Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Canada names 26-player World Cup squad; Davies racing to be fit for June opener
Canada Soccer on Friday unveiled a 26-player World Cup squad, with coach Jesse Marsch naming Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David as headline selections. Davies, a Bayern Munich defender, faces a race against time to be fit for Canada’s Group B opener on June 12 in Toronto after an injury-plagued season. David, at Juventus FC, also made the roster. Canada enters Group B alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland, with send-off matches set for June 1 in Edmonton against Uzbekistan and June 5 in Montréal against the Republic of Ireland. Marsch revealed the squad in a primetime special, with each name displayed on the CN Tower EdgeWalk.
Sources: Canada Soccer, Soccer America
Banda scores twice and adds assist as Orlando Pride beat Bay FC 3-1, then exits injured
Barbra Banda scored in the 4th minute and added a second shortly after halftime, extending her NWSL Golden Boot lead to 11 goals in 12 games, as Orlando Pride defeated Bay FC 3-1 on Friday. Banda also contributed an assist before pulling up in pain in the final minutes while sprinting to challenge for the ball near the sideline. Orlando, out of substitutions, finished with 10 players. It was unclear whether Banda made contact with a nearby opponent on the play. Defender Cori Dyke scored Pride’s third goal, while Caroline Conti converted for Bay FC.
Sources: ESPN
Messi named captain as Argentina announce World Cup squad, hamstring injury a concern
Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at a record sixth World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday when he unveiled a 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The 38-year-old had prompted an injury scare after exiting Inter Miami’s MLS match against the Philadelphia Union; the club confirmed medical tests showed muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. Scaloni named 17 players from Argentina’s previous World Cup squad, with Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Julián Álvarez among the returning players. Argentina open group play in June.
Sources: Soccer America, ESPN
Aaronson takes wedding day off as USMNT gathers 25 players in Fayetteville ahead of Senegal
With Chris Richards’ arrival on Friday, 25 players were gathered in Fayetteville for the USMNT’s World Cup training camp. The 26th, Brenden Aaronson, was excused to marry longtime girlfriend Milana D’Ambra, daughter of Saint Joseph’s men’s coach and former U.S. futsal international Don D’Ambra, and was expected back in time for Saturday training. The USMNT faces Senegal on Sunday in Charlotte before the June 12 World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi. Coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters at a Thursday roundtable he has known his starting lineup since before March camp.
Sources: Soccer America
MLS averaging 22,109 fans per match at World Cup break; five clubs set records with Messi
MLS is averaging 22,109 fans per match at the World Cup break, up from last season’s final average of 21,988, according to Soccer America. Five teams each set a new single-game attendance record in 2026, all in games involving Inter Miami: Colorado hosted 75,824 at Empower Field on April 18 (second in MLS history), LAFC drew 75,673 at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 21 (third all-time), D.C. United attracted 72,026 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on March 7, Toronto FC drew 44,828 at BMO Field on May 9, and Inter Miami hosted 26,412 against Austin on April 4.
Sources: Soccer America
Denver Summit edge Louisville 1-0 as NWSL announces nearly five-week World Cup break
Denver Summit FC edged Racing Louisville 1-0 on Friday at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, with forward Ally Brazier netting the only goal in the 64th minute. The result came on the same day Soccer America reported that NWSL regular-season play will pause for almost five weeks following this weekend’s matches, with teams set to hit the road during the break. USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, who played her final game for OL Lyonnes of France on Thursday as they beat Paris FC 5-0 to claim their 19th league title in 20 seasons, is returning to play for Denver Summit.
Sources: ESPN, Soccer America
MLS
World Cup Break — Matchday 15 Complete
MLS resumes July 2026. Visit mlssoccer.com for official standings.
NWSL
Matchday 10 — Final Round Before Break
1. Utah Royals — Power Rankings leader after MD9
2. Washington Spirit
Source: ESPN NWSL Power Rankings after MD9
Curated by JD · samwise.agency