World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Spartanforlife4]

With eleven billion teams now in the WC, yeah, I think they got room for three autobids.

The irony is that the remaining CONCACAF teams will only be fighting for three confederation specific slots (plus two will go to the intercontinental tournaments), so the CONCACAF qualifying tournament will now be awarding the least amount of direct berths since 2002.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

The body of Christian atsu, premier league player from Ghana , has been recovered in earthquake rubble. Only 31.

[Jimjamesak]

Looks like we'll get the first glimpse of MLS on AppleTV as they're broadcasting a couple of preseason matches, Orlando vs New England and LA Galaxy vs Toronto.

[Jimjamesak]

Looks like we'll get the first glimpse of MLS on AppleTV as they're broadcasting a couple of preseason matches, Orlando vs New England and LA Galaxy vs Toronto.

Picture quality is miles ahead of what was on ESPN and Fox. Graphics are very minimalist and clean.

Looks like it's available for free too.

[Jimjamesak]

It’s behind the paywall of an Athletic article but MLS’ Playoff format looks to be changing.

Top 9 teams in each conference

8 v 9 in a one game playoff, winner plays 1 seed

First round will be best of 3 matches, all games have to have a winner (meaning OT and kicks)

1 v Wild Card winner, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5.

Conference Semifinals, Finals and MLS Cup will all be one game playoffs

[Jimjamesak]

It’s behind the paywall of an Athletic article but MLS’ Playoff format looks to be changing.

Top 9 teams in each conference

8 v 9 in a one game playoff, winner plays 1 seed

First round will be best of 3 matches, all games have to have a winner (meaning OT and kicks)

1 v Wild Card winner, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5.

Conference Semifinals, Finals and MLS Cup will all be one game playoffs

Confirmed

[Spartanforlife4]

I never like it when more than half a league makes the playoffs. Although I’m guessing they saw the success of the NBA play-in and are trying to recreate it.

Really don’t like they aren’t playing extra time in the wild card game, but I guess it wouldn’t make sense to shorten the first round games from the wild card round. This way games get longer as the tournament progresses to the semis.

[Kepler]

2 non-intersecting conferences, 1 regular season champion each, the two play for the championship. MLB had it right for 70 years.

[Jimjamesak]

I never like it when more than half a league makes the playoffs. Although I’m guessing they saw the success of the NBA play-in and are trying to recreate it.

Really don’t like they aren’t playing extra time in the wild card game, but I guess it wouldn’t make sense to shorten the first round games from the wild card round. This way games get longer as the tournament progresses to the semis.

I’m just glad they didn’t go back to two legged series.

The numbers will start to get better as they expand to 32.

It just sucks we’re back to having the break because of the international window, but I don’t think there was anything they could do to avoid it.

[Jimjamesak]

In other news, the US U17s beat Guatemala in Guatemala last night to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

[Kepler]

In other news, the US U17s beat Guatemala in Guatemala last night to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

Are the underage competitions the Usual Suspects, or are there countries that fare atypically well?

Edit: I used the google machine. It looks like the Nigeria Show. But... Saudi Arabia? I assume they just bought players?

[Jimjamesak]

Are the underage competitions the Usual Suspects, or are there countries that fare atypically well?

A bit of both. Brazil has won the U17s multiple times but so has Nigeria.

Though how much of that is due to cheating no one knows.

[Jimjamesak]

In other, other news Portugal and Haiti qualified for the Women’s World Cup.

Haiti beat Chile, which kinda says something about the Women’s game in CONCACAF.

[Spartanforlife4]

In other, other news Portugal and Haiti qualified for the Women’s World Cup.

Haiti beat Chile, which kinda says something about the Women’s game in CONCACAF.

Didn’t even realize the playoffs had started. I know it’s the other side of the world but seems like this got zero publicity. Although now that I think about it the men’s playoffs didn’t seem to garner that much interest either.

[Jimjamesak]

Didn’t even realize the playoffs had started. I know it’s the other side of the world but seems like this got zero publicity. Although now that I think about it the men’s playoffs didn’t seem to garner that much interest either.

I thought the exact same thing.

Fox did broadcast the men’s playoffs on FS1, I haven’t seen the women’s at all.

Panama plays Paraguay for the final spot, which means CONCACAF could end up with six teams.