Major Link Soccer: DeAndre Yedlin is back from injury

Seattle

The Tacoma Rainiers are getting some special new jerseys, designed by a fifth grader for Tacoma Public Schools night. It looks awesome and has all the iconic sights of the city. I’m not even joking, I want one.

Not a fan of the nickname “Goose” for Gustav Svensson? Well, here’s a new one from an article talking up the Swede’s success in Rave Green - King Gustav. Sweden’s got a King Gustav already, but I think ours would be a good USA-based King of the Swedes.

MLS

With four or so (depending on Miami) MLS expansion slots up for grabs, Phoenix is doing everything they can to snag one, including using player/owner Didier Drogba to push the MLS expansion bid.

Bad news for the Rapids; midfielder Nana Boateng broke his back last week after landing hard on it. Boateng fractured three vertebrae, but good news is he should only be out about two months.

Atlanta United has done pretty much everything right off the field so far, but they’ve finally hit a speedbump - their home debut at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is going to be delayed until September.

Real Madrid is coming to town, well Chicago for the MLS All-Star game and because it’s official, it’s time to start picking dream teams to face them. To face the offside kings (yes I’m bitter over the game against Bayern), one Sounder lines up to face the Spanish giants.

Mike Petke took over RSL in some weird conditions, only a few games into the season. After being promoted from the USL when Jeff Cassar was fired, what makes his team different than the RSL’s of old?

RSL Soapbox has some general suggestions also, specifically the five people you shouldn’t be at a soccer game. I’m usually two of them...sorry, I swear all the time anyway and I write things, expect me to yell at them what to do. Which one(s) are you?

USA

Mallory Pugh announced that she was leaving UCLA - even though she never played a match - to go pro. the USWNT star is turning pro on her terms, not NWSL’s or US Soccer.

The good news with Mal Pugh going pro is that it shows the money in women’s soccer is there and that going to college isn’t a prerequisite to get it, if you are national team talent it doesn’t matter when you go, just where.

NWSL is back, but not everything is wonderful - Amy Rodriguez scored in her return to FCKC, only to tear her ACL.

With the NFL Draft approaching, teams are setting their boards and players with domestic abuse histories are now becoming more undesirable for teams in the fans eyes. Something that didn’t really have a bearing just a few years ago.

USMNT needs some healing, and they are starting to get that with former Sounder DeAndre Yedlin (who else would it be) back from injury. Unfortunately Fabian Johnson is still a while from coming back.

World

The “Tri-Bid” Tournament in 2026 got some more support as the “biggest, strongest” federation is backing it, Oceania. Maybe by then they’ll have more than half-a-bid and they can bring at least one team to that tournament.

Bayern had a tough day today between the result during and after the match. Casemiro probably should’ve been sent off (twice) for yellow card-able tackles while already on a yellow, and then Arturo Vidal was sent off for a clean challenge while on a yellow. It got worse, two of the three goals given up in extra time? offside.

To add injury to insult for the Germans, Manuel Neuer left on crutches. Not the way the Bundesliga leaders wanted to exit the UCL.

Soccer on TV

Major League Soccer

4:30pm - New England vs SJ Earthquakes - CSN California, MLS Live

United Soccer League

4:00pm - Cincinnati FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies - ESPN3

UEFA Champions League

11:45am - Barcelona vs Juventus - FS1, FuboTV, WatchESPN (deportes)

11:45am - Monaco vs Borussia Dortmund - FS2, FuboTV, Fox Deportes