World Cup News

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Canadian Premier League chat and interviews.It was late agony at BC Place for Vancouver Whitecaps as they conceded an away goal against Pumas UNAM with just three minutes remaining in a game they bossed. Still, they got a draw and it's all to play for next week in Mexico City as we pick over the bones of the first leg.We've two feature interview for you in this episode. First up is a 25 minute chat with Canadian Premier League Commissioner Mark Noonan ahead of the 7th season of the CPL. We chat with Mark about the state of the league, expansion, the TV deal with TSN, capitalizing on the 2026 World Cup, and more.Next up is former Whitecaps midfielder Marco Bustos who returns to the CPL for a second stint with Pacific FC. What brought him back, can they recapture the glory days of their championship season, how is a turned over Pacific side looking, and how was life in Sweden? We chat about all of this and more, plus we preview all eight CPL teams and look at how their offseason rebuilds have gone and their chances for the season ahead.Music-wise feature in Wavelength, Camille Schmidt kicks off her residency as our Album of the Month, and there's a couple of Britpop songs from Nilon Bombers and Kingmaker.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.27: Intro - US Open Cup drama07.12: Whitecaps concede late in agonizing draw with Pumas28.35: CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan interview64.35: Pacific FC season preview75.23: Marco Bustos interview106.50: Vancouver FC season preview128.20: Calgary FC season preview135.53: Valour FC season preview141.03: Forge FC season preview149.06: York United season preview157.35: Atletico Ottawa season preview163.38: HFX Wanderers season preview169.55: Wavelength - Babybird - Football

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian Premier League chat.Our extensive interview with Axel Schuster in the last episode certainly produced a lot of chatter and we unpack some of what the Whitecaps CEO told us in this episode around the search for a new coach, the search for new owners, the search for new players, and more.Our first feature interview of 2025 sees us sit down for an in-depth chat with the man that lifted his first CPL North Star Cup last year, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. We chat with the Cavalry head coach about the successful 2024 for the team, the chance to take on Mexican opposition in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the return of an Albertan derby, taking the next step forward in 2025, Jay Herdman, Myer Bevan, the state of the CPL, his beloved Everton, and more.We also look back at Pacific's two latest additions, the current quiet time at Vancouver FC, and look at an interesting year for York United, both on and off the pitch, as we chat with Mexican owners the Pasquel brothers about their first year in charge. Plus we get the thoughts of Bobby Smyrniotis, James Merriman and Tommy Wheeldon Jr about the need for some kind of VAR in the CPL and look at the stadium issues that plague Canadian soccer.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.35: Intro - another new year awaits07.30: Unpacking Axel Schuster's State of the Whitecaps interview38.33: Pacific add two, all quiet at VFC, and Forge busy again68.32: The Pasquel brothers' first year in charge at York75.20: Canadian soccer has a stadium issue93.30: Tommy Wheeldon Jr interview142.25: The vital need for some kind of VAR in the CPL149.55: What we'd love to change in the CPL169.45: Wavelength - Robb Johnson - Life Is Football

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and Canadian Premier League chat. April is our favourite time of the year with MLS well underway, the CPL and League1 BC beginning, and the Provincial Cup in full flow. What a time to be alive! Add to that the Whitecaps being top of MLS and it's a fun-filled show this week.We kick things off with the 'Caps and look at their 4-0 demolition of TFC at the weekend that sent them to the top of the standings. We also hear from both head coaches, Vanni Sartini and John Herdman, chat about where both teams go from hear, and look around the rest of the action in the MLS West.AFTN writer Felipe Vallejo joins us on the show this week to not only talk Whitecaps but also for a comprehensive preview of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season that gets underway this weekend. We look at all eight clubs and have three little words on each of their chances this year.This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Recovery Family Law, family law lawyers in Surrey, working with clients to get excellent results. They support AFTN, go and support them for all your family legal needs.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:02.27: Intro - our favourite time of the year06.10: Whitecaps go top after dismantling TFC35.37: The Gaffers - Vanni Sartini and John Herdman48.43: Should the 'Caps get more credit?53.50: MLS West round-up67.05: CPL Season Preview - Vancouver86.49: CPL Season Preview - Pacific97.10: CPL Season Preview - Cavalry107.15: CPL Season Preview - Valour116.55: This week in 1974121.30: CPL Season Preview - York United131.10: CPL Season Preview - Forge138.24: CPL Season Preview - Atletico Ottawa143.25: CPL Season Preview - HFX Wanderers and title predictions154.25: Wavelength - Apocalypse Babys - Let's Go Mental158.47: Goodbyes and German football chat

We’re back with another packed show of Canadian soccer chat. As the feast of footballing action continues across the country, we'll be talking Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, the Canadian Championship, and the FIFA U20 World Cup in this episode.Vancouver Whitecaps MLS unbeaten run came to an unceremonious end in Portland on Saturday night. We chat about the main talking points coming out of the match, the areas of concern with the team right now, the busy schedule, and round up the weekend's action in the MLS Western Conference and the CPL. Plus we look back at the 'Caps Canadian Championship win over York United, along with the other eventful three quarter-finals.We've two interviews for you this episode. Will Cromack joins us for his last chat as TSS Rovers head coach to look back at the team's Canadian Championship adventure, how far the team has come, and how the game at this level needs to develop and grow moving forward.We also chat with WFC2 midfielder Jay Herdman as he heads off to Argentina to play for New Zealand in the FIFA U20 World Cup about the excitement of playing the hosts, how the opportunity came about, what he learned from being in Qatar with his dad, and his future hopes and plans.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.31: Intro03.47: Whitecaps fall to Timbers27.45: MLS round-up38.30: Canadian Championship chat86.10: Will Cromack interview and TSS chat113.45: Canadian Premier League round-up133.05: Jay Herdman interview and U20 World Cup chat141.18: Wavelength - Tropical Horses - Sunday Soccer Fuck Your Mother

The gang is all here to recap #TFClive vs. Philadelphia, review the personnel changes, preview NYCFC, recap the Voyageurs Cup action, cover some #CanPL news in acquiring control of York United, talk about the various CSA news and the usual insanity. In this episode, Mark discovered the hard way he still had a subscription, Tony announces a moratorium on fun (short lived), Kristin goes for the obvious Union-based pun, and Duncan is quick to research about pet food. Thank you for checking out our podcast. We are available on all major podcasting platforms. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lw8cvZLmvw2JUpmoBUfyt iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-vocal-minority/id834015329?mt=2 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3ZvY2FsbWlub3JpdHkuY2EvZmVlZC8 The Vocal Minority Podcast has been broadcasting our style of conversations since March 1st, 2014, covering the lows, highs and lows again of Toronto FC, Canadian National Soccer Teams, both men and women, the Canadian Premier League and anything adjacent. Follow us on Twitter @vocalminorityca and join the conversations at http://www.vocalminority.ca If you like what you hear and would like to help keep the lights on, please consider supporting us via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thevocalminoritypodcast

We’re back with another packed show of Canadian football chat and this episode is a bumper three hour special dedicated to the Canadian Premier League, which is set to kick off its 5th season.With one team folding and one new team joining the league, we cast our eyes over all eight sides, looking at their offseason moves, and what 2023 may hold in store for them.We particularly delve into newboys Vancouver FC and chat with goalkeeper Callum Irving about the season ahead and coming home to play his football again.We also have an in-depth chat with Valour FC head coach Philip Dos Santos about his time in charge in Winnipeg so far, what he's expecting from his side this year, rebuilding the team with a two year plan, and the difficulties of recruitment. Plus we look ahead to next week's big Canadian Championship clash with TSS Rovers.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.20: Intro and introducing Felipe03.25: The CPL returns for Year 5 with new playoff format19.18: Vancouver FC season preview47.46: Callum Irving interview56.53: Pacific FC season preview71.51: Cavalry FC season preview83.15: Valour FC season preview95.25: Forge FC season preview107.40: York United season preview115.25: Atletico Ottawa season preview121.55: HFX Wanderers season preview133.05: Philip Dos Santos interview168.33: Wavelength - Armchair Loyal - Fun Facts About Footballers

We're back with another episode of the AFTN Soccer Show for your listening pleasure, with lots of Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS chat.The Whitecaps were in action twice this past week again on league and cup duty. Sunday saw a battling point earned at home to New England Revolution in MLS action, but midweek saw the 'Caps reach their first Canadian Championship final since 2018 with a win over York United.We pick over the bones of both of those game, the highlights and lowlights, and look ahead to the threat Toronto FC will pose in the final with their big addition of Lorenzo Insigne.The Whitecaps next opponents LAFC have made a couple of big additions of their own in Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale. What impact will they have on the league and it's perception in some quarters? Plus we round-up how the MLS West is looking.Plus music from artists of the month Thick and Kunt and the Gang are in this episode's Wavelength.Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:02.47: Whitecaps draw with New England27.23: Whitecaps reach Canadian Championship final41.45: TFC and the Insigne effect55.10: Big names coming to LAFC71.40: Wavelength - Kunt and the Gang - Christian Atsu and his katsu curry

World Cup 2026 comes to Vancouver; MLS’ gamechanging streaming deal; Vancouver Whitecaps chat; Axel Schuster, Martin Nash, Theo Collumb interviews

We're back with another packed episode of the AFTN Soccer Show for your listening pleasure, and it's a special Canadian Premier League themed show ahead of the new season that gets underway on Thursday.In this episode, we continue our chats with head coaches from around the league and bring you three feature interviews, from three teams with very different expectations this season.We kick things off with the champs, as we sit down with new Pacific FC head coach James Merriman to chat about defending their title, the comings and goings in an eventful offseason, fighting on three fronts, and more.It's also been an eventful offseason for FC Edmonton, and not one you'd wish on any coach. With the team looking for new owners, the playing and management team decimated, and the league taking over the team and providing loan players, head coach Alan Koch has certainly had his work cut out for him. We chat with him about all the turmoil, building a squad, and what we can expect from the team this year both on and off the pitch.Continuing to move east, we end up at York United to chat with another new head coach, and a man we know very well here in Vancouver, Martin Nash. Nash has moved too York after three years as an assistant at Cavalry. Can he take the team forward after they reached the playoffs for the first time? What will a Martin Nash team look like on the pitch? And how has he found the adjustment to being the main man in the dugout? We talk about all of that and more.Plus a quick discussion about all the teams in our season preview, some AFTN CPL power rankings, and Armchair Loyal are back in this episode's Wavelength.Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:02.10: James Merriman interview36.06: Alan Koch interview69.33: Martin Nash interview91.40: Pacific FC discussion104.36: FC Edmonton discussion110.00: York United discussion114.40: CPL season preview and power rankings125.47: Wavelength - Armchair Loyal - Young Gifted and Right Back

As the old year comes to a close and the new one peaks over the horizon, I think we can all just hope for better times in 2022.We're here to guide you into the new year with another packed episode of the AFTN Soccer Show and we're back with another end of season review, this time turning our attention to the Canadian Premier League.BC is home to the new CPL champs Pacific FC and we look back at their season, and those of the other seven sides, in a season that saw a lot of ups and downs, drama, controversies, three managerial casualties, and some great football played.We chat about the high points for each team and look ahead to what they need to do to improve next season. Plus we look at the CPL coming to the lower mainland and where that fits in with the upcoming launch of League 1 BC.Plus we talk take out food with Pacific FC's Ollie Bassett and there's music from Wet Leg, Babyshambles, and Werd (SOS).Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.43: Intro chat04.45: General CPL season overview21.13: CPL award winners33.38: Pacific FC's season45.01: Take Me Out - Ollie Bassett47.25: Forge FC's season59.00: Cavalry FC's season65.31: FC Edmonton's season71.28: Valour FC's season75.05: York United's season and Martin Nash appointment81.26: HFX Wanderers' season83.08: Atletico Ottawa's season and Mista departs92.25: There's a new CPL team coming to Vancouver113.51: League 1 BC chat124.42: Wavelength - My Brother Woody - Literally

LAFC v Vancouver; Whitecaps come home; Canada reach Gold Cup semis; Major League Soccer and Canadian Premier League round-up

Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS chat; Canadian clubs rebranding; New Royal Family's David Barnett interview; festive fun and Christmas songs