Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Santander]

The Host Cities and Stadiums for the 2026 World Cup have been chosen.

In Canada: BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver.

In Mexico: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

In the United States: MetLife Stadium (New York Metro Area), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Metro), A&T&T Stadium (Dallas Metro), Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Metro), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Lumen Field (Seattle), NRG Stadium (Houston), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) and Gillette Stadium (Boston Metro)

So no real soccer stadiums in the US and no Rose Bowl. The final should be held at the Azteca, not these NFL stadiums.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Host Cities and Stadiums for the 2026 World Cup have been chosen.

In Canada: BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver.

In Mexico: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

In the United States: MetLife Stadium (New York Metro Area), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Metro), A&T&T Stadium (Dallas Metro), Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Metro), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Lumen Field (Seattle), NRG Stadium (Houston), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) and Gillette Stadium (Boston Metro)

So no real soccer stadiums in the US and no Rose Bowl. The final should be held at the Azteca, not these NFL stadiums.

I agree with you, but the U.S is where the money is in terms of TV rights etc.

[NewYorkExpress]

Sadio Mane is heading from Liverpool to Bayern Munich in a 41 million Euro deal.

Unless Bayern Munich is planning to sell one of Serge Gnabry, Leory Sane, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller or Robert Lewandowski (and selling Lewandowski or Muller is very plausible, I suppose), I'm not sure this deal makes sense for them. Mane is very good, but he's not an instant upgrade, and at 30 years old, he's significantly older than Gnabry, Sane and Coman.

[NewYorkExpress]

Ahead of the World Cup, embattled Wales Manager Ryan Giggs has resigned.

[NewYorkExpress]

Sebastian Haller heading from Ajax to Borussia Dortmund in a 36 million Euro deal.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/GarethBale11/status/1540813308974043136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%...

Most interesting MLS signing since Ibrahimovic went to the LA Galaxy (though Lorenzo Isnigne's deal with Toronto FC, which also starts this summer might compete with it in terms of interest).

[NewYorkExpress]

Gabriel Jesus heading from Manchester City to Arsenal in a 55 million pound deal.

Manchester City and Arsenal have agreed terms over the transfer of Gabriel Jesus on Saturday, sources have told ESPN.

Arsenal will pay £45 million plus a further £10m in add-ons for the Brazil international striker with only paperwork and a medical standing in the way of a deal being completed.



The Gunners had already agreed a five-year contract with Jesus.

[NewYorkExpress]

Manchester City reaches deal with Leeds United for Kalvin Phillips worth 45 million pounds.

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Leeds United to sign Kalvin Phillips, sources have told ESPN.

City are set to pay an initial £42 million to sign the midfielder with another £3m due in add-ons. Midfielder Darko Gyabi, 18, will join Leeds in a separate deal worth £5m.

[Santander]

https://twitter.com/GarethBale11/status/1540813308974043136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%...
Most interesting MLS signing since Ibrahimovic went to the LA Galaxy (though Lorenzo Isnigne's deal with Toronto FC, which also starts this summer might compete with it in terms of interest).

It's actually quite a good move for Bale. He gets to play in a summer season league to train for the World Cup, play golf, hang out with the stars in LA, and boost his commercial profile in the US.

[NewYorkExpress]

Unhappy and underperforming Forward Romelo Lukaku is heading back to Inter Milan on loan from Chelsea.

[NewYorkExpress]

Richarlison heading from Everton to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth about 60 million pounds.

[Santander]

Richarlison heading from Everton to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth about 60 million pounds.

;( Bye Richy. Such a good player, deserves to get Champions League football and play under a top coach.

[NewYorkExpress]

Two high-profile transfers for Barcelona to celebrate their July 4 with, as they add Andreas Christensen (previously with Chelsea) and Franck Kessie (Previously with AC Milan) on free transfers.

[NewYorkExpress]

Manchester United makes their first signing of the Erik Ten Hag era, adding Feyernood Left Back Tyrell Malacia for 15 million Euros.

[NewYorkExpress]

An interesting deal yesterday.

Douglas Costa moves from Juventus to the LA Galaxy, and becomes the latest big name to go to MLS this summer, joining Gareth Bale (Real Madrid to LAFC), Giorgio Chellini (Juventus to LAFC), Thibaut Courtouis (Real Madrid to LAFC), Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid to Houston Dynamo) and Lorenzo Isnigne (Napoli to Toronto FC).

[NewYorkExpress]

It's not quite official yet, but it looks like Raheem Sterling is heading from Manchester City to Chelsea on a deal that could be worth at least 45 million pounds and would make Sterling Chelsea's highest paid player (not counting Romelo Lukaku, currently on loan at Inter Milan).

[NewYorkExpress]

Wayne Rooney becomes the latest marquee name to go to MLS, as he will make a return to D.C United, this time as manager.

[JGibson]

LB/CM Oleksandr Zinchenko is headed to Arsenal on a 4-year deal.

https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1549770781772718080

[JGibson]

Arsenal opened the Premier League season with a 2-nil win over Crystal Palace. Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba, and Gabriel Jesus made their official club debuts.

[NewYorkExpress]

Bayern Munich's new look attack looks really good, as they destroyed Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 today.

[NewYorkExpress]

Probably a bit of an embarrassing result today in the Fulham/Liverpool game, which ended in a 2-2 draw, a game Liverpool should have won easily.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United doesn't seem to be any different than the last couple of managers over there. Manchester United loses 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion.

[NewYorkExpress]

I know literally no one on this forum cares about football in South America, but the Quarterfinals in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sundamericana are just about halfway done, and we could have a situation where three of four teams in both competitions's semifinals are from Brazil.

[NewYorkExpress]

Wasn't mentioned yesterday or today, but Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0, behind goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema.

[NewYorkExpress]

Following a 4-0 shellacking on the road at Brentford, Manchester United is at the bottom of the English Premier League.

Manchester United still has too much individual talent to actually be relegated, but if they keep playing like they have been the past two weeks, it's a real possibility.