Jon Arnold

Big shoving match!

My expectations were not high for this match, but it has definitely exceeded them.

Noooooo

Carlos Acevedo with quite a recovery save after he pushed a shot onto the crossbar which then fell to a Queretaro attacker.

A mystery to me that Aguirre didn’t want to at least see more of him in El Tri friendlies.

Me, being introduced to Florian Wirtz at a fundraiser with a live band.

"Sorry did you say Florian...

Here's the schedule for the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 matches:

Other than previously announced changes (Sounders in Spokane, Cruz Azul in Puebla), I don't spot any major surprises.

Siiiick.

I'm eyeing up some of the ABA collection.

Subscribe to Getting CONCACAFed The good, the bad, and the weird and wild of soccer in the Concacaf region. Click to read Getting CONCACAFed, by Jon Arnold, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

Anyway, subscribe to the newsletter or just walk up to me on the street and hand me cash, I guess.

getconcacafed.substack.com/subscribe

Two of my clients happen to use the same platform for tax documents, and I'm celebrating it as a minor miracle.

The best* part of being a freelancer is how each company has a different invoicing platform & it's always v easy to sign up, put in your information, etc.

Also, cool how they all seem to think they will lead to you getting more gigs somehow?

Or, as it's known around here, Kafai Christmas.

@armankafai.bsky.social

Weston McKennie Is the Swiss Army Knife USMNT Must Fully Embrace You can’t always find Weston McKennie, but then he does something that makes sure you can’t miss him.

Striker? Sure. Left back? Absolutely. Goalkeeper? He'd try it.

Despite entering the "Unwanted Weston Cycle" again at Juventus, Weston McKennie is again doing it all for his club showign the #USMNT must embrace his versatility.

For @sportsillustrated.bsky.social:
www.si.com/soccer/westo...

I like a lot of these, but I like them a lot less at the prices they're going for.

I get that costs are rising, but turning fans into walking billboards in your community is generally a good thing. That's easier if the jersey is more affordable.

Here's what Concacaf's new youth tournament schedule looks like.

The big change is that the biennial U-15 tournaments are now U-16 and serve as the U-17 qualifier.

The LA Galaxy survive their tie with Sporting San Miguelito, advancing thanks to their away goal in Panama.

Things get tougher for most MLS teams, but the Galaxy got a great draw & now face Mount Pleasant of Jamaica.

It took a long time, but...things are kicking off in your ConcacAFter Dark CCC matchup!

Former Greg Vanney player Armando Cooper!

We usually say ConcacAFter Dark.

Tfw even the Gonzaga game is over and no college basketball will disrupt the Concachaos.

When Haiti gets a World Cup point or something, people are going to be posting like they're real Concacaf sickos. We welcome them. Volar frowns upon gatekeeping.

But truly I say to you if you're settling in for this 11:30p ET LAG-Sporting San Miguelito game on FS2, yours is the Kingdom of Concacaf.

It's cool that after Ted Unkel retired, I now get to somehow watch every single match officiated by El Gato Ortiz AND Ismail Elfath.

These total romps have provided a very odd build-up to the two non-MLS teams with a shot - which just so happen to be the last two fixtures. #CCC

The POPCORN slander is insane.

Inspired by Doug's quiet push for a Cape Verde shirt, I share this news.

Kelme is going to supply Suriname.

🇲🇽 Mexico's return one step in Spiegel's master plan to put Queretaro on soccer map El Tri's visit Wednesday helps show "this city and this state can support a big club," the owner tells Getting CONCACAFed.

Ahead of Mexico's friendly tonight in Querétaro, I spoke to Gallos Blancos chairman Marc Spiegel about:

🇲🇽 How El Tri's visit came about & what it means
🚨 Security & reputation
🐓 Fixing current results
📺 Changes he hopes to see in Liga MX

open.substack.com/pub/getconca...

#SendDougACapeVerdeKit

🇲🇽 Mexico's return one step in Spiegel's master plan to put Queretaro on soccer map El Tri's visit Wednesday helps show "this city and this state can support a big club," the owner tells Getting CONCACAFed.

Ahead of Mexico's friendly tonight in Querétaro, I spoke to Gallos Blancos chairman Marc Spiegel about:

🇲🇽 How El Tri's visit came about & what it means
🚨 Security & reputation
🐓 Fixing current results
📺 Changes he hopes to see in Liga MX

open.substack.com/pub/getconca...

Why is healthy Mexico star Chucky Lozano being paid $6 million to not play in MLS? Chucky Lozano was supposed to be the face of San Diego FC and the Mexican national team. Now it's unclear when he'll even play soccer again.

Unpacking Chucky Lozano’s dilemma.

From Mexico's 2018 hero, to now being left out of San Diego's sporting plans as he practices on the side away from his teammates during a World Cup year.

"having talked to the Mexican national team coaching...they need him to play"

www.espn.com/soccer/story...

This one? bsky.app/profile/did:...

WOW! Isabella Lovestory, eligible for Honduras, the US & Canada, announced as a Canada Soccer Music Ambassador.

She'll need to file a switch if she intends to make hype music for any other nation - though of course if she's on the World Cup album WHAT IF IT ALL GOES RIGHT?, she'll be tied to Canada

They actually announced it a while back (2024 or earlier), but it's been so long between the announcement & the start date that I think a lot of people are being reminded!