FS1's broadcast of tonight's MLS All-Star Game presented by Target will feature mic’d up players and a 4K telecast for the first time ever. Live coverage begins at 7:30pm ET, as MLS All-Stars take on LaLiga club Atletico Madrid. Atlanta United G Brad Guzan, Earthquakes F Chris Wondolowski, LAFC D Walker Zimmerman and FC Dallas MF Paxton Pomykal will be wearing two-way microphones and earpieces for conversations with FS1's broadcasters during the match. The broadcast will also feature Skycam technology, corner flag cameras and interviews with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, WWE's Finn Bálor and Galaxy F Zlatan Ibrahimovic (MLS).

Wondolowski will be making his fifth career All-Star Game appearance, and he said, “It’s a game where you get to enjoy it and be mentioned with some of the all-time greats -- (Wayne) Rooney, Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), (Carlos) Vela. It’s pretty cool. It’s amazing. I think this one (is) probably going to be the last, so it’s one where I’m just taking it all in” (CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD, 7/31).

MLSPA Exec Dir Bob Foose said that the union is "preparing" for a work stoppage if an "agreement can't be reached with the league" on a new CBA. Foose said that the union "has been in consistent discussions with the league," but that the MLSPA "has already begun preparing for a possible work stoppage, with players drawing up plans for alternative housing and training options." Foose: "A strike is never the goal, and it's not our goal." Foose added that he did feel the MLSPA's "strike fund is sufficiently large enough for the players to ride out an extended work stoppage" (ESPN.com, 7/31).

ESPN broadcaster and former USWNT D Kate Markgraf is the "clear front-runner to become" the new USWNT GM, according to multiple sources close to U.S. Soccer. Some sources "say it's a done deal, others said nothing official yet." A USSF spokesperson declined comment (TWITTER.com, 7/31). 

Meanwhile, Markgraf on ESPN said that the the "likely" candidates to replace Jill Ellis as USWNT coach are Laura Harvey, Paul Riley, Vlatko Andonovski and Mark Krikorian. Markgraf "would be in charge of the hire if she becomes GM." USSF leadership reportedly would "likely prefer a woman as coach," and the "only one here is Harvey" (TWITTER.com, 7/31).

The FIFA Council "unanimously voted to expand" the Women's World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, a change that "will go into effect" for the '23 tournament. Nine potential host countries were "previously expected to submit proposals on Oct. 4." Countries now will "need to reconfirm their hosting interest in August, and the submission deadline for potential hosts will be pushed back to December to allow countries to reconfigure their plans for the additional eight teams added to the tournament." This means that the Bid Evaluation Report "will not be published until April, and the decision is not expected to be announced until May" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 7/31).

ESPN+ is in the "final stages of picking up Germany's Bundesliga" to add to its "growing array of soccer offerings," according to sources. A package of games is "expected to be exclusively" on the streaming service beginning in '20-21. It "remains possible there could be some games on linear TV," but an "extremely high percentage will be on ESPN+." This year, U.S. coverage of the Bundesliga will be on Fox Sports, which "includes games on FS1 and the Fox network." But the German league in the future "should become ESPN+’s top soccer driver" (N.Y. POST, 7/31).

Starbucks has agreed to become presenting sponsor of the Madden 20 NFL Championship Series’ opening major tournament this season, marking the coffee chain's first foray into the NFL or esports. The “Madden NFL 20 Classic” presented by Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew will run Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The open registration tournament will be held at Esports Stadium Arlington and stream on Twitch and YouTube. NFL sponsors Pizza Hut and Snickers have also signed on as full-year sponsors for the MCS, an initiative of the NFL and EA Sports.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

The four major broadcast networks have filed suit in federal court to "shut down Locast, a nonprofit streaming service funded in part by AT&T and founded" by a Dish Network lobbyist. Locast offers feeds from CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox to subscribers for no charge (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/31).

The PGA Tour and Kingmade Jerky agreed to a multiyear sponsorship deal that makes Kingmade the Tour's official jerky and official meat snack (PGA Tour).

Elevate Sports Ventures has launched Elevate Academy, a talent development, career mentoring and placement agency for sports/entertainment execs, recent graduates and prospective college students (Elevate Sports Ventures).

Insurance Office of America has extended its Jaguars sponsorship by three years. The Florida-based brokerage has sponsored the NFL team since '08 (Jaguars).

The NLL, Alterna Savings and Alterna Bank today announced a partnership that makes Alterna the official and exclusive financial institution for the league in Canada (NLL).

"They are redefining what sponsorship looks like, supporting an athlete holistically. And that means as an athlete but also as a mother and even now joining as an activist" -- Gold Medal-winning U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, on her new partnership with Gap's Athleta brand (“Today,” NBC, 7/31).

"How the heck can you not have a Final Four in North Carolina, when Indianapolis has one all the freaking time?! It’s ridiculous!" -- NFL Panthers Owner David Tepper, on his belief that a retractable-roof stadium could help bring more events to North Carolina (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/31).

"Really, (USF’s) desire to become ingrained in the Tampa Bay community, it just became very, very obvious that this was a match made in heaven for all of our media" -- Tampa Bay iHeartMedia Market President Chris Soechtig, on WDAE-FM becoming the broadcast station for USF football games for the next three seasons. The deal means Univ. of Florida football games will no longer be on the station (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/31).

U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn is here at the MLS Board of Governors meeting and serving in a consulting role for the St. Louis expansion team, sources said. More to come later on @TheAthleticSCCR

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) July 31, 2019

I don’t much care for the actual trades being made, but the frantic assignment of credit for breaking the news first is wildly entertaining

— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) July 31, 2019

Kinda sad Genie was once the face of the Rogers Cup and now needs a wild card to even gain entry. That’s the greatness of tennis - you don’t produce, there’s no team to hide behind.

— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) July 31, 2019

Did ESPN fire the person in charge of the Trade Machine? A lot of the salaries are way off. Impossible to make fake Wizards trades. Get your shit together @espn — this is important. It’s late July and there’s nothing going on. I need the trade machine to work. Come on.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 31, 2019

Tanner Roark learned of his trade in an @arbys parking lot. He wanted a beef and cheddar (and curly fries). He was driving to Atlanta, where he lives in the off-season. @JonHeyman approves. He will not be driving to Oakland

— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) July 31, 2019

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

DAVIE, Fla.-Somber day at Dolphins. Team flag at half-staff after the passing of Miami legend Nick Buoniconti. pic.twitter.com/A6mIuXlgBg

— Peter King (@peter_king) July 31, 2019

Vivid Seats and opendorse partnered to create this county-by-county map of NFL fandom throughout the U.S. Click on the image to view the full interactive map.

1,500 -- Approximate number of on-screen graphics created by MLB Network for today's trade deadline coverage (TWITTER.com, 7/31).