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Seattle
If you're a student interested in video production, the Sounders are looking for a digital media intern.
What's Obafemi Martins' reaction to missing out on the World Cup this year? "I'll play my own World Cup with the Seattle Sounders."
The Sounders will find out today whether they will be hosting in the 4th round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and which third round match up they'll be paired with.
.@usopencup fourth round flips have been delayed until Friday. Time TBD. #USOC2014
— Jeff Crandall (@jefecrandall) May 15, 2014
ESPN's Jeremy Schaap talked with Clint Dempsey about what it means to him to be the captain of the United States men's national team and his expectations for the World Cup.
MLS
MLSsoccer.com has a complete list of MLS players who have been named to World Cup rosters. Including alternates, 8 of the 32 nations at the World Cup have at least one MLS player on their rosters.
San Jose Earthquakes central defender Victor Bernardez has been suspended by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for one game for stepping on FC Dallas striker David Texeira. Although he was named to the Honduras roster for the World Cup, San Jose isn't releasing him until after this weekend's match in Seattle, so Bernardez will serve his suspension this weekend before joining his national team.
When asked whether Oriol Rossel will be joining Fredy Montero at Sporting CP, Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes denied the reports.
US Soccer
According to the Washington Post's Steven Goff, USWNT interim manager Jill Ellis will be announced as the new permanent manager of the national team in a press conference tomorrow.
Aron Johannsson's AZ Alkmaar failed to gain an advantage in the first leg of the Eredivisie Europa League play-off yesterday, missing a big chance after coming off the bench.
One month from today, the United States will play its first match of the 2014 World Cup when it faces Ghana in Natal's Arena das Dunas.
Jürgen Klinsman thinks his MLS-heavy squad has some catching up to do with other national teams, in terms of fitness.
USA captain Clint Dempsey was profiled in the latest edition MLS Insider:
2014 FIFA World Cup
Protesters took to the streets in Brazil yesterday in 50 cities demanding that the government begin spending on housing and infrastructure rather than stadiums for the World Cup. The government was forced to send troops to one World Cup host city, in response to a police strike.
Despite being included in Colombia's preliminary roster, Radamel Falcao is unlikely to be ready in time to play in the World Cup and will reportedly hold a press conference next week. Spain's Thiago Alcantara will also miss the World Cup.
South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo has demanded the release of defender Yun Suk-young from Queens Park Rangers. QPR has yet to release the player because it is set to play Derby County in the Championship Play-Off final on May 24th.
ESPN FC previews Mexico's World Cup team in its World Cup profile of El Tri.
NASL
The NASL may be the victim of a bit of collateral damage as a result of the new TV deal with MLS and ESPN. With ESPN set to handle MLS out of market streaming, the future of NASL's game of the week on ESPN3 is doubtful to continue beyond the end of the 2014 season. The league will likely have to look elsewhere for national exposure.
NWSL
The Houston Dash has bolstered its squad by adding UNC product Kelly McFarlane to its roster.
England
The winners of Saturday's FA Cup Final will be the first team to receive the newest version of the FA Cup trophy, which is only the third version in the competition's 144-year history.
Arsenal or Hull will lift a new FA Cup trophy on Saturday, just the 3rd edition of the trophy since 1911 (via @FA) pic.twitter.com/EXDNSuZBTH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 15, 2014
Chelsea is reportedly attempting to extend striker Romelu Lukaku's contract, though he is reluctant to sign a new deal without assurances of playing time with Chelsea.
Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic are set to play a pre-season friendly in August -- in Finland.
If you weren't already convinced that getting promoted to the Premier League is a huge deal for clubs, check out the kind of money teams in the Premier League made this season.
Germany
Bayern Munich and Chivas de Guadalajara will meet in New Jersey at Red Bull Arena on July 31st, as part of the Audi Football Summit.
Already linked with Barcelona and Pars Saint-Germain, Chelsea central defender David Luiz could move to Bayern Munich in a swap deal involving Mario Mandzukic.
Bayern winger Franck Ribery offered a bit of criticism of Pep Guardiola's rotation of players, including himself, Arjen Robben, and Thomas Muller.
The DFB Pokal Final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will be held tomorrow, and if you can correctly predict the final score, you could win a shirt.
Spain
After spending his entire playing career with the club, Barcelona captain and central defender Carles Puyol announced his retirement yesterday after spending 20 seasons with the club.
I've lived the dream of so many young kids, doing what I most enjoy in life: playing football and training.
I've won lots of titles, but the most important thing is the human warmth and feeling I take from this club. I came here as a boy and I'm leaving with a family who I'm really proud of.
Puyol's teammates will attempt to send him off with his 7th league title tomorrow in the season finale against Atlético Madrid.
Soccer on TV
According to NBC, nearly 5 million viewers in the United States watched the final day of the 2013/14 Premier League season. That total is a 172% increase over the previous high, which was set 2 years ago.
Gus Johnson wants to "create an American sound" in Fox's broadcasts of games.
Friday
| La Liga | 12:00 PM | Málaga vs. Levante | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| USL Pro | 5:00 PM | OKC Energy vs. Richmond Kickers | YouTube |
| Serie A | 5:00 PM | Total Italian Football | beIN Sports |
| Soccer Analysis | 6:00 PM | Express Xtra | beIN Sports |
Saturday
| La Liga | 7:00 AM | Real Madrid vs. Espanyol | beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| La Liga | 9:00 AM | Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| FA Cup | 9:00 AM | Arsenal vs. Hull City | Fox, Fox Soccer 2 Go |
| DFB Pokal Final | 11:00 AM | Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich | ESPN3, Univision Deportes |
| Friendly | 11:30 AM | Netherlands vs. Ecuador | ESPN3, ESPN Deportes |
| NWSL | 3:30 PM | Washington Spirit vs. Western New York Flash | YouTube |
| NASL | 4:30 PM | Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. New York Cosmos | ESPN3 |
| MLS | 7:00 PM | Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes | Q13 |
| MLS | 7:30 PM | Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew | Root Sports |
Sunday
| Serie A | 6:00 AM | Juventus vs. Cagliari | beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| Bundesliga Play-Off | 8:00 AM | Geruhter Fürth vs. Hamburger SV | GOL TV |
| Serie A | 11:45 AM | AC Milan vs. Sassuolo | beIN Sports, beIN Play |
| MLS | 12:00 PM | Chicago Fire vs. Sporting KC | Univision Deportes, UniMás |
| USL Pro | 1:00 PM | Sounders Reserves vs. OC Blues | YouTube |
| Argentina Primera Division | 1:30 PM | River Plate vs. Quilmes | GOL TV |
| Brazil Serie A | 2:30 PM | Santos vs. Atlético Mineiro | ESPN3 |
| NWSL | 3:00 PM | FC Kansas City vs. Houston Dash | YouTube |
| NWSL | 3:30 PM | Boston Breakers vs. Chicago Red Stars | YouTube |
| Liga MX Clausura Final (leg 2) | 6:00 PM | Pachuca vs. León | Univision Deportes, UniMás |