Latest issue 18 Aug 2026

Soccerwise Minutes

August 18, 2026

Headlines:

Nashville SC line-danced all over Inter Miami in a 4-1 win as Messi’s return featured (another) missed penalty. The win puts Nashville five points atop the league in the Supporter’s Shield race. More below in the weekend recap!
The big moves just keep coming, and yet again it's Atlanta United. Soccerwise’s Tom Bogert reports that “Five Stripes,” are finalizing a deal for star Swiss forward Breel Embolo from Stade Rennes.
Also from Tom:

MLS’s retro-inspired alternate kits, the Archive Collection, were launched this week, featuring eight new clubs. Our winners: Orlando, RSL and Vancouver.
While the Orlando kit is great, the lineup graphic that accompanied it…not so much?

Gotham FC widened their gap for the NWSL Shield, while the race for playoff spots tightens in NWSL. Gotham FC made it four in a row, defeating Kansas City 2-1 to pull six points ahead of the Washington Spirit.
On the other end of the table, Houston jumped within four points of the playoffs with a dramatic come-from-behind win, and Louisville got their fourth win in five to maintain their dramatic climb up the table.
This week’s Yanks Abroad highlight comes from PSV’s American continent, where Sergiño Dest assisted Ricardo Pepi to seal the 2-1 win in their season opener. Elsewhere, Sebastian Berhalter started and Max Arftsten debuted in Middlesbrough winning the EFL Championship opener.

Weekend Recap:

Nashville took poll position in the Supporters Shield race with a dominant 4-1 win over Miami. Newcomer Elias Saad shined with a pair of assists, while Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge once again delivered. The cherry on top? An assist from All-Star goalkeeper Brian Schwake.
The Dynamo moved atop the Western Conference, recording an historic fourth straight clean sheet win, downing the LA Galaxy 1-0 Houston are arguably the hottest team in MLS, winning nine of their last 13 games.Guilherme stepped to the spot for the Dynamo’s lone goal, his 12th of the season.
Niko Tsakiris’s return couldn’t save San Jose, as St. Louis City continued San Jose’s losing ways with a 3-1 road victory. St. Louis are now nine unbeaten after just one win in their first ten, and are continuing to add to star young coach Yoann Damet’s roster. Could St. Louis striker Simon Becher’s brace dissuade some talk of a new DP #9?
Another dramatic come behind 3-2 victory for the Philadelphia Union, this time at New York City FC, makes it four wins in four for interim coach Ryan Richter. The catalyst again was wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, notching two second half assists, while his brother Quinn created the winning goal.
The Dynamo weren’t the only team in Houston making headlines, as the Dash continued their trend of late goals, stunning the North Carolina Courage. This time it was substitute Clarisaa Larisey with a 10-minute brace to take the Dash from 2-1 down to a 3-2 win with a 93rd minute game-winner, thrusting Houston back into the playoff race

Stock Up/Stock Down, MLS Post-World Cup Edition:

Stock Up:

The Wilfried Nancy Coaching Tree: Yoann Damet may be the coach of the year in St. Louis, leading a largely incomplete roster to sixth in the west. In Columbus, interim coach Laurent Courtois led the Crew to the top of the MLS Leagues Cup standings.
Houston Dynamo: Four clean sheets in-a-row, and atop the Western Standings. Guillherme is a Golden Boot contender, and Ben Olsen is in the Coach of the Year Running.
The Youth of Philadelphia: Cavan Sullivan looks like a bonafide star, Neil Pierre may be the USMNT’s future at centerback, and the youthfulness even includes interim Head Coach Ryan Richter and Sporting Director Jon Scheer, who’ve guided the Union to four wins in four.
Kevin Kelsy: Portland’s young striker has five goal contributions in his last seven, but also is attracting eight figure bids from Europe. Is a pay day at Rangers on the cards?

Stock Down:

Seattle Sounders: A seven match losing streak while injuries abound. Seattle has gone from first place contender to outside of the Playoffs in an unprecedented slide.
San Jose Earthquakes: It’s better, but not by much, down the I-5 corridor. San Jose’s record-breaking start has been replaced by…losses. They won only once without Niko Tsakiris—he’s back now, will that fix everything?
East Coast Bias: The Eastern Conference was perhaps historically good in 2026. Nashville and Miami are still elite, but is anyone else very good? There’s a chance 40+ points can sneak into the playoffs.

Players of the Week:

Soccerwise’s weekly Player of the Week and U22 Player of the Week awards for MLS, and Player of the Week and Newcomer of the week awards for NWSL:

Midweek Matches to Watch!!:

🚨🚨Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Houston Dynamo, MLS 🚨🚨(August 19th, 10:30 PM ET, Apple TV):

The Easter Conference leaders last weekend, and now a #1 vs. #2 showdown in the Western Conference. Yes, the Dynamo are atop the Western Conference…it’s wild. Now, they’ll have the spotlight and a target as they face the conference PPG leader and potential favorite. Can they keep on keeping clean sheets against one of MLS’s most efficient attacks?

Sickos Match: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, MLS (August 19th, 7:30 PM ET, Apple TV):

Usually the sicko match wouldn’t feature Messi, but we got red hot Cavan Sullivan and a red hot Philadelphia Union facing Messi and Miami. Don’t discount the chance to watch 6’7 18-year-old centerback Neil Pierre battling Suarez and the GOAT.

Goal of the Week:

Toronto FC’s Niklas Dorsch Debut Goal Banger!

Quick Links, Kickback:

Soccerwise: David Gass, Tom Bogert, and Matt Doyle have you covered on all this weekend’s MLS action!
First Touch: Kickback’s global soccer platform! This week’s First Touch Dispatch takes you around the world of soccer in under twenty minutes.
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 back from Spain, and going deep on every MLS match again.

Quick Links, Kickback Partners:

Nashville’s SixOneFive Soccer has a recap from their club’s big time win over Miami last weekend as well as the math behind the race for the Supporters Shield.
Seattle’s Sounder at Heart has you covered as they breakdown another troubling loss for the Sounders plus they go deeper on the current roster situation at the club with another injury.

Quick Links, Kickback Favorites:

Scarves and Spikes had Soccerwise’s David Gass on to discuss a (rare) Atlanta United win, and the signing of their new striker Breel Embolo.