Plus, Nelson Rodriguez announces his year-end roundtable.
CHICAGO TO HOST SUPERDRAFT: Like the NFL Draft (2015 and 2016) and the NHL Entry Draft (2017) before it, Major League Soccer will once again host its SuperDraft as part of the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention (USCC) which will be at McCormick Place West in Chicago. The SuperDraft will commence on Friday, January 11th with FC Cincinnati holding the first overall pick.
Chicago will also host the USCC in 2025 and 2031. With the MLS SuperDraft taking place at the convention, it is likely that the NWSL College Draft will take place at the convention later in the day. The MLS SuperDraft and NWSL College Draft have both been held at the USCC since the latter league’s inaugural year in 2013.
RODRIGUEZ ROUNDTABLE, PART THREE: Fire president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez will hold his third and final media roundtable of 2018 on Thursday, November 1st, at 2pm at Toyota Park (which will be called SeatGeek Stadium by that time). Fans and media can watch a livestream of the roundtable discussion on the Chicago Fire Facebook page.
FIRE WIN COMMUNITY AWARD: On Thursday, the Fire received the Community Award at the Leaders Sports Awards held this week at the National History Museum in London, England. The Fire’s P.L.A.Y.S. Program (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth Soccer) was highlighted as the top community initiative among entries from more than 15 countries. In partnership with Facebook, the Leaders Sports Awards’ Community category identifies and celebrates an organization or group using sport to bring a community together.
“It is an honor to see the Fire’s contributions to the community recognized at the Leaders Sports Awards,” said Chicago Fire Owner and Chairman Andrew Hauptman. “On behalf of everyone involved with the Chicago Fire, we are extremely proud of the P.L.A.Y.S. Program, as well as our extensive community engagement efforts. We are committed to helping transform the lives of youth from all walks of life and will continue to always try to make a positive impact in the neighborhoods of our great city.”
THAT’S NICE, BUT….: The Chicago Fire Foundation is unquestionably a top-notch charitable organization. However, this reminds me of another Chicago institution on hard times—Sears. Why? The Foundation is much like Kenmore which still has currency in the market, but it’s currently part of an organization as a whole that’s been wayward for years and it not helped by its top brass, while other teams in MLS are the current thing/cutting into Sears’s market (i.e. the Sounders are Amazon, Atlanta is Home Depot, NYCFC is Macy’s, etc.).
FIRE PLAYERS ABROAD: Saturday was not a good day for either Yura Movsisyan or Nicolas Hasler while on international duty in the UEFA Nations League. Movsisyan played 69 minutes in Armenia’s 1-0 loss to Gibraltar. It is Gibraltar’s first competitive win and first international away win. Armenia are home to FYR Macedonia on Tuesday (1:45pm CT, ESPN+).
Nicolas Hasler played all 90 minutes in Liechtenstein’s 4-1 defeat to FYR Macedonia. Liechtenstein are away to Gibraltar on Tuesday (1:45pm CT, ESPN+).
RED STARS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Julie Ertz netted her 18th goal and Alyssa Naeher recorded her 19th clean sheet for the USA as they waltzed towards qualification to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 6-0 win over Jamaica. Morgan Brian played the second half subbing for Ertz while Casey Short was an unused sub. The USA will play fellow qualifiers Canada for the Concacaf Women’s Championship on Wednesday at 7pm CT at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. Depending on the schedule of the Major League Baseball Playoffs, the game will either be on FS1 or FS2.
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