Blue Links: FC Cincinnati’s new stadium is showing off

Good morning! We’ve got your one-stop-shop for all things soccer today. This includes the UCL draw this morning as at least one American will be eliminated before the Semifinals. Let’s get to all the updates:

Looks like the FC Cincinnati stadium is coming along nicely. Like, really nice.

Pulido Interview
Alan Pulido joined MLS Español on Instagram. Your Spanish will have to be better than mine to understand it all, though.

Ilie Interview
Another Spanish language interview as Ilie Sanchez was on the El futbol de todos podcast.

SKCII Kit Drop
The second team has released their kits for the upcoming season. They’ve got really nice hoops kit that will be the secondary this year.

SportingKC.com

U-23’s get first Olympic qualifying win
The United States’ U-23 squad started off Concacaf Olympic Qualifying yesterday with a solid 1-0 win over Costa Rica. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins but keeper David Ochoa was the difference with nine saves on the day. Check out the highlights:

Head Coach Jason Kreis hails his keeper
The former Real Salt Lake manager had big praise for the 20-year-old RSL keeper in the win over Costa Rica. Great to see this performance but he won’t be able to bail them out every single match.

USMNT to play friendly in Switzerland
The Swiss were searching for some tune-up matches before the European Championship and the USMNT will head over there for a friendly on May 30th. This will give the USMNT a chance to get ready for the Nations League, which begins just four days later.

Three Americans in UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals
The UCL draw was early Friday morning and two teams with Yanks go head-to-head as Manchester City take on Borussia Dortmund.

Coaching Turnover is Constant in MLS
FiveThirtyEight looks at Thierry Henry’s departure from CF Montreal and how new faces on the sideline is something of a norm in Major League Soccer.

Family Friendly Egg Hunt
I love that Sporting KC specified this will be family friendly. Otherwise they know all of us degenerates would assume we can show up and drink beer while searching for Easter eggs in Peter Vermes’ office.

5 MLS players set for double-digit goals this season
No Sporting KC players on the list, but some good names to keep an eye on for breakout performances this season. Although Juan Agudelo is also on this list having not scored more than three goals since 2017.

Academy coach leading the push for diversity in MLS NEXT
The MLS youth development platform, MLS NEXT, has created a new Equity Action Committee and SKC academy coach Rumba Munthali is one of nine members.