KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A week ago, Orlando City SC Homegrown midfielder Colin Guske was walking out of the tunnel at Estadio Azteca with 60,000 Mexicans booing the U.S U20 National Team. Wednesday night, he was back in Orlando, starting at center back for the Lions in the final Phase One match of Leagues Cup 2026.
"It's been awesome," Guske said at Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park on Friday. "Going with the national team is always an honor, especially to represent them at such a big tournament with a lot on the line, a U-20 World Cup, and then playing against our rival in the final. Obviously a huge honor. And then coming back on Wednesday was just great to get back on the field with the guys."
It's been a season of growth for the young Lion. After starting the season in midfield and playing a number of games in the early part of the season, lately he has been shifted into the backline as a center back. Already having the height and the technical ability, the transition has been fairly seamless, especially considering his days in the Academy.
"I played a little bit of center back in the Academy here and there," he said. "My brother, Owen, used to be a center back, so he's always giving me tips and helping me. Obviously I want to do anything for the team, anything to help us win. [Playing back there] I want to be a leader and commander, always helping my guys out, talking left, right, up, down, all that. Because at the end of the day, we're one team. We want one goal, which is to win every game, win a championship."
Interim head coach Martín Perelman was pleased with what he saw from his young players during Leagues Cup this past week, Guske included, even as the Lions missed out on advancing from Phase One.
"I think not only Colin, but every player the other day, they competed really well," Perelman said. "They haven't been playing a big amount of minutes, some of them, so it's always a challenge. We were winning until the last second of the game. They competed and represented our ways. Happy for the development of our homegrowns and academy players for sure."
Now the focus shifts entirely back to MLS play. Saturday afternoon, Orlando City hosts FC Cincinnati at Inter.co Stadium. Pat Noonan's side arrives fresh off their own Leagues Cup exit, traveling to Central Florida on a short week.
The last time the teams met was back in May, when Orlando fell on the road at TQL Stadium in the final match before the World Cup break.
"We work always one game at a time," Perelman said. "Every game is important, every game is three points. We know them and they know us. It's going to be a tough game like always against them. They have really good players, a really good coach. We respect them, but we prepare our team. We are at home, we will fight, we will play, and we will try to win."
Kickoff against FC Cincinnati at Inter.co Stadium is set for Saturday at 7:30 pm ET, with the match available on Apple TV.
