Major League Soccer

It may seem to casual fans that professional soccer started in 1996 with the Columbus Crew, but the history actually stretches back much further.

Tim Bezbatchenko was announced Friday morning as Haslam Sports Group's president of global soccer. The Westerville native will supervise the Columbus Crew, the new national women's soccer team coming to Columbus in 2028 and any other future teams.

Henrik Rydström, 49, replaces Wilfried Nancy. Rydstrom last coached Malmo, a team in Sweden's top division.

The game will be played at Huntington Bank Field, the home of the Cleveland Browns, which seats 67,000. The Crew's Lower.com Field seats 20,000.

The 37-year-old Lionel Messi left the July 14 Copa America final win over Colombia with a right ankle injury.

Issa Tall has been with the Columbus Crew since 2019. He's a France native and wants to get the defending MLS Cup champions international recognition.

The parade included cheering fans, local businesses, vehicles throwing candy and beads and a giant replica of the MLS Championship Cup.

The match between the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets go on sale Wednesday to the general public.

Columbus City Council hired British professor and police crowd intervention specialist Clifford Stott to work with police and The Ohio State University to improve how police respond to rowdy crowds and protests.

MAPFRE Stadium will come to life again with spectators Sunday night, when the Columbus Crew SC will host FC Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. But space is limited…