Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. CAN UNITED ADVANCE IN THE CCL?
D.C. United host Arabe Unido in the CONCACAF Champions League tonight (8 pm ET, FS2) knowing that a win will guarantee their passage into the knockout stage of the tournament. The real question though, is what team Ben Olsen plans to field in order to get the job done.
2. REAL SALT LAKE CONTROL CCL DESTINY
Real Salt Lake are on the road for their next Champions League game, visiting El Salvador on Tuesday for a game against Santa Tecia (10 pm ET, FOX Soccer Plus). A win will put Real Salt Lake in control of their group, though their opponents present plenty of unknowns.
3. TORRES’ SEASON OVER?
There was some bad news for the Seattle Sounders on Monday: confirmation that Roman Torres’ season is over. The Panamanian international was only signed by the club a month ago (August 12), and appears to have suffered the injury during Saturday's 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. More details are expected today.
4. SCHMID CLEARED TO RETURN
There was also good news for Sounders fans, as coach Sigi Schmid is set to return to the sidelines against the Whitecaps this weekend, and even better news for one Seattle Sounders player, with Ozzie Alonso set to see his father for the first time in eight years.
5. HONDURAN INTRIGUE IN VANCOUVER
The Vancouver Whitecaps take on Honduran side CD Olimpia on Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions League, a game that could have extra significance for 19-year-old Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores as he looks to try and cement his place in the Whitecaps lineup.
6. MAGEE'S FUTURE
It’s been a difficult season for the Chicago Fire’s Mike Magee but, as the 2013 MVP continues to work his way back to fitness, will he remain part of the club’s plans in 2016?
7. GIOVINCO A TRENDSETTER?
Although Toronto FC found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-1 loss Sunday, Sebastian Giovinco once again looked impressive. Former Italian superstar Paolo Rossi was at BMO Field to watch the game and believes ‘the Atomic Ant’ could be a trendsetter for more big European names in their prime.
8. ORLANDO CITY SET SIGHTS ON A NEW TEAM
Whether or not the Lions make the playoffs, it’s still been a good first MLS season for Orlando City SC. With large attendance figures and a rookie forward on a record scoring pace, the central Florida city has taken to the league. And it seems the franchise may be keen to bring the same success to the NWSL next year with the league’s latest expansion team.
9. STRONG SALES IN NEW YORK
Things are looking good for both of New York’s MLS teams: The New York Red Bulls have announced an increase on last season’s record season ticket renewals, while New York City FC – now with 19,000 founding supporters – have revealed a capacity increase at New Yankee Stadium for 2016.
10. MARKETING TO MILLENNIALS
What does it take to build and advertise a brand new club in an already crowded market? According to Rich Orosco, marketing director for 2018 MLS expansion side LAFC, “Our opportunity in LA is: 'How do we tell the story differently?'”
11. 30 YEARS LATER
Monday marked 30 years to the day that the Canadian national team qualified for their one and only World Cup. It was an incredible achievement for the nation then, and Canadian Soccer used the anniversary to announce a location for the current national team’s next World Cup qualifier.
12. EA FIFA VIDEO GAME COMES TO LIFE
If you play the EA Sports FIFA video game (release of FIFA 16 set for next week), then it must have crossed your mind at one point or another: How would you fare in the Skill Games? Well, we've got the next best thing: Your favorite MLS personalities trying their hand at the real-life Skill Games.
13. THE BOOK OF JURGEN
As Jurgen Klinsmann prepares for “a game that’s never been played before”, the US head coach has addressed some questions over his tactics and player selections. If you’ve always wanted to know more about Klinsmann and his philosophy, there will soon be a book just for you.
14. MORE INDICTMENTS COMING
On Monday, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch was in Zurich, the home of FIFA, where she predicted that there will be further indictments in the ongoing corruption investigations against world soccer’s governing body.
15. #WHEREISPREKI
Ever since his sudden departure from the Sacramento Republic – apparently for a job in England – the American soccer community has taken a great deal of interest in the location of former US international Preki. Well, wonder no-more: the former MLS Coach of the Year has been located.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Instant Replay: Did Dwyer deserve his red card in Orlando?
ExtraTime Radio: Déjà vu for Revs, SKC | Matt Polster dishes on rookie life
24 under 24 drops next week – Who made the shortlist?
