USA Special MOTD Kickabout

Losing the ball, because little bit of a drop-down there.

Greetings from across the pond and welcome to this incredibly

special edition of Match Of The Day Hickabout.

special edition of Match Of The Day Kickabout.

Yet, that's right, we're actually in America to see what the

beautiful game is like in the land of high-rises, hotdogs and hundreds

But, before we explore the sights and sounds,

hold onto your caps, John, here is our 60-second roundabout.

America is massive 40 times the size of Britain, so

away games can be five hour flight across thousands of miles, and then

you got to fly all the way back home.

This country is so vast that Major league soccer is split to two

leagues, and the best teams from the West

and East conference meet at the

all-important end of season play-offs.

Gerrard, Drogba, Kaka, Pirlo - polo the Russian huge names playing

out here right now and David Beckham was a legend in LA.

You want big superstores, no problem.

Sport is big news in America, but it's

basketball and baseball and NFL that are the most popular.

Football might not be national obsession, but that

doesn't mean that people don't love it.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, don't call it football,

because over year football means American football or the NFL.

If you want to talk football, say soccer.

Well, you won't catch me saying football any more once we're

Oh, no, you're right - sorry, soccer.

Anyway, here's what soccer we've got coming up today.

Our football freestyle wizard, John Farnworth, takes the

And we go behind-the-scenes at star-studded

John, did you know that there are 20 clubs

battling it out in the MLS every week, but, apart from that, it kind

there is no relegation and clubs are known as franchises.

Yeah, and one of the biggest is New York city FC.

They've only been going a year but the glory got some the biggest

They've only been going a year but the've already got some

go to head down to training and check out how they get in the zone

So, shall we say meet back at the Flat Iron

We're here in leafy upstate New York at the training ground of New York

City seeks full stop in fact, their training

City FC full stop in fact, their training

just behind me right now

but that's not any ragtag bunch of players.

Oh, no, in amongst them are three World Cup winners, all

You can probably make out the chap to

black tracksuit over there, pointing, telling

Of course, famous as the midfield linchpin at Arsenal and for France,

who we won the World Cup and the Euros with.

And incredible player and now hoping to be a brilliant

Oh, what a magnificent goal by Patrick Vieira!

Of course, he is sorting out all the tactics

for Saturday's game, hoping he's going to get it right.

Well, he looks the part, and hopefully, his

managerial career is going to go as well as his playing career did.

Underneath that blue and white bobble hat is one of the finest

brains the world of football has ever seen, not to mention haircuts.

It is of course Andrea Pirlo, now plying his trade in New York.

I mean, who can forget that goal he scored

Oh, and he's clipped it in down the middle and the tallest player

He'll be hoping for plenty more of them Stateside.

Just over my shoulder there, that New York

Just over my shoulder there, that's New York

City's forward line taking part in various drills,

including World Cup winner, Euros winner, Champions

League winner and all the rest, Spanish striker David Villa.

Now, he's been here for a little while he's

the captain and his absolutely embraced life in New York.

His bona fide New Yorker and it's him that typifies this

Right, well it looks like Patrick is working on some

super-secret tactics now, so that's ourcue to leave.

Hopefully, it will make all the difference come Saturday's game,

but I'll tell you what else will make all the

difference - the amazing crowds that New York City get at the Yankee

Stadium, on occasion numbering over 40 5000.

Stadium, on occasion numbering over 45000.

Imagine that for soccer in the US - yes, it is that

So, NYC FC lock horns with NER FC in a few days' time

at the world-famous Yankee Stadium, giving us ample

opportunity for another exciting trip.

But itf he's not here in time, John Farnworth is going to miss it.

This is the Flat Iron building where we were meant

Well, I can't find John anywhere, so I go to have to do this

I'm on my way to Dallas in Texas - a state that's

so big it's three times the

Actually, it's 1,600 miles away so it might get a bit expensive.

Welcome to Dallas welcome to the Commonwealth

Stadium and welcome to the biggest youth

Welcome to Dallas welcome to the Cotton Bowl

Stadium and welcome to the biggest youth

soccer tournament in the

4000 players, 184 clubs from 37 different countries.

Truly, every corner of the globe is represented

Well, this is where the future stars of world

That's right, loads of British clubs play here and for many of their

players this tournament to be a landmark on the road to success.

Two years later in 2014 he was playing in Brazil at the World Cup

Ross Barkley will not be overawed by the occasion, not sure.

Ross Barkley is, of course, aproud product of the Everton

Youth Academy and the Toffees are here at this year 's tournament,

hoping to go one better than they did last year round

Well, it's half-time in Everton's opening game of the Dallas Cup

They currently trail 1-0 to Mexico's Tigres, but they're

This is where they're being directed from.

I've even managed to nab one of their drinks cartons at

I believe that we can win, I believe that we can win!

20 minutes to go and high drama, as Everton just had

a man sent off, down there by the dugout.

That's full-time here at the Cotton Bowl and Everton's first game

of the tournament has ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat.

They gave it all in their second-half.

A great experience for the young Toffees and

there's still all to play for over the rest of the week.

Tough as lions, that defeat just made Everton

They trained hard and played harder to win the next three games

And, just before the biggest day of the soccer live so far, I got up

with goalkeeper, Ben Pierce, and centre forward

forward DeLial Brewster to

get their take on the famous Dallas Cup.

When you look at the previous team Everton brought out, a

couple of years later there in the

first team, so, it takes great path

that we can follow and hopefully, in

a couple of years, both me and Ben

Coming out here to honour these tournaments, I think it really

does this is a group, because it all

We're very close bunch of lads, I think we all get

along very well and it's a completely different atmosphere

to going in every day back in England,

training, preparing for the match on

We need to make sure that we keep everyone together.

As a striker, do you figure out celebrations in advance and practice

Have you seen any real-life cowboy yet?

Is anyone doing to be brave enough to get this on?

Not only did the DeLial carry off that cowboy hat with

panache, he also carried his team to victory in the final, with both

goals in a 2-1 win that put his goal tally to five for the tournament.

And that's only the fifth time a British club has won

the Dallas Cup in 26 years - an incredible achievement

Well, partners, what a rootin', tootin' time we've had.

What the players, and how about the Dallas cup?

Follow the footballing stars of tomorrow, including some of

Speaking of which, I need to hotfoot it back to

And what about poor old John Farnworth?

New York is known as the Big Apple, so I

thought I'm going to ditch the ball today and do a few

I'm getting a few funny looks, but it doesn't really matter.

It's quite windy, actually, so I was like Losing

the ball, because little bit of a drop-down there.

I'm here at Brooklyn City Hall station, the subway is just behind

me. Wood we're here at the Saturday

night lights programme with the New York city FC programme. Blue macro

yet the work is a city that never sleeps. I was up in East Harlem Web

Islands and crime are real problems, so this programme is great as it

keeps the kids added danger of history and for the positive vibes.

My name is Lewis and I support Barcelona. My name is Larry and I

support the city FC. Julian in his mates demanded that I showed a few

trips, so, you might say no? But, football freestyle sorry, soccer

freestyle, it's all about giving it a go yourself and that's exactly

what they did. Roger legs! To? You did too. I

didn't know what to expect when I was coming year, but these guys are

absolutely fantastic. Brilliant skills, brilliant attitude. It's a

pleasure to show my free size filter them. As you can see I've put that

macro put through my paces. These guys are definitely most certainly

the future of American soccer. Where I noticed on Feynman? John? There

you are. Adjusting to Dallas it was brilliant and viewed then light

without me. I was so excited I never been to as. Gestede New York City

versus the revolution. Adenosine Andrea Polo, McGuinness the Patrick

Vieira. Figure that that John, this is soccer follow me.

I tell you what, you can take him anywhere without a little bit of

showboating. -- you can't take in anywhere without a bitter shirts

liberating. Where are you guys from? Norway. So you come this way but not

yet and holiday. So you supporting NYC FC? Whether the inevitable

differences? Home and away fans, not used a greeting each other. Butyl

day in the Bronx was about to get better. -- a beautiful day in the

Bronx was about to get better. And then NYC FC got off to a flyer. You

can probably a defence, and that's because the city just scored. We

were at last that lead just after half-time, but after the break

things seem to be looking up. Things are looking up. New England just had

a man sent off. With a man advantage, the hosts were certainly

piling on the pressure. 18 minutes gone -- 80 minutes gone, that means

just ten minutes to grab a winner. Come on, Villa? Sadly, the Likud

grabber when. The top analysis I had to hotfoot it downstairs. I'm sat

here in the press conference room waiting for Patrick the error to

come in. They will be disappointed they didn't get a win, especially

with the man advantage. New England created better chances and we did,

so we need to work harder. So two points in two games is not good

enough for a team like New York City FC. We didn't respect our plan. So,

Patrick Vieira obviously not fooled by the game. But I have the say it

was amazing experience. And that's not all for the behind-the-scenes

brilliance. I can't believe I'm saying this but I am in the dressing

room of New York City FC. This wouldn't happen in the Premier

League that it does happen here. That is David Villa talking to the

press, but no Apple OS nine yet, so I am out. I'm here with a man of the

match, Tommy McNamara. It's incredible to play for my hometown

and my home city. It means a lot to me. The fans are like rubber. I

mean, you scored a goal today. And the first people to congratulate you

were David Villa and Andrea Pirlo. It really cool opportunity that then

think again to get unless you play in Europe. They have been great. But

where on the same team and rural equals. Your pet you're applying for

a club that was only formed two years ago and it's grown in stature

to a hugely supported franchise. It seems to be the same for the game in

the US. Is a great time to be playing in America? Is growing every

year, more and more kids are playing and really exciting time. As he

sought today with the game, the amount of fans at turnout, it's like

that every week. It's incredible. Thanks for chatting to us, Tommy.

Good luck with your next game. What a week it's been John! I just can't

believe our American inventor is almost over. Ben, it is emotional to

be going home after one of the best weeks I've ever had. And can I say

that I am out falling in love and American football soccer, soccer.

You're right, sorry Johnny, it is soccer. Thank you for having us

Americans soccer fans we love you too. See you soon.

If you are a book fan, check out our Book Club web page.

We always want to hear from you. We have a book quiz,

a new Book of the Month, and another Book Slam debate.

We also want you to send in your book drawings