Minutes from the Committee Meeting

October 3, 2025 — Committee Meeting # 10

Thanks for enjoying Kickback Minutes! This is Kickback’s weekly quick hits on all things soccer in the U.S. Our World Cup newsletter, First Touch ‘26, is issued every Wednesday!

Agenda Items 📋:

• Nashville SC has won the state of Tennessee’s first EVER professional title! In a clash between America’s bachelorette party capitals, Nashville SC defeated Austin FC to lift the 110th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Let’s take a moment to dab up Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan, who went from everyone’s favorite interim USMNT Head Coach to the magic man behind Nashville’s prolific attack and dynamic duo, Hany Mukhtar and Samm Surridge.
• Only six points separate third place (Gotham FC) and out-of-the-playoffs (North Carolina FC) as the NWSL regular season races to conclusion. This is NWSL, though, so blink and you’ll miss a shock blockbuster trade, as Portland Thorn sent Japanese national team regular Hina Sugita to Angel City before the intra-league transfer deadline.
• MLS, on the other hand, found some clarity this week. Chicago Fire’s massive 5-3 win over Inter Miami not only put Gregg Berhalter’s side in the playoffs for the first time since the Chicago fire, but put Philadelphia Union one win away from lifting the Supporter’s Shield. All eyes are on Chester this weekend, where a much maligned offseason featuring the shock firing of beloved head coach Jim Curtin may conclude with the Union’s second ever regular season title.
• USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced the 26 man roster for the upcoming October friendlies. After much hand-wringing due to the absences of regulars like Weston McKennie, this 26 largely features the team regulars from the past few years. 
• A position to watch? With Tyler Adams out for the birth of his baby, the battle between Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessman, and Christian Roldan could determine a call-up next summer.

Approvals ✅:

Best Bluesky Post: A throwback in honor of Nashville’s title:

Matches To Watch This Weekend:

USL Jagermeister Cup Final: Sacramento Republic vs. Hartford Athletic (October 4th, 10:00 PM ET, ESPN+): We’ve got one of USL’s perennial powers, Sacramento Republic, trying to hold off the hard charging Hartford Athletic from lifting their first silverware. You know a cup final #AfterDark is going to get freaky, folks, so pour a couple of Jagermeister shots and embrace the chaos.

Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC, MLS (October 4th, 7:30 PM ET, Apple TV+): The Union have a shot to lift the Shield in front of their home fans and they won’t want to waste it. In a season dominated by big names…Son, Messi, Muller…it’s the club that embraced the “team is the star” ethos preparing to lift the trophy. 

North Carolina Courage vs. Racing Louisville, NWSL (October 4th, 7:30 PM ET, ion): It’s kitchen sink time as this may be the match that determines the last seed in the NWSL playoffs. Louisville and North Carolina are 8th and 9th, respectively, and were seemingly heading in opposite directions until Louisville reversed their winless streak last weekend. 

Richmond Kickers vs. One Knoxville SC vs. Charlotte Independence, USL League One October 4th, 6:00 pm ET, ESPN+):

Level Up:

Each week the Committee approves the leveling up of a player who simply has taken that leap with their game. This week, it’s New York Red Bulls’ Julian Hall. 

Hall broke on to the scene a few years back, becoming one of the youngest scorers in MLS history. For the past two years, the 17-year-old American forward showed some promise in his fleeting moments on the pitch, showcasing his off-ball movement and activity in the opposing box.

Now, as both his game and physicality mature, Hall has earned a starting role for the Red Bulls and scored his first goal of the year. While the Red Bulls will miss this year’s playoffs, Hall should feature prominently for the U.S. at the upcoming U-17 World Cup, and be central to New York’s retooling efforts for 2026.

Allocate your points wisely, Julian! 

Vibes Power Ranking:

Each week we will power rank the clubs, people, or whatever the hell we feel like for top five vibes in American soccer.

1. Vancouver Whitecaps: Canadian champions, likely Western Conference champs, fun as hell watch, and just some good dudes. Thomas Müller wants Vancouverites to feel like winners, and we want that for them, too.
2. Emma Hayes Clapping Back at Ballon D’or: The disrespect they put on NWSL’s name. Get ‘em, Emma.
3. Greggggggggg!: Gregg Berhalter was a contentious topic as USMNT manager, but he’s done one helluva job in Chicago. The Fire are finally back in the playoffs, they’re second all-time in MLS away goals, and the potential for this franchise is through the roof.
4. Sam Sturridge: The Nashville striker is pushing the GOAT for the golden boot, and did the sicko brace (goal and a red card) before lifting the U.S. Open Cup. Sam’s living the life.
5.  Sofia Cantore Goal and Celebration:

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

Y’all better believe we’re doing the Nashville special after they lifted the U.S. Open Cup. Don’t know a Bushwhacker? Well today is your lucky day (maybe not tomorrow after you drink eight of these, but that’s tomorrow you’s problem). Let’s do it:

1. 2 oz dark rum.
2. 1.5 oz Kahlua..
3. 1.5 oz creme de cacao.
4. 1 oz cream of coconut. 
5. 2 oz whipping cream OR half & half.
6. 1 ½ cups of ice.
7. Blend.
8. Add more ice if necessary and blend further.
9. Pour into red solo cup, or your Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup if you happen to have one sitting around.

Please prepare to specifications in advance of our weekly Happy Hour episodes.

Action Items:

Soccerwise: Tom Bogert is joined by Joe Lowery to recap Nashville’s triumph, and preview a potentially decisive MLS Supporter Shield weekend

Kickback Committee: Calen Carr's here to teach future generation creative ways to use your Open Cup championship ring.

Pull up to the Kickback bar and join our Happy Hour, where Susannah Fuller and Jill Sakovits are together, live, in Knoxville!

When you’ve done that, remind your local coach and chief sporting officer to please, Play the Kids.