<p>St. Louis CITY has hit out at players who go to popular destinations across the United States suggesting they go there for holiday, not to play soccer.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-fans-vote-with-their-wallets-reject-leagues-cup/">St. Louis CITY</a> has been one of the most active teams in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-mls-on-us-tv-and-internet/">MLS</a> during the recent summer transfer window. The club made significant moves to strengthen its squad amidst a challenging season. The club acquired six new players, with five joining through the transfer market and one arriving via a trade. This influx of talent reflects the club’s determination to address both immediate needs and long-term goals. As City’s sporting director <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mls/city-sc/losses-injuries-and-an-eye-on-2025-spurred-st-louis-city-scs-active-transfer-window/article_ef0cc6de-609e-11ef-a814-47ad1c8a7715.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lutz Pfannenstiel noted</a>, “We wanted to do it. We wanted to improve.” The result is a much stronger squad that could potentially field up to five new starters when MLS play resumes.</p>



<p>The heightened activity marks a stark contrast to last summer when the club only brought in two players. The urgency of the current situation, with the team languishing in 28th place out of 29 teams and struggling with numerous injuries, necessitated a more aggressive approach. Pfannenstiel explained, “It was necessary for us to make changes. We had such a big number of injuries that we had to make some moves.” </p>



<p>The current season has been challenging, but these additions are part of a larger plan to set the stage for future success. “There was a lot of thought in it already for the future,” Pfannenstiel emphasized.</p>



<h2>Strategic signings with an eye on 2025</h2>



<p>Among the new signings are attackers Marcel Hartel, Cedric Teuchert and Simon Becher, along with defenders Henry Kessler and Jannes Horn. Pfannenstiel is confident that these players will enhance the team’s quality across multiple positions. “The players we did sign, I think on every position we brought in, they are an improvement. They have a certain experience,” he said. The strategic nature of these acquisitions reflects the club’s intention to build a squad capable of competing.</p>



<p>Despite the influx of talent, the challenge facing the CityPark side this season remains steep. The team needs to win seven of its final nine games just to be in the playoff mix. However, the German remains optimistic about the team’s chances, citing the improved quality of the squad and the return of injured players. “I don’t want to make it sound like the season is over,” he insisted. “We still believe that we have a chance to go very, very close toward the playoffs.”</p>



<h2>Subtle aim at MLS cities like LA and Miami</h2>



<p>While discussing the challenges of building a competitive squad in MLS, Pfannenstiel offered a candid critique of players who prioritize joining high-profile teams in glamorous locations over more competitive motivations. “I’m going to be blunt here,” <a href="https://x.com/hornekerjustin/status/1826656202882965821?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he said</a>, “If a player wants to play in MLS but only wants to play in LA, Miami, and New York then they’re just here for a holiday”. A club like St. Louis has a tough time competing for star players with teams in more attractive areas, as this quote shows.</p>



<p>Pfannenstiel’s remarks may have been a subtle reference to the case of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-not-popular-in-germany-admits-lafc-star-marco-reus/">Marco Reus</a>, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder. After intense pursuit from several MLS sides, including St. Louis, he decided to play for Los Angeles Galaxy. Reus probably felt pressured to make the move since he and his family were not crazy about the prospect of settling down in St. Louis. “Marco Reus and his wife didn’t love St. Louis,” MLS and USMNT Insider <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6v12mSdvBM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Bogert revealed</a>. He added that the Missouri side was a “distant third” in the midfielder’s considerations.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

MLS exec says Euro stars going to LA or Miami are vacationing

St. Louis CITY has hit out at MLS players who make the decision to sign with clubs in Miami or LA instead of smaller markets.


<p>Concacaf has <a href="https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/concacaf-announces-match-schedule-for-2023-gold-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unveiled</a> the schedule for the upcoming <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/gold-cup-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 Gold Cup</a>, including where the USMNT will be in action. The tournament runs from June 16 to July 16 this summer. However, the first week of the competition will be the prelims. Three teams will qualify for the main tournament during this phase.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/usmnt-tv-schedule/">United States men’s national team</a> will play their group stage games in Chicago, St. Louis and Charlotte. Solider Field in Chicago hosts the team’s opening matchup of the competition against Jamaica on June 24. The Yanks will then travel to CITYPARK in St. Louis to face one of the prelims winners four days later. They will complete their group stage fixtures against Nicaragua at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on July 2nd.</p>



<h5>14 U.S. stadiums, 1 Canadian city to host games </h5>



<p>Along with these three arenas, 11 other stadiums around the United States are set to host Gold Cup matches. BMO Field in Toronto will also host one group stage match as well. Canada is set to play their first game of the competition on home soil.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoldCup</a> Group schedule:<br><br>🇺🇸 USA vs Jamaica 🇯🇲<br>📆 June 24 <br>🏟️ Soldier Field, Chicago<br><br>🇺🇸 USA vs Winner Prelims 9 ⬜️<br>📆 June 28<br>🏟️ CITYPARK, St. Louis<br><br>🇺🇸 USA vs Nicaragua 🇳🇮<br>📆 July 2 <br>🏟️ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte <a href="https://t.co/LemM3Go3Ux">pic.twitter.com/LemM3Go3Ux</a></p>— U.S. Men&apos;s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USMNT/status/1648407405624201216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium will be the home venue for all of the prelim matches. Stadiums in Arlington, Cincinnati, San Diego, and Las Vegas are set to host knockout stage games. The 2023 Gold Cup Final will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 16th.</p>



<p>Tickets for the summer tournament are set to go on sale on Tuesday, April 25th via <a href="https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/tickets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GoldCup.org</a>.</p>



<h2>USMNT kicks off Gold Cup in Chicago</h2>



<p><strong>Complete 2023 Gold Cup Group Stage schedule (all times eastern):</strong></p>



<h5>Saturday, June 24, 2023 – Group A</h5>



<p>United States vs Jamaica – Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (9:30 PM)</p>



<h5>Sunday, June 25, 2023 – Groups A and B</h5>



<p>Nicaragua vs <em>Winner Prelims 9</em> – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL (3:30 PM)<br>Haiti vs Qatar – NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (6:00 PM)<br>Mexico vs Honduras – NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (8:00 PM)</p>



<h5>Monday, June 26, 2023 – Group C</h5>



<p>El Salvador vs <em>Winner Prelims 8</em> – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL (6:30 PM)<br>Costa Rica vs Panama – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL (8:30 PM)</p>



<h5>Tuesday, June 27, 2023 – Group D</h5>



<p>Canada vs <em>Winner Prelims 7</em> – BMO Field, Toronto, CAN (7:00 PM)<br>Guatemala vs Cuba – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL (8:45 PM)</p>



<h5>Wednesday, June 28, 2023 – Group A</h5>



<p>Jamaica vs Nicaragua – CITYPARK, St. Louis, MO (7:30 PM)<br><em>Winner Prelims 9</em> vs United States – CITYPARK, St. Louis, MO (9:30 PM)</p>



<h5>Thursday, June 29, 2023 – Group B</h5>



<p>Qatar vs Honduras – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (7:45 PM)<br>Haiti vs Mexico – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (10:00 PM)</p>



<h5>Friday, June 30, 2023 – Group C</h5>



<p><em>Winner Prelims 8</em> vs Panama – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ (6:30 PM)<br>El Salvador vs Costa Rica – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ (8:30 PM)</p>



<h5>Saturday, July 1, 2023 – Group D</h5>



<p>Cuba vs <em>Winner Prelims 7</em> – Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX (7:30 PM)<br>Guatemala vs Canada – Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX (9:30 PM)</p>



<h5>Sunday, July 2, 2023 – Groups A and B</h5>



<p>United States vs Nicaragua – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (7:00 PM)<br>Jamaica vs <em>Winner Prelims 9</em> – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (7:00 PM)<br>Honduras vs Haiti – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (9:00 PM)<br>Mexico vs Qatar – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (9:00 PM)</p>



<h5>Tuesday, July 4, 2023 – Groups C and D</h5>



<p><em>Winner Prelims 7</em> vs Guatemala – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ (6:30 PM)<br>Canada vs Cuba – Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX (6:30 PM)<br>Costa Rica vs <em>Winner Prelims 8</em> – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ (8:30 PM)<br>Panama vs El Salvador – Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX (8:30 PM)</p>


The USMNT will play its opening 2023 Gold Cup group stage game in Chicago before travelling to St. Louis and Charlotte.

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