U.S. Soccer Weekly Recap: Tobin Heath honored in Portland, Zavier Gozo heads to Crystal Palace
USMNT’s Brenden Aaronson signs extension with Leeds; U.S. Soccer alums named Hall of Fame Class of 2027 finalists
It was another action-packed week across the U.S. Soccer landscape, from celebrating former greats to watching current stars make their mark at home and abroad. Here’s a look at some of the biggest headlines from last week:
Tobin Heath honored at Portland Thorns match, Sophia Wilson scores game-winner
USWNT and Portland Thorns legend Tobin Heath was honored with a pre-match ceremony ahead of the club’s match against Denver Summit FC on Saturday. Heath signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the Portland Thorns, where she established herself as a club icon from 2013-2020. She is Portland’s all-time regular-season assist leader with 24, and she helped the club win two NWSL Championships (2013, 2017) and the 2016 NWSL Shield.
A true Thorns legend ❤️
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 23, 2026
Honoring Tobin Heath's incredible Portland career! pic.twitter.com/iKI7XOVjGc
To cap the memorable night, forward Sophia Wilson scored the lone goal of the match to earn Portland’s 11th win of the season, moving the club into a tie with the Washington Spirit for second place in the league standings. It was Wilson’s 10th goal of the campaign, marking her fourth NWSL season with double-digit goals.
Mallory Swanson, Jameese Joseph score in Chicago Stars FC win
Forwards Mallory Swanson and Jameese Joseph both found the back of the net in Chicago’s 3-2 victory over Racing Louisville on Sunday. Swanson earned her first assist of the season after streaking down the right flank and cutting through traffic inside the box to find Joseph, who blasted a shot into the roof of the goal for her first of the year. Swanson then scored the second goal for the Stars with a curling left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box. Her goal was her 25th regular season goal for the Stars, making her the third player in club history to reach the milestone.
Brenden Aaronson signs three-year extension with Leeds
Premier League club Leeds United announced last week that USMNT forward Brenden Aaronson signed a new three-year contract. Since joining the club in 2022, Aaronson has made 129 appearances for the Whites and was also an integral part of the EFL winning squad in the 2024/25 season that returned Leeds to the Premier League. Last season, he recorded four goals and five assists, and built momentum for the new campaign with goals against Liverpool and Manchester United this preseason.
🙌 Our American boy! pic.twitter.com/k4dEZnUEzE
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 20, 2026
Pepi, Dest on scoresheet for PSV
After combining for the game-winner in the previous match against Excelsior, Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest both found the back of the net in PSV’s 5-1 victory against FC Groningen on Sunday. Pepi scored the club’s third goal of the night in first-half stoppage time from the penalty spot. Dest capped the win with the final goal on a counterattack following a Groningen corner kick. The winger carried the ball down the field on a breakaway and played a give-and-go with Ruben van Bommel inside the box before sending his shot into the back of the net.
19-year-old Zavier Gozo signs with Crystal Palace
Premier League side Crystal Palace last week signed wingback Zavier Gozo from MLS’s Real Salt Lake. The transfer for the 19-year-old comes after a stellar 16 games with RSL this season featuring six goals, four assists and minutes in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game. The Utah native joined the Real Salt Lake academy in 2021 and made his professional debut two years later at 16 years old.
Gozo has earned multiple USYNT call-ups among various age groups and was a part of the squads for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and the 2025 U-20 World Cup. He joins USMNT defender Chris Richards, who is entering his fifth season with the club.
The new American duo in South London 🦅
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) August 19, 2026
🇺🇸🇺🇸 @CPFC pic.twitter.com/lNXFUp66my
Colton Swan joins Hiberian FC from Charleston Battery
Scottish Premier club Hibernian FC announced last week the signing of 19-year-old striker Colton Swan from USL Championship side Charleston Battery. Swan has had a breakout season at Charleston, scoring a team-high 11 goals and adding two assists, and will stay with the club for the remainder of the season before heading abroad in December. The forward most recently competed with the U.S. U-19 MNT last month in the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
Vicky Jepson names 21-player roster for U-20 Women’s World Cup
U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team head coach Vicky Jepson named the 21 players who will represent the United States at the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month. The roster features eight NWSL players and 13 college players who will take on Italy, Japan and New Zealand in Group D.
READ: How Vicky Jepson selected the roster for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
National Soccer Hall of Fame announces Class of 2027 Finalists
The National Soccer Hall of Fame released the names of the finalists for election to the Class of 2027, including 20 on the Player ballot, 10 on the Veteran ballot and four on the Builder ballot. Nine candidates among the finalists were named in their first year of eligibility including USMNT greats Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Graham Zusi as well as Megan Rapinoe, Ali Krieger and Julie Johnston Ertz, who won back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles with the USWNT.