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Atlanta United’s first major media day of preseason made one thing clear: this version of the club is being built in Tata Martino’s image. Sporting director Chris Henderson framed it plainly, pointing to Tata’s history of strong center backs, a commanding No. 6, and a game model rooted in possession with purpose in transition. That vision is already shaping how Atlanta approaches roster construction and recruitment, with Henderson noting that Martino’s global résumé gives the club added pull in the market. The goal is not just short-term fixes, but a core that can grow together over the next three to five years and reestablish Atlanta’s competitive identity in MLS.

That theme of competition ran through every voice on the podium. Henderson emphasized that daily internal battles are not a byproduct of Tata’s teams, they are the point. From training ground sharpness to late-season resilience, the club wants a culture where nothing is assumed and every spot is earned. It is also why leadership is being reframed after the Brad Guzan era, with Henderson calling this season a clean slate that creates space for new voices to emerge organically. Off the field, he highlighted upgrades in scouting reach and sports science as signs of a front office intent on modernizing every layer of the operation.

On the pitch, defender Enea Mihaj offered the clearest window into how that identity feels to players. He described a system built on pressing high, defending with courage, and refusing to wait passively for opponents. Playing a higher line, he admitted, demands sharper focus and collective commitment, but he sees it as a challenge the group is ready to embrace. More than tactics, Mihaj spoke about the emotional reset after a draining 2025 season, stressing that improvement in 2026 will require not just better structure but more heart, belief, and sacrifice for each other.

That emotional through line dovetailed with Tata Martino’s own message. For the manager, preseason is about installing an identity that blends technical quality with competitive edge. He praised the complementary partnership of Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almirón as a glimpse of what the team can become, but underscored that talent alone will not carry Atlanta forward. In a league as physical and relentless as MLS, Martino said, consistency and resilience are non-negotiable. Whether discussing the need for balance at the holding midfielder spot or the value of competition in goal, his focus remained on building a collective that defends and attacks as one.

In that sense, Tata Martino’s insistence on Atlanta being protagonists is more than a stylistic preference. It is a philosophy about ownership of matches and ownership of standards. For Martino, being protagonists means dictating games with the ball, controlling tempo through possession, and refusing to wait for moments instead of creating them. For Chris Henderson, it means building a roster and a culture capable of sustaining that identity over multiple seasons, not just chasing short-term fixes but laying the foundation for the next three to five years.

Together, their message is clear: 2026 is not just about improvement, it is about reclaiming Atlanta United’s place as a team that leads games, leads standards, and leads the conversation in MLS.

The Africa Cup of Nations semifinals delivered two matches that could not have been more different in texture, yet landed at the same emotional destination. In Rabat, Sadio Mane once again played the role of Egypt’s tormentor, striking late to send Senegal past Mohamed Salah’s side and into another continental final. Senegal controlled possession for long stretches, but it took patience and precision to finally break down an Egyptian team that defended with resolve. When Mane’s moment arrived, it felt inevitable and another chapter was added to a rivalry that has defined modern AFCON.

For Egypt, the loss cuts deeper because of the familiar storyline. Salah remains one of Africa’s greatest players of his generation, yet the AFCON trophy continues to elude him. Now 33, the Liverpool forward has evolved into a more measured, tactical leader, still delivering goals and influence, but once again watching a former club teammate take the bigger prize. The semifinal defeat marked Egypt’s fifth loss in their last six meetings with Senegal, reinforcing a sense that the Lions of Teranga have become their modern day bogey team.

If Senegal’s win was about inevitability, Morocco’s path to the final was about endurance. In front of a fervent home crowd, the hosts edged Nigeria in a tense penalty shootout after a match that offered little in the way of clear chances but no shortage of tension. Yassine Bounou’s heroics in goal and Youssef En Nesyri’s nerve from the spot sent Rabat into celebration, setting up a final that carries the weight of history. Morocco have not lifted the AFCON trophy in half a century and now, on home soil, they stand one match away from ending that drought.

Together, the semifinals captured everything AFCON does best. The tournament’s highest scoring edition still found room for two tightly wound, tactical contests when the stakes were at their highest. From Mane once again outdueling Salah on the continental stage to Morocco and Nigeria canceling each other out in a battle of nerve and resilience, these matches were reminders that AFCON glory is rarely won in bursts of brilliance alone. More often, it is claimed through patience, belief, and the ability to hold your nerve when the margin between history and heartbreak is as thin as a single kick of the ball.

The NWSL Players Association has formally filed a grievance against the league over the newly introduced High Impact Player rule, arguing that the mechanism violates both the collective bargaining agreement and federal labor law. In its filing, the union says the league unilaterally changed how player compensation can be structured by creating a parallel pay system outside the salary cap without proper negotiation. The NWSLPA is seeking the immediate rescission of the rule, a requirement that the league bargain in good faith over any future compensation mechanisms, and remedies for players affected by what it calls an improper process.

At the center of the dispute is how elite talent should be paid in a league that is growing rapidly but still operates under a hard salary cap. The league maintains that the HIP rule is essential to competing globally for top players and keeping stars from leaving for wealthier leagues abroad. Union leadership, led by executive director Meghann Burke, counters that the solution is simpler and fairer by raising the salary cap itself rather than creating league controlled criteria that determine which players are worthy of extra compensation. The league would like, as MLS has done with its Designated Player rule, the extra money to go towards star power while the union leadership would rather see some teams elect to spread that money across the roster as a whole. It’s not an easy situation to resolve, but it’s a vital one as the league is competing with other leagues around the world for top talent.

Jeff Kassouf’s reporting at ESPN also places the conflict in the context of Trinity Rodman’s stalled contract situation, which helped accelerate the league’s push to implement the rule. With Rodman seeking fair market value that exceeds what her club could offer under the current cap, the case has become a flashpoint for broader questions about free agency, competitive balance, and who ultimately decides a player’s worth. As the grievance process moves toward committee review and possibly arbitration, the outcome will shape not only how stars are paid, but how power is shared between league and players in the next phase of the NWSL’s evolution.

Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey exit at the hands of second division Albacete has plunged the club into another moment of reckoning. A stoppage time winner from Jefté Betancor sealed a stunning 3–2 defeat and sent the holders packing in Álvaro Arbeloa’s first match in charge, just days after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal and a Supercopa loss to Barcelona. For a club where expectations are unforgiving, the timing could hardly be worse. Three days, two defeats, and a managerial change have turned what should have been a reset into a full blown storm.

Arbeloa defended his team selection and tried to frame the setback as part of a longer process, but the reaction across Spain has been brutal. Pundits questioned his substitutions, his post match comments, and even his understanding of what Real Madrid represents. While the new coach leaned on ideas of patience and learning from failure, the wider narrative has already shifted toward urgency and survival. With La Liga and the Champions League still in play, Madrid are not in collapse, but the sense of instability is undeniable.

The defeat itself only sharpened that feeling. Albacete, fighting near the bottom of the Segunda División, twice took the lead and twice forced Madrid to respond, only to deliver the final blow in stoppage time. Despite fielding a lineup that included Vinicius Junior, Fede Valverde, Arda Güler, and Franco Mastantuono, Madrid never imposed the authority expected of them. It was another reminder that this squad, talented as it is, remains fragile in moments that demand control and conviction.

Yet the most troubling moment of the night had nothing to do with tactics or substitutions. Outside the stadium, racist chants once again targeted Vinicius Junior, continuing a disgraceful pattern that has followed him across Spain for years. While Albacete rightly condemned the abuse and Spain has taken steps in recent seasons to confront racism in stadiums, the reality is that too many players still carry this burden far too often. This cannot be treated as background noise to footballing drama. Spain, and the global game as a whole, must do more than issue statements after the fact. Real progress means accountability, education, and consequences that finally make clear there is no place for racism in the sport, anywhere.

Chris Richards Named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year
Chris Richards earned his first U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year honor after a standout 2025 that included 12 national team appearances and a Gold Cup run where he scored twice. The Crystal Palace defender also helped lift the club’s first FA Cup, becoming the second straight defender to win the award and continuing a rare trend not seen since the mid 1990s.

Sam Coffey Makes Historic Move to Manchester City
USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey has completed an $875,000 transfer from the Portland Thorns to Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City, marking one of the biggest fees in NWSL history. The 27 year old leaves Portland after four seasons that included three Best XI honors and an Olympic gold medal run in 2024, joining a growing wave of American stars testing themselves in Europe.

Tristan Blackmon Seeks New Deal as Vancouver Hold Firm
Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon has yet to report to Whitecaps preseason as he looks for improved contract terms, despite being under deal through 2027. Vancouver turned away a reported $3 million bid from Inter Miami and remains intent on keeping Blackmon, even as negotiations continue with one of the cornerstones of their best season in club history.

Anders Dreyer Extended as San Diego Charts New Course
San Diego FC locked in Anders Dreyer through at least 2028 after the MLS Newcomer of the Year produced 19 goals and 19 assists in a remarkable debut season. At the same time, the club confirmed that Hirving Lozano is no longer part of its plans, signaling a shift toward building around Dreyer as the centerpiece of the project.

Hector Herrera Returns to Houston Dynamo
Hector Herrera is back with the Houston Dynamo after a season with Toluca, rejoining the club where he captained a U.S. Open Cup title run in 2023. The 35 year old brings leadership and experience from a decorated career in Mexico, Spain, and Portugal as Houston looks to raise standards heading into the 2026 campaign.

Kellyn Acosta and Chicago Fire Part Ways
The Chicago Fire and Kellyn Acosta have mutually agreed to terminate his contract, ending the midfielder’s two year stint with the club. Acosta leaves Chicago with more than 300 MLS appearances across his career and remains one of the most experienced American midfielders of his generation.

Houston Dash Sign MAC Hermann Trophy Winner Kate Faasse
The Houston Dash added one of the top young talents in the women’s game by signing Kate Faasse, the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner. The former North Carolina star arrives after leading Division I in goals and helping the Tar Heels win a national championship, giving Houston a proven scorer to build around.

Austin FC Lock in Core While Owen Wolff Recovers
Austin FC announced that Owen Wolff is expected back by mid to late February following sports hernia surgery, offering reassurance after a brief preseason setback. The club also secured defender Jon Gallagher on a long term extension, reinforcing stability around two key contributors as Austin looks ahead to 2026.

Fresno Takes Major Step Toward USL Future
The city of Fresno has entered an exclusivity agreement with the United Soccer League, opening the door to bringing both men’s and women’s professional teams and a new stadium to downtown by 2028. Officials say the project could reshape the city’s sports landscape, pairing soccer with a broader push for economic revitalization in the urban core.

SDH AM is live this morning at 9:05 on our YouTube and Twitch channels, with Jon Nelson breaking down the biggest talking points from AFCON and reaction from yesterday’s Atlanta United press conferences. Hour one will set the table with the morning news, then the show shifts into global perspective in hour two with Nino Torres covering Spain, Portugal, and South America, followed by Niko Moreno with the latest from around MLS.

And a quick look ahead to Friday, because this one is worth circling. At 10, SDH AM will welcome Rob Smethurst, majority owner of Macclesfield, after the club’s stunning FA Cup upset last weekend. It is a rare chance to hear directly from the decision makers behind one of the tournament’s great stories, and another reminder that Around the Corner really does mean everywhere.

World Cup Ticket Demand Soars Past 500 Million Requests
FIFA says it has received more than 500 million ticket requests for this summer’s World Cup, with the strongest demand coming from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia outside the host nations. Prices have drawn scrutiny, with some tickets listed as high as $8,680, though FIFA says each federation will have access to $60 tickets for supporters who attended previous matches. Fans will begin learning the results of their ticket applications no earlier than February 5.

Tranmere Rovers Near American Ownership Shift
League Two side Tranmere Rovers are on the brink of becoming the latest English club under American ownership, with a bid from Ascent Capital Partners awaiting EFL approval. The Arizona and Texas based firm reportedly favors a model that blends club ownership with stadium and real estate development, aligning with plans to move Tranmere to a new sports city complex. If approved, Tranmere would become the 37th club in England’s top four divisions with U.S. investment.

Arsenal Take Edge in Carabao Cup Semi Final
Arsenal claimed a crucial 3–2 first leg win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the advantage heading into the return match in north London. Goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres, and Martin Zubimendi proved decisive, though Alejandro Garnacho’s two strikes kept Chelsea firmly in the tie. The second leg on February 3 now sets up as one of the most anticipated fixtures of the month.

Ajax Humiliated in Dutch Cup Rout
Ajax suffered one of the worst defeats in their modern history, falling 6–0 to AZ in the KNVB Cup as Troy Parrott scored a hat trick against the Amsterdam giants. It was Ajax’s heaviest loss in the competition since 1927 and another blow in a season that has already seen struggles domestically and in Europe. The result ends an eight game unbeaten run and deepens questions about the club’s direction after recent managerial upheaval.

British FAs Push Back on Wenger Offside Proposal
The British football associations are opposing Arsene Wenger’s proposed “daylight” offside rule, arguing it would force defenders to sit far too deep and radically alter the game. Instead, they favor a compromise that would only penalize attackers if their torso is ahead of the defender, excluding limbs and head from measurement. FIFA is expected to push for trials next month through IFAB, setting up a pivotal vote on the future of one of football’s most debated laws.

Samuel Eto’o Suspended After AFCON Incident
Cameroon federation president Samuel Eto’o has been suspended for four matches and fined $20,000 following an investigation into his conduct during Cameroon’s loss to Morocco at AFCON. FECAFOOT has criticized the ruling, saying it lacks clear justification and raises concerns about due process. The case adds another layer of controversy to a tournament already marked by intense emotions and disciplinary scrutiny.

Club América Stumbles in Clausura Play
Club América’s rough start to the Clausura continued with a 2–0 home loss to Atlético San Luis, a match defined by an early red card that left André Jardine’s side chasing the game for more than an hour. Afterward, Jardine called for patience, acknowledging the frustration while stressing that it is too early in the tournament to draw sweeping conclusions about the team’s direction.

Toluca Edges Santos to Maintain Strong Clausura Start
Toluca overcame Santos Laguna 3-1 in their Clausura 2026 Jornada 2 matchup, completing a spirited comeback and keeping their campaign rolling with back-to-back victories. After falling behind early, the reigning champions struck twice in quick succession and sealed the win with a penalty to assert control and build momentum in the league’s early stages.

Emelec on the Brink Amid Deepening Financial Crisis
Ecuadorian giants Emelec are facing a severe off-field crisis as unpaid wages and mounting debt have pushed the club toward a breaking point. Supporters have announced plans to protest outside the Estadio Banco del Pacífico Capwell, demanding accountability from club leadership as uncertainty grows around the team’s future. The turmoil has already affected the squad, with players previously refusing to train in response to salary delays. With Ecuadorian football under broader financial strain, Emelec’s situation has become a stark example of how quickly instability off the field can threaten competitiveness on it.

From Atlanta United setting a new tone under Tata Martino to AFCON delivering nights of drama and destiny, today’s stories all point to the same underlying theme: 2026 is about ownership. Ownership of identity, ownership of moments, and ownership of standards. Whether it is Tata and Chris Henderson talking about building a team that controls games with the ball, Morocco and Senegal owning their history on the continental stage, or leagues like the NWSL wrestling with how to shape their future, the game keeps circling back to one idea. The teams and leagues that thrive are the ones willing to be protagonists, not spectators, in their own stories.

That idea echoed across every corner of today’s news cycle. Real Madrid’s Copa collapse showed what happens when a club loses control of its narrative, while the shameful racism directed at Vinícius Júnior reminded us that football still has battles far bigger than any scoreboard. At the same time, Chris Richards earning U.S. Soccer’s top honor, Sam Coffey taking a bold step to Manchester City, and cities like Fresno pushing toward a professional future showed how ambition continues to reshape the sport at every level. Even the off-field debates, from ticket prices at the World Cup to ownership shifts in England, are ultimately about who gets to shape what the game becomes next.

And that brings it back home. As Atlanta United begins this next chapter, Tata’s word matters more than ever. Being protagonists means more than possession or pressing. It means choosing to dictate the story, not wait for it to be written by someone else. That is the challenge in front of this team, this league, and this global game in 2026. Not just to compete, but to lead. Not just to participate, but to step forward and say, this is our moment, and we intend to own it.

I’ll be back to own another edition of the Morning Espresso tomorrow, but we’ll share it together. See y’all then.

Jason