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FC Cincinnati makes its case to Don Garber for MLS expansion team
The MLS Commissioner was in Cincinnati on Tuesday to learn about one of the leading expansion candidates.
Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
MLS already has 24 confirmed teams, and theoretically has a limit on how much they can expand. Commissioner Don Garber has repeatedly said that the league expects to expand to 28 teams, but that 30 is too many, which will lead the league to pick its markets carefully.
The big question that the league has to answer is whether it wants the markets with the biggest growth potential, ones that will have great fan bases from day one, or a combination of both. Great fans that will be a credit to the league is at least a partial consideration, since it's what got Don Garber to visit Cincinnati on Tuesday. After meeting team owners and touring the city, Garber sat down for a town hall meeting that was open to the public, which you can check out here.
While playing in the third division, USL, FC Cincinnati has put up some staggering attendance numbers. They averaged 17,296 fans per game with a regular season-high of 24,376. They got an incredible 30,187 people to come to their playoff game, and drew a capacity crowd of 35,061 for a friendly against Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Two years ago, no one even had Cincinnati on their long list of potential expansion cities. Now, they’re one of the favorites.
Goal of the day
Ben Woodburn’s first ever Liverpool goal at the end of a great team move. (r/soccer)
In the news
Woodburn is the youngest ever scorer for Liverpool, beating Michael Owen’s record. (@SkySportsStatto)
Atlético Nacional has asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the Copa Sudamericana following their plane crash.
Brazilian clubs have called for Chape to be immune from relegation, and for teams to loan them players for free.
English soccer’s sexual abuse scandal looks worse every day. The FA pulled all funding from a child protection project in 2003. (BBC)
The New York Cosmos and NASL are in a serious fight to stay in business. (ESPN FC)
Gareth Southgate has been confirmed as the full-time England manager. (Guardian)
Robert Lewandowski had a knee injury scare, but should be fit to play this weekend. (Bild)
Casemiro is expected to play in Copa del Rey on Wednesday and could be ready for El Clásico. (AS)
The Milan sale continues to be a disaster. (Football Italia)
You should be reading
Will Magee on the huge mess at Leyton Orient. (Vice)
Paul Doyle on Corinne Diacre, the female coach of men’s team Clermont Foot, and how she’s proven her doubters wrong. (Guardian)
Doug McIntyre on Patrice Bernier, Montreal Impact’s unsung hero. (ESPN FC)
What happened on Tuesday
Liverpool beat Leeds to make the EFL Cup semifinal. (Liverpool Offside)
And Hull scraped by Newcastle on penalties. (Coming Home Newcastle)
What to watch on Wednesday (Click for listings, all times ET)
Copa del Rey: 8 games (from 1 p.m.) -- If you want to watch Madrid and Barca’s B-teams against lower-division sides.
League Cup: 2 games (from 2:45 p.m.) -- Expect heavy rotation from Manchester United and Arsenal, too.
MLS playoffs: Toronto vs. Montreal (7 p.m.) -- The Impact carries a 3-2 lead into the second leg of the Eastern Conference finals.
Liga MX playoffs: Leon vs. Tigres (9:30 p.m.) -- The first leg of the semifinals.
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