USMNT November roster, Best FIFA shortlists, NWSL playoff preview, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! I don’t know about all of you, but I have been struggling with the early sunsets in this first week of standard time. What am I supposed to do when it’s 8 p.m., and it’s already been dark for hours!?! It also has my cats very confused and yowling at me for food at all hours, including when I am trying to write my Freedom Kicks!
Pepi, Reyna return as Pochettino announces November USMNT roster (SSFC)
Some interesting choices here, largely the return of Gio Reyna. The group will play a pair of friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay on November 15 and 18.
Eleven changes for CommBank Socceroos’ November matches (Socceroos)
Meanwhile, Kye Rowles got another call-up to his national team for matches against Venezuela and Colombia.
So long, sweet RailHawk. (Five Asides)
After the announcement that North Carolina FC will cease operations after this year, Jeff Reuter looks back at their history, from their days as the Carolina RailHawks, to a failed MLS bid, to the present turmoil and disappointment of a shuttered team.
U.S. Soccer announced the finalists for the Haleon Social Impact Award yesterday: former D.C. United (and USMNT) goalie Nick Rimando, USWNT legend Brandy Chastain, and USdeafWNT player Kate Ward. The award recognizes athletes for off-the-field contributions to their communities.
NWSL playoffs preview: How can each team win it all? (ESPN)
A look at the strengths and weaknesses at all eight NWSL playoff teams. Personally, I think the Current are going to be pretty close to impossible to beat, but I hope the Spirit can make it to the finals to give them a fight.
The Spirit were asked by Marissa Willett fir comment on the recent comments about gender testing in the NWSL and ensuing harassment of players like Barbra Banda, and after a couple days, they provided this statement…. Inspiring stuff
The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2025: shortlist voting phase now open (FIFA)
The shortlists for Best FIFA awards came out yesterday, and while I felt the lists were (as is usual) annoyingly Euro-centric, it was interesting to see the Spirit’s erstwhile coach, Jonatan Giráldez, get a nomination. Lyonnes are undefeated in his short tenure, there, and the Spirit performed fairly well under him, but it certainly wasn’t his best year.
The bright spot was Croix Bethune and Leicy Santos making the list for Women’s Best 11 nominees (NOT the same as just “Best”).
2025 MLS Best XI (MLS)
MLS end-of-year awards are coming out as well, though you will not be surprised not to see any D.C. United players among them. In addition to this group of Best XI, Bradley Carnell has been named Coach of the Year.
The NWSL Announces First-of-its-Kind League Advisory Board to Guide the Future (NWSL)
Putting your high-powered start investors to work helping to grow the league seems like a good idea, although I’m not sure how much we want Magic Johnson and Eli Manning “shap[ing] the future of the women’s game.” Johnson and Dominque Dawes will be the Spirit’s representatives.
Amid the government shutdown keeping many of our neighbors out of work and SNAP benefits being imperiled, two local supporters’ groups, Rose Room Collective and Spirit Squadron, are hosting a food drive. They’ve been able to increase the goal a couple of times and are now trying to hit $10,000 in donations to the Capitol Area Food Bank. Please consider giving if you are able.
Finally, here’s your schedule of matches for the weekend. With both MLS and USL Championship seasons over for the year, it’s just the women’s teams left.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC | Sat., Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. | Washington, DC | CBS |
| DC Power FC vs. Brooklyn FC | Sat., Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. | Brooklyn, NY | Peacock |
Have a good weekend!
Small correction to the best XI: Bradley Carnell was named the “Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year”
Ugh! Sorry!! I will correct it!
A lot of people marvel at the Current for their consistent offensive output and stingy defensive numbers, and I think there’s a shallow assumption that their defenders are incredible while their attacking players are head and shoulders above everyone else.
If you’re not talking about the double pivot of Labonta and Hutton, you’re not getting it.
The two of them make getting to the backline and finding quality scoring positions a nightmare. This in itself helps the offense, but there’s also the completely unfair completeness of their abilities to distribute and make good decisions in possession. Labonta is an experienced pro at this, Hutton is gonna be an underrated part of hugely successful teams for a long, long time.
Good for Kye Rowles. I think we were all hoping for an absolute stud center back last year, and he wasn’t that, but he was pretty good. If we can get another Rowles-level (or hopefully better) CB this offseason, that will help.
I know it’s wishful thinking, but with Australia in the WC, it might be worth trying to find two around his level for the amount of time he’ll be gone.
That’s a good thought, and one that may not necessarily be solved by the best MLS CB that could be on the market this winter (Zimmerman, who may also be gone for the WC)
I’m all for Zimmerman, and while it may suck for him, I get the sense Pochettino’s not taking him to the WC. Kind of the best possible scenario for a club to have a player of that caliber available without the miles that tournament would put in them. This is all conjecture from me of course.
But that would make sense…is that allowed?
Probably not. I apologize for my indiscretion and promise to do better next time! 😝
I’m not sure if I missed comments on it earlier, but supposedly DCU had a meet and greet with Sogut on Tuesday for season ticket holders…anyone go or have insight on it?
How stupid to do it during an election night.
If anyone is interested the US Men’s Eagle XVs have their next match of the November international window tomorrow morning. They take on Georgia at 7:00 AM on Paramount+ after being absolutely destroyed by a clinical Scotland 85-0 last Saturday.
Jackson Hopkins has been called up to the U21 National Team. Glad to see him get some recognition after a bit of a breakout year here
Yeah, thank goodness he’s getting a bit of recognition. If he played on a team with a great creative DP, we’d have seen some quality interactions and flashes.
Despite Weiler getting some great moments out of him, DC has done him dirty for a while.