Local World Cup Celebration Planned, Warm Up Matches Continue, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Morning DC Footy Folk!
We’re down to single digits for the World Cup countdown! 9 days left until the start of the tournament! Speaking of 9, who is your favorite player to don the 9 for any of the DC area teams? For me, it has to be Tara Rudd because it’s not every day you see a world class center back wearing that number! Discuss in the commments!
Let’s dive into it!
Prince George’s Co. plans two-day World Cup celebration (WTOP)
As reported last week, the National Mall will host a World Cup watch party as part of the America 250 celebrations. PG County is making sure that those in Maryland will have an option closer to home with a two day event on June 12th and 13th at the Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex. Taiye Akinmboni, the father of former DCU player Matai Akinmboni, is part of planning for this event.
Christian Pulisic wanted to talk about something else. Now he can (The Guardian)
Pulisic is feeling himself in the build up to the World Cup and that can only be a good thing for the USMNT.
Weston McKennie promises another fun hairdo for 2026 World Cup (USA Today)
Perhaps taking a page out of Trinity Rodman’s book, McKennie looks to stun at the upcoming World Cup with a hair style that matches his personality.
NWSL Power Rankings: Utah keeps spot at the top as Portland tumbles (ESPN)
The last Power Ranking as we enter the roughly one month long summer break places the Spirit in second place. This comes after the Spirit have 6 out of their last 7 NWSL games.
A bit of an autopsy following Arsenal’s close yet not so close Champions League final loss to PSG. I am an agreement with author and think that splashing the cash on at least one world class forward maybe the missing piece that will allow them to finally claim the big eared trophy. Then again, they were merely a penalty save away from winning the whole thing…
James Milner, Premier League’s appearance record holder, retires aged 40 (The Guardian)
A brief moment for James Milner who closes out an amazing and long career. Might need to fact check me on this, but I do believe that he was the only current Premier League player to be playing last year who debuted before LeBron James played in the NBA (and hes’s ooooold)
Santos is among a few other Spirit players called up for World Cup qualifiers during this international window on the womens side. Gift Monday has also been called up by the Nigerian national team.
We’ll finish with a beauty of a strike! See you all in the comments!
James Milner started playing in the Premier League around the same time a high school-aged LeBron was playing an exhibition in my college’s gym, which was just down the road from Akron.
I had done a study abroad in England in 2001 (flew out when you could still go with somebody to the departure gate, returned when that was no longer a thing), and that’s when I started watching the Premier League. Sadly, Milner debuted in 2002, so I missed seeing him while I was there.
Very cool! I hope you got a chance to watch a Prem game during study abroad! I saw Brentford vs West Ham a few years ago. I might head back to London in 2027 and try to catch one of the “Big 6”. But yeah Milner is a legend. Crazy that he is the second youngest Prem player ever.
I didn’t get to go to a game, but I’m kicking myself because beyond missing out on that, I walked past the stadium for Cambridge United every day and never really thought to go to one of those games either.
To be fair, it took me two years of living in DC before I realized that I could go to a DC United game, and that was only because my friend invited me. And it wasn’t until after I went to one of those that I fell in love with the experience of a live soccer game.
The sport is richer that you are on board.
Milner, a colossus.
A fun little wager opportunity.
Jared Stroud, Lucas Bartlett, and Joao Peglow all have 4 career goals for DC United. Who gets their fifth first?
(Louis Munteanu and Jackson Hopkins are both sitting on 5, but that race to six feels a bit more lopsided than the other one.)
That is a beauty of a strike. Definitely a worldie and up for Goal of the Season/Year.
Jackson Hopkins has been called into the U-21 USMNT camp. My guess is this a camp for players who’ll be eligible for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics squad. I’ve only got 2 sources. Its a June 1-9 camp based in Slovenia. They will play the Ukrainian U-21s on June 5th at 12 PM EDT and Uzbekistan U-21s on June 8th at 12 PM EDT.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/every-mls-call-up-june-2026-international-window
https://3rddegree.net/fcds-nolan-norris-called-up-for-us-u21-camp-in-slovenia
USMNT Group D Opponent Turkey has named its World Cup squad:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7326328/2026/06/02/turkey-world-cup-squad-2026-usmnt/
Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, has been called to testify before Congress about how the NFL handles its broadcasting rights in regards to the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act (SBA). While it is NFL related any potential new legislation will impact MLR, MLS, NWSL, USL and other sports leagues we watch.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7325662/2026/06/01/congress-roger-goodell-testify-broadcast-steaming-deals/
Pele’s shirt he wore for the 1958 World Cup final between Brazil and Sweden is going to be auctioned via Sotheby’s. Bidding will be open from June 29 – July 16. It was last bought for $105k in 2004. Its expected to go for more than $6 mil.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7325740/2026/06/02/pele-1958-world-cup-final-jersey-auction/
Talk about inflation!
More like wealth inequality. The people that bid on it are the ones who literally are running out of things to purchase that are not redundant or provide any satisfaction.
A “bitter”, but entirely accurate, perception.
(compliment)
Nothing is more fun than cleaning a volley like a golf stroke. You don’t even feel it leaving your foot.
A bizarre aside, I have been called up for the World Medical Games to play for Scotland. To the gym this carcass goes. Scotland is at fever pitch right now. Boston, brace yourselves.
“Make it to Munich” is a lovely film. Now on Tubi, and UTube in the USA. Give it a run. Have a glass of wine and enjoy this beautiful story. I know everyone involved, great people.
In on honor of the World Cup, I recommend watching The Game of Their Lives (international title: The Miracle Match). Its a movie adaptation of the story of the 1950 US World Cup team that upset England 1-0. RFK and the 2004 MLS All Star games make cameos. Though there are a raft of historical inaccuracies and its rated poorly by critics its still worth a watch.
Yeah, I enjoy that one. And it features Patrick Stewart in RFK Stadium a few years before X-Men: Days of Future Past would also feature Professor X-portrayer James McAvoy in RFK Stadium.
Apparently the 2026 NWSL Championship will be at Buzzard Point on Nov 21. I doubt we make it but that’s in the middle of the Best of 3 series in Round 1 of the MLS Playoffs. But it would be amazing to have both DCU and the Spirit playing playoff soccer at Buzzard Point at the same time.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7326766/2026/06/02/nwsl-championship-2026-washington-spirit/
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-announces-audi-2026-mls-cup-playoffs-schedule