Major Link Soccer: Pride Day edition

Pride

The Sounders match tomorrow afternoon is their annual LBGTQ Pride Day match celebration, with special events and giveaways planned. The first 50,000 fans will receive a pride flag, so expect the stands to be colorful. Also, Mayor Ed Murray will receive the Golden Scarf in a pre-match ceremony. I even heard they figured out how to get the flamethrowers to shoot rainbow flames. (I have not heard that. But they should).

For more information on the Seattle festivities in general this weekend, head to the official site for Seattle Pride.

Aaron Kovar and Cristian Roldan appeared on Q13 to talk about the full stadium match and the team's community support this evening. Kovar did his best to look excited, but Kovar may have been born without an excited face.

Paste has a rundown of all the MLS and NWSL teams that are planning (or have already put on) pride events this summer, and it's an impressive list.

LA Galaxy's Pride Night inspired two members of the LGBTQ community to buy season tickets on the spot. They are long time soccer fans, but it was their first MLS match, and the welcoming atmosphere was greatly appreciated.

Of course, pride events this summer have taken on an additional meaning in remembrance of the victims of the shooting in Orlando. Kaká joined in with his support for the survivors by visiting them in the hospital and wishing them well.

Seattle

In other Seattle news, Oniel Fisher was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Soccer Hall of Fame. Wow that's a mouthful, how about NJCAAMSHoF? Fisher graduated from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas before moving on to the University of New Mexico.

MLS Insider has a video feature on Jordan Morris. The Sounders' long 'courtship' of Morris, how he's adapted to the league, and what it's like to be able to remain in his hometown are all covered.

Jess Fishlock spoke to the BBC about the Euros, her future with Wales, and how Seattle is "football, football football and it's brilliant."

Are you watching the Race 2 Alaska? Why not? It's a nonstop race from Port Townsend to Alaska, 750 miles, with no motors or support boats. Obviously SaH isn't competing because our yachts all have large motors and support craft, but we appreciate the efforts of these plucky luddites. Follow the race in real time here. My money's on Wabi-Sabi.

Major League Soccer

FC Dallas have just transferred an 18-year-old Homegrown Player to Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara for a fee believed to be around $500,000. Zendejas has featured for Dallas' first team and the US U17s, but has been injured this season.

Retired former Sounders right back and MLS veteran James Riley is the new MLS Director of Player Relations, a role in which he hopes to make a particular impact in the off-field development of current young players.

Remember when Mike Grella managed to put two up on the Seattle Sounders the other day? Well, he won the SB Nation MLS player of the week poll for his efforts. Yay Mike Grella.

So, how good are MLS goalkeepers at passing? Here's some data to look at. Takeaway for Seattle fans? Stefan Frei is excellent at short passes, relatively pretty poor at long passes.

A June 1, 2017 timeline for the opening of Mercedes-Benz stadium (future home of Atlanta United FC) is looking good, and a United match may still be the first event held there, although there are some "out-of-the-box ideas" that could change that.

World

FIFA 17 will have the long-awaited and long-requested J1 League. All 18 clubs in the top Japanese league will be playable and Gamba Osaka's stadium will also be available.

Evan after his team absolutely tanked against the talented Chile in Copa América, Juan Carlos Osorio will stay on as the manager of the Mexico national team.

16 teams remain in Euro 2016, and SB Nation has them neatly power ranked. Poor Northern Ireland.