Rodman Rule Incoming?, USMNT Players Make History, A Bundesliga First, More World Cup Drama, Paris FC, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Happy Thursday! Yesterday seemed like a really quiet day for local soccer news. I was all prepared to have nothing local to discuss. Then, just after I finished my first draft, it all changed and a possible ray of hope in the Trinity Rodman contract situation broke through the clouds. In addition to that it was a big day of soccer in Europe. The Men’s and Women’s Champions League were both in action and USMNT players made history. In the Bundesliga, Leipzing made history. There was plenty of World Cup news. Let’s get to it.
Sources: NWSL voting on extra funds to pay stars like Rodman (ESPN)
Its possible the Trinity Rodman contract saga will end in a manner where Rodman and Spirit fans walk away happy. Details are scare as of me writing, but the proposal would allow teams a certain amount of money that could be used to exceed the salary cap and pay certain players. Details on how much money is available and what criteria players have to meet for this are unknown. Hopefully, this enables the Spirit to keep Rodman with the team (if she truly wants to stay after all this.) The one disheartening note for me in this story is the fact that the NWSL Board of Governors discussed this to some degree earlier in the year but didn’t feel the urgency to get it figured out until after several stars left and the departure of another loomed.
Leipzig name Tatjana Haenni as new CEO (Bundesliga)
The former NWSL Chief Sporting Director becomes the first woman named as CEO of a Bundesliga club. The various takes I saw on social media that essentially amount to “This is a good thing but did it have to be Leipzig” amused me. Dislike of Red Bull isn’t limited to the DMV. In seriousness, I hope this works out for her.
From the Kang constellation of teams, OL Lyonnes knocked off Manchester United 3-0 in the Women’s Champions League. The league phase of the tournament ends next week. After the final match day ends, two more teams will join OL, Chelsea, Paris FC, Juventus, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Barcelona, Wolfsburg, Manchester United, and Bayern München in the knockout round.
Yesterday was a good day for USMNT members in the Champions League.
McKennie joins Pulisic in elite USMNT Champions League club (Pro Soccer Wire)
Of the Americans to ply their trade in Europe and play in the Champions League, only McKennie and Pulisic have reached 10 goal contributions.
Folarin Balogun Makes U.S. Soccer History With Third Consecutive Champions League Goal (Fox Sports)
If Balogun keeps scoring at this rate, Pulisic and McKennie will be opening the doors to their exclusive club sooner rather than later.
Donovan, Guzan, Jones on USA’s World Cup Group and Australia Coach’s ‘Smugness’ (Fox Sports)
In a change of pace, former USMNT players didn’t aim critiques at the current crop of players. Instead they were somewhat positive, saying with this team and draw, the quarterfinal was a realistic result. However, it wouldn’t be an interview with USMNT alumni without someone being subject of a critique. In this case it is Australia’s manager, who Donovan described as “smug” for saying he was satisfied with their draw. Does bulletin board remain potent for six months?
For those who are looking to attend that match in Seattle, I hope you’ve budgeted accordingly for your hotel.
Egypt, Iran complain about World Cup ‘Pride’ match in Seattle (ESPN)
This World Cup can’t avoid drama. In this instance FIFA should have seen coming and could have avoided it. That being said, going into the Qatar World Cup, there was discussion about respecting Qatari culture. One would think the same rules would apply to respecting those of the US and Seattle correct?
U.S. Moves to Drop Charges in International Soccer Corruption Case (New York Times $)
Submitted without comment.
2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One Matchups Revealed Following Draw (Concacaf)
The first round matchups for the Concacaf Champions Cup are set and all the MLS teams, except for Seattle and Inter Miami who have buys, know who they will face. MLS teams seem to have mostly favorable draws. The action starts in February.
The holidays are almost upon us. Need a gift for the US Soccer fan in your life? Need some new gear for yourself for 2026? Looking for a kit to wear to a particular match in Seattle this June? Our friends over at USA Soccercast partnered with Stimulus Athletic to produce some sharp looking gear, including kits for Juneteenth and Pride. There’s also a Waldo inspired kit. We’ve covered how I feel about those jerseys before, (swoons!) You can see the full line here.
As always, I try and end with something that amuses me. Today its this.
I just amuses me that a French team that is not PSG shows up on this map. Is there a huge Paris FC supporters group in Arkansas. Did a bunch of people end up on Paris FC’s FBRef page after reading about the Louvre theft arrests? I’m curious how we got here. South Dakota viewing the Chicago Fire page the most is also interesting.
Also, congrats to the Spirit on having the most viewed page by the District.
What did I miss?
I’ll comment on the corruption case dismissal.
If there’s gonna be some way figures are gonna make each other richer by screwing anyone they deem less powerful, this federal government and its influence bolstered by decades of soft power building is willing to say:
“How can we help?”
The current iteration of our federal government is unique and a grotesque aberration in its embrace of corruption, but I don’t give SCOTUS a pass, as they’ve been making it easier to be corrupt and immune from prosecution for a lot longer than Donald Trump has ever been President.
How many of those FBRef views are me accidentally closing out and reopening the Spirit page multiple times for every article and Hey Spirits episode?
Even stranger to me is why so many people in South Dakota are looking up the Fire
Trying to type “Pierre” but autocorrect strikes again?
It’s dumb click-bait and horse-crap. Maybe it’s relative to some mean level of clicks in the various states for each club, but why the hell are people in Iowa getting juiced to read about Fulham? Show me the data, or it never happened?
Fulhamerica
A “RodmanRule” would be a great thing. Like you, I just hope the initial contract dismissal hasn’t poisoned the atmosphere with her.
And I am 100% with you about “respect local culture”. It applied to Qatar. It should apply to Seattle. They should just be glad the match isn’t in Portland (“Keep Portland Weird” dancing frogs, etc.)
That’s got me picturing a scenario where Mo Salah is quizzically looking out the team bus window at two people in inflatable frog costumes and one inflatable unicorn as they cross the street.
Thank you for that. That made my morning.
I believe there are still two 2 pieces of hardware that Lional Messi hasn’t won. ConcaChampions and USOC Open Cup. I don’t think MIami will get a look at USOC while he’s there.
San Diego did get a very tough draw. Possibly the best team in Liga MX right now.
Just looking at the roster with Benteke and Fletcher officially departed now. We have 22 players signed. That includes Hakim Karamoko, Gavin Turner, and Oscar Avilez. We typically roll with about 28 players or so (could be more if some go out on loan), so that means we’re looking at six signings right now. We pick #1 in the SuperDraft. We could trade that slot for GAM, but assuming we do draft someone at some point, that’s one of the six slots. Levien has also said we’re going to fill all 3 DPs slots, so that’s three more players. Four of six slots. Assuming that our goalie won’t be a DP, picking up a third goalkeeper is five. So we have one slot left to add depth somewhere.
That’s not that bad, all told. Presumably the DPs will all be starters, and hopefully the goalkeeper will too. That’s replacing four of our “top” players (hopefully raising the ceiling) from last year, and moving some of those starters into depth roles. We could also buy out up to two players to bring in some more guys, or maybe trade or sell a player or two (Herrera? Joon?), but it’s sure looking like the overall roster strategy should be on signing and nailing the stars this offseason, and then work our way at building up depth as we go along.
I hate how cynical I’ve become with DCU…but I struggle to see us completing 3 DP moves this winter. Everything is empty promises with these owners since they got the stadium built. Bring the club culture from RFK? How about bringing in whales for the fancy lounge instead. Letting Mackay build his team and choose his coach? Not that one, he’s too expensive. Bringing in talent for that coach and Mackay? Nope, we’re going to clear house (justified or not). Imminent announcement for a reserve team in Maryland? Not a peep since that terrible interview. No news of the scouts being replaced at all. I’d put money on Sogut asking ChatGPT for ideas on signings instead.
All that said, there is plenty of easy room for improvement with the open slots and possible trades/buy outs. It just looks like more empty promises until it actually happens.
Signing three DPs in one window is a lot for any team. And getting DPs that acclimate to America and MLS, and mesh well with each other and the rest of the team are all big asks in and of themselves, and United has not been particularly great at nailing those. We could potentially sign two and then add a third in the summer, but that would only be impacful for a few games. The front office really does need to prove itself this winter.
I think there’s zero chance they sign 3 DPs in the winter window. We’ll be lucky to get one DP and maybe a U22 player or two. There aren’t a lot of DP-type talents looking to switch leagues a few months before the World Cup.
They will — rightly — assert that the pickings will be much better AFTER the World Cup….both with internationals and maybe a USMNT star wanting to come to MLS. With the coming alignment of MLS’ schedule with the Euro calendar, It would make sense to sign people for a July-June contract.
The value of such an investment is even bigger for 2026-27, because the first half of 2027 will be its own season. In effect, anyone we add in the summer would be a bonus for the last half of 2026, but their real worth would be in making DCU a contender in the 2027 short season, and then in the 2027-28 full season.
More to the point — 2026 will also be pretty unique. Unlike most years, the season isn’t front-loaded. Only 15 games will be played before the WC break. And fully half the games will be played from August on until November (and dare we hope…playoffs to follow?).
While they need to bring in players who can create and score goals, it won’t be calamitous if that happens in July or the first two weeks of August. This is, I hope, a longer term project. We can’t expect this team to contend for a title in 2026, but if they have a team in the final months that is capable of winning a game (or games) in the playoffs, and set up to get even stronger in 2027 (with more contracts expiring and freeing up slots for ’27-’28), it will be a pretty successful year.
That said, they ought to fill the 6 slots. If they can get two DPs in the summer, they could fill out a 30-man roster.
For that pick, I’m honestly not super plugged into the college pool at all anymore, as it has become less relevant to MLS squad building, but I think we should try to use it and select either the most promising and instinctually gifted CB, or the best goalie, if there’s an American that fits that description.
CBs come out of fucking nowhere still over time, so I think it’s still possible to draft an asset.
The draft is where we got Steve Birnbaum among many others.
Yeah, San Diego drafted Manu Duah last year. He was their starter by mid-season (next to some guy named Christopher McVey), and the team set a points record for an expansion team, made it to the Conference Finals, and now Duah is getting looks from Europe. For goalies, guys like Roman Celentano and Patrick Schulte come to mind, although typically a goalie will benefit from a year of playing time in MLS Next PRO. I also think it’s a little less likely that we’ll go for a young goalie with Joon still on the roster, leaving Jordan Farr as probably the de facto starter.
There have also been good attackers to come out of the draft in recent years, like Duncan Maguire and Patrick Agyemang.
I would also like to see us use the pick. It’s no sure thing, but there’s always at least a couple really good players to come out of the draft every year. Heck, Dave Kasper used to be really good at finding them!
Without being too plugged into the college system, just based on the number of high picks who *are* starters for successful teams, it seems like a no-brainer to get the best player available and get them training with our seemingly competent head coach. They’re good to cost nothing in transfer fee and little in salary.
Agreed.