What's in the news ...

• by Soccer America , Feb 4, 2019

1. It looks more and more likely that Video Review will be used at the 2019 Women's World Cup. AP reported that Women's World Cup officials -- 27 referees and 47 assistant referees, all women -- are undergoing training with male VARs over the next two weeks in Qatar, working at the Al Kass International Cup, an under-17 men's tournament that kicked off Monday with 12 teams from 12 different countries. U.S. women's national team coach Jill Ellis has been outspoken about the need for VAR to be used in France and she has supported the hiring of men with experience working with Video Review in the booth. Any decision will have to be passed by the FIFA Council at its March meeting in Miami.

2. San Diego's hopes of gaining an MLS team might not be dead. The MLS-supported group lost a city referendum last November over the development of the city-owned Mission Valley site to a project initiated by San Diego State University. Jack McGrory, a trustee who worked on the SDSU West campaign, told Channel 10 News that a preliminary meeting was held with MLS to discuss a San Diego team. Talks have also been held with other sports groups. SDSU's plan for a Mission Valley campus includes a 35,000-seat stadium for the football Aztecs. During its campaign, the group backing SoccerCity said it had exclusive negotiating rights with MLS.

3. The Portland Thorns re-signed Icelandic midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who sat out 2018 for the birth of her son. In her first two seasons with Portland, Brynjarsdottir played 28 matches and was part of teams that won the 2016 NWSL Shield and 2017 NWSL championship title. She starred at Florida State and played part of one season for Bayern Munich before joining the Thorns in 2016.