Sierra Leone squad banned from traveling as Ebola virus spreads

By Joe Prince-WrightJul 31, 2014, 2:08 PM EDT

As the deadly Ebola virus continues to spread across West Africa, the Sierra Leone national team have been banned from traveling abroad for an international friendly.

The squad were due to travel to the Seychelles for an African Nations Cup qualifier but were banned from boarding a flight to the island nation from Nairobi, Kenya, as the unprecedented outbreak of Ebola has sparked health fears across the world.

As a result of the Seychelles immigration authorities deciding to not allow the Sierra Leone party to travel to the Indian Ocean island because of Ebola, the nation have forfeited the match and are no longer able to qualify for the African Cup of Nations next summer.

Over the past few weeks over 700 people have died from the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.

Former Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara, who now plays for Middlesbrough in England’s Championship, has arrived in the Seychelles to play for his nation but is without the rest of his squad. It is believed Kamara traveled directly from England for the match.

NBC News have issued the following update, below, as travel to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea is deemed to be extremely dangerous at this point.

NEW: CDC issues travel warning for Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone as Ebola outbreak worsens pic.twitter.com/4w9CxVgbtE

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) July 31, 2014

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U20 World Cup schedule: How to watch live, groups, calendar, dates, times, fixtures

By Joe Prince-WrightJun 1, 2023, 10:00 AM EDT

The U20 World Cup takes place in Argentina from May 20 until June 11 as 24 teams full of the best young players on the planet go head-to-head to be crowned World champs.

[ LIVE: Watch the U20 World Cup en Espanol ]

And of course, the USA have plenty of talented youngsters so all eyes will be on Mikey Varas and his squad as they aim to go better than the quarterfinal spot they’ve reached in each of their last four U20 tournaments (2015, 2017, 2019 and once again in 2023) and they won Group B with three wins from three and hammered New Zealand in the last 16.

England and hosts Argentina were among the favorites to win the tournament but were knocked out, with Brazil and Italy both impressing, plus Nigeria and Colombia have also looked very good.

Argentina stood in at the last minute to host the event after the tournament was moved from Indonesia.

Below is everything you need for the U20 World Cup.

2023 U20 World Cup schedule, start time, dates, how to watch live

When: May 20 to June 11
Group stage kick-off times: 2pm ET, 5pm ET
Location: Argentina
TV channels en Español: Telemundo, Universo
Streaming en Español: Telemundo, Online via NBC.com

2023 U20 World Cup schedule

All kicks off times ET

Round of 16

Match 38: Tuesday, May 30: USA 4-0 New Zealand
Match 37: Tuesday, May 30: Uzbekistan 0-1 Israel – 5pm
Match 40: Wednesday, May 31: Brazil 4-1 Tunisia – 1:30pm
Match 42: Wednesday, May 31: Colombia 5-1 Slovakia – 1:30pm
Match 39: Wednesday, May 31: England 1-2 Italy – 5pm
Match 41: Wednesday, May 31: Argentina 0-2 Nigeria – 5pm
Match 44: Thursday, June 1: Gambia vs Uruguay – 1:30pm
Match 43: Thursday, June 1: Ecuador vs South Korea – 5pm

THERE IT IS!

It's an ambitious effort from @AustinFC's Owen Wolff that opens the scoring for the @USYNT 👏 pic.twitter.com/ejW0ly7eet

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 30, 2023

HE'S CLINICAL 🇺🇸@SJEarthquakes' Cade Cowell tucks it away for the @USYNT and doubles the United States' lead! pic.twitter.com/x6I54WrS6K

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 30, 2023

Quarterfinals

Match 46: Saturday, June 3: Winner Match 37 vs Winner Match 40 – 1:30pm
Match 47: Saturday, June 3: Winner Match 42 vs Winner Match 39 – 5pm
Match 48: Sunday, June 4: Winner Match 43 vs Winner Match 32 – 1:30pm
Match 45: Sunday, June 4: Winner Match 38 vs Winner Match 44 – 5pm

Semifinals

Match 49: Thursday, June 8: Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46 – 1:30pm
Match 50: Thursday, June 8: Winner Match 47 vs Winner Match 48 – 5pm

Third-place game

Match 51: Sunday, June 11: Loser Match 49 vs Loser match 50 – 1:30pm

Final

Match 52: Sunday, June 11: Winner Match 49 vs Winner mtahc 50 – 5pm

Group stage results

Group A

💣 ¡GOLAZO DE CARBONI!

⚽️ Valentin se tomó confianza, regateó y tiró con fuerza para lograr la remontada de la Albiceleste.

🇦🇷 Argentina 2-1 Uzbekistán 🇺🇿

EN VIVO por 📺 @Telemundo y 📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/plamwHAzbT #U20TD #U20WC #MundialTelemundo pic.twitter.com/gD8kWMZb2L

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 20, 2023

Saturday, May 20: Guatemala 0-1 New Zealand – 2pm
Saturday, May 20: Argentina 2-1 Uzbekistan – 5pm
Tuesday, May 23: Uzbekistan 2-2 New Zealand – 2pm
Tuesday, May 23: Argentina 3-0 Guatemala – 5pm
Friday, May 26: New Zealand 0-5 Argentina – 5pm
Friday, May 26: Uzbekistan 2-0 Guatemala – 5pm

Group B

The breakthrough! @diegoluna1511 makes his mark off the bench

🎥 » @FOXSoccer

pic.twitter.com/NgQQyLFHSd

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 2023

Curve it like Cade ⤴️ @Cc4Official

🎥 » @FOXSoccer pic.twitter.com/j6RMH7LJq3

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 2023

TAP, TAP, TAP IN for Caleb Wiley

🎥 » @FOXSoccer

pic.twitter.com/0tXeADhbf2

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 2023

✨ ¡¡¡GOLAAAAZOOOOOOO!!!

🤯 ¡Increíble! Jonathan Gómez marca en los últimos minutos y le dará la victoria a Estados Unidos 👏

⚽️ @USYNT 🇺🇸 1-0 @LaTri 🇪🇨

🔴 EN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/tZFDaCZEZE #U20TD #U20WC #MundialTelemundo pic.twitter.com/S2ijTh1yja

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 20, 2023

Saturday, May 20: USA 1-0 Ecuador – 2pm (92nd minute winner from Jonathan Gomez)
Saturday, May 20: Fiji 0-4 Slovakia – 5pm
Tuesday, May 23: USA 3-0 Fiji – 2pm
Tuesday, May 23: Ecuador 2-1 Slovakia – 5pm
Friday, May 26: Slovakia 0-2 USA – 2pm
Friday, May 26: Ecuador 9-0 Fiji – 2pm

The #U20WC's youngest-ever goalscorer! 👏

🇪🇨 Kendry Paez pic.twitter.com/UGRWK99bfE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 29, 2023

Group C

¡Ya le dieron la vuelta😎!

Tomas Angel aprovecha el rechace y @FCFSeleccionCol le da la vuelta al marcador

Japón 🇯🇵 1-2 Colombia 🇨🇴

📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/zfHCjgEAFX #U20TD #U20WC #MundialTelemundo pic.twitter.com/c6ST98ji6C

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 24, 2023

¡Se salvó Colombia😱!

El capitán Kuryu Matsuki estrelló su disparo en el travesaño.

Japón 🇯🇵 1-2 Colombia 🇨🇴

📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/zfHCjgEAFX #U20TD #U20WC #MundialTelemundo pic.twitter.com/nTBTF9Wass

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 24, 2023

Sunday, May 21: Israel 1-2 Colombia – 2pm
Sunday, May 21: Senegal 0-1 Japan – 5pm
Wednesday, May 24: Senegal 1-1 Israel – 2pm
Wednesday, May 24: Japan 1-2 Colombia – 5pm
Saturday, May 27: Japan 1-2 Israel – 5pm
Saturday, May 27: Colombia 1-1 Senegal – 5pm

Group D

¡No se cansan de anotar👏!

Matheus Martins dispara con potencia y ya cae el sexto de @CBF_Futebol.

Brasil 🇧🇷 6-0 Rep. Dominicana 🇩🇴

📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/ay9gikWoXg #U20TD #U20WC #MundialTelemundo pic.twitter.com/ce7CR4zSLB

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 24, 2023

Sunday, May 21: Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Republic – 2pm
Sunday, May 21: Italy 3-2 Brazil – 5pm
Wednesday, May 24: Italy 0-2 Nigeria – 2pm
Wednesday, May 24: Brazil 6-0 Dominican Republic – 5pm
Saturday, May 27: Brazil 2-0 Nigeria – 2pm
Saturday, May 27: Dominican Republic 0-3 Italy – 2pm

Group E

Monday, May 22: England 1-0 Tunisia – 2pm
Monday, May 22: Uruguay 4-0 Iraq – 5pm
Thursday, May 25: Uruguay 2-3 England – 2pm
Thursday, May 25: Iraq 0-3 Tunisia – 5pm
Sunday, May 28: Iraq 0-0 England – 2pm
Sunday, May 28: Tunisia 0-1 Uruguay – 2pm

Group F

Monday, May 22: France 1-2 South Korea – 2pm
Monday, May 22: Gambia 2-1 Honduras – 5pm
Thursday, May 25: France 1-2 Gambia – 2pm
Thursday, May 25: South Korea 2-2 Honduras – 5pm
Sunday, May 28: South Korea 0-0 Gambia – 5pm
Sunday, May 28: Honduras 1-3 France – 5pm

F ollow @JPW_NBCSports

PSG coach confirms Lionel Messi departure

Associated PressJun 1, 2023, 9:46 AM EDT

PARIS — Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after two years at the club, coach Christophe Galtier said.

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Galter said ahead of PSG’s game against Clermont on Saturday that it would be Messi’s last match at the Parc des Princes. Messi’s contract expires at the end of June.

“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of soccer,” Galtier said. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”

[ LIVE: Latest transfer news ]

PSG recruited Messi in August 2021 with the ambition to finally win the Champions League. The team is still waiting. Although PSG won its 11th French league title this year, it again exited Europe’s top tournament in the round of 16.

How did Messi get on at PSG?

Messi’s adventure in France has been bitter sweet. In spite of pretty good statistics, he has been embodying the team’s shortcomings in the view of many PSG fans who have repeatedly whistled and booed his name in recent weeks.

After struggling to adapt to the French league – the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored only six league goals in his first 26 games – Messi has improved this season as he developed an efficient understanding with forward Kylian Mbappe.

In 31 league matches, the 35-year-old Messi has scored 16 goals and delivered as many assists. In all competitions, Messi netted 21 goals and had 20 assists for PSG.

“This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available, always committed during training sessions,” Galtier said. “I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified.”

Where next for Lionel Messi?

Despite Galtier’s support, PSG’s appreciation of Messi has not always been so positive.

Earlier this season, the club suspended the World Cup winner following a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission.

Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in the Middle Eastern country and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season.

There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career, or to the United States to play in MLS.

Messi arrived at Barcelona at the age of 13 and left having won 35 titles. He helped the club win the Champions League four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times. Messi is also the team’s all-time scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, and the top scorer in the Spanish league with 474 goals in 520 matches.

USMNT upcoming schedule – Nations League, friendlies, Gold Cup

By Andy EdwardsJun 1, 2023, 9:23 AM EDT

After reaching the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT have a big 2023 coming up as they aim to build off a successful showing on the world’s biggest stage.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

For the next few months CONCACAF Nations League takes center stage, while the program is very much in transition as Anthony Hudson was in temporary charge but he has now moved on with B.J. Callaghan taking over an interim basis as the search for a new permanent head coach continues.

After both the general manager (Brian McBride) and sporting director (Earnie Stewart) left in recent months, Matt Crocker has arrived as U.S. Soccer’s new sporting director and has some huge decisions coming up as the USMNT’s talented youngsters need some guidance with a World Cup on home soil just three years away.

[ MORE: USMNT roster for Nations League features Gio Reyna, no Tyler Adams ]

As for now, here is the USMNT’s upcoming schedule for 2023, with plenty more games to be added based on their qualification for the 2023 Gold Cup on home soil.

How to watch USMNT

TV channels in English: HBO Max, TNT
TV channels en Español: Universo, Telemundo Deportes
Streaming en Español: Peacock

USMNT upcoming schedule

* Friendly | ** CONCACAF Nations League | *** 2022 World Cup | **** Gold Cup

2023

vs. Serbia* — Jan. 25, 10 pm ET — Loss 2-1 | Recap & highlights
vs. Colombia* — Jan. 28, 7:30 pm ET — Draw 0-0 | Recap & highlights

at Grenada** — March 24, 8 pm ET — Won 7-1 | Recap & highlights + Player ratings
vs El Salvador** — March 27, 7:30pm ET — Won 1-0 | Recap & highlights
vs Mexico* — April 19, 10:22pm ET — Glendale, Arizona – More details

vs Mexico ** — June 15, 10pm ET — Las Vegas, Nevada (Nations League semifinal)

2023 Gold Cup from June 16 to July 19

vs Jamaica**** — June 24, 9:30pm ET — Chicago, Illinois
vs TBD**** — June 28, 9:30pm ET — St. Louis, Missouri
vs Nicaragua**** — July 2, 7pm ET — Charlotte, North Carolina

October 2023

vs Germany* — October 14, 3pm ET — Rentschler Field, East Hartford, CT
vs Ghana* — October 17, 8:30pm ET — GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN

USMNT games in 2022

vs. Morocco* — June 1 — Win 3-0
vs. Uruguay* — June 5 — Draw 0-0
vs. Grenada** — June 10 — Win 5-0
at El Salvador** — June 14 — Draw 1-1
vs Japan* — Sept. 23 (in Dusseldorf, Germany) — Loss 2-0
vs Saudi Arabia* — Sept. 27 (in Murcia, Spain) — Draw 0-0

USMNT at 2022 World Cup

Group B
vs. Wales*** — Nov. 21, 2 pm ET — Draw 1-1
vs. England*** — Nov. 25, 2 pm ET — Draw 0-0
vs. Iran*** — Nov. 29, 2 pm ET — Win 1-0

Last 16
vs. Netherlands*** — Dec. 3, 10 am ET — Loss 3-1

USMNT 2022 World Cup qualifying scores, recaps, analysis

at El Salvador — Sept. 2 — Draw 0-0
vs. Canada — Sept. 5 — Draw 1-1
at Honduras — Sept. 8 — Win 4-1

vs. Jamaica — Oct. 7 — Win 1-0
at Panama — Oct. 10 — Loss 0-1
vs. Costa Rica — Oct. 13 — Win 2-1

vs. Mexico — Nov. 12 — Win 2-0
at Jamaica — Nov. 16 — Draw 1-1

vs. El Salvador — Jan. 27 — Win 1-0
at Canada — Jan. 30 — Loss 0-2
vs. Honduras — Feb. 2 — Win 3-0

at Mexico — March 24 — Draw 0-0
vs. Panama — March 27 — Win 5-1
at Costa Rica — March 30 — Loss 0-2

Final CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings

Canada — 28 points – (QUALIFIED) GD +16 – automatic qualification
Mexico — 28 points (QUALIFIED) GD +9 – automatic qualification
USMNT — 25 points – (QUALIFIED) GD +11 – automatic qualification

Costa Rica — 25 points (PLAYOFF) GD +5

Panama — 21 points (ELIMINATED)
Jamaica — 14 points (ELIMINATED)
El Salvador — 10 points (ELIMINATED)
Honduras — 4 points (ELIMINATED)

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The Soccer Tournament to air across NBC platforms in summer 2023

By Joe Prince-WrightJun 1, 2023, 9:01 AM EDT

27 games from the The Soccer Tournament (TST) will be aired across NBC Sports’ platforms in the summer of 2023 as some of the biggest clubs in the world will be represented as teams square off to try and win the $1 million grand prize.

[ LIVE: Watch The Soccer Tournament on Peacock ]

Games will be aired on Peacock and CNBC, as the inaugural 7-a-side tournament takes place in Cary, North Carolina and the likes of West Ham United, Wolves, Borussia Dortmund, Wrexham and various teams from around the world including former USMNT and USWNT players will compete.

“On June 4th, two teams will face off in our championship game for a million dollars. The second place team will get nothing. We are excited to showcase the drama of that moment and 26 additional high-stakes matches through this partnership with NBC Sports, home of the Premier League in the United States,” said TST founder and CEO Jon Mugar.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

What is The Soccer Tournament?

Here are more details on what to expect from The Soccer Tournament this summer:

“A first-of-its-kind soccer event, TST will feature 32 teams from eight different countries competing in a World Cup-like group stage. Sixteen teams will advance to the knockout stage, where they will compete in single elimination games for a $1 million grand prize.

“Teams competing in the event include 7-a-side teams from notable European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham, Como 1907, Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, MLS club Charlotte FC, Liga MX’s Club Necaxa, Clint Dempsey’s Team Dempsey, and US Women, a team of former US women’s national team players organized by Heather O’Reilly and coached by Mia Hamm.

“Notable players include legendary Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas (Como 1907), NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (Nati SC), social media influencer and former MLS Academy product Noah Beck (Borussia Dortmund), among others. TST’s field will also include 23 former U.S. senior national team players on both the men’s and women’s side with nearly 1,400 matches of experience combined.”

⚽🚨THE TST 2023 FULL FIELD AND GROUPS ARE SET🚨⚽ pic.twitter.com/wtHXwTnugQ

— TST (@TST7v7) May 4, 2023

Below is the full TST game schedule and tickets for all TST games are on sale now at thetournament.com/tst-tickets.

The Soccer Tournament schedule, how to watch live, start times, dates

When: June 1-4
Location: Cary, North Carolina
How to watch: Peacock Premium + Final live on CNBC/NBC

June 1, 2023

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hoosiers Army (Indiana Alumni) – June 1, 9am ET
West Ham United vs. Far East United – June 1, 10:30am ET
US Women vs. Say Word FC – June 1, 12pm ET
Wrexham Red Dragons vs. Como 1907 – June 1, 1:30pm ET
Wolverhampton vs. Blade & Grass – June 1, 5pm ET
Club Necaxa vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv – June 1, 6:30pm ET
Wrexham Red Dragons vs. US Women – June 1, 8pm ET
Team Dempsey vs. Sneaky Fox – June 1, 9:30pm ET

June 2, 2023

Borussia Dortmund vs. Kingdom FC – June 2, 9am ET
West Ham United vs. Culture by Mo Ali FC – June 2, 10:30am ET
Wrexham Red Dragons vs. Say Word FC – June 2, 12pm ET
Team Dempsey vs. Zala FFF – June 2, 1:30pm ET

Knockout Round (8 games) – June 2, 6pm – 11pm ET
Quarterfinals (4 games) – June 2, 12 pm – 4:45pm ET

June 3, 2023

Semifinals (2 games) – June 3, 7 pm and 9:30pm ET

June 4, 2023

TST $1M Championship Game (Live) – June 4, 3pm ET CNBC – Encore to air on June 10, 2pm ET (NBC)

Follow @JPW_NBCSports

Latest USMNT news

2023 U20 World Cup schedule, start time, dates, how to watch live

2023 U20 World Cup schedule

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Third-place game

Final

Group stage results

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Latest transfer news

How did Messi get on at PSG?

Where next for Lionel Messi?

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Latest USMNT news

How to watch USMNT

USMNT upcoming schedule

USMNT games in 2022

USMNT at 2022 World Cup

USMNT 2022 World Cup qualifying scores, recaps, analysis

Final CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings

Latest USMNT news

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Latest Premier League news

What is The Soccer Tournament?

The Soccer Tournament schedule, how to watch live, start times, dates

June 1, 2023

June 2, 2023

June 3, 2023

June 4, 2023