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http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soc.../17608626.html
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"The league will also be announcing a major international club tournament to take place this summer between MLS clubs and clubs from Europe, Mexico and potentially South America at the end of March."
Does the article actually say "Trader Joe"... hilarious
Isn't that Copa Libertadores?
a major international club tournament to take place this summer between MLS clubs and clubs from Europe, Mexico and potentially South America at the end of March.Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien
no.
Could this be the tournament?
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...tourney-hawaii
Any European team in season would be out of their minds to fly to Hawaii for an exhibition tournament.
MLS, CAA present 2011 World Football Challenge
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ball-challengeQuote:
MLS and CAA announced Friday that they are teaming to bring back the World Football Challenge, featuring some of the biggest and best-known soccer clubs from around the world. And this time there'll be a local flavor, as MLS clubs will take part.
“We are pleased to have MLS clubs compete in this summer’s World Football Challenge, and our teams embrace the challenge of competing against top international opponents,” said Will Wilson, MLS executive vice president. “We have worked closely with CAA Sports in the past and are proud to partner with them to produce this innovative event for soccer fans throughout the region.”
The tournament will run from July 14 through August 6. The competing teams, schedule, format, event sponsors and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. Televisa, a founding partner of the inaugural World Football Challenge, will remain involved in 2011.
“By all measures, the inaugural World Football Challenge was a big success: introducing some of the top international clubs and players to existing and new American fans of soccer, multiple sold-out matches, blue-chip sponsors and a world-class broadcast partner in ESPN,” said Michael Levine, co-head of CAA Sports.
“We are thrilled to team up with our friends at Major League Soccer, who have done an incredible job elevating awareness and building enthusiasm for soccer in the US, to amplify the fan experience and bring some of the brightest stars and biggest teams together in the World Football Challenge.”
Found the new tournament.
So between the MLS season, World Football Challenge, Superliga, U.S. Open Cup, NCC and the Hawaiian Islands Invitational the teams schedules are starting to look very crowded.
Hope TFC aren't involved.
Isn't their a tourney that does this called the FIFA Club World Cup?
Because of this tournament MLS teams will no longer play in the SuperLiga making that tournament likely dead.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...lace-superligaQuote:
MLS Commissioner Don Garber confirmed on Tuesday that the first-ever participation of MLS clubs in the World Football Challenge (WFC) this year will take the place of SuperLiga on the league’s summer calendar between July 14 and Aug. 6.
No word how how MLS teams qualify in the future but I think it's odd that they are not sending the top two teams this year that should have played SuperLiga.
Good that MLS is getting a taste of this, there will be monster crowds for these games. MUFC is playing 5 games over two or three weeks, crazy. Can't wait to see what other teams are coming as well. This summer is going to be packed.
Here's the age old question - do these games give people an alternative to MLS or does it get more people interested in the sport, giving MLS attendance a boost as well?
I don't think there will ever be any "qualifying", these are friendlies just sort of more organized than a one off match. I hope TFC isn't part of this ever to be honest, its in the middle of our season, never been a fan of playing meaningless matches at this stage of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleOzzy
You could be right, but you always had to qualify for Superliga so I figured it would be the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by mdc 77
I just figured MLS would have the top 3 teams go to Concacaf Champions League and the next two being entered in the Global Challenge.
"The tournament will run from July 14 through August 6."
...And won't mean a Gawdam thing. Unless of course this is the death of Superliga then All hail the next worthless friendly!!
Yes and not much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroit_TFC
Yes. Except it's relevant, includes every football region and means something.Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverSamurai
And you have to win your continental championship to qualify, so MLS clubs have practically no chance of entering it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fort York Redcoat
This way, MLS gets to pick a bunch of random teams and play them against random teams from elsewhere and call it a 'competetive tournament'
DC United won in 1998, and LA Galaxy won in 2000, but the Club World Cup was scrapped those years.
Real Salt Lake have a leg-up in the semi-finals this year.
Far from "no chance".
If an MLS team gets into the World Club Championship, it will be a first regardless of how the CONCACAF tournament looked in 2000. I do suspect that the Mexican teams cared much less about CONCACAF during that time.Quote:
Originally Posted by werewolf
You're right, RSL has a good chance, but even if they qualify it'll be one MLS team competing against unspecified opponents on foreign soil.
Far better to fake a tournament here, bring in clubs based on their market value (not last seasons achivements) and select MLS clubs also based on their market value, to make as much dough as possible.
I have no issue with the tournament.
I would like to see a pre-season tournament at BMO one day kind of like they have in various countries before the European season starts. But without TFC that would be impractical.
But if they could pull it off without TFC I would be down for it.
Far better for making a buck. Possibly getting people to their local team once afterward if we're lucky. It does little to grow what we already have.Quote:
Originally Posted by ExiledRed
It's not like this farce of a tourney will be hurting for participants but some might resent the distraction from what we're trying so hard to build here.
Id rather have a real meaningful tournament, even if it is on a foreign land.
Even if Mexican teams didn't care a decade ago (which is unproven theory), the MLS was not the best quality clubs.
With the abolition of the Superliga, and Salt Lake's run, the MLS might start taking the CL very seriously.
Just reading this thread, not sure if people have the wrong idea about this Wold Football Challenge. This is a "tourney" that will/have changed every year, its not going to be something to qualify for...these are friendlies and a just another angle at marketing them.
No we get it. The tournament needs no qualifying because it's just a bunch of midseason friendlies. Some of us say leave TFC out of it thanks. Yes we're the minority.