Canada’s Northern Super League start-up secures hummel as kit provider
December 19 – The start-up Northern Super League, the professional women’s league that launches in 2025 with six teams, has unveiled hummel as its official kit provider.
Federations
The MLS-Liga MX Summer face-off for the Leagues Cup to change format in 2025
December 17 – The Leagues Cup will undergo a dramatic change in 2025 according to Liga MX president Mikel Arriola, who spoke to reporters on Sunday having taken over the reins as acting commissioner of the league after the surprise ousting of Juan Carlos Rodriguez.
Rodriguez quits Liga MX after clubs refuse to back $1.25bn Apollo deal
December 16 – Juan Carlos Rodríguez, the president of Liga MX and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), resigned on Friday during a meeting of Liga MX club owners who disagreed with his proposed investment strategy for the league.
Sports Illustrated takes naming rights to New York Red Bull’s stadium in 13-year deal
December 12 – New York Red Bulls (NYRB) have entered into a ground-breaking 13-year naming rights agreement that will see their home rebranded from Red Bull Arena to Sports Illustrated Stadium, effective immediately.
MLS keeps faith in draft with 44 players in San Diego for first look college showcase
December 12 – The road to Major League Soccer (MLS) once primarily ran through the collegiate system in the form of a draft. Now clubs have deeper pockets, and look towards different pastures, however, the MLS College Showcase can still turn up a nugget or two.
MLS Next Pro vs USL Academy. Indy Eleven show US talent is nationwide
December 9 – The United Soccer League (USL) continues to provide healthy competition to Major League Soccer despite its second tier status, and that crosses over into the youth game.
The stars align in Los Angeles for Galaxy to take sixth MLS title
December 9 – For the first time since 2014, the most successful club in the history of Major League Soccer (MLS) can call themselves, champions! The now, six-time winner of MLS Cup defeated fellow league founders, the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at a boisterous Dignity Health Sports Park, in Los Angeles, the home of the Galaxy.
LigaMX clubs to vote on £1.25bn private equity stake in commercial rights from Apollo
December 5 – Mexico’s LigaMX clubs are set to vote on a $1.25 billion proposal to sell a stake in their commercial rights to private equity giant Apollo Global Management with deal also including participation from the NFL.
The ‘Don’ commissioned for another two seasons as MLS boss
December 5 – The ‘Don’ of Major League Soccer (MLS), commissioner Don Garber, has had his contract extended to the end of the 2027 MLS season by the board of governors.
Canadian Tire signs on as founding partner of Northern Super League
December 5 – The Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s football league, has unveiled Canadian Tire Corporation as a Founding Partner in a landmark multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement.
St Louis’ CityPark stadium wins global design award
December 4 – CityPark stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s St. Louis City, has been awarded the 2024 Prix Versailles World Title in the sports venues category.
USSF prices top coaches out the game with world leading costs for courses
December 3 – It has been said that one of the biggest problems concerning player development in the United States is the lack of quality coaches. From mom and pop volunteers, to various forms of unqualified enthusiasts, the tactical, technical, physical, and mental side of football are given short thrift in search of easy wins, and a quick buck.
Collateral damage? Herdman steps down from Toronto FC as Canadian drone scandal casts long shadow
December 2 – Implicated in the Canadian drone-spying scandal that has already cost Canadian women’s coach Bev Priestman her job following the Paris Olympics, John Herdman has resigned as coach of Toronto FC, though his resignation has not been directly linked to that scandal.
USSF backs away from mandating youth soccer registration changes, leaving it to leagues to decide
November 29 – Last month as reported by Inside World Football (https://tinyurl.com/zynnae8x) the US Soccer Federation (USSF) announced that they would be reviewing how the soccer ecosystem chooses to register players.
MLS coaches caught in revolving doors as managers across the country are pink-slipped
November 27 – In the National Football League in the US, the last game of the regular season is known as ‘Black Monday’ as assorted coaches receive their pink slips. Major League Soccer does not have a true equivalent, however, Monday after the conference finals has proven to run ‘Black Monday’ close.