Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I had a busy week at work, but spent Halloween weekend catching up with friends in Orlando at Walt Disney World. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira (at least according to past social media posts by the club), who completed another lap around the sun on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Shut Out at Charlotte FC, Clinch Playoff Spot

Orlando City fell 4-0 to Charlotte FC on the road on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium. Henry Kessler scored Charlotte’s opening goal six minutes into the match. In the second half, Allan Saint-Maximin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Rodolfo Aloko all scored to seal back-to-back wins. Orlando City failed to capitalize on its chances up front, and its back line struggled to slow Charlotte’s attack throughout the match. That result dropped Orlando to ninth in the Eastern Conference table with 43 points, however, with Sunday’s losses by the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, Orlando City has clinched a playoff spot for the seventh straight year — the longest streak in MLS.

The Lions will return to action on Saturday for their regular-season finale at home against the New England Revolution.

Pride Fall at Seattle Reign on Decision Day

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to Seattle Reign FC in the season finale on Sunday at Lumen Field. After a scoreless first half, Jordyn Bugg scored the lone goal in the match for Seattle to win and clinch the final playoff spot. Orlando struggled on offense and finished the game with zero shots on goal. The Pride end their 2026 season with two consecutive losses, finishing 11th in the NWSL table with 36 points.

NWSL Decision Day Recap

In other NWSL results, one playoff spot remained up for grabs entering Decision Day on Sunday, but the Seattle Reign locked up the eighth and final playoff spot with their win over Orlando. That result eliminated both the North Carolina Courage and the Denver Summit from playoff contention despite the Courage beating Denver 1-0. The Washington Spirit defeated the Chicago Stars 2-0, the Kansas City Current beat Racing Louisville 2-0, and the Portland Thorns shut out the Houston Dash 2-0. Angel City cruised to a 4-1 win against Boston Legacy, the San Diego Wave shut out Bay FC 1-0, and Gotham FC beat the Utah Royals 2-0 to clinch the 2026 NWSL Shield. The 2026 NWSL playoff matches are set with Gotham FC facing the Seattle Reign. The San Diego Wave will host the Utah Royals, the Washington Spirit will take on the Portland Thorns, and the Kansas City Current will battle Angel City.

Americans Abroad

Christian Pulisic scored the opener for AC Milan in a 3-1 victory against Inter Milan over the weekend, ending their rivals nine-match unbeaten run in Serie A. Two Americans faced off in the English Premier League as Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth took on Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United. Adams played a full 90 minutes while Aaronson came off the bench late in the second half as AFC Bournemouth defeated Leeds United 2-0. In Ligue 1, Folarin Balogun scored for AS Monaco but his side fell 3-1 to Paris FC. In the EFL Championship, Sebastian Berhalter scored his third goal of the season and added an assist for Middlesbrough in a 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic. Jack McGlynn scored his third goal of the season for Stoke City in a 2-0 win over Preston North End.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City forward Yutaro Tsukada, who is on loan at Rhode Island FC, scored a penalty kick, but his side lost 5-4 on penalties to the Charleston Battery after a 1-1 draw in the USL Championship playoff quarterfinals on Saturday.

• The NWSL announced on Friday its roster-building mechanisms for its next expansion teams, Atlanta City FC and Columbus, as both clubs prepare to build their inaugural rosters and begin league play in 2028.
• The MLS NEXT Pro Cup final is set as LAFC 2 defeated Ventura County FC 1-0 on Friday and will face Chattanooga FC, which edged Columbus Crew 2 3-2 on Sunday.
• On Sunday, in the third round of qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup, two Florida teams clashed as UPSL side Harbor City FC, based in Melbourne, defeated USL League 2 side Shark Coast FC 1-0 to advance to the final round of qualifying later this month.

• Kai Havertz’s first-half goal lifted Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Liverpool and to the top of the English Premier League table.

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

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! Let’s all hope this weekend has more treats than tricks as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are in action. If you plan on celebrating Halloween this year, be sure to stay hydrated and safe while also having plenty of fun. Let’s get to the links!

Antoine Griezmann Makes MLS Team of the Matchday

Orlando City attacker Antoine Griezmann was the only Lion to make the MLS Team of the Matchday after the slate of midweek games. He scored a goal and added an assist in the club’s 2-2 draw on the road against the Chicago Fire as he continues to excel in the league since joining this summer. It was his 12th consecutive game with a goal contribution and he now has 14 goals and eight assists in 16 games this season. The Frenchman’s audacious strike from distance is also up for MLS Goal of the Matchday, though he faces tough competition from Kenji Mboma Dem, Kristoffer Velde, and Luis Suarez. Be sure to vote!

Orlando City’s 2027 Sprint Schedule Unveiled

MLS announced its schedule for the 2027 Sprint Season, which is formatted so that each club plays one game against each of the 14 other clubs in its conference. Orlando City revealed its slate for the shortened campaign for your convenience, and the Lions will open the season at home against the New England Revolution on Feb. 20, continuing the streak of hosting their season opener every year since joining the league in 2015. City will alternate playing at home and on the road throughout the season, with the final game coming on May 8 against Charlotte FC. The only games on Orlando’s schedule that don’t take place on a Saturday are a pair of Wednesday games at home against Toronto FC on March 3 and the Philadelphia Union on April 7. As for the postseason, eight teams will make the playoffs and compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine which team will represent the Eastern Conference in the MLS Cup final.

Orlando Pride Prepare for Decision Day

The Orlando Pride will play their final game of the season on the road Sunday against the Seattle Reign. While the Pride are already eliminated from the postseason, they can potentially spoil things for the Reign with a strong showing to close out the year. Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas spoke on how the team has embraced that role and has prepared to match the intensity it will face from the Reign. It’s been a rough year for the Pride, so hopefully they can end things on a high note.

U.S. Beats Spain to Advance in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 2-1 against Spain in the FIFA U-17 World Cup to advance to the quarterfinals. Deus Stanislaus got the scoring started with a goal right before halftime and Maddie DiMaria doubled the U.S. lead in the 48th minute. Spain rallied back with a goal from Vera Molina, but the U.S. was able to hold on for the win. The U.S. will play Korea DPR in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win against Charlotte FC on Saturday. It can also qualify with a win or draw depending on how the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, and New York City FC fare this weekend.
• Washington Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt tore her ACL and was placed on the season-ending injury list. She made 31 appearances for the club across all competitions this year, helping the Spirit reach third in the NWSL standings.
• Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis announced that he will retire at the end of the season. He’s been with Nashville since the club’s inaugural season in 2020.
• A high school soccer referee was body-checked by a player during a game in Ohio, sustaining broken ribs and a collapsed lung. It’s a pretty shocking video and there’s absolutely no place for it in soccer.
• CAF announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will go back to taking place every two years rather than every four years.
• Jack Grealish wasn’t available for Everton’s English League Cup game due to a breach of club discipline. Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 regardless and will face fourth-division club Fleetwood Town in the quarterfinals.

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

The pressure cooker on Orlando City’s playoff hopes was turned up another notch or two after Wednesday night’s result, but things could definitely be worse. Maybe that’s just the optimism speaking. It’s nothing brutalizing a stress ball and shouting into the void on the commute to work can’t fix. Let’s dive right into that frustrating game and more in today’s links!

Orlando City Blows Another Lead in Draw

The Lions had to settle for a 2-2 draw on the road against the Chicago Fire in another tough result to swallow. Orlando came out swinging and had two goals before halftime, but the team conceded twice in the second half and failed to find a winner. It was another strong showing from Antoine Griezmann and a draw on the road against a good team isn’t awful in a vacuum, but more dropped points leave the Lions holding on for dear life in the playoff race. They’ll be back in action on Saturday for a Halloween showdown with Charlotte FC.

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Takes Shape

As the MLS season winds down, more teams are securing their spots in the playoffs or learning they won’t be taking part in the postseason. Charlotte clinched after a 4-0 win over CF Montreal that included a hat trick by Liel Abada, while the Philadelphia Union qualified after a scoreless draw with Nashville SC. The New York Red Bulls losing 3-2 to the New England Revolution was helpful for Orlando City, but Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew both closed the gap by beating D.C. United and FC Dallas, respectively. FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Inter Miami has Cincy level on points with Orlando as well, with Orlando holding a narrow tiebreaker. New York City FC stayed alive by winning 2-1 against Atlanta United, eliminating the Five Stripes in the process.

U.S. Takes On Spain in U-17 Women’s World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team will play Spain today in the round of 16 of the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. finished second in its group following a 3-2 loss to China PR and will now go up against a Spain team that has won every game so far. It should be a tough match, but the U.S. has scored a whopping 25 goals across three games. Maddie DiMaria leads the team with 11 goals, and hopefully she can lead the offense to a win.

Keeping Up With Americans Abroad

Christian Pulisic has reportedly agreed to a contract extension with AC Milan that will last through June of 2031. He scored his second goal of the season on Sunday, so hopefully he can keep the momentum rolling. Elsewhere in Italy, Juventus is reportedly interested in adding American forward Folarin Balogun to its offense this winter, meaning we could see him link up with midfielder Weston McKennie at the club level. Borussia Monchengladbach defender Joe Scally had an assist in the team’s 2-0 win over Karlsruher in the German Cup as well. You should also make sure to check out Lily Yohannes’ incredible goal from OL Lyonnes’s 6-0 win over Inter in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She makes it look so easy.

Free Kicks

• Former Lion Alexandre Pato gave some insight into why he’s spent part of his retirement investing in League Two club Northampton.
• The 2027 MLS Sprint Season will open with a match between Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati on Feb. 19 in Miami.
• Bayern Munich and Real Madrid battled to a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Vicki Becho had a hat trick in OL Lyonnes’ aforementioned win against Inter, and Arsenal shut out Benfica 3-0.
• A day after Arsenal’s upset to Fleetwood Town in the English League Cup, Liverpool and Manchester City both survived penalty shootouts to advance to the quarterfinals. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland also moved on. Fleetwood Town will play the winner of today’s match between Everton and Newcastle in the next round.
• Vincent Kompany was discharged from the hospital five days after collapsing at a Bayern Munich training session.

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