Minutes from the Committee Meeting

December 12, 2025 — Committee Meeting # 19

Thanks for enjoying Kickback Minutes! With all domestic leagues but the USL Super League going dormant, we’ll be shifting some of our sections to focus on offseason coverage.

We hope you enjoy!

Agenda Items 📋:

• nter Miami raised their first ever MLS Cup after a thrilling 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps. The Whitecaps were arguably the better team on the day, controlling possession, pressing well, and seemingly prepared to go up 2-1 late in the second half.

• But only one team had the man named MVP this week, Lionel Messi. Two brilliant assists in the counter secured Inter Miami’s victory, and Messi’s 2025 campaign can assuredly now be considered the greatest in MLS history.

• MLS now enters a crucial offseason. 2026 will see tens of millions of American sports fans inundated with soccer, just as MLS prepares for a massive schedule change. The single biggest question for 2026 will be, can MLS secure some of the soccer share-of-voice?

• While the Whitecaps weren’t able to secure a title, their 2025 campaign was the best in club history, and may have helped secure their future in Vancouver. While the franchise is up for sale, and owners in other markets have inquired about moving the club, the City of Vancouver and the Whitecaps announced an MoU to explore a new stadium location, seemingly pointing the club towards a long term future in the Pacific Northwest.
• Inter Miami weren’t the only American soccer team to lift a trophy this week, as Florida State won their fifth ever women’s title, and their third of the decade. Led by star striker Jordynn Dudley, the Seminoles have cemented themselves as the modern dynasty in collegiate women’s soccer.
• The men’s Final Four will take place this weekend, and features some throwback participants. Furman (famous alumni include Clint Dempsey, Ricardo Clark, and Walker Zimmerman), Washington, NC State, and St. Louis (who won ten of the first fifteen men’s championships).

This Week's Biggest Signings:

Alyssa Naeher, Goalkeeper, Chicago Stars (Previously: Chicago Stars):

The legendary goalkeeper is back in Chicago another year! Having already retired from the USWNT, Naeher’s 2026 was in question. Chicago will be thrilled to have her back, however, as they hope Mal Pugh’s return from maternal leave brings them back into playoff contention.

Marc Dos Santos, Head Coach, LAFC (Previously: LAFC Assistant Coach):

LAFC’s Sporting Director John Thorrington’s successive hires of assistant coaches makes it clear that this club believes in star talent on the pitch, and continuity off of it. While Dos Santos is widely liked and respected, his one MLS Head Coaching stint in Vancouver did not leave him covered in glory. He’ll be armed with as talented a roster as any in the League in 2026, so expectations will be high off the bat.

Marlon LeBlanc, Brooklyn FC (Previously: Philadelphia Union 2): 

Following a buzzy hiring of Brian McBride as their General Manager, Brooklyn FC have secured their first ever Head Coach. Leblanc, the former Head Coach of the University of West Virginia, most recently oversaw the Union’s second team’s final appearance in 2024. LeBlanc’s hire may signal Brooklyn’s desire to identify and develop local young talent.

Moves to Watch:

Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund -> Club Brugge): 

The Icelandic-American U.S. U20 winger is assuredly set for a move in the January window. A dynamic 1v1 player who has earned some minutes for Dortmund, Campbell has been rumored for a move for some time to secure a more significant role. A consistent presence in European competition, success at Brugge would vault Campbell into USMNT consideration.

Mak Lind (BK Hacken -> North Carolina Courage):

While the Courage have been actively retooling a roster that just missed the playoffs, they haven’t officially filled their head coach position. However, word is that that role will be filled by BK Hacken head coach, Mak Lind. Continuing the trend of European coaches filling NWSL vacancies, Lind would join after spearheading Hacken to the Swedish title. 

Justin Haak (New York City FC -> Free Agency):

The 24-year-old homegrown defender may be the crown jewel of MLS Free Agency, as his versatility and well-rounded game have pushed him to borderline USMNT consideration. While Haak is from Brooklyn, he has supposedly attracted interest from multiple countries, and a majority of MLS clubs. New York City FC will likely have to pay handsomely to retain his services.

Insider Conversation of the Week: Did MLS miss their Messi moment?

MLS couldn’t have dreamt of a better moment. The GOAT, and possibly the most famous soccer player ever, completes the best season in MLS history with an MLS Cup, just a few months before a North American men’s World Cup is set to take place.

Why doesn’t it feel better? Why does it feel more like a missed opportunity, than the culmination years in the making?

Three other things coincided with this moment:

• MLS has been behind a “double paywall,” necessitating fans to pay for Apple TV and an additional subscription fee to access matches.
• MLS bucked the trend of embracing more TV windows, and lined up most of their matches at the same time, 7:30 locally on Saturday’s.
• Messi’s arrival didn’t coincide with changes to roster rules and budgets, meaning quality of play has improved, but not drastically.

MLS and Apple are eliminating Season Pass in ‘26, the League is making drastic changes to the calendar, and rumors are rampant that the schedule change will coincide with big changes to the budget.

The lessons may have been learnt, but will they have the same impact after the World Cup and as Messi’s career comes to a conclusion?

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

It's the holiday season, and sometimes we just gotta keep it a little sleazy with a Doc Holliday!

1. Fill highball glass halfway with ice
2. 2 oz whiskey.
3. 2 oz egg nog.
4. Fill glass to the top with Dr. Pepper.
5. Top with a cherry (Luxardo brand if you want to get classy).

Kickback Soccer Media is not responsible for poor company holiday party decisions made after enjoying Doc Holliday’s.

Action Items, Kickback:

Last 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 sixteen podcasts are now available in the Kickback ‘26 feed, and available here, via our (new) kickbacksoccer.com, and on all podcast platforms!