Spirit in the Community, Chawinga Extends NWSL Stay, Kang’s Empire Grows, and More Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Morning everyone. It is Wednesday, but your eyes do not deceive you, I’m pulling double duty this week and subbing in today.. It’s wild to me that we are in the midst of one World Cup and with in a year of the first kick off of another. Between now and the first kick off in Brazil there will be so much competitive soccer. NWSL will finish out its season and crown a champion at Rowdy Audi. MLS will complete two seasons as the league transitions to the new schedule. The USWNT will finish World Cup qualifying and host the SheBelieves Cup, while the USMNT take part in the Gold Cup. That’s alot and represents only a small portion of what’s going to take place. Should be a fun year. Now on to the headlines.
Washington Spirit players watch World Cup with patients at National Children’s Hospital (WJLA)
I’ve lost track of how many stories I’ve read where my main takeaway is the Spirit really understand what it means to make the organization part of the community. I can only imagine that being able to spend time with professional soccer players, Adrián González, and Kim Stone was probably a big morale boost for the patients as they work their way through treatment and created memories that will last a long time.
Loudoun 1, Birmingham 1, or… (Data Center Soccer)
Take a deep dive into Loudoun’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham from last weekend.
Kang moves to take control of Olympique Lyonnais owner EFG for $30 million (Reuters)
Michele Kang is looking to add a men’s soccer team to her portfolio! Despite the express wishes of some folks who comment here, its not DC United. Instead it is the far more logical Olympique Lyonnais. Les Gones are in rough shape financially and building them up will be a challenge.
KC Current announces contract extension for Temwa Chawinga using new NWSL rule (Kansas City Star)
Chawinga signed a deal in January 2025 to stay in KC until the end of the 2028 season. The new deal, signed under the High Impact Player rule, will extend their relationship until the end of the 2029 season. This is great news for the Current, the league, and fans in general. It is, however, not so great news for the rest of the teams in the league, Spirit included.
Report: Alexia Putellas Potentially Joining Boston Legacy FC (The Blazing Musket)
Rumors are circulating suggesting the two-time Balon D’or winner has narrowed her next team down to Michele Kang’s London City or Boston. (Some sources also include Gotham on that list but I don’t want to think about that nightmare.) Putellas would be a huge addition for any team in NWSL, but could be season changing for the Legacy who sit in 14th, just two points above last place, in their inaugural season. That being said, if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against Michele Kang.
World Cup 2026: Has this USMNT finally won over a divided soccer nation? (Yahoo Sports)
Getting nearly 350 million people in a nation where 98.88% of the population can trace their roots back to somewhere else and many take deep pride in that family heritage to get behind a men’s team that lacks the deep history of many other nations is not an easy task. Winning and hosting the World Cup for the first time in a generation probably helps wrong.
USA vs. Türkiye, 2026 World Cup: Scouting Türkiye (SSFC)
We are quickly approaching the USMNT’s final group stage match. For those unfamiliar with Türkiye, SSFC has you covered with scouting report on The Crescent-Stars.
Ghana coach: ‘VAR went for coffee’ to aid ‘lucky’ England (ESPN)
In a match that featured some memorable quips and a DC United reference from John Strong, Ghana feel a bit hard done by the referee’s VAR decisions. Both teams go into their final group stage match with four points.
Reports of Ronaldo’s demise were proven exaggerated, at least for now after a first half brace. Ronaldo’s first goal made him the first man to score in six World Cups.
Iran cleared to enter U.S. two days prior to match vs. Egypt in Seattle (ESPN)
Iran will have an extra day in the Seattle area to rest and prepare for their match against Egypt. With two draws, the Iranians still have a chance to advance out of their group.
Fifa leadership ‘overruled US-based staff’ opposing World Cup dynamic pricing (The Guardian)
You mean to tell me groups within FIFA were advising against the use of dynamic pricing for the World Cup but were over ruled because leadership thought it could maximize revenue because FIFA sees the US as unlimited ATM? Please excuse me as I channel my best Captain Renault from Casablanca impression. I’M SHOCKED!
Here is today’s match schedule:
| Teams | Where | When | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar | Seattle, WA | 3 PM | FS1 |
| Canada vs Switzerland | Vancouver, Canada | 3 PM | Fox |
| Morocco vs Haiti | Atlanta, GA | 6 PM | FS1 |
| Scotland vs Brazil | Miami, FL | 6 PM | Fox |
| Czechia vs Mexico | Mexico City, Mexico | 9 PM | Fox |
| South Korea vs South Africa | Guadalupe, Mexico | 9 PM | FS1 |
DC United legends Jose Fajardo and Eric Davis both featured last night in Panama’s loss to Croatia
On Panama, can I just note how much they’ve grown not only as a team but as individual players? They’ve lost their two games but they’ve honestly played better than Mexico and deserved better.
For the life of me, I don’t remember them.
They were both here for the second half of the 2023 season. Fajardo (striker) played 7 games (no goals), and Eric Davis (left-back) played 8 games. From what I remember of them, Eric Davis was largely fine, and performed decently enough. I don’t think anyone was upset to see Fajardo go at the time, but he’s seemingly done decently enough since he left to be starting at the World Cup
Yeah, Fajardo didn’t do a whole lot, but Davis had some good service in. I think we’ve upgraded our left back, but I at least have decent memories of his time there.
(As a Reds fan who started paying attention during the 1990 championship season, anyone called Eric Davis is going to have a warm place in my heart.)
There’s an interesting debate about the switch to having head-to-head be the decider as opposed to goal difference. The dead rubber between the US and Turkey makes me think FIFA should’ve run a few more simulations…
Canada is down 2-0 to the Swiss. Looks like they are going to be 2nd place in their group.
The Qatari player that broke Ismaël Kone’s leg has been given a 5 game suspension.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7391371/2026/06/24/madibo-ban-kone-canada-qatar/