The Philadelphia Union might have to play the first home game in its existence at Lincoln Financial Field next year.

Union president Tom Veit confirmed a Washington Post report that the team has explored the option in case the 18,500-seat soccer stadium under construction on Chester’s waterfront runs behind its completion date or the proposed opening date schedule from Major League Soccer does not accommodate the team’s already tight construction deadline. (more…)

In news that every MLS and American soccer fan has been hoping for since the inception of MLS…

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced today that for the first time in its history, MLS will not play League games during the group phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  The group phase includes the first 48 games of the 64-game tournament that begins on June 11, 2010 in South Africa.  The last MLS game prior to the World Cup will be played on June 10 and MLS will not schedule any additional League games until after the group phase concludes on June 25. MLS does not plan to schedule games on the days of either World Cup Semifinal nor the World Cup Final.

“The decision to stop League play during the group phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is part of MLS’ commitment to deepen its connection with the millions of soccer fans in the United States and Canada,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.  “The World Cup will be a focal point for all MLS fans and several MLS players will compete with their national teams at the tournament.”

The 2010 MLS Regular Season will again see each team play a 30-game regular season, followed by playoffs among eight qualifying teams. The 2010 season will begin with a single game March 25 and will conclude Oct. 24. The MLS Cup Playoffs will culminate in the championship match, MLS Cup 2010, on Nov. 21.

MLS plans to announce each club’s 2010 home opener in the near future. The complete 2010 MLS schedule will be announced early next year.

People will inevitable ask for MLS to not play during the entire World Cup, but this is a very positive step forward. Now if only we can hold off on MLS games on official FIFA World Cup Qualifier dates.

Baby steps…baby steps…

Heath’s played in Dallas before - he was a member of the USMNT squad in a pre-World Cup friendly vs Guatemala at Pizza Hut Park in February 2006. 

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After planning for nearly two years to have a new soccer stadium built in the old Bannister Mall area in south Kansas City, it now appears the Wizards new stadium is more likely to be built on the Kansas side of the state line near CommunityAmerica Ballpark, where the team is currently playing its games.

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