Curtin’s Press Conference, MLS Power Rankings and who are the stars to watch in this year’s Olympics

Philadelphia Union News

Pressing Points | Battle for the East heats up
Ahead of Thursday night’s Eastern Conference showdown with Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union Head Coach Jim Curtin spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the upcoming match and reflect on the weekend’s lightning-delayed win against D.C. United.

MLS News

Power Rankings: LAFC, Toronto FC the big climbers after Week 13
The Union climb to forth in this week’s MLS Power Rankings after a win against D.C. United.

Atlanta United’s and Toronto FC’s next coach? Here are 11 candidates
There are Americans and foreign coaches alike. Some of the suggestions have deep MLS connections, while others have none. What they all have in common is a résumé worth checking out.

Josef Martinez verbally commits future to Atlanta United: “I love this club.”
“The first time I came here I said this is my club, this is my city and I love to be here,” Martinez said, speaking in English. “I want to retire here. I love this club.”

Ayo Akinola to likely miss remainder of the season with ACL injury
After missing the entire preseason with an undisclosed injury/illness, the up-and-coming star was looking fit and dangerous like he was last season when he led Major League Soccer in goals per 90. In his last five matches with TFC, he scored three times.

U.S. Soccer News

U.S. Soccer Cancels Open Cup for Second Straight Year, Sets 2022 Plan
The 2022 Open Cup will run from March through September and is expected to set a record for the number of competing teams, surpassing the 99 that participated in 2017 and the 100 clubs that were scheduled to play in 2020.

USMNT to face Jamaica in Gold Cup quarterfinals
If the U.S. men’s national team is going to lift its first Concacaf Gold Cup since 2017, the Americans will need to defeat the same team it beat in the 2017 final to do it.

USWNT suffer humbling Tokyo Olympics defeat to Sweden
The United States women’s national team began its 2020 Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 3-0 loss to Sweden at the Tokyo Stadium in Japan on Wednesday, ending its 44-match unbeaten run in emphatic fashion.

Rest of the World News

Men’s U23 Olympic stars to watch include Reinier, Amad Diallo and Marc Cucurella
Traditionally, the men’s Olympic tournament only allows countries to use players under the age of 23, with the exception of three “overage” players. This year, squads have increased from 18 to 22 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the U23 rule remains and the majority of players must be born on or after Jan. 1, 1997 to qualify.