

Defending champion Columbus Crew won’t be opening the season, though. Instead, it’ll be Lionel Messi and Inter Miami getting first dibs to start the season with momentum against a Western Conference playoff team.

Real Salt Lake, headlined by rising youngster Diego Luna, finished as the No. 5 seed last season but lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

Miami were notoriously known for being at the bottom of the East but pulled off a Leagues Cup win after Messi’s arrival. The club also appeared in the U.S Open Cup Final but had to play without Messi due to injury.

So, with kickoff time almost here, here’s everything to know about Miami vs. Salt Lake:

MLS Feb 17

MLS to lock out referees. Lionel Messi's Miami could open season with replacement officials

MLS Feb 1

When does the MLS season start? Key dates for 2024

When is the Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake 2024 MLS season opener?

The 2024 MLS season opener between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 21.

What time is the Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake 2024 MLS season opener?

Kickoff time is slated for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Where is the Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake 2024 MLS season opener?

DRV Pink Stadium, home of Inter Miami, is the venue for the game.

How to watch the Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake 2024 MLS season opener

The game will only be available to watch on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

When will Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play next?

It’s a packed week for Miami as the team will fly to California after the game to meet LA Galaxy on Sunday, Feb. 25.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

Designed by adidas, the kits are being launched from Wednesday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, Feb. 17.

The designs feature the MLS and Apple badge, along with elements that tie in the respective team’s local culture.

Here’s a look at each team’s design and when it is slated to release if not already:

MLS Feb 1

When does the MLS season start? Key dates for 2024

Inter Miami Jan 25

Messi's new Inter Miami soccer jersey replaces crypto firm logo with cruise operator Icon

Inter Miami

Inter Miami actually released its adidas kit in late January. It’s called the “2getherness” jersey that is pink and represents the different dualities of the club.

Charlotte FC

Charlotte’s kit takes inspiration from the elevation changes across the Carolinas. It features multiple shades of light blue stacked one top of each other.

New England Revolution

The Revolution’s kit is, fittingly, titled the “Boston Tea Party.” It features red and white dotted stripes over a blue body with horizontal white lines on a red shoulder.

New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls went with a “legacy” kit. It combines a red base with black, raggedy zig zags throughout.

Philadelphia Union

The Union are honoring their 15th season with an “XV” kit. The stripe “weaves together like the trusses of the Commodore Barry Bridge to create the XV,” via the team’s social media post.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers went with — you guessed it — a green nature-themed kit to honor Portland’s vast collection of forests, mountains and rivers.

Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City’s kit is titled “Diamonds Our Forever.” It brings back the argyle look with a modern twist.

The following teams will release their kits on Feb. 15 or after. Here’s a list:

Austin FC

Austin’s new white and green kit is to represent “The Live Music Capital of the World.”

CF Montreal

Montreal honors Boulevard St-Laurent with a sharp white and blue look.

FC Dallas

FC Dallas‘ kit fades from blue to red in one of the more unique patterns of 2024.

Houston Dynamo

Houston is going with a majority purple look to rep Space City with a few hints of its classic orange involved.

Orlando City

Orlando’s kit is nearly an inverse version of Houston’s, combining a white base with orange and purple accents throughout.

Seattle Sounders

Seattle’s 50th anniversary kit combines bright green with blue and black vertical stripes.

D.C. United

D.C. United‘s kit involves the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge with a black and red combination.

Real Salt Lake

Salt Lake implements the mountains that surround its city with a red, blue and yellow combo.

Toronto FC

Toronto keeps it simple with a white and red design.

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire‘s jersey sticks to its current crest.

NYCFC

NYCFC went with a black, orange and blue scheme to match the electricity of The City That Never Sleeps.

St. Louis City SC

St. Louis’ white and red kit takes inspiration from “the two rivers that form the backbone” of the city and a “tribute to the new generations pushing the shield forward.”

Minnesota United

Minnesota’s kit aims for the sky with its starry black and blue appeal.

Vancouver Whitecaps

The Whitecaps celebrate their 50th anniversary with a bold blue and mustard yellow combo.

Columbus Crew

The defending champs go with a similar yellow and black pattern and a “Todos Son Invitados” neckline.

Colorado Rapids

Colorado’s kit also sticks to its crest with a red and blue look involving layered checkers.

LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy goes with an eye-popping white, blue and yellow scheme that its famous for.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati went with a canvas kit that’s majority white with blue and orange triangular accents.

San Jose Earthquakes kit

The Earthquakes are throwing it back 50 years with an old-school crest and design unlike its current blue colors.

LAFC

LAFC keeps its black and gold scheme but levels it up with an appealing vertical-stripe pattern.

Nashville SC

Nashville persists with its yellow and blue look, with a big blue horizontal stripe across the chest.

Atlanta United

Atlanta opted for a brand-new yellow and blue look titled the “Resurgens” kit.

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Fresh after the Columbus Crew beat LAFC 2-1 in the 2023 MLS Cup Final on Dec. 9, teams are about to re-take the pitch to give it another go.

It’s been a shorter offseason than usual due to the recent tweak to the postseason that included a best-of-three round. So, instead of the MLS Cup Final occurring in early November, it was essentially pushed back a month.

Some teams, like Inter Miami, have already started playing preseason games, while others will begin soon.

With opening day looming, here’s everything to know about the 2024 MLS campaign:

When does the 2024 MLS season start?

The first game of the MLS regular season is a standalone match on Wednesday, Feb. 21. It will see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami host Real Salt Lake.

Every other team will open the season on Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25. Inter Miami will play again that Sunday, visiting LA Galaxy.

When is MLS rivalry week in 2024?

MLS rivalry week, which pits the league’s best rivals against one another, is set for the week of Saturday, May 11, through Saturday, May 18.

When is El Trafico at the Rose Bowl?

LAFC and LA Galaxy will meet at the Rose Bowl for the second straight season in another installment of El Trafico. The match will be played on Thursday, July 4. Last year’s match was also played on the same day and drew a league-record 82,110 fans.

When and where is the 2024 MLS All-Star Game?

This year’s All-Star Game is slated for Wednesday, July 24. Columbus Crew is the host this season, though no opponent has yet been announced. Last year, Arsenal of the English Premier League traveled to D.C. United for the fixture.

When is the 2024 Leagues Cup?

The Leagues Cup that pits MLS teams against Liga MX teams in a month-long tournament will start on Friday, July 26, and run until Sunday, Aug. 25.

When is MLS Decision Day 2024?

Decision Day, which is the final regular-season matchday in MLS, is slated for Saturday, Oct. 19.

When is the 2024 MLS Cup Final?

The postseason will again feature the same format as last season, so the final will be held in December. The exact date is Saturday, Dec. 7, with the host team being the side with the better regular-season record.

Who are MLS teams to watch in 2024?

A new season means some teams will have fresh rosters while others will mostly run it back with small tweaks.

The Colorado Rapids could be in for a serious improvement after a last-place finish out West in 2023. They brought in goalie Zack Steffen from Manchester City, Djordje Mihailovic from AZ Alkmaar and Sam Vines from Royal Antwerp, among others, to bolster their floor. Chris Armas also arrived from the Premier League to be head coach.

The Portland Timbers will look to bounce back into the postseason after being one spot shy of the wild card round. They acquired Canadian left-footed center back Kamal Miller from Miami while also adding goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau as a free agent from LAFC. Their defense conceded the second-most goals in the Western Conference in 2023, so that should improve.

Lastly, Inter Miami will be the big draw with Messi starting the season with the club. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will also be joined by Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, who joined the team over the offseason. Right back Julian Gressel could be key after arriving as a free agent from Columbus. Losing young forward Facundo Farias to an ACL tear is a blow, though, and relying on a core of legends a few years past their prime may not end in the glory Miami is seeking.

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Sporting Kansas City reached the final first in late August, beating USL side Indy Eleven 2-0 at home. It’s the first chance at a trophy for the Wizards in the 2024 campaign, and likely the last.

The Wizards have been dismal in league play, currently in 12th place out of 14 in the Western Conference and likely out of the playoff picture.

It’s a slightly different story for their opponent, LAFC, which beat the Seattle Sounders away 1-0 to qualify. The Black and Gold are fourth in the West with a few games in hand, and a deep playoff run is in the cards.

LAFC is also searching for its first silverware after multiple heartbreaks. In the last two seasons, L.A. lost the Concacaf Champions League final, MLS Cup final and Leagues Cup final.

L.A. might be due a final win soon, but Kansas City is tied for the most wins in the U.S. Open Cup at four with no losses. L.A. is seeking its first triumph in this tournament. Here’s how to watch:

When is the U.S. Open Cup final?

The U.S. Open Cup final between LAFC and Sporting KC is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25.

What time is the U.S. Open Cup final?

Kickoff time is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. PT.

Where is the U.S. Open Cup final?

BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, is the venue for the final.

How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The final will only be available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, though no new subscription will be required as the game will stream for free.

Key players in LAFC-Sporting Kansas City U.S. Open Cup final

For LAFC, its attack is the focal point. Denis Bouanga has held down the left flank for years, while French star Olivier Giroud joined the team recently but has yet to provide the impact he was acquired for. Carlos Vela also recently returned after a lengthy free-agency sit-out, so he could play a role, too. Fellow French star Hugo Lloris will be important between the sticks.

For Sporting KC, its midfield will have to be key to get ahold of the game. Erik Thommy is the main man who links the attack and defense while Nemanja Radoja will have to remain disciplined defensively at the base. Veteran Mexican striker Alan Pulido will also need to be clinical up top if Kansas City lacks possession.

The Argentina star played in the first half alongside Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, his new teammate for the upcoming MLS season. Suarez reunited with Messi in Miami after the pair played six seasons together with Barcelona.

Fans packed the Cuscatlán stadium several hours before the start. El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, took the opportunity to meet Messi and hosted the team at the Presidential House ahead of the game.

Messi had a couple of scoring chances and set up Jordi Alba for a scoring opportunity in the 39th minute, but goalkeeper Mario González deflected the shot.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino rested Messi, Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in the second half. The club still controlled possession, but El Salvador had the best scoring chance when Steven Vázquez’s shot rattled the crossbar in the 83rd minute.

The 36-year-old Messi arrived in Miami last July and scored 10 goals in seven games. He led the club to its first-ever trophy by winning the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 19.

Inter Miami will play FC Dallas next Monday at the Cotton Bowl and then will travel to Saudi Arabia to face Al Hilal on Jan. 29 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Feb. 2.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Vázquez was introduced during a news conference Thursday.

The 25-year-old from Chula Vista, California, scored 32 goals in 112 regular-season Major League Soccer appearances over four seasons with Cincinnati. He played for Atlanta from 2017-19, was selected by Nashville in the November 2019 expansion draft, and then was traded to Cincinnati.

He scored 18 regular-season MLS goals in 2022, drawing the attention of Gregg Berhalter, but the U.S. coach said it was too late to integrate him into his player pool for that year’s World Cup.

Vázquez has four goals in eight U.S. appearances, including three goals in last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also had been eligible to play for Mexico before committing to the U.S. team.

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The 40-year-old agreed to a three-year contract, D.C. said.

Lesesne took over the Red Bulls from Gerhard Struber on May 8 with the team in last place with one win, four losses and six draws for nine points. The Red Bulls made the playoffs by finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference with 11 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses and beat Charlotte in the first round before losing to Cincinnati. Lesesne was replaced by former Hertha Berlin coach Sandro Schwarz.

Lesesne coached New Mexico United in the second-tier United Soccer League Championship from 2018-21, then was hired as a Red Bulls assistant coach in January 2022. He was an assistant coach at the College of Charleston from 2005-14, then became an assistant in the third tier with the Charleston Battery in 2014 and Charlotte Independence from 2015-17.

Soccer Jan 2

Wayne Rooney fired as manager after 15 games at second-tier Birmingham City

MLS Dec 20, 2023

US Soccer Federation refuses MLS attempt to pull top rosters from US Open Cup

Rooney, a former England star, was hired by D.C. in July 2022 and was let go last Oct. 7 after the team’s final game. D.C. went 10-10-14 in MLS in his only full season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, matching a club record from 2008-2011. Rooney was hired four days later as manager of Birmingham in England’s second-tier League Championship, then was fired Jan. 2 after two wins, nine losses and four draws.

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LA announced the deal Saturday and said the agreement with the 37-year-old included options for 2025 and 2026, though it did not say whether the options belong to the team or the player.

Lloris, who has made a French-record 145 international appearances, joins a league that since last summer has added Miami’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (both 36) and Sergio Busquets (35).

Lloris won the 2018 World Cup with France and was Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper from 2012-13, when he took over from Brad Friedel, through last season. Lloris made his last appearance on April 23 at Newcastle, where he allowed five goals in the first 21 minutes and was replaced by Fraser Forster at the start of the second half. The team said on May 5 that Lloris was missing the rest of the season because of a thigh injury.

Guglielmo Vicario has been Spurs’ starter this season.

Lloris’ acquisition by LAFC was a somewhat surprising decision for the club, which won its first MLS Cup championship in 2022 and got all the way back to the MLS Cup Final earlier this month, losing 2-1 to Columbus. LAFC’s primary goalkeepers for those two seasons were MLS Cup heroes Maxime Crépeau and John McCarthy, but both are free agents.

Crépeau famously broke his leg while making a potentially game-saving challenge in the 2022 Cup Final, and McCarthy eventually won the game’s MVP trophy after replacing him and making two saves in the championship-deciding shootout. McCarthy, who took over as the starter this season until Crépeau returned from his injury, already announced his departure from LAFC this week amid reports he plans to join the rival LA Galaxy.

“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner. We are incredibly excited that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his illustrious career,” LAFC general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “He brings unprecedented leadership experience at the highest levels of football.”

LAFC initially built its winning roster with high-value signings from elsewhere in the Americas, but the 6-year-old club now has added older European stars Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Lloris in the past two years. Bale retired before the 2023 season, and Chiellini announced his retirement three weeks ago.

Lloris played for Nice (2005-08) and Lyon (2008-13) before joining Spurs. He appeared in four World Cups, and his 20 World Cup matches are a record among goalkeepers.

While MLS announced in a statement at 6 p.m. EST Friday that its board of governors decided to send teams to the tournament from its third tier MLS Next Pro rosters, the USSF characterized the league’s action only as a request that had been turned down.

“As we move forward, we will continue our review of the Open Cup to ensure it aligns with the U.S. Soccer strategic pillars,” the USSF said in a statement Wednesday. “We remain committed to addressing the needs and concerns of all of our members, including MLS, and other stakeholders to enhance and improve the U.S. Open Cup.”

MLS issued a statement four minutes later saying it “is committed to finding a viable solution for the 2024 tournament and is working to find a pathway that addresses its goals and concerns.”

“Moving forward, MLS will remain focused on increasing opportunities for up-and-coming players, a key component of the league’s player development strategy that ultimately benefits the U.S. national team program.”

MLS added “it believes that there are several essential goals and concerns that must be addressed in connection with the tournament, including developing young professional players and providing them with greater opportunity to play before fans in meaningful competition in a tournament setting, prioritizing player health and safety, reducing schedule congestion for MLS clubs, and enhanced investment from U.S. Soccer.”

The United Soccer League, which entered 46 of the 99 teams in this year’s tournament, said in a statement: “We stand with fans across the country who want to see it remain an authentic and inclusive competition.”

Houston beat Inter Miami this year in the U.S. Open Cup final, earning a berth next year in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Miami star Lionel Messi was injured and missed the match.

The U.S. Open Cup began in the 1913-14 season, and MLS started play in 1996. Since the start of MLS, the only team not from the first tier to win the competition was the 1999 Rochester Raging Rhinos of the USL’s second-tier A-League, which beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the final.

Thirty-four clubs and legendary athletes, such as Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi, are set to return to the soccer field for the league’s 29th edition.

Soccer fans saw Columbus Crew grab the MLS Cup 2023 with an impressive 2-1 victory over defending champion Los Angeles FC on Dec. 9.

Another champion will be crowned a year from now — but it all starts with the regular season grind.

Here is everything you need to know about MLS’s 2024 regular season schedule:

What is the 2024 MLS schedule?

The full schedule for all 34 teams can be seen here.

When does the regular season begin?

The regular season kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 21 and concludes on Saturday, Oct. 19.

What are the season’s key dates?

The season’s key dates are as follows:

Lionel Messi Dec 5, 2023

Lionel Messi named Time's Athlete of the Year for 2023

Lionel Messi Dec 14, 2023

Messi's 2022 World Cup shirts sell for $7.8 million at auction

When does Lionel Messi play in your city?

Messi joined Inter Miami CF in June 2023. Needless the say, the star’s first full season will cause quite a stir.

Here is Messi and Inter Miami’s full schedule:

New York said the 32-year-old will sign a three-year contract and be a designated player whose salary doesn’t fully count against the league’s salary cap. The deal includes an option for 2027 — the Red Bulls did not say whether the option was of the team, the player or mutual.

Forsberg has 21 goals in 86 international appearances, scoring to lead Sweden over Switzerland 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup. He played with his hometown Sundsvall from 2009-12 before switching to Malmö for 2013 and ’14.

He joined Leipzig in January 2015 and had 71 goals in 324 appearances, including 39 in 195 Bundesliga matches and eight in 46 second Bundesliga games.

Forsberg was selected to the Bundesliga team of the season in 2016-17.

He has four goals in 25 games this season, scoring a go-ahead goal Wednesday in a 2-1 win over Switzerland’s Young Boys in the Champions League.

This Smith is an Englishman who brings more than a decade of managerial experience in the English soccer system. He is no relation to the late, national championship winning men’s basketball coach at North Carolina, according the team.

Smith may be best known for leading Aston Villa back to the Premier League in 2019. Smith takes over for Christian Lattanzio who was let go on Nov. 8 after one season and the team’s first MLS playoff appearance.

Smith said he was honored to take the job and is planning for the 2024 season.

MLS Dec 9, 2023

Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy becomes first Black head coach to win MLS Cup

Dec 9, 2023

LAFC lose back-to-back title bid as Columbus Crew win MLS Cup 2-1

“Throughout the interview process, it was clear that this is an ambitious club with the right ingredients for success,” Smith said in a statement.

Tepper said he was confident that Smith’s “leadership and experience will help elevate our club beyond its first playoff appearance into a championship team.”

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Since winning the MLS Cup in 2020, Columbus failed to qualify for the playoffs in the each of the two ensuing seasons.

About a year later, Nancy helped guide the Crew to glory, as his side won the 2023 MLS Cup with a 2-1 victory over defending champions LAFC on Saturday.

With the result, Nancy made history as the first Black head coach to win the MLS Cup.

The Crew finished as the No. 3 seed out East with a 16-9-9 win-draw-loss record, then went on to win the main title — its third MLS Cup in franchise history — after eliminating regular-season champions FC Cincinnati on the road in the conference final.

Nancy said after the game Saturday he was proud of the accomplishment but wants change at the same time.

“I’m so proud of that because there is a lot of work behind that,” Nancy said in his postgame press conference. “There was a lot of courageousness behind that. But I’m not happy at the same time because it’s not normal, simple as that.

“I’m proud to represent, yes, the only Black [to win the MLS Cup], but I’m not happy with that. This is something that has to change. And I know that MLS tries to do that. This is not only in MLS, this is everywhere.”

The 46-year-old native of Le Havre, France, played as a defender for several amateur and semi-professional clubs in his home country before becoming a coach in 2006.

He got his first main gig with Montreal Impact’s academy from 2011 to 2015, then joined the first team as an assistant coach from 2016 to 2021. He was then promoted to head coach in 2021 and 2022 before Columbus compensated Montreal to acquire his services.

It’s definitely safe to say Columbus made the right investment.

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Columbus trailed 2-0 at FC Cincinnati’s home ground on Saturday of the Eastern Conference Final, but somehow turned it around in miraculous fashion.

Brandon Vazquez opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a clinical finish before new league MVP Luciano Acosta doubled it in added time of the first half on an exquisite set piece play.

Columbus controlled the opening 16 minutes of the second half but couldn’t find the back of the net. Cincinnati then took control of the next five minutes before the Crew flipped the switch, one it wouldn’t flip back until the final whistle.

The Crew got on the board in the 75th minute off an own goal from Alvas Powell. The pressure came in waves afterwards and Cincinnati just couldn’t cope.

Diego Rossi, who was threatening all game long down the left flank, slotted in a goal in the 86th minute after some brilliant team play, which eventually forced extra time.

Columbus dominated the first 15 minutes of added time but just couldn’t get past Roman Celentano despite multiple prime opportunities. The Crew finally broke through in the 115th minute, five minutes before a penalty shootout Columbus didn’t need to go to.

Kevin Molino, who entered the game in the 111th minute, delivered a back-post cross from the left edge of the box that found star forward Cucho Hernandez, who headed it back towards the goal that Christian Ramirez tapped home.

Ramirez had been threatening every time since coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute, even coming close on an overhead kick in extra time.

It was a deserved victory for Columbus given its road dominance, winning the possession battle 63% to 37% and recording 2.7 expected goals on 26 shots, per FotMob. For comparison’s sake, Cincinnati mustered just 0.7 on 11 shots. On any other night, Cincinnati, the Supporters’ Shield winners, might not have scored once.

Both teams also missed two big chances each, so the scoreline could’ve swung either way. But it ended with the rightful winner.

Columbus, which finished as the No. 3 seed out East, beat No. 2-seeded Orlando City 2-0 in the conference semifinals and will now host the final on Saturday, Dec. 9. It will host either No. 3 LAFC or No. 4 Houston Dynamo from the West.

LAFC is the defending MLS Cup champion while Columbus have won the title twice, most recently in 2020 when it beat the Seattle Sounders 3-0, also at home.

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No. 4 seed Houston (15-11-9), in its first season with Ben Olsen at the helm, advances to play the winner of Sunday’s other semifinal match between the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders and defending champion and third-seeded Los Angeles FC next Saturday. No matter who the Dynamo play next it will be on the road.

Escobar used an assist from Héctor Herrera to send a header into the top left corner of the net in the 39th minute and the Dynamo took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Escobar notched his fourth career postseason goal and his first in his first season with Houston. He spent last season with LAFC and scored three goals for Atlanta United in the 2018-19 playoffs.

Clark finished with three saves to earn his first shutout this postseason after collecting 12 clean sheets during the regular season. He has four career postseason shutouts — two with the Portland Timbers in 2021 and one with the Columbus Crew in 2015.

Tim Melia stopped two shots for eighth-seeded Sporting KC (12-15-8). SKC advanced to the semis by sweeping expansion St. Louis City — the regular-season conference champions — in the first round.

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Olsen, who had a 10-year run as coach of United, and his Dynamo have been the hottest team since the Leagues Cup break with a record of 10-1-6 in all competitions, including two shootout victories and a US Open Cup title. The only blemish in the streak was a 2-1 loss to Sporting KC on Sep. 23.

The home side has won eight of the last 10 matchups with two draws. The last win by the road team was Sporting KC’s 2-1 victory in October of 2020.

Sporting KC has just two outright wins in 28 all-time playoff matches on the road and that includes the club’s 4-1 victory over St. Louis City this postseason.

Houston has advanced in five of the last six postseason matchups in the series. Sporting KC’s lone win came in the 2013 Eastern Conference Final on its way to winning the MLS Cup.