Saturday’s Audi Field schedule finally set, Poch officially headed to Manchester United, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! We are heading into a very busy week for NWSL in the District, beginning with this weekend’s Washington Spirit semifinal match against Utah Royals. Then, regardless of how they do, there will be a full week of activities in the lead up for next weekend’s Championship match. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of other soccer news going on today, so let’s get into it.
Audi Field Will Host NWSL Semifinal at Noon and College Football Game at 4:30 p.m. (Washington Sun)
After days of uncertainty, Audi Field confirmed yesterday that they will host the Spirit game at noon tomorrow and the college football game at 4:30. That is a very tight turnaround, especially if the first game goes into extra time, and will require the Spirit and Royals to play with football lines already painted on the field. Why did the games have to be so close together? We don’t really know! What a mess.
Live updates: Mauricio Pochettino leaves USMNT to become Man United boss (USA Today)
This story is still developing as I prepare to publish, so here’s a live updates link. The contract is for 2.5 years, and Poch is expected to start with Manchester United after this USMNT window.
Sergiño Dest to leave USMNT camp with injury, out for Nations League quarterfinals (The Athletic $)
In the meantime, Poch may have to make some adjustments to his lineups for that window, with Dest now out of camp.
National Soccer Hall of Fame announces the six members of its 2027 class (NSHOF)
This is a solid class: Jozy Altidore, Julie Ertz, Megan Rapinoe, David Beckham, Tatu, and Lothar Osiander.
MLS announces 2026 Year-End Awards finalists (MLS)
Some interesting nominees this year, including the very young Cavan Sullivan for MVP. Donald’s already given us his ballot, but what do you all think?
Sources: Sarasota Paradise becomes third USL League One club to fold this offseason (Backheeled)
More shake-ups in USL League One.
‘We have to deliver’ – USL President Paul McDonough on promotion-relegation plans and why more clubs could be forced out (Goal.com)
And it sounds like they may not be the last team to fold or self-relegate as the entire USL moves to a promotion-relegation system.
In some alumni news, one of D.C. United’s most storied former players is exploring a new career path:
Ok, then!
Finally, here’s your schedule of events for the weekend. If you can make it out to the Washington Spirit semifinal, I recommend you do so. It will be a tough match, but I have every hope they can pull off a win and make their way to a home Championship game.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals | Sat., Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. | Washington, DC | CBS |
| USA vs. Haiti | Sat., Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m. | Miami, FL | TNT, Telemundo |
| DC Power FC vs. Sporting JAX | Sun., Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. | Jacksonville, FL | Peacock |
Have a good weekend!
The Secretaries Cup game has been scheduled since August. Its changing location every year for the next couple of years. It is the rivalry game for both the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Originally it was scheduled for 1 PM. I’ve seen a lot of grumbling about the time change in different communities on Facebook and else where. They also want to know how a women’s professional soccer playoff game trumps such a storied college football game.
Please.
I assure you, the internet has not been pining for a Merchant Marines d3 matchup for months, it wasn’t on their calendar, that’s for sure.
Which do you think is more likely: The internet was jazzed for this and finds The Merchant Marines the height of their national identity, or do women in sports get their hackles up?
Gotta do the smell test before taking that side.
Wasn’t taking that side. Was just saying something I noticed in other online forums. It also doesn’t change the fact that it is the rivarly game for both service academies.
I’d note that they were trying to push The Spirit to a football stadium on the same day, and after more money came in from a private donor, they’re now crammed at the same venue with lines for both games that both sets of athletes have to deal with.
Which presumably means Levien and Kaplan decided to cram both and take money from that rivalry as well as the private donor rather than send the Secretaries Cup to (again) the available football stadium, where they might lose the payout.
Food for thought (though the haters aren’t actually thinking).
Always follow the money.
This is a good article about how the deal was made.
https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit/audi-field-playoffs-michele-kang?redirected=notus_org
I would happily argue with some of those grumblers about how “storied” this DIII game is and that, of course, a professional women’s playoff game should trump it, but my question is: if it’s already settled that their game will be pushed back, why only push it back to 4:30, giving such little time for the logistical turnover?
On Sunday, the US Men’s Eagles play their 5th 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup game. They are 4-0-0 so far this year. They face Romania on Sunday at 11:30 AM ET at the National Stadium in Bucharest. The game will be streamed on Paramount+.
The Eagles have faced Romania a total of 9 times in official test matches going all the way back to the 3 team 1924 Olympic Rugby tournament. The US defeated Romania 37-0 before going onto defeat France 17-3 to win the gold medal. The US leads the all time series 6-3-0 with the most recent matches being a 31-17 win in 2023, a 24-22 loss in 2024, and a 26-18 win last November.
I know Pooch always wanted to go back to the EPL. But I think that going to a ManU side run by…The Glazers. And with a poorly constructed roster. And limited capital for player acquisition. He’s going to regret this. I don’t think he’ll be there for 2.5 years.
A year and 7 or 8 months is my bet, though I think the fans will be sour far sooner
Poch is gonna project a confidence that he’s the one to make them the Man U of old, and that’s simply not going to happen on the pitch with what is off it, as other clubs refine their modernity.
I imagine the owners will back him and then drag him, but they won’t sink with him.
Michael Carrick is much beloved by the fanbase for his time there and his devotion to the club- they literally made sure he was off the pitch at one point before booing the players- so the environment is simply no bueno, and it’s unclear what results it would take to get the crowd on Poch’s side.
The San Jose Earthquakes have been sold, seemingly to a guy that runs a venture capital firm. Not sold to the firm itself, but to the guy that runs it. Maybe that’s not as bad? But still seems iffy