MNUFC’s Francisco Calvo and Johan Venegas called up to #LaSele

Feliz y agradecido con Dios otro llamado a #lasele ????????#uncaf pic.twitter.com/VSzmP3fWlJ

— Francisco Calvo (@calvo05oficial) January 3, 2017

Fully one-fourth of Minnesota United FC’s current roster has been called up to the Costa Rican squad for the Copa Centroamericana 2017, taking place in Panama from January 13 to 22. Good Luck, Francisco Calvo and Johan Venegas! (Please don’t break a leg.)

#TheNorth is taking shape

For the Minnesota soccerphiles among us, the new NPSL North Conference is like crack. I definitely will be getting up to Duluth for a game this year and I’m hoping to get a chance to see a home game for every one of these teams. We’ll see if my family obligations can include weekend trips around the midwest.

If you’re looking to follow all the teams on twitter, here you go:

mplscitysc
TwinStarsFC
VSLTFC
DuluthFC
MedCityFC
ECArisFC
DakotaFusionFC
SFThunderFC

The twitter account of the North Conference is running a poll this week. Who do you think will win #TheNorth?

https://twitter.com/NPSL_North/status/815933178359795713

https://twitter.com/NPSL_North/status/815933340222189568

MLS Schedules 2017 for you

MLSSoccer.com was kind enough to put together a schedule of pretty much every important date in North American soccer. No new Minnesota-specific information in it, but appreciated.

Today’s the day! NASL’s future will be revealed!

Bumping this again; I'm hearing USSF will announce 2017 lower-div structure tmrw – & that it may include the Cosmoshttps://t.co/D6lzYQpgJZ

— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) January 2, 2017

Will NASL still exist? D2? D3? Something else? Who are the teams that will be involved in the league? We should know the answers to all of this and more by dinner time.

News Bits:

• Johan Venegas took in a Timberwolves game last night.
• Former Loon Brian Kallman has signed with Minneapolis City SC.
• Former Minnesota and 2016 NASL Goalkeeper of the Year Matt VanOekel talks about what it’s like to make the move to MLS.
• Minneapolis City SC founder Dan Hoedeman spoke to Goalnation about the founding of the club and its future.
• Erik Altenburg and Aaron Wagner of LC Aris FC will take part in the NPSL Player Showcase taking place January 7-9.