Trinity Rodman’s Stoppage-Time Brace Lifts Spirit Past Dash 2-1 in NWSL Restart
Trinity Rodman scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, as the Washington Spirit defeated the Houston Dash 2-1 Friday evening in the NWSL’s first action since the league’s World Cup break. Rodman’s brace proved decisive as Washington secured three points to open the second half of the 2026 NWSL season. The Spirit had ranked as high as second in ESPN’s NWSL Power Rankings through the first half of the campaign, and the result suggests their strong form has carried into the restart. The NWSL resumes from a weeks-long World Cup pause, with teams now chasing the top six playoff spots as the schedule intensifies heading into August.
Source: ESPN Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Kansas City Current Thrash Expansion Denver Summit 3-0 in NWSL Return
Michelle Cooper scored twice and Temwa Chawinga added a late goal as Kansas City Current dominated expansion side Denver Summit FC 3-0 in Denver on Friday, the NWSL’s opening night of action following the league’s World Cup break. Cooper’s brace gave the Current an early hold on the match before Chawinga sealed the points late. The result was a difficult homecoming for Denver, who entered 2026 as one of the league’s high-profile expansion additions. Denver Summit had drawn large crowds throughout their first NWSL season, but Kansas City sent a clear message entering the second half of the campaign with a commanding road victory.
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USMNT Faces Belgium on Independence Day Weekend — Balogun Out, Everything on the Line
The United States men’s national team faces Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 on Monday, July 6 at 8 p.m. ET in Seattle, two days after Independence Day. The U.S. advanced by defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32, while Belgium edged Senegal 3-2 in extra time. USMNT star Folarin Balogun will miss the match after receiving a red card against Bosnia — a suspension the U.S. Soccer Federation cannot appeal. The Americans open as slight favorites at -120. Belgium famously eliminated the United States in extra time during the 2014 World Cup Round of 16 in Brazil.
Source: U.S. Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Canada Reach First-Ever World Cup Round of 16 — Face France or Paraguay on July 9
Canada reached the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with their first-ever World Cup knockout victory, defeating South Africa 1-0 on June 28 as Stephen Eustáquio struck in second-half stoppage time at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. The CANMNT finished second in their group after drawing Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 in the opener — with Cyle Larin scoring the first World Cup goal in Canadian history — then routing Qatar 6-0 behind a Jonathan David hat-trick before falling to Switzerland. Canada will next face either Paraguay or France in Houston on Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. ET, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Source: Canada Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Columbus Crew Land Spain International Braís Méndez as DP Signing
Columbus Crew have acquired Spanish international midfielder Braís Méndez from Real Sociedad as a Designated Player, the club announced July 2. Méndez, 29, joins on a contract through the 2028-29 MLS season with a club option for the 2029-30 campaign, filling the DP slot previously held by Diego Rossi, who was transferred to CF Monterrey. Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window opens July 13 and runs through September 2, giving clubs the opportunity to add further signings. MLS returns from its World Cup break on July 16, when Columbus Crew resume their Eastern Conference campaign with Berhalter’s side among the title favorites.
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Sam Kerr Returns to NWSL, Signs with Gotham FC Through 2030
Sam Kerr has signed with Gotham FC through the 2030 season, the club confirmed, bringing the iconic Australian striker back to the NWSL and to the club where she established herself in American women’s soccer. The 32-year-old joins as a free agent following the expiration of her Chelsea contract, ending a six-year spell in England where she won five league titles and six domestic cups. Kerr previously played for Sky Blue FC — which later rebranded to Gotham — from 2015 to 2017, and holds 77 career regular-season NWSL goals. She will need to wait until the NWSL transfer window opens July 14 before making her debut.
Chicago Fire Complete Landmark Signing of Robert Lewandowski
Chicago Fire FC have completed the signing of Robert Lewandowski, one of world football’s most prolific strikers, on a two-year contract through the 2027-28 MLS season. The 37-year-old Pole joins as a free agent after his contract with Spanish champions Barcelona expired, ending a four-year spell during which he scored 120 goals in 193 appearances. Prior to Barcelona, Lewandowski spent eight years at Bayern Munich, scoring 344 goals in 375 appearances. Chicago head coach Gregg Berhalter confirmed the club had pursued the signing for 18 months. The Fire open the second half of MLS season on July 16 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
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Standings & Fixtures
| # | Club | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Royals | 🔥 Hot |
| 2 | Washington Spirit | W tonight |
| 3 | San Diego Wave | — |
| 4 | Kansas City Current | W tonight |
| 5 | Orlando Pride | — |
| 6 | Portland Thorns | 🔸 Sliding |
Based on ESPN Power Rankings through MD10. Full standings at nwslsoccer.com.
| # | Club | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forge FC | — |
| 2 | Cavalry FC | −5 |
| 3 | Atlético Ottawa | 17 |
| 4 | Pacific FC | — |
MLS on World Cup break through July 16. Liga MX Apertura begins July 17–18.
Context — The World Cup Break Is Over
The NWSL returned to action Friday night after a weeks-long FIFA World Cup break, with two full matches played on July 3 and more scheduled through the weekend. MLS resumes July 16, with clubs having used the break to make headline signings — most notably Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire and Braís Méndez to Columbus Crew. Meanwhile, both the USMNT (vs. Belgium, July 6) and CANMNT (vs. France/Paraguay, July 9) are still alive in the tournament on home soil, making this one of the most remarkable stretches in North American soccer history.