World Cup Preparations

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and World Cup football chat and interviews. What a week it's been in Whitecapsland. Captain Ryan Gauld has undergone surgery, players have been added, players have departed, and the stadium issues the 'Caps have been having came very much to the fore on Friday, casting concern and doubt over the club's future in Vancouver. We delve into all of that and hear from CEO Axel Schuster. We've two feature interviews for you this episode and first up is Whitecaps gaffer Jesper Sorensen in our first chat with him of 2026. We look back at the wonderful year that was 2025, the successes, what's been learned, that difficult second album, and 2026 preparations. We also chat with Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker about his career, Forge's dominance in Canadian football, and their preparations for this week's CONCACAF Champions Cup game against Mexican powerhouse, Tigres. All of this plus we talk about the Vancouver World Cup fanfest, move onto the letter E in our Canadian Soccer A to Z series, Hot Chocolate Boy is back, and music-wise, Syd Barrett kicks off a residency as our Artist of the Month, The Bodines are the latest band to feature in our 40th anniversary tribute year to the C86 movement, and we have another World Cup themed song in Wavelength, this time from Danish singer/songwriter Cleeman. Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.27: Intro - Vancouver Fanfest no longer free for all? 15.26: Hot Chocolate Boy - Union Market 20.37: Whitecaps News of the Week - Gauld surgery, transfer comings and goings, preseason 53.45: Whitecaps stadium issues cast concern and doubt over future 116.25: Jesper Sorensen interview 151.15: Canadian Soccer A to Z - E 160.20: Kyle Bekker interview 186.40: CONCACAF Champions Cup preview 198.35: Wavelength - Cleeman - Princes of Denmark

NOT A PATREON MEMBER? ⁠Use the code "XOG"⁠ to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The U.S. women's national team took down Italy 5-0 on aggregate across a window that saw the 26th and 27th players get their first caps under Emma Hayes, an all-time record for a U.S. head coach. What has 2025 meant for the USWNT, and how has it set themselves up for the next phase of their World Cup preparations? The guys also do a quick news roundup from the past two weeks, including the Rob Gale firing, the Hailie Mace and Jess Fishlock signings, and other bits and bobs. Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. This week, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper explore a landmark moment in the sport: Brazil, for the first time in its storied history, has appointed a sole foreign manager, Carlo Ancelotti. As he prepares to lead the Seleção in his first match on Friday against Ecuador, the episode unpacks the significance of his move to Brazil. They examine Ancelotti’s coaching philosophy, tracing its roots to his mentor Nils Liedholm and the enduring influence of Hungarian football. The conversation spans decades and continents—from the intellectual cafés of Budapest to the shifting tactical landscape of South America. Along the way, they reflect on the evolution of Brazilian coaching and the global reach of Hungarian tactical innovation. Join them for a compelling look at the past, present, and future of football strategy, and discover how Ancelotti’s arrival in Brazil could be a return to their roots. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes 00:37 Historic Day for Brazil: Foreign Manager Appointed 01:15 Carlo Ancelotti's Coaching Philosophy 01:55 Brazil's Foreign Coaching History 04:56 The Dominance of Argentinian Coaches in South America 06:04 Brazilian Football's Tactical Evolution 10:30 Hungarian Influence on Brazilian Football 20:56 Brazil's World Cup Preparations and Challenges 26:13 Brazil's Struggles Against European Teams 27:49 Modern Era: Brazil's Coaching Crisis 29:11 Analysing the Decline of Brazilian Football 30:01 The Influence of European Coaching 30:22 The Role of Brazilian Midfielders 30:37 Recent Brazilian Coaches and Their Struggles 31:38 The Turning Point: Italy 1982 32:10 Introduction to Carlo Ancelotti's Appointment 32:49 Carlo Ancelotti's Mentorship and Legacy 35:27 The Hungarian Influence on Modern Football 38:33 The Swedish Connection and Coaching Philosophy 40:22 The Rise of IFK Norrköping 48:28 The Formation of the Gre-No-Li Trio 51:27 Carlo Ancelotti's Impact on Brazilian Football 55:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the tension between World Cup co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico a concern? Can Comoros complete the ultimate underdog story? Plus, will Chris Wood and Erling Haaland be firing in the goals for New Zealand and Norway next year? Kelly Cates and Rory Smith get our countdown to 2026 underway in Destination New Jersey. JT Batson, CEO & Secretary General of the US Soccer Federation, joins us to discuss their preparations for the tournament. Former New Zealand manager, Ricki Herbert, talks up their chances of making it to next summer’s World Cup 16 years after he guided them to South Africa. President of the Norwegian Football Association, Lise Klaveness, explains the pressure on them to ensure Erling Haaland and their talented generation can reach the finals. And we’re joined by former Wolves boss Stefano Cusin as he bids to take Comoros to their first World Cup. TIMECODES: 02:10 - JT Batson – CEO & Secretary General of US Soccer Federation 17:50 - Stefano Cusin – Comoros manager 26:19 – Ricki Herbert – Former New Zealand manager 39:36 – Lise Klaveness – President of the Norwegian Football Association. Commentaries on 5 Live/BBC Sounds: Wednesday: Manchester City v Chelsea - Women's Champions League (8pm) Thursday: Greece v Scotland - Men's Nations League play-off (7:45pm) Friday: England v Albania - Men's World Cup 2026 qualifying (7:45pm) Sunday: Manchester City v Chelsea - Women's Super League (2:30pm)

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater & Phil Buckingham to look at ahead to preparations for the World Cup in Qatar in just 45 days time. Is the country ready for the influx of people from both an accommodation & security point of view? What do Qatari residents feel about the attention the World Cup has brought to their country and the scrutiny it has been under from those who have highlighted human rights and environmental abuses in the host nation. Also, what will the knock on effect be in the Premier League in terms of players returning to their clubs ahead of a busy Christmas schedule and just before the January transfer window. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With international football taking centre stage, Jimbo, Michael Cox, Jack Lang and Matt Scott stick a thermometer up the respective bottoms of England, Argentina, Brazil et al to assess their strengths and weakness as preparations for the World Cup ramp up. Plus, Ronald Koeman’s Dutch rebuilding job, third-generation footballers and our first update from the Indian Super LeagueRUNNING ORDER:• PART 1: Inexperienced England - or the greatest Three Lions team of the last 30 years? (03m 00s)• PART 2a: Here come the Belgiums! (10m 50s)• PART 2b: The Costa Rica rule (12m 30s)• PART 3a: Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarves and meeting Ronaldinho (20m 40s)• PART 3b: Argentina and Brazil in Russia (26m 00s)• PART 4a: Golazzo preview; Gareth Bale in China (34m 50s)• PART 4b: Ronald Koeman and the reinvigoration of Holland (37m 40s)• PART 5a: TFS announcements; horseflesh; your questions (42m 10s)• PART 5b: Indian Super League update; former Barcelona players managing in the PL (50m 40s)• PART 6: Paddy Power’s Movers & Shakers with Lee Price (53m 30s)• PART 7: A little bit of politics and adios (56m 10s) PARISH NOTICES:• join [**Paddy Power’s Rewards Club**](http://www.paddypower.com/) - home of the Money Back Special• get your shave on with our friends [**Cornerstone**, who are giving you £10 off your first order](https://www.cornerstone.co.uk/totally) • [football + intellectualism = **The Game of Our Lives** podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/game-of-our-lives/id1353981875?mt=2)GET IN TOUCH:• find us on [**Facebook**, - home of the Totally Football Quiz every Friday at 1230 GMT](https://www.facebook.com/thetotallyfootballshow/)• send us a [tweet: **@TheTotallyShow**](http://www.twitter.com/thetotallyshow) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.