Latest news with #MLSAll-StarGame
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NEW ERA CAP AND MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ANNOUNCE NEW ON-FIELD CAP PARTNERSHIP
New Era to produce apparel and headwear for all 30 MLS clubs across the U.S. and Canada BUFFALO, N.Y., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New Era Cap, LLC, and Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced an agreement that enshrines New Era Cap as the Official On-Field Cap of MLS and grants the international sports and lifestyle brand with rights to produce and distribute headwear and apparel for all 30 MLS clubs including San Diego FC, which made its debut in 2025. "With soccer's rapid rise in the U.S., this partnership aims to accelerate the sport's momentum and bring added attention to the outstanding talent and unique experiences that MLS clubs are delivering every single match," said Tim Shanahan, Senior Director of Licensed Products at New Era Cap. "New Era Cap is committed to soccer culture in North America, and we'll be there for the fans, athletes, and coaches, ready to provide products fit for the glory of every unforgettable golazo, hard-won tackle, and trophy-hoisting moment. The global game is growing faster than ever, and New Era is proud to team up with MLS to help it flourish here." Over the past several years, MLS has seen remarkable growth in the U.S. and Canada, and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, for the next two years North America will be the epicenter of global soccer. Both New Era and MLS are focused on harnessing this momentum to drive the continued growth and expansion of the sport during the most exciting time in North American soccer history. Together, they will engage both new and existing fans by introducing new products and creating authentic experiences that will leave a lasting impact both on and off the pitch. "We are currently in one of the most exciting chapters in the history of our sport, and we are proud to welcome New Era Cap as the official on-field cap provider of MLS," said Rachel Hoagland, MLS SVP, Consumer Products. "As the game continues to grow at unprecedented levels across North America, this partnership will bring fans even closer to the players they love and that will further deepen their connection to our league and fuel fandom." Beginning this summer, fans will find fresh new looks as the partnership takes root. New Era Cap will launch new collections as part of the adidas x MLS Archive Collection as well as the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup Final presented by Audi. New Era will also debut additional MLS headwear and apparel products for everyday wear. In recent years, New Era has expanded its portfolio of licenses in global soccer, building on the legacy it established with the major U.S. leagues to foster fan engagement and shape culture in partnership with many of the biggest brands in international soccer. New Era and several MLS clubs have worked together previously to create licensed products, both headwear and apparel. The impact of this new agreement grows even wider, as '47—now part of New Era's family of brands—will also have product available for MLS clubs. The announcement between MLS and New Era Cap arrives during a period of great momentum behind the sport of soccer in North America. As MLS is underway in its 30th season, the U.S. is also preparing to host the Concacaf Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup taking place in 2025, as well as the FIFA World Cup across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 2026. Fans can look forward to New Era's 2026 MLS Kickoff Collection—which will drop in December, ahead of the 2026 season. All products will be sold on and at select retailers. About New Era Cap:Since 1920, New Era has been hand-crafting the finest headwear in the world. Today, with an expansive portfolio of global licenses, the addition of apparel and accessories lines, and 1,000+ worldwide retail store network, the brand is a market leader rooted in sports and an influencer of street and lifestyle culture around the world. The Company is headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., and its products are sold in more than 125 countries. For more information on New Era's global offices and partnerships, visit and social channels @neweracap. About Major League SoccerHeadquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer -- celebrating its 30th season in 2025 -- features 30 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. All MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches can be watched through MLS Season Pass, available on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at MLS Season Pass features the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit For more information about the Apple TV app, visit Media Contacts John MackowiakThe Martin Group for New Era Cap, LLC.518-618-1175 | jmackowiak@ Peter O'BrienMajor League View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE New Era Cap LLC
The Province
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Which Vancouver Whitecap could return to Austin for the MLS All-Star Game?
The Whitecaps play in Austin on Saturday, the same site as the 2025 MLS All-Star Game. Apart from Brian White, which Caps are best-bets to return there in July? Get the latest from J.J. Adams straight to your inbox Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps scores the team's second goal during their MLS match against the L.A. Galaxy at B.C. Place on March 2. Photo by Rich Lam / Getty Images Even in June 2018, when he was just 17, Alphonso Davies was already a star. He was being connected to teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, an electric young talent whose speed and skills had the biggest clubs in the world taking notice. And two weeks before his ground-shaking transfer to Bayern, Phonzie got recognition of another kind — being named to Major League Soccer's all-star team. Players were chosen by fan vote and the all-star coach. But neither of them selected Davies, who has been arguably the biggest talent to come out of the North American league. He got in as the commissioner's pick, with Don Garber tabbing the teen and two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls for the exhibition game against Italian icons Juventus. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Including Davies, only six Whitecaps have been selected to the showcase event since the team came into MLS in 2011: Jay DeMerit (2012), Camilo (2013), David Ousted (2015), Kendall Waston (2016), and Ryan Gauld (2024). The only player ever selected by fans was DeMerit, who was recognizable to the domestic fan base as a U.S. international who started for the Americans at the 2010 World Cup, and whose inspirational story had begun to reach folklore levels thanks to an indie film. And none of those Whitecaps teams that produced the all-stars had as much success as this current edition, which sits atop the MLS standings and is playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup title game for the first time in team history. The team — finally — has the attention of the rest of MLS. As the club heads to Austin, site of the 2025 All-Star Game in July, for a Saturday night league fixture, the question becomes: Can this translate into all-star selections? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We've got a lot of guys on this team that definitely deserve a shout,' said midfielder Ali Ahmed. 'Vancouver is not the most attractive market to watch; late games, people kind of forget about us. But I think we've made it hard this year not to put a name for the team. A lot of players have stepped up and shined, and definitely deserve to be there for sure.' One player tops the list of potential all-stars for 2025: Brian White. Austin will be game-planning to defend him Saturday, after he torched them for four goals — that's a 'haul,' in soccer lingo — in April. His eight goals is third-most in the league, only trailing Philadelphia's Tai Baribo (10) and San Jose's Cristian Arango (nine). But the U.S. international has only played nine league games compared with Baribo's 12 and Arango's 13, as White has been busy in the CCC tournament, where's he's banged in six goals, second only to Cruz Azul's Ángel Sepúlveda. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. White was asked Friday, as the team prepared to travel to Austin, if he would like to head back there for another game: the All-Star Game. In his usual infallibly humble manner, he replied: 'Recognition is always nice, but that's not really something I'm focused on. Honestly, I haven't really thought about it at all. There's a lot of games, lot of things coming up before then. So if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, I'll have a couple days off to chill.' The first rule of White, it seems, is to never talk up White. So it was put to him who else on his team should join him in Austin, and he proceeded to list every player on the roster, including rookies and NextPro call-ups. That exceedingly long list has been pared down to players who have a realistic shot of joining White in Austin, along with the White scouting report to help fans (or all-star coach Nico Estévez, who will see them Saturday) make their decisions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Whitecaps deserving all-star recognition Andrés Cubas, MF One of the best No. 6s in the league, he stifled and frustrated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, but rarely gets much recognition for the defensive work he puts in. He's been a big part of the Caps' aggressive repressing and transition success this season. White: 'He's super-important for us as that little engine in the middle. Breaks plays up, starts the counters, a workhorse all around the field, and probably one of the most underrated players in the league.' Sebastian Berhalter, MF The box-to-box No. 8 has made 33 tackles, ninth most in the league, but the 23-year-old is younger than every player above him on the list, save NYC FC phenom Jonathan Shore (18). His 48 tackles/interceptions is fourth-most in the league, plus he's chipping in offensively — a goal and three assists in MLS, and three more goals in CCC play. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. White: 'Sebastian has been great. Similar to Cubas, he gets in the box as well. Can finish off plays. He finds that pass in the end, crosses the ball. He just does everything for us. He's another one of the engines in the team, and we wouldn't be as successful as we are without him.' Pedro Vite, MF The Ecuadorean midfielder has taken his game to another level this season, chipping in with three goals and four assists in just 773 MLS minutes. Vancouver is working hard to retain him, as his five-year contract expires this year, but Vite has been in the middle of several rumours linking him to a move to Europe at season's end. White: 'Pedro's been fantastic. He's getting on the ball. He's creating. He's dynamic when he gets it, he can find the parents, he can finish all plays. So he's another very good piece that we have this year, and he deserves all the attention that he's getting.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tristan Blackmon (and Ranko Veselinovic), CB The centre-back pairing has been dynamic and defensive, as Vancouver has given up just 10 goals in league play — fewest in MLS. They only give up 8.8 shots against per game, and have an xG-against of 13.75, again the lowest in MLS. Veselinovic has been an exceptional passer from the back line, connecting on 431 of 434 medium distance passes and 180 of 190 of short passes; his 95.1 completion percentage is second in MLS only to Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe. Blackmon isn't far behind in his passing and defensive statistics, but gets the nod because he's scored twice this year in league play — not to mention having one of the biggest goal's in the team's history against Pumas. He's made several end-to-end charges from the backline with the ball at his feet, showcasing his offensive ability as well. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. White: 'Week in, week out, you see how (Blackmon) is able to defend, and what he brings going forward. He does all the little things around the field and team, he's just been an engine for the team from the backline.' Yohei Takaoka, GK The team's 8-1-3 record is the best in MLS, and Takaoka has been a big part of that. His five shutouts rank second in the league, a number he had been tied with, except for an unlucky 97th-minute penalty kick given up to RSL. His goals against per 90 minutes (0.83) is also best in MLS. White: 'We have one of the best defences in the league, and that starts with him. That save he made at the end of the game against LAFC shows how good he is. On the ball, he can do it all as a goalie, especially in this modern era of goalkeepers. I think he's one of the best.' Postmedia News's alternate picks Ali Ahmed, F Ahmed has five assists in 573 minutes this season. Of the four players ahead of him with six assists, two have played twice his minutes, one is a US$2.2 million DP with Charlotte (Pep Biel) and the other is Luis Suarez. Not bad company to be in. Jayden Nelson, F Nelson's speed has been a game-changer for the Caps on the wing, especially in transition. His 1.17 g+a/90 is the highest in MLS. He has two goals and four assists in 466 MLS minutes, and has been hampered by injury. The caveat to his stats is that a goal and three assists came in his debut game. Read More Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Celebrity
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Armas Will Finally Get His Just Desserts, With Hall Of Fame Induction
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - January 18: Chris Armas of USA on the ball during the International ... More Friendly match between USA and Denmark at Home Depot Center Carson on January 18, 2004 in California, United States. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) If you go by cold numbers, then Chris Armas' career statistics were pretty ordinary. He finished with all of 36 goal contributions (12 goals and 24 assists) in 260 Major League Soccer matches. Armas, however, brought another value to the soccer pitch. He forged a reputation on keeping down the numbers of some of the best playmakers as the leading defensive midfielder just about a generation ago for the Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy. Call the position what you want - defensive midfielder, holding midfielder, central midfielder or a Number 6 - Armas became the poster child on how to perform that role superbly during an outstanding 12-year career. "People forget that every successful team has a successful holding midfielder," said MLS senior technical director, competition Alfonso Mondelo said. "It's such a key position." Despite his accomplishments - 66 appearances for the U.S. men's national team, one MLS Cup championship, four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, five MLS Best XI honors and six MLS All-Star Game selections - it took Armas a confounding 18 years after he hung up his jersey for good to receive the ultimate honor. On Saturday, he will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on the Veteran's Ballot in Frisco, Texas. CHICAGO - OCTOBER 21: Chicago Fire's Chris Armas (L) and Bakary Soumare (4) celebrate with John ... More Thorrington (C) after Thorrington scored the winning goal during the second half of an MLS game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Toyota Park on October 21, 2007 in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Fire won 1-0. (Photo by Brian Kersey/MLS/WireImage) "Sometimes the Hall of Fame is a little bit of a popularity contest," Mondelo said. "But in this case, I can't think of anybody more deserving throughout his career because of not only what he has accomplished, but unfortunately, what he was not able to do." Mondelo was referring to the fact that Armas missed two World Cups and an Olympic selection through no fault of his own, incurring knee injuries each time. "He is a gentleman of the game, and he is an icon, someone that other players look up to and try to emulate," Mondelo added. It should be noted that Mondelo could be a bit biased. He coached the Brentwood, N.Y. native in the Olympic Development Program on Long Island. "You already got to see the qualities and characteristics that made him the player that ended up being a stalwart in the MLS, a national team player, captain of the national team," Mondelo said. "He was an honest player who comes and gives everything that he has every single time he steps on the field, from whether it be at practice or whether it be a team you can rely on completely." Mondelo also coached Armas when the Long Island Rough Riders captured the 1995 U.S. Interregional Soccer League crown, with the midfielder helping set up the game-winning goal with seconds to spare in regulation. UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 25: Soccer: MLS Championship, Chicago Fire's Chris Armas in action vs DC ... More United, Pasadena, CA 10/25/1998 (Photo by Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X56621) At 5-foot-7 and 150 lbs., Armas hardly looked like the most intimidating player on the field. But the league learned otherwise. The 1998 season turned out to be a special one for Armas. The Galaxy traded him to theFire for Mexican international goalkeeper Jorge Campos. It turned into a one-sided deal for Chicago, which captured the MLS Cup as an expansion team that year. Armas was a big reason why. His numbers against the league's top creative midfielders that season were mind-boggling. The quartet of D.C. United's Marco Etcheverry, LA Galaxy's Mauricio Cienfuegos, Kansas City Wizards' Preki and Tampa Bay Mutiny's Carlos Valderrama combined for 35 goals and 60 assists in 100 games. When they went up against Armas, there was a precipitous drop in their production. They combined for only two goals and four assists in 15 games, including the playoffs, against Armas. Let's repeat those numbers: two goals and four assists in 15 games. During an interview with this writer in 2020, Armas admitted he still wasn't happy he allowed that many goals and assists. "Those guys are four of the best in the league in terms of playmakers," he said. "I am annoyed at myself as we speak that I gave goals and assists against them at all. I would like to actually see those because did they come from dead-ball situations, where they not my part of the field? Where did I go wrong?" During a Zoom media conference last week, Armas talked about his tussles with them. This writer asked Armas which was the most difficult player he faced. His answer was a bit surprising. "I always said the toughest guy was Peter Novak, who was actually one of my teammates. [Head coach] Bob Bradley in Chicago would never put me on the same team as him [in training]," he replied. "Also, Jesse Marsch. "I'm not sure how many goals I gave up when I was marking those guys, but the amount of times I got elbowed in my face or poked in my throat, this is like normal behavior from Peter and Jesse." Armas said that he would add Oscar Pareja, who did his damage with FC Dallas and New Revolution, to the list. "They were all so difficult and posed different challenges to me," he added. "I think it made me better along the way. The common theme was they just were so good. You couldn't really stop them on the day. It was always trying to limit what they did, knowing what they were good at and just trying to put them in a tough game. I always would try to take time and space away, much like I coach now." Armas, who directs the Colorado Rapids in MLS, said that he "definitely had to have a different strategy for each guy. Valderrama was a magician on the ball. Etcheverry could hurt you with his passing ability from long ranges. Pareja and [MetroStars and Italian international Roberto] Donadoni, these guys you could never get close enough because they can get away from you. I can only catch them in my dreams. Because this is a PG post, we can't share with you some of the players' reactions. "Marco Etcheverry, when I saw him after the playing career was done or at an all-star game, we'd always hug each other, but he always would look at me like he wanted to kill me," Armas said. "He had such a look on his face in those games, but I knew there was some mutual respect there. I appreciated all those matchups and battles, and all those guys helped me improve in my career." Chris Armas #14 and #8 Jovan Kirovski of the United States National Football Team go into a tackle ... More with #10 Lothar Matthäus of Germany during the International Friendly match on 3rd February 1999 at the Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. The USA won the match 3 - 0. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Allsport/Getty Images) There is little doubt that Armas is one of the best USMNT players who has never competed in a World Cup. He was a prime candidate to be one of the USA's overage players at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but a knee injury kept him home. A devastating knee injury just before the 2002 World Cup, denied him from traveling to Korea. Four years later, another knee injury stopped him from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The 2002 injury turned serious quickly. 'Many people might not know that part of the 2002 World Cup team 10 days before the World Cup, I blew out my knee, my ACL,' Armas said. "It was, as anyone would imagine, just difficult. You miss one game as a player, it would hurt. But going from maybe the top of your game, top of your fitness levels, top quality, to a hospital getting ready for surgery was a difficult mental challenge." It was one of the biggest challenges of Armas' life as he caught a staph infection in his knee during rehab. "It was no longer about soccer anymore, or World Cups anymore," he said. "I just wanted to be healthy because you start hearing for the first time your white count, all these levels are off. It's in your blood stream, deep into your bone. This stuff can be life and death at times." He wound up on a PICC line, was on antibiotics and lost 20 lbs. "Hadn't had big adversity to that point,' Armas said. "I learned what my family meant to me, what I meant to them, how steady they are. They were rocks for me. My wife was amazing." Armas recovered the best way possible, becoming the dominant defensive midfielder in MLS again and was awarded the 2003 MLS comeback player of the year. "I fought hard to get back," he said. "I was a miserable guy for about two weeks. ... Just to not feeling sorry for myself. I did come back strong." COMMERCE CITY, CO - NOVEMBER 01: Head coach Chris Armas of the Colorado Rapids looks on in a first ... More round match against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the MLS Cup playoffs at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on November 1, 2024 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by) As turns Armas out, won't be able to enjoy all of Saturday's ceremonies. After his induction, he will be whisked off to his day job. He plans on coaching the Rapids (4-2-4, 16 points), who are in fifth place in the Western Conference, at D.C. United in Washington, D.C. at 7:30 p.m. ET. "The clock will be ticking," he said. "The [Hall of Fame] committee has helped arrange where I can speak first and just to get honored. Unfortunately, I have to leave the fellow inductees, not something I'm happy about. I'd love to be right alongside them, listening to them get inducted in their speeches. It's always a neat thing. "I think there's enough time that if there's no bumps in the road, essentially, to get into the airport, which shouldn't be an issue. I won't be taking anything with me. So I just try to remove any type of situation where we could delay things. There'll be transportation waiting and I'll get there before kickoff. That's what I expect to happen and be there for my team." Be there for my team. That just about defines Chris Armas' Hall of Fame career.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLS All-Stars set to take on Liga MX stars in July
MLS has announced that the league's all-stars are set to take on Liga MX stars once again this summer. The two leagues have gone head to head in the fan-friendly exhibition plenty of times in the last few years, and they will come together for another night of fun on July 23 at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The highly-anticipated match, which marks the first professional All-Star Game to be played in Austin, will be broadcast live exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Advertisement In addition to the MLS All-Star Game, the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T will offer fans an exciting display of skill and competition, as 10 MLS stars face off against 10 LIGA MX standouts in a thrilling showdown. The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge will take place on the eve of the MLS All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 22 (8 p.m. CT, MLS Season Pass on AppleTV) at Q2 Stadium. Tickets for the MLS All-Star Game and the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, March 26 at 10 a.m. CT at 'The 2025 MLS All-Star Game will shine a global spotlight on the high-quality of the players in our league as well as the Austin community, Austin FC, and Q2 Stadium,' said Austin FC President Andy Loughnane. 'In selling out 100 percent of MLS home matches played across our venue's history, it has proven to be one of North American soccer's best matchday atmospheres. It is an honor for our Club to host players and fans from both MLS and LIGA MX for our city's first-ever major league All-Star Game.' It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in the MLS All-Star Game, with the visitors from Mexico picking up their first win in the friendly in 2024.
Reuters
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
MLS All-Stars to face best of LIGA MX in Austin
March 18 - The 2025 MLS All-Star Game once again will pit the league's top players against a team of All-Stars from Mexico's LIGA MX on July 23 in Austin, Texas. It's the fourth time using that format for the showcase, previously done in 2021, 2022 and 2024. "We are thrilled to once again host LIGA MX at the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, showcasing the best talent from our leagues," MLS executive vice president Camilo Durana said. The match at Q2 Stadium will mark the first major professional All-Star Game played in the Texas capital. "It is always a great honor for LIGA MX to participate in an event like the MLS All-Star Game. It fills us with excitement to return to this stage to showcase the quality of our players and continue to connect with our fans in the United States," LIGA MX director of operations Francisco Iturbide said. The MLS roster will consist of 26 players: 12 selected by fan vote, 12 selected by Austin FC and MLS All-Star coach Nico Estevez, and two selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. MLS players won the first two All-Star contests against LIGA MX. LIGA MX won last year's event 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. --Field Level Media
