RSL 2026 In-Season News Thread

Discussion in 'Real Salt Lake' started by Ismitje, Feb 20, 2026.

  1. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Treys latest podcast is a good one. I’ll give him that. I love hearing from Tony Beltran especially.

    that said, he casually says the following line:
    “San Diego will be the next home opponent, Saturday, April 18th, and then Wednesday, April 22nd, Miami and potentially Messi will be here at America first field, and then Sunday, the April 26th, RSL goes to LA Galaxy.”

    From Bleeding Claret and Cobalt: The Long Road to Overnight Success w/ Tony Beltran, Apr 10, 2026
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleeding-claret-and-cobalt/id1548370348?i=1000760752039&r=295
    This material may be protected by copyright.
     
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  2. Med_Phys

    Med_Phys Member+

    RSL
    United States
    Jun 20, 2019
    Terre Haute, IN
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wait, they are finally acknowledging that it's just a possibility and not a forgone conclusion. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.


    Ok, I'm really not shocked.
     
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  3. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @goobx1 what’s the backstory on how you connected with this latest podcast guest?
    Loved the variety and different perspective… even if he is a bit tooo much of an mls is amazing personality for me
     
  4. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    I spend way to much time on tik tok and saw him on there. I also saw he did an episode with the RSL Bros so can't take credit for finding him first. I did try and file discovery rights but wasn't quick enough.

    I thought it was a pretty fun conversation. He has a very interesting story that kids these days, and old guys like me, would love to emulate.

    I was just thinking about this episode, which has not cooperated on apple and spotify just yet, should be up on there soon. But I was thinking about it because I like a more ranging conversation. To me, I think it's fascinating how fans came to love soccer. Maybe that's because I came to it later than others. I loved the fact that he was grinding and just going out there and making his own way. I like to get a more full sense of someones fandom and not focus just on a more narrow subject like fantasy soccer. Maybe I'm in the minority.

    I was surprised he didn't have a more "worldly" soccer view and is so MLS centric but that's probably a good trend for soccer in the US. Fans that love the home game more than teams outside the country.

    As far as guests I will swing for the fences. I reach to everyone, without being to obnoxious I hope, but I would love to get a Rebecca Lowe, Taylor Twellman, and anyone in between to join us. I also love chatting with you guys. All are welcome.

    So if you have a lead on a soccer star or personality let me know. If you want to join us again or for the first time let me know.

    Would love to chat and thank you to everyone that listens.
     
  5. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @JasonMa before we beat down the crapids this year would be a good one
     
  6. rslfanboy

    rslfanboy Member+

    Jul 24, 2007
    Section 26
    I like the bravado, but sadly the cRapids don’t look like pushovers at all this year.
     
  7. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    *lurking*
     
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  8. DrownedElf

    DrownedElf Member+

    Jul 5, 2010
    Ogden
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was definitely one that mostly started watching epl late 90s. I remember more about ManU games than I do about early MLS. I mostly remember the weird shootout and Valderrama than anything else. I had 'good' Internet for the time so watching epl wasn't too bad for that time
     
  9. goobx1

    goobx1 Member+

    Jul 9, 2007
    Salt Lake
    Thanks for the idea. We will be chatting with JasonMa before the game in the next few weeks. Let me know if you have any questions.
     
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  10. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with you. I watched their match with Houston Dynamo the other night. They are pretty fast. Their press forced Houston into dangerous turnovers the whole match.
     
  11. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How do you enjoy living in west Kansas?
     
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  12. Allez RSL

    Allez RSL Member+

    Jun 20, 2007
    Home
    "How dare you?" and "Who do you think you are?" spring to mind
     
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  13. rslfanboy

    rslfanboy Member+

    Jul 24, 2007
    Section 26
    So, you decided to be a Rapids fan…
    Explain yourself.
     
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  14. Med_Phys

    Med_Phys Member+

    RSL
    United States
    Jun 20, 2019
    Terre Haute, IN
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So Messi is expected to play at Mile High this weekend. I know he prefers to start and finish games. I just don't see him doing that twice in 5 days at elevation. I think it'll be hard for Miami to get more than a point from either game, plus there's the whole coaching thing and a very important home game 3 days after they play RSL. Tip of the hat to those who sold their tickets to the game next week.
     
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  15. evilradar

    evilradar Member+

    Real Salt Lake
    United States
    Apr 4, 2019
    I have a coworker who wanted to take his kid to see Messi and rather than pay secondary market rates for tickets figured it was cheaper to just buy season tickets in the upper deck. I’ll feel kind of bad for people like him if Messi doesn’t show.
     
  16. Kevin Morris

    Kevin Morris Member

    Real Salt Lake
    United States
    Dec 11, 2025
    So I just had a question of “Who is the most successful RSL player of all-time?”

    Here is my attempt at ranking them. I would love to know what you think and any I missed?

    Eddie Pope
    3x MLS Cup Champion
    3 World Cups, 756 Minutes
    82 Caps
    1x Open Cup
    1x Gold Cup

    Carlos Salcedo
    1x Concacaf Champions League
    1 World Cup, 360 Minutes
    48 Caps
    2x Liga MX
    1x German Cup
    1x Gold Cup

    Alvaro Saborio
    1x Concacaf Champions Cup
    1 World Cup, 73 minutes
    111 Caps
    1x Swiss Cup
    2x Costa Rica League

    Jefferson Savarino
    1x Copa Libertadores Champion
    2x Brazilian League
    1x Brazil Cup
    51 Caps

    Albert Rusnak
    1x Concacaf Champions Cup
    1x Dutch Cup
    1x Leagues Cup
    38 caps

    Kyle Beckerman
    1x MLS Cup
    1 World Cup, 270 Minutes
    1x Gold Cup
    58 Caps

    Clint Mathis
    1x MLS Cup
    1 World Cup, 204 Minutes
    1x Gold Cup
    48 Caps

    Nick Rimando
    2x MLS Cup
    1 World Cup, 0 Minutes
    1x Gold Cup
    22 Caps

    Robbie Findley
    1x MLS Cup
    1 World Cup, 168 Minutes
    11 Caps
     
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  17. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    These questions have to evaluated the players overall career vs their career with rsl. It’s hard to argue against Pope with the data, but nobody puts pope on their rsl Mount Rushmore

    Salcedo is the guy that we’d love to talk about as an academy success but he’s exactly what you don’t want to have happen with your academy
     
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  18. rslfanboy

    rslfanboy Member+

    Jul 24, 2007
    Section 26
    Kinda disgusts me that Salcedo had so much success for how much of an absolute bust and crap human being he ended up being.

    Saborio would have had easily another WC and 270min if he hadn't been injured in the lead up to 2014. He was a critical piece in their qualification.
     
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  19. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another RSL player with lots of caps, an RSL Cup, and a World Cup: Andy Williams. That 1998 Jamaica team was really fun.

    Someone with little RSL connection but distinguished otherwise is Guiseppe Rossi.
     
  20. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And yet, the central defender with the most all-league honors (as an RSL player) except for Jamison Olave. Borchers had zero, Glad one, Pope two, and Olave three. The only other defender so honored is Tony Beltran with two.
     
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  21. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fair
    But let’s not pretend mls 2005-2008 was anything like even 2010-13, let alone modern day. That’s not something pope can control, he played in the games he could. But his rsl teams suck. Calling him a successful rsl player is like the wizards calling MJ a successful player
     
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  22. Kevin Morris

    Kevin Morris Member

    Real Salt Lake
    United States
    Dec 11, 2025

    Oh nice I didn’t realize Bomma was a World Cup vet! Good shout.

    When looking into players, I had expected Rossi to be high up on my list but he surprisingly never really won anything so I decided to leave him off. Definitely could be 1 or 2 on a successful list if taking into account the places he played!
     
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  23. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My single favorite soccer related headline of all time is from the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. He had formally committed to Italy (also eligible for the US) and they were also in the tournament. Through a series of *just perfect* results in the final group game, we moved on and they were eliminated. And the headline was:

    "23 Americans Advance, 1 Goes Home."

    Glorious! Thanks, Soccer By Ives. (Say, his site is now under SI.com and the headline is still available, here).
     
  24. rslfanboy

    rslfanboy Member+

    Jul 24, 2007
    Section 26
    I went back and listened to the soccer stuff from Checketts.

    One interesting tidbit was Pablo said Luca Moisa had to get a reset because he wasn’t sleeping. Between nerves/adrenaline and having to travel red eyes for away games and get sleep the next day, he was struggling.
     
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  25. Med_Phys

    Med_Phys Member+

    RSL
    United States
    Jun 20, 2019
    Terre Haute, IN
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Messi started in Denver today...
     
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