NWSL rubberstamps Denver as league’s 16th franchise
January 31 – The NWSL in the US has officially named Denver, Colorado, as the league’s 16th franchise. Denver will begin play in the 2026 season.
Concacaf
US third-tier league NISA plans new season start in April
January 28 – US third-tier professional league, the national Independent Soccer Association (NISA), that operates under a provisional license issued by the US Soccer Federation (USSF) , has said it is targeting a return to play in April 2025 with a championship match in October.
LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Park begins 4-year renovation
January 24 – Los Angeles is burning, but it is also building. Dignity Health Sports Park, home of 2024 MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy and the west coast training base for US national teams, is at the start of a four-year upgrade.
NSL extends partnership with DoorDash Canada for inaugural season
January 23 – The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s football league, has extended its founding partnership with DoorDash Canada for the league’s inaugural 2025 season. At the heart of the partnership is a shared mission to ‘inspire, empower, and support’ the next generation of female athletes.
Greenland to meet with Concacaf in first steps to international football recognition
January 23 – Greenland’s Football Association will send a delegation to the United States next month to begin talks on joining Concacaf, hoping it will boost national pride at a time of global attention.
Wilfried Zaha leaves Galatasaray for the MLS and Charlotte FC
January 23 – Major League Soccer (MLS) has often been accused of being a retirement league as aging stars come stateside for one last payday. Does the signing of Wilfried Zaha by Charlotte FC confirm or rebuff that perception?
Alyssa Naeher crowns stellar career with US player of year award
January 22 – For only the second time in 40 years, a goalkeeper has been voted the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Alyssa Naeher follows in the steps of the great Hope Solo, who took home the award in 2009.
USMNT open 2025 with win over Venezuela as Poch makes it four out of five
January 21 – The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) played the first of two international friendlies this month beating Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Sixth Street hire England’s Kay Cossington to lead Bay Collective’s multi-club proposition
January 20 – Sixth Street, the global investment firm and lead backer of Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has announced that Kay Cossington, will join the company as Head of Global Women’s Football and CEO of Bay Collective, a groundbreaking multi-club organisation dedicated to advancing women’s football. Bay Collective is set to officially launch later in 2025.
Kick It Out tackles Infantino over Argentine players’ racist chanting towards French African players
January 17 – Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out has written a powerful letter to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino asking what action, if any, was being taken over a video posted on social media by Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez last year featuring an alleged “racist and transphobic” chant against French players.
Panama president Manuel Arias banned for 6 months for ‘fat-shaming’ star striker
January 16 – Panama FA president Manuel Arias has been banned for six months by the FIFA Ethics committee for fat-shaming comments he made in an interview about the country’s star women’s striker Marta Cox after Panama were knocked out of the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup last March.
NWSL’s Angel City turn to Mark Parsons to put things right on the pitch
January 17 – While Angel City FC (ACFC) have not won anything on the pitch, anything they do off the pitch is big news, and that trend continues with the announcement that the club has appointed Mark Parsons as the team’s new sporting director ahead of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season to oversee all matters related to soccer operations.
MLS opens up to new transfer system that allows ‘real’ money player trading
January 15 – It has taken some time for Major League Soccer (MLS) to catch up with the world game, however, on the back of announcing the league would move to the international calendar in 2026 comes the news that the league will implement new internal cash transfer market for the 2025 season.
Bank of America goes all-in with long-term US Soccer sponsorship
January 15 – The second largest banking organisation in the United States, Bank of America (BofA), is continuing its foray into the world of football. Hot on the heels of partnering with FIFA’s properties, the 2026 World Cup, and the 2025 World Club Cup, BofA, can now boast the US Soccer Federation as a long-term partner.
