Columbus Crew primed to set sail for a new soccer world in Austin, Texas
October 19 – One of the MLS’s founding clubs, Columbus Crew, looks set to leave its Columbus, Ohio, home and relocate to Austin, Texas, and a new purpose-built stadium.
Concacaf
US boss Gulati is caught between Rocco and a hard place
October 18 – The backlash against US Soccer federation president Sunil Gulati (pictured) after the US loss to Trinidad & Tobago that saw them fail to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia has continued, and if anything increased in vitriol.
Arena exits bloody US battleground, but Gulati believes he still has a role to play
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – The United States are looking for a national coach once again after Bruce Arena as expected stepped down following the humiliation of the country failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986.
US fiasco in Trinidad sparks storms of protest as Warner parties on and Fox stays focussed
October 12 – The United States’ failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia marks a “sad and dark moment” for the game in the country says former star defender Alexi Lalas.
US judge pushes sentencing of former CONCACAF chief Hawit back into 2018
October 9 – Former CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit has had his sentencing for his role in the FifaGate scandal delayed until March next year.
Americas 2026 World Cup chiefs cut host bids to 32 cities on route to final 12
October 5 – The list of potential host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been further trimmed, this time to 32.
CONCACAF sets up task force to help rebuild nations hit by hurricanes and earthquake
September 26 – CONCACAF has set up a Disaster Evaluation Taskforce to assess the impact of the natural disasters that have devastated the region in recent weeks.
Mexico suspends league as clubs open grounds to aid earthquake relief
September 22 – Mexican football is on a hold as domestic clubs have rallied to offer aid relief after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed more than 200 people and inflicted mass devastation in Mexico.
NASL hits US Soccer with antitrust suit as league fights for its life
September 20 – The fractious relationship between the North American Soccer League (NASL) and its national governing body, the US Soccer Federation (USSF) has boiled over with the NASL filing a federal antitrust lawsuit against the USSF in Brooklyn federal court.
Moggio makes the case for 2026, three host spots and an expanded Gold Cup
By Paul Nicholson at Soccerex, Manchester
September 5 – CONCACAF wants three automatic places at the 2026 World Cup if the US, Mexico and Canada bid wins the hosting rights, said general secretary Philippe Moggio (pictured right). He also said that the confederation’s blue riband Gold Cup may be expanded to 16 teams in future editions as well as potentially being hosted outside the US.
Vegas set to light up USL as league smashes attendance record
August 31 – Las Vegas’ new pro soccer team now has a name – Las Vegas Lights FC. The name was chosen via an online poll and emblazoned across the Fremont Street Experience LED Canopy.
Girondins women push into US with Olney development club
August 31 – The fashion for establishing club partners outside national domestic markets is catching on at all levels. French top tier women’s team Girondins de Bordeaux has signed a partnership Olney Girls 99 based in Washington, Maryland, forming Girondins de Bordeaux USA.
Fast growing USL shatters league attendance record with three months to go
August 24 – Just seven weeks into the 2017 United Soccer League (USL) season, the fast growing second-tier division in the US has announced record breaking attendances of more than 1.5 million, beating its 2016 total attendance, itself a record.
North America warms to 2026 World Cup bid with 46 cities hunting a piece of the action
August 18 – Thirty-four cities in the United States, seven in Canada and three in Mexico, in all encompassing 49 stadia, are on a list of proposed venues to host the 2026 World Cup, the United Bid Committee for the three prospective joint hosts has announced.
Las Vegas rolls the dice with new USL franchise for 2018
August 14 – Probably the worst kept secret of the USL, the second-tier of professional leagues in the US, has become official. Las Vegas will have a team playing in the 2018 competition.