Spirit win Challenge Cup, Morris makes history and USMNT World Cup favorites?
Kick your Monday off with all the news from this past weekend
Good morning!
We start off the week by capping off a big weekend for the U.S. game.
The Washington Spirit captured the Challenge Cup on penalties, Seattle Sounders star Jordan Morris made team history and FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he thinks the United States has a chance to win the World Cup next year.
Here are the biggest storylines to emerge from this past weekend:
NWSL: Spirit win Challenge Cup against Orlando on penalties
In a thrilling showdown on Friday night, the Washington Spirit claimed the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup after beating the Orlando Pride 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
The match had ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Washington’s goalkeeper, Aubrey Kingsbury, played the hero, making a crucial save on Ally Lemos’ attempt.
The Spirit sealed the win when Tara McKeown calmly converted the team’s fourth penalty kick.
The win was particularly sweet for the Spirit, who had suffered a heart-wrenching loss to Orlando in last year’s championship game. In fact, the Pride had also bested Washington in the regular-season standings, finishing as the 2024 NWSL league leaders.
With the Challenge Cup is in the books, all eyes turn to the regular season, which kicks off next week.
MLS: Morris makes Sounders history with goal No. 87
Jordan Morris etched his name into the history books on Saturday, becoming the Seattle Sounders’ all-time leading goal scorer.
His 87th career goal for the Sounders, which came in the 77th minute of their commanding 5-2 win over LAFC, pushed him past club legend Raúl Ruidiaz.
For Morris, a player whose journey began in the Sounders’ academy system and who has come to embody the club’s values — the milestone a culmination of a story that has been unfolding in Seattle for over a decade.
Morris, 30, has long been a fan favorite in Seattle, a local product whose rise from the Sounders' academy to homegrown talent has captivated fans. The significance of the record was not lost on him, especially considering the deeply personal nature of his achievement.
“Being a local guy here, growing up through the academy, being a fan of the team and sitting up in the stands as a fan, knowing I wanted to be on this field one day,” Morris said after the match. "“Now to put my name in the history books like that is a huge honor to be able to do it in front of my family.”
World Cup: Infantino says there’s ‘a chance’ U.S. can win it all in 2026
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with U.S. President Donald Trump this past Friday at the Oval Office to discuss the organization of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico and Canada.
During their conversation with reporters in the room, Trump asked if the U.S. had a chance to win the tournament.
“Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Spain,” Infantino said when asked about who was favored to win it all.
Not satisfied, Trump pressed further: “Can the United States win?”
Infantino, confident in the U.S.’s potential, said, “The United States can win, with the support of the fans. Their players are in some of the best teams in the world.”
A visibly-excited Trump replied, “So there’s a chance?"
"Absolutely, there’s a chance," Infantino said.
There you go, USMNT fans. There’s “a chance.”
In other news: Every player in the top two divisions of men’s soccer in France wore “WO=MAN” written on the back of their jerseys instead of their names this past weekend. The French league initiative, centered around International Women’s Day on Saturday, started on Friday with Toulouse’s home game against Monaco, which finished 1-1. … Millwall goalie Liam Roberts said on Friday he received abusive messages and threats after he kicked Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head last weekend. Roberts’ three-game ban was doubled to six games on Friday after the English Football Association wanted him to be given extra punishment. During an FA Cup fifth-round match last Saturday, Roberts’ dangerous challenge left Mateta needing 25 stitches on a severely lacerated ear. … Sunil Chhetri is coming out of retirement at age 40 to help India qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. India recalled the veteran striker this week for the March 25 qualifier against Bangladesh. Chhetri is third among active international scorers with 94 goals, a list topped by Cristiano Ronaldo (135) and Lionel Messi (112).