MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Kwadwo Opoku and Carlos Vela scored in the first half, and Los Angeles FC beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 Friday night in the home debuts of European superstars Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale.

Sacramento continues its dream run as the first lower-division soccer team to get to the final since 2008 - with a chance to become the first non-MLS champion since 1999.

Gareth Bale wants the world to know Los Angeles FC is not the 18th hole of his soccer career.

Wayne Rooney has agreed to coach D.C. United in Major League Soccer, a person with knowledge of the move said. Once visa paperwork is complete, Rooney is set to replace interim coach Chad Ashton, who replaced Hernan Losada earlier this season. D.C. United is tied with Chicago for the fewest points in the 28-team league with a record of 5-10-2.

Although Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale weren't quite ready to play in Los Angeles FC's rivalry derby, both stars got an up-close look at the passion and potential in their new club. José Cifuentes scored two goals and Cristian Arango got the eventual winner late in the second half, leading LAFC past the LA Galaxy 3-2 on Friday night in another exciting edition of the clubs' El Tráfico crosstown rivalry. LAFC improved its record atop the Major League Soccer standings to 12-4-3 as it waits for the imminent debuts of its two superstar European signings.

Vermillion died in 2020 of an accidental drug overdose.

Researchers have diagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a Major League Soccer player for the first time.

Los Angeles FC has reached a deal with Welsh forward Gareth Bale to move to Major League Soccer after his departure from Real Madrid, a person close to the deal told The Associated Press.

A strong balance sheet, like Apple's, allows for continued growth-oriented investments despite a turn in macroeconomic conditions.

The move is the latest push from Apple to anchor its streaming service with live sports.

Apple and Major League Soccer have announced a 10-year partnership on a streaming service that will allow fans to watch every game without local blackouts or restrictions.

Give it up, USFL. A revived United States Football League — borrowing the moniker and team nicknames from a league that went out of business 36 years ago — launched last month with all regular-season games being played in Birmingham, Alabama. USFL, The Sequel is following a familiar formula for spring football in recent years: a bunch of unknown players, sloppy play and games played in front of mostly empty seats.

The Seattle Sounders' title victory in the CONCACAF Champions League was a big deal for the club.

Most Tuesday and Friday evenings, and many Saturdays, over the last five months, Chris Canetti turns in his splendid suit and tie for a gray Ridge Point soccer shirt and purple Panthers cap.

The celebrity couple own a mansion in Kensington believed to be worth some £40m.

The NFL's valuable Sunday Ticket package is on the market, and industry observers say it could go for $3 billion.

The interest and fees will be paid in advance creating what's called Tier 1 capital, almost immediately allowing the Black banks to offer more loans.

Scoop: Charlotte FC has sold more tickets for its first home match than the MLS attendance record previously set by Atlanta United.

The Houston Dynamo FC and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless tie in a Major League Soccer opener.

Houston Dynamo FC announced on Monday the hiring of Paolo Nagamura as the team's new head coach.

Major League Soccer put its entire rights catalog up for auction as the U.S. soccer league seeks a new media deal.

The league will now require teams to have at least two diverse candidates make it to the last round of hiring.

The MLS has spent more than 25 years trying to change the sentiment toward soccer in the U.S. while competing with high-scoring sports such as the NFL and NBA.

It was a rough campaign for FC Dallas, Austin FC, and Houston Dynamo FC, but there's good reason to hope that next year will be better.

Major League Soccer's Decision Day solidified the playoffs and decided the Golden Boot race, and it also marked the end of a legendary career for the league's most prolific scorer. Chris Wondolowski announced his retirement Sunday, shortly after his San Jose Earthquakes wrapped up the regular season with a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas. Wondolowski finishes his 17-year MLS career with 171 regular-season goals, including one in his final match.

The Houston Dynamo have parted ways with coach Tab Ramos after the MLS team finished in last place in the Western Conference with just six wins.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he has received glowing reports about Xavi Hernandez's credentials as coach and admits he would like to have him as Barca coach during his presidency. However he refuses to confirm Xavi will succeed Ronald Koeman, who was sacked on Wednesday night, and maintains Barca have "other options".

The San Jose Police Department said "multiple fights and at least one shooting" were reported at PayPal Park on Thursday.

The San Jose Police Department said "multiple fights and at least one shooting" were reported at PayPal Park on Thursday.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Maxime Crepeau made four saves for Vancouver in the Whitecaps’ 0-0 tie with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.

If ever there was a great time for Major League Soccer to be going into negotiations for its next television contract, it definitely is now.

Major League Soccer and Liga MX both realize they’re more powerful as partners than rivals.

"We also want to make sure that while we are getting all these firsts in there, that we also are not the last."

Houston Dynamo FC have announced that Ted Segal is the new majority owner of the franchise.

Major League Soccer’s All-Stars will meet their top Mexican league counterparts in Los Angeles on Aug. 25 in a game that was originally scheduled to take place last year but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though the Lone Star State has always been obsessed with football, it’s another type of football that’s flourishing here.

Memo Rodríguez scored the opening goal of the Major League Soccer season and Maximiliano Urruti added a goal in the second half as the Houston Dynamo beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.

Check out this list of breweries, pubs and restaurants around Central Texas that are hosting watch parties for April 17's inaugural Austin FC game.

P&G will sponsor some top soccer events as part of the five-year deal. These events include the MLS All-Star Game and the Leagues Cup.

U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League are joining a trial program to address concussions.

United States' Sebastian Soto reacts at the end of a Concacaf Men's Olympic qualifying championship semi-final soccer match against Honduras in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Lalas maintains the burden to improve the Olympic effort lies with Kreis, senior national team coach Gregg Berhalter and U.S. men’s national team general manager Brian McBride. FIFA regulations say clubs don’t have to release players for Olympic qualifying or the Olympics. FIFA restricts Olympic qualifying to players 23 and under. AdNone of Honduras’ players on the roster for last week’s national team exhibition against Greece were Olympic age eligible.

U.S. professional football and basketball have a future, baseball needs help and global soccer, including Major League Soccer, is quickly rising among a new generation, according to a new survey. Morning Consult spoke to Generation Alpha parents (those born after 2013) and compared the results with to a Gen Z (ages 13 to 23) survey last year. As this first generation of U.S.-born soccer fanatics has kids, they may push them in that direction," Silverman said. The study found 53% of Gen Z identified as sports fans, down from the previous generation, Millennials, who polled at 69% for that topic. "I would say I wouldn't expect to see a drop off, which is good news because there was a drop-off between Millennials and Gen Z," Silverman said.

With the political firestorm around TikTok having dissipated a bit, the social media app continues its expansion into the U.S. sports landscape. TikTok, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, announced Tuesday it's now a jersey patch sponsor for both Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers franchise and sister team Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. "The concept of a joint patch partnership across both the men's and women's game and picking two storied franchises, that's a first for us, and we think it's a first for sports in general." MLS commenced its jersey patch program last January, allowing clubs to place 2.5-inch-by-2.5-inch company logos on the right sleeve of game jerseys. Clubs can only add the sleeve patch if they've already secured a primary sponsor, which has the main logo on the front of a jersey.

Swansea City's Jordan Morris is stretchered off the field after getting hurt during a Sky Bet Championship soccer match against Huddersfield, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield, England. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)SWANSEA – American forward Jordan Morris tore his left ACL while on loan for Swansea in the English League Championship, three years after rupturing his right ACL during a match for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders. Morris tore his left ACL on Saturday during Swansea’s 4-1 loss at Huddersfield. Seattle announced Morris will return to the United States to prepare for surgery, which will be done by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum in Santa Monica, California. Morris missed a year of action after tearing his right ACL during Seattle's CONCACAF Champions League match at El Salvador's Santa Tecla on Feb. 22, 2018.

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2020, file photo, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks during the leagues 25th Season kickoff event in New York. Major League Soccer has extended its deadline for negotiating adjustments to the existing collective bargaining agreement until Feb. 4 and warned it is prepared to lock out players if a deal isn't reached by then. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)Major League Soccer and its players struck and agreement Friday night on a reworked collective bargaining agreement that will run through the 2027 season. The agreement reached Friday night gives the players their full salaries this season and extends the current CBA for two seasons. Major League Soccer had warned it's teams to prepare for a lockout if a deal wasn't struck.

The league set the new deadline of 11:59 p.m. EST, Feb. 4 after the Major League Soccer Players Association submitted a proposal just hours ahead of the original deadline. The union proposed extending the current collective bargaining agreement with the league through the 2026 season. The league's proposal includes playing players their full salaries in 2021 in exchange for an extension through the 2027 season. The league's new season is set to open April 3 with preseason training camps allowed to begin on Feb. 22. The MLSPA noted the players have already faced health risks as have their families and team staffs because of the coronavirus pandemic.

David Beckham bristled when asked whether Phil Nevilles was hired as Inter Miami coach because theyre buddies. Its nothing to do with him being my friend, Beckham said Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, FIler)David Beckham bristled when asked whether Phil Neville’s was hired as Inter Miami coach because they’re buddies. He recalled spending eight weeks observing Bruce Arena coach Beckham and the Galaxy. Phil Neville was too nervous to answer questions in Spanish on Friday but plans to starting after this season’s opener.

The Football Association has released Neville from his contract immediately after being informed he was in talks to become coach of Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer franchise partly owned by David Beckham. They’re teaming up again with hopes of winning more trophies with Inter Miami. Neville was hired Monday as Inter Miami’s coach, reuniting with Beckham — a co-owner of the MLS club. He will formally start at Inter Miami once he gets a work visa. Alonso got Inter Miami to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2020, marking the seventh time an MLS newcomer reached the postseason.

Jones, one of the league's original players who spent his entire 11-year career with the Galaxy, was named one of the MLS 25 Greatest on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. When MLS contracted by two teams in 2002, Jones and his fellow players wondered if the fledgling domestic league was in trouble. MLS is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, commemorating it Wednesday with the release of the MLS 25 Greatest. “In the early days, (teams had) like 11 quality players and then all of a sudden there was a significant drop off. I think now you see that there’s 11 quality players and then you go beyond and there’s other quality players as well," he said.

Garber gave his annual State of the League address Tuesday in advance of the MLS Cup final Saturday between the Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew in Ohio. Garber first projected in June that league losses would be $1 billion, and with the season nearing a close he said lost revenues were indeed approaching that number. We had the expense of managing the MLS is Back tournament,” Garber said. The league and the MLS Players' Association agreed to the new CBA in February, but it was never ratified and the deal was reworked to address coronavirus concerns before the MLS is Back tournament. "As you know, the Royals (of the National Women's Soccer League) announced that they will move to Kansas City.

HOUSTON BBVA Stadium announced a limited number of fans will soon be able to attend Houston Dynamo, Dash home games, according to a press release. This reopening plan, which has been approved by the city of Houston, Major League Soccer and the National Womens Soccer League, marks the first time a major league sports stadium has reopened to some fans. The Dash is scheduled to play on Sept. 26 at BBVA Stadium against the Orlando Pride. BBVA Stadium is implementing policy changes and safety enhancements to protect fans, players and employees' health. The team also outlined that seating will be limited to the upper seating bowl at BBVA Stadium.

The FC Dallas soccer team will play in front of fans Wednesday as other major league sports teams continue playing in front of empty seats. But on Wednesday, fans will return to live major league sports in Texas: FC Dallas, the Major League Soccer team, will host Nashville SC in a match in front of potentially thousands of spectators. The other big professional team sports leagues currently in action the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League have been playing in front of empty seats. FC Dallas did not participate, however, because about 12 players and one coach tested positive for coronavirus before their first match. The Dallas Beer Guardians, an FC Dallas supporters group, said it won't be hosting tailgates or organizing watch parties upon the team's return.

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2020, file photo, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks during the Major League Soccer 25th Season kickoff event in New York. Major League Soccer said Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, it will resume its season once the MLS is Back tournament in Florida wraps up. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)In light of Major League Baseball's trouble with its season, Major League Soccer's plan to resume play in its local markets is under scrutiny. The USL Championship, the tier below MLS in American soccer, has been playing in local markets since July 11 but there have been more than a dozen games postponed because of positive tests. 'Garber said that if circumstances merit it, he won't hesitate to pull the plug on the rest of the season.

Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela will not accompany Los Angeles FC to the league's return tournament in Orlando this month. Vela announced his decision Monday, July 6, 2020, citing his concern for the health of his family, including his pregnant wife. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)Major League Soccer is about to resume its season in a state that has seen a huge spike in coronavirus infections, with one team absent because of a COVID-19 outbreak, and with plenty of worry about what will happen next. FC Dallas withdrew from the tournament on Monday after 10 players and a coach tested positive for the virus. We are proud of Major League Soccer, and we want to show our game to the world, Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said.

Major League Soccer will open its World Cup-style return tournament in Florida on July 8 with a double header. The league released the schedule Wednesday, the first day teams could arrive at the complex near Orlando for the tournament. MLS will be the second pro team league in the United States to return to the field. The National Womens Soccer League will play a tournament in Utah starting Saturday. The teams and select staff members will be sequestered during the tournament at two Disney resorts for the duration of the tournament.

Major League Soccer announced Wednesday that its season will resume starting July 8 with a tournament in Florida. Teams had played just two games to start the season when the league suspended play on March 12 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Each team will have three group matches, played over 16 consecutive days with multiple games a day. The group matches will count toward the regular season. Following the tournament, teams will resume the season in their home markets.

When Major League Soccer and its players came to agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement back in February, there was a genuine feeling of accomplishment on both sides. Those pre-pandemic positive vibes are now gone, at least in how the players feel toward the league and ownership. The Major League Soccer Players Association ratified a revised CBA this week that will allow the league to resume this summer with a tournament in Florida but they did so with bitter feelings about the strategies used by MLS. FC Cincinnati player rep Nick Hagglund told reporters the lockout threat didnt create panic but was taken seriously by the vast majority of players. MLS players had a median salary of $163,750 in 2019, according to the union salary survey.

Games would be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando. Space wont be an issue, even if Major League Soccer which is also in talks to resume its season at Disney is there at the same time as the NBA. The entire Disney complex is roughly 40 square miles, with nearly 24,000 hotel rooms owned or operated by Disney within the campus. The list of NBA players who were known to test positive eventually grew to 10 not all were identified and Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the actual total was even higher. If the league plans to resume play in late July, then camps conceivably could open around the start of that month.

(Reuters) - Concerns over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States forced cancellations, closings and postponements throughout sports, entertainment and education on Thursday. REUTERS/Mike SegarHere is some of the most impactful:SPORTSMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - The league suspended spring training games and will delay the start of the 2020 season by at least two weeks. PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY - The National Hockey League suspended its season with 189 games remaining and all team meetings and practices have been put on pause. STATE OF WASHINGTON - Schools will be closed in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties until April 24. U.S. CAPITOL - The Capitol Visitor Center suspended tours.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced Thursday that the rest of spring training has been canceled and Opening Day has been delayed due to coronavirus. The spring training suspension started at 4 p.m. Thursday. Spring training is a major revenue generator. Arizona State University's Seidman Research Institute and the Florida Sports Foundation reported in 2018 that the combined economic impact of spring training is $1.33 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. Shortly after MLB's announcement, the NCAA announced it was canceling the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments and the rest of the remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber made it clear: The league's 25th season is not an anniversary. Two teams are debuting this season: Inter Miami CF, which is owned by international soccer legend David Beckham, and Nashville Soccer Club. The MLS' package is "upside down compared to all the other leagues," Garber said. According to Forbes, the value for MLS teams has doubled over the last five years, with clubs going for more than $300 million. "We're very much behind in our media rights deal," said Berg, who also serves as a senior partner at Apollo Global Management.

Alexandru Mitrita #28 of New York City tries to work his way around Toronto FC defenders during 2019 MLS Cup Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Semifinal match between New York City FC and Toronto FC at Citi Field on October 23, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. New York City FC is working to win approval from New York City for a new soccer stadium, a team spokesperson told CNBC. "We have been honored to call the Bronx our home for the last five years playing at Yankee Stadium, and we will keep our neighbors and our dedicated fans informed," the spokesperson said. "It's long past time to make the underutilized parking lots around Yankee Stadium into something more," the EDC spokesperson said. The paper was the first to report the Major League Soccer team was nearing a deal to construct as 25,000-seat stadium.

"We've got great confidence that it'll be a great city," Garber said. Tepper's group, which includes Panthers team president Tom Glick, did not receive the final approval they need to ensure "MLS-ready" improvements to the stadium, Garber said. MLS doesn't expect to draw as many fans consistently to the stadium and doesn't want extra seats showing during broadcasts. Though the MLS approved final negotiations with Tepper's group, Garber said the league would keep an open dialogue with Las Vegas and Phoenix officials, who were also in the running to receive a franchise. Garber said the goal is to "finalize something by the end of the year," with Tepper's group, but cautioned it could be delayed well into 2020.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 01: Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper looks on before their game against the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Carolina Panthers owner and hedge-fund manager David Tepper is pushing for a Major League Soccer expansion team in Charlotte and is prepared to pay up to seal the deal, according to a report from Charlotte Business Journal. CBJ reported that the MLS could make a decision on the league's next expansion team by the end of 2019. Charlotte already has quite the roster of professional sports teams, making it an attractive choice for an MLS expansion club. Sacramento became the most recent city awarded an MLS expansion club in October.

Sources say the Dynamo have hired Tab Ramos - @USMNT U20 head coach. Could have been the USMNT head coach. What a GREAT HIRE #ForeverOrange #ABC13 David Nuo (@DavidNunoABC13) October 24, 2019EMBED >More News Videos The Houston Rockets star is adding soccer club investor to his resume, says ABC13's David Nuno. He was also an assistant coach on the U.S. men's national team when it headed to the 2014 World Cup. The Americans qualified for the knockout round that year.This is his first coaching stint in MLS.An announcement from the club has not yet been set.The Dynamo let go of former coach Wilmer Cabrera in the middle of the past season.

Sources say the Dynamo have hired Tab Ramos - @USMNT U20 head coach. Could have been the USMNT head coach. What a GREAT HIRE #ForeverOrange #ABC13 David Nuo (@DavidNunoABC13) October 24, 2019EMBED >More News Videos The Houston Rockets star is adding soccer club investor to his resume, says ABC13's David Nuno. He was also an assistant coach on the U.S. men's national team when it headed to the 2014 World Cup. The Americans qualified for the knockout round that year.This is his first coaching stint in MLS.An announcement from the club has not yet been set.The Dynamo let go of Wilmer Cabrera, the club's fifth head coach in its history in Houston, in the middle of the past season.

Record England soccer goalscorer Wayne Rooney announced Tuesday that he will leave U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) team D.C. United to return to play in his home country from January 2020. Soccer fans in the U.S. will still have the opportunity to see Rooney play for a little longer, as he's pledged to see out the remainder of the MLS season with D.C. "I must also take this opportunity to thank D.C. United, their owners, executives and supporters who have been superb to work with. "I am equally excited to begin my coaching career at Derby County working with both the first team and academy," he added. Derby County started its new season with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield on Monday and is under the management of former Netherlands midfielder Phillip Cocu.

Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin on the future of Major League Soccer After an incredible run in the World Cup, U.S. soccer players Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin weigh in on the future of American soccer.