The anticipation is rising as the new Major League Soccer season approaches in North America, where all eyes are fixed on a single figure: the illustrious Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi, the celebrated captain who led Argentina to World Cup victory, has made a monumental move to Inter Miami, the club co-owned by David Beckham. This strategic mid-season acquisition last year proved to be a game-changer.
Paying homage to his status as the team’s linchpin, Messi will be undertaking his first complete season with Inter Miami, which is currently in its fourth year. With his leadership, the club has set its sights on the highest accolade: its maiden MLS Cup victory.
What is the New Format for the Champions League 2024?
Get ready, football fans! UEFA’s Executive Committee has just turned the page on how the Champions League will play out starting from the 2024/25 season. Wave goodbye to the old group stages were used to—where 32 teams squared off in eight groups of four. The new league phase is set to bring even more excitement with an increase to 36 teams all duking it out in a single league format!
Here’s what’s changing: instead of facing the same three opponents home and away, each team will clash with eight different teams—four games at home and four away. How they determine these match-ups is pretty cool; teams will be sorted into four seeding pots, and each one will get to lock horns with two teams from each pot—one at home, one on the road.
What does this mean for the beautiful game? Get ready for a more varied clash of titans, with your favorite clubs getting a taste of a wider range of European talent. Fans can look forward to seeing more of those dream matchups earlier on in the competition. And with more teams in the mix, every single match is dialed up a notch in stakes. Set your calendars—Champions League nights are about to get even more thrilling!
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Will the Europa League and Europa Conference League be Affected by the Changes?
Starting in the 2024/25 season, the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, to be referred to simply as the UEFA Conference League, will undergo format changes. Both competitions will feature a league phase with 36 teams. In the Europa League, this phase will include eight matches against eight different opponents, while the Conference League will consist of six matches against six unique opponents.
News in the World of Football 2024
Playoff Expansion
The expansion of the playoffs will generate additional millions in revenue for both the College Football Playoff and the participating schools.
With the new format just a year away, the organization still needs to make key decisions, such as selecting a broadcaster for the first round of games, determining the process for awarding bids, and establishing a system for distributing revenue. The dissolution of the Pac-12 has further complicated these matters, adding to the uncertainty.
Messi’s Impact on MLS
The acquisition of the esteemed player has been hailed by Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, as a defining event for soccer in America when expressed last year.
Even the MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, is of the opinion that having Messi on board will significantly alter the league’s direction. “What that change will look like in the coming years remains to be seen, but it’s undeniable that our league’s standing today is markedly improved with Messi’s participation,” noted Garber.
The statistics shared by Garber underscore this impact; the league has reported a 15% increase in season ticket sales, a promising 17% rise in sponsorship revenues, a 15% surge in club revenues, and a staggering 44% increase in merchandise sales for this season. Such figures provoke companies to increase prices for streaming services and further fragment content. With VPN free Chrome, you can freely manage your virtual viewing experience. Sometimes you can unblock the service, and sometimes you can even save money.
Referees
Major League Soccer is currently dealing with a contentious labor disagreement involving its referees. The Professional Referees Organization (PRO), responsible for overseeing MLS referees, declared an impending lockout of its match officials. This action comes as a result of the referees’ refusal to accept a proposed collective bargaining agreement, a crisis unfolding shortly before the season’s scheduled commencement. While PRO announced a preliminary agreement with the Professional Soccer Referees Association just last week, the union has disclosed that an overwhelming 96 percent of its voting members did not favor the deal.
Exact Start Dates of the Premier League Season
The commencement and conclusion dates for the Premier League 2024/25 season are now set. Fans can mark their calendars for the opening day on August 17, 2024, just 90 days following the previous season’s finale on May 19.
The thrill and excitement will culminate on May 25, 2025, with all the matches starting at the same time in the season’s last match round.
In an effort to reduce fixture congestion during the festive period, the league has assured more recovery time between games. Teams will not be scheduled to play again within 60 hours of their last match, ensuring a rest period for clubs during three of the holiday fixtures. Notably, December 24, 2024, will be kept free from any matches.
This season will be spread across 33 weekends, including four midweek rounds and a special Bank Holiday Matchweek, promising plenty of action-packed football for fans to enjoy.
Conclusion
Above there is Premiereship news 2024, as well as those news related to MLS. The year started out quite interesting, but even more interesting is what it will ultimately lead to. At the very least, the spectacle promises to be exciting.