Bay Area scores another major soccer event with 2025 NWSL championship at PayPal Park
The league's championship contest was held at Kansas City's women's soccer-specific CPKC Stadium last season and Audi Field in Washington, D.C., the season prior. Bay FC have played home games at PayPal Park the past two seasons and have three years left on a lease with the San Jose Earthquakes-owned stadium.
The playoffs will begin the weekend of Nov. 7-9, with the semifinal round set for the following week, Nov. 14-16.
'The NWSL Championship brings another top soccer event to the Bay Area in 2025 and is an indicator of how impactful the Bay Area is in the global soccer landscape, the tremendous support of the game across the region and the widespread passion shown by fans for women's sports,' Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart said in a news release. 'We're looking forward to putting on a top-tier event for fans of both Bay Area soccer and the NWSL.'
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The Bay Area is the site of several significant soccer events in the next year-plus. The 18,000-seat PayPal Park is scheduled to host four matches in the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, including Sunday's contest between the U.S. men's national team and Trinidad and Tobago. Santa Clara's Levi Stadium will host six games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
PayPal Park has previously hosted the NCAA College Cup, most recently in 2019, but has never hosted an NWSL postseason contest.
'We're thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women's soccer as the Bay Area,' NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. 'This community's passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league's top talent and crown our next champion.'
The top eight teams in the NWSL regular season will make the playoffs. Bay FC, who qualified for the first round in its expansion season a year ago, entered Friday tied for eighth place in the league with 15 games left to play. Two NWSL clubs – North Carolina in 2019 and Portland in 2018 – have played a championship game at their home field since the league went to a neutral site format in 2015.
The championship game will be played at 5 p.m. Pacific and air on CBS for the fourth consecutive season. Tickets will be available for purchase in August, and the league announced that Bay FC season-ticket holders will get early access.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How much do premium Toronto, Vancouver FIFA World Cup tickets cost right now? Here's what we know
Canadian soccer fans eager to score a ticket to one of the 13 FIFA World Cup games in Toronto or Vancouver next summer can now purchase hospitality packages. But the premium tickets for the group stage and round of 32 matches, which start at $2,500 and increase significantly depending on the level of service selected, won't get you in to see Canada's Men's National Team on the pitch at Toronto's BMO Field or BC Place in Vancouver. According to FIFA and On Location, its official hospitality partner, host nation games 'are not available as a single-match offerings' for the special tickets. The Canadian side plays its first game at BMO on June 12 — the first-ever men's World Cup on Canadian soil — and rounds out its group stage play with matches on June 18 and 24 in Vancouver. Opponents won't be determined until later this year. Here's what you need to know about ticket prices less than a year before the event kicks off. How much will a World Cup ticket in Toronto or Vancouver cost me right now? To secure admission to one of the nine games not featuring Team Canada and for which the teams are yet to be determined, it will depend on when and where you want to watch. After the Team Canada opener on June 12, Toronto will host five more matches — four group stage and one round of 32. Hospitality package tickets for group stage games on June 17 and 20 start at $2,500, contests on June 23 and 26 start at $2,600 and the round of 32 match on July 2 starts at $2,800. 'That's steep. That is very steep. But I don't have much control over it,' Toronto mayor Olivia Chow said this week, per City News. Vancouver's first game, on June 13, starts at $2,950 but drops to $2,575 for those on June 21 and 26. A round of 32 game on July 2, meanwhile, begins at $3,215. Those prices allow ticketholders access to the FIFA pavilion, a private area offering food and drinks separate from other attendees. There are four other hospitality levels to choose from, each offering a slightly higher level of exclusivity — the champions club, the trophy lounge, VIP and the top tier pitchside lounge. 'An exclusive experience that blends luxurious comfort with the electrifying energy of the world's greatest sporting event,' according to FIFA and On Location. Selecting the 'pitchside lounge standard plus' option for the June 17 game in Toronto, for example, jacks the single ticket price to $5,750. As of right now, Vancouver tops out at the 'VIP standard plus' level, which will run you $6,450 for the round of 32 match. All of the packages include all you can eat and drink, including alcoholic beverages, and they get you inside three hours before kickoff and allow you stick around for up to two hours after the game ends. How can I guarantee tickets to see Team Canada play in the World Cup? While a strong third-place finish could earn 28th-ranked Canada a berth in the round of 32 in this year's expanded tournament, the side is guaranteed only three group stage games. As of right now, tickets to those matches can only be secured by investing in the venue series, which grants the pass holder access to all the matches at either stadium, starting at $15,975 for Toronto and $19,860 in Vancouver. Like the single-match offerings, that number can increase dramatically depending on the hospitality level above the FIFA pavilion. A single venue series pass with access to the 'pitchside lounge standard plus' for the six games in Toronto rings up for $37,700. In Vancouver, where the pass gets you into all seven games, it's $46,740. Another option is to sign up for Canada Soccer's CanadaRED program, which offers registered members exclusive access to the organization's ticketing allotment for the national team's games. The higher your donation tier, the better your odds of scoring a chance to buy one of the tickets. Paying tiers range from $50 to $5,000 annually. When can I get cheaper World Cup tickets to see Team Canada play? FIFA also announced this week that it would open applications for general tickets on Sept. 10. Tickets are going to be released in five phases to accommodate the high demand. However, the governing body did not specify when the draw would take place, nor whether it would employ dynamic pricing, as was the case for the Club World Cup, which saw ticket prices fluctuate wildly. FIFA encourages fans to register their interest so they can 'use their FIFA ID to apply for their first chance to buy tickets' in September. Ticket sales will continue from then until the final match in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19, but FIFA has yet to offer details on the timing of future phases. As for how much they might cost, general tickets for fans at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ranged from $11 for Qataris attending a group stage game all the way to $2,210 for international fans watching the final, according to The Sporting News. How much are Canada's World Cup games costing? Toronto has ballparked its hosting cost at $380 million, $104 million of which was supplied by the federal government, with another $97 million coming from Doug Ford's provincial government, a deal that's still being negotiated. A city staff report in late May revealed that 'provincial service costs are still substantially higher than budgeted, and in some cases completely unbudgeted,' resulting in $39 million of the province's contribution already earmarked for provincial service costs like added Ontario Provincial Police security and hospital and paramedic surge capacity. Ford, who initially said the city wouldn't get a penny more, has promised to work with Chow to come up with a solution. 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Place, which includes a new natural grass playing surface, a FIFA requirement. – With files from the Associated Press Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Hamilton Spectator
4 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld doesn't want to rush return from injury
VANCOUVER - Being back on the pitch doing some light training is a step forward for Ryan Gauld, but the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder isn't rushing his return to playing. The 29-year-old from Aberdeen, Scotland, has been sidelined since March 8 with a knee capsule sprain. He was greeted with cheers from some of his teammates when he stepped on the field for a practice this week. 'It's nice to have the boots back on, be outside,' said Gauld. 'I still got a long ways to go, but it's a step forward.' Gauld was hurt in a March 8 game against CF Montreal. His recovery has been slower than expected and he doesn't want to hurry his return. 'I've got in my head how I hope things go, what it looks like, but there's no point getting too stressed on it,' said the Whitecaps captain who had a career-high 17 goals and led the team with 16 assists in 37 starts and 41 appearances across all competitions last season. 'I've got a timeline in my head but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I've got to make sure I come back at 100 per cent and don't suffer any more setbacks.' Two players who will be in the lineup Saturday when the Whitecaps visit the Colorado Rapids in a Major League Soccer match are midfielder Sebastain Berhalter and forward Brian White. The two MLS all-stars had been playing with the United States at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'It's great just seeing the guys again and being back in this environment,' said Berhalter. 'I realized how much I love playing with these guys.' The Whitecaps (11-4-5) and Rapids (7-10-5) are both looking to shake themselves out of a losing skid. The Whitecaps head into the weekend second in the MLS Western Conference with 38 points but are 2-3-1 in their last five league games. Vancouver needed a goal in the 90th minute Wednesday night to beat Winnipeg-based Canadian Premier League side Valour 2-1 to win their Telus Canadian Championship quarterfinal. Colorado sits 10th in the West, tied with two other teams with 26 points. The Rapids are 1-5-1 in the last seven games and have been held scoreless four times in that stretch. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said playing at altitude and expected heat will be a challenge for his team. 'The conditions will be a little different than we are used to,' he said. 'Colorado is a good team, they have some good players that can change the game on their own. 'We have to be ready for whatever faces us.' The Whitecaps play their next three games on the road. After Saturday they travel to Houston on Wednesday, then San Diego July 19. 'It's a tough stretch of away games against good teams,' said White. 'Everyone is going to be locked in, switched on. Hopefully you can come away with as many points as possible.' Sorensen said having Berhalter and White back in the lineup will make a difference for team chemistry. 'It's been a little bit frustrating because we haven't had them the entire time,' he said. As for when Gauld might return, Sorensen urged patience. 'It's not important for me when he's back, it's important for me how he's back,' he said. 'It's very important he has gained the strength he needs to play. It very important that he comes back strong.' White said it was good to see his friend practising. 'It's been difficult not being able to have him out here,' said White, who leads the Whitecaps with 15 goals in all competitions. 'You miss a player like Ryan, his quality, the leadership, what he can bring to the team.' —- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-4-5) at COLORADO RAPIDS (7-10-5) Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. PDT SHARING THE LOAD: With the winning goal in Wednesday's Canadian Championship game against Valour, Bjorn Inge Utvik became the 19th Whitecap to score across all competitions this season. LENDING A HAND: Defender Ranko Veselinovic became the 17th Whitecap to earn an assist this season on Wednesday. OFF THE PITCH: Forward Jayden Nelson will miss the game after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time for kicking the ball into the stands in frustration during Vancouver's 3-0 loss to the L.A. Galaxy July 4. SICK BAY: Midfielder Ali Ahmed (sprained ankle) expected return to play in six to eight weeks. Midfielder Andrés Cubas (sprained ankle) expected to return in one to two weeks. Defender Giuseppe Bovalina (illness) day-to-day LAST MEETING: The Whitecaps defeated the Rapids 2-0 at BC Place Stadium April 5. GOALS AGAINST: The 22 goals Vancouver has allowed in MLS play is tied for second least in the league and best in the Western Conference. Philadelphia has allowed 21 goals while New York City has also given up 22. NEED A STOP: The Whitecaps have been outscored 10-4 over their last three MLS losses. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
From Tokyo to Citi Field: Kodai Senga is a key part of baseball's international charge
When Kodai Senga takes the mound at Citi Field, he's not just pitching for the New York Mets. He's part of a rising wave of Japanese talent that's breathing new life into America's pastime – and drawing millions of new eyes on both sides of the Pacific. In an interview with CNN's Jim Sciutto, the three-time NPB All-Star shared what the transition was like moving from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. 'Of course, there are differences when playing baseball in a different culture, so I think it's really important to think about it and study it well so that I can take advantage of the good parts of the baseball here (in the United States) and the baseball over there (in Japan),' he told Sciutto. When asked what the hardest adjustment has been game-wise, Senga said, 'It's definitely the ball, the ball is very different.' Known for his powerful fastball, the thirty-two-year-old pitcher holds a 7-3 record and 74 strikeouts across 77 innings this season alone. His performance has been instrumental in the Mets' strong pitching lineup – and their current first place standing in the National League East. And even though he's heading to the injured list with Thursday's hamstring injury, Senga's fast adaptation – and his 1.39 ERA this season – is only one part of a much bigger story: A growing Japan-to-MLB pipeline that's sparking international viewership and cross-cultural tourism. This season, 12 Japanese players appeared on MLB Opening Day rosters — the highest since 2012. The list includes not only household names like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but fresh faces like Roki Sasaki and Shota Imanaga, who are redefining what a rookie campaign can look like. The fan bases are also growing in numbers. MLB viewership has spiked on both sides of the Pacific this season: ESPN is up 22%, TBS 16%, and NHK in Japan is also up 22%. During March's Tokyo Series — where the Cubs and Dodgers squared off — over 25 million viewers tuned in, setting a new record for an MLB game broadcast in Japan. The 'Ohtani Effect' has been well-documented in Los Angeles over the last several years. Japanese fans frequently flock to Dodger Stadium for a chance to see the dugout, the field, and even embark on Japanese-language tours to get a feel for the behind the scenes of the game. There are even new waves of tourism going straight to Japan itself. JapanBall Tours, which takes fans from the U.S. to Japan for NPB games, has seen a 27% jump in social media followers this year and a 31% increase in newsletter subscriptions, according to the New York Times. When asked if this influx of top talent to the US could hurt the Japanese league, Senga pointed to how change is actually a positive. 'We shouldn't stay the way we are just because things are changing but instead create a system where even if new players leave, the next generation can join in,' Senga said. It's not just players – the Mets themselves have a long history with Japan. They played in the first MLB Opening Day game overseas in 2000 at the Tokyo Dome. Back in 1996, they became the first team to play in both Japan and Mexico. When asked if he'd like to finish his career in the US, the MLB all-star said, 'if I could get a long-term contract, that would be my wish.' Baseball may be the same game in theory – three strikes and you're out – but the cultural nuances are vast. But Senga points out the experience is actually more complementary than conflicting. 'Over here (in the United States) when the excitement hits, the fans cheer loudly, and you can really tell they're here to enjoy the game. While over there (in Japan) they enjoy the cheering itself almost as its own activity, so I think that's a different experience,' he said. With MLB's international player count at 265 across 18 countries and a growing share of that coming from Japan, the league is poised to raise the level of competition for international players. For Senga, though, that does not affect his play. When asked if there is pressure to go up against another Japanese player like Ohtani, Senga said, 'I think it's more the media and the people around me that makes a bigger deal that the (opposing) player is Japanese… For the players themselves, it's the same experience, whether you're able to stop the batter or not. So, I don't think it makes a difference.' And as for life in New York? 'If it's New York, pretty easy', Senga says when asked about finding good Japanese food. Favorite spot? 'I have several.'
