Cifuentes was dismissed by Leicester City in January. He previously managed Queens Park Rangers.

The Spaniard has now signed on at Portland, who were on the hunt for a new coach after they sacked Neville in May.

Portland resumed their MLS campaign in style last week, with interim coach Jack Cassidy overseeing a thumping 5-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.

Cifuentes was officially appointed on Tuesday, though Cassidy will remain in charge until Portland's new boss finalises his visa process.

"I am incredibly excited to become the next head coach of this club," said Cifuentes.

"My conversations with Merritt and Ned were truly inspiring, and their vision aligns perfectly with what I want to be part of. I have always followed MLS, and it has long been an ambition of mine to experience this league.

"To have the chance to do so at a club like Portland, with such an incredible fanbase and an exciting group of players, is truly special.

"I know how passionate this city is about soccer, and the connection between the club and the city is what makes this opportunity so meaningful.

"We want to build a team with a clear identity, strong ambition, and a real sense of togetherness, one that represents this city and makes our supporters proud.

"Soccer in the U.S. is entering a new era, with the country hosting the World Cup and the sport continuing to grow in so many ways. To be part of that journey and contribute to the next chapter of the game here is a privilege."

Portland host FC Dallas on Wednesday. The Timbers sit 11th in the Western Conference, while Dallas are fifth.

De La Roja a las Rosas

Martí is bringing a strong foundation and invaluable experience to Portland pic.twitter.com/WafwK2h08s

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 21, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – ​Kevin Kelsy

Kelsy scored two of Portland's five goals against the Sounders, meaning he has netted five goals over his last five games.

His five league goals since May 9 are tied with the Philadelphia Union's Milan Iloski for the most by any MLS player in that time.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Dallas have a World Cup goalscorer set to lead their line.

Musa netted for Croatia against England, in Dallas, last month. He became the first Dallas player to score in the World Cup.

He is one of three players to score for a European nation at the World Cup while playing for an MLS side (Gareth Bale and Xherdan Shaqiri in 2022).

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Dallas have equalled a club record with three consecutive regular-season away wins, the first time they have done so since May 2005.

Their only string of four straight road wins in all competitions came in July-August 1997, when they won five in a row on the road across the regular season and US Open Cup.

However, Portland have lost only one of 17 all-time home matches against Dallas in all competitions (W9 D7), though the last two meetings at Providence Park have ended in draws.

The Timbers are unbeaten in nine straight at home against Dallas (W4 D5) since a 3-1 loss in April 2016.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 39.9%

FC Dallas – 33.5%

Draw – 26.6%

The post Cifuentes thrilled to take over at Timbers appeared first on SoccerNews.

Otamendi had already confirmed in March that he would retire from international football after the World Cup, which was his fourth representing the Albiceleste.

Even though the 38-year-old only started one of Argentina's eight games, he made seven appearances, including replacing the injured Lisandro Martinez in the first half of Sunday's final versus Spain.

Otamendi was part of a stubborn rearguard action as Argentina became the first team in World Cup final history to not have a single shot in regulation time, but Ferran Torres came off the bench to score an extra-time winner for La Roja.

Argentina have now finished as World Cup runners-up on four occasions, also doing so in 1930, 1990 and 2014, the joint-most of any nation alongside Germany/West Germany. Otamendi was left out of their final squad for the 2014 tournament.

And in an emotional farewell post on Instagram, the Benfica defender wrote: "It wasn't the ending we dreamed of, and the truth is that it hurts a lot. 

"Because behind these 50 days there were sacrifices, hugs, tears, hope and a group that gave everything for this jersey. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Twitter Oficial: @Notamendi30 (@nicolasotamendi30)

"But if there is something that I will carry forever, it is the pride of having shared this path with a group of extraordinary people, who never stopped believing, who fought until the last second and who defended these colours with their hearts. 

"Thank you to my comrades for every battle, and for never giving up. And thank you to all the Argentinian people. Thank you for believing, for accompanying us and for making us feel your affection in every corner of the world. 

"Today we have to come back with a broken heart, but with the tranquillity of having given everything. 

"Finals are won or lost, but there are jerseys that defend themselves for life. And this one, we defended until our last breath. Argentina always!"

Otamendi will now return to his home country to represent River Plate, having penned a one-year deal with the Buenos Aires giants in May after his departure from Benfica.

The post Otamendi content Argentina gave everything at his final World Cup appeared first on SoccerNews.

The Loons have not played since a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on May 22, with Wednesday's trip to Sporting Kansas City getting their season back up and running.

The hiatus may have come at a good time for Knowles' team, too, as they were on a four-match winless run and had dropped out of the Western Conference's automatic playoff spots.

They occupy the first wild-card place ahead of their visit to Sporting Park, but Knowles feels the opportunity to spend quality time on the training ground may now come to their advantage.

"It's been an interesting one for us, because we've never had so much time in the summer," he said of the break.

"So for guys to get that time to reset is good for us, because when we left, the games were coming thick and fast, and you didn't get all that time on the training pitch.

"So for them to have that time to have a mental and physical reset was good, and we're ready for the back half of the season." 

Sporting KC have already played their first game since the break, and they remain rooted to the bottom of the West after losing 3-2 to rivals St. Louis City SC last week.

A midweek return to MLS action

Preview » https://t.co/HWN1GlV0OK pic.twitter.com/uDXxXz3SoK

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) July 18, 2026

Or Blorian and Emir Karic made their Kansas City debuts in that match, and midfielder Manu Garcia is optimistic about the impact they could make over the coming months.

"The guys that are new, that are coming from other leagues, they've already got those types of experiences. They were ready for this," Garcia said after the St. Louis game. 

"Of course, MLS is completely different to other leagues, so they need time to get used to it, but I think I've seen them doing well. Also, they are really good guys.

"They are going to connect really well with the team, and they are also very loud players. For sure, the team will only get better."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic

Last time out against St. Louis, Joveljic scored his 25th MLS goal with Sporting KC. 

That is 18 more than any of his team-mates since the beginning of last season, and Joveljic has tallied 43.1% of the MLS goals scored by Sporting KC players over the last two seasons (25/58, excluding own goals).

Minnesota United – Mauricio Gonzalez

Gonzalez scored his first MLS goal with a stoppage-time equaliser for the Loons in their final match prior to the World Cup break, a 1-1 draw with RSL.

That goal came after 92 minutes and 53 seconds, making it the latest scored by Minnesota this season.

MATCH PREDICTION – MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota failed to win any of their last four matches before the World Cup hiatus (D2 L2), their longest winless run in regular-season play in the last two years.

However, the Opta supercomputer believes their slump will end on Wednesday.

The Loons have won four of their last five regular-season meetings with Sporting KC (D1) after winning only four of the team's first 19 league meetings (D4 L11). They have scored nearly as many goals in the last five meetings (13) as they managed in the first 19 (15).

In addition, Sporting KC have conceded at least one goal in all 16 matches they have played in all competitions this year, making them the only MLS team without a clean sheet. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 25.8%

Minnesota United – 50.8%

Draw – 23.4%  

The post Knowles says World Cup break provided welcome ‘reset’ for Minnesota United appeared first on SoccerNews.

Anderson has joined the eight-time Premier League champions in a deal reportedly worth £116m, following a two-year spell at Forest.

During his time at the City Ground, he helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and reach the semi-finals of the 2025-26 Europa League, losing to eventual winners Aston Villa.

Forest were embroiled in a relegation fight in the Premier League last term, but Anderson was a key part of ensuring they remained in the top flight.

He had the most touches (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and drew the most fouls (80) of any player in the Premier League.

His 430 ground duels contested were also a league-high figure, and he won 231 of those, a total not bettered by any other player.

"Firstly, I am so grateful for the love and support you have shown me over the last two years, especially towards the end of this season. From the minute I walked through the door, I fell in love with this club," Anderson said in a social media post.

"I want to thank all the staff and players for welcoming me and making my time here so enjoyable. This club gave me the opportunity to grow as a player and a person.

Forest family,

Firstly I am so grateful for the love and support you have shown me over the last 2 years especially towards the end of this season. From the minute I walked through the door i fell in love with this club.

I want to thank all the staff and players for welcoming… pic.twitter.com/ycW28mNATI

— Elliot Anderson (@elljanderson) July 21, 2026

"Bringing the club European football again after 29 years is what all of you fans deserved, and to be a helping hand in that was so special.

"Nottingham Forest will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for all the unforgettable memories."

Anderson also played a crucial role for England at the World Cup, as the Three Lions finished third to record their best finish since winning the trophy in 1966.

It was also their best-ever performance in the tournament on foreign soil, with Anderson nailing down a regular starting spot alongside Declan Rice in midfield.

He was one of three players to feature in all eight of England's matches at the World Cup, with only Marc Guehi (607) having more touches than him for the Three Lions (574).

Among England players, Anderson topped the charts for duels won (50), tackles (21), tackles won (18), interceptions (eight) and possession regains (42). 

The post ‘Nottingham Forest will always have a special place in my heart’ – Anderson bids farewell appeared first on SoccerNews.

Leeds had been in a relegation battle at one stage of the season, but a strong finish to the campaign saw them shoot away from danger and eventually finish 14th, eight points clear of the drop zone.

They were beaten 3-0 by West Ham on the final day, but before that had been on an eight-game unbeaten streak, which had ensured they avoided an immediate return to the Championship.

Leeds also finished the season on a run of 10 consecutive top-flight games without conceding a first-half goal for the first time since doing so in 11 in a row from October to December 1990.

And Piroe wants to see an even stronger performance from Leeds in the upcoming season.

"The team's goal will be to at least replicate last season, and hopefully, do even better to get closer to 10th place or maybe even more," he told Flashscore.

"On a personal level, I just want to show my growth and show that I have adapted to the league now, and that I can step up."

2026/27 starts here! pic.twitter.com/4rTAeDFtoH

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 13, 2026

Piroe joined Leeds in 2023 and got his first taste of Premier League football last season.

He has made 118 appearances for the club in all competitions, with 21 of those coming last term, though only five of those were from the start, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin the first-choice striker.

Piroe netted just once for Leeds in 2025-26, scoring in a 3-0 win over Norwich City in the FA Cup, with Thomas Frank's team eventually reaching the semi-finals before losing to Chelsea.

"I don't think it did anything to my confidence because when you play a very low number of minutes, it maybe says 21 appearances, but if you look at the minutes [572], then it's not something that I would punish myself for," Piroe said of his lack of game time.

"At the same time, when I think back about some games, like the home game against Manchester United when I could have scored the winner in the last minute, of course, those moments can make you angry, or you think like, 'Ah, I should have done better'.

"But at the same time, that happens, and then you think like, if I played maybe the full game or more minutes, then for sure I would have scored more.

"But yes, that is something you don't have in your hands.  Personally, it's always tough because everyone wants to play every minute. But I think in some situations it's just good to make out of a bad situation a good situation.

"So, instead of moping around and being annoyed, you can still make it a good season on a personal level, and I just think that's what I've done, and I hope to be able to show that next season."

The post Leeds’ Piroe out to replicate last season’s success appeared first on SoccerNews.

D.C. are ninth in the Eastern Conference and return to MLS action after the World Cup break having gone winless in their last four outings before the break (D3 L1).

However, they have lost just one of their last nine matches in the league – a 3-1 defeat to the Chicago Fire – and currently occupy the last playoff spot.

While Weiler insists he is not thinking about the postseason just yet, he believes anything is possible if D.C. keep digging in to ensure they do not leave matches empty-handed.

"I'm not looking too much at the table. I'm looking only at the performances, and of course, we will try to win more games," he said.

"It's tough to win games. It's much more difficult to win against us. So that was a big step we took forward.

"But now we have to try to win more games, and it's complicated, but I'm looking only for the next game and the next result, not at the table.

"We will see where we end up in the rankings because, at the end, you deserve what you deserve."

Houston are also enjoying a strong season, sitting seventh in the West and losing just one of their five games leading up to the World Cup hiatus.

The Dynamo won a friendly against America de Cali 2-1 during the break, and Ben Olsen says he and his team are more than ready to get back to MLS action.

"We're ready to get the season going again," he said after that friendly. "We want to turn the page.

"We want to get to the league. The second 'pre-season' is new for us, and it's tricky at times, but we've learned as we go about what we've done well and what we could improve."

The wait is over, we're back pic.twitter.com/g5TaaWOBrt

— D.C. United (@dcunited) July 20, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Jonathan Bond

Bond has delivered a clean sheet in each of his last three home matches in MLS play.

The only goalkeepers to have a longer streak of home regular-season shutouts in team history are Steve Clark (five in 2023) and Pat Onstad (four in 2007).  

D.C. United – Louis Munteanu

In two of D.C.'s last four matches, both Munteanu and Lucas Bartlett have scored headed goals, including in their last game before the break against CF Montreal.

Over the last 20 seasons, no other D.C. duo has had multiple MLS matches with a headed goal for each player, but they will face a tough test if they want to get past Bond.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

This will be D.C.'s first visit to Houston in over seven years, since a 2-1 loss in May 2019. The Dynamo have won 12 of their 15 all-time home matches against United (D2 L1), with their only such loss coming in 2014.

The Dynamo entered the break winning their last three home matches, each by the same 1-0 scoreline. The Dynamo's only streak of four consecutive shutout wins at home in league play came in March and April 2023.

Meanwhile, D.C. are unbeaten in four consecutive regular-season away matches (W1 D3) and have lost just two of eight away games overall this year (W2 D4).

Their last longer road unbeaten stretch in all competitions was a six-match run that spanned the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 53.1%

Draw – 23.6%

D.C. United – 23.3%

The post D.C. United ‘hard to beat’ but need more wins, says Weiler appeared first on SoccerNews.

Argentina failed to deliver a fourth World Cup – and a second in succession with Lionel Messi as captain – as they went down 1-0 to Spain in last week's final in New Jersey.

Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second bookable offence in second-half stoppage time, with Argentina becoming the first team in World Cup final history to not register a single shot throughout the 90 minutes.

Martinez made 11 saves to keep Spain at bay, the most by any goalkeeper since records began (in 1966) in a World Cup final, but substitute Ferran Torres finally broke the Albiceleste's resistance in extra time.

Argentina will now enter an uncertain period, with 39-year-old captain Messi expected to walk away from the international game and several others, including Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes and Nicolas Tagliafico, having surely played at the World Cup for the final time.

Indeed, with an average age of 30 years and 101 days, Argentina named the second-oldest starting line-up for a World Cup final in history, after Brazil against Czechoslovakia in 1962 (30y 216d).

They also had four starters aged 32 or above, becoming just the third team to do so in a World Cup final after Brazil in 1998 and France in 2006 – all three of those sides lost.

And another of the veterans in Lionel Scaloni's squad, 33-year-old goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, now has a decision to make regarding his future.

"I dreamt we'd win it again, I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more," Martinez wrote in an Instagram post. 

"The truth is, the pain is hard to explain. There are many things to reflect on and how to move forward, and if it's time to step aside.

"I'm so sorry, I truly tried my best to help my country and my team-mates."

Martinez's club future has also been the subject of intense speculation this summer, with Aston Villa believed to be open to selling him amid links to Serie A giants Juventus.

Martinez's 11 saves in the World Cup final were more than his Spain counterpart and eventual Golden Glove winner Unai Simon made throughout the whole tournament (10).

He made 20 saves in Argentina's eight-game campaign, with only Paraguay's Orlando Gill (23) making more at the competition in total.

Martinez registered a save percentage of 71.4% and conceded eight goals overall, from an expected goals on target (xGoT) figure of 8.6, meaning he prevented 0.6 goals.

The post Martinez could ‘step aside’ from Argentina duty after World Cup heartache appeared first on SoccerNews.

Wagner is back at Philadelphia after just six months with Birmingham City, returning to the club where he spent seven seasons and won two Supporters' Shields.

It is a much-needed boost for Philadelphia, whose eight-match winless streak before the World Cup break resulted in Bradley Carnell's sacking, as they sit bottom of the Eastern Conference.

But Richter says Wagner is likely to feature against the Red Bulls as the Union aim to come back stronger.

"He's fit. He's ready to play," Richter said of Wagner. "It's not only Kai and the fans that want him out there.

"It's the coaching staff and his team-mates that also want him out there. So, he's ready, and he's fit, and he's a great professional, so he always keeps himself in a good way.

"We'll see exactly how he is for the 90 minutes in the match, but he's in a really good spot, and I think he's ready. I don't know if he would let me keep him out from this game."

Welcome back, Kai

Philadelphia Union acquire defender Kai Wagner via transfer from Birmingham City F.C.

https://t.co/IrsHVWULQW#DOOP | @primepoint pic.twitter.com/7C9KgoDppN

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) July 17, 2026

New York, meanwhile, are fifth in the East and went into the World Cup break on the back of a four-game unbeaten streak (W3 D1).

Michael Bradley expects a different Philadelphia to the one that played the first half of the season but insists his team will not change their way of preparation.

"When we talk about preparation for games, we talk about ourselves; we talk about being at our best," he said.

"We talk about the football that we want to play. We talk about doing everything we can to put the game on our terms.

"And we have really used the summer period to push our ideas and our way of playing and to really see if we can raise the level and the consistency with which we play every time we step out on the field."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Kai Wagner

Wagner has returned to the Union after playing for Birmingham in England, and it seems like he will be thrown straight into the action on Philadelphia's MLS return.

In his first stint with Philadelphia, Wagner delivered 63 assists in regular-season play, making him the only player in club history with 50 or more MLS assists.

New York Red Bulls – Jorge Ruvalcaba

The Red Bulls' last three goals prior to the break were all scored by Jorge Ruvalcaba after the three immediately prior to that were all scored by Julian Hall.

The last player to score all the goals in a four-goal span for the team in the regular season was Bradley Wright-Phillips in June-July 2014.

MLS is back, and we couldn't be more pumped. pic.twitter.com/TEoohMm4Ve

— Red Bull New York (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 19, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

NYRB's 1-0 home win over Philadelphia last August ended a 16-match winless run against the Union in all competitions. It was the Red Bulls' first victory over them since a 2-0 road win in September 2019.

The Union are the fourth team in MLS history to collect seven or fewer points from their first 15 games of a season, joining Chivas USA in 2005 (six), D.C. United in 2013 (six) and LA Galaxy in 2025 (four).

Philadelphia still have not won a regular-season match in the United States in 2026 (only win at CF Montreal).

NYRB entered the break winning three of their last four matches (D1) after winning three of their first 11 this year (D3 L5). New York won their last two road games before the break, their first regular-season road winning streak since a three-game run to end the 2023 season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 46.7%

Draw – 26.4%

New York Red Bulls – 26.9%

The post Wagner fit and ‘ready to play’ upon Philadelphia return appeared first on SoccerNews.

Seattle's return to MLS action after the World Cup break saw them thumped 5-1 on home soil by their fiercest rivals last Thursday, with four of Portland's goals coming after half-time.

It was only the third instance of the Sounders ever conceding five goals in an MLS game, and the first time they have ever done so at Lumen Field.

The Sounders remain sixth in the Western Conference standings despite that result, though they now face a tough road stretch prior to the Leagues Cup break. 

They go to Austin FC on Wednesday, with a trip to the Philadelphia Union and the reverse fixture against Portland also in their diary between now and August 1.

"It was not even close to the standard that we set at this club. There were zero excuses for that performance; it just was not good enough," Schmetzer said after Thursday's defeat.

"And that goes for me too; I've got to own that. That's the worst loss we've faced, the worst loss to the Timbers ever. I'm the head coach, so it's on me too.

"I didn't see it coming, not in a million years. I thought we had a good week of training; I thought the guys were fired up.

"We'll dissect the tape, and we'll make sure to go over all the areas that we were deficient in and try to correct them.

"We have a tough road trip to Austin and Philly. I have to watch the tape, and I could pick one or two, but it might be four or five things that we need to do better."

Final. pic.twitter.com/YCpMq6eHv2

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 17, 2026

Austin have not played since the World Cup hiatus and sit 14th in the Western Conference, with only Sporting Kansas City below them.

This will be just their second game since firing head coach Nico Estevez and placing Davy Arnaud in interim charge – his first match at the helm was a 3-0 loss to St. Louis City SC on May 22. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Facundo Torres

Torres has created 37 chances in his first campaign with Austin, which is the fifth most by any player in MLS this year. 

Those 37 chances created are also 25 more than any other Austin player this year (Jon Gallagher – 12), with Torres the only Austin player ranking in the top 100 league-wide.

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak 

Rusnak's assist against Portland took him to 149 career goal contributions in MLS regular-season matches (73 goals, 76 assists), so he will be eyeing the 150 mark here.

Since the beginning of 2017 (Rusnak's debut season), the only three MLS players with more goal contributions are Lucho Acosta (161), Hany Mukhtar (152) and Josef Martinez (152).

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Austin's 2-1 win over Seattle at Q2 Stadium last September was just their second victory in 10 all-time meetings between the teams (D3 L5). 

The Sounders had been unbeaten on their first four visits to Austin, recording three wins and a draw before last year's defeat.

Austin lost their final three matches before the break by an aggregate score of 10-1. Wednesday's hosts have lost 14 of their last 23 matches in all competitions (W4 D5) after losing just five of the previous 23.

So, even with the Sounders coming off a 5-1 defeat to Portland, the Opta supercomputer is still backing the visitors to take three points.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 29.1%

Seattle Sounders – 46.2%

Draw – 24.7%

The post Schmetzer demands response after ‘worst-ever’ Seattle Sounders loss appeared first on SoccerNews.

Van Oevelen helped Volendam win promotion to the Eredivisie in 2024-25, but their stay in the Dutch top flight was a short one after losing to Willem II in the promotion-relegation play-offs last term.

He made 32 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, conceding 51 goals. He did face the second-most shots of any goalkeeper in the competition (589), though, as well as the third-most shots on target (195).

Among all goalkeepers to make at least 15 Eredivisie appearances in 2025-26, only Vasilios Barkas (73.91% for Utrecht) had a better save percentage than Van Oevelen's 73.85%.

Van Oevelen is the fourth signing Ipswich have made as they prepare to return to the Premier League under new boss Gary O'Neil, following deals for Emersonn, Chuba Akpom and Cedric Kipre. They are reportedly also in talks to sign winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City.

Kayne is in.  pic.twitter.com/p9D21gBUUg

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) July 21, 2026

Last season in the Championship, Christian Walton started 36 games in the Ipswich goal, with Alex Palmer playing the other 10.

The Tractor Boys' first game of the season sees them take on Sunderland on August 22, with Manchester United and Liverpool to come in their following two fixtures.

The post Ipswich strengthen goalkeeping group with Van Oevelen move appeared first on SoccerNews.