Total Futbol

US-Mexico Gold Cup match breaks TV records

Mexico's 4-2 win over the U.S. in the Gold Cup final on Saturday got huge TV numbers..954,000 viewers tuned in on Fox, the most since the 2010 World Cup. And 7.98 million watched on Univision, the third-most watched match on that network behind the 2010 World Cup Round of 16 match between Mexico and Argentina, and the Spain-Netherlands 2010 World Cup final match. 

BTW, Giovani dos Santos outshined Chicharito in that last match. His final goal was spectacular. The US could use some skill like that. Dos Santos looks and plays like a Brazilian, which makes sense because his father is former Brazilian player Zizinho. Dos Santos' mother is Mexican.

Closer to home, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers play Tampa Bay at home tonight -- renewing a spicy NASL rivalry from the 1970s.

Chicharito!!

The 2011 Gold Cup is underway...Headlines so far...

Costa Rica beat Cuba 5-0. Mexico beat El Salvador 5-0. Javier "El Chicharito'' Hernandez, the Manchester United rising star, scored three of Mexico's five goals! A crowd of 80,108 showed up at Cowboys Stadium, most of them "El Tri'' fans dressed in Green, Red and White.

The US opens tomorrow against Canada in Detroit. Team USA hoping for a better showing than the 4-0 loss to Spain at Foxboro on Saturday. Granted, Landon Donovan (ill) didn't play, and several key starters were rested on the bench the first half, but still...4-0? Ouch.

The Gold Cup makes a stop in Miami Friday night at FIU Stadium. Jamaica's Reggae Boyz vs. Guatemala at 7, followed by Grenada vs. Honduras. Tickets available at www.goldcup.org

If Miami wants to prove it's a viable soccer market for MLS, fans need to step up and show up Friday night.

Plea from Miami soccer fan:

Hello South FL soccer fans! This is J from Miami,

I’m writing and posting this on as many south fl based soccer websites as I can find.  Like many of you out there I want a Major League Soccer team back in Miami.  I think it’s time for our South FL/Miami fans to make a big televised push for some major TV based publicity in bringing back MLS to Miami.  On June 10^th there will be two Gold Cup matches played at FIU.  These are internationally televised soccer matches.

My wife and I have midfield tickets preordered for June 10^th at FIU.  I have made a sign that reads “BRING MLS BACK TO MIAMI.”  Although we may not support the teams playing June 10^th, imagine the message Miami soccer fans would get out to MLS (Don Garber) if we had loads of MLS supporting fans with similar signs.  We would also be showing the potential for fan support simply by the cameras catching images of a full stadium.

Although the US weren’t part of the matches played at FIU two years ago, we went to them anyway.  The stadium was packed; many people purchased tickets at the gate.  I believe it was nearly sold out, one ticket for two games brought in loads of fans, which is also why we went.

Let’s grab Don Garber’s attention once again!  Show your support for a Miami MLS future by going to the FIU based Gold Cup matches on June 10^th with your signs and old Fusion jerseys ready!

Just so everybody knows, we will be making the trip to Tampa the next morning to support the U.S.  I will probably bring the sign to that match as well to show Garber we mean business (Miami fans will travel for good soccer too).  I’ve got midfield tickets to those matches also.

Please post this message on any south fl based soccer websites you know about, lets get the word out!!! See you at the FIU Gold Cup games!