Why United is Baltimore Bound, Trin Concerns as SheBelieves Rolls Forward, 100 Days Till World Cup, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
It’s a lot, people. It feels we’re all operating at a nexus point where the proverbial Ghostbuster streams are getting crossed not on a daily, but hourly basis. Hold on tight, but take a breath with some soccer tidbits laid out in link format.
On to the news!
Why D.C. United plays Messi in Baltimore — and wants to expand there– Axios DC
If you needed any reminder (and you probably didn’t) about the location and circumstance of United’s next, aherm, “home fixture” in Baltimore, here’s the explanation of the reason it’s happening. Didn’t read much of this, cuz I didn’t need to go down a subscriber/possible paywall chute right now, but Levien is pretty quickly quoted as a big proponent of playing in that market. It’s a bold strategy to alienate your fans further with the effect of upping the ratio of pink jerseys in the stands. Sigh. There better be a benefit to United in this Baltimore venture somewhere along the line.
Trinity Rodman ‘fine’ after back injury scare, says USWNT coach Emma Hayes– USA Today
This is the main thing the District Press team is friggin nervous about, but Emma Hayes spoke directly to the concerns about Rodman’s health status, mercifully. The update is significant to USWNT and Spirit backers alike, with unease spreading rapidly after she left the field in pain holding her back in the opening She Believes fixture against Argentina. She is back in training with the US, but Spirit fans will remain laser focused on her status with the Spirit season opener looming on the 13th.
Emma Hayes: The SheBelieves Cup is so beneficial for USWNT– ESPN Video Clip
Hayes did also extol the benefits of the SheBelieves Cup for the squad. So, there’s that.
USA vs. Canada – SheBelieves Cup preview: third time’s a charm– Stars and Stripes FC
For those interested in reading a preview ahead of what promises to be another hugely competitive and likely contentious SheBelieves Cup meeting between CONCACAF powerhouses, the US and Canada, here it is. The match kicks off tonight at 6:45 eastern on TNT, with the English language stream on HBO.
‘Torn’—USMNT Gem Considering Nationality Switch Ahead of 2026 World Cup– Sports Illustrated
Dual international CB talent, Noahkai Banks, is talking to the press about the tough choice between the US and German national programs, using the word “torn” in the process. I’d speculate that this utterance is at least partially motivated by the desire to receive a World Cup call in for the USMNT now rather instead of waiting for next cycle. Regardless, hope Mauricio Pochettino navigates the communications well with his remaining time in charge.
100 days from the World Cup: What’s the state of the USMNT?– ESPN
ESPN asked a panel consisting of Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan, Eric Wynalda, Bruce Arena, Herculez Gomez, and Kasey Keller how they view the state of the USMNT as it hurtles into final preparations for this summer’s tournament.
World Cup 2026 – 100 things you need to know about soccer, USMNT, tickets and more – The Athletic
Braces for impact.
The 2026 World Cup faces big challenges with only 100 days to go– NPR
And one more, for good measure.
We miss you, Goff.
Finally, to close out, here’s a dryly expressed link from CONCACAF detailing the disciplinary actions taken against both the Guyana and Anguilla U-20 teams, and to read it is to wonder, what on earth happened?
And, after checking with the other writers to make sure this was, well, a thing we post, here’s the video of the extended, violent bedlam.
Just wow.
That’s all I’ve got today! One-up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
Aman has been loaned to Loudoun United through the end of this year. This solves our 11/10 supplemental spot issue, though I am a bit surprised it was him that got loaned over Karamoko (or Avilez or Leveille)
Yeah. It’s good for Aman to get playing time (assuming the USL as a whole is playing), but he was the one offensive addition to the midfield in the offseason, and the midfield could use some offensive help.
Well, it could be that Loudoun wanted Aman over the others, if we look at it positively? If we look at it negatively, it’s just another piece of evidence that not having a reserve team is complete insanity and an injustice to our young players.
Maybe I’m alone in this, but I don’t think the (lack of) MLS NP team actually has anything to do with this. If it was Avilez, Leveille, or maybe Turner getting sent to Loudoun, I think they’d probably be better going to an MLS NP team. Aman certainly seems above the MLS NP level (which is much lower than I think a lot of people realize). I think Aman stands to learn a lot more and get a lot more out of playing in USL, given that he was already thought to be close to MLS quality.
I agree 90% — not 100% because I don’t watch MLS NP or USL, so my opinion is wildly uninformed. That said, my impression is that USL is at a higher level — and probably more competitive, too. Certainly, he gets to play against and with more veteran players.
I am surprised about Karamoko though. Based on his limited contributions to Loudoun, I find it unlikely that he is ready to play in MLS. Turner keeps making the bench — I don’t know if that’s because a lack of options, or maybe he’s more ready than most of us imagine. If it’s the latter, Weiler needs to get him some playing time, quickly.
Yeah, I watch a decent amount of USL. Haven’t watched as much MLSNP, but enough. MLSNP is certainly better than not playing at all. Its absolutely a good training ground for young homegrowns and fringe draft picks. Teams like Charlotte have also brought in guys from other countries and stuck them there to get them acclimated before throwing them into MLS. So it certainly has its uses. But for guys like Aman, who are close to being ready to contribute in MLS, or are ready but are down the depth chart, I feel like going to USL, where the level is not only higher but more consistent, is more worthwhile.
An argument can be made that an in-house MLSNP team is good because you can directly monitor the player and also have some say in how the team plays (so that it might be consistent with how that player might play in the 1st team), but Loudoun still trains essentially next door to DCU, so I don’t think that would be an issue here.
Leveille and Avilez should definitely be with an MLSNP team though. I just think Aman and probably Turner are beyond that level at this point. And who knows with Karamoko at this point
I’d argue there’s no advantage to refusing to send talented players to the MLS Next Pro system.
Relying solely on loans to USL clubs, you’d have to find one that would actually play them and develop them at the role and skills you’d like them developed. On top of that, there would have to be an advantage in that department that outstrips the lessons they’d learn participating in MLS level training where coaches could instruct the players directly. It also doesn’t make sense to have development teams play in the same league as USL players are seasoned and trying to win.
So, MLS Next Pro is closer to what we’d need. And if we’re worried about the level of quality and competition, that means more investment and more talented players, not less. Steel sharpens steel, the more quality prospects testing each other, the more everyone will get out of it.
It’s also not a bad idea to eschew the idea that winning, standings, and stats are the whole point of the league. Development means learning and developing flexibility and versatility of impact. Maybe you want a striker to play CB for a few games to better understand the dynamics, tenacity, and indeed how to beat defenders more often effectively. Maybe you want a GK to play somewhere outside the box to work on their passing range and footwork in a more high pressure environment.
So, in essence, a development league doesn’t have nor shouldn’t have to mirror the exact nature of a professional league, and the value of it shouldn’t be measured in how the teams would compete in USL.
To be clear here, I’m not saying having an MLSNP team is bad or that sending players there is bad. I think its good to send players there, and that Avilez, Leveille, and probably Karamoko should have already been sent to one for this year. Development teams/leagues are absolutely important. I just feel like at a certain point, players kinda graduate from it. Aman is 21. I remember there had been comments on this site before about Murrel’s age and how much he could actually learn/develop at his age. If we want to take that route, I think a similar argument can be made for Aman. Does he really need to “develop” more? Maybe, maybe not. But the highest level he’s played in is college, and he already seems like a fringe MLS contributor. So, at least to me, it seems like the most important thing here is to get minutes and reps in a professional setting against other professional players. And I feel like USL probably provides that more than sending him to an MLSNP team would.
I’m fully agreed that MLSNP and USL do (and should) serve different purposes. And I agree that MLSNP teams shouldn’t necessarily be judged by on-field success or failure (though I have a feeling any DC MLSNP team in the future will fall squarely in the latter category there). I do think DC needs an MLSNP team. They’ve needed one for years. I just don’t think that MLSNP is the answer for Aman specifically in this instance.
Roche also has a entertaining interview with Peltola on the most recent episode of Pitch Pass. Peltola gives his thoughts on his playing style, and what he thinks of some of the new guys on the team
The match against Canada is likely to be one where there is a bit of blood left on the field–it traditionally is against them. So I wonder if Rodman is going to be held out just as a precaution.
I highly recommend that ESPN article on the state of the USMNT–lots of interesting insights from Arena, Donovan, etc. about their take on things. And no, they aren’t all in complete agreement about things.
Separate from the resolving the “torn” attitude, I think it makes sense to call in Banks to the next camp. Why? Because Richards is so critical (yet has had injury concerns over the past 4 years), because Ream is aging–heck, he’s not aging he’s aged–and Banks (despite his inexperience) is playing so well right now that additional high-level depth is a good thing.
I definitely think Poch would prefer to defer while also not losing Banks to Germany right before his tenure ends- would sour the legacy and be a bit of bad karma as he jets to Spurs. And the lemon thing indicates he would in fact be anxious about vibes for himself.
Even if Banks were willing to sign on just for bench riding cameos, which Banks might resent, calling in a 19 year old CB means Poch would be leaving off someone he has likely built trust with. It would also undercut the principle that long term commitment and consistent service are foundational, and Poch would hate that, possibly more than the squad.
I hope Banks just cools his jets a bit and leaves it to next cycle and the next coaching hire.
I don’t think there’s much lost for either the USMNT or Banks by bringing him here this summer — and that probably means the upcoming camp, too. For Banks, if the US doesn’t get out of the group, he is still free to switch to Germany, even if he starts all 3 games. More likely, he’ll only see action in 2 games, and then maybe in the next round. If the US goes deeper in the tournament? What more could a professional soccer player ask for than to be playing deep into a World Cup?
It is interesting though to see the dual nationality dynamic switching. The US used to be desperate to get any foreign player. Now, they’re aiming for a higher cut (even if a player with Brown’s stature is still going with Die Mannschaft), and the 2nd level Americans are now looking for chances with other teams.
If he played in the World Cup, he would be cap tied.
The 3 matches rule applies/applied only to friendly competitions and exhibitions, and I’m not even sure if that rule is still as it was when Jermaine Jones and others switched over.
TBC, I want to cap tie him. But I think there’s an argument for maintaining squad cohesion and not disrupting it with what is essentially a bit of a bribe to a talented player who has not been there for the turnaround- he literally is just now emerging as a pro, had the timeline been about two years more advanced for him, he’d have been in a few camps maybe already. The timing is awkward, and it’s unfortunate if he’s inclined to make it a “fish or cut bait” moment for the program. He definitely has a place in the next cycle, no question. But if Poch’s preferred CBs are healthy, I don’t think we should base our roster picks on how star struck someone’s profile makes us.
On Baltimore — I don’t think you missed much.
Given that expansion may mean that DC gets pulled out of old rivalries with NY clubs and maybe Philly, too, I can see the appeal of having a nearby rival, but I don’t think it’s at all realistic. Even the Orioles struggle with attendance. A soccer team? Ehh.
Yeah, there are some good youth hotbeds nearby, especially around Columbia, and there are hipsters in Hampden and Fells Point, but I don’t see Baltimore as a big soccer town — not 17,000+ each week. I think the ambition to build a 12,000 seat stadium is also out of whack with the notion of an MLS NP and USL women’s team.
That said, given the lack of a real newspaper there, and the lack of newspaper reading population, DCU has to look to big events to promote the sport to the Baltimore metro. Of course, this weekend’s match is an amazing cash grab they probably couldn’t match locally — not even in Landover — but I imagine it will presage an annual trip to Baltimore. Maybe Messi again in 2027, and when the Baltimore stadium is built, a smaller bid — maybe even the reverse theory, bringing one of the least appetizing matches on DCU’s schedule, or maybe a USOC match (especially if it’s against a local club) to Baltimore. 12,000 seats might be an OK number for that.