Full time: well, they did it. FC Juárez 2, Minnesota 1. That's eight in a row without a win, with only three of those against a team in a playoff spot right now. Seven in a row at home without a win. Seven in a row overall without scoring more than one goal. Probably out of the Leagues Cup.

Jon Marthaler@jonmarthaler.com · 16h ago

#MNUFC on track to lose to both the worst team in MLS and the worst team in Liga MX in the span of two weeks

#MNUFC falls out of boat, flies safely if confusingly to shore

Really takes me back to the NSC days when the broadcast mics pick up the old "SCORE, DAMMIT" chant

#MNUFC on track to lose to both the worst team in MLS and the worst team in Liga MX in the span of two weeks

Allianz Field is hosting USA-Canada in October. I am focusing on the most important part of this matchup: Canadian coach Jesse Marsch is from Racine, Wisconsin.

Allianz Field to host USA-Canada, and head coach Jesse Marsch, who is from Racine, Wisconsin

On October 6, St. Paul will host a renewing of one of the great rivalries in sports, by which we mean people from Racine against the forces of good.

jonmarthaler.com

Sometimes a hot dog topped with pinto beans, shredded cheese, onion, tomato, jalapeño and mayo is just a hot dog topped with pinto beans, shredded cheese, onion, tomato, jalapeño and mayo.

I am wondering if this is a very sneaky shot at #MNUFC 's opponents, given that this is the equivalent of the Loons showing up in Juarez and finding that they're selling a Wisconsin Taco at the game

Minnesota United FC@mnufc.com · 2d ago

Celebrate the return of Leagues Cup! Our limited-time menu features the Sonoran Hot Dog, topped with pinto beans, shredded cheese, onion, tomato, jalapeño and mayo, available at Hungry Loon locations in sections 10, 13, 22 and 34. KBYG » https://utd.mn/454hcLU

There were moments there, for #MNUFC, against San Diego. You could see a team that is capable of doing something other than bunkering, countering, and scoring from set pieces.

Loons not quite there on second balls, set pieces, transition moments against San Diego

Minnesota had a lot of good moments against San Diego... but close wasn't quite enough for three points.

jonmarthaler.com

waiting for the smoke to announce that they've elected a new MLS commissioner

I loved this post from the first paragraph but I loved it even more when it used "Lilliputian" and "Brobdingnagian" as opposing adjectives

American Soccer Analysis@americansocceranalysis.com · 2d ago

We've not done a good job of looking at goalkeepers, @kierdoyle.bsky.social tried to change that. Here's his xClaim model for goalkeeper cross collection. www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/7/...

Those of us who are European soccer fans were much better prepared for things like "sure seems like a really good baseball player wanted to go to a much richer, already stacked team that somehow doesn't seem to have any financial constraints of any kind"

Seemed like #MNUFC was in control of this match for long stretches, and the penalty was ridiculous. That said, when the opposition hits the bar / post three times (on two shots), it's a little hard to complain that the team's been hard done by.

That’s one of those penalties that makes you go “you know they really need to change the rules about penalties, that’s ridiculous”

Loons getting Kelvin Yeboah and Devin Padelford ready for the final half hour #MNUFC

Look him up ✊🏾

paging @gabrielalozada.bsky.social, why does it look like RapidMan is asking all the other mascots if they want to fight

Burgundy Wave@burgundywave.bsky.social · 4d ago

Mascots from Switchbacks, MSU, Mines, UNC, Chip from CU, Colorado Eagles, the Mammoth, Broncos, Avs, and RapidMan here for Colorado Day. No Rocky from the Nuggets. Also no Cam The Ram.

Genuinely enjoyable half of soccer from #MNUFC. A goal for the home team, a surprising amount of excellent possession from both sides, and even a double doink for the highlights. Tremendous work everyone. Curious to see if the Loons make any halftime subs.

An atmosphere designed for soccer, an established grass pitch, AND a match of two halves rather than four quarters? In the best state in the nation? Lovely evening at Allianz Field for my first game of any kind since the World Cup (and a good matchup, to boot).

Morris Duggan hype reel game #MNUFC

Here's a pregame notebook for #MNUFC, which takes on San Diego tonight at Allianz Field. Included: talking to Cam Knowles about Owen Géne and another defense-first game, plus injury updates and Kayne Rizvanovich. It's free to read; you just have to sign up for an account.

Free Headers: Loons pregame notes

Emptying the notebook ahead of the Loons taking on San Diego.

jonmarthaler.com

You know what's amazing about @andygreder.bsky.social? Dude has been at Big Ten media days all week, he has a thousand things going on, and he still drops a knowledgeable and timely #MNUFC preview for tonight's game. One word: showoff.

Loss to San Diego would drop Loons out of MLS Cup Playoff picture

Minnesota slump extends to six matches without a win.

twincities.com

“Dan, the people are demanding an extended look at whether the Loons’ underlying stats accurately reflect their performance!” Well, damn. I can’t say no to a request like that…

Call Up A Storm@callupastorm.bsky.social · 5d ago

Every veteran sports media person will tell you the very best time to drop a blog on a complex topic is 11:20pm on a Friday night. So here you go! callupastorm.com/how-did-the-...

Absolute dead-center of the bullseye from @jonmarthaler.com:

Two teams, both in the same spot in the standings, both approaching the deadline to add to their teams. If #MNUFC is smart, they'll avoid the mistakes the Twins made in 2024 and 2025. Twins ownership has an uphill climb trying to undo the damage that they caused - a climb the Loons can't afford.

Loons must avoid falling into the Twins trap

Minnesota sits at .500, and has one of the lowest payrolls in the league. They're hovering right around the playoff line. Fans can be bitingly critical of the perceived lack of investment from the own...

jonmarthaler.com

Confirmed that #MNUFC midfielder Peter Stroud re-aggravated his quad injury on Tuesday. Tough to have a setback right as he had returned and was getting into games. Nectarios Triantis and Nicolás Romero are also out for tomorrow night.

Useless #MNUFC training clothing report: Carlos Harvey and Mamadou Dieng are wearing stocking caps in the pouring rain. It is 70 degrees outside.

That All-Star glow 💫

Twins GM Jeremy Zoll talked trade deadline last night and was much more forthcoming than expected, leaving no doubt they plan to be buyers. Here's everything Zoll said, what he chose not to say also revealed, and my takeaways from the lengthy Q&A session: www.aarongleeman.com/twins-gm-jer...

Twins GM Jeremy Zoll talks trade deadline and leaves no doubt they plan to be buyers

Zoll said adding pitching, and specifically bullpen help, "will be a clear focus." But the status of catcher Ryan Jeffers, an impending free agent, is still up in the air.

aarongleeman.com

How to fix the MLS All-Star Game, with the caveat that All-Star Games are unfixable. Plus #MNUFC notes from training on Tuesday! Free to read for everyone - just sign up for a free subscription and you're in.

How to fix the MLS All-Star Game, and Loons notes

We must begin by acknowledging something that most of us understand: there is no fixing the MLS All-Star Game, or for that matter any other All-Star Game. The very first All-Star Game was in baseball...

jonmarthaler.com

perfect story, let's close down the internet

Defector@defector.com · last wk.

I rode the Tour de France cauliflower: