Bay FC coaches under investigation, USMNT friendlies scheduled, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! We’re looking at some beautiful spring weather today, and I hope you’re all able to spend some time enjoying it. I’ll be trying to slip outside on my lunch break, for sure.
USMNT to face Türkiye, Switzerland in June friendlies (Stars and Stripes FC)
In the lead up to the Gold Cup, the USMNT will play Turkiye in East Hartford and Switzerland in Nashville.
Santi, Jiménez lead Mexico Concacaf Nations League squad (ESPN)
Before all that happens, Concacaf Nations League semifinals are coming up later this month, and Mexico has named their squad to face Canada in the semifinals.
NWSL will investigate Bay FC coaching staff after complaints over head coach Albertin Montoya (All for XI)
The NWSL scandals just keep on coming. It seems like the league needs to seriously evaluate how they’re vetting staff. This report sheds some light on the early departure of Lucy Rushton as GM, as well as some player departures this offseason.
DC Power Football Club adds former D.C. United defender Donovan Pines to ownership group (D.C. Power FC)
Power FC never saw a local-celebrity owner they didn’t like.
Did you know Power FC aren’t selling their jerseys this season? Luckily, we have some new designs you can get to show your support of that team, as well as Washington Spirit in their new colors. Check it out!
Takeaways from Loudoun United’s first win at Birmingham (The DP)
Everything you need to know about Loudoun’s performance in the first game of the season.
Canada defender Gilles doesn’t want NWSL return, citing geopolitical situation (Pro Soccer Wire)
I suspect Gilles, whose loan to Lyon was renewed at least once already, didn’t want to come back to Angel City regardless, but it is unsettling to think this opinion about playing in the US might be shared by other international players.
Now for some fun, behind the scenes and up-close video of Washington Spirit’s Challenge Cup win:
Here’s a summary of the action from Old Glory DC’s double rally to deny Anthem RC their first franchise victory. I’m pulling for Anthem to win after their bye week this week. They went winless in their first season last year. But this week against Old Glory and the previous week against Miami they were so close to getting that first win for the franchise.
https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2025/03/08/another-near-miss-for-anthem-as-old-glory-plays-spoiler/
MLR week 4 roundup: https://www.planetrugby.com/news/major-league-rugby-five-takeaways-as-wallaby-greats-side-go-top-while-coffee-cup-claimed-by-seawolves
I’m not shocked we’re already starting to see European pushback to the US because of the Administration’s position on Ukraine. For Canadians, the Administration treatment of Canada may become a factor. I know the DP tries hard to stay out of politics. But this is absolutely going to be a factor for some players.
It’ll affect the men’s side as well. Hell, who knows how it’ll affect the WC. The guy is a loose cannon who’s probably going to experience a steep decline in cognitive abilities, with a bunch of extremists ready to pounce and make their dreams come true.
You mean the joint venture between Canada, Mexico, and the US to host the world’s most anticipated sporting event writ large? Yeah, I’m guessing.
Also worth noting we play both Toronto and Montreal away in the league. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t some serious booing of the American national anthem to-do at the beginning, and we are a team that represents Washington DC. Our crest is the bald eagle, for Christ sake.
Neither Toronto nor Montreal look like particularly effective teams this year, but the fans might be pretty ravenous if this trade war continues.
https://awfulannouncing.com/mls/exec-says-league-needs-end-apple-deal.html
Think the reality is, Apple TV have us as long as they want us, which might not be forever, if they deem the league not worth the investment, such as it is.
But there’s no way we just shake off Apple. They’re fucking Apple.
I think Apple will lose interest after mega-watt star Messi leaves the fold. In fact, I think they saw Messi as an opportunity to expand their global branding on Apple TV+. Meaning, how many people around the world bought in on Apple TV+ to follow Messi and, to a lesser extent, the MLS-Rigged-Miami squad? (I do not have the numbers, but that had to be part of Apple’s gambit, more so than MLS)
I will say that I agree with the sentiment generally, in that having more linear games would be better for the league, but I don’t think they need to get rid of Apple entirely. But they absolutely need to get more games on cable. Even the “free” games on Apple are cumbersome, since you have to have an Apple account to even watch it
Don’t see the incentive for Apple to let cable have any games, at least from their perspective.
Oh yeah from the Apple perspective it doesn’t make sense really. But from the league perspective it does. Getting anyone that isnt a devoted MLS fan (or Messi people, I guess) to find and watch a random game on Apple is gonna be tough. You’re gonna get more casual people to tune in on cable. I think being solely on Apple can really hurt the growth of the league, at least in terms of viewing. That’ll be especially true when Messi finally retires
For sure, but I worry that MLS didn’t so much get into bed with Apple as a business as engage in an uneven merger as an organization.
Yup. My dad and brother (has down syndrome and lives with my parents) like going to DC United games with me and they used to watch when they were on tv. But my dad refuses to pay for MLS Season Pass as he doesn’t see the need for another subscription in his semi-retirement. So unless the game is nationally televised the only way they’ll watch a game is if they decided to drive from Springfield down to Woodbridge to watch with me.
J Sam Jones moves DCU up to 20th from 24th in his Power Rankings on the league site.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/power-rankings-philadelphia-union-vancouver-whitecaps-defy-expectations