He’ll Go When He Wants To Go: DC United 4-4 Montreal CF
DC United scored four goals in their last game before the World Cup break. They also conceded four. It was that kind of season.
The 4-4 draw with Montreal CF leaves DC United ninth in the Eastern Conference heading into the summer break. Jon and Ted broke down the result, the dead legs problem that has plagued this team through the final stretch, Renée Weiler’s future at the club, and Washington Spirit’s heartbreaking CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup final loss.
Jon’s verdict on Weiler: he’ll go when he wants to go.
Watch the Full Episode:
The Game
DC United went up 2-0. They conceded. They went up 3-1. They conceded again. They went up 4-2 via penalty kick. They gave it back twice more in the final minutes to end 4-4.
Louis Munteanu scored and both hosts noted a real change in his decision-making — less desperate to justify his existence by shooting every time he gets the ball, more willing to play teammates in and facilitate. It’s a good sign heading into the break. Jared Stroud continued his quiet run of form with a goal. Tai Baribo converted the penalty but was otherwise quiet — not fully healthy, Jon suspects, and not getting the service he wants.
Lucas Bartlett had a game of peaks and valleys. The Montreal forward caused him problems all night, found ways to get in behind, and was involved in multiple goals. Keisuke Kurokawa’s handball conceded a penalty late — debatable whether it was natural position, but the referee called it and the VAR didn’t overturn it.
The Dead Legs Problem
Jon’s answer to why DC United keep blowing leads is simple: there’s no rotation depth that Renée Weiler trusts. These players are exhausted. Multiple two-game weeks with the same eleven names on the team sheet. Weiler himself essentially said as much after the Chicago loss when he told the media he doesn’t have the roster to rotate — he has to play whoever can win. The World Cup break arrives at exactly the right time.
Renée Weiler’s Future
The big conversation of the episode. Jon predicts Weiler leaves after the half season in the shortened 2027 calendar. Ted thinks he stays through the end of 2028 if DC make the playoffs. Both hosts agreed: this ownership doesn’t fire managers, so it’ll be Weiler’s call. He’s on an excellent contract. He’s not from here. He could find comparable work elsewhere. He’ll go when he wants to go.
Jon’s longer-term view was characteristically blunt: nothing about this club is sustainable. There’s no academy pipeline feeding the first team. No coherent long-term plan. When Weiler leaves, they’ll start over again — new coach, new ideas, new players, fresh chaos. The only thing that might change that cycle is if the ownership commits to something beyond the current window.
The Summer Window
Caden Clark appears to be heading for the exit. Aaron Herrera’s departure is being negotiated. Gabriel Pirani’s contract termination is essentially done. International slot constraints will limit what DC can bring in externally unless they move players out first.
Kevin Paredes came up again — out of contract at Wolfsburg at the end of June, a DC United academy product, someone Ted thinks could come back on a loan or TAM deal. His best position was wingback, not the wide midfielder role Wolfsburg used him in, but the fit needs more thought.
Washington Spirit: Champions Cup Final Heartbreak
The Spirit lost 3-4 to Club América in the CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup final in Pachuca. They came back from 2-0 down — Sofia Cantore with a screamer just before halftime, then a remarkable period where the Spirit took over the game and went ahead 3-2. Sandy McIver then had a difficult moment with the ball at her feet, the clearance fell to a Club América attacker, and it was 3-3. América scored a winner late and the Spirit couldn’t find a response.
Both hosts noted that despite the result, the Spirit have conceded only eight goals in ten NWSL matches — second best in the league. Sandy McIver made several crucial saves in the same game she made the mistake. The mistakes are getting magnified but the underlying defensive numbers are excellent.
Two home games coming up against Seattle Reign and Houston Dash give the Spirit a chance to get back on track. Jon floated the idea of finding an experienced backup goalkeeper before the end of the window to push McIver — Ted agreed the competition would be healthy.
Vote for Jon’s Break Interview
During the World Cup break, Jon is going to interview one retired DC United player — whoever the Discord community votes for. Get your votes in by June 2nd on the Discord server.
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RFK Refugees is a DC United and Washington Spirit podcast hosted by Jon Hoffman and Ted Meyer.