Happy Friday! We’ve already made it to the first weekend of December, which is either good news or a worrying reminder that less than four weeks remain of 2025. I’ll be spending the next few days working and getting some more shopping done, but I’m hoping to enjoy some rest and relaxation along the way. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

U.S. Open Cup Format Shrinks for 2026

The layout for next year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was announced and Orlando City will once again be participating. Orlando is one of 16 MLS teams in the tournament, which has been reduced to just seven rounds instead of eight. As a result, only 48 professional teams from around the country will be included and MLS teams join the fray in the round of 32. Orlando City and FC Naples are the only professional Floridian teams taking part next year and it will be weird not seeing the Lions beat the brakes off of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Also, FC America CFL Spurs, which is based in Orlando, is one of three amateur sides from Florida to keep an eye out for when the first round kicks off in March.

Orlando Pride Trio Make Guardian’s Top 100 Players List

The Guardian released its annual list of the top 100 women’s soccer players in the world and Orlando Pride stars Barbra Banda, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle all made an appearance on it. Banda was 14th and only second to Temwa Chawinga, who placed sixth, among NWSL players on this year’s list. Marta isn’t far behind in 19th, which is eight spots higher than last year. Ovalle’s still settling in with Orlando after dominating with Tigres and was 94th on the list.

For the data addicts out there, you can see how voting for this list shook out, but it’s not much of a surprise at this point that the judges valued players plying their trade in Europe highly. Of the Americans listed, Arsenal’s Emily Fox and OL Lyonnes’ Lindsey Heaps were ranked the highest at 24th and 27th, respectively. The Kansas City Current had one of the best seasons in NWSL history, but only four players made the list and Chawinga is the only one in the top 50. Still, it’s cool to keep up with some of the biggest names across the pond, especially with a Women’s World Cup on the horizon.

Bay FC Hires Emma Coates as Head Coach

Bay FC announced Emma Coates as its next head coach, with Gemma Davies joining as an assistant coach. Coates has been the manager of England’s U-23 team since 2023, developing players for the senior team while excelling in the U-23 European League. She and Davies were part of England’s extended technical staff for the past two Euros and the 2023 World Cup. Bay FC missed the playoffs this year and finished the season on an 11-game winless streak, so Coates will have her work cut out for her in regards to turning things around.

NWSLPA Files Grievance Against the League

The NWSL rejected a contract offer by the Washington Spirit to Trinity Rodman and the NWSL Players’ Association has filed a grievance with the league, alleging that the denial violates the collective bargaining agreement.

“Trinity Rodman agreed to a compensation structure in good faith that would allow her to remain loyal to her first professional club, consistent with both the CBA and NWSL Competition Rules,” union executive director Meghann Burke said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Thursday. “The NWSLPA has challenged the League’s rejection of this agreement on the grounds that it violates her free agency rights, but this isn’t about Trinity Rodman. If NWSL can deny her free agency rights, they can deny anyone’s. The NWSLPA will not allow it.”

The deal offered by the Spirit is reportedly for four years, with backloaded compensation for 2028 and 2029. Rodman is a free agent after five seasons with the Spirit and there’s worry that she will be the latest young American to leave the NWSL for Europe. The league’s position in rejecting the deal was that the offer violated the spirit of the NWSL salary cap.

Free Kicks

• Here’s a preview of Saturday’s MLS Cup final between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami. From the star players to the unsung heroes, it should be a good match to end the MLS season.
• Hugo Lloris signed a contract extension with LAFC through 2026, with an option for 2027. The 38-year-old has made 91 appearances across all competitions for LAFC since joining the club.
• The North Carolina Courage have signed forward Ally Schlegel to a three-year contract. Schlegel scored eight goals for the Chicago Stars during the 2025 season.
• NJ/NY Gotham FC announced its end-of-season roster decisions and forward Ella Stevens is a free agent and not re-signing with the club. Midge Purce is also a free agent, but she and Gotham are in negotiations for her return.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a bit of a hectic week for me, but I’ve at least been able to get quite enough done that should take out some of the stress that usually comes around this time of the year.

Haley Carter Joins the Enemy

Haley Carter, who departed the Pride on Nov. 18 to pursue new career opportunities, was announced as the Washington Spirit’s president of soccer operations. She joins an organization that’s come up short in the past two NWSL Championship and one of Carter’s top priorities will be retaining American forward Trinity Rodman. Helping the Spirit get over the hump will be a different kind of task than the rebuild she orchestrated with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does.

Celtic Hires Wilfried Nancy

Wilfried Nancy is officially headed to Europe, with Celtic hiring him as its next manager. The Scottish club signed him to a two-and-a-half year contract and he’ll start today. Nancy leaves MLS after success with CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, winning the MLS Coach of the Year award with the Crew in 2024. Celtic has won its past five games across all competitions and is currently tied on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It will be Nancy’s first time coaching in Europe and we’ll see if he can help Celtic secure a spot in the next round of the Europa League.

Philadelphia Union Sign Ezekiel Allodah

The Philadelphia Union didn’t waste much time adding some firepower to the club’s roster for the 2026 season, signing Ezekiel Allodah from IF Brommapojkarna for a club record fee. The 20-year-old forward joins on a contract through 2028 with options for 2029 and 2030. Allodah has recorded eight goals and added an assist in 32 appearances with Brommapojkarna, which plays in Sweden’s top flight. Although I’m not looking forward to Orlando City having to deal with him on the field, it’s nice to see more young talent coming to the league.

Preparing for the World Cup Draw

The draw for next summer’s World Cup is on Friday and we’ll get to see just how unlucky the United States Men’s National Team is when the groups are revealed. The U.S., like Canada and Mexico, is in the first pot and gets to avoid some of the biggest contenders, but dangerous teams like Croatia, Morocco, and Norway are possible opponents. Drawing Ghana from the fourth pot seems inevitable to me. The lack of clarity in who will advance out of the playoffs adds some mystery and worry to it all as well. Fingers crossed!

Free Kicks

• Jordi Alba was fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face, head, and neck in Inter Miami’s game against New York City FC.
• American forward Cade Cowell is reportedly set to join the New York Red Bulls on loan from Chivas.
• Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Union Berlin to help his side reach the quarterfinals of the German Cup.
• Germany was selected as the host for the 2029 UEFA European Women’s Championship, beating a bid by Poland and a joint bid by Sweden and Denmark.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s a little hard to believe it’s already December, but hopefully the weather will cool off a bit so at least it feels like winter — or as close as we get to it in Florida. We want to wish Orlando City defender David Brekalo a very happy birthday. It might be the off-season, but that doesn’t keep the news from happening, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Sign Hailie Mace

The Orlando Pride signed USWNT and former Kansas City Current defender Hailie Mace to a three-year deal through 2028. Mace brings a ton of experience both internationally and in the NWSL to an already good Pride defensive unit. In her career Mace has played right back, some center back and even forward in college. She is the type of versatile player that Seb Hines loves to have on his roster. Welcome to the Pride, Hailie.

USMNT Friendlies Announced

The USMNT will play four friendlies ahead of the World Cup, facing Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and one opponent yet to be determined. The first two matches will take place in Atlanta against Belgium and Portugal on March 28 and March 30, respectively. Then the team heads to Charlotte for a match on May 31 and finishes the slate against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. Those are some pretty good tests ahead of the World Cup.

USWNT Notes

It’s been quite a year for the Emma Hayes and the USWNT. Hayes has worked on building a deep pool of players for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. She has given so many young players their first caps, including the Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams. Several players made a case for a spot in the friendly against Italy. Hayes is also trying to bolster the U-23 squad so she can build long-term stability in the team.

MLS Technical Staff News

There have been a lot of front office moves in MLS recently. New York City FC hired Todd Dunivant as the club’s new sporting director. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City announced that the club “mutually agreed to part ways” with interim coach Kerry Zavagnin.

Free Kicks

• Chicago Fire FC acquired defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates.
• Spain defeated Germany 3-0 on aggregate to win the 2025 Women’s Nations League for the second year in a row.
• The Canadian Women’s National Team has been having a rough time of it, losing 3-0 to Japan and ending the season on a five-match losing streak.
• Erling Haaland became the fastest player in EPL history to score 100 goals, breaking Alan Shearer’s old record in Manchester City’s wild 5-4 win Tuesday over Fulham. Shearer’s record of 100 goals in 124 games stood for 30 years before Haaland netted No. 100 in his 111th match.

That will do it for today. It might be the off-season, but we’ll keep bringing you all the soccer-related news in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!