Suarez ban increased, Garber loves his streaming deal, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Morning everyone! Usually Tuesdays can be tough to cover because all of the action from the weekend usually gets covered on Monday. But oh man I’ve got a treasure trove of headlines for you! Let’s dive in!
MLS gives Luis Suárez 3-game ban for spitting incident (ESPN)
I’m a bit surprised that MLS added additional punishment to Suarez’s League Cup ban but at the same time, many soccer fans in the US were not happy with Suarez only facing a ban in a tournament that won’t happen again until next year (and he may be retired already at that point).
Seattle Sounders Star Addresses Lionel Messi’s Alleged Argentina Banishment Threat (Yahoo Sports)
The fall out from the League Cup final continues weeks later. “’Messi and De Paul? They are the greatest. They are world champions, and they are my idols,’ De La Vega said [while sweating profusely]”. Okay I added the last bit.
‘Very Pleased’—MLS Commissioner Don Garber on MLS Apple TV Deal, Offers Look at Future (SI)
“Earlier in the season, Garber revealed that games on the platform average 120,000 viewers, and that is an increase of 50% from the 2024 season.” Really? I’m really supposed to believe this?
Our favorite former right back has been killing it in Nashville and earned himself a well deserved new contract. Fun fact; I played against the guy in high school. He destroyed everyone…
Nice goal from the Northern Virginia native on her debut for OL Lyonnes. She was even named player of the match!
Geyoro joins London City Lionesses in world-record deal – sources (ESPN)
Michele Kang broke the women’s transfer fee record, but not with the Spirit. Late last week Kang owned London City Lionesses paid out $1.9 million for Grace Geyoro. Unfortunately, Geyoro was not able to suit up for Lionesses for their WSL debut as they fell 4-1 to Arsenal.
DC United 3-1 América: Las Águilas fall short in friendly clash (OneFootball)
This one flew under the radar, but woo! DCU got a win! (Even if it was only in a friendly…)
Ray Hudson’s magical broadcasting ride ends (NYT)
The former DCU coach, but more widely remembered for his colorful commentating on Gol TV, is hanging up his microphone. There’s only one word to describe him going into retirement: magisterial!
EA Sports FC 26 top soccer player ratings: who leads the way? (ESPN)
As a former FIFA addict, I still keep tabs on the latest iteration of one of the best selling video game franchises of all time. Quick notes on this: on the mens side, Mbappe and Salah share the highest rating with both at 91 overall. On the womens side, Alexis Putellas and Aitana Bonmati are both at the top, also rated 91 overall. The highest ranked American (men or women) is Lindsey Heaps at 87 overall.
Lalas calls on U.S. Soccer to fire Pochettino as USMNT coach (ProSoccerWire)
The knives are starting to come out for Poch…
Why Japan and the Bundesliga are a perfect match (Bundesliga)
Also if you’re curious to learn more about tonight’s opponent, here is a fun article I read about an interesting intercontinental, cross cultural connection between the German Bundesliga and Japan!
Let’s wait and see how the game against Japan tonight (#HamburgersVsSushi to be the hashtag on Univision?!) goes, but right now the USMNT seems to be in a death spiral. In any case, here is USMNT legend with his 5 players who are a lock for the World Cup squad. Sound off in the comments with your top 5 players who are a lock for the team!
Phew! A lot to cover! That’s all from me folks! Let’s hope we get that dub against Japan today!
Who would want take on the US head coaching gig with basically zero games left to prepare before hosting a World Cup? Do I think we get out of the group? No.
Benjamin. Olsen.
God, do I want that sports movie.
McKennie: I don’t need discipline and grit, I’ve played #10 for Juventus!
Ben Olsen: They call me the grit man. And you will learn.
I have been on the “Ben Olsen Needs To Coach The National Team” bandwagon for a long time. I think he would do genuinely well coaching the team. My only hesitation is that I do not want to put Ben through the inevitable…toxicity…that he would receive from the US “fans”
You mean the Eurosnob/Euro-centric fans or just in general? Because i could see both.
Both. He would inevitably get more backlash from the Eurosnob crowd, but the bulk of the US fanbase really does just suck in general.
Oh boy the US playing Olsen bunker ball all world cup…?
I honestly feel that Olsen’s preferred tactics are closer to the what works in the modern game than either Berhalter and now Pochettino have employed. Nottingham Forest way over performed doing something similar in the best and richest league in the world last year.
I sorta like the idea, though the online fans would light themselves on fire
As was shown by Houston on his first two years there, if he has the attacking talent, bunker ball is only a tool to be used as needed. Ben’s Houston with Coco and Herrera was actually pretty futbol most of the time. They did have a tendency to dance around the box, trying to hit a perfect pass instead of taking the obvious shot. But there was no bunkering for them. This year is different, Houston did not replace those two and is suffering as a result.
Consider it’s still two years before the next World Cup for Lily, she’s gonna be absolutely frightening
I just think this is the the most unprofessional thing a high ranking board member has ever said to the media, at least to my knowledge. It’s Hoeness at Bayern Munich saying how they made Nicolas Jackson pay part of his own deal, and that there’s no way they’ll let him get the 40 games he would need to make his deal permanent. This is dogshit and batshit at the same time.
Covered by ESPN FC
https://youtu.be/SBRx5tm6PJw?si=ExYyGuiBEE5VkXT-
As a Bayern fan, I was slack-jawed when I watched this video. What an idiot.
If you want a good whip around of the context and drama surrounding recent international qualifying for the WC, this video covers a TON in less than 30 minutes
https://youtu.be/_hC0tz5HuP8?si=7jiorfwKa4F3JYi9
Am I the only idiot who didn’t realize Ray Hudson the “sharper than a witch’s tooth” collector of mad sayings was the same who coached DC before Nowak? Cuz I didn’t
You aren’t alone.
Ray was a blast to talk with. Funny as all get out.
Rugby news:
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/08/world-rugby-to-invest-250-million-or-more-in-us-ahead-of-upcoming-world-cups/
Basically trying to grow the game and increase the quality of both the Men’s and Women’s Eagles.
I’m tempted to pick Ream for that last top 5 spot…it doesn’t look like any CB has showed enough to push him out of the spot, especially in terms of playing out of the back. Pretty worrying all around.
I did forget about McKenzie for a second, but I do remember liking him in the backline. Maybe we see a 3/5 man backline? The thought of Dest and Robinson abandoning the flanks to attack is terrifying but we need ideas…
Ream is one of the few figures in the team who understands his role and makes a number of correct decisions, but he ends up having to cover for the other players and their errors when he absolutely doesn’t have the legs for that sort of thing.
DC has recalled Karamoko from his loan with Loudoun. I wonder if this means that one of the forwards got hurt in training (or in the America game) or if Weiler just wants to see what he can do. His contract is good through 2027, so we’re not going into an option year for him
https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-recalls-forward-hakim-karamoko-from-his-loan-with-loudoun-united-fc