Minutes from the Committee Meeting

January 16, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 23

2026 is here, as are the American soccer preseasons! Follow us here for coverage of all the big news, and check out Soccerwise on your preferred podcast or social media platform for our unparalleled coverage with hosts David Gass, Tom Bogert, and Jordan Angeli.

Agenda Items 📋:

• Much of the off-field conversation around MLS this year will be around the proposed change to the “European” August to May calendar, starting in 2027. Reports from ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle on Bluesky note that the MLSPA has not signed off on the MLS calendar shift.
• Carlisle added the players are for it…so why the delay? The MLSPA assuredly knows they have the power to extract concessions in return, and rumors abound of major changes to the current salary cap, with Don Garber noting that everything is on the table.
• Overlooked over the holidays was the potential conclusion of one of MLS’s longest-going gripes, a new stadium in Boston. The Kraft Group has seemingly passed the key hurdles in order to move forward with a 25,000 person stadium for the New England Revolution on the Mystic River near Boston,
• With the Chicago Fire new stadium breaking ground, Inter Miami’s opening in a few months, and NYCFC coming online in 2027, This will mark a major milestone as these stadiums will put every single American MLS club in a controlled stadium or chosen long-term home.
• Last up? Vancouver, where the city and the club have entered an exclusive negotiating window to come to terms on a stadium in town.
• The holidays had previously seen the remaining MLS head coaching positions filled, with Sporting KC appointing Swiss coach Rapha Wicky and the Columbus Crew turning to Henrik Rydstrom.
• Manchester City completed the signing of star Portland Thorns and USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey. The signing puts renewed focus on the departure of star American players from NWSL, and the League’s efforts to create mechanisms to retain them.
• Which gets us to our weekly “High Impact Player” update, the NWSL League Office’s proposed mechanism for retaining players. The update is…it’s not going well! The NWSLPA has filed a second grievance against the League, stating that the introduction violates their CBA and federal law. 
• While we will discuss one marquee NWSL signing below, the question at this juncture is whether NWSL clubs can make major roster decisions this offseason with so much of the cap structure in flux.

This Week's Biggest Signings:

Lindsey Heaps, Denver Summit (Previously: OL Lyonnais): One of the most decorated women in soccer is coming home. USWNT midfielder Lindsey Heaps. The former NWSL MVP, FIFA World Cup champions, and Champions League winner will be the cornerstone of the new expansion franchise, and as a Denver local, the face of its future. Heaps also is a major coup for the League as it primarily watches top USWNT talent depart.

Hector Herrera, Houston Dynamo (Previously: Toluca): The Mexican legend is back in Houston! While Herrera, at age 35, is unlikely to play as central of a role with Houston as he did in his first stint, his return presages the Dynamo’s renewed focus on ball retention. The additional signings of Brazilian DP Guillherme, Argentine defensive midfielder Agustin Bouzat, and the potential add of former LAFC star Mateus Bogusz will ensure the Dynamo are in the upper echelon of possession in MLS.

Cam Knowles, Minnesota United (Previously: Minnesota United): Following the surprise departure of head coach Eric Ramsay to West Bromwich Albion, Minnesota moved quickly to fill the vacancy. Knowles, the interim manager for part of 2024, previously served as the reserve team coach, and more recently as assistant coach. By promoting from within, Minnesota is likely to retain many of their principals of playing against the ball and leveraging set pieces.

Moves to Watch:

Timo Werner (RB Leipzig -> San Jose Earthquakes)

The Earthquakes seem poised to make their most ambitious signing ever. Werner, a 29 year old striker who has scored 24 times for Germany, has lingered on RB Leipzig’s bench, but would join MLS as one of the most accomplished 20-somethings to ever join the League. If he can re-find his scoring form playing next to dynamic forward Chicho Arango, the ‘Quakes may finally break MLS’s longest playoff winless streak.

Josh Sargent (Norwich City -> Toronto FC)

25-year-old USMNT striker Josh Sargent is pushing his championship club Norwich to finalize one of the biggest transfers in MLS history. Soccerwise’s Tom Bogert reports that Toronto has bid a club record $18m for the accomplished goal scorer. Norwich City is fighting to retain Sargent, however, as he’s been one of the most prolific finishers in the English Championship since joining, tallying 53 goals in total.

Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC -> ?)

While the signing of popular Mexican star Chucky Lozano was a big part of San Diego FC’s rollout, his on-field contributions were much more muted for the eventual Western Conference winners. An eventual dispute between Lozano and head coach Mikey Varas led to Lozano’s benching during the playoffs, culminating in the Sporting Director Tyler Heaps’s announcement this week that he’s looking to move Lozano. The only problem? Lozano says he wants to stay.

Musings from Soccerwise: What are the Most Attractive Clubs for Coaches in MLS?

Coined a “cashfer” by Tom Bogert and David Gass, the introduction of intraleague cash transfer in MLS before the 2025 season seemed like a reasonable move.

Don’t know what this means? Simply put, for years MLS operated more like other American sports leagues. You could trade for a player, or send what effectively amounts as cap space (allocation money), but you couldn’t purchase them like a team in Spain may do with a player in their own league. These limitations meant if a player didn’t really fit a squad for one reason or another, it was often easier and more lucrative to sell them abroad than it was to exchange them internally. 

It’s turned into, arguably, the most impactful rule change in at least a decade.

Who knows whether MLS anticipated the downstream effects of the change, but since last year:

• We’ve seen both star players (e.g., Evander) and up-and-coming Americans (e.g., Jack McGlynn) find high quality homes in the League, when previously they would’ve been sold abroad.
• Player movement throughout the League has flourished, as proven MLS players find optimal club situations based on style-of-play and level of team.
• Young domestic players who can’t break through or find themselves at a club that plays a system that doesn’t fit them end up transferred to a club that is more likely to benefit their development (e.g., Brooklyn Raines).
• More unique styles-of-play and better defined systems are emerging, as moving players is easier and proven MLS players that fit the system are available.

While it seems so obvious in retrospect, this somewhat under-the-radar change has really changed the League for the better. A juicy cherry on top? The drama of playing a former teammate, and the stories and storied careers that now are proliferating by keeping players in the league.

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

While Sooz is briefly away enjoying her Parisian era, this week’s guest mixologist is the CBS Golazo Network’s and Kickback Committee’s own Claudia Pagan!

Claudia has submitted her Pineapple Rum Rush!

1. 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum.
2. 3 oz Pineapple Juice
3. .5 oz Lime Juice.
4. Shake well.
5. Top with Ginger Ale.
6. Garnish with Dehydrated Pineapple Slice and Lime Slice.

Make sure to tag the committee and @claudiampagan on Bluesky with your creation!

Action Items, Kickback:

Soccerwise: Soccerwise is your home for all the offseason drama, as Tommy “Scoops” Bogert and Jordan Angeli join David Gass to talk about the biggest moves in MLS and NWSL.

Kickback Committee: Kickback Committee will kick back off in February with some exciting announcements and additional formats!

First Touch: We’ve released nearly 40 special episodes of our World Cup country capsules, 10-20 minute podcasts each detailing the unique soccer story of this World Cup’s participating nations. Follow our feed for the final capsules and brand new shows being launched over the next month.