All eyes this week in Major League Soccer were squarely focused on the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Galaxy acquired Robbie Rogers from Chicago, and on Sunday, he became the first openly gay player in American professional sports. 

Aside from Rogers' appearance, the Galaxy had a big weekend as a whole, as they stormed past the Sounders at home.

Read on to see where the Galaxy and the other 18 MLS clubs rank in this week's power rankings. 

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MLS Week 13 featured the comeback. The most important one didn’t even take place on the scoreboard.

The Chicago Fire turned a 1-0 deficit into a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake thanks to the heroics of Quincy Amarikwa. The 25-year-old forward connected on a Austin Berry flick in the 84th minute to secure Chicago’s eighth point of the season.

Alvaro Saborio made a comeback of his own Saturday night. The Costa Rican international returned from a quad injury and delivered a sensational header in the 78th minute.

But Amarikwa and Saborio didn’t make the list of best and worst from MLS Week 13. Read on to find out who did.

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On Sunday night, Robbie Rogers became the first openly gay male athlete to compete in a major United States sporting event. He came on as a substitute late in the L.A. Galaxy's 4-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.

It was a huge moment for the MLS, for soccer in general and for gay rights in the United States. While NBA player Jason Collins announced he was gay last month, he is a free agent and has yet to play a game since making the announcement. Other male athletes in the United States who have come out did so once they retired, such as former NBA player John Amaechi. 

It was also a huge moment for Rogers, who announced he was gay in February and promptly retired from the sport, fearing the scrutiny he would face as a gay athlete. 

And from a pure sporting perspective, it was a huge moment for the L.A. Galaxy and the U.S. men's national team, who will each likely be getting an impact player to add to their roster. 

Rogers only played 13 minutes and didn't do anything of note, but his initial appearance was more symbolic than anything else. At least for now. And Twitter took notice, reacting throughout the evening after he made his appearance. 

We start with Yahoo! Sports, who tweeted a picture of Rogers on the pitch:

A pair of ESPN analysts and former United States internationals, Alexi Lalas and Taylor Twellman, tweeted out their support of Rogers and impressions of the historic moment:

Rachel Nichols of Turner Sports paid her respects as well:

Along with putting the moment in perspective, Ives Galarcep of Soccer By Ives took particular notice of Rogers' countenance when he finally entered the match:

Meanwhile, Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated apparently caught some flack by followers for tweeting about Rogers' historic moment. That wasn't about to deter him from continuing to do so, however:

Yes, there are always going to be certain people who "don't understand why this is a big deal" or who comment that "straight athletes don't reveal their sexual preference, why should homosexual athletes do so?"

But given the history of intolerance toward homosexuals and equal-rights issues, it is a big deal. With Rogers being the first openly gay male athlete in the United States to play in a professional sporting event, it's a huge deal.

The military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy was repealed—why should we demand athletes be held to that antiquated policy?

Ultimately, Rogers will now be judged by what he does on the pitch, not by who he loves off of it. As Andy Glockner of Sports Illustrated (and Rogers' teammate, Landon Donovan) noted, hopefully Rogers can now just focus on the game:

Hear, hear.

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It was recently announced that MLS will place a second team in New York for the 2015 season, the 20th team in the league and the 10th expansion franchise in the last 12 years.  It seems likely that MLS will add between two and six expansion teams in the coming years.

Here are 10 markets, eight in the United States and two elsewhere in North America, that I see as possibilities for an MLS franchise.

By user request, fourth in a series: NHL, NFL, NBA.   

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A little more than three months after coming out and retiring from soccer in an open letter to fans on his blog, Robbie Rogers is reportedly returning to the pitch.

UPDATE: Saturday, May 25th, at 3:50 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

The Chicago Fire's official team site released a statement on the deal:

"The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Saturday the team has acquired midfielder Mike Magee from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for the right of first refusal to U.S. international Robbie Rogers and other considerations. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed."

Chicago Fire President of Soccer Operation Javier Leon speaks about the deal with the Galaxy:

“We initially acquired the rights to Robbie Rogers because we think he is a great player. As he expressed his interest in being home near his family, we’re happy to have worked out a deal with the Galaxy that will benefit all parties. We wish Robbie all the best with the Galaxy.”

---End of update---

According to a report from USA Today's Mike Foss and Erik Brady, the 26-year-old Rogers will join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer next season. He will become the first openly gay player in MLS history. 

There are no details on Rogers' contract, and neither the Galaxy nor Rogers have released an official statement about the signing at this time. The Chicago Fire currently hold Rogers' MLS rights, so there will be more details forthcoming about the agreement. 

Rogers, a winger who last played for Stevenage on loan from Leeds United, retired from professional soccer in February after revealing his homosexuality. When announcing his retirement, he wrote at length about the difficulties faced in hiding his sexuality from the public and what a toll it took on him:

Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently. 

However, Rogers' stance on a return to the pitch has changed in recent weeks. He's trained with the Galaxy since early in the month and has made it clear that is the only MLS franchise he had true ties to.

When asked whether he would even consider joining the Fire, Rogers said he would probably not return if that was forced upon him.

"I don’t want to go to Chicago," said Rogers (via Pro Soccer Talk). "I think if it comes down to you can only play in Chicago, then I probably won’t go back."

With an agreement in place to send him to Los Angeles, Rogers can go on with his career and goal of inspiring gay youth. Speaking with USA Today, Rogers said his comeback decision stemmed from a visit with Portland's Nike Be True LGBT Youth Forum in April. 

"I seriously felt like a coward," Rogers said. "These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?"

Rogers also said he hopes to join the United States Men's National Team to inspire gay youth. He was a member of the senior club from 2009-11, making 18 appearances and scoring two goals. 

While Rogers actually came out first, many will be quick to compare the United winger to NBA center Jason Collins. The 34-year-old Collins became the first active openly homosexual athlete in the United States' "Big Four" male professional sports leagues via a first-person story written for Sports Illustrated. 

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter who was first. Collins and Rogers have started the conversation regarding the acceptance of homosexuality in sports and will serve as inspiration to youth dealing with the same issues.

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The polarizing issue that is MLS’ 20th franchise has been settled. The nine matches scheduled for MLS Week 13 have not.

Welcome to MLS, New York City FC. 

Now, step aside. It isn’t 2015 yet. There’s actual soccer to be played this weekend.

Eighteen of the 19 teams will be in action in Week 13. That’s enough soccer to preserve the Champions League hangover you’ll be undoubtedly suffering from. But with so much action on tap, what warrants your attention this weekend?

Read on to find out.

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Major League Soccer continues to grow, and with growth comes bigger opportunities for players.

Over the past few years, we have seen big-name players come over to the MLS. Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry and of course David Beckham are just a few of the outstanding talents who have found resurgences in America's top league.

There are plenty of other athletes we would love to see hit the pitch stateside, but let's not get crazy and throw Lionel Messi into the list. We have to be somewhat realistic in our expectations. The elite of the elite are still going to test their skills at the largest clubs in the best leagues.

With that in mind, here are five veterans we would love to see venture into the MLS.

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After many months in the making, it was officially announced on Wednesday that New York City FC will be Major League Soccer's 20th franchise beginning in 2015. The majority stake in NYCFC will be held by the English Premier League's Manchester City, while the MLB's New York Yankees will be a minority partner, according to Simon Evans of Reuters (via Yahoo! Sports).

This is a huge announcement as it ensures that top-level soccer will be making its return to New York. While the New York Red Bulls are already in the MLS, they play in New Jersey, so New York City FC will be a true representation of the Big Apple.

At the same time, NYCFC will have an international flavor due to its relationship with Man City. In fact, Manchester City players attended the press conference and appeared to be very excited about a sister club in the MLS:

MLS commissioner Don Garber was present at the press conference, and he believes that this announcement can help MLS become one of the best soccer leagues in the entire world, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post:

As is often the case with new franchises in sports, there is plenty of buzz surrounding NYCFC right now, as there is still a lot of uncertainty with regard to where they'll play and who will be part of the organization. Some of those pieces fell into place on Wednesday, but there are still questions to be answered.

Here is everything you need to know about New York City FC as it prepares for the 2015 MLS season.

Claudio Reyna Named First NYCFC Employee

While we won't know who will be playing for NYCFC for quite some time, the club's first employee was revealed on Wednesday. According to MLS on Twitter, former United States national team captain and New York area native Claudio Reyna has been named NYCFC's director of football operations:

As someone who played for Manchester City as well as the New York Red Bulls, Reyna appears to be a great fit, and he also is familiar with the franchise's primary ownership as well as the New York area.

Reyna is extremely excited about the opportunity and seems ready to make New York City FC a perennial power in the MLS, according to MLSSoccer.com:

Having had the privilege of playing both for my country here in the US and for Manchester City FC in England, I could not have hoped for a more tailored-made opportunity in soccer, Reyna said in a statement. I am incredibly excited to again wear City’s ‘Sky Blue’ as part of the expansion of the MLS and the growth of soccer in the United States, and am honored to have been offered this opportunity.

Building a team from scratch is no easy task, but Reyna is one of the most accomplished American soccer players of all time, and it certainly seems likely that he has a keen eye for talent. In addition to that, there is little doubt that he is committed to building a winner in his hometown.

It should be very interesting to see how things grow around Reyna over the next couple years as New York City FC adds to its family and truly takes shape as an MLS organization.

Where Will NYCFC Play?

One of the biggest question marks surrounding New York City FC is where they'll play their home games. According to Joe Prince-Wright of Pro Soccer Talk, the primary choice is a stadium in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. However, it is possible that the plan will fall through.

According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Yankees and Manchester City paid MLS $100 million in order to expand, but the proposed $300 million Flushing Meadows stadium may not come to fruition:

Lewis is reporting that while MLS commissioner Don Garber, Yankees president Randy Levine and Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano all want to make a Flushing Meadows stadium happen, they may have to explore other options. There has been some opposition as building the stadium would take up 14 acres of park land, so it is far from a sure thing at this point.

Even if an agreement is reached for a stadium in Queens, it will almost certainly take more than two years to build. With that in mind, Prince-Wright speculated on some potential temporary locations for NYCFC beginning in 2015.

Among the venues he mentions are Yankee Stadium, the New York Mets' Citi Field, the New York Jets and Giants' MetLife Stadium, the New York Red Bulls' Red Bull Arena and Columbia University Stadium. Yankee Stadium would obviously be ideal due to the Bronx Bombers' affiliation with the franchise, but the soccer and baseball seasons overlap, so it could be tricky.

Ultimately, it is anyone's guess where NYCFC will play in 2015 and beyond, but luckily there is no shortage of options in the New York area.

Will David Beckham Have Any Involvement?

One thing that wasn't discussed much at the New York City FC press conference was recently retired star David Beckham. The former L.A. Galaxy phenom can exercise the right to become an MLS owner contractually, but according to MLS, he won't be doing that with NYCFC.

Speculation naturally heated up since Beckham's retirement and the announcement of NYCFC came in such close proximity to each other, but that was simply coincidental. According to MLSSoccer.com, Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano never reached out to Beckham and never intended to make him part of the ownership team.

We've never spoken to David Beckham and he's never been considered as part of the ownership of this team, Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano said on a Tuesday media teleconference call. Not even as an executive.

With that said, Beckham could still be part of future expansion. New York City FC is all about Manchester City and the Yankees, though, so there really wasn't a logical role for Beckham to play. He still figures into the league's future plans, however, and could be huge when it comes to trying to help MLS reach the next level.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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It's a big day for Major League Soccer, as the league has announced that it will be adding a 20th team for the start of the 2015 season in New York City.

Manchester City FC and the New York Yankees have teamed up to bring us the club that will be known as New York City Football Club (or, presumably, NYC FC).

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday in a league statement:

This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.

There are still plenty of questions to be decided before the club begins to take form. Where will they play? How do their neighbors, the Red Bulls, feel about the expansion? Which big-name players and coaches—either domestic or foreign—will they lure to the team? 

But perhaps the most fascinating issue to be worked out is that of the uniforms. 

Most major clubs have new versions of their kits released each season, often with minor style tweaks, slight color or design changes or even new sponsors. 

But with an expansion team on the way, we're starting with a fresh slate.

So, without further ado (and using the amazing design blog "Soccer Without Context" as inspiration), here's one adaptation of what the new NYC FC kits might look like:

Both home and away jerseys feature the Umbro brand that currently manufactures the Man City uniforms. They both also feature the pinstripes of their parent club, the Yankees, though in rather different styles. 

In terms of color, much like the two super-clubs that came together to produce NYC FC, it makes sense to combine the sky blue of Citizens with the darker navy blue of the Bronx Bombers.

There are obviously plenty of sponsorship options—another issue for MLS to work out over the next two years—but the New York Stock Exchange (home) and Saks Fifth Avenue (away) seem appropriate.

The badge or logo will likely be designed over the next several months. But for the purposes of this exercise, I incorporated the logo of F.C. New York, a franchise that played in the USL Professional Division and National Premier Soccer Leagues in 2011 and 2012, respectively. 

So what do you think? Do you like these options? How should they be changed? What will NYC FC look like when they take to the pitch in the spring of 2015? 

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It's safe to say that in the soccer world, Don Garber and MLS have won the day. 

Garber, the long-tenured commissioner of Major League Soccer, announced the creation of New York City Football Club on Tuesday, a joint venture between Manchester City FC of the English Premier League and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, to be the league's 20th official club, starting in 2015.

Garber has been working on a deal to bring the 20th team to MLS for nearly three years, essentially demanding the 20th franchise be placed in New York City despite other viable markets being ready to take on a club. And how can one forget those plucky Cosmos—whatever they are—constantly remaining a thorn in the whole NY2 concept since its inception. 

Today, the story isn't about the Cosmos. Garber has taken back New York, placed his 20th franchise in the city he always wanted and took care of the coveted franchise fees of $100 million dollars the league certainly needs moving forward.

From the press box of Major League Soccer, commissioner Garber is quoted as saying:

We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer. This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country.

The New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.

A new team in New York backed by the Yankees and a top EPL club, and Garber gets to cash a check for $1 million. Yeah, I'd say Garber had a pretty good day. 

Truth be told, Garber has been on a run of good news over the last few days.

After announcing his retirement from playing, David Beckham was linked with returning to MLS in an ownership capacity. The rumor got so hot that MLS vice president of communications Dan Courtemanche had to publicly put out the flames, telling reporters (via The Miami Herald):

Our focus is on the second team in New York, and Orlando City SC’s owners are very aggressive about bringing an expansion team to Central Florida. We’d love to be in South Florida at some point, but we currently do not have any specific plans for an expansion team in Miami.

So in a week's time, MLS has been the center of a nine-figure deal with backing from the Yankees and Manchester City to bring a second team to New York—an actual team in New York City to create an instant rivalry with the New York Red Bulls of New Jersey—and rumors that Beckham might want to be the owner of team 21. (It should be noted that Garber has since told reporters the league plans to take a break before further expansion.)

This is a time for MLS to celebrate.

The only thing that didn't go Garber's way this week was Frank Lampard's one-year deal to remain with Chelsea, keeping him away from MLS for at least one more season…and clearing the path for him to be the face of NYC FC in 2015. All in all, it seems Garber made out OK for now, and maybe down the line as well.

The Yankees and Manchester City haven't done too badly with this deal either.

For the Yankees, it's another way for the franchise to own a piece of New York's sports scene. With 10 professional sports franchises already in the market, the Yankees are smart to expand their brand in whatever ways possible.

The Yankees, per Forbes, are the most valuable sports franchise in America at $2.3 billion. Of the 27 American sports franchises valued over one billion dollars last year, four are in the New York area. The Yankees are on top, but it's savvy business as much as good baseball that keeps them there.

Manchester City is also smart to partner with MLS and the Yankees, helping to expand their brand beyond the moniker of the second best team in the third largest city of the 22nd most populated country in the world. Manchester United is one of the richest sports franchises on the planet, and despite the deep pockets of the current City owners, the "other" team in Manchester will always play second citizen in its own town.

In New York, however, they can be kings. By teaming up with the New York Yankees, Manchester City can take a small glimmer of the spotlight away from their cross-town rivals (Note: The owners of Manchester United also own an American sports franchise with a bit more value in Tampa Bay) and be the first Premier League side to truly make MLS a bridge to European soccer for young players who get their start in America.

Sure, there are detractors of the deal. For one, Red Bulls fans cannot be happy about this, no matter how MLS tries to spin it.

For years it has felt like RBNY was a second citizen in New York to the theoretical NY2 team, so now that the team actually exists and has enormous backers, RBNY fans have to be nervous about getting lost in the swamps of Jersey. 

Some critics have suggested that such a visible partnership with Manchester City and the Yankees could hurt the MLS team from growing an organic fanbase in New York, especially if there are Manchester United fans and New York Mets fans looking to get into MLS.

The easy answer there? United fans and Mets fans should root for the Red Bulls! MLS wins either way.

Still, Garber's next challenge has to be to convince casual American soccer fans to care about a rivalry between New York teams. He informed reporters on Tuesday's teleconference that the plan for two New York teams was part of the original MLS model back in 1996.

Garber is doing his best to stoke the rivalry, beginning on the day of the announcement.

Of course, the league has to also remember there are 18 other teams. We know the league is aware of at least one of the two teams in Los Angeles, but there are 17 other franchises around the country that Garber needs to make sure stay happy and competitive. Relying too much on a few teams can be dangerous for any league, especially one as top heavy as MLS might easily become. 

That becomes a problem for the near future. Today's MLS news is all about New York and Garber. He shouldn't need to sell this to anybody.

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