US Open Cup, She Believes Cup, World Cup, Inter Stunned, Love is Blind Collateral, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Heya! Towards the end of the FKs, there is a mention of some news related to the arctic circle. Having felt its influence this winter, as the cold air has seeped from that area all the way to the DMV on multiple occasions, we’re familiar.
On to the news!
To start off the DC United news, there is an article that the club will host the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Round of 32 Match at Audi Field on April 15th. Why no link, you ask? Cuz it is currently dead on the site. Still, I imagine the news holds, despite the technical difficulties.
Loudoun United Opens 2026 Season with New Coach, Players– Loudoun Now
It’s all happening at Loudoun United. Sadly, without long time stalwart Ryan Martin, who, I think many would agree, deserved better.
There is some DC Power news, as well, as three DC Power players have received national team callups, two to the Phillipines, and one to Haiti (which now features Pia Sundhage as national team coach, which is not what anyone had for bingo).
This is a big deal for these competitions. Paramount+ is certainly making a bid to be indispensable to a wide range of soccer addicts.
Another tidbit with a bad link- unsigned DC United 2026 Superdraft pick Lasse Kelp has signed with The Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Checking up on USWNT players abroad. Plus: A last-minute uniform mix-up– Yahoo
This article primes the pump for this Sunday, March 1st, when the USWNT opens their She Believes Cup tournament in Nashville against Argentina, noting the narratives leading up to camp. And don’t worry- the uniform mix-up refers to Manchester United in the WSL.
Mauricio Pochettino suddenly has a glut of USMNT options as the World Cup looms– The Guardian
With the return of Tyler Adams and Ricardo Pepi from their injuries, The Guardian notes the depth that the USMNT now enjoys. Let’s see how it all shakes out, cuz, one day, it will be summer.
2026 MLS Anonymous Executive Survey, Part 2: World Cup impact, league’s future – The Athletic
Part 2 of the executive survey results from The Athletic.
FIFA releases extra World Cup tickets for fans not selected in lottery– USA Today
This whole process has been quite unfortunate.
World Cup host cities are ‘running out of time’ with $625m in funding held up by DHS shutdown– The Guardian
The good news is, The Guardian is providing excellent reporting on the World Cup situation. The bad news is, the World Cup situation that needs reporting.
FIFA have ‘complete confidence’ Mexico can host World Cup despite unrest– ESPN
Case in point…
Bodø/Glimt bask in ‘crazy’ Champions League victory over shellshocked Inter– The Guardian
I loved this SOOOO much yesterday. Let’s see how far the Arctic Circle natives can take this in the knockout rounds of the world’s pre-eminent yearly club competition. Seeing as they will have a home tie in every stage until the final, as well as the expectation disparity that has already bitten Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, it’s gonna make some clubs sweat.
A fun one, as Crystal Dunn discusses the whole retirement thing with two former teammates who have been there, done that.
USMNT legend Tim Howard responds to being called ‘weirdo’ on ‘Love Is Blind’– USA Today
Lastly, bit of an odd one. The overwhelming popularity of reality dating shows that are binged fiercely on various platforms is becoming inescapable for those who, I’m sure, did not expect to be caught in it’s crosshairs. For example, former Everton and USMNT goalkeeper, Tim Howard. A failed goalkeeper is on the show, and had some takes on Tim’s personality and David Beckham’s talent level. Tim’s a media figure now, so he had to respond.
That’s all I’ve got! One-up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
I was doing some digging on Bodo/Glimt last night, and found a fun coincidence. One of the 2 players on that team that is not from Scandinavia is from Nigeria, and his name is Gift Sunday. Which I find funny, given the Spirit have Gift Monday. I do have to wonder if the other days of the week are also involved elsewhere in the world too
That’s pretty wild
So, I tried to do a deep dive on this, and it seems like this is tied Yoruba, which is a culture, language, calendar system, and religion originating in West Africa which is so big (like 50 million??) that it’s sort of embarrassing we don’t know more about it.
The original tradition is actually 4 days, but has been adapted over time to encapsulate more days. Monday and Sunday are especially auspicious days in their calendar, with Monday being tied to financial success and Sunday being more associated with cosmic alignment.
There’s a pattern in the region of naming infants after the day they were born, and, seeing as Sunday and Monday have such good connotations within the culture, makes sense those would be ones that are proudly displayed.
And here Sunday is for football, and Monday is for mania…..(Bangles for the youngins)
The calendar says Bengals then Bangles.
well played
Norway is running a hot hand this winter…..
The club has officially signed Grant Leveille as their 23rd homegrown, fourth one on the roster (Hopkins, Turner, Avilez), and fourth goalkeeper. He’s 17 and 6’4″ and is the first academy goalkeeper signed since Bill Hamid. I don’t foresee him stepping in like Bill did, but all the other goalkeepers on the roster might well be out of here by the ’27-’28 season so he could have a shot then.
Did the club need a fourth goalkeeper? Not really. But as long as they can get Leveille an opportunity for playing time at some club (START THE DAMN MLS NEXT PRO TEAM ALREADY!) to keep his development going, he’ll definitely be a good investment for the future. It’s good that despite not really having this clear development path, the front office has still been able to sign academy players like Leveille and Avilez. Jackson Hopkins has taken several years to really start to flourish, so getting that playing time is going to be vital.
Anyway, welcome to the team, Grant!
I have to wonder, even if we did have a Next Pro team, if he would still stay with the first team. Getting involved in first team training and having to block shots from Baribo, Munteanu, etc., is probably more helpful to learn than whatever the forwards at the NP level produce on a regular basis
Part of the reason why young GKs rarely are stars (but instead often become great in their 30’s) is, I’d argue, the most important skill/ability for a great GK is judgment. And that’s something you can help by teaching, by watching, by film. But the single greatest way to build judgment is through playing. Dealing with a 2 on 1 and deciding who to take and how far to go out. Dealing with multiple crosses in a game and decided when to punch, when to grab, when to stay on your line. Reading the game. Directing your defense. Those are all about PT and game minutes.
The story I’ve heard is: Leveille stays with the Mothership for a couple of weeks. That allows coaches to identify areas to work on and things he needs to improve at. Then send him someplace where he’s going to play a lot (rather than sit).