Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Gotham FC and Kansas City Current Play to 0-0 Draw in NWSL Challenge Cup Final at Columbus
The National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup Final ended in a goalless draw Friday, as defending champion Gotham FC and Kansas City Current played to a 0-0 result at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match marked a historic milestone as the first NWSL game ever played in Columbus, a city recently awarded an NWSL expansion team set to debut in 2028. Gotham FC, the reigning 2025 NWSL Champion, faced the 2025 Shield winners in the neutral-site final. Columbus Crew’s home venue served as a preview of what is to come when the city’s new women’s professional soccer club launches in two years.
LIGA MX Names First 14 Players for 2026 MLS All-Star Game as Charlotte Matchup Takes Shape
LIGA MX unveiled its first 14 selections for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on Friday, with the Mexican league’s squad set to face the MLS All-Stars on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The initial group includes goalkeeper Keylor Navas of Pumas, Atlético San Luis forward João Pedro — LIGA MX’s leading scorer with 26 goals in 2025-26 — Tigres midfielder Fernando Gorriárán, Cruz Azul’s 2026 Clausura champion Erik Lira, and former Chicago Fire homegrown Brian Gutierrez, now at Chivas Guadalajara. The game will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English, Spanish, and French.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NWSL Updates Hydration, Substitution, and Code of Conduct Rules Ahead of Return From World Cup Break
The NWSL updated several competition rules ahead of the league’s return from its June World Cup break, announcing the changes Wednesday. Under a revised heat safety policy, hydration breaks will last 2.5 to 3 minutes when wet bulb globe temperatures fall between 82.3 and 92.1 degrees Fahrenheit, replacing a staggered system that allowed up to five-minute breaks. The league also adopted two rules used at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: players requiring medical treatment may leave the field for a one-minute period, and substituting players must exit within 10 seconds of stoppage. A Digital Code of Conduct extending fan behavior standards to online platforms was also introduced.
Halifax Wanderers Rout Pacific FC 5-2 to Move Into Fourth Place in CPL
Halifax Wanderers thrashed Pacific FC 5-2 in Canadian Premier League action Friday, moving into a share of fourth place in the table. Pacific defender Eric Lajeunesse opened the scoring with an own goal in the 26th minute, before Arilla added another for Halifax. Marco Bustos pulled one back for Pacific in the 34th minute, but the Wanderers went on to score three more goals to secure the comfortable victory. The win placed Halifax level with Inter Toronto for fourth in the CPL standings, while Pacific FC remained at the bottom of the table without a win through 11 matches of the 2026 season.
Sources: CPL Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Canada Set for Historic World Cup Knockout Debut Against South Africa on Sunday in Los Angeles
Canada will face South Africa in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, at 3 p.m. ET — the first knockout-stage appearance in the Canadian Men’s National Team’s history. The CANMNT finished second in Group B after a 2-1 loss to Switzerland on Wednesday, with Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi scoring for the Swiss before Promise David netted in the 76th minute. Canada needed only a draw to top the group and hold onto home-field advantage, but will now face South Africa in Los Angeles. South Africa also advanced from their group for the first time.
Sources: ESPN The Score Canada Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
USMNT Tops Group D With Record Eight Goals and Six Points at 2026 FIFA World Cup
The U.S. Men’s National Team topped Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with six points and a record eight group stage goals — the most in program history. The USMNT beat Paraguay and Australia before falling 3-2 to an already-eliminated Türkiye on a stoppage-time goal from Kaan Ayhan. The four-goal performance versus Paraguay set a program record for most goals in a single World Cup match. Coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the objective of finishing first was met. The U.S. faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 in Santa Clara, California on July 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
Sources: U.S. Soccer ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
MLS Eastern Conference
Through May 24 — MLS resumes July 16
1. Nashville SC — 27 pts
2. Inter Miami CF — 25 pts
3. New England Revolution — 22 pts
4. Chicago Fire FC — 20 pts
NWSL (After MD9 — On Break)
1. Utah Royals
2. Portland Thorns
3. Washington Spirit
MLS Western Conference
Through May 24 — MLS resumes July 16
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 29 pts
2. Seattle Sounders — 24 pts
3. Real Salt Lake — 22 pts
4. LAFC — 21 pts
5. Minnesota United — 21 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency