MLS

Bring the party! Charlotte FC set for record-breaking home opener | MLSSoccer.com
75,000 people. That’s the expected attendance for Charlotte FC’s home opener on Saturday against the LA Galaxy (7:30 pm ET | FOX, FOX Deportes). That’s an MLS record.

Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders renew MLS’s most nuanced “rivalry” | US Soccer Players
Real Salt Lake hosts the Seattle Sounders in a rivalry game that isn't normally played up in Major League Soccer but carries extra meaning.

Austin FC wants the wins to match the party in 2022 | AP News
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Win, lose or draw — and there was a lot of losing — the drumbeats from the rowdiest fans of Austin FC never stopped in the club's first season. Barrels of beer were consumed or splashed in a season-long party that was both a celebration of professional soccer's arrival in Texas' capital city and a way to drown the sorrows of so many defeats.

An improved Saputo Stadium would cost between $75M and $100M — 98.5 Montreal (in French)
Stade Saputo, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2012, is already starting to struggle and team ownership feels it needs significant upgrades to remain viable for an MLS team.

Charlotte is ready for MLS: How the Panthers' 'Other Football Project' became a real club
Charlotte FC hosts its first match on Saturday, but the journey to get to this point began long ago, in the offices of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

MLS anonymous team executive survey: Best and worst teams, owners, rules, underrated players and cheating around the league – The Athletic
We talked to 21 team executives from around the league about a variety of the biggest issues currently facing MLS

NWSL and WoSo

From sprints with Rapinoe to playing Champions League: Ayers' path from NWSL to Sweden 'dream' | Goal.com
Five years ago, Jessica Ayers stopped playing football, but the 'craziest' decision of her life has since propelled her into the UEFA Women's Champions League.

As women's soccer rises in the UAE, multiple generations come together | Just Women’s Sports
Salma, a 15-year-old soccer star in Dubai, idolizes women's national team player Areej Alhammadi, who helped make her dreams a reality.

Clyde women’s team quit club over signing of David Goodwillie | The Guardian
Clyde women’s football team have quit the club over the re-signing of David Goodwillie, who was found guilty of rape by a civil court.

Growing gains and growing pains in women's sports | Power Plays
Five quick thoughts on the USWNT settling their equal pay lawsuit with USSF.

US National Teams

Three takes on USWNT v. Uzbekistan.

USWNT to play at Lower.com Field for friendly vs. Uzbekistan
The U.S. women's national team will play in Columbus at Lower.com Field on April 9.

USWNT to play pair of April friendlies against Uzbekistan - Stars and Stripes FC
The SheBelieves Cup champions will head to Columbus & Chester.

USWNT to face Uzbekistan in April friendlies after original opponent withdraws | ESPN
The USWNT will face 45th-ranked Uzbekistan for the first time after having to line up a new opponent on short notice.

Upfront: A landmark day for U.S. Soccer and another cup final! - Football Ramble Presents | Acast
Flo, Rachel and Chloe react to the seismic news that, after six years, a group of U.S. Women’s players settled their ongoing lawsuit with U.S. Soccer around equal pay and fair remuneration for future generations. To help us understand the ramifications and what happens next, we’re joined by the Wall Street Journal’s Rachel Bachman, who’s been at the heart of this story.

Global soccer

FA Cup: 'It has been a fairytale' - Boreham Wood out but not down - BBC Sport
Goodison Park proves to be the end of the line for Boreham Wood in this season's FA Cup, but for the National League side it has been far more about the journey than the destination.

Jesse Marsch: Leeds gives American coach a rare second chance - Sports Illustrated
When it goes south for American coaches in top leagues, the door typically doesn't reopen. But Marsch has a chance to make headway after a setback in Leipzig.

Leeds' Jesse Marsch - 'Ted Lasso' doesn't help stigma on U.S. coaches
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has said he believes there is a stigma against American coaches in European football.

Soccer fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Yuriy Vernydub: Sheriff Tiraspol manager ‘not afraid’ as he leaves Europa League side to fight in Ukraine - BBC Sport
Six months ago Yuriy Vernydub was winning at Real Madrid, one week ago he was managing in the Europa League. Now, he is in Ukraine and ready to fight.

Ukraine crisis: Russia to appeal against football ban imposed by Fifa and Uefa - BBC Sport
The Russian Football Union says it will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal against its ban from international competitions.

World Cup qualifying: Ukraine seek play-off semi-final with Scotland postponement - BBC Sport
Ukraine request a postponement of their World Cup play-off semi-final against Scotland.

Soccer-Ukraine request postponement of playoff against Scotland | Reuters
Ukraine’s Football Association have asked FIFA and UEFA to postpone their World Cup qualification playoff match against Scotland on March 24, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Fifa urged to reopen transfer window and give players in Russia escape route | Soccer | The Guardian
Poland’s FA wants Fifa to grant an emergency transfer window to allow players in Russia to join a club in another country

Premier League considers adding human rights to new owners’ test | Premier League | The Guardian
The Premier League is considering adding a human rights component to its owners’ and directors’ test as it conducts a review of the controversial regulation

Wyss and Boehly confident of deal to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich | Chelsea | The Guardian
Hansjörg Wyss and Todd Boehly are increasingly confident their bid to buy Chelsea will be successful and are set to step up negotiations this weekend

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus slammed by UEFA president for ESL plans amid war in Ukraine
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has slammed Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus for plotting European Super League plans “in the middle of a war.”

The Dungeons. The Dragons.

Critical Role’s seventh anniversary brings the show back to theatres - Polygon
Critical Role, the popular Dungeons & Dragons show, is approaching its seventh anniversary. The group is playing a session from their third campaign, starring Bell’s Hells, and the show will be broadcast in theatres across the United States and Brazil.

What to Watch

Friday

11:45 AM PT — Internazionale vs Salernitana on Paramount+. Seems like the best of the midday, plus you re-subbed to P+ for Picard and the NWSL.

7:00 PM PT — Juárez vs León on TUDN and TUDN.com. The professional would watch Seattle’s next CCL opponent.

7:30 PM PT — Tacoma Stars vs Ontario Fury on YouTube. Six points out of a playoff spot, the Stars have to start winning now.

Saturday

9:30 AM PT — Liverpool vs West Ham United on NBC and NBCSports.com. Liverpools chase for the quad faces one of their toughest matches of the year — West Ham?

3:00 PM PT — Us vs Them on Q13 FOX and Prime Video.

4:30 PM PT — Charlotte FC vs LA Galaxy on FOX and FoxSports.com. Go Crowns and Chris Hegardt.

Sunday

1:00 PM PT — Austin FC vs Inter Miami CF on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Someone has to win, or not.

3:00 PM PT — Chihuahua Savage vs Tacoma Stars on YouTube. This is a must win.

7:00 PM PT — LAFC vs Portland Timbers on FS1 and FOXSports.com. May the legend of Draw City USA resume.