Lots of newly-minted National Referees in this one. --- The assignments for Week 2 of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season: 03/06/2026 Crown Legacy vs Huntsville City Sportsplex at Matthews (7PM ET) REF: Jorge Escobar AR1: Noah Kenyawani AR2: Jake Brochu 4TH: Kevin Broadley 03/07/2026 North Texas vs Colorado Rapids 2 Choctaw Stadium (8:30PM ET) REF: Muhammad Kaleia AR1: Joe Suchoski AR2: William Aten 4TH: Olvin Oliva 03/08/2026 Columbus Crew 2 vs NYCFC II ScottsMiracle-Gro Field (3PM ET) REF: Calin Radosav AR1: Mateusz Dulski AR2: Miklos Hendricks 4TH: Salvador Flores Chattanooga FC vs Connecticut United Finley Stadium (3PM ET) REF: Stefan Perri AR1: Alexandru Focea AR2: Alex Adkins 4TH: Dorian Del Toro Philadelphia Union II vs FC Cincinnati 2 Subaru Park (3PM ET) REF: Rodrigo Albuquerque AR1: Jeremy Smith AR2: Andrew Stefanick 4TH: Marie Durr Timbers 2 vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Providence Park (4PM ET) REF: Mark Verso AR1: Christian Clerc AR2: Kristin Patterson 4TH: Christopher Calderon New England Revolution II vs TFC II Beirne Stadium (5PM ET) REF: Lauren Aldrich AR1: Douglas Clayton AR2: Josh Pitt 4TH: Laszlo Sandler St Louis CITY 2 vs MNUFC 2 Energizer Park (5PM ET) REF: Drew Klemp AR1: Race Williams AR2: Braxton Williams 4TH: Eric Burton Houston Dynamo 2 vs Tacoma Defiance SaberCats Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Robert Vincze AR1: Cameron Siler AR2: William Bolsen 4TH: Kaitlyn Trowbridge Atlanta United 2 vs Carolina Core Turner Soccer Complex (7PM ET) REF: Luis Diego Arroyo AR1: Josh Lampkins AR2: Tyler Bost 4TH: MJ Tehini Orlando City B vs Chicago Fire II Osceola Heritage Park (7PM ET) REF: Gerald Flores AR1: Joshua Belk AR2: Nick Goyette 4TH: Erick Lezama Pavon Red Bull New York II vs Inter Miami II Sports Illustrated Stadium (8PM ET) REF: Joe Surgan AR1: Jessica Carnevale AR2: Domenico Giardina 4TH: Walterson Torchon Sporting KC II vs Real Monarchs Mercy Victory Field (8PM ET) REF: Atahan Yaya AR1: Joseph Knoff AR2: Tyler Spiczka 4TH: Anthony Sobolevsky Austin FC II vs Ventura County Parmer Field (8:30PM ET) REF: Alejo Calume AR1: Jacobo Zuniga AR2: Edwin Moturi 4TH: Emmy Nonso Quakes II vs Los Angeles FC 2 PayPal Park (10PM ET) REF: Trevor Wiseman AR1: Hunter Zachwieja AR2: Salvador Reyes 4TH: Jamie Padilla ----- The assignments for Week 1 of the 2026 USL Championship season: 03/06/2026 Lexington vs Louisville City Lexington Stadium (7:30PM ET) REF: Elton Garcia AR1: Zach McWhorter AR2: Matthew Rodman 4TH: Jackson Krauser 03/07/2026 Charleston Battery vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds Patriots Point Soccer Stadium (6PM ET) REF: Natalie Simon AR1: Nicholas Seymour AR2: Jacob Little 4TH: Izlen Peksenar Sporting Club Jacksonville vs Hartford Athletic Hodges Stadium (7:30PM ET) REF: Matthew Corrigan AR1: Ben Rigel AR2: Colin Ashley 4TH: Richonne Clark Birmingham Legion vs Tampa Bay Rowdies Protective Stadium (8PM ET) REF: Brad Jensen AR1: Austin Holt AR2: Eric Del Rosario Gandara 4TH: Deny Kulasinac San Antonio vs Phoenix Rising Toyota Field (8:30PM ET) REF: Brandon Stevis AR1: Matt Trotter AR2: Art Arustamyan 4TH: Edgar Garcia El Paso Locomotive vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks Southwest University Park (9PM ET) REF: Muhammad Hassan AR1: Bennett Savage AR2: Seth Barton 4TH: Cuauhtemoc Delgadillo Monterey Bay vs Oakland Roots Cardinale Stadium (10PM ET) REF: Nabil Bensalah AR1: Bruno Rizo AR2: Eric Krueger 4TH: Eduardo Hernandez Garcia Orange County vs Las Vegas Lights Championship Soccer Stadium (10PM ET) REF: Abdou Ndiaye AR1: Fernando Fierro AR2: Clarence Clark 4TH: Steven Cardozo Sacramento Republic vs FC Tulsa Heart Health Park (10PM ET) REF: Greg Dopka AR1: Darren Bandy AR2: Seth Martin 4TH: Bhavik Dutt 03/08/2026 Brooklyn Football Club vs Indy Eleven Maimonides Park (3PM ET) REF: Jeremy Scheer AR1: Tom Felice AR2: Zeno Cho 4TH: Stephen Foster ----- The assignments for Week 1 of the 2026 USL League One season: 03/07/2026 FC Naples vs Fort Wayne Paradise Coast Sports Complex (7PM ET) REF: Edson Carvajal AR1: Sarah Gaddes AR2: Fritz Barberousse 4TH: John Tamayo Westchester vs One Knoxville The Stadium at Memorial Field (7PM ET) REF: Servando Berna AR1: Stephen Milhoan AR2: Audra Fullen 4TH: Kenan Kapetanovic Sarasota Paradise vs Athletic Club Boise Premier Sports Campus (7:30PM ET) REF: Matt Thompson AR1: Seun Yinka-Kehinde AR2: Sharon Gingrich 4TH: Benjamin Meyer AV ALTA vs Richmond Kickers Lancaster Municipal Stadium (10:30PM ET) REF: Corbyn May AR1: Melissa Beck AR2: Alexander Arita 4TH: Rafael Bonilla
And for NWSL: 03/13/2026 Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns Audi Field (8PM ET) REF: Brad Jensen AR1: Brian Marshall AR2: Art Arustamyan 4TH: Marie Durr VAR: Alexandra Billeter AVAR: Karsten Gillwald 03/14/2026 Boston Legacy vs Gotham FC Gillette Stadium (12:30PM ET) REF: Jeremy Scheer AR1: Tom Felice AR2: Chris Schurfranz 4TH: Muhammad Kaleia VAR: Danielle Chesky AVAR: Matthew Rodman Kansas City Current vs Utah Royals CPKC Stadium (4PM ET) REF: Natalie Simon AR1: Tiffini Turpin AR2: Matt Trotter 4TH: Drew Klemp VAR: Jamie Padilla AVAR: Kevin Huet Bay Football Club vs Denver Summit PayPal Park (6:30PM ET) REF: Nabil Bensalah AR1: Eric Krueger AR2: Seth Martin 4TH: Eduardo Hernandez Garcia VAR: Corbyn May AVAR: Matthew Seem North Carolina Courage vs Racing Louisville First Horizon Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Jaclyn Metz AR1: Zeno Cho AR2: Stephen Milhoan 4TH: Yannick Rothfuss VAR: Danielle Chesky AVAR: Alicia Messer San Diego Wave vs Houston Dash Snapdragon Stadium (8:45PM ET) REF: Muhammad Hassan AR1: Jennifer Garner AR2: Fernando Fierro 4TH: Abdu Razzaq Juma VAR: Brad Jensen AVAR: Brian Marshall 03/15/2026 Orlando Pride vs Seattle Reign Inter&Co Stadium (4PM ET) REF: Alexandra Billeter AR1: Zach McWhorter AR2: Matthew Rodman 4TH: Benjamin Meyer VAR: Jaclyn Metz AVAR: Melissa Beck Angel City vs Chicago Stars BMO Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Shawn Tehini AR1: Matthew Schwartz AR2: Bennett Savage 4TH: Trevor Wiseman VAR: Abdou Ndiaye AVAR: Zeno Cho
Decided to take a look at the highlights of this one, as it's not often you see a 9-YC, 1-RC NWSL game (in fact, the commentator reported that 9 yellows is an NWSL record). Really quite a physical game based on the highlights, especially with repeated Boston fouls against Gotham #2. After the persistent offenses warning, they didn't adapt their game plan at all picked up three yellows for fouls against #2 (including the 2CT) after the warning. And at least two of those three (including the 2nd yellow) were reckless in their own right. Shoutout to ESPN for including all the YCs in their highlights package
I feel like 15' is an obvious caution and maybe getting that early prevents some stuff later? Without seeing the whole match, that might be unfair to say. Also continuing my theme from the CONCACAF thread... the dissent from the captain at 30' should be booked. She sprints from dissent to protest a card that simply did not need to be protested and she puts her hands on the referee. I fear "only the captain" is morphing into "the captain can do whatever they want." Also, 90+6' is either a total accident or 110% violent conduct, right? Like, sometimes I get erring on the side of caution (literally) and coming to some sort of split decision. But I don't see how you can here if you're punishing the kick to the head. She either didn't meant to do it at all, in which case misconduct doesn't exist. Or she did and, well, it's a deliberate donkey kick to the head while a player is vulnerable. Can't wrap my head around yellow there other than a simple path of least overall resistance.
Let's take a gander at this highlight package then 1. 15' should be a SPA card, not going to say "this could have prevented future stuff" but in avacuum that should have been 2. 45+3 probably should have been a foul especially in a game like this, sad to see those cheap shots after a player gets off a shot 3. 90+6 yeah it seems like it should either be a VC off the ball deliberate kick to the face, or an accident and just a foul.
Interesting that both of the expansion teams received red cards in their inaugural match. Boston obviously as shown above, and then Denver Summitt FC did today as well in the first half. There are not highlights of that match up yet, but this tweet shows both Sonis's assist and then the foul that ended up getting a red card (red card came after VAR): CanWNT 🇨🇦 star JANINE SONIS gets Denver Summit FC's 1st-ever assist on the club's debut goal... 🙌...and then gets the new NWSL side's 1st-ever red card minutes later 🥲(ngl kinda iconic ✨) pic.twitter.com/HRqaTAjx7N— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 14, 2026
Since when does Gillette Stadium have a grass field? Do they do that special for the NWSL, because Revs have always played on turf.
Clearly some challenges putting crews together with VAR this weekend: you have Chesky doing two games in a day, lots of refs going from field to Dallas or vice versa within 24 hours, etc.
FotMob has the referees for the US Open Cup games. Looks like our 2025 McGuire Cup Final referee has the whistle in Vermont.
I believe this is the US Open Cup round where there are double digit yellow cards and at least one mass confrontation. I'll definitely be watching tonight.
I hope Reddit keeps a game log and has YouTube streams for these games like in the past. But I think I remember a lot of them went to paramount plus or some other streaming garbage. I liked going back and watching the 10-12 card games
I have several apps "free" that come from my cable subscriber, and one of them is Paramount Plus. I get the feeling the FC Motown vs Hartford match at 7:00 p.m. will not disappoint. It appears that the weekly complaints against the officiating that occurred a few years ago are mostly gone (it helped that most of the instigators and complainers are now retired) as the correct implementation of VAR has also helped. The Boston game was an outlier. On a non-officiating point, considering everything that's happened, it's amazing that they went from a league that almost went belly-up starting out with 6 teams called the "WUSA". The Athletic did a great article last week. The expansion fees have brought millions of more dollars to the league. They're televised now on Prime Video, ION (with double-headers each Saturday night and a channel almost every cable subscriber carries), ESPN and CBS. Our local news stations mentioned Gotham City having a home opener last week and the Red Bulls got crickets since they're on Apple and not traditional TV. The buffoonery from some of the ladies seems to be much less the past 2 years and it's great to see full stadiums at matches. The family oriented crowd you see at their games is not much different from what you see at an MLS match. They're not being funded by the NBA as the WNBA is, so this makes it more remarkable that they've been able to grow and keep some exciting big name players (Trinity Rodman). Wishing them well.
Last night was the first night which went pretty smooth. I looked at some of the stats and I'd say 95% of the matches have National Match officials which makes sense. A few here and there had Regionals but those were Regionals that had attended USYS Nationals. I imagine we'll get more of the same tonight but with a few outliers through no fault of the referees, these USOC games just bring out the worst at times. All it takes is one controversial decision with no VAR.
Week 2 NWSL Assignments: 03/20/2026 Orlando Pride vs Denver Summit Inter&Co Stadium (8PM ET) REF: Greg Dopka AR1: Brian Marshall AR2: Alicia Messer 4TH: Laura Rodriguez VAR: Danielle Chesky AVAR: Karen Coulson Racing Louisville vs Washington Spirit Lynn Family Stadium (8PM ET) REF: Calin Radosav AR1: Matthew Rodman AR2: Kevin Huet 4TH: Jeremy Scheer VAR: Mark Verso AVAR: Melissa Beck Portland Thorns vs Seattle Reign Providence Park (10PM ET) REF: Elvis Osmanovic AR1: Christian Clerc AR2: Darren Bandy 4TH: Dion Coxe-Trieger VAR: Shawn Tehini AVAR: Matthew Seem 03/21/2026 Houston Dash vs Boston Legacy Shell Energy Stadium (4PM ET) REF: Lauren Aldrich AR1: Joe Suchoski AR2: Seun Yinka-Kehinde 4TH: Kyle Johnston VAR: Greg Dopka AVAR: Ethan Buege Gotham FC vs North Carolina Courage Sports Illustrated Stadium (6:30PM ET) REF: Cristian Campo Hernandez AR1: Max Smith AR2: Adam Cook 4TH: Marie Durr VAR: Laura Rodriguez AVAR: Kevin Huet Bay FC vs Angel City PayPal Park (8:45PM ET) REF: Jaclyn Metz AR1: Art Arustamyan AR2: Peter Hanson 4TH: Rafael Bonilla VAR: Anya Voigt AVAR: Matthew Rodman 03/22/2026 Chicago Stars vs Kansas City Current Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium (2PM ET) REF: Alexandra Billeter AR1: Jennifer Garner AR2: Chris Schurfranz 4TH: Alex Beehler VAR: Brad Jensen AVAR: Christian Clerc Utah Royals vs San Diego Wave America First Field (7PM ET) REF: Shawn Tehini AR1: Melissa Beck AR2: Justin Fillmore 4TH: Christopher Calderon VAR: Abdou Ndiaye AVAR: Kaili Terry
Unfortunately the Reddit USOC threads don't seem to track yellow cards anymore. Just goals and red cards.
Completely unrefereeable game. I can’t say the referee was perfect, but I doubt it would have even mattered if he was. Some of the behavior and the people who engaged in it have no place on any football pitch, professional, amateur, or anywhere in between.
Oh, an el farolito game? One of the most abhorrent amateur teams there is. How many yellows and reds? Every single USOC el farolito game has 10+ yellows. They’re complete pieces of shit
That ending to the Sacramento Republic vs El Farolito was sure something... Malice at the Palace comes to mind.
FWIW- The FC Motown/Hartford match had only 3 cautions. The Motown team captain received a caution in the 4th minute and came very close to getting a second one in the 8th minute. Two plays in the 2nd half probably should have been PK's, but very difficult to see in live action. With no VAR, CR is looking at his AR since he's right there. Of course, nothing I just described will be seen on the YouTube highlights package. Normally it's not beneath me to watch games at this level, but after watching Champions League matches earlier in the afternoon, it's hard to watch senseless long balls on a narrow field.