Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Thursday, July 9, 2026
MLS Names 29-Player All-Star Roster With 13 World Cup Standouts for July 29 Showcase
MLS unveiled its 29-player roster for the 2026 All-Star Game on Wednesday, featuring 13 players from this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Nashville SC leads all clubs with four selections — Hany Mukhtar, Andy Najar, Brian Schwake, and Sam Surridge — as the team sits atop the Supporters’ Shield with a club-record 10-1-3 start through 14 matches. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who posted 20 goal contributions (12 goals, 8 assists) before the break, headlines the roster alongside Charlotte FC captain Tim Ream, NYCFC’s Matt Freese, and Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter. The MLS All-Stars face a LIGA MX selection on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Sophia Wilson’s Stoppage-Time Penalty Rescues Portland in 2-2 Draw Against First-Place Royals
The first-place Utah Royals were held to a 2-2 draw by the Portland Thorns on Wednesday night after Sophia Wilson converted a stoppage-time penalty — her fifth goal of the season — to level the match at Providence Park. The Royals, unbeaten in their last 10, twice held the lead through Kiana Palacios’ header and Cloé Lacasse’s close-range finish. In other NWSL action, the Washington Spirit secured a 2-1 win over the Seattle Reign to extend their winning run, while the Kansas City Current edged the Boston Legacy 1-0. All three matches were played Wednesday as the league settled into its rhythm following the month-long World Cup break.
Canadian Championship Quarterfinals Kick Off as Five CPL Clubs Bid for First-Ever Voyageurs Cup Title
The 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship entered its quarterfinal stage on Wednesday, with five CPL clubs and two MLS sides competing across four two-legged first legs for the Voyageurs Cup. Forge FC — atop the CPL regular-season table with 25 points — hosted expansion club CS Saint-Laurent, while reigning CPL champions Atlético Ottawa faced Supra du Québec at home. In the MLS ties, Vancouver Whitecaps — seeking an unprecedented fifth straight Voyageurs Cup title — hosted Cavalry FC at Swangard Stadium, and CF Montréal welcomed Vancouver FC. No CPL club has ever won the Canadian Championship; all previous titles belong to MLS sides. Second legs are scheduled for July 13.
Sources: CPLSoccer.com Canada Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
LA Galaxy Set Club Transfer Record by Selling Gabriel Pec to Cruzeiro for $12 Million
The LA Galaxy have agreed to transfer Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec to Cruzeiro Esporte Clube for a club-record fee of approximately $12 million, with performance-related add-ons that could push the total to $13.5 million. Pec, 25, made 101 appearances for the Galaxy, recording 43 goals and 28 assists after joining from Vasco da Gama in January 2024 and played a key role in the club’s 2024 MLS Cup triumph. Pec is expected to sign a five-year contract with Cruzeiro following his medical. The deal sets a Galaxy club record for an outgoing transfer fee and underscores MLS’s growing role as a talent-development pipeline for top clubs worldwide.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
MLS Secondary Transfer Window Opens July 13 With Salah, Reyna Among World Cup Stars on Clubs’ Radar
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens Monday, July 13, running through September 2 in an extended timeline that aligns with top European leagues for the first time in two decades. With Mohamed Salah a free agent after his Liverpool contract expired, MLS clubs have made inquiries and Commissioner Don Garber expressed strong league interest. Austin FC are exploring USMNT World Cup standout Gio Reyna, whose tournament-opening goal against Paraguay drew wide attention, while center back Harry Souttar of relegated Leicester City has also attracted interest. The wider window gives MLS maximum flexibility in the push to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
San Diego Wave Lead NWSL With 28 Points as Washington Spirit Move to Top of Power Rankings
San Diego Wave FC lead the NWSL with 28 points following the league’s return from its month-long World Cup break, four clear of the pack in second place. Washington Spirit have risen to first in ESPN’s power rankings — ahead of the standings-leading Wave — on the strength of back-to-back wins, including Trinity Rodman’s stoppage-time brace against the Houston Dash last Friday. Utah Royals, unbeaten in their last 10 matches, remain the form side but drew 2-2 with Portland on Wednesday and sit narrowly off the pace. Gotham FC dropped to seventh with 21 points after their 2-0 loss at Snapdragon Stadium on July 4 ended a six-match unbeaten run.
Sources: ESPN NWSLsoccer.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Nashville SC Sit Atop MLS Supporters’ Shield on Historic Pace as Season Return Approaches
Nashville SC enter the final week of the MLS World Cup break atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 33 points from a 10-1-3 record through 14 matches, a pace tied for the third-best in league history at that stage. The club’s four selections to the 2026 MLS All-Star Game — Hany Mukhtar, Andy Najar, Brian Schwake, and Sam Surridge — lead the league in All-Star nominations. MLS resumes July 16 with Nashville hosting Atlanta United the following evening in a primetime FOX national broadcast. Vancouver Whitecaps, one point behind in the overall standings and leading the Western Conference, remain the closest challengers to Nashville’s Shield bid.
MLS Standings (at World Cup break)
Eastern Conference
1. Nashville SC — 33 pts (10-1-3)
2. Atlanta United — 27 pts (8-5-1)
3. CF Montréal — 24 pts (7-5-2)
4. Chicago Fire — 23 pts (6-3-5)
5. Columbus Crew — 22 pts (6-4-4)
NWSL Standings
1. San Diego Wave — 28 pts
2. Washington Spirit — 24 pts
3. Utah Royals — 24 pts (7-2-3)
4. Portland Thorns — 24 pts (7-3-3)
5. Kansas City Current — 22 pts
6. North Carolina Courage — 21 pts
Western Conference
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 32 pts (10-3-1)
2. San Jose Earthquakes — 29 pts (8-2-4)
3. LA Galaxy — 26 pts (7-2-5)
4. Seattle Sounders — 25 pts (7-3-4)
5. LAFC — 24 pts (7-4-3)
CPL Standings
1. Forge FC — 25 pts (8-1-1)
2. Cavalry FC — 20 pts
3. Atlético Ottawa — 19 pts
4. Vancouver FC — 17 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency