MLS cancels All-Star Game and other events

MLS announced Tuesday that it was canceling July’s All-Star Game and two other events that also pit the league's teams against opposition from Mexico.

Coronavirus: MLS cancels its 2020 All-Star game, two other events against Mexico's best

MLS announced Tuesday that it was canceling July’s All-Star game and two other events that also pit the league's teams against opposition from Mexico.

MLS All-Star Game in LA canceled due to pandemic

NEW YORK (AP) -- Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game has been canceled for the first time in its quarter-century history because of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLS All-Star Game in LA cancelled due to pandemic

NEW YORK — Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game has been cancelled for the first time in its quarter-century history because of the coronavirus pandemic.MLS All-Stars had been scheduled to play counterparts from Mexico’s Liga MX on July 29 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. MLS said Tuesday that the 2021 game will take place at Banc of California Stadium, most likely against All-Stars from Liga MX.The third Campeones Cup between the MLS and Liga MX champions also was cancelled, along with the second edition of the Leagues Cup between teams from those two leagues.MLS was stopped two games into its season in mid-March because of the pandemic. The league is considering having all 26 teams resume play with a tournament at Walt Disney World outside Orlando, Florida.The league and the MLS Players Association have exchanged proposals on how to resume play. The union estimates the league’s offer would cost players $220 million over time and that its proposal would cut $100 million from 2020 salaries that total about $310 million.___More AP soccer: https://ift.tt/2Jaxh9l and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsThe Associated Press

MLS cancels 2020 all-star game in Los Angeles plus two other showcase contests

TORONTO — Major League Soccer has cancelled its 2020 all-star game as well as the Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup.The all-star game, pitting MLS all-stars against their Mexican league counterparts, was scheduled for July 29 at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.The second edition of the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring MLS and Liga MX teams, was slated to run between July and September. The third edition of the Campeones Cup was scheduled for Aug. 12 in Seattle between the MLS champion Sounders and Mexican league winner.ML said the games were cancelled "to provide the most available dates for the remainder of the year for league competition."The league said all three marquee events will return in 2021. MLS suspended play on March 12, two weeks into the 2020 season, due to the global pandemic. Teams have begun individual voluntary outdoor workouts at their training facilities amidst reports the league is looking to play games out of a central hub, possibly in the Orlando area, later in the summer.The league said the 2021 MLS all-star game will take place in Los Angeles at the same venue with "every expectation" that MLS and Liga MX all-stars will face off.MLS also said it was reviewing proposals from three cities to host the 2022 all-star game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2020.The Canadian Press

Union study finds footballers in England anxious over future

The coronavirus lockdown is having an impact on the mental health of footballers in England, according to a study by their union. Around 70% of Professional Footballers' Association members who responded to a survey over the last month said they were worried about their futures in the sport or their livelihood. ''Some of the players at the lower division clubs are on short-term contracts that are up and some of them are living from paycheck to paycheck,'' Professional Footballers' Association welfare director Michael Bennett told The Associated Press.

Bayern wins on Bundesliga return in silent stadium

Defending champion Bayern Munich returned to action Sunday with a 2-0 win at Union Berlin as the restart of German soccer continued in empty stadiums. Players' shouts echoed off the rows of concrete terracing around Union's stadium as Bayern moved closer to an eighth straight league title. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was cautiously optimistic after the league avoided major incidents on its reopening weekend.

All quiet for Union Berlin's biggest game of the season

A strong police and media presence outside the stadium provided the only clues that Union Berlin was about to play Bayern Munich in its biggest - and quietest - Bundesliga game of the season on Sunday. The game, which Bayern won 2-0, was held amid strict hygiene measures because of the coronavirus pandemic. ''We were hoping to get something of the game, but they're not letting anyone through,'' Union fan Helga Wischke told The Associated Press.

Dallas defender Hollingshead fosters baby amid pandemic

With two children of their own, FC Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead and his wife, Taylor, wanted to add to their young family in a way that would align with a desire to help others. Guided by that faith, last year the couple went through the process to become foster parents. Foster parents are tasked with providing love and care with the knowledge that eventually the children may be reunited with their parents or another family member.

MLS announces partnership with youth soccer association

Major League Soccer is collaborating with U.S. Youth Soccer to identify top players while also giving children from underserved communities an opportunity to showcase their talents without costly travel.MLS and soccer’s largest youth organization on Friday announced a new regional competition model that they say will allow boys and girls to be seen and scouted, regardless of their location or financial resources. MLS will absorb all the expenses for players attending and participating in regional competitions at certain age levels.“First and foremost, we want to develop players,” said Gordon Bengtson, MLS senior director of player development. “And so, combine the ability to reach players directly in any corner of the country and also help facilitate growing the game, this was just a natural relationship to really pursue in earnest.”U.S. Youth Soccer's membership exceeds 3 million boys and girls.The new partnership expands the effort to identify young talent beyond the new competitive league for elite-level players announced earlier in the week by MLS. That includes youth from all economic backgrounds from parts of the country that might not have strong leagues and competition.The elite league includes teams from all 26 current MLS franchises, the four planned expansion clubs, five USL teams and 60 nonprofessional clubs. The league's initiatives help fill the void left by the demise of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.The development academy was disbanded April 15 amid financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving some 200 youth teams nationwide with an uncertain future. Launched in 2007, the USSF academy had included competitions in five age groups.MLS will collaborate with USYS and its 55 state associations to develop the broader competition model announced Friday.“With a country our size and only 30 MLS academies developing players, that is barely scratching the surface. So we view this as an opportunity to collaborate with an organization that covers every inch of the country and that will allow us the opportunity to leave no stone unturned to finding the next homegrown star,” said Bengtson.Bengtson said the partnership would include opportunities to collaborate on such things as coach and technical leadership training, innovation of competition models and calendars and marketing.Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press

The Latest: MLS extends moratorium on group, team training

Major League Soccer is extending a league-wide moratorium on group and team training through June 1. MLS players are permitted to use outdoor team training fields for voluntary individual workouts, in compliance with local health authorities and government orders, that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts. Team training facilities remain closed to all players, with the exception of those requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residences.

Toronto FC fullback Justin Morrow happy to be back on the training field

Toronto FC fullback Justin Morrow's new normal is driving to the training ground in his soccer uniform, bringing a ball and training cones with him.He has to complete a questionnaire before leaving the house, undergo a temperature check when he arrives at the club's north Toronto training centre and wear a mask from his car to the field for a solo workout."When we're on the field we're alone," he told a media conference call Thursday. "I can see my teammates there. I might be able to shout to them but we not really interacting."He says it reminds him of something he might do in the off-season, if he went on vacation and only had a ball with him."I'm doing some running, I'm doing some dribbling but not much more than that. So in that sense it's strange." Still, the Cleveland native welcomes the chance to put his cleats back on and work with a ball on a decent pitch, via the voluntary individual workouts that started Monday for the Toronto players."It's tough being a professional athlete trying to stay fit at home," he said. "Not being able to touch a soccer ball. It's really difficult.""I think the club's done an incredible job of getting of getting equipment out to us and giving us everything that they possibly could so that we could stay on top of things. But without space, it's really difficult to stay on top of what we need to do. So it's been really good to get back on the field and touch the ball again."He says it's also a form of mental relief "because it feels like OK, we're making some progress."MLS suspended play March 12, two weeks into the 2020 season due to the global pandemic. The league is reportedly looking at taking all 26 clubs to the Orlando area this summer for a training camp and then games without spectators.Morrow understands the league's desire to get back in action as soon as possible while limiting the risk to all concerned."Everything that we're doing has risk to it — whether it's individual training, group training, full team training or full games, there's risk," said Morrow. "And so at that point, being in Orlando centralized, I would feel comfortable that the league has taken all the proper precautions to keep us safe. And to keep us away from harm."But at the same time, this virus is very potent. So I would feel comfortable playing in a situation like this. I would just hope that there's some time between now and when that process actually starts, to really nail down the protocol so everyone's best interests are taken care of."While he said being away from his family would be tough in such a situation, he would prefer they stayed home."I feel pretty safe with them here up in Toronto," he said. "Going down there is something I would want to take on my shoulders and not any more of my family"With the Bundesliga returning to action this week, Morrow said he's excited to see how the German league fares. But he is not concerning himself with how COVID-19 might change the game, from goal celebrations to team meals in an era of physical distancing."Every time I think about how weird or how different it might be, I just come to think that everyone is doing their best in a really tough situation ... You don't want to jeopardize anybody's safety and so we're all just trying to find a balance here."The 32-year-old Morrow wants to get back to action, even if it means playing before empty stadiums."I'm not getting any younger and my career's not going to last forever. So I'd like to get in some games while my legs are still working," he said with a laugh.Morrow says his fitness level is probably what it would be at the start of training camp."Getting the touch of the ball back, getting my legs back underneath me from running sprints and stuff like that. Those are the things I haven't done in about two months now."The club is dividing up the workouts with a group of some 14 training on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday and the remaining players working out Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They have two shifts a day with staggered arrival times, to avoid congestion in the parking lot.After being in lockdown, it's good to see a friendly face — even at distance."Everyone had a smile on their face," Morrow said.Still it's different."It strange to talk to your teammates from six, 10 feet away — with a mask on. It's just not the same. But at the same time, we've all been on our own now for two months. And so it's just nice to see those guys at all."They are using two fields, with four players per pitch — each working by themselves in a separate quadrant. There's one coach per field.The players learn of their training times and drills, complete with diagrams, via an app.The only players not in town at striker Jozy Altidore, who is in Florida, and defender Laurent Ciman, who is back in Montreal at his family home. Both are doing their own workouts.On a personal note, Morrow feels fortunate that his immediate and extended family is healthy. His home in Toronto has a backyard so he has a little more space to have with his Paraguayan wife Jimena and daughters Chiara and Lucia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2020.\---Follow @NeilMDavidson on TwitterNeil Davidson, The Canadian Press

MLS now involved in U.S. youth development

Less than a month after U.S. Soccer shuttered its Development Academy, MLS took the first step toward replacing it.

Alex Morgan gives birth to girl 3 days before Mother's Day

U.S. national soccer team star Alex Morgan has become a mom just in time for Mother’s Day. Morgan announced Saturday on social media that she gave birth to daughter Charlie Elena Carrasco at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Morgan and husband Servando Carrasco, who is a midfielder for the LA Galaxy, announced in October that they were expecting their first child in April.

Dynamo Dresden's return halted with 2 more cases of COVID-19

Two players at German second division side Dynamo Dresden tested positive for the new coronavirus on Saturday, putting on hold the club’s planned return to soccer next weekend. Dresden was to play Hannover away on May 17 when the league resumes after a two-month suspension, but the entire squad, coaching and supervisory staff must now go into 14 days of quarantine at home. One player tested positive for COVID-19 in the first wave of tests and has been in quarantine since May 3.

TFC's Delgado ready for video game challenge against Whitecaps' Godoy

TORONTO — The soccer rivalry between Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps adds a new virtual chapter Sunday as Toronto midfielder Marky Delgado takes on Whitecaps defender Erik Godoy in the eMLS Tournament Special.TFC pro gamer Phil (PhilB94) Balke plays Whitecaps counterpart Alex (Exraa) Gonzalez-Aldana in the other half of the esports matchup using EA Sports' FIFA game.Delgado is considered one of the top gamers on the TFC roster but acknowledges he hadn't sat down at his video game console for a while."Once I got the email (invitation), I had nothing else to do, I had nothing but time. And I said "Why not?' So I started putting in some work, I guess you could say, some practice."The team with the highest aggregate score after the two matches moves on to the next round, with a golden goal tiebreaker between the two MLS players taking place if the teams are tied.Given the players will use their own team in the game, choosing the starting lineup may be the most sensitive task for Delgado."I was thinking about that,' Delgado said with a laugh. "I'll have to be cautious with my substitutions."Several teammates have already told him they will be watching his managerial decisions.Delgado and Balke have put their heads together in advance."I'm pretty confident even if we don't know how good they are," Delgado said of the Whitecaps gaming duo.The winner of the all-Canadian series will meet either Atlanta United or Orlando City SC later Sunday to see who moves on to the final four May 17.The eMLS Tournament Special started April 19 with 16 teams, each fielding a player and esports representative. All the matches have been played remotely with the MLS and eMLS players competing from home.Awaiting the results of Sunday's play is New York City FC, which has already made the semifinal on the Canadian teams' side of the bracket. NYCFC, whose player representative is Sean Johnson, has already dispatched the rival Red Bulls and FC Dallas.Delgado would relish facing NYCFC, which showed interest in taking him second overall in the 2014 Chivas USA dispersal draft but elected to take Matt Dunn instead. Toronto then used the 14th overall pick to select Delgado.The semifinal on the other side of the eMLS Tournament bracket pits Los Angeles FC against Sporting Kansas City. LAFC has already beaten the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire FC. Kansas City defeated Minnesota United and D.C. United.MLS Works, the league's social responsibility platform, and Fox Sports will make a donation on behalf of the winning club to Feeding America, with MLS also supporting Food Banks Canada.Delgado reached agreement with the club in late April on a new long-term deal after some lengthy discussions."We're still waiting on the league to approve everything. But I'm definitely excited about it," he said. "Thankful for the opportunity to continue representing the club."Just 24, the Californian has already played 182 MLS regular-season and playoff games with all but 37 of those in Toronto colours. Delgado made US$253,000 last season, which ranked 16th among TFC players. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2020.\---Follow @NeilMDavidson on TwitterNeil Davidson, The Canadian Press

Could the NBA-style transfer system of MLS be a template for world soccer post-coronavirus?

MLS' system is convoluted and prioritizes trades, standing as a quarter-century outlier to the rest of the planet's transfer market. That might have to change.

Four MLS teams allow individual workouts, more to follow

Four Major League Soccer teams took the first small step toward returning to play Wednesday by allowing players to use team training fields for individual workouts. Sporting Kansas City, Atlanta United, Orlando City and Inter Miami let players in for vigorously controlled voluntary workouts on the first day they were permitted by the league.

Young TFC winger spending time with new puppy and working on kitchen skills

Toronto FC winger Jacob Shaffelburg had just moved into his own place when the COVID-19 lockdown happened.After completing training camp, Shaffelburg and the MLS club remained in California for the Feb. 29 season opener in San Jose before returning home for the March 7 home debut against New York City FC.Less than a week later, as Shaffelburg was settling into his new home, the pandemic shut down sports — and a lot else. Suddenly living downtown took a different turn."I love it here, but it's a bit of a bummer that everything's shut down," he said, echoing a view held by many.But the 20-year-old says he is doing fine, thanks in part to his new puppy — a mini-Cockapoo named Frank."He's been keeping me quite the company the last two weeks, which has been nice," said Shaffelburg.Still, the recent deadly shooting rampage in rural Nova Scotia — some two hours away from his home of Port Williams — left Shaffelburg shocked and saddened.He takes solace from how Canadians have reacted in the aftermath, from the CN Tower to Niagara Falls lit up in the blue and white colours of the Nova Scotia flag."It was nice to see that. It was heart-warming," he said.He also appreciated teammates reaching to make sure he and his family were OK.The young midfielder has been doing his best to stay active, participating in video workouts with teammates and going for morning runs outdoors. But as far as ball work is concerned, he is pretty much restricted to doing it around the house."It's tough to find a spot (outdoors)," he said.That may change soon. MLS has OK'd individual player workouts outdoors at team training facilities, although the protocol for making it happen is complicated.He took full advantage of the glorious weather in Toronto last Sunday, taking Frank out for an extended outing in the sun."I got pretty burned, but it was worth it," he said Food is not an issue, given the team is delivering two meals a day for six days of the week."The meals have been amazing," he said.Shaffelburg has been working on his kitchen skills with weekly cooking classes with his family back home in Nova Scotia. Every Tuesday, his family and friends connect on a Zoom call "and we all learn how to cook something new."This week's dish was chicken Pad Thai."I'm decent. I'm getting better," he said. "This has been a good time for me (for cooking). I've been learning more stuff, which has been really nice."He is working on building up his collection of spices.As for TV, he just finished watching "Outer Banks" and is caught up on "The Last Dance," both on Netflix.A pacey winger who likes to run at defenders, Shaffelburg made 10 appearances last season and started the season opener this season against the Earthquakes.He signed with the first team last June after working his way up the academy ranks. He attended the Berkshire School in Massachusetts, where Toronto rookie Ifunanyachi Achara was captain during Shaffelburg's freshman year.The 22-year-old Achara turned heads at Toronto's training camp and was rewarded with a start in the home opener."He knows what he wants. A really good guy, as well," said Shaffelburg. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2020.\---Follow @NeilMDavidson on TwitterNeil Davidson, The Canadian Press

Toronto FC chef still hard at work and getting rave reviews during pandemic

TORONTO — Chef Elaine Flamenco is valued by Toronto FC players, coaches and staff for far more than her food.Flamenco and her culinary team at the MLS club's north Toronto training facility — Vince Ebuen, Ravi Nanayakkara and Bobby Ponniah — treat everyone who comes into their dining room as family."Many many people have come to the building and the first thing I'll say to them is 'Regardless of everything you see and everything that goes on, the best part of it is the kitchen,'" said head coach Greg Vanney.Flamenco sets the tone."Elaine is such an amazing woman," said captain Michael Bradley. "The aura that you can feel in that kitchen and in that dining room every day when you walk in at the training ground, that part is so special. And obviously she has an amazing staff."Just as the kitchen is a focal point of most homes, TFC's cafeteria-style dining room is a gathering point at the training centre.It's a welcoming spot, with a panoramic view of the outdoor training fields. The first team lounge is adjacent to the dining area, with smiles and music coming from the open kitchen."That's really the heart of our club. Where a lot of things get talked about and get shared and they're really the catalyst for all of that," Vanney said of the cooking team. "And Elaine is the leader. She's like our mother, big sister, friend and everything in between."And the food?"For me it's as good as any restaurant we go to," said Vanney. "We're really really spoiled in terms of what we get to eat every day."Flamenco continues to cook during the pandemic, preparing meals that are delivered to the players at home. The food is sent out every other day, with 27 first-team players (two are out of town) getting two lunches and two dinners on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.She also provides one meal a day for 15 players on Toronto FC 2, the club's USL team. That prompted a recent thank you video from some of the USL players, who are mostly young and on their own.Players can use an app to select from meal options. The food is cooked taking into account the need to reheat.Flamenco is regularly in contact with the team's sport science experts on what the players need. With the players currently at home with limited training available, portion size is a factor, although Flamenco often gets kudos from the players' families.Her daily goal is simple: make healthy food that tastes great.Sample meals have included chicken skewers, basa fish, flank steak and salmon plus a starch, vegetable, salads and fruit salad. Flamenco looks to keep things as close as possible to what the players had when the training facility was open, to maintain a degree of normalcy.Having players avoid lineups at grocery stores — and unnecessary contact outside of their home — is another plus."The meals have been amazing. They've been like a life-saver," said 20-year-old winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who had just moved into his own place when the pandemic struck.For Bradley, the meal service is one less thing to worry about during difficult times."For athletes who are still trying to train and push your body to work, it becomes even more important. The way that they've been able to get everybody meals every day, that part has been amazing," he said. "It makes such a difference." Keeping the food coming has proved challenging during the pandemic, from getting the supplies Flamenco needs to working in a largely deserted training centre."It's really a ghost town," she said.It has been largely been just her and sous-chef Ebuen because of the need for physical distancing in the kitchen, although Nanayakkara returned recently to help ease the load.Everything takes longer. Only certain people are allowed into the building so deliveries are met at the door. Paper invoices are a thing of the past.While Flamenco loves her job, she acknowledges it is hard mentally with everyone gone. "Occasionally I'll start doing some work and I'll put my head up thinking that somebody's going to enter or say something. And no one's really there. It's just a little sad." Flamenco, 35, has been with the team since 2012 as part of Pinnacle Caterers, which has close ties to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment through its catering for suites Scotiabank Arena and BMO Field.Cooking has always been Flamenco's love."Food brings people together," she said simply.Flamenco studied culinary management at George Brown College before working a year at Scotiabank Arena. She then returned to school to study nutrition, looking to combine that knowledge with her cooking skills — "and kind of make it my own."The youngest in a family of five, she lives with her parents. She heads straight to the shower at home after work, just to be safe, and then often ends up back in the kitchen, whipping up something simple for her folks."My mom's been quite enjoying this for sure," she said.At work, Flamenco manages to keep track of the players' different tastes, likes, dislikes and needs."The way that she and her team are able to do it all is incredible. And it certainly doesn't go unnoticed," said Bradley.There are other little touches. A staffer coming down with a cold might find a soothing special tea sent his way unasked.Flamenco, who speaks Spanish thanks to her parents' El Salvadorean heritage, is so valuable that the team took her with them when they travelled to Mexico for CONCACAF Champions League games.For Flamenco, it was a chance to meet new chefs and cook with local foods. For the travelling TFC players, it was pure comfort food."It felt like being home in many ways," Vanney said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2020.\---Follow @NeilMDavidson on TwitterNeil Davidson, The Canadian Press

NWSL to allow individual workouts starting Wednesday

The National Women's Soccer League will allow voluntary, individual workouts at outdoor team practice fields starting Wednesday. The league's announcement Monday follows a similar decision by Major League Soccer. The nine-team NWSL was supposed to start the season April 18 but it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLS reopening training facilities under strict rules

MLS will become the first North American sports league to allow its players to return to team facilities for individual workouts.