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Ibrahim Hassan’s comments about Mohamed Salah and MLS deserve to be called what they are: ignorant. Telling Salah he would “fade away” if he moved to Major League Soccer is not a serious evaluation of where the league stands in 2026. It is a tired stereotype dressed up as analysis, and it says far more about the speaker’s lack of awareness than it does about MLS. The frustrating part is not just that the comment was made, but that so many outlets repeated it as if it reflected reality rather than bias.

Because the reality is clear. MLS is an active league in the global transfer market, buying players, selling players, and developing players who move on to some of the biggest clubs in the world. It is producing talent for national teams, building stronger academies, and operating in a much more competitive global ecosystem than critics want to admit. This is not a league waiting to be taken seriously someday. It is already a major part of the international game, whether people like Ibrahim Hassan want to acknowledge it or not.

And the idea that this is even a debate with the Saudi Pro League misses the point entirely. If you want to talk about where a player can build relevance, visibility, and influence, MLS has a stronger case than many on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean want to admit. By almost any meaningful modern measure, it is seen more widely and discussed more consistently around the world. That is why these comments should not just be criticized, they should be ignored. They are not informed, they are not grounded in fact, and they are exactly the kind of empty debate bait that too often passes for soccer conversation now.

The conversation around the USMNT is different now than it was at the start of this window. After the loss to Belgium, Tuesday’s match against Portugal feels more important because the U.S. needs to give people something to believe in again. Whether that is a result, a stronger performance, or at the very least a clearer identity, Mauricio Pochettino has to leave this camp with fans feeling like there is something real to latch onto. That matters more now because the negative momentum coming out of Saturday cannot just be allowed to sit there.

Against Belgium, the U.S. looked too stretched, too reactive, and too dependent on midfielders covering impossible distances instead of having cover already behind the ball.

That will be even more important against Portugal. Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha can control a match in midfield, and while Portugal did not score against Mexico, they still looked like the team in charge for long stretches. The U.S. may actually be better off without as much possession in this game, because this group has often looked more dangerous in transition than when asked to dictate the ball. But if that is the path, then the defensive organization has to be much cleaner. You can play without the ball against a team like Portugal, but you cannot play without structure.

This game now feels critical not just because of the opponent, but because the U.S. cannot wait until the final pre-World Cup matches to create belief, momentum, and a real sense that playing the host nation next summer will be a problem for everyone else.

John Textor losing control of Eagle Football Holdings Bidco is not just another twist in a long-running ownership saga. It is the moment when the financial structure finally overwhelmed the salesmanship. For all of Textor’s public confidence and constant insistence that the project was viable, the core reality was much simpler: Eagle borrowed heavily, the debt became more expensive over time, and the lender had the kind of protections that mattered most once things started to go wrong. That is why this feels bigger than another lawsuit, another defiant statement, or another promise that everything is under control. The control is no longer really his.

The most important thing to understand is that this is not just about owing money. It is about how that money was borrowed. Eagle’s debt structure gave Ares strong collateral, control rights, and the ability to intercept cash flows if defaults occurred. In plain English, once Eagle missed key obligations and tripped those default provisions, Ares was not sitting around waiting and hoping to be repaid. It had the legal leverage to seize the process, push the UK holding company into administration, and put insolvency professionals in charge. Ownership on paper and power in practice are now two very different things.

What it means now is uncertainty for the clubs, even if they continue operating day to day. Administrators from Cork Gully are looking for buyers for the holdings in Botafogo, Lyon, and RWDM Brussels, while Textor is left arguing that Ares acted unfairly and promising another legal fight. Maybe those fights continue, but the bigger picture has changed. This is no longer a story about Textor trying to stabilize a shaky empire. It is a story about creditors trying to recover value from the wreckage of one. That is a very different place to be.

And in the wider soccer conversation, this should be seen as a warning about the limits of the multi-club model when it is built on expensive private debt instead of durable operating strength. Textor sold the vision of a modern football network, but the structure underneath it was fragile. Once the debt started compounding and the defaults mounted, the dream of scale turned into a scramble for survival. This is one more reminder that Eagle’s problems were never isolated to one club or one country. They were built into the architecture of the whole thing.

The Botafogo portion of it could be the most complicated because of the additional funding Textor brought in to start paying Atlanta United for Thiago Almada’s transfer and end the FIFA transfer ban. What rights will that funder have once obligations are not met? This will be messy, complicated, and the fans will be the ones who suffer the most due to this mismanagement.

Igor Tudor leaving Tottenham after just 44 days says plenty about the instability of this club, but not much about any real solution. Seven matches, one victory, one league point, and a team sitting 17th in the table made his exit feel inevitable, especially after the 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. But when a club is already on its third head coach of the season, the bigger issue is not just the man on the touchline. It is the chaos above him and around him.

That is why this feels less like a correction and more like another symptom. Tudor was brought in as an emergency fix after Thomas Frank was sacked in February, and the numbers under him were brutal. Spurs lost four of five league matches under his watch, crashed out of Europe despite beating Atletico Madrid in one leg, and even produced one of the more alarming moments of the season when Antonin Kinsky was hooked after 17 minutes in Madrid. Nothing about the spell suggested stability, but it also never felt like he had inherited anything close to a stable situation.

Now Tottenham turn to the next decision, and that might be even more revealing than Tudor’s exit. Roberto De Zerbi is the name being chased, but even that comes with complications. He reportedly would rather wait until the summer, and some Spurs supporters are actively pushing back against his potential appointment because of his backing of Mason Greenwood at Marseille. So even before the next manager arrives, the club is already carrying tension, division, and urgency into the process.

The bigger takeaway is that Spurs can keep changing coaches, but that alone will not clean this up. This season has become another reminder that when a club keeps reaching for temporary answers, it usually means the real problems are deeper. Tudor is gone, and on results alone that is understandable. But if Tottenham think removing him is the same as fixing Tottenham, they are going to learn the same lesson all over again.

The final days of this March window are carrying a little more weight now. For some teams, Tuesday is about fine-tuning before June. For others, it is about survival, momentum, or the chance to turn a good story into a historic one. That is part of what makes this stretch so interesting: the World Cup is close enough now that every result feels a little more revealing, and every decision feels a little less experimental.

On the Field

France’s depth was the story in Maryland, where Didier Deschamps rotated heavily and still watched a second-string XI beat Colombia 3-1. Désiré Doué scored his first senior goals, Marcus Thuram added another, and France looked comfortable for long stretches even without some of their biggest names. For Colombia, it was another frustrating result in this window after the loss to Croatia, and a reminder that the margin is thin when the defensive details and transitions are not sharp enough against elite opposition.

New Zealand also produced one of the better statements of the window, hammering Chile 4-1 in Auckland for their first ever win over South American opposition. Yes, the red card to Dario Osorio changed the match, but the All Whites still did what good teams are supposed to do with an advantage: they controlled the game, attacked with width and speed, and punished the openings that appeared. For a team heading to a group with Belgium, Iran, and Egypt, that kind of confidence boost matters. Cape Verde’s 1-1 draw with Finland and shootout win carried a different feel, but it was important too as they continue building toward their World Cup debut.

Off the Field

Some of the most compelling World Cup stories right now are about what qualification would mean beyond the field. Kosovo are one win away from a first-ever World Cup and the scale of that opportunity is obvious in the reaction around Tuesday’s playoff with Turkey. Tickets sold out immediately, resale prices exploded, public watch parties are being planned, and the government even promised a million-euro bonus if they win. For a country where football once had to survive in private and in exile, this is about far more than just reaching a tournament.

Jamaica are carrying a different kind of pressure into their intercontinental playoff against DR Congo. The emotional upside of a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 is obvious, but JFF president Michael Ricketts made clear that the stakes are financial too. Qualification would bring at least $10.5 million and provide a major lift for development, administration, and the wider football structure at a time when the federation has spent heavily to get to this point. For some countries, getting in changes everything. Jamaica are one of them.

Bolivia Balances Confidence With One Late Injury Concern: Bolivia had been feeling good about its health heading into Tuesday’s playoff with Iraq, with Óscar Villegas saying the squad was in good condition and local reporting indicating key knocks from the Suriname match were not considered serious. The late complication is Diego Medina, who suffered an injury in Sunday training and is now a doubt for Monterrey, which could force Bolivia into a change at fullback just before one of the biggest matches in this cycle.

Italy or Bosnia, finally back? Tuesday’s playoff in Zenica is carrying real history with it. Italy are trying to avoid the humiliation of missing a third straight World Cup, while Bosnia are chasing a return for the first time since 2014. It is also a fixture with emotional echoes, because Bosnia’s first ever win as an independent nation came against Italy in 1996 in Sarajevo, a match that meant far more than just the scoreline.

Calhanoglu Boost for Turkey: Turkey appear set to have Hakan Calhanoglu available for Tuesday’s decisive playoff against Kosovo, which is a massive lift for a team trying to reach its first World Cup since 2002. After coming off late against Romania with a minor muscle issue, Calhanoglu reportedly completed individualized work and is expected to captain Vincenzo Montella’s side in Pristina.

That matters because Turkey need more than just his quality on the ball. They need his control, leadership, and composure in a match that could swing on one big moment, while Inter Milan will also be relieved that the injury scare does not seem to have turned into something more serious.

Ecuador’s Test Gets Tougher in Eindhoven: Ecuador head to Eindhoven with growing belief and a few important absences ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with the Netherlands. Reporting out of Spain and Ecuador has framed La Tri as a team earning real respect in Europe, with Moisés Caicedo drawing particular attention, but Sebastián Beccacece will be without Piero Hincapié and Denil Castillo after both left camp with injuries.

That still leaves this match feeling like a real measuring stick rather than just another friendly. Ecuador’s 1-1 draw with Morocco boosted outside expectations, and the trip to the Philips Stadion gives them another chance to show that this group can handle a major European test even shorthanded.

Australia’s roster battle meets Curacao’s belief: Australia’s final home warm-up before the World Cup is also a last big audition for players trying to force their way onto Tony Popovic’s roster. Curacao, meanwhile, are not treating this summer as a ceremonial appearance, with Fred Rutten making it clear that his team believe they can surprise people on the sport’s biggest stage. That makes Tuesday’s friendly more interesting than it looks at first glance: one team is sorting out its pecking order, the other is trying to prove it belongs.

England stay calm, Arsenal hold their breath: Thomas Tuchel’s tone around England remains steady even after the draw with Uruguay, with the manager stressing that March is about building habits and learning the group rather than chasing polished performances. At the club level, Arsenal are watching this break nervously after a wave of withdrawals that now includes Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, Gabriel, and others. With the season still alive on multiple fronts, the injury watch may be as important as the football itself.

Uruguay and Algeria, a useful test with knockout-stage flavor: Uruguay’s friendly with Algeria in Turin is only the second ever meeting between the two nations, but it feels useful for both. Marcelo Bielsa gets another chance to sharpen his squad against a physical, technically capable African side, while Algeria get a high-level test against one of South America’s most established national teams. In a window built around preparation, this is the kind of matchup that can reveal something real.

Paraguay Set for Changes Against Morocco: Paraguay look set to make four changes for Tuesday’s friendly with Morocco as Gustavo Alfaro continues to rotate after the 1-0 win over Greece, with ABC reporting Juan José Cáceres and Gabriel Ávalos among the players in line to start. The adjustments are also being shaped by absences, with defenders Alan Benítez and Fabián Balbuena both ruled out before the match in Lens.

That makes this less about protecting a settled XI and more about testing depth against a much tougher opponent. Morocco gives Paraguay a very different kind of examination, and Alfaro seems to be using it that way.

Berger Keeps Gotham Steady, But Attack Still Missing: Ann-Katrin Berger’s four-save performance gave Gotham a scoreless draw against Orlando and another reminder of how much of the team’s early stability is coming from its goalkeeper. The bigger issue is at the other end, where Gotham still has only one goal through four matches and now has not won since opening weekend. Rose Lavelle’s 100th regular-season NWSL appearance was a notable milestone, but the larger story remains a Gotham attack still trying to find rhythm.

Amaya Rumor Would Add Experience to Montreal’s Midfield: If CFM do complete a loan move for Frankie Amaya, it would give Montreal a proven MLS option in central midfield with experience in multiple environments. Amaya’s time with FC Cincinnati, the Red Bulls, and LAFC would make him more than just depth, and his profile feels like the kind of practical addition a team can use over the long haul of the season.

Oakland’s Chaotic Finish Ends in Defeat: Oakland’s 1-0 loss to Orange County SC will be remembered as much for the ending as the result. Goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel came forward late chasing an equalizer, then got sent off in stoppage time after punting a loose ball toward play from behind the goal in a desperate attempt to disrupt Orange County’s counter. The wild sequence summed up a frustrating night for the Roots, who pushed for a moment and instead left with defeat and a suspension to manage.

SDH AM is live this morning starting at 9:05 with Jon Nelson in the host chair. He’ll be joined by Abe Gordon from 92.9 The Game and Bart Keeler from the Soccer For US podcast as the March window rolls on and the conversation turns toward Tuesday night’s USA-Portugal match.

Tonight, we’ll be back at The Brewhouse Cafe for another live USMNT preview show from 7-9 p.m. ahead of the Portugal match. If you’re heading out, come join us in person, and if not, you can follow along with the show and with updates throughout the day from Madison Crews and Sofia Cupertino, who will be at USMNT training. Keep an eye on @soccerdownhere across social media for the latest.

Chelsea Survive, But Defensive Questions Remain: Chelsea got the result they needed in a wild 4-3 win over Aston Villa, but Sonia Bompastor made clear afterward that conceding three times from Villa’s three first-half shots on target was nowhere near good enough. With the race for Champions League qualification tightening, the three points mattered most, but Chelsea’s defensive shakiness is becoming part of the story at exactly the wrong time.

Ona Batlle Runs the Clásico: Ona Batlle was named MVP of Barcelona’s Liga F Clásico win over Real Madrid after scoring the opener and then helping force the second-half own goal that put the match away. Mundo Deportivo’s angle was straightforward: Batlle was not just decisive in the final third, she also controlled the right side with her defending, movement inside, and connection with Caroline Graham Hansen, reinforcing the case that she is the best right back in the world right now.

CAF Turmoil Continues With Mosengo-Omba Exit: CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba has resigned amid another turbulent stretch for African football’s governing body, following the fallout from Senegal being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title and Morocco being declared champions. CAF says reforms are coming to its statutes, refereeing, VAR operations, and disciplinary processes, but the larger picture is a confederation still trying to restore trust after a chaotic month.

The biggest story coming out of this window now is not just that the U.S. lost to Belgium. It is that Tuesday against Portugal suddenly carries more weight because this team needs to give people something to believe in. A result would help, but even beyond that, the U.S. has to look more organized, more resilient, and more convincing in the moments when games start to turn against them. The response matters now because of the lingering concerns about handling momentum swings.

For Mauricio Pochettino, this is about more than one friendly. It is about balancing minutes, learning what he needs to learn about the roster, and still creating momentum with a fan base that needs something to latch onto before the summer. If the U.S. can be cleaner defensively, sharper in transition, and tougher mentally when Portugal has its stretches of control, then maybe this window feels different by the end of Tuesday night. If not, the questions only get louder.

We’ll be talking about all of it tonight live from The Brewhouse Cafe from 7-9 p.m. on our USMNT preview show ahead of the Portugal match. Come hang out with us in person if you can!

Jason