Minutes from the Committee Meeting

January 30, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 25

Agenda Items 📋:

• Emma Hayes went deep in her bag and rolled out the most inexperienced USWNT teams of the millennium in 6-0 and 5-0 wins against Paraguay and Chile, respectively.
• Featuring players battling for spots as we close in on the 2027 World Cup, the performances from Croix Bethune (AM), Gisele Thompson (RB), Emily Sams (CB), and Jameese Joseph (FW) will give Hayes a lot to consider.
• The generation shift for the USWNT includes this week’s international retirement of Crystal Dunn. Dunn is one of the defining talents of the past decade for the USWNT, earning 160 caps and starring for the 2019 World Cup winners.
• Dunn’s former club won’t be popping any champagne this week, as Gotham FC suffered a surprise defeat to Corinthians in the semifinal of the new FIFA Women’s Cup Championship. 
• On the men’s side, talks abound of how to create more matches between the Americas…or how just to get Messi in Copa Libertadores. Both Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas and the CONMEBOL president have discussed adding U.S. and Mexican clubs to the legendary South American competition.
• Liga MX clubs have competed in Copa Libertadores previously, but the immense travel demands and the increasingly crowded schedules does make what would be an incredibly cool opportunity potentially prohibitive.
• Locally, a lot of the big news centers around the USL, who are nearly a month past the expiration of their CBA for the USL Championship, and yet announced their 2028 plans for “USL Premier,” their planned 1st Division expansion.
• A new First Division by 2028 seems like a lofty plan for USL, who are still fighting their players in their centerpiece league over health care and living wages.

This Week's Official MLS Match to Watch:

What’s that you say? It’s January, there’s no way there’s an official MLS match next week? 

You fools! Not only is there an official match featuring an MLS team next week, it’s a banger! 

Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off early this year, with San Diego FC facing Pumas at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 3rd. 

It’s a chance to see San Diego FC, fresh off the best MLS expansion season of the millennium, but after their public break up with Mexican star Chucky Lozano. San Diego stars the 2025 MLS MVP runner-up Anders Dreyer, and features one of MLS’s most intricate tactical systems and a slew of up-and-coming talent.

On the other side is one of Mexico’s traditionally better clubs, Pumas. While Pumas qualified CCC as the second best team over the relevant calendar period, they only finished 10th in the 2025 Apertura. Their squad does feature some familiar names, including former MLS stars Coco Carasquilla and Pedro Vite, and a Concacaf legend, Keylor Navas.

Seriously,y’all,  this is a really big match, and a fun match-up!

This Week's Biggest Signings:

Cole Bassett, Portland Timbers (Previously: Colorado Rapids): The first major move of the Matt Wells era in Colorado will be a controversial one, as fan-favorite homegrown star Cole Bassett is moved to Portland. Wells noted that they’re excessively deep in midfield and need help elsewhere, but one will wonder if Bassett fits his vision of a highly technical, possession-oriented club. For the TImbers, they get a proven domestic contributor who can score goals from the midfield and work hard against the ball.

Jordynn Dudley, Gotham FC (Previously: Florida State University): Gotham again makes a splash in the market, but this time by dipping into the college ranks. Dudley is a complete striker who led FSU to two titles in her three years, and who has starred with the U.S. U20’s. She will be a cornerstone of Gotham’s long-term plans, but should contribute immediately in 2026 as Esther Gonzalez’s backup.

Mateusz Bogusz, Houston Dynamo (Previously: Cruz Azul): The 24-year-old Polish attacker rejoins MLS after a foray in Liga MX. The former LAFC star broke through as a False 9 in 2024, scoring 15 goals in MLS while offering support in both the build-up and counter-press. His role in Houston is TBD, with the Dynamo release referring to him as a “versatile attacker.” That being said, the potential $10m price tag makes him the Dynamo’s club record transfer, so expectations will be huge for Bogusz in 2026.

Moves to Watch:

Alex Freeman  (Orlando City -> Villarreal)

The breakout player in 2025 looks set to secure a move to one of La Liga’s more renowned clubs, Villarreal. Freeman, a homegrown Orlando player and son of NFL great Antonio Freeman, went from reserve team to MLS Best XI in 2025, offering dynamic attacking from the right back position and even thriving as a third centerback with the USMNT. It’s a big risk for Freeman, who has established himself with the USMNT, and will need to earn plenty of minutes to retain his spot for the World Cup.

Kevin Denkey  (FC Cincinnati -> Napoli)

The at-the-time most expensive transfer in MLS history may become its most expensive sale the year after. The 25-year-old Togolese striker arrived as the Golden Boot winner in Belgium, and mostly lived up to expectations in 2025 with 17 goals. A $30m+ transfer to the reigning Serie A champions, however, would be too much for either Cinci or Denkey to pass up. 

Casemiro  (Manchester United -> ?)

The 33-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder has been one of the World’s best over the last decade, anchoring Brazil’s, Real Madrid’s, and now Manchester United’s midfield throughout that span. A surprise announcement this week that he will not renew his contract immediately led to rampant speculation of MLS interest. While the LA Galaxy is the popular name, the LA Galaxy is always the popular name with foreign press, and they have no free DP spots. Plenty of others do, though, so expect the rumor mill to stir over the coming weeks.

A Random Preseason Top 5 Prediction:

2026 Most Improved MLS Clubs by points gained:

5. St. Louis CITY

4. Houston Dynamo

3. New England Revolution

2. LA Galaxy

1. Atlanta United

Susannah “Cup Should Always Be” Fuller’s Cocktail Recipe of the Week:

While Sooz is back from France, it’s been declared her “French Girl era” so this week, we’ll travel back to Normandy for a Calvados Sidecar!

This will definitely not compete with Doyle’s beer/shot combo but since I’m in my French girl era I figured I’d lean in. Ian and I discovered Calvados while we were in Normandy which is an apple brandy but kinda delicious? We had a Calvados sidecar at a bar there which I very much enjoyed. Found this recipe, seems about right

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. 1.5 oz Calvados
3. 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur (e.g., Cointreau)
4. 1 tbsp Lemon Juice.
5. Shake vigorously.
6. Spread sugar on a small plate.
7. Run lemon wedge around the rim of a small martini glass.
8. Dip the rim in sugar to coat.
9. Strain the shaker into the glass.

And Bon Appetit, but whatever the French is for drinking instead!

Action Items, Kickback:

Soccerwise: Soccerwise is your home for all the offseason drama, as Tommy “Scoops” Bogert and Jordan Angeli join David Gass to talk about the biggest moves in MLS and NWSL.

Kickback Committee: Kickback Committee is back next week! Brace yourself!!

First Touch: We’re one episode away from releasing 42, 10-20 minute podcasts each detailing the unique soccer story of this World Cup’s participating nations. Last up? The U.S. Follow our feed for the final capsules and brand new shows being launched over the next month.