Mark Ingram buys share of D.C. United, USMNT vs. Honduras, and more: Freedom Kicks for 6/4/2021

Well well well, it’s morning, we have D.C. United news of note, I’m heading to Washington Spirit training (which is to say, standing around in the rain), and there’s some other stuff going on out in the soccer world too. Here we go:

D.C. United valued at $710 million as NFL’s Mark Ingram invests | Sportico
Seven hundred ten million. $710,000,000.

Even when you factor in the real estate, it’s an eye-popping number in a world where valuations of pretty much anything appear untethered from reality. Either way, welcome to Mark Ingram and the other other investors.

NFL’s Mark Ingram II buys 1 percent ownership stake in D.C. United | Washington Post
More specifics, including the percentage of shares bought with this move.

To be fair, Ingram has been around United for a little while now, so this wasn’t something he did on a lark:

In future team video news, this on Felipe Martins returning to play looks pretty interesting:

In CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Junior Moreno started (over Philadelphia’s José Martinez, it must be said) and played 71 minutes for Venezuela in what turned out to be a 3-1 loss for the Vinotinto.

Four things about the Washington Spirit passing a mentality test at OL Reign | Black and Red United
We’ve got your look back at this last Spirit game before looking ahead to their match against Orlando this Sunday at Audi Field. Get yourself out to the stadium, layer on the sunblock, should be fun.

The NWSL team of the month was announced yesterday:

No Spirit players, which I think is a mild surprise what with them being in 2nd place. I’m a voter in this, so here’s my ballot:

AD Franch; Tori Huster, Ali Krieger, Katie Naughton, Carson Pickett; Jess Fishlock, Morgan Gautrat, Debinha (my POTM vote as well); Nichelle Prince, Alex Morgan, Mal Pugh

Concacaf Nations League Semi-Final: USA 1-0 Honduras - A late goal sends the Americans to the final | Stars and Stripes FC
Welcome back, scrappy as hell CONCACAF games where everyone overreacts. Jordan Siebatcheu, who was born in the District and is now cap-tied to the USMNT, nodded in the winner very, very late.

They’ll play...someone! I’m writing this before Mexico vs. Costa Rica finishes, so right now it’s Schrodinger’s Nations League semifinal.

Big news in Liga MX, as eternal Tigres coach Tuca Ferretti has moved to FC Juarez. I’m looking forward to seeing him find an out-of-date club track jacket and wearing it on the sidelines at every game for like a decade, just like his 2011-era Tigres jacket that he refused to swap out while winning a bunch of league and CONCACAF titles.

Alright, it’s time to go to bed. Enjoy your Friday!