Mexico adidas 2011/12 Home and Away Jerseys

The national soccer teams of Mexico have a busy summer of 2011 ahead of them with participation in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in June and July (as hosts), at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup shortly thereafter, at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and at the Copa America in July.

The Mexican women's soccer has qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany and will represent CONCACAF along with the USA and Canada at the tournament in June and July.

With all of this action looming, the La Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) officially launched the Mexico adidas 2011/12 home and away jerseys (both now available at World Soccer Shop) last Friday in Mexico City.

The new Mexico kits will be used for the first times when  El Tri meets Paraguay in Oakland, CA on March 26th, 2011 and Venezuela in  San Diego, CA on March 29th, 2011 in international friendly action.

On hand  to model the new El Tri uniforms were the Mexico Under-17 team (in the  away kit) and the Mexico Under-20 team (in the new home kit).

The Mexico adidas  2011/12 green home kit features a brand new adidas design that hasn't been  used for any other of the firm's soccer jerseys thus far this year. The black  away shirt shares its design with the Seattle Sounders FC adidas 2011 home  jersey.

Photos courtesy of adidas.

MLS 2011 Season Preview

Major League Soccer’s 2011 season kicks off next Tuesday night when league attendance leaders Seattle Sounders FC hosts David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy (9:30 PM  ET ESPN). Nine months of the best soccer in the United States and Canada will follow culminating with MLS Cup 2011 in November. In a league known for a great deal of parity, just about any team has a chance of being crowned league champions as the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake have proven over the past two years.

To get you ready for all of the upcoming action, here’s the World Soccer Shop MLS 2011 Season Preview.

New Teams

MLS expands to an eighteen team league in 2011 with the entry of longtime United Soccer Leagues (USL) campaigners the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC to the league. The new entrants join the Seattle Sounders FC in the Northwest United States / British Columbia region and will both play in the MLS Western Conference. The Whitecaps become MLS’ second Canada-based franchise along with five-year old Toronto FC. Finally, the Kansas City Wizards have rebranded themselves as Sporting Kansas City.

Conferences

The 2011 MLS Conference setup changes slightly for 2011 because of the league’s expansion. With Portland and Vancouver joining the Western Conference, the Houston Dynamo now moves to the Eastern Conference.  The 2011 MLS Conferences will look like this:

EASTERN CONFERENCE                               WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago Fire                                                  Chivas USA

Columbus Crew                                             Colorado Rapids

D.C. United                                                      FC Dallas

Houston Dynamo                                           LA Galaxy

Sporting Kansas City                                     Portland Timbers

New England Revolution                              Real Salt Lake

New York Red Bulls                                       San Jose Earthquakes

Philadelphia Union                                       Seattle Sounders FC

Toronto FC                                                       Vancouver Whitecaps FC

League Changes

Playoffs

With more teams and a growing fanbase, MLS has added another round and two more teams to its playoffs. This is the league’s explanation of how the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs will work.

· Ten clubs will qualify for the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs:

· The top three finishers in each conference, based on regular season points (six automatic berths)

· The next best four clubs based on regular season points, irrespective of conference (four wild cards)

· The four wild cards will play single elimination games against each other, with higher seeds hosting (1 vs. 4; 2 vs. 3). These play-in games are part of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

· After the two play-in games conclude, the lowest remaining seed will face the Supporters’ Shield winner in the Conference Semifinals; the other will face the No. 1 seed in the opposite conference from the Supporters’ Shield winner.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with each club hosting one game. The two Conference Championships will be single games hosted by the higher seed. MLS Cup will again be a single championship match hosted at a predetermined site to be announced at a later date.

Reserve League

After a three year absence, the MLS Reserve League will be resurrected. It will feature a 10-game regular season and followed by playoffs. As with the reserve divisions of major European soccer leagues, the MLS Reserve League is designed to give young players development opportunities via regular game action. It will also allow squad fringe players and those returning from injury to see playing time.

MLS rosters will be expanded from 26 to 30 players to now that the Reserve Division is back. Six of the roster spots are designated for players 24 years old and younger. Finally, MLS club’s academy players and those on trial will be allowed to suit up in for reserve teams.

Major Transfers

MLS didn’t see any signings of the magnitude David Beckham or Thierry Henry this offseason. Nevertheless there were signings of several proven internationals, including Mexico’s Omar Bravo by Sporting KC and USA’s Jay DeMerit, along with a few major inter-team moves. These are the biggest of the signings and transfers. The player’s last clubs are in parentheses.

Colorado Rapids: Sanna Nyassi (Seattle Sounders FC)

Columbus Crew: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)

Houston Dynamo: Hunter Freeman (IK Start, Norway)

Sporting KC: Omar Bravo (Chivas de Guadalajara)

L.A. Galaxy: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)

New England Revolution: Didier Domi (Olympiakos)

New York Red Bulls: John Rooney (Macclesfield Town)

Portland Timbers: Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich)

Vancouver Whitecaps: Jay DeMerit (Watford FC)

Match Schedule

The full MLS 2011 schedule may be found at this link.

Some of the biggest matches of the early season include:

03/15/11: Seattle vs. L.A. Galaxy

03/18/11: Vancouver vs. Toronto FC

05/07/11: L.A. Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls

Where to Watch

Major League Soccer matches will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com (21 matches) , Fox Soccer Channel (up to 31 matches) and Galavision / Telefutura (30 matches) in the United States during the 2011 season. TSN will air 24 matches involving Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLS fans in Canada.

Highlights of all matches can be viewed at the MLS Soccer video website while the MLS YouTube channel is updated regularly with interviews, behind the scenes and on the field match footage and even a look back at some classic MLS matches from as far back as the league’s first season in 1996.

Lastly, to whet your appetites for the MLS action starting next week, here are highlights from last week’s CONCACAF Champions League quarter final meeting between the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake. RSL won the series 4-1 to become the first MLS team to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Photo Credits: Getty Images

Argentina adidas Copa America 2011 Home and Away Jerseys

The much-anticipated adidas Argentina Copa America 2011 home and away jerseys have officially been launched. Both kits are now available for purchase at World Soccer Shop and will be used by the team during the 2011/12 international season.

The new kits to be worn by the likes of team captain Javier Mascherano and reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi when the Albicelestes host the Copa America in July were launched online at lacamisetadetodos.com and the adidas Argentina national team Facebook page. Messi and Asociación Argentina de Fútbol president, Julio Grondona, participated in the virtual launch. The images shown in the event were taken by kit designer Martín Tibabuzo.

The unveiling of the Argentina Copa America 2011 home and away jerseys was also broadcast to onlookers via an outdoor big screen at the corner of Florida and Corrientes streets in Buenos Aires.

The home jersey should see its first action when Argentina meets Venezuela in a friendly in San Juan on March 16th. The away kit is expected to be used when the team travels to New York to meet the United States in another friendly on March 26th.

The Argentina 2011/12 home and away jerseys will be available in adidas TECHFIT™ PowerWEB and  Climacool versions to both players and fans.

Photo Credits: adidas

adidas F50 adiZero Prime

One of adidas' first soccer boot launches of 2011  is the much-awaited F50 adiZero Prime - now the world's lightest soccer shoe. The new adidas F50 adiZero Prime is the second generation of the adidas F50 adiZero boot that was launched in the Spring of 2010. The shoe went on to becoming the top scoring boot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is now a favorite among professional players such as Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Daniel Alves, David Silva, David Villa, Samir Nasri, Thomas Müller, Asamoah Gyan, Salomon Kalou, Arjen Robben, Nani, Diego Forlán and Gareth Bale.

Weighing in at only 5.1 oz., the adidas F50 adiZero Prime TRX takes 0.7 oz. off the F50 adiZero and is 0.2 oz. lighter than the previous lightest boot in the world, the PUMA v1.10 SL.

The shoe is developed on a high-speed last with an adiLite single layer design (no foam, no lining) that is soft, lightweight yet extremely durable. It features durable Kevlar laces, an inner contrast-color TPU support bands for stability. The adidas F50 adiZero Prime has two sockliner options, one ultralight and one comfort TPU Sprintframe outsole with Traxion for acceleration and speed and comes with a shoe bag, extra laces and shoe cloth.

Here's a detailed look at the current colorways of the adidas F50 adiZero Prime (Black/White/Electricity and Warning/Black/White) along with video of reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and FC Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi juggling the new boot.

The adidas F50 adiZero Prime soccer boot is now available at the World Soccer Shop adidas Footwear Store.

2011 Carling Cup Final Preview

Arsenal and Birmingham City clash on Sunday, February 27th in the final of the 2011 Carling Cup (also called the League Cup by many) at Wembley Stadium.  The Gunners are seeking their first silverware since a then Thierry Henry-led squad won the 2005 F.A. Cup. Meanwhile, Birmingham is looking for its first title since it won the old Third Division and Football League Trophy (a completion for third and fourth tier English Football League teams) in 1995.

Here is the World Soccer Shop Blog Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to 2011 Carling Cup preview.

Road to the Final

Arsenal
Over the years, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has used to Carling Cup to give fringe and young Gunners competitive runouts. He did start this year’s completion in the same manner but as Arsenal progressed looked like contenders for the cup, Wenger has increasingly fielded his first team regulars.

The Gunners faced and defeated Premier League opposition (including fierce rivals Tottenham) in the first three rounds of the Carling Cup before suffering a shock defeat to Championship side Ipswich Town in the first leg of the semi-finals. However, Arsenal summarily dispatched with the Tractor Boys 3-0 in the return leg to book a spot in the final.

September 21, 2010: Tottenham 1 – Arsenal 4 (Carling Cup Round 3)
October 27, 2010: Newcastle United 0 – Arsenal 4 (Carling Cup Round 4)
November 30, 2010: Arsenal 2 – Wigan 0 (Carling Cup Quarter-Finals)
January 12, 2011: Ipswich Town 1 – Arsenal 0 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)
January 25, 2011: Arsenal 3 - Ipswich Town 0 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)

Birmingham City
Without the same quality of reserve players as Arsenal, Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish fielded teams featuring a mix of first team regulars and fringe players early in the cup. As the Brummies move through the rounds the first teamers that feature for the club in English Premier League matches were also starting in Carling Cup fixtures.

The club faced lower league opposition until meeting local rivals Aston Villa in the quarter-finals followed by Premier League strugglers West Ham in the semi-finals.

August 26, 2010: Birmingham 3 – Rochdale 2 (Carling Cup Round 1)
September 21, 2010: Birmingham 3 – Milton Keynes Dons 1 (Carling Cup Round 3)
October 26, 2010: Birmingham 1 – Brentford 1. Birmingham won 4-3 on penalties. (Carling Cup Round 4)
December 1, 2010: Birmingham 2 – Aston Villa 1 (Carling Cup Quarter-Finals)
January 11, 2011: West Ham 2 – Birmingham 1 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)
January 26, 2011: Birmingham 3- West Ham 1 (Carling Cup Semi-Finals)

Form Guide

Arsenal is currently in fine form having defeated FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League last week and battling it out with Manchester United for top spot in the Premier League. Birmingham, on the other hand, sits towards the bottom of the league table and just three points out of the relegation zone.

There are the last five results for both clubs.

Arsenal
February 23, 2011: Arsenal 1 – Stoke City 0
February 20, 2011: Leyton Orient 1 – Arsenal 1
February 16, 2011: Arsenal 2 – FC Barcelona 1
February 12, 2011: Arsenal 2  - Wolverhampton 0
February 5, 2011: Newcastle United 4 – Arsenal 4

Birmingham City
February 19, 2011: Birmingham 3 – Sheffield Wednesday 0 (FA Cup)
February 15, 2011: Birmingham 0 – Newcastle United 2 (English Premier League)
February 12, 2011: Birmingham 1 – Stoke City 0 (English Premier League)
February 6, 2011: West Ham 0 – Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)
February 2, 2011: Birmingham 2- Manchester City 2 (English Premier League)

Head to Head (Last Two Seasons)

January 1, 2011: Birmingham 0 - Arsenal 3 (English Premier League)
October 16, 2010: Arsenal 2 - Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)
March 27, 2010: Birmingham 1 - Arsenal 1 (English Premier League)
October 17, 2009: Arsenal 3 - Birmingham 1 (English Premier League)

Where to Watch

In the United States, you can see the 2011 Carling Cup Final live on Fox Soccer Channel at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on February 27th.

Injuries

Arsenal – Manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that England international Theo Walcott will miss the Carling Cup final with an ankle sprain picked up during Wednesday’s Premier League win over Stoke City.

Birmingham - Midfielder Alexander Hleb may miss the Carling Cup final following an injury to his knee in Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Photo Credits: Getty Images

Celebrity Soccer Fans

Over the years soccer has had its fair share of celebrity fans in its hotbeds of Europe and South America. RomCom king and Fulham fan Hugh Grant, former Brentford FC apprentice Rod Stewart, one-time Watford FC chairman Sir Elton John, Italian actress and lifelong AS Roma fan Sabrina Ferelli, and Oasis rockers and Manchester City supporters Noel and Liam Gallagher are among the pop culture luminaries who have been regulars in executive boxes at stadiums around the world over the years. Now as soccer is at arguably its most popular level ever in the United States, a new generation of celebrity A-List soccer fan has emerged.

Kim Kardashian at a Chelsea FC Club Party

The most visibly and outspoken of America’s current celebrity soccer fans is comedian and actor Drew Carey. A well-known fan of the United States National Soccer Team, Carey could be spotted in the photographers’ box at U.S. matches at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. He has since gone on to become a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders F.C. and is a regular in the fan March to the Match through the streets of Seattle to Sounders home games at Quest Field.

Will Ferrell meets Chelsea captain John Terry

NBA All Star, future Hall of Famer and current Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash joins Carey as the other A-List Major League Soccer owner. A gifted soccer player in his own right, Nash gave his full support to the Vancouver’s effort to land Canada’s second MLS franchise in the form of the Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. He went on to become a majority owner of the team and holds the annual Showdown in Chinatown charity soccer match that has attracted players like Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea F.C.), Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan) and Ryan Babel (Liverpool F.C.) over the past few years.



Soccer’s popularity among the Hollywood set is also evident in the A-Listers that big matches on U.S. shores now attract. For instance, David Beckham’s first match with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 attracted big names such as Alicia Silverstone, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Meanwhile, when Chelsea F.C. hits the West coast for pre-season action, their club parties and matches become hot tickets with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Will Ferrell to Charlize Theron.

Charlize Theron gets a Chelsea FC jersey

With the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and other world class soccer leagues now beaming into U.S. homes via television and over the internet, soccer is now more readily accessible than ever before. Led by players like Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo (now regulars on E! TV’s nightly news reports), it is also now an integral part of popular culture around the world and, increasingly, in the United States. Thus it is of little surprise that we are seeing more soccer fans, including celebrities, than ever.

Hugh Grant at the 2010 Europa League Final

Photo Credits: Getty Images

PUMA PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo Soccer Boots

Sportswear giant PUMA has released a new colorway of the popular PowerCat 1.10 (or PWR-C 1.10) soccer boots . The innovative boot is inspired by the style, popular culture and bright lights of Tokyo, Japan. Fittingly, the boot also incorporates some of the latest soccer boot technology that has seen the likes of Republic of Ireland and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given and England and Manchester City midfielder Michael Carrick favoring the PWR-C 1.10 in recent times.

According to PUMA:

The PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo is the perfect combination of engineering and comfort in a striking design. The injected PUMA 3D Power Shooting Technology (PUMA 3D PST), the fresh Cat branding, and the super soft and thin premium microfiber make the PowerCat 1.10 Graphic the boot of choice for true football players who want stand out on the pitch. 

The PUMA PowerLast and the stable yet flexible outsole create a snug and comfortable fit whilst the dual density external heel counter provides protection against outer forces.

The PowerCat 1.10 uses PUMA 3D Power Shooting Technology which delivers unique rebound properties. The Springtech foam in the shark-like gills on the side of the boot are engineered to enhance every shot by putting extra power behind the ball as it catapults off the shoe. This means the boot intentionally does not absorb the typical amount of energy upon impact with the ball, allowing more power to be released with every shot.

The kicking area is made of a soft, thin leather and a synthetic microfiber around the quarter area, keeping the boot lightweight and easy to perform in. The bladed studs are configured to ensure smooth ground penetration and pressure distribution as well as maximum traction and maneuverability.

Check out the World Soccer Shop PUMA soccer cleats section for more on the PUMA PowerCat 1.10 Tokyo and other PUMA boots.

Photos courtesy of PUMA.