Minutes from the Committee Meeting

December 5, 2025 — Committee Meeting # 18

Thanks for enjoying Kickback Minutes! Make sure you join David Gass, Claudia Pagan, Eric Krakaeur and Heath Pearce for our World Cup Draw Watchalong & Bracketology live stream starting TODAY at 11:45 a.m. You can watch here:

Agenda Items 📋:

• It’s MLS Cup week and we couldn’t be more excited for this year’s matchup, Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Inter Miami FC. This matchup offers the best MLS has to offer: a Vancouver Whitecaps side featuring one of the best roster builds and coaching performance in MLS history, versus Inter Miami and MLS’s most talented roster ever.
• Vancouver Whitecaps dispatched San Diego FC 3-1 to make the final, again dominating the midfield and displaying ruthless efficiency on the break. The three man midfield of Cubas, Berhalter, and Mueller is sure to be the Whitecaps’ leverage point against Miami, as the threesome has seemingly won every battle since Muller arrived.
• The Whitecaps have gotten to this point behind the wizardry of Head Coach Jesper Sorensen, who has led Vancouver to the best regular season finish in club history along with a Concacaf Champions Cup final appearance. Notably, that finish featured a thorough two-legged victory over Inter Miami.
• For Inter Miami FC, well…they look as unbeatable as any club has looked in MLS history. They’ve won seven of their last eight by multiple goals, and are +12 in their last three playoff games. Messi has amazingly improved on arguably the best MLS season ever, logging an astounding 25 goal contributions over 10 matches.
• Not since MLS Cup ‘22, an iconic match between LAFC and Philadelphia Union, have two clubs in such good form and of such quality met in the MLS Cup Final. While the Whitecaps feature arguably the most cohesive team in MLS, Inter Miami boasts incomparable firepower.

This Week's Biggest Signings:

Haley Carter, President of Soccer Operations, Washington Spirit (Previously: Orlando Pride):

Carter is one of the most fascinating and well respected figures in all of American soccer. A former Navy star, she served in active duty and, after a brief stint in NWSL, served as an assistant for the Afghanistan Women’s team. In 2023 she was appointed GM of Orlando Pride, where she led the club to a points record and NWSL championship in 2024. We all know the Spirit’s owner Michelle Kang means business, and the Carter hire further bolsters the Spirit’s reputation as one of the Women’s sports premier franchises.

Todd Dunivant, Sporting Director, New York City FC  (Previously: Sacramento Republic):

A surprise move sees NYCFC move outside of City Football Group to acquire one of the MLS’s most grizzled veterans, and arguably the premier front office talent in USL. As the Republic’s GM, Dunivant regularly delivered playoff appearances and an iconic U.S. Open Cup title run. Importantly, Dunivant also created arguably the USL’s strongest academy and player pathway, potentially foreshadowing a move toward developing homegrown talent in New York. 

Emma Coates, Bay FC (Previously: England U-23’s): 

The buying power of Bay FC’s owners Sixth Street matches Michelle Kang’s, but the success in their first two years is yet to match. The hiring of Coates signals a move toward getting more out of players rather than relying on purchasing power, as Coates’s reputation centers around her developmental work at the youth level with England.

Moves to Watch:

Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit: 

The NWSL offseason started with a bang, as the high profile free agency of arguably the NWSL’s biggest name took another turn. In competition with European teams with fewer spending limits, the Spirit had reportedly found a workaround and agreed to a four year deal. While the NWSLPA agreed, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman vetoed the deal, citing its impact on the “spirit of the rules.” The players’ union has filed a grievance, so there’s seemingly much more to come in this story.

Head Coach, Columbus Crew:

The Columbus Crew have lost one of the most respected and talented coaches in MLS history, as Wilfried Nancy was hired away this week by Celtic FC. The French coach had installed one of the most progressive and aesthetically pleasing styles-of-play in MLS history, and did so often by developing less known talent from within the club. Replacing Nancy will be a Herculean task for the club, and may be the most important hire in the entire MLS offseason.

Head Coach, St. Louis CITY FC:

We may see St. Louis and the Crew battling over coaching talent, as new St. Louis GM Corey Wray overlapped with most of the Nancy era as the club’s Assistant GM. While his German predecessor in St. Louis embraced the gegenpress, Wray is expected to move St. Louis towards a style reminiscent of his previous club Columbus Crew, and hire a coach who wants more of the ball.

Mo Salah

Level Up:

One teenager will arguably be as important as any Inter Miami player on the pitch at MLS Cup (non-Messi category). Argentinian 19-year-old winger Mateo Silvetti has Leveled Up, and may be the difference at MLS Cup.

If Silvetti snuck up on you…well, that makes sense. Signed right before the end of the MLS transfer window in August from Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys, Silvetti came off the bench in three matches before joining the Argentine U20 World Cup team.

Argentina made it to the final, so Silvetti didn’t rejoin Miami until the playoffs. In a third match in the first round, following a loss to Nashville and Luis Suarez being suspended, Silvetti earned the start. Three matches later, Silvetti has two goals and two assists, Suarez has remained benched, and Inter Miami has outscored its opponents 13-1 in the run-up to MLS Cup.

A complete winger, Silvetti is an ideal partner for fellow Argentines Messi and Allende up top. With Messi as more of a false nine, Silvetti can combine with Messi, drive at defenders, and stretch the backline. His finishing capabilities ensure he has the ability to punish opponents for focusing too much on the GOAT.

While other names will draw most of the attention this Saturday, this late window signing for Inter Miami may be the difference.

Mateo, allocate your points wisely.

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

This week Sooz is stirring up a cocktail companion for the World Cup Draw, and what better cocktail for experiencing the anxiety of the USMNT’s draw than a Bomb Pop!

1. 1-1.5 oz grenadine carefully poured to cover the bottom of the glass.
2. Add crushed ice up to an inch from the top of the glass.
3. Into a spouted mixing glass add the following:
   1. 1.5 oz vodka or other clear alcohol.
   2. ⅓ cup lemonade.
4. Pour mixture slowly over the back of a spoon into glass.
5. Into the same spouted mixing glass add the following:
   1. 1.5 oz vodka or other clear alcohol.
   2. 1-2 drops of (food safe) blue coloring liquid.
6. Pour mixture slowly over the back of a spoon into glass.

We’re not going to tell you that it tastes good. Fandom is sometimes about making sacrifices.

Action Items, Kickback:

This week Kickback Soccer Media introduced our new World Cup capsule series. Hosted by David Gass, these 10-20 minute podcasts celebrate the soccer history, cultural background, players to watch, and stories untold from each of the 48 participating World Cup nations.

Our first eight podcasts are now available in the Kickback ‘26 feed, and available here and on all podcast platforms!