Spirit win on road, World Cup semifinals set, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday everyone. I took some time this past week to rest, recover, attend a family reunion, deal with some personal loss, and really just figure out how to get back on some sort of schedule after the USMNT was eliminated. I still have a ton to do this week, so you’ll hopefully see more content from me on my platforms about the World Cup…if I can keep my time from getting usurped by others.
Washington Spirit shut out NC Courage on the road, 2-0 (DP)
The Spirit got it done down in North Carolina, winning 2-0 behind first half goals from Leicy Santos and Trinity Rodman. They hit the road for two special matches this week, beginning with their match against Gotham FC at Citi Field in Queens. Here’s Jason’s match report as well.
Washington Spirit sign 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder, Monique Ngock (DP)
The Spirit have made a new signing! André breaks down the team’s signing of midfielder Monique Ngock, who is certain to be called up for Cameroon’s squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that begins in a couple of weeks.
Jude Bellingham’s brace led England past Norway after extra time to claim their spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. France will face Spain in Dallas on Tuesday, and England will take on Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.
South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams dies at age 25, weeks after World Cup appearance (ESPN)
Tragic news yesterday as South Africa’s Jayden Adams was found dead at his home. He played in the World Cup and just a couple weeks later, his life is cut short. Peace and blessings along with condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.
The 2026 World Cup Stars & Stripes FC awards for the USMNT (SSFC)
We pass out some World Cup awards for the USMNT after their run ends in the Round of 16.
DC United has acquired a young Salvadorean from LAFC via trade. Nathan Ordaz had 9 goals and 4 assists for LAFC the past two years, and will try to work his way into the lineup for the Black-and-Red.
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach (BBC)
Jurgen Klopp will be the next Germany coach, in a move that felt expected after Germany’s run ended in the Round of 32.
The best kits we didn’t see at the 2026 World Cup (The Athletic)
It’s a crime we didn’t get to see Curaçao’s away kit during this World Cup.
World Cup Day 31: FIFA needs to stop ruining classic World Cup kits (Think Outside The Ball)
Related, this is all FIFA’s fault. We have some dynamite kit matchups that should happen, but they’re ruining some of these all-time classic fits.
Loudoun United was in USL Cup action over the weekend. Unfortunately, they lost 2-0 to Pittsburgh.
Rose Kouassi is headed to Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, as she was called into the Ivory Coast. Wishing her the best in the tournament!
The USMNT 2030 World Cup qualifying journey begins sooner than we think (SSFC)
When will the USMNT get back to World Cup qualifying? Before you know it! The September-October 2027 window will be when the road to the 2030 World Cup starts for the United States.
This is a really cool thing. The Library of Congress is starting the process of creating a Grant Wahl collection. A terrific tribute to a great man that I was proud to call a friend.
Finally, we came out with Episode 4 of The Extra Kick over the weekend while I was at my family reunion. More is definitely coming as we push towards the final on Sunday.
I think Nathan Ordaz is a good signing. It will be interesting to see the contract terms when that comes out. It looks like he is on a senior contract. DCU acts like they have a plan for a rebuild.
“A plan for a rebuild”–fortunately I was seated when I read that. Shocker! I was skeptical of DCU’s GMhire at the time but maybe he and the coach are on the same page. Gasp! And without knowing much about him as a player, I do think it’s a reasonable acquisition.
His salary was listed as $545,000. I believe that they could designate him as a U22 player, which would only be a $200,000 cap hit. I do wonder if this means that Caden Clark might be on his way out, but there’s time for that.
I sincerely hope whatever the plan is survives contact with fan optimism and satisfaction about where things could be going.
Cuz that has been when Levien and Kaplan turn off the spigot, and head back in the house till it sounds like the fans are dying outside.
Will only actually be a turning point for the club if it’s a turning point for their approach to it.
I think its the coach with the plan and not the GM. The GM is making it happen though. They added defensive depth first. Then some attacking DP’s. Adding attacking depth if Baribo or Muntaneu are out for some reason. They may be looking at more midfield players next. It might take another transfer window. This is why I think someone has a plan.
The biggest thing I learned from the world cup. The teams that are going deep start a few star players and can sub in star players late in the game. The team has to be deep in talent to go far in world cup. Some luck helps, too. LOL.
Last season during the Miami/DCU match, I recall Miami subbing in Luis Suarez. DCU subbed in Jacob Murrell. It was a stark contrast to me, but it shows how subs can change a game.
Based on what I’ve seen on Twitter and Bluesky, LAFC fans are not happy about losing Ordaz. Saw someone mention that he was one of the better super-subs in the league, and that he seems to be most effective when he’s played out wide but allowed to tuck in.
His current salary is $545k. With him being 22, and having turned 22 this year, I do wonder if we could maybe get him on a U22 contract, even though he’s not currently on one. Not sure how that would work with him being transferred from within the league and not already being on a U22 contract. Age-wise he is eligible to be signed to a U22, but we might have to give him a new contract to do that, but I’m not sure.
If he could start at right wing, that could fix a gap in the roster.
Bogert is reporting this is going to be a U22 contract
Oh I hadn’t seen that anywhere. Good to know!
That’s the reason to sign that age profile on that money, so pretty expected
Matt Doyle posted an article where he suggested a realistic World Cup player transfer for each MLS team. For DC, his pick was Elijah Just, Right Winger from New Zealand.
As a DP, maybe.
But I’d be concerned that his best performance was really just Chris Wood giving a lesser talent upsies to the proverbial basket.
If this is a possibility they’re looking at, should perform due diligence about the data, video analysis, and whether he can do it on his own on a level to warrant such a transfer.
Yeah, Doyle’s analysis/reasoning was essentially that it seems like DC likes to collect good off-the-ball runners, without getting anyone that can actually feed them the ball, and Just apparently falls into that first category
Doyle hasn’t really given Hopkins or Peglow enough credit for their dribbling competency, especially Hopkins, who has been incredibly deceptive and evasive for his foot speed level.
I’ve long been of the mind we should invest in a right winger DP who is the full package, including crossing with his right, dribbling, passing, shooting, and speed.
Tim Weah would actually fit the bill- having him play in the left half space against Türkiye and Aaronson the right was, in a word, dumb.
I don’t think Just is worth it.
DC officially announces the Ordaz trade. DC sends LAFC $2.375M Cash with a potential of $500k more in incentives. LAFC also maintains a sell-on percentage. They also note that he will officially be a U22 player for DC.
I can’t believe DCU spent some money. 🙂
The owners have certainly opened their wallets this year. $4M for Baribo, ~$7M for Louis, $2.375M for Ordaz, plus whatever they spent to get Kurokawa and Hefti, so probably around $14M. Spending hasn’t really been the issue over the past few years, its been the roster construction, which is getting better now.
That amount is what EPL clubs pay for a 17 year old with enough promise to make an economic bet on a transfer in 4 years, and put them in their academy. Heck, it’s probably about 1.3 million light for that, if Akinmboni’s move is any indication. Happy the ownership group spent it, but worth keeping in perspective.
He either provides a baseline decency we can rely on for multiple seasons without much fear of his legs falling off, or he takes off and both clubs get a cut
I think Ordaz is a US citizen so no international slot needed.
He’s domestic. He was born in Encino, CA, so US citizen with Salvadoran heritage
Oh, wow, that’s clutch and ups his roster value considerably
I read international player on the DCU announcement and then checked and found he is a US citizen. I corrected it, but you caught it already. Front office is looking better than it has in a few years.
Yep, no worries. He seems to be important to the El Salvador National Team, which is cool. We lost that in jettisoning Herrera, but I feel like there’s going to be a strong local rooting interest for Ordaz here.
Much bigger Salvadorean community than Guatemalan.
Yep
I know it was decades ago, but DCU made a toooonnnn of hay out of having Raul Diaz Arce as a star
Similar to how Aaron Herrera plays for the Guatemalan national team but was born in New Mexico and is American. So too with Ordaz, but with El Salvador and California.
I’m not Salvadorean, but it seems like it’s generating some excitement among that population here to have a player of that background. I saw someone name drop Raul Diaz Arce. If Ordaz comes anywhere close to that impact, either on or off the field, we’ll have done exceedingly well.
As it is, I think it’s still a fine piece of soccer business. I like ownership’s comfort with the cash transfer mechanism. I like using the U22 slots on talented players with MLS experience (Caden Clark notwithstanding). I like that Ordaz can play on the right, or also back up one of our strikers (sorry Murrell and Segal). I like that there’s still the possibility of going out and getting a DP, or at least taking a swing at another U22 player like when they first got Lucho, and then transferring some of that saved GAM over to next year, let Clark walk, use our 3 U22s on Hopkins, Ordaz, and New Lucho, and get our third DP then for when we can make a decent run at some hardware. Maybe.
Looking at it, we’ve only had five El Salvador players in the club history. That’s pretty remarkable! Since 2005, there’s only been two (Cristian Castillo and Jeremy Garay) for a combined 700 minutes.
So yeah, definitely some thirst from the Salvadorean community.
Ok, transfer window opened today. I am expecting more.
In BIG but I hate it news — DC Council Chair has put in a bill to do a pubic-private partnership to build a roof over Audi Field (incl. expanding capacity to 28k).
DC gov’t would kick in $300M of est. $620M — which is more than it cost to buy the land and build the stadium.
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0769
As reported by Martin Austermuhle
https://x.com/maustermuhle/status/2076774014912196630?s=20
I can at least understand and respect the want to expand the stadium (roof is another conversation). By current MLS soccer-specific stadium standards, Audi is a bit on the small size for capacity. 28k certainly seems more in line with the rest of the league. I have a suspicion that the roof would be put in to allow them to have Levien and Kaplan’s new professional volley ball team play at Audi
This is a move they probably had to get in before the next wave of Dem politicians get in.
There’s already been some pretty big shakeups, and I imagine being buddy buddy with billionaire stadium owners and handing them gobs of millions, that window is maybe closing, hard
I like putting a roof over each end of the field and completely enclosed is ok. I bet they rent it for concerts. Tear out Heinieken club to add seats is ok, too. Spirit can fill any additional seats added, but DCU might not.
My assumption is that they will not be able to do the fancy construction to have a grass field they can grow and deploy for soccer games.
That’s the part I’m hating.
They are going to have to address improving parking, too.
I don’t know how they would do that without acquiring more land in the immediate vicinity and building a parking garage.
Who owns the open space walking toward Navy Yard? They could put a garage there.