Spirit win, DC United win, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday, y’all. We had some fun at Audi Field this weekend, so we start there!
Washington Spirit blow KC Current out of the water in 4-0 win (DP)
What a night on Friday for the Spirit! They destroy the Current and once again, Chris Armas gets dusted at Audi Field by a DC team.
Hey Spirits episode: Leicy & Trinity & Claudia & Jose (DP)
The Hey Spirits crew break down everything about the win, from Leicy’s brace to Jose the spirit coyote!
Also, for people into Legos, here’s a cool thing you can buy on Etsy to rep the new Spirit cherry blossom jersey!
DC United claws deep to beat Orlando City in comeback fashion (DP)
DC United had another wild outing on Saturday, having the lead, losing it and then coming from behind to beat Orlando City. Also, check out Jason’s report as well!
There were reports on Friday that DC United is close to terms with Portsmouth defensive midfielder Andre Dozzell and he would arrive after his contract expires. Sounds like Pompey would miss him if he did leave to come here.
Albert, 16, tops Reyna for youngest American in Bundesliga (ESPN)
Mathias Albert becomes the youngest American to ever play in the Bundesliga at the age of 16. Hopefully he can continue to develop and maybe start factoring into the USMNT during the next World Cup cycle.
FIFA is gonna issue more prize money to ease concerns over elevated expenses teams are undertaking to get their teams to the World Cup this summer. While they’re at it, lower the ticket prices and the travel costs for fans as well.
Arlington’s Ireland’s Four Courts awarded America’s Best Soccer Bar (WTOP)
Congrats to Ireland’s Four Courts for being named America’s Best Soccer Bar by Men in Blazers. It’s truly a terrific bar and they overcame a lot to earn that award. Well deserved!
Will doubters believe in Hearts’ title chances now? (BBC)
Hearts could become the first team in 41 years not named Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish Premier League. But, Hearts have to hold off those two teams over the final weeks to claim the crown.
In La Liga 2, Esteba Andrada is gonna need to figure out a good defense as to why he shouldn’t be banned for a very long time after he pushes an opponent, receives a red card, and then sucker punches the guy in the face.
This is one of the wildest endings to a season finale ever. Rochdale needed a win over York City to clinch direct promotion to League Two. A win or a draw and it was York that would earn direct promotion. Rochdale scores 5 minutes into second half stoppage, sending the entire stadium into bedlam. Fans invade the pitch and it takes several minutes to clear them off, giving York a couple more minutes. They capitalize, scoring a goal to earn the draw and direct promotion, sending their fans into hysterics. The full injury time is something absolutely special to watch!
UFL Announces Washington, D.C. as Host of 2026 United Bowl (UFL)
Audi Field will host the UFL title game (now named the United Bowl) on June 13th. It shouldn’t affect any of the soccer teams as it will take place during the World Cup break.
Let’s start the week well!
A scandal is brewing in Italy concerning the refs for Serie A and Serie B. Gianluca Rocchi a hall of fame ref and currently involved with their ref organziation and assigning refs for matches must submit himself for questioning. He is accused of committing fraud in sport in his role as referee designator.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7231602/2026/04/26/italian-referee-designator-fraud-investigation/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7231528/2026/04/27/calciopoli-rocchi-scandal-italian-foobtall/
Man, that York-Rochdale clip must be the longest clip ever shared here. Amazing scenes. I wonder at what level teams have to invest in goal-line tech…or VAR, cuz I don’t think that was a goal. On the other hand, it might have been a handball.
Three cheers for Four Courts. Thanks for sharing the piece. Nice that the community rallied and did the Go Fund Me for the restaurant. Wondering here, though, about the people injured in the accident that closed the place for over a year? Places matter, of course, but people…?
Injuries, yes. I think nine. None horrific. No fatalities, thank goodness.
Great weekend for DCU and the Spirit. Love Jose. And I’m glad that the DP is giving props to Jason as well–classy!
A little bored on my lunch break at work and I was bouncing around on Wikipedia reading on the history of soccer in the US. And noticed the NPSL had a bunch of teams split off and start the new “League for Clubs” still at the amateur level. I bring it up because Old Dominion Football Club Cesena FC (ODFC Cesnea) is joining the League for Clubs this year. Apparently it was founded in 2009 and is in Aldie, VA. Apparently they are an affiliate of Cesena FC of Italy’s Serie B.
https://www.theleaguefc.com/blog-posts/odfc-cesena-fc-usa-joins-the-league-for-clubs
Kye Rowles makes MLS’s Team of the Matchday
In their home opener last night at George Mason Stadium Old Glory DC could not keep up with the offense nor get through the defense of California Legion in the 36-23 defeat. That’s despite going up a man for 20 minutes due to a red card early in the first half for a high tackle with head contact and a high degree of danger with no mitigating factors. Also Jason Robertson seemed to be snake bit on try conversions despite 2 early penalty goals he normally doesn’t miss.
Per Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio, MLS owners met to discuss the future of the Whitecaps, and a relocation to Las Vegas (or potentially Phoenix) is apparently on the table. Though work is being done to try to keep them in Vancouver as well.
With what they’ve done, they deserve to stay in Vancouver and the people of Vancouver deserve to feel good about the club. Moving teams is a really shitty thing.
At least this isn’t like Anthony Precourt trying to move the Crew to Austin…but it still sucks. #SAVETHECAPS in this case the Whitecaps.
I would very much prefer they remain in Vancouver. Great city, great people.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7233781/2026/04/27/vancouver-whitecaps-relocation-mls-owners-las-vegas/
Instead of the normal 20k spots available at Gillette Stadium there will only be 5k available for World Cup games. But FIFA has announced they will allow tailgating at the games at Gillette.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48612186/boston-world-cup-hosts-tailgating-world-cup-games
Yay for tailgating!
Been to Tynecastle and have Hearts gear. Awesome effort this season.
The ESPN article is so sad. I sent it to my teammates in Scotland. They have every right to be appalled at the price gouging.