Lion Links: 1/28/26

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s very likely we get a lot of Orlando City and Orlando Pride news over the next few weeks because the clubs simply have to start making moves to fill the rosters. That means Ricardo Moreira and Caitlin Carducci have hopefully been very busy behind the scenes. While we wait, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Scrimmages Canadian Club in Mexico

Orlando City’s preseason is in full swing down in Mexico. The team played an unscheduled scrimmage against Forge FC. I do not have the results of the scrimmage, nor do we have the lineups or frankly anything. Such information is highly classified. We do have a few social media videos, so I suppose that’s something.

Freeman’s Move

Monday we shared the unwelcome news that Alex Freeman is likely transferring to La Liga’s Villarreal as reported by The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, but we did not have a link not behind a paywall. Now, we do. We also have an interview from FOX 35 with Freeman about his USMNT and World Cup aspirations. I think he’d be better served staying with Orlando City in the short term, but the lure of Europe is strong.

MLS News

As expected this time of the year, there are more player moves around MLS. The LA Galaxy acquired forward João Klauss from St. Louis City SC in exchange for $2.375 million. FC Cincinnati is looking to sign Polish youth international goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek from Liverpool. Former Orlando City defender Rafael Santos has signed with St. Louis City.

There were also some big league-wide moves. MLS entered a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market. Polymarket will bring a more interactive element to supporters. The league also announced the Walmart Saturday Showdown. Walmart will be the sponsor of the marquee match on Saturdays. More corporate sponsorship, yay!

Sepp Blatter is Right?

Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, has stated he supports fans boycotting World Cup matches in the United States this year due to legitimate security concerns. Let that sink in. The incredibly corrupt Blatter is actually right about something. If the prices of the matches didn’t do it, the possibility of being deported certainly has made it more concerning.

Free Kicks

• Former Orlando City forward Alexandre Pato is in talks to buy League Two side Colchester United. Pato spent some time over the weekend discussing the possibility of the acquisition.

• Houston Dynamo SuperDraft pick Joe Highfield is staying in college for at least a while longer.

• Atletico Nacional is signing Chicho Arango from the San Jose Earthquakes.

• USMNT left back Peyton Miller is on Manchester City’s radar.

• La Liga clubs Espanyol and Celta Vigo are interested in USMNT and Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna.

• U.S. Soccer announced the matchup and broadcast details of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup.
• The USL’s new D1 league will be called USL Premier with matches scheduled to begin in 2028.

That will do it for today. The USWNT match didn’t start until after this article was finished. We will bring you the results in tomorrow’s links. Vamos Orlando!