■ UNITED STATES
The first city of US soccer
St Louis has claimed the title of America’s soccer capital for decades, boasting more than a century-long history of playing the game, but it had been almost 50 years since they last had a franchise of their own.
St Louis City, the latest expansion side in Major League Soccer, are wasting no time, however, in trying to make up for the paucity of a professional team and have made a dream start to their first season.
They made an explosive start by winning their opening five games this year, a record for an expansion franchise, and by the halfway stage of the season they were top of the Western Conference and well on their way to a spot in the play-offs.
The new CityPark Stadium has been attracting sell-out crowds, receiving more than 60,000 deposits for the 19,000 available season tickets
