[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] A pair of collegians will be missing Labor Day weekend action to represent their countries in World Cup 2014 qualifying. Hartford’sJorge Rodriguez is with Puerto Rico, and Florida Tech’s Francisco Ubiera is representing the Dominican Republic. Following two days of training, Rodriguez, a three-year starter at Hartford, and his Puerto Rican […]
world cup 2014
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Concacaf second stage kicks off
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] The road to Brazil 2014 continues in Concacaf, where 24 teams begin the second round of World Cup qualifying with games Friday andTuesday. Only the winners of the six four-team groups will join the six exempt teams in the semifinal round of qualifying next year. The USA will want to keep […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Klinsmann's Candidates: a large but limited player pool to pick from
[USA CONFIDENTIAL] On the eve of Juergen Klinsmann‘s naming his first U.S. roster for a game against Mexico next Wednesday, a look at theplayer pool coming out of the Concacaf Gold Cup shows the range and scope of choices facing the new head coach. GOALKEEPER. Tim Howardshowed in the last World Cup he’s a very […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Spain and France placed in same group
[WORLD CUP 2014 DRAW] Defending champion Spain was drawn in a group with France for qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Saturday’s draw in Rio de Janeiro alsoproduced a politically charged group with Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, as well as Belgium, Scotland and Wales. For the Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania draw … EUROPE Group A: […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. group to include Jamaica
[WORLD CUP 2014 DRAW] The USA was placed in a semifinal group with Jamaica and the winners of two second-round groups that will play this fall in qualifying forthe 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Concacaf will send its top three teams to Brazil, and the fourth-place team in the final round known as the Hexagonal […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
First test is in 12 days
[DATEBOOK] Juergen Klinsmann won’t wait long to get his first test as U.S. men’s national team coach. The USA will faceMexico Aug. 10 in Philadelphia. The irony, of course, is that Klinsmann’s objection to playing Mexico in a friendly in 2007 was believed to be a stumbling block when negotiations between the Germanand U.S. Soccer […]
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Belize opens campaign with big win
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] Less than a year after the 2010 World Cup ended, the road to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil began in the city of Couva on the islandof Trinidad & Tobago. Playing its home game at the Ato Bolden Stadium because it lacked a suitable stadium of its own, tiny Montserrat […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Concacaf kicks off World Cup qualifying in June
[DATEBOOK] Like it often has through the years, qualifying for the World Cup begins in Concacaf. This time, it begins very early. The 10 lowest ranked teams inthe region square off in two-leg series on June 3 and 7. CONCACAF PLAY-IN Montserrat vs. Belize Anguilla vs. Dominican RepublicU.S. Virgin Islands vs. British Virgin Islands Aruba […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil's airports might not be ready in 2014
Brazil’s overtaxed airports could be a major problem at the 2014 World Cup, and renovation plans won’t help matters at 10 of the 13 airports if the usual timelines for infrastructure projects inBrazil are maintained. The Brazilian government study recommends changes in the investment plans made by Brazil’s airport authority, Brazil’s Economic Research Institute.Brazilian President […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer on Obama's agenda in Brazil
Soccer was certainly on U.S. President Barack Obama‘s agenda during his trip to Brazil. He joined a group of children as they kicked around soccer balls in aRio de Janeiro favela. And the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. government’s lending agency, announced it will establish a $1 billion line of credit for infrastructure work in […]