Archive

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

First Touch '26

May 13, 2026 — Newsletter #31 First Touch is excited to continue the First Touch Writer Series with Musa Okwonga, co-founder of the Stadio podcast, and one of the game’s most distinctive voices. His essay this week reflects on World Cup legends, and on the pressure and possibility facing Christian

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

May 8, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 39 Agenda Items 📋: * The Concacaf Champions Cup Final is set! Both Tigres and Toluca advanced to the final with home shutout victories against Nashville and LAFC. * This marks the first season since 2021 in which the final will consist entirely of Liga MX clubs, and

First Touch '26

May 6, 2026 — Newsletter #35 Dear First Touch Friends, We know you’ve come here thinking “I just can’t start my day without reading about all the reasons I should be anxious about the 2026 World Cup delivering,” especially when we’ve delivered again and again. It’s may

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

May 1, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 38 Agenda Items 📋: * The Vancouver Whitecaps and city of Vancouver both released statements this week in efforts to keep the Whitecaps in Vancouver, while a potential buyer has come forward who wants to move the team to Las Vegas.  * Kickback Soccer Media’s own Matt

First Touch '26

April 29, 2026 — Newsletter #34 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week German legend Gerd Muller! Headlines: Injuries are the news of the week, with the most notable being a Lamine Yamal hamstring injury that may impact his World Cup, as he will be out for the remainder of

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

April 24, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 37 Agenda Items 📋: * MLS held its first slate of midweek matches for the 2026 season, and they delivered! Wednesday night featured a pair of 4-4 draws, the first goalkeeper goal in 17 seasons, and countless sensational goals. * Elsewhere, Inter Miami picked up six points from

First Touch '26

April 22, 2026 — Newsletter #33 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week This week it’s Mexico’s Rafa Marquez, because… Headlines from Off-the-Pitch: Assistant Coach Rafa Marquez has been announced as the coach-in-waiting for Mexico, set to take over for Javier Aguirre after the World Cup. Marquez has

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

April 17, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 36 Agenda Items 📋: * Javier Mascherano has stunningly resigned as manager of Inter Miami, just 131 days after leading them to the 2025 MLS Cup. * His 2026 tenure has started unspectacularly, but reports have his resignation rooted in the disagreements with the star players. * The Concacaf

First Touch '26

April 15, 2026 — Newsletter #32 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week Ferenc Puskas of Hungary and the “Magic Magyars!” A great week to be celebrating the iconic Hungarian team of the 1950’s. Headlines from Off-the-Pitch: The matches are done, as is the temporary afterglow of actual soccer.

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

April 10, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 35 Agenda Items 📋: * Concacaf Champions Cup returned this week, with four MLS vs. Liga MX matches taking place this week in the first legs of the Quarterfinal round. MLS only one won. * The winner? LAFC made a statement with a 3-0 win over Liga MX

First Touch '26

April 8, 2026 — Newsletter #31 First Touch is excited to launch the First Touch Writer Series, beginning with Musa Okwonga, co-founder of the Stadio podcast, and one of the game’s most distinctive voices. His essay this week reflects on 1994, 2026, and what the World Cup still means. “The

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

April 3, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 34 Agenda Items 📋: * The Denver Summit home debut smashed NWSL attendance records, ending with over 63,000 fans in attendance for their 0-0 draw against the Washington Spirit. * The record was a more than 50% increase over the previous record set by Bay FC. * It

First Touch '26

April 1, 2026 — Newsletter #30 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week Luca Toni, from a better era of Italian soccer. Headlines: It was the biggest week left before the World Cup arrives in a few short months, as the final six nations stamped their ticket to the World

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

March 27, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 33 It’s the final international window before the long awaited 2026 World Cup in North America. This week, we’ll pivot in the men’s international window to check the barometer on the U.S. USMNT Vibe Check: Entering the final international window, the

First Touch '26

March 25, 2026 — Newsletter #29 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week Paddy Moore, who put four in for Ireland against Belgium in 1934! What To Watch, FIFA & UEFA Playoffs: Four UEFA World Cup spots are up for grabs, with each side needing to win two consecutive matches:

Minutes from the Committee Meeting (Copy)

March 20, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 32 Agenda Items 📋: * The new mechanism for paying star players introduced by NWSL this offseason has led to the biggest contract in women’s soccer history. The San Diego Wave have signed USWNT star Cat Macario to an $8m, five year contract. * Most importantly, the

First Touch '26

March 18, 2026 — Newsletter #28 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week Kyle Beckerman! Headlines, Off-the-Pitch: We will start with the political news. You can skip to the on-the-pitch section if this has simply become too exhausting (we won’t judge). Comments from Donald Trump set off further consternation

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

March 13, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 31 Agenda Items 📋: * NWSL is back today! It’s a momentous season for the league, as clubs fifteen and sixteen—Denver and Boston— enter the league. * New clubs and fan communities always drive the biggest interest on day one, but a second storyline will stand

First Touch '26

March 11, 2026 — Newsletter #27 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week: Socrates!!!!!!! Headlines : Let’s collectively pinch our nose and get through the week of World Cup news: The conflict in Iran has grounded planes in the region, leading to an immediate emergency for the Iraqi national team