2017 US Open Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo, and more: Freedom Kicks for June 15, 2025

Good morning! Most of the news today is US Open Cup news since there were a ton of games last night. Let’s get to it.

“Hell is Real” for Crew SC - Massive Report
In the biggest upset of the night, Columbus Crew SC fell to FC Cincinnati. Crew fans were not pleased.

2017 US Open Cup match recap: Philadelphia Union 3, Harrisburg City Islanders 1 - Brotherly Game
Two Philadelphia Union players earned their first goals as the club beat Harrisburg 3-1.

New England 3, Rochester 0 - Early Red Dooms Rhinos as Revs Advance - The Bent Musket
Rochester Rhinos' center back Joe Farrell was sent off on a dubious second yellow card as the Rhinos fell 3-0 to the Revolution.

Chicago Fire beat St. Louis 1-0 thanks to this goal from Luis Solignac.

Rose Lavelle out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury - The Bent Musket
Rose Lavelle, a standout Boston Breakers rookie and increasingly important USWNT player, will miss 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury. She'll likely miss the Breakers' game against the Spirit in a few weeks.

U.S. coach’s bonus for winning women’s World Cup: $90K. For men’s second round: $500K. - The Washington Post
U.S. Soccer Federation's tax returns were released yesterday and here are the details about the coaching salaries and bonuses.

Salary details from latest USSF tax return - Stars and Stripes FC
And then here are the details on the player side.

Houston Dynamo vs. NCFC, MLS bid update - News & Observer
Here is an update on North Carolina FC's MLS bid.

The nine host cities confirmed - FIFA.com
FIFA announced the nine French host cities for the 2019 Women's World Cup.

Female footballers to climb Kilimanjaro to play highest match in history - CNN.com
Former Washington Spirit player Lori Lindsey will climb Mount Kilimanjaro to play a record-setting soccer game.

Cristiano Ronaldo facing £13m tax fraud charge - Telegraph
Another day, another soccer player tax fraud story.

Instead of linking to a weird Youtube video, here’s this really neat site that lets you listen to different radio stations around the world. It’s similar to some radio apps like TuneIn but better in my opinion. I listened to a news channel in Iran as I wrote this and I think that’s pretty freaking cool.