Ancelotti's new challenge, USWNT makes history and MLS-Liga MX rivalry reignited
Kick off your Monday with all the action from this past weekend
June ushers in the start of a long summer that will include plenty of national team action, especially just a year out from the World Cup and even a FIFA club competition.
This past Saturday’s Champions League final (paid subscribes can read my thoughts on the game and PSG’s historic win against Inter Milan here) brought down the curtain on the European club season.
What remains will be weeks of speculation over player transfers and what coaches are going where.
However, the Club World Cup, which starts on June 14, will ensure a summer of non-stop action to the delight of FIFA’s coffers and the chagrin of the many players who are involved.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories from this past weekend:
World Cup Qualifying: Ancelotti’s ‘tall order’ to deliver Brazil a title
Carlo Ancelotti’s first week as Brazil coach included not calling up Neymar and a vow to improve the form of Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior.
Ancelotti was introduced as Brazil’s new coach on May 26 at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro. At the event, he was welcomed by Brazil’s last two World Cup-winning coaches, 1994’s Carlos Alberto Parreira and 2002’s Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“Brazilian society wants me to deliver a first World Cup title after 24 years, I know,” he said. “What a tall order.”
The 65-year-old Italian, who ended his second stint as Real Madrid manager last month, has been contracted to coach the Selecao through the 2026 World Cup. He also announced his first squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
“In modern soccer, you have to also have posture, compromise, sacrifice,” he said, adding that’s “key to prepare for a World Cup.”
USWNT: LaBonta makes history in win against China
Naomi Girma returned to the national team and Lo’eau LaBonta became the oldest player to make her senior international debut for the U.S. in a 3-0 win over China on Saturday.
Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey and Lindsey Heaps scored while goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce got her second shutout in as many appearances.
LaBonta, a 32-year-old midfielder who plays with the NWSL’s Kansas City Current, came on as a second-half substitute during the friendly played in St. Paul, Minn.
“When they called my name, I was sitting being the best cheerleader I could be on the bench, I was like, ‘This is amazing. I’ve never been field view watching the national team.’ It was so cool,” LaBonta said. “And they were like, `Lo, go.’ And I was like, go where? All right, let’s go!”
The game also marked Girma’s first appearance for the national team this year. The 24-year-old defender has been nursing injuries but recently returned to help Chelsea win the Women’s Super League title and the FA Cup.
MLS: U.S.-Mexico rivalry reawakened
It was a weekend highlighted by two games that pitted clubs between MLS against Liga MX.
On Saturday, Denis Bouanga scored an extra-time winner to lift Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 win against Club América in a Club World Cup qualifying playoff match in Los Angeles.
In front of a sellout crowd of of 20,714 at BMO Stadium, LAFC earned the right to represent CONCACAF and the United States in Group D of the competition.
Bouanga’s goal in the 115th minute came after his deflected shot beat goalkeeper Luis Malagón to avoid a penalty-kick shootout in the playoff match between two of North America’s biggest teams.
On Sunday, Cruz Azul blanked the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City. Angel Sepulveda scored twice to finish as tournament top scorer with nine goals.
In other news: Real Madrid’s decision to pry defender Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his Liverpool contract a month before it expires could pay dividends at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The Spanish club will pay Liverpool a fee of $11 million to get the England right back on June 1, rather than for free at the end of the month. … Rangers confirmed that a U.S.-based consortium that includes an investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers has purchased a majority ownership stake. Rangers said health insurance entrepreneur Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises led the group The purchase price was not disclosed. The club said the group has committed to invest $27 million right away. … Max Allegri has been named AC Milan’s new manager, charged with restoring to glory the crisis-hit team that he won Serie A with nearly 15 years ago. Allegri replaces Sergio Conceicao, who was fired last week after coaching the team to an eighth-placed Serie A finish that left them out of Europe.