MLS

A member of the Philadelphia Union tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Wednesday.

"The Union medical staff has been working directly with Crozer-Keystone Health System medical officials to treat the player who experienced mild symptoms and is feeling well and in good spirits," the Union said. "The player is observing the appropriate isolation protocols. No other cases or symptoms within Philadelphia Union soccer operations have been identified at this time."

Philadelphia Union announce that one of its players has tested positive for #COVID19. #DOOP pic.twitter.com/6eb5kqpwFO

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) April 1, 2020

Like many other sports leagues, MLS shut down play indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle Sounders had the first reported COVID-19 case within MLS when they confirmed a member of their support staff tested positive. New York City FC announced an employee within their sporting department was diagnosed as well.

MLS announced March 19 the 2020 season is on hold through at least May 10 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended avoiding any events with 50 or more people for eight weeks.

League commissioner Don Garber appeared on ESPN's Get Up to reiterate plans to stage a normal 34-game regular season. He added that officials would be comfortable pushing the end of the playoffs until mid-December.

According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, MLS believes it could restart in mid-July and still allow for a full season that would wrap up on Dec. 12 or Dec. 19.

Yahoo Sports' Doug McIntyre reported the league plans to reduce the salaries for most of its employees and will institute a hiring freeze during the pandemic.

Major League Soccer will remain suspended until at least May 10 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league announced on Thursday: 

"MLS remains focused on playing the entire 2020 season and is evaluating all options, including pushing back the end of the season and playing MLS Cup in December, as the league did prior to the 2019 season. The league is also identifying other available dates.

"Throughout this process, MLS will continue to prioritize the safety of our fans, players, employees and partners and to coordinate with federal and local public health authorities as well as other sporting organizations."

The season was originally put on hold for 30 days until March 30, but the suspension has been extended in line with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which has banned gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.

The 2020 MLS season was just two weeks old when the pandemic forced the competition to be put on hold along with most other sporting events across the world.

Fixtures were scheduled through to November which may give teams plenty of time to rearrange matches and complete the 34-match campaign as planned.

The MLS Cup could be moved to December 19 and may be played at a neutral venue because of the "cold weather in its northern markets that time of year," according to Doug McIntyre at Yahoo Sports.

Thurday's announcement sees the MLS join other leagues around the world in extending the temporary suspension to their seasons.

The Premier League has confirmed football in England's top flight will not return until May at the earliest:

🚨 The Premier League will not return until May at the earliest 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zNHKcEsK0y

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 19, 2020

Meanwhile, La Liga president Javier Tebas told El Pais (h/t Goal's Tom Weber) the competition could return in May and be completed by the end of June.

He said: "The fundamental scenario is that mid or late May is the latest starting date to end on June 30.

The Bundesliga has extended its suspension until at least April 2 and could complete the season behind closed doors, per Dom Farrell at Goal.

UEFA have set up a working group in an attempt to find a solution to complete the Champions League and Europa League.

ESPN FC's Dale Johnson shared details of proposed new dates for the two finals:

Europa League final June 24
Champions League final June 27
To be completed before contract expiry dates of June 30 https://t.co/vgsMigF05s

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) March 17, 2020

International football has also been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Euro 2020 has been postponed for 12 months, while the Copa America has also been moved to 2021.

Major League Soccer announced Thursday the 2020 season has been suspended for 30 days because of the coronavirus outbreak:

Major League Soccer Suspends Season for 30 Days pic.twitter.com/P0HEPmsnkx

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2020

The decision follows Wednesday's announcement that the NBA season has been suspended. President Donald Trump has also imposed a ban on incoming travel from 26 European countries.

La Liga also confirmed Thursday that football in Spain's top two tiers has be suspended for a minimum of two weeks.

The UEFA Champions League and Europa League are also set to be suspended until further notice, according to German Bona of Sport.

Europe's governing body has confirmed a meeting set for Tuesday to discuss the response to the outbreak and all "all domestic and European competitions:"

In the light of ongoing developments in the spread of Covid-19, UEFA has invited various stakeholders to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.

Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020.

Full statement: 👇

— UEFA (@UEFA) March 12, 2020

UEFA has already confirmed that Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid and Juventus' fixture with Lyon have been postponed:

Following the quarantine imposed on players of Juventus and Real Madrid, the following #UCL matches will not take place as scheduled.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Manchester City – Real Madrid 🇪🇸
🇮🇹 Juventus – Olympique Lyonnais 🇫🇷

Further decisions on the matches will be communicated in due course.

— UEFA (@UEFA) March 12, 2020

Juventus confirmed Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have announced their squad has been placed in quarantine after a member of the club's basketball team—which shares facilities with the football club—tested positive for the virus.

L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football News) has reported UEFA will announce all leagues and European competition will be suspended and Euro 2020 will be moved to next year.

International football has also been affected. South American governing body CONMEBOL has asked FIFA to suspend March's 2020 World Cup qualifiers, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

All U.S. men's national team and U.S. women's national team games scheduled for March and April have also been called off:

Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, U.S. Soccer has canceled the upcoming #USMNT & #USWNT games in March & April, and the majority of #USYNT and Extended National Team matches and camps that were planned through the end of April.

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) March 12, 2020

The Premier League remains one of the few high-profile competitions yet to be halted but has still been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Arsenal's clash with Manchester City on Wednesday was called off after some players came into contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has contracted the virus.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has also confirmed three of his players have displayed symptoms and been isolated from the rest of the squad.

Sergio Rivas could hardly see. Could only find the soccer ball when it was right in front of him. Could barely make out teammates' jerseys, and not their faces. He squinted, as if scrunching his face would yield clearer vision. Didn't help. He sprinted ahead, but the grass was blurred, a faded forest green. Dusk was approaching—the pitch turning a muddy brown, the sky a charcoal black.

Now Rivas really couldn't see. Only feel. But he had to perform. The now-22-year-old soccer player still remembers how the college scouts huddled in the stands at that tournament in Dallas back in 2013. They looked like tiny dots to Rivas, who at the time was a high school junior.

His defender pressured him, but his feet knew where the ball was, where it was supposed to go. They moved the ball, quickly, before the pressure closed in.

For years, Rivas had been playing this way. He could barely see, but growing up he didn't have anything to compare that to—didn't know it was different for anyone else. He figured everyone else just saw faint colors, faint shapes, as he did. And once he realized he didn't see the same way others did, he still couldn't do anything about it, so he just hid it. He didn't want anyone to know, fearing that if they found out, they wouldn't let him play anymore. When he had to take an eye exam at his school physical, he stressed over whether he could guess or make out just enough letters to be cleared to play.

So nobody knew during this match. Nobody knew that he wasn't wearing glasses or contacts because he couldn't afford to go to a doctor to get his eyes looked at and get a prescription. Nobody knew that he didn't have health care because he was an undocumented immigrant.

He didn't want people to know any of that. All he wanted them to know was what he could do with the ball, what he was about to do, what he'd pull off next. He dribbled up field, maneuvering in and out of traffic with grace. He was practically gliding as he kicked the ball toward the goal. His shot whirled into the back of the net.

---

Rivas catches his breath in the middle of a training session in Reno, Nevada, his second of the day. He looks toward the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance, coated with snow. He tucks his hands into his shorts to stop from shivering. It's 25 degrees on a February afternoon. It was so frigid the day before that he and his teammates wore ski masks to train.

Each player is wearing differently colored cleats: fuschia, lime, orange, green. Some have jerseys. Some don't. None have endorsement deals. Three holes run down the right side of Rivas' black shorts. He doesn't care. He'll slide, sprint, strain, do whatever he has to do to get the ball.

His endurance is his gift. "In most of the games, he led our team in distance covered," says Ian Russell, his coach for Reno 1868 FC, a professional team in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship. "That's his determination, his will to win, to cover ground, to compete."

Rivas, a 5'10" midfielder, is here because he isn't there. MLS. He was selected 26th overall in last year's draft by the San Jose Earthquakes, and all he thinks about is getting there. Dominating there. There, there, there.

Dream accomplished. 📸 pic.twitter.com/8eAA6kEuui

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) January 11, 2019

And he is certainly capable. Rivas' technical ability is elite. He sees plays more quickly than most. He can take over games.

Professional soccer, however, hasn't made it easy for a player like Rivas, a player who is undocumented.

MLS allows United States-based teams to have a maximum of eight international players on their 30-man rosters. The rest must go to domestic players, which the league defines as "either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (i.e., a green card holder), the holder of a certain other special status (e.g., has been granted refugee or asylum status) or a player who qualifies under the Homegrown International Rule."

None of those categories covers Rivas.

Rivas identifies as a Mexican American. He's lived in the U.S. since he was seven years old, when he migrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Mexico is not my home," he says. "It's where I lived for a couple of years, but my home is America." But he is not an American citizen or a legal resident. He's one of the 700,000 to 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and are now called "Dreamers." Under the Obama-era program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), he is protected from deportation and granted the right to work in the United States. But under the Trump administration, the future for DACA recipients is uncertain. In 2017, Trump announced that he would end the program. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on its legality this summer.

MLS could make an exception to consider "Dreamers" to be Americans, but so far it has not. (The league declined to comment on the situation or any possible solution for this story.) So Rivas faces the much tougher road of earning one of the international spots, which are usually awarded to established international players and not inexperienced players right out of college (Rivas starred for Seattle University from 2015 to 2018).

Russell thinks Rivas has a good chance of making it eventually, exception or not.

And even if much is out of Rivas' control, he doesn't view himself as stuck. In limbo. A victim. He is optimistic. Determined. He isn't counting on politics or formulating a backup plan. He knows he cannot just be good. He cannot just be great. He has to be exceptional. Every play, every game.

He knows that even if he is the best player on the pitch, there is a chance he still won't get that spot. But as Reno's 2020 season begins this Friday, he tries to focus on what he can control.

"I will get there," Rivas says. "It's difficult. Who's going to take that shot on an international, Mexican American? Who's going to take a shot at him?

"I'm not giving up. I'm still here."

His journey is not over.

---

In his early years in Mexico, Rivas was happiest when he was in the street, playing soccer with his cousins. He was never lonely. There were always five, six, seven cousins. Friends of cousins. That's where he became competitive, playing one-on-one, two-on-two, in front of his family's ranch. The ball became a best friend.

It was constant fun. He'd kick and kick, and he remembers how he could smell the tortillas his mom was making inside. Later, at the table with his family, she'd tell him, "More, more, you have to eat more," even when he was too stuffed with tortillas and Coca-Cola for another bite. Family meals were sacred.

The family was well-off back then, Rivas says, and often traveled. His dad worked in a lumber company with Sergio's uncle, his dad's brother. But then that company dissolved after his dad's brother died in a car crash. Mexico was also enduring an economic depression, and drug-related gang violence grew increasingly rampant. The area they lived in became unsafe.

Once, when Rivas was between ages five and seven—he can't recall exactly—he was in the car with his cousin, who was playing music loud and driving fast. Too fast. Two trucks came and surrounded them and halted their path. Two large men in black masks, clutching guns, stepped out of the trucks. "Who are you?!" they yelled. Rivas' cousin managed to get them out of the situation and back home.

The family left for America when Rivas was seven but came back once for a brief trip. On that trip, a top government official came over to the ranch for a big party. They were all playing beach volleyball. The next day, the family found out the official and his family had been killed. "170 shots to the body," Rivas says. Rivas was terrified, imagining what might have happened if the killers had come to the ranch. "We all could have died," he says.

"Now that I think about it," he says, "thank God my parents chose to stay in America."

Not that America was easy for him. Rivas was in third grade when he arrived, and his teacher expected him to know English right away. Of course, he didn't, and Rivas would often get in trouble for speaking Spanish. He can still hear that teacher's voice barking at him: "Detention! Detention!"

Then, the worst punishment. She had Rivas and his two Spanish-speaking friends lie face down during lunch, their noses touching the hard, dirty, cold floor, packed tightly next to each other. "Like soldiers. Side by side," Rivas says. He was forced to learn English fast. He had to. Anything to escape that floor.

And still, he was treated differently than other students. For the school's Christmas party, Rivas' parents remember that every kid received a sock with candy. Everyone except for their son.

Rivas' parents tried to protect him, fearful of what could happen if he bucked against any mistreatment. "You can't fight. You can't get in trouble with the cops. They'll send you back right away," they'd tell him. "You have to be really, really careful."

Always, the spectre of losing America hung over them.

---

By the time he was a teenager, Rivas had fallen in love with soccer in a serious way, becoming a perfectionist about his practice and starting to rack up goals with ease in games.

Once, he stood on a baseball field for two hours while younger brother Isai recorded him because Rivas wanted to perfectly kick a ball and hit the top of the fence from 60 yards away. "He'd train in negative-degree weather, juggling for hours," Isai says.

"His work ethic was something we've never seen before," says Jared Montoya, a close friend who went on to play for Dakota Wesleyan University.

Friends began calling him "Golden Child" as his skill rose and he dominated for his youth club, New Mexico Rush, and at Cibola High."He was a natural talent," says Justin Sells, the technical director for New Mexico Rush. "Gifted with the ball. His technical ability was off the charts for a kid his age."

Rivas was one of 36 players worldwide invited to train with Real Madrid in Spain at age 14. He'd become a Gatorade State Player of the Year. Still, he flew under the radar when it came to college recruiting. Part of that was because he couldn't go to certain tournaments, like one in El Paso, because he'd have to go through checkpoints.

Some public colleges hesitated to recruit him once they found out about his status. He'd email coaches late into the night, hoping one would give him a chance. His family worried about him traveling with a college team, about something potentially going wrong with his ID. If this happens, then what would happen? They'd think through every scenario.

Sometimes, it seemed his college dream would never happen. One of his teachers told him the probability of playing college soccer was pretty low. But Rivas was unfazed. He'd go to school at 7 a.m., train at 2:30 p.m., then head to work as a cook (the same job as his dad)—which he started doing at age 16 to help his family, a choice he made himself—then go back to his family's garage and run on the treadmill a few miles and complete 500 juggles. I have to get there, he'd think to himself, sometimes not going to sleep until 3 a.m., then doing it all again the next day. And the next day.

He'd fantasize about one day buying his brothers all the cleats they wanted, once he'd made it to MLS. That helped him push past the exhaustion he felt after long nights at the restaurant, especially when he had to close. He'd have to mop the floor, clean tabletops, carry big buckets of water outside. His back would burn, ache, but he'd think of his parents' backs, how much they must have burned, ached. And he'd press on.

He didn't attend many parties or hangouts. He had tunnel vision. He became competitive in everything he did, including restaurant work. He became the employee to close in the fastest time, cleaning everything, by himself, 20 minutes faster than the job would normally take two employees.

He didn't complain or feel upset that he had to work as hard as he did, that he faced as many obstacles as he did.

Thank you, God, for giving me the opportunity to do these things, he'd tell himself, locking the restaurant up, walking into the deep-black night, before running a few miles. Thank you for letting me do what I love to do.

---

The long hours paid off when Seattle University, a private school, gave Rivas a full ride.

The original offer was for a 95 percent scholarship for Rivas' first year, then 100 percent the next three. Rivas was going to have to pay somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000 as a freshman. The family planned to sell one of its cars to cover it. Rivas became a starter with a strong preseason, but coaches could sense that something was off. They brought him in and asked if it was the money, and he told them his dad was thinking about selling the car. The coaches told him not to worry about it and moved him up to a 100 percent scholarship.

That year, he was 17 years old, outperforming 22-year-olds. He was named the Western Athletic Conference's top freshman and helped lead the team to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.

"What I love about him is he's not one-dimensional," says Pete Fewing, Rivas' coach at Seattle. "He can beat you on the dribble. He can beat you with a pass. He's good on both feet. He's silky smooth, and it's really hard to predict what he's going to do."

It helped that when he came to Seattle, Rivas was able to get contacts through the team. He could finally see the ball.

In a four-year career, he became one of the top players in the country, making the All-WAC first team twice, scoring 19 goals (several that Fewing calls "world-class") and finishing with 27 assists, second-most in conference history.

After his senior season, he was projected to be a top-10 pick on some MLS draft boards.

But as always, so much was out of his control.

Rivas sat in McCormick Place in Chicago in January 2019 to watch the MLS SuperDraft, to hear his name called. His parents, his entire family, were at home in Albuquerque, watching. Waiting.

Sells was with Rivas. Sells' phone kept buzzing. MLS personnel were calling to ask, Is Sergio a U.S. citizen? Rivas kept hearing name after name called on the TV. Names that were not his."That's when I started falling through the cracks," he says.

He was frustrated, watching himself slip into the second round. The Earthquakes selected him with the second pick of that round, 26th overall, and he was soon sent to Reno.

"I still feel like maybe the reason he did fall a little bit in the draft was because he was a foreigner," Russell says. "It would take an international spot to sign him. Teams don't want to waste those if they can help it."

Sells, who has played in both MLS and the USL, agrees. "If he was a U.S. citizen, based on his combine he had, and playing in all the all-star games, he's probably a top-five, top-10 pick," Sells says. "Once word got out that he was undocumented and would take an international spot, I don't think there's a lot of MLS clubs that want to use an international spot on a college kid."

Fewing, also a broadcaster for the Seattle Sounders FC, had conversations with two MLS general managers, a coach and a scout on draft day, all asking similar questions, which led him to the same conclusion: "If he had his green card, I know a couple teams that would have taken him higher in the draft."

Still, Rivas was thrilled to achieve his lifelong dream. He was going to play professional soccer, even if it was in the USL. Back home, his entire family huddled around their red leather couch. Everyone was crying. "Yes!" his dad screamed. Isai nearly lost his voice, cheering so hard, his hand shaking from holding up his phone to record the moment. Rivas' mom jumped up and down, thinking how far her son had come, how far he might go.

---

Rivas was just as effective in the first half of his first season with Reno as he had been in college, becoming a starter and scoring two goals in eight starts.

WATCH  | Sergio Rivas' FIRST professional goal!

The passing between @Sergiioo_77 and @Hertzog_Corey was UNREAL on this one! #RNOvNM | #COYBIB | #VamosAzules | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/4roOoNdIIa

— Reno 1868 FC (@Reno1868FC) April 21, 2019

Then another setback, another loss of control.

Rivas started feeling pain in his lower back and abdomen. He had a hernia and needed surgery (luckily, covered by the team), which caused him to miss the majority of the second half of the season.

His MLS dream felt in peril.

Why is this happening right now? he'd think to himself. He was just starting to find his groove.

He'd go back to his apartment, high up in Harrah's Casino, the bright lights and blaring sounds from the slot machines below keeping him awake. Sometimes he felt alone. Uncertain. There weren't many places to go. Lake Tahoe, maybe. Or a drive across town. Chipotle, a favorite. But his mobility was limited.

He'd lie on his bed, stare at the walls of his room, and the negative thoughts would multiply:

Am I ever going to play again?

Maybe I should just quit.

They're going to think I'm a crybaby. They're going to think I can't play at this level.

Are my parents still proud of me?

Are they afraid, too?

With the injury, he was forced to miss his return to Albuquerque for Reno's game at New Mexico United in September. His mom and dad were in attendance anyway, cheering for Reno.

His dad, his biggest fan, has to work and cannot make it to many of Sergio's games, often instead listening to the broadcast while working. He can hardly speak on game days because he is so proud of his son and so nervous for him. Watching his team in person, even with Sergio absent, he was prouder than ever, as was Mom. "Yeah, Reno! Let's go, Reno!" they cheered.

But then fans began yelling at his family: "Shut up, Mexicans! Go back to your country! Go back to Mexico!" The hecklers wouldn't stop. Rivas' older brother wanted to say something, wanted to fight, but he restrained himself. His parents told him not to react.

"It's just the world we live in," Rivas says. "It's hit me way harder than before. The way I walk around. The way people look at me because I'm brown. The way Trump's talking about people being brown taking their jobs, calling them rapists. It definitely hurts."

And obviously, for "Dreamers," the fear goes beyond words.

"It's frustrating and scary," Fewing says. "You don't know what will happen."

"At any point, they can come to me and just kick me out," Rivas says. "Which has always been a possibility, but now it's even a pretty high chance."

If it came to that, he could possibly still make his way back as a Mexican citizen, win an international spot on a USL or MLS team's roster. Or he could be refused reentry to the U.S. for some set amount of time. Or there could be any number of other outcomes.

But Rivas can't live in could.

While it's all hanging in the balance, waiting on the Court, Rivas knows all he can do is focus on what he can control: giving his all to training and proving himself in matches.

---

When he was 10, Rivas started playing against much bigger kids. He told his dad that the kids were too big, too fast—that he couldn't compete with them. "Yes, you can," his dad told him. "They might be bigger, they might be faster, but there is always a way." He'd have Rivas lay down and visualize breezing past his defender. "You have to think it. Then say that you can. Then your body will follow. Your body will find a way to do it."

This is the attitude of this family—a family in which both parents often work well past overtime (his mom is a cook, too, and has worked her way up to manager) and persevere in the face of bigotry (customers have yelled at his mom: "Can I get somebody who actually speaks English?! F--king Mexicans!").

Rivas has worked hard in rehab since having surgery about two and a half months ago. He feels about 90 percent healthy. The final 10 percent is getting his fitness back, he says. The injury has motivated him even more. He has more to prove.

"He looks good so far," says Reno defender Thomas Janjigian. "A lot of guys don't stick with it the way Sergio has." Midfielder Sam Gleadle notices it, too. "There's not a day I've seen him here where he isn't motivated to make that jump."

Rivas thinks of kids younger than him, hoping to inspire them. He often visits local schools in the area to talk to students, like Dilworth Middle School. The students there were staring up at him, hanging on every syllable. Standing at the front of the classroom, Rivas looked at them and saw himself. His younger self. The self that understood what it was like to have people tell him he wouldn't make it.

One kid came up to him with a scowl on his face. He was having trouble at home. He was involved in selling drugs. But the more he talked to Rivas, the more he seemed to soften. The muscles in the boy's cheeks relaxed. Rivas told him he didn't have to act hard—didn't have to go down the path he was going. He could pursue soccer, if he wanted, if he were determined enough, willing to work hard enough.

"Do you think I can really do it?" the boy asked.

"Yes, you can," Rivas told him.

Rivas went back to his apartment, back to his own questions. About his future, his fears. The things he can and can't control.

He tries to avoid thinking about political currents swirling around him. He tries to block out the negative thoughts. Tries not to be alone, so his mind doesn't drift.

But sometimes when it does, he closes his eyes and meditates. He hears his father's words: Your body will find a way to do it. And he gets up and faces another day.

            

Mirin Fader is a staff writer for B/R Mag. She's written for the Orange County Register, espnW.com, SI.com and Slam. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, the Los Angeles Press Club and the Best American Sports Writing series. Follow her on Twitter: @MirinFader.

New players, new teams. New hopes, new dreams. Another Major League Soccer season is ready to begin, and what better way to get to grips with the storylines than to speak to three experts who live and breathe MLS.

We wanted to know which clubs we need to keep a close eye on. We wanted to know about the new talent set to make waves across America. We got answers.

Susannah Collins is a host and reporter for MLS, covering games up and down the country all season long.

Matt Doyle is Armchair Analyst at MLSSoccer.com, breaking down who is hot and who is not with Power Rankings throughout the year. 

Jack Davis is founder and owner of @mlshub—the Instagram page that is emerging as a go-to destination for debate around the league.

We got them to explain some of the big talking points ahead of kick-off, and we then asked for some predictions for the campaign ahead.

                 

B/R Football: A new campaign gets under way on Saturday—what are you excited about?

Jack Davis: "This season is all about growth, and the league is capitalising on its 25th year with new expansion sides Inter Miami and Nashville SC, which will see new rivalries emerge as both conferences grow to 13 teams.

"The pipeline of talent from south of the border is in full flow, too. New star names such as Chicharito at LA Galaxy, Liga MX top scorer Alan Pulido to Sporting Kansas City, and Rodolfo Pizarro to Inter Miami have landed. The Chicharito versus Carlos Vela Mexican matchup will make the crosstown rivalry between LAFC and the Galaxy must-watch TV."

Up front for LA Galaxy: Chicharito

Top scorer at LAFC: Carlos Vela

Mexico in LA 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/8nwGHsrm9f

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 21, 2020

      

Susannah Collins: "I've spent a lot of time in Nashville, and from what I've seen, everything they do, they do it big. Music City is going to bring it when it comes to support for this squad, and I cannot wait to see the way Nashville grows the game in that region of the States.

"I like the way they've built their roster with a mix of MLS experience and talented young guys. We'll have to wait and see whether or not the product on the pitch will match the buzz that's already in place in that city." 

          

B/R Football: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has gone, but Chicharito has landed! What are your thoughts on his impact for Galaxy and the league?

Matt Doyle: "There are two types of star players: floor raisers and ceiling raisers. I think Zlatan at this point raises the floor, so by lobbing 60 balls into the box you'll score some goals. He took a bad team and made them respectable.

"They have needed to overhaul their style, play a more modern game, have more energy—and that's where Chicharito comes in. He's just 31 and is a more multi-faceted player at this point. He's not as good as Zlatan, but I think he will raise the ceiling in a way Zlatan didn't. That said, if they don't get some new defenders, they are going to suck anyway!"

       

SC: "Chicharito and the LA Galaxy just feels like a perfect fit to me. This is a player who is supremely talented but perhaps in the last few years, for whatever reason, wasn't utilised enough or properly. That will change with the LA Galaxy."

      

JD: "One of the major stars of the Mexico national team, Chicharito brings both an increase in Mexican viewership, jersey sales, and an instant in-town rivalry with fellow national team member Carlos Vela. 

"The Galaxy, at times last year, played with an overdependence on the big Swede. The addition of Chicharito will make for a more balanced side."

B/R Football: Many considered LAFC the best football team last season, but they just couldn't see out the results side of things. What are your thoughts on them this time around?

JD: "LAFC was one of the greatest teams MLS has ever seen, and I don't see that changing this year. You can expect another phenomenal season. The key departures of Walker Zimmerman and Lee Nguyen were costly; however, the signings of midfielders Francisco Ginella and Jose Cifuentes strengthen their midfield tremendously.

"The first full season of young star Brian Rodriguez will be an interesting one to watch. You can expect him to have a breakout season. Without many large weaknesses, added team depth, and a great coach and leader in Bob Bradley, expect to see LAFC at the top, fighting for everything."

      

SC: "What LAFC were able to accomplish in the regular season last year was nothing short of remarkable. And while I'm picking them to top the Western Conference once again, it's a massively tall task for them to tally 70-plus points again this year, especially when I feel that the West has only gotten collectively stronger."

       

B/R Football: Seattle Sounders are the reigning champions. What makes them so good at winning when it matters?

JD: "Sounders possess big-moment players. Since the arrival of Nicolas Lodeiro in 2016, the Sounders have won two MLS Cups and have established themselves as the most dominant team of the last decade.

"In the Western Conference final against LAFC last season, Raul Ruidiaz outclassed the MVP Vela, scoring two goals and propelling his side into the MLS Cup final. They even have a big-moment coach in Brian Schmetzer, who won his first MLS Cup less than five months after taking over as head coach. Expect more of the same from them"

      

SC: "They are just a smart team, top to bottom. From the front office to the coaching staff to the players...they simply know how to win.

"I fully expect them to be a contender in the West once again in 2020. They also have this uncanny knack of getting hot at precisely the right time. Their formula works—it will continue to work."

B/R: Inter Miami are ready to go, what should we expect from them?

JD: "David Beckham's name attracts rumours of signings and loads of expectation, but I do not see Inter Miami's season going according to plan. The signing of Pizarro, in addition to Matias Pellegrini, will help. However, with legal issues regarding the name, troubles with stadium plans, and no obvious direction, the distractions may prove to be too large to overcome.

"A reasonable expectation would be to finish higher than the other newcomer, Nashville SC—yet they will still watch the playoffs from their couches."  

      

SC: "I find Miami interesting. It's taken them a while to sort themselves out, but now that it's finally taken shape, I think they will be a really fun team to watch.

"They've built this team around MLS experience, bringing in guys like Luis Robles, Wil Trapp, and Roman Torres. But the signings of Pellegrini and Pizarro are huge wins and harks back to the Atlanta United model of bringing in young Central and South American talent.

"Diego Alonso feels like a smart choice as head coach having proved himself in Liga MX and, from what I know, will implement a system where they try to control possession and dictate the pace of the game right out of the gate—he's got some pretty impressive tools on the roster to do just that."

         

B/R Football: Give us an early prediction—one big thing we should expect this season.

JD: "The unanimous favourite will be Carlos Vela for the Audi Golden Boot, and many experts are also pointing towards Chicharito, but my safe choice is Josef Martinez. Since arriving in Atlanta, Martinez has scored 77 goals in 83 MLS appearances and will not stop anytime soon."

     

SC: "Let's be honest, in MLS anything can happen! But I do believe that there is going to be an exceptionally fun race for the Golden Boot this year between fellow countrymen Vela and Chicharito...and I'm giving the edge to Chicha. Just call it a hunch." 

      

MD: "If you want dark-horse MVP candidates, then I think Heber is your No. 1 guy. He's flying completely under the radar, but he is fantastic.

"His movement is great, he does the Roberto Firmino-type stuff off the ball. NYCFC are one of the teams that press a lot in this league, and it comes from him at CF. He is an all-round frontman, and I have no idea how he has had such a low-profile career.

"We have seen guys in this league sold for tens of millions of dollars to bigger leagues and be successful, and to me, he is the same level of player as those guys. NYCFC fans are very happy to have him, and if they win it, he will be the best player on that team." 

    

Listen to Dean every Wednesday on the B/R Football Ranks podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe here.

Real Salt Lake announced on Thursday the signing of former Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi.

The former Italy international, who started his career at Manchester United, officially arrived in Major League Soccer after a trial with his new club.

The New Jersey-born player expressed his delight at making his way to the MLS:

"It feels great to now be a part of Real Salt Lake. I can't wait to step onto the pitch and help RSL achieve all the goals we've set this year. For me, MLS has been growing every year and has produced an exciting product. I'm lucky enough to have RSL be my first contact in the league during this process. The club's respect and kindness towards me is something I appreciate immensely. I can't wait to see and meet the fans and immerse myself in the RSL culture. Along with the rest of the team, I can't wait to begin this season and enjoy the journey together."

Rossi spent three years under iconic coach Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford before leaving for Villarreal after loan spells at Newcastle United and Parma.

The striker made his name with the Yellow Submarine, spending six seasons at the Estadio de la Ceramica, establishing himself as a regular scorer in La Liga.

Rossi won the Olympic Golden Boot in 2008 for Italy after netting four in four games. Most recently, the 33-year-old has turned out for Fiorentina and Genoa, including loan spells at Levante and Celta Vigo.

RSL coach Freddy Juarez hailed the arrival of his new forward:

"It's amazing to have a player of his skills in and around the guys. It's a guy that can change the game at any given moment and he's seen it all and done it all so he gives the team confidence. Beyond his skills, he takes the time to talk and spend time with the young guys. It goes a long way when your peers can lead you and hold high standards."

Rossi has been a potent goalscorer during his career with 128 goals, but his ability to play across the forward positions will be useful for RSL.    

RSL finished third in the Western Conference last season and were knocked out in the conference semi-finals. The club begin the new season on the road at Orlando City SC on Saturday.

David Beckham has backed the prospect of promotion and relegation eventually being introduced to MLS, but he warned "there needs to be a real stability in the league before you get to that point." 

The 25th season of MLS kicks off on Saturday and will include two new expansion clubs, Inter Miami and Nashville.

Beckham, 44, is a part-owner of the Miami outfit, and they will finally make their MLS bow against LAFC on Sunday.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy superstar weighed in on the MLS promotion-relegation debate at a media roundtable for the launch of the new season, per Ryan Tolmich of Goal:

"On the relegation system, you know that's one thing that I've thankfully never experienced: being relegated. Luckily I always was always fighting to win leagues and to win championships. But it's something that I've been used to, you know, over the years, being part of league being part of leagues where there is a relegation system within whatever league I played it. It makes it exciting, but when you're talking about a league that's only been around for 25 years there needs to be a real stability in the league before you get to that point."

Per Tolmich, LAFC boss Bob Bradley recently said promotion and relegation "eventually has to happen" in MLS, and Beckham appears to be on the same page as the former United States head coach.

The former England captain has already played a major role in boosting the profile of MLS.

His move to LA Galaxy from Real in 2007 created a media frenzy across the globe and grabbed the attention of those previously uninterested in the American top flight. Beckham won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012 before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, where he finished his playing career. 

MLS has since developed into a well-established, competitive league, but it continues to struggle to compete with Europe's top divisions. Jorge Mas, one of Beckham's ownership partners, is confident it will get there eventually:

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas:

"I think [MLS] will be on par or exceed the best leagues in the world, the Premier League or Serie A or La Liga worldwide.

"I think that the MLS 25 years from now will be Premier League-ish if we want to call it that." pic.twitter.com/AoiYjbH0nC

— GOAL (@goal) February 27, 2020

The addition of Miami and Nashville has brought the total number of clubs in MLS to 26 across its two conferences.

The league plans to expand to 30 teams by 2022 with the addition of Austin FC, Charlotte, Sacramento Republic FC and a St. Louis franchise.

Seattle Sounders will start the 2020 campaign as defending champions after beating Toronto 3-1 in the 2019 MLS Cup. 

David Beckham's appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wednesday night will do little to stop the rumors of Inter Miami CF pursuing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The co-owner and president of Miami's new MLS team did little to stymie talk of two of the best players in the sport bolting to the United States, not exactly sounding like the club wasn't trying to make it happen.

David Beckham addresses rumors that he is recruiting @Cristiano & Lionel Messi for #InterMiamiCF #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/z6Qjth1tGI

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) February 27, 2020

"We've got great opportunities down in Miami," Beckham told Fallon. "We've been contacted by a lot of different players with possibly coming to join the team. As any owner, you really want the best players. And if we have the opportunity to bring in players like Cristiano or Leo Messi, I've got such admiration for them as athletes. If we can bring those players in, then great."

The former English soccer star went on to provide more than a vote of confidence for the roster as is, which makes sense given the team opens the season March 1 in Los Angeles.

Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath told Steve Bates of the Mirror he believed Beckham could land the two global stars, with both potentially following Beckham's path in finishing their careers in the U.S.

That may be the case, but Beckham wasn't willing to announce anything of the sort Wednesday. Still, he notably didn't put it out of reach.

"As an owner, if you want to bring these players in, then we have a great opportunity." Beckham concluded with a smile.

Lionel Messi won't be suiting up to ply his trade in Major League Soccer for LA Galaxy any time soon, according to the club's manager.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto downplayed the idea of his fellow Argentinian moving to California, per Katia Castorena of ESPN Deportes (h/t ESPN): "There is nothing to tell. Obviously [everybody would like to have Messi] and the fact of having a certain relationship with him also brings about the possibility but there has been no approach recently."

Rumours that Barcelona attacking talisman Messi would swap life at the Camp Nou for a stint in MLS gained some traction thanks to a report from Radio Continental (h/t ESPN). The station detailed how Barros Schelotto spoke to Messi's father a year ago about a potential deal.

At one time, Messi, whose contract expires in summer 2021, finishing his career with the Blaugrana was simply taken as a given. Things have changed, though, and Messi's future has become the source of intense speculation within the context of several issues surrounding the club.

First, the forward had a public falling-out with sporting director Eric Abidal regarding comments the Frenchman made on Instagram. Messi has also been caught up in the scandal growing around Barca's relationship with I3 Ventures.

The club has been accused of directing the contracted marketing consultant to change opinions toward prominent members of the club on social media. It was to be a campaign underpinned by negative posts aimed at Messi and Gerard Pique, among others, according to SER Catalunya and La Llotja del Que t'hi Jugues (h/t TalkSport's Josh Fordham).

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Barca did hire I3 Ventures but denied allegations regarding the negative posts. Even so, Messi described the situation as "strange" during an interview with Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport).

These events create the impression all is not right at Barcelona, particularly in relation to the club's star player. Yet Messi has moved to assure people he remains content to prolong his career in La Liga.

He told Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sid Lowe of the Guardian) how he's resisted the interest of clubs in the past and intends to continue doing the same. However, Messi added one key caveat:

"(But) I have also said many times that I would like the club to be in good shape, for the fans to be happy with the team we have, for there to be a winning project and for us to continue being candidates to win trophies like we always were. I want to win another Champions League, I want to keep winning league titles."

Messi remains central to Barca fulfilling those ambitions. He is still the most important player in the squad, a status he is underlining even during a trying campaign.

The 32-year-old has scored 19 times in all competitions while also being a reliable goal-creator:

Lionel Messi has now assisted Barcelona’s last six goals ✨

“Hello this is Leo, how may I assist you?" pic.twitter.com/FdVRQP1R34

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 15, 2020

Messi has stayed consistent even during a season where events on the pitch have been as fractious as those off of it. Barca have already replaced one manager after ditching Ernesto Valverde in favour of Quique Setien in January.

Injuries up front have also left Messi to plough a lone furrow in attack. Ousmane Dembele is out for the season with a ruptured tendon in his hamstring, while knee surgery has ruled Luis Suarez out until April.

The absence of Dembele and Suarez have been compounded by summer import Antoine Griezmann taking his time to get up to speed following his move from Atletico Madrid. Fortunately for Barca, there have been signs Griezmann is starting to get comfortable:

✨ @AntoGriezmann is quietly having a brilliant season in #LaLigaSantander.

💙 @FCBarcelona ❤️ pic.twitter.com/c4xIyCYPXB

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 17, 2020

Even so, the strain of so much upheaval does appear to have crept into Messi's performances:

❌❌❌❌

Lionel Messi is on his worst goalscoring form in La Liga for over six years.

The beginning of the end? 😮 pic.twitter.com/0UAvZFnoOd

— GOAL (@goal) February 16, 2020

A few games without a goal would be concerning for some players, but Messi's brilliance can almost be taken for granted. He will quickly refocus and remain the catalyst who determines whether Setien's team overturns a one-point deficit to overhaul rivals Real Madrid and retain the league title.

Whether Barca are loaded with enough marquee talent to win the UEFA Champions League this season remains open for debate. What is certain is that beyond this campaign, Barca have to do more to support the most gifted player of his generation.

It will demand hiring elite managers, getting more stable leadership at the top and making smarter use of the transfer market. Only then would Messi would be truly rewarded for sticking around.   

Ron Jans has resigned from his position as the head coach of FC Cincinnati amid an ongoing MLS investigation into allegations that he used a racist slur in front of players.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that Jans had departed his position on their official website with a statement from president Jeff Berding:

"As Major League Soccer's investigation unfolded and some themes emerged, Ron offered his resignation and we agreed that it was the best course of action for everyone involved with FC Cincinnati.

"We place the utmost importance on a strong culture within our club, beginning in our locker room, and that every person connected with FC Cincinnati feels valued, respected and trusted. Racial and cultural diversity is a major part of what makes the game of soccer so special, and we place the highest priority on respecting every person involved in our game. 

"This includes absolutely everyone associated with our club, from our locker room and front office, all the way through to our fans."

As ESPN's Taylor Twellman reported, Jans is said to have told Berding he was singing along to a song in the players' dressing room when he used the racist slur:

Ron Jans tells @fccincinnati president Jeff Berding that he was signing a song being played in the locker room with the players. #MLS #FCCincy https://t.co/jjf3pBQYgw

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) February 14, 2020

Yoann Damet will take over as interim coach while a new permanent hire is sought.

According to the Guardian, Jans was told by one player after using the word of its "significance" in the United States.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty also reported that Jans made a comment in October about slavery while the team was in Washington preparing for a game with DC United that "wasn't universally well received."

Jans, 61, took charge of the team in August, close to the conclusion of their first-ever season as an MLS franchise.

Per the Guardian, he said he "had a really great time in Cincinnati and with the club, with the staff, players, owners and fans." Jans also added that "I'm really sorry our story ends like this."

FC Cincinnati will not have long to find a new head coach ahead of the 2020 MLS season. They kick off their second campaign in the league on March 1 against the New York Red Bulls.