Here are the 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. CELEBRATING THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS
The US Women's National Team will be honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City on Friday at 11 am ET. If you're in the Big Apple, don your red, white, and blue and head down to the Canyon of Heroes. Here's all the info. The parade and ceremony will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com and USsoccer.com. You can also watch it live on FOX Sports 1 and on ESPN3. And to get ready for it, check out Carli Lloyd chatting with MLSsoccer.com's Rachel Bonnetta.
2. AUDITION TIME FOR USMNT
Having reclaimed the top CONCACAF spot in the FIFA rankings, not that US manager Jurgen Klinsmann understands how the rankings work, the US national team is back in action Friday night vs. Haiti (8:30 pm ET, FOX Sports 1, UniMás). Klinsmann plans to use the match as an audition for the rest of the tournament. While Haiti may not seem like the toughest opponents, they did surprise Panama in their Gold Cup opener. Also on Friday, Panama face Honduras in their second group match (6 pm ET, FOX Sports 2, UniMás).
3. MEXICO, T&T WIN BIG
With Cuba missing seven of their players, along with their coach, they proved to be no match for Mexico, who strolled to a 6-0 win on Thursday. In the other game from Group C, the Chicago Fire’s Joevin Jones was named Man of the Match for leading Trinidad & Tobago to a 3-1 win vs. Guatemala.
4. LARIN NOT LOOKING BACK FOR CANADA
Canada return to Gold Cup action on Saturday vs. Jamaica (6:30 pm ET, FOX Sports 2) and, despite their result against El Salvador, there’s plenty of reason for optimism among Canadian fans, especially with Cyle Larin keen to put his now-infamous miss behind him.
5. FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN JOSE
The Houston Dynamo visit the San Jose Earthquakes for Viernes de Futbol on Friday (11 pm ET, UniMás in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). The Dynamo have added Nigerian midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi, but he will face stiff competition for playing time. And while the Quakes will have to make do without Jordan Stewart, suspended for violent conduct, new striker Quincy Amarikwa is keen to prove a point in his Quakes debut.
6. CAN THE REVOLUTION END THEIR SLIDE?
With the New England Revolution now winless in four, head coach Jay Heaps knows something has to change. The players certainly aren't happy about their recent form. The Revs visit the New York Red Bulls on Saturday (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE), when they'll come up against a Red Bulls backline that has been seriously depleted. Away from MLS, RBNY confirmed that they'll prioritize their upcoming US Open Cup tie.
7. TIMBERS & UNION LINKED TO NEW ADDITIONS
While the Philadelphia Union find themselves linked with a Swiss winger, one area they don’t need to worry about is defense. The side's outside-back corps is one of the team’s strongest positions and Richie Marquez is continuing to develop. On Saturday, the Union host the Portland Timbers (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE), who have no plans to move a trio of regulars despite rumors suggesting they could be after another Argentine striker.
8. ORLANDO CITY TARGETS?
As Orlando City GM Paul McDonough talks about the club’s transfer plans, for now the club is glad to finally get Bryan Rochez back from his New Zealand nightmare. The Lions, who will be without the suspended Kaká, take on FC Dallas on Saturday (7:30 pm, MLS LIVE). Dallas are shooting for their third win in a row, and they could be on the verge of adding some midfield firepower.
9. IMPROVING CREW SC
While Ethan Finlay is now delivering on his potential, Columbus Crew SC are examining their options in the transfer market. They visit the Montreal Impact on Saturday (8 pm ET, MLS LIVE) with revenge on their mind, having lost to the Impact at home earlier this season.
10. NYARKO'S IMPACT FOR THE FIRE
Patrick Nyarko's return has the Chicago Fire’s confidence riding high but the side also have a Homegrown player keen to make his mark. The Fire host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday (8:30pm ET, MLS LIVE). The Sounders have signed one of their SuperDraft selections to their USL side, but did former Sounder Fredy Montero, nearly join another MLS team recently?
11. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CUP RIVALRY RENEWED
The Colorado Rapids side will face Real Salt Lake this Saturday (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE) in the next installment of the Rocky Mountain Cup. RSL coach Jeff Cassar is reflecting wistfully on the team’s progress so far, while the arrival of Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac has forced the Rapids to loan young Dominique Badji to the Charlotte Independence.
12. LAMPARD’S NYCFC DEBUT
Frank Lampard is expected to make his long-awaited New York City FC debut on Sunday, when NYCFC host Toronto FC (3 pm ET, ESPN in the US, TSN in Canada). His arrival has given NYCFC a big boost in momentum and ticket sales, but he won't be the only NYCFC debutant on the day. TFC, meanwhile, have adjusted their training in preparation for the tight confines at Yankee Stadium.
13. HAPPY TO BE HOME
The final MLS match of the weekend sees the Vancouver Whitecaps host Sporting Kansas City (9 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). As the Caps play their first home game in over a month, they’re perhaps unlucky to face an SKC side that’s lost only three games this season. Is Cristian Techera the answer for Vancouver? Or will Dom Dwyer continue scoring in bunches for SKC?
14. GERRARD SET TO PLAY THIS WEEKEND
The LA Galaxy host Club America in an international Challenge Cup game on Saturday, with Bruce Arena confirming that new Designated Player Steven Gerrard will get 45 minutes of action. Arena also suggested the club is looking at ways of spending the recently announced Targeted Allocation Money.
15. DONOVAN’S LATEST GIG
The players selected to the MLS team for the Chipotle Homegrown Game as part of this year’s AT&T All-Star Game celebrations will have a legend for a coach when they take on Club America’s U20s. On Thursday, MLS announced that Landon Donovan will coach the MLS side.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
ExtraTime Radio Special: Preki addresses Leicester City rumors
Full schedule released for US Open Cup quarterfinals
American Hero Carli Lloyd goes Off Topic with Rachel Bonnetta
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