Pasadena’s Rose Bowl chosen as venue for biggest soccer tournament in U.S. since 1994 World Cup

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Pasadena, Calif. – October 9, 2015: The USMNT in preparation for their 2015 CONCACAF Cup match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl.

In an expected move, the Rose Bowl was selected today as one of nine U.S. stadiums that will host the 16-team 2016 Copa America Centenario.

The Galaxy also announced today that 2016 season ticket holders will receive access to an exclusive private sale for tickets to games played at the Rose Bowl.

From the press reease:

The 2016 Copa America Centenario is the historic centennial edition of Copa America – the South American championship – and will be staged outside of South America for the first time. The tournament will feature six teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and all 10 teams from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)

From CONCACAF, host United States and Mexico are automatic qualifiers, while Costa Rica (2014 Central American Cup winner) and Jamaica (2014 CFU Caribbean Cup winner) qualified with regional championships last year.

The final two teams from CONCACAF will be determined in a double-header playoff set to be played Jan. 8, 2016, in Panama City. Trinidad & Tobago will face Haiti, and Panama squares off against Cuba with the winners qualifying for the Copa America Centenario.

The South American field for the tournament features Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Uruguay has been crowned champion of the Copa America a record 15 times, while Chile won its first title at this past year’s edition, which it hosted.

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Pumas faces Monarcas at 4 p.m. Sunday at StubHub Center in Carson

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From the press release:

Pumas U.N.A.M. currently sits atop league standings in Mexico’s Liga MX and has already qualified for the playoffs while Morelia has kept its playoff hopes alive with an impressive 3-2 victory over Santos. Both teams have solid followings in Southern California and the game is expected to draw large crowds.

Starting at noon on gameday, fans will be able to enjoy a “Mexican Futbol Festival” with live music, entertainment and interactive games. During half time, Manuel Negrete, former Pumas and Mexican national team player (’86 World Cup), will receive a special recognition for his storied career and fans will also witness ESPN’s Million Dollar kick, in which three lucky contestants will try to score a goal for a chance to win $1 million.

General admission tickets for Pumas fans starting at $20 are already sold out.

Tickets are available here.

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MLS sets conference finals after wild semifinal weekend

FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman (25) reacts to scoring the teams second goal as Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Marco Pappa (10) looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Loper)

FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman (25) reacts to scoring the teams second goal as Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Marco Pappa (10) looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Loper)

After 10 hours, two overtimes and one penalty shootout, four teams remain in the hunt for the MLS Cup.

FC Dallas outlasted Seattle in a shootout and will face Portland in the Western Conference Finals. The Timbers beat Vancouver 2-0 on Sunday to advance.

Kei Kamara sent Columbus through to the Eastern Conference Finals with a looping extra-time header against Montreal, and the New York Red Bulls downed DC United.

The MLS Playoffs return in two weeks, after an international break, with the conference finals starting on Nov. 22.

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EPL Weekend TV preview headlined by Arsenal-Spurs London derby at 8 a.m. Sunday on NBCSN

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Senate Report: LA Galaxy among sports franchises that benefited from “Paid Patriotism”

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The Galaxy is one of several sports franchises that shared almost $7 million in what was called “Tackling Paid Patriotism” in a Senate Armed Forces Committee report released Thursday.

The Galaxy received $20,000 in 2012 from the Air Force for four programs.

Galaxy spokesman Brendan Hannan dismissed the criticism in a brief email:

“It was a one-off ticket sales partnership with the Air Force,” he wrote. “Similar to any partnership with any business. … The Air Force is a business. They are in the business of recruiting talent and they pay for advertisements for that exposure.”

It was unclear why Hannan didn’t appear to see the distinction between a private business and a taxpayer-funded government agency. He said the club would not be donating the money to veteran’s groups as McCain suggested.

He declined to add more in an off the record telephone conversation, but did go out of his way to note that:

“We invite a member of the military to attend each home game and provide them with four (4) tickets, a jersey, dinner, goodie bag, and on field recognition for their service. We have never received funds from any outside source for this recognition program.”

For more, here are stories written by sister newspaper The Salt Lake Tribune and USA Today.

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