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Orlando City Behind the Numbers: At Sixes and Sevens

A look at the 2025 Orlando City season through the lens of the incredibly, and unnecessarily, popular phrase “six seven.”

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2 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

There is a phenomenon going on in this country right now, and it simply must stop. You might not be aware of this if you do not have young(er) children, but if you do, you know that two numbers come up over…and over…and over…again in conversations, to the great confusion and dismay of parents, teachers, coaches, and all other adult figures who are flummoxed by their frequent non-sensical usage.

Those numbers, of course, are six and seven, spoken in rapid succession almost like “sixsevvvven,” along with an accompanying hand motion like you are weighing something in each hand. Thank you, TikTok, for having such a good algorithm that more kids know that “six seven” is the “it” phrase of the day than who the sixth (John Quincy Adams, the rare person who is known by three names and is not an assassin) and seventh (Andrew Jackson) U.S. presidents were.

On the plus side, there may be a huge uptick in students who want to read or have their school perform Shakespeare’s Richard II, and pat yourself on the back six or seven times if you knew why without using six-letter google or seven-letter ChatGPT.

During the last two weekends I attended a birthday party for a 9-year-old and double-digit youth sports practices and games, and I am sure I heard “six seven” more than 100 times across all the different snatches of conversations happening around me. That may sound like an exaggeration, but if you have read any of my articles before, you know that I love numbers, so much so that I would give The Count a run for his money, and I promise you I am not overstating the frequency at which kids around the age of nine said “six seven” in my vicinity.

Much like when you hear a certain song and cannot get it out of your head, I cannot get that phrase out of mine, so I am going to write about Orlando City and the numbers six and seven and try to get myself all out of feeling at sixes and sevens about the use of — and this is true irony — six and seven.

Baseball and soccer are two sports that assign numbers to positions in the field, and in soccer the six is traditionally a defensive midfielder and the seven is an attacking wing player, usually on the right side. Orlando City has players who fit those definitions perfectly in both positions on this year’s team. César Araújo is one of the league’s best defensive midfielders, a player who every team hates but secretly wishes was on their team. Marco Pašalić is a right wing who has tremendous dribbling and ball-striking ability and loves to cut inside and create goal-scoring opportunities.

Both of those players are among the best ever to suit up for the Lions at the six and seven positions. Araújo has been the primary starter at the six for four of the club’s 11 seasons in MLS, and he has been among the best in the league at that position for the last three seasons. Orlando City earned at least 52 points in league play in all three of those seasons. Pašalić is in his debut season, so he does not yet have the sustained excellence, but if he puts together another few seasons like this one, he may challenge club legend Facundo Torres for the spot at the top of the seven leaderboard.

Speaking of Pašalić, he decided to wear 87 on his jersey, and as far as I know, he has not spoken publicly about why he chose that number, which means that he has not denied that he went with eight seven to troll all those kids who desperately want to have a legitimate reason to wear a jersey with six seven on it. Pašalić is not alone in having a number that is almost 67 though, several other Orlando City players also wear numbers that are nearly six seven:

  • Iván Angulo (77): Angulo joined the Lions in 2022, when Alexandre Pato was on the team and wearing the No. 7 jersey, and so he went with No. 77, and even after Pato left, he elected to stay with the double sevens. At this point, I think he is unlikely to change, even if switching that first seven to a six may dramatically increase his popularity among the kids in the stands.
  • Thomas Williams (68): Williams came up through the Orlando City Development Academy and has worn 68 since debuting with the team back in 2022. He is just a change from an eight to a seven away from being the player that kids would most want to hear being announced in the stadium (though the coaching staff is not quite yet on board with that same sentiment).
  • Gustavo Caraballo (65): The Venezuelan also came up through the academy, and in some respects still is, as he was the MVP for the U-18 team in the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup (wearing the more traditional No. 10, however). As the youngest player on the senior roster (and in club history), Caraballo is likely the player most attuned to the six seven craze, but thankfully he went with six five, and if he stays with the club for a few more years, my guess is that he will ask to move to a more traditional soccer number, possibly the seven (with an invisible six in front?) now that Ramiro Enrique is no longer with the club.

Enrique’s departure, coupled with Wilder Cartagena (16) being on the Season Ending Injury List, means that the only way the Lions can put a six next to a seven on the field is when Robin Jansson (6) stands next to Angulo. I do not recommend that these two ever stand next to each other though, because as we all know, six is afraid of seven, because seven ate nine (Aurélien Collin ate Luis Muriel?).

Before we move off of Orlando City player numbers, we have to briefly cover former UCF Knight and Orlando City B player Nick Taylor, the last player on Orlando City or Orlando City B to wear 67. Taylor played for OCB in 2022, before packing up and heading to Asia, where he played in Cambodia for two seasons before moving to Thailand, where he now plays for PT Prachuap F.C. and still wears 67. A man ahead of his time.

Don’t worry, we only have about six or seven more paragraphs left. Just kidding. I believe I have run this into the ground. Six feet deep. Maybe seven.

Seriously though, Orlando City has three games remaining in the regular season, and considering the caliber of the Lions’ opponents, it will be a tremendous accomplishment if they can come away with six or seven points. If they do, they probably scored a decent amount of goals, and since they have scored 59 already during the regular season, they have a chance to end with…67 goals. After accomplishing such a feat, they likely would finish better than sixth or seventh place in the standings. The Lions have already clinched a playoff spot though, and while it would be nice to finish above sixth or seventh, they are in the postseason, and that is what matters the most.

Well, that, and ending the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, and if they are going to do that, then why not just extend that winning streak just a little bit, say to six or seven?




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Lion Links: 11/18/25

Orlando City roster update, a USMNT vs. Uruguay preview, World Cup qualifying galore, and more.

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20 hours ago

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November 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. All three of Orlando’s soccer teams have now finished their seasons, but that doesn’t mean things slow down around here. Off-season machinations are in full swing, the United States Men’s National Team plays later today, and World Cup qualifying is still ongoing. That means we have a lot of things to talk through today, so let’s get into the links. But first, let’s wish Orlando City goalkeeper Javier Otero a happy birthday.

Orlando City Announces Roster Decisions

Orlando City announced its end-of-season roster decisions on Monday afternoon. For the most part, things look as expected, as we already knew the two biggest departures in the out-of-contract duo of Pedro Gallese and Cesar Araujo. The most surprising bit of news was Robin Jansson’s contract option being declined, although the team is in negotiations with both he and Kyle Smith regarding their returns. Another eyebrow-raising choice was Ivan Angulo’s option year being picked up, particularly after a season in which he did not score a single league goal despite having multiple breakaway opportunities. Currently there are 22 players under contract, although some of those are clear backups, youth players, or currently injured, so the front office is going to have a lot of work to do during the off-season.

Previewing USMNT vs. Uruguay

The United States Men’s National Team will play its final game of 2025 later today, when it takes on Uruguay at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It will be the 10th meeting between the two teams and the first since Uruguay’s 1-0 win knocked the USMNT out of the 2024 Copa America in the group stage. The mercurial Marcelo Bielsa manages the side and helped guide Uruguay to a fourth-place finish in World Cup qualifying earlier this fall. Uruguay will be without big names like Darwin Nunez, Federico Valverde, and Nicolas Fonseca, but the side still has plenty of star power with the likes of Ronald Araujo, Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte, and of course, former Lion Facundo Torres. Look for Bielsa to use a 4-3-3 with an energetic press and either the fullbacks or wingers inverting.

World Cup Qualifying Results

UEFA’s World Cup qualifying continued on Monday and there were several eye-catching results. Germany dismantled Slovakia 6-0 to secure a first-place finish in Group A and the World Cup spot that comes with it. Not to be outdone, Czechia beat Gibraltar by the same score but only managed to finish second in Group L. The Netherlands beat Lithuania 4-0 to finish top of Group G and also punch a ticket to next summer’s tournament, while Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic was an unused substitute in Croatia’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Montenegro, which ensured his team finished an undefeated run through Group L.

World Cup Qualifying Preview

There’s even more qualifiers taking place today, with both UEFA and Concacaf in action and big stakes on the line. Scotland faces Denmark, and needs to win at home in order to leapfrog the Danes into first and the automatic qualifying spot, while a draw for the Danes will be enough for them to retain the top spot. Austria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a similar situation, as a draw or win will see Austria stay in first, while Bosnia and Herzegovina must win to overtake the Austrians. In Concacaf, Group C has a ton of drama with three teams still able to secure automatic qualification. Honduras is currently top with eight points and better goal differential than Haiti, which also has eight points, while Costa Rica is in third with six. Costa Rica will play Honduras, while Haiti takes on Nicaragua, and there’s any number of ways this could all shake out.

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That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City Announces Roster Update Following 2025 MLS Season

The club has announced the roster decisions and contract statuses following the 2025 campaign.

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1 day ago

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November 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City has finally released the club’s roster status update and let us know the decisions on contract options following the 2025 campaign — the Lions’ 11th season in Major League Soccer. The biggest news had mostly already happened with the departures of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Cesar Araujo, who were both out of contract after the season. The writing had been on the wall in terms of both departures.

The most surprising news from today’s announcement is that the club declined the option year on captain Robin Jansson’s contract, but the club is in negotiations with both the veteran center back and out-of-contract defender/midfielder Kyle Smith.

Orlando City already had 14 players currently under contract for the 2026 season: forwards Duncan McGuire, Luis Muriel, Marco Pašalić, and Nico Rodríguez; midfielders Gustavo Caraballo, Colin Guske, and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson; defenders David Brekalo, Adrián Marín, Tahir Reid-Brown, Rodrigo Schlegel, Zakaria Taifi, and Thomas Williams; and goalkeeper Javier Otero.

Additionally, the Lions exercised the contract options on Iván Angulo, Tyrese Spicer, and Yutaro Tsukada; midfielders Eduard Atuesta, Joran Gerbet, and Martín Ojeda; and defender Alex Freeman. The club declined Jansson’s option year, as well as options for three players who were regulars for OCB: goalkeeper Carlos Mercado, midfielder/forward Shak Mohammed, and midfielder/forward Favian Loyola.

Smith is out of contract, along with Gallese and Araujo, but it’s not surprising that the Lions are trying to bring him back as he is a versatile depth player who can fill in at a number of spots.

Midfielder Wilder Cartagena was to be out of contract as well, but he signed a new contract five days ago that will keep him in Orlando through 2026 with an option in 2027.

What It Means for Orlando City

If Jansson isn’t re-signed, the Lions will have to go shopping for a top-notch center back. Jansson may have lost a step this season, but he was still the best and most consistent defender on Orlando City’s back line when he was in the lineup. Entering 2026 with a plan to start Schlegel and Brekalo is at best a lateral step to what the club had in 2025, which wasn’t good enough, as the Lions did not record a clean sheet after June 14. The back line wasn’t solely to blame, as Gallese and the central midfield have to shoulder some of that burden, but the critical breakdowns defensively in 2025 occurred more often than in previous seasons.

The biggest surprise to me was the club picking up Angulo’s option. The Colombian didn’t score a single goal in MLS for the first time since 2022, when he only appeared in nine games at the end of the season. It’s not as if Angulo didn’t have multiple golden opportunities to score, as he failed to finish on multiple clear-cut breakaways with only the goalkeeper back throughout the season. At more than $500,000 in annual base salary, the club can afford a defensive-minded player scoring five goals a season — as he did in both 2023 and 2024 — but cannot afford to have a left wing who can’t score a single goal, given the opportunties his speed affords him.

Tsukada and Gerbet are promising young players who are coming off serious injuries, and it’s nice to see the club make a commitment to helping them get healthy and continue their development. Atuesta’s return was made more important by Araujo’s departure, and although Cartagena signed a new deal, more depth will be needed in central midfield.

The club’s biggest off-season need right now is to replace Gallese in goal.

Post-2025 Orlando City Roster Status (Current club players in italics)

  • Iván Angulo: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026
  • César Araújo: Out of contract
  • Eduard Atuesta: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026
  • David Brekalo: Under contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028
  • Gustavo Caraballo: Under contract through 2027, club option in 2028
  • Wilder Cartagena: Signed new contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Alex Freeman: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026
  • Pedro Gallese: Out of contract
  • Joran Gerbet: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026, club options through 2028
  • Colin Guske: Under contract through 2027, club option in 2028
  • Robin Jansson: Option declined – In negotiations
  • Favian Loyola: Option declined
  • Adrián Marín: Under contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Duncan McGuire: Under contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028
  • Carlos Mercado: Option declined
  • Shak Mohammed: Option declined
  • Luis Muriel: Under contract through 2026
  • Martín Ojeda: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Javier Otero: Under contract through 2026, club options in 2027 and 2028
  • Marco Pašalić: Under contract through 2027, club option in 2028
  • Tahir Reid-Brown: Under contract through 2027, club option in 2028
  • Nico Rodríguez: Under contract through 2027, club option in 2028
  • Rodrigo Schlegel: Under contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Kyle Smith: Out of contract, in negotiations
  • Tyrese Spicer: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Zakaria Taifi: Under contract through 2026, club options through 2029
  • Dagur Dan Thórhallsson: Option exercised – Under contract through 2026, club option in 2027
  • Yutaro Tsukada: Under contract through 2025, with club options in 2026 & 2027
  • Thomas Williams: Under contract through 2026, club options in 2027 and 2028

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Lion Links: 11/17/25

Pride fall to Gotham FC in NWSL semifinals, Lions in action abroad, USMNT defeats Paraguay, and more.

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2 days ago

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November 17, 2025

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Image of Anglina preparing to take a shot against Gotham FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy at work and covering high school basketball. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Fall to Gotham FC in NWSL Semifinals

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL semifinals Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium. The match was scoreless for 90 minutes, and it looked like it was heading for extra time. Jaedyn Shaw converted a last-minute free kick for the game-winning goal in stoppage time. The Pride had one last chance towards the end of the match to get a late equalizer when Oihane put her header on goal, but Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made a clutch save to seal the win. Gotham FC will play in the NWSL Championship for the second time in three years. The Orlando Pride’s 2025 season ends just short of making a second consecutive NWSL Championship.

Lions in Action Abroad

Several Orlando City players were in action during the international break. Defender David Brekalo played a full 90 minutes, but Slovenia fell 2-0 to Kosovo in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Forward Marco Pasalic started and played 62 minutes as the Croatians defeated the Faroe Islands 3-1 in UEFA World Cup qualifying and qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Croatia will be in action again later today against Montenegro. Gustavo Caraballo came off the bench late in the second half, but Venezuela fell 2-1 to North Korea in the round of 32 in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Thomas Williams started for the U-21 U.S. Men’s National Team in its 1-1 draw against Denmark.

Fullback Tahir Reid-Brown came off the bench in the second half for the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team in a 2-1 win against Costa Rica.

USMNT Defeats Paraguay in Friendly

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Paraguay 2-1 Saturday at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman was in action for the USMNT, coming off the bench and playing 23 minutes. Gio Reyna scored the opener in his return to the starting XI for the USMNT for the first time in 16 months to give the Yanks an early lead. Alex Arce scored the equalizer for Paraguay. In the second half, Falorin Balogun scored the winning goal to help the USMNT edge Paraguay. The Americans are unbeaten in their last four matches. The next match for the U.S. will be Tuesday against Uruguay in Tampa.

Washington Spirit Return to NWSL Championship

In the other NWSL playoff semifinal match from the weekend, the Washington Spirit returned to the NWSL Championship for the second consecutive time, securing a 2-0 win against the Portland Thorns Saturday at Audi Field. Gift Monday and Croix Bethune scored for Washington. Trinity Rodman returned to play for the first time since spraining her right MCL on Oct. 15. Before the match, multiple reports stated that Rodman had received lucrative transfer offers from European clubs as her contract expires next month. The Spirit will face Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship Saturday at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja was in Europe over the weekend to watch Maro Pasalic play for the Croatia Men’s National Team, while also checking in with AFC Bournemouth to observe operations, share knowledge on coaching, and check out the club’s front office management as part of the partnership between the two clubs.
  • U.S. Soccer announced its 2026 National Soccer Hall of Fame Inductees, featuring Kevin Crow, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, Tony Sanneh, Kari Seitz, and Chris Wondolowski.
  • Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Italy 4-1, qualifying for its first World Cup since 1998.
  • Nigeria fell to Congo DR 4-3 in penalties after a 1-1 draw in the CAF World Cup playoff final and will miss a second straight World Cup.
  • One Knoxville SC defeated Spokane Velocity 2-0 to win the USL League One Championship.

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

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