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Last week marked a historical night for two MLS clubs in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Inter Miami started the night down one to nothing in the aggregate, with a roster that is out of its prime despite their talent.
Vancouver, on the other hand, has shown that they are no longer a Cinderella but a genuine contender for the Champions Cup, not just for the MLS Cup.
Inter Miami Defied the Odds
LAFC defeated Inter in the first leg of One Nil and jumped to a fast one-goal lead. Most teams would have thrown in the towel, especially a team with aging stars that have to pick and choose when they go all out.
For the first time since Messi joined Inter Miami, we saw nearly a full 90 minutes of him sprinting nearly box to box to bolster his team in the first half.
A wonder goal for Messi to tie the game and a penalty shot towards the end of the game to give them the win in the aggregate was his biggest moment with the Club so far.
This performance by Messi had the soccer world locked in on the Argentinean legend to propel his club to heights we haven’t seen before.
Last year, Inter Miami was knocked out in this round, making it their first appearance in the semi-final.
Vancouver No Longer the Cinderella
The Whitecaps haven’t had a load of success since becoming a club in 2011 with only one top-three finish in the Western Conference.
This drought has expanded to all competitions, they have never been a true threat to win any cup they are eligible including the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Champions Cup has traditionally been dominated by Mexican teams. Pumas UNAM has been one of these teams, having achieved historical success by winning the cup three times in its history.
The first Leg was tied at a goal apiece, giving Pumas the home advantage with the advantage in away goals.
Away teams have struggled over the years in this tournament when an American team has traveled to Mexico.
While being down 2-1, Vancouver needed a wonder goal and got one from Tristian Blackmon in extra time.
A celebration soon followed for the Whitecaps as this marks the furthest they have ever been in this competition.
Both Teams Battling With History
The CONCACAF Champions Cup has gone through major changes since it first started in 1962.
In 2008, the tournament became the Champions League, adopting similar rules to Europe.
In 2024, it switched back to the name Champions Cup and expanded the number of teams that will be participating in the Cup.
During this time, only three MLS teams have ever won the Cup.
In 1998, D.C. United became the first MLS team to win it, then followed up two years later by LA Galaxy.
A 22-year-long winning streak for Mexico occurred until the Seattle Sounders FC broke the streak in 2022.
Miami and Vancouver have a chance to etch their names with the very few MLS teams to not just make it this far in the Mexican-dominated tournament but win the Cup for themselves.
All or Nothing for the Cup
Miami’s window for success is only open for a few more years at best, and with an aging roster, every moment for this club is critical.
Messi is aging; that is no secret, when he may call it a career.
Miami have won a Leagues cup and a Supporters Shield so far with Messi with three more Cups to win, The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Champions Cup, and the MLS Cup.
Messi’s aging makes this year all the more important.
Winning the Champions Cup this season will cross another milestone off the board and allow Inter to consider their run with Messi a success up to this point.
Before Miami can crown themselves, they will have to fend off a hungry but talented Vancouver squad.
A Successful Season, No Matter the Outcome
No matter the outcome of the semi-finals, Vancouver supporters will always consider this run a success.
The only thing that could take away from the Whitecaps’ success would be a blowout. Miami wins on both Legs.
Vancouver has proven in this young season that they are not just an unexpected underdog in a weak Western conference but one of the best teams in North America, capable of winning the Champions Cup.
More must-reads:
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Chelsea & Liverpool calling about €90m Man Utd transfer target after being given boost
Chelsea and Liverpool are reportedly among the clubs calling about the transfer situation of Juventus attacking midfielder Kenan Yildiz. The talented young Turkey international’s contract talks with Juve have stalled somewhat, and this has put top clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid on alert, according to Simon Phillips. As we’ve previously reported, Yildiz is also a top target for Manchester United, who could be prepared to pay as much as €90m to land the highly-rated 20-year-old. What’s the latest on Kenan Yildiz’s future? Although Yildiz hasn’t entirely cut off contract talks with Juventus, Phillips states that they’re currently on hold, and that this has led to Chelsea and others calling about a possible deal. “Kenan Yildiz of Juventus is in a bit of a contract stand off with his club at the moment, and as a result, many other clubs are sniffing around,” Phillips said. “Yildiz has been tracked by Chelsea for a couple of transfer windows now and they even tried to sign him in the summer. At that time, the deal was not possible because Juventus held firm and had no intentions of selling the 20-year-old Turkish international. “But now, with his current contract situation, Chelsea are back in the mix for Yildiz and are one of the clubs who have made fresh contact to seek out the situation.” He added: “Juventus do not want to pay what the players reps are asking, his current deal does run until 2029. So the ball stays in the Italian club’s court for now. “But Juventus have budget restraints, and with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and other big clubs calling about Yildiz right now, they may well be forced to sell the player if he does not agree to a new deal. “By the way, contract talks have stalled and not stopped. There is a chance that they can still come to an agreement. But Chelsea are certainly one of the clubs watching this situation closely.” Who is Kenan Yildiz? A talented young player, Yildiz can operate as a number ten or on either flank, showing great potential in a variety of roles in his relatively short career so far. The Turkish playmaker excels when it comes to dribbling, passing, and shooting, and so often stands out in Juventus’ games. This is certainly not the kind of player the Turin giants will want to lose, and in fairness they have his situation relatively under control as he’s under contract with them until 2029. Still, Yildiz is clearly also someone who’d be a great fit among the other elite young talents at Chelsea, while he could also strengthen Liverpool, where Florian Wirtz has been a huge disappointment so far. United might struggle against competition like this, but it also makes sense that Ruben Amorim would relish bringing in someone of his calibre to build around, perhaps as a long-term successor to Bruno Fernandes.
'A good chance' – Fabrizio Romano drops major update on £65m Liverpool & Man Utd transfer target
Cowboys' Jerry Jones has made a decision about George Pickens
The Dallas Cowboys made a big gamble in the offseason. On paper, adding George Pickens to the mix was going to work wonders for the passing game. However, Pickens had a long history of character issues, and watching Mike Tomlin essentially give up on him wasn't an encouraging sign. Fast forward to today, and the Georgia product has finally shown what he's capable of. That's why he may not be going anywhere. Jerry Jones wants to keep George Pickens around Cowboys insider Jon Machota of The Athletic reported that Jones affirmed that he's willing to spend big bucks to keep Pickens around, even though he's already committed more than $60 million a year to defensive tackles. Jones had previously been more tight-lipped about this situation, claiming that money would obviously be a factor to consider. But after watching Pickens haul in nine receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown in the 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, he may have changed his stance. Jerry Jones gushes about George Pickens' performance Following the win, the Cowboys owner/GM had nothing but praise for the former second-round pick. "Pickens was — I’ve never seen a performance like that. It was poetic the way that he was making those moves out there. It was like he was in an opera or something out there. A ballet," Jones said, per Pro Football Talk. Character concerns aside, Pickens has all the talent in the world, and his tandem with CeeDee Lamb is one of the most explosive in the league. He's up to 58 receptions on 83 targets for 908 yards and seven touchdowns in his first 10 games with the Cowboys, and he's looking at a big payday this offseason.
Major domino falls for Yankees with Trent Grisham decision
Outfielder Trent Grisham is accepting his $22.025M qualifying offer and will return to the New York Yankees in 2026, reports ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. Players who accept a QO are considered free-agent signings and are thus ineligible to be traded prior to the following June 15 unless they consent to the move. Trent Grisham had a breakout season It’s at least a modest surprise, as Grisham is coming off a breakout year at the plate that saw him club a career-high 34 home runs. He slashed .235/.348/.464, thanks in no small part to a career-best 14.1% walk rate and a 23.6% strikeout rate that stood as the second-lowest in his career. Between that production, the fact that Grisham only just turned 29 earlier this month, and a thin outfield market in free agency, the stars seemed to align for him to pursue a weighty multi-year contract this winter. Instead, Grisham returns to the site of his breakout and will hold down a key role in an outfield that’s also currently slated to include Jasson Dominguez and Aaron Judge. The Yankees are interested in re-signing Cody Bellinger, have been linked to Kyle Tucker and also have DH Giancarlo Stanton at least loosely in the outfield mix. (He played 132 outfield innings in 2025.) How does Trent Grisham's decision affect the Yankees? Grisham’s return muddies the waters a bit, but GM Brian Cashman said recently that even if he accepted, it wouldn’t impact the team’s pursuit of a new deal with Bellinger, via the New York Post’s Greg Joyce. The Yankees wouldn’t have made the QO to Grisham if they believed his acceptance was a roadblock to bringing back Bellinger or signing Tucker. They’re surely glad to have him back. Even though his defensive grades took an unexpected downturn in ’25, he has the best defensive track record in center of the Yankees’ in-house options. While Grisham could have looked to cash in this winter, he’ll instead take a hefty one-year payday in what amounts to a bet on himself. Though he’s a left-handed bat, his power output was hardly a product of Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. In fact, Grisham hit just .195/.326/.376 at home this season, compared to .254/.364/.506 on the road. If he can replicate this year’s huge power production, he could hit the market next offseason on the back of consecutive plus seasons at the plate and without the encumbrance of a qualifying offer. A big enough showing this year could realistically position Grisham for a $100M+ contract — particularly if his defensive grades rebound, too. The looming potential for a work stoppage is one other wrinkle to consider, but if anything, today’s glut of QO decisions suggests that players aren’t necessarily going to shy away from short-term deals that put them on the open market next year — at least not en masse. Grisham is one of four players to accept the QO, joining Gleyber Torres, Shota Imanaga and Brandon Woodruff in that regard. In a vacuum, any one of the four accepting his QO wouldn’t be considered a major surprise — but all four accepting in the same offseason is downright atypical. This marks the first time since the inception of the qualifying offer that more than three players have accepted a QO. With Grisham back in the fold, the Yankees’ projected payroll for the upcoming season jumps to about $263M, per RosterResource. They’ll now have about $286M of luxury-tax obligations, placing them just over the third penalty line. That means that the Yankees’ top pick in the 2026 draft will drop by 10 places, unless they’re able to sneak their luxury count back under $284M. Given the wide swath of offseason dealings that’s likely still on the table for Cashman and Co., that doesn’t seem to be a very likely outcome. In all likelihood, the Yankees will wind up in the top CBT penalty tier, just as they’ve done in each of the past three seasons. How does Trent Grisham's decision affect the rest of MLB? Turning to the rest of the league, Grisham’s early removal from the free-agent market — to a team that didn’t clearly need to retain him, no less — subtracts arguably the top center field option from the market. Bellinger, of course, can still play center but barely did so in 2025. Most teams probably consider him more of a corner outfielder/first baseman who can play occasional center field. Harrison Bader and Cedric Mullins are the two most notable options still on the market, though the former has been more of a part-time player and the latter is looking to bounce back from an awful 2025 showing. The market was light on center fielders to begin with and is even more so now, so teams looking for help at the position might be more inclined to turn to the trade market to address that deficiency.
7 Commanders players who definitely won't be back in 2026 at the bye week
The Washington Commanders have finally reached their bye week at last. And as head coach Dan Quinn stated to the media after his team's dismal loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, it's much needed. Quinn revealed that everyone is depleted, and it's not just the players and coaches. That goes for fans, too. It's been an arduous, draining campaign that promised much but has fallen by the wayside. The Commanders are 3-8 when most were anticipating another postseason run. And it's not hard to see why attention is already turning to what promises to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Adam Peters. Peters ran it back with the large majority of the squad that reached the NFC Championship game in 2024. He made two bold splashes in the trade market, but this was the NFL's oldest roster heading into the campaign. That blew up in the front-office leader's face, and although injuries haven't helped their cause, it's clear that massive changes are coming to the playing personnel. The Commanders have more than 30 players out of contract next spring. They should have over $100 million in available salary-cap space, but there is a lot of hard work ahead. And with only six draft picks at Peters' disposal, not every problem will be solved. With that being said, the fates of some players are already looking bleak. Here are seven Commanders who definitely won't be back in 2026. Commanders players who definitely won't be back in 2026 at the bye week Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB The Washington Commanders were counting on running back Austin Ekeler to provide a stable veteran presence this season. Adam Peters saw enough in his younger backfield options to trade Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers before the deadline. Unfortunately, things took a concerning turn early on. Ekeler went down in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. The news was demoralizing, with the dual-threat weapon tearing his Achilles to rule him out for the rest of 2025. The former Western Colorado standout isn't planning on retirement. Ekeler is working hard to get healthy again, and he's confident that this issue will make him even stronger. But with the veteran out of contract next spring, and the Commanders' need to get younger across the board, it seems unlikely that he'll get another deal in Washington. Ekeler's presence has been sorely missed this season. But given his age, injuries, and concussion history, he'll probably get the green light to take his chances elsewhere. Noah Brown - Commanders WR The Washington Commanders gave Noah Brown a one-year deal to remain with the squad this offseason. This was a massive confidence boost for the wide receiver, especially considering his 2024 campaign ended abruptly with a serious internal injury that required kidney surgery. Unfortunately, this was the start of a concerning trend for Brown. He was carted off during Washington's mandatory minicamp, which hindered his summer preparations. The former Ohio State star got back in time for Week 1, but he lasted just two games before getting hurt again. The Commanders eventually put Brown on injured reserve when his recovery didn't go as expected. He's slowly progressing, and there is a chance that he can feature at some stage after the bye week. However, this would be a good time for Washington to go in a different direction. Brown is a good player, but the best ability is availability in the NFL. Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL Washington thought that Nick Allegretti could become a long-term starter. The Commanders gave him a three-year deal after starring for the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2023 run to another Super Bowl. It hasn't gone as anyone hoped. Allegretti struggled to find the consistency needed in his first season as the team's starting left guard. He looked set to go back into a rotational/backup role this season after Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil, moving Brandon Coleman to left guard. But the Commanders thought that he could shine on the right-hand side of the interior until Sam Cosmi came back from injured reserve. Much like his first season, Allegretti struggled right out of the gate. The Commanders benched him after two games, and he's been seldom seen on the offensive rotation since. The Illinois product still has one year remaining on his deal, but Adam Peters should end this experiment ahead of time. Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB There is no doubt about Bobby Wagner's credentials. He is a future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker with 14-straight seasons with more than 1000 tackles. He was an integral force in Washington's culture shift last season, but the cracks are beginning to show this time around. Wagner remains a force in between the tackles. He's a solid run defender who can still be effective on blitzes. Even so, the former Utah State prospect is becoming a glaring weak link in other areas that opposing teams are exploiting with alarming frequency this season. The second-level presence has never been significant in coverage, but age is catching up to him. When Wagner gets isolated, he's prone to giving up explosive plays. This is magnified more than ever by the failings of others. Although Wagner hasn't confirmed one way or another whether he'll walk away from the game this offseason, the Commanders need to find a younger, more dynamic linebacker to replace him. Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB Trading for cornerback Marshon Lattimore signified that the Washington Commanders were ready to contend. Adam Peters knew there was an opportunity, and he struck with conviction to secure the services of a potentially shutdown coverage presence to help them reach new heights. Lattimore never shook off a hamstring injury after the trade. He tried valiantly to fight through the pain, but the athletic traits weren't there. Still, with a full offseason to recuperate and acclimate to the defensive scheme, hopes were high for better fortunes in 2025. The four-time Pro Bowler out of Ohio State suffered similar frailties. Lattimore got burned by faster wide receivers downfield, and his technical flaws led to multiple defensive pass interference penalties in key moments. Just when it seemed like the tide might be turning, he suffered a torn ACL. Adam Petters won't like it, but the $18.5 million in savings with no dead cap ramifications by releasing Lattimore before the final year of his deal are too tempting to ignore. Von Miller - Commanders OLB Fans were deeply concerned about Adam Peters' lack of attention to the team's pass-rushing options during the offseason. The general manager was confident enough in the options available, and signing Von Miller shortly before the campaign began was the icing on his cake. Miller is a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer when he leaves the game. He's not getting any younger, but the Commanders were confident he could help as a rotational pass-rusher when the situation called for it. Thanks to the countless injuries to influential personnel, Washington needed more. Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. — the team's starting defensive end tandem — both suffered season-ending injuries. That's allowed opposing defenses to key on Miller, and he doesn't have the dynamism to counteract it effectively enough in his twilight. The Super Bowl 50 MVP recently revealed that he wants to continue playing, ideally on the Commanders. But the reality should be a lot different. Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL The Commanders identified Andrew Wylie as someone capable of being a long-term starter in Washington. He followed Eric Bieniemy to the franchise in 2023, immediately becoming the starting right guard. The veteran didn't give up many sacks, but the inconsistency on an island was there for all to see. Wylie kept his spot in 2024, but the same complications emerged. Adam Peters had seen enough, spending the No. 29 overall selection in the draft on Josh Conerly Jr. to form a bookend tackle tandem with Laremy Tunsil. This relegated Wylie to a backup role, but it wasn't long before he was thrust into the spotlight again. He came in at the right guard spot when Nick Allegretti struggled, adding a much-needed sense of stability to the place at a critical time. But when Sam Cosmi got the all-clear to return, he went back to the fringes. Wylie probably wants the chance to start at this stage of his career. And the Commanders don't want to be shelling out big money for veteran backups when there are so many other needs elsewhere.
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