Top games to watch this week
Friday
Huracán vs Newells Old Boys (Argentine Primera Division)
Argentinos Juniors vs Defensa y Justicia (Argentine Primera Division)
Saturday
USA vs Jamaica (Gold Cup)
Unión Santa Fe vs Independiente (Argentine Primera Division)
Lanús vs Talleres de Córdoba (Argentine Primera Division)
Athletico-PR vs Corinthians (Brasileirao)
Cruzeiro vs Sao Paulo (Brasileirao)
Columbus Crew vs Nashville SC (MLS)
DC United vs Cincinnati (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Seattle Sounders vs Orlando City (MLS)
Sunday
Trinidad and Tobago vs Saint Kitts and Nevis (Gold Cup)
Haiti vs Qatar (Gold Cup)
Mexico vs Honduras (Gold Cup)
Rosario Central vs Colón (Argentine Primera Division)
Pachuca vs Tigres UANL (Campeon de Campeones)
Palmeiras vs Botafogo (Brasileirao)
Santos vs Flamengo (Brasileirao)
Monday
El Salvador vs Martinique (Gold Cup)
Costa Rica vs Panama (Gold Cup)
Belgrano vs Banfield (Argentine Primera Division)
Vasco da Gama vs Cuiabá (Brasileirao)
Tuesday
Canada vs Guadeloupe (Gold Cup)
Guatemala vs Cuba (Gold Cup)
Athletico-PR vs Alianza Lima (Copa Libertadores)
Libertad vs Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
River Plate vs The Strongest (Copa Libertadores)
Fluminense vs Sporting Cristal (Copa Libertadores)
Atlético Nacional vs Patronato (Copa Libertadores)
San Lorenzo vs Estudiantes Mérida (Copa Sudamericana)
Sao Paulo vs Tigre (Copa Sudamericana)
Wednesday
Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago (Gold Cup)
Saint Kitts and Nevis vs USA (Gold Cup)
Nacional vs Metropolitanos (Copa Libertadores)
Internacional vs Medellín (Copa Libertadores)
Racing vs Ñublense (Copa Libertadores)
Flamengo vs Aucas (Copa Libertadores)
Corinthians vs Liverpool (Copa Libertadores)
Independiente del Valle vs Argentinos Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
RB Bragantino vs Tacuary (Copa Sudamericana)
Guaraní vs Huracán (Copa Sudamericana)
Universitario vs Gimnasia La Plata (Copa Sudamericana)
Thursday
Qatar vs Honduras (Gold Cup)
Haiti vs Mexico (Gold Cup)
Boca Juniors vs Monagas (Copa Libertadores)
Colo-Colo vs Deportivo Pereira (Copa Libertadores)
Palmeiras vs Bolívar (Copa Libertadores)
Barcelona vs Cerro Porteño (Copa Libertadores)
Newell's Old Boys vs Audaz Italiano (Copa Sudamericana)
Santos vs Blooming (Copa Sudamericana)
Defensa y Justicia vs Millonarios (Copa Sudamericana)
Peñarol vs América Mineiro (Copa Sudamericana)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: June 12-18, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer matches aired in the USA between June 12 and June 18, 2023 are in, and in the absence of the Premier League and Liga MX, one competition stole the limelight. That was the CONCACAF Nations League, which came to a wrap over the weekend, with the USMNT winning the title for the second time in a row.
The final saw the Stars and Stripes beat Canada 2-0, with highly-rated striker Folarin Balogun scoring his first goal for the national team after snubbing England for the United States. Nearly two million average viewers (1.8 million, to be precise) tuned in to Univision to catch the action but this was only enough to earn this fixture the runners-up spot.
Instead, the top spot went to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal clash between the USA and Mexico, with Pulisic and Co. beating their rivals 3-0 in an ill-tempered game. Both teams picked up a red card, but for the Stars and Stripes, it mattered not as they secured progression to the final.
Wrapping up the top three is the third-place playoff between Panama and Mexico, which El Tri won 1-0. The three games to make the podium were all aired by Univision, garnering the Spanish-language network over five million average viewers in total.
What are this week's must-watch games?
USA vs Jamaica live this Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, the FOX Sports App, Foxsports.com, TUDN USA, the TUDN App, TUDN.com, Univision, and Univision NOW
The CONCACAF Nations League might have just wrapped up, but the Gold Cup is upon us, with defending champions USA kicking off the latest edition of this beloved tournament. The Stars and Stripes enter this tournament on the back of their CONCACAF Nations League victory, winning the title after beating Canada 2-0 in the final, with highly-rated youngster Folarin Balogun scoring his debut goal. Jamaica, on the other hand, failed to make the finals after finishing second to Mexico in Group A of League A. However, the Reggae Boyz have a handful of notable names to call upon, namely Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio, and Demarai Gray. Don't miss this fixture.
LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps live this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET on MLS Pass on Apple TV
Club soccer might be over in Europe but in Major League Soccer, it is full steam ahead. LAFC will be involved in one of the standout games this weekend as Vela and Co. look to maintain – or add to – their three-point lead at the top. Their opponents are Vancouver Whitecaps who are ninth in the Western Conference. The visitors are only a point ahead of Portland, who sit just outside the final series playoffs spots, which means Vanni Sartini's men cannot afford to lose this tie.
Mexico vs Honduras live this Sunday at 8 p.m. on Fox Sports 1, the FOX Sports App, Foxsports.com, TUDN USA, the TUDN App, TUDN.com, Univision, and Univision NOW
And last, but not least, we have the Mexican national team, who are reeling from their CONCACAF Nations League heartbreak. El Tri kick off their Gold Cup campaign with a clash against Honduras as interim boss Jaime Lozano looks to lead the iconic nation back to glory. The North American heavyweights lost to the USA in the semifinals of the aforementioned tournament, going 3-0 down in that heated derby, with that result costing then manager Diego Cocca his job. Can El Tri bounce back and win a fifth Gold Cup title in under two decades? Make sure to catch their opening game.
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is just around the corner, but until then, fans will have plenty of matches to keep them entertained over the next few weeks.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another week of women's soccer.
NWSL
Matchday 13 of the 2023 NWSL season starts on Friday, June 23rd with a top of the table clash featuring Portland Thorns, who sit in second place on 22 points and current league leaders Washington Spirit. This game surely will be one not to miss given that once again, the table standings could end up changing by the time matchday 13 finishes on Sunday.
Saturday will be another action-packed day, featuring three games. The triple-header begins with third-placed North Carolina Courage welcoming Racing Louisville; the Courage could theoretically break into the top two depending on the results of the Thorns-Spirit match on Friday. Next will be a game between two teams who are still looking to find their groove after a rough start to the season, with Orlando Pride taking on Kansas City Current. Finally, Saturday's treble of games concludes with San Diego Wave, who have slid into fifth, locking horns with fourth-placed OL Reign. Both teams have 20 points, and it will be interesting to see the outcome of that tie.
Finally, on Sunday, matchday 13 continues as Gotham FC clash with Chicago Red Stars, followed by Angel City vs. Houston Dash.
International friendlies
Several international friendlies are also taking place this week. They include Germany vs Vietnam, which given the talent gulf between the two teams will be a predictably one-sided affair, as well as minnows Gibraltar vs. Panama.
News from around the world in women's soccer
Shocking report reveals lack of pay and medical care for players
As fans look forward to the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which starts next month, a new shocking report has emerged concerning the preparations for the big event.
A total of 362 female soccer players who took part in qualifying games were polled and it has now emerged that nearly 30 per cent of players were not paid for participation in these matches. To make matters even worse, many of these players played on poorly maintained pitches and did not receive proper medical screens or checks. Indeed, the same report indicates that over half (54 per cent) did not have access to a pre-tournament medical, while 39 per cent didn't receive mental health support and a whopping 70 per cent were not able to undergo proper cardiac screening - a crucial part of keeping players healthy and safe.
It's a worrying fact especially given that the women's game has improved over the past few decades, but reports like this clearly indicate that there is still a lot of work to be done.
That was a pleasant surprise! USWNT star Alex Morgan reveals delight at World Cup call-up
It seems like a lifetime ago that USWNT star Alex Morgan was making her debut during the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, during which the Stars and Stripes ended up having to settle for a runners-up medal following a shock loss to Japan in the final.
Flash-forward 12 years later, and Morgan is a seasoned veteran set to feature in her fourth competition as the USA seeks to defend their title. Given her consistency on the highest stage, many fans would have thought it was pretty much a guarantee that she would receive a call-up. However, as the player herself indicated in a recent interview, she was still surprised - especially by the method her coach used.
"We knew that we were expecting to receive calls for information on who's coming and who's not and to get that call from Vlatko was a great moment. I was actually expecting a phone call but he FaceTimed me...so that was a little surprise!" she noted.
With a fair portion of the players being newer faces - Morgan is one of nine players who were part of the 2019 squad - current boss Vlatko Andonovski will certainly look to experienced faces like Morgan to help guide the team as they aim to fend off some steep competition to retain their World Cup title.
Damallsvenskan, Toppserien, and Elitedivisionen
In Scandinavia, the top leagues in women's soccer are all still in process, with ongoing title races in Sweden's Damallsvenskan, Denmark's Elitedivisionen, and Norway's Toppserien.
Didn't find your favorite women's league on this list? No worries, as this is just a highlight of some of the exciting games coming up this week. Make sure to check out our special women's soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
Eleven players miss Wednesday's matches
Whether it was due to a second yellow card in the same game, or if they accumulated bookings over a period of time, there were quite a few players that were not be available for their teams. The team that dealt with more of these absences was Colorado, with Lalas Abubakar and Braian Galván sitting out the match against Vancouver.
Suspended for Yellow Card accumulation: Giorgos Giakoumakis, Miguel Navarro, Yerson Mosquera, Derrick Jones, Jader Obrian, Maxime Chanot.
Suspended for straight red card: Lalas Abubakar, Braian Galvan, Andres Reyes, Steven Birnbaum, Kyle Hiebert.
Pablo Ruiz earns Goal of the Week honors
The poll to determine the winner of the best goal of the past weekend had record-breaking numbers, with Real Salt Lake footballer Pablo Ruiz winning the nod by a landslide. Over 81 percent of those who voted did it for the Argentine midfielder, who scored his fourth goal of the tournament and helped his side to a 2-1 win against D.C. United.
MLS teams dealing with CONCACAF Gold Cup absences
The upcoming Gold Cup will bring serious issues for some MLS clubs who will have to lend their players to the national teams involved in the continental tournament. Teams such as the USMNT, Canada, and Jamaica will be hit the hardest by those call-ups, as players such as Brandon Vazquez, Matt Miazga, and Jordan Morris (USMNT) among others will not be available to play several games for their respective teams. Only time will tell how this reflects on the rest of the season, but this will be quite challenging for the squads that will be hit with those absences.
For additional details regarding Major League Soccer's schedule, top scorers, and more, visit our bespoke MLS website here.
Biggest stories of the week
Gareth Bale offers Messi a brutal assessment of life in the MLS ahead of Leo's Inter Miami move
Lionel Messi is yet to officially join Inter Miami but the Argentine icon has already been given a brutal assessment of life in Major League Soccer.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner had been dominating the transfer headlines for the past few months after it became clear he would be leaving PSG. A return to Barcelona was heavily touted while a billion-dollar transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal was also mentioned.
However, the 35-year-old ultimately agreed to join Inter Miami, the MLS franchise co-owned by David Beckham that have been pursuing the 2022 World Cup winner for years. This move sparked controversy, with some slamming Barcelona for failing to bring La Pulga back to the Camp Nou while other mocked Messi for leaving Europe at the age of 35.
Gareth Bale has now entered this conversation but instead opted to hand the South American a piece of advice on life in the North American top flight. Just like Messi, the Welshman moved to the MLS, albeit LA Galaxy, after leaving a European giant (Real Madrid) for free.
The former Blancos attacker spent a year in the North American top flight and thus has perspective on the upsides and downsides. However, Bale's assessment of Major League Soccer was anything but flattering, labeling it a "chilled" competition were losing is accepted and where there are no consequences for failure.
"It's a lot more chilled," Bale told BT Sport.
"If you lose at Madrid, it's like the world's ended. You were crucified, you feel down, you go home, you're not happy.
"They kind of accept losing a bit more and I think there's no consequence, you can't get relegated. You just lose the game, you go to the next one."
Fortunately for Messi, one of Bale's points is undeniably true and that is the lack of relegation. Leo will be joining Inter Miami but the Herons are currently bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
However, it should be noted that Phil Neville was recently sacked by the club due to their horrible start to the season. Things haven't improved for the club under the helm of interim boss Javier Morales. The club are on a six-game losing streak and have not won in the league since mid-May.
Meanwhile, Messi, despite his disappointing campaign with PSG last season as a collective, has shown that he can still deliver. Only time will tell if he can turn Inter Miami's fortunes around.
Speaking of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and his upcoming move to Florida…
Date for Lionel Messi's debut with Inter Miami confirmed by team owner
Lionel Messi's anticipated move to the MLS made fans wonder when and how they could watch him with his new team, and those doubts have been erased by none other than Inter Miami's owner, Jorge Más.
Speaking in a press conference, the majority shareholder for Inter Miami spilled the beans in regards to Messi's debut with the Herons, which will be taking place for sure next month.
"Messi's debut date could take place on July 21, when Inter Miami face Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match next month," Más stated.
The shareholder for the Florida-based club added that Messi will not be the only one joining the team this summer, as the club has already started negotiations with a number of players to boost the team.
"We have been preparing our team to see Messi joining us in 2023, so we had some flexibility to do so. We will make more moves this summer, even more than those expected by our fans. To bring them in, we will not have to dismantle the team or let many of our players leave," the owner added.
The team's CEO added that one of those moves could see former Argentina coach Gerardo Martino returning to the MLS to take over as the team's head coach. Martino would fill the void left by Phil Neville, who was sacked on June 1 due to the team's poor results this season.
Before the press conference concluded, Mas admitted that Messi's arrival could do wonders for the league, hinting that his presence could be crucial to see the league grow like never before.
"Messi will become the biggest ambassador and recruiter in MLS history. His presence will bring in talents of all ages and levels. We have an unprecedented opportunity, and I believe that the league will take the needed steps to make sure this league grows like it should. It is up to me and my partners in the league, the other owners, to take advantage of this moment," Mas concluded.
DONE DEAL: Barcelona secure signature of Man City veteran on FREE transfer
It was just under a fortnight ago that Ilkay Gundogan was celebrating Manchester City's historic treble, following their 1-0 win over Inter in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final.
Gundogan had also played a huge role in Manchester City defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup, with the experienced midfielder netting a brace and coming close to securing what would have been an impressive hat-trick.
Now, the German international is set to say his good-byes to his colleagues and manager Pep Guardiola as he embarks on a new adventure. Despite their financial struggles, Barcelona have been able to successfully lure the highly versatile midfielder to Camp Nou as they sought a replacement for the departing Sergio Busquets.
Gundogan arrives on a free transfer after opting not to renew his contract, and his departure will certainly leave a huge hole in the middle of the park for Manchester City after making over 300 appearances across all competitions during his seven year tenure.
Reports indicate that the 32-year-old has signed a two year deal tying him to Camp Nou until 2025, with the possibility of extending that deal to 2026, and he could potentially link up with Xavi's side this summer as Barcelona are set to take part in a series of friendly matches in the USA in July.
Chelsea's owners announce multi-million dollar purchase involving Ligue 1 club
Interesting times are coming for Ligue 1 fans, as the company that owns Chelsea has agreed to buy a majority stake in one French top-flight club to increase their dominance in European soccer.
BlueCo (the consortium that purchased Chelsea) revealed that a deal had been reached between them and RC Strasbourg for over $75M. The deal will see majority stockholder Todd Boehly having shares for "almost 100%" of the team's stocks.
Initial negotiations between Boehly and French clubs hinted that a deal could come between BlueCo. and Bordeaux, but since the club did not earn promotion to Ligue 1, a deal was reached with Strasbourg. Boehly admitted that, financially speaking, making a deal for Les Bleu et Blanc made more sense.
"It is an honor for us to be part of this historic club. We are committed to preserving the heritage of Racing and are focused on working closely with Marc (Keller, Strasbourg's president) and his management team to continue the excellent work they have been doing," the company revealed in a press release.
The idea, according to the document, is to give players out on loan who were purchased by Chelsea a chance to thrive in European soccer and, in a near future, join the English club once they have proven their worth.
Strasbourg's president and former player Marc Keller praised the move while hinting better times for the French side.
"We've built a club that's healthy at every level and well managed. Although there was no financial urgency, we were aware that we had reached the ceiling of our model, and if we wanted to continue driving Racing forward and projecting it into a new dimension, we necessarily needed to be accompanied by a solid structure capable of supporting our development and our ambition," Keller stated.
This move will see Strasbourg becoming the fifth French club to be owned by American companies. Racing will join a list that includes Olympique Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Le Havre.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Cristiano celebrates 200th game with Portugal scoring last-gasp winner
It was one of those days for Crisitano Ronaldo where he is able to call himself taller than the rest, as he celebrated a record that was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records and managed to grant A Selecao three more points in their quest to play the 2024 UEFA Euro.
The striker found the back of the net in the 89th minute after a header by Gonçalo Inacio, but there was some drama to the late heroics by CR7, as referee Daniel Siebert had initially disallowed the goal for an alleged offside by Inacio. VAR officers took quite a while to determine if the goal should stand or not, but eventually Siebert gave the Portuguese a chance to celebrate one more win on the road.
This was Ronaldo's fifth goal in four matches for Portugal in the UEFA Euro Qualifiers, needing one more to match Romelu Lukaku and Rasmus Hojlund in the process to make it to the competition to be played in Germany next year.
Huge blow for Arsenal as Man City are ready to rival the Gunners for their no.1 transfer target
While a deal for Kai Havertz is all but done, Arsenal are yet to sign their main target for the 2023 summer transfer window. That man is Declan Rice, with the Gunners having lodged in two bids for the Englishman, both of which were rejected immediately.
As a result, this has left the race for the highly-rated West Ham captain open, and much to the frustration of Arsenal fans, the most dreaded team in the league have officially entered the race for the 24-year-old's signature. That team is none other than Manchester City, the English champions that boast the financial prowess to meet the Hammers' demands with ease.
According to David Ornstein of the Athletic, one of the most reliable sources in the game, Guardiola's side are preparing an offer for Rice after losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona. While the Gunners remain the favorites in the race, the entrance of the Cityzens has sparked major concerns among the Emirates Stadium fan base.
According to the report, the treble winners have been actively exploring an approach for the West Ham captain and while Mateo Kovacic will be moving to the Etihad Stadium from Chelsea, the UEFA Champions League holders want another midfielder following Gundogan's decision to leave for Barcelona on a free transfer.
TRANSFER TALK: Veteran Juventus defender reportedly inching close to exit
Several players have been linked with exits from the Turin giants, and according to reports from Italy, one of those players who could be on the move is Leonardo Bonucci.
The highly experienced defender has been part of the Juventus set-up for well over a decade, and has quickly grown into a fan favorite over the years. However, the 36-year-old had an injury-ravaged campaign this season and as such, was reduced to a bit-part role for Massimiliano Allegri's side as his manager often preferred to play others in his position even when he was fit.
In addition, Juventus are apparently looking towards totally overhauling their back-line, with players like Danilo, Daniele Rugani, and Gleison Bremer forming the key parts of Allegri's starting XI. The Bianconeri have also been linked with bringing in other reinforcements, thus putting Bonucci's position further under threat.
Despite his age, Bonucci believes he still can contribute at the highest level as he has previously stated his intention to retire in 2024. His colleague, Giorgio Chiellini, who played alongside him with Juventus and the Azzurri for many years, left Juventus to try his luck in MLS with Los Angeles FC, and so it will be interesting to see if Bonucci looks towards North America as his next venture, decides to remain in Europe, or considers a possible move elsewhere.
