USWNT Olympic roster named, DC Power changes logo, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Happy Thursday, everyone. I’m in Atlanta for the USMNT match tonight. There’s also a presidential debate tonight and I’m staying across the street from CNN. So, before Secret Service blocks my path back to my hotel, here’s some of the news!
USWNT Olympic roster released (SSFC)
Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger make the main roster from the Spirit, while Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt both will travel as alternates. Congrats to them all! However, the big news is that Alex Morgan was not named to the roster or alternate list.
DC Power FC’s co-owner explains new rebrand, building roster before inaugural season (WTOP)
DC Power has rebranded and now has a new crest. What do we think?
USA vs. Panama, 2024 Copa América: What to watch for (SSFC)
Learn more in my preview for tonight’s USMNT match.
D.C. United Announce Partnership with BlueHalo (DCU)
DC United has another government contracting company as a partner. This one is BlueHalo, but unsure what it will bring besides more signage at Audi Field.
U.S. Soccer announces fall USMNT home friendlies (SSFC)
The USMNT announced on Tuesday that there will be friendlies in Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Austin this fall. Canada, New Zealand, and Panama are the opponents.
Georgia shock Portugal to reach first knockouts (BBC)
It’s the biggest upset in Euros history, as 74th ranked Georgia beats #6 Portugal for their first ever Euro victory. They advance to the knockout stage, so here is your Round of 16:
Hayes backs ‘tremendous human being’ Albert after inclusion on USWNT Olympic squad (Pro Soccer Wire)
Korbin Albert made the USWNT Olympic roster despite her public transphobic and homophobic comments on social media. When asked about the work she is doing to learn from that, Emma Hayes provided an answer that was quite disappointing, saying that any work done would continue to be done behind closed doors.
DC United will have 2 more players on the roster, as Hayden Sargis and Jeremy Garay are being recalled from loan stints to give us more bodies for this weekend’s match.
Shouts to Collin Martin, who has some cool cleats up for auction to benefit the LGBT Center of Raleigh. He’s forever been an incredible representative of the game and DCU no matter where he goes.
MLS clears 2026 World Cup break to avoid incomplete rosters (ESPN)
MLS will break for the 2026 World Cup. How long that break will last is undetermined, but traditionally they break for at least the group stage.
The scramble to bake Lionel Messi’s birthday cake (The Athletic)
The story behind a New Jersey bakery’s quest to get Lionel Messi his birthday cake.
Enjoy the day, and stay cool!
Venezuela defeated Mexico 1-0 last night. It was decided on penalties (Venezuela made theirs, Mexico missed), with none other than Rafael Romo stepping up for some crucial saves.
I think it’s hilarious that this didn’t make Donald’s cut. Mexico losing is just not news
They just don’t look good. MLS teams might still struggle against LigaMX teams, but it won’t last long if this is any indication. Our guys in Europe have also become regulars at more prestigious clubs than what I’m seeing on the Mexican roster right now.
I did this early because I was out doing AO activities. I knew it would be covered by everyone else!
I should clarify, not at ALL judging the priorities of your news stories, I’m mocking Mexico, but not kidding: Mexico being flat and listless is no more news than than, say, Manchester United losing to a competent power. It’s just not significant to note anymore, it happens all. The. Time.
I relished watching Mexico suffer. I am gonna be authentic and go to Taco Bell for lunch.
Vinotinto!!!!!!!
In addition to Romo, the US got to face former United player Bruno Miranda, and it looks like they’ll face a couple other former United players, Jose Fajardo and Eric Davis, when they play Panama.
Man. This season could have been so much better if we had bought out Jeahze and kept Davis over the offseason. He wasn’t great with us, but he was solid enough.
Fajardo was great at getting into scoring positions but abysmal at finishing.
Davis not getting signed, I agree completely, total head scratcher
He has some terrific crossing and dead ball service. But, we don’t have a player on the team that just DOMINATES in the air and ball-winning statistics. So, I can see why they let him go.
Lol
A really abysmal finisher, until now…
DW2 is in Georgia. Georgia moves on in EuroCup. Georgian Orthodox Church beatifies DW2 as a Saint.
Does this shock any of the Commentariat?
I think not…..
Huh someone with what appears to be a hit piece on Alexi Lalas
though I think there’s some fair criticism in here too. https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/the-moment-alexi-lalas-lost-all-credibility-as-a-soccer-analyst/
If you’ve ever watched Men in Blazers talk about Lalas and his… social media proclivities and interests, in, say, the political arena… you’d know Lalas is as loathsome a figure in the sports world as soccer could imagine. He is, and I say this with no pleasure, cuz he was a US Soccer icon, a turd.
Garay is being recalled.
Well, let’s see what we can see.
I’m going to assume that this is preferable to making a deal with Vancouver for a pricey veteran.
Given the issues with depth and the trajectory of where we’re likely headed, it makes perfect sense to recall any loanees.
100% agreed.
Other than Luis Zamudio. We’re still pretty set at goalkeeper.
Learned two things looking at the lineups on google. One is that Carrasquilla and Eric Davis are starting for Panama, and I admire both players. The other thing is that Google absolutely did not choose the right profile picture for Folarin Balogun, and it’s embarrassingy bad
With the red to Weah this just became a must draw game….I don’t see us winning.
For the record it was a very stupid red card by Weah.
Yep. What he did was petulance well beyond the boundaries of the sport
Particularly since all of the nations in Concacaf that are smaller than the US you just know are going to restort to gamesmanship–diving, trying to provoke a foul. I’ll bet that is what happened, and Weah lashed out off-the-ball thinking it wouldn’t be noticed. Ugh.
There are no cameras, none…..
That said, I actually think there’s a gutsy win here. I doubt Panama will stop going forward, and if we can hold on, we’ll have opportunities.
My gut does say, we should take out Ream for CCV.
Welp, CCV is on, and this looks like a sure penalty.
Huh, maybe it gets overturned, was more marginal than I thought
Balogun comes off. Aside from the worldly, I was asking for more tenacity and work rate, and it was totally there tonight. Let’s hope a fresh Pepi can help us knick one
Fajardo.
Doing nothing to make him loath him less
Such drama
The Weah red and the mutliple defensive failures on the Fajardo goal is what lost us this game. That ball before it’s crossed to Fajardo drops among 3 US players, but they don’t get to it first and then Hovarth gets both hands on that shot but doesn’t put it over the crossbar.
I think there’s a massive silver lining to this scenario, hope there’s a thread tomorrow to talk about it
You mean GB going bye bye since the US is crashing out at the group stage?
Not quite.
So, our backs are up against it, and we’re now going into knockouts against all strong teams if we continue at all.
And we need to beat a legit world power.
This is the round of 16 like hurdle we need. No more excuses, no more positive draws against powers. Winning. We need to do it. And we have to do it against a historic coach and national team. They’re not in bad form. We have to do it now.
Or this tournament is a failure, no question about it.
This is actually the moment I want for this team.
I honestly feel the federation will find a way to talk themselves into not firing Berhalter whatever happens in the next game. Shouldn’t be that way, but it is. The boys got their incredibly coddling, delusion inducing leader. Fine. Now beat Uruguay, and prove that he’s actually capable of getting you there
We can beat Uruguay.
We won’t.
You know, it will be quite embarrassing if none of the hosts for the upcoming WC (Canada, Mexico, and the US) qualify for the Copa knockout rounds.
Indeed, regionally and from a marketing standpoint a disaster, also for FIFA making three of these teams A Pots as hosts in ‘26.
I hope we keep seeing CONCACAF teams invited to Copa America regularly in the future, but that seems very dependent on the US now beating Uruguay and cleaning up this mess
Let’s be honest the US isn’t beating Uruguay and Panama is likely to beat Bolivia. The US is crashing out at the group stage.
I certainly am not betting on the US with anything but my fan hopes.