Olympic draw results, NWSL and Liga MX announce Summer Cup, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Happy Thursday, everyone. I’m in Dallas-Fort Worth, where the USMNT will be playing in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals this evening against Jamaica. Let’s get to the news from yesterday before I get to the tailgate…
Olympic soccer tournament groups revealed (SSFC)
The USWNT will be in a group with Germany, Australia, and Zambia or Morocco, while the USMNT U-23s drew France, New Zealand, and the AFC 4/Guinea. Can’t wait for the Olympics this summer!
We have a Liga MX Femenil cup with the NWSL! I think this could be really cool for the women’s game.
USA vs. Jamaica, Concacaf Nations League Semifinals: What to watch for (SSFC)
Here’s more on the USMNT match tonight…Jamaica may be missing a few players, but they are still a team to respect.
NoVa FC is heading down to take on the Carolina Core in the U.S. Open Cup tonight and–HOLD ON! THAT’S BILL HAMID’S MUSIC! AND ONEIL FISHER TOO!
Biden administration files brief in antitrust case against U.S. Soccer: What it means (The Athletic)
U.S. Soccer didn’t get the amicus brief they were expecting from the government in their antitrust case versus Relevent Sports. What it means for their defense in that lawsuit.
Go go USA!!
Washington City Paper sat down with some of the front office staff about the Messi effect on ticket pricing. But they also went into pricing based on projected demand for each home match.
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/684895/messi-didnt-make-it-but-d-c-united-still-had-to-deal-with-him/
Fan fleecing, just not my style…
Excellent story.
I’m a bit concerned about adding more soccer to the calendar for these women. Studies are showing that too much soccer can be even more devastating for their bodies than for the men. In theory I think a joint tournament between Mexican and American soccer is cool, but in reality, I just worry about the strain
Yamil Asad is training in Cincinnati. There’s no imminent plans to sign him and he’s just keeping fit, but…
Lucho Acosta and Junior Moreno both took their games to a new level when they went to Cincinnati. Would it work for Asad too?
Review panel overturns red card on Kingsbury. Hooray!
Wow*. The team in the studio for the USMNT vs Jamaica is Clint Dempsey, Jesse Marsch, and Charlie Davies.
*not a “good” wow.
The training shirts looked like chemical damage, eek
Antonee Robinson and Joe Scally with shockers so far. 1-0 Jamaica after less than a minute, yellow to Scally in the 12th.
I’ve seen the USMNT play badly before, I have never seen them lifeless
My dad mentioned seeing an opinion in the paper on the game that, if Berhalter loses this game, he could lose the job. I said no, but seeing this performance, Gregg might be accomplishing the impossible
Full respect to Jamaica thus far, they look like they’re playing on a different surface
Mind numbing
Time isn’t ticking in this game, it is passing. Blake I don’t believe has had a save.
It’s dangerous for me contemplate the word “fire” right now, but Gregg should be fired, no matter what happens now. 82nd minute
It is hilarious to see Aaronson’s urgency and fight in comparison with the players Gregg has more infected with sloth.
91st minute, first Blake save.
There will be a false narrative coming out of this one. “The US went down, but sweated and fought their way back in extra time to secure a path to the final.” Not so. The US were a bizarre last second own goal away from losing in regular time, and Gio found a fresh Wright to put a depleted Jamaican side to the sword.
They may also say “coaches are judged on substitutions,” but what about the starters and how they played? Berhalter could not have gotten this more wrong.
The Athletic is reporting the player the Spirit have been hinting about is World Cup 2023 star Colombian Leicy Santos who signed a pre contract and will join the team in June once the Spanish season ends.
https://theathletic.com/5359843/2024/03/21/washington-spirit-sign-colombian-forward-leicy-santos/