Wednesday Wrap

No local game for Brazil nuts

Mexico plays China Oct. 17 (that's a Wednesday) at the Coliseum in its fifth and final game of 2007 on U.S. soil, Soccer United Marketing officials announced.

Mexico will also play Brazil in Boston Sept. 12, a game that falls on a designated international fixture date, which means such stars as Ronaldinho and Kaka will be available. The game, which will be played three days after the U.S. faces Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, begins at 5 p.m. on Telemundo.

Tickets to the local game go on sale Aug. 24 for those with Visa credit cards and to everyone else Sept. 1. Tickets start at $25.

It's the first time Mexico has played in Southern California since beating Venezuela in May 2006 before more than 50,000 at the Rose Bowl.

Mexico has played China twice before, winning 3-2 in 1987 in Mexico and 3-0 six years later in San Diego.

UCLA ranked No. 1 (again)

Another pre-season poll, another No. 1 ranking for the Bruins' men's team.

Updated 3p.m.

Swiss Chivas

Swiss World Cup veteran Raphael Wicky is training with Chivas USA, club officials confirmed today.

Wicky, 30, a midfielder who was most recently with Germany's Hamburger SV, began training with the team Tuesday.

Wicky played in all four Swiss World Cup games last year and has made more than 70 appearances for the national team since making his 1996 debut. He's versatile and capable of playing as a holding midfielder as well as on the wing.

Wicky has also played (briefly) for Spain's Athletico Madrid, Werder Bremen and Swiss club FC Sion.

Also on trial with Chivas USA: Colombian forward Oscar Echeverry, who formerly played for Deportivo Cali.

Neither player is eligible to play in Saturday's friendly in Sacramento against a National Premier League All-Star squad.

Nowak named U-23 coach

This isn't much of a surprise, but Peter Nowak, who has assisted Bob Bradley with the full national team since December, was named Under-23 coach Wednesday by U.S Soccer in addition to that job.

The former Polish international, 43, was an MLS veteran with the Chicago Fire and MLS Cup winner as coach of D.C. United.

Nowak has the soccer cred, although most journalists would describe him as taciturn. In fact, he refused to talk to the media initially upon assuming the role as Bradley's assistant.

Let's hope that changes in the months ahead or you can expect short articles about the Olympic team.

Qualifying for the Olympic Games begins in earnest next year; the U.S. failed to make it to Greece last time around.