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Seattle
With the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal starting on February 23, Sigi Schmid is aware of the challenges of a preseason camp that's about 12 days shorter than for most MLS teams.
Erik Friberg's had a long history with the Sounders by now, but in 2016 it feels like a perfect fit.
With arguably four DP-quality strikers now on the roster for 2016, the Sounders shift to a 4-3-3 seems inevitable.
MLS
Jermaine Jones is now trying to make a move back to Germany but is frustrated his six-game MLS suspension could complicate his transfer to any league.
Former Red Bull Kenny Cooper is back in New York camp on trial this preseason; after being waived by the Sounders in April last year, Cooper made just two appearances for the Montreal Impact due to knee injuries and had his option declined by the club this offseason.
Take it with a grain salt if you want, but Ashley Cole says he isn't in the LA for a holiday.
Sports Illustrated answers an interesting question: why do sports stadium renderings rarely look like the final product?
If you found Blas Perez infuriating before, prepare yourself for the possibility of him in a Whitecaps uniform. He could be in line to replace retiree Robert Earnshaw, who had a relatively long and successful career that hopefully won't be remembered for this horrendous free kick taken at the CLink in the CONCACAF Champions League last year. Earnshaw will join Vancouver's staff as their U14s head coach and first team forwards coach.
Portland "leaked" their new away kits for 2016. Clearly poor in design and shoddy in quality, the mocking gold star above their crest will undoubtedly make it a Timbers favorite for years to come.
The Earthquakes also unveiled their secondary kits on Thursday, featuring their new jersey sponsor Sutter Health.
Forgot who's been good in MLS the last three years? SoccerAmerica shows Seattle (Supporters' Shield 2014) as one of the top teams in the league over the time frame, second only to the New York Red Bulls (Supporters' Shield 2013 and 2015).
Between green cards, Canadians, and citizenship, it can be difficult to keep track of who counts as an international in MLS sometimes. The Brotherly Game got some answers from the Union Front Office on the 2016 roster.
The Colorado Cup in Denver/Colorado Springs in July will feature Mainz and Mönchengladbach as well as two TBA Mexicans teams spending 12 days in the area scrimmaging, hosting clinics and camps, and friendlies.
Eight players signed with Bethlehem Steel FC on Thursday, the Union's new USL affiliate in 2016.
USA
The USWNT's collective bargaining agreement with US Soccer is up in 2016 and they're making one thing clear: they don't want to play on artificial turf.
After months of discussions and planning, US Soccer announced the launch of a girls equivalent to the US Soccer Development Academy in 2017.
Still just 26, Freddy Adu has a lot to say in his most recent interview with Goal.com, sounding far more mature than the kid that we've seen visit over a dozen clubs already.
ESPN FC ranks its top 25 USMNT players to start the year.
It's been a while since we've asked the question: Does Julian Green still have a future at Bayern Munich?
St. Louis Today has a column pitching to Don Garber the idea of St. Louis no longer being a football town but forever a fútbol town. After severe flooding, a great American soccer landmark in St. Louis is in trouble.
World
FIFA's investigation into Sepp Blatter has gained new evidence thanks to an unnamed whistleblower.
Italian police have seized over $13 million from players, clubs, and agents as part of an investigation that began in 2012 which reveals a "deep-rooted system intended to evade taxes, put in place by 35 soccer clubs in Serie A and Serie B".
According to Spanish radio, Real Madrid has tried to acquire Lionel Messi from Barcelona three times in the last five years.
Neymar on Thursday expressed his interest in playing both for Premier League-bound Pep Guardiola as well as in the United States at some point in his career.
TV ratings for the Bundesliga have been down since the league returned from winter break; World Soccer Talk says it's due to competing with the Premier League too directly.