Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/23/24
Duncan McGuire signs new contract, Orlando City B plays tonight, NWSL makes major changes, and more.
Not only is today Friday, but we have Orlando soccer to look forward to with both the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B in action tonight. Hopefully it will be a good start to what should be a fun weekend of soccer to enjoy. I’ll be spending most of it working and reading, but I’m still looking forward to it. Let’s get this Friday started with today’s links from around the soccer world!
Duncan McGuire Signs New Orlando City Contract
Orlando City and Duncan McGuire have reached an agreement for the forward to stick around in Orlando, as McGuire officially signed a new contract that lasts through 2027, with an option for 2028 as well. Selected by Orlando with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, McGuire has scored 23 goals in 63 appearances across all competitions as a Lion. The 23-year-old would have departed the club for Blackburn Rovers earlier this year if not for an administrative error by the English club, so it’s nice that Orlando was able to secure his talents amid transfer buzz. It’s an important bit of business done by the club and McGuire should provide a boost to the club’s playoff push.
Orlando City Prepares for Sporting Kansas City
The Lions return to action tomorrow night for a road match against Sporting Kansas City. Orlando City may have been eliminated from the Leagues Cup in the knockout round, but the club is still on an eight-game unbeaten streak heading into this game. Taking on a Kansas City side that’s struggled mightily this season is a decent opportunity for the Lions to get back in the swing of things. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how the team has spent the break in the schedule recovering and getting ready for the rest of the season.
Orlando City B Takes On Atlanta United 2 Tonight
With the playoff race heating up, Orlando City B is on the road tonight for a game against Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. The Young Lions have not lost this month and are coming off of a win at home against New York City FC II on Sunday. Meanwhile, Atlanta has won three of its past four games to fight its way back into the playoff race. Orlando hasn’t lost to Atlanta yet this season, but it should still be a tough match on the road and you can check it out on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
New NWSL Collective Bargaining Agreement Reached
The NWSL and the NWSL Players Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement that will bring major changes to the league. NWSL players now possibly have more freedom in where they want to play than any other professional athletes in the U.S. The annual draft of college players is no more, and future expansion drafts won’t be taking place either. Trades and transfers will require consent from the players involved, and unrestricted free agency was granted as well. All of this introduces plenty of questions and concerns regarding parity, recruitment, and how expansion will work moving forward.
The minimum salary will increase to $82,500 by 2030, the salary cap has increased, and the bonuses players receive for awards at the end of the year have gone up as well. Players will also have more health benefits, including expanded maternity leave and additional charter flights for team travel. All in all, I think this will all make the league an even more appealing destination for players all over the world.
Free Kicks
- Charlotte FC signed 32-year-old midfielder Jamie Paterson, who most recently played for Swansea City in the EFL Championship. It’s been a busy summer for Charlotte, which also signed Tim Ream and Pep Biel earlier this month.
- The San Diego Wave signed French left back Perle Morroni. The 26-year-old has spent the past three seasons with Lyon and has 11 appearances with France’s senior team.
- American midfielder Tanner Tessmann is reportedly close to signing a five-year deal with Lyon. The 22-year-old served as the U.S. captain at the recent Olympics in Paris.
- Arsenal is reportedly close to signing midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, as well as transferring striker Eddie Nketiah to Nottingham Forest. Merino played in all seven of Spain’s matches in its winning Euro 2024 campaign.
- Jurgen Klinsmann spoke about how many Mexican players are too comfortable playing in Liga MX and that the international team would benefit from them seeking playing time abroad.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/23/26
Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC
The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.
Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense
Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.
U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup
The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup
The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.
Free Kicks
- The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
- American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
- The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
- The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
- After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/22/26
Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!
Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday
Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.
MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins
The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.
Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory
The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.
UEFA Champions League Roundup
The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.
Free Kicks
- Griezmann was noted as an MLS star who is driving their team toward success during the playoff race. The Lions have built a gap between themselves and the playoff line, but avoiding the play-in round is paramount at this point.
- Orlando City academy players Maximiliano Alvarez and Carson Starrett were both called up for the U.S. U-16 National Team’s training camp in California.
- St. Louis City won its first trophy since joining MLS by winning a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw in Columbus to capture the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. St. Louis secured a spot in the next Concacaf Champions Cup and won the shootout 5-4 despite star goalkeeper Roman Burki being stretchered off during the match.
- Forge FC beat CF Montreal in penalties to win the Canadian Championship, becoming the first Canadian Premier League team to win the title.
- The Houston Dynamo signed Head Coach Ben Olsen to a contract extension through the 2027-2028 season. The Dynamo are fifth in the Western Conference and have secured a spot in the playoffs already.
- Footy Analytics Musings dove into how MLS injury designations have gotten more uncertain over the years. From analyzing the notoriously vague lower body injuries to seeing just how rarely players who are designated as questionable actually end up playing, it’s an interesting read to say the least.
- Despite a loss and draw to Spain this month, the United States Women’s National Team remained in second in the latest FIFA rankings.
- The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 IFCPF World Cup.
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: 10/21/26
Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.
Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22
Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.
New Orlando Soccer School Announced
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.
Orlando City B Season in Review
Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.
USMNT to Face Jamaica in December
The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.
Free Kicks
- The Lions are up to 11th in the MLS power rankings following their 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Even the writer got distracted by Martin Ojeda’s amazing goal.
- Orlando City midfielder Luis Otavio is on the list to potentially be on next year’s MLS 22 Under 22. Hopefully, he plays well enough for that to come to pass.
- Pride striker Barbra Banda is on the list for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. The award ceremony takes place on Oct. 26.
- The Bundesliga has a new broadcast rights deal in the U.S. The league will try to leverage the visibility of soccer following the World Cup.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC
Lion Links: 10/23/26
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