World Cup Playoffs Decision Day, USMNT vs Portugal Preview, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Morning DC footy folks! I haven’t mentioned my 30+ soccer league in a while (mainly because we’ve been doing terribly). But yesterday we got back to back wins! I got some nasty turf burn but definitely worth it.
Anyways, onto the footy news!
USA vs. Portugal, 2026 USMNT friendly: preview – the devil is in the big picture (SSFC)
Can the US come back from a Belgian butt whooping against a decent Portuguese side sans-CR7?
2026 World Cup playoffs: Who will claim the final six spots? (ESPN)
Lots of interesting storylines to follow including the Azzurri players ready to banish their demons of the last few World Cup cycles.
‘This is bigger than football’ – DR Congo bid to end 52-year World Cup wait (BBC)
Let’s briefly zoom in on one of those World Cup hopefuls. Last time the DRC were in the World Cup, they competed under a different name, Zaire. Do you think they will beat Jamaica and return to the promised land?
The US Soccer program finally has a permanent home (bankrolled by Arthur Bank, owner of Atlanta United and the yet to be named Atlanta based NWSL team that will begin play in 2028).
Cardiff lose €120m damages claim against Nantes in Emiliano Sala case ($The Athletic)
This is an interesting conclusion to a case that I’ve loosely followed over the last few years.
Let’s end with a few Skeets:
The women’s international break is coming up next month and Bernal is the first of the Spirit contingent to have a call up confirmed.
An interesting graphic from the American Soccer Analysis folks. My first takeaway is that we are an entertaining, proactive side to watch. My second takeaway; since when is Angel City mentioned in the same breath as KC, Spirit, and the Pride?!
DCU U-15s beat Barcelona in the Generation Adidas Cup so that’s exciting news on the youth front!
That’s it from me folks! Remember that there’s a USMNT game tonight along with six World Cup playoffs! See you in the comments!
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7158945/2026/03/31/canadian-premier-league-offside-wenger/
The Canadian Premier League is going to trial Arsene Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule. Meaning as long as a part of the body that can be used to score is in line with or behind the second-to-last defender then the attacker will be considered onside. Additionally, there will be a Football Video Support (FVS) system rolled out. Its a video replay system where coaches can hand a “challenge card” to the 4th official a limited number of times per match to challenge key officiating calls. It will be used for goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red cards or mistaken identity. FIFA says the card must be given immediately after the relevant incident.
Ah yes, the one downside to following Dave Johnson on Twitter; hearing him complain constantly about VAR and tight offside calls, and wanting the Wenger offside rule.
My concern with the daylight rule is it just might shift the line drawing, but not actually change the dynamics of really tight calls. So instead of looking to see whether part of the attacker’s body is ahead of the defensive line, now we’re gonna be looking to see if it’s even. It might still be inches. And the change might actually give too much of advantage to the attackers. Will certainly change the dynamics of the game, but might make it more fun. Much more scoring, I think.
Exactly. Its not going to get rid of the line, it will just move the line. I’d imagine it will probably result in more goals overall (and probably more DOGSO red cards from CBs), but it won’t actually address the issue that people seem to have with the decisions currently.
I thought Inter Miami was already using this rule…..(?)
Shh Darth Garber doesn’t want us to know that.
The DCU U15s topped their Gen Ad Cup group. The DCU U16s, alas, came in 3rd in a group led by Copenhagen FC.
Also, this morning, USA U18s tied Portugal, in tourney in Lisbon, 1-1. No DCU youth on team.
Turkey/Turkiye joins the USMNT group at the World Cup after beating Kosovo today
Italy is out again. Bosnia-Herzegovina just won on penalties 4-1.
With the last penalty being scored by a NE Revolution player
Japan beat England in Wembly.
So if they keep playing like this the USMNT isn’t getting out of their group.