Soccerwise Minutes

September 25, 2026

The international break is upon us and we’ve got a whole lot of soccer on tap. USMNT, MLS and NWSL as the playoff races are heating up. It’s the perfect way to spend your weekend, but before you hunker down to take it all in, here are the headlines heading into your weekend.

📰 Headlines:

• More than 100+ MLS players will be repping their national teams in this international window. Find the full list here. 
• In the lone MLS game on Wednesday night, the Seattle Sounders scored a pair of worm burners to grab a 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake and inch back toward the playoff line.
• One name missing among the many from the 2026 World Cup squad in this fall camp, Tim Ream 🇺🇲. Not sure if it’s retirement music, but the USMNT is planning to give him his flowers in his hometown on Sept. 29.
• On the retirement front, former MLS great and USMNT forward Gyasi Zardes is officially hanging up the boots. An MLS Cup Champion and top ten all-time MLS scorer with 106 goals, not too shabby.
• Harry Kane to MLS ⚽ or Harry Kane to the 🏈NFL as a kicker? Apparently he’s thought about both according to this article in The Guardian. 
• And no January camp for the USMNT, reported on BlueSky by Steven Goff, who said an MLS-heavy winter camp in December is in the works instead.
• Over in the land of NWSL, they seem to have created their own version of a homegrown rule, sort of, calling it the Player Development Rule, according to Jeff Kassouf at ESPN.
• Overseas UEFA Women’s Champions League action kicked off this week with 15 Americans competing in the tournament. Check out the full list here.
• USWNT midfielder Lily Yohannes and 🇫🇷Lyon made quick work of Servette in their opening match Wednesday. 👀Peep this cheeky back heel assist by Yohannes.
• Finally, in the fun and impressive category, it’s Equipment Manager Appreciation Week where the force is strong with the Reign FC EQ team.

Cavanmania is Sweeping the Nation

By: Cat Bush

Over the past month, one player has been at the epicenter of nearly every conversation concerning MLS or U.S. soccer: Cavan Sullivan. The 16-year-old has had a break-out season, but his aura extends far beyond the field. Since his call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team camp, Cavan has had his family profiled in The Athletic, been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, garnered comparisons to Michael Olise in ESPN, reminded us of the perils of young phenoms like Freddy Adu, and even been the center of Real Madrid and Barcelona transfer rumors despite an already-agreed transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18. Suffice it to say, Sullivan has become the fascination of American soccer media attention, and for many, represents both the development of MLS and the future of U.S. soccer.

Cavan’s personality is a driving factor of this frenzy. His bleach-blonde hair, multiple eyebrow slits, and teenage bravado combine to create a confident, self-assured persona that convinces us of his readiness. A shier, more quiet Cavan might give us doubt. But this Cavan, with his harmonica playing skills and love of Adrienne Lenker, make him relatable despite that otherworldly talent. He is the perfect combination of a homegrown player and a global talent. And it is because of that that Cavanmania is sweeping the nation. 

The data is only adding fuel to the fire. Statistical deep-dives suggest his closest player comparison is Lamine Yamal. His otherworldly production places him somewhere between a deadly ball carrier and an attacking creator. No one knows how to define him, from national pundits to spreadsheet crunchers. And the most baffling part is, he only keeps getting better. Cavan is a confounding player — he shouldn’t be that good, that undefinable, that relatable. But he is, and that’s what makes him so fascinating.

📺 Weekend Watchlist:

A little USMNT, followed by more MLS and a side of NWSL, sounds like a perfect fall weekend.

USMNT vs. Chile, International Friendly (Sat., Sept. 26, 4:30 p.m. ET, TNT): A chance to see a radically young and new look USMNT in their first game back since the 2026 World Cup. Plenty of new faces and some old faces with a whole lot of young talent looking to impress against Peru in Orlando. The road to 2030 begins now.

Charlotte FC vs. Chicago Fire, MLS (Sat., Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV): Sneakily one of the most in-form teams in MLS, Charlotte hasn’t lost since July 31. And they play the team that handed them that loss nine games ago. Chicago is winless in six looking to get back on track as the just four points separate these two teams in the standings in fourth and fifth place.

LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, MLS (Sat., Sept. 26, 9:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV): Out West, the margins are razor thin as the Rapids sit in seventh place with the Galaxy just three points back in eighth. Colorado found their scoring boots against Seattle, but can they do it on the road with the Galaxy coming off a massive road win last week at Minnesota.

Kansas City Current vs. Denver Summit FC (Sat., Sept. 26, 12:35 p.m. ET, CBS): Two teams that love goals. A ridiculous home regular-season unbeaten run for KC. And an all important playoff momentum game. The Current are holding onto a slim lead for the final playoff spot in eighth place with Lindsey Heaps and the Summit just three points back in 10th. Plus Temwa Chawinga is always must-see TV.

Washington Spirit vs. Angel City FC, NWSL (Sat., Sept. 26, 6:35 p.m. ET, ION): Angel City is perhaps the hottest team in the NWSL led by Ally Sentnor, and they pay a visit to rowdy Audi looking to spoil the party. Trinity Rodman and the Spirit need another win if they want to keep within range of Gotham FC in the NWSL Shield Race.

🥅 Goal of the Midweek:

Brought to you by Hiroshi Yang from Sacramento State…the audacity to shoot from there and put it top bins? 🧨

📖 Where the Soccer Rabbit Holes Took Us:

Each week, the Kickback team scours the internet to make sure you don’t miss the best stories happening in soccer whether on or off the field. As always, you never know what you might find.

From Miami to Barcelona, goalkeeper Diego Kochen grew up alongside Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, and is looking to make his USMNT breakthrough.

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.