Spirit Prepare to Make DC Rise Up, DC United Brace for Home Opener, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Wednesday! Feels like winter is just a matter of watching massive slush piles dissolve.
On to the links!
OK, so, we’re gonna ramp up to DC United’s home opener on Saturday, I’m sure, over the next two days. That’s not where I’m starting right this moment. Cuz I want to give The Spirit some real love and appreciation this morning, and touch on Croix Bethune’s last message to fans:
She was a player of DC. Honor her.
Speaking of honoring:
Spirit CB and the current reigning defender of the year Tara Rudd is getting locked down, and thank goodness. She’s incredible. We need Tara the explorer to discover us another championship.
Happy, healthy and hungry: Why Trinity Rodman chose stability in Washington over a move abroad– Yahoo
Trinity Rodman is hopefully ready to demolish this season and year with the USWNT. Which, perfect timing, cuz:
Emma Hayes reveals USWNT SheBelieves Cup roster– Stars and Stripes FC
If you didn’t think Donald was gonna miss out on writing a piece detailing the roster for the She Believes Cup that the USWNT is gearing up for, you’re sorely mistaken. Some massive heavy hitters, some intriguing forward callups, and three Spirit players included in this 26 woman roster. Trinity Rodman, Tara Rudd, and Kate Wiesner made the cut. Side note: Will be intriguing to see if Jameese Joseph is able to seize the starting role as striker for this tournament after an impressive debut against Chile, and who emerges as #1 in goal. The US will kick off the tournament Sunday, March 1st against Argentina.
On to some DC United content.
DC United 2026 MLS season preview– Backheeled.com
This is a paid article, but you know you’re interested in analysis, and WAPO is dead on the subject.
DC United in 2026: The Basics– All-Points Bulletin, Substack
This is less analytical and more of a primer, but if you want to know the perception, this will give it to you.
This is actually a quite extensive deep dive into Jacob Murrell’s experience since being drafted by United in 2024. Let’s hope he can contribute this season.
DC United to play major match in Baltimore, focusing on growing the sport– DC News Now
Reminder that this is to be a thing.
World of Opportunity: Major League Soccer capitalizing on 2026 FIFA World Cup– Sports Business Journal
This publication covers the business plan that MLS has to capitalize on the World Cup on home turf… and only the business plan. But, if you’re interested to know what the league has done to seize the business opportunity, it’s laid out.
Meet Noahkai Banks, 19, the outside pick to make USMNT’s World Cup squad– ESPN
Given the vital importance of chemistry on the backline, I doubt a 19 year old CB is going to be bedded in with the World Cup bound players at this point, but Banks is definitely one for the future who seems content to make the USMNT his ticket to the international game.
Folarin Balogun Makes USMNT History With Unprecedented Champions League Feat vs. PSG– Sports Illustrated
What did Balogun do yesterday? Oh, nothing, just scored the fastest ever Champions League goal by an American, heading the ball comfortably into the net with less than a minute played. He followed that up with another conversion 17 minutes later to earn the brace. But, you know, it was only the defending Champions League title holders, so, no biggie.
‘A disgrace to football’: Vinicius Jr reports racist abuse as Real Madrid match halted– The Independent
The Benfica home tie against Real Madrid was badly marred by allegations of racist abuse against Benfica winger, Gianluca Prestianni, after he got in an on-field altercation with Brazilian star, Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid winger has been a lightning rod for racist attacks in the past, and it halted the match. Prestianni claims that he was misheard, Jose Mourinho offered that Vinicius (something pretty insinuating and irresponsible and the manager should know better), and the media figures did not hold back on the situation. The sport needs to outgrow these grim, unsettling, and deeply unnecessary situations.
USMNT coach Pochettino breaks silence on struggles to coach lethal trio Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe at PSG– World Soccer Talk
Mauricio Pochettino continues to talk to the press about things we don’t need him focusing on. Good thing he chastised Tim Weah for expressing dismay about the World Cup ticket prices, what a distraction. Anyway, here’s his article of sour grapes and internalized trauma from his managing experience in Paris five years ago.
FIFA reps offer no clarity on Foxborough’s World Cup security funds– ESPN
It’s Wednesday, so I’m googling FIFA and posting something they’re doing wrong.
MLS’s calendar flip is coming. Clubs are already planning how to exploit it– The Guardian
No, the words “Wait till they freeze to death” does not come up in this article.
2026 MLS season preview: Can Messi’s Miami go back-to-back?– ESPN
ESPN ponders and assesses if Messi and Inter Miami can execute the plan of making the rest of the league an irrelevant afterthought one more time.
And finally, strange tidbit- Jermaine Jones returns to Germany to take on the managerial role at a struggling club in a tier of German soccer I had never once heard mentioned. Nothing will diminish his love for USL League One club, The Fuego.
That’s all I’ve got! One-up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
That was a good story on Jacob Murrell. He’s still really young, but right now he’s one of the true veterans on this roster. Only Pirani, Bartlett, Stroud, Hopkins, Peltola and Herrera have played more games for United than him. He’s taking a more professional approach, according to him. (Don’t necessarily love him hanging out with Cameron and Shea, but whatever.)
Murrell did get some serious opportunities last year when Benteke was out, and never really seized those moments. Still, he’s a guy that can score some goals. If we’re going with a two striker system, he’ll get some more opportunities, especially since Kristian Fletcher is gone and Gabe Segal was apparently in a boot. If Murrell can provide some goal scoring danger off the bench, this team will be doing better.
Also, is Brandon Quaranta related to Santino?
Re: Shea and Cameron affiliation
Yeah, it’s to be expected from some young players. Cameron and Shea were mum on their ideology until they burst forth defending/championing something heinous. Whatever his politics, I hope he doesn’t decide it’s time to hit social media with something profoundly unhelpful. Ask Korbin how much that helps your reputation.
Also, however we’re feeling about DC, Sporting Kansas City currently has 19 players on their roster. Season starts on Saturday. I’m not even sure how you do that.
Yeah, seems like they’re set up for disaster this season that athletic historians will turnover in the future.
Years in the making. Vermes certainly had a hand in putting them in this position since he seemed to have a complete stranglehold on all soccer operations. He was also probably covering up for a lot of their organizational faults. But they’ve had like, three quarters of a year to get their ducks in a row since firing him. It’s madness.
I think they actually get a cap space penalty if they don’t have 18 senior roster players (which they surely don’t at the moment)
Think it’s quite possible some records get set and penalties accrue.
If they enter an injury spiral, roster rules will keep them from being able to pull out of it before the summer window. If they start having to forfeit games, goal differential or maybe even league points (if the league wants to get punitive), there’s a chance we see some crazy negative numbers, both figuratively and literally.