Don’t get me wrong though, I still miss waking up and walking across the street to the beach every morning when I lived in Florida. Whatever your own location is, I’m glad we all get to call Exploria Stadium our personal “home away from home.” Now enough of the lovey-dovey reminiscing stuff, let’s get into today’s links!

Lions Kick Off Slew of Matches at Home

Orlando City resumes league play tonight at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts the Columbus Crew at Exploria Stadium. The Lions and the Crew last squared off in May earlier this season, where City fought to a second-half comeback 2-2 draw. Former Orlando City forward Ercan Kara and rookie striker Duncan McGuire scored to solidify the club’s third-straight unbeaten match against the Columbus. Today’s match is the first of three in a nine-day span for Orlando as the Lions face a quick turnaround for Wednesday’s road match against New York City FC. The team then turns around to host Inter Miami in the Tropic Thunder derby on Sunday.

Lions Hunting for Milestones

We have officially reached the latter part of the season when players and coaches can start to look down their personal goals lists to see just how well they have done this year. Head Coach Oscar Pareja is hunting two more wins to reach the milestone of 60 as the Lions’ manager. Another milestone hunter is Designated Player Facundo Torres, who currently sits level with former forward Dom Dwyer for fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring charts. The Uruguayn’s next goal would mark his 25th and tie him with club legend and inaugural MLS captain Kaká for third in club history. For the team as a whole, Orlando City has made it 10 straight home matches without a loss, which is the club’s longest-ever run within a single season in the MLS era.

Orlando Pride Need Wins for Playoff Run

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines is calling all supporters for the Pride’s must-win match at Exploria Stadium on Sunday. While the Pride have shown sparks of brilliance at times this year, they’ve lost 10 of their 18 games, leaving crucial points behind along the way. The club has massive six-pointers ahead against Angel City, Racing Louisville, and the Houston Dash. Gathering these pivotal wins would be necessary for the Pride to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.

Orlando Pride Releases 2023 Moniker Kits

In recent years, the Orlando front office has taken its merch game up a notch with Moniker jerseys of its different start players. This season, August NWSL Rookie of the Month Messiah Bright and captain Marta each earn the special edition honors. The kit includes a special design backing and a limited edition patch only attainable through buying the Moniker kits. Bright’s design is symbolic of a stained glass window, while Marta’s depicts her being the GOAT (greatest of all-time) of professional women’s soccer.

Orlando City B Clinches Playoff Spot with 1-1 Draw at Fire II

Orlando City B drew Chicago Fire II 1-1 last night at SeatGeek Stadium to clinch its spot in MLS NEXT Pro postseason play. The Young Lions were without the services of star striker Jack Lynn, who is likely suiting up for the senior team tonight following the departure of Ercan Kara. It only took 17 minutes for the Baby Sparks to find the net as Sergio Oregel finished off Billy Hency’s cross. In the 71st minute, Wilfredo Rivera stepped up in Lynn’s absence to level the match. Following full time, OCB’s 20-year-old Venezuelan keeper, Javier Otero, made two saves to secure the extra shootout point, 4-3.

Free Kicks

•  Inter Miami has signed Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana to a contract extension through the 2027 MLS season with an option for 2028.
• U.S. Soccer plans to construct the nation’s first-ever designated national training center in the Atlanta area, funded in part by Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank’s $50 million contribution.
• Premier League club Everton has been sold to private equity firm 777 Partners in a deal reportedly worth more than $685 million.
• Arsenal is confident of finalizing a contract extension with 24-year-old midfielder Martin Ødegaard, whose deal expires in 2025. It would likely need to be a significant increase on his current £120,000-a-week wage.
• Spain has granted a restraining order to prevent former football federation chief Luis Rubiales from coming near forward Jenni Hermoso.
• Spanish police arrested three Real Madrid youth players for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor.
• Barcelona will play Real Madrid on Oct. 28 in the first El Clásico matchup of the 2023-24 season.
• The father of 22-year-old student Martin Podhajsky paid Czech third division side FK Usti nad Labem around $22,000 to secure his son a place in the senior squad and guarantee him at least 10 minutes of first-team action this season. His son has never actually played soccer before.

That’s all I have for you today. Let’s all enjoy the return of some first-time action tonight. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City Players Abroad

If you were watching OCB play, you might have missed senior Lions Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena representing the Peruvian national team against Paraguay in their World Cup qualifying match. Gallese earned the start in goal while Cartagena subbed on in the 46th-minute in the 0-0 draw, although the Peruvians had to play a man down for the entire second half. Forever Lion Yoshi Yotun was also on the pitch to bring a bit of nostalgia for longtime City supporters. Peru will be back in action against Brazil on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Orlando City Designated Player Facundo Torres will also take part in the World Cup qualifiers for Uruguay tonight vs. Chile and at Ecuador on Tuesday. Finally, Homegrown forward Wilfredo Rivera’s Puerto Rico side will play in Concacaf Nations League against the Bahamas Saturday, followed by Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.

Facundo Torres Enters MVP Conversation

As the regular season winds down, forward Facundo Torres has gathered a shout or two in the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP race. Torres is listed with one point in the linked story, meaning a fifth-place vote from one of 13 MLS talent, staff, writers, and editors who contributed to the latest rankings. The Uruguayan Designated Player has been effective in his second year in MLS play. He currently boasts six non-penalty goals and four assists on the year for one of the league’s best teams and has quietly climbed within just a few goals of the Golden Boot lead. Should he continue to lead the charge and the Lions make a bit more noise, he would surely gather more points to his name.

Orlando City B Draws 1-1

As the final whistle blew, Orlando City B managed to walk away with one point against New England Revolution II after a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium but could not grab the extra in the shootout. Just 14 minutes into the match, Victor Souza put away the Revs’ only goal, finishing off Jake Rozhansky’s corner kick. It very much could have been worse for the Lions as numerous mistakes were made throughout the first half, but New England did not bury its chances. However in the 65th minute, luck swung in favor of OCB as Juninho’s shot was saved but found its way to MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot contender Jack Lynn, who poached one more for his tally. The Young Lions missed three of their five penalties in the shootout.

Marta’s Virtual Accolades and Skills

Two Brazilian women superstars will reportedly have coveted five-star skills in EA FC 24, the franchise formerly known as EA Sports FIFA. This year, EA will debut women in Ultimate Team, which is the premier online match play format that users collect, trade, and play with highly desirable superstars. Players with five-star skills are always regarded as some of the best in the game with superb dribbling stats. First on the list is none other than Orlando Pride midfield maestro Marta. Currently the record holder for goals scored at any World Cup, Marta will be 84-rated in the game.

First-Time Friendly for USMNT

The USMNT will take part in a friendly against Uzbekistan tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in St. Louis, MO. This is the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the men’s senior level. While this will be a chance to gather some of the nation’s finest talent, the USMNT has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Uzbekistan has yet to qualify, however, and is currently ranked 74th by FIFA internationally.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City midfielder Gastón González talks about the start of his career and life with the Lions.
• Minnesota United is set to bolster its attack in January with the signing of midfielder Caden Clark from RB Leipzig on a two-year contract.
• The New York Red Bulls have signed their second-youngest Homegrown in history, inking 15-year-old forward Julian Hall to a first-team contract through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.
• The Washington Spirit have re-signed USWNT midfielder Ashley Sanchez through the 2026 season.
• USWNT legend Julie Ertz will play her final professional match representing the Stars and Stripes on Sept. 21 against South Africa at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
• Mohamed Salah will officially remain at Liverpool for now after the club rejected a $190 million offer and the Saudi Pro League transfer window closed on Thursday.
• France marched towards the Euro 2024 finals, maintaining its perfect qualifying record with a 2-0 home victory over Ireland.
• Marten de Roon, Cody Gakpo, and Wout Weghorst scored first-half goals as the Dutch won a second match in Group B against Greece.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you finish this week strong. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City Ready for Supporters’ Shield Contenders

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the Lions are set to go toe to toe with FC Cincinnati who have a firm grip on the Supporters’ Shield race at the top of the MLS standings with 57 points. The Lions are positioned third in the Eastern conference with 44 points. The last time the two clubs met was in Orlando in March, finishing a scoreless draw. Across the matchup’s history, Orlando has earned three wins and three draws across eight matches. 

Messiah Bright Named Player of the Month

Forward Messiah Bright had one heck of a month. Bright was named both NWSL’s Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month for August. This is the first time that the pair of awards has been named earned by the same player in the same month. Bright scored three goals across four matches in August, including her two-goal performance against the Chicago Red Stars. Currently, she leads all NWSL rookies with seven goals across all competitions and her six goals in regular-season play ranks among the top five in the league. Bright is a clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

Orlando Pride Bound for Seattle

The Orlando Pride are set to take on OL Reign at 6 p.m. Sunday at Lumen Field. While all eyes are sure to be on Player of the Month Messiah Bright, the Reign will be sure to keep tabs on two other Pride players who were also named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the Month: Kerry Abello and Kylie Strom. For the club, the fixture holds heavy implications in the playoff picture. OL Reign entered the weekend sixth in the NWSL table, holding just two points over the Pride in the NWSL standings, which earns them the final playoff spot as things stand. The Pride need to make history on Sunday by beating the Reign on the road for the first time.

OCB Welcomes Crown Legacy

While the senior Lions are in Cincinnati after their midweek match in Charlotte, the Young Lions will be playing host to Charlotte’s MLS NEXT Pro developmental side, Crown Legacy FC on Sunday night at Osceola Heritage Park. In Orlando City B’s last match, forward Jack Lynn scored his 15th goal of the season, equaling his 2022 season total and bringing him just one goal behind Matt Myers of New York City FC II in the Golden Boot race. We will have to wait and see if Lynn gets called up to Cincinnati tonight in the wake of a potential Ercan Kara departure, as doing so would likely keep him from flying back to Orlando and playing the next day. Even if Lynn can’t make the match, OCB now has 11 players with multiple goals this season.

Free Kicks

• LAFC center back Mamadou Fall has been loaned to FC Barcelona through June 2024 with a purchase option.
• FC Cincinnati signed 22-year-old goalkeeper Roman Celentano to a contract extension through the 2027 MLS season.
• Gotham FC midfielder McCall Zerboni will undergo season-ending ACL surgery.

• The Hartford Athletic are being forced to play their match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies despite having 10 Athletic players test positive for COVID-19, which leaves Hartford with no goalkeepers, and one substitute.

• There are plenty of matches today to see your favorite USMNT players in action across the globe.

That’s all I have for you on this Saturday. Best of luck to our Lions tonight. Vamos Orlando!

But I’m curious, do you think it is too early to bust out the Oktoberfest or pumpkin-spiced whatever items? Let me know in the comments down below if you’re holding out on principle or already cashing in on some delicious fall season treats. Now let’s get to the soccer stuff down in today’s links!

Orlando Pride Fall 2-1 to San Diego Wave

The Star Wars Night festivities came and went, but it was the San Diego Wave that took all three points with a 2-1 victory. Wave defender Abby Dahlkemper used the force to get things going in the seventh minute as she put away a rebound from a blocked shot and willed it in off the bottom of the cross bar. In the 44th minute, Pride midfielder Marta used some clever footwork — similar to Darth Maul wielding a double-sided light saber — before whipping a cross towards teammate Adriana. The Brazilian forward equalized just before the half. However, the Pride were undone by another failure to deal with a corner kick in the second half and saw their three-game winning streak end in a game that could have pushed them above the playoff line.

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

MLS Decision Day comes on Oct. 21 this year. With the top of the Eastern conference starting to take shape, there are those few bottom-feeding teams who are hoping to break in over their last 10 matches. CF Montréal and the Chicago Fire are tied on points with 32 apiece, but the table tiebreakers go first to most wins, then goal differential, then goals scored. So, despite having a better goal differential that would place the Fire higher in most leagues, they find themselves looking up at Montréal for the time being. D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are also still both within striking distance, but the odds are not currently in their favor. Who do you think might just sneak above the line? Do you think the top seven teams really are all that secure? Could Orlando find itself on the outside looking in down the stretch? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section.

Breaking Down MLS Matchday 28

With the season winding down, every match matters for quite a few teams, so there is plenty to watch on Matchday 28. D.C. United aims to slide into playoff contention but will have to find points against the Eastern Conference’s third-place Philadelphia Union, who are always formidable late in the season. The Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake might have just played to a 3-1 scoreline midweek in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal match, but they are right back at it again at 9:30 p.m. tonight. For the Portland Timbers, it will be the first time they take the field without Gio Savarese in charge since 2018, when the Vancouver Whitecaps enter Providence Park. In Texas, FC Dallas and Austin FC play their latest in-state rivalry match — a six-pointer with major playoff implications for one of the Western Conference’s final playoff spots.

Q2 Stadium to Host USMNT

The U.S. Soccer Federation has selected Austin as the host venue for the USMNT’s critical 2023-2024 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal home leg on Nov. 16. The match is set for 8:30 p.m. The quarterfinal round also serves as qualification for the 2024 Copa America, which will be hosted in the United States next summer. The 2024 tournament will include 10 CONMEBOL nations and six Concacaf guest nations.

“With this game being critical to our objectives of advancing in the Concacaf Nations League and qualifying for the 2024 Copa America, we think in all ways that Austin is the perfect host,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Along with the world-class facilities, the fan support and the atmosphere in the stadium has been incredible every time we play there. We’re looking forward to coming back in November.”

Free Kicks

• Former Orlando City B midfielder Alejandro Granados has scored from distance with a first-time strike for Club NXT.

• Monaco is reportedly leading the race to sign USMNT and Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun as talks advance over a deal worth $48.5 million.
• The USWNT has fallen to third in the latest FIFA rankings, which is the lowest it has ever been listed, following a disappointing Round of 16 exit from the Women’s World Cup.
• Luis Rubiales refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation and the players have started to boycott.
• Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claims the Saudi Pro League transfer window should be synced with European leagues, because the division is now competing for Premier League players and transfer targets.

I hope you all enjoy your match. It is always great when the club gets to test its mettle against a new opponent. Let’s hope today the Lions can stand tall against their latest foe. Vamos Orlando!

Mason Stajduhar From 2015 to Today

In recent PawedCast Episode No. 368, Michael and Dave answered a trivia question of who is the most tenured Lion. The answer to that question was none other than Homegrown goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, whose professional journey began at the age of 17, when he signed his first contract in 2015 following the Lions’ inaugural MLS season. In the six years leading up to his first start, Stajduhar had plenty of time to focus on life both on and off the field among personal battles.

“The cancer and going through treatments was pretty tough,” he said, “but the constant work with what felt like very little reward for so many years was tougher. So it’s just a lot of patience, waiting, and adversity that was pretty frustrating in the moment. You just got to keep going and thankfully, I was rewarded on the other side of it.”

Of course, things got better for Mason and now he’s become a solid No. 2 goalkeeper behind starter Pedro Gallese.

Orlando City Reportedly Receiving Calls for Transfers

If anyone knows about MLS transfers soon to go down, it is The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert. In his latest report on who might be making the jump to Europe ($), Bogert reports that Orlando City has fielded calls for two Designated Players in winger Facundo Torres and striker Ercan Kara, but notes that there have been no formal offers yet. Kara is garnering interest from Germany, while Torres’ services are being called upon again from England and additionally Russia. As Kara has struggled to start against rookie Duncan McGuire’s great form, McGuire himself has been monitored by Belgian side RSC Anderlecht. It’s a bit early to worry about silly season, and it will be interesting to see what happens with the roster after the season concludes.

Orlando City B Schedule Update

The Young Lions of Orlando City B will now play New England Revolution II three days earlier than expected. Originally scheduled for Sept. 10, the match has now been rescheduled to Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. in Gillette Stadium. This match will come following OCB’s final August match against Crew 2 at home and Crown Legacy — also at home — on Sept. 3. Orlando City B currently trails all three clubs in the Eastern Conference standings.

MLS Regular Season Returns

MLS regular-season play is finally making its return after a month-long break for the MLS All-Star Game and the Leagues Cup tournament. But teams are hardly picking up right where they left off. Sunday brings us Matchday 27, and with it storylines any MLS fan will be excited to tune into. The Supporters’ Shield is currently FC Cincinnati’s to lose, but the Hell Is Real Derby match against a reloaded Columbus Crew might just be Cincy’s first stumbling block. Minnesota United and New York City FC are on the outside looking in at their respective conferences’ playoff pictures, but there is nothing like a long time off to refocus and start to make a push towards the playoffs. The Canadians will battle at BMO Field as CF Montréal takes on Toronto FC, with Montréal in no position to drop points in the back stretch of the season. There’s plenty of other action to catch on Sunday, so let us know in the comments below which matches you are excited to catch.

Free Kicks

• Be sure to know where all your favorite Americans abroad are playing this weekend as European soccer is now in full swing.
• Vlatko Andonovski has officially stepped down as head coach of the United States Women’s National Team. The announcement came Thursday, a matter of hours after the story broke online.
• England will reject any approach for Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman as the USWNT head coach position now has a vacancy.
• Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland made the three-man shortlist of UEFA’s Player of the Year award in Europe last season.
• Harry Kane has to learn a new language after he made his jump to Germany. But he has no fear of the barrier with Bayern Munich fans if he becomes their latest prolific goal scorer.

That’s all I have for you this Friday. Let’s all finish the work week strong so we can be stress free heading into match day. Vamos Orlando!

Aside from tuning into the rest of the EPL matches this weekend, I’ll be spending time hanging out with my in-laws, who are in town for my wife’s birthday. Maybe, I can convert them into soccer fans by refusing to change the television channel all day. Only time will tell. But enough of that, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City B Travels to New York City FC II

The Young Lions will flock to the Pigeons of NYCFC II on Sunday for a 6 p.m. match. In the previous clash between the two teams, OCB took two of the three points by winning the end-of-regulation shootout following a 2-2 draw. Orlando City defender Nabi Kibunguchy scored a brace for the club prior to the 8-7 shootout win. This match comes at a great time for Kibunguchy to boost his confidence yet again after he scored his fourth goal of the season midweek against New England Revolution II. He will surely remember the last time he went toe-to-toe with the Pigeons and look to keep his scoring streak going.

Premier League Is Back

The 2023-2024 English Premier League season kicked off Friday with Manchester City playing Burnley at Turf Moor. Within four minutes, Erling Haaland began his Golden Boot title race defense and completed his brace in the first half to match his opening day total from last season in City’s 3-0 victory.

You can look as far back as you would like into the 1800s, but no team in English soccer history has ever won four championship titles in a row. Manchester City made a statement yesterday in its emphatic win to show where it will be setting the bar this season.

Elsewhere around the league, Arsenal will look to best its record from last season and take the title, Liverpool will attempt to continue the 11-match unbeaten run it finished with last campaign, and Manchester United has added a star-studded cast of players to show it is ready to contend for trophies once again. Two of London’s biggest clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, brought in new managers in Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou, respectively. Finally, the EPL will welcome its 51st club to the division this season with Luton Town ending a 31-year wait to return to the top flight after its relegation in 1992, which was just weeks before the Premier League was formed.

USMNT Transfer Roundup

The summer transfer window has been busy, and the United States Men’s National Team pool is no exception to those moving from club to club. Some World Cup veterans are joining together at new clubs, players are upgrading to Champions League-bound teams, and some are just simply improving their chances to earn regular minutes in some of the top leagues in Europe. Some notable moves include Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah making the move to AC Milan in Italy’s top flight, Tim Weah also flying to Italy to join USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie at Juventus, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Gabriel Slonina taking loan deals to Nottingham Forest and KAS Eupen, respectively, and Brenden Aaronson bailing from Leeds United following its relegation to the EFL Championship. These are just a few of the bigger moves, so check out the full list and let us know in the comments below which player you are most excited to see at his new club.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Guarantees New Winner

There have been four different FIFA Women’s World Cup champions in the eight editions of the tournament. In its ninth iteration, we are now guaranteed to have a fifth victor. Spain is through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time thanks to 19-year-old striker Salma Paralluelo’s late heroics. The Spaniards will take on Sweden, which defeated Japan, 2-1. Swedish Center back Amanda Ilestedt scored her fourth goal of the tournament and is now second in the Golden Boot race.

Free Kicks

• USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams’ proposed $25.4 million move from relegated Leeds United to Chelsea is now unlikely due to disagreements over the structuring of the transfer fee.
• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is expecting Kevin De Bruyne to be out for weeks after the midfielder aggravated his hamstring injury early in the first half against Burnley.
• There was a bit of last-minute drama Friday morning as Harry Kane’s departure from Tottenham was delayed as Spurs sought to refine aspects of the deal.
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the club has reached an agreement with Brighton to sign midfielder Moisés Caicedo despite the player’s preference to move to Chelsea.

Well, that is a wrap on today’s edition of Lion Links. I hope you have a restful weekend because the Lions are back at it next Sunday. Vamos Orlando!

Pride Stunned by Speckmaier Stoppage Strike

The Orlando Pride played their final home game of the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit. The match played to a late 1-0 loss as Mariana Speckmaier broke the deadlock in the eighth minute of stoppage time catching Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorehouse off her line. Speckmaier’s strike was her first career shot on goal.

The match came just a few days early for Orlando’s international players to be cleared to play upon returning from the World Cup. Marta, Adriana, Mariana Larroquette, and Rafaelle will all be welcome additions for the back stretch of the regular season as the Pride struggled to hit the back of the net and gave up yet another late goal.

Orlando City B Heads to Fort Lauderdale

The Young Lions of OCB have made their way south to take on the Pink Chicks of Inter Miami II. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. in the latest installment of the reserve rivalry. The last meeting that took place in Fort Lauderdale was on May 25, when Orlando forward Jack Lynn finished off a pass from Alex Freeman for the sole goal in the match. Now up to 12 goals this season, Lynn currently sits tied atop the league in the Golden Boot race — level with Atlanta United 2’s Nick Firmino. This match will be Inter Miami’s ninth home game of the season, with the club looking to rebound following its loss on the road against Toronto FC II in its most recent match. With an Orlando City victory, the Lions would sweep the regular-season series against Inter Miami II.

Orlando City U-15s Called Upon For Concacaf Championship

The City Beautiful’s soccer future is bright as six Orlando City Development Academy players have received the call from their international teams to participate in the Concacaf Under-15 Championship. This is the fourth edition of the Concacaf Boys’ U-15 Championship and boasts 41 participating teams from 39 Concacaf member associations and two guest nations from the Asian Football Confederation. The competition will be played in a three-League format (A, B, and C), starting with group stage play, followed by a knockout stage.

If you are looking to catch any of the League A action tomorrow, Jarell Bonilla and El Salvador are set to kick off at 2 p.m. in Group A, Dylan Judelson will be representing Canada in Group C at 4 p.m, and our four Puerto Rican representatives begin at 6 p.m in Group D. Fans can follow all the action through Concacaf Go. 

USWNT Enters the Knockouts

After a nervy ending to the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the United States Women’s National Team will begin its knockout run in the Round of 16 tomorrow against Sweden. The USWNT and Jamaica were the only two Concacaf teams to advance to the knockout round. For those of us watching locally, it will be a very early morning, as we will need to be up and tuned in by 5 a.m. Sweden advanced to the knockout rounds as the winners of Group G, defeating South Africa, Italy, and Argentina along the way. This will be Sweden’s fourth consecutive Women’s World Cup in which it advanced out of the group, and its eighth overall among its nine tournament appearances. However, the United States has now advanced out of the group in all nine of its own trips to the Women’s World Cup.

Free Kicks

• 2022 Orlando Pride draft pick Mia Fishel, who signed instead with Tigres UANL, will be joining Chelsea.

• Toronto FC has added free agent forward Prince Owusu through the 2024 MLS season with an option for 2025.
• FC Dallas has acquired Canadian international midfielder Liam Fraser from Belgian second-division side KMSK Deinze.
• Should the USWNT win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it would claim $4.3 million for the federation from FIFA.
• The semifinals and final of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup will be broadcast by more than 20 international broadcasters, reaching over 100 countries on five continents.
• USMNT midfield Yunas Musah has signed a five-year contract with AC Milan after the Italian club agreed to a €20 million transfer fee with Valencia. Musah will now be joining fellow USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic.
• Coventry City has agreed to a deal with USMNT forward Haji Wright’s current club, Antalyaspor, for a €9 million move to England.
• Pachuca president Jesus Martinez claims that the joint MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup tournament lacks financial benefits that Mexican clubs once enjoyed as participants in the Copa Libertadores.

That’s all I have for you folks. I hope you enjoy your weekend. And if you get the chance, make a stranger’s day and be the change you want to see in the world. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City’s Road to the Knockouts

The Lions will be playing the final match of the South 2 group tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Exploria Stadium against Liga MX side Santos Laguna. With all other group matches played, Orlando City now knows exactly the path forward. The winner of tonight’s meeting will advance to the knockout round of the tournament, with the loser set to go home. However, if the score is still level at the final whistle, the Lions can still move forward by grabbing the extra point in the penalty shootout, setting them on a trajectory for a visit to Inter Miami next week. A loss in penalty kicks and the regulation score being anything less than a 3-3 draw would end Orlando City’s campaign in the 2023 Leagues Cup tournament. The Lions have played and lost to Santos Laguna once before in the 2021 quarterfinals of the former version of the Leagues Cup.

“It’s a great opportunity to compete against a good rival like Santos Laguna. Obviously, it’s going to increase this rivalry between the leagues of Mexico and the United States,” Lions coach Oscar Pareja said. “[Our] mission is to continue [in Leagues Cup]  and advance to the next round. The players are good, we are optimistic and we are looking forward to a good game.”

Orlando Pride Need Tournament Win

The Orlando Pride are set to take on the North Carolina Courage tonight at 7 p.m. The Courage are flying high following a 6-0 result in their previous match against the Washington Spirit last weekend, with all six goals coming in the second half among six different goal scorers. Orlando enters the match with just one point in the competition through three group stage matches and could be eliminated without a positive result. The club’s only tournament point came at Exploria Stadium in April against the Courage after Denise O’Sullivan leveled the score in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Orlando City B Ready for Monday Night

The Young Lions of OCB are tied at 33 points with New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference of MLS NEXT Pro. The two teams are set to clash at 7 p.m. in MSU Soccer Park on Monday night. The two sides last squared off on May 29 at Osceola County Stadium in what served as the first-ever fixture between the two clubs in MLS NEXT Pro action. In the match, forwards Jack Lynn and Shak Mohammed each found the back of the net. Lynn has been in red-hot form lately, leading the Golden Boot race with 12 goals this season.

U.S. Soccer Joins Forces with State Department

United States Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new partnership dedicated to elevating soccer as a valued diplomatic tool both at home and abroad. Through this formalized partnership, the USSF and State Department aim to use sport to boost shared peace and prosperity worldwide, with a focus on increasing educational access, economic equity, and social opportunity and inclusion for underserved groups, including youth, women, and people with physical and intellectual disabilities, in support of broader United States foreign policy goals. This initiative is set to enhance the State Department’s ongoing sports diplomacy programming, such as the Sports Envoy Program that sends elite American athletes overseas to engage underserved youth.

“We are really excited to work with the State Department on this partnership. I am the person I am today, the leader I am today due to what sports gave me,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “Wherever I travel around the world, whether I speak the language or not, everyone in the world speaks the language of soccer. It’s a uniting force and brings people together, and we’re looking forward to doing important work with the State Department and making an impact in places all over the world.”

Free Kicks

• A former Orlando City midfielder is once again on the move as New York City FC acquired Andrés Perea on loan from the Philadelphia Union through the end of the 2023 MLS season.
• Toronto FC has added MLS U22 Initiative forward Cassius Mailula from South African top-flight side Mamelodi Sundowns FC.
• D.C. United has transferred midfielder Victor Pálsson to Belgian top-flight side KAS Eupen after only one year with the club.
• FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez netted a hat trick in a match that spanned two days due to weather delays against Liga MX powerhouse Chivas in Leagues Cup action.
• USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is under scrutiny for withholding substitutes in Wednesday’s draw against the Netherlands.
• Juventus has been removed from European competition next season, while Chelsea was fined $11 million in separate UEFA rulings over financial rules breaches.
• Manchester United rejected a $25.7 million bid from West Ham for Harry Maguire.
• Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly set to complete a major deal to sign Ousmane Dembélé from Barcelona.
• A bronze statue of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lifting the Premier League trophy has been unveiled outside the club’s Emirates Stadium.

Here’s to hoping both our clubs can grab some points in their respective tournaments. Vamos Orlando!

Jack Lynn Nets Brace in OCB’s 3-2 Victory vs. Chicago

Orlando City’s first-round selection of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft found the net not once, but twice, in the Young Lions’ 3-2 win over Chicago Fire II. Forward Jack Lynn opened the scoring in just the 10th minute of the match before bagging a brace in the 72nd minute. While Lynn might be walking out with a brace, OCB midfielder Juninho likely walks out with the best goal of the match for his individual dribbling effort in the 65th minute.

Orlando Pride Outclassed in NWSL Challenge Cup

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made four changes to the team’s starting lineup from the team’s last league match for his side’s third NWSL Challenge Cup fixture. Despite an early brilliant Erika Tymrak free kick headed into goal by Megan Montefusco, the Pride could not hold on to the lead and fell 3-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC. The tides changed in the visitors’ favor following a Brianna Martinez foul in the box that Jenna Nighswonger converted from the spot. Two more goals in the second half was all the insurance Gotham needed to walk away with all three points.

Early USWNT MVP Conversations

Following the USWNT’s victory against Vietnam to begin the Yanks’ latest World Cup campaign, questions have arisen as to whether midfielder Lindsey Horan will be the team’s standout star this tournament. Only nine players from the 2019 squad were retained and will feature in the 2023 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Lyon midfielder will be the engine and leader in the center of the park for the foreseeable future and remains composed under pressure and in high stress games. Horan loves to have the ball at her feet and boasts world-class stats in progressive passes and carries categories. She is a versatile player, constantly shedding her markers and creating space, while also driving into deeper areas to push defenses out of position. Whether she will be the MVP of the tournament remains to be seen, but for the United States to be successful, Horan will need to come up with a handful of world-class performances.

Leagues Cup Roundup

The Sunday matches of Leagues Cup brought loads of excitement. Following an early deficit, FC Cincinnati fought back to draw Sporting Kansas City 3-3 and take the extra point in penalties. Atlas defeated NYCFC 1-0 in Citi Field. Nashville’s talisman Hany Mukhtar scored minutes after coming into the match to inspire a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. But one of the most impressive performances of the night came from Minnesota United, which continued to pour on the goals against Club Puebla, despite an early red card to Michael Boxall in the 30th minute. The game ended 4-0 in favor of the Loons.

Free Kicks

• The Houston Dynamo transferred Homegrown midfielder Juan Castilla to Colombian top-flight club Deportivo Cali.
• The USWNT players love eating just as much as they love scoring goals. Ever wonder what the menu is like for an extended stay at a tournament?
• USMNT captain Christian Pulisic made his debut in the starting XI for AC Milan in a friendly against Real Madrid.
• Fulham has agreed a £5 million deal with Wolves to sign striker Raul Jimenez.
• Alex Telles has left Manchester United to join Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr on a contract until 2025.
• Newcastle United gained a new attacker in Harvey Barnes from Leicester City on a five-year contract.

That’s a wrap on today’s edition of Lion Links. I wish you all the best as you start the weekly work grind. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando Prepares for Leagues Cup

Orlando City hosts the Houston Dynamo on Friday night at Exploria Stadium in the midseason tournament. This will be Houston’s second visit in as many years to Orlando, having lost 2-1 to the Lions last summer. In MLS action, the Dynamo head into the Leagues Cup just above the playoff line in ninth place in the Western Conference. Orlando City center back Antonio Carlos is nearing a personal milestone, as he is only two appearances away from 100 across all competitions for the club.

OCB’s Alejandro Granados Reportedly on the Move

The Belgian Pro League is the top league in Belgium, and Club Brugge is looking to bring the blossoming talents of Orlando City B midfielder Alejandro Granados across the ocean to it. Having played just one single minute for the senior Lions, a $2 million price tag would be extremely high for just an Orlando City academy prospect. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert ($) has sources claiming that could very well be the transfer fee though. The 17-year-old made his MLS debut in June following five appearances for Spain at the U-17 European Championships in May.

Rivalry Win Boosts Confidence for Lions

The 2-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday night has pushed Orlando City’s defensive confidence another level higher. For Lions Head Coach Oscar Pareja, he knows that he made two prior mistakes earlier this season when not bringing on an extra defender early.

“I’m still carrying a little bit of pain from the two games at home against Atlanta and New York City where I could have helped the team by adding a third defender in a moment that we needed it. Today, in the last 15 minutes, I said well, we’re coming from a hard game in Salt Lake, so it’s normal that they were feeling the pressure. So we said okay, we’re going to defend with an extra center back, because crosses are going to come and we’re going to make sure that we control that part.”

In the dying moments of this recent win, when five minutes of stoppage slowly became 10, Orlando City was able to weather the storm and walk out with all three points from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Wilfredo Rivera Nominated for Goal of the Matchday

The Young Lions are up to eighth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro Power Rankings following two wins out of their last three matches. With a strike in the 76th minute from way downtown, Wilfredo Rivera launched himself into MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchday contention in a 3-2 comeback victory with only 10-men over Atlanta United 2. Orlando City B is back in action on Sunday when it takes on Chicago Fire II.

USWNT’s World Cup Squad Makeup

The United States Women’s National Team roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup features players from ages of 18 to 38. With all of the veteran experience among the squad, it helps to create strength and camaraderie in the squad for those getting their first call-ups to the biggest tournament in the women’s game.

“I think the veterans have been so incredible about telling us what we’re getting into,” said midfielder Andi Sullivan. “They’ve just shared and given examples of [World Cup] craziness in the past. They’ve reiterated to lean on them if there’s something we’re struggling with, which I think is such an incredible thing to do. They want to perform their best but they’re still looking out for us newbies. I think it’s been incredible and has given the whole team this sense of confidence.”

On top of having a range of ages in the team, this will also be a squad that boasts nine women of color. However, the team’s diversity extends beyond race, with several players being openly gay as well. The players hope to be the women they wished they’d seen play when they were younger, ensuring children of color, queer kids, and others will always feel they have a home in the game. 

“I think it’s just awesome that the national team is starting to look like the nation,” forward Lynn Williams said. “We have gay people. We have straight people. We have Black people. We have Mexican people. It looks like the United States, and I think that’s exactly what it should look like … so hopefully the younger generations can look to us and say, ‘You know what? Soccer is a space for me, and we want to play as well.’”

Free Kicks

• Did Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines just witness a bird carry away another bird? Don’t worry, Seb, I think we would all be as dumbfounded.

• The Philadelphia Union acquired their first-ever U22 Initiative player in 19-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya from Stellenbosch FC.
• Left back Ethan Bristow is set to join Minnesota United from English Football League Two side Tranmere Rovers FC.
• Trinity Rodman is geared up and ready to represent the USWNT at the World Cup.
• Here is a look at every team taking part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and what to watch for.
• USWNT defender Naomi Girma is dedicating her World Cup campaign to friend and fellow Stanford athlete Katie Meyer, who died by suicide on March 1, 2022.
• NWSL expansion team Bay FC announced Jen Millet as its first chief operating officer.
• Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed he expects Romelu Lukaku to leave Chelsea this summer.
• When you’re one of the biggest clubs in the world, sometimes you just feel the need to stomp on the little guys. Bayern Munich did just that with a 27-0 victory over ninth-tier German side FC Rottach-Egern.

That’s all for today folks. Vamos Orlando!