All articles tagged with #mls
Seattle Sounders introduced Dejan Joveljic as their new Designated Player, highlighting his affable, self-assured demeanor and fit with the club’s winning culture. He frames his game as simple and goal‑oriented, values family and soccer, and pledged to contribute with goals using all his strengths, even joking about avenging a goal he scored against Seattle in 2024.
Seattle Sounders finalize a $6 million cash-for-player transfer to acquire forward Dejan Joveljic from Sporting KC and sign him to a four-year contract through 2029 (with a potential 2031 option), a deal that could total around $20 million for the club; the move coincides with a restructured contract for Albert Rusnák as Seattle reshapes its attack, and Joveljic is already training with the team and is expected to debut soon.
Seattle Sounders fell 2-1 at home to Austin FC, extending their MLS losing streak to eight and their home skid to four. Facundo Torres opened the scoring in the 66th minute and Guilherme Biro doubled it in the 87th; Stuart Hawkins headed in a late consolation in stoppage time. Seattle created chances after halftime but failed to finish, while a turnover after a corner helped set up the second goal. Jackson Ragen left with a hyperextended knee, and coach Brian Schmetzer called for reinforcements as Seattle sits 11th with 15 games left.
Seattle fell 2-0 to Vancouver, extending a nine-loss-in-10-games stretch and exposing a thin roster, ongoing injuries, and a slow front-office transfer plan. With limited offensive options and forced to rely on Defiance loan players, coach Brian Schmetzer voiced frustration and the team and fans look for bold, external fixes to salvage the season, even as the next match against Austin FC offers a grim timetable.
Seattle Sounders were thoroughly outmatched in a 3-0 loss at Toluca, extending a seven-game skid as Toluca dominated with a massive shot volume, higher possession, and multiple chances, while Frei made 15 saves. Seattle fell behind within three minutes and never staged a real comeback, with injuries and an largely unchanged lineup fueling pessimism about turning the season around before the transfer window.
Larry Berg, MLS's new commissioner, pledges a product-first overhaul with faster decision-making, a new roster investment model, and a 2027 relaunch calendar, arguing that MLS missed a once-in-a-generation chance during the 2026 World Cup and stressing that the league and the MLS Players Association must move quickly to reach consensus and capitalize on growth.
MLS voters selected LAFC co-managing owner Larry Berg as the league’s next commissioner, with his term beginning January 1, 2027, as Don Garber shifts to chairman. Berg must divest his LAFC shares, and the decision follows a closed-door owners’ vote. A former partner in private equity with deep MLS ties, Berg is set to guide MLS through a significant period while Garber supports the transition.
Robert Lewandowski starred in Chicago Fire's 2-1 win over Charlotte FC, scoring a 20th-minute equaliser and the 68th-minute winner on his home MLS debut, signaling he remains a quality frontman as Barcelona searches for a replacement.
Seattle's six-game MLS losing streak deepened to a historic run as the Sounders fell 2-1 to Portland in Portland, dropping to 9th in the Western Conference. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi gave Seattle the lead, Kevin Kelsy equalized before halftime, and Brandon Bye struck late to snatch the win for the Timbers. Injuries forced a makeshift lineup, with young players like Snyder Brunell and Peter Kingston offering flashes, while coach Brian Schmetzer called for reinforcements at striker to stem the skid.
Four Austin FC Academy players are under investigation for youth-on-youth sexual abuse, with the Austin Police Department and the FBI involved. The club suspended the affected age group, reported the allegations to SafeSport and MLS, and is conducting an internal review while cooperating with law enforcement.
Seattle Sounders extended their losing streak to five with a 1–0 defeat to Philadelphia Union, dropping to eighth in the West and highlighting stagnant offense (seven shots, 0.36 xG) and a leaky defense since the World Cup break. Injuries and a thinner roster have exposed depth gaps, especially at No. 9, No. 6, and left back, prompting talk of reinforcements. Schmetzer says they won’t sign players for the sake of it, but urgency is rising as the club considers options and tightens rotation when healthier.
Columbus Crew beat FC Cincinnati 2-1 in Hell is Real, but a stoppage-time foul by Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela on Columbus’s Taha Habroune sparked on-field scuffles and a red card for Valenzuela. After the whistle, Crew players defended Habroune and confronted Valenzuela in the tunnel; video footage showed yelling but no clear physical clash. Coach Laurent Courtois downplayed the moment, calling it a heated derby, while Crew teammates criticized the foul as vicious and dangerous, underscoring the derby’s intense atmosphere.
Angus Gunn endured a brutal MLS debut as the San Jose Earthquakes were routed 4-0. The visitors opened with an unmarked header from David Brekalo from Eduard Atuesta’s free-kick, followed by a powerful finish from Ivan Angulo, a second-half strike by Antoine Griezmann, and Braian Ojeda’s late header to seal the win. Gunn’s opponent Maxime Crepeau made several sharp saves for the other side. Despite the defeat, San Jose remain level on points atop the Western Conference but sit second on goal difference behind Vancouver Whitecaps; they are fourth overall, with Nashville leading ahead of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, and they host LA Galaxy next.
Fox’s English-language World Cup ratings show Kansas City as the top U.S. market with an average 4.89 rating and 20 share; Boston, Austin, San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego, and Atlanta also posted above-3.5 ratings, with San Francisco leading the pack at a 21 share. San Francisco is the only market among the seven with no MLS team. Fox notes the figures exclude out-of-home viewing and reflect only English-language broadcasts, potentially informing future development and benchmarking ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann delivers a sensational MLS debut as LAFC look to elevate their form ahead of Matchday 17, with marquee derbies and MLS award chatter highlighted in the weekend slate.