Seattle:

Seattle Sounders Academy players are soaking in every preseason moment with the first team.

Dirty South Soccer’s haters guide to the 2018 MLS season predicts the Sounders will return to MLS Cup because ”the West is trash”.

Former Grenada international and Sounders forward Shalrie Joseph is taking on a bigger role in the development of the Grenada Football Association’s growth.

Stumptown Footy’s perspective on Portland’s preseason loss to the Sounders: a tough central midfield performance overwhelmed Diego Valeri’s typical heroics.

Seattle’s independent institution Wexley School For Girls is set to close this spring.

MLS:

MLS has long held the perception that they’ve been a league of opportunity for youth team minutes, its worth asking if that priority has shifted in this current iteration of the league. FC Dallas particularly needs to examine this, as their youth talent continues to thrive; 11 of their academy players are on the US U-18 roster.

The bid to bring Columbus Crew to Austin has effects that extend far beyond the sports community; in a slight parallel to a prospective Amazon HQ2, the bid would amplify the demands that gentrification bring to cities and communities.

Orlando City acquired some backline depth with the full season loan of Egyptian Center Back Amro Tarek.

LAFC’s first ever match drew some even fresher faces to the pitch, including former Philadelphia Union DP Maurice Edu and renowned U.S. youth player Shaft Brewer.

Atlanta United took an unfortunate hit to their starting lineup, with midfielder Tito Villalba out indefinitely with an abductor injury.

David Beckham’s long awaited and hyped Miami franchise is beginning to come to fruition thanks to Becks dogged insistence in investing in South Beach, but it hasn’t been met with universal support: detractors of the proposed stadium are hoping to rally Overtown residents to fight the project.

United States:

The 2018 U-17 CONCACAF Championship schedule has been set for the US Women’s team.

Coming off a string of injuries, Kenny Saief is hoping his return to personal health will allow him to contribute to the broader USMNT recovery.

Prospective USMNT wunderkind Rubio Rubin is hoping to jumpstart his form away from Europe, with the midfielder leaving FC Utrecht to join Club Tijuana in Liga MX.

The World:

The January transfer window is over, but the rumors are just beginning; the most intriguing of them include Jose Mourinho coveting Arturo Vidal and Spurs reportedly setting an asking price for any Harry Kane transfers.

Everton loanee wasted no time in providing the top Bundesliga highlight in his Leipzig debut:

Werder Bremen went clear of the Bundesliga relegation zone, thanks to an outrageous assist from USMNT striker Aron Johansson:

Borussia Dortmund has been on a hot streak of producing football prodigies, but the return on this investment remains ambiguous.

FC Barcelona and Pixar are discussing a potential animated film partnership.

Two fantastic goals (and a late penalty decision) helped decide Tottenham and Liverpool’s 2-2 draw: