Kick Off: New LA club announcement | New York-Sporting KC tonight | FCD down Caps on late PKKick Off: New LA club announcement | New York-Sporting KC tonight | FCD down Caps on late PKKick Off: New LA club announcement | New York-Sporting KC tonight | FCD down Caps on late PK

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: New LA club announcement | New York-Sporting KC tonight | FCD down Caps on late PK Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning: 1. LA GETS A NEW CLUB Earlier this week, Major League Soccer announced a new strategy for the LA market and today we'll see that vision come closer to fruition with the unveiling of the ownership group for the new club that will take the field in 2017. You can watch the press conference on MLSsoccer.com beginning at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT. 2. FC DALLAS MARCHING ON FC Dallas survived a dramatic Western Conference Knockout Round match on Wednesday night, as a controversial late penalty kick was enough to see them through, 2-1 (HIGHLIGHTS). FCD manager Oscar Pareja believes the return of playmaker Mauro Diaz that made the difference for his side, while the Vancouver Whitecaps, who mounted a valiant road comeback, were left to bemoan the PK decision by referee Mark Geiger. 3. ALL EYES ON THE EAST The New York Red Bulls host Sporting Kansas City in the other Knockout Round match (8 pm ET, ESPN2 in the US, TSN1 in Canada) and the good news is that RBNY star Thierry Henry is expected to start. Defending champions Sporting Kansas City not only have to deal with MLS leading scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, but starters Igor Juliao and Benny Feilhaber are still a question mark. 4. RETIRING YOUNG There was some sad news on Wednesday as former No.1 SuperDraft pick Steve Zakuani announced his retirement at just 26, stating via his own website that "It's gotten to the point where I have to be honest with myself and listen to my body." 5. CREW SC FUTURE PLANNING The Columbus Crew may be busy with preparations for the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, but they're still thinking about next year with the signing Swedish midfielder Mohammed Saeid. Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter was aware of the 23-year-old midfielder from his time in Sweden, but insists the signing is a result of the Crew's scouting network. 6. PALMER RE-UPS The last offseason was a tough one for fullback Lovel Palmer, who missed the crucial penalty in an MLS Cup shootout and then also found himself traded to the Chicago Fire. Things are different heading into 2015 after the Fire re-signed the 30-year-old Jamaican international to a new deal. 7. IMPROVING THE TIMBERS The Portland Timbers just missed out on this year's MLS Cup Playoffs, but you shouldn't expect an overhaul at Providence Park. According to head coach Caleb Porter, the squad doesn't need wholesale changes next year, although he acknowledges "it would be a bigger mistake not to look at every position and try to get better." 8. TURNING AROUND TORONTO Another club that's not expecting major squad turnover is Toronto FC. The club's general manager, Tim Bezbatchenko believes that "we now have a core group of players that can be a team we want to build around." But will Jermain Defoe be part of that core? Bezbatchenko addressed that as well. 9. BRADLEY'S BEST POSITION Toronto's other major DP, Michael Bradley, has successfully undergone surgery on the nerve issue in his foot and should be fit again in time for the start of the new season, at which point TFC fans might want to get used to seeing him in a slightly deeper position. That's because head coach Greg Vanney doesn't see the DP as a playmaker. 10. NEW AWAY GOALS RULE As top seeds in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United will begin their playoff campaign on the road against tonight's East Knockout Round winner. The team certainly has a number of playoff veterans they can call upon and one of them, Davy Arnaud, had some thoughts on the new away-goals rule implemented for the 2014 postseason. 11. VOLKSWAGEN MLS MVP UP FOR GRABS The Volkswagen MLS MVP race is likely to come down to the wire and the five leading candidates are all still in the hunt for MLS Cup. Wondering who has the edge? Here's a great breakdown of the main contenders and their qualifications as candidates. 12. NGUYEN GETS A BOOST Don't look now, but New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen is making a strong late push in that MVP tussle. It helps that he was voted the Etihad Airways Player of the Month for October after leading his team to the No. 2 seed in the East.  13. AMERICANS AT ODDS ABROAD Things haven't gone so well in recent weeks for Americans based abroad and now Alejandro Bedoya is apparently on his way out of French side Nantes after failing to agree to a new deal, while Bobby Wood has reportedly been sent to train with the 1860 Munich reserves after frustrating his coaches. 14. KEANE VS. USA? The Republic of Ireland have named their provisional roster for their upcoming friendy against the United States in November, and it includes LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane. While a number of MLS players still involved in the playoffs are likely to be absent from the US squad, will the same be said for Kean-o? 15. THE DARK SIDE Now, you probably have your own ideas about who will win MLS Cup this year, and you've probably made your picks official in the MLSsoccer.com Pick 'Em game. But here's a new, creative way to analyze the 2014 MLS playoff field: as villains from Star Wars. MLSsoccer.com Musts Armchair Analyst: FC Dallas gamble pays off American Exports: Terrence Boyd scores first goal for Red Bull Leipzig TV LISTINGS: Where you can watch all the MLS Playoff games

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Kick Off: FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps set to kick off MLS Cup Playoffs

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps set to kick off MLS Cup Playoffs Here are the top 15 stories we're talking about this morning: 1. FCD & WHITECAPS READY FOR A BATTLE The first game of the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, is Wednesday night, with FC Dallas hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps (9 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, TWC-SC Texas, MLS LIVE in US) in the Western Conference Knockout Round. The Whitecaps are embracing their underdog role and preparing for whatever style FCD throw at them. The home side, meanwhile,  hope to bring plenty to the table, but could a former Texas resident help ruin their party?  2. WHEREFORE ART THOU, FABIAN CASTILLO? As we prepare for the first Knockout Round match, we can't help but wonder about speedy Dallas attacker Fabián Castillo, who hasn't seemed like himself since returning from a recent injury spell, but FCD head coach Oscar Pareja tells MLSsoccer.com that "he is getting back in the rhythm. ... Fabián is getting back to his best. ... I hope Fabián will show us what he can do." 3. HALL HEADING TO ORLANDO Orlando City continue to build out their MLS roster ahead of 2015. On Tuesday, we learned that the Lions are set to trade for Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall when the trade window opens in December. As Hall remenisces about his time in Houston, he says he's "absolutely honored to be the goalkeeper for Orlando, and I look forward to having a lot of good years for them." 4. MARTINS RE-SIGNS Following an MVP-caliber season, the Seattle Sounders have rewarded forward Obafemi Martins with a contract extension. Meanwhile, with Seattle heading into the postseason once again, head coach Sigi Schmid reflects on the club's history. The only manager the club has had in MLS,  is Schmid in line for a contract extension, as well? 5. VALERI SET FOR SURGERY Their fans' worst worries were confirmed on Tuesday, as the Portland Timbers revealed that playmaker Diego Valeri has torn his ACL and is set to undergo surgery, which will likely keep the midfielder out for at least five months. 6. JOHNSON HEADS TO HULL ... FOR TRAINING Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, fresh from cleaning up at the team's end-of-year awards, is heading to England for a 10-day training stint with Premier League side Hull City. 7. DEFOE: PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD In a revealing interview with The Guardian, Toronto FC forward Jermain Defoe addressed many of the questions from what he admits has been an "up and down" first year in MLS. Among other things, he says he was "hurt" by some of the comments from his bosses, he's in the dark about all the transfer speculation, and he's still disappointed about being left off England's World Cup squad. 8. THIERRY HENRY FIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS The biggest name in the New York Red Bulls squad list, Thierry Henry, is likely to be fit for Thursday's playoff game. But after this season, could the club's future be more focused on young stars rather than big names? "If it was up to me... let's take our lumps perhaps for a year or two and build something," head coach Mike Petke says.  9. SACRAMENTO OFFICIALS MEET WITH MLS Executives from USL PRO club Sacramento Republic and the city's mayor, Kevin Johnson, were in New York on Tuesday to meet with MLS officials about the team's progress toward a potential MLS franchise. Republic President Warren Smith believes the meeting went well, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, "We look forward to continuing our discussions with Sacramento and other markets regarding future Major League Soccer expansion." 10. DAN KENNEDY'S NEXT STEPS Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy will be one of the most coveted players in the upcoming dispersal draft. Where does he hope to land? 11. THANK YOU, CARLOS BOCANEGRA Carlos Bocanegra was one of the many names to officially hang up his cleats after this season. His announcement was lost amid the din of the higher-profile departures of Landon Donovan, Marco Di Vaio, Jay DeMerit and even Logan Pause, but the former US international said goodbye in his own way: quietly. 12. PLANS FOR THE OFFSEASON? What do the majority of MLS players do now that the offseason is upon them? Allow Philadelphia's Zac MacMath to guide you through the typical routine. 13. VELA'S RETURN? Will November's international friendlies finally mark Carlos Vela's return to the Mexican national side? The 25-year-old has been called up by Miguel Herrera for their upcoming games in Europe; now the forward just needs to decide if he'll accept. 14. VOTE FOR LIAM "I'm not ready to be mayor or governor or anything, that's for sure." Not a statement you'd expect a pro soccer player to have to make, and yet that's the situation Liam Ridgewell finds himself in after a group of Portland Timbers fans have started writing his name on their ballots for the upcoming elections. 15. NEW WORLD CUP LOGO IS "OUT THERE" You can't accuse Russia of being provincial with their announcement of the logo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as they got a little help from deep space to unveil the insignia. MLSsoccer.com Musts 10 memorable moments in Chivas USA history Goal of the Year and Save of the Year: First round of voting is open now! MLS Cup Pick'em - Beat the experts

Kick Off: MLS unveils new strategy for Los Angeles and conference realignment for 2015

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: MLS unveils new strategy for Los Angeles and conference realignment for 2015 Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning and don't forget to vote for your Etihad Airways October Player of the Month: 1. NEW STRATEGY IN LA The LA soccer landscape will be looking a lot different over the next few years after Monday's announcement that the league will be launching a new LA team that will begin play in 2017. The unveiling of the new ownership group will take place on Thursday. 2. CONFERENCES REALIGN As part of the developments in LA, the league also announced that Chivas USA will cease operations, effective immediately and revealed its plans for new conference realignment. With an even 20 teams next year, there will now be 10 teams in each conference. Find out which two teams are shifting over to the West here. 3. PAPPA WINS A PRIZE, DEMPSEY STAYING PUT? Having scored the two goals that earned his side the Supporters' Shield, the Seattle Sounders' Marco Pappa has been named MLS Player of the Week and, while the Guatemalan midfielder believes he has found a new family among his teammates in Seattle, apparently one of those new family members will not be going out on loan this January. 4. GETTING DEFENSIVE Now that the Vancouver Whitecaps are in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Canadian team will be looking to go as far as they possibly can. That run starts with a Knockout Round game against FC Dallas (Wednesday, 9 pm ET, MLS Live in US, TSN in Canada) and key to any success the 'Caps enjoy will be the club's impressive center back pairing of Kendall Waston and Andy O'Brien. 5. ANOTHER BLOW FOR THE TIMBERS The hits keep coming for the Portland Timbers. With the team and fans still coping with the disappointment of missing the playoffs, it seems as though Diego Valeri may have torn his ACL. 6. SCHULER SET FOR RETURN With Real Salt Lake making plans to try and dump the LA Galaxy and Landon Donovan out of the playoffs, the team from Utah could be set for a boost with the news that Chris Schuler is likely to return in time for the series. 7. UNION CEO SETS RECORD STRAIGHT It's shaping up to be a very important offseason for the Philadelphia Union and Nick Sakiewicz, the club's CEO, who once again is setting the record straight on some of the team's previous dealings. 8. DP DUO UNDER THE KNIFE? While Jermain Defoe weighs potential offseason surgery, he wouldn't be the only Toronto FC player to go under the knife. Michael Bradley is in New York to have an operation for a lingering issue in his foot. 9. BWP WANTS MORE GOALS MLS Budweiser Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips missed out on breaking the single-season goal scoring record at the weekend by a single goal, but rather than dwell on it, he's focused on scoring as many more as he can in the playoffs, a task that might be made more difficult by reports that Thierry Henry is carrying an injury. 10. WHAT'S IN A NAME? The Columbus Crew unveiled their club rebrand just a few weeks ago and now their stadium might be up next. The organization is looking for a naming rights partner for Columbus Crew Stadium and if this report is true, then it looks like they might have identified a leading candidate. 11. OLD LIONS RE-SIGN Orlando City have added two more players to their inaugural MLS roster, both of whom played for the Lions during their USL PRO days. The roster is now up to nine players in anticipation of the December 10 Expansion Draft. 12. ATLANTA'S BRIGHT FUTURE We're still just over two years away from Atlanta joining MLS but, according to the latest figures on ticket deposits, interest in the new team continues to be on an uptick. However, that interest might spell the end for the city's current team: the Atlanta Silverbacks. 13. KLINSMANN MAKES FIFA CUT Following a very eventful year for Jurgen Klinsmann and the US national team, it appears the coach must be doing something right as he's on the shortlist for FIFA's coach of the year award. 14. COLE STILL EYEING MLS? Could AS Roma fullback Ashley Cole be looking for a future here in North America? That's what the latest rumors say, with the former England international apparently failing to settle in his new surroundings in Italy. 15. ROAD TO GREATNESS With his dangerous play and lightning pace, not to mention an infinite number of hair styles, DeAndre Yedlin is well on his way to being the USA's new poster boy. Given his meteoric rise up the ranks, he's certainly a great example of how to reach the top, as are a number of MLS players who took a slightly different path towards establishing themselves. MLSsoccer.com Musts Goal of the Week & Save of the Week: Vote now! ExtraTime Radio: Vermes on Tired but ready SKC Instant Replay: Explaining the new offside rule

Kick Off: MLS Cup Playoff field is set after dramatic final weekend; Knockout Round starts Wednesday

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: MLS Cup Playoff field is set after dramatic final weekend; Knockout Round starts Wednesday It is officially playoff time in Major League Soccer, with the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs presented by AT&T kicking off Wednesday! Who do you think will advance? Fill out your predictions in the official MLSsoccer.com Pick'em game presented by EA Sports. Meanwhile, here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning: 1. SOUNDERS SOAR TO SHIELD The Seattle Sounders lifted the Supporters' Shield for the first time in their history on Saturday after two late goals from Marco Papa provided a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy (HIGHLIGHTS). The Galaxy were without Robbie Keane for the game but insist they could not have played much better. 2. TIMBERS GIVE IT THEIR ALL The Portland Timbers did all they could to try and earn a playoff spot with a 2-0 win at FC Dallas (HIGHLIGHTS), and Caleb Porter believes his side should be proud of themselves. The result means that FC Dallas must now switch their attention to playing in the Western Conference Knockout Round. 3. WHITECAPS WIN, AND THEY'RE IN With Portland winning, the pressure was on the Vancouver Whitecaps to do the same against the Colorado Rapids, and they succeeded with a 1-0 victory (HIGHLIGHTS) to secure their place in the playoffs. They'll travel to face FC Dallas in the Knockout Round on Wednesday (9 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US), but are the Whitecaps finding their form at just the right time? 4. BWP TIES RECORD, RBNY HOST CHAMPS Sporting Kansas City slumped to a fifth-place regular-season finish following a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS), but their head coach, Peter Vermes, believes the playoffs are the start of a new chapter. New York boss Mike Petke, on the other hand, called the win, in which Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips tied the single-season goalscoring record , one of the most enjoyable of his career. The two sides will do it all over again in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round on Thursday (8 pm ET, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2 in Canada). 5. COLUMBUS ON THE RISE The Columbus Crew climbed up to a third seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS). But it took a late goal from Bernardo Anor to seal the points which, according to Wil Trapp, is the kind of determination that shows the Crew's playoff potential. 6. FOND FAREWELL On an emotional night, Logan Pause finished his MLS playing career with one final win, helping the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS) last Friday. For the Dynamo, another defeat marked the end of a tough season and a difficult situation. 7. ANOTHER GOAL FOR NGUYEN The New England Revolution finished their regular season with a 1-0 win over Toronto FC (HIGHLIGHTS) and, believe it or not, their first shutout in two months. TFC feel they should have had a clean sheet of their own but, with another goal for Lee Nguyen, the Revs midfielder further enhanced his MVP claims. 8. NEVER GIVE UP In the final game of both clubs' seasons, Chivas USA climbed to seventh in the Western Conference thanks to a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes (HIGHLIGHTS), and head coach Wilmer Cabrera praised his team for never giving up. For the Earthquakes, though, things can only get better next season. 9. DI VAIO SAYS GOODBYE WITH A GOAL Although a late D.C. United equalizer in their 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact (HIGHLIGHTS) cancelled out Marco Di Vaio's goal in his final competitive game, it was still an incredible day for the retiring Italian striker. United's attention next turns to the playoffs, and it seems they've picked up some pretty cool new fans along the way. 10. RSL: BRING ON THE GALAXY! Real Salt Lake left back Chris Wingert had said that he hoped his side would get the LA Galaxy in the playoffs and, thanks to other results in the league this weekend, that's exactly who RSL got. Will they be ready? According to Ned Grabavoy, the whole side understand "the important time has come now." 11. SOUNDERS MAKING NEWS While Marco Pappa may have stolen the headlines during Saturday's Shield-clinching win, it's the Seattle Sounders' star strikers who found their way into the news this weekend. According to ESPN, Obafemi Martins has been rewarded with a new two-year deal. And will Clint Dempsey be heading out on loan again in January? 12. LOOKING FORWARD With their difficult seasons now wrapped up, both the San Jose Earthquakes and the Colorado Rapids can look toward the future. With a new stadium and a new head coach, there's plenty for the Quakes to look forward to, but after a mixed year, will Rapids striker Gabriel Torres be back in Denver next season? 13. EXPANSION TARGETS? Where will the next MLS expansion team be based? While it seems that officials from the Sacramento Republic, along with Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, are set to meet with MLS officials in New York on Tuesday, the Midwest clearly still remains a priority. 14. HOLDEN ON TO HOPE Ever wondered what it must be like for a player attempting to recover from a major injury? Few know the feeling quite as well as Stuart Holden, and the US international has started a blog to not only keep people up to date with his progress, but also offer an insight into the process. 15. BOUND FOR THE WORLD CUP Following a 3-0 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Women's Championship, the US women's national team qualified for next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. However, there's another World Cup coming up before then that you might not know about. MLSsoccer.com Musts Armchair Analyst: DP theory, a new attendance record and other week 33 thoughts FC Dallas announce shirt sponsor extension MLS Now: Breaking down the MLS playoff field