Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

• The Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse is one of many NWSL players that may feature in the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro competition.
• Kristie Mewis is leaving West Ham United after only four appearances in 18 months. He time was limited due to injuries and then pregnancy.
• Global players’ union FIFPRO has concerns about the potential intense heat at the FIFA Club World Cup next year.
• Botafogo fired coach Renato Paiva after Brazilian rival Pal defeated Botafogo in the Club World Cup. Paiva was only in the job for four months.
• USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman may be headed to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

• Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work but got to catch up with friends at a Chicago White Sox game. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City midfielder Joran Gerbet, who turns 25 today. Our Lions were the only team in action over the weekend while the Pride and OCB were off. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall at Home to FC Cincinnati

Orlando City fell 2-1 to FC Cincinnati Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium, seeing its two-match winning streak end. The Lions trailed 2-0, with Evander scoring both goals for FC Cincinnati. Marco Pasalic pulled one back for Orlando, but it was not enough as FC Cincinnati claimed the three points and remain second in the Eastern Conference standings with 39 points. Orlando City is fifth with 33 points. The Lions will travel to face Charlotte FC Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.

Pride and Grace Chanda Exercise Mutual Option for 2026 Season

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced the club and Grace Chanda reached an agreement to exercise their mutual option for the 2026 season. Chanda joined Orlando last summer but was placed on the Season-Ending Injury list after sustaining an injury while playing for Zambia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chanda made her debut earlier this season for the Pride on March 19 and came off the bench against the Washington Spirit in the second half. Chanda has made three appearances for the Pride during the 2025 season.

Pride Sign Zara Chavoshi to New Contract

The Orlando Pride also announced Friday the club has reached an agreement with defender Zara Chavoshi on a new contract. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a mutual option for 2028. Chavoshi joined the club ahead of the 2025 season and became the first player Orlando signed directly out of college, following the NWSL’s abolition of the draft as a mechanism for player acquisition last year. Chavoshi made her debut for the Pride on March 23 against NJ/NY Gotham FC and came off the bench. She made her first professional start on May 3 on the road against the Portland Thorns and played 90 minutes. Chavoshi has made four appearances for the Pride during the 2025 season. Also over the weekend, Chavoshi scored her first goal for the Canadian Women’s National Team in a 4-1 win over Costa Rica in an international friendly.

USWNT Defeats Ireland Again in Friendly

The U.S. Women’s National Team beat Ireland 4-0 Sunday at TQL Stadium in an international friendly. It was the second win in a week over Ireland for the USWNT. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams started the match and played 90 minutes. Lynn Biyendolo scored the opener, while Izzy Rodriguez scored her first goal for the USWNT to extend the lead to 2-0 going into halftime. In the second half, Yazmeen Ryan and Alyssa Thompson each added a goal to seal another win for the USWNT. The USWNT has won four in a row, and the team’s next match will be against Canada Wednesday at Audi Field. Meanwhile, Gisele Thompson and Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello have left the U.S. women’s national team training camp due to hamstring injuries. Abello last played for the USWNT on June 3 against Jamaica in a friendly.

USMNT Defeats Costa Rica in Penalties in the Gold Cup

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Costa Rica 4-3 in penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started the match and played 90 minutes. The USMNT trailed 1-0 early in the first half, and Malik Tillman missed a penalty that would have tied the match. However, Diego Luna scored the equalizer just before halftime. In the second half, the USMNT struck quickly with a goal from Max Arfsten to take a 2-1 lead. Costa Rica equalized late in the second half, and after 90 minutes, the game went to penalties. After three rounds, Orlando City fullback Alex Freeman buried his penalty past goalkeeper Keylor Navas to tie it 3-3. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made three saves, and in the sixth round, Damion Downs scored the winning goal to secure a spot for the USMNT in the semifinals. The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday at Energizer Park.

FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 Weekend Recap

The Round of 16 kicked off in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup over the weekend. On Saturday, Palmeiras beat Botafogo 1-0 after extra time, with Paulinho scoring the winning goal. Former Lion Facundo Torres came off the bench late in the second half and played 35 minutes. In another match that needed extra time, Chelsea beat 10-man Benfica 4-1 to advance. On Sunday, Joao Neves scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain crushed Inter Miami 4-0. Miami was the last MLS team remaining in the tournament and saw its run come to an end in the Round of 16. Bayern Munich defeated Flamengo 4-2 to advance, joining Palmeiras, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals. We have two more matches today, as Inter Milan faces Fluminense, while Manchester City takes on Al-Hilal in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.

Free Kicks

• Over the weekend, the Houston Dynamo defeated St. Louis City 1-0. The club announced before the match that it was former Lion Nico Lodeiro’s final match with the Dynamo as he came off the bench late in the second half and played the final five minutes.
• MLS NEXT Pro announced the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Invitational over the weekend. The matchup will feature MLS NEXT Pro champions North Texas SC taking on Liga Expansion MX champions Club Deportivo Tapatio on July 26 at Toyota Stadium.
• LAFC and forward Olivier Giroud have reached an agreement to terminate his contract, and he will reportedly sign a contract to return home and join Lille in Ligue 1.
• The U-17 U.S. Women’s National Team lost 3-0 to Japan in a friendly Saturday at CPKC Stadium. The two sides will meet again in a closed-door match July 1, with the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place this fall in Morocco.
• Forbes.com featured an article that provides insight into the cost of extreme weather delays at the FIFA Club World Cup, how climate change has impacted the global sport, and the economic ramifications for the tournament.
• Guatemala eliminated Canada 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to advance to the semifinals in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup or the first time since 1996.

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

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a long week, but we’ve made it to the weekend and there’s plenty of soccer to look forward to. I’ve spent the week doing some abstract painting and binging tv far too late at night. I’m kicking myself for not watching Poker Face sooner, because it’s phenomenal. But enough about the best detective show on television, let’s get to the links!

Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday

Following Orlando City’s 4-2 win over St. Louis City, Ramiro Enrique and Eduard Atuesta were both named as starters on the MLS Team of the Matchday, with Marco Pasalic landing on the bench. Enrique scored twice in the first half and Atuesta had three assists over the course of the win. It’s a bit disappointing to see Pasalic only make the bench after scoring two nice goals with that left foot of his, but there was some pretty stiff competition across the league this week. San Diego FC’s Milan Iloski scored four goals to beat the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sam Surridge had a hat trick in Nashville SC’s 3-2 win over the New England Revolution.

Carlos Mercado Will Take Part in Goalie Wars

Orlando City B goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was selected to participate in this year’s Goalie Wars during the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge. Mercado is one of four MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers chosen for the event, and they’ll compete for bragging rights and a championship belt that looks cooler than I expected it to be when I first heard that was the prize. The tournament will take place on July 22 and we’ll be able to watch it on MLS Season Pass.

USWNT Shuts Out Ireland in Colorado

The United States Women’s National Team won 4-0 against Ireland at DSG Park in Colorado. Avery Patterson scored her first international goal to give the U.S. the lead, with Sam Coffey doubling it right before halftime. Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Thompson scored goals of their own in the second half and the defense did well to secure the clean sheet. Neither Emily Sams nor Kerry Abello made an appearance in the match. The USWNT will be back in action against Ireland again on Sunday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

Manchester City Trounces Juventus in Orlando

One of the premier matchups of the Club World Cup’s group stage took place in Orlando, with Manchester City beating Juventus 5-2 at Camping World Stadium. The European sides traded early goals, with Manchester City taking a 2-1 lead due to an own goal. The game was all Manchester City from there, and the second half reflected that, with the English club scoring three times after the break. Both teams advanced to the knockout stage, and Manchester City will be back at Camping World Stadium on Monday to take on Al-Hilal. The winner of that match will play a quarterfinal in Orlando against either Fluminense or Inter Milan on July 4.

Free Kicks

• The New York Red Bulls are reportedly in talks to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. The 29-year-old has spent the past 18 months on loan with Tottenham and would reunite with Emil Forsberg should he join the Red Bulls.
• Mexico will be without midfielder Luis Chavez for the rest of the Gold Cup after he tore his ACL in training.
• CF Montreal transferred 21-year-old midfielder Nathan Saliba to Anderlecht for a reported $3 million.
• Cristiano Ronaldo signed a new contract with Al Nassr that will keep him at the Saudi Arabian club until 2027.
• Liverpool spent a reported $54 million transfer fee to sign left back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

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