Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning.
1. MINNESOTA ON MY MIND
Major League Soccer and Dr. Bill McGuire, the owner of Minnesota United FC, are set to make a big announcement today at noon ET, and you can watch it live on MLSsoccer.com to find out what's next for the future of soccer in Minnesota. It's safe to say things have come a long way.
2. GETTING DOWN IN DENMARK
The US national team play the first of their two March friendlies today when they take on Denmark (3 pm ET, ESPN, UniMas, UDN, WatchESPN) and, with Clint Dempsey ruled out, the door is open for some of the younger players to try and impress. Don’t know much about Denmark? Let Benny Feilhaber enlighten you.
3. SOUNDERS TIE XOLOS
While their team selection showed one eye toward Saturday’s game against MLS leaders FC Dallas, the Seattle Sounders got their first reminder of what the CONCACAF Champions League is like after a friendly with Club Tijuana ended in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday night. Lamar Neagle and Andy Rose scored the goals for the Sounders in front of a crowd of 39,115.
4. SEASON OVER FOR IMPACT HERO
Ticket sales are going well for Montreal's home MLS opener this weekend, but there was disappointing news for the Impact on Tuesday as promising rookie Cameron Porter was ruled out for 9-12 months after surgery for an ACL tear in his left knee.
5. HEALTH SCARE FOR NYCFC'S WILLIAMS
Josh Williams was a late scratch from the New York City FC lineup on Saturday, but it wasn’t due to injury. Rather, the former Columbus Crew SC defender found himself benched in Denver over fears concerning a history with blood clots.
6. RED BULL REINFORCEMENTS
In just their second competitive game under new head coach Jesse Marsch, the New York Red Bulls started to look like a new team. The squad could also get a new addition, as the club are apparently looking to sign Anthony Wallace to provide cover at left back. Farther up field, Dane Richards turned down a Jamaica call-up to stay with the Red Bulls,
7. ACCAM OFF AGAIN
David Accam made his Chicago Fire debut during Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes, but the Designated Player is set to miss this weekend's game after being called up to the Ghanaian national team. Meanwhile, the Fire signed one of their SuperDraft selections.
8. MORE ABSENTEES FOR THE TIMBERS?
The Portland Timbers, still looking for their first win of the season, got some concering news on Tuesday: Captain Jack Jewsbury could miss Saturday’s Cascadia Cup clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In other player news, the club is being linked to a Ghanaian forward.
9. MIAMI MOVES
The MLS Miami bid is alive and well. David Beckham stated that he should have “significant” news to share before the summer. A report from the Miami Herald suggests the group is leaning toward a new stadium location.
10. ARE KAKA & VILLA STILL INTERNATIONALS?
Kaká might not have received a call up to the Brazilian national team during this international window, but the Orlando City star has not given up on an international future and has his sights set on the 2018 World Cup. His counterpart at New York City FC, Spanish forward David Villa, might also see his international career extended.
11. DWINDLING YANKS IN EPL
Does it seem like there are fewer US players in the English Premier League these days? That’s because, even before the introduction of potential new work-permit requirements, that number has indeed decreased. One US international who is in the EPL, DeAndre Yedlin, recently caught up with "future Hall of Famer" Jimmy Conrad.
12. VILLARREAL STAYS AT HOME
The US U-23 team has called in Real Salt Lake’s Boyd Okwuonu to their camp in Bosnia & Herzegovina, but two players who aren't with the side are Columbus Crew SC's Wil Trapp and rising LA Galaxy star Jose Villarreal, who revealed on Tuesday why he turned down a call-up to the camp.
13. PARTNERING UP IN HOUSTON
The Houston Dynamo hope to field their own USL side in 2016 and could partner with NBA D-League team Rio Valley Vipers to make it happen in South Texas. For the time being, the Dynamo have an affiliation with the Charleston Battery and have formally announced two players joining the USL side on loan.
14. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Bradley Wright-Phillips was named MLS Player of the Week for his role in the New York Red Bulls' victory over D.C. United and, while a Seattle Sounders 2 player picked up the first USL Player of the Week honor, the USL Team of the Week also featured a defender you may have heard of: A.J. DeLaGarza.
15. SHINE LIKE A DIAMOND
Having made an impressive debut against Toronto FC, Columbus Crew SC midfielder Mohammed Saeid has reason to be in high spirits right now, and next time you see him smile, look a little closer: You might just spot the diamond affixed to one of his front teeth.
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