LeBlanc takes top women’s development job at Concacaf
July 26 – Former Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper and FIFA legend Karina LeBlanc has been appointed head of Concacaf Women’s Football.
Concacaf
MLS’s D.C. United add USL affiliate Loudoun United for 2019 kick-off
July 19 – The USL has announced a seventh and final new club for the 2019 season. Loudoun United, based in Loudoun County, Virginia, will play in the USL’s Eastern Conference and will be a subsidiary of MLS’s D.C. United which has just signed Wayne Rooney on a three-year deal.
Beckham group seeks Miami approval for $1bn Miami Freedom Park development
July 12 – The David Beckham-led investment group behind Miami’s Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise may have been slow to secure the slot but is now gathering pace with meetings scheduled today with city officials regarding the plans for an ambitious new multi-use stadium complex.
Hope Solo slams USSF over failure of men’s game to progress
July 3 – The 2026 World Cup may have been awarded to North America but according to outspoken US women’s goalkeeping legend Hope Solo, the men’s game has gone backwards.
Toronto FC joins USL’s new third tier league for 2019 kick-off
July 3 – The fledgling third tier of US football – USL Division III – has announced its fifth founding member for its inaugural 2019 season. Toronto FC II will be operated by 2017 MLS Cup Champions Toronto FC and is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Group.
Harris wins Caribbean presidency and promises grassroots build and governance support
By Paul Nicholson
June 12 – The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has confirmed Barbados FA president Randy Harris as its new leader to finish off the two years remaining on the presidential term after former president Gordon Derrick was banned from football by FIFA at the end of last year.
USL breaks attendance records as league admits New Mexico franchise for 2019
June 11 – The rapidly expanded secoind tier US professional league, the USL, broke another record last week as total attendance for the 2018 season broke the one million barrier at the earliest point in its history.
Frederick challenges Harris for Caribbean leadership with solidarity of CFU on the line
By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – While Concacaf focus in Moscow next week will be on the United 2026 bid to bring the World Cup back to the region, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) also faces a potentially pivotal moment.
FIFA ends Guatemala suspension in time for Russian Congress and 2026 vote
June 1 – Timed just two weeks before the FIFA Congress in Moscow, FIFA has lifted its suspension imposed on Guatemala 18 months ago over its failure to comply with anti-corruption rules.
FC Cincinnati becomes 26th MLS franchise with 2019 start date scheduled
May 30 – FC Cincinnati, founded only in 2016 but playing before average 24,500 crowds in the second tier USL this season, is the newest recruit to the MLS and will start play in the 2019 season.
Former Liverpool boss Ayre to front new MLS franchise in Nashville
May 22 – The new Nashville MLS franchise that will start play in the 202 season has named former Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre as its chief executive officer.
2019 Gold Cup host cities unveiled as well as expansion to Central America and Caribbean
May 21 – Concacaf is taking its expanded 16-team Gold Cup to 15 venues spanning 13 US cities in 2019, as well as taking matches to Central America and the Caribbean to venues that will be announced later this year.
Concacaf reschedule abandoned Women’s U17 Chmapionship for June in Florida
May 14 – The Women’s U17 Concacaf Championship that was abandoned last month in Nicaragua after three matches due to civil unrest and security concerns in the country, will resume in June in the US.
Down but not out. Commissio turns up pressure on USSF saying he has $500m for the NASL
May 2 – There may still be life in the North American Soccer League (NASL) that shelved its 2018 season after US Soccer denied the league Division 2 status, effectively ripping away its commercial underpinning.
Nicaraguan violence forces CONCACAF to end Women’s U17 Championship
April 23 – CONCACAF has canceled the rest of its 2018 Women’s Under-17 Championship following violence in Managua, Nicaragua, where the tournament began Thursday.