FINAL: Trinity Rodman hits one of softest rollers from outside the penalty area that narrowly flies past everyone for the game winner. 2-1

Announced attendance at Audi Field for the Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash: 15,792

62' SUBS Andi off, Deb on!! Tsé off, Carle on!!

50': GOAL WASHINGTON. Leicy Santos hits the perfect midfield cross to find Trinity Rodman all alone for the 1 on 1 with Jane Campbell. Rodman slots it home with ease. Spirit are up 1-0

A special night for Andi Sullivan, who makes her first start in an NWSL game since October 2024 💛 Sullivan returned to play earlier this season after giving birth and recovering from an ACL injury 👏

Having a fireworks and light show at halftime is a choice.

Quick first half notes from the Spirit vs. Dash game: - Rose Kouassi misses a PK - Leicy Santos almost scores a free kick but goes wide - Spirit fans darted to the concourse once the hydration break started in the 37th minute - Residents' blowing up fireworks can be seen behind the Heineken Rooftop

The no. 1 line at Audi Field is the free cooling station with water and cooling towels.

Forecast for kickoff at Audi Field at 8pm: 96°, 39% humidity, 6mph wind. With those numbers, OSHA's wet bulb globe temperature calculator predicts a WBGT reading of 83, which is well below the NWSL's threshold for a delay (92.1). Low humidity and time of day making a huge difference here.

FIFA confirms: Folarin Balogun’s suspension is just one game. FIFA won’t be adding more games to the red card. If the U.S. advances to quarterfinal, Balogun will be back.

This ref has been shite. To both sides. Get control of the game, man.

This one counts! Balogun scores and hits the Silencer again, 1-0 USA

Update from Spirit comms: Aubrey Kingsbury is under contract thru 2027. Wasn't announced by the club, but deal was signed a while back. So, updated list: Krueger, Santos, Sullivan, Hershfelt, Stainbrook, Wojdelko, & Collins deals end in 2026. Metayer option for 2027, Gaines-Ramos options 2027-28.

This is much fairer than the current penalty kick shootout. The rest of the world refuses to admit it.

Auston Trusty (ankle) and Cristian Roldan (quad) will not train today with USMNT, per USSF. Status day to day.

The World Cup's 32 advancing teams by confederation... Europe: 13 (of 16) Africa: 9 (out of 10) South America: 5 (of 6) Concacaf: 3 (of 6; all 3 are the co-hosts) Asia: 2 (of 9) Oceania: 0 (of 1)

Oh you have to work? Let’s put 10 games on TV during the day. It’s the weekend and you have nothing to do? We’re gonna put all the games at night.

Today the NWSL shared competition rules and regulation updates, effective this Friday at Challenge Cup presented by @elfcosmetics.bsky.social. Learn more: www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nationa...

17 - Lionel Messi has now scored the most goals in FIFA World Cup history. 17 - Lionel Messi 16 - Miroslav Klose 15 - Ronaldo 14 - Kylian Mbappé 14 - Gerd Müller 13 - Just Fontaine 12 - Pelé Legend.

The NWSL is bringing its biggest event to Audi Field, which provides a huge challenge for the Washington Spirit as an organization. Green Line Soccer spoke with club CEO Kim Stone on how two home semifinals have been dry runs, & how she plans to "prove what we can do."

No issues for Abiodun or Monday per González. "They're fine. They had personal [commitments]." Excused absences for both. No injuries for the team right now (González knocked on wood in saying that).

Greetings from Washington Spirit open training, where José the Coyote is watching diligently

National Mall becomes World Cup watch party for Team USA fans

“This is (a) once in a lifetime opportunity to go to a dream event like this.” Soccer fans are spending thousands to purchase World Cup tickets. For some, buying tickets on a budget may mean going to less glamorous matches. My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social:

My word, Philadelphia

Without Pulisic, #USMNT soars into knockouts with win over Australia. First time with back-to-back World Cup wins since 1930. With @HenryBushnell and @tombogert: www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...

Attendance in Seattle: 66,925. Exactly at listed capacity. #USMNT #Socceroos

USMNT pundits have all identified that this team doesn't adapt well to when the game requires management. Group is absolutely built to go hunt a 3rd goal rather than take the air out of the ball.

Mauricio Pochettino: "Christian [Pulisic] is not available. Today he was training, and I think the feelings are good. I hope that as soon as possible, he can be ready to be selected again... He wanted to participate today, but it's still so early." 📸 @cmoorestoryteller.bsky.social

USMNT lineup: Freese; Dest, Freeman, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Tillman, Pepi, Balogun. Pulisic is not available.

Mauricio Pochettino says they will meet with the medical staff today and make a call on Christian Pulisic’s status tomorrow “He’s doing a massive effort to get ready” but will likely be available for Turkiye game if he can’t play against Australia #USMNT

Why the hell would you ever let top-flight soccer leave a city like Vancouver

BREAKING: #USWNT forward Ally Sentnor is joining Angel City FC on an $850,000 transfer from the Kansas City Current, multiple sources told ESPN. Sentnor joined KC from Utah in August for $600,000 guaranteed. Another big #NWSL transfer.

Tyler Adams, on Christian Pulisic's injury: "Everyone, let's relax. I think he picked up a knock a few days before the game and got kicked in the same spot again during the game. When you go into halftime, things obviously get tight, but he'll be fine." #usmnt

ICYMI: With three FIFA World Cup matches today and 4-5 games on other days, the D.C. region is filled with watch parties to enjoy the magic of the world's game. @wtopnews.bsky.social has a list of several of those events and some that are country-specific. Check it out!

Starting tomorrow, stores in Old Town Alexandria will have a "Shop the Checkers" sales event to mark the arrival of the Croatian national team to Virginia. Business owners say the impact from #Croatia's visit could be huge. My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social:

“You won’t see Luka Modrić wandering the streets of Alexandria anytime soon.” The Croatian national team arrived to its World Cup home of Alexandria, Virginia, with a lot of fanfare. However, they made one thing clear, they are here to win. New on @wtopnews.bsky.social:

Gio Reyna just said his wife, Chloe, is pregnant. Seriously. He'd been waiting for the right moment to announce it, and decided this — a goal in the World Cup opener — was it.

Gio Reyna puts the bow on it with a beaut, 4-1 #USMNT

Christian Pulisic after being pulled at halftime of the #USMNT ’s 4-1 win: “I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I'm really hoping that it's nothing. Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I'm hoping I'll be fine the next few days.”

Gio Reyna, that goal....

Christian Pulisic is subbed out at the start of the second half. Sebastian Berhalter replaces him. "He motioned up 'I'm okay' to friends and family," Fox's Jenny Taft reports, having seen him walk by. No word why yet. Paraguay subs out Damián Bobadílla for Maurício, less surprisingly. #USMNT

Andres Cantor with the call. Magic.

Balogun became the first USMNT player to score 2 goals in a game since Bert Patenaude accomplished the feat in the 1930 World Cup in a 3-0 win over Paraguay

Seeing a lot of takes on the English broadcast of the World Cup. Just move to Telemundo y'all. Save yourself the headaches and learn a new language. Trust me, you will enjoy your World Cup experience.

While the D.C. region will not host any World Cup matches, it will not be left out of all the fun. From watching matches at the National Mall to a “Latino Fan Zone” to a Croatia watch party at an arcade, @wtopnews.bsky.social has a list of the best areas to watch games.

Mauricio Pochettino on Chris Richards: "Chris is available to be selected, and then we'll see if he will start or [come] from the bench." #USMNT

Jesse Marsch rules Alphonso Davies out of tomorrow's World Cup opener. He's been working with a private physio here, but they're hopeful that, given his progress, he can contribute soon. #CanMNT

Croatia takes over Episcopal High School. This is the set up inside one of the school's gyms before today's press conference.

Trinity Rodman has spoken (lol)