Top games to watch this week
Friday, June 24
Inter Club d'Escaldes vs Vikingur Reykjavik (UEFA Champions League)
Boca Juniors vs Union Santa Fe (Argentine Primera Division)
France vs Italy (UEFA U19 Championship)
Romania vs Slovakia (UEFA U19 Championship)
Denmark vs Brazil (Women's friendly)
England vs Netherlands (Women's friendly)
Cincinnati vs Orlando City (MLS)
Saturday, June 25
River Plate vs Lanús (Argentine Primera Division)
Flamengo vs America Mineiro (Brasileirao)
Corinthians vs Santos (Brasileirao)
Austria vs Serbia (UEFA U19 Championship)
Israel vs England (UEFA U19 Championship)
USA vs Colombia (Women's Friendly)
Mexico vs Peru (Women's Friendly)
Seattle Sounders vs Sporting KC (MLS)
Sunday, June 26
Atlas vs Cruz Azul (Campeón de Campeones)
Los Angeles FC vs New York RB (MLS)
Philadelphia Union vs New York City (MLS)
Canada vs Korea Republic (Women's Friendly)
Monday, June 27
Atlético Tucumán vs Godoy Cruz (Argentine Primera Division)
Tuesday, June 28
Emelec vs Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
Corinthians vs Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
Athletico-PR vs Libertad (Copa Libertadores)
USA vs Colombia (Women's Friendly)
Colo-Colo vs Internacional (Copa Sudamericana)
Wednesday, June 29
Cerro Porteño vs Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores)
Talleres Córdoba vs Colón (Copa Libertadores)
Deportes Tolima vs Flamengo (Copa Libertadores)
Vélez Sarsfield vs River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
Cincinnati vs New York City (MLS)
Seattle Sounders vs Montreal (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Dallas (MLS)
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United (MLS)
Deportivo Táchira vs Santos (Copa Sudamericana)
Thursday, June 30
Fortaleza vs Estudiantes (Copa Libertadores)
Independiente del Valle vs Lanús (Copa Sudamericana)
U. Católica vs Sao Paulo (Copa Sudamericana)
Most-watched games in the United States: June 13-19, 2022
It was an interesting week in terms of football games being aired in the United States, as the lack of top-caliber club football has seen audiences turning to other sources of entertainment. The games featuring national teams were still trending this week, but MLS matches and a NWSL game were the major surprises in this week's listings.
Additionally, national teams with age-limit categories earned quite a following. Whether they were European or American teams, there were some entertaining games that caught the eyes of fans across the country. Particularly, the games from the CONCACAF U20 Championship were followed thoroughly, especially those featuring the Mexican team and Central American countries.
Let's have a closer look at those games that kept fans glued to their seats in the past week.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Los Ángeles FC vs New York RB live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABC, fubo, sling, ESPNLA 710 AM, and SiriusXM FC
The MLS action continues this weekend with LAFC and New York Red Bulls locking horns on Sunday in an interesting clash. This tie will see the Western Conference leaders host the Eastern Conference's second-placed side as both clubs look the gain the upper hand in the table. Vela and Co., who are on track to winning their second Supporters' Shield, sit two points ahead of second-placed Real Salt Lake with a game in hand. RBNY, meanwhile, are only a point behind bitter rivals New York City, who currently occupy the no.1 spot in the East, with the table-toppers set to face third-placed Philadelphia Union in this round. This means Gerhard Struber's men could go top of the table but that will require a win over LAFC. Make sure to catch this showdown.
Philadelphia Union vs New York City live this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on Fox Sports, Fox Deportes, fuboTV, and Sling TV
The second game in our list is another MLS showdown as two powerhouses in the East prepare to face off. They are Philadelphia Union and New York City, who currently sit third and first, respectively, in their conference. Both sides are unbeaten in eight games or more, showing how commendable they have been. Victory for Jim Curtin's team could see them go top of the table, but that will require a slip-up from the New York Red Bulls in their trip to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, NYCFC, who recently lost their head coach Ronny Deila to Standard Liege, will look to bounce back after a recent dip in form, having lost 3-0 to RBNY in the U.S. Open Cup before drawing 1-1 with the Colorado Rapids. Don't miss this tie.
Corinthians vs Boca Juniors and Cerro Porteño vs Palmeiras headline the Copa Libertadores round of 16 live this midweek on beIN Sports USA, Fanatiz USA, and fuboTV
The Copa Libertadores is back, with the beloved South American competition returning this midweek with the round of 16. All eight games will take place on Tuesday through Thursday, with Corinthians hosting Boca Juniors in one of the standout clashes. The Argentine giants faced the Brazilian side in the group stage and were unable to beat them, drawing at home while losing 2-0 away, meaning it should be an interesting tie. Elsewhere, defending champions Palmeiras, who are top of the Brazilian league, will face off against Cerro Porteño in another highly-anticipated match. Make sure to catch the action live on beIN Sports USA, Fanatiz USA, and fuboTV.
Women's football fans around the globe have enjoyed some of the most interesting weeks of the year, and things are only going to get better with the number of matches taking place, featuring some of the top national teams out there.
The activity in women's football for this week will have its main focus on the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying, with European teams such as the Czech Republic, Scotland, Ukraine, and the Netherlands getting ready to fight for a spot in the competition.
Elsewhere, the world of women's football will see the return of perhaps the most popular and successful women's team out there: the USWNT, who will embark on a busy summer that will also include their participation in the CONCACAF W Championship, the tournament that will hand out three spots to play in the 2023 World Cup and in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Without further ado, let's have a look at what the beautiful game will offer in terms of women's football matches.
USWNT back in action
The team led by Vlatko Andonovski will play a couple of friendly matches this week against Colombia, which will be used to get the team in gear for the CONCACAF W Championship. Some of the team's all-time greatest, such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, will return for these matches, while also getting ready for the qualifiers set to take place in Mexico between July 4 and 18.
FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying
The race to seal a spot in the FIFA Women's World Cup for European teams is nearing its end, and teams such as 2019 runners-up Netherlands are still fighting to earn a second World Cup berth in a row, where they hope they can go all the way this time. This game, a showdown with Belarus, will be key for the Dutch team as they could leapfrog Iceland as the top team in Group C, with the final matches of the tournament set to take place in September.
Liga MX side makes headlines by signing former UWCL winner Jennifer Hermoso
In what can only be categorized as one of the biggest moments in Liga MX Femenil history, the runners-up in the 2022 Clausura tournament, Pachuca, announced the signing of Spanish superstar Jennifer Hermoso. The all-time top scorer for the Spanish national team will join Las Tuzas trying to lead them to their first-ever Liga MX Femenil title. Hermoso has scored over 200 goals for club and country, and it will be interesting to see what kind of partnership she can create with former Atlético Madrid striker Charlyn Corral, one of the best players for Las Tuzas during the past season.
For more details on games, standings, and news, visit our dedicated women's soccer page at LiveSoccerTV.com.
Biggest stories of the week
LEAKED: Man Utd CEO Richard Arnold meets fans planning Glazer protest in a local pub
New Manchester United Chief Executive Officer Richard Arnold had an honest conversation with leaders of a section of the club's fan base who were looking to stage a protest in another attempt to oust the Glazers ownership. The new Red Devils chief was quizzed on different subjects pertaining to the ciub by the frustrated supporters after he met them at a local pub in order to stop the protests from taking place outside his house.
On Saturday, English news outlet JOE reported that the some fans of Manchester United had planned to unfurl banners outside the gates of the club's CEO's home. The primary objective was to demand that he and the Glazers leave the club. According to the report, the group arranged to meet in a pub close to Arnold's home in before the protest began but were surprised when the successor of former CEO Ed Woodward met them there instead.
In a series of video that were taken during the conversation and leaked after, Arnold was quizzed on subjects ranging from the Glazer family ownership to the individuals that were responsible for the leaks within the dressing room. In one instance, he described the season as a "f****** nightmare".
An account given to JOE by one of the group members present reads as follows: "By the time most of the lads had got there they were ripping into him, saying the Glazers have done f*** all for the last 17 years."
"We're not making him [Arnold] out to be a hero, but we respect the fact he came out to see us and speak about things.
"He's basically asking for a clean slate because he's just started his role. He's saying that none of the last 17 years is his fault."
"The thing he kept saying was that attacking sponsors and investors is damaging the club" the source that spoke to JOE added.
"So what The '58 are doing is working. He's saying 'If you love United, you're not helping United.' I asked him what would he have us do instead and he shrugged.
"We are trying to damage the club so sponsorship stops and they are forced to sell."
On the subject of dressing room leaks and summer transfer plans, Arnold revealed to the group that the former might not happen again as two of "the two sources of the leaks [Lingard and Pogba] have now left the club."
"He said Murtough is working from 6 in the morning till 10 at night trying to get the De Jong deal done," the source told JOE.
"There's £200m for transfers. He wouldn't let any other targets slip.
"He was honest with us and that helped defuse the situation. There were around 20 of us in there and telling him exactly what we thought but by the end of it, we'd piped down."
Transfer: Ousmane Dembele finally breaks his silence on purported Barcelona exit
Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele has hinted at staying at the club amid rumors of a purported move to Chelsea in the Premier League. In a video that surfaced on the internet over the weekend, the 25-year-old winger was seen telling a fan that he was going to stay at Camp Nou for the foreseeable future at least.
Last season, Dembele had an unfair share of injury troubles but still came good for Barca, as he finished the season with the most assists in La Liga (13) despite starting only nine matches. The French winger has been heralded among the best performers since the arrival of Xavi and was an instrumental figure in the side as the Catalans secured a second place finish in La Liga.
Nevertheless, the player's future with the Spanish heavyweights has been in doubt and Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be keen on securing the service of the ex-Borussia Dortmund sensation. The Blues are understood to be pushing for a deal that will bring the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge. With the player having previously worked with manager Thomas Tuchel during his Dortmund days, there is optimism that he could be convinced to make the move to the Premier League. According to reports from Spain, the Barcelona player is expected to make his final decision after returning from his holiday.
In hindsight, a video footage that circulated on social media over the weekend has fueled the rumor mill. A Barcelona fan who encountered Dembele on vacation took the time in their brief encounter to learn more about what was going on, and his comments were pretty crucial. Dembele's response seems to indicate that he is comfortable in Spain, hinting at potentially staying at Barca.
La Liga: Full 2022-23 calendar featuring El Clásico and more revealed
A special edition of La Liga is set to begin on August 13. The top-tier football competition in Spain will return to action with Real Madrid trying to defend their title, something that might be easier said than done considering how atypical this season will be.
Earlier today, the league announced the whole calendar for the 2022-23 season, which will also be featuring teams such as Almería, Real Valladolid, and Girona, who were promoted to the league after the end of last season. The announcement included the dates of some of the most-watched games in the world, especially El Clásico and the Madrid Derby, among others.
The top football category in Spain revealed that the competition will be brought to a halt three times due to FIFA international breaks. The first one of those will take place from September 19 to September 27, and the third one will take place between March 20 and March 28.
The longest pause in La Liga will be caused by the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This long break will begin on November 9 and will come to an end on December 29, giving fans a chance to go back to their regular league programming one day before the end of the year and on New Year's Eve.
Now, on with the most relevant dates. The Madrid Derby, which will become the first major clash of the campaign, will take place one day before the first FIFA break comes (September 18). The return leg, set to take place at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, will be held on February 26.
Fans across the globe will have to wait for the end of the World Cup to see Barcelona and Atlético facing each other. The first clash between these Spanish titans will be played on January 8, 2023, while the second clash will be held on April 23.
Last, but not least, football fans all over planet Earth will be able to enjoy El Clásico before the FIFA World Cup break, with the first one taking place at the Bernabeu on October 16. The other match between Spain's most popular teams will be held at Camp Nou on March 19, 2023.
Bayern plotting shock transfer involving CR7 as Lewandowski's replacement
The idea of watching Robert Lewandowski scoring one more goal for Bayern München seems far-fetched at the moment, but Bavarian fans could be in for a real treat once they find out who the Polish ace's replacement could be if he ends up leaving the club this summer.
In a recent report by AS, the German side has been named as a potential landing spot for former Real Madrid player and legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who could be seeking for a way out of his deal with Manchester United. The Spanish newspaper suggests that Ronaldo is not happy with the Red Devils' transfer activity, and the arrivals of Darwin Núñez and Erling Haaland have placed their rivals one step above them in the title race.
That, and Manchester United's inactivity during the transfer window have forced CR7 to ask his agents to look for other employment opportunities. The most tempting of those came in the past 48 hours, as Bayern would be keen to add him to their squad if Robert Lewandowski maintains his desire to leave.
The Portuguese footballer is aware that his final moments as part of an elite squad are here, and with the Red Devils' project in shambles, the striker would be willing to make one more move to give himself a chance to win one more domestic title (the Bundesliga), while also keeping his chances of winning the UEFA Champions League alive, something that will not happen this season for Manchester United as they will be involved in the UEFA Europa League.
Negotiations may not start until Lewandowski's future is sorted out, but it would be quite interesting to see the Portuguese ace trying to dominate German defenses just as he has done in Spain and in England.
Rodrygo reveals how Modric trolled Mohamed Salah immediately after the UCL final
For many Liverpool players, especially Mohamed Salah, the recent UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid was a shot at revenge.
These two European giants faced off in the ultimate stage back in 2018, which the Reds lost 3-1, as their Egyptian superstar was forced off the pitch injured after an infamous tussle with then Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos.
After the Spanish giants beat Manchester City and were confirmed as Liverpool's opponents for this year's final, Salah even went as far as tweeting out "we have a score to settle" immediately after Los Merengues' comeback victory over the Cityzens.
This did not sit well inside the Real Madrid dressing room, and as we all know, Ancelotti's men denied Salah and Co. the opportunity for revenge, beating them 1-0 in Paris to clinch a record-extending 14th UEFA Champions League title.
And according to Santiago Bernabeu attacker Rodrygo, Luka Modric made sure to add insult to injury by trolling Salah shortly after their unforgettable win over Klopp's crew.
The Brazilian, who was at the heart of Real Madrid's unforgettable comeback against Manchester City in the semifinals, sat down with the Cortes Podcast and revealed a few interesting details from the showdown with Liverpool. The attacker stated that after the final whistle, Modric made sure to take a jibe at the Premier League Golden Boot winner during the guard of honor for the runners-up.
"I have to tell a funny anecdote," Rodrygo said, as per Marca. "When the Champions League final was over, we made a guard of honour for the Liverpool players.
"Salah passed by, dejected, and Modric, who was on the other side, greeted him and said: 'you can try again next time'."
Not only can Modric cause damage to opponents on the pitch with his abilities, but the Croatian icon knows how to stick it where it hurts with his words as well!
Real Madrid already plotting to trigger the rumored release clause of Man City superstar Haaland
Erling Haaland might have just completed his move to Manchester City not too long ago, but the Norwegian's long-term future at the club is already under speculation.
After a prolonged transfer saga that saw the Cityzens, Real Madrid, and Barcelona all battle it out for the highly-rated striker, it was Guardiola's side who emerged triumphant, securing the 21-year-old sensation on a five-year contract.
However, despite having not even kicked a ball for his new employers, one club is allegedly plotting a move for the former Dortmund ace in the near future. To no one's surprise, that team is Real Madrid.
According to AS, Los Blancos are already looking ahead to a move for Haaland in 2024. Why in two years' time, you might ask. Several reports have suggested that there is a release clause in Erling's Etihad Stadium contract worth $159M which will come into effect in 2024.
This was said to be one of the player's demands when negotiating with all of the interested parties, meaning it isn't merely an escape route from Manchester. Nonetheless, if true, this clause could secure him a move elsewhere should he decide to jump ships.
Just as is the case with PSG star Kylian Mbappe, Haaland reportedly dreams of one day playing at Santiago Bernabeu, meaning the Spanish champions would simply need to trigger this clause if both the attacker and Los Merengues become keen on joining forces.
Other key headlines from the world of football
Barcelona legend pleads guilty to $4.1M tax fraud
Barcelona legend and ex-striker Samuel Eto'o has pleaded guilty to tax fraud in Spain, a court in the city announced. The prosecutor accused the player of failing to declare income from the transfer of image rights between 2006 and 2009.
On Monday, the four-time African footballer of the year appeared at the Ciudad de la Justicia court in Barcelona with his former agent Jose Maria Mesalles. Before the verdict was passed, the player pleaded guilty to transferring his image rights to a company based in Hungary, an act which is deemed as illegal. The company subsequently declared his earnings inside the country where the tax rate is considered as one of the "lowest" in Europe before a second Spanish company declared them in Spain at the corporate tax rate, significantly less than the income tax that should have been paid.
Eto'o, who played for Barcelona from 2004 to 2009, has been fined and given a 22-month suspended sentence. However, the newly appointed head of the Cameroonian football federation will not serve any time as it is common in Spain for prison sentences of less than two years. According to reports, the 41-year-old will pay a fine of $1.9 million and must reimburse Spanish tax authorities for the amount defrauded, around $4.1 million.
CONFIRMED: Zidane ready to snub PSG's attempts to sign him
According to RMC Sport, the former midfielder will snub all offers coming from PSG due to his desire to coach the French National Team instead. In order to do so, Zidane will wait until the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December, with the open possibility of France winning the world title once again and seeing Didier Deschamps' contract with Les Bleus being extended.
The report by RMC Sport states that Zidane is willing to return to club football after he is given the chance to coach the National Team, while also leaving a window open for his possible arrival to PSG in the near future, but never during this summer.
Added to that, the French media outlet suggests that Nice's coach, Christoph Galtier, is now the main candidate to take over as PSG's coach following Mauricio Pochettino's sacking from the club last week. If negotiations between Les Parisiens and Nice go as planned, the Ligue 1 winners will have to pay their red and black rivals around $10M for their coach's services.
Man City inform Chelsea of Raheem Sterling price tag as Lukaku nears Inter return
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have already made an offer to Manchester City for Raheem Sterling worth $26M. Unfortunately, this bid was not accepted by Manchester City, with the league winners informing their rivals that it will take $58M-$63M for them to sanction Raheem's departure.
Having spent big on Haaland and Alvarez, the Manchester giants look to recoup some of that fee and are keen on raising a maximum of $116M from the sale of both Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who is wanted by Arsenal. Chelsea are rumored to be confident in their pursuit, but only time will tell whether Tuchel's side will match Manchester City's asking price or whether Sterling's current employers will agree to a compromise.
The addition of an attacker is key for Chelsea as they are set to lose one forward this summer. That player is Romelu Lukaku, who is on his way back to Inter Milan on a loan after his horrendous season at Stamford Bridge in which he scored only eight times in the Premier League.