Recently in Pan-Pacific Championship Category

Galaxy wins, Chivas USA loses and Long Beach State cancels.

Back Monday.

Galaxy-Sydney

The Galaxy plays the final game of the Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii tonight in a game ESPN Classic airs at 8 o'clock (the Houston Dynamo-Gamba Osaka championship game follows immediately after).

The island newspapers are avoiding much mention of the event and even the increasingly secretive Galaxy seem uninterested; no press releases or updates to the club blog. Deep discounts on tickets too.

Here's a preview (such as it is).

Chivas USA-Crew

Closer to home, Chivas USA takes on the Columbus Crew in Santa Clarita in a charity game that kicks off at 5 p.m.

From the Chivas USA press release:

All proceeds from the match will benefit the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, a non-profit which provides financial and emotional support to children and their families facing childhood cancer in Santa Clarita and the surrounding area.

The match will be played in Cougar Stadium at the College of the Canyons in Valencia, and tickets are available at prices of $20 for adults and $15 for children.

Fans should note that, due to the Tour of California cycling race, there will be a number of road closures and detours in the area near the College of the Canyons. These will occur mostly prior to game-time, but full information can be found on the City of Santa Clarita’s Web site.

Striker Alecko Eskandarian may make his first appearance in a Chivas USA shirt, while Swiss defender Raphael Wicky has resumed training this week, but isn't expected to play, team officials said. Also unlikely to get on the field: Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Mendoza and Lawson Vaughn.

The Crew played Friday night against the San Jose Earthquakes in San Luis Obispo and so are likely to rest Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers and Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Coach Sigi Schmid said via e-mail. He expects to mix and match different combinations tonight.

Sigi recommends fans keep an eye out for newcomer Nigerian attacking midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo who is on trial with the club.

The long-time South Bay resident and former Galaxy coach has also offered to blog occasionally this season and so I thought I'd get that into print and hold him to it.

The Crew also plays the Ventura County Fusion Monday in Ventura.

Preps Update

Finally, the Daily Breeze has high school soccer coverage here, the Daily News here, and the Long Beach Press-Telegram here.

The Galaxy crashed out of the semifinals of the Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii Wednesday losing 1-0 to Japanese team Gamba Osaka.

Only 15,128 were reportedly at the 50,000 Aloha Stadium.

The Galaxy plays a rematch Saturday against last year's opponents Sydney FC, which lost 3-0 in the nightcap to the Houston Dynamo.

There were only three players in the starting line-up for the Galaxy who played in the final home game against the New York Red Bulls last year - Chris Klein, Troy Roberts and Josh Tudela.

Roberts - or was that Michael Gavin? - was caught out on the early fourth minute goal that sealed the victory.

The result could have been worse - the new-look Galaxy line-up looked unsure and hesitant, especially the defenders and the team was comprehensively out-shot (14-2 in the 70th minute).

No sign of defender Abel Xavier, while Carlos Ruiz and Landon Donovan, as expected, didn't play.

David Beckham's contribution was negligible, too, although he did go the full 90 minutes (and looked winded).

Still, Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit, quoted on the MLS Web site, sounded satisfied: "I think we played an excellent game," he said. "It took us a bit of time to adjust but after 20 minutes we started to play well. We made some mistakes but it is valuable to spend this kind of time with the players."

It's only a preseason tournament with a grand name, but both games of the Pan-Pacific Championship are live on ESPN Classic tonight (the Galaxy game against Japanese team Gamba Osaka airs at 8 o'clock) and it's the first chance to see what a Ruud Gullit Galaxy team looks like.

Landon Donovan is out with an (achilles?) tendon injury according to the preview on the tournament's Web site and, of course, midfielder Kyle Martino was left off the Galaxy roster.

Gamba Osaka is reportedly missing seven players through injury, but Gullit conceded last weekend he knows nothing about the Japanese team. Still, he said a win is not the most important thing about the game anyway.

I spoke with Donovan and a couple of other players last weekend before the team left the state.

Donovan said that at least the attacking half of the team looked good in scrimmages last week against two college teams even without striker Carlos Ruiz:

"Attacking-wise we look pretty good because we have a lot of talented players," Donovan said. "We still don’t have Fish on the field and that’s going to help too (when he returns). Defensively is where we’re going to need to get better and that’s just because you don’t know the guy next to you. You don’t know how he moves. It’s a new coach so you don ‘t know completely what style he wants to play. Those things you have to figure out. And unfortunately, you can get away with a lot playing against college teams."

Newly-anointed starting goalkeeper Steve Cronin sounded eager to get between the posts, too:

"Since I've been with the national team I've basically been practicing, doing fitness and stuff like that for a month and a half now so I'm real anxious to play a competitive game," he said. "I want to solidify my spot on the team, gain the players' confidence."

It's a tough game so early in preseason, but midfielder Pete Vagenas welcomes the challenge:

"They're quality opponents so there’s going to be tough matches," he said. "It's important we schedule games in preseason where you're going to face adversity. It’s a waste of time where you go out and face college teams all the time and don’t face any type of adversity, don’t even lose. Sometimes it's good to see your team and players struggle to see how they come out of that because we all know MLS is a grueling season and everything is not going to always go great. So for me the most important thing is to schedule the toughest games you can. And if that means you're going to have to lose and take something in the behind because your team is not exactly ready, so be it. I think in the long run it benefits us."

The Galaxy Web site has pictures of the players working out Monday and tonight's weather looks ideal for a soccer game, which could encourage reportedly tepid ticket sales (only 10,000 or so sold was the word Tuesday). All sorts of discounts are on offer.

Here at home Chivas USA continue to prepare for Saturday's benefit game in Santa Clarita against the Columbus Crew.

Finally, high school playoffs are in full swing and there's prep news from the Daily Breeze here, the Daily News here and the Long Beach Press-Telegram here.

It took long enough, but here are the 27 players in Hawaii for the preseason tournament that starts Wednesday night:

Goalkeepers Charles Alamo, Steve Cronin, Josh Wicks; defenders Celestine Babayaro, Sean Franklin, Michael Gavin, Ante Jazic, Brandon McDonald, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts, Julian Valentin, Greg Vanney, Abel Xavier; midfielders Ely Allen, Alvaro, David Beckham, Kelly Gray, Kevin Harmse, Chris Klein, Josh Tudela, Pete Vaganas; forwards Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon, Bryan Jordan, Carlos Ruiz, Israel Sesay.

The missing: Galaxy draft picks Daniel DeGeer and Matt Hatzke, open tryout selection Vito Higgins (who is from Hawaii) and midfielder Kyle Martino.

Martino told me last weekend that's he's healthy and recovered from offseason surgery, so the question arises: Is the relatively high-paid veteran trade bait as the Galaxy look both to reduce their wage bill and log-jam in midfield?

I have no idea whether Ruiz is healthy enough to play; he didn't feature in either of the Galaxy's two closed-door scrimmages last week. Similarly, it's unclear whether Babayara has yet secured a work permit.

And I bet Higgins is crushed.

The Galaxy have landed in Hawaii for the Pan-Pacific Championship amid the requisite scenes of Beckham hysteria and the typically bland press conference. Best line at the press event went to Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear, who quipped: "I am surprised the tickets only cost $10. I had a Pina Colada last night – and that was $10. So if people just hold off on one Pina Colada then they can come down and see some great soccer."

18 February 2008: Brian Ching of the Houston Dynamo and David Beckham of the LA Galaxy pose with the Pan-Pacific Championship trophy during a press conference for the inaugural event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, HI.

Still no travel roster from the increasingly secretive Galaxy.

Perhaps this new set of squad photos provides a clue and signifies who is likely to win a spot on Coach Rudd (sic) Gullit's team.

Check out the uncomfortable looking Alexi Lalas and defender Abel Xavier, who appears to be striving to look like one of those little plastic trolls that were a fad in the '70s.

Finally, Galaxy beat writer Billy Witz has more on who will return from the Galaxy's trip to Hawaii and Asia still on the team.

To listen, go here. or here.

Participants:Will Wilson, SUM Executive Vice President
Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear
Dynamo forward Brian Ching
Sydney FC Head Coach John Kosmina
Sydney FC defender Tony Popovic
Galaxy Head Coach Ruud Gullit
Galaxy midfielder David Beckham
Gamba Osaka Head Coach Akira Nishino
Gamba Osaka defender Satoshi Yamaguchi

Some 22 Galaxy players trained Saturday morning (Greg Vanney was not there) at Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy played two games against college opponents this week beating Loyola Marymount 6-0 or 7-0 Tuesday (no-one could quite remember the exact score by Saturday) and UCLA 4-1 Friday with the Bruins' moms and dads allowed in the stands, but warned not to bring any cameras in.

The games were divided into thirds and goalkeeper Steve Cronin played the first 30 minutes of each game.

He only faced one shot (against LMU).

"We were just trying to figure some things out," said Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit, saying he couldn't remember who scored. "It's not about the score."

Midfielder Pete Vagenas sounded like he was looking forward to Hawaii, comparing this camp to the early Sigi Schmid years: "I'm exhausted," he said, adding that coaches usually slack off the double days - but Ruud and Cobi Jones haven't. "Its been unique. ... We're licking our wounds so to speak."

On the Greg Vanney trade: "I thought I'd stepped into a time machine or something."

For those playing catch-up, here's the report from today's dead tree edition (to steal a phrase).

The Galaxy, apparently failing to learn from last year's grueling schedule designed to wring every dollar possible from the presence of you-know-who (no, not Canadian defender Ante Jazic), are at it again.

Today the club announced a May 13 (that's a Tuesday) rematch against the USL Vancouver Whitecaps in Edmonton, Alberta sandwiched between a home date against New York the preceding Saturday and a road game in Dallas the following Sunday.

Assuming the Galaxy return to LA before heading to Texas, that's three games in nine days covering 5,222 as-the-crow-flies miles in two states and two nations.

Almost as curious is the Galaxy press release. There's no mention of the main reason for the Canada game (and no, it's not so fans can see Jazic):

“We have a tremendous relationship with the Vancouver Whitecaps and share their view of growing the sport throughout North America,” said Galaxy Assistant General Manager Tom Payne. “The first time that we played the Whitecaps the game ended in a draw, this time we are looking to score goals, entertain the fans of Edmonton and come away with a victory.”

This will be the Galaxy’s second friendly against the Whitecaps in a six month span, with the two sides having played to a 0-0 draw in Vancouver on November 7. A crowd of 48,172 was in attendance at BC Place Stadium for that match, making it one of the biggest crowds ever to see a soccer game in Canada.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to play the Galaxy in Edmonton,” said Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi. “One of our club’s mandates is to grow the game of soccer and this match will allow us to showcase two of North America’s most storied soccer franchises. Alberta has successfully hosted some of the biggest soccer events in Canada and I am positive that this match will be no different.”

The Whitecaps play in the 11-team United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) and boast a formidable roster, which includes a mix of youth and experience. Long-time veterans include Canadian international Martin Nash, Jeff Clarke and Steve Kindel. Nash, the 2007 Whitecaps team MVP, has won three USL-1 titles and earned 38 international caps. All three members were key contributors to the Whitecaps 2006 USL-1 championship season.

And let's hope the snow is off the ground in Edmonton by then. It usually is, but late season blizzards are not unheard of. (There's a reason the city's CFL team is called the Eskimos).

In other Galaxy news, the club announced today they had unearthed a goalkeeper from the just-ended open tryouts: former Gonzaga goalkeeper Vito Higgins.

From the (edited) Galaxy press release:

Higgins, who played four years at Gonzaga University, will begin training under the tutelage of goalkeeper coach Ian Feuer on Wednesday.

“Vito had an outstanding career at Gonzaga and was somebody whose talents we were well aware of in advance of this week’s open tryouts,” Galaxy Director of Soccer Paul Bravo said. “He came into the tryouts and impressed us with his play and has without a doubt earned his chance to train with the Galaxy.”

The 22-year old Hawaii native appeared in 69 games during his four years with the Bulldogs, including 38 in his last two seasons when he played every minute of every game for the school. As a senior in 2007, Higgins compiled a 9-6-4 record along with a 0.70 goals against average, which is the second best single season mark in club history. Higgins helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament last year and recorded a career-high 14 saves in the Bulldogs 1-0 loss to SMU, with the game’s lone goal coming via a late penalty kick.

Higgins will train with the Galaxy for the rest of the week in the hopes of earning a spot on the club’s trip to Honolulu as part of the inaugural Pan Pacific Championship, which begins a week from today.

How cool would it be for a long shot to make a pro roster in that fashion and then possibly end up playing a tournament with the team in your home state? Good luck, Vito.

Finally, the Galaxy announced today that half season and six-game mini-plans are now on sale. One of the games included in the mini-plan is the Red Bull game, incidentally, presumably so fans can see the team before everyone is exhausted (again).

From the (edited) press release:

These plans are currently the only way for fans to purchase tickets to multiple Galaxy games this season without buying a season ticket and offer a significant discount over single game ticket prices.

Fans who order the Big Six plan, which range in price from $75-$420, will receive tickets to the Galaxy’s home opener against San Jose on April 3, the first installment of the SuperClasico against inter-city rival Chivas USA on April 26, the May 10 visit of the New York Red Bulls, the Galaxy’s annual July 4th fireworks match against New England, an MLS Primetime Thursday meeting with the Chicago Fire on August 21 and the 2008 MLS Cup at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, November 23.

Fans who select the half season plan, which range in price from $125-650, will receive tickets to all of the games in the Big Six plan, including the 2008 MLS Cup, as well as the Galaxy’s game against the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo on April 19 and three other matches.

ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com will air next week's inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship live from Hawaii, the Galaxy announced today.

Adrian Healy and Allen Hopkins will be in the commentary booth.

The schedule:
Feb. 20
• 8 p.m. Galaxy vs Gamba Osaka.
• 10:30pm Houston Dynamo vs Sydney FC .

Feb. 23
• 8 p.m. PPC Third Place Match - Live on ESPN360.com.
• 10:30 p.m. PPC Championship Final.

I just got back from training camp where Galaxy officials said trialist Gabriel Aikhena, who last played in Singapore, was cut from the roster today.

In addition, draft picks Ely Allen, a forward out of Washington, and Julian Valentin, a defender out of Wake Forest, have signed contracts, team officials announced.

I'll have more from the Galaxy camp Tuesday including a closer look at new Coach Ruud Gullit.

For what it's worth, English tabloids were aflutter this weekend with "exclusive" news of an apt opponent and venue for the Galaxy's David Beckham to collect that 100th England cap he craves.

More here and here. No confirmation from U.S. Soccer.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy begin the second week of training camp today. Here's an update from the team on who remains in camp:

Thirty-three players, including eight of the club’s 10 draft picks will begin their second week of training with the Galaxy on Monday. With just more than a week remaining before the club’s first preseason game and the team scheduled to fly to Hawaii in one week, Ruud Gullit and the rest of his coaching staff will be continuing the club’s preparations for the Pan Pacific Championship and the opening match against Gamba Osaka on February 20.

Forward Landon Donovan was the last player under contract to enter camp, training for the first time on Friday after helping the U.S. National Team earn a 2-2 draw with Mexico in a friendly last week in Houston.

While four trialists were released from camp last week, one new face joined Galaxy camp over the weekend as 2007 USL First Division Rookie of the Year Jay Needham arrived in Los Angeles. The Texas native played for the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2007 after being selected by D.C. United in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. A central defender who is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, Needham played four years at SMU and was named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy as a senior in 2006, one year after he helped lead SMU to the College Cup.

Finally, former Galaxy striker Clint Mathis made a huge impression this weekend on his debut in Greece, scoring a vital late equalizer for his struggling new team.

Galaxy Goodies

As I write this almost 400 would-be Galaxy players have begun four days of games (and cuts) at Home Depot Center.

The big winner: the Galaxy. If memory serves players paid $150 apiece for the ultra long-shot Galaxy "trial," which works out to $60,000.

In Torrance today, defender Ante Jazic is signing autographs, getting his picture taken with fans and getting asked the question, "when are you getting traded?" (I kid about the last one) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at a Sports Authority store at 3610 Torrance Blvd. Galaxy gear is 40 percent off and they're handing out free tickets to games. The Redondo Beach resident is one of the most approachable Galaxy players.

Finally, Sydney FC was confirmed Friday as the fourth and final participant in this month's Pan-Pacific Championship. Despite the name, neither the Galaxy nor Sydney are champions of anything, of course.

Chivas USA Preseason Schedule

Here's the Western Conference champions' tentative California schedule (all games at the HDC unless noted): 10 a.m. Tuesday vs. New York Red Bulls 2 p.m. Saturday Feb. 16 vs. Japanese U-23 National Team Noon Monday Feb. 18 vs. D.C. United 10 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 20 vs. UC Riverside 5 p.m. Saturday Feb. 23 vs. Columbus Crew @ Santa Clarita TBD Saturday March 1 @ Fresno Fuego 10 a.m. Saturday March 15 vs. San Diego State 10 a.m. Wednesday March 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton

Camp Cutdown

U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Pia Sundhage cut 11 players from training camp in Carson Friday, brought in three and sent defender Becky Sauerbrunn to the Under-23 team.

Incoming: defender Stephanie Cox, a starter at last year's Women’s World Cup, after being given last week off to rest and recuperate from the college season (she was the only player on the World Cup team to go straight into a collegiate season); Under-23 defender Rachel Buehler; and midfielder Kacey White, who Sundhage has likely seen playing in Sweden with AIK in Stockholm.

Outgoing: goalkeeper Cori Alexander; defenders Amy LePeilbet, Brittany Taylor, Lindsay Huie and Manya Makoski; midfielders Jen Buczkowski, Tina DiMartino, Sarah Huffman, Noelle Keselica and Joanna Lohman; and forwards Tiffany Weimer and Christie Welsh.

Full camp roster:

Goalkeepers Nicole Barnhart (Gilbertsville, Pa.), Kristen Luckenbill (Paoli, Pa.), Briana Scurry (Dayton, Minn.), Hope Solo (Richland, Wash.); defenders Rachel Buehler (Del Mar, Calif.), Stephanie Cox (Elk Grove, Calif.), Keeley Dowling (Carmel, Ind.), Tobin Heath (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Kate Markgraf (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Heather Mitts (Cincinnati, Ohio), Christie Rampone (Point Pleasant, N.J.), India Trotter (Plantation, Fla.), Cat Whitehill (Birmingham, Ala.); midfielders Shannon Boxx (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis, Mo.), Angela Hucles (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carli Lloyd (Delran, N.J.), Leslie Osborne (Brookfield, Wis.), Lindsay Tarpley (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Kacey White (Arlington, Texas), Angie Woznuk (El Cajon, Calif.); forwards Lauren Cheney (Indianapolis, Ind.), Natasha Kai (Kahuku, Hawaii), Heather O’Reilly (East Brunswick, N.J.), Amy Rodriguez (Lake Forest, Calif.), Abby Wambach (Rochester, N.Y.).

The 26 players train though Feb.17 at the HDC before Sundhage chooses a 20-player roster for the Algarve Cup, set for March 5-12 in southern Portugal.

College Notes

The NCAA champions announced Friday they will play Mexico at 7 p.m. Friday Feb 22 at the Coliseum. The USC press release tells us why:

USC head coach Ali Khorsoshahin served as an assistant to Mexico head coach Leonardo Cuellar at the 1999 Women’s World Cup and continues to serve on Cuellar’s staff.

Loyola Marymount announced Friday they have received letters of intent from teammates at Punahou School in Hawai¹I, defender-midfielder Brittney Sanford and striker Erin Rementer, along with midfielder-forward Caroline Helfrich (Moraga, Calif.) and defender Marissa Zamora (Danville, Calif) to join the Lions in the fall of 2008.

"Although Erin and Brittany have taken the same path to LMU, individually they will impact our team in separate ways," Coach Joe Mallia said. "Erin is a dynamic athlete who has the ability to change games in the attack. She is a great one-vs.-one player going towards the goal. Brittany¹s biggest impact will be felt on defense, where she is strong in tackles and tremendous in the air. She is also a leader with a great work rate and technically poised on the ball."

Helfrich spent a year living in Florence,Italy, where she played for the boys Rondinalla Scuola di Calcio, the soccer school that feeds players to Italian club Fiorentina.

Preps Press

From the Daily Breeze

Lots of soccer news today, so let's get to it.

Olympics in Carson

CONCACAF announced today that the U.S. will host Cuba, Honduras and Panama in Tampa, Fla., on March 11, 13 and 15 in Olympic qualifying.

Here on the West Coast it's Canada, Guatemala, Haiti and Mexico at Home Depot Center with doubleheaders on March 12, 14 and 16.

Series tickets, by the way, go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday priced between $36 and $195. Call 213-480-3232. Individual match day tickets will go on sale at a later date, if they're still around.

Two teams from the eight qualify for the Olympics in China.

MLS Tweaks Rules

MLS announced today it added one international player slot per team and will not require the Galaxy's Landon Donovan and two other high-paid players to become designated players.

The moves mean:
* Teams can have eight internationals on the roster. This year teams were allotted seven international spots per team, four of them so-called senior international and three youth International slots. That distinction has now been removed.
*Donovan, striker Eddie Johnson of the Kansas City Wizards and Carlos Ruiz of FC Dallas who had big buck contracts before the adoption of the designated player or Beckham rule, will not become DP's, which simplifies things greatly for the Galaxy since they would have to trade for another slot.

MLS also released its (early) 2008 calendar.
The highlights:
Jan. 11- 15 - MLS Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Jan. 15 - April 15 - Transfer window.
Jan. 18 - MLS SuperDraft.
Jan. 24 - Supplemental draft.
Jan. 26 - Pre-season training camps may begin.
March 29 - Season opens

Awards, Awards and More Awards

On Monday, UCLA forward Lauren Cheney and USC goalkeeper Kristin Olsen were named as two of the four finalists for the Honda Award, which recognizes the nation's top collegiate player.

Cheney led the Pac-10 with 23 goals, a UCLA single-season record.

Olson had 12 shutouts and allowed a record-low 13 goals for USC.

Also nominated: Ashlee Pistorius of Texas A & M and Mami Yamaguchi of Florida State.

Galaxy Update

Three Galaxy "moments" are up for consideration in awards in 18 categories for the best sporting moments in 2007 in Southern California. They are: David Beckham’s first game, the run to the SuperLiga final and the retirement of Cobi Jones. More info and vote here

Meanwhile, tickets to the Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii in February went on sale Tuesday starting at $10. Details here.

Finally, this link is a couple of days old, but new Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit riffs on England and David Beckham here.

In the wake of the World Series of Football and SuperLiga comes the latest meaningless tournament with a grandiose name: the Pan-Pacific Championship.

Essentially a MLS pre-season tournament scheduled for February, the four-team event in Hawaii unveiled today will involve trophy-winning teams from Japan and Australia, MLS champs the Houston Dynamo, as well as the Galaxy, which will participate because they have David Beckham and MLS Cup runner-up the New England Revolution doesn't.

"This tournament will unite four terrific clubs from across the region to crown a true Pan-Pacific champion," said Doug Quinn, president of Soccer United Marketing (apparently with a straight face), which is organizing of the event.

Well, no, it won't Dougie. If it did we'd have teams from Korea, Mexico, (insert other countries here) all playing as well.

Just call it what it is: a way to make more money off Becks and expose another American market to the MLS product. Or another excuse for a Hawaiian vacation. Nothing wrong with doing that is there?

MLS' credibility (or lack thereof) is called into question (yet again) when self-important and inaccurate press releases are issued containing such pronouncements as the tournament "will crown the top club from the Asian and North American soccer confederations.

Let's hope Becks doesn't twist his ankle again.

Full details are here.

The official Web site is here.