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Royal Roundup: Is Today MLS Lockout Day?

MLS Players made a final proposal, Club World Cup will showcase Qatar, Japan withdraws from She Believes Cup, Powder called up, and more.

By Kreg Asay

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Atlanta United v Portland Timbers - MLS Cup Championship Match State of the League Press Conference Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images

Here’s your news from the world of soccer as the week nears it’s end.

INTERNATIONAL

  • Qatar will host the pandemic-delayed 2020 Club World Cup early in February, as a showcase for the new stadiums, and preview for the 2022 World Cup. [FIFA]
  • The up-and-coming team destroyed by the Chernobyl disaster, the story of FC Pripyat. [FFT]
  • Japan has withdrawn from the She Believes Cup due to COVID concerns. The SBC is set to kick off on Feb. 18th in Orlando. Argentina has been named as their replacement. [FRS]
  • Cristiano Ronaldo under investigation by Italian authorities for breaking COVID travel protocol to visit girlfriend for her birthday. [CBS]
  • The EPL will be the first world league to implement concussion substitutes starting February 6th. [Athletic]
  • Real Salt Lake’s Noah Powder gets his first call-up by Trinidad & Tobago for match vs USMNT on Jan. 31st. [RSL] The match kicks off at 5 PM MST and will be shown on FS1.
Noah Powder with Real Monarchs
Lucas Muller / RSL Soapbox

USA

  • What US cities should be picked as World Cup hosts? NBC Sports ranks it’s top 10. [NBC]
  • Five questions as USMNT face off against Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday. [ASN]
  • NWSL has released key dates as they look at starting the 2021 season. [Equalizer]
  • United Women’s Soccer (UWS) and National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) are teaming up to launch a new Women’s League in 2022. The aim is to provide greater opportunity for players seeking to advance from the college/amateur level to professional. [FRS]
  • Is there a rift developing within the USWNT over kneeling? [Goal]
  • The MAC Hermann Trophy watch list for 2020-2021 college season has been released with 34 men and 54 women. [FRS]

MLS

  • Nearly 20 years ago, Freddy Adu became the youngest player in MLS. He admitted in a recent interview that he didn’t work hard enough during his time in MLS. [Inquirer]
  • Expansion side Austin FC has revealed their second kit - and surprise, it’s another white jersey. [MLS]
  • D.C. United have finally broken ground for their new training facility. [MLS]
  • QUIZ - Can you name every MLS team from 2020? [FFT]
  • MLS has apparently issued a memo to the staff of all teams in the league to prepare for a lockout. Negotiations with the players union continue, but there are apparently some sticking points. [ESPN] The Players Union submitted a counter-proposal Thursday afternoon, now it’s up to MLS as the clock ticks down to zero (below). [FRS]

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