Lion Links: 4/21/15

Today we mourn yesterday's passing of the Yahoo MLS Fantasy game. The good Lord has left us with one major site that provides MLS fantasy. Life's not fair.

Here's a nice thing on Twitter featuring Brek Shea

This is Eddie Johnson and Brek Shea playing video games with kids at the Capri Sun Kids vs. Pros MLS Soccer Showdown event in Orlando yesterday.

Redding one of two Lions called up to U-18 USMNT

Lions central defender Tommy Redding and Orlando City Academy goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar have been called up to Javier Perez's 20-player roster for the team's first training camp of 2015. The USMNT U-18s will travel to Medugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina for the camp, which runs from April 22-May 1 and includes three friendlies.

Redding and his mates will face Siroki Brijeg on April 25, and Bosnia U-18s on April 28 and 30. It will be great experience for the two Lions on the international stage.

USMNT U-23 call-ups

U-23 head coach Andi Herzog called 20 players up for the first domestic training camp of the year and a showdown with Mexico's U-23 team. The two teams haven't played each other since 2012.

The marquee names on the U.S. roster are Jordan Morris, the Stanford player who scored against Mexico last Wednesday, and Luis Gil, the only other player on roster who’s made a senior team appearance.

The two teams play at StubHub Center in Carson, CA, on Wednesday night. The game starts at 11 p.m. EST and is available on UniMas.

And here's some more wacky Qatar 2022 news

The Qatari government plans on housing 12,000 fans on cruise ships for the 2022 World Cup. According to Pro Soccer Talk, the Qatar Tourism Authority plans on doing this to reach the FIFA guidelines that state a host country must have at least 60,000 rooms.

That might not happen, since the QTA still needs to build an entire city, whatever that means. Giving the tiny Persian Gulf nation the World Cup is by far one of the most unpopular things FIFA has ever done. I bet Qatar 2022 shatters every ratings record in the book.

Pelé thinks America deserves another World Cup

So that means we're going to get it, right? Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer gave some strong endorsements to the current state of the "National Team of America" (Pelé's words in quotes) while clowning around at a New York Cosmos event.

Here's Pelé on the 2026 World Cup in America:

"Oh, yes. No doubt. No doubt,'' Pelé, in town for the Cosmos' home opener Saturday, anticipated to be Raul's debut with the team, told The Post. "I am one who did some work for the World Cup to be here, and the organizers were perfect. They deserve it, no doubt, for the vote in FIFA to give them the next World Cup.''

Beckenbauer also had praise for fellow countryman Jurgen Klinsmann's time as the USMNT head coach, but we're mostly excited about the Pelé nod of approval.

Remember to wear black today in respect of our recently departed fantasy game.