Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/19/23
Concacaf Champions Cup schedule released, UEFA Champions League draw, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! As we get closer to the end of 2023, my sense of time gets a bit more muddled. It’s currently exam season at the school where I work, and that means athletic schedules are all over the place, which contributes to me feeling a little all over the place. Time stops for no one however, and that means that we have plenty of things to go over this morning. Let’s get into the links.
Concacaf Champions Cup Schedule Revealed
The schedule has been determined for the first round and round of 16 matches of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Orlando City will start the tournament on the road, taking on Cavalry FC on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. ET. The second leg will be on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Exploria Stadium, with a 6 p.m. kickoff. Due to expected difficulties from playing so far north, the Lions will travel to Langford, British Columbia to play the away leg rather than Calgary, Alberta, where Cavalry FC is actually based. If Orlando advances, it will face either Tigres or the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 5 before the second leg on March 12.
UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage is Set
The draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 has been completed, and we now know what matchups we’ll be seeing as the knockout stage gets underway. You’ll be able to see four United States Men’s National Team players in one place, as Borussia Dortmund and Giovanni Reyna have been drawn against a PSV Eindhoven team featuring Malik Tillman, Sergino Dest, and Ricardo Pepi. Barcelona has been drawn against Napoli in a matchup featuring two of Diego Maradona’s former clubs. Finally, while Real Madrid will be favored in the tie against RB Leipzig, the news that David Alaba has a torn ACL will make matters more difficult for the 14-time winners.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of USMNT players who will be in action during the working week. Later today, Reyna and Dortmund face Mainz in Bundesliga play while Antonee Robinson and Fulham play Everton in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup. Wednesday sees Jordan Pefok, Joe Scally, and Borussia Mönchengladbach take on Paxten Aaronson and Eintracht Frankfurt. In France, Monaco and Folarin Balogun have an away match against Toulouse on Wednesday. Finally, on Friday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan hit the road to take on Salernitana.
MLS Transfer Roundup
Major League Soccer might be in the off-season but that just means that the transfers are flying thick and fast. The Chicago Fire kicked off the week by signing Tom Barlow from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money, which could eventually rise to $400,000 if certain performance incentives are met.
FC Dallas has signed Malik Henry-Scott as a Homegrown Player. He becomes the team’s 37th Homegrown signing, which is the most in league history.
The Colorado Rapids are said to be finishing up a deal to bring Omir Fernandez to the Western Conference from the Red Bulls.
Finally, Atlanta United is said to be interested in two veteran center backs as the team looks to remold its back line.
Free Kicks
- Former Orlando City B player Ryley Kraft is retiring from professional soccer.
- The Houston Dash have re-signed Maria Sanchez.
- The North Carolina Courage have signed Head Coach Sean Nahas to a three-year contract extension.
- Rio Grande Valley FC has ceased operations.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Stay safe out there!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/14/25
Orlando Pride face the Chicago Stars tonight, 2025 NWSL season set to kick off, San Diego FC’s plan to stop discriminatory chant, and more.

Happy Friday! The Orlando Pride’s season starts today to kick off another three straight days of Orlando soccer. Orlando City is in action on Saturday, and then we have Orlando City B to enjoy on Sunday. Before we jump into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Executive OCSC Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi!
Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Stars FC Tonight
The Orlando Pride’s first game of the 2025 NWSL season is finally here, with the team set to begin its title defense at home tonight at 8 p.m. against the Chicago Stars. Before the match, the club will raise banners to celebrate a historic season last year that included winning the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. It’s an unfamiliar position for the Pride to start a season from, as the club has undergone quite the transformation in both culture and expectations in recent years.
“It’s going to be such a special moment,” defender and vice-captain Kylie Nadaner said. “I got here when things weren’t great in this club, and there were times where I don’t think that I would ever have predicted that this would be possible. So when that banner is raised, it’s going to be such a special moment, and to see this star on our chest—every time I see it, I’m just so proud and honored to be a part of it.”
The Pride’s season will start with a matchup against a Chicago team they eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The Stars won’t be the only team with revenge on their mind when facing the Pride, and Orlando will have to navigate the season with a large target on its back. It’s still a bit surreal to acknowledge that considering where this club was only a few years ago.
2025 NWSL Season Kicks Off Tonight
Tonight’s matches are just the first in what should be an exciting start to the NWSL season across the country. While most of us will likely be watching the Pride, the Washington Spirit are also in action at 8 p.m. tonight when they face the Houston Dash. Saturday’s slate features four games with staggered start times for a nice day of soccer, including an intriguing late match pitting NJ/NY Gotham FC against the Seattle Reign. The weekend wraps up on Sunday night with a Cali clash between Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave. If in need of a refresher on each team after a busy off-season, ESPN provided a nice guide heading into this season.
San Diego FC Launches Plan to Stop Anti-Gay Chant
After the use of a homophobic chant in its inaugural home game earlier this month, San Diego FC has announced a plan for addressing it. Starting as soon as Saturday’s home game against the Columbus Crew, there will be increased communication to fans reinforcing that the chant has no place at the stadium. There will be increased security measures as well, with the plan noting that offenders will be identified and ejected. FIFA’s protocol to abandon the match if the behavior persists is also part of the club’s announced plan. Hopefully this all will help nip the problem in the bud.
Europa League Quarterfinals Are Set
Only eight teams remain in this year’s Europa League after some exciting round of 16 matchups. A hat trick by Bruno Fernandes lifted Manchester United to a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, while fellow English club Tottenham also advanced after a 3-1 home victory against AZ Alkmaar. As for the Italian clubs, an early red card to Mats Hummels doomed AS Roma in its 3-1 loss to Athletic Club and Lazio’s 1-1 draw with Viktoria Plzen was enough to advance. Fenerbahce beat Rangers 2-0, but Rangers ultimately came out on top in the penalty shootout.
In the quarterfinals, Manchester United faces a Lyon side that breezed through the round of 16, and Rangers will battle Athletic Club. On the other side of the bracket, Tottenham plays Eintracht Frankfurt and Lazio is matched up against Bodo/Glimt.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this look into the Pride’s history of home openers over the past nine years in the NWSL.
- NWSL players will be able to decrease their yellow card accumulation through good behavior this season.
- The first two rounds of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup will exclusively be broadcast on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel.
- UEFA will reportedly reach out to FIFA and the International Football Association Board over changing the rule that disallowed Julian Alvarez’s penalty in the Champions League after a slip of his plant foot caused him to brush the ball before he struck it, resulting in a double kick.
- In a bizarre bit of scheduling, Chelsea and Manchester City’s women’s soccer teams will face each other four times over the course of 12 days across all competitions.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/13/25
Getting to know Robin Jansson, Orlando Pride announce 2025 season roster, Orlando City’s watch party schedule, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? Soccer in the City Beautiful is back and in full swing, with another stacked weekend ahead of us. I’ve been spending most of the week working and getting some reading done before the rest of the month really gets busier for me. For those who like contemporary romance and are looking for a recommendation, First-Time Caller has been a fantastic read so far. But enough about what you should be reading, let’s get to the links!
Getting to Know Robin Jansson
Enjoy taking a stroll with Orlando City center back Robin Jansson, who detailed his role on the team and experience in Orlando. The 33-year-old has become an MLS veteran over the years and talked about how his game has developed since moving from Sweden to the U.S., notably how he’s able to play with the ball at his feet a bit more. As the team’s captain, Jansson provides leadership both on and off the pitch and discussed how he’s fit into the verbal and intense South American culture within the club. He also spoke on how he gives back to the community by visiting kids in the hospital to help them on their journeys.
Orlando Pride Announce Roster for 2025 Season
With the NWSL season only a few days away, the Orlando Pride announced their start-of-season roster. There aren’t too many changes from the team that won both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last year, although Adriana’s transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah FC is notable. New additions acquired this off-season include Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya, World Cup winner Oihane Hernández, and rookie defender Zara Chavoshi. Luana, Simone Charley, and Amanda Allen are the players on the season-ending injury list heading into the 2025 season as well.
Orlando City Reveals 2025 Watch Party Schedule
The schedule for this year’s Orlando City watch parties was announced and fans will be able to watch seven away games at different local pubs. The first will be Saturday at Burton’s Thornton Park for Orlando’s road game against the New York Red Bulls. This should create a nice atmosphere for Orlando’s road rivalry games in May too, as the game against Inter Miami on May 18 will fittingly be watched at Rivals, while the watch party for the game against Atlanta United on May 28 will be at The Hideaway. Orlando’s Decision Day match with Toronto FC will be hosted at Kiwi’s Pub & Grill to close out the regular season. As part of the club’s partnership with the pubs, each one will have access to MLS Season Pass for all of the Lions’ games this year as well.
New NWSL Players to Watch in 2025
Pride fans are well aware that NWSL newcomers played a major role in the league last season, as Barbra Banda was a major reason behind the club’s historic year. This year’s new faces include many players who could impress in their first year in the NWSL, like aforementioned Pride defender Oihane Hernandez. The right back helped Spain win the 2023 Women’s World Cup and bronze at the 2024 Olympics and joined the Pride after two seasons with Real Madrid. She’s skilled on both sides of the ball and gives opponents another obstacle to overcome this season.
OCB Lands in MLS NEXT Pro’s Top 10
The first power rankings of the MLS NEXT Pro season are out and Orlando City B placed sixth. The Young Lions kicked off their season at home on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2. A late rally by Columbus nearly spoiled things, but OCB did well to hold onto its lead and secure all three points. Orlando’s next match will be Sunday at Osceola Heritage Park against Atlanta United 2, which lost 1-0 to New York Red Bulls II during the opening weekend.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Stars forward Mallory Swanson won’t be with the team when it takes on the Pride this Friday due to personal reasons.
- Although she’s focused on this NWSL season, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman stated that it’s just a matter of when in regards to her making the move to Europe.
- Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Arriola was carted off due to a left knee injury during his team’s 4-1 loss to Cruz Azul. It’s tough news for Arriola, who tore his right ACL in 2020.
- Charlotte FC bolstered its defense by adding left back Souleyman Doumbia on loan from Standard Liège for the 2025 season.
- The Kansas City Current signed forward Flora Marta Lacho to a two-year contract, making her the first Angolan player in league history. She heads to the U.S. after helping TP Mazembe win the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League last year.
- The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are set and each matchup looks to be a good one. Arsenal will take on Real Madrid, Bayern Munich will face Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund will play Barcelona, and Aston Villa will square off against Paris Saint-Germain.
- Bos Nation FC hired Amina Bulman as its chief revenue officer. Bulman led the Washington Commanders’ revamp as the NFL team’s chief brand and strategy officer, so a similar brand reset is hopefully on the horizon for the NWSL club.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/12/25
David Brekalo featured, the Orlando Pride’s season promotions, USMNT roster drop, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! With the weekend’s matches firmly in the rearview mirror, it is time to look ahead to the next matches, starting with the Orlando Pride’s season opener at Inter&Co Stadium Friday. As you’ll see below, you definitely want to be there in person if you can.
We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando Pride attacker Ally Watt! We hope she has a wonderful day. Now, let’s get to the links.
Brekalo for Club and Country
Orlando City center back David Brekalo is ready to give his all for the Lions and with the Slovenian National Team in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with FIFA.com, Brekalo spoke about Orlando City, MLS, and his national team. It provides some excellent insight into his motivations for club and country.
Pride Promotions
Friday night, the Orlando Pride will raise the banners from the 2024 NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Championship. The ceremony will take place before the match against the Chicago Stars. Hopefully, these will be the first of many as Seb Hines and his team look to repeat the double.
The banners are just the start of a season’s worth of promotions the Pride will host this year. Other events include Pups of Pride, Kids Night Out, and others. These are some additional great reasons to go support the champs in 2025.
Banda and Marta Shine
Barbra Banda took the league by storm when she arrived last year, but she had some help adjusting to the NWSL from the club and her teammates. Repeating as champions won’t be easy, but Banda knows that she doesn’t have to do it alone. Marta is also coming off a great season, and is a player in the league to keep an eye on. Hopefully, the duo can lead the Pride back to the promised land.
USMNT Roster Announced
Mauricio Pochettino has selected the 23-player roster for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League. The big names are there, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Tyler Adams. The U.S. kicks things off against Panama in the first semifinal on March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Given the names on this list, it is obvious that Pochettino is serious about trying to win a trophy.
Free Kicks
- Evidently, the Orlando Pride didn’t do enough to earn the top spot on ESPN’s “ambition” rankings. Perhaps it is because they didn’t need to do too much to improve the best team in the NWSL in 2024?
- Take some time to get to know Orlando City B goalkeeper Carlos Mercado. He might be the third-string keeper for the first team, but he’s number one on OCB’s list.
- Angelina gets some attention from outside of the Orlando community as a critical player for the Orlando Pride this coming season. To this point, we at The Mane Land say, “duh.”
- MLS and Audi are celebrating 10 years of partnership. Audi sponsors the MLS Golden Boot and MLS Cup each year and contributes funds to MLS Club Youth Academies through the Audi Goals Drive Progress program.
- Occasionally, we get to see something that actually makes America great. Well done, sir. The U.S. drew Trinidad & Tobago 2-2 but won the ensuing shootout.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for this weekend’s matches. Vamos Orlando!
-
Orlando Pride7 days ago
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride Unveil New Home Kits Ahead of 2025 NWSL Season
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Final Score 4-2 as Lions Pick Up First Win of 2025
-
Orlando City6 days ago
Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City5 days ago
Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Continue to Struggle at Yankee Stadium
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Five Takeaways
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City’s Opener Marked by Negative Events Unlikely to Reoccur