Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Saturday, May 16, 2026
San Diego Wave Top the NWSL Table After Dramatic Late Win Over Washington Spirit
San Diego Wave FC climbed to the top of the NWSL standings Friday night with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Washington Spirit at Snapdragon Stadium, snapping the Spirit’s five-game winning streak. Trinity Byars opened the scoring in the sixth minute with the first league goal of her season, and while Washington’s Bernal levelled in the 33rd, Wave midfielder Kimmi Ascanio settled the contest with an 89th-minute winner. The result improved San Diego to an unblemished 5-0-0 when scoring the opening goal this season and moved them ahead of the Spirit on points. Washington, who had won five straight entering the match, drop to second in the NWSL table.
Sources: San Diego Wave FC, ESPN
NWSL and USL Super League in Preliminary Talks About a Joint Interleague Competition
Preliminary discussions between the NWSL and the USL Super League about a joint interleague competition could reshape the American women’s soccer calendar as early as 2028, multiple sources told ESPN. Both leagues hold U.S. Soccer first-division sanctioning, making them natural candidates for a shared cup-style tournament. Neither federation is modeling the proposal on the men’s U.S. Open Cup, preferring a blank-slate approach to format. Scheduling presents the most complex obstacle: the NWSL runs from January to November, while the USL Super League’s season spans August to May. No formal timeline or framework has been confirmed, and discussions remain at a preliminary stage.
Sources: ESPN
Cruz Azul Must Win Outright to Advance as Chivas Host Clausura Semifinal Return Leg Tonight
Cruz Azul must win tonight’s Liga MX Clausura semifinal return leg outright on aggregate or face elimination, as Chivas host La Máquina at Estadio Jalisco with the series locked 2-2. The first leg at Estadio Azteca on May 13 was an end-to-end draw, with Armando González and Ángel Sepúlveda scoring for Guadalajara and Charly Rodríguez and Christian Ebere replying for Cruz Azul. Because Chivas finished as the second seed in the regular season, another draw advances them on seeding rules. González, the Liga MX top scorer with 24 goals this term, is the figure Cruz Azul must contain. Kickoff is 9:07 p.m. ET on Telemundo.
Sources: Squawka, Latination, Bolavip
Hudson River Derby: Red Bulls and NYCFC Locked on 18 Points as Rivalary Resumes Saturday
The New York Red Bulls and NYCFC bring identical 18-point Eastern Conference tallies into Saturday’s Hudson River Derby at Sports Illustrated Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET). The Red Bulls have won two straight, powered by 18-year-old Julian Hall, who became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick in the 3-2 midweek defeat of Columbus. NYCFC snapped a seven-game winless run with back-to-back victories and have conceded just once in their last two matches. Nicolás Fernández Mercau leads the visitors with 12 goals and four assists, while Hall’s 9 goals and 2 assists make him the most dangerous attacker in this rivalry’s latest chapter.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com, Sports Illustrated
Ten Days Out: Which Players Are Still Fighting for a Spot in Pochettino's World Cup 26
With Mauricio Pochettino set to announce the United States’ 26-man World Cup squad live on FOX on May 26, competition for the final roster spots has narrowed. Goalkeepers Patrick Schulte and Chris Brady are fighting for the third keeper slot. Diego Luna’s late start to the MLS season has left him on the margins, while injuries have likely removed Johnny Cardoso and Tanner Tessmann from contention. Max Arfsten’s recent form at Columbus — two goals and two assists in four matches — gives him a late claim at left back. Aidan Morris’ form at Middlesbrough remains perhaps the strongest argument for a surprise inclusion in Pochettino’s squad.
Sources: Goal.com, SBI Soccer
Pumas Must Score at the Olímpico to Overturn Pachuca's Clausura Semifinal Lead
Pumas UNAM host Pachuca on Sunday at Estadio Olímpico Universitario trailing 1-0 on aggregate after May 14’s first leg at Estadio Hidalgo. As Clausura top seeds, Pumas advance on an aggregate draw under Mexican playoff tiebreaker rules, making scoring first at the Olímpico essential. Pachuca will be shorthanded: regular center-back Eduardo received a red card in the 91st minute of the first leg and is suspended for the return. Enner Valencia, Pachuca’s focal point with three playoff goals, was carrying an injury concern after the first leg. Pumas’ Robert Morales scored in a 2-0 league win at Pachuca on April 25 and is their likeliest source of the goal needed.
Sources: Squawka, Latination
Nashville Lead the East as MLS Matchday 14 Opens With World Cup Break Looming
Nashville SC lead the Eastern Conference heading into Matchday 14, with an unbeaten run of six league matches built around Designated Players Hany Mukhtar, Cristian Espinoza, and striker Sam Surridge. The Red Bulls and NYCFC are tied at 18 points further down the East, separated by today’s Hudson River Derby result. In the West, LAFC — fifth on 21 points — travel to Nashville on Sunday Night Soccer, a fixture that could define both clubs’ early-season trajectories. With fewer than ten regular-season rounds remaining before the World Cup break in mid-June, Matchday 14 marks a pivotal moment in the race for playoff positioning across both conferences.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com, Squawka
MLS Eastern Conference
Through Matchday 13
1. Nashville SC — 26 pts (8-3-2)
2. Inter Miami CF — 22 pts (6-4-3)
3. New England Rev. — 19 pts (5-5-4)
4. NY Red Bulls — 18 pts (5-6-3)
5. NYCFC — 18 pts (5-6-3)
6. Chicago Fire — 17 pts (5-5-2)
7. D.C. United — 15 pts (4-6-3)
8. FC Cincinnati — 15 pts (4-6-3)
MLS Western Conference
Through Matchday 13
1. San Jose EQ — 28 pts (9-1-1)
2. LAFC — 21 pts (6-4-3)
3. Seattle Sounders — 18 pts (5-4-4)
4. Portland Timbers — 17 pts (5-5-3)
5. Houston Dynamo — 16 pts (4-4-5)
6. Colorado Rapids — 14 pts (3-5-5)
7. LA Galaxy — 13 pts (3-5-5)
8. Austin FC — 13 pts (3-5-5)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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