MLS to change calendar in 2027, USMNT jet lag strategies, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! We have plenty of soccer news to discuss today, and all I did of note this week was bake some cookies (tasty!) and watch the new Frankenstein movie (bad!). Let’s get to it!
MLS to align calendar with top leagues around the world (MLS)
I can’t believe they actually did it. MLS says they will switch to a summer-to-spring format in 2027, although there’s been reporting that they still need to negotiate it with the Players’ Association.
Danita Johnson had this to say on behalf of D.C. United:
‘Prepare to lose your voice’: The Washington Spirit move on in the playoffs (The 51st)
The hero of Washington’s quarterfinal match, Aubrey Kingsbury, helps preview tomorrow’s game against the Portland Thorns.
How the USMNT combats jet lag: Fly kits, supplements, sleep masks (ESPN)
Something a little different from your usual match preview. USMNT staff talked about travel and recovery procedures they use to help keep players healthy when traveling long distances for matches.
FIFA will use Kennedy Center free of charge for World Cup event, contract says (Washington Post $)
Putting aside the free use, I don’t see why they couldn’t have planned far enough in advance to avoid disturbing planned performances.
Abdellatif Aboukoura earns USL Championship All-League Honors (Loudoun United)
After scoring 15 goals and making three assists, Abdellatif Aboukoura made the USL Championship All-League Second Team.
D.C. United Legend Tony Sanneh Elected Into the National Soccer Hall of Fame (D.C. United)
This year’s other inductees are Chris Wondolowski, Kevin Crow, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, and Kari Seitz. You may also enjoy this video of Tobin Heath being surprised by the news of her Hall of Fame induction by Christen Press and Tobin’s mom:
Watch the FIFA Marta Award nominees and cast your vote (FIFA)
Marta Award, given for best goal of the year, nominees are out, and the namesake herself is up for the award (for the second year in a row). I think Lizbeth Ovalle’s scorpion kick gets my vote, though.
MLS, Apple TV to bring games outside of extra paywall in 2026: Sources (The Athletic $)
Is this good news from the cable/streaming world? What a day!
For some Friday fun, you may enjoy this video of former RFEF head Luis Rubiales getting eggs thrown at him at a press conference for his new book:
Finally, here’s your schedule of local matches for the weekend. There’s just one, but it’s a big one!
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns | Sat., Nov. 15 at 12 p.m. | Washington, DC | CBS |
Ticket sales at the Kennedy Center are in trouble, have been since the takeover. Trump is getting something out of this FIFA relationship personally, I’m sure, so a theater being disrupted isn’t really a concern.
Number of open days at the Kennedy Center is off the charts. Fewer shows and those shows are there for like 2 weeks tops.
As for the MLS moves, I’d like to thank Levien and Kaplan for so thoroughly hollowing out the soul of my boyhood club that my emotional connection to them was almost entirely severed.
I genuinely would like to reconnect with my passion for United, but that was offseason determinative in terms of opening the door again. Nothing remotely so far has given me any reason to, in fact, the scouting department massacre just shows this season is likely toast.
But MLS hasn’t so much closed that door now as nuke it from space.
Maybe the changes all miraculously work out, maybe the players union is duly negotiated with and satisfied. Maybe this is a new era for the league, and begins its ascent to prominence on the world’s stage. I highly doubt all that, but sure, let’s dream a bit.
It’s still not my league. It will have none of the things I grew to love about it. It’s being uprooted without fan input, and being replanted in FIFA’s garden. You know, that organization we definitely want to be in bed with and emulate. MLS leadership and ownership haven’t so much lost the plot as forbade it from being mentioned again.
So, I’m gonna follow the NWSL and EPL and Champions League, and of course the US teams, and laugh driving away from this nonsense. Will stay in touch enough to find the necessary articles for FKs on Wednesday. But yeah, it’s all coming up gone.
You and me both brother. I celebrated my 30th birthday in the RFK parking lot with a tailgate for about 20 people (that I all bought tickets for). I haven’t been to a game in person now in years. DCU has had either no owners, absentee owners, or bad owners (just in it for the real estate) over its history. But Levien takes the booby prize.
I killed my season tickets after thirty years. I cannot tell you what it took to do that. It is indescribable how terrible this club is and it is a direct reflection of the corrupt league.
Did those June and July matches mean that much to you?
Really?
If anyone is interested, the US Men’s Eagle XVs have their last match of the November international window and 2025 tomorrow as they take on Romania. The game will be streamed live from Bucharest at 10:00 AM ET on Paramount+.
A little bit of history the first time the USA played Romania in Men’s rugby was at the 1924 Olympics winning 39-0. The Eagles would go on to win gold with a shock 8-0 upset of hosts France (also the last time that Rugby Union was an Olympic sport as it is 7s Rugby these days). The most recent game against Romania was a 22-20 loss at Seat Geek Stadium (former home of Chicago Fire) in July of last year. This is the 3rd test match in a row against teams qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
I was off, the first game was in 1919 as part of the Inter-Allied Games following WWI. And everytime the US and Romania play each other its for the Pershing Cup named for General of the Armies John J. Pershing.
On the Rubiales video–that was a family member (I believe an uncle) throwing the eggs at him. Well deserved too I might add.
I get about the switch to the calendar. Personally, I hope the NWSL doesn’t switch. Like the NBA/WNBA schedule, having the NWSL and MLS on different calendars (with minimal overlaps) has stadium implications for the women. 8 years ago this switch wouldn’t make sense. But with MLS now seeing more transfers (to and from) with Europe, more European management coming to MLS, that schedule makes sense. And from a DCU perspective, it makes it even more imperative that MLS Pro gets going because this schedule makes it easier for transfers to Europe for teams needing emergency depth but on a budget. Damnit DCU needs to get their act together.
I get Marta is great and an icon. But I think it’s a backhanded compliment to name the GOTY award after her while she’s still playing. It’s like “well, we don’t know any women who play soccer except Marta.”
It’s even worse than naming the MVP award after Donovan, who had just retired (and subsequently unretired twice for short periods of time).
I seriously doubt DC gets an MLS next pro team together before the calendar switch unless the league orders them to do so. And they’ll play their games at a local park, with training happening in an abandoned lot. Levien does not seem to have a shred of urgency to do it. It’s Baltimore or bust.
Wasn’t there supposed to be an announcement about a partnership arrangement like, a month ago?
Wait you expect this ownership to get things done in a timely manner? I mean just look back at what happened with Lucho.
What more needs to be said? Maybe United is making the league some money somehow, but I’m really surprised there aren’t more owners or GMs that are shit talking us to the press. It’s seriously, seriously embarrassing.
Agreed. Like a couple of NFL owners were with Dan Snyder.
Possible good indicator for tomorrow, Trin and Tara taking part in full group training.
https://bsky.app/profile/joseumana.bsky.social/post/3m5m2z6kj5c2m
The US-17 boys just wrapped up their round of 32 clash with Morocco. Apparently held on to a 21st minute goal up until the 90th minute before conceding an equalizer. Lost 3-4 on PK’s against probably one of the stronger programs in the tournament.
What is it about Moroccan YNTs vs US YNTs that we keep coming up short. And I just saw your comment after making mine.
Morocco seriously invested in their football, especially at the youth level, trying to replicate the success that France and Germany had when they put in a real national program.
It’s not a coincidence. It’s not some Saharan backwater anymore. At least, not when it comes to football. Morocco may have the best youth program in the world right now. Certainly in the top 5.
Jackson Hopkins started for the US U-21 against Denmark and had the Us goal in the 1-1 draw.
Glad to see him succeeding in his time with the YNT. He did well for us this year, hoping he takes another step up next year
US YNT Men fall again to Morocco in competition as the U-17s lose 1-1 (4-3 pks).