Major Link Soccer: Copa América and Gold Cup to merge

MLS

Good news: A charity 5K Fun Run/Walk at RFK Stadium was canceled! That means DC United's match against the Revs this month was moved from a Wednesday to a Saturday, surely boosting the club's attendance figures into the stratosphere.

The Charleston Battery have always been an ambitious club in the USL, but now their owner says he wants Charleston to be an "MLS city."

USA

It might not have been a full 90, but the USWNT sure looked good for 75 minutes against Japan on Sunday, leaving with a 2-0 lead when the game was called for inclement weather.

You've probably read all about how Clint Dempsey is washed up with the USMNT and Klinsmann needs to move on tactically from the aging star. Nevermind that he was the only American who was remotely goal dangerous on the night.

A Louisville player managed to get away without a card after punching an Orlando City Blues player this weekend, right in the midsection.

Copa América

It looks like the Copa América Centenario won't be quite so once-in-a-lifetime, as CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are reportedly close to merging the Copa América and Gold Cup into one tournament for the Western Hemisphere.

Copa América 2016 was supposed to be a party 100 years in the making. Yet somehow, with nosebleeds as much as $100, no one wants to go to this summer's biggest cash grab. However, despite the unreasonable initial pricing from venues, attendance at the Copa América has been decent so far. A strong showing in 2016 could mean good things for the US in 2026, as strong Copa América attendance would bode well for the US' chances at hosting the World Cup.

The real hero of the Copa América? FOX broadcaster Fernando Fiore, whose theatrical, engaging style has given viewers a lot to watch and listen.

The USA-Colombia and Mexico-Uruguay matches did pretty well on TV, both placing in Nielsen's Top Ten sports events of the week at #7 and #9, respectively. Ratings like that force articles like this one from the Economist, as the mainstream public starts notice some of their friends like soccer.

Euro 2016

Copa América aside, let's move on to the real prize of summer soccer entertainment; Euro 2016. Here's a ranking of the 24 clubs that qualified.

By qualifying for Euro 2016, Wales is in its first major tournament in 58 years; the Welsh women want to capitalize on the euphoria.

Meanwhile, Seattle Reign defender Rachel Corsie was noticeably displeased after Scotland's 4-0 Euro qualifying loss to Iceland.

World

José Mourinho might be in some serious trouble from his days at Chelsea, as the club and its former manager are involved in an unfair dismissal suit from the former team club doctor, who claims that Mourinho called her, "a daughter of a whore."

Inter Milan held a press conference over the weekend to announce its strategic partnership with Chinese company Suning Holdings Group, which has acquired a majority stake in the Italian club.

Zimbabwe's soccer federation folded overnight from debt, and has started anew this week.

Soccer to Watch Today

11:45am Spain vs Georgia (ESPN Deportes TV, ESPN3)

5:00pm USA vs Costa Rica (Fox Sports 1, Univision, UniMás, FoxSoccer2GO)

7:30pm Colombia vs Paraguay (Fox Sports 1, Univision, UniMás, FoxSoccer2GO)