CONCACAF League of Nations announced!

CONCACAF League of Nations Confirmed; Year-Round Unified Competition Platform for All 41 Confederation National Teams

New national team competition format to provide more quality, meaningful competition for all CONCACAF national teams; Schedule and structure to be unveiled by early 2018

Miami (Thursday, November 16, 2017) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today its Council’s approval of the CONCACAF League of Nations, a new national team competition platform designed to maximize the quality, quantity and frequency of competitive matches for all 41 CONCACAF member associations. The announcement comes following a year-long development and consultation process involving the Member Associations and key stakeholders.

The new CONCACAF League of Nations will be based on a league structure. All 41 CONCACAF Member Associations will be included, divided in three different leagues, based on their sporting level, with a champion to be crowned at the end of each edition. To seed Member Associations into their respective leagues, the League of Nations will begin with a preliminary series of matches played across four different dates beginning in September 2018.

The new tournament will bring meaningful home and away matches featuring competition for League titles and performance prizes, and will include promotion and relegation within the system of three leagues. The Confederation’s teams will also contend via the League of Nations structure for the right to play international championships such as the Gold Cup. Additionally, the League of Nations will inform a CONCACAF ranking system that will be used as the basis for future World Cup qualifying seeding.

“This is a watershed moment for CONCACAF. By focusing on football to provide all our teams with year-round, quality competition, the League of Nations platform means everyone wins,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. “This new tournament is highly beneficial to all our Member Associations and fans everywhere, since it provides significant opportunities to play important competitive matches with increased regularity throughout the year.”

CONCACAF has worked with its Member Associations over the past year to develop a competition for national teams, with the goal of improving the quality and standing of football within the CONCACAF region. The process for developing this new competition, anchored on the key principle of providing more meaningful games to all CONCACAF Member Associations’ national teams in order to increase competitiveness and leverage value intrinsic in the national team platform, entailed extensive consultation and discussions with all key CONCACAF stakeholders.

As a reflection of the ONE CONCACAF vision of President Montagliani, the CONCACAF nations that haven’t historically been top performers will benefit from a wider window of opportunity, not only for competitive matches but for gaining access to top level international competitions. That increased participation will spur regional development, and keep the dream of international football alive year-round for more nations.

USA draw 1-1 vs. Portugal

The U.S. Men's National team began to turned the page on failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 with a 1-1 draw in a friendly at Portugal on Tuesday.

Under interim manager Dave Sarachan, a young, experimental U.S. took the field against the Cristiano Ronaldo-less European champions, who are tuning up for the World Cup next summer.  The Americans, meanwhile, are just looking to start fresh, with a trio of young goalkeepers in camp out to claim the No. 1 role for the next World Cup cycle and a host of other new or seldom called-upon names in camp looking to make an impression.

The USA looked to get out to a quick start and had a couple of early opportunities, with C.J. Sapong turning and hitting a weak attempt right at Beto in goal, while Kellyn Acosta followed that by firing well high over the bar.

Portugal, which also is featuring a largely young and experimental team, threatened as Bruno Fernandes weaved through the U.S. midfield on a sequence that concluded with Eric Lichaj clearing a ball out by the far post. Portugal, which is hoping to avoid any injuries in its run up to Russia, was dealt a dose of bad news nine minutes in, when veteran center back Pepe was forced off with an apparent foot or ankle injury.

Bruma had what appeared to be Portugal's best early chance in the 17th minute, when he was found unmarked by the left post, but he mis-hit his first-time volley, sending it across the box instead of steering it on goal.

The USA took the lead in the 21st minute through Weston McKennie. Sapong, who moments earlier was denied an assist to Tyler Adams after a save by Beto, fed McKennie with a ball from the left. The 19-year-old Schalke midfielder took his time in the box, created space and hit the target with confidence to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.

The lead lasted for 10 minutes, when Vitorino Antunes hit a pretty basic cross in Ethan Horvath's direction, only for the goalkeeper to commit the howler and have it slip through him and into the next for an ugly equalizer.

John Brooks thought he had given the USA the lead in the 44th minute off a corner kick, but Matt Miazga was called for a push on the sequence prior to the header, keeping the score at 1-1.

Adams was denied again by Beto in the 52nd minute with a header from the doorstep, unable to convert off Danny Williams's cross from the left.

McKennie was then denied his second by the bar moments later, with his header clanging off the woodwork.

The teams held from there, with Bill Hamid playing the second half in goal for the USA in a period largely devoid of clear-cut chances.

The Americans turn their focus to January, where a camp will be held prior to a Jan. 28 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cosmos loss 2017 NASL Season against San Francisco

Cosmos conclude 2017 NASL Season With 2-0 Loss against San Francisco.

The Cosmos unable to find late equalizer as Deltas win first NASL title, fell behind early and weren’t able to make up for it, as they lost to the San Francisco Deltas 2-0 on Sunday night in The Championship Final at Kezar Stadium.

The win gives the Deltas an NASL Championship in their inaugural season, becoming the first expansion side to accomplish the feat since the 2011 Minnesota Stars.

“I’m very proud of our guys and the effort they put into this match,” said Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese. “It was a difficult field to play on, and we couldn’t find the goal tonight.”

A physical first half saw both sides question the officiating at times, with fouls and cards given on both ends in the opening 45 minutes.

The Cosmos got the game’s first chance in the eighth minute. Off a corner, Javi Márquez got a foot on a cross to send the ball toward goal. San Francisco goalkeeper, Romuald Peiser, was able to get a piece of it, deflecting it out for a corner.

However, it was the home side that got on the board first in the 18th minute. Off a New York turnover, Cosmos goalkeeper, Jimmy Maurer, took down Deltas attacker, Jackson, in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, giving the Deltas a penalty kick. From the spot, Tommy Heinemann converted to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

Heinemann nearly had a second goal in the 40th minute. But Maurer was up to the task and made the save as the Deltas led 1-0 at halftime. Despite earning seven corner kicks in the first half, the Cosmos were outshot 7-5.

In the second half, the Cosmos did all they could to try and put an equalizer past Peiser, who was hobbled for most of the night after falling hard on his side early in the second half.

Peiser denied Emmanuel Ledesma’s low shot in the 62nd minute, and the keeper again remained down after making the save.

Fifteen minutes later, the Cosmos put two balls toward goal. On the first one, Eugene Starikov’s cross went across the face of goal, but nobody was on the receiving end to score. Seconds after, the ball deflected toward goal, and the keeper elevated to punch it over the bar.

Juan Guerra sent a header just over the bar in the 82nd minute, and that would prove to be one.

North American Soccer League Announces 2017 NASL Best XI

NEW YORK (November 9, 2017) - The North American Soccer League (NASL) unveiled its 2017 Best XI on Thursday morning.

Of the 11 players, 10 of them played for sides that reached The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament. Miami FC, which won both the Spring and Fall Season titles, has six of its players included in this year’s Best XI.

Meet each player on the Best XI below:

GK: Daniel Vega (Miami FC) – He was the only goalkeeper to start all 32 games this year, posting a goals against average of 0.88. He kept 15 clean sheets, which was one shy of tying a league record, and made 81 saves. He also earned the most goalkeeper victories in a season with 21. The former River Plate goalkeeper appeared on the Team of the Week three times and was also the recipient of the league’s Golden Glove award.

DEF: Reiner Ferreira (San Francisco Deltas) – He led San Francisco’s back line all year long, featuring in 31 games (all starts) to amass 2,708 minutes of play. He finished as the league leader in interceptions with 86 and was fourth in clearances with 127. He also won 142 duels. Ferreira contributed two goals at the other end as well. He made four appearances on the Team of the Week this year.

DEF: Mason Trafford (Miami FC) – The defender led the NASL in passing accuracy (for players with at least 10 appearances), connecting on 92.41 percent of his attempts. He made 98 clearances, while winning 57 duels and making five blocks. He appeared on the Team of the Week on three occasions.

DEF: Mechack Jérôme (Jacksonville Armada FC) – He finished the year tied for first in the league in clearances with 171. He also racked up 52 clearances and eight blocks. Jérôme started all 32 games and played 2,810 minutes. The Haitian defender was a Team of the Week selection four times.

DEF: Connor Tobin (North Carolina FC) – The NASL veteran was tied with Jérôme for the league lead in clearances with 171. In 31 games and 2,756 minutes of play, Tobin tallied 40 interceptions and 11 blocks. He appeared on the Team of the Week five times over the course of the year.

MID: Emmanuel Ledesma (New York Cosmos) – In his first NASL season, the midfielder starred for the Cosmos. He scored 10 goals to go along with six assists, and led the league in chances created with 73. More staggeringly, Ledesma’s work came in 19 of his club’s 32 games. In 17 starts, he played 1,393 minutes. The Argentine was the Player of the Month in October, and also received Player of the Week honors once and Team of the Week honors six times.

MID: Nazmi Albadawi (North Carolina FC) – He scored four goals and added four assists during the 2017 campaign. He also finished second in chances created with 56. Albadawi started 31 of his club’s 32 games, playing all but 65 minutes. He was named to the Team of the Week four times this year. Albadawi has made the NASL Best XI in two straight seasons.

MID: Richie Ryan (Miami FC) – The midfielder’s passing accuracy finished at an impressive mark of 90.7 percent. In addition to recording three assists during the campaign, he won 117 duels. The Irishman started in all 29 of his appearances to log 2,433 total minutes. Ryan made the Team of the Week three times, and like Albadawi, this NASL Best XI honor is the second of his career.

MID: Dylan Mares (Miami FC) – The NASL veteran swapped Indy Eleven for Miami FC prior to the 2017 season and made a major impact on his new club’s attack. He played in 29 games (27 starts) and scored eight times. He also added five assists in his 2,206 minutes of play. Mares was included in the Team of the Week eight times.

FWD: Vincenzo Rennella (Miami FC) – He scored 11 times and added five assists in 1,538 minutes this year. Rennella started in 17 of his 23 appearances, earning Player of the Month honors in June, Player of the Week honors on one occasion, and Team of the Week honors five times.

FWD: Stéfano Pinho (Miami FC) – The forward showcased his dangerous attacking abilities, scoring 17 goals to earn the league’s Golden Boot award. He started in 26 of his 27 appearances and added four assists to his goal tally in 2,186 minutes of action. Pinho was a two-time Player of the Week in 2017, and an eight-time Team of the W

Andrea Pirlo has officially announced his retirement

Andrea Pirlo has officially announced his retirement from soccer.

Bringing the curtain down on a glittering 22-year top-flight career, Il Maestro made his final New York City FC appearance in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Columbus Crew SC.

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, Andrea will be remembered as one of the finest registas in the history of the game and hangs up his cleats following 60 Regular Season appearances for City.

Pirlo said: “I want to thank everybody for the kindness and support they have shown me in this incredible city.

“Thank you to the amazing supporters, thank you to the coaching staff and everybody that work behind the scene, thank you to my teammates.

“Not only my adventure in NY comes to an end but my journey as a football player as well, that is why I would like to take the opportunity to thank my family and my children for the support and love they always give me, every team that I had the honor to play for, every teammate I have been pleased to play alongside, all the people that made my career so incredible.

“Last but not least, all the fans around the world that always showed me support. You will always be on my side and in my heart.”

Andrea joined NYCFC in the summer of July 2015, becoming the team’s third Designated Player after David Villa and Frank Lampard.

He made 15 appearances in our inaugural season, before going on to play 32 games and recorded a team-high 11 assists in 2016 as the Boys in Blue reached the MLS Playoffs for the first time.

In his final season at Yankee Stadium, Andrea played 15 Regular Season games and made two assists, helping his side to second place in the Supporters’ Shield race.

A six-time champion of Serie A and a two-time UEFA Champions League victor, Pirlo also won 116 caps for the Italian National Team, appearing in three FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Pirlo made his final appearance in the 90thminute of NYCFC’s 4-3 aggregate Eastern Conference semifinals defeat to Columbus as the Boys in Blue fell agonizingly short.

Everyone at New York City FC would like to congratulate Andrea on an incredible career and to thank him for his excellent contribution to NYCFC over the past two and a half years.

Cosmos will play The Championship Final

The New York Cosmos used their last kick to defeat Miami FC 6-5 in a penalty shootout (0-0) in The Championship semifinal at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Sunday night.

With the win, the Cosmos will play The Championship Final for the third straight season, this time against the San Francisco Deltas at Kezar Stadium.

“I’m very proud of our players in the way they conducted themselves today,” said Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese.

After making five saves over 120 minutes of scoreless play, Cosmos goalkeeper, Jimmy Maurer, made two more in the shootout to give the Cosmos the thrilling victory.

“I love penalty kicks. I felt like I got a really good jump on the two that I saved,” Maurer said. “I was able to pick up where they were going.”

In the shootout, Miami FC’s first shooter, Michel, was stopped as Maurer guessed the correct side. The next four shooters for each team scored, giving the Cosmos a chance to win, but Juan Guerra was denied by Miami goalkeeper, Daniel Vega. Former Cosmos defender, Hunter Freeman, put Miami in front with the next kick, but Lucky Mkosana extended the game by scoring for New York.

Maurer came up huge in the shootout’s seventh round, diving to deny Mason Trafford. With a chance to end it, Eugene Starikov made up for his earlier post by burying the winner past Vega.

From the start, it appeared the game would be evenly played throughout.

A scoreless first half saw chances come few and far between on both ends, with only good defense keeping the ball out of the net.

While the Cosmos offense couldn’t produce a shot on target in the first 45’, Miami FC got a couple good attempts at goal, the best of which coming late in the half.

In the 44th minute, Miami midfielder, Dylan Mares, got the ball off a turnover and went one on one in the box against Maurer. Looking for the game’s first goal, Mares’ shot was deflected by Maurer, and Carlos Mendes came back to clear the ball out of the box and deny the attack.

The second half proved to be similar, with both sides getting chances with no results. In the 57th minute, Andrés Flores fired from long range, but Miami goalkeeper, Vega, was up to the task and made the save. Four minutes later, Emmanuel Ledesma’ strike from distance just rolled wide of the post as the Cosmos increased the pressure.

In the 74th minute, NASL Golden Boot winner, Stéfano Pinho, found space alone for a shot, but Maurer made another tremendous save to keep the highest scoring team in the Regular Season off the board.

As time wound down, the Cosmos got a couple final chances to break through in regulation. Vega stopped Eric Calvillo’s blast in the first minute of stoppage time. In the final minute, a Cosmos free kick was cleared, sending the game to extra time.

In the 98th minute, Starikov’s shot from outside the box eluded Vega’s dive, but hit hard off the far post and bounced out for a corner kick.

Five minutes later, Blake Smith got open in the box for a shot on Maurer, but the Cosmos goalkeeper was able to make the stop, cover the ball, and get the clearance as the first half of extra time ended without a goal.

The second half of stoppage time saw more shots toward both goals, but nothing close until the final whistle.

In the shootout, the Cosmos got goals from Ayoze, Danny Szetela, Calvillo, Pablo Vranjicán, Mkosana, and Starikov, to end Miami FC’s record-setting season.

Now, the Cosmos will play for their fourth NASL title in five seasons next weekend with a road match at San Francisco. Savarese will look to become the first coach in NASL history to lead his team to three straight championships.

“We have to focus on the next game. The season is not over yet,” Savarese said. “We have to continue to work.”

New York will travel to San Francisco to square off with the Deltas at Kezar Stadium on Sunday, November 12 at 8:00 pm, ET. The game will be nationally-televised on beIN SPORTS (English), beIN SPORTS en Español (Spanish), and beIN SPORTS CONNECT (Digital).

New York City FC travels to Ohio MLS Playoffs

New York City FC travels to Ohio on Monday for the road leg of their MLS Playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals tie.

Columbus Crew SC stand in the way of progress to the Conference finals where Toronto or Red Bulls await and Patrick Vieira will be without two first-team players.

READ: Nine Reasons to Watch NYCFC vs. Columbus

Both Miguel Camargo and Maxime Chanotremain sidelined for City, while James Sandscomes back into the reckoning after helping U.S U-17s to the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

For Columbus, Alex Crognale, Gaston Sauro and Ben Swanson are all out, according to MLSSoccer.com.

The first leg kicks off at 8pm ET at the MAPFRE Stadium and NYCFC hosts Columbus on Sunday November 5 at a time TBC.

READ: Major Keys to NYCFC vs. Columbus Crew SC

Injury Report

NYCFC

OUT: Miguel Camargo, Maxime Chanot

Columbus Crew

OUT: Gaston Sauro, Ben Swanson, Alex Crognale

Key Stats

NYCFC has visited Columbus four times in their MLS history, with each team having won once and two draws between them. There has been an average of five goals per game across these four matches. NYCFC’s one win came on April 29th of this year, their only visit to Columbus in MLS play in 2017.

Columbus has won six of their last seven MLS home matches (1D) and outscored the opposition 14-5 across these games.

NYCFC only lost once in their final six matches road matches of the regular season (2W-3D) and only conceded five goals across the six games.

Zack Steffen had eight saves against Atlanta on Wednesday night, just the 10th time this season an MLS goalkeeper has had eight-or-more saves in a single match. It was only the third time this year a keeper has had at least eight saves and kept a clean sheet in the same match.

David Villa had six shots on target against Columbus in the MLS season finale, tied for the most he’s had in a single game of MLS action over the duration of his time with NYCFC.

NYCFC conceded six goals in the last 15 minutes of regular season games in 2017, tied for the fewest of any MLS team.

Crew SC scored nine goals from outside the box in the 2017 regular season, tied for the fourth most of any team in the league.

In 19 games that Josh Williams has started this regular season, Columbus averaged 1.8 points per game and 1.2 goals conceded per game. In the 15 games that Williams did not start, Crew SC averaged 1.3 points per game and 1.8 goals conceded per game.

NYCFC had five away clean sheets this year, tied for the most of any team in the league. Columbus scored 34 home goals this year, the eighth most of any team in the league.

Alexander Ring lead all players with 97 touches in the 2-2 draw between NYCFC and Crew SC on the last day of the 2017 regular season. Only one other player had more than 80, and only four total players had more than 75 touches in the game.

Cosmos Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma Named NASL Player of the Week

Cosmos Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma Named NASL Player of the Week

NEW YORK (October 30, 2017) – When the New York Cosmos needed it most, midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma, put the team on his back and helped the defending champions reach their fifth straight postseason.

Ledesma was named North American Soccer League (NASL) Player of the Week on Monday after an amazing hat-trick performance at MCU Park on Saturday night. The former Middlesbrough man scored three times in a 16-minute span in the second half to help the Cosmos post a 5-2 win over Puerto Rico FC.

New York entered Saturday night’s game needing a positive result to clinch the fourth and final spot in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament. With the Cosmos down a goal early in the second half and Jacksonville Armada FC winning in San Francisco, New York’s postseason hopes were hanging in the balance.

Ledesma came to the rescue, though. The 29-year-old midfielder evened the score at 1-1 in the 51st minute with an absolute thunderbolt from 22 yards out. Two more goals followed in the 56th and 67th minutes, respectively, and all of the sudden the Cosmos were off and running.

With a hat trick already to his name, Ledesma wasn’t finished. The Quilmes, Argentina, native sent in a cross that was finished by Cosmos captain, Carlos Mendes, in the 75th minute, putting the game out of reach.

The victory was enough to earn the Cosmos a semifinal matchup against Spring and Fall Season Champion, Miami FC. For Ledesma, the performance put an exclamation point on a fantastic debut season. The 5-foot-11 playmaker finished regular-season play with 10 goals and six assists – a stat line that put him in the top five in the NASL in both categories.

Ledesma joined the Cosmos in March after playing in some of the top leagues in Italy, England, Argentina and Greece.

New York will travel to South Florida to square off with Miami FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Sunday at 5:00 pm, ET. The game will be nationally-televised on beIN SPORTS (English), beIN SPORTS en Español (Spanish), and beIN SPORTS CONNECT (Digital).

Revolution forward Juan Agudelo named to the USMNT

The New England Revolution forward Juan Agudelo has been named to the United States Men's National Team's roster for its final 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches against Panama on Friday, Oct. 6 in Orlando, Fla. and at Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, Oct. 10. 

Defender Antonio Delamea also returns to World Cup Qualifying action with Slovenia for its pair of matches against England on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Scotland on Sunday, Oct. 8. In addition, defender Je-Vaughn Watson and Homegrown midfielder Zachary Herivaux will join Jamaica and Haiti, respectively, for international friendly matches. Jamaica will face Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Oct. 7, while Haiti will take on Japan on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Agudelo, 24, earns his third national team call up of 2017. The forward made three appearances in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, helping the USMNT win the continental tournament for the first time since 2013. He also participated in this year's January Camp, where he appeared in friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica. The United States enters its final two matches of the qualifying cycle in fourth place on the CONCACAF table with nine points. The Barnegat, N.J., native has 26 career caps and three goals with the United States, and has recorded eight goals in 26 appearances for New England this season.

·USA vs. Panama – Friday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Univision, UDN)

·USA at Trinidad & Tobago – Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET (beIN SPORTS, Universo)

Delamea, 26, owns two career caps with Slovenia, including a 90-minute, clean sheet performance in a World Cup Qualifier vs. Malta on June 10, 2017. The Celje native was also called in for Slovenia's most recent qualifiers in September, but was an unused substitute in both matches. Slovenia currently sits in third place in Group F with 14 points through eight matches. Delamea, the first Slovenian to compete in Major League Soccer, leads all Revolution field players in minutes played in his debut season with the club.

Watson, 33, will travel with Jamaica to King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its friendly on Oct. 7. The seven-year MLS veteran has been a key figure in Jamaican football in recent years, helping lead the Reggae Boyz to consecutive second-place finishes in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. This year, he scored Jamaica's lone goal in the 2017 Gold Cup title match against the United States. Watson owns 71 caps and four goals in his senior international career.

Herivaux, 21, will join Haiti for its Oct. 10 friendly against Japan at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. The Revolution Homegrown Player made his first and only appearance for the Haiti National Team's senior squad in a friendly against the Argentina Olympic Team on July 24, 2016. Herivaux holds citizenship in both Haiti and Japan, in addition to the United States, as he was born in Osaka, Japan where his father played professionally. Herivaux started two U.S. Open Cup games for the Revolution this season, scoring one goal, and made four additional appearances while on loan with San Antonio FC (USL).

None of the four players are expected to miss MLS action while on international duty. The Revolution will return to the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 15 for the regular season home finale against New York City FC at 5:00 p.m. ET.