Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:
Real Madrid vs. MLS tickets
Tickets to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target go on sale to the general public on Thursday morning at 11am ET. But you don't have to wait until then to secure your place at the Aug. 2 match between the MLS All-Stars and Real Madrid. There's an exclusive presale offer for MLSsoccer users: Click here for details on how to get the special code. READ MORE
Orlando take hot streak to Toronto
Orlando City, holders of the best record in MLS, will hit the road to tackle defending Eastern Conference champs Toronto FC in a Wednesday showdown (7:30 pm ET on TSN in Canada; MLS LIVE in US). The Lions have not fared well at BMO Field in the past, dropping two of three (0-2-1) while being outscored 9-1, with four of those goals coming from Sebastian Giovinco. READ MORE
Lions boss Jason Kreis is selling this match to his charges as their sternest test of the season to date. READ MORE
Red Bulls stampede into KC
A pair of the league's hottest defenses will clash in KC on Wednesday night when Sporting Kansas City host the New York Red Bulls (8:30 pm ET on MLS LIVE). The New Yorkers have leaked just once in winning three straight, while their midweek hosts have conceded only three times in eight games this season. READ MORE
Red Bulls central midfielder Felipe is looking forward to what he imagines will be a battle of kindred hotheaded spirits with Sporting KC playmaker Benny Feilhaber. READ MORE
David Villa signs contract extension
Big news broke Wednesday morning with the announcement that David Villa will be an NYCFC player through the end of 2018. The reigning MLS MVP has 46 goals in 70 career matches for the club. READ MORE
Meanwhile, Villa's NYCFC teammate Jack Harrison was named Alcatel MLS Player of the Week for his two-goal showing in their weekend win at Columbus Crew SC. READ MORE
MLS Power Rankings
The Vancouver Whitecaps were the big movers in this week's MLSsoccer.com Power Rankings, climbing five rungs. Closer to the top, new Supporters' Shield leaders Orlando City nudged up to second. READ MORE
Expansion news
The Tampa Bay Rowdies, who are vying for a future MLS expansion team, saw their efforts receive a boost with the results of a Tuesday referendum which allows the city to pursue an agreement regarding the site of a potential new soccer stadium. READ MORE
Mancosu sidelined, Hamid day-to-day
The Montreal Impact suffered a big blow to their attack on Tuesday, when striker Matteo Mancosu was ruled out for 6-8 weeks with a thigh injury. The club was also busy on Tuesday finalizing a loan deal for winger Michael Salazar to the Ottawa Fury. READ MORE
The news is much better for D.C. United, who have listed netminder Bill Hamid as "day-to-day" after an MRI scan for his groin complaint. READ MORE
Transfer Talk
According to ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle, the LA Galaxy and 2018 expansion side LAFC are set to duel over Real Sociedad's Mexican international forward Carlos Vela. It's not the first time MLS clubs have chased the 28-year-old, who has notched 72 goals in six seasons with the Royals. READ MORE
In other transfer talk, Carlisle also reports that San Jose have their sights set on FC Krasnodar right winger Mauricio Pereyra. The 27-year-old, who was once a teammate of Diego Valeri's at Lanus, has 21 goals and 19 assists in 129 games with the Russian Premier League side. READ MORE
Elsewwhere, various South American reports have both Real Salt Lake and Sporting KC in a race for the signature of Zulia FC's Venezuela Under-20 winger Jefferson Savarino. READ MORE
Suspensions announced
Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake will be missing key pieces for their respective Week 10 matches after ATL winger Yamil Asad and RSL defender Chris Schuler were sanctioned by the MLS Disciplinary Committee, which handed each player a one-game ban for their weekend tackles. READ MORE
Exports: FabJo back in training
There was some encouraging news for USMNT fans on Tuesday, as Borussia Moenchengladbach winger Fabian Johnson participated in training for the first time since injuring his hamstring in mid-March. READ MORE
MLSsoccer.com Musts:
Report: Orlando City, Red Bulls to host WCQ's this fall
Week 9 Instant Replay: You've never seen a referee do this
Armchair Analyst: The move every MLS team needs to make
