Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Queens Classic Breaks NYC Women’s Sports Attendance Record at Citi Field
Gotham FC hosted the Washington Spirit at Citi Field on Wednesday night in The Queens Classic, presented by CarMax, drawing more than 40,000 fans to set the largest women's sporting event attendance record in New York City history. The crowd eclipsed the previous city mark of 28,144 set during Coco Gauff's 2023 US Open title run. The match marked the first professional women's soccer game played within the five boroughs of New York City. Gotham and the Spirit, who met in the 2025 NWSL Championship, split gate proceeds to support women's soccer development across the region. Gotham entered the contest sitting seventh in the NWSL standings with a 7-3-3 record.
Sources: AllForXI GothamFC.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
MLS Matchday 16 Returns: Nashville Leads as El Tráfico and Cascadia Cup Headline
Major League Soccer resumed its 2026 regular season Wednesday after a seven-week World Cup pause, with six Matchday 16 fixtures airing across Apple TV and Fox Sports. Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC host Atlanta United on Friday (FOX) with 33 points — among the best 14-match starts in league history. The Cascadia Cup derby pits Seattle Sounders against Portland Timbers, while El Tráfico between LA Galaxy and LAFC headlines the weekend at 10:25 p.m. ET Friday. The Canadian Classique (CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC) rounds out the slate. MLS launched a league-wide marketing campaign — “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here” — to mark the season's return.
Sources: MLS Soccer Fox Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Lewandowski Formally Introduced at Chicago Fire: “Couldn’t Imagine” Another European Club
Robert Lewandowski held his first Chicago Fire news conference on Tuesday, fielding questions in English, Polish and Spanish. Asked why he chose MLS over continued service in Europe, the 37-year-old was direct: “I couldn’t imagine myself in a different club beside Barcelona, so that’s why the next step will be outside Europe.” Head coach Gregg Berhalter said Lewandowski’s 700-plus career goals and 13 league titles make him the most decorated player to join the club. He will partner with Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers, who has 13 goals and two assists in 2026. Chicago enter the second half third in the East with 26 points.
Sources: ESPN MLS Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Charlotte FC Signs Allan Saint-Maximin as DP to “Create a Legacy”
Charlotte FC signed French forward Allan Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player through the 2028-29 season, the club announced Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who most recently won the 2025-26 Coupe de France with RC Lens, fills the DP slot vacated by Wilfried Zaha. Saint-Maximin has 50 goals and 60 assists across 384 professional appearances, including standout spells at Newcastle United, Nice and Club América. Speaking at his unveiling, he said he plans to “create a legacy” in Charlotte. The Crown open the second half of their season on July 22 at home against Atlanta United, now armed with fresh attacking firepower as they push for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
Sources: MLS Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Atlanta United Completes Second Summer Defensive Signing with Paulo Díaz
Atlanta United bolstered their defense with the signing of Chilean international Paulo Díaz on Monday, making him the second summer defensive acquisition after the arrival of Paraguayan midfielder Júnior Alonso last week. Díaz, who has won eight career titles across Chile, Argentina and Saudi Arabia, joins a back line Atlanta is rebuilding ahead of a second-half playoff push. Alonso, 33, joined on a free transfer from Atlético Mineiro having helped Paraguay reach the Round of 16 at the World Cup. Both signings were made within the MLS Secondary Transfer Window, which runs July 13 through September 2. Atlanta open their restart Friday at Nashville, who lead the Supporters’ Shield.
Sources: MLS Soccer Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Messi Headlines 29-Man MLS All-Star Roster for July 29 Clash Against Liga MX
MLS unveiled its 29-player All-Star Game roster on Wednesday for the July 29 clash against a Liga MX All-Star XI at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, airing live on Apple TV. Lionel Messi headlines the selection alongside US internationals Matt Freese, Tim Ream and Sebastian Berhalter. Nashville SC contribute a league-high four representatives — Hany Mukhtar, Andy Nájar, Brian Schwake and Sam Surridge — befitting their dominant Supporters’ Shield campaign. Thirteen players on the roster participated in this summer’s World Cup. Ream’s selection marks his return to the All-Star Game 15 years after his first appearance in 2011. The full roster spans 15 nationalities.
Sources: MLS Soccer ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Liga MX Apertura 2026 Opens Thursday with 18 Teams and Newly-Promoted Atlante
Liga MX opens its Apertura 2026 on Thursday with 18 teams competing, headlined by the return of newly-promoted Atlante facing Necaxa in the opening fixture. The Jornada 1 schedule is spread across Thursday, Friday and Saturday with no Sunday matches — deliberately avoiding the FIFA World Cup Final in Los Angeles on July 19. Additional openers include Tijuana vs. Tigres UANL, Cruz Azul vs. San Luis, Guadalajara vs. Toluca, Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna and Pumas vs. Pachuca. Club América enter as defending Clausura champions, with Chivas de Guadalajara and Tigres UANL among the favorites to challenge for the title in Mexico’s first major domestic competition since the World Cup concluded.
MLS Eastern Conference
Top 5 (through Matchday 15)
1. Nashville SC — 33 pts (10-1-3)
2. Inter Miami CF — 31 pts (9-3-2)
3. Chicago Fire — 26 pts (7-3-4)
4. New England Rev. — 25 pts (7-4-3)
5. NY Red Bulls — 22 pts (6-4-4)
MLS Western Conference
Top 5 (through Matchday 15)
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 29 pts (8-2-4)
2. San Jose Earthquakes — 29 pts (8-3-3)
3. Seattle Sounders — 24 pts (7-4-3)
4. Real Salt Lake — 22 pts (5-3-6)
5. LAFC — 21 pts (5-3-6)
NWSL Standings
Top 5
1. San Diego Wave — 32 pts (9-1-5)
2. KC Current — 30 pts (8-0-6)
3. Portland Thorns — 28 pts (8-3-4)
4. Washington Spirit — 27 pts (8-3-2)
5. Gotham FC — 24 pts (7-3-3)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency