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Lion Links: 1/9/18

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8 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers, and happy birthday to Orlando City’s Rafael Ramos, who turns 23 today. There’s a wealth of soccer-related news to get into, so let’s get cracking.

MLS Strength of Schedule Rankings Released

Major League Soccer has released its rankings for the strength of each team’s 2018 schedule. The rankings are calculated by taking last season’s average points per game both at home and on the road for every team’s opponents. At the most difficult end of the spectrum are the Montreal Impact, while new club Los Angeles FC has the easiest schedule. Your Lions come in at the No. 12 spot out of 23 total teams, putting them about as smack in the middle as they can be. The actual differences between the clubs, according to these rankings, are slim at best and there’s also no telling how good or bad LAFC will actually play, so at the moment it’s hard to put too much stock in these.

Dwyer Called Up for January

Orlando forward Dom Dwyer has been called up for the USMNT’s January camp. The camp starts tomorrow and concludes with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 28. Once again, the roster is almost entirely MLS players, with 28 out of the 30 playing for the U.S.’s top league. Dwyer will be one of six forwards and will surely be looking to catch the eye with only Juan Agudelo and Jordan Morris having more experience in the January camp than Dwyer. With a little luck he’ll do exactly that, so keep your eyes peeled for that friendly at the end of the month.

Gonzalez to Switch to Mexico

Jonathan Gonzalez, the 18-year-old Monterrey midfielder, has confirmed that he intends to play for the Mexican national team. Gonzalez played for the United States at the U-17 and U-20 levels but was not capped for the senior team. He now intends to file for a one-time switch that would see him become eligible to represent the Mexican national team instead. Recent weeks had seen the two CONCACAF federations vying for the young midfielder’s affections.

U.S supporters had hoped he would decide to represent the Stars and Stripes and he was seen as the possible future of the heart of the midfield, with his ability to shield the back line well documented at Monterrey. However, that future will now have to be found elsewhere and surely questions will be asked regarding how a player who only ever played in the U.S. youth setup was allowed to switch to the federation’s mortal enemy.

U.S. Soccer Denies SUM’s Influence on Venue Decision

U.S. Soccer and USSF presidential candidate Kathy Carter have issued statements denying Kyle Martino’s allegations relating to the decision to host September’s World Cup qualifier at Red Bull Arena. Martino suggested that Soccer United Marketing (the USSF’s marketing partner) decided to place the USMNT’s qualifier against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena because it was a location that would draw the most Costa Rican fans. In essence, he alleged that SUM prioritized profiting from the game over getting the best possible result for the team.

Both U.S. Soccer and Carter stated that SUM had nothing to do with picking the venue location, and that the USSF alone made that decision. Martino also went on to say that he spoke with Bruce Arena and was told that the coach had personally lobbied to have the site changed, but was told no. Whether there’s any truth to these claims or not, the mere discussion isn’t a good look for a federation in the midst of a massive transition year.

NASL to Switch to International Calendar

The North American Soccer League has announced its intention to switch to soccer’s international calendar. Kickoff is planned for mid-August 2018, with the season to conclude in early June 2019. The planned switch will make NASL the first U.S. professional league to use the international calendar, something that some people have criticized MLS for refusing to do. The change of schedule is still pending, and will be determined by NASL’s appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Free Kicks

  • Eric Lichaj’s wife apparently told him he could get a dog if he scored a hat trick in Nottingham Forest’s third-round FA Cup tie with Arsenal. When Lichaj came up one goal short, he encouraged the world to bombard his wife with all manner of dog-related media in an attempt to change her mind.

A good show for a good cause.

You don’t say?

  • Today’s birthdays include Kate Middleton, Sean Paul, Jimmy Page, J.K. Simmons, and Richard Nixon.

That’ll do it for today’s Links. Keep it here on The Mane Land for more Orlando City content than you can brandish a yellow card at. Ciao.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/6/26

Biggest NWSL off-season moves, MLS transfer news, U.S. wins U-17 World Cup qualifier, and more.

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1 day ago

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February 6, 2026

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Image of Summer Yates dribbling the ball through the midfield against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Hopefully the week went smoothly for you as we all get ready for the weekend. I don’t have many plans beyond some baking and reading over the next few days. I can’t wait until we can fill the weekends with Orlando soccer and it’s hard to believe the Lions are back in action in just a couple of weeks. But for now, let’s dive into the links!

Biggest Moves of the NWSL Off-Season

The Orlando Pride’s signing of defender Hailie Mace ranked fourth in CBS Sports‘ top 10 moves of the NWSL off-season. The 28-year-old did well with the Kansas City Current last season and the Pride signed her to a three-year contract to help strengthen the defense. Emily Sams’ move to Angel City FC placed third on the list, with the Pride receiving a hefty $650,000 in exchange. The Washington Spirit re-signing Trinity Rodman predictably tops the list, while the Denver Summit’s signings of Eva Gaetino and Lindsey Heaps were also notable.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

While Orlando City fans sit on their hands waiting for the team to fill its open Designated Player slot, other teams across the league are adding some firepower for the upcoming season. Minnesota United’s move for Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez came out of left field but is reportedly being finalized and he would not be a DP for the Loons.

💣🇨🇴✅ BREAKING: Minnesota United is finalizing a deal to sign Colombian star James Rodriguez, per sources.James Rodriguez will NOT be a designated player. Short-term deal.James is coming to MLS.w/ @felipecardenas.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/702…

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-02-05T17:22:19.269Z

FC Dallas is also reportedly working on bringing in a star midfielder, with the club in talks to sign Joaquín Valiente from Defensor SC of Uruguay. The 24-year-old has spent the past year in Ecuador on loan with Barcelona, recording five goals and five assists. The Vancouver Whitecaps signed Senegalese forward Cheikh Sabaly from FC Metz in Ligue 1. He had 15 goals last season to help Metz earn promotion to the top flight.

U.S. Cruises in Concacaf U-17 World Cup Qualifier

The United States U-17 Men’s National Team won 8-0 against St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Concacaf qualifiers for the U-17 World Cup in November. Aaron Medina had a hat trick in the first half, while Paul Sokoloff and Malik Jakupovic scored braces in the game as well. Hopefully the U.S. can replicate this dominant performance when it takes on St. Kitts and Nevis on Saturday before wrapping things up against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.

Leicester City Deducted Points For Breaching Rules

Leicester City was docked six points for breaching the profit and sustainability rules, dropping the club to 20th in the English Football League Championship standings. The club was charged for the breach by the English Premier League last May, and the timing puts it in danger of being relegated in back-to-back seasons. The Foxes are winless in their past four league games and without a manager after sacking Marti Cifuentes last season. Goal difference is all that currently separates Leicester from the relegation zone, and we’ll see if this point deduction is the difference maker in what could be a dramatic fight for survival at the bottom of the table.

Free Kicks

  • We now know what number a couple of the newest Lions will be wearing this season. Midfielder Luis Otavio will be wearing Cesar Araujo’s old No. 5, while Tiago will wear No. 7.
  • Former Orlando Pride forward Simone Charley is headed to England, signing with Newcastle in the Women’s Super League 2.
  • Ademola Lookman scored in his first match for Atletico Madrid, helping the club beat Real Betis 5-0 to advance to the Copa del Rey semifinals.
  • It was a record-breaking transfer window in women’s soccer this winter, although I wish the Pride were one of the big spenders.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/5/26

Orlando City preseason updates, Orlando City Academy goalkeeper Luan Silva called up, Concacaf Champions Cup results, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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February 5, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m hoping we’re in the tail end of winter, even if a certain groundhog thinks differently. Bring on the nice weather! Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire. This time two years ago we were all dealing with the circus of Blackburn’s clerical error that stopped his transfer to England. I’m glad he ended up staying in the City Beautiful and am excited to see him light it up this year.

Latest Orlando City Preseason News

The Lions will be without center back Robin Jansson for the start of the upcoming season, as the Beefy Swede underwent surgery for a foot injury. It’s rough news considering Rodrigo Schlegel is no longer on the team and the move for Dusan Stojinovic fell through. It’s not entirely gloom and doom at the position though. The Lions are reportedly finalizing the addition of Iago as an MLS U22 Initiative player and signed Nolan Miller to a first-team contract. Miller was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft and had a solid collegiate career at the University of Michigan. Hopefully the defense can hold things down while Jansson is out.

Luan Silva Called Up for Training Camp

Orlando City academy goalkeeper Luan Silva was called up for the United States U-15 National Team’s training camp in Cyprus. Silva was fantastic in net for Orlando’s U-15 team at the mtu Cup in Europe last year and was honored as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. He was also called up for the U.S. U-15 team last September, so it’s nice to see him continuing to get international attention. The camp will include a friendly against Cyprus on Feb. 12 before a friendly against England on Feb. 14.

Concacaf Champions Cup Roundup

San Diego FC’s Concacaf Champions Cup debut could not have gone much better, with the MLS club beating Pumas 4-1 at home. The visitors struck first and took that lead into halftime, but San Diego came out swinging in the second half to score four times and win the game. The job is far from finished though, with the second leg set to take place in Mexico on Tuesday.

The Mexican clubs are having slow starts to their tournament campaigns so far. Tigres was held to a scoreless draw against Forge FC in Canada, and Club America needed a late goal from Ramon Juarez to beat Olimpia 2-1 in Honduras.

Arsenal and Manchester City Reach Carabao Cup Final

The current top two teams in the English Premier League standings will square off in the Carabao Cup final on March 22, as both Arsenal and Manchester City won both legs of their semifinals. Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Kai Havertz to advance 4-2 on aggregate. Manchester City followed up its 2-0 win over Newcastle last month with a 3-1 victory in the second leg, with Omar Marmoush scoring a brace in the recent win. The final should be a great match between two teams who are contenders for plenty of silverware this year. We’ll see who knocks over the first domino in March.

Free Kicks

  • Let’s step into a time machine today to relive some of Martin Ojeda’s best goals with Orlando City. Hopefully we can enjoy even more this season.
  • Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda received her trophy for being named to the 2025 FIFPRO Women’s World 11. It was her second consecutive time receiving the honor.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/4/26

Orlando City transfer falls through, an Orlando City B preseason match scheduled, Concacaf Champions Cup begins, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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February 4, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I feel like all we do lately is deliver bad news. I really hope that changes soon, but unfortunately that is not going to happen today. I know I’m not doing a great job of selling today’s links, but I promise there’s a golden reward at the end. Let’s get to the links.

Stojinovic is a No Go

Orlando City’s off-season woes continued as the deal to sign Slovenian center back Dusan Stojinovic is off after the player failed his medical. As such, the club is still in need of additional center backs. Robin Jansson is a starter, but he has not been at training. David Brekalo might be a starter but has mostly been at left back recently. Rumors of adding Iago from Flamengo persist but it has not yet come to pass. All of that makes the Stojinovic news harder to take.

Sources: Orlando City’s deal to sign CB Dusan Stojinovic is OFF after failed medical.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-02-03T16:26:20.787Z

Orlando City B Preseason Match

We now know that Orlando City B will play at least one preseason match against Colorado Rapids 2 thanks to an announcement from the club. That club being the Rapids and not Orlando City. I find it a bit odd that Colorado didn’t know that all preseason matches are state secrets to be guarded at all costs. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the club will show the match. That club being the Rapids, of course.

MLS Transfer News

Orlando City isn’t the only club having deals fall through. New York City FC had signed a deal to move Moussa Sylla to MLS from Schalke 04. NYCFC claimed Sylla failed his medical and tried to negotiate a loan with options. Schalke 04 was not happy with the situation.

Proving that MLS clubs can sign DP forwards, Real Salt Lake acquired forward Morgan Guilavogui from French Ligue 1 side RC Lens. The big news of the day was the potential move of Colombia forward James Rodriguez to Minnesota United, as first reported by Tom Bogert of The Athletic. Rodriguez is a genuine star for Colombia, but it remains to be seen how he will fit in at Minnesota and in MLS.

Concacaf Champions Cup

The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup bracket is out. While Orlando City won’t make this edition of the competition, nine other MLS squads will compete for the trophy. San Diego FC is one of the MLS clubs making a debut appearance in the tournament. The first match saw Forge FC and Tigres UANL play to a 0-0 draw.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Perhaps we’ll get some positive transfer news for Orlando City soon. Until then, Vamos Orlando!

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