Hello, readers! Looks like the melting process is officially underway, and thank goodness- let’s just say, the snow was not playable at this point. Let’s hit the news offerings, shall we?

The Spirit have a glut of goalkeepers on the roster, but Sandy MacIver is pretty clearly second best only to Aubrey Kingsbury. She’s going to play in World Cup Qualifiers, and we wish her the best competing for her nation’s hopes of making the next tournament.

Pines opens up at length about his experience so far playing in Austria. Glad he’s found a place he feels valued, may it continue to be a good place for him to play.

So you didn’t get 2026 World Cup tickets in FIFA’s lottery. What now? The Athletic

Ugh for those who were left out in the cold.

USMNT defender Noahkai Banks: ‘No thought’ of Germany switch despite contact– USA Today

This is an interesting one. A highly promising 19 year old CB playing for Augsburg has gotten a call from the German federation. Though Banks was born in Hawaii, he has lived and played in Germany for the vast majority of his life, and is eligible for a cap. A Germany callup for players like these usually has a similar outcome- they enter the pool, and only if the requisite caps and strictures are not achieved do they sometimes relent and return to the USMNT pool. It appears that Noahkai, however, is perfectly fine for now playing and seeing where the next cycle leads. He’s spoken highly of his time with friends in the US Youth camps. Auspicious signs for US Soccer recruitment, perhaps.

USMNT defender Alex Freeman makes Villarreal debut in lopsided win over Espanyol– Goal.com

Alex Freeman was blooded as a substitute. Let’s see how his La Liga journey develops.

Ten-Man U.S. Under-17 MNT Earns Berth to 2026 U-17 FIFA World Cup After Resilient 1-1 Draw Against the Dominican Republic in Final Match of 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers– US Soccer

Good for the team.

USMNT could lose coach Pochettino after 2026 World Cup as Premier League giants emerge as potential destination– World Soccer Talk

I’m sure Poch is pleasantly surprised that he’s being talked about in this way. Why, he’s been so focused on his role within US Soccer, that he’s barely had time to openly talk about his desire to manage in the EPL on more than one occasion to the press. But yeah, Tim Weah criticizing the ticket pricing for this summer, that’s the problem…

UWCL playoff round preview: Can Arsenal maintain winning momentum?– ESPN

An extensive breakdown of the UWCL matches taking place today and tomorrow, as the Round of 16 knockout games begin.

Inter Miami MLS’ most valuable team; 5 teams worth over $1B – report– ESPN

Valuations are in for MLS franchises. It’s true that a foothold in an American city is nothing to sneeze at, and the absence of promotion and relegation creates a stable investment package that new ownership groups can count on. It is definitely an open question who, or how many, are able to pay these purchasing fees. Not that many sovereign wealth funds out there that would go in for something like this.

An MLS club steps up pursuit of Robert Lewandowski!– Yahoo

Chicago Fire are apparently doing all they can to bring one of the most storied goal scorers in the history of the Champions League to The Windy City. To land him, they’ll have to make it a lucrative package, and possibly prevent Robert from googling them.

MLS jersey Power Rankings: Who’s the best dressed in 2026?– ESPN

And, to close out, a veritable smorgasbord for your eyes, as ESPN delves into some MLS jerseys. Do you agree with their rankings?

That’s all I’ve got. One-up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!