Latest issue 22 Sep 2026

Soccerwise Minutes

September 22, 2026

The international break is here—well sort of, because MLS in their infinite wisdom are also playing this weekend. All the soccer, straight into our veins! Let’s get started with some headlines.

Headlines:

It’s playoff clinching season and Nashville SC is the first MLS team to punch its ticket to the MLS playoffs, doing so Saturday with a 3-0 win over Chicago. The boys in the Music City have been a model of consistency, making the playoffs in six of their seven seasons.
Gotham FC booked a spot in the NWSL postseason, and the defending champs are the first team in. That’s now four straight seasons in the playoffs.
On the USMNT front, it’s official: Noahkai Banks said no thanks to the USMNT as he has chosen Germany 🇩🇪 instead. Tom Bogert breaks it all down in his latest piece.
Make that 13 players from MLS in the upcoming USMNT camp with recently-acquired St. Louis forward Damion Downs joined the roster as a replacement for the injured Ricardo Pepi.
And we have another furry pitch invader, the Tex Hopper 🐇. No goals in Austin FC vs. FC Dallas, but a rabbit that found its way onto the field in the 76th minute to liven up the match.
Tom Bogert has continued field calls, reporting that Matt Miazaga is likely headed to New York City FC and Cincinnati is signing former Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia.
Everyone loves goals, and in USL League One the Charlotte Independence love them the most, 62 goals this season—the most in a single-season in League One history.
Over in England, 🐙 USWNT and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce stood on her head, making six saves as her squad earned a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Weekend Rewind:

What a weekend it was for the MLS youths once again and late game clutch performances. In NWSL, the playoff race is heating up as the table just keeps shuffling every single weekend. If you want an even more in-depth MLS recap, check out yesterday's Soccerwise with Tom and Matt Doyle.

At just 18 years and 178 days, Julian Hall is now the youngest player in MLS history to score 10 goals in a season. He made his 10th goal count, giving New York Red Bull a 1-0 win in the Hudson River Derby. With back-to-back wins, they are now back into playoff position.
Cavan Sullivan and the Philadelphia Union are just ridiculous 🤯. The wonderkid provided his 12th of the season—the most by a teenager in a single MLS season, helping Philadelphia mount an insane comeback down 3-0 to Kansas City, they won 4-3! Just the fourth time in MLS regular season history that’s ever happened.
18-year old Peyton Miller balled out for the New England Revolution with a brace, including the 93rd minute game-winner to help lead the Revs to a 4-2 win against Orlando. Not to be outdone, Carles Gil had a brace as well. Don’t look now, but New England is up to second in the East.
MLS was just completely wild this weekend, with three teams scoring equalizers after the 90th minute. Cincinnati still can’t win on the road, but Kevin Denkey is clutch. He made it back-to-back game-tying goals after the 90th minute to keep Cincinnati narrowly above the playoff line and in the ninth spot with a 2-2 draw against Houston.
In NorCal, did LAFC blow it or did San Jose rally? Denis Bouanga became LAFC’s all-time leading goal scorer to put them up 2-0 while down a man. Preston Judd clawed one back in the 70th minute, and then it was Reid Roberts at the death from way downtown to equalize. The draw keeps the Quakes within a shot of top four, while the Black & Gold skid continues.
Out in the Rockies, Colorado looked poised for a big win led by their new star DP Morgan Whittaker and his memorable brace. Then, their 3-1 lead evaporated. Seattle’s Dejan Joveljic and Caden Clark resuscitated the Sounders playoff hopes, with Clark blasting the game-tying goal from distance in the 93rd minute.
Over in NWSL, the table has tightened significantly for spots six through eight in the playoffs. The hottest team in the league is Angel City, who marching up the table with four wins in their last five. In truly bizarre fashion, 🟥 🟥 Utah got two straight red cards inside 25 minutes, as Angel City rolled to a 3-0 win and sixth place in the table.
The San Diego Wave continue their climb 🌊, finding their home form with four straight victories at Snapdragon. On Friday night, they shut down the KC attack, earning a 2-0 win and third in the NWSL table.
Denver kept their playoff hopes alive following a disappointing midweek result, securing a huge 2-0 win over the Seattle Reign. The Summit are now just three points out of a playoff spot, while back-to-back losses for Seattle means they are back below the line.
Gotham FC, the cream of the crop, saw Rookie of the Year contender Jordynn Dudley secure her first career brace, including the winner in the 91st minute to give Gotham a 2-1 win at North Carolina.

Yanks Abroad:

Heading into the international window, let's do a quick check in on some of the boys for the red, white and blue abroad.

After missing out on a call up, 🇮🇹 Christian Pulisic returned to the starting lineup for AC Milan over the weekend. He asked: Poch, do you see me now? Scoring his first goal of the season. His first goal with AC Milan since Dec. 2025.
One of the USMNT’s most in-form strikers 🚂 Ricardo Pepi won’t be in camp with the USMNT after all. The striker has withdrawn after suffering a muscle injury just eight minutes into PSV Eindhoven’s match against FC Twente.
🦅 Chris Richards and Crystal Palace put together a solid week in England. The USMNT center back got his first goal in Europe, scoring in a 4-0 Europa League win against Lech Poznan on Thursday, and then helped them keep their first clean sheet of the Premier League campaign on Sunday against Leeds.
In the Championship, Jack McGlynn just keeps scoring bangers. This time, as substitute he scored the game-winner in the 78th minute to give Stoke City a 2-1 against Sheffield United.
The boys at Boro keep showing out as well. This time it was Max Arfsten getting in on the action with his first goal for his new club.
Finally, Folarin Balogun is back on the field 🇫🇷. The star striker came off the bench for Monaco to help the squad earn a 2-1 win against Lens and move to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Midweek Watchlist:

Yes, there is a midweek MLS game! And yes, MLS is playing the first week of the international break. But we have a couple other fun games to tide you over before a wild weekend.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake, MLS (Wed., Sept. 23, 9:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV): What on earth has happened to these two teams? Something’s gotta give after two of the early season darlings are on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Seattle has two matches in hand, and are seeing early positive returns from new DP striker Dejan Jovelic, while RSL needs to replace Diego Luna’s production following a season ending injury.

No. 7 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Indiana, Men's College (Tues., Sept. 22, 8 p.m. ET, BTN): A legendary program in the Hoosiers littered with MLS prospects visits Madison for a showdown of two of the best squads in the country. The Badgers are looking for their first win in the regular season against Indiana since 2013.

No. 17 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Duke (Thurs., Sept. 24, 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network/ESPN+): It’s a big time ACC battle between a Notre Dame squad that has climbed into the top 25 after three straight wins and a Duke side that lost a wild match to their biggest rivals on the weekend. The Fighting Irish won both meetings last year, so the Blue Devils are looking for revenge.

Goal of the Weekend:

How about this solo effort from Andre Luiz? Leaving all his defenders in the dust.

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.