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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

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

March 6, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 30 Agenda Items 📋: * The big news of the week comes from USL, where the USL Championship’s CBA has expired and the Players’ Association and league seem unlikely to reach an agreement before the league’s first match on Friday. * While the players have continued

First Touch '26

March 4, 2026 — Newsletter #26 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week: Scotland’s Kenny Dalglish!! Headlines : The World Cup is less than a hundred days away, and we wish we could be pivoting to discussing what’s going to happen on the pitch. The news, however, is so

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

February 27, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 29 Agenda Items 📋: * MLS returned this past weekend, and we have two big takeaways: * Play the Kids!!! Across the league, managers turned to teenagers and boy did the kids deliver. The Red Bulls rolled out an unprecedented roster of 16- and 17-year-olds, RSL’s academy

First Touch '26

February 25, 2026 — Newsletter #25 Every World Cup Nation, Previewed! Over at our website kickbacksoccer.com, we’ve launched a first-of-its-kind team by team preview of every participating World Cup nation! You can find both written overviews, and special video and podcast primers for every country, all right at your

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

February 20, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 28 MLS IS BACK! SPECIAL EDITION! LET’S GOOOO! Agenda Items 📋: * This Saturday, MLS will kick-off a season arguably as big as any since its inception in 1996. Some have asked, however, where has the promotion been?  * A series of articles in various media trades

First Touch '26

February 19, 2026 — Newsletter #24 Introducing First Touch Weekly: Today is the introduction of Kickback Soccer Media’s First Touch Weekly, our premium 2026 World Cup podcast, covering the biggest stories across global soccer—from players and matches to politics, culture, host cities, the fan experience, and beyond. Hosted by

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

February 13, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 27 Special Announcement: The biggest news of the week is coming directly from you Committee, as Kickback Soccer Media has added Matt Doyle to the team! On top of Matt’s addition to Soccerwise and other appearances across the Kickback ecosystem, please check out his

First Touch '26

February 11, 2026 — Newsletter #23 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week: Algerian icon from the 1982 and 1988 World Cups, Rabah Madjer! Headlines : Today, we’re focusing on the generation of stars who have defined this era of the game, most of whom are in flux as they

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

February 6, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 26 Agenda Items 📋: * We did not see this one coming. Colombian icon James Rodrigues has signed a short term contract with Minnesota United and will spend his pre-World Cup period with the “Loons.” * As Soccerwise co-host Tom Bogert reported, James signs a short-term contract in

First Touch '26

February 3, 2026 — Newsletter #22 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week: Dennis Bergkamp. Just, this goal. Headlines : * Hot on the heels of World Cup 2026 is LA28, and this week, we got some stadium announcements! Uniquely, soccer is not contained to just the host city for the Olympics,

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

January 30, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 25 Agenda Items 📋: * Emma Hayes went deep in her bag and rolled out the most inexperienced USWNT teams of the millennium in 6-0 and 5-0 wins against Paraguay and Chile, respectively. * Featuring players battling for spots as we close in on the 2027 World Cup,

First Touch '26

January 28, 2026 — Newsletter #21 Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week: Ok he may not be a World Cup legend (yet), but check out that mane on 2002 Argentina player and 2026 USMNT Head Coach Maurico Pochettino! Headlines : * We can’t ignore it, and neither should you. Calls