Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Houston Dash and Seattle Reign Draw 0–0 in Friday Night NWSL Clash
Seattle Reign FC and the Houston Dash played to a scoreless draw at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Friday night, May 1, with both goalkeepers producing strong performances in wet conditions. Dash goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned her third clean sheet of the 2026 NWSL season, making five saves to preserve the point. Seattle sent out their youngest lineup of the season and created several first-half opportunities without converting. Both clubs sit in the middle of the NWSL standings through five matchdays, and the point leaves neither side satisfied. Houston next hosts Kansas City Current, while Seattle returns home to face Washington Spirit.
Sources: ESPN Soccer
Messi Milestone Looms as Inter Miami Host Orlando City in Florida Derby
Inter Miami host Orlando City at Nu Stadium on Saturday night in one of MLS’s marquee Florida Derby fixtures, with Lionel Messi poised to make his 100th all-time appearance for the Herons. Miami enter with an 11-game undefeated streak across all competitions under interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos, who replaced Javier Mascherano last month. Forward Germán Berterame has scored three goals in his last four games. Orlando also operate under interim leadership following Oscar Pareja’s March exit, and striker Antoine Griezmann — signed from Atlético Madrid — is not due to join the club until July. Miami defeated Orlando 4–2 in March.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com
Clausura 2026 Liguilla Opens Saturday as Liga MX Plays Without World Cup Call-Ups
The Clausura 2026 Liguilla quarterfinals open Saturday with two first-leg fixtures: Chivas de Guadalajara host Tigres UANL at 7 p.m. local time, followed by Atlas versus Cruz Azul at Jalisco at 9:15 p.m. On Sunday, Pumas face América and Pachuca meet Toluca to complete the round. Uniquely, the entire Liguilla will be played without Mexican national team players, who begin World Cup preparations this week, allowing clubs to deploy up to nine foreign players. Chivas finished second in the regular season table; Tigres finished seventh. The double-legged quarterfinals conclude May 10–11, with the final set for May 24.
Sources: ESPN Soccer
Nashville SC Face Monterrey Test in CCC Semifinals Leg 2 Tuesday
Nashville SC trail Tigres UANL 1–0 on aggregate heading into Tuesday’s decisive second leg at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, with the MLS East leaders needing a road goal to keep their historic Champions Cup campaign alive. Ángel Correa’s 33rd-minute strike settled Leg 1 at GEODIS Park on April 28, played in storm-delayed conditions. Nashville were without injured striker Sam Surridge and lost midfielder Eddi Tagseth early. The Coyotes have produced arguably the CCC’s most dramatic run this year, eliminating Inter Miami and becoming the first MLS side to win competitively at Estadio Azteca. Leg 2 kicks off Tuesday, May 5.
Sources: Concacaf.com, MLSSoccer.com
LAFC Head to Snapdragon for SoCal Derby After CCC Win Over Toluca
LAFC travel to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Saturday night for a heated Southern California rivalry matchup, carrying momentum from their 2–1 Concacaf Champions Cup Leg 1 win over Toluca on Wednesday. The Black & Gold (6–2–2, third in the West) feature goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who leads MLS with eight clean sheets, and a fully rested Denis Bouanga available after his CCC suspension. San Diego FC (3–5–2) enter mired in an eight-game winless streak, though Danish winger Anders Dreyer leads the hosts with nine goal contributions this season. LAFC won both SoCal derbies in 2025. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT on Apple TV.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com, LAFC.com
MLS Matchday 11 Injury Report: Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte Hit by Absences
Several MLS clubs head into Matchday 11 with significant absences after the league released its player status report Saturday morning. Nashville SC remain without striker Sam Surridge, who has missed three consecutive matches with an undisclosed injury, weakening the Eastern Conference leaders ahead of their home fixture versus Philadelphia Union tonight. Atlanta United list striker Miguel Almirón as questionable with a knee complaint alongside three other doubtful starters, while Charlotte FC are missing both center-back Henry Kessler and veteran defender Tim Ream to lower-body injuries for their trip to New England. Philadelphia Union are without midfielder Steven Alzate.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com
Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride Meet in Playoff-Weight NWSL Matchday 6 Fixture
Washington Spirit arrive at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday for a Matchday 6 NWSL fixture that carries genuine playoff-race weight for both clubs. The Spirit dismantled Kansas City Current 4–0 in their most recent outing and have lost just once in five matches, lifting them to sixth in the standings. Orlando Pride, currently eighth, are coming off a 3–2 defeat to Racing Louisville that snapped a positive sequence which had included back-to-back wins over Angel City and Chicago Stars. Orlando have won three of their last five head-to-head meetings with the Spirit. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET on Fubo, ION, and Tubi.
Sources: OurSports Central, Orlando Pride
MLS Eastern Conference
After Matchday 10
1. Nashville SC — 22 pts (7–1–1)
2. Inter Miami CF — 19 pts
3. Chicago Fire — 13 pts
4. New England Revolution — 13 pts
↧ Playoff line
13. Atlanta United — 7 pts
13. Orlando City — 7 pts
15. Philadelphia Union — 5 pts
MLS Western Conference
After Matchday 10
1. San Jose Earthquakes — 27 pts
2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC — 24 pts
3. LAFC — 20 pts (6–2–2)
3–15. Full Matchday 11 in progress
NWSL — After Matchday 5
1. Portland Thorns FC
2. San Diego Wave FC
(Portland leads on goal difference)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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