Lion Links: 6/24/26

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! The USMNT group stage concludes Thursday, and I am anxious to see what line up Mauricio Pochettino starts, given the team has already won the group. It’s not a position the U.S. is accustomed to in World Cup play. Of course, there are plenty of other matches before then to enjoy. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Friendlies Announced

Orlando City will play a pair of friendlies in July to prepare for the return of the MLS season. The Lions will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies Wednesday, July 8, at Inter&Co Stadium and will take on FC Dallas on Wednesday, July 15, at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. Before you get too excited about the Rowdies match, it is only open to Season Ticket Members and the Supporters Groups. We will bring you whatever coverage of these matches we are able.

Freeman Heritage

Are you tired of Lionel Messi coverage? I know I am. Are you tired of Alex Freeman coverage? Me neither! You might have seen recent interviews with Alex’s dad, retired NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman. To say that the elder Freeman is proud of his son is a gross understatement. Unsurprisingly, he is his son’s biggest supporter. I think Alex might be the answer to the question of what it looks like when our best young athletes choose soccer instead of football, basketball, or baseball.

USMNT News

The USMNT will face Türkiye Thursday night in a group stage match with no implications whatsoever. The U.S. won the group after defeating Australia and Paraguay defeated Türkiye. Mauricio Pochettino has the luxury of sitting the four players with yellow cards and giving some other players some minutes. Is that what he will do?

On the player front, Tyler Adams said this team has a belief that they’ve never had at a World Cup. I’ve long believed that Weston McKennie is one of the most important players for the USMNT. It’s seems that Zlatan Ibrahimović agrees with me.

World Cup Roundup

Portugal started off the day with a dominating 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace, making him to the first player to score goals in six World Cups. Ronaldo earned Man of the Match and posted that he was back before deleting that and posting a more team-centric message.

England was riding high after a 4-2 win over Croatia in its first match, but was unable to score against Ghana. England took 19 shots in the match and even Harry Kane missed a golden chance late in the match. Credit to Ghana on a determined defensive effort to earn a point in a 0-0 draw with the Three Lions. The result meant that if there was a loser in the Croatia versus Panama match, the losing squad would be eliminated.

Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic got the start for Croatia against Panama. Pasalic supplied the hockey assist on Croatia’s goal, but he was unable to convert on a near perfect breakaway when he tried to chip the keeper. Everyone knows he needs to shoot it full power to score. Croatia held on for the 1-0 win in a special match, as it was Luka Modrić’s 200th cap.

Free Kicks

• The not at all money-motivated Gianni Infantino state that FIFA will consider keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups. I’m certain that additional ad revenue has nothing to do with fundamentally changing the game.
• U.S. venues aren’t the only ones with outrageous pricing this World Cup. Mexican supporters are creating their own watch parties in the streets.
• The USWNT isn’t hosting the 2027 World Cup, and unlike the men, will need to qualify. Here’s how that can happen. Assuming the Yanks qualify — which is a good assumption — what can we expect in the lead-up over the next year?
• The NWSL Challenge Cup takes place Friday between 2025 NWSL champions Gotham FC and the 2025 NWSL Shield winners, the Kansas City Current.
• The Iranian National Team will be allowed to enter a whole two days before its match versus Egypt in Seattle rather than the one day previously allowed. I’m certain that geopolitics aren’t affecting the team’s play in the World Cup. Were you able to detect my eyes rolling?
• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver is the official post-match song for a USMNT World Cup victory, and I could not be happier about it. If you don’t get chills listening to this you may want to consult a physician.

That will to it for today. I’m going to switch things up just a bit today. Go USA!