Minutes from the Committee Meeting

October 24, 2025 — Committee Meeting # 13

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 📋:

• The GOAT is here to stay! Lionel Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami through 2028, ensuring his role in opening Miami’s new stadium next year, and building the club past Sergio Busquet’s and Jordi Alba’s retirement. The big question now is what role Messi will play in the 2026 World Cup, and how big the bump is for MLS.
• The U.S. Women suffered their third loss of the year against Portugal, putting them at risk of setting a calendar year record for losses in 2025. After an extended break, both players and head coach Emma Hayes attributed the result to an overemphasis on individual play. With two more matches over the next week, bigger questions may arise about the team’s direction if convincing wins aren’t secured.
• After narrowly avoiding last place in MLS despite setting a spending record in the offseason, Ronny Deila is out in Atlanta. Now, after an unprecedented start in MLS on-and-off the pitch, Atlanta United is yet again on the coaching market looking to regain their 2010’s vibes. We see Tata Martino out there, as many are anticipating a battle between LAFC and Atlanta United for his signature.
• Things are off to a spicy start in the U.S. Open Cup. Sharktopus FC (yes, that’s their legal name) have earned a replay of their match against Bellevue after discovering that the referee had played for Bellevue’s reserves.
• Reno Pro Soccer is back! After shutting down in 2020, Reno professional soccer is slated to return in 2027 in the USL Championship. With a new soccer specific stadium on the way, we’re stoked for the return of the Nevada derby in the USL Championship.

Approvals ✅:

Our BRACKTOBER Challenge is live, and free to play! You knew we’d go full sicko mode, and we’ve assuredly done it.

We’re launching with an MLS playoff challenge, but that’s just the first part of a joint MLS/NWSL/USL Playoff challenge. Grand Prize winners will need to compete in all three, though prizes will be issued to winners of each. We’re kicking off here with the MLS challenge. Sign up by the first game Friday to participate!

Matches To Watch This Weekend:

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, MLS Playoffs (October 24th, 8:00 PM ET, Apple TV):

A rematch of a Decision Day instant classic, and perhaps the best ever first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Two teams featuring some of the most prolific scorers in the League, and widely considered potential winners of the Cup. This is a heavyweight battle, folks.

USWNT vs. New Zealand, International Friendly (October 29th, 8:00 PM ET, TNT/MAX):

The last of three matches for the USWNT, and potentially a window into Emma Hayes’s thinking on who has stood out in the camp. With the NWSL concluding, we’re starting to hone in on candidates for the stretch run leading up to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Detroit City FC, USL Championship (October 25th, 7:40 PM ET, ESPN+): Look, its chaos at the playoff line on decision day in USL. Detroit is in with a win, but Tampa Bay has a shot if they win by at least two goals. If they do that? Time to tune in to Indy Eleven at 10:30 to see if they can jump both teams for a last minute berth in to the playoffs.

FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew, MLS Playoffs (October 27th, 6:45 PM ET, Apple TV): Hell is Real! Hell is Real! Hell is Real! The best MLS rivalry, in playoff format. We’re making some Skyline Chili and watching attentively.

One Knoxville SC vs. Greenville Triumph SC, USL League One (October 25th, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN+): We’ve come down to the final matchday, and One Knox is a result away from clinching the shield! Is this result of incredible persistence from Committee Chair Susannah Fuller and the Kickback Minutes? Yes, we did this!

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 Racing Louisville’s Emma Sears. 

Sears is putting Racing Louisville on her back. The former Ohio State Buckeye is the leading American goal scorer and third in NWSL with ten goals, and may help Louisville secure their first ever playoff berth.

Not only has Sears established herself as a World Class finisher, her defensive prowess leading the line has made her a star player in all phases of the game.

Sears has been called up again by Emma Hayes, and looks to battle her way into a crowded depth chart up top for the U.S. Women.

Allocate your points wisely, Emma! 

American Soccer 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. The Kids of the USWNT: Alyssa Thompson. Lily Yohannes. Claire Hutton. Olivia Moultrie. Jaedyn Shaw. The stars of the 2024 Olympics have some serious competition, and this camp could put a lot of pressure on the bigger names with the USWNT.
2. Free Agent MLS Coaches: Open prestige positions in LA and Atlanta? High potential reclamation opportunities with St. Louis, Sporting KC, and New England? Maybe also Colorado? We’d love to be Tata Martino’s agent right now.
3. USL Playoff Chaos: USL is poised for some memorable chaos on their decision day. Five teams are battling for four spots out west, and three are fighting for the last position in the east. With hosting opportunities also up for grabs League-wide, we will need multiple screens to follow the action. 
4. Greggggggg: It’s not the first time we’ve featured former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter here, but after leading the Fire to the playoffs to the first time since the Eisenhower administration, he easily dispatched Orlando City in the opening match. Who is ready for a third stint with the U.S. Men?
5. Messi Decision Day Hat Trick:

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

Our Committee Chair Susannah and the Committee HAB are celebrating Fall and keeping warm by the firepit with a Hot Toddy! 

1. ¾ water, brought to a simmer.
2. 1.5 oz whiskey.
3. 2-3 teaspoons honey.
4. Juice of ½ a lemon.
5. Pour hot water in a mug, stir in honey until disappeared in water.
6. Stir in whiskey and lemon juice.
7. Garnish with lemon round.

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

Action Items:

Soccerwise: Tom and David are breaking down the MLS playoffs and Gass is joined by a special guest, Meghan “Kling” Klingenberg!

Kickback Committee: We've got Doyle on talking soccer cats, Sooz and Gass chat about soccer scandals at Lazio, and Sooz goes deep on the 1994 World Cup opening ceremony.

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