Minutes from the Committee Meeting

February 13, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 27

Special Announcement:

The biggest news of the week is coming directly from you Committee, as Kickback Soccer Media has added Matt Doyle to the team!

On top of Matt’s addition to Soccerwise and other appearances across the Kickback ecosystem, please check out his newsletter Tactics Free Zone and consider subscribing!

Agenda Items 📋:

• The biggest drama in MLS as the season starts is centered in Vancouver, where a stadium dispute may spillover into a potential relocation. Here’s what to know:
  • If you follow American sports, you’ve seen this story. Whitecaps ownership is looking to sell and claims they haven’t gotten any interested takers.
  • The ‘Caps are one of the last clubs to not control their stadium. They play in BC Place, which is operated by the province.
  • While a one-year deal may be on the cards for the Whitecaps, with the club on the market and many interested parties in other cities, a relocation definitely seems possible.
  • Local supporters have begun to publicly speak on concerns and call upon other MLS club supporters for support. It has echoes of the “Save the Crew” grassroots movement that did indeed save the Columbus crew.
• The stakes are high in Vancouver, as contextualized by Forbes’s annual MLS valuation report. With the highest valuation at $1.25b (LAFC) and the media at $670m (Portland), MLS owners stand to realize significant value in selling clubs they’ve owned through the recent sport franchise valuation spike.
• NWSL’s drama was around the pitch this week, as what effectively became a three way trade saw USWNTer Croix Bethune move to Kansas City Current, Claire Hutton depart KC for Bay FC, and the Washington Spirit collect $1m in fees.
• This stunning move started from a trade request from Bethune, who was seeking a new “development environment,” likely considering her battle for a USWNT place in advance of the 2026 World Cup. KC were the leading scorers in 2025, and now add one of the league’s best attacking midfielders.
• Claire Hutton, only 20 years old and one of the league’s best defensive midfielders, provides Bay FC a potential centerpiece building block that could anchor their midfield for years to come.
• Finally, San Diego FC overcame Mexico’s Pumas in Concacaf Champions Cup to move on to the Round of 16. In their first ever international competition, San Diego leverage a 4-1 blowout at home to survive the full tie.

A Random Preseason MLS Prediction:

Golden Boot Winner:

5. Idan Toklomati (Charlotte FC)

4. Petar Musa (FC Dallas)

3. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

2. Kevin Denkey (FC Cincinnati)

1. Son Heung-min (LAFC)

For more MLS preseason coverage, you can enjoy Soccerwise’s  MLS club-by-club previews on any podcast platform, or check out a shorter version with our MLS Minute season previews of every MLS club!

Here’s our Seattle Sounders part one:

Matches to Watch:

🚨🚨🚨

Our long national nightmare is kinda over, folks! We have six (6!) MLS teams playing in midweek Concacaf Champions Cup action next week. Here are a few select options:

Ottawa Atletico vs. Nashville SC, CCC (February 17th, 8:00 PM ET, FS2/TUDN): It’s the first chance to see one of the offseason’s biggest acquisitions in action, as Cristian Espinoza joins the Music City dynamic duo of Hany Mukhtar and Sam Sturridge. Nashville may be a dark horse in the competition, having shown their tournament credentials in Open Cup play in ‘25.

Real CD España vs. LAFC, CCC (February 17th, 10:00 PM ET, FS2/TUDN): LAFC travel to Honduras for their opener. This match will mark the debut of new manager Marc dos Santos at the helm, who will have the enviable task of rolling the ball out and letting Bounga and Son do their thing. LAFC have to consider the 2026 iteration of the tournament one of their best chances yet to win continental bragging rights.

Defence Force SC vs. Philadelphia Union, CCC (February 18th, 6:00 PM ET, FS2/TUDN): Reigning Supporter Shield winners Philadelphia travel to Trinidad! We’re marking this match and calling our shot for 16-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan’s first goal.

Susannah “Cup Should Always Be” Fuller’s Cocktail Recipe of the Week:

It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend, but sometimes it’s just better to drink alone. For those of you flying solo this weekend, we salute you! Please enjoy a Painkiller:

1. 2 oz Dark/Navy Rum.
2. 4 oz Pineapple Juice.
3. 1 oz Orange Juice.
4. 1 oz Cream of Coconut.
5. Pour into a cocktail shaker full of ice.
6. Shake vigorously.
7. Pour into a highball glass over ice.
8. Pineapple Wedge (garnish).
9. Grated Nutmeg (garnish).

It’s better than an overpriced prix fixe and a Hallmark Card.

Action Items, Kickback:

Soccerwise: It’s Soccerwise pre-season time! We’ve got daily releases of in-depth previews of every MLS club, as well as our famed Golden Boot draft! It’s Soccerwise szn, dive in!

Kickback Committee: Kickback Committee is humming with Susannah Fuller and guest co-host David Gass discussing the MLS kit releases and the all the soccer connectivity across the major sporting events of the past week.

First Touch: Make sure to subscribe and follow as we prepare to launch our new show, First Touch weekly, next week! It’s the first dedicated World Cup 2026 show, and a premier new offering from Kickback Soccer Media.