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

Susannah and David are here to helm this week’s show. The duo recap the NWSL and USL Championship Finals from the weekend. Gotham FC defeat Washington Spirit 1-0 to claim their second title in league history. Producer Doug gets shown on TV in anguish. Pittsburgh Riverhounds defeats FC Tulsa in penalties for their first USL Championship title. MLS Conference Semifinals are the harbingers of chaos and drama. CBS New York spotlights a project called Soccer Bedtime Stories created by NY Resident and Friend of Kickback, Tomek Krzyzostaniak. We stick with the Krzyzostaniak family and share a favorite World Cup memory from Kickback staffer and brother of Tomek, Kuba Krzyzostaniak. 50 States of Soccer takes us to the state of Florida. A new spin on the Five-a-Side selections where Sooz and David pick their lineup for the ideal Thanksgiving dinner.

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

CBS NY Feature, Soccer Bedtime Stories: https://youtu.be/NQlkQCTl4C8?si=ahIunSoeZx1wno_b

Soccer Bedtime Stories: https://www.soccerbedtimestories.com/

03:55 - NWSL Final, Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit Recap

24:44 - USL Championship, Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. FC Tulsa Recap

34:49 - MLS Conference Semifinals, Vancouver vs. LAFC Recap

45:22 - NYCFC vs. Philadelphia Union

52:41 - Miami vs. FC Cincinnati

59:45 - Soccer Bedtime Stories

01:02:23 - Favorite World Cup Memories, Kickback Staffer Kuba Krzyzostaniak

01:07:19 - 50 States of Soccer: Florida

01:17:29 - Thanksgiving Dish Five-a-Side

01:26:28 - Close

Susannah and David helm today’s big show. ONE KNOX ARE USL LEAGUE ONE CHAMPIONS!! Susannah recaps One Knox reaching the USL League One mountain top, defeating Spokane Velocity 2-0. What the crowning achievement means to her, the team and the city of Knoxville. A preview of the NWSL Final in San Jose with a pair of guests. Gary Gibson from Soccer Over Gotham and Ella Brockway from Hey Spirits join the Committee to preview their respective teams, how they made it to the Final and what winning the NWSL Championship would mean for their communities. Soccer Scandals comes back with a story about Voodoo use during a CAF World Cup qualifying match. World Cup Qualifying continues, recapping the shock upsets by Scotland and Ireland and preview the slate ahead. Sooz debuts FLOW SHOW to review some cuts of hair that were seen over the weekend. 50 States of Soccer comes to the state of California in likely the hardest five-a-side to pick from yet.

Soccer Over Gotham: https://linktr.ee/soccerovergotham

Hey Spirits: instagram.com/heyspiritspod/

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

02:00 - One Knox Wins USL1 Championship

16:22 - Gotham Preview with Gary Gibson, Soccer Over Gotham

34:01 - Spirit Preview with Ella Brockway, Hey Spirits

57:48 - Sooz and David Preview the NWSL Final

01:00:41 - World Cup Qualifying

01:12:00 - Soccer Scandals

01:19:17 - FLOW SHOW

01:28:26 - 50 States of Soccer: California

Today’s Happy Hour brings us to the land of Puerto Rico for 50 States of Soccer. Susannah and Ian Fuller host today’s happy hour. For the occasion, we welcomed Minnesota United coaching assistant and former Puerto Rico national team player Zarek Valentin along with fellow Puerto Rico teammate and Miami FC forward Ricardo Rivera to the Happy Hour. The crew react to the breaking news of MLS announcing the schedule shift to fall-spring in 2027 and its impact on the wider US soccer landscape. The crew then dives into their love for Puerto Rico and its rising status as a soccer space. Because we love timing and the dedication, Claudia Pagán joins the happy hour from her post-flight Uber to add to the love and lore of Puerto Rico.

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

David is recuperating from his sister’s wedding weekend so today’s Committee episode is hosted by fellow member and CBS Golazo Network host Claudia Pagán alongside Susannah. The pair discuss their intersection in life as WAGS and Soccer media members. Sooz recaps One Knox defeating FC Naples and reaching the USL League 1 Final. They will host Spokane Velocity who achieved victory in one of the most dramatic semifinals in recent USL1 history. The dramatics continued over into NWSL as the pair discuss all of the NWSL postseason madness, headline by Gotham FC’s historical upset over KC Current. The duo take time to admire the scenes and snow at the CPL Final featuring the newly named “Icicle Kick” goal. Adidas launched their 2026 World Cup kits which means it’s time for kit reviews. World Cup Qualifying comes back around so we look at various regions with games on deck. A check in on the USMNT with a RIZZ METER for various players on the November Camp roster. The Gio Reyna situation is not improving and the pair discuss the conundrum Mauricio Pochettino faces. 50 States of Soccer heads to Claudia’s home region of Puerto Rico and gives insight into the rise of the sport on the island. Yes, we do talk about Bad Bunny. The show wraps with another Great British Bake-Off with some surprise takes from Claudia’s husband, Luke.

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

01:16 - Life as a WAG in Media

22:11 - One Knox makes it to the USL1 Final

25:36 - Spokane Velocity Wins Semifinal

27:45 - MLS Playoffs

32:49 - NWSL Playoff Chaos

37:16 - CPL Final Snow Classic

41:56 - World Cup Kit Reviews

58:08 - WCQ International Break

01:05:15 - USMNT RIZZ Check-In

01:18:47 - The Gio Reyna Conundrum

01:24:11 - 50 States of Soccer: Puerto Rico

01:33:24 - GBBO Recap

Cross-Post with Soccerwise

Soccerwise comes to you live from Charlotte, NC at Sycamore Brewery on the eve of Game 3 between Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC. David and Tom are joined by Zoran Krneta, CSO of Charlotte FC, Dean Smith, Charlotte FC Manager and MLS Play by Play commentator, Eric Krakauer.

Sycamore Brewery: https://www.sycamorebrew.com/