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Five Players San Diego FC Should Select in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft

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Five Players San Diego FC Should Select in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft


With the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft on the horizon, San Diego FC have five important decisions to make as they build their current squad.

As the newest expansion team in Major League Soccer, San Diego FC get to draft players from existing MLS rosters to their club. MLS teams were only able to protect 12 players from selection, leaving a large portion of their rosters vulnerable.

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The Western Conference side already signed Duran Ferree, Marcus Ingvartsen, Paddy McNair, Alex Mighten, Jeppe Tverskov, Tomás Ángel and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, but will need plenty more players to round out its roster. Although there are over 350 players available in the draft, San Diego FC can only choose five.

Here’s five eligible players that San Diego FC should consider.

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5. Paul Arriola (FC Dallas)

Paul Arriola

Paul Arriola is the captain of FC Dallas. / Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Chula Vista native Paul Arriola could return to San Diego if he is one of the players selected by the expansion team. Every new MLS club needs a leader, both on the pitch and in the locker room, and Arriola fits the description. The 29-year-old is the captain of FC Dallas and has eight years of experience in MLS.

Arriola is a jack-of-all-trades player that can play as a wing-back, a fullback and a midfielder. Despite his varying positions, the captain buried five goals in the 2024 season. He was named an MLS All-Star in 2022 and also has 50 caps for the U.S. men’s national team.

4. Iuri Tavares (Charlotte FC)

Not every player San Diego FC draft can be a proven talent. The team needs to build its depth (while also saving money) and 23-year-old Iuri Tavares is someone worth taking a chance on. The Charlotte FC forward only started eight games this past season, but found the back of the net three times and bagged an assist.

His height also makes him a constant threat on set pieces and a player capable of winning aerial duels. Tavares scored his three goals in three different starts, showcasing his potential production when given consistent minutes.

3. Julian Gressel (Inter Miami)

Julian Gressel

Julian Gressel celebrates Inter Miami’s 2024 Supporters’ Shield. / Inter Miami CF/MLS Photos via Imagn Images

Julian Gressel is a versatile option who is coming off playing an integral role in Inter Miami’s record-breaking MLS regular season. The 30-year-old proved he can play as a right wing-back, central midfielder or right winger, all while delivering quality service into the box.

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Gressel tallied nine assists for the Herons and created 44 goalscoring chances. He is calm with the ball at his feet and an accurate passer. Gressel is someone who could thrive immediately with a new team.

2. Jovan Mijatović (New York City FC)

Jovan Mijatović’s completed his blockbuster move from Serbia’s FK Crvena zvezda to NYCFC in Feb. 2024 but never found consistent minutes under Nick Cushing. The 19-year-old only started two matches and played a total of 266 minutes, most often coming on as a substitute in the dying minutes of a match.

Although he failed to show his quality in his debut season in MLS, the teenager has arguably one of the highest ceilings in the league if given the time and opportunity to grow. San Diego FC have been vocal about their commitment to developing young talent and they can get started with Mijatović.

1. Dante Vanzeir (New York Red Bulls)

Choosing a player who started every game for New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs feels like a no-brainer. Dante Vanzeir was the hero in the first ever playoff Hudson River Derby, assisting Felipe Carballo’s opening goal and sealing the game with one of his own just nine minutes later.

The forward ended the season with six goals and 10 assists despite Red Bulls’ often stagnant attack. The output was a massive step forward from his two-goal haul in his debut MLS season. The 26-year-old now has the experience and production an expansion team like San Diego FC needs to hit the ground running.

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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

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City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness


Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

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“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving  the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

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Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

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“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.



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Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels

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Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels


San Diego Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com

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Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com


— SANDY, Utah (AP) — Sergi Solans had two goals and an assist, Diego Luna added a goal and two assists, and Real Salt Lake beat San Diego FC 4-2 on Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak to six games.

Morgan Guilavogui scored his first goal in MLS and had an assist for Real Salt Lake (5-1-1). The 28-year-old designated player has five goal contributions in his first six career games.

RSL hasn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat at Vancouver in the season opener.

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San Diego (3-3-2) has lost three in a row and is winless in five straight.

Luna opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he re-directed a misplayed pass by Duran Ferree, San Diego’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, into the net.

Moments later, Solans headed home a perfectly-placed cross played by Luna from outside the right corner of the 18-yard box to the back post to make it 2-0. Solans, a 23-year-old forward, flicked a header from the center of the area inside the right post and past the outstretched arm of Ferree to make it 3-1 in the 37th minute.

Guilavogui slammed home a first-touch shot to give RSL a three-goal lead in the 45th.

Marcus Ingvartsen scored a goal in the 14th minute and Anders Dreyer converted from the penalty spot in the 66th for San Diego.

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Ingvartsen has five goals and an assist this season and has 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) in 16 career MLS appearances.

Rafael Cabral had three saves for RSL.

Ferree finished with five saves.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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