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Lion Links: 4/22/23

Orlando City players approaching key milestones as Lions brace for D.C., Pride set for Kansas City trip, U-20 World Cup groups set, and more.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

It’s another weekend full of Orlando soccer, Mane Landers! Tonight, Orlando City is back at home in Exploria Stadium for the return match against D.C. United. Then on Sunday, we have the Pride traveling to Children’s Mercy Park for a match with the Kansas City Current at 5 p.m. Finally, we get to round out the weekend with a Sunday nightcap with the Young Lions’ match at Osceola Heritage Park against NYCFC II.

With all that soccer in one weekend, it really begs the question: which jersey should you wear? Do you start with your favorite City jersey on Saturday and keep it on until someone loses? Did you even wash it after last week? Superstitions in sports always fascinate me. Heck, I was the guy on the team who went 14 straight matches without washing his socks in high school because I kept finding goals and assists during one streak. I would like to think that I have changed in my old age, but I probably have not. I’ll be wearing the same shirt as last week. Like they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City’s first MLS captain and club legend Kaká!

Orlando City Adjusts for D.C. United

Orlando City is back at home against D.C. United to settle the score. On March 11, the two clubs finished in a 1-1 draw at Audi Field. The Lions are coming back from stealing a late win against Minnesota United, while D.C. defeated CF Montréal in its last outing. For Orlando City captain Mauricio Pereyra, he thinks both teams will play each other a little differently this time around and even hinted at moving forward with the 3-4-3 formation change from last week.

“From the beginning of the preseason, we started to train in that way and now we have two kinds of formation,” Pereyra said. “One of them is what we usually used to use in the last three years but now this formation is giving us a little more confidence and more people in front and I think that with Gastón [González] and Iván [Angulo] and the people around them. We have covered the spaces wider in the field. We feel comfortable with that.”

Club Records in Reach for Orlando City Players

Orlando City center back Robin Jansson is probably the first name Head Coach Oscar Pareja writes on the white board each week. And with an appearance against D.C. United, Jansson will reach 127 all-time appearances in the MLS era, passing Chris Mueller for the club record. While Mueller was holding on to the appearance record, Jansson already holds the club’s all-time minutes lead and is only five games away from matching Mueller for the most MLS appearances with the Lions.

Another milestone watch will be for goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. He will match Joe Bendik for the most appearances by an Orlando City goalkeeper at 92 should he be selected. Gallese won his 40th game for the Lions in Minnesota and holds the club records for goalkeeper wins and clean sheets.

Pride Prepare for Kansas City Current

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and forward Ally Watt are looking towards their match against a team that recently shook up its coaching staff. On Wednesday, Matt Potter was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Kansas City Current, and the team went on to win its first group stage match of the NWSL Challenge Cup. For the Pride though, self-focus remains the main principle towards finding its own success.

“They’re going through [a coaching] change. They’re all also looking to win a game of football like ourselves, so it should be a really good, interesting game. It’s nice to go away from home, different environment. Obviously they’re building something there in terms of their fans and stadium up-and-coming, but we have to focus on ourselves. We want to bounce back from the last couple of results and really, again, reinforce our message of being difficult to beat and being threatening in the attack.”

The Pride is also a team full of new faces. With a tournament like the Challenge Cup, it allows players minutes who might not otherwise see much playing time. It can foster growth and chemistry among the squad. As Watt said:

“Just confidence that every single player in each game are growing. I feel that for myself, and you can see along with the backline. Emily Madril had an amazing game, she has so much confidence going into it, as she should. Carly Nelson getting her first start with us and she has all that confidence as well, Messiah [Bright] is gaining confidence. And I think that’s what we need, is to be believing in ourselves and each other more. But honestly, just realize that we can hang in the league and we just have to execute at the end.”

U.S. Learns Draw for Under-20 FIFA World Cup

A tournament that was originally planned for Indonesia will now be played in Argentina from May 20-June 11. After a final draw, the United States now knows that it will be in Group B at the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The goup rounds out with Ecuador, Fiji, and Slovakia. The tournament features 24 countries split into six groups of four teams. Each of the top two finishers per group, as well as the four best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 16 and knockout format. The Young Yanks are the only team to reach the quarterfinals of the last three FIFA U-20 World Cups and are one of only three to qualify to the last five U-20 World Cups alongside New Zealand and Uruguay. In the latest U-20 tuneup camp, Orlando City was represented by three players — Michael Halliday, Thomas Williams, and Alex Freeman.

Free Kicks

  • MLS match analysist and former Orlando City Lion Jamie Watson checks in with 96.9 The Game and promises more is yet to come from the club.
  • Orlando Pride rookies Messiah Bright and Emily Madril appear to be bringing back Heelys. Hopefully, they will slide the ball in the next this weekend as easily as they slide around in those shoes.

That’s all I have for you today, folks. I hope you enjoy the fixtures this weekend. If you are headed to the stadium, remember to drive safely, be courteous to the stadium staff, and always drink plenty of water. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/3/26

All of Orlando’s soccer teams lose, latest MLS transfer roundup, FIFA abandons plans to sell stakes in World Cup, and more.

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15 minutes ago

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August 3, 2026

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Image of Tyrese Spicer dribbling the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I can’t believe it’s August already, and I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and catching up on Ted Lasso before the new season drops on Apple TV later this week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Poor Start Dooms Lions in Loss at New York Red Bulls

Orlando City fell 3-2 to the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday. Mijahir Jimenez scored the opener for New York in the first half. The Red Bulls added another goal to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, Tyrese Spicer pulled one back for Orlando, but Jimenez responded with his second goal of the match. Griffin Dorsey pulled the Lions back within one, however, New York held on for the win, and Orlando has not beaten the Red Bulls in its last seven matches. Orlando City’s next match will be its Leagues Cup opener Wednesday against Liga MX side Monterey at home.

Pride Suffer Heavy Defeat at North Carolina Courage

The Orlando Pride were blown away 5-0 by the North Carolina Courage on the road at First Horizon Stadium on Friday. Evelyn Ijeh recorded a hat trick, and Lauryn Thompson and Ashley Sanchez each added a goal apiece as the Courage dominated the Pride. Orlando’s offensive struggles continue as the club has lost three of its last four matches. The Pride will be home for their next match Friday to face Racing Louisville FC.

OCB Falls at Connecticut United

Orlando City B fell 4-2 to Connecticut United FC on the road at Reese Stadium in New Haven, CT, on Saturday. Landon Okonski scored the opener in the first half for the Young Lions. However, Connecticut scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. In the second half, Connecticut scored twice again to take a 4-1 lead. Matthew Belgodere added a goal for the Young Lions in stoppage time, but Connecticut sealed its fifth consecutive victory. OCB has lost back-to-back matches and will have to wait until next week, on Aug. 11, to face New York City FC II on the road.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

Atlanta United has loaned forward Emmanuel Latte Lath to Union Berlin of the Bundesliga ahead of the 2026-2027 season. The loan deal is for one year and includes a purchase option. Meanwhile, the Columbus Crew are reportedly set to transfer wingback Max Arfsten to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough for a $7.5 million transfer fee. Hull City of the English Premier League has reportedly reached an agreement with the Colorado Rapids to sign defender Lucas Herrington.

FIFA Abandons Plans to Sell Stakes in World Cup

On Friday, FIFA announced it will not proceed with plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private equity investors after facing significant backlash. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal had received strong opposition from the UEFA, Concacaf, and AFC confederations. If the plan was to move forward, UEFA stated that all 55 of its members would boycott FIFA competitions, including future World Cups. According to reports, UEFA and Concacaf have questioned Infantino’s future leadership in FIFA, raising the possibility that he may face a challenger in the 2027 elections, while other associations such as Wales have reportedly withdrawn support for his re-election.

Meanwhile, UEFA has reportedly threatened legal action against FIFA over its recent proposal to sell off the World Cup.

Free Kicks

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

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Lion Links: 7/31/26

Yutaro Tsukada loaned to Rhode Island FC, Orlando Pride play the North Carolina Courage tonight, NWSL ends deal with Victory+, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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July 31, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s the final day of July, and I’m hoping that the Orlando Pride can close out the month on a positive note tonight. We also have both Orlando City and Orlando City B to look forward to Saturday night. Let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Yutaro Tsukada Loaned to Rhode Island FC

Orlando City loaned forward Yutaro Tsukada to Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship for the remainder of the 2026 season. Selected by Orlando in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Tsukada signed a first-team contract that August after impressing with Orlando City B. Unfortunately, he missed all of last season due to a knee injury and has only made two appearances for the Lions this season. Hopefully, he can make the most of his playing time in Rhode Island.

Orlando Pride Visit North Carolina Courage Tonight

The Orlando Pride are on the road tonight for a game against the North Carolina Courage. Road wins have been hard to come by for Orlando this season, as the Pride have only won two games away from the City Beautiful this year. While the Pride have struggled when visiting WakeMed Soccer Park over the years, they did manage to draw 1-1 against the Courage there last year. Orlando generated plenty of opportunities in its 1-0 win over the Chicago Stars, and midfielder Haley McCutcheon spoke on how that’s a positive sign heading into this match.

“I think we can either look at our chances and not converting them as a frustration point, or we can look at it as confidence that we’re creating these chances,” she said. “We’ve taken it into this week as: okay, we’re creating, and now we just need that final piece. Especially without Barbra here, it gives other players an opportunity to step up and be the finisher.”

NWSL Terminates Agreement With Victory+

Starting on Sunday, all NWSL games that were scheduled to stream on Victory+ will instead be streamed for free on NWSL+ after the league terminated its media rights agreement with the broadcast partner. The multi-year agreement lasted less than a year and the termination is reportedly due in part to unfulfilled payments to the NWSL. You can check out games on NWSL+ through the league’s website or its app.

UEFA Agrees to Boycott FIFA Events

In response to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s scheme to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors, UEFA’s 55 member nations convened and agreed to boycott all FIFA competitions. Concacaf also released a statement rejecting Infantino’s proposal, expressing concern over the lack of due process and more. We’ll see where the dominoes fall from here, with the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup set to take place in Poland starting on Sept. 5. While it’s tough seeing women’s soccer events at risk in this game of chicken, it’s nice to see that the confederations aren’t just shaking their heads while going along with the plans.

Free Kicks

  • Barbra Banda and Zambia will face off against Nigeria in Casablanca on Saturday in a critical Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match.
  • The Philadelphia Union transferred South African defender Olwethu Makhanya to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership for a reported $4.5 million fee. The 22-year-old has been with the Union for three years and was part of South Africa’s World Cup roster.
  • FC Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela was suspended for an additional game and fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for his violent conduct against the Columbus Crew on July 25. As a result, he’ll miss out on the match against Orlando City on Aug. 15.
  • Talks are reportedly taking place for American attacker Giovanni Reyna to move from Borussia Monchengladbach to Strasbourg in France.

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: 7/30/26

Orlando City prepares for New York trip, Orlando Pride face the Courage on Friday, Pride support the community, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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July 30, 2026

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Image of Zara Chavoshi playing for the Orlando Pride.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? All three of Orlando’s soccer teams are on the road this weekend, so be sure to plan accordingly to enjoy all of the action. Whether it’s in your comfiest armchair or at your favorite bar, it should be a nice time to watch some soccer and relax. Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you have a go-to food plan for watching the games. I usually take the easy road and grab a pizza on the way home, but I am looking to switch it up. Let’s get to the links!

Crepeau Stays Hot at MLS All-Star Game

Maxime Crepeau’s strong restart to league play continues. The Canadian international played 30 minutes with the MLS All-Star Team to close out the 2026 MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte on Wednesday. The defense in front of Orlando City’s starting goalkeeper was porous, as Crepeau finished with six saves (equaling the total saves by Matt Freese and Brian Schwake combined) and allowed one goal. MLS beat Liga MX 4-3. After shutting out San Jose and Nashville and then winning the Goalie Wars championship at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday, he turned in a great All-Star Game performance capping an outstanding eight days for Crepeau.

Here are two of his saves:

Orlando City Rides Momentum to Road Match

The Lions are flying high after a pair of great wins last week, shutting out both the San Jose Earthquakes and Nashville SC. Orlando’s next match will be on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls in a rematch of the season opener, which New York won 2-1. Plenty has changed since then, with the most notable difference being the addition of Antoine Griezmann to Orlando’s lineup. Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman provided some insight on the team’s preparations for this match before the Leagues Cup begins next week.

Orlando Pride Get Ready for North Carolina

Following a 1-0 win at home, the Orlando Pride will aim to carry some momentum on the road for a match against the North Carolina Courage on Friday. They’ll face a North Carolina side that has lost its past three matches, scoring just once and conceding nine goals during that stretch. Hopefully, the Pride can also find the back of the net against the Courage while Barbra Banda is away on international duty. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team will need to capitalize on its opportunities in a tough environment on the road.

Orlando Pride Support Local Community

The Orlando Pride and Heart of Florida United Way announced that $7,000 was donated to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free support to those dealing with mental health challenges, emotional distress, and more. This was done as part of the club’s Assists for Good campaign that began this year, with the club donating $500 toward good causes in the community for each assist the Pride record this season. For the remainder of the season, Pride assists will result in donations to The Thanksgiving Project as well.

Orlando Pride defender Zara Chavoshi is also making a difference in the local community. She was nominated for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award this year and detailed the work she does for Habitat for Humanity to build homes. I’ve volunteered with Habitat for Humanity a few times and it was incredibly enriching work that I recommend at least looking into.

U.S. and Mauricio Pochettino Reportedly Near New Deal

An agreement is reportedly close to being reached between U.S. Soccer and Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino for him to stay on through the 2030 World Cup. While the U.S. won its first World Cup knockout game since 2002 this summer, the Yanks failed to make it past the round of 16 after a 4-1 loss to Belgium. Failing to win the 2025 Concacaf Nations League or 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup were other low points for the team under Pochettino, but a strong World Cup group stage performance and friendly wins over Japan, Uruguay, and Senegal showed some of the heights the U.S. could reach with him at the helm.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City B players Clovis Archange and Dylan Judelson both started and played the full 90 minutes in Canada’s match against Honduras at the Concacaf U-20 Championship. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Canada atop their group on four points through two of the three group-stage match days.
  • The Portland Timbers signed Dutch forward Vincent Janssen to a contract through the 2027-2028 season. The 32-year-old has spent the past four seasons with Royal Antwerp, recording 64 goals and 27 assists across all competitions with the Belgian club.
  • Liverpool is reportedly preparing a bid for French forward Bradley Bracola, who had 13 goals and seven assists with Paris Saint-Germain this past season.
  • Victor Gabriel was the player involved in the challenge that resulted in Gabriel Pec’s broken leg in Brazil’s Serie A and the defender has been suspended from playing until Pec returns to training. It’s an unorthodox punishment, but I think it’s fitting.
  • Roberto Mancini was once again hired as Italy’s head coach, even though he left the team to coach Saudi Arabia in 2023 the last time he was in charge. Surely retreading old ground is the right choice for a federation that hasn’t played a World Cup game in over a decade.
  • FIFA lodged three disciplinary charges of assault against Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, two against defender Nahuel Molina, and one against coach Roberto Ayala for their actions in the skirmish following the World Cup final.

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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