Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I made it through the hurricane fairly unscathed over here in Tampa but plan on helping some friends closer to the gulf with yard cleanup. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City/OCB goalkeeper Carlos Mercado!

Reliving Orlando City History With Miguel Gallardo

As part of the series highlighting the people who have had a hand in Orlando City’s history over the past 13 years, the spotlight deservedly landed on Miguel Gallardo. The former Lion spoke on his decision to follow the team to Orlando after the final Austin Aztex season in 2010.

“It was a big decision for me because in Austin I had a business and my family there,” he said. “It was not an easy decision for me, but soccer was always attractive to me, and I felt like I could do better than the way I did in the academy when I was starting out playing in Mexico. Eight of the guys were going to be moving with the team, so I felt like there was a little family there, so after a lot of thought, I decided to come, and it was really special right from the get-go.”

Gallardo was a major part of Orlando’s time in the USL Pro as the team’s goalkeeper and detailed his experience in the 2011 USL Pro championship and in a friendly against Newcastle United. He’s been a part of the Orlando soccer community since retiring as well, climbing the ranks of broadcasting and coaching in the area as well.

New Opportunities Arise for Americans Players

A new United States Men’s National Team head coach in Mauricio Pochettino means plenty of new opportunities for Americans on the fringes of the player pool to get a look. Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire was noted as one such player who deserves some consideration from Pochettino. Although he wasn’t able to take the Olympics by storm this past summer, McGuire has done well at the club level and could give the USMNT another option up top. If Pochettino can elevate McGuire’s game, it would be a boon for the Lions as well.

Young attackers like Diego Luna, Luca Koleosha, and Rokas Pukstas could flourish from Pochettino’s coaching as well. Richie Ledezma, who has been playing at right back for PSV Eindhoven, is also a player to keep an eye on while Sergino Dest recovers from injury.

Kei Kamara Speaks On Importance of U.S. Open Cup

LAFC beat Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup final Wednesday night, with striker Kei Kamara helping his team lift the trophy. There’s a great deal of uncertainty for the tournament moving forward, as not every MLS team played in it this year. Following the win, Kamara discussed how the league shouldn’t stop participating in the historic tournament and stated that MLS Commissioner Don Garber “better not take this away.” It’s Kamara’s second time winning the U.S. Open Cup, claiming the title with Kansas City in 2012, and he’s second on the league’s all-time scoring list. It’s great to hear a veteran like Kamara speak so openly about wanting the U.S. Open Cup to stay a part of MLS history.

“We go through the systems of everything that’s happened. They told us to go to school, play soccer in school, go to college, play soccer in college, get drafted, go through the system, and that’s what we’ve done. That’s why I give so much credit to Chris Wondolowski because we’ve done the same things. That’s the American dream that we wanted to do and we made it here so you can’t take away from our history. That’s just my opinion. Don’t take away our history.”

Europa League’s Opening Round Wraps Up

The first round of matches in this year’s revamped Europa League is over and done with and multiple clubs got their campaigns started off on the right foot. Tottenham played a majority of its match against Qarabag a man down, but still managed to win 3-0 at home. Ajax cruised to a 4-0 win against Besiktas, Rangers won 2-0 over Malmo in Sweden, and Lyon beat Olympiacos 2-0 at home. AS Roma had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao after conceding in the 85th minute. Eintracht Frankfurt also couldn’t hold onto its lead, allowing two late goals to draw 3-3 at home to Viktoria Plzeň.

Free Kicks

• Former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter is reportedly a finalist to become the Chicago Fire’s sporting director, but it could be a hybrid role that has him as head coach as well. FC Dallas interim head coach Peter Luccin is reportedly the frontrunner for the permanent gig, and Bruce Arena is in the mix for the San Jose Earthquakes opening.
• Trinity Rodman will miss the Washington Spirit’s match tonight against Angel City FC due to her back injury. We’ll see if she’s ready to roll when the Spirit visit Orlando to face the Pride on Oct. 6.
• AC Milan is reportedly interested in signing American midfielder Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis.
•  Luis Ruiz was suspended for three months for his violent tackle on Christian Bermudez in Mexico’s second division earlier this month. Bermudez suffered a double fracture in his right leg as a result.
• USL Super League team Fort Lauderdale United FC has rescheduled its upcoming home game due to delays in construction at its stadium.

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

For those of us here in Florida, Hurricane Helene is here and dumping plenty of rainfall all over the state. If affected, don’t underestimate the storm, keep your wits about you, and err on the side of caution. Hopefully it’s a smooth next couple of days for you all as we get ready for a weekend filled with soccer. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Dallas

After a loss on the road to the Columbus Crew, Orlando City will aim to bounce back when it takes on FC Dallas in Texas on Saturday. The match presents a good opportunity for both clubs, as Orlando is fighting to host in the first round of the playoffs while Dallas is five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. A win in Dallas guarantees a place in the playoffs for the Lions, although there are various scenarios in which the Lions can still clinch if they lose or draw. Head Coach Oscar Pareja, who coached FC Dallas for five years after stints there as an assistant coach, spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match at his old stomping ground.

Alex Freeman Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek

Orlando City B clinched a spot in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs after a 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC II and right back Alex Freeman was honored as MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek for his role in the win. Although he didn’t score, Freeman assisted on OCB’s first and final goals of the match and helped the team secure its second consecutive shutout at home. The 20-year-old has been a major reason why the Young Lions have climbed the Eastern Conference standings, as he’s recorded five goals and four assists in their last six games.

Alyssa Naeher Will Stay in Chicago

The Chicago Red Stars have re-signed American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to a contract that will keep her with the club through the 2025 season. Naeher has been with the Red Stars since the 2016 season, after she was traded to the club from the Boston Breakers. The 36-year-old has started in 135 games for Chicago, and she’s the first NWSL goalkeeper to reach 50 wins with one club. At the international level, Naeher has excelled with the United States Women’s National Team and played every minute of the team’s winning campaign in this summer’s Olympics. Her contract was set to end after this season, so it’s a good move by Chicago to make sure she stays with the team.

Europa League Kicks Off

The Europa League is officially underway this week, with 36 teams participating in the revamped format. Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli, caused an own goal and had an assist in his team’s 3-1 victory against Greece’s PAOK. Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford by Dutch club FC Twente. Porto struck first against FC Bodø/Glimt but fell 3-2 to the Norwegian club despite playing a man up for the most of the second half. Lazio cruised to a 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv, Real Sociedad and Nice battled to a 1-1 draw, and Anderlecht held on for a 2-1 win against Ferencváros of Hungary.

Some of the matches highlighting today’s action in the tournament include AS Roma hosting Athletic Bilbao, Lyon and Olympiacos squaring off in France, and an interesting matchup between Ajax and Besiktas.

Free Kicks

• OCB returned to the top 10 of the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, placing eighth as one of the most in-form teams in the league.
• The Columbus Crew drew Club America in the Campeones Cup, but fell in the penalty shootout after the match. Liga MX won its third Campeones Cup title, tying MLS at 3-3 over the competition’s history.
• Portland Timbers midfielder Evander won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his strike from a free kick against Real Salt Lake.
• Kylian Mbappe will be out due to a hamstring injury according to Real Madrid, although a time frame on how long he’ll be sidelined was not provided.
• Center back Raphael Varane is retiring after a career that included winning the 2018 World Cup with France and four Champions League titles with Real Madrid. The 31-year-old signed with Como in July, but sustained an injury in his only appearance with the Serie A side.
• CBS Sports ranked the top five American strikers ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s friendlies against Panama and Mexico next month. AS Monaco’s Folarin Balogun tops the list, with Haji Wright and Josh Sargent as other options up top for the USMNT in October.
• The draw for the Carabao Cup’s fourth round is complete and Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester City. Other intriguing matchups include Manchester United’s match against Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion’s game with Liverpool, and a showdown between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
• Speaking of the Carabao Cup, Arsenal started 16-year-old Jack Porter in goal for the team’s 5-1 win against Bolton Wanderers, making him the youngest player to ever start for Arsenal’s first team.
• Wojciech Szczęsny’s retirement may only last a month, as the 34-year-old goalkeeper will reportedly sign with Barcelona just a month after announcing his retirement. He’ll help replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who could miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury.

That’s all I have for you all today. Stay safe out there and be neighborly. Have a great Thursday!

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Hopefully, most of you are not in the path of Helene like I am. Sure, it’s heading right towards Tallahassee as of this writing, but we’re as ready as we can be at Mane Land Studios North. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to get today’s links together for you before the storm arrives. Let’s get to it!

Orlando City Is Okay

If you’re like me, you were disappointed with Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew. However, keep in mind that the Lions made it close after looking like it was going to be a blowout. The team didn’t give up and took things to the final whistle. That is the type of fight you want from this club heading down the stretch, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Despite the loss, Orlando City is still at No. 10 in the MLS power rankings. The Crew are a very good club, so heads held high, and we go again this Saturday.

Pochettino Barks Back

There’s been quite a bit of talk around Mauricio Pochettino’s plan to bring success to the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup. Some are questioning whether he can transform the often-dubbed “golden generation” into a World Cup contender. There are those who think the only reason he took the job is because the U.S. is a host in 2026 with an automatic bid. Can he get the players to adapt to his philosophy and style of play? Pochettino took issue with such a suggestion. Hopefully, he can bring a winning mentality to the team, and secure a result that will make U.S. supporters happy.

USWNT Coaching Updates

U.S. Women’s National Team Assistant Coach Twila Kilgore is leaving to pursue other coaching opportunities. Kilgore was the longest-serving interim coach in USWNT history. She does not have a new coaching destination as of now, but her resume is impressive. She effectively bridged the gap between Vlatko Andonovski and Emma Hayes, even winning the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2024.

Speaking of Hayes, the USWNT head coach is back in the news, thanks to Pochettino. When Hayes was hired, her base salary matched that of then-head coach Gregg Berhalter at $1.6 million per year. Now, she is making significantly less than Pochettino, who will earn an estimated $6 million per year. Given the fight for equality between the men’s and women’s teams, questions are being asked about the discrepancy in salary. Alexi Lalas tried to bring it up with U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson. Ultimately, Batson didn’t give a straight answer, but take a look for yourself.

The U.S. Open Cup Final is Tonight

LAFC and Sporting Kansas City meet tonight in the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Orlando City fans are well-versed on how important this competition is to supporters, despite Don Garber doing everything he can to steal the spotlight for the Leagues Cup. Two former USMNT players will face off, with Steve Cherundolo in charge of LAFC and Peter Vermes in charge of Kansas City. If you want to watch, you’ll need to stay up late, as it has a 10:30 p.m. start time.

Free Kicks

• Bay City FC is building a permanent training facility.

• UEFA has reopened bidding for the 2027 Champions League final after taking it away from AC Milan when officials couldn’t convince UEFA that planned redevelopment work wouldn’t interfere with the event.
• If you’re still confused by the NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement, then look no further than this link for the clarification you need.
• I love when Haley Carter calls out examples of the Orlando Pride being ignored when they shouldn’t be ignored.

• Kyle Smith gave his rankings of some of the Orlando City jerseys over the years. See if you agree with him, and can we get that for all of us to rank as well?

That will do it for today. Everyone stay safe, and check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!