Soccer update

[ulysses5019]

The USA women beat Italy in the 2nd leg of their World Cup playoff, 1-0, on Saturday in Bridgeview, IL. The two game series ends USA 2, Italy 0. That puts the US into next year's Women's World Cup.

The finals tournament runs June 26 to July 17, 2011 in Germany.

The 16 qualified teams:

Germany Host
Australia AFC
North Korea AFC
Japan AFC
France UEFA
Norway UEFA
England UEFA
Sweden UEFA
New Zealand OFC
Canada CONCACAF
Mexico CONCACAF
Nigeria CAF
Equatorial Guinea CAF
Brazil CONMEBOL
Colombia CONMEBOL
United States CONCACAF/UEFA playoff

And the winning goal was by Amy Rodriguez who helped USC to its first NCAA women's soccer championship in 2007.

[SportsFan68]

The USA women beat Italy in the 2nd leg of their World Cup playoff, 1-0, on Saturday in Bridgeview, IL. The two game series ends USA 2, Italy 0. That puts the US into next year's Women's World Cup.

The finals tournament runs June 26 to July 17, 2011 in Germany.

The 16 qualified teams:

Germany Host
Australia AFC
North Korea AFC
Japan AFC
France UEFA
Norway UEFA
England UEFA
Sweden UEFA
New Zealand OFC
Canada CONCACAF
Mexico CONCACAF
Nigeria CAF
Equatorial Guinea CAF
Brazil CONMEBOL
Colombia CONMEBOL
United States CONCACAF/UEFA playoff

And the winning goal was by Amy Rodriguez who helped USC to its first NCAA women's soccer championship in 2007.

Found it!

[earendel]

And in the NCAA Division I soccer tournament, the Louisville Cardinals, the #1 seed (!) survived a tough match against Ohio State, a team they tied during the regular season, to win 2-1. They play at home next weekend against UCLA.

[andrewjackson]

FIFA had the draw for next year's Women's World Cup today. The USA was seeded along with Germany, Japan, and Brazil. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The USA would face a team from Group D if they advance. Avoiding Brazil would be a good thing but Australia or Norway could also be tough. Canada was drawn into the toughest group with the host Germany, France, and Nigeria. Mexico has a good shot to advance in Group B.

Group A
GER
CAN
NGA
FRA

Group B
JPN
NZL
MEX
ENG

Group C
USA
PRK
COL
SWE

Group D
BRA
AUS
NOR
EQG

[Bob78164]

Why is FIFA awarding both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups this week? --Bob

[SpacemanSpiff]

Why is FIFA awarding both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups this week? --Bob

They had to get all the awarding done before the bribe money dries up.

[andrewjackson]

Why is FIFA awarding both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups this week? --Bob

It's a good question and I've never heard a good answer. FIFA has admitted it was a mistake to do it this way.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Why is FIFA awarding both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups this week? --Bob

It's a good question and I've never heard a good answer. FIFA has admitted it was a mistake to do it this way.

In all seriousness, it probably was because the Eurocentric FIFA pretty much told everyone last year that the 2018 WC was going to be in Europe (part of an overall concept that every other WC should be there since they have half the teams anyway), and that any other regions shouldn't bother submitting a bid; the 2022 simultaneous announcement was designed for the other confederations, who already had worked up proposals for the 2018 tourney.

(Which might relate to my earlier cynical comment. Let's just say that if Qatar gets it, then you know the fix is in.)

[andrewjackson]

Why is FIFA awarding both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups this week? --Bob

It's a good question and I've never heard a good answer. FIFA has admitted it was a mistake to do it this way.

In all seriousness, it probably was because the Eurocentric FIFA pretty much told everyone last year that the 2018 WC was going to be in Europe (part of an overall concept that every other WC should be there since they have half the teams anyway), and that any other regions shouldn't bother submitting a bid; the 2022 simultaneous announcement was designed for the other confederations, who already had worked up proposals for the 2018 tourney.

(Which might relate to my earlier cynical comment. Let's just say that if Qatar gets it, then you know the fix is in.)

I agree that this is probably the actual rationale. By "good answer" I meant a FIFA statement that made some sort of sense. That's right. I never stop reaching for the stars.

My (hopeful) prediction: England 2018 and USA 2022.

[SpacemanSpiff]

(...Let's just say that if Qatar gets it, then you know the fix is in.)

2018 - Russia
2022 - Qatar

[Appa23]

I really can not understand FIFA not wanting to have the World Cup played before guaranteed sold-out stadiums of 90,000+ fans.

For all of the supposed faults of the USA, I seems that "everyone" agrees that we know how to put on and run a world competition (Olympics or World Cup).

[SportsFan68]

(...Let's just say that if Qatar gets it, then you know the fix is in.)

2018 - Russia
2022 - Qatar

2026 - USA. I hope.

[SpacemanSpiff]

(...Let's just say that if Qatar gets it, then you know the fix is in.)

2018 - Russia
2022 - Qatar

2026 - USA. I hope.

Sorry, 2026 will be back in Europe. 2030 at the earliest for the US.

[DadofTwins]

If the current rotation system stays in place, Europe won't be eligible again until 2030. 2026 will be in either CONCACAF, South America, Africa, or one of the Oceania countries.

[SpacemanSpiff]

If the current rotation system stays in place, Europe won't be eligible again until 2030. 2026 will be in either CONCACAF, South America, Africa, or one of the Oceania countries.

I thought FIFA had said the rotation was to be Europe, somewhere else, Europe, somewhere else, Europe, somewhere else, rather than an equitable rotation among the confederations.

[andrewjackson]

If the current rotation system stays in place, Europe won't be eligible again until 2030. 2026 will be in either CONCACAF, South America, Africa, or one of the Oceania countries.

The continental rotation system was ended after the awarding of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The only restriction put on the bidding for 2018 and 2022 was that African and South American nations could not bid for 2018. Things could change by 2026 and 2030 but I think it is unlikely that the full rotation system will come back.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018 ... index.html

Rotation ends in 2018
(FIFA.com) Monday 29 October 2007
............
As from 2018, the hosting of the FIFA World Cup™ will cease to be rotated. Under the chairmanship of President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee today - 29 October 2007 - unanimously passed a decision to abandon the principle (originally introduced in the year 2000) of rotating the men's World Cup from continent to continent. The confederations whose associations have hosted the two preceding World Cups will not be eligible to bid, however. Consequently, all the associations from Asia, North and Central America and the Caribbean, Oceania and Europe may bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.

[andrewjackson]

If the current rotation system stays in place, Europe won't be eligible again until 2030. 2026 will be in either CONCACAF, South America, Africa, or one of the Oceania countries.

I thought FIFA had said the rotation was to be Europe, somewhere else, Europe, somewhere else, Europe, somewhere else, rather than an equitable rotation among the confederations.

FIFA never said that although it was understood that Europe would get 2018 after the two prior where held in Africa and South America.

The rotation from 2002 to 2014 was:

2002 - Asia
2006 - Europe
2010 - Africa
2014 - South America

North America and Oceania did not get to host in that cycle. Oceania is now down to New Zealand and the even smaller Pacific islands since Australia switched to the Asian Confederation. I wouldn't hold my breath on Oceania hosting any time soon.

[andrewjackson]

The Houston Dynamo is getting a new shirt and a new shirt sponsor:



It will be made official tomorrow. The team is getting $12.7 million for 5 years from Greenstar which is a recycling company from Ireland with its U.S. headquarters in Houston. There are rumors that our 2nd shirt will be Space City Blue which would be a change from our normal white away shirt. I'll report back from the official unveiling tomorrow.

[Snaxx]

Welcome to the Eastern Conference, Houston Dynamo!

Well at least for a year until Montreal joins then it might be back to the mighty West.

Houston still plays Dallas 2x this year.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_i ... rence.html

[andrewjackson]

Welcome to the Eastern Conference, Houston Dynamo!

Well at least for a year until Montreal joins then it might be back to the mighty West.

Houston still plays Dallas 2x this year.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_i ... rence.html

I disagree with Ives statement that changes hadto be made. The system would have worked just as well with 10 teams in the West and 8 in the East as long as the top 10 overall make the playoffs.

Houston might move back to the West next year but not necessarily since Montreal joining will make it 10 teams in once conference and 9 in other. No way to make that even either way. Scheduling next year will be interesting since it seems unlikely that they will keep the full round-robin since that would mean a 36 game regular season. Of course, I also predicted that MLS would not go to a 34 game regular season and that's what we have in 2011.

[andrewjackson]

It's finally going to happen.

My loft is right next to the "R" in "YOUR".

[andrewjackson]

Another rendering of the new stadium.

Let's see if this works better.

[Snaxx]

Another rendering of the new stadium.

result

[andrewjackson]

and an interior view.

Capacity is 22,000. It can eventually be expanded to 30,000.

The roofs on the sides extend out 75 feet over the upper seating deck. There is also a roof over the south end which is where the Texian Army will be standing. It will be nice to have some shade.

The luxury suites are just 11 rows from the field along both sidelines. Kind of interesting to see them down so low.

[andrewjackson]

The Major League Soccer season is about to start. This will be the 16th season for the league. This year's conference alignment:

EAST
Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
DC United
Houston Dynamo
New England Revolution
New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union
Sporting Kansas City (new name, they used to be the Wizards)
Toronto FC

WEST
Chivas USA
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers (new team)
Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Vancouver Whitecaps (new team)

Every team plays every other league team home-and-away for a 34 game regular season. The top 3 from each conference automatically make the playoffs with the next 4 best wildcards also getting a chance to play-in to the post-season tournament.

Here is the opening week schedule, times are Eastern with the home team listed first and the national TV broadcasts noted. Also listed is the game on Tuesday night between Real Salt Lake and Saprissa of Costa Rica. That is the first leg of a home-and-away semifinal series in the CONCACAF Champions League. This tournament is a competition between the top teams in the leagues of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It started last fall and will conclude at the end of April. The winner of this series moves on to face the winner of the Cruz Azul-Monterrey series for the championship. Both of those are Mexican league teams.

Tuesday, March 15
Seattle v. LA Galaxy 9:30 pm ESPN/Deportes
CCL: Real Salt Lake v. Saprissa 10:00 pm FSC

Saturday, March 19
Vancouver v. Toronto 6:30 pm
New York v. Seattle 7:30 pm
D.C. United v. Columbus 7:30pm
Houston v. Philadelphia 8:30 pm
FC Dallas v. Chicago 8:30 pm
Colorado v. Portland 9:00 pm FSC
Chivas USA v. Kansas City 10:30pm
San Jose v. Real Salt Lake 10:30pm

Sunday, March 20
LA Galaxy v. New England 8:00pm Galavision