Category: Concacaf

Jamaica federation president doesn’t inspire confidence over Leon Bailey’s return

The Aston Villa star is currently in a self-imposed exile from the national team

When will Leon Bailey decide to return to the Jamaica men’s national team?

That questions hangs over the Reggae Boyz as they prepare for a summer that will include World Cup qualifiers and the Copa América.

Jamaica would certainly like to see one of its best players end his self-imposed absence, but based on an answer from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, that may not be happening anytime soon.

“To be honest, no [we haven’t spoken],” Michael Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer. “But hopefully somehow we will make this connection and see how we can amicably settle whatever issues Leon may have.”

The issues that Bailey has were laid out in full in an explosive interview the Aston Villa star gave on the Let’s Be Honest podcast last month.

Bailey was dropped from Jamaica’s Nations Leaguie roster, as head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson suspended him over missing curfew during a November camp.

But the 26-year-old followed that suspension up by declaring that he would not be returning when he was available again.

Among the allegations Bailey made were that he had to book his own flights for international duty, players were not provided with even the basic apparel needed for training, and compensation has been nonexistent.

“[The JFF] doesn’t pay us. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team. It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine,” he said.

Bailey went on to insinuate that representing Jamaica was something he did more as a favor to his country than anything else.

“Jamaica’s national team is not doing anything for me,” Bailey charged. “Jamaica’s national team is not going to give me exposure. Playing for Jamaica is not going to make Real Madrid call me. I am shining light on the national team by playing overseas and representing as a Jamaican all the time. People know Leon Bailey everywhere in the world.”

Bailey’s agent and father, Craig Butler, added to the Jamaica Observer that he is willing to speak with the JFF, but would need certain assurances in order for Bailey to return.

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Peru vs. Dominican Republic: How to watch international friendly, live stream

It will be the first time the two sides have ever met

Peru will face its final test ahead of the summer when it hosts the Dominican Republic in a friendly on Tuesday night.

On Friday, Peru scored twice inside of the opening 13 minutes as it defeated Nicaragua 2-0 to end a run of seven matches without a win.

Now La Bicolor will take on another Concacaf opponent, in what will be the first meeting between the two sides.

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Peru is continuing its preparations ahead of the Copa América this summer. The South Americans have been drawn into Group A, where they will face Argentina, Canada and Chile.

The Dominican Republic, meanwhile, is coming off a 2-0 win over Aruba in a friendly last week. The match in Peru will be the final test for Los Quisqueyanos before the next round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying kicks off this summer.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Peru vs. Dominican Republic (international friendly)

  • When: Tuesday, March 26
  • Where: Estadio Monumental (Lima, Peru)
  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fanatiz (Watch LIVE)

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Argentina vs. Costa Rica: How to watch international friendly, live stream

The World Cup champions close out their two-game U.S. tour in Los Angeles

Argentina will conclude a two-game tour of the United States on Tuesday with a match against Costa Rica at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The World Cup champions defeated El Salvador 3-0 on Friday in Philadelphia, before flying to the west coast for their second match against Concacaf opposition.

Lionel Messi is out for this international window due to a hamstring injury, but plenty of Argentina’s other big names have made the trip to the USA, including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez and more.

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Costa Rica is coming off a huge 3-1 win against Honduras on Saturday, with the victory seeing the Ticos qualify for this summer’s Copa América.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Argentina vs. Costa Rica (international friendly)

  • When: Tuesday, March 26
  • Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Time: 10:50 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fanatiz (Watch LIVE)

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Costa Rica vs. Honduras: How to watch Copa America playoff, live stream

The winner moves on to the 2024 Copa America, while the loser is eliminated

Costa Rica will face Honduras on Saturday with a spot at the Copa América on the line.

The winner of the one-game playoff at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas will advance to the Copa América this summer, while the loser is eliminated.

Honduras nearly qualified directly to the Copa América, but fell to Mexico on penalties in a wild Nations League quarterfinal tie in November.

Costa Rica did not come nearly as close in its quarterfinal, as it was hammered 6-1 on aggregate by Panama.

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The winner of Saturday’s match will go into Group D of the 2024 Copa América alongside Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Costa Rica vs. Honduras (Copa America playoff)

  • When: Saturday, March 23
  • Where: Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
  • Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH LIVE), CBS Sports Golazo Network

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Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago: How to watch Copa America playoff, live stream

The winner moves to the Copa America, while the loser misses out on the huge tournament

Amid a serious downturn in fortunes, Canada faces its biggest match since the 2022 World Cup on Saturday when it takes on Trinidad & Tobago.

The winner of the one-game playoff at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas will advance to the Copa América this summer, while the loser is eliminated.

Canada failed to qualify directly to the Copa América when it collapsed against Jamaica in the Nations League quarterfinal in November. The Reds won the away leg 2-1 only to fall 3-2 at home in the second leg, with the Reggae Boyz advancing via away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

Trinidad & Tobago, meanwhile, fell into the one-off playoff after losing its quarterfinal series against the U.S. by a 4-2 aggregate score.

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Making the Copa América would be a major boost for Canada amid a tumultuous period that has seen head coach John Herdman depart, a poor Gold Cup last summer, and ongoing turmoil at the Canadian federation.

The winner of Saturday’s match will go into Group A of the Copa América alongside Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago (Copa America playoff)

  • When: Saturday, March 23
  • Where: Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH LIVE), CBS Sports Golazo Network

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Argentina vs. El Salvador: How to watch international friendly, live stream

The World Cup champions face the Concacaf nation in the first of two U.S. friendlies in March

Argentina may be without its biggest star, but there will be plenty of talent still on display when the World Cup champion faces El Salvador in a friendly on Friday in Philadelphia.

Fans were disappointed when Argentina announced this week that Lionel Messi would miss this match, as well as the team’s friendly against Costa Rica in Los Angeles next week, after suffering a “minor injury” in his right hamstring.

But some of Argentina’s biggest stars from its World Cup-winning squad will be present for the two matches, including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez and more.

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The first of the two games will pit the Albiceleste against El Salvador, which drew Bonaire 1-1 on Wednesday in a friendly just two days before its matchup against the World Cup winners.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Argentina vs. El Salvador (international friendly)

  • When: Friday, March 22
  • Where: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH LIVE). CBS Sports Golazo Network, Fox Deportes

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Leon Bailey blasts Jamaican federation as he announces break from national team

Bailey was unsparing in his assessment of the “unprofessional” Jamaica Football Federation

Leon Bailey has declared that he will “take a break” from the Jamaican national team over issues stemming from what he called a low level of professionalism.

Ahead of the Reggae Boyz’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal against the U.S. men’s national team, the Aston Villa winger lit into the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) — long a target of criticism from players on its national teams — over basic missteps involving equipment, travel arrangements, and more.

Speaking on the Let’s Be Honest podcast, Bailey was unsparing in his criticism of the JFF.

“A lot of people don’t know that most of the time, I book my own flights to come and represent Jamaica because they are very unprofessional,” explained Bailey. “You’re getting your flight details [at] 11 p.m. to travel the next day. [The JFF] doesn’t pay us. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team. It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Bailey then turned to how even being provided with team apparel to train in has been a problem.

“You’re turning up and they don’t have equipment for you. You’ll go and they’ll only have one shirt for you, and you have to find shorts,” said a bemused Bailey. “Players turn up to games and it’s a women’s shirt they print out for them to wear. It’s ridiculous and they don’t know how to operate.”

Bailey gave something of a conflicting accounting of whether he had let Jamaica know about the problems. At one point, he told host Jaii Frais he hadn’t, but later said he butts heads with the JFF in every international window.

“It’s two things I’ve always asked them for, and every time, I can’t get it. You have people booking flights for me and sending me from England to Jamaica with three different stops,” insisted Bailey. “All I ask for is a proper flight and a room by myself, and I can’t get that. If I don’t go the national team, I can go on my vacation and I can live good.”

Bailey: Jamaica’s national team ‘not doing anything for me’

Bailey wouldn’t have been available to take on the USMNT on Thursday, as head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson had suspended him over missing curfew during a November camp.

Bailey admitted that he did violate team rules, but said he took exception to how Hallgrímsson presented the news to the public.

“I did break curfew, but that’s normal. Every player does that,” said Bailey, who added that the suspension was not so much of a big deal in and of itself as it was just the last straw. “It’s just the way how it was presented that I didn’t like.

“[Hallgrímsson] did say to me that he wasn’t going to invite me to the next camp but, way before this happened, I always had it in my head that this is too much on my plate when it comes to the national team, and I was really going to take a break from it, and then [the suspension] just tipped off everything… I felt that was really harsh and it just said to me that me being in the national team right now, it really drains my energy a lot.”

Bailey won’t be alone in missing the match for Jamaica. Striker Michail Antonio withdrew from the roster for unspecified reasons, while Trivante Stewart is suspended by the team over a curfew violation last year. Ethan Pinnock and Amari’i Bell are unavailable due to injury, while Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson are suspended due to yellow-card accumulation.

Beyond that, the 26-year-old framed his appearances with Jamaica as a favor to the national team that he does out of pride in his country.

“Jamaica’s national team is not doing anything for me,” explained the Villa star. “Jamaica’s national team is not going to give me exposure. Playing for Jamaica is not going to make Real Madrid call me. I am shining light on the national team by playing overseas and representing as a Jamaican all the time. People know Leon Bailey everywhere in the world…

“I am Jamaican and I love my country, and hopefully one day my kids can come up and grow up in a better environment than I did. But sometimes I think about it and realize that these things were happening before I was born so, can I be the change?”

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Concacaf announces launch of region’s first women’s club competition

The Concacaf W Champions Cup fills a major gap in the region’s women’s soccer space

Concacaf will launch its first-ever continental competition for women’s club teams, with three NWSL teams set to participate.

The Concacaf W Champions Cup, announced on Tuesday, will involve 11 teams from across the region, with play beginning in August 2024.

Theo Lloyd-Hughes was first to report the tournament’s details, including what countries will be represented this summer. The NWSL and Liga MX Femenil will each claim three places in the group stage, while the domestic leagues of Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama will all have one team in the mix.

A preliminary clash between the top team from Canada and El Salvador will determine who gets the tenth group-stage place.

At the time of publication, NWSL had not announced which teams would represent the league in the tournament. NJ/NY Gotham FC is the defending NWSL champion, while the San Diego Wave claimed the NWSL Shield (awarded to the regular-season champion). The North Carolina Courage won the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Per Concacaf, the group stage will consist of two groups of five, with every team facing the other sides in the group once (two at home, two away).

The top two teams from each group will advance to the elimination round, which will be “a final four centralized event played in May.”

“Launching the Concacaf W Champions Cup is a very exciting next step on our journey of developing all aspects of women’s football in our region,” said Concacaf president Victor Montagliani in a press release.

Montagliani noted that the winner would be primed to represent Concacaf at FIFA’s planned Women’s Club World Cup (an event first reported by The Athletic in January).

“The W Champions Cup will provide a tremendous sporting opportunity for clubs in Concacaf, and we look forward to the first edition commencing in August this year, to crowning a first champion in May 2025, and to delivering an exciting pathway to the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.”

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La curiosa “margarita” de Alex Morgan en trofeo de W Concacaf

La curiosa imagen fue compartida por la delantera en su cuenta de Twitter con el mensaje “Necesitaba averiguarlo yo misma”

20 margaritas se necesitaron para llenar el trofeo de la W Concacaf conquistado por Estados Unidos gracias a un solitario gol de Alex Morgan ante Canadá en la final en Monterrey.

Y fue la goleadora la encargada de inaugurar la bebida del festejo de su escuadra en el vestidor del estadio de Rayados pues además aseguraron su clasificación a los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024.

La curiosa imagen fue compartida por la delantera en su cuenta de Twitter con el mensaje “Necesitaba averiguarlo yo misma…estimado 20 margaritas”. escribió la Bota de Oro del torneo en dos ocasiones.

Morgan también se erigió como la MVP del W Concacaf, siendo la del 2022 la primera ocasión que lo consigue la goleadora que ayudó a su escuadra a recuperar el tricampeonato del torneo.

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Galería: Estados Unidos campeonas del W Concacaf

Con gol de Alex Morgan Estados Unidos se proclamó campeón y aseguró su pase a los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024

El cuadro de Estados Unidos se llevó el torneo de Concacaf W venciendo a la escuadra de Canadá por la mínima diferencia en un duelo que enfrentó a los dos únicos equipos que han ganado el torneo.

Con gol de Alex Morgan Estados Unidos se proclamó campeón y aseguró su pase a los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024, mientras que Canadá deberá enfrentar a Jamaica, tercer lugar del torneo por un boleto para la justa.