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Seattle
Jess Fishlock scored a hat trick for Wales in its 4-0 World Cup qualifying win against Montenegro. Sydney Leroux provided the equalizing goal in the USWNT's 1-1 draw against Canada.
Freddie Ljungberg is currently in China on a 6-day tour that has him visiting Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai to make public appearances in his role as an ambassador for Arsenal.
Four Sounders made SBI's MLS Best XI for April: Chad Marshall, Lamar Neagle, Obafemi Martins, and Clint Dempsey.
On Wednesday, we again saw Kenny Cooper deciding not to celebrate a goal against a former team. Given Dempsey's feelings regarding his first professional team, it will probably be a similar story if he scores against New England on Sunday.
Jimmy Ockford filed the latest entry in "the Ockford Files" over at Empire of Soccer, in which he talks about what a typical day training with the New York Cosmos is like.
MLS
The league will reportedly announce a new TV deal with ESPN and Fox at some point in the next week, perhaps as soon as Monday.
Former USMNT and Chicago Fire striker Brian McBride will join Frank Yallop's coaching staff for the next few months.
Frank Yallop tells reporters at training that Brian McBride is serving in a part time coaching capacity the next few months. #cf97
— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) May 8, 2014
USMNT left back DaMarcus Beasley is planning on moving to MLS this summer, according to a report in a Puebla newspaper.
The Bent Musket wonders if the New England Revolution is one of the best teams in MLS right now.
Philadelphia Union defender Amobi Okugo participated in a Reddit AMA yesterday.
The Colorado Rapids traded Marvin Chavez to Chivas USA for Luke Moore, who was promptly sent to Toronto FC in exchange for Gale Agbossoumonde. Chivas USA replaced Moore by trading a conditional 2016 second round draft pick to the Columbus Crew for forward Ryan Findley.
Bofo Bautista's Chivas USA career may already be over.
San Jose Earthquakes defender Andreas Gorlitz will miss the rest of the 2014 season, after tearing his ACL.
Eddie Johnson has apologized to his DC United teammates for comments he made comparing them to his teammates in Seattle.
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
In first round action of the 101st edition of the US Open Cup, the Western Mass Pioneers defeated GPS Massachusetts 4-1, Lehigh Valley United eliminated GPS Portland Phoenix 1-0 after extra time, RWB Adria advanced on penalties over Detroit City FC, the New York Red Bulls U23s eliminated the Vermont Voltage in a 2-1 win, Ventura County Fusion defeated CD Aguiluchos 2-1, setting an amateur win record, and the San Diego Flash advanced after SC Corinthians was forced to forfeit, due to the team being unable to get international clearances for its players.
Red Force FC and PSA Elite also progressed to the second round. The second round matches will take place next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, with teams from USL Pro, PDL, NPSL, and USASA involved.
US Soccer also announced the third-round pairings and host sites.
US Soccer
ESPN released a trailer for its upcoming "Inside: US Men's Soccer March to Brazil" series.
Speaking of ESPN and the USMNT, Michael Bradley will be in a "This is SportsCenter" commercial that will air during the World Cup.
The Shin Guardian offered its best guess at both the preliminary World Cup roster for the USMNT and the final 23-man squad. Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans would go to Brazil if they're right, but the Sounders wouldn't lose Yedlin during pre-World Cup camp. Top Drawer Soccer's staff made their picks for the 30-man roster, with Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans unanimous inclusions, with two writers including Yedlin and one including Jordan Morris.
Soccer By Ives takes a look at the USMNT's depth chart at right back. Both Brad Evans and DeAndre Yedlin give Klinsmann options getting forward. Klinsmann likely watched Wednesday's match with interest to see what Evans can do when filling in at left back.
After rising to 13th in last month's FIFA rankings, the United States has reverted to its previous spot at #14.
Omar Gonzalez could soon call Estadio Azteca home, if this report linking him to a move to Club América this summer is accurate. For now, his knee injury will keep him out for 1-2 weeks, which obviously isn't ideal heading into USMNT's pre-World Cup camp.
Now that Sunderland has successfully avoided relegation, Jozy Altidore will likely remain with the club next season.
Several USMNT players will arrive late to training camp.
Europe
In an effort to address the problem of too few English players in the Premier League, the FA has proposed creating a new division of Premier League reserve sides that would be like a League Three. The proposal most relevant to American players deals with limiting work permits for non-EU players.
Alan Hinton's Derby County has the upper hand in its Championship playoff semifinal, taking a 2-1 lead after the first leg against Brighton.
Napoli has received a 2 game stadium ban and an $83,000 fine as a result of the violent outbursts of its supporters at the Coppa Italia Final. Fiorentina received a 1 game ban and a $69,000 fine for the actions of its supporters.
For the first time since Forbes began ranking soccer clubs according to value, the two most valuable clubs in the world are from Spain, with Real Madrid taking the top spot and Barcelona moving to second on the list. Barcelona was able to pass Manchester United, due to a 23% increase in Barça's value and a 11% decrease in United's value.
When Atlético and Real Madrid meet in Lisbon on May 24th for the UEFA Champions League Final, it will be the first time clubs from the same city faced off in the final in the competition's 59-year history.
Real Madrid's 1-1 draw against Valladolid probably ended any hopes it had of winning its first treble, but it did set up a potential championship match in the final week of the season between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
A player for Lithuanian club FK Trakai had a pretty creative goal celebration, running into the stands and applauding himself.
2014 FIFA World Cup
Germany announced its preliminary 30-man roster yesterday, in addition to the roster for next week's friendly against Poland. Mario Gomez, who has dealt with injury issues, was the most notable name not included.
Italy also named its 30-man roster.
Eurosport Italia @ItalianNT adelanta los 30 jugadores que eligiria Prandelli. #Italia pic.twitter.com/sZPXeDCUZJ
— Elmer Polanco (@PolancoESA) May 8, 2014
South Korea announced its final 23-man World Cup roster, with Hong Myung-bo going with a young squad.
Sports Illustrated has a full list of World Cup squads. It will likely be updated as squads are announced, so this is a good link to bookmark for future reference.
Another stadium worker in Brazil lost his life this week. A 32 year-old worker was electrocuted while working on the telecommunications network at the stadium in Cuiabà, despite using "appropriate safety equipment".
Soccer on TV
Friday
| England Championship Playoffs | 11:45 AM | Wigan Athletic vs. Queens Park Rangers | beIN Play |
| USL Pro | 4:00 PM | Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Orlando City | YouTube |
| USL Pro | 4:00 PM | Richmond Kickers vs. Arizona United | YouTube |
Saturday
| Bundesliga | 6:30 AM | Schalke 04 vs. Nuremberg | GOL TV |
| Serie A | 9:00 AM | Hellas Verona vs. Udinese | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| La Liga | 11:00 AM | Villarreal vs. Rayo Vallecano | beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| Serie A | 11:45 AM | Inter Milan vs. Lazio | beIN Sports, beIN Play |
| MLS | 1:00 PM | Montreal Impact vs. Sporting KC | Univision Deportes, MLS Live |
| La Liga | 1:00 PM | Levante vs. Valencia | beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| Brazil Serie A | 2:30 PM | Internacional vs. Atlético PR | ESPN3 |
| NWSL | 4:00 PM | Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign | YouTube |
| Liga MX Liguilla Semifinal | 5:55 PM | Santos Laguna vs. Pachuca (2nd leg) | Univision Deportes, UniMás |
| Ascenso MX Final | 6:00 PM | Universidad Guadalajara vs. Estudiantes Tecos | Azteca, GOL TV, Mexico TV |
Sunday
| Premier League | 7:00 AM | Liverpool vs. Newcastle United | NBCSN, Telemundo, Live Extra |
| Premier League | 7:00 AM | Manchester City vs. West Ham United | NBC, Mun2, Live Extra |
| Premier League | 7:00 AM | Southampton vs. Manchester United | SyFy, Live Extra |
| Premier League | 7:00 AM | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa | USA, Live Extra |
| Premier League | 9:00 AM | Premier League Goal Zone | NBC, NBCSN |
| Liga MX Liguilla Semifinal | 9:50 AM | Toluca vs. León (2nd leg) | Univision, Univision Deportes |
| La Liga | 10:00 AM | Atlético Madrid vs. Málaga (simulcast) | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| La Liga | 10:00 AM | Elche vs. Barcelona (simulcast) | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| La Liga | 10:00 AM | Celta vs. Real Madrid (simulcast) | beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, beIN Play |
| MLS | 11:30 AM | Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy | NBCSN, Live Extra |
| MLS | 12:00 PM | Colorado Rapids vs. Chivas USA | Univision Deportes, UniMás |
| MLS | 3:00 PM | New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders | Q13 |
| MLS | 4:00 PM | Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake | MLS Stream of the Week |