Good morning, everyone. It was a mostly good weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as the three sides took six of the nine available points on offer. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as the Orlando Pride travel to face the North Carolina Courage on Friday, Orlando City faces the New York Red Bulls on the road on Saturday, and Orlando City B completes the trio of away games with a road match against Connecticut United on Saturday. We’ve got lots to talk about today, so let’s wish Yutaro Tsukada a happy birthday and get into the links!

Lessons from Matchday 18

Major League Soccer’s 18th matchday is in the books, and there was plenty to be learned from a busy Saturday of action. For one thing, Antoine Griezmann’s fingerprints were all over another Orlando City win, despite no goal contributions for the Frenchman. The Houston Dynamo’s attack looked great in a 3-0 win over Austin FC, despite former Lion Duncan McGuire only coming on as a substitute. LAFC was devastating in transition during a 4-0 romp over Sporting Kansas City. Heung-Min Son opened the scoring after just five minutes, and now has a goal in three straight games after a quiet start to the season and quieter World Cup.

MLS All-Star Game Preview

The MLS All-Star Game is set for Wednesday night in Charlotte, with Orlando City’s Maxime Crepeau set to represent the Lions. Former Lion Richie Laryea is on the MLS roster too, with other key players including Hany Muhktar, Zavier Gozo, and Petar Musa. The Liga MX team features former LAFC player Omar Campos, as well Fernando Gorriaran, Erik Lira, and Israel Reyes — with the latter two fresh off World Cup duty with Mexico earlier in the summer. Charlotte FC’s Dean Smith leads the MLS team, while Toluca’s Antonio Mohamed coaches the Liga MX squad. MLS leads the current version of the format 3-1, with the league’s only loss coming in the 2024 edition that was held in Columbus.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window is in full swing, and we’ve got a lot to catch up on. We start with the Portland Timbers, who are reportedly signing free agent forward Vincent Jannsen.

Charlotte FC, meanwhile, will reportedly sell winger Kerwin Vargas to Atletico Paranaense.

Across the pond, Real Madrid will reportedly be signing Ivorian winger Yan Diomande from Red Bull Leipzig for a deal expected to be worth €135 million. Leeds United is said to be closing in on a deal for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford for an initial fee of £40 million. Finally, John Stones will reportedly sign for Inter Milan on a two-year deal.

Italy U-Turn on Andrea Pirlo

Italy has backtracked on appointing 2006 World Cup-winner Andrea Pirlo as the team’s next head coach, with federation president Giovanni Malago reportedly concerned over Pirlo’s ties to a Russian betting company. Rumors over the last several days pointed towards Pirlo being appointed soon, and he was apparently ready to leave his current job coaching Dubai United, but several Italian politicians voiced concerns over his links to Russian company Fonbet amid the war in Ukraine. The decision to not hire Pirlo reportedly has Italian technical director Paolo Maldini ready to step down from his role a mere 16 days into the job. This comes after Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti both recently turned down offers to become Italy’s newest head coach.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City rose five spots to no. 28 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
• The Orlando Pride rose one spot to no. 11 in the same publication’s NWSL power rankings.
• Take a look at what Maxime Crepeau got up to during All-Star preparations.

• Caleb Trombino represented Orlando City by starting in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game Monday night. While the midfielder didn’t score, he was a member of the winning East squad that thumped the West 6-1.

• Chicharito has become the first signing for USL Championship side Atletico Dallas.
• Gianni Infantino has been called to appear before Congress amidst an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee.
• Esther Gonzalez has reached a mutual decision to terminate her contract with Gotham FC due to a personal matter back home.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work, but I checked out Banana Ball at Wrigley Field in Chicago and watched the Savannah Bananas over the weekend. Our beloved Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Shut Out Nashville SC

Orlando City defeated Nashville SC 1-0 at home on Saturday and secured back-to-back wins in a week after beating the San Jose Earthquakes on the road Wednesday. Tyrese Spicer scored the lone goal in the second half as Orlando City took down the MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders. Orlando avenged its March 21 road loss to Nashville and snapped its opponent’s 10-match unbeaten streak. Orlando City will be back on the road Saturday to take on the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Ellis and Lions Head Coach Perelman Make Team of the Matchday

Orlando City forward Justin Ellis and Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman made the MLS Team of the Matchday following a 1-0 win against Nashville SC over the weekend. Ellis played 85 minutes and recorded an assist in the match. The Lions have scored five goals and have not conceded a goal in two matches since the World Cup break ended as Perelman’s side looks to continue its winning streak on the road against the Red Bulls Saturday.

Lions Players on International Duty

Orlando City midfielder Colin Guske started and added an assist for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team in a 3-0 win over Haiti Saturday in the Concacaf U-20 Championships in Mexico. He was subbed off in the 73rd minute with an injury but left the pitch under his own power. The U.S. will play El Salvador Tuesday. OCB midfielder Dylan Judelson and defender Clovis Archage started for the Canadian U-20 Men’s National Team in a 3-0 win against Panama Sunday. Canada will face Honduras on Wednesday.

Orlando City Signs Bernardo Rhein to Homegrown Player Contract

Orlando City announced Saturday that the club has signed left back Bernardo Rhein to a Homegrown Player contract with the first team. The deal is through the 2027-2028 MLS season with club options in 2028-2029 and 2029-2030. The 18-year-old made his MLS debut for the Lions on April 22 as a substitute against Charlotte FC. Rhein has made 35 appearances for OCB with 27 starts and scored two goals and added three assists across all competitions in MLS Next Pro.

Doyle’s Late Winner Lifts Pride over Chicago Stars

The Orlando Pride beat the Chicago Stars 1-0 athome on Friday. The Pride took 20 shots in the first half, with eight on target, but wasted their scoring chances. Orlando struggled to score throughout the second half, and Marta missed a penalty, but Julie Doyle came off the bench and broke through the Chicago Stars defense to score a late winner. The Pride snapped their two-match losing streak and will be on the road Friday to face the North Carolina Courage at First Horizon Stadium.

OCB Falls to Huntsville City FC

Orlando City B fell 1-0 to Huntsville City FC at Osceola County Stadium Sunday and saw its four-match unbeaten streak end. After a scoreless first half, Zidane Yanez scored the winner in the second half for Huntsville. The Young Lions struggled to get anything going on offense, taking only three shots and failing to put any on target throughout the match. OCB will be on the road for its next match Saturday against Connecticut United FC at Reese Stadium in New Haven, CT.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City honored its three 2026 FIFA World Cup players, Maxime Crepeau, Marco Pasalic, and Braian Ojeda, prior to kickoff of Saturday’s match against Nashville.

• Former Lions Ruan, Alex Freeman, Michael Halliday, and Alexandre Pato were present at Orlando City’s home match over the weekend.

• Check out this interesting read on MLSSoccer.com featuring Orlando City forward Antoine Griezmann and his effect on the club since his arrival.

• Former Lion defender Dagur Dan Thorhallsson is on the move as CF Montreal has traded him to San Diego FC in exchange for $625,000 in General Allocation Money.
• The Colorado Rapids are reportedly finalizing a deal to sign midfielder Youssef Maziz.

• The Premier League announced a coast-to-coast event featuring all 20 of its clubs in the U.S. following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brighton and Hove Albion will be hosting an event in Kissimmee on Aug. 23.
• Mexico’s top women’s league, Liga MX Femenil, announced Friday that the league will rebrand to the Liga Femenil BBVA and will change its format, switching from an 18-team regular season to two groups of nine teams.
• FIFA announced the prize money payout for the 48 nations that participated in the World Cup this summer. The U.S. Men’s National Team received $16 million, while the champions, Spain, received $51 million.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! We have three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, starting with the Orlando Pride’s match tonight. I’ve had a feeling as if I’m forgetting something ever since the World Cup ended, but this weekend’s games should help solve that. Let’s jump right into today’s links!

Multiple Lions Make Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Antoine Griezmann, Eduard Atuesta, Maxime Crepeau, and David Brekalo all made the MLS Team of the Matchday following the team’s 4-0 win on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes. Griezmann scored in his MLS debut, while Atuesta recorded three assists. Crepeau had seven saves to help secure the clean sheet alongside David Brekalo, who scored as well. It’s great to see the Lions so well represented after a midweek slate that featured plenty of strong performances.

Orlando City Prepares to Face Nashville SC

There’s not much time for rest for the Lions after that victory on the West Coast, as they are back in action on Saturday with a home game against Nashville SC. Griezmann looked as advertised in that road win and his performance was one of the highlights from the midweek games. While it’s not the largest sample size, Orlando looked transformed with Griezmann on the field. Hopefully the Lions can keep the momentum rolling at home against Nashville, which has only lost once all season. It’ll be a tough match for Orlando, but it will also be a great opportunity to make a statement about where the team is headed.

Orlando Pride Take On the Chicago Stars Tonight

The Orlando Pride have had a week to reset and prepare for tonight’s match at home against the Chicago Stars. Both teams have lost their past two games and will be without important forwards, as the Pride’s Barbra Banda is on international duty and Chicago’s Jordyn Huitema was recently placed on the season-ending injury list. Mallory Swanson is also listed as out on the availability report for Chicago. The Stars have only scored eight goals while conceding 30 this season, making this a solid chance for the Pride to claim a needed three points at home.

Barbra Banda Praises Marta Ahead of WAFCON

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is set to begin on Sunday in Morocco and Banda is prepared to captain Zambia for the tournament. She spoke on how Pride teammate and women’s soccer legend Marta has helped her become a better player.

“The motivation she gives me is something I can’t even describe. Every game we play, she always has a word for me,” Banda said.

“She has been my idol since I was young, and this is a great opportunity for me to keep learning, gain experience and improve my game. I’m always following her closely because I want to learn something from her.”

Zambia is in a tough group against Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi, with only the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The stakes are fairly high in each game, as the semifinalists of the tournament will directly qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Zambia’s first match is set for Tuesday against Egypt.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

Hugo Cuypers, who was tied for the MLS Golden Boot lead with 13 goals so far this season, was officially transferred from the Chicago Fire to CF Monterrey for a reported transfer fee of $7.5 million. It’s a bit low for one of the league’s best forwards, but it does open up a Designated Player spot for Chicago. American midfielder Sebastian Berhalter may also be leaving the league, as the Vancouver Whitecaps are reportedly close to transferring him to Middlesbrough for a fee around $2 million.

As for the ever escalating arms race by Eastern Conference teams, Atlanta United is reportedly targeting big names like Darwin Nunez and Breel Embolo as possible replacements for Emmanuel Latte Lath, who notably didn’t play on Wednesday. The New England Revolution are also reportedly looking to add some firepower and are nearing a deal for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City forward Justin Ellis was noted as a young American player who impressed this week for his role in Orlando’s win, in which he provided both a primary and a secondary assist.
• The club announced that Inter&Co Stadium has been renamed to Inter.co Stadium. Ampersand fanatics are in shambles.
• An agreement to key terms of a collective bargaining agreement has been reached between the USL Super League and the USL Players Association. The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified, but it would be the league’s first collective bargaining agreement.
• Former MLS and U.S. Soccer star Eddie Pope was named MLS Senior Vice President of Sporting Development and MLS NEXT Pro Senior Vice President of Competition & Operations.
• Enjoy this graphic showcasing the tenures of the managers in the English Premier League. It’s a bit crazy that half of them haven’t been with the club for over a year.

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