A reshaped MLS calendar will squeeze early marquee matchups and a late finish around the longest World Cup shutdown in league history.
‘A modern-day Colosseum’: Birmingham City unveil 62,000-capacity stadium plans
Stadium planned to feature 12 chimney-like towers
Club chair Tom Wagner sees it as ‘beacon for excellence’
Birmingham City have unveiled designs of their striking new 62,000-capacity stadium, the Birmingham City Powerhouse, which the Championship club say will open for the 2030-31 season.
The stadium, which features 12 chimney-like towers inspired by the city’s industrial heritage, will dominate the Birmingham skyline and be visible up to 40 miles away. One tower will include a lift to Birmingham’s highest bar, offering city-wide views.
Continue reading...2025 MLS conference semifinals preview: Matchups, where to watch, more
The 2025 MLS conference finals will trim the playoff field from eight to four. Here's everything to know with Inter Miami, LAFC and more involved.
Inter Miami schedule, Lionel Messi stats after Herons win first MLS Cup Final
Lionel Messi continues to torch Major League Soccer defenses and now he's led Inter Miami to a first MLS Cup.
How to watch Inter Miami at FC Cincinnati: MLS Cup playoffs stream info, kickoff time, players to watch
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.
Norwich confirm appointment of Philippe Clement as head coach
Belgian back in work after sacking by Rangers in February
‘Excited’ about taking over at Championship strugglers
Norwich have confirmed the appointment of Philippe Clement as the club’s head coach. The Belgian – sacked by Rangers in February – replaces Liam Manning, who left Carrow Road before the international break with Norwich second bottom of the Championship.
Manning lasted only 17 games, having been appointed in the summer. Under him, Norwich have lost all of their home matches so far this season.
Continue reading...Celtic accelerate move to take Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew as new manager
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.
Continue reading...Pitch Points: Pep’s next thousand games; will Messi drag Miami to glory?
The world of soccer throws up no shortage of questions. Today, Graham Ruthven endeavors to answer three of them
Pep Guardiola has done a lot with his 1,000 matches as a manager. At Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, he has lifted 40 trophies (including three Community Shields, because why wouldn’t you count them?), yet not even this fact quantifies the way Guardiola has defined an entire era (or two) of the sport.
Continue reading...MLS 3.0? Why Major League Soccer’s new calendar is its smartest move in years
For a league with big ambitions but a history of puzzling decisions, this schedule change needed to happen.
No Pulisic OR McKennie — Time for USMNT to Panic? + MLS Approves Schedule Change to Fall! Genius or Chaos?
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.
MLS drops ‘Season Pass’ paywall, with all games available on Apple TV
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.
Continue reading...MLS makes dramatic calendar and format changes that align with other pro leagues
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.
Apple’s MLS Streaming Shift May Alter Revenue-Share Plans
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 …
MLS owners vote in favor of summer-to-spring league calendar beginning with 2027 season
The league will also move to a single-table system that will include five divisions.
Patrick Bamford joins Sheffield United despite leading abusive Chris Wilder chant
Forward led chant after Leeds won promotion in April
Wilder signs him to help struggling Championship club
Patrick Bamford has joined Sheffield United seven months after leading derogatory chants about their manager, Chris Wilder.
The 32-year-old striker, a free agent since leaving Leeds, has signed a contract with the Championship strugglers until January. His seven-year career at Elland Road was ended by mutual consent in August.
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