The game never stops — and neither do we. Welcome to the SDH Network, Around the Corner from Everywhere.

Morning Espresso is brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse.

Atlanta United will enter its 10th season in 2026, and it still feels remarkable how much has changed in such a short time.

This club didn’t just arrive in Major League Soccer. It helped reshape what soccer can look like in Atlanta, across the South, and across the league. Full stadiums, silverware, unforgettable nights, and a generation of players in this region growing up with Atlanta United as part of the landscape.

With Season 10 approaching, the SDH Network is taking a moment to look back with a new series called Atlanta United at 10.

This isn’t a rankings project or a debate show. It is a celebration of history, and a way to honor the moments that shaped the club, the city, and the supporters who built this culture from the start.

And today, the next chapter arrives. This afternoon we’ll publish Ten Defining Homegrown Moments, spotlighting the players and pathways that show what Atlanta United has meant not just at the top level, but for soccer development across our region.

San Diego FC arrives in Mexico City with a commanding advantage after last week’s stunning 4-1 win over Pumas UNAM, one of the great MLS performances in Concacaf Champions Cup history. The tie is firmly in their hands, but nights like this have a way of turning quickly.

The priority is simple. They cannot allow Pumas an early goal. A fast start from the home side would ignite the Estadio Olímpico Universitario and shift the entire emotional weight of the series back toward the three-time champions.

San Diego has to stay true to the identity that brought them here. The composure in possession, the confidence to play through pressure, and the attacking balance that overwhelmed Pumas in the first leg cannot disappear just because the setting has changed.

At the same time, this is their first test in Mexico in a match of this magnitude, and managing the occasion matters. They cannot get stretched, cannot get reckless, and cannot lose their structure chasing moments that are not there.

San Diego holds the advantage, but advancing will require maturity as much as talent. Play with courage, play with control, and make sure this night does not become the opening Pumas have been waiting for.

Two of the USMNT’s biggest names in Italy are heading into important contract moments, and both situations carry real weight with a World Cup year approaching.

At Juventus, Weston McKennie is enjoying one of the most productive stretches of his club career, thriving under Luciano Spalletti. Since the manager’s arrival in late October, McKennie has become one of the most dangerous scoring midfielders in Serie A, while also continuing to fill multiple roles in Juventus’ system. Spalletti has leaned heavily on his flexibility, using him in build-up play, against the press, and even as a target option higher up the field.

The timing matters. McKennie’s current deal expires this summer, and Juventus now face a familiar crossroads. The club has too often wavered between selling him and extending him year to year, but his current form makes it difficult to imagine Spalletti not pushing for a longer-term commitment.

Meanwhile at AC Milan, Christian Pulisic’s contract runs through June 2027, but the extension conversation has been strangely quiet. Reports in Italy suggest Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal are monitoring the situation, while Milan have yet to make a formal offer despite Pulisic expecting one months ago.

Milan are said to still want him as part of their long-term plans, but recent injuries have slowed his momentum after a strong start to the season. With ten goals already across all competitions, Pulisic remains one of Milan’s most important attacking pieces, and the next few months could determine whether his future stays in Serie A or draws attention back from England.

For Mauricio Pochettino, these are the kinds of club situations that matter as much as form. The USMNT’s core needs stability heading into 2026, and both McKennie and Pulisic are approaching pivotal moments in Europe’s most demanding environment.

Plans to reshape the Women’s Bundesliga took a major hit this week, as the 14 top-flight clubs announced that a proposed joint venture with the German Football Association has fallen apart. The new league association, Frauen-Bundesliga FBL e.V., will move forward without the DFB for now, and the federation has publicly expressed regret at the decision.

The backdrop is clear. Germany’s domestic league has been overtaken by rivals in France, Spain, and England, both financially and structurally, with Champions League success and top talent increasingly flowing elsewhere. While attendance is beginning to rise, the Bundesliga still lags behind the Women’s Super League in England in matchday crowds and commercial growth.

The original vision was a more professional league structure modeled after the men’s Bundesliga, where clubs play a stronger role in organizing and marketing the competition. But negotiations broke down over governance. The clubs argue that since they are investing far more money into the league’s future, they must have the final say, while the DFB sought safeguards that would keep key decisions under its influence.

For now, the DFB will continue running the league, but both sides admit talks must continue. The stakes are significant. If no agreement is reached, the clubs could eventually consider a breakaway model, a scenario that would reshape women’s football in Germany at a moment when the league is trying to catch up to Europe’s new standard.

Alex Freeman Debuts in LaLiga
Alex Freeman made his Spanish LaLiga debut off the bench for Villarreal, entering in the 73rd minute of a 4-1 win over Espanyol. The 21-year-old right back joined from Orlando City in a deal reported to be over $7 million, and Marca noted he became just the third U.S.-born player to wear the Villarreal shirt.

Portland Buys Out Jonathan Rodríguez
The Portland Timbers waived Jonathan Rodríguez and used a contract buyout, opening an extra Designated Player slot and clearing his salary from the 2026 cap. Rodríguez scored 17 goals in 2024 but saw his 2025 campaign cut short by a season-ending injury.

Atlanta United Well Represented in USYNT U16 Camp
Atlanta United’s academy continues to be a major pipeline, with multiple players named to the latest U.S. U16 national team roster for a February training camp in Fayetteville, Georgia. Oluwaseyitan Fakiyesi, Daniel Tagbo, David Ilevbare, and Noe Santillan headline the local representation.

Montreal and Red Bulls Swap Carmona and Marshall-Rutty
CF Montreal acquired midfielder Wiki Carmona from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for defender Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. Montreal adds a 22-year-old Venezuelan midfielder with over 100 appearances, while New York brings in a young Canadian defender they believe can take the next step in his development.

Montreal Adds Basel Winger Noah Streit
CF Montreal also added Swiss winger Noah Streit from FC Basel on a long-term deal through 2028-29 with an option year beyond. The 20-year-old arrives as a powerful left-sided attacking option after a productive loan spell at Neuchatel Xamax this season.

SDH AM starts at 9:05 this morning. We’ll have sound from Atlanta United 2 goalkeeper and U.S. U17 standout James Donaldson, joining from St. Vincent & the Grenadines as he helps his squad push for World Cup qualification.

At 10:00, Villanova professor Bret Myers joins us to discuss soccer analytics and decision making, and how data-driven thinking applies to the USMNT, the World Cup, and even business operations in delivering results and managing strategic objectives.

This afternoon, keep an eye out for the latest installment of Atlanta United at 10 on the website as the series continues counting down the moments that shaped the club’s first decade.

And tonight at 10pm, Atlanta Soccer Tonight will be live on 92.9 The Game and the Audacy app. We’ll break down Atlanta United’s new kit drop, along with all of the news of the day.

Ronaldo Set to Return for Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to end his brief absence from Al Nassr matches and return against Al Fateh on February 14. Reports suggest his two-match sit-out was tied to frustration with the club’s support in the transfer window.

Chelsea Women Part Ways With Paul Green
Chelsea confirmed the departure of longtime Head of Women’s Football Paul Green after 13 years with the club. Green played a major role in the Emma Hayes era, which delivered 19 trophies, as Chelsea continue navigating changes behind the scenes despite backing manager Sonia Bompastor long term.

Raphinha Doubtful for Copa del Rey Semifinal
Barcelona forward Raphinha is a major doubt for Thursday’s Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Atletico Madrid due to a muscle injury. He has been one of Barca’s top performers this season, but remains short on fitness after missing two straight matches.

Craig Goodwin Injury Blow for Australia
Veteran winger Craig Goodwin is expected to miss up to 12 weeks with a groin strain, a setback that could cost him key chances to impress ahead of the World Cup. The injury likely rules him out of Australia’s March and April friendlies as he tries to work back into the picture.

Mourinho Linked to Portugal Future, Amorim to Benfica?
Reports in Portugal suggest Jose Mourinho could be in line for the national team job after Roberto Martinez’s contract ends post-World Cup. If that happens, Ruben Amorim is being mentioned as a possible return to Benfica as he looks to rebuild his reputation after a difficult spell at Manchester United.

Argentina Airline Adds World Cup Travel Routes
Aerolíneas Argentinas announced new international flight routes from Córdoba, Rosario, and Tucumán to Miami beginning June 8 to support fan travel for the 2026 World Cup. The airline is expanding its weekly service as Argentina’s buildup to defending its title accelerates.

Independiente Rivadavia’s Historic Start
Independiente Rivadavia is enjoying the best top-flight run in club history, opening the 2026 Apertura with four straight wins and extending a five-match winning streak dating back to last season. The Mendoza club has never had a start like this in the Argentine First Division, and early momentum has them atop the table.

Vasco Ordered to Settle Debt With Atlético Mineiro
Vasco da Gama has been ordered by the CBF’s dispute resolution chamber to pay Atlético Mineiro a total debt of R$15.4 million tied to past transfer dealings. The ruling contradicts Vasco’s earlier claims that the amount owed was significantly lower and reinforces Atlético’s position in the case. The payments will be handled within Vasco’s ongoing judicial recovery process, though timing and structure remain unresolved. For Atlético, the decision ensures the debt is formally recognized and enforceable outside Vasco’s broader restructuring.

Tension at Botafogo Over Transfer Ban Funding
Globo reported yesterday on the behind the scenes at Botafogo, securing the financial injection needed to lift the club’s FIFA transfer ban became one of the most contentious episodes since John Textor took control of the SAF. Disagreements over the terms and guarantees of the funding led the club social’s representative on the SAF board to cast a null vote and prompted the SAF CEO to resign during the approval process. Ultimately, Textor secured the majority needed and approved the roughly $25 million injection to clear the ban and register players, but the episode exposed significant friction in the club’s governance. Sources say the tension stemmed largely from concerns over interest rates and investor protections tied to the deal.

The game keeps moving quickly right now, and today felt like another step into what the next stretch is going to demand. From looking back on the moments that shaped Atlanta United as the club approaches Season 10, to San Diego FC facing its first real test in Mexico, to big decisions looming for USMNT players in Europe, the threads are all starting to pull tighter.

We’ll keep it all going on SDH AM this morning, and the Atlanta United at 10 series continues this afternoon on the site. Then tonight, Atlanta Soccer Tonight is live at 10pm on 92.9 The Game and the Audacy app as we break down the day, including Atlanta United’s new kit drop. Thanks for spending part of your morning with us, and as always, thanks for being part of the SDH family.