Top games to watch this week
Friday
Germany vs Zambia (Women's Friendly)
Portugal vs Ukraine (Women's Friendly)
Juárez vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
Necaxa vs Tijuana (Liga MX)
Saturday
Guadalajara vs San Luis (Liga MX)
Cruz Azul vs Toluca (Liga MX)
Panama vs Qatar (Gold Cup)
Mexico vs Costa Rica (Gold Cup)
Palmeiras vs Flamengo (Brasileirão)
Charlotte vs Cincinnati (MLS)
DC United vs Inter Miami (MLS)
Toronto vs St. Louis City (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs SJ Earthquakes (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Sunday
Guatemala vs Jamaica (Gold Cup)
USA vs Canada (Gold Cup)
Querétaro vs América (Liga MX)
Monterrey vs Atlas (Liga MX)
Fluminense vs Internacional (Brasileirão)
USA vs Wales (Women's Friendly)
Monday
León vs Pachuca (Liga MX)
Talleres de Córdoba vs Unión Santa Fe (Argentine Primera Division)
Boca Junios vs Huracán (Argentine Primera Division)
Tuesday
Banants vs Zrinjski (UEFA Champions League)
Lincoln Red Imps vs Qarabağ (UEFA Champions League)
Žalgiris vs Struga (UEFA Champions League)
Olimpija vs Valmiera / BSS (UEFA Champions League)
Raków Częstochowa vs Flora (UEFA Champions League)
Hamrun Spartans vs Maccabi Haifa (UEFA Champions League)
Ballkani vs Ludogorets (UEFA Champions League)
KÍ vs Ferencváros (UEFA Champions League)
Partizani Tirana vs BATE (UEFA Champions League)
Colo-Colo vs América Mineiro (Copa Sudamericana)
Corinthians vs Universitario (Copa Sudamericana)
Wednesday
CONCACAF Gold Cup - Semi-final 1
CONCACAF Gold Cup - Semi-final 2
New York RB vs Cincinnati (MLS)
Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union (MLS)
SJ Earthquakes vs Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs St. Louis City (MLS)
Medellín vs San Lorenzo (Copa Sudamericana)
Shamrock Rovers vs Breidablik (UEFA Champions League)
Astana vs Dinamo Tbilisi (UEFA Champions League)
HJK vs Larne (UEFA Champions League)
Häcken vs The New Saints (UEFA Champions League)
Farul Constanța vs Sheriff (UEFA Champions League)
Slovan Bratislava vs Swift Hesperange (UEFA Champions League)
Thursday
Santos Laguna vs Atlas (Liga MX)
Guadalajara vs Necaxa (Liga MX)
Libertad vs Tigre (Copa Sudamericana)
What are this week's must-watch games?
Mexico vs Costa Rica live this Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on UDN USA, Univision, TUDN App, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, Fox Sports 1, FOX Sports App, Foxsports.com, and ViX
The Gold Cup quarterfinals kick off this weekend, with Panama's clash with Qatar getting the last eight underway. However, all eyes will be on two games, with Mexico's showdown with Costa Rica being the first standout fixture. El Tri enter this tie on the back of a defeat while Costa Rica won their most recent fixture. Nonetheless, the odds favor the former as they kicked off their campaign with back-to-back wins over Honduras and Haiti before suffering a defeat against Qatar despite dominating the Middle-Eastern side. Los Ticos, on the other hand, lost to Panama in their opener before drawing with El Salvador. A 6-4 triumph over Martinique sealed progression but the Central American side will need to improve if they are to get past Mexico.
USA vs Canada live this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on TUDN USA, Univision, TUDN App, TUDN.com. Univision NOW, Fox Sports 1, FOX Sports App, Foxsports.com, and ViX
The other stellar quarterfinal tie sees the USMNT take on Canada in a repeat of the CONCACAF Nations League final, albeit with completely different rosters. The Stars and Stripes are the reigning champions but got off to a bumpy start, drawing 1-1 with Jamaica in their opening game. However, USA have been relentless since, winning their following two games by an aggregate score line of 12-0 to top their group ahead of Jamaica on goal difference. Les Rouges, on the other hand, failed to win their opening two games and only made the quarterfinals thanks to their 4-2 win over Cuba on the final day. Nonetheless, John Herdman's men finished second in their group and will thus have to overcome a mountain in order to make the semis.
Fluminense vs Internacional live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on Globo TV Internacional, Paramount+, Premiere 2, and VIX
Fluminense take on Internacional in an intriguing Brasileirão showdown as both sides aim to climb up the table. The home side, who are sixth but only two points adrift of the top four, will take to the field for the first time since head coach Fernando Diniz was named as the interim boss for the Brazil national team. The highly-rated 49-year-old tactician has not left the club but will instead take charge of both Tricolor Flu Fluzão and the Selecao for a year until Ancelotti becomes available. Internacional, on the other hand, are eighth in the table but are level on points with the home side. The visitors are on a 10-game unbeaten run but were unable to beat 10-man Cruzeiro in their recent outing.
The ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup is just over a fortnight away, but until then, there are still plenty of women's soccer games to keep fans entertained, including some exciting friendlies coming up over the next few days.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another week of women's soccer.
NWSL
Matchday 15 begins on Friday, July 7th with a triple-header. The action kicks off with a match featuring Orlando Pride and OL Reign, who come into this contest sitting in ninth and third respectively, followed by a potential table-changing clash between Racing Louisville (eighth, 16 points) and Kansas City Current (tenth, 15 points), and concluding with seventh-placed Houston Dash welcoming floundering Chicago Red Stars.
Saturday's NWSL action will be highlighted by a crunch clash starring San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit. Both teams have tumbled down the standings as of late, and currently sit in sixth and fourth respectively. However, given how congested things still are in the table, a win for either of these two sides could see them vaulting back up the table.
International Friendlies
As part of the preparations for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, several teams will be taking part in international warm-up friendly matches over the next week.
On Friday, July 7th, another World Cup debutant, Zambia, will face Germany in what will be a real tough test for the African nation. Zambia made history as the first landlocked African nation to qualify for a World Cup, and will be hosted by Germany as the two teams prepare for the big upcoming event later this month.
Sunday, July 9th will see reigning World Cup champions USA take on Wales as the Stars and Stripes aim to successfully defend their title in Australia and New Zealand in just a few weeks' time..
And finally, New Zealand, who will be co-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup along with Australia - marking the first time the region has hosted the event - will take on Vietnam, who are among the sides making their World Cup debut this summer.
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.
Top news in women's soccer
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup to set multiple milestones
On July 20th, the ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup will get underway, and the tournament has already set multiple milestones - even without a ball being kicked.
For starters, Australia and New Zealand will serve as co-hosts. This will be not only the first time that the women's World Cup has more than one host nation, but also the first time that two nations from different conferences will be holding the event. 32 teams will be taking part, an expansion from the original 24, and that means a whole slew of sides will be making their debuts.
A grand total of eight teams: Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam, Zambia, and the Philippines will be gracing the World Cup stage for the first time. In the case of the Philippines, the women's country will be the first time the Philippines features at a World Cup (including the men's version), while Portugal, Panama, and Vietnam have been represented at the World Cup, but not in the women's competition prior to this year.
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.
Major League Soccer: Preview, news and broadcast details for Matchday 23
After some great midweek clashes, including another installment of Los Angeles FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, nicknamed "El Trafico" by MLS supporters, fans will be treated to another batch of great games coming up this weekend.
Here's all you need to know ahead of matchday 23 in MLS.
How to watch Matchday 23 in the 2023 MLS season
Once again, fans will be in for another action-packed weekend. All the matches will be played on Saturday, July 8th, with kick-offs scheduled for 19.30 EST, 20.30 EST, 21.30 EST, and 22.30 EST (16.30 PST, 17.30 PST, 18.30 PST, and 19.30 PST).
In the Eastern Conference, key games include Charlotte vs Cincinnati, with the hosts hoping to become the latest team to nick points off a Cincinnati side who have stumbled recently. Although Cincinnati still have a relatively comfortable lead on top of the table, with six points separating them from Nashville, there will still be some concerns as to whether this minor slump is just a slight bump or the sign of something more worrying.
Nashville, for their part, could close the gap to three points if Charlotte beat Cincinnati and they pick up a vital victory over struggling Chicago Fire, whose mini-revival has now come to an end with their latest loss. Unfortunately for Toronto FC, the sacking of coach Bob Bradley hasn't appeared to help them reverse their miserable fortunes, as they come into their upcoming match against St. Louis, who are the Western Conference leaders, having lost four matches in a row.
Last-placed Inter Miami, who picked up another draw in their most recent fixture, could finally move out of last spot if they are able to get a good result against DC United, but that might be easier said than done as the Herons have won just five times this season and none of those victories have been recently.
As for proceedings in the Western Conference, league leaders St. Louis are expected to pick up all three points against a floundering Toronto FC, while second-placed Seattle Sounders, who ended their four match winless streak with a gritty 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo on Independence day, will aim to make it two wins on the spin when they travel to take on Vancouver Whitecaps. The latest iteration of "El Trafico" left one set of fans celebrating while the others were left feeling bitterly disappointed - and it's not what many would have anticipated.
Indeed, Los Angeles FC might be in third spot, but they now have lost three in a row, including a 2-1 reversal to Los Angeles Galaxy on Independence Day. They'll hope to rebound as they take on San Jose Earthquakes in another Californian derby, while the Galaxy, who ended a frustrating four-game winless streak with a vital win midweek, will host Philadelphia Union, who are in fifth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Some fans, especially those in the USA and Canada, will be able to follow some of these games on TV. However, for those who can't access MLS games via TV or prefer a more flexible option, MLS Season Pass offers live streaming of MLS matches in over 100 countries worldwide.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
More big name players for Inter Miami?
Although Inter Miami are currently languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, that hasn't prevented the Herons from still making headlines around the world. The team, who are co-owned by Manchester United icon David Beckham, among others, arguably pulled off the biggest transfer in franchise history when they announced the signature of none other than Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, who had been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and Barcelona.
In addition, Inter Miami followed that up with announcing that highly skilled midfielder Sergio Busquets will also be re-uniting with Messi in MLS. And now, another big name player has been linked with a move from Europe to Miami, with Sergio Ramos, who played with both Busquets and Messi at international and club level, being a reported target for the ambitions club.
Independence Day Derby sets matchday attendance record
On Tuesday, July 4th (or Independence Day as it's known in the USA), the 20th edition of the Los Angeles derby got underway at California's famed Rose Bowl stadium. Nicknamed El Trafico by MLS fans, the derby certainly did not disappoint, with viewers being entertained from start to finish. By the time the dust settled, the Galaxy had picked up a 2-1 victory to make it six games sans defeat, while Los Angeles FC slumped to their third straight win in the league (and eighth overall in their last 11 across comps).
And the match, which was initially scheduled for March but was rescheduled due to bad weather, set a massive record. Over 80,000 (82,110 to be precise) were in attendance, smashing the previous record of 74,479 that was set in March 2022 when Charlotte took on the Galaxy.
Make sure to check out our special Major League Soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
Biggest stories of the week
Ancelotti's appointment as Brazil's coach slammed by high-profile figure
Whenever a politician speaks about soccer, fans are entitled to raise their eyebrows and question their motives. This time, Brazilian fans who love their national team have every right to do so considering the source of criticism about their coach-to-be.
Carlo Ancelotti's appointment with Brazil has been met with positive comments by fans and experts, even if he will become the third non-Brazilian boss (and first since 1965) to take over as A Canarinha's main man. Today, the first criticism against "Carletto" came from none other than Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio "Lula" Da Silva.
In a recent interview, the president of the South American country -who is known for his love for all-things Brazilian and for spending quite a bit of time in jail- criticized Ancelotti's appointment, hinting that he should have considered other employment opportunities rather than joining the Verdeamarelha.
"He has never been Italy's coach. Why doesn't he go and solve Italy's problems, especially after missing out on the previous World Cup?" "Lula" told SBT.
Going further in the interview, the president shared his views on the real problem for Brazil's team, which has to do with the talent pool available for the incoming coach.
"The main problem is that we don't have the kind of players we used to have. We're living in a time where kids leave Brazil when they are 16, 17, or 18 years old, and they only return when they have turned 36, 37, or 38. I mean, we let players leave in the prime of live and we hire them back when they are about to retire," the president added.
Even if he did not like Ancelotti's appointment, "Lula" did seem to favor Fernando Diniz's appointment as interim coach, which is set to end in 2024.
"I like Diniz's creativity and his personality. I think it is a great chance for him and I believe he will make the most out of it," the South American politician added.
Brazil and Ancelotti are expected to cross paths after the end of the 2023-24 La Liga season, when his deal with Real Madrid comes to an end. For further details on where to watch Brazil's games and Ancelotti's final matches with Los Blancos, be sure to visit our dedicated websites for La Liga and for the Brazilian National team.
Real Madrid beat La Liga champions Barcelona to the signing of midfield wonderkid
Barcelona might have beaten Real Madrid on the pitch in La Liga last season, but Los Blancos have just gotten one over their bitter rivals in the transfer window.
The two Spanish giants were locked in a transfer battle for one of the most highly-rated young midfielders. That player is Arda Güler, the Fenerbahce wonderkid who has drawn comparisons with Mesut Ozil and Lionel Messi due to his outstanding creativity, exquisite tight-space dribbling, and magical left foot.
The 18-year-old had been linked with an array of clubs, including Arsenal, Newcastle, Benfica, and AC Milan. However, it ultimately came down to Barcelona or Real Madrid, with Los Blancos winning this crucial battle.
Güler decided on a Santiago Bernabeu move over a Camp Nou switch, which is a huge blow to the Catalan giants. Arda had a modest $19M release clause, which Fenerbahce wanted triggered. However, the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners ended up paying just over $21M in order to get the player without complications, with the Turkish heavyweights even securing a 20 percent sell-on clause.
Güler is just the latest name in a growing list of young and talented midfielders to join Real Madrid. After relying on the Modric-Kroos-Casemiro spine for years, Florentino Perez has done wonders to inject youth into his midfield, signing the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and most recently Jude Bellingham.
And with Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, who is a striker, set to arrive at the Bernabeu in July 2024, Los Merengues could have a star-studded squad of some of the best young players in the world. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what Perez and Co. do in the transfer window between now and deadline day as the need to replace the departed Karim Benzema lingers.
Former Barcelona starlet Riqui Puig sends warning to Messi and Busquets ahead of their MLS arrival
Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, two of the greatest players of all time, are headed to the MLS. However, while many critics have accused the two Barcelona icons of going down the easy route in the final few years of their careers, one former teammate has handed the pair a warning regarding the competition.
That man is Riqui Puig, the former Blaugrana starlet who played with the Argentine and Spaniard during his time at Camp Nou. Puig, who currently plays for LA Galaxy, made the move from Catalonia to California last year and is thus familiar with the differences between life in Major League Soccer and in Europe's top-five leagues.
Messi and Busquets are both headed to Inter Miami, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Speaking on this matter, former Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale argued that life in the MLS is comfortable and relaxed but Puig has spoken of a different aspect that his former teammates might struggle with.
Speaking to AS, the 23-year-old admitted to being happy for the Barcelona legends and argued that they are arriving at a competitive league. Additionally, he added that the MLS will benefit from their arrival.
"I think it is a league with a great future. Now that Leo and Busquets have arrived, I think they can give a lot to this league and the league can give them a lot. I think it's a spectacular place to learn, or to finish the great careers that they have. I'm very happy for them. I have been able to speak with Busi and he is very happy. What I liked the most is that there is a high level in this league because all the teams can beat anyone and it is a league where there is a lot of competition."
However, what might the Argentine attacker and Spanish midfielder struggle to adapt with? According to Puig, the time changes and trips can be grueling as it offers little time for rest to the players.
"The thing I dislike is the trips and the time changes. I think that for a player sometimes resting well is very difficult, that's one of the things that have been difficult for me to adapt to."
One thing that is certain is Inter Miami will need their two signings through the door as soon as possible given their abysmal season. The Herons, as mentioned earlier, are bottom of the table in their conference but have made several changes to turn their fortunes around, including hiring former Barcelona manager Tata Martino to lead the club.
Ratcliffe still keen to buy Man Utd as sale process drags on
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he remains focused on completing a takeover of Manchester United as the battle to buy the Red Devils drags on.
Ratcliffe, founder of chemicals giant INEOS, is one of two leading candidates to take over the 20-time English champions, along with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
United's current owners, the Glazer family, are understood to value the Premier League club at £6 billion ($7.6 billion), with American bank Raine Group overseeing the bidding.
Deeply unpopular with supporters since they saddled the club with debt in a £790 million leveraged takeover in 2005, the Glazers appeared ready to cash out at an enormous profit when they first invited external investment in November.
However, the drawn-out process, even after three rounds of bidding, has left fans further frustrated that a takeover is now unlikely to be completed in time for the start of the new season.
"We have a good offer. We have met the Glazers a couple of times and had a good conversation but at the end of the day it's their decision," Ratcliffe said at a book launch on Wednesday.
"We still very much would like to do it. I also believe we would do a good job and do it for the right reasons. We keep very focused on it."
Sheikh Jassim's bid team has promised to erase United's £970 million ($1.2 billion) debt and take control of 100 percent of the club.
In contrast, Ratcliffe has reportedly sought to take a majority stake falling short of 100 percent and could allow executive co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer to retain their stakes in United.
But Ratcliffe, a boyhood United fan, said he would not seek to profit during his running of the club, with his returns to come from selling at a future date.
"They ain't making them any more, Manchester United and these type of clubs," Ratcliffe added.
"It's like art or areas like that when you have special things and their value continues to pick up over time because they are very special and rare.
"I don't like throwing money away or losing money. It doesn't make me happy at all but we aren't there to make money out of it. If it's a really good asset it will increase its value over time."
Ratcliffe also knocked down any suggestion that INEOS could be handed naming rights to Old Trafford.
"God no. That would be heresy," he added.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Liga MX and Vix announce agreement to stream matches for 17 teams
TelevisaUnivisión has signed a deal with the Mexican Football Federation and seventeen of the eighteen teams in Liga MX to stream all games for the Mexican top-flight on VIX, the company's premium streaming platform.
VIX will cover all but one of the Mexican top-flight teams by making available games aired on Televisa's linear channels and on Fox Sports Mexico. The teams that will have their live games streamed on this platform are: América, Atlas, Cruz Azul, Guadalajara, Juárez, León, Mazatlán, Monterrey, Necaxa, Pachuca, Puebla, Querétaro, Santos Laguna, Tigres UANL, Toluca, UNAM and Xolos.
Initially, the deal between the streaming platform and Liga MX teams will go on from 2023 until 2026, when new terms are expected to be negotiated between the league and its other partners.
Bayer Leverkusen sign Xhaka from Arsenal
Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Arsenal on a five-year deal, the German club announced on Thursday.
Xhaka, 30, signed for Arsenal in 2016 and had a year remaining on his contract but was expected to leave with the Gunners pursuing a move for England international Declan Rice.
"In Granit we have been able to bring in an absolute top player," said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes in a club statement.
Xhaka returns to the Bundesliga in a reported 25-million-euro ($27.2m) switch after a seven-year stint with Arsenal that saw him win the FA Cup twice but also be stripped of the club captaincy.
He scored 23 goals in 297 appearances for the Gunners, including twice on the final day of the season in a 5-0 home win over Wolves as Arsenal finished second in the Premier League.
His fond farewell from Arsenal supporters was evidence of Xhaka's remarkable turnaround after he infamously swore at the crowd during a 2019 match with Crystal Palace.
Huge blow for Chelsea and Arsenal as Brighton reveal their asking price for highly-rated midfielder Moises Caicedo
According to British news outlet the Telegraph, Brighton are set to demand more than £100M (north of $128M) for Moises Caicedo. The Seagulls are using Declan Rice as the benchmark, with the West Ham captain set to leave the Hammers for Arsenal for a whopping £105M (roughly $134M) in total.
Despite the difference in age and experience, Roberto de Zerbi's side see Moises as a comparable player to Rice and will thus demand a fee in the same ballpark. This could be problematic for both Chelsea and Arsenal as the Gunners are unlikely to spend £100M+ for a second player in the same window while the Blues have already dished out a nine-figure transfer fee for a player earlier this year in the form of Enzo Fernandez.
This could explain why Arsenal's interest in the player has never materialized into an actual bid following their failed attempt to sign the Ecuadorian back in January. While Edu and Co. can back out of a Caicedo pursuit due to the inevitable arrival of Rice, Pochettino's side are in a desperate situation as the exits of N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben-Loftus Cheek, and Jorginho have left them extremely light in midfield.
