DC United Revamp Youth Academy, 170 million euro bid for player, Women’s Euros, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Welcome to hump day! It has been a pretty strange week overall in the national zeitgeist, but some fun things are happening in the soccer world. Let’s get to some of them before I get one upped in the comments!
https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-to-relaunch-its-youth-programs
DC United are actually doing something additional with their youth academies. To quote that random character in Sondheim’s Company: Don’t stop now, keep going!
This is your how to guide to watch DC United this Saturday. The booze consumption is implied. And speaking of booze consumption:
Washington Spirit is potentially pun-ifying their name with a partnership with one of the largest alcoholic beverage conglomerates out there. You might not be familiar with their umbrella name, but they own over 24 whiskey brands, as well as Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, and Guiness. They also own Baileys’, so your childhood self is forgiven for thinking that chocolate milk wouldn’t do that to you. Seriously, I’m glad The Spirit got a wealthy sponsor, despite their message of responsibility being a little… ya know.
Spirit news keeps on coming, with a promising forward prospect getting loaned out for minutes.
And if you thought Buzzard Point (Audi Field, generically) is just for DC United, reminder that it’s home to some exciting women’s soccer, including a chance to see some North American throwdowns.
A viewing guide for USMNT players as things start to wind up in the game after the summer break.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6507864/2025/07/22/uswnt-2027-world-cup-emma-hayes-full-time
The NYT inspects where the USWNT is in preparation for the 2027 World Cup. If you ask me, barring injuries, really freaking good.
Speaking of good vibes, Denver’s new expansion outfit has been officially named Denver Summit FC. I like it!
https://newrepublic.com/article/197988/trump-fifa-infantino-world-cup
The New Republic believes the 2026 WC will be the most corrupt in history. Because, in this country, we do nothing half way. Sigh.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cy4ykyw8wzkt
Depending on your perspective, wild match in the Women’s Euros is either a come from behind triumph by England, or a complete devastation for Italy and their laudable defensive effort. The unpredictable entertainment continues with Spain vs. Germany today at 3 PM on FOX. This should be another doozy.
And finally, imagine selling an academy product cuz you don’t think you’d use them, and then trying to buy them back for 170 million. Man City, people.
That’s all I got! One up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
Feeling the hemorrhaging of the fanbase, we’ll see a lot of “new things” promoted to show that we are going to have a future. The youth development program never should have stopped, or even slowed down. Not only do you get kids out and exercising, learning, developing, and being identified, you get to promote the badge of DC United and create the foundation of a future fanbase. The way things are going, that will be essential.
What a rich, diverse post Talonesque!
First, until I see more details from DCU, I’m not sure what this new RDS means. I am cautiously hopeful. We’ll see.
Second, I look forward to reading the article on how corrupt the 2026 WC will be. I know FIFA is bad in this respect. And I know the US current actions towards anyone who doesn’t look Norwegian creates major freaking problems for an international event like this. But I’m unsure how corruption would be worse. But then I’m a naive optimist.
Third, regarding the USWNT, Hayes has done a great job. That said, it’s not clear to me where any of the Triple Espresso will be. I think it’s naive to just pencil in any of the 3 as starting. And the US needs to sort out its midfield–structure, roles and then personnel. I’m not convinced that a 433 works for Heaps or Yohannes.
I have confidence that at least Wilson and Swanson will return. There’s no predicting Trin. We have amazing wing options even without them.
I’m 💯 sold on Coffey and Hutton, and I think that means Lavelle of Yohannes at AM, and Heaps a bench player. I have no idea how Hayes handles the politics of that, but I think she’ll do what’s best for the team
I second JoeW on the “rich and diverse post”, nicely done.
JoeW, are you saying the entire world must look like Ola Kamara?
(I kid, I kid, and I got your point). Yeah, FIFA is about as brazenly corrupt as it gets.
Yet, it is an opportunity for things to be more smoothed out than they seem right now, icky as it is.
Is it me, or are NWSL teams just miles better at branding than their MLS counterparts? The Summit crest is nice. Contrast that with the Fire crest debacle from a few years ago.
It is indeed a nice crest, and poignant. I have a great niece in Denver…hmmmm. Christmas….
But on the flip side of the marketing dominance narrative: “too many balls….”
LOL, that was, uh, cringeworthy…..
The transfer window for MLS opens tomorrow. There have been some loose talks that DC will be signing a “DP attacker.” Who will that be? Who knows!
You butter believe I would have liked to have some rumors in the FKs to juice discussion. Sadly, nothing concrete that I saw
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45806795/mls-commissioner-garber-calendar-shift
I think I’ve said this before, not all clubs currently in MlS can make this switch safely. If he really wants to do this, he’s gonna have to grapple with the clubs that simply can’t play through the winter.
If you can’t believe The New Republic, who can you believe?