Minutes from the Committee Meeting

May 15, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 40

Agenda Items 📋:

• The story of the MLS season continues to be young stars, and Wednesday’s games were no exception. 
• 18-year-old Julian Hall and 19-year-old Zavier Gozo bagged a hat-trick and brace, respectively, while 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan recorded his first league goal.
• Elsewhere in MLS, the Players Association released its 2026 salary numbers, with Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, and Rodrigo De Paul coming in as the league’s highest-paid players.
• In USMNT news, Midfielder Johnny Cardoso is set to miss the upcoming World Cup after sustaining an ankle injury in training that will require surgery.
• The NWSL is reportedly already updating the High Impact Player rule that gave clubs more cap space to sign star players. The rule was created as a reaction to Trinity Rodman’s free agency.
• The idiosyncrasies of eligibility that the NWSL had introduced have been removed, making it easier to sign players. The likely reason for the change? International star Sam Kerr has left Chelsea and is likely an NWSL target.
• Finally, reports have Gotham FC making the move to the five boroughs in 2028, allegedly moving to Queens to join New York City FC at the under-construction Etihad Park.

Story of the Week:

The MLS schedule change won’t be the only major calendar shift in 2027.

A transformational announcement for soccer in the U.S. went under the radar this week, as the NCAA announced that collegiate soccer would make the shift from a one-semester sport to two semesters.

The condensed schedule of collegiate soccer had long put it at odds with the sport internationally. By jampacking matches into a three month period, both men’s and women’s players participate in a fraction of the training as their peers, and primarily focus on a condensed game schedule.

With women’s soccer around the world improving, and increased professional opportunities for men putting a collegiate option increasingly at odds with their professional aspirations, this shift was considered one of the most important ways that the U.S. could increase the quality of its player development.

The downstream effects here will be fascinating to watch. Will the MLS Draft return further to relevance? Will the USWNT quickly see a new generation of stars arise? Will the popularity of college soccer increase locally, and across the country?

Whatever the outcomes, this is a shift in the fabric of American soccer that may be looked back on as a landmark moment in its evolution.

Matches to Watch:

Nashville SC vs. LAFC, MLS (May 17th, 8:00 PM ET, Apple TV): Two absolute heavyweights face off in a cross-conference clash on Sunday night. Nashville has cemented itself as the team to beat in the East, sitting comfortably atop the conference. Out West, LAFC started the season historically well, but now desperately needs a result after three straight losses in all competitions. 

San Diego Wave FC vs. Washington Spirit, NWSL (May 15th, 10:00 PM ET, Victory+): The Washington Spirit is quickly making a case for the best team in NWSL, but a tough test awaits in the form of third-placed San Diego. Both sides have racked up impressive wins already this season, and a win would put either side on top of the table.

Union Omaha vs. Louisville City FC, USL Cup (May 17th, 5:00 PM ET, ESPN Select): The USL Cup is back in action this weekend, with two titans of the respective divisions facing off. Union Omaha currently sits at the top of USL League One and defeated Championship side  Indy Eleven to begin the tournament. On the other side, Lou City sits second in its conference and desperately looks to get back to winning ways after consecutive defeats.

One Knoxville SC vs. San Antonio FC, USL Cup (May 10th, 6:00 PM ET, ESPN Select): Our beloved One Knox looks to get back to winning ways after a difficult defeat midweek. The Tennessee side won’t have it easy, however, as USL Championship Western Conference leaders San Antonio come to town. Can Knoxville find even more cup magic?

Kickback's World Cup Plans!

Kickback Soccer Media announced its 2026 World Cup plans and its featured partnership with the World’s largest soccer retailer, Soccer.com!

Action Items, Kickback:

Soccerwise: We’ve still got your weekly MLS and NWSL reviews and previews, plus former USMNT defender Jay DeMerit joins the show to talk all things World Cup!

Make sure you listen to Soccerwise with David Gass, Tom Bogert, Matt Doyle, and Jordan Angeli now on SiriusXM, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 p.m. on SiriusXM FC 157, and on the SiriusXM App!

Kickback Committee: Susannah Fuller is joined by NWSL commentator, Soccerwise contributor, and Committee member Jordan Angeli to talk World Cup 2026, Venezia’s promotion to Serie A, Denver Summit, and so much more! 

First Touch: Episode 12 is now out of First Touch Weekly, as is the first First Touch weekly news show, First Touch Dispatch! Make sure to subscribe and listen to the first-ever World Cup 2026 dedicated show, First Touch! Inspired by podcasts with premium, rich storytelling like The Daily and Planet Money, this is Kickback Soccer Media’s most unique offering yet.