Breakfast Links - August 25, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
This has been one heck of a week. The caffeine will need to hit quickly this morning. Here are your Breakfast Links.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are currently in great form, winning their last two games and scoring a total of eight goals in them. Houston will now fly to Sandy, Utah to take on RSL for a second time in four days. All points remaining are vital to meet the objective set by the front office and majority owner Ted Segal of making the postseason. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash are home as they will take on KC Current in their hopes to get points in threes and move up the ladder and into a playoff position. This match will be one of only two home games left in the remaining six matches of the season. The ladies will need to take each fixture as an elimination match. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2 took a stumble last week, losing against Quakes II. Kenny Bundy will do his best so that his boys finish strong and make the playoffs for a second straight season. They will be at home on Sunday taking on LA Galaxy II. Get your tickets and support! Reach out to us on social media for tickets as well if you want to go. Vamos Dyna Dos!
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts as well as our YouTube Channel!
Major League Soccer
The MLS homestretch is upon us, with teams still fighting tooth and nail for 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spots in both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Now, Matchday 28's 14-game slate gives nearly every club a chance to stake their claim as serious threats in the season's final sprint. The Colorado Rapids are the lone team on a bye this weekend.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber stopped in Houston to show off the Dynamo’s new headquarters, which are across the street from Shell Energy Stadium. He mentioned the importance of Houston in the league and shaking awake the sleeping giant. Many questions regarding Messi were asked too. Sigh.
Around the World
Luis Rubiales refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Friday, and said he will "fight to the end" after a week of growing pressure following his unsolicited kiss of Spainplayer Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales, 46, announced the surprise move -- after widespread reports that he planned to quit -- in a speech in which he attempted to justify his behaviour, and lashed out at critics, during an extraordinary meeting of the federation's general assembly.
Sweden have knocked the United States off the top of the FIFA women's rankings for the first time in more than six years. The U.S., who have held the No. 1 spot since June 2017 and won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, slipped out of the top two for the first time since FIFA introduced the rankings in 2003.
Monaco are leading the race to sign Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun as talks advance over a deal worth in the region of €45 million ($48.5m), sources have told ESPN. The two clubs are yet to finalise the exact structure of an agreement, but sources have indicated the Ligue 1 side are now in pole position to sign the 22-year-old amid interest from Inter Milan and Chelsea.
San Diego Loyal say they have been unable to find a suitable solution for a home stadium and will cease operations after playing its final season in the USL Championship this year, the club announced on Thursday. Co-founded by U.S. men's national team legend Landon Donovan, who currently serves as the executive vice president of soccer operations, the club will fold after a four-season second-division run that began in 2020.
