Good morning! In his latest SA Confidential, MLS columnist Charles Boehm looks at the quiet end to MLS’s primary transfer window. There was little buzz on “Deadline Day” because most of the player business wrapped up weeks or months ago. Activity will pick up when the summer window opens in July — amplified by the fact that the summer window remains the main period of movement for many of the world’s most prominent leagues. For many structural reasons, MLS has a weird dynamic that teams will prioritize different parts of the season to stack up as many points as possible.
Soccer America Daily is edited by Paul Kennedy and Mike Woitalla.
MLS
Spotlight on U22 Initiative
MLS’s release of its Club Roster Profiles sheds new light on how teams construct their squads within the constraints of league roster rules.
There are …
• Designated Players and variations on them;
• TAM Players (players whom teams have used TAM to pay down their salary budget charges — salary, bonuses and acquisition costs — below the maximum of $683,750);
• U22 Initiative Players;
• Homegrown Players; and
• Generation adidas Players.
The newest is the U22 Initiative introduced in 2021. This designation will take on more importance this summer as teams will be allowed, with restrictions, to add a fourth player on a U22 Initiative slot.
For such an important aspect of a team’s recruitment, most have not yet maximized production out of their U22 Initiative players, let alone — and it’s early — sell them for a profit.
SA’s Paul Kennedy examines the U22 Initiative and profiles eight players who are having an impact in MLS.
FC Cincinnati loses Aaron Boupendza with broken jaw suffered outside a bar
FC Cincinnati has lost Designated Player Aaron Boupendza 6-8 weeks after he was punched in the face and suffered a broken jaw outside a bar in the early hours of Monday morning.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the second-year forward is being considered the victim in the altercation that took place at Rusconi Bar & Kitchen.
The Gabonese international was acquired last summer for a $7 million transfer from Saudi club Al-Shabab but has faced disciplinary measures from FC Cincinnati and the Gabonese soccer federation.
• Summer sale? The Athletic reported that FCC was ready to sell Boupendza (7 goals in 20 MLS games) this summer, even before the latest incident.
Red Bulls wary of Inter Miami threat
New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz has warned his team against focusing solely on Lionel Messi as they prepare for a daunting away clash against Inter Miami on Saturday.
The Red Bulls ran riot against a Messi-less Miami in March, dishing out a 4-0 drubbing against Gerardo Martino’s star-studded squad in New Jersey.
Fast-forward six weeks, however, and the Red Bulls are poised to take on an Inter Miami team, which has surged three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
DATEBOOK: CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
Pachuca will host the Columbus Crew on June 1 in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final at Estadio Hidalgo. The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:15 pm ET (7:15 pm local).
The final was originally scheduled for June 2 but was moved due to Mexico’s national elections taking place on the same day.
• Hosting criteria: The host was decided based on points in the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Pachuca had 14 of 18 points while the Crew earned 12.
NWSL
Kelley O’Hara plans to retire after 2024 season
Kelley O’Hara, a double Women’s World Cup winner and 2012 Olympic gold medalist with the USWNT, says she will retire following 2024 NWSL campaign with Gotham FC.
The 35-year-old O’Hara, who earned 160 caps in a 14-year international career, said she hopes to spark another NWSL title run by the New York area club before calling it quits.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES
Report: Joe Cummings returns as interim CEO
Joe Cummings has returned to United Soccer Coaches as interim chief executive officer following the resignation of chief executive officer Geoff VanDeusen, reported Sports Travel Magazine.
Cummings was previously CEO of the then-NSCAA from 2009–2015. He received the United Soccer Coaches Honor Award in 2022.
In a post on X, VanDeusen said he decided two weeks ago not to renew his contract as CEO. He joined the organization in 2010 as director of operations and events.
U.S. SOCCER
New Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Legal Officer hires
U.S. Soccer has hired Lisa Buckingham as Chief Human Resources Officer and Carlos Kuri as Chief Legal Officer.
Buckingham joins U.S. Soccer from the Ellig Group, where she was president of the executive search firm.
Kuri joins U.S. Soccer from SXSW, where he served as chief strategy officer and general counsel. He also worked at Heineken USA and Red Bull North America, where he established the legal department for MLS’s New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Arena.
ENGLAND
Ipswich eyes Premier League return after 22 years
Ipswich Town is on the verge of completing a remarkable rise by returning to the Premier League after 22 years.
Heading into Saturday’s dramatic conclusion to the Championship promotion race, the Tractor Boys are second behind already promoted Leicester City, with a three-point lead over Leeds United in the battle for the second automatic promotion berth.
• Trivia: If it earns promotion, Ipswich will be only the fourth team in the Premier League era to secure consecutive promotions from the third tier after Watford, Norwich City and Southampton.
FRIDAY MORNING: WHAT WE’RE READING
1. FIFA tells judge it plans to change rule barring clubs from playing abroad by end of year By Melanie Anzidei (The Athletic)
2. Sports team owners face new scrutiny from IRS over tax avoidance By Robert Faturechi, Ellis Simani and Justin Elliott (ProPublica)
3. A Premier League game in the U.S. is inevitable and a good idea By Tim Howard (Daily Mail)
Fixed link: The NWSL has more billionaire owners than ever. So what? By Jeff Kassouf (ESPN)