Soccerwise and Kickback Committee bring you a special joint show for the occasion! Tom and David talk about Darlington Nagbe’s retirement from soccer and his legacy on the American game. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also announce their retirements and discuss their impacts on MLS along with what their exits mean for Inter Miami’s future. The duo react to the 2025 MLS 22 Under 22 list. A preview of the USMNT vs. Ecuador match. Susannah Fuller joins the show after some slight tech hiccups on behalf of Kickback Committee. The crew talks the final result of the USMNT U-20’s victory over Italy in the round of 16 U-20 World Cup match. 50 States of Soccer heads to the state of Maine with Susannah’s One Knox taking on USL League One’s rising star franchise, Portland Hearts of Pine. The State of 2026 World Cup Tickets after a viewer mentions he landed tickets mid-show. 

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com

02:25: Tom’s dual loves between the US and Italy  

06:07 - Darlington Nagbe announces retirement from soccer 

21:56 - Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retire 

30:56 - Miami’s DP replacements 

38:16 - MLS 22 Under 22 List

57:25 - USMNT vs. Ecuador Preview

01:04:09 - Suzannah Fuller (finally) joins the show!

01:06:31 - USMNT U-20s defeat Italy to reach the Round of 8

01:15:17 - 50 States of Soccer: Maine and USL Playoffs

01:27:31 - The State of World Cup 2026 Tickets 

01:35:29 - Show closer

Susannah and David are back to host today’s show. Susannah opens the show speculating on the Real Madrid reference a certain music superstar dropped in a new album release. The International break is upon us so we go across the world, visiting all six FIFA confederations and the current state of World Cup Qualifying at each region. The break also means the return of CANKS ABROAD as the duo check in on various USMNT and Canadian MNT players abroad. 50 States of Soccer returns to the New England region, for the state of Maine with much love going to Portland Hearts of Pine. We wrap with another GBBO Minute and talking the show’s Chocolate Week episode. 

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com

01:00 - David's Yom Kippur Break and Bagel Adventure

02:39 - Suz’s no good, very bad Sports Weekend

05:23 - Real Madrid reference 

10:00 - International break and World Cup Qualifying 

35:00 - CANKS ABROAD, USMNT

50:45 - Canadian MNT

01:01:02 - 50 States of Soccer: Maine 

01:10:33 - GBBO Minute - Chocolate Week 

Susannah is joined by former tag team partner on The Call-Up and current host of Full Time on The Athletic, Jillian Sakovits! The duo IN-PERSON this time chat all things about Nashville SC’s U.S. Open Cup triumph over Austin FC. One Knox defeated in-state rival Chattanooga Red Wolves to take the top of USL League One. 50 States of Soccer continues the Connecticut conversation. Here For This tips the hat to the Washington Spirit, Chicago Fire FC and Gregg Berhalter's old USMNT staff. We end with talking about the coaching fits from the One Knox and Chattanooga head coaches.

Susannah and David chat all things US Open Cup Final on this week’s show with a special trio of guests. Kickback Soccer Media announces a brand new slate of partnerships and initiatives. Austin FC host Nashville SC this Wednesday with a trophy on the line. For the occasion, we welcomed Zac Graham from The North End Podcast to talk all things about the impact of Austin hosting their first Cup Final at home and a Bachelorette Party themed name for the Final. From the Nashville end, we welcomed Stephen Robinson, host of Pharmaceutical Soccer and part of the Six One Five Soccer Network to talk about the improbable run by Nashville and the impact of possibly winning the first major league professional sports trophy for the state of Tennessee. We round out the show with the first appearance of Friend Of The Committee and U.S. Open Cup winner, Calen Carr to the show. Calen talks his memories of competing and winning the Cup in 2006 with the Chicago Fire along with digging out his old rookie card. We close out the show with 50 States of Soccer heading to the state of Connecticut with the USL Jägermeister Cup final between Sacramento Republic and Hartford Athletic looming next. 

Kickback Soccer Media Partnership Announcement: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesnalton/2025/09/30/bluesky-and-kickback-join-a-new-era-of-united-states-soccer-media/

The North End Podcast (Austin FC): https://www.thenorthendpodcast.com/

Pharmaceutical Soccer (Nashville SC): https://www.sixonefivesoccer.com/pharma-soccer/

03:14 - Kickback Soccer Media Partnership Announcement 

10:34 - Zac Graham of The North End Podcast 

34:23 - Stephen Robinson of Pharmaceutical Soccer

51:17 - Friend Of The Committee, Calen Carr 

01:08:05 - 50 States of Soccer: Connecticut and Closer

Susannah Fuller and Claudia Pagán are joined for today's Committee Happy Hour by Houston Dash defender and Lincoln, NE native Paige Nielsen to close out this week's 50 States of Soccer series in Nebraska. The crew start off with reviewing Indy Eleven’s recently announced Oktoberfest kit. Paige’s season with the Houston Dash, two points off of the playoff line and undefeated in 7 of their last 8 matches. Her preference to training over game days. The path Paige took from Lincoln, Nebraska to the top flight at the NWSL. We cap off with 50 States of Soccer: Nebraska running through all candidates including a new candidate for Urban Legend presented by Paige. 

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com

See Indy Eleven's new Oktoberfest kit here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8t9x_DLYi/

Susannah and David are joined for the first time by fellow Committee member and midfielder for the NC Courage, Brianna Pinto! The trio discuss KC Current winning the NWSL Supporter’s Shield in the fastest time in league history. Brianna discusses an upcoming collaboration between the Black Women’s Player Collective, Allstate and Black Star Soccer in November. The crew chat about the results of the Women’s and Men’s Ballon d’Or. A goal celebration is conjured up for the next time Brianna scores a goal. 50 States of Soccer enters the Cornhusker State, Nebraska. Susannah recounts her experience in Omaha at the Union Omaha vs. One Knox USL 1 game which includes salutes to the city of Omaha and Omaha Parliament, the Supporters Group for Union Omaha. The show closes with a breakdown of The Great British Bakeoff and their recent ✨B R E A D W E E K✨ episode.

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com

Follow The Black Women’s Player Collective here: https://www.instagram.com/blackwplayercollective

3:40 - KC Current win the Supporter’s Shield

18:00 - BWPC x Black Star Soccer

22:00 - Women’s Ballon D’or 

34:52 - Men’s Ballon D’or

41:20 - Create-A-Goal Celebration 

51:13 - 50 States of Soccer: Nebraska 

01:02:00 - Closer and The GBBO Minute

Susannah is joined by co-host of the Full Time podcast on The Athletic and former Call Up partner (long live The Call Up), Jillian Sackovits, for today's Happy Hour! The duo discuss 50 States of Soccer: Tennessee, the concept of Cheeleaders in Soccer, the on-air debut of the youngest member of Jillian’s family and the revival of "Here for This" in Kickback form. Jillian also reveals that she buried the lede from her prior appearence on Kickback: SHE TOUCHED AND SMELLED DAVID BECKHAM.

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com/

Susannah and David are at the helm to talk all things U.S. Open Cup. With the semifinal rounds occurring this week, the Committee decided to recap and discuss the history of the prestigious tournament. The duo run down their personal favorite moments before going into some staff submitted favorite memories across MLS, USL, and beyond. With semifinals incoming, Walker Zimmerman of Nashville SC joins the show to talk about his history in the tournament, recapping his greatest successes (winning it all with FC Dallas in 2016) and his most painful memories (Injuries and PK misses) before talking about his views on the tournament as a watcher when he doesn’t play. The crew kicks off 50 States of Soccer: Tennessee before closing out the show. 

Producer's Note: This episode was recorded before the Tennessee Lady Vols soccer team was defeated 3-2 in an upset by Mississippi State on the night of September 12, 2025.

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com/

Read The Cup.US for comprehensive U.S. Open Cup coverage at all levels of U.S. Soccer: https://thecup.us/

10:00 - Our favorite USOC memories 

27:00 - Kickback Staff Choices 

34:17 - Walker Zimmerman Interview 

59:40 - Chatting up more USOC history 

01:04:28 - 50 States of Soccer: Tennessee

Susannah and David are joined by former USMNT forward, CBS Golazo Network host and now writer for The Athletic, Charlie Davies on today's Happy Hour! Charlie talks about his upbringing in Manchester, New Hampshire and his journey across the wider New England region. His post-playing career, the possibility of USL in New Hampshire and a deep dive into 50 States of Soccer: New Hampshire featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Susannah and David steer the ship for today’s show. The duo recap the USMNT’s victory over Japan from the night prior. The improvements made from the South Korea match, the formation and personnel changes and thoughts from Mauricio Pochettino. Brief segway to discuss Ian Fuller’s first red card as coach for One Knoxville. The crew tries to make some sense of Pochettino’s process and trust it. The international break means running down the rest of World Cup qualifying across the world in other regions. Shoutout to the Pitches In Peril report on climate change affecting soccer globally by Football For Future and Common Goal. 2026 World Cup tickets go on sale as NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani launches a petition to call on FIFA to abandon its plan for dynamic pricing and re-institute reserved tickets for locals. 50 States of Soccer: New Hampshire kicks off this week.

Subscribe to The Kickback Minutes here: https://kickbacksoccer.com/

Read the Pitches In Peril: A Landmark Climate Report Ahead Of the 2026 World Cup Report: https://footballforfuture.org/pitchesinperil

Timecodes:

07:00 - USMNT vs. South Korea

08:00 - USMNT vs. Japan Reaction

18:20 - Ian Fuller’s first Red Card of the Season

21:00 - Player Ratings

29:00 - Concerns looking ahead

35:00 - Striker Power Rankings

42:00 - Qualifying Across The World Rundown

51:00 - WC Ticket News

57:55 - Pitches In Peril

01:00:00 - 50 States of Soccer: New Hampshire and End