Category: MLS Soccer

Lionel Messi continues to torch Major League Soccer defenses as he chases Inter Miami's first MLS Cup.

Two of Major League Soccer's best teams meet in Ohio as Lionel Messi's Inter Miami face a win-or-go-home affair with FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Sunday.

• Club hope to have Frenchman in charge next weekend

• Any compensation not regarded as problematic

Celtic are to accelerate talks with Wilfried Nancy over the weekend as the Columbus Crew manager edges closer to replacing Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow. Celtic are understood to have informed the Major League Soccer side on Friday of their plans, with any compensation required to coax the Frenchman not regarded as problematic. Nancy is believed to be keen on the switch.

Celtic hope to have Nancy in place by the time they visit St Mirren next weekend, which would bring an end to Martin O’Neill’s caretaker spell. O’Neill was due to meet Celtic’s main shareholder, Dermot Desmond, in London on Friday. The second tenure of Rodgers in Glasgow ended in acrimony in late October, with Desmond taking public aim at the former Liverpool manager.

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For a league with big ambitions but a history of puzzling decisions, this schedule change needed to happen.

Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react to Weston McKennie being left off the November USMNT roster. Should Mauricio Pochettino have selected the midfielder just months ahead of the World Cup? Next, they react to the shocking news that MLS will switch to a fall–spring schedule starting in 2027. Is this the right move for the league, and how will it adapt to the European soccer calendar? Later, the boys preview both NWSL semifinal matchups and share their predictions — including who they guarantee will win it all.

• Streaming service charged an additional fee

• League is in Year 3 of 10-year $2.5bn media rights deal

Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch all Major League Soccer matches without an additional subscription beginning next year.

During the first three years of MLS’ 10-year, $2.5bn agreement with Apple, a stand-alone Season Pass subscription was needed to access all matches. During this season, more than 200 matches were simulcast on both MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, including the league’s “Sunday Night Soccer” package. Dropping the separate subscription was announced Thursday at an owners’ meeting.

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Major League Soccer is flipping its calendar to align with other pro leagues around the world starting in 2027. MLS also approved other format changes.

When Apple and MLS announced their 10-year streaming tie-up in 2022, there were two key financial components: a $250 million annual guarantee from Apple, plus the opportunity for MLS to get a share of additional revenue if the new Season Pass subscription product achieved a certain level of success. But starting next season, MLS Season …

The league will also move to a single-table system that will include five divisions.

Kyle Albrecht succeeds Li Li Leung as USA Gymnastics leader.

Galaxy coach Greg Vanney talks about what went wrong and what went right for the Galaxy after a season of struggle following their MLS Cup title.

• Amahl Pellegrino and Anders Dreyer score braces

• San Diego to face Minnesota United in next round

Amahl Pellegrino and Anders Dreyer each scored twice and San Diego FC eased into their first-ever Western Conference semi-final appearance with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Portland Timbers to clinch their first-round series on Sunday night.

Dreyer also picked up an assist on Pellegrino’s second goal while helping top-seeded San Diego secure a home semi-final against fourth-seeded Minnesota after the November international window.

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• Lionel Messi scores two and assists two in 4-0 win

• Cincinnati eliminates Columbus on late Brenner goal

Dayne St Clair scored and Andrew Thomas hit the crossbar in a penalty-kick shootout that was decided by the goalkeepers in the 11th round, and Minnesota United staged a shorthanded rally to beat the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in the rubber match of the best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup after a 3-3 tie in regulation

Thomas, who replaced starter Stefan Frei in the 89th minute with a shootout looming, appeared to injure a finger on a miss by Joaquín Pereyra to begin the shootout. He finished with a heavily taped hand.

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For the first time in franchise history, Inter Miami is heading to the conference semifinal.

The Loons came out on top, surviving a second half and PKs with 10 men in one of the wackiest MLS playoff games ever.