Sports
Reports: USMNT's Alex Freeman leaving Orlando City for Villarreal
Nov 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; United States defender Alex Freeman (16) controls the ball against Uruguay in the second half during an international friendly at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images U.S. national team defender Alex Freeman is set to move from Orlando City to Villarreal in Spain’s LaLiga, The Athletic and ESPN reported on Monday.
The transfer fee reportedly starts at more than $4 million but could top $7 million with add-ons included. Per ESPN, Orlando City would get 15% of the proceeds if Villarreal sells Freeman’s contract in the future.
Freeman could have moved on a free transfer later this year, but Orlando City ensured it would receive financial compensation for his departure by making the move during European soccer’s January transfer window.
Freeman, 21, is the son of former Green Bay Packers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Freeman.
The younger Freeman compiled six goals and three assists in 29 MLS games (26 starts) for Orlando City last year. He had no goals and one assist in three total league games, all off the bench, for the Lions over the prior two seasons.
He broke until the U.S. men’s national team last May and started each game for the squad in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Freeman netted his first two goals in international play during a Nov. 18 friendly against Uruguay in Tampa, and he had 13 caps by year’s end.
Villarreal sit in fourth place in the LaLiga standings, trailing only heavyweights Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. They are next-to-last in the UEFA Champions League table.
Orlando City finished ninth in MLS’ Eastern Conference last season before losing a wild-card playoff match.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Casey Mize fires 6-plus strong innings as Tigers handle Brewers
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) hits an RBI double against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Spencer Torkelson hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot, and Kerry Carpenter added a solo blast as the host Detroit Tigers downed the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday.
Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, made a winner of starter Casey Mize. In six-plus innings, Mize (2-1) gave up one run and three hits while walking three and striking out seven.
Kenley Jansen escaped a ninth-inning jam to record his sixth save.
Detroit’s Riley Greene had two hits and scored a run, Colt Keith supplied two hits and an RBI and Kevin McGonigle scored a run and knocked in another.
DL Hall served as an opener for the Brewers. He tossed two scoreless innings before Chad Patrick (1-1) took over. Patrick allowed four runs and six hits in four innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.
William Contreras and Jake Bauers knocked in Milwaukee’s runs in the middle game of a three-game series. The decisive game of the set is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The Brewers opened the scoring in the third inning. Brice Turang drew a two-out walk, stole second and came home on Contreras’ single.
Detroit took the lead for good in the fourth. Greene ripped a one-out double to center. Torkelson then clobbered a Patrick sinker 400 feet over the left-center-field wall to make it 2-1.
The Tigers stretched their lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Javier Baez led off with a single. One out later, McGonigle battled through a 10-pitch at-bat before drilling a double off the right field wall to score Baez. McGonigle moved to third on a groundout and scored on Keith’s line single to right.
Milwaukee cut Detroit’s lead to 4-2 in the eighth. Pinch hitter Luis Rengifo led off with a single. He advanced on a groundout and scored on Bauers’ two-out single off Will Vest.
Detroit got that run back in the bottom of the inning on Carpenter’s blast to right off Carlos Rodriguez. It was Carpenter’s fifth homer of the year.
The Brewers made it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. Turang then bounced out to first to end the contest.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Iran 'fully prepared' to participate in World Cup
Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Shaquille O’Neal draws the card of Iran for Group G during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Despite the ongoing conflict at home, the Iran men’s national soccer team is “fully prepared” to participate in the World Cup this summer, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported.
The team’s involvement was called into question after the United States and Israel began air attacks on Iran in February. The World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but all of Iran’s group-stage games are scheduled to be in the United States.
Mohajerani reported that the Iranian Ministry of Youth and Sports has handled the logistics involved in having the soccer team play in the U.S.
Last month, Iran sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on state television, “Considering that this corrupt regime (in the U.S.) has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
The next day, President Donald Trump posted on social media, “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
FIFA subsequently refused a request from Iran to have its Group G matches moved to Mexico. Iran is due to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Inglewood, Calif., then Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who otherwise has closely allied himself with Trump, said last week, “The Iranian team is coming, for sure. Yes. We hope that by then of course the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor exits game due to calf injury
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after his RBI infield single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exited New York’s Wednesday game against the visiting Minnesota Twins after the fourth inning due to left calf tightness.
Lindor, who was on first base following a single, did not appear to be running at full speed as he circled the diamond and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double. The 32-year-old grimaced while rounding third and remained on the ground for a few seconds after sliding in ahead of Victor Caratini’s tag to give the Mets — who have lost 12 straight — a 2-1 lead.
Lindor was injured the same day Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence caused by a strained right calf. The Mets won their first three games after Soto was injured April 3 before beginning their losing streak.
Lindor has missed just 15 games total since his most recent IL stint, in 2021, when he missed more than five weeks due to a right oblique strain.
–Field Level Media
Casey Mize fires 6-plus strong innings as Tigers handle Brewers
Iran 'fully prepared' to participate in World Cup
