Susannah and David roll in for this week’s Committee gathering. The duo recap the MLS Cup Final. Where it went wrong for Vancouver and what the victory means for Inter Miami and MLS onward. Reactions to the World Cup Draw and the realization almost none of the predictions from last week’s show came to fruition (except one awkward one). Trinity Rodman’s contract situation looms large over the future of NWSL and the impact if she leaves for a team abroad. Favorite things we’ve been watching in Soccer outside the US. 50 States of Soccer returns to chat about the Peach State of Georgia. We close out the show remembering Grant Wahl, this week marking 3 years since his passing.

Listen to First Touch ’26 Capsule Podcasts to prepare for the 2026 World Cup: https://linktr.ee/firsttouchksm

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com/

03:47 - MLS Cup Final Recap

21:21 - World Cup Draw Reactions

30:47 - World Cup City & Stadium Power Rankings, Top and Bottom 3

51:35 - Trinity Rodman Contract Situation

01:00:42 - Favorite Things We’ve Been Watching in Soccer

01:07:43 - 50 States of Soccer: Georgia

01:21:35 - Close and Remembering Grant Wahl

Kickback 26 is your front-row seat to the 2026 World Cup. Hosted by David Gass, Claudia Pagan, Heath Pearce, and Eric Krakauer, this podcast breaks down every World Cup group with a mix of tactical insight, big-picture context, and a healthy dose of banter. From host-nation pressure on Mexico, Canada and USA to dark horses, “groups of chaos,” and which third-place teams might sneak through, the Committee walks you through the tournament one group at a time—making sense of the draw, matchups, and storylines that will define 2026.In this section, the team reacts to the World Cup draw and goes group by group, giving their analysis, predictions, and must-watch fixtures. Expect debates over Mexico’s ceiling as a co-host, South Africa’s resurgence, how dangerous Korea can be, what Switzerland and Italy really are at this stage, and which UEFA playoff nations could flip a group on its head. If you want smart, funny, and deeply informed World Cup talk that actually helps you understand what’s coming in 2026, this is where you start.

Listen to our World Cup Capsule Podcasts and follow us on First Touch: https://linktr.ee/firsttouchksm

01:35 - Group A

12:01 - Group B

18:59 - Group C

27:12 - Group D

35:07 - Group E

39:35 - Group F

43:00 - Group G

46:37 - Group H

48:58 - Group I

52:02 - Group J

56:01 - Group K

59:22 - Group L

The Committee gathers for a major week in the American soccer world as the 2026 World Cup Draw and MLS Cup Final are in sight this coming weekend. Sooz recaps her holiday in Asheville, NC. We preview the MLS Cup Final with a pair of special guests. Javon Haughton of the Black Herons United supporter group and Michael McColl of the AFTN Soccer Show podcast join us to preview their respective sides vying for their first ever MLS Cup. Sooz and David talk about things they want to see from the World Cup Draw, both the opening ceremony itself, on-field matchups and team base camp locations. Running down the list of team base camps including a segue into where Santiago Solari played college soccer in the US. We end the show with our First Touch ’26 live show and podcast feed announcement to preview the 2026 FIFA World Cup from now until the Final next year.

Black Herons United: https://blackheronsutd.com/pages/our-story

AFTN: https://aftn.ca/

First Touch ’26: https://linktr.ee/firsttouchksm

01:32 - Sooz’s Asheville, NC Holiday

08:37 - A Lot of Soccer Things

09:00 - Javon Haughton, Black Herons United

33:54 - Michael McColl, AFTN Soccer Show

58:36 - Things We Want to See In The World Cup Draw

01:34:20 - Show Close and First Touch '26 Announcement