Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Messi and De Paul to Miss Inter Miami’s Next Two Matches After World Cup
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not play in Inter Miami’s next two matches, ESPN reported Monday, after both featured in all eight of Argentina’s games at the 2026 World Cup. The pair will miss Wednesday’s match against the Chicago Fire and Saturday’s game against CF Montreal, and both will also sit out the July 29 MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars. Messi started every Argentina contest and played all 120 minutes of Sunday’s 1-0 final loss to Spain, scoring eight goals with four assists in the tournament. Inter Miami sit second in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 9-2-4 record.
Sources: Field Level Media ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Amann’s Four-Minute Hat Trick Sets USL Record as Riverhounds Beat Louisville 3-1
Trevor Amann scored three goals in under four minutes early in the second half Saturday, the fastest hat trick in USL Championship history, as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat Louisville City FC 3-1 in a nationally televised match on CBS. Amann struck 71 seconds after the restart, headed home a Perrin Barnes cross moments later, then completed the hat trick in the 50th minute from Robbie Mertz’s service. Jansen Wilson answered with a 68th-minute penalty for Louisville. The win was Pittsburgh’s first at home over Louisville in club history and completed the Hounds’ first season sweep of their Eastern Conference rivals. “I care about winning more than anything,” Amann said.
Sources: Pittsburgh Soccer Now Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Messi Reflects on World Cup Final Loss in Message to Fans
Lionel Messi became the first player in history to start three FIFA World Cup finals on Sunday as Argentina fell 1-0 in extra time to Spain, then shared a message with fans on Instagram the following day. “The pain is very great, and it will be difficult for this wound to close,” the Inter Miami No. 10 wrote in Spanish, while also congratulating Spain on the championship. The 39-year-old finished second to Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race and set World Cup records during the tournament for most goal contributions (33), most assists (12) and most appearances (33).
Sources: MLSSoccer.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Angel City Blank Chicago Stars 2-0 for Third Straight Win
Angel City FC defeated the Chicago Stars 2-0 at Martin Stadium in Evanston on Saturday for a third consecutive victory, all under interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerud, who took over in the middle of June. Maiara Niehues opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 56th minute, her fifth goal in five games, before Sveindis Jonsdottir finished from close range in the 98th minute off Prisca Chilufya’s assist. An earlier Jonsdottir goal in the 86th minute was ruled out for offside by VAR. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson earned her third clean sheet in a row before a crowd of 6,678 as Angel City moved above the playoff line.
Sources: The Sporting Tribune Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Byars’ Late Brace Earns San Diego Wave 2-2 Draw at Kansas City
Trinity Byars scored twice, including an equalizer in the final minute of regulation, as the San Diego Wave earned a 2-2 draw against the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium on Friday night. Byars opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Kansas City rallied in the second half on Croix Bethune’s 52nd-minute volley and a Temwa Chawinga breakaway finish nine minutes later. The 23-year-old forward, who signed a contract extension last week that keeps her in San Diego through the 2028 season, now has six goals in her past seven matches. The Wave remain atop the NWSL standings with 28 points through 15 games.
Sources: The Sporting Tribune Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Johnston’s Late Equalizer Gives Halifax 1-1 Draw at Cavalry
Isaiah Johnston’s 77th-minute half-volley earned the Halifax Wanderers a 1-1 draw against Cavalry FC at ATCO Field on Saturday in Canadian Premier League play. Tobias Warschewski had put Cavalry ahead from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Goteh Ntignee was fouled in the box, but Johnston slammed home the loose ball from Jason Bahamboula’s cross to level the match. Both goalkeepers made late saves, with Marco Carducci catching Jay Herdman’s looping stoppage-time header and Nathan Ingham recovering to stop Adonijah Reid’s deflected effort. The result left Cavalry four points behind first-place Forge, while Halifax sit one point behind fourth-place Vancouver.
Sources: CPLSoccer.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
St. Louis CITY Extend Defender Jaziel Orozco Through 2028-29
St. Louis CITY SC signed 22-year-old defender Jaziel Orozco to a contract extension running through the 2028-29 MLS season with an option for 2029-30, the club announced Monday. “Jazi has put in consistent performances this season and it is clear he has a good understanding of what is being asked of him tactically,” said sporting director Corey Wray. A former Real Salt Lake homegrown player, Orozco joined the St. Louis first team a year ago after impressing with MLS NEXT Pro affiliate St. Louis CITY2, and he has one goal in 17 first-team appearances. St. Louis return from the World Cup break on July 22 at the LA Galaxy.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com Field Level Media Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
MLS Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Nashville SC — 33 pts
2. Inter Miami — 31 pts
3. Chicago Fire — 26 pts
4. New England Rev. — 25 pts
5. NY Red Bulls — 22 pts
6. Charlotte FC — 21 pts
Western Conference
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 29 pts
2. San Jose Earthquakes — 29 pts
3. Seattle Sounders — 24 pts
4. Real Salt Lake — 22 pts
5. LAFC — 21 pts
6. Minnesota United — 21 pts
Top 9 East / Top 9 West qualify for playoffs
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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