U.S. men’s team won’t play in October; 3-match max in 2020

CHICAGO » The U.S. men’s soccer team has given up trying to play matches in October due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be limited to a maximum of three games in 2020, its fewest since 1987.

The U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday it had abandoned its attempt to schedule home exhibition games for next month. It is attempting to schedule a pair of friendlies for Europe in November.

“After extensive conversations about holding a men’s national team camp in October, we ultimately determined the unique challenges created by COVID-19 as it relates to hosting international opponents and getting our players together wouldn’t allow us to move forward,” men’s team general manager Brian McBride said. “While we won’t have the team together in this upcoming window, we are making considerable progress for November.”

The team is considering a December training camp along with its January camp.

Next year’s schedule includes the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 10-Aug. 1, a tournament most top players are likely to skip.

Inquiry opened into Suárez’s Italian language test

ROME » Authorities are investigating whether Barcelona striker Luis Suárez was illegally helped to pass an Italian language exam last week in order to receive a European passport that could help him transfer to a new club.

While Suárez is not under investigation, the director and general director of the Perugia university where the Uruguay forward took the exam are being investigated for allegedly helping him pass the test, Italian reports said Tuesday.

Suárez had been linked with a possible move to Italian champion Juventus.