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

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After two matches on the road to open the season, Atlanta United finally returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday looking for its first goals and first points of 2026. Losses at Cincinnati and San Jose left the Five Stripes with a difficult start, but the message from the training ground in Marietta this week has been less about panic and more about improving the fundamentals of how the team plays.

Manager Tata Martino was blunt about where the problem lies. In his view, Atlanta’s issue is not finishing chances but how the team builds the game in the earlier phases of possession. When buildup becomes slow or predictable, opponents can organize defensively and force Atlanta into difficult attacking situations.

Defender Enea Mihaj described the San Jose loss in similar terms. From his perspective, the biggest issue was how easily the team lost the ball, which forced Atlanta into repeated defensive situations instead of controlling the match. When possession breaks down quickly, defenders are left dealing with transition moments far more often than the system intends.

Even with the early struggles, Martino made one thing clear: the team’s style is not changing. Atlanta remains committed to a possession-based approach built around controlled buildup and collective movement. With four straight home matches beginning Saturday against Real Salt Lake, the home opener presents an opportunity to turn that belief and structure into the performances the team has been searching for.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season took another alarming turn yesterday as a 3–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace pushed the club closer to the Premier League relegation zone. Spurs entered the match sitting 16th and just one point above the relegation zone. Dominic Solanke gave them a first-half lead, but the match unraveled quickly in front of a nervous crowd in North London.

The turning point came when captain Micky van de Ven was sent off for pulling back Ismaila Sarr inside the penalty area while denying a clear scoring opportunity. Sarr converted the penalty to equalize, and Palace seized control immediately afterward. Jorgen Strand Larsen scored soon after, and Sarr added a second in first-half stoppage time, leaving Tottenham trailing 3–1 before halftime and sending frustrated supporters toward the exits.

The defeat continued a remarkable collapse for a club that expected to compete near the top of the table. Tottenham have not won a league match since December and have collected just four points from 11 league games in 2026. Across their last 20 Premier League matches, Spurs have taken only 12 points, a run of form that has dragged them from mid-table into a genuine relegation fight.

New head coach Igor Tudor has now lost all three matches since taking over the job just weeks ago, and the biggest concern inside the club appears to be confidence. Tottenham’s squad still contains significant talent and operates with one of the largest budgets in the league, but right now the players look like a team struggling to believe in themselves. With nine matches remaining, Spurs still have time to escape danger, but their current trajectory has turned an unthinkable scenario into a very real possibility.

The business momentum behind the National Women’s Soccer League continues to accelerate. A new valuation report from Sportico estimates that the combined value of the league’s 14 teams now sits around $2.6 billion, with the average club worth roughly $184 million. That represents dramatic growth, rising 77 percent since September 2024 and nearly tripling from the $66 million average valuation in 2023.

Leading the way once again is Angel City FC, valued at $335 million for the third straight year. Several other clubs have now crossed the $200 million mark, including Kansas City Current at $315 million, Bay FC at $208 million, and San Diego Wave FC at $200 million. The rise is remarkable considering expansion teams paid just $2 million to enter the league in 2022, meaning some franchises have increased in value more than 100 times in just a few years.

Much of that growth has been driven by major investment in infrastructure and star players. Kansas City’s privately financed CPKC Stadium and practice facility have created one of the league’s most lucrative local revenue streams, while the league’s High Impact Player Rule has allowed clubs to pay elite stars beyond the traditional salary cap. That rule helped the Washington Spirit retain Trinity Rodman on a deal worth more than $2 million per year.

Expansion interest also continues to grow as the league’s profile rises. Columbus is among the cities exploring a bid to bring an NWSL team to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, joining a growing list of potential markets as the league eyes long-term expansion toward as many as 32 clubs. That growth will also include Atlanta, which is set to launch its own NWSL club in 2028 as the league continues its rapid transformation into one of the most valuable women’s sports leagues in the world.

Matchday 3 in Major League Soccer features several intriguing storylines as teams begin settling into the rhythm of the new season. One of the most unusual settings comes when D.C. United host Inter Miami CF at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore rather than their usual home at Audi Field. The larger venue could draw a massive crowd eager to see Lionel Messi, who scored twice in Miami’s dramatic 4–2 comeback win over Orlando last weekend.

Saturday night also features an attacking showdown as Columbus Crew host Chicago Fire FC. Columbus are still looking for their first win under new head coach Henrik Rydström after two high-scoring matches to start the year, while Chicago arrive with momentum after a 3–0 victory over Montréal despite playing more than half the match with ten men.

Sunday’s national showcase sees FC Cincinnati take on Toronto FC in Sunday Night Soccer. Toronto could unveil new striker Josh Sargent following his high-profile transfer from Norwich City, while Cincinnati hope Brazilian playmaker Evander returns from injury to support a squad already featuring Miles Robinson and striker Kévin Denkey.

Elsewhere around the league, several early-season trends will be tested. New York City FC put their unbeaten record on the line against Orlando City SC after Orlando’s collapse against Miami last weekend, while Austin FC travel to face Charlotte FC. Two unbeaten teams meet when Nashville SC host Minnesota United FC, and San Jose Earthquakes look to stay perfect against Philadelphia Union after their strong start. Sunday also sees the Eastern Conference’s only two-win side, New York Red Bulls, welcome a struggling CF Montréal team that has yet to score this season.

Thompson Taking Bigger Role for USWNT
Young defender Gisele Thompson is emerging as a regular option for the United States Women’s National Team under head coach Emma Hayes during the SheBelieves Cup. Thompson started both of the team’s opening matches in the tournament and played the full 90 minutes in each, a sign of the growing trust Hayes has placed in the 20-year-old as the coach continues evaluating the next generation of players.

The tournament concludes Saturday in New Jersey, where the U.S. can secure another SheBelieves Cup title with a win or draw against Colombia. Canada faces Argentina in the other match of the doubleheader as the round-robin competition wraps up.

Leagues Cup Returns With Cross-League Format
The 2026 Leagues Cup will run from Aug. 4 to Sept. 6, starting less than three weeks after the World Cup final. The tournament will again feature 18 MLS teams and 18 Liga MX clubs with all league-phase matches played between the leagues, while the top four teams from each side advance to a knockout stage. For the first time, several matches will be played in Mexico, including games hosted by Toluca, Tigres, and Club América.

Carlos Vela Joins LAFC Ownership Group
Former LAFC star Carlos Vela has purchased a minority ownership stake in the club as part of a transaction that saw Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai sell his shares. Vela, who retired last year after scoring 93 goals for LAFC and winning the 2019 MLS MVP award, joins a well-known group of limited partners that includes Magic Johnson and Will Ferrell. The deal is part of a broader wave of MLS ownership movement and rising franchise valuations across the league.

Boston World Cup Organizers Address Security Funding Dispute
Organizers for the 2026 World Cup in Boston sent a letter to Foxborough officials reaffirming their commitment to cover public safety costs for matches at Gillette Stadium. The host committee said it currently has $2 million in its accounts and expects at least $30 million more, while also securing financial backing from Kraft Sports & Entertainment if needed. Local officials are seeking assurances that roughly $8 million in policing costs will be covered before voting on FIFA’s stadium license later this month.

FC Cincinnati Add Liverpool Goalkeeper on Loan
FC Cincinnati strengthened their roster by acquiring goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek on loan from Liverpool through the 2026 season. The 22-year-old Polish keeper has experience across Liverpool’s academy and youth teams and has appeared on the first-team bench in England. Cincinnati’s front office views the move as a chance to add depth and develop a promising young player within their goalkeeping group.

Big weekend preview this morning on SDH AM with Jon Nelson as the show gets underway at 9:05 on YouTube and Twitch. Miguel Gallardo from Apple TV’s MLS broadcast team joins the program at 10am to talk about the league’s opening weeks and some of the key storylines around the league.

Jon will also dive into the latest around the USL collective bargaining negotiations as the season is set to begin this weekend without a new deal currently in place between the league and the players.

Former University of Georgia defender Cate Hardin has signed a one-year contract with the Houston Dash after impressing during preseason as a non-roster invitee. The 22-year-old earned her opportunity after making the club’s initial preseason roster in January and now begins her professional career in the NWSL.

Hardin capped her senior season in 2025 as a second-team All-SEC selection after leading the Bulldogs with four assists while starting all 21 matches as team captain. She leaves Georgia as the program’s all-time leader in appearances (81), starts (70), assists (eight), and minutes played (5,864), highlighting the consistency and leadership she brings to the next step of her career.

Regragui Steps Down as Morocco Coach Before the World Cup
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui resigned less than 100 days before the 2026 World Cup, saying the national team needed “a new lease of life” and fresh perspective. Regragui led the Atlas Lions to a historic semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup but faced criticism after Morocco fell to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year. Under-20 World Cup-winning coach Mohamed Ouahbi will take over the senior team ahead of the tournament.

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Postponed Again
The Confederation of African Football announced that the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed to July 25–Aug. 16 due to “unforeseen circumstances.” The tournament had been scheduled to start March 17 in Morocco and had already been moved once to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games cycle. The new dates will place the competition immediately after the men’s World Cup and during the middle of the NWSL season.

Iniesta Move to Morocco Federation Falls Through
Reports linking Andrés Iniesta to a sporting director role with Morocco’s national team federation have collapsed after negotiations over the position broke down. The talks reportedly reached an advanced stage before the two sides failed to agree on salary terms. Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has also been linked to Morocco’s managerial job after the World Cup.

Milan–Inter Derby Could Shape Serie A Title Race
AC Milan face city rivals Inter Milan in a crucial derby this weekend with the Rossoneri needing a win to keep their title hopes alive. Inter currently sit 10 points clear at the top of Serie A after dropping only two points in their last 15 matches. Milan have remained difficult to beat this season but too many draws have allowed Inter to create a significant cushion in the standings.

Ronaldo Injury More Serious Than First Reported
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to miss several weeks after Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus revealed the forward’s muscle injury is more serious than initially believed. Ronaldo will travel to Madrid to undergo treatment with his personal physiotherapist as he begins recovery. Early estimates suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month.

Atlanta United returns home looking for answers and momentum in Saturday’s opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a difficult start on the road. Across the league, MLS Matchday 3 begins to shape early narratives around contenders and strugglers, while the USWNT closes the SheBelieves Cup with a chance to lift another trophy.

Around the world, coaching changes, tournament reshuffles, and title races keep the global game moving forward. And locally, it’s a packed weekend on the SDH Network. High school soccer comes from Covington tonight as Eastside hosts Walnut Grove. Saturday morning starts with a Five Stripes academy doubleheader as I’ll be on the call alongside Madison Crews for the U-16s and U-18s against Austin at 11am and 1pm on atlutd.com/live and YouTube.

Then it’s off to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta United’s home opener against Real Salt Lake. The weekend wraps up Sunday night in Athens when Atlanta United 2 host Carolina Core at the Turner Soccer Complex, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 on the SDH Network ahead of the 7pm kickoff.

We might need a second cup of Espresso on Monday to catch you up on all of it. ☕

Jason