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A23
SPORTS Thursday 15 March 2018

Major League Soccer forms

partnership with Mexico's Liga MX

By ANNE M. PETERSON create something unique something together and
Major League Soccer and and special that soccer being more competitive
Liga MX have joined in a fans both in Mexico and in football, not just on the
long-term partnership that the United States and Can- pitch."
will launch later this year ada can benefit from." The partnership comes as
when reigning MLS Cup There's even the possibility the United States, Canada
champion Toronto hosts of some kind of interleague and Mexico bid to host the
the champion from Mexi- play in the future, although 2026 World Cup. Morocco
co's top league. it's still being discussed. is the only other nation vy-
The match, dubbed the Previously, the two leagues ing for the event that year. In this Dec. 20, 2017, file photo, Major League Soccer commis-
sioner Don Garber smiles during a press conference where it
Campeones Cup, is set for came together for the A vote will be held on the was announced that Nashville was awarded an MLS franchise,
Sept. 19 at BMO Field. The North American SuperLiga, competing proposals in in Nashville, Tenn.
Liga MX opponent will be a tournament which start- June at the FIFA congress Associated Press
the winner of July's Campe- ed in 2007 and ran through in Moscow. "We're showing
on de Campeones match 2010. It was sanctioned the world that we can do a time and this is the first policies, President Donald
between the Apertura by the North and Central things together, not only a step," Bonilla said. Trump's calls for a border
champion Tigres UANL and American and Caribbean World Cup," Bonilla said. "If The announcement coin- wall and trade negotiations
the Clausura champion confederation. But it fizzled we can work together as cided with key matches over NAFTA.
determined in May. out as attention went to leagues, then definitely we in the quarterfinals of the "This idea that soccer can
The partnership an- the CONCACAF Champi- can work together to have Champions League be- be a unifier of different
nounced Tuesday will go ons League. the best World Cup ever." tween Liga MX and MLS cultures, particularly close
beyond that annual game In recent years there had In the United States, MLS opponents. The Red Bulls neighbors, is such a pow-
to include youth competi- been increasing talk of re- competes with Liga MX for play Club Tijuana and To- erful position for us collec-
tions, future All-Star games viving a similar competi- television viewers. Garber ronto FC plays Tigres UANL tively to be in," Garber said.
and other events and initia- tion. Ever-improving play and Bonilla hope the col- on Tuesday night, while the "And while we are agnos-
tives. in MLS has helped spur the laboration brings new fans Sounders visit Chivas de tic to the politics because
"We and Liga MX have an speculation. to both sides. Guadalajara on Wednes- we're trying to run our re-
opportunity to do some- "We realize that the world "It's for the good of the day. spective leagues, if we can
thing that's really unprec- is getting global and there game. We have to do the The partnership also comes do some things that bring
edented in North America," are no longer borders in best that we can so that at a time of political ten- people together, then
MLS Commissioner Don football," Liga MX President our fans can see the best sion between the United that's a powerful position to
Garber said. "We can work Enrique Bonilla said. "So we football in the world. We States and Mexico, spurred be in and we're happy to
together across borders to started talking about doing have to take it one step at by new U.S. immigration be in that position."q

Trimmer Wieters looks to rebound

from career-worst season

age. Healthy for the entire a good feeling to be able pions. First-year Washing-
offseason, Wieters dropped to carry over what you put ton manager Dave Marti-
15 pounds between the some time and effort into nez sees a different Wieters
end of the 2017 season and into some live at-bats." than the one he coached
the start of spring training. After spending the first eight against last season with the
He's swinging more freely years of his career with Bal- Chicago Cubs, who beat
this spring, and it's showing. timore, Wieters signed a the Nats in the Division Se-
After hitting a career low at two-year contract worth ries. "It will be very exciting
Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (24) is tagged out by Washington the plate, the 32-year-old $21 million with Washington. if he can come back and
Nationals catcher Matt Wieters (32) as he tries to score on a Jim switch-hitter is off to a .357 A severe cut to his wrist suf- do what we know he's ca-
Adduci base hit in the first inning of a spring training baseball (5 for 14) start to Grapefruit fered that offseason ham- pable of doing," Martinez
game, Sunday, March 4, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Associated Press League play that includes pered his work prior to last said. "With the injuries he
a home run and five RBIs. spring and contributed to had, that had a lot to do
By CHUCK KING ers entered camp hoping "I'm able to feel a lot of the Wieters' slow start. He nev- with the way he was swing-
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. a weight reduced to 225 things we've been working er truly rebounded, hitting ing. This year, he's got no
(AP) — Washington Na- pounds will help rectify last on and take them into the only 10 homers and driving injuries and he's hit the ball
tionals catcher Matt Wiet- year's .225 batting aver- game," Wieters said. "It's in 52 for the NL East cham- really good this spring. q