Breakfast Links - June 7, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Major League Soccer is about to get a little Messi! Here is your midweek update to get your morning going with our Breakfast Links.
Houston
Houston Dynamo FC defeated Chicago Fire FC 4-1 on the road last night to advance to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since winning the title in 2018. The Dynamo return to league play on June 10 when they host LAFC at Shell Energy Stadium at 7:30 PM CT. They will then travel to face Los Angeles again the following Wednesday in a match that was rescheduled.
In Houston Dash news, the National Women’s Soccer League and Central American broadcast partner Tigo Sports today announced a first-of-its-kind Spanish-language broadcast to be made available to viewers in the United States and Canada at no cost on Watch.NWSLSoccer.com. The season-long program will showcase two regular season matches per week in addition to the NWSL Challenge Cup Playoffs and the NWSL Playoffs.
Houston Dynamo 2 travel to face MNUFC2 on Sunday, June 11 at the National Sports Center at 6:00 PM CT. Dynamo 2 return to SaberCats Stadium on Thursday, June 15 to host Timbers 2.
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts!
Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi is reportedly heading to MLS! According to reports, the Argentina star has decided to join Inter Miami as Barcelona failed to seal the homecoming transfer! He's set to receive a massive compensation package that includes a share of Apple's revenue generated by MLS Season Pass and also a share of Adidas profits from his MLS arrival.
FC Cincinnati and Houston Dynamo FC booked their spots in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinals Tuesday night, moving one step closer to a 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup spot (formerly Concacaf Champions League). Three more MLS teams are in action Wednesday evening, with Inter Miami CF visiting Birmingham Legion FC and Real Salt Lake hosting the LA Galaxy. All rounds build towards a September 27 final, while a Concacaf Champions Cup berth, prize money, and silverware are up for grabs.
The Concacaf Champions League, in name only, is no more. The region’s premier men’s club competition will be known as the Concacaf Champions Cup starting in 2024, the confederation announced Tuesday.
Around the World
West Ham United and ACF Fiorentina will face off in the final of the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League on Wednesday on Paramount+. West Ham's only chance at qualifying for European tournament play next season is to win on Wednesday after they finished 14th in the Premier League this year. They will face a tough Fiorentina side who finished eighth in Italian Serie A and are undefeated in five of their last six matches across all competition.
Karim Benzema has signed for Al Ittihad, the club announced Tuesday, becoming the latest star to join the Saudi Pro League. Benzema, 35, left Real Madrid following the 2022-23 season after 14 years at the Bernabeu. He scored his final goal for the club in their season-ending 1-1 draw against Athletic Club on Sunday.
Sheikh Jassim made a fifth bid to buy Manchester United and told the Glazer family he wants an answer by Friday, sources told ESPN. The Qatari businessman lodged the improved bid with Raine Group, the U.S. bank working on behalf of the Glazers, earlier this week.
