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Andrea Belotti and Domenico Berardi were on target as Italy beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to book a place in the Nations League finals.

The Azzurri's convincing victory at the Grbavica Stadium saw them finish a point above the Netherlands, who beat Poland 2-1 in Wednesday's other Group A1 contest.

Without boss Roberto Mancini for a third game running because of his positive coronavirus test, Italy got the job done in Sarajevo thanks to volleys from Belotti and Berardi.

Bosnia had already been condemned to relegation heading into the final round of fixtures and were unable to truly trouble their opponents, who are now unbeaten in 22 outings.

Belotti snatched at a volley on the edge of the six-yard box and then guided a diving header wide from slightly further out as Italy dominated right from the off. 

But it was third time lucky for the Torino striker as he slid in to meet Lorenzo Insigne's cross from the left and sent the ball looping over stand-in Bosnia keeper Kenan Piric. 

Berardi was then denied by Piric and Insigne curled a shot inches wide, either side of Gianluigi Donnarumma's fine stop to keep out Smail Prevljak's low effort.

Bosnia, without Edin Dzeko and a couple of other key players, wasted another good opening when Sinisa Sanicanin fired into the side-netting nine minutes into the second half.

Italy soon clicked back into gear and doubled their lead through Berardi's strike - the Sassuolo attacker watching club-mate Manuel Locatelli's pass all the way and volleying in from 13 yards.

Bosnia lost Sanicanin to a hamstring injury late on and had to conclude the game with 10 men, their misery almost compounded by a strike from Federico Bernardeschi that cracked the underside of the crossbar.
 

Perth Glory went down 2-1 against Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday night as they got their Asian Champions League campaign going again in Qatar. 

The A-League club's first group game was way back in February when they lost 1-0 against Tokyo FC before the coronavirus pandemic halted the continental competition. 

Now boasting a new coach in the form of Richard Garcia and nearly three months after their last A-League game, Glory were always going to take time to find their feet against Shenhua. 

The Chinese Super League outfit, who had won three of their last four games, started the clash brightly and took a 2-0 lead into half-time courtesy of goals from Peng Xinli and Yu Hanchao. 

Glory struggled to get a grip on the match in the first 45 minutes with Tando Velaphi guilty of some poor goalkeeping for Shenhua's second goal just before the break. 

Glory showed more promise in the second-half however with star players Bruno Fornaroli and Diego Castro gradually getting more involved. 

Perth centre-back Jonathan Aspropotamitis would hand his side a lifeline in the 82nd minute with a goal from close range and Garcia's side never stopped pushing for an equaliser with Fornaroli going closest in injury-time with an overhead effort that went well wide. 

Though consecutive losses mark a poor start for Glory in Asia, the nature of this defeat should give them some hope moving forward with games set to come thick and fast over the next fortnight. 

Garcia started the match against Shenhua with a number of young, untested players, who will benefit greatly from this experience.

Goalscorer Aspropotamitis meanwhile dominated across the pitch, completing a game-high 97 passes and 12 recoveries. Having initially joined Glory simply for this competition, he looks eager to secure a longer deal and certainly did his chances no harm on Wednesday. 

Castro and Fornaroli also showed glimpses of their class after a long off-season and their performances moving forward will be key to Perth's latest foray into Asia. 

Minister of Sports and Youth Development in Nigeria, Sunday Dare is unconvinced by Gernot Rohr’s competence as Super Eagles coach after their goalless draw against Sierra Leone on Tuesday.

The three-time African champions failed to confirm their qualification for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon following back-to-back draws with the Leone Stars.

Last Friday, Rohr’s men capitulated a four-goal lead at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to settle for a 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone.

The result in Benin led to an outcry from fans and in reaction, the Super Eagles were charged by NFF President Amaju Pinnick to win by a convincing margin in Freetown.

They failed to outclass Sierra Leone on Tuesday as both teams settled to share the spoils at the National Stadium, Freetown. The outcome of the encounter made Dare tender an apology to Nigerians and he also assured that Rohr's ability as the technical adviser will be questioned.

"The performance of the Super Eagles from their last two matches calls to question the suitability and competences of Technical Adviser, Rohr. Nigerian football deserves better. The needful will be done. Apologies to all football lovers," Dare tweeted.

Nigeria remain at the summit of Group L despite the draw with eight points after four matches. They are a point above second-placed Benin while Sierra Leone are placed third with three points and Lesotho are at the bottom with two points.

Jamie Carragher has slammed England's decision to play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland during the latest international break, stating that differing priorities for domestic and national teams are resulting in the players being "treated like meat".

The former Liverpool favourite's comments come as the Three Lions wrap up their third and final game of the November international break against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League, completing a run of three games in the space of seven days.

It is the latest in a run of two-week-long pauses for the international game across the opening stages of an already condensed 2020-21 campaign, with several figures in Gareth Southgate's squad already playing multiple fixtures per week due to European as well as domestic commitments.

The fixture congestion has taken its toll on a host of players, with Liverpool's Joe Gomez one of several faces forced to withdraw from contention across the international break after picking up injuries thought to have been exacerbated by a relentless schedule.

Speaking at Wembley ahead of England's concluding match, Carragher - who featured in three major tournaments for the Three Lions during his international career between 1999 and 2010 - blasted the choice to add an extra match to the team's programme following the collapse of their original game against New Zealand last week.

The 42-year-old acknowledged that the balance between club and country remains a tough one to handle, with the compressed timeframe for fixtures on both levels creating problems for the other, echoing previous comments by Southgate on the matter.

"I think Gareth's come out on the front foot [about this issue]," Carragher told Sky Sports. "He's England manager, so he's going to do what's best for him.

"Club managers do what's best for them and they will be putting the pressure on certain players to maybe try and get out of this game. If I was a club manager or an England manager, I'd be doing exactly what both sets are.

"But I just think what this season has told us - [be it] null and void the league, Project Big Picture, five subs or international footballers - everybody just looks after themselves, they do what's right for them.

"Hence why England had a friendly, a joke of a friendly, against the Republic of Ireland. It's just nonsense. They play that game and again, no-one is giving up anything. The players have just been treated like meat."

Lionel Messi has fired back at claims that he is responsible for Antoine Griezmann's failure to acclimatise to life at Barcelona, with the Argentine stating that he is fed up of shouldering the blame for failures within the club.

The Blaugrana skipper's response comes after both the France striker's uncle and former agent criticised the veteran striker, citing him as the root of all problems at Camp Nou.

Messi and Barcelona have endured a tempestuous relationship over the past year, ignited by the club's decline in matters both on and off the field. The Blaugrana finished the 2019-20 campaign empty-handed in search of silverware, ending with a humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final.

A protracted battle over the forward's future saw him unable to secure a release from his contract, leaving him tied to the club for at least one more season, while president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the board of directors resigned in late October following further dissatisfaction from supporters.

Manager Ronald Koeman has meanwhile failed to restore Barca's fortunes across the start of the new campaign, with the side lodged in 11th in La Liga, nine points off the pace of leaders Real Sociedad.

Close to the centre of renewed scrutiny however is former Atletico Madrid man and France star Griezmann, who swapped the Spanish capital for the Catalan outfit in pursuit of greater glories, only to underwhelm so far.

The attacker has been defended by both his uncle Emmanuel Lopes and former agent Eric Olhats in recent days, with the duo launching blistering attacks on Messi as the cause of his teammate's struggles.

“[Griezmann] was convinced that he wasn’t going to be successful within the first six months, but what I didn’t expect was that it would last an entire year,” Lopes told El Chiringuito. “Besides, with Messi, I know what’s going on inside [the club] – it’s not easy.

“Basically, [Messi] doesn’t work hard enough at Barca and the training sessions are structured in order to please certain people, which is fine if you don’t want to work [as hard]."

The Albiceleste captain, upon returning from the international break, delivered a curt response to pressing reporters upon his arrival at El Prat Airport, with Goal confirming that the 33-year-old also had an encounter with a tax inspector seeking documentation beforehand that further irritated the weary star.

"I'm tired of always being everyone's problem at the club," Messi stated to a crush of reporters. "I get here after a 15-hour flight and I find a tax agent here, it's ridiculous."

Messi will be expected to feature in Barca's next match following the international break, with high-flying Atleti providing a chance for Griezmann to reunite with his former side on Saturday.

Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr has expressed his satisfaction with the Super Eagles’ 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone on Tuesday.

The three-time African champions laboured to a second consecutive draw against the 120th-ranked team in the world in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game.

The first outing with the Leone Stars in Benin City ended in a 4-4 draw, despite the Super Eagles racing to a 4-0 lead in the encounter.

Rohr and his side have been criticized by fans for the uninspiring displays but the German tactician has defended his team, explaining there are no more minors in African football.

“It’s a long time that we had a goalless defence and we wanted to be solid after what happened in the second half the other day and I am especially very happy for our goalkeeper who showed to everybody that he is a good one,” Rohr told the media.  

“We have a young team and it was a shock the other day after the injury of Victor Osimhen, everybody was afraid.

“They wanted to fight for him, they did it, they fought very well and I think that this draw keeps us top of the table, we have to play another two games now against Benin and Lesotho.

“Normally, it is not official, but we are very close now to qualification, we saw also the result of Benin who played a draw in Lesotho. All the games are difficult, there are no little opponents.”

Despite the draws, Nigeria still maintain their lead on the top of the Group L table with eight points from four games.

They will hope for a favourable result when they take on the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in their next qualifying game for a chance to seal a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Super Eagles players and officials have returned to Nigeria after their game against Sierra Leon in Freetown. 

Rohr has been in charge of the Super Eagles since 2016 and guided the side to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Ghana women's coach Mercy Tagoe has invited 30 players for an international friendly against Morocco in Accra next month.

The Black Queens will be playing for the first time since their participation in the 2020 Turkish Women's Cup in Alanya in March following the lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the West Africans scheduled to host their Northern Africa opponents, coach Tagoe has named a 30-woman squad, comprising of 29 home-based professionals and one foreign player.

Alberta Ahialey, who last turned out for Portuguese side Atletico Ouriense, was the only overseas-based professional on the squad.

According to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the invited players are expected to resume camp at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE), Prampram on Thursday and will, on arrival, undergo the mandatory Covid-19 test.

Tagoe's ladies are scheduled to square up against the senior Atlas Lionesses on November 30 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Juliet Acheampong, Janet Egyir, Mary Essiful, Philicity Asuako and Rita Okyere were among 13 home-based players that featured at the Turkish tournament in March and were also invited for the Morocco clash.

The Ghanaian side will be hoping to end the year on a winning note to boost their placement on the rankings.

FULL SQUAD
Fafali Dumehasi (Police ladies), Abigail Tawiah-Mensah (Berry Ladies FC), Azume Adams (Prisons ladies), Mary NiiQuaye (Immigration ladies), Janet Egyir (Hasaacas Ladies), Linda Eshun (Hasaacas ladies FC), Philicity Asuako (Police ladies FC), Victoria Osei (Berry Ladies FC), Selina Animah (Berry Ladies FC) Gladys Anfobea (Lady Strikers FC), Beatrice Sasu (Police ladies FC), Ellen Coleman (Lady Strikers FC), Edem Atovor (Lady Strikers FC), Juliet Acheampong (Prisons Ladies FC), Mary Essiful (Soccer Intellectuals), Priscilla Okyere, (Amper Darkoa Ladies FC), Grace Adams (Berry Ladies FC), Basira Alhassan (Pearl Pia Ladies FC) Henrietta Annie (Police ladies FC), Alice Kusi (Fabulous Ladies FC), Nyanyimaya Gnabekan (Berry Ladies FC), Bridget Adu (Berry Ladies FC), Rashida Ibrahim (Berry ladies FC), Sandra Owusu-Ansah (Supreme Ladies FC), Faustina Kyeremeh (Immigration ladies FC) Deborah Afriyie (Police ladies FC), Georgina Aoyem (Pearl Pia ladies FC), Grace Animah (Police ladies FC), Rita Okyere (Prisons ladies FC] Alberta Ahialey [Portugal]
 

Atletico Madrid's coronavirus headache worsened on Wednesday when Lucas Torreira joined Uruguay team-mate Luis Suarez in testing positive. 

The Celeste's most recent qualifiers, which ended with victory over Colombia followed by home defeat at the hands of Brazil, have been overshadowed by an outbreak of the pandemic disease within the squad. 

Suarez and left-back Matias Vinas were ruled out of the clash with Brazil after testing positive on Monday, while defender Alexis Rolon and forward Diego Rossi as well as several members of Oscar Tabarez's backroom staff joined them in returning positive PCR analyses 48 hours later. 

Suarez also saw his positive test confirmed on Wednesday, meaning that he will be unable to take part in the weekend fixture against Barcelona and thus misses his first reunion with his former team-mates since leaving Camp Nou for the Wanda Metropolitano over the summer. 

Torreira, who played against Brazil but was found to be carrying the virus upon his return to Madrid, will also be forced to isolate and will not be able to take the field. 

"Lucas Torreira underwent PCR tests on Wednesday upon arrival in Madrid after returning from international duty with Uruguay, following the usual protocol when our international players return after their national teams’ commitments," Atletico confirmed in a statement published on the club's official website. 

"The midfielder has tested positive for Covid-19.

"The footballer is asymptomatic and isolating at home, in compliance with the health authorities’ quarantine protocols."

Atletico's woes during the international break continued on Tuesday when they learned of an injury to Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera, who had been in fine form for Diego Simeone's charges prior to the recess. 

Herrera suffered a thigh injury in training for El Tri and is expected to miss several weeks while he recovers, leaving the Colchoneros severely hamstrung for Saturday's clash against Barcelona. 

The club currently sits third in the Liga standings after seven matches, three points behind leaders Real Sociedad having played two games fewer and no less than six ahead of lowly Barca, who languish in 11th. 

Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan claims Egypt’s ambition is to emerge as champions of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon.

The Aston Villa winger found the net as the Pharaohs recorded a 3-1 win over the Hawks on Tuesday – a result which saw them complete a double over Claude Le Roy’s men as well as overtake Comoros as Group G leaders.

Before facing Togo, the North Africans were third on the log having accrued just two points following consecutive draws against Kenya and Comoros. Now, Hossam El Badry’s men need just a win in their last two games to guarantee their place in the African football showpiece.

Speaking to media after their victory at Lome’s Stade de Kegue, the 26-year-old, who now boast of seven international goals, disclosed that his team is already looking beyond the qualifiers, insisting the Afcon diadem is their main priority.

“Our goal is not only to qualify for the tournament, but to win the title to make the Egyptian people happy,” said Trezeguet per Kingfut.

“Every match we give everything we have on the field to win, despite the difficult circumstances.

“We performed better in this game than the previous one, and God willing, the performances will continue to improve with time and matches.”

El Badry’s side head to Kasarani’s Moi International Sports Centre for a date with the Harambee Stars in their next outing on March 22, 2021.

Egypt won the competition for a record seventh time at Angola 2010 - defeating Ghana 1-0 in a keenly contested final played at the Estadio 11 de Novembro, Luanda.

After winning the competition in 2006 and 2010, the North Africans have struggled to impress in the tournament since then. Despite hosting the 2019 edition, they were kicked out in the Round of 16 by South Africa.

Thembinkosi Lorch’s 85th-minute strike saw them bow out at the Cairo International Stadium.

The 33rd edition of the biennial tournament was due to begin in Cameroon on January 9, 2021, but has now been pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.

Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat has indicated that it is not easy being a professional footballer in South Africa.

This comes after the 30-year-old player received his Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) Best Foreign Player award over the weekend.

Billiat has been plying his trade in South Africa since 2010 and he is widely regarded to be one of the best players in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

When speaking on Zimbabwean publication Soccer 24 on Wednesday, Billiat revealed some the challenges which he has faced in South Africa. 

“It is never easy playing outside the country, trying to deal with different situations, different cultures, different personalities in terms of the difference between countries," Billiat said. 

The 2015/16 PSL Footballer of the Season has enjoyed a lot of success in the country having won seven major trophies during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Zimbabwe provides the bulk of the foreign contingent in the PSL and Billiat has urged his compatriots to continue working hard.

”We are Warriors, I just wanna urge everyone that the journey should continue," the Aces Youth Soccer Academy product added.

"It is never easy. If you are somewhere where you are having it easy then you are in the wrong place." 

Billiat's first South African club was Ajax Cape Town having joined the now-defunct Mother City side from Zimbabwean giants Caps United in July 2010.

The diminutive player spent three seasons with Ajax and he was a key member of the Urban Warriors team which came close to clinching the PSL title in the 2010/11 season.

His exploits attracted interest from top local clubs Sundowns and Orlando Pirates and it was Masandawana who won the race for Billiat's signature. 

Billiat arguably played his best football during his time with the Tshwane giants under coach Pitso Mosimane.

The Harare-born player spent five successful campaigns with Sundowns, before he decided against extending his contract and he became a free agent.

Billiat was linked with Egyptian giants Zamalek and Egypt, but he chose to stay in South Africa and joined Chiefs, who reportedly offered him a lucrative deal.

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is a "complicated" player to coach, according to former Lorient manager Mickael Landreau, who says that the 21-year-old's inflated ego makes him a "pain" to get the best out of.

The France youth international has earned something of a difficult reputation following clashes with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, with the playmaker farmed out to Hertha Berlin on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

Guendouzi - who joined from Lorient in 2018 - has adapted fast to life in the Bundesliga and looks to have brought the curtain down on his career at the Emirates Stadium, where he fell fast down the pecking order following an incident against Brighton after last season's Premier League restart.

Now, former French international Landreau - who led Lorient between 2017 and 2019 following his retirement as a goalkeeper - has addressed Guendouzi's reputation, noting that while the national Under-21 skipper has talent to spare, his attitude can prove a major stumbling block.

"He annoyed me terribly, he is very complicated to manage," the 41-year-old told Canal+. "He sometimes has some behaviours within a group that are very, very hard, but somehow, that's what he is, a big character.

"He doesn't let go, he is a fighter. He has an oversized ego, but he certainly needs it. I think he needs to be in the spotlight, to be a leader. He needs to be a captain or vice-captain, and he will try to make the most of it.

"That's the way he is, and that means that his teammates have to accept him the way he is, because he's a pain on a daily basis. He's a pain on a daily basis, but on the other hand, he's talented."

Guendouzi found himself exiled following the incident at Brighton, and refused to apologise for his part, in which he grabbed Neal Maupay around the neck and was believed to have disparaged the hosts' financial deals with their players.

He is under contract for two more seasons with the Gunners, but it is widely expected that he has played his last game after running foul of Arteta's leadership in north London.

Eduardo Camavinga appears willing to sign a contract extension at Rennes despite reported interest from European heavyweights Real Madrid and Juventus.

Juve are said to be keen to rival Madrid for the signature of the 18-year-old France international, who is under contract at Roazhon Park until the end of the 2021-22 season.

However, Camavinga, who has made over 50 appearances for Rennes since making his debut in December 2018 at the age of 16 and earned three France caps, claimed not to be interested in securing a big move at this stage of his career.

"It's not something that comes into my head, that I think about constantly," Camavinga explained to reporters on Wednesday when asked about his future.

"I see and I hear [the talk]. These are things that give me pleasure. I'm at Rennes and other clubs, that's not for now. We'll see.

"I have two years left on my contract and we'll have time to talk. There will be talks. To prolong my stay at the club that formed me would make me happy.

"Obviously, the big clubs are a dream. After that I could not name one in particular."

Injury kept Camavinga out of contention for France's latest batch of international matches, but the past week has still seen him achieve the significant milestone of getting his driving licence.

"For the moment, my parents don't let me drive too much," he said. "I'm waiting to have my own car. We'll see if they let me."

Camavinga has made eight appearances in all competitions for Rennes this season to date, scoring one goal. 

Rennes currently sit in third in Ligue 1, six points shy of leaders Paris Saint-Germain; while the French club will also be out for their first Champions League win of the season next Tuesday when they host Chelsea.

His sparkling form has also pushed the teenager into contention for France, becoming Les Bleus' youngest international debutant since 1914 when he came off the bench against Croatia in September's UEFA Nations League clash.

Former Uganda captain Andy Mwesigwa has explained how the national team can reach the African Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Uganda are chasing a third straight Afcon qualification and the retired star believes if the players who participated in the previous tournament are maintained, the Cranes have a huge chance of reaching the latter stages of the competition.

Uganda would have qualified for the 2022 competition had they picked up maximum points against South Sudan in a November double-header.

Since the 1978 finals in Ghana, the Cranes have not advanced further than the Round of 16 in the subsequent editions.

“By all means, we have to quality because qualifying became our thing, what I should expect from the team is to have that style of play that will signify that this is Uganda, our identity,” Mwesigwa said as he was quoted by Sports Nation.

“And I think if we had consistency; say in players and coaches, we would have performed better – if we will have at least 70% of the squad that played in Egypt, we can go up to semi-finals.”

Mwesigwa also praised coach Johnathan McKinstry for taking responsibility for their 1-0 loss to South Sudan on Monday.

“In such a situation where the coach comes out and say he takes the full responsibility of such results, players get the confidence,” the Ugandan added.

“It somehow discourages them if you always put the blame on them, but the fact that he came out to take the blame, it is being very professional and I am very sure if they get right preparations for the next games, we will bounce back.”

Uganda will now have to fight for more points against Burkina Faso – Group B leaders at the moment – and Malawi next year in order to seal a place in Afcon that will be held in Cameroon.

“I am sure and confident that we will qualify but it will depend on how we are going to prepare ourselves for these next two and last games,” the retired captain continued.

 “If we collect three points out of the two games, we have qualified.”

The loss to South Sudan was Uganda’s first in the ongoing qualifiers.

David De Gea has reflected on his decade-long tenure between the sticks at Manchester United, with the veteran goalkeeper admitting that he feels at home at the club and the city after such a long association.

The 30-year-old joined the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson's watch from Atletico Madrid in 2011, and he has proceeded to establish himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world.

The Illescas-raised De Gea was picked as United's successor for Edwin van der Sar and after an initial slow start, has become one of the club's stalwarts.

During his time at Old Trafford, De Gea has also established himself as Spain's top-choice goalkeeper and enjoyed multiple triumphs with a succession of managers in both domestic and European competition.

Now, the keeper has admitted that he struggles to see his future away from Manchester and cites an increased responsibility gained over the years as key to his development.

“It's wonderful to be here and, to be honest, I feel right at home in Manchester," De Gea told the club's official website.

"I'm still the same person I am today but I'm much more mature now. I was coming to a massive club, [with a] different language, a different culture, everything was different and I matured a great deal.

"I've grown a lot as a player and I'm truly grateful for all these years that I've been here. It's been incredible."

De Gea pointed to United's successes - including a Premier League triumph and Europa League success - as well as their setbacks as key to his growth, citing personal rough patches as key to helping him bounce back at points.

“I think you learn from your mistakes, you start to mature and life throws up difficult situations. You learn from them, from the bad times especially, and I think that's life.

“The years have gone by. There have been good times and bad times but I'm doing well now.

“I’m looking forward to the future, which will hopefully bring many more years. Being at a club like this, and at this level for so many years, isn't easy so I'm proud of that."

The National Women’s Soccer League has announced its competition format for the 2021 season, with the Challenge Cup set to return after its inaugural edition in 2020. 

The 2020 season was severely curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, with the Challenge Cup in June and July and the Fall Series in September and October the only competition for the league's nine teams this year.

The NWSL is planning on a more standard schedule in 2021, but the league will still feature the Challenge Cup – this time to kick off the season.

After players report to camp on February 1, the Challenge Cup will begin in mid-April in what the league says will be "multiple bubble environments, team markets, or some combination of the two."

The regular season is then set to kick off in mid-May, with each team scheduled to play 24 matches. 

“Bringing back the Challenge Cup is an opportunity for our league to continue growing our fan base and showcase our world class players with an exciting and competitive tournament ahead of the most important international tournament on the 2021 calendar, the Olympic Games,” said NWSL Chief Revenue Officer Mitch Poll.

“We’re focused on continuing to build opportunities to expand our reach, expose a global audience to the best women’s club soccer in the world, and provide meaningful opportunities for our teams and players to perform.”

Following the regular season, six of the league's 10 teams will qualify for the playoffs, with the top two seeds securing first-round byes. The NWSL Championship will then take place on the weekend of November 20.

“2021 is shaping up to be another big year for the NWSL as we continue to innovate our product, engage our incredible fans and support our players and teams,” said NWSL Director of Operations and Player Affairs Liz Dalton.

“Building on what we were able to safely accomplish in 2020, we’re expanding the opportunities for our athletes and teams to thrive, and for our sponsors and partners to invest in our continued growth.”

After the NWSL had nine teams in 2020, the league is set to welcome Racing Louisville in 2021 as its 10th team.