Soccerwise Minutes

September 15, 2026

What’s that chill in the air, is it fall or Cavan Sullivan season? More on that a little further below, but here’s what you might have missed from the weekend outside of MLS and NWSL game action.

Headlines:

• The US boys are making good abroad in the Championship. Jack McGlynn scored a banger in his first start for Stoke City.

• Not to be outdone, Sebastian Berhalter bagged a brace for Middlesbrough over the weekend in a wild 4-3 win over Norwich.
• And Christian Pulisic is finally back for AC Milan. He made his first appearance of the Serie A season, delivering an assist as a second-half sub to jumpstart a comeback draw.
• Gianluca Busio’s USMNT call up hopes were dealt a cruel blow as the young Venezia captain left his match on Friday against Fiorentina with a hamstring injury. Manager Giovanni Stroppaga postgame said they fear it’s “significant”.
• Meanwhile, we are on to the knockout rounds at the U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. With qualification on the line, the US dropped 9 goals on New Zealand, including a hatty from Bay FC’s Kennedy Fuller to extend their tournament run.
• USL League One playoffs are starting to take shape with the Charlotte Independence and Union Omaha punching their tickets to the postseason over the weekend.
• In the NWSL, another coach bites the dust. The Houston Dash’s Fabrice Gautrat became the third coach to lose his job this season, and all in the last month.
• Bad news sucks. USWNT and the San Diego Wave midfielder Catarina Macario won’t be back on the field in 2026 after a knee procedure. She posted about it on her Instagram.
• On a more positive note, Orlando Pride super star Barbra Banda is staying put through 2029. ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf reported it’s a 7-figure deal and Orlando fought off several “world record” transfer offers.
• And one more fun thing for all the sickos out there, how about this goal from Yutaro Tsukada of Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship? 10 out of 10 on the goal, but 1 out of 10 on the call.

Weekend Recaps:

There is always a lot going on in MLS and NWSL each weekend, so we will do our best to help fill you in on what you might have missed.

• St. Louis simply can’t be stopped. Now 15 games unbeaten in the league with a 4-2 win over Minnesota. They move to fifth in the West as they are in red hot pursuit of a top four spot. And their new main man Rafael Navarro scored another brace.
• Orlando continues its climb up the Eastern Conference table with a 3-0 win over Toronto to move to sixth place. Antoine Griezmann just can’t stop scoring with seven goals in five games. He’s scored in five straight games and the Lions have won three in a row.
• A couple of massive wins for teams on life support. New York City FC got a huge boost with Alonso Martinez returning to the field for the first time in 10 months since his ACL injury. Their 2-0 win at RSL pushed them back above the playoff line.
• And don’t count out San Jose just yet, now with back-to-back wins after knocking off the upstart Houston Dynamo 1-0. With Tsakiris back and firing the Quakes are back up to fourth in the West. 
• Cavan Sullivan…what more is there to say? Another win for Philadelphia, this time dismantling San Diego on the road 5-0. Two goals and assist for the wunderkind as the Union keep climbing and are unbeaten in 10 since the World Cup break.
• It’s also getting a little wild down in Texas! Don’t look now but Austin just upset Vancouver 2-1 at BC Place to go unbeaten in six, and one point out of the playoffs. But they’re still chasing in-state rivals FC Dallas and Houston, who are now tied for second on points in the West.
• Over in the NWSL, Orlando’s Barbra Banda inserted herself back into the Golden Boot race with a brace, putting her at 16 goals for the season. But Temwa Chawinga and KC rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a wild 2-2 draw.
• Utah and San Diego got big wins to keep pace for a top-four seed and home playoff game. Teenager Melanie Barcenas made it six goals on the season to lead the Wave to a 2-1 win over NC, while Utah got a late goal from Mina Tanaka to take all three points in Houston 1-0. They leap frogged San Diego for third place by their superior goal differential.
• And here comes the Seattle Reign with a 2-0 win against Bay FC. Three wins in a row, as they widen the gap on 9th place Angel City for the last playoff spot. Don’t look now but just six points separate eight place Seattle from the second place Washington Spirit.
• Finally, everyone loves an upset, and expansion side Boston Legacy delivered a giant one. Three goals in the final 10 minutes, plus a stoppage-time brace from Amanda Gutierres saw Boston stun the Washington Spirit 3-0 at Audi Field. The Spirit are still in second, but the Shield might be slipping away as Gotham now leads the race by five points.

Statwise:

We love stats and things you might not know, so we are sharing some of our favorite ones from the weekend:

11 - It’s a teenage revolution. A teenager has contributed a goal or an assist for Philadelphia in 11 consecutive MLS games. 

2 - Cavan Sullivan just the second player 16 or younger in MLS history to score a brace in a match. The other one? The original teenage phenom Freddy Adu.

10 - Barbra Banda recorded her 10th career multi-goal game. Only four other players in NWSL history have recorded 10 or more multi-goal games in their careers: Sophia Wilson, Sam Kerr, Megan Rapinoe and Lynn Biyendolo.

19 - Ashley Sanchez continues to lead the Golden Boot race with 19 goals in the NWSL. It’s the second-most goals in a single season in league history and one shy of tying the NWSL single season record (20 - Temwa Chawinga).

41-1 - The U.S. U20s outshot New Zealand 41-1 in their final group game on Sept. 12. It was their largest win (9-0) in U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup history, passing their 7-0 win over Paraguay in 2024.

Midweek Watchlist:

If you can’t catch 'em all. We think these are the best of the bunch for a little amuse-bouche before the weekend.

Colorado Rapids vs. St. Louis CITY SC, U.S. Open Cup Semifinal (Wed., Sept. 16, 9:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network): Is it a rivalry or is it just beef between Matt Wells and Yoann Damet. Colorado might be good at home, but can they slow down the St. Louis train? A wild unbeaten streak on the line and a spot in a Cup final. Bit of a bummer we won’t see Rafael Navarro, as he is Cup tied with his former team.

Angel City FC vs. Seattle Reign FC, NWSL (Wed., Sept. 16, 10 p.m. ET, NWSL+): If Angel City wants to make the playoffs, it’s a must win game as they welcome Seattle to Tinseltown. A win for LA sees them move within a point of Seattle in the eighth and final playoff spot, but a Reign win might see that gap grow too big to overcome.

US vs. Brazil, U-20 Women’s World Cup - Round of 16, (Wed., Sept. 16, 9 a.m. ET, FS2): It’s win or go home time for the US youngsters. After a slow start in group play, they answered the call to remain in the tournament. The US and Brazil played twice in April with the U.S. winning 2-0 before the two teams drew 1-1, so expect another tight affair.

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul, Campeones Cup (Wed., Sept. 16, 8 p.m. ET, Apple TV): Everyone loves a good US vs. Mexico battle. And memories for Messi as he stepped onto the MLS stage for the first time in the 2023 Leagues Cup against Cruz Azul, scoring a stunning free kick. Can he provide the magic once again or will the visitors keep the trophy in Liga MX?

Goal of the Weekend:

Please refer to the newsletter title above. We are only here to fuel the hype.

Quick Links, Kickback:

• Soccerwise: David Gass and your Kickback family have you covered all things MLS, NWSL and U.S. Soccer.
• First Touch: Your American home for the global game. Join us every week for First Touch Dispatch and First Touch Weekly with Susannah Fuller for the stories and conversations shaping soccer around the world.
• Tom Bogert, The Athletic: No one better to keep you up-to-date on all of the silly season news from MLS!
• Tactics Free Zone: Matt Doyle is your go-to analyst for all MLS action.

Quick Links, Kickback Partners:

• Happy Foot, Sad Foot is your go-to podcast for LAFC. Check out their weekly pod and some pretty sweet merch. 
• Out West, San Diego Futbol has you covered for all things San Diego FC. San Diego’s #1 source for all things soccer.
• Five Stripe Final has your coverage of Atlanta United. Check out their substack and listen to their podcast to keep up to date.
• And for our friends on the East Coast, The Blazing Musket covers soccer across New England, from the Revs to Legacy and a whole lot of love for the USL.
• SixOneFive Soccer has you covered as they continue to recap Nashville’s historic run. The Music City men are headed to Toronto midweek and they have you covered.