Soccerwise Minutes

October 23, 2026

Congratulations to St. Louis CITY SC - oh, what a night for a city with incredible soccer history! If you saw the postgame celebrations you can see how much it means to both the players and the fans. That was a lot of fun, but we’ve got MLS and NWSL playoff races in full swing this weekend. And if things go a certain way in NWSL, all eight teams could lock in their postseason spots.

So let’s get into it with your Goal of the Weekend, The Best Thing We Saw, MLS Matchday 31 Rewind, Yanks Abroad, Matches to Watch, and What You Might Have Missed.

🥅 Goal of the Midweek:

This one-time strike is a stunner by Jonathan Balnos for Sarasota Paradise. Wild finish to the game, too, if you want to check out all the highlights.

🥳 The Best Thing We Saw :

Everyone loves banter, and who doesn’t love a rivalry? Looks like one might be brewing in the NWSL between Angel City FC and the Denver Summit.

⏪ MLS Midweek Rewind:

It was a quiet midweek by MLS standards, but an impactful one as we catch you up on Wednesday night's action. Two trophies were lifted, and a major six-pointer saw Cincinnati strengthen their playoff hopes.

🏆St. Louis CITY SC are U.S. Open Cup Champions, outlasting Columbus Crew SC in a frenetic and physical scoreless draw in regular time before defeating the home team 5-3 on pens. It wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't pretty, but St. Louis ground it out through injuries and 45 fouls to lift their first trophy as an MLS club and write the next chapter in the St. Louis-Open Cup history books. The night belonged to the goalkeepers, really. Roman Bürki was fantastic keeping St. Louis in the game in the first half, but took a knee to the head in the 70th minute and was stretchered off, so in stepped Ben Lundt. After 20 more minutes and another 30 in extra time, it came down to PKs. St. Louis delivered a masterclass, making all five spot kicks, and then there was the decisive save on Columbus’ first attempt, pushing Santiago Rodriguez’s shot off the post. When it was all on the line, it was Daniel Edelman with the dagger, and the reaction from St. Louis was priceless.

In the 🇨🇦 Canadian Championship, the night belonged to the Canadian Premier League’s Forge FC as they made history, becoming the first CPL team to win the Canadian Championship, winning 4-2 on penalties against CF Montreal. The game was full of drama: Forge’s goalkeeper Dimtiry Bertaud saved Prince Owusu’s penalty kick in the 25th minute. Then Forge grabbed a 1-0 lead deep in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on that momentum with a header from Antoine Batisse. Then just four minutes into the second half, Daniel Rios tied things back up for Montreal before the proverbial wheels came off as Montreal’s Brayan Vera was sent off for simulation in the 54th minute. What followed was a stalemate and a Cupset for the ages, as Betraud again played hero, making two saves in the shootout and setting up Manjrekar James’ clinching spot kick for a 4-2 win in penalties.

🔵🟠FC Cincinnati are still alive in the playoff race and D.C. United’s hopes are fading fast, but it’s a quick turnaround as we see these two teams again tomorrow. But for now, Round 1 went to Cincinnati, who got a 55th-minute winner from Teenage Hadebe to seal the win. It was his first goal for Cincinnati and his first MLS goal since 2023, and a much-needed result after back-to-back losses. With the win, Cincinnati is up to eighth in the East, two points behind Orlando City in seventh and three points ahead of Red Bull New York in ninth. Also, Evander's playing provider was a huge boost, as it was the Brazilian DP’s first goal contribution since August in league play. 

MLS Quick Hits: The MLS 22 Under 22 rankings dropped on Tuesday, and no surprise, Cavan Sullivan topped the list…The Houston Dynamo extended Ben Olsen through the 2027-28 season…And MLS Awards season is upon us. Check out the full list and details; peep the MLS Comeback Player of the Year nominees…And more teams can punch their ticket to the MLS postseason this weekend: Charlotte, Philadelphia, LAFC, and Seattle; here’s the full list of scenarios.

Plus, don’t forget to check out Thursday’s MLS Soccerwise episode. Late night from Columbus with Gass and Doyle breaking down the Open Cup final.

The Quiet Backbone of Nashville's Shield Run

By: Cat Bush

In MLS, the center back position is nowhere near as glamorous as it is in Europe. Van Dijk, Ruben Dias, and Pau Cubarsi are hailed as some of the best in the game — they are stars; they command headlines and international attention. But in MLS, the center back is an oft-overlooked position; to be a good MLS center back is to shun the spotlight yet form the backbone of a team. Jackson Ragen, Jack Elliot, Sean Zawadzki, and even Finn Surman, who performed well at the World Cup, have all been some of the best CBs of the past few seasons. Yet their fame does not match their importance and place in their respective squads. No CB has ever won Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, and even the use of DP spots on that position is frequently derided. In the Premier League, meanwhile, CBs have won the player of the season award 5 times, including Nemanja Vidic, who won it twice.

Yet, one team this season would not be where they are without two incredible center backs: Nashville SC. The shield contenders, who are on track to break the single-season points record, have relied heavily on a partnership between Jeisson Palacios and Maxwell Woledzi, both on TAM contracts. With just 23 goals conceded this season, the partnership has clearly been formidable. Yet, they’re achieving this despite having a fairly non-aggressive defensive style. Nashville rank in the lower half of the table for defensive actions and defensive action height, and rarely press forward to win the ball high up the field. Despite that, they’ve accumulated a league-most 14 clean sheets, with just three losses all season. 

Of course an element of luck is present, but with the consistency of their backline and the potent attack ahead of it, Nashville have found record success. In a league where CBs are rarely acknowledged, the quietness of Nashville’s defenders has become their strength. Heading into the playoffs, there are few better assets to have than a solid defensive line. Mukhtar and Surridge will likely steal the headlines, but if it weren’t for Woledzi and Palacios, Nashville wouldn't be where they are today.

📺 Weekend Watchlist:

High stakes and drama are on the horizon; here’s our guide to the weekend as you settle in to enjoy your footy.

Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution, MLS (Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV): Just six points separate these two teams in the standings, with New England in third and the Union in sixth; the stakes are high as Philadelphia tests its unbeaten run against a Revs squad that has won five of its last seven games. Plus, we’ve got tons of young talent on display: Brooklyn Raines, Peyton Miller, and Cavan Sullivan, along with unsung heroes like Milan Iloski and Carles Gil. The Union are appointment viewing, so we recommend tuning in as a playoff spot is on the line.

FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes, MLS (Sat., Oct. 21, 9:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV): Two teams hot on the tail of Vancouver and St. Louis are set to clash in Texas on Saturday night. San Jose is unbeaten in its last nine games, while Dallas got a dramatic road point in the Copa Tejas and returned home unbeaten in its last five at Toyota Stadium. The Quakes will be without several players, including Niko Tsakiris again, while Petar Musa looks to continue to build on his FC Dallas record-breaking 20-goal campaign. Unfortunately, the Quakes villain and Dallas hero from their last matchup, Sam Sarver, won’t be available due to suspension. 

Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage, NWSL (Fri., Oct. 23, 10 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime): It’s a clash of two of the most successful teams in NWSL history, with 14 trophies between them. But these teams both sit in precarious positions heading into the penultimate weekend. North Carolina is in win-or-go-home mode as a loss could eliminate them from playoff contention, while Portland can seal its fate with a win at Providence Park. Plus, tune in to see if Ashley Sanchez can make history by scoring her 21st goal of the season and setting a new NWSL single-season scoring record.

Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit, NWSL (Sun., Oct. 25, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Current have decided 11,500 isn't enough, so they expanded capacity for this one, hoping to welcome 18,000 to CPKC Stadium. They hope that helps keep their 30-game home unbeaten streak alive in the regular season and in turn locks up their playoff spot. Alternatively, a Washington win would not only end KC’s crazy home form, but also seal a quarterfinal home playoff game and move them one step closer to a potential home NWSL Championship match.

San Antonio FC vs. Orange County SC, USL Championship (Sat., Oct. 24, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+): The final weekend has arrived in the USL Championship, and one spot remains up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, but the drama is out West. Both San Antonio and Orange County are on the playoff bubble. A win for San Antonio would lock up a spot, while a loss would guarantee OCSC a spot, and a draw would put Orange County's playoff fate out of their hands.

📰Other Things You Might Have Missed:

• ⛺USMNT has finalized details for its last camp of 2026. There will be no customary January camp chock full of MLS players. Instead, it will be held outside the window in December (but still will probably feature mostly MLS players). That’s the plan for the foreseeable future and this one features a friendly against Jamaica on Dec. 13 in Fort Lauderdale.
• For our Yanks Abroad crowd, Malik Tillman and Leverkusen remained perfect in Europa League play as the USMNT midfielder provided the assist on their second goal and sealed a 2-0 win over OFI Crete.
• Since it’s playoff season, we have your NWSL clinching scenarios. Portland versus North Carolina and Seattle against Utah have the biggest implications. Here’s everything you need to know. And to get you ready, check out NWSL Soccerwise this week with Jordan Angeli and special guest Jessica Charman.
• 🏆The Women’s Club World Cup is coming to the U.S. It was made official by FIFA today that the tournament will be hosted stateside starting in January 2028. 19 clubs will participate, including one club from all six confederations.
• Over in Morocco, 🇺🇲the U.S. U-17 WNT were back in action in group play at the World Cup on Thursday afternoon, this time posting a 6-1 win over Kenya to book their spot in the knockout round. Maddie DiMaria now has 10 goals on 16 shots in two matches for the U.S. Their final group game is Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against China; you can tune in on FS2 or Peacock.

Quick Links, Kickback:

• Soccerwise: David Gass and your Kickback family have you covered all things MLS, NWSL and U.S. Soccer.
• First Touch: Your American home for the global game. Join us every week for First Touch Dispatch and First Touch Weekly with Susannah Fuller for the stories and conversations shaping soccer around the world.
• Tom Bogert, The Athletic: No one better to keep you up-to-date on all of the silly season news from MLS!
• Tactics Free Zone: Matt Doyle is your go-to analyst for all MLS action.

Quick Links, Kickback Partners:

• Happy Foot, Sad Foot is your go-to podcast for LAFC. Check out their weekly pod and some pretty sweet merch. 
• Out West, San Diego Futbol has you covered for all things San Diego FC. San Diego’s #1 source for all things soccer.
• Five Stripe Final  has your coverage of Atlanta United. Check out their Substack and listen to their podcast to keep up to date.
• And for our friends on the East Coast, The Blazing Musket covers soccer across New England, from the Revs to Legacy and a whole lot of love for the USL.
• SixOneFive Soccer has you covered as they continue to recap Nashville’s historic run. The Music City men are headed to Toronto midweek and they have you covered.
• Check out Sounder at Heart as they provide all the coverage for the Boys in Rave Green, keeping you up-to-date as Seattle looks to make a playoff push.
• TopBin90 is your main source for Charlotte FC and beyond. Also, with college soccer season now in full swing, they can keep you up to date with College Soccer News.