Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:
Seattle return to friendly confines
Defending MLS Cup champions Seattle will try to get back on the winning track when they welcome a struggling Orlando City side to CenturyLink Field for a midweek tilt (10:30 pm ET on MLS LIVE). The Sounders, who dominated OCSC in both of their prior meetings, have posted three consecutive 1-0 victories at home. PREVIEW
Though the Sounders have struggled for consistent results this season, young midfielder Cristian Roldan is enjoying a breakout campaign that he hopes results in a spot on the USA's CONCACAF Gold Cup final roster. READ MORE
Resurgent Rapids host LA
Less than a month ago, the Colorado Rapids were dead last in the West with six losses in seven games. Now, they can log their first four-game win streak in over six years when the LA Galaxy come to town for Wednesday's clash (9 pm ET on MLS LIVE). They will be facing a visiting side that has also rejuvenated their season of late; the Galaxy are unbeaten in seven and have gone 3W-0L-1D in their last four road games. PREVIEW
LA have been making transfer rumor headlines all over the globe this week, with Tigres strike star Andre-Pierre Gignac and Arsenal's Colombia netminder David Ospina the latest players linked with a summer move to the club. READ MORE
Loons out for Portland payback
Minnesota United will be hungry for some home cooking when a lethal Portland side comes calling on Wednesday (8 pm ET on MLS LIVE). The Loons, who were dealt a 5-1 defeat at Portland in their first ever MLS match, have won four of six at home. PREVIEW
The Loons will need to make do without one of the key members of their backline. Left back Marc Burch is set to miss two to three months after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia on Tuesday. READ MORE
Warming Atlanta invade D.C.
Atlanta United will be shooting for their first away win in nearly two months when they visit RFK for a midweek clash (7:30 pm ET on MLS LIVE) with East cellar dwellers D.C. United. The hosts (who won in Atlanta back in April) will need to slow down Miguel Almiron, who has six goals in his last five games. PREVIEW
Meanwhile, D.C. made a move to shore up their striker stable on Tuesday, grabbing the rights to Jamaican international Deshorn Brown in a trade with Houston. The capital crew quickly signed the 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up from USL's Tampa Bay Rowdies, and coach Ben Olsen expects the forward to be ready for action on Wednesday. READ MORE
“Deshorn is an athletic forward with proven technical ability who has scored goals everywhere he has been”#DCUhttps://t.co/rRUwgzj2LPpic.twitter.com/7ENyR0PfRd
— D.C. United (@dcunited) June 20, 2017
Canadian Ch'ship kicks off in Montreal
Montreal will host arch rivals Toronto FC in the opening leg of the Canadian Championship final at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET on TSN, RDS in Canada). The Impact, who have dropped just one of the last six home meetings in the series, are seeking to stop Greg Vanney's squad from recording a Voyageurs Cup repeat. PREVIEW
The Reds are keenly aware of the danger presented by Impact midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, who has wasted no time in forming a deadly partnership with Ignacio "Nacho" Piatti. READ MORE
BWP on MIB
Red Bulls strike ace Bradley Wright-Phillips was Tuesday's guest on the Men In Blazers podcast, joining Roger Bennett and Michael Davies to discuss the art of scoring goals and this weekend's New York Derby (Saturday at 1:30 pm ET on FOX). READ MORE
Gold Cup squad game
Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle took a stab at guessing the USMNT's Gold Cup roster. He figures that the group stage group (changes can be made to the squad before the knockouts) will feature 18 MLS players. READ MORE
USWNT coaching legend passes away
One of the biggest coaching names in US Soccer history, Tony DiCicco, lost his battle with cancer at age 68 on Tuesday. The former USWNT boss led the team to an Olympic gold medal in 1996 and to its second World Cup crown three years later. READ MORE
Exports: Williams headed to Town?
Word out of England has Reading midfielder Daniel Williams set to move to the club that kept him out of the Premier League this past spring. That may sound confusing, but stick with us here; the out-of-contract US international shined for Reading in their Championship promotion playoff final loss to Huddersfield Town, who are now reportedly close to signing him on a free transfer. READ MORE
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