The American weekend preview

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 8, 2023

Brandon Vazquez has scored in back-to-back U.S. Open Cup wins for FC Cincinnati, which is through to the semifinals. It also leads the overall MLS standings with an eight-point edge in the Supporters' Shield race. (Photo: Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos)


There is almost a complete slate of games in MLS, the NWSL and USL Championship this weekend, 31 games over three days.

Soccer on TV: Weekend viewing

• Major League Soccer

Now its in fifth MLS season, FC Cincinnati will travel to Vancouver for the first time to face the Whitecaps at BC Place.

Both teams are coming off big midweek cup wins. 

FC Cincinnati, the Supporters Shield leader, beat the USL Championship's Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3-1, to set up a home date with Inter Miami (and possibly Lionel Messi) on Aug. 23 in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. The win extended FC Cincinnati's unbeaten streak in all competitions to 12 games.

On Wednesday night, Vancouver won its third Canadian Championship with a 2-1 win over CF Montreal, becoming the first MLS team to qualify for next year's expanded and rebranded Concacaf Champions Cup, which will feature 27 teams.

Another interconference match to watch will be San Jose-Philadelphia. 

With a win or draw, the Union (7-0-2 in its last nine home games) will tie its longest unbeaten streak in history. It won't be easy as the Earthquakes (fifth in the Western Conference with a 6-5-5 record) are unbeaten at PayPal Park this season.

Saturday:
APPLE TV/MLS SEASON PASS
Atlanta United vs. D.C. United 7:30 pm.
Charlotte FC vs. Seattle 7:30 pm.
CF Montreal vs. Minnesota United 7:30 pm. (free)
New England vs. Inter Miami 7:30 pm.
Orlando City vs. Colorado 7:30 pm. (free)
Toronto FC vs. Nashville 7:30 pm.
Chicago vs. Columbus 8:30 pm. (free)
Houston vs. LAFC  8:30 pm. (free)
Sporting KC vs. Austin FC 8:30 pm.
Real Salt Lake vs. NYCFC 9:30 pm.
San Jose vs. Philadelphia 10:30 pm.
Vancouver vs. FC Cincinnati 10:30 pm.
Sunday:
APPLE TV/MLS SEASON PASS
*St. Louis City vs. LA Galaxy 1 pm. (free)
 **Portland vs. FC Dallas 10 pm. (free)
 *Also on Fox and Fox Deportes. **Also on FS1 and Fox Deportes.
Note: All times ET. 

• National Women's Soccer League

Louisville will kick off weekend play with the first game in a three-game homestand Friday night against the second-place San Diego Wave.

Savannah DeMelo is making a late case for inclusion on the USWNT's World Cup roster, expected to be finalized next week, with her play for Racing Louisville.

DeMelo, a second-year pro out of USC, scored her sixth goal of the season for Louisville, converting a penalty kick for the tying goal in last week's 1-1 tie with Washington.

After starting out without a win in first five games, Louisville has gone 4-1-1 in all competitions and climbed to eighth place, four points below the playoff line.

Friday:
CBS SPORTS GOLAZO NETWORK/PARAMOUNT+
Racing Louisville vs. San Diego 8 pm.
Saturday:
CBS SPORTS GOLAZO NETWORK/PARAMOUNT+
OL Reign vs. Kansas City 10 pm.
PARAMOUNT+
Washington vs. Angel City 7 pm.
Chicago vs. NC Courage 8 pm.
Sunday:
CBS SPORTS GOLAZO NETWORK/PARAMOUNT+
Houston vs. Gotham FC 7 pm.
CBS SPORTS NETWORK
Orlando vs. Portland 7 pm.
Note: All times ET.

• USL Championship

Four days after their Open Cup exit, the Riverhounds will be back in action with a chance to take the Eastern Conference lead when they host the Charleston Battery.

Pittsburgh has won four straight league matches and now trails the Battery by only two points.

In the Western Conference, it will be San Antonio FC, the USL Championship defending champion, at home against El Paso, winner of seven games in a row, in a battle of the second- and third-place teams.

Friday:
ESPN+
Loudoun United vs. FC Tulsa 7 pm.
San Diego vs. Sac Republic FC 10 pm.
Saturday:
ESPN+
Pittsburgh vs. Charleston 7 pm.
Indy Eleven vs. Hartford 7 pm.
Tampa Bay vs. New Mexico 7:30 pm.
Rio Grande Valley vs. Miami FC 8 pm.
Louisville City vs. Memphis 901 8 pm.
Colorado Springs vs. Orange County SC 9 pm.
San Antonio FC vs. El Paso 9 pm.
Las Vegas vs. Monterey Bay 10:30 pm.
Phoenix vs. Oakland 10:30 pm.
Note: All times ET.