DC United’s Future, Trinity’s Renaissance, Banda and Chawinga Master Classes, Lucho Gambling Accusation, FIFA and UEFA Fight Over Shares Plan, and more: Wednesday Freedom Kicks.
Happy Wednesday everyone. If you aren’t watching WAFCON, you really should be. Today marks Day 4 of the competition. So far, two of the heavy favorites have been upset. Yesterday, two of the biggest names in NWSL, Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga put on absolute start displays. On to the headlines.
DC United enters next phase of its rebuild as MLS restarts play (WTOP)
José Umaña from WTOP sat down with Dr. Erkut Sogut to talk about the future of the Black and Red. The discussion spurred several questions. First (and maybe just for me), is “The plane is an office for me” the LinkedIn equivalent of ” Trinity Rodman is Greenland.”? Secondly, just how many international spots do DC United actually have open? José and Jason got to the bottom of it.
Trinity Rodman’s renaissance: Spirit win caps a July return to form (The IX Sports)
Rodman had a career month in what in what is shaping up to be a career year. The IX Sports looks at her resurgence.
The Spirit have players from England, Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, Scotland, Italy, Canada, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast. Soon players from Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon. Ever wonder how the Spirit scout and build their team? Annie and André have the Hey Spirits episode for you.
Loudoun United to host ‘A Night for Hunter’ in memory of Hunter Bohnenblust (Loudoun Times-Mirror)
On August 1st, Loudoun will host Hartford Athletic and hold “A Night for Hunter, Kick Childhood Cancer” dedicated to the memory of Hunter Bohnenblust. Hunter, who signed a one day contract with the club and served as honorary captain, passed at age 8 in August 2025 from diffuse midline glioma, a cancerous brain tumor. The night will feature a color run before the game, a foam party, and face painting.
Lucho, who now plays in Brazil for Fluminense, is embroiled in a gambling scandal for actions in a match that occurred almost a year ago. Acosta earned a yellow card on August 17, 2025 against Bragantino for actions deemed to be demonstrating “a lack of respect for the game, by recklessly pushing his opponent out of play.” A gambling company identified a n abnormal amount of gambling activity involving the yellow. SportsRadar reported the news to the Brazilian Football Confederation who opened an investigation. Lucho denied any wrong doing. Not a great look for Acosta.
So FIFA is looking to sell its commercial rights to investors, set up a company for Infantino to run after his leadership is up, and basically cede control of the soccer schedule to business interests…… :: Sits rocking back and forth in chair:: Everything is fine. Everything is fine.
UEFA to discuss World Cup boycott over FIFA private investment plan – sources (ESPN)
UEFA was quick to loudly condemn the plan, not that there was any particular fondness between them and FIFA prior to today. UEFA’s statement was unequivicol in its position on the matter and stated, “UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.” The main question is would UEFA actually sit out the World Cup over this?
MLS owners to hear proposed changes to league’s roster, spending rules: Sources (The Athletic)
A less byzantine salary and roster building structure in MLS? Yes please!
Malawi achieves historic victory over 10-time champ Nigeria in first-ever WAFCON game (Yahoo Sports)
In a major upset, Malawi, making their WAFCON debut, knocked off the favorites Nigeria (and Gift and Deb) 3-2 in the opening Group C match for both teams. Temwa Chawinga scored a brace and Tabitha Chawinga also had a goal for the Scorchers.
Barbra Banda smashes four past Egypt as Zambia enjoy WAFCON demolition (ESPN)
In the other Group C match, Barbra Banda scored four and helped lead the Copper Queens to a 6-0 rout of Egypt.
I feel like today’s FK’s are a bit of a downer, so I will end with this:
Its not soccer and doesn’t involve a raccoon but animal on the playing field videos are always amusing. In this case both the video of a squirrel dodging what looks like the entire Detroit grounds crew and the commentary from the broadcaster a well worth it.
What did I miss?
The Kimito Nono signing is official. 3 year contract with an option for a 4th:
https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-signs-japanese-midfielder-defender-kimito-nono-from-kashima-antlers
Based off of like one highlight reel, I think I like him better as a fullback than a midfielder, but we’ll see how this all works out. He looks good, he made a J-League Best XI in 2024, and Weiler has coached him before. Those are all green flags.
Still wish we had some depth at left back.
Left back and Left Mid.
I feel like at this point, Antley is just the LB depth. We only really have 4 total outside backs on the roster at all at this point, its not really a part of the field we have a ton of depth in regardless. And I think at this point we’re just reliant on Kurokawa’s seemingly infinite stamina and inability to be hurt.
Sure, Antley is the backup, but he’s been on the injured list, and we’re not sure how serious it is or how long he’ll be out.
I do wonder if Kurokawa did get hurt or need a rest, if Weiler would try out a 3 back system. Or he might just throw Markovic there, who knows.
His first instinct has been to just put the players he rates wherever there’s a gap, so I fully expect Markovic or Hopkins to see time at FB if things get dire. And honestly, what team survives if all 4 of their fullbacks go down injured?
I’ve come to this realization recently, but Markovic does really seem like the new Jared Jeffrey. He will be used anywhere and everywhere, regardless of what his actual position is.
I’m predicting he’ll be starting games at CB next year, if not later this year. It’s pretty obvious his skill set is not optimal to be a real option elsewhere, Weiler just rates him and wants to give him minutes so he’s not just rotting on the bench. It’s not like Hopkins where he’s getting trialed so many places to see if he can own them after a few good but inconsistent outings.
Markovic is a baller, I hope he gets his feet under him and the younger players can grow with him over time
Acosta acquired US citizenship some time ago–I remember him talking about how he’d like to be part of the USMNT program. Wow, what a lot of emotional and maturity baggage he brings as a player.
I thought he’d be incredible in a US jersey, thinking he’d grown up after spending time in Cincinnati without making a fuss. But it seems like he is who he was, more or less.
I wasn’t expecting him to outplay the likes of Malik Tillman or Diego Luna
Didn’t even feature
Character will out
The Capital City Soccer Show interview with Sogut has been posted (in podcast form) and there were a couple of interesting notes in it:
Will note on the homegrown signing, Greg Roche had a few theories on it. His list was:
Judah Pritchet (’08 CB), Kamil Castillo (’10 CM), Mikel Akinmbony (’10 CB), and Gabriel Vasquez (’11 Winger)
I’ll believe the ownership on NextPro when a shovels are in the ground on a new stadium and/or a deal gets done to play in an existing stadium.
They need to get fined for lacking a NP team every year going forward. Maybe even retroactively. Get the damn team running now and move it to Baltimore later, wtf is so hard about that?
I believe they ARE getting fined every year for not having one. But also… just start one, and move it to Baltimore when all the pieces are place. Develop the kids! What a great way to ensure that club culture is already in place when you sign some of these guys.
100% — There’s the Soccerplex in Germantown. There’s also good facilities in Columbia. Hell, they could play at Audi Field.
There is a rumor that DCU is talking to David Doudera.
Interesting. Especially with that being the second player we’ve been linked to at Slavia Prague within the last week
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is investigating several Argentine players and a coach for the aftermath of the Final. Additionally, two players are being investigated for displaying a banner about the Falkland Islands after their victory over England in the semi-final match.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7477708/2026/07/29/argentina-world-cup-final-investigation-fifa-scrap/
Apparently Pochettino and the US Soccer are closed to a deal for Poch to return as the USMNT coach.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7458418/2026/07/29/mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-us-soccer-talks-close-deal/