MLS in Open Cup still uncertain, UEFA Champions League returns, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! My plans for the day involve trying to find some time to bake cookies for an office cookie swap tomorrow, while also figuring out what to do for my own Valentine’s Day dinner. Until then, here are some soccer links!
U.S. Soccer, MLS in ‘near-daily’ talks about U.S. Open Cup entries: Sources (The Athletic)
MLS and US Soccer are reportedly discussing a number of different options for the league’s participation in the Open Cup, including allowing teams to decide whether to send their first or developmental teams and exempting teams that qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
USMNT’s Dike suffers second serious Achilles injury, out for 2024 (ESPN)
Two Achilles tears in two years is brutal.
USL Super League granted Division One sanctioning by U.S. Soccer (Pro Soccer Wire)
US Soccer has cleared the USL Super League to operate as a Division 1 league, meaning the DMV will be home to TWO professional women’s soccer teams come August. I’m really not sure that’s going to work out long-term, but I’m interested to see what happens (and maybe check out a cold weather game, as the USL SL plays on a European calendar).
Top 10 moments from the Champions League group stage (CBS Sports)
The UEFA Champions League returns today. Brush up on what you missed in the group stage here, and watch Round of 16 game on Paramount+.
2024 Cherry Blossom Tournament presented by the Washington Spirit (District Sports)
For the soccer players among us, District Sports is hosting a Cherry Blossom Tournament on March 17 in Columbia Heights. Proceeds go to DC Scores, and all participants get a ticket to the Spirit’s first home game on March 23.
Also on the Upcoming Events calendar, Loudoun United FC are holding a kit reveal party on Friday, February 23 at Fleetwood Farm Winery.
That’s all I’ve got. Share your own Freedom Kicks in the comments
Good luck with the Valentine’s Day plans and the cookie exchange.
My wife and I just decided to push Valentine’s Date to Thursday morning and get food from one of our favorite brunch places: Grind N’ Crepe in Occoquan, VA.
I also pushed Valentine’s to Thursday, which would be my (deceased mother’s 100th birthday). Celebrating at Salamander. Mom would have loved that. (My mom spent a birthday at RFK bouncing with Barra Brava and Screaming eagles, special thanks to those who treated her so well).
Dike’s injury is just that, brutal. My doc “benched me” when I blew the left one for this very reason, the odds are that you will tear the other, especially at my ripe old age (55 years at the time). I did survive a soccer reunion at 60 last June in Scotland, but that is as hard as I dared to push it. Hopefully, both surgeries will be successful and he’ll be better than ever long-term. One of my teammates, Gordon MacKay, a Rangers vet, is one of the top orthopods in Europe, if Dike is (correctly and astutely) following our forum, he should consider a trip to Dunblane. Gordon is that excellent.
Don’t look at the Dow….
Apologies, my mom spent a Mother’s day at RFK with supporters. There was no game on Feb 15! Ooops. Happy VDay
So to be clear, NWSL and USL SL are both at the top of the US women’s soccer pyramid? I love this for women’s soccer, but in general these types of moves make no sense to me. I’m sure someone more educated can enlighten me. Is this just a move for USL to merge with NWSL down the road and gain more influence in women’s soccer faster?
Yes, they will both be in the top tier, but I do not understand the reasons why.
From what I recall from the article I posted at some point in the FK comments from The Athletic, is that originally USL SL was going for 2nd Division sanctioning then changed their minds to go for 1st. They are in different metro areas from current NWSL teams.
Don’t they have a DC franchise in the mix? I think there are some (certainly a minority) that overlap.
Huh you’re right.
Article I posted last week in the comments when it came out: https://theathletic.com/5263900/2024/02/09/usl-super-league-division-sanction/
Here’s further info in another The Athletic article that came out today:
https://theathletic.com/5273298/2024/02/13/usl-super-league-launch-nwsl/
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