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Two days after being removed as a director of Eagle Football Holdings Bidco, the pressure on John Textor intensified again Thursday when a Brazilian court prohibited Botafogo from selling players or club assets. The ruling also ordered Textor to report within 48 hours whether he has carried out, plans to carry out, or is in the process of carrying out any asset sales or dividend distributions. The decision effectively freezes one of the club’s remaining financial levers.

Against that backdrop, Textor went on BotafogoTV and made his clearest public commitment yet. He said he will personally pay the amount owed to Atlanta United to lift Botafogo’s FIFA transfer ban. Textor said he hoped to announce the issue as resolved before the match against Cruzeiro, but that the payment still requires approval from the members’ association. He emphasized that the funds would come from him directly, not from the club.

Textor framed the moment as inseparable from his broader dispute with Ares Management, which has moved to take control of Eagle Football after unmet financial obligations. He said pressure from creditors has intensified because they know how much Botafogo matters to him. While Ares is positioned to control Eagle Football as a creditor, Botafogo’s SAF structure and a preliminary injunction from the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice currently insulate the club’s governance from immediate change.

The legal and financial squeeze has already shaped Botafogo’s recent actions. With recruitment blocked by FIFA since December 31 due to unpaid obligations tied to Thiago Almada, the club attempted to raise cash through player sales. According to Globo, Botafogo explored deals involving Danilo and Montoro with Nottingham Forest, a club it also reportedly owes money to. Any sale would have produced limited immediate relief. Those talks never reached completion, and the court’s order now blocks further outgoing transfers entirely.

All of this unfolded as Botafogo opened the Brasileirão season with a dominant 4–0 win over Cruzeiro, a result that briefly shifted attention back to the field. The contrast remains stark. On the pitch, the team looks capable of competing immediately. Off it, the club is effectively immobilized, unable to buy, unable to sell, and reliant on its president’s personal intervention as creditor pressure, court rulings, and ownership disputes converge.

FOX Sports unveiled its broadcast plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026, laying out a historic schedule that reflects both the scale of the expanded tournament and FOX’s ambition for the summer. From June 11 through July 19, FOX Sports will deliver 340 hours of live first-run programming, with all 104 matches airing across FOX and FS1. A record 70 matches will be shown on the FOX broadcast network, and 40 matches will air in primetime, marking an unprecedented footprint for the tournament on U.S. television.

Every match will stream live and on demand in 4K on FOX One, with additional access through the FOX Sports App and major pay-TV providers. The network plans daily studio programming throughout the tournament, including preview and wrap-around shows designed to anchor matchdays from start to finish. FOX will also place its biggest knockout matches exclusively on broadcast television beginning July 4, including all Round of 16 games through the final on July 19 from New York New Jersey.

The slate is headlined by comprehensive coverage of the United States men's national soccer team. All three U.S. group stage matches will air on FOX, starting with the tournament opener for the Americans against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, preceded by a three-hour pregame show. FOX will also carry the U.S. matches against Australia and the Group D playoff winner, reinforcing the network’s intent to make the USMNT the centerpiece of its World Cup presentation.

Streaming plays a major role as well. Tubi will simulcast two matches for free in 4K, the tournament opener featuring Mexico and South Africa and the USMNT opener against Paraguay. Tubi will also launch a dedicated FIFA World Cup FOX Hub in May, featuring original programming and documentary content alongside match coverage. The strategy reflects FOX’s broader push to meet fans across platforms as the World Cup arrives in North America with record scale and visibility.

Crystal Dunn announced her retirement at age 33, closing one of the longest and most versatile international careers in U.S. women’s soccer history. Dunn represented the United States women's national soccer team across nearly every level, from the inaugural U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 through Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. She made 160 senior international appearances, starting every match at left back during the 2019 World Cup run in France and collecting major honors that span more than a decade at the top of the game.

Few players in U.S. history matched Dunn’s positional range or club success. She won the 2015 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot with the Washington Spirit, then added NWSL championships with the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019 and with the Portland Thorns in 2022. Along the way, she collected three NWSL Shields and became one of the league’s defining players, equally trusted as an attacker, midfielder, or defender depending on what her team needed.

Dunn’s career also included time abroad. After a brief stint with Chelsea earlier in her career, she moved to Paris Saint-Germain following the 2024 season after leaving Gotham FC. She appeared in a handful of league matches in France, but ultimately did not feature this season. Her retirement announcement came via Instagram, where she said she was “at peace and deeply fulfilled” and ready to spend more time with her family and be a more present mother.

Her legacy extends beyond trophies and appearances. Dunn was one of the most adaptable players of her era and one of the few Black stars consistently at the center of both club and national team success during a formative period for the sport in the U.S. Often asked to change positions for the good of the team, she delivered at every turn, leaving behind a career defined by excellence, resilience, and impact.

Timo Werner Joins San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes called it the biggest signing in club history as Timo Werner arrived on a Designated Player deal through June 2028. Werner brings elite pedigree from RB Leipzig and Chelsea, but he has not scored in league play since March 2024 and has seen limited minutes over the past year. At 29, this is less a farewell tour than a full reset, one the Earthquakes are betting can reignite his pace-driven goal threat.

Dynamo Bring Back Mateusz Bogusz
Houston Dynamo completed a major move by signing Mateusz Bogusz from Cruz Azul on a contract through the 2027–28 season. The reported fee of up to $10 million is among the largest in Dynamo history and brings back a familiar MLS attacker after his Concacaf Champions Cup win in Mexico. Houston adds a proven creative piece as it looks to push higher in the Western Conference.

Sophia Wilson Targets Thorns Opener Return
Sophia Wilson plans to be available for Portland Thorns when the NWSL season opens on March 13 after missing last season on maternity leave. Wilson also hopes to feature in the SheBelieves Cup with the United States women's national soccer team as she builds minutes following the birth of her daughter last September. The 2022 NWSL MVP returns to a Thorns side eager to reintegrate one of the league’s most decisive attackers.

Alex Freeman Moves to Villarreal
Villarreal signed right back Alex Freeman from Orlando City, giving the 21-year-old a European platform ahead of a critical year for U.S. national team selection. Freeman broke through in MLS last season, earning MLS Young Player of the Year honors and an All-Star nod. The move puts him into a higher weekly competition environment as he pushes for a World Cup role.

Red Bulls Add Ethan Horvath
New York Red Bulls acquired goalkeeper Ethan Horvath from Cardiff City on a contract through 2027 with additional options. Horvath brings extensive European experience and 10 U.S. national team caps, adding depth and competition to New York’s goalkeeping group. The deal required GAM and draft-pick compensation to secure his discovery rights.

D.C. United Add Silvan Hefti
D.C. United acquired Swiss defender Silvan Hefti from Hamburger SV on a deal through June 2027 with an option for 2028. The 28-year-old brings experience across multiple European leagues and adds versatility at fullback as D.C. looks to solidify its defensive depth ahead of the season.

Charlotte FC Sign Henry Kessler
Charlotte FC signed free agent center back Henry Kessler through the end of the 2026 season with club options for 2027 and 2028. The 27-year-old arrives after a season and a half with St. Louis City SC and brings MLS experience and physical presence to Charlotte’s backline. General Manager Zoran Krneta praised Kessler’s league experience as a key addition to help solidify the spine of the team.

U.S. Soccer Foundation Launches Soccer Will
The U.S. Soccer Foundation has launched Soccer Will, a long-term initiative aimed at investing $30 million in youth soccer by 2030. The foundation has already raised $13 million with lead gifts from partners including adidas and the MetLife Foundation, with plans to expand access in under-resourced communities through mini-pitch health hubs, coach-mentor training, and digital resources. The program’s stated goal is to reach more than five million families nationwide over the next five years.

SDH AM is live this morning starting at 9:05 a.m. with Jon Nelson hosting. Bart Keeler from Soccer For US joins the show, along with new Greenville Triumph head coach Dave Dixon to discuss his new role. Friend of the show Steve Cooke also checks in from Marietta to preview Lexington SC ahead of today’s preseason match with Atlanta United.

Coverage continues this afternoon with the Atlanta United preseason broadcast, beginning at 12:40 p.m. on atlutd.com/live. Joe Freihofer and Brad Guzan set the table with pregame coverage from the Emory Healthcare Studio before Mike Conti and I take you through kickoff shortly after 1 p.m.

Champions League Knockout Playoff Draw Set
Real Madrid were drawn against Benfica in the Champions League knockout playoff round after a dramatic final day of the league phase pushed Madrid out of the top eight. Holders Paris Saint-Germain face an all–Ligue 1 tie with AS Monaco, while other notable matchups include Juventus vs. Galatasaray and Atlético Madrid vs. Club Brugge. The two-legged ties will be played February 17–18 and February 24–25.

De Zerbi Reportedly Seeks Marseille Exit
Footmercato reports that Roberto De Zerbi has asked to be released from his contract with Olympique Marseille following their Champions League elimination. Marseille exited after a 3–0 loss to Club Brugge in the final league-phase round, and De Zerbi reportedly believes the working relationship can no longer continue. The Italian coach was appointed in summer 2024 and has a 17–2–11 record in all competitions this season.

Chinese Super League Hands Down Heavy Sanctions
Defending champions Shanghai Port will begin the new CSL season with a five-point deduction after being sanctioned by the Chinese FA as part of a gambling and match-fixing investigation. Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Tiger received 10-point deductions, while several other clubs were also penalized and fined. Authorities also announced lifetime bans for 73 individuals, including former CFA president Chen Xuyuan and ex-national team coach Li Tie.

Fulham Sign Oscar Bobb from Manchester City
Fulham confirmed the signing of Oscar Bobb from Manchester City on a five-and-a-half-year contract through 2031. Bobb arrives as a Premier League champion, adding attacking depth as Fulham invest in long-term squad building.

Kieron Bowie Nears Move to Hellas Verona
Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie has traveled to Italy for a medical ahead of a proposed transfer to Hellas Verona. The 23-year-old had attracted sustained interest this window, and his departure would follow a season of consistent form despite ongoing speculation.

Corinthians Negotiates Memphis Debt
Corinthians is negotiating a new payment plan for more than R$30 million owed to Memphis Depay for signing bonuses and performance-related bonuses, with the original monthly installments agreed in 2025 not met by the club. The outstanding debt has strained relations with Memphis’s camp and could threaten his contract renewal, as he is eligible to sign a pre-contract with another club this summer if no agreement is reached. The issue comes amid broader financial pressures at Corinthians, which is also working under a long-term debt repayment plan approved by the courts.

Foreign Players in Colombian Soccer
In the Liga BetPlay Dimayor’s 2025 season, 68 foreign players were registered across Colombia’s top flight, representing about 12.7 percent of the league’s total playing pool, with Uruguayans and Argentines among the largest groups of non-Colombian signees. This data reflects a notable presence of international talent in the domestic game and comes as the federation recently approved allowing four foreign players on the pitch at the same time, up from three under the old regulation. The ongoing debate around these rules centers on balancing competitive quality and opportunities for local talent development.

What’s unfolding at Botafogo is no longer just about results, rulings, or even debts. It is about trust. John Textor stepping forward to say he will personally resolve a transfer ban may sound decisive, but it also highlights how often problems reach a point where last-minute intervention becomes the plan. Promises can steady a moment. They do not replace structure.

Back in Atlanta, the focus shifts to the field today as Atlanta United takes on Lexington SC in preseason action. Coverage begins at 12:40 p.m. on atlutd.com/live, with kickoff shortly after 1 p.m. The contrast is clear. Progress is built in small, repeatable steps. Trust is built the same way.