This weekend, we're tracking 17 matches involving former Loons over three days, including one in Asia, four in the Americas, and 12 in Europe. From the frigid winter tournaments in Finland to a high-stakes La Liga clash for Tani and a Sunday showdown for Bebelo in Colombia, there is no shortage of storylines to follow. Friday, Jan. 30

Unión de Santa Fe suffered their first defeat of the 2026 Apertura campaign on Thursday afternoon, falling 2–1 to Lanús at the Estadio Ciudad de Lanús. In a match defined by heated exchanges and a contentious red card for the visitors, former Minnesota United winger Franco Fragapane was forced to watch the majority of the drama from the bench before a late introduction.

CS Cartaginés stumbled at home on Thursday night, suffering a disappointing 2–0 defeat to Sporting FC at the Estadio José Rafael "Fello" Meza Ivankovich. Despite the presence of veteran forward Johan Venegas leading the line, the hosts were unable to break down a disciplined Sporting defense and were punished by two clinical counter-attacks in the second half. Match recap After a scoreless first half where possession was largely shared, Sporting FC seized control after the break.

Deportivo Cali suffered a crushing 2–1 defeat on Thursday afternoon, falling to Águilas Doradas at the Estadio Alberto Grisales in Rionegro. Despite a valiant second-half effort from Emanuel Reynoso and his teammates—who played nearly 40 minutes with ten men—the "Azucareros" were undone by a stoppage-time winner that left them empty-handed in Matchday 3 of the Liga BetPlay. Match recap The match was a gritty affair from the opening whistle, but it exploded into life in the second half.

Today marks Ján Greguš’s 35th birthday, a milestone that finds the veteran midfielder at a crossroads as he evaluates the final chapter of a storied professional career. Every club has its me…

Today marks Pablo Campos's 43rd birthday, a milestone that celebrates one of the most prolific and feared strikers to ever lead the line for a Minnesota franchise. Every club has its heavy hitter—the player whose physical presence alone demands the respect of every defender on the pitch. For the Minnesota United of the NASL era, that presence was Pablo Campos.

Millonarios suffered a frustrating 2–1 defeat on Wednesday night as they were unable to overcome a first-half red card against a clinical Deportivo Pasto side at the Estadio Departamental Libertad. Despite a resilient performance in the thin air of Pasto, the "Embajadores" leave empty-handed, while the hosts continue their perfect start to the Apertura campaign. Match recap The match started at a frantic pace, and the hosts wasted no time capitalizing on the home-field advantage.

Villarreal CF saw their UEFA Champions League journey come to an end on Wednesday, falling 3–0 to Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena. In what was a historic personal milestone for one former Loon, the "Yellow Submarine" was unable to withstand a dominant performance from the German hosts. The result confirms Leverkusen's place in the knockout round playoffs, while Villarreal finishes their continental campaign at the bottom of the league phase standings.

Al-Ettifaq suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat on Wednesday night as they were unable to contain a rampant Al-Ahli side at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The hosts, led by a masterclass from England international Ivan Toney, maintained their blistering form to secure their eighth consecutive victory. For the visitors, it was a night of defensive frustration as they struggled to deal with Al-Ahli's high-pressing system and clinical finishing in the final third.

Minnesota United announced on Wednesday the signing of forward Marcus Caldeira to a one-year contract through 2026. The deal includes club options for the 2027 Sprint Season, as well as the 2027–28 and 2028–29 seasons. Caldeira will join the Loons’ roster pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Minnesota United FC (@mnufc)

Veteran striker and former Minnesota United forward Ramón “Wanchope” Ábila has officially found a new home, signing with Estudiantes de Río Cuarto in the Argentine Primera Nacional. The move, confirmed by the club on Tuesday, marks a significant reinforcement for the "León del Imperio" as they push for promotion to the top flight. Ábila arrives at the Córdoba-based club following a brief second stint with Huracán.

LD Alajuelense extended their winning streak on Tuesday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Guadalupe FC 3-1 at the Estadio Colleya Fonseca. While the hosts briefly flirted with an upset, the individual quality of the "Manudos" proved too much to handle over 90 minutes. The victory cements Alajuelense’s position at the summit of the Clausura table and marks their second consecutive win fueled by a late-game surge.

Tranmere Rovers saw a hard-earned point evaporate in the dying seconds on Tuesday night, falling 1–0 to Barnet at The Hive Stadium. In a match where the "Super White Army" prioritized defensive structure to halt a three-match losing streak, a 96th-minute header from Mark Shelton broke Rovers' hearts. The result leaves Tranmere searching for answers as their winless run extends, while Barnet continues their march toward the top of the League Two table.

MNUFC2 announced on Tuesday that midfielder Babacar Niang has been loaned to Louisville City FC of the USL Championship for the 2026 season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MNUFC2 (@mnufc2) The move aims to provide the young midfielder with increased competition and development opportunities in one of the top professional leagues in the United States. Niang, who was selected 78th overall by Minnesota United in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, spent the 2025 season primarily with the club's second team in MLS NEXT Pro.

As the January window begins to close and league play intensifies across the Americas and beyond, the Once A Loon faithful have a packed schedule to monitor. We're tracking 10 matches in eight different countries over three days that involve 10 former Loons. From a high-stakes Champions League clash in Germany to critical league matches in Colombia and Costa Rica, here is where you can find former Minnesota United players in action mid-week.

Deportivo Saprissa and CS Cartaginés played out a tense 0-0 stalemate on Sunday afternoon at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá. In a high-stakes clash between two of Costa Rica’s most storied clubs, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough despite a flurry of chances in the closing stages. The result keeps both teams within touching distance of the top of the Clausura table but leaves the "Monstruo Morado" searching for more clinicality in front of their home supporters.

Millonarios suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Junior FC on Sunday evening at the Estadio El Campín. In a high-stakes Apertura clash, the "Embajadores" were unable to capitalize on their home advantage, as a clinical Junior side struck twice in the first half to secure the victory. Despite a resilient effort and an equalizer from Rodrigo Contreras, the hosts left Bogotá empty-handed, while Junior moves up the table with a crucial road win.

SV Waldhof Mannheim endured a nightmare afternoon at the Carl-Benz-Stadion on Sunday, falling 0–4 to a dominant Hansa Rostock. Any hopes the hosts had of building momentum in the 3. Liga were dashed within the first half hour as a combination of clinical finishing from the visitors and disciplinary issues from the home side left Mannheim completely exposed. The result cements Rostock’s position near the top of the table while leaving Mannheim to pick up the pieces after one of their most difficult home performances of the 2025–26 campaign.

Today marks Chase Gasper’s 30th birthday. While many defenders are entering their prime at this age, Gasper is beginning a new chapter outside of professional soccer, having recently stepped away from the game following the 2025 MLS season. For the Minnesota United faithful, Gasper remains a defining figure of the club’s early years at Allianz Field—a gritty, reliable left-back whose blue-collar work ethic mirrored the "Wonderwall" itself.

Today marks Alan Benítez's 32nd birthday, a milestone that finds the Paraguayan right-back at the summit of South American football on the very day of the historic Gre-Nal derby. While it has been three years since he patrolled the touchline at Allianz Field, Benítez’s journey from Saint Paul to Porto Alegre has been defined by a return to the elite form that first drew the Loons' scouts to Asunción.

LD Alajuelense secured a dramatic three points on Saturday night, overcoming a stubborn AD San Carlos side with a 1–0 victory at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. In what appeared to be another frustrating home draw for the "Manudos," a stoppage-time breakthrough sparked wild celebrations in Alajuela. The win keeps Alajuelense firmly in the hunt at the top of the Clausura table, proving their ability to find a way through even the most disciplined defensive setups.

Deportivo Cali secured a vital three points on Saturday, overcoming Independiente Medellín with a clinical 3-1 victory at the Estadio Deportivo Cali. After a disappointing opening-day loss, the "Azucareros" found their offensive rhythm, utilizing their home advantage to overwhelm a resilient but ultimately outmatched Medellín side. The win marks a significant turning point for manager Alberto Gamero, as his squad showed the attacking fluidity many expected at the start of the 2026 Apertura.

Villarreal CF saw their impressive home form stutter on Saturday evening as they fell 0-2 to a clinical Real Madrid side led by Kylian Mbappé. Despite a spirited defensive effort at the Estadio de la Cerámica, the "Yellow Submarine" was unable to bridge the gap against the league leaders, who used two second-half strikes to secure all three points and move temporarily to the top of the La Liga table.

FC Aarau secured a narrow 1-0 victory over AC Bellinzona on Saturday afternoon at the Stadion Brügglifeld. The result allows the Schanzer to keep pace at the top of the Challenge League table while extending a difficult run for the visitors, who struggled to break down a compact Aarau defensive unit. Match recap FC Aarau took control early at the Stadion Brügglifeld, with Elias Filet finding the back of the net in the 10th minute.

Teemu Pukki returned to the starting lineup for HJK Helsinki on Saturday, but it was a frustrating afternoon for the Finnish giants as they fell 2-0 to FC Lahti in their Liigacup group stage encounter. Despite Pukki’s presence leading the line, HJK struggled to break down a disciplined Lahti defense at the Mukkula Hall. Match recap The match began with FC Lahti looking the more dangerous side, and they found the opening goal in the 23rd minute.