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☆ Inside evolving FIFA 2026 World Cup plan to cash in on the rise of high-end sports tourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

FIFA selected On Location to be the exclusive hospitality provider for the event, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It will be the largest World Cup ever held, hosted across 16 cities in the three countries and featuring 104 matches from 48 teams. "In the United States there's a big demand for unique experiences and curated moments — sports tourism is booming," Jernigan said. Roughly seven million tickets are expected to be available for the 2026 World Cup, and approximately one million premium tickets will be sold as part of hospitality packages. "We think the World Cup is the ultimate expression of the sport and it'll be an incredible opportunity for the fans to experience it — we can give them something that's never been done before."

Persons: Taylor Swift, CCO Scott Jernigan, Jernigan, Jay Berhalter, Berhalter, that's Organizations: CCO, FIFA, NFL, Super, Endeavor, NCAA, UFC, MLB, IOC, Olympic Games, Games, Major League Soccer, MLS Locations: Europe, North America, U.S, Canada, Mexico, United States, Paris, Los Angeles

☆ Audi strikes multiyear partnership with MLS' Inter Miami CF
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Justine Fisher | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Volkswagen-owned Audi has struck a multiyear partnership with Inter Miami CF as the team's official automotive partner. Audi is driving up its sports investments and becoming the official automotive partner of Inter Miami CF. Inter Miami CF president of business operations Xavier Asensi said elements of the partnership are ongoing as opportunities arise. He said Inter Miami CF aims for a long-term partnership where the two companies can build together. Audi has been the official automotive partner of Major League Soccer since 2015, and Cotter said the automaker hopes to continue to build its soccer portfolio.

Persons: Emilie Cotter, They've, Cotter, Xavier Asensi, Asensi Organizations: Volkswagen, Audi, Inter Miami CF, South, Audi of America, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer Locations: South Florida, Cotter

☆ The NFL is open to private equity team ownership of up to 10%, Commissioner Roger Goodell says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We've had a tremendous amount of interest [from private equity firms], and we believe this could make sense for us in a limited fashion, probably no more than 10% of a team. The National Football League is considering allowing minority private equity ownership for its 32 teams of up to 10%, Commissioner Roger Goodell said in an exclusive CNBC interview Thursday. "I think it may be leading to some rethink into the consideration of letting private equity, as an example, or institutional investors into the NFL." Private equity incentives around reaching investment targets and exit thresholds could alter the motivations for ownership in ways that make the bigger sports leagues uncomfortable. Private equity firms, tasked with finding investment vehicles to make returns on their assets under management, may be better suited to minority ownership.

Persons: Roger Goodell, Goodell, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, We've, Josh Harris, Harris, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Magic Johnson, Eric Schmidt, David Blitzer, They're, Ted Leonsis, You'll Organizations: National Football League, Allen & Company Sun Valley, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NFL, Allen & Co, Sun Valley Conference, CNBC, Apollo Global Management, Washington, Summit, Washington , D.C, NBA, Blackstone Group, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Women's Soccer League, Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, ESPN Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, Washington ,

Women's soccer is bringing private equity off the sidelines. While other major U.S. sports leagues – Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League – have allowed private equity investors to take passive, minority stakes, only the National Women's Soccer League has allowed these firms to take majority control of the economics. Sixth Street was the first to own a team in building out the San Francisco women's team, Bay FC, last year. The second-ever such deal closed a few weeks ago, as Carlyle partnered with men's team, the Seattle Sounders FC, to buy that city's counterpart in the NWSL, the Reign FC. Popov said NWSL attendance, up more than 40% this year, is evidence of the momentum in the sport.

Persons: Jessica Berman, San Francisco women's, Carlyle, Adrian Hanauer, Alex Popov, Popov Organizations: – Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Women's Soccer League, CNBC, Sixth, San, Bay FC, men's, Seattle Sounders FC, FC, Sounders FC, Reign FC, NWSL Board

☆ Euro 2024 day 16 – Lightning stops play, Italy’s coach goes backwards, five cruel minutes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( The Athletic Uk Staff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Lightning stops playAfter several days of hot weather, the skies above Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park had been gathering throughout the evening. Thunder and lightning could be heard from afar, with the rain arriving after 32 minutes of Germany’s last-16 game against Denmark. Soon after, lightning flashes could be seen from inside the stadium, with two to three ear-splitting cracks of thunder. The suspension lasted for around 24 minutes — with preparations to restart occurring as soon as the lighting had moved out of the area. Players reemerged from their changing rooms five minutes before the resumption, and waited momentarily for groundstaff to test the pitch.

Persons: Michael Oliver, Oliver, Alex Gottschalk, Bjorn Kuipers, Alex Livesey, Jonathan Richter, Jacob Whitehead Italy, Spalletti’s, Luciano Spalletti didn’t, Spalletti, “, That’s, I’ll, ”, Masashi Hara, Italy haven’t, Strikers Gianluca Scamacca, Mateo Retegui, Giacomo Raspadori, ” Spalletti, “ It’s, Gabriele Gravina, James Horncastle, Joachim Andersen, Manuel Neuer, Christian Eriksen’s, Andersen, Thomas Delaney, Robert Andrich, David Raum’s, Kai Havertz, Kasper Schmeichel, Musiala, What’s Organizations: England, Denmark, UEFA, Getty, FC Nordsjaelland, Major League Soccer, International Broadcasting Centre, Fiat, Croatia, Albania, Strikers, Spain, Italian Football, Georgia Locations: Slovakia, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Ukraine, France, England, Sweden, Danish, Real Salt, LAFC, Utah, —, ignominy, Korea, Macedonia, Gelsenkirchen, Iserlohn, Gelsenkirchen . Debutants Georgia, Portugal, Spain

☆ Euro 2024 day six: Germany advance, MLS history, comedy goals, don’t trust world rankings
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( The Athletic Uk Staff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

A 2-0 victory over Hungary sent Germany through to the round of 16, and they got there pretty comfortably. Shaqiri was actually a surprise selection for Switzerland’s second Euro 2024 game against Scotland on Wednesday. Albania, just like against Italy, were ahead and could have pulled off the greatest result in their footballing history. Schar briefly joins the own goals club (Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Tim SpiersTalking of shocks, do world rankings matter? If the alternative is FIFA executives arbitrarily deciding on seedings among themselves, then it’s probably worth having official rankings.

Persons: Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Ilkay Gundogan, Wirtz, Robert Andrich, Tom Weller, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane, Rudiger, Jonathan Tah, Sam Lee, Xherdan Shaqiri, Shaqiri, Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV, It’s, he’s, Nick Miller, Hysaj, Ante Budimir, Luka Sucic, Berat Djimsiti, Klaus Gjasula, Gjasula, Maximilian Wober, Robin Hranac, Fabian Schar, Scott McTominay’s, Yann Sommer’s, Schar, Alex Grimm, Tim Spiers, Poland —, GABRIEL BOUYS, it’s, Michael Cox What’s, Stefan Matzke – Organizations: England, European Championship, MLS, Albania, Hungary, Musiala, Getty, Sam Lee MLS, Chicago Fire, Scotland, Major League Soccer, Shaqiri, Croatia, Luka, Portugal, UEFA, Scottish, Belgium, Monday, Championship, FIFA, … Locations: Denmark, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Germany, Hungary, South America, Scotland, Switzerland, Croatia, Albania, Swiss, Berat Djimsiti …, Czech Republic, Poland, AFP, Israel, Morocco, … Slovenia

☆ Lionel Messi is taking on Prime with a new sports drink
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Logan Paul’s Prime drink has some new competition in the form of the G.O.A.T. And the drink is also a new foray into non-alcoholic drinks for Mark Anthony Brands, as Americans consume less alcohol. Más+ by Messi is a low-sugar drink containing electrolytes and vitamins without artificial sweeteners, colors or caffeine. Hydration and energy drinks are projected to be a $60 billion market by 2032, growing roughly 6% annually, according to Precedence Research. “Gen Alpha is up for grabs, and that is who these new generation energy drinks are aiming to capture especially as they enter teenage years.”

Persons: New York CNN — Logan, Lionel Messi, White, Mark Anthony Brands, Messi, Miami Punch, Ballon, Seltzer, Andrea Hernández, ”, “, ” Hernández, Alpha Organizations: New, New York CNN, Soccer, Paul’s, Gatorade, Miami, Inter Miami, Orange, Major League Soccer, Messi, Beverage Co, Research, BodyArmor, CNN Locations: New York, Miami, America

☆ 2024 men’s T20 World Cup: boasting over a billion fans, cricket arrives on the shores of the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And now, 180 years later, international cricket returns to the US with the men’s T20 World Cup. Three venues across the country – in Lauderhill, Florida, New York and Dallas – have been constructed to host T20 World Cup games. The Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, will host the first game of the men's 2024 T20 World Cup. The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, will host the men's T20 World Cup final. How to watchThe 2024 men’s T20 World Cup begins on Saturday, June 1, with the two North American debutants – the US and Canada – opening proceedings against one another.

Persons: cricket’s, –, US –, Dallas –, Lauderhill, Shelby Tauber, ” Victor Cruz –, New York Giants –, Monank Patel, Corey Anderson, Anderson, Ali Khan, Khan, “, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Chris Gayle, Randy Brooks, St, Vincent, “ I’ve, Frank Nsubuga, Joel Ford, ” Organizations: CNN — Cricket, Major League Cricket, US, Dallas, Nassau County International Cricket, Prairie Cricket, Bloomberg, Getty, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, New York’s Major League Baseball, Adelaide Oval, “, New York Giants, New Zealand, Black Caps, Guardian, Caribbean . Cricket, West Indies, Kensington, North, Reuters, ICC, Grand Prairie Cricket, West, Sunday, Sky Sports, UK Star Sports Network, Disney Locations: Manhattan, Caribbean, Lauderhill , Florida , New York, Nassau, New York, India, Pakistan, Dallas , Texas, Florida, Australia, York, Ohio, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Bridgetown, AFP, Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenadines, Uganda, Canada, Papua New Guinea

☆ Watch raccoon interrupt Major League Soccer game
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Hazel Tang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Raccoon, chased by staff with trash cans, storms pitch during soccer game
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A furry pitch invader paused Major League Soccer play on Wednesday as a rogue raccoon ran onto the field during a match between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC. The athletic critter ran the length of the pitch at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, deftly evading capture while sprinting stadium staff tried to apprehend it using a trash can. “We need to find him a ball because he’s moving very well in the center of midfield,” a commentator quipped during the kerfuffle, adding that it was “entertainment of its own kind.”Raquinho the raccoon was eventually captured and later released. Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports/ReutersThe match was paused for five minutes as crews tried and eventually succeeded in capturing the animal, dubbed “Raquinha the Raccoon” by MLS. The Union sent out an update saying that the raccoon was “put in good hands” and was safely released.

Persons: ”, Eric Hartline, “, NYCFC, Alonso Martínez, Hannes Wolf Organizations: CNN, Major League Soccer, Philadelphia Union, New York City FC, Subaru, Reuters, MLS, The Union Locations: Chester , Pennsylvania

☆ Disney+ will stream Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut in the platform's first live sports event
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The WNBA regular season opens Tuesday night with breakout star Caitlin Clark making her debut as point guard for the Indiana Fever. Following Clark's debut at 7:30 pm ET against the Connecticut Sun, Disney+ will stream the Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces matchup. Discovery's exclusive TV rights for NBA games is currently under negotiation. The WNBA's existing media rights deal expires in 2025. "They covet younger fans, and this is how younger fans view their sports these days, it is through streaming," Rishe told CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" Tuesday.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Destanni Henderson, Clark, It's, Engelbert, Patrick Rishe, Rishe, CNBC's, Lionel Messi Organizations: Indiana, Atlanta, WNBA, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana Fever, Disney, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, Las Vegas Aces, ESPN, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox Corp, Warner Bros, NBA, Sports Business, Washington University's Olin Business School, Apple, Major League Soccer, Apple TV Locations: Gainbridge, Indianapolis , Indiana, Iowa

☆ From Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight to NFL games, Netflix interest in live sports is rising
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The company has also leaned into live comedy shows, broadcasting a slew of events including the recent roast of Tom Brady. But on its most recent earnings call in April, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Netflix isn't "anti-sports, but pro-profitable growth." Conway teaches courses about sports leadership and management, and he spent much of his career as a marketing executive for two Major League Baseball teams. Over the past few years, Apple has bought the rights to air Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games. CNBC reported last year that Netflix, as well as Amazon, Apple, Comcast's NBCUniversal/Peacock, had expressed potential interest in a contract.

Persons: Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Sarandos, Ted Sarandos, Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Marty Conway, Conway, Needham, Laura Martin, Martin, Brandon Katz, Katz, NBCUniversal, Peacock, William Mao, Octagon, Tyson, Paul, Mao Organizations: Netflix, WWE, Georgetown University, Major League Baseball, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, Warner Bros, Major League Soccer, National Football League, National Basketball Association, CNBC, NFL, NBA, Comcast

☆ NHL's Coyotes CEO, other Latino executives launch platform to promote Hispanics in sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Xavier Gutierrez, CEO of the Arizona Coyotes and CEO of ImpactX Sports Group (L), and Pedro Guerrero, CEO of Guerrero Media. Gutierrez had previously been a managing director at private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group and knew Meruelo for about a decade before becoming the NHL's first-ever Latino CEO. It took a Latino owner to hire a Latino CEO, Gutierrez explained in an interview, because Hispanics are not well-represented in leadership positions in professional sports. Gutierrez, who is technically still CEO of the Arizona Coyotes even though the franchise is inactive, says he is the only non-owner Latino CEO. Gutierrez and Pedro Antonio Guerrero, the CEO of executive advancement company Guerrero Media, introduced Latinos in Sports at an event in Miami last week.

Persons: Xavier Gutierrez, Pedro Guerrero, Alex Meruelo, Gutierrez, Jorge Mas, haven't, Pedro Antonio Guerrero, Vianni Lubus, Mike Valdes, Fauli, José Feliciano Organizations: Arizona Coyotes, ImpactX Sports, Guerrero Media, Hockey League's Arizona Coyotes, Arizona team's, Coyotes, Clearlake Capital Group, NHL, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, MLS, Inter Miami CF, Sports, CNBC, Chemistry Cultura, Clearlake Capital, Premier League's Chelsea Football Club Locations: Utah, Arizona, Guadalajara, Mexico, Cuban, American, U.S, Canada, Miami

☆ Lionel Messi breaks more Major League Soccer records in astonishing performance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Luis Suárez scored a hat trick for Inter Miami on Saturday, but it is not that impressive feat which is the focus of attention. Instead, it is once again Lionel Messi dominating headlines courtesy of a performance which almost defied belief. In a 6-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls, Messi broke two MLS records. Last week, in Miami’s victory over New England Revolution, Messi had set two other MLS records. Messi and Suárez formed a formidable partnership while at Barcelona and the pair have seamlessly transferred that understanding onto the pitch when playing for Miami.

Persons: CNN — Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi, Messi, ”, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Suárez, Dante Vanzeir, Matías Rojas, Rojas, Emil Forsberg Organizations: CNN, Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls, MLS, Argentine, Chase, New England Revolution, Miami, Messi, Eastern Conference, CF Montreal Locations: Barcelona, New York

☆ Lionel Messi scores twice and breaks two Major League Soccer records in emphatic Inter Miami win
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi’s start to the new Major League Soccer season has been impressive, even by the Argentine great’s lofty standards. Inter Miami sits atop the MLS Eastern Conference after a brilliant start which has included six victories in 11 games. In front of 65,612 fans – a new attendance record for a Revolution home game – Messi set two MLS records. “People come to every stadium to see Leo, that’s true, but they also want their team to win,” Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said in Spanish postgame, per the MLS. He has also contributed significantly to the transformation of Miami’s fortunes, helping the team win its first trophy last August, as well as taking it to the top of the Eastern Conference standings this campaign.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Messi, –, – Messi, Maddie Meyer, Tomás, Benjamin Cremaschi, Luis Suárez, Leo, that’s, Gerardo Martino, “ We’re, ” Messi, Ballon d’Or Organizations: CNN, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, New England, Gillette, MLS Eastern Conference, MLS, Messi, New, “, Miami, Argentina, Chase Field, Nashville SC, Eastern Conference Locations: Argentine, Miami, Spanish

☆ FIFA Said to Be Close to TV Deal With Apple for New Tournament
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, is close to an agreement with Apple that would give the tech company worldwide television rights for a major new tournament, a monthlong, World Cup-style competition for top teams that will be played for the first time in the United States next summer. The value of the deal might be as little as a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA had first estimated, the people said. It is unclear if the deal with Apple will include any free-to-air rights, meaning the entire event could be available only to subscribers of Apple TV+, a factor over which senior executives at FIFA have raised concerns. Should the deal go through, it would be the first time that FIFA, which will stage the first expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in the United States in 2026, has agreed to a single worldwide contract. It would also represent the latest foray into soccer for Apple, which in 2022 signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement for the global streaming rights to Major League Soccer.

Persons: Gianni Infantino Organizations: FIFA, Apple, FIFA’s, Major League Soccer Locations: United States, China

☆ Chicago Fire midfielder Kellyn Acosta scores wild stoppage-time goal from inside own half to complete improbable comeback win
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The drama was far from over, however, as Chicago, not content with tying things up, went in search of a winner deep into stoppage time. With under a minute to go, it appeared that the home team’s efforts would be in vain as Kellyn Acosta picked up the ball inside his own half. Acosta wheels away celebrating after seeing his long-range strike drop into the back of the net. “For me it was just about getting the ball in the mixed zone basically and create some things,” he explained. The result saw Chicago enter the win column for the first time this season, while Montréal picked up its first defeat of the current campaign.

Persons: Dominic Iankov, Raheem Edwards, Brian Gutiérrez, Hugo Cuypers, Kellyn Acosta, Jonathan Sirois, Acosta, Jamie Sabau, ” Acosta, ”, “, I’m, Patrick’s, ’, Montréal Organizations: CNN, Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, CF Montréal, Chicago, Fire, USA, Sports, Reuters, ., Colorado Rapids Locations: Chicago, American, Windy, . Chicago

☆ Stella Artois taps David Beckham to restore its shine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Stella Artois, the nearly century-old brew, isn’t immune to the difficulties facing beer sales, so it’s drafting one of the world’s most recognizable personalities to help the lager return to its former glory: David Beckham. On Tuesday, the Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned brand introduced the former soccer superstar as the new face of its beer, naming Beckham as its “official ambassador” for Stella Artois. David Beckham is the new face of Stella Artois. Beckham joins fellow soccer superstar Lionel Messi in the A-B ambassador portfolio. “Beckham certainly gives Stella Artois the kind of top-tier recognition that A-B has historically leaned on to gain attention,” Sightline’s Roth said.

Persons: New York CNN — Stella Artois, David Beckham, Beckham, ”, Stella Artois, weren’t, Bump, it’s, ” Bryan Roth, Richard Oppy, Oppy, Victoria Beckham, David, ” Oppy, Matt Damon, Zoe Saldana, Lionel Messi, Bud Light, “ Beckham, ” Sightline’s Roth, “, ” Roth, Messi “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Anheuser, Busch InBev, Bump Williams Consulting, Feel Goods Company, CNN, InBev, Maserati, Wimbledon, Roland, Garros, Inter Miami CF, Major League Soccer, Bowl, North America, Bud Light Locations: New York, Europe, America

☆ Apple has nabbed a key ad exec from NBCUniversal, and it points to its growing TV ad ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple has been making a string of advertising hires, more signs of its ambitions to grow its TV ad business. Crawford helped lead Apple's Major League Soccer ad sales pitch with Todd Teresi, who leads Apple's ads division. Cady will also likely work closely with Lauren Fry, a TV and video ad sales veteran Apple hired in February 2023 as head of video ad sales. Jacqueline Bleazey, who joined video advertising sales in October, from senior director of sponsorships and ad sales at FanDuel and ad agency roles before that, according to her LinkedIn. For advertisers, Apple TV+ is a small but highly-rated player that would let them reach an affluent viewing audience that has been off-limits to them.

Persons: Joseph Cady, Cady, Krishan Bhatia, Winston Crawford, Crawford, Todd Teresi, Lauren Fry, Jason Brum, Chandler Taylor, Jacqueline Bleazey, Ted Lasso, It's, Apple Organizations: Apple, Amazon, Google, Business, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLB, DirecTV, NBCUniversal, Cannes, Netflix Locations: Peacock

☆ LAFC head coach condemns MLS game played in heavy snow as an ‘absolute disgrace’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Issy Ronald | Wayne Sterling | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) head coach Steve Cherundolo said it was an “absolute disgrace” that his team’s match against Real Salt Lake (RSL) went ahead despite a blizzard engulfing the America First Field in Sandy, Utah on Saturday. After the Major League Soccer (MLS) match had been delayed for more than three hours due to the inclement conditions, LAFC sunk to a 3-0 defeat while the snow fell around the players. “It was not difficult conditions [but] impossible conditions, an absolute joke that we had to play today,” Cherundolo told reporters. LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo watches on from the touchline. “I didn’t even watch the game, the last 20 minutes you couldn’t see anything.”French World Cup winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was playing in his second game for LAFC.

Persons: Steve Cherundolo, ”, ” Cherundolo, Rob Gray, LAFC, Andrés Gómez, Hugo Lloris, Diego Luna, Gómez, Chico Arango, Cherundolo, Chris Gardner, Pablo Mastroeni, ’ Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Football Club, Real, Real Salt Lake, America, Major League Soccer, USA, Sports, RSL, LAFC, Getty, MLS Locations: Real Salt, Sandy , Utah

☆ Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both score twice as Inter Miami routs Orlando City
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both scored twice as Inter Miami cruised past Orlando City 5-0 in the Florida derby on Saturday. This was the biggest margin of victory in Miami’s short history, underlining the team’s credentials as a strong contender to win this season’s MLS Cup. Suárez scores his second goal inside 11 minutes against Orlando City. “We are aware of the team that we have and we are working towards fighting for the MLS Cup,” Messi said after the match. Orlando, which drew its opening MLS game against Montréal, plays Mexican side Tigres in the Champions Cup on Tuesday.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Messi, Suárez, we’ve, I’ve, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Julian Gressel, Orlando, Robert Taylor, Megan Briggs, Jordi Alba’s, ” Messi Organizations: CNN, Inter Miami, Orlando City, Miami, Orlando, MLS, Chase, Major League Soccer –, Getty Images Miami, Real, LA Galaxy, Eastern Conference, Nashville, Concacaf, Montréal, Tigres Locations: Florida, Barcelona, Argentine, Real Salt, Mexican

☆ AiScout: Top soccer clubs are using a mobile app to find future stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —A London-based technology company is looking to “democratize” talent-identification and scouting in soccer using a mobile app. Free to download and available globally, the aiScout app allows aspiring soccer stars to enter virtual trials for professional clubs by uploading self-recorded footage of themselves completing a series of drills. Ben Greenwood had never had a trial with a professional club until he downloaded the app in 2019. Felton-Thomas said the “lion’s share” of its income comes from charging clubs a license fee to run the platform. Should soccer talent scouts be concerned about being edged out by the arrival of AI in their industry?

Persons: ’, ”, Richard Felton, Thomas, Ben Greenwood, Felton, ” Felton, player’s, he’s, We’ve, you’re Organizations: London CNN, English Premier League, Chelsea, Burnley, EPL, Bournemouth, Major League Soccer, US, View Research, CNN Locations: London, Felton

☆ Lionel Messi’s last-gasp goal earns Inter Miami a draw against LA Galaxy in front of star-studded crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The stars were out in force to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against LA Galaxy in Sunday’s 1-1 draw – and the Argentine, unsurprisingly, didn’t disappoint. LA Galaxy, once a home for some of Major League Soccer’s superstar signings following David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, took the lead in the 75th minute through Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić. Despite its new star-studded lineup, which now also features Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami was thoroughly outplayed for much of the match and looked to be heading for defeat until Messi’s intervention in the 92nd minute. Former Galaxy star Beckham, who has a statue outside of the the club’s stadium and is now a part-owner of Inter Miami, didn’t celebrate the equalizing goal against his former team. Actors Edward Norton and Liv Tyler watched alongside David Beckham and son Brooklyn Beckham.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Novak Djokovic, Halle Berry, Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Anderson Paak, Tobin Heath, Diana Taurasi, David Beckham’s, Dejan Joveljić, Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Kevork Djansezian, Messi, Alba, John McCarthy, Marco Delgado, Busquets, Beckham, “, Riqui Puig, Gerardo Martino, ” Martino, Joseph Paintsil, David Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Leo, ”, Cristiano Ronaldo Organizations: CNN, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, Argentine, Christen Press, Major League, Serbian, Inter Miami, Barcelona, Galaxy, Miami, didn’t, North, Messi Locations: Miami, Argentina, North America

☆ MLS Season Pass: The world is obsessed with soccer. Can Apple make Americans love it too?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A centerpiece of that plan is “MLS Season Pass,” a sleekly designed streaming package that ditches the fragmentation other sports suffer from and lets fans stream globally every game — without blackouts — in the Apple TV app. The package costs $14.99 per month or $99 for the season and slightly less ($12.99 per month or $79 for the year) for existing Apple TV+ subscribers. “Once people tuned into the product, they were watching longer than our linear versions in past years,” Camilo Durana, executive vice president of MLS’ Apple partnership, properties and events, told CNN. On Wednesday, Apple released a new Sports app that shows live MLS scores and pushes people to watch them on “MLS Season Pass” on the Apple TV app. That matches a third-party report from analytics firm Antenna showing that “MLS Season Pass” was getting 6,000 new signups a day before Messi arrived but soared to 110,000 signups a day after he signed.

Persons: ” Sacha Kljestan, ” Kljestan, Kevin Egan, Andrew Wiebe, Kaylyn Kyle, Bradley Wright, Phillips, “, ” Camilo Durana, Maddie Meyer, Apple, Lionel Messi, Dre, Durana, Messi, It’s, Santosh Rao, ” Rao Organizations: New, New York CNN — Football, Major League Soccer, Apple, MLS, CNN, NFL, NBC, CBS, FOX, US, TSN, Columbus Crew, Inter Miami, Apple Music, Sports Business, Mobile, Manhattan Venture Partners, doesn’t Locations: New York, Spanish, Canada, Apple’s

☆ Spring Training at Coachella: Can the M.L.S. Cash In on Its Preseason?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ken Belson | Alex Welsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Dan Perkin and Scott Bissmeyer, work buddies on vacation, sat on metal bleachers watching the Portland Timbers play the San Jose Earthquakes in the first of four preseason Major League Soccer games that day. Self-described “M.L.S. road trippers,” they have visited numerous M.L.S. stadiums, and have watched teams in Tucson, Ariz., where as many as 11 clubs came together for preseason training in the past. teams — along with two from the United Soccer League and four from the National Women’s Soccer League — gathered at a 1,000-acre property outside Palm Springs, Calif., for preseason training, Mr. Perkin and Mr. Bissmeyer decided to check it out.

Persons: Dan Perkin, Scott Bissmeyer, Perkin, Bissmeyer Organizations: Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, National Women’s Soccer League — Locations: ”, Tucson, Ariz, Palm Springs, Calif

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