Major Link Soccer: Sounders take over the NY Times travel section

Seattle

Don Ruiz has a nice article detailing the resurgence of talent coming from the south Sound. The Sounders U-23 team has been one of the key cogs in the talent level, pulling the likes of DeAndre Yedlin, San Okoli and Aaron Kovar into MLS ranks.

The Cascadia rivalry has moved from the sports section of the New York Times into the travel area.

MLS

David Beckham's Miami plans took a hit after the Miami-Dade commissioners voted overwhelmingly against a stadium at PortMiami. This wasn't too much of a surprise, as Beckham conceded that the port location had been slotted to Plan B.

DaMarcus Beasley might join the ranks of high-profile American soccer players returning back to home. The 31-year-old has made it clear that he wants to return to MLS and was put on the transfer list for that reason.

Ex-Sounder Sanna Nyassi was named the top performer by the Castrol Index in Week 11.

The Orlando City Lions stadium situation is about to get ugly as the city has filed for eminent domain to take a piece of land owned by the Faith Deliverance Temple. The city offered $4 million for the land, which is much lower than the $15 million the church proposed last.

Central/South America

The Central American Football Union officially confirmed that the Central American Cup will take place in the U.S. from September 3-13. The Central American Cup determines which teams qualify for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with an overall end game at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Sports Boys Warnes, a first division Bolivian football club, made a rather interesting signing on Tuesday. 54-year-old Evo Morales might be the most high-profile soccer player in the world, even if he can only play for close to 20 minutes per match.

Europe

Manchester City continues to expand its global footprint after the City Football Group announced that it has become a minority shareholder of the Yokohama F Marinos. Of course, all of this money spending got Manchester City in trouble with UEFA and the club had to pay a 60 million euro fine for breaching financial fair play rules. City chairman Al Mubarak claims his club operates without any debt and will make a profit next year.

Richard Scudamore won't face any more punishment than a public shaming and an apology after the chief executive of the Premier League had some e-mails leaked that are, shall we say, a bit tasteless. The New York Times hammers the EPL for doing nothing in the face of overt sexism while still trying to promote a picture of equality in the league.

Nine-year-old Aberdeen fan Boyd Gibson needs to be given a job in the front office, if his long-term club plans are any indication.

Thanks Boyd Gibson from Aberdeen for your transfer suggestions! We'll be sure to pass them on to the manager! pic.twitter.com/TgMsZJlqyX

— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) May 20, 2014

Ashley Cole won't be wearing the Chelsea blue next year, and the left-back says that he has heard from up to eight clubs that are interested in his services.

Massimo Ambrosini is leaving Fiorentina, saying that the club had decided he is no longer in their plans despite Ambrosini wanting to stay. Ambrosini turns 37 this year and is often linked as a prime candidate to finish his playing career in the MLS.

Straight out of Jimmy Kimmel but not really, Brad Friedel took to the Internet to read some of the disparaging remarks that come in via his Twitter account.

Paris Saint-Germain might have to play their next Champions League game next season behind closed doors after UEFA opened up an investigation that supporters verbally abused disabled Chelsea fans. Five fans and their caregivers reportedly had coins, bottles, chewing gum and spit sent their direction by the PSG crowd.

Billy Beane is one of the geniuses behind moneyball, but now Atlético Madrid are busy putting the concept into place in La Liga. Despite paying an average of $3 million per player (compared to over $8 million for Barcelona and Real Madrid), the little team that could won the league title and will play for the Champions League title against Real Mardid. The Washington post has a breakdown of how Atlético is making it all work.

Now, for a quick serious Sounder at Heart PSA: always remember your friends and family's birthdays, because some people take them very seriously.

World Cup

Jumping onto the dog pile of people less than pleased with Brazil's World Cup preparations, Brazilian legend Pele called the situation in Brazil a disgrace and blamed corruption for the delays. The tournament starts in less than a month and three stadiums remain unfinished.

The USMNT announced the signing of Lupe Fiasco as the music director for the team. Fiasco will collaborate with US Soccer as they mount a campaign over the next couple of months.

There is a lot of prestige that comes with representing your country at the World Cup. There is also a bit of moneyinvolved, and it might be a blip on the $7 million yearly radar of Clint Dempsey, but DeAndre Yedlin will definitely notice the bump in his bank account.

There is a big changing of the guard taking place on the English National Team at the World Cup this year. Pro Soccer Talk reminds us of who the greats used to be, and who are the new greats to come.

Soccer to Watch

There isn't a lot on as most everyone else prepares for the World Cup. A few less than exciting friendlies, but two MLS games are available to view on MLS Live. DC United takes on Houston at 4 p.m. and LA Galaxy follows that up against Dallas at 7:30 p.m.