Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Friday, May 29, 2026
Canada to Reveal 26-Man World Cup Squad in Primetime Tonight
Canada Soccer will unveil its 26-man Men’s World Cup squad tonight at 7 p.m. ET in a primetime special on TSN, CTV, Crave, and RDS. Head coach Jesse Marsch must trim six players from the 32 in camp this week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Captain Alphonso Davies remains on the provisional list despite a hamstring injury suffered during Bayern Munich’s Champions League campaign. Marsch has said he believes Davies will play at the tournament, though the winger may not be fit for Canada’s June 12 opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Send-off matches follow against Uzbekistan on June 1 in Edmonton and Ireland on June 5 in Montréal.
Sources: Canada Soccer, The Score
Pochettino Commits to USMNT Despite AC Milan Contact, Backs Pulisic to Score
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino addressed reports of contact between his representatives and AC Milan on Thursday, insisting he is fully committed to the United States at the World Cup. Speaking after training at the U.S. Soccer national training center near Atlanta, Pochettino denied meeting personally with the club but did not deny that his camp had been in touch. His contract with U.S. Soccer expires after the tournament. At the same session, Pochettino called captain Christian Pulisic “special” and said he expects the AC Milan winger to end his goal drought at the World Cup. U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson expressed full confidence in Pochettino’s commitment to the summer tournament.
Argentina Names Inter Miami’s Messi for Record-Tying Sixth World Cup
Lionel Messi was named to Argentina’s 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday, placing the Inter Miami captain on course to appear at a record-tying sixth World Cup alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The announcement came despite concern over a hamstring overload Messi suffered during Inter Miami’s 6–4 win over the Philadelphia Union on May 24, his final MLS appearance before the league’s World Cup break. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni waited until the last possible day to submit his final list. Seventeen members of Argentina’s 2022 title-winning squad return to defend the trophy. Messi is being monitored by Argentina’s medical staff and is expected to be ready for the tournament.
CPL Launches “Red and White Out” Tonight to Fuel Home World Cup Momentum
The Canadian Premier League launches its “Red and White Out” initiative tonight as FC Supra du Québec hosts Inter Toronto at Stade Boréale at 7 p.m. ET. The campaign spans eight CPL regular-season matches in 2026 and is designed to build national support for Canada Soccer’s Men’s team ahead of the home World Cup. Inspired by coach Jesse Marsch’s call for a national “Red Out,” each host club will feature Canadian flags for fans, national team visuals, and ceremonial player walkouts. Tonight’s fixture also opens FC Supra’s Cultural Celebration Series, honoring Québec’s Haitian community’s contributions to the sport. Cavalry FC leads the CPL table heading into Friday’s matches.
Sources: CPL Soccer, OurSports Central
MLS Eastern Conference
Through May 24 — World Cup Break
1. Nashville SC — 27 pts
2. Inter Miami CF — 25 pts
3. New England Revolution — 22 pts
4. Chicago Fire FC — 20 pts
Full table: mlssoccer.com
MLS Western Conference
Through May 24 — World Cup Break
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 29 pts
2. San Jose Earthquakes — 29 pts
3. Seattle Sounders FC — 24 pts
4. Real Salt Lake — 22 pts
5. LAFC — 21 pts
6. Minnesota United — 21 pts
Full table: mlssoccer.com
NWSL Standings
Through Matchweek 9
1. Utah Royals FC
2. Washington Spirit
3. Portland Thorns FC
4. San Diego Wave FC
Full table: nwslsoccer.com
Curated by JD · samwise.agency