Tag: MLS Cup

Jim Curtin says MLS can be the top league in the world by 2026, which as a reminder is only four years from now

Curtin says MLS “is a great place”

It’s safe to say Jim Curtin is high on MLS’s potential.

The Philadelphia Union coach, fresh off of winning the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award, told ESPN that he thinks it’s possible for MLS to be right there with the Premier League, the Bundesliga, and La Liga by the time the 2026 World Cup gets underway.

“The stadiums, the facilities, the players that are coming here, the coaches that are coming here, why is it so crazy that by 2026 this isn’t the top league in the world?” asked Curtin.

According to data Pro Soccer Wire has analyzed deeply, 2026 is soon. Becoming one of the world’s best leagues in that timeframe would require MLS to accelerate its progress at a rate beyond anything it has previously achieved.

“I’m going to be the guy that’s going to get in trouble for saying this, but what if this is the league?” wondered Curtin about his future. “People say to me, ‘do you want to go to Europe?’ Europe’s a broad topic,” noting the differences between the world’s biggest clubs and the far more common experiences at the hundreds of top-flight clubs that are not in that select list of a dozen or so behemoths.

“It’s not all as glamorous as Man United or Chelsea.”

Curtin adds context

Curtin expanded on that idea while speaking to reporters during his press conference the day before MLS Cup.

“What I was getting at, I was talking about what this league has the potential to be, a top league in the world, not ‘this league is the top league in the world,'” explained Curtin. “I do believe, with the ownership groups that are here, with the men and women that are in charge that are winners in all their endeavors, with the facilities like you see here, with the locker rooms, the training facilities with the players that are wanting to come here, with the coaches that want to come here, this is a great place.”

Curtin’s experience with the Union makes it easy to see why he’d take that stance. Philadelphia has in recent years built a stadium in Subaru Park, which is right next to the club’s training ground and the home of their top-tier youth academy.

While the Union are routinely mentioned as a model of success on a budget due to their low-end salary spending, Curtin highlighted that money put towards infrastructure and other less heralded aspects of the club can be just as important.

“We spend in a smart way,” said Curtin, citing the pitch at Subaru Park as an example. “The surface that we have, they bought some new, innovative hybrid grass that plays a lot faster. It takes teams, to get used to it, a little while. You look at our goal record at home, like these little things, we are spending a million dollars for that surface.”

[lawrence-related id=9185,9016,6306]

Kellyn Acosta was very nice to a very confused reporter

Some basic research is always a good idea!

There are many ways to find out which team a player represents.

Google is a very handy resource, for starters. You could also ask a friend or colleague. In the case of Kellyn Acosta’s pre-MLS Cup press conference on Thursday, there was also the sign in front of him that had the LAFC logo next to his name.

But a very confused reporter nevertheless managed to ask Acosta a question under the assumption he played for LAFC’s opponent in MLS Cup, the Philadelphia Union.

“How exciting is it to be in Philly right now?” he asked a man who hasn’t been to Philly for a long time. “The Phillies are in the World Series, the Eagles are undefeated and you guys are playing in the MLS Cup. Has it sunk in?”

Acosta was probably within his right to get annoyed. This was, after all, a press conference before the biggest event his league has to offer. A little basic research wasn’t too much to ask, surely.

But instead, he tried to give the reporter an out

“Just playing against a Philadelphia team you’re saying?” Acosta asked.

Given a chance to save himself, the reporter instead doubled down by asking a similar version of his original question.

At this point someone finally intervened, informing the reporter that Acosta actually plays for LAFC.

Acosta then added with a smile: “I don’t play for Philly. It’s exciting for them I guess.”

“I’m a Cowboys fan, I don’t like the Eagles,” the Texas native continued. “I know they’re undefeated so shout out to the Eagles I guess, the Phillies are in the World Series so congratulations, and we’re playing against the Union.”

It was all very magnanimous stuff from Acosta, who will likely be heading to Qatar later this month to represent the U.S. at the World Cup. At least the reporter got that part right.

Watch Acosta’s response to a confused reporter

[lawrence-related id=9213,9212,9185]

MLS commissioner Don Garber says no league pressure on Merritt Paulson to sell Portland Timbers

“There was nothing that came out in the report that would have us think any differently”

Merritt Paulson may be under pressure from NWSL fans to sell the Portland Thorns, but MLS is not about to push him to sell the Portland Timbers.

Commissioner Don Garber, answering questions from reporters during his annual State of the League address ahead of MLS Cup, rejected the possibility that MLS could look into urging Paulson to sell his majority stake in the Timbers.

“We at this time don’t see any reason at all for Merritt to sell the Timbers,” said Garber when asked directly about whether the findings of the Yates investigation into misconduct in the NWSL had made MLS reconsider Paulson’s viability as an owner.

Supporters in Portland have been calling on Paulson’s Peregrine Sports, the corporate entity that actually holds his shares of the two clubs, to sell for months. The Yates investigation revealed that on Paulson’s watch, club employees gave positive recommendations for former coach Paul Riley when asked about his past by the North Carolina Courage. The Yates report also stated that Portland had “interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents.”

The Timbers side of the organization also drew intense criticism for its handling of the domestic abuse allegations against former player Andy Polo, which included re-signing him despite knowing about the charges against him. In that matter, MLS fined Portland for failing to inform the league of the accusations in an expedient fashion.

Last month, Paulson stepped down as the CEO of both the Timbers and Thorns, and left the door open to possibly selling his stakes in the clubs. The organization also fired Gavin Wilkinson and Mike Golub — the presidents of soccer operations and business operations, respectively — in the aftermath of the Yates investigation.

Garber, however, gave a solid endorsement of Paulson’s moves since the news began to break in 2021, indicating that from MLS’s perspective, there is no need to pursue an enforced ownership change.

“Obviously, Merritt has very publicly acknowledged the mistakes that he and the organization has made. You know, he’s taken responsibility for those decisions that he’s made,” said Garber. “I think that the steps that he’s made, in terms of stepping aside and bringing in a new CEO, and the termination of two long-term employees — which we supported — were steps in the right direction. So, there was nothing that came out in the report that would have us think any differently from what I just stated there.”

That’s a stark contrast with other powerful voices. Multiple sponsors announced plans to either reconsider their financial pacts with Portland, or in the case of Alaska Airlines, redirect a quarter’s worth of sponsorship to the NWSLPA’s Support the Players Emergency Trust.

The question of whether Paulson should sell the Thorns was posed at last month’s Oregon gubernatorial debate, and all three participants answered in the affirmative.

[lawrence-related id=8573,8175,8010]

USC football fans, L.A. soccer fans prepare for complicated situation on Saturday

Trojans: Wired podcast producer @IanHest lays out the details of a tangled logistical situation in Los Angeles which includes #USC football.

Ian Hest is the producer and co-host of the Trojans: Wired podcast. You know him from that particular media involvement, but it’s worth pointing out that Ian also covers the Inter Miami soccer club and closely follows professional soccer in the United States and around the world.

Ian is keeping tabs on both international football and American football this weekend, and how they intersect in Los Angeles. Here is his overview of a big and complicated day in L.A. sports, with information you need to know.

Take it away, Ian:

— Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire editor

*

10 Things You Need To Know About Saturday In L.A.

By Ian Hest, Special to Trojans Wire

This Saturday, Exposition Park will host not one but two major sporting events with USC and LAFC playing back to back. With so much traffic heading through the area, here are 10 things you need to know to navigate your way.

Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is all in on the Philadelphia Union

McDermott compared Union supporters to the Bills Mafia

Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is a big Philadelphia Union guy.

McDermott wore a Union shirt to his press conference on Wednesday in a show of support for the club and his brother Tim, who is the Union’s team president.

“Philly Union, baby. I’m pumping the Philly Union,” McDermott said.

“I just want to give a shout-out to those guys, my brother as well for the work they put in there. The best in the MLS and I think it’s been four years running now in terms of their win record and how many games they’ve won and sustained success and coach (Jim) Curtin getting named coach of the year.”

McDermott went on to compare the Union’s fans to the Bills’ legendary support.

“Their fanbase is very much like the Bills Mafia,” he said.

The Union will play in their first MLS Cup on Saturday when they face LAFC at Banc of California Stadium.

The Bills will be traveling on Saturday ahead of a game against the New York Jets on Sunday, but McDermott said he’d do all he could to catch MLS Cup.

“As soon as we get in, I know I’ve got a production meeting to do, but I’ll be trying to schedule that around the Union game,” McDermott said.

[lawrence-related id=9124,9016,9089]

MLS Cup is going to have everything, except for a place to park

If you’re heading to MLS Cup, you better leave early

Getting to MLS Cup might end up being more arduous for fans than it was for LAFC or the Philadelphia Union.

LAFC has announced that due to the college football game between the USC Trojans and California Golden Bears later on the night of November 5, there will be no parking available for MLS Cup.

“Due to a USC football game at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum also on Nov. 5, alternative parking and transportation measures will be in place and enforced,” read an LAFC release that proceeded to underline the issue by using all capital letters. “There will be NO PARKING SPACES AVAILABLE IN OR AROUND EXPOSITION PARK AND BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM for fans attending MLS Cup.”

The Banc of California Stadium is in Exposition Park, right next door to USC’s home at the Memorial Coliseum.

Los Angeles is notoriously a city where people drive, and drive, and drive. The traffic is legendary — we’re talking about the home of El Tráfico — and the running joke is that no one rides the LA Metro. As such, a lack of parking is probably going to be a big problem.

How is anyone going to get to MLS Cup?

It’s not like Angelenos, traveling Union fans, and neutrals will all have to walk across a city that is not set up for that kind of long stroll. Google Maps says that the walk from the Expo Park/USC Metro station to the Banc of California Stadium is 16 minutes. There are also numerous bus stops surrounding the venue.

LAFC has also set up a park and ride shuttle from Dodger Stadium, just a few miles north on the 110, and a ridesharing service drop-off point northwest of both the Banc of California Stadium and the Memorial Coliseum.

“In one of the greatest sports cities in the world, it’s not surprising that we find ourselves in a unique and challenging situation with same-day events in Expo Park,” said LAFC Co-President & CBO Larry Freedman. “We are fortunate to be able to work with our partners at Metro and the Dodgers to provide the best possible alternatives for our fans and supporters attending the MLS Cup on Saturday.”

[lawrence-related id=9022,9016,9011]

LAFC has reached MLS Cup and Gareth Bale had almost nothing to do with it

Bale’s absence hasn’t been an issue for LAFC. It may be a different story for Wales

Gareth Bale was mostly a spectator last season as he watched Real Madrid secure a La Liga-Champions League double. It looks like history may repeat itself in MLS.

Heralded as a game-changing signing when he arrived at Los Angeles FC midseason, Bale has once again struggled for fitness and mostly watched his team succeed on the pitch without him.

At a mega-club like Real Madrid, success without Bale was hardly surprising. But winning a Supporters’ Shield and reaching MLS Cup with Bale as a relative non-factor wasn’t really part of the plan for LAFC.

“It just goes to show what an amazing team we have,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said of not using Bale and still wiping the floor with Austin FC in Sunday’s Western Conference final.

While Cherundolo had a point, it still wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Bale needed to build up his fitness after signing with LAFC. He had, after all, just completed a season in Spain filled with injuries. But rather than building up, Bale’s fitness plateaued. And then it turned downwards yet again.

Bale has played just 347 minutes for LAFC, starting two of his 12 total appearances. He’s shown flashes of his talent, but he looks consigned to spend the rest of his career battling against his own body.

For LAFC, Bale’s absence hasn’t been much of a problem. Carlos Vela, Chicho Arango and late-season addition Denis Bouanga have carried the load in attack.

For Wales, though, it may be a different story.

Bale may just have retired after last season had Wales not reached its first World Cup since 1958. But the 33-year-old wasn’t about to miss the chance to captain Wales in Qatar. And so after leaving Madrid, he needed a new team fast.

The World Cup kicks off in three weeks, and Bale has played five minutes since mid-September. It’s past time for Wales to be concerned.

(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) 

Prior to LAFC’s game against Austin, Cherundolo said there was “no more injury to report” regarding Bale, who missed the previous game against the LA Galaxy.

But that doesn’t tell the full story. Univision reporter Michele Giannone clarified the situation on Sunday, saying Bale has “been training in full for a few days now, but the abductor issue he’s been dealing with doesn’t allow him to strike the ball with full force and complete comfort yet.”

After the win over Austin, Cherundolo said Bale “is ready to go if need be.”

Right now, it looks like LAFC simply doesn’t need Bale. Wales may not have that luxury.

[listicle id=9009]

Sports Betting Futures: World Series, WNBA and MLS odds entering July

We have a new title favorite in Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers have officially been passed as the betting favorites to win the World Series as we enter July, with the red-hot Yankees now leading the pack at +380 odds. Even the Houston Astros moved up from +900 to +550 over the last month, nearing the Dodgers’ second-shortest odds at +425.

The biggest MLB movement since the beginning of June, however, is in the AL MVP race where Aaron Judge went from plus money and second-shortest odds to the unquestioned favorite to win the award at -110. He passed last year’s winner, Shohei Ohtani, who remains top-two, albeit a distant second at +300.

In the W, the Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to claim that league’s title at +125, with star forward A’ja Wilson far and away the favorite to win MVP. And LAFC holds the edge in Major League Soccer.

Below is a full picture of title and award odds from each league, via Tipico Sportsbook.

[tipico]

How to watch San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC: Preview, schedule, channel, soccer odds

Here’s how to watch San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC MLS live stream to kick off the 2020 MLS table.

The 2020 MLS season kicks off this weekend with the San Jose Earthquakes hosting Toronto FC. The MLS live stream can only be caught on ESPN+.

After losing to Seattle in the 2019 MLS Cup, Toronto should be considered one of the best MLS teams this season. However, with injuries to Michael Bradley and Pablo Piatti, Toronto is hurting to begin. But is that enough to lose the first game of the season?

San Jose just missed the playoffs last season with a 13-5-16 record but they’re healthy and looking to make a name for themselves. A strong start, especially a win over Toronto, would be a huge statement for the Earthquakes.

Who will start off the 2020 MLS season on the right foot? Sign up for ESPN+ to find out and catch all your favorite MLS teams via live streams.

How to watch San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC:

Who: San Jose Earthquakes (0-0) vs. Toronto FC (0-0)

When: Saturday, Feb. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET

Where: Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA

MLS live stream:

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC live stream: ESPN+

Soccer odds:

MLS odds: San Jose (100) is favored over Toronto FC (+250), according to BetMGM.

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

5 biggest takeaways from Seattle Sounders’ MLS Cup win

Here’s everything we saw and learned from Seattle’s win over Toronto in MLS Cup.

Seattle Sounders FC won MLS Cup on Sunday afternoon, outlasting Toronto FC in a 3-1 win that saw the game break open in the second half. Every goal came after the 57th minute, as what started as a cagey affair soon turned into a thrilling, up-and-down match.

Let’s get to five things we learned from the game.

1. Seattle was deep, and depth is often the difference maker

For the first 55 minutes of MLS Cup, the two teams played each other basically to a stalemate. Toronto had more of the ball, but didn’t seem willing to throw too many men forward, and attack after attack fizzled out.

Seattle needed something to switch things up. First, they got a somewhat lucky deflection goal from right back Kevin Leerdam. (See what happens when you commit numbers forward?)

What blew the game open, however, was the introduction of Victor Rodriguez. Rodriguez came in during the 61st minute for Brad Smith (who didn’t have his best game) and broke it open with a phenomenal goal that doubled Seattle’s lead.

Rodriguez has struggled with injuries all season, but the fact that Seattle can turn to a Barcelona-trained attacker with years of La Liga experience off the bench shows how deep this squad is. The Sounders don’t have a Zlatan or a Rooney. They have a bunch of very good players, and that’s why they’re so successful.

2. Brian Schmetzer should be getting more attention than he is

Well the other reason that Seattle is so successful is that the team has a hell of a coach. Brian Schmetzer coached the Seattle Sounders back before they were in MLS, then served as an assistant for Sigi Schmid when the team entered the top flight of American soccer. He got the interim job when the late Schmid stepped down, and promptly won MLS Cup. He’s now been in three finals in four years, winning two of them.

Schmetzer doesn’t command the attention of other coaches in this league, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that, on resume alone, he might be the best.

The final was an example of his brilliance. The team was organized, defended well, but took their chances as the game moved forward. They shut down Toronto’s most potent attacker, Alejandro Pozuelo, and then relied on the pace of Jordan Morris and Ruidiaz going forward to wreak havoc when Toronto started to chase the game.

3. Toronto needed to force the issue in the first half, and it didn’t

Toronto FC couldn’t get a full 90 minutes from Jozy Altidore, though he did come in as a substitute and grab a late, headed consolation goal.

Without Altidore, Toronto only had one real target man in the attacking third — Pozuelo. With Seattle keyed in on him and tackling hard to keep him uncomfortable, Toronto needed other players to stress the issue and take chances. That … didn’t really happen.

When Auro pushed up from right back for Toronto, he was giving Brad Smith fits on that wing, and I assumed Toronto would start getting him to bomb forward and get men in the box. With the speed of Seattle’s Jordan Morris on that left wing, however, Auro was hesitant to commit too much.

That’s probably the right call, but Toronto had total control of the game for about twenty minutes at the end of the first half, and mustered one or two shots that didn’t really trouble Sounders keeper Stefan Frei. I know finals are cagey, but there were chances for Auro, Michael Bradley, or Marky Delgado to take chances and get in the box. They didn’t.

4. That crowd was an all-timer

Holy smokes, 70,000 people at CenturyLink Field was special. That final had real atmosphere, which is all MLS can ask for.

While the TV numbers will undoubtedly be disappointing for the league, and I thought there was an odd lack of marketing around the final, MLS’ move to a single-elimination format for the playoffs has made the tournament more exciting. Diehards may grumble that it leaves more up to chance, but this tournament has always been ridiculous, and might as well lean into it.

5. Ruidiaz is special

While watching this match, I couldn’t help but keep focusing on Ruidiaz, Sounders’ diminutive striker who, at 5-foot-7, still manages to physically dominate just about anyone who comes at him. He may not be the brand that Zlatan is, but Ruidiaz is a breathtaking player, all piss and vinegar and energy. Watching him occupy the Toronto defenders was incredible to watch.

And what a final goal:

[lawrence-related id=867212]