Royal Roundup: Gold Cup 2021 continues as second round matches begin

The first round of matches in group play for the 2021 Gold Cup are complete. Mexico had a disappointing draw against Trinidad and Tobago and visitor Qatar held Panama to a wild 3-3 draw, but otherwise all the favored sides moved forward with 3 points. The United States play Wednesday evening against

REAL SALT LAKE / UTAH

• [TheAthletic] Rubio Rubin signs an improved deal with Real Salt Lake for 2204 with team option for 2025.
• [RSL] Damir Kreilach named MLS Player of the Week following two goal performance against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 7.
• [CAC] Bleeding Claret & Cobalt visit with Technical Director Kurt Schmid.
• [Twitter] Andrew Brody has surgery on broken toe following injury against LAFC.

MLS / USL / NWSL

• [ESPN] SKC’s Gianluca Busio continues to receive interest for Europe.
• [MLS] Voting for 2021 MLS All-Star Game opens and will end at 11:59 PT on Wednesday, July 21.
• [NWSL] San Diego NWSL President Jill Ellis has appointed former United States Women’s National Team Administrator Molly Downtain as the club’s first General Manager.
• [CBS] Casey Stoney named as San Diego’s first NWSL coach for their 2022 NWSL debut.

USA

• [FOX] United States hang on after early goal by Sam Vines to open Gold Cup 2021 with a 1-0 victory over Haiti. Tonight they face Martinque
• [MLS] Canada under pressure to rotate squad as showdown with USMNT looms.
• [NPR] Should the favored USWNT win gold in the soccer competition at Tokyo 2021 they will need to put on their own gold medals.

INTERNATIONAL

• [CBS] Messi signs new five-year contract with Barcelona.
• [CBS] Euro 2020 final hero Gianluigi Donnarumma to PSG on free transfer.
• [ESPN] Ongoing strife between CONCACAF and FMF about ‘possibility’ of playing behind closed doors.
• [EUROSPORT] Young star Jadon Sancho responds to racist abuse following defeat in Euro 2020 final.

Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images