Soccerwise | U.S. Soccer, MLS, NWSL

Half of the MLS Western Conference playoff bubble is about to see their postseason dreams burst, and those already out have plenty to answer for. David Gass, Matt Doyle and Tom Bogert size up who’s best set for the final weekend. Then they dig into what sank each eliminated side and what has to change this offseason.

Six clubs fight for three berths: the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake face off, while the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United scoreboard watch. Obituaries follow for the clubs whose seasons are done, from a re...

Eight NWSL teams, four games and no second chances. David Gass and Jordan Angeli break down every quarterfinal matchup, what could tip each one and which teams they think can survive, before they take on the NWSL awards races, starting with a wide-open MVP vote.

They look back at Decision Day, where Gotham FC won their first NWSL Shield and Seattle Reign snagged the last spot, and work through their full awards ballot with their front-runners in every category.

0:00 NWSL Final Eight and Awards Ahead

4:13 Decision Day: Parity on Display

8:44 Gotham’s...

The Timbers jumped from 11th to eighth in a single weekend. Are they getting hot at the right time, or is it proof that nobody else in this scramble is any good? With Decision Day next, Gass, Tom and Doyle hash I all out across both conferences, from the bubble to the clubs already planning for next year.

Out East, Nashville SC rallied from two down against Red Bull New York and look like the favorites even with Inter Miami lurking. Charlotte FC’s ceiling may hinge on whether Allan Saint-Maximin’s red card will cost him more...

Back in Columbus after two years with Bournemouth’s multi-club owners, Tim Bezbatchenko knows where MLS already holds its own against European clubs, and where it doesn’t. Gass, Tom and Doyle ask him how the league’s roster rules should change, and he takes them inside the room where the Crew set the budget for a star signing.

Now overseeing the Columbus Crew and the city’s new NWSL team, he weighs promotion and relegation and whether more spending leaves a pathway for homegrown and college prospects. He also covers their new NWSL training ground, how much the...

Two games left, Decision Day next weekend, and New York and Seattle are in must-win mode as a jumble of clubs fight for the last postseason spots. Gass, Tom and Doyle, fresh off a wild midweek, debate which clubs hold their nerve and whether anyone outside of Nashville is truly good.

Red Bull New York and the Columbus Crew chase FC Cincinnati and Orlando City in the East, while Real Salt Lake, the LA Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids crowd the Seattle Sounders in the West. Along the way, they dig into MLS’ new Sprint Season and si...

Where does the USMNT pool stand now that so many U.S. players have reached Europe’s top leagues? David Gass and Charlie Boehm dig into how far it has come and what Mauricio Pochettino weighs ahead of his November roster.

Joe Scally at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Johnny Cardoso at Atlético Madrid start regularly in Europe, yet neither has a settled USMNT role, a question also hangs over Timothy Weah at Marseille and Alejandro Zendejas in Liga MX. Plus, The Subs Bench takes on the Ballon d’Or, Emma Hayes’ USWNT, “Camp Cupcake” and dual nationals.<...

The Shield is Gotham’s to lose and San Diego’s to steal, three teams for the last spot and the final seeding all to be decided on NWSL Decision Day. David Gass and Jordan Angeli are back together again to break down the best final day in the NWSL in recent memory.

Utah Royals FC and Bay FC can ruin dreams with the Shield in play, while Seattle Reign FC, the North Carolina Courage and Denver Summit FC fight for the last playoff spot and the Orlando Pride get a say. Plus, the HIP rule, ESPN’s GM s...

Nashville SC ran away with the Supporters’ Shield, and David Gass, Matt Doyle and Tom Bogert can’t say enough good things about how the club got there. And with the awards season approaching, they weigh who is leading the way for some of the biggest awards.

The guys break down the roster plan and coaching behind Nashville’s dominant season, whether the club passes the all-time points record, B.J. Callaghan or Yoann Damet for Coach of the Year and Lionel Messi’s MVP case. Plus, CF Montreal’s cup final where does the club go from here...

Jen Beattie was diagnosed with breast cancer on a Thursday and scored for Arsenal that weekend. She and host Susannah Fuller, both survivors, talk about how little she knew going in, early detection, and what she would tell someone newly diagnosed.

Beattie, a former Scotland international and now CBS analyst, remembers being diagnosed alone in Covid, then the lumpectomy and radio therapy that followed. Between two women in a club neither chose to join, the talks turns to whether the survivor label firsts and whether the fear around follow-up scans ever fades.

October is Breast...

What did St. Louis CITY SC have that the Columbus Crew didn’t in the Open Cup final? David Gass and Matt Doyle work it out from inside the stadium, and look back at where both clubs go from here.

The guys break down the roster blueprint behind St. Louis’ historic run, how their defensive grit slowed the Crew’s attack, and whether this trophy changes how elite players view the club. Plus, they look ahead to the high-stakes weekend matches as the MLS playoff race is coming down to the wire.

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The USMNT depth chart list taking shape, but who can be trusted in a must-win game? David Gass and Brian Dunseth assess the current player pool, weighing form against potential and established options versus rising talent. Some choices are clear, but who earns the final spots? Then David and Kacey White build a projected USWNT 26-player roster for the 2027 World Cup, assuming the tournament started tomorrow. With qualifying ahead, injuries and tough decisions across the squad raise the stakes. Who makes the cut and who gets left out?

For the sharpest coverage of American soccer, we’ve go...

The NWSL Shield race enters its final stretch with three teams in contention and two matches remaining. Jordan Angeli and guest host Jessica Charman break down the Washington Spirit’s win over Gotham FC, San Diego Wave FC’s opportunity to close the gap, and what lies ahead of the Shield contenders.

With playoff spots still up for grabs, Angel City’s comeback against Denver Summit FC and Seattle Reign FC’s push for a postseason place take center stage alongside predictions for the final eight. Plus, Columbus hires Lucy Rushton to be their general manager, Atlanta City FC’...

Toronto FC’s seven-point week has put them back in the Eastern Conference playoff fight, while Columbus’ win in Hell Is Real leaves FC Cincinnati under pressure heading into the final stretch. Tom and Gass break down the shifting playoff picture before previewing Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final between the Columbus Crew and St. Louis CITY SC.

0:00 Intro

6:54 Toronto’s Late Playoff Push

15:41 Hell Is Real: Columbus Downs Cincinnati

21:12 Cincinnati’s Troubles & Evander’s Slump

32:42 Orlando, Miami & the Eastern Conference Picture

41:40 Vancouver Rises as the West Shifts<...

The San Diego Wave have built a distinct identity, combining an adventurous style of play with a commitment to developing young talent. Assistant coach Becki Tweed joins David Gass to go inside that approach, explore how the NWSL is evolving, and share her perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing players and coaches in the U.S.

0:00 Intro

0:21 San Diego’s Approach to Developing Young Players

4:23 Balancing Winning with Long-Term Growth

6:24 The Many Roads to Pro Soccer

10:39 Why It’s So Hard to Become a Coach in the U.S.<...

Nashville is inching closer to the Supporters Shield, but how does the other top teams in MLS stack up? David Gass, Tom Bogert and Matt Doyle assess which teams belong among the league’s top tier and examine the teams battling for the final playoff spots, including Colorado’s struggles to turn potential into results. Plus, Columbus and Cincinnati meet for another edition of the Hell is Real Derby, this time with major playoff implications.

0:00 Intro

8:37 St. Louis & Vancouver: A Playoff Preview?

14:45 Miami Finding Form

22:05 Eastern Conference Playoff Battles

24:57 The...

What did the USWNT learn from its two friendlies against the reigning World Cup champions Spain? Chicago Stars midfielder Brianna Pinto joins David Gass to break down the performances, Mal Swanson’s return and Ashley Sanchez’s comeback. From defining the U.S. style of play to exploring Emma Hayes’ options across the back line and midfield, there’s plenty to unpack as the squad turns its attend to World Cup qualifying and the road to 2027.

St. Louis matches MLS’s all-time unbeaten streak, and the Philadelphia Union just can’t lose. David Gass, Tom Bogert and Matt Doyle are back to dig into St. Louis’ remarkable turnaround, the Union’s hot streak, the questions facing LAFC after a draw with Vancouver, and what stood out from another eventful weekend in MLS.

0:00 Intro

8:49 St. Louis’ Historic Run Continues

20:53 The Race for the Western Conference

25:07 Kévin Denkey Carrying FC Cincinnati

28:56 Late Canadian Classique Comeback

35:22 Toronto’s Playoff Push Starts Now

40:13 André Luiz Arrives a...

David Gass and Jordan Angeli look back at some of the biggest NWSL trades from the 2026 season and talk about how those moves have played out for the players and the clubs involved. Then they look ahead to next season with a few dream moves of their own, before revisiting their preseason predictions to see what they got right, and where they missed the mark. For the full breakdown of Cat Bush’s trade grades, head to our Instagram: @swwomenfc.

0:00 International Break Special

4:23 NWSL Trade Grades

10:41 Claire Hutton: Bay’s Big Win

15...

Decision Day is fast approaching and the margins for error are getting smaller across the MLS playoff landscape. David Gass, Matt Doyle and Tom Bogert break down the MLS who players that stood out in this USMNT camp, Nashville’s pursuit of the single-season points record, the crowded races for position in both conferences and St. Louis’ remarkable unbeaten run as the regular season enters the home stretch.

0:00 Intro

6:20 USMNT’s MLS Standouts

17:55 Can Nashville Break the Points Record?

25:38 Battle for Home-Field Advantage in the East

34:00 The Eastern Conference Playof...

The USMNT is entering a new cycle, with a new generation already making its mark. Brian Dunseth and David Gass break down what we learned from the USMNT’s most recent camp and what is revealed about the team’s depth and player pool. Then Kacey White helps preview the USWNT’s big showdown with Spain, as the reigning Olympic champions battle the current World Cup champions.

0:00 Intro

1:43 Inside USMNT Camp

9:52 What We Learned This Window

19:03 Cavan Sullivan & The New Kids

27:47 The Players Who Stood Out

33:27 Captain Tyler...

Lisa Carlin, CBS Sports analyst and NWSL sideline reporter, joins David Gass to share her favorite stories, personalties and being-the-scenes moments from the 2026 season. Then, Gass welcomes World Cup champion and NWSL broadcaster Saskia Webber to break down what’s behind Angel City’s recent run of form and the changes that have made them one of the league’s hottest teams.

0:00 Intro

3:51 Lisa Carlin on Life in the NWSL

7:40 Gameday Tradition & Favorite Stadiums

11:47 Standout Moments from the 2026 Season

20:18 What You Learn Pitch Side

26:15 The Teams That Have M...

The USMNT is looking pretty fun. Cavan Sullivan made history, Julian Hall keeps scoring, and the U.S. put three past Mexico. David Gass, Tom Bogert and Matt Doyle break down the win, the standout performances and what it all means before looking ahead to a big match with Canada and wrapping things up with little MLS chat.

0:00 USA-Mexico, Anthony Davis & Banter

4:43 Breaking Down the 3-0 Win

9:52 Cavan Sullivan Makes History

20:27 Julian Hall & the Youth Wave

27:11 Sebastian Berhalter’s Growing Role

38:56 What’s Wrong with Mexico?

49...

David Gass, Matt Doyle and Tom Bogert open up the Soccerwise Discord mailbag for a wide-ranging conversation on MLS and the USMNT. From Cavan Sullivan’s future with Manchester City, the direction of MLS and some of the league’s most memorable characters, the guys tackle all your hard-hitting questions and chat a little St. Louis CITY SC along the way.

0:00 Intro

2:20 Tom’s First Trip to St. Louis

7:56 St. Louis City’s Hot Streak

15:20 MLS News Blast

27:33 Cavan Sullivan’s Man City Future

36:50 Global vs. MLS USMNT XIs<...

David Gass is joined by USMNT and Toronto FC defender Walker Zimmerman as well as former Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Vanni Sartini to break down the USMNT’s latest window, from the attacking performances against Chile to the emergence of young talent. They discuss Gio Reyna’s growing role, who might fill Tim Ream’s shoes at center back, Sebastian Berhalter’s impact and the impressive play of Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan before previewing the upcoming match against Mexico.

0:00 Intro

3:32 Breaking Down the Chile Win

7:14 Gio Reyna Finding His Place

11:24...

The USWNT roster is here. David Gass and Jordan Angeli discuss the return of Ashley Sanchez as well as several surprises and notable omissions for a big set of games for the USWNT against Spain in October. Plus, the newest NWSL team in Atlanta gets a name and crest, Sanchez ties the NWSL single-season scoring record and the playoff race continues to heat up.

0:00 Intro

2:05 The Return of Ashley Sanchez

7:31 First Time Call-Ups

17:32 Goalie Wars

21:47 Surprising USWNT Omissions

29:52 Atlanta City FC

38:21 Chasing the NWSL Scoring...

LAFC have fired Mark Dos Santos with the playoffs approaching, raising questions about the club’s next move and whether Wilfried Nancy could be the answer. David Gass, Tom Bogert and Matt Doyle also breakdown the USMNT’s young stars after a 4-1 win against Peru, before diving into Philadelphia’s continued surge and the latest twists and turns in the MLS playoff race.

0:00 Intro

2:28 LAFC Fires Dos Santos

12:17 The Wilfried Nancy Question

26:50 Takeaways from USMNT vs. Peru

35:24 Young Kids Showed Out

45:32 Chile Up Next

48:23 Rookie...

Randy Waldrum, the current technical director of Pitt women’s soccer, has coached from the high school level to the World Cup, with stop in college, professional soccer and the international game along the way. He joins David Gass to discuss the evolution of college soccer, his experiences coaching Trinidad & Tobago and Nigeria, and the Super Falcons remarkable run at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

0:00 Intro

0:56 A Career Around the World

3:24 Evolution of College Soccer

11:18 The Changing Landscape of Women’s College Soccer

15:38 How does the ACC Stacks Up Global...

Pochettino’s new USMNT era begins with 12 newcomers and a lot of youth for this extended camp. David Gass and Brian Dunseth break down the roster changes, the opportunities for a new generation of players, and what to watch for across games against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.

0:00 Intro

2:44 The Extended Window

7:19 Building the USMNT Culture

10:43 Pulisic, McKennie & Missing Players

14:42 The Pipeline to the USMNT

18:29 Yunus Musah Returns

26:18 Gio Reyna’s Next Chapter

29:52 The Four-Game Plan

38:57 New Kids on the Block

The New England Revolution are making a serious push in the East as MLS heads into a huge weekend in the playoff race, with international absences making an impact. David Gass and Tom Bogert dig into what’s behind the Revs’ rise, changes coming in the global player market, and Inter Miami’s growing place in the soccer world.

0:00 Intro

6:38 USMNT’s Next Generation

12:58 Canada’s Injury News

15:02 The Revs Are For Real

24:42 Brazil’s New Player Rules

33:18 MLS Free Agency

39:23 Playoff Race & International Absences

51:54 C...

Vlatko Andonovski is taking over in Chicago, but what does that arrival actually mean for the Stars? David Gass and Jordan Angeli break down the long-term project, the coaching search and what comes next before getting into Kansas City’s dip and a weekend that saw Angel City surge into the playoff picture.

0:00 Intro

1:47 San Diego & Tierna Davidson are Must-Watch

7:26 What Vlatko’s Arrival Means for Chicago

16:16 Chicago’s Search for a Head Coach

22:21 What’s Going on with Kansas City?

27:18 Bay FC’s New Chief Football Officer

The kids are making noise in MLS. Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Peyton Miller and the next wave of young American stars are making noise in MLS. Matt Doyle and Tom Bogert dig into what’s next for the USMNT’s teenagers, talk about Nashville clinching a playoff spot, the tightening place race and whether St. Louis has emerged as Vancouver’s biggest challenger out West.

0:00 Intro

1:42 Philly’s Stunning Comeback

8:49 MLS’ Young Stars

19:45 USMNT’s Next Generation

31:21 Brad Stuver Keeps Austin Alive

33:50 The Crowded Western Conference

41:16 Play...

Paul Kennedy has been covering American soccer for 55 years, from the days when finding a game on TV was nearly impossible to the 2026 World Cup. He joins Open Mic to share the stories from his career, the people and games that stuck with him, and his perspective on American soccer today.

0:00 Intro

0:46 How Paul Kennedy Became a Soccer Writer

9:22 Finding the Game Through College Soccer

13:24 From Law School to Soccer America

16:13 Covering Soccer in the 80s

21:08 Career Highlights, Favorite People & Games

27:17 The Great “What If?”

Alejandro Bedoya joins Tom & Gass to celebrate some of his youngins making the USMNT Roster. Then they react to the USOC semifinals and look ahead to the weekend

The NWSL is getting weird and crazy, and Jordan Angeli and David Gass are back together to try and make sense of this unpredictable league. Houston is searching for a new direction, Orlando makes a major commitment to Barbra Banda, and the playoff race is tightening every week. The stretch run is here, and nobody seems ready to make it easy.

0:00 Intro

0:42 Gass is Back

4:34 Houston Cleans House

20:42 Utah Finds a Way

29:09 Barbra Banda is Staying in Orlando

37:01 Washington’s Missing Piece

45:24 Macario Out, Bonansea In...

Cavan Sullivan is making his case for the USMNT after another jaw-dropping performance, St. Louis is the hottest team in MLS and the Western Conference race is getting interesting. David Gass, Matt Doyle and special guest Andrew Wiebe discuss the Shield race, a surging FC Dallas and some intriguing games on the docket for this week, including the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.

0:00 Intro

5:15 Soccerwise MLS Media Collective

15:43 Rebirth of San Jose Earthquakes

25:25 Sporting KC Gets A Win

34:49 Cavan Sullivan is Cinema

55:42 St. Louis Keeps Rolling

Mary Harvey has seen the women’s game from almost every angle in her career, as a USWNT goalkeeper to FIFA leader and WPS executive. Today, she leads the Center for Sport and Human Rights, and she joins Open Mic to talk about the evolution of women’s soccer, the lessons of its past and where the game goes next.

0:00 Intro

1:26 The 1991 World Cup

4:57 Harvey’s Journey to the USWNT

7:58 How 1991 Changed Women’s Soccer

11:53 Inside the 1996 USWNT

16:25 From Player to FIFA Leader

24:11 How World Cups Dri...

David Gass is back and is joined by Matt Doyle to break down MLS’ summer transfer window, the record spending, and the league’s place in the global market. Then they dive into the playoff race, from Nashville vs. Vancouver for the Supporters’ Shield to the contenders and the teams that could make a run to the postseason.

0:00 Gass is Back from Peru

7:28 What Happened in the MLS Transfer Window?

11:30 The Numbers & MLS in the Global Market

20:11 The MLS Grind is Setting In

25:57 Battle for the Shield: Nashville vs. Vancou...

What comes next for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams? David Gass and Brian Dunseth look at Mauricio Pochettino’s second cycle with the USMNT, the players that are pushing to get into the team and what it could like for the next four years. Then, Michelle French, who coached the U.S. U-20s at two World Cups and was an assistant with the USWNT in 2015, joins Gass to talk about her experience, the decisions young players face between college, club and country and the path to the USWNT.

0:00 Intro

2:34 Pochet...

Jordan Angeli and Jill Loyden are back to breakdown a wild, long weekend in the NWSL. They dive into Vlatko Andonovski’s departure from Kansas City and Jameese Joseph’s move to Utah to Ashley Sanchez’s historic run and Denver’s statement win over Gotham. The race for the playoffs is tighter than ever as they recap the weekend’s biggest results and look ahead to another huge slate of games with playoff positioning on the line.

0:00 Intro

3:22 Vlatko & KC Part Ways

11:18 Jameese Joseph to Utah

22:46 Denver Stuns Gotham

26:19 Th...

Susannah Fuller chats with former Arsenal and England defender Kieran Gibbs to talk about his path from pro player to co-founding ONE FC, a youth soccer academy in Miami. Gibbs shares his approach to player development, how he hopes to bring his own experiences to the U.S. and where the project is now and going in the future. Plus, they discuss the 2026 World Cup and talk about Arsenal’s chance of repeating as Premier League Champions.

0:00 Intro

1:24 ONE FC Origin Story

6:03 Lessons from European Academies

8:26 The ONE FC Approach

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