DC United finally gave us actual live soccer to watch — and we didn’t even have to put a bounty out for someone to Facebook Live it from the sideline. Ted and Jon break down everything from the preseason opener, a mysterious Baltimore press conference, and MLS gutting its broadcast talent on Apple TV.
DC United Plays Real, Actual, Broadcast Soccer
For the first time in what feels like six years, DC United played a preseason game that fans could actually watch from home. The Coachella Valley Classic broadcast came complete with commentary — sort of. The announcer kept calling Connor Antley “Aaron Herrera,” the cameraman chimed in with his own takes, and someone complained about a low battery on air. We’re thankful for whatever we can get.
The result? A 0-0 draw against Portland. It looked like a preseason game. But there were a few things worth paying attention to.
Boribo stood out immediately. He went off the crossbar, had a nose for goal, and wasn’t just looking for his own chances — he was finding teammates too. For a guy DC United spent big money on, that’s exactly what you want to see in the first outing.
Jackson Hopkins was the other bright spot. He’s playing as an 8 with real freedom to roam — sometimes tucked into the midfield next to Peltola, other times running down the wing and taking corners. DC clearly wants to develop him, and they’re giving him the runway to do it.
Montaño and Karakawa? Still finding their feet. It’s early, but if you were hoping DC United’s record-breaking transfer fee would show up immediately in Luis Montaño’s game, you might need to be patient.
Baltimore Is Cooking Something
Jason Levien and the mayor of Baltimore are holding a joint press conference on February 12th at Port Discovery. No official details yet, but when the mayor shows up alongside the GM, it’s probably more than a Natty Boh partnership.
The Next Pro team announcement has been lingering for months — remember when it was “three days away”? That was about eight months ago. Could this be the stadium land deal? A memorandum of understanding? The framework of the beginning of a plan? Whatever it is, having the mayor present suggests there’s actual substance behind this one.
MLS Takes an Axe to Apple TV
And then there’s the bad news. MLS is cutting a quarter of its Spanish language broadcast talent. The Spanish-language MLS 360 show is done. The English wrap-up show is getting gutted — no more in-studio talent on camera. And some live games will now be produced out of London.
Ted’s take: the league got Messi, saw the numbers, and decided to cash out on content investment instead of building something over five or six years. Extra Time Radio — gone. The referee analysis segments with Christina Unkel — gone after one season. The MLS Season Pass docuseries — one and done. It’s a pattern of trying things, not seeing immediate returns, and pulling the plug before anything has a chance to grow.
The one silver lining: MLS Season Pass is now included with Apple TV+ this year. No stacked subscription cost. So at least you’re getting the games without paying extra, even if the shoulder programming around them keeps shrinking.
Want the Full Breakdown?
This is just the appetizer. On the extended show for Patreon supporters, Ted and Jon go deep on the tactical side — DC United’s 4-4-2 out of possession shifting to a 3-4-3 in possession, Tiburcio dropping into midfield as a target man (nobody saw that coming), the Brendan Cervania problem, Sean Johnson getting rooted on a cross, Peltola’s potential redemption arc, and a very thorough roast of the GM’s LinkedIn posting habits. Plus listener questions.
Listen to the full episode on Patreon →
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