Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of their massive matchup against LAFC in the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. 

The third straight postseason in which they'll face off against LAFC, it's worth noting that this Whitecaps team is quite different from the one that was eliminated in both years, however, and the regular season proved that. 

Of course, though, things are a lot different in the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how the Whitecaps can build off what they showed in a dominant Round #1 win vs. FC Dallas, against an LAFC side that also cruised to victory in Round #1 against Austin FC. 

While this has naturally been billed as a revenge opportunity for the Whitecaps and a matchup between superstars Thomas Müller and Heung-Min Son, it's worth noting that this game has a lot more layers to it - in fact, it has the potential to be one of the best-ever MLS playoff matches, period, and they dive into why that is the case. 

From there, they take time to dive into the two teams and how they play, seeing where the game could be won and lost, given the significant stylistic differences between these two sides. 

Lastly, they give a shout out to the Vancouver Rise, who won the inaugural NSL playoffs this past weekend, setting the tone for soccer in the city of Vancouver at a good time. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver Rise. 

To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who picked up a big 3-0 win vs. FC Dallas in the first game of their first-round best-of-three series at BC Place. 

Not only did they win, too, but they thoroughly dominated Dallas, putting in the sort of performance that can leave scar tissue. 

Because of that, they're now looking to finish the job they started in the second game of this series, which will be held in Frisco, Texas, this weekend, as they look to set up a potential rematch with LAFC in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. 

Otherwise, in Whitecaps news, the latest MLS salaries dropped this week, giving an idea of how their roster is looking after some big summer transfers. While this news doesn't affect the team much until the offseason, it gives an idea of what's to come for the Whitecaps after these playoffs - showing why this run is so important for this team, with the group set to be shaken up a bit. 

Lastly, the Vancouver Rise are getting set for their inaugural Northern Super League playoff journey, as they'll battle with the Ottawa Rapid in the two-legged semi-finals, as they try to book a trip to Toronto for the final - starting next Tuesday at Swangard Stadium for Leg 1. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps as they get set for the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs. 

To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who fell 2-1 to FC Dallas in the final game of the MLS regular season - fitting, as not only did that defeat deny the Whitecaps the chance to top the Western Conference table and finish second in all of MLS, but it also set them up with a date vs. Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, too. 

Because of that, they take a look at the threat that Dallas poses to the Whitecaps in this first-round series, a matchup that the Whitecaps are expected to win - something that doesn't always mean a whole lot in MLS, it's worth noting. 

Of course, in this playoff format, things are different than your typical playoff battle, with this first round being a best-of-three matchup, before the games shift to single elimination later down the road. 

Will the Whitecaps be healthy enough to make a deep run in the playoffs? Will they be able to score in the big games? Who starts for them at the back? Can they take advantage of their status as an MLS Cup favourite?

Alex and Sam try to answer those questions, and more, to cap off this preview - before finishing with a quick look at the rest of the MLS Cup playoffs field, for good measure. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC, Vancouver Rise and more. 

To begin, they start with the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have had a big stretch of performances lately, starting with a win vs. Vancouver FC in the Canadian Championship final, before leading into a pair of big wins in MLS play vs. the San Jose Earthquakes and Orlando City. 

In particular, the play of Thomas Müller has stood out across that period, as well as the continued improvement of several under-the-radar players, which is good news for the Whitecaps as a pivotal stretch of play awaits them here. 

Now, they'll turn their focus to their last match of the regular season, a clash vs. FC Dallas at BC Place, before starting the MLS Cup playoffs shortly after. 

Otherwise, they take a look at the news out of Vancouver FC, who have qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup thanks to the Whitecaps, who themselves locked up a berth through MLS play to transfer their Canadian Championship berth to the CPL side. As a result, Alex and Sam look at what that could do for VFC, who stand to benefit in a big way from being in Concacaf's premier club competition. 

Lastly, they finish by looking at the Vancouver Rise, who have officially completed their first regular season campaign in the Northern Super League, and will now turn their attention to the playoffs at the start of next month. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

The Third Sub can be found on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts and Anchor. It can also now be found on Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts and Radio Public, so if you have any of those platforms installed, you can now find it on them.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC. 

To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who are coming off a pair of mixed results in Cascadia Cup action against the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders. 

Thanks to a pair of draws against both teams, the Whitecaps have done enough to win the 2025 Cascadia Cup, but there's a feeling of missed opportunity despite that, as they could've won both games, which would've given them a big boost in their quest for the Supporters' Shield. 

Now, though, the Whitecaps will turn their attention to what lies ahead of them this week, as they get set to take on local neighbours Vancouver FC in the Canadian Championship final. 

There, the Whitecaps have a chance to make history as they chase a Canadian Championship four-peat, showing why this game is quite special for them. 

On the other side, though, awaits a hungry Vancouver FC side, one that has the most dangerous thing for any team to have in a final - they have nothing to lose. 

Having struggled in Canadian Premier League play this year, this Voyageurs Cup run has been a welcome distraction for them, and now they're looking to cap it off with an upset for the ages. 

How possible is such an upset? Alex and Sam dive into that, and many more topics surrounding the final, to end off the show. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more. 

To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who are back in action after a quiet end to August and start to September. 

Now, with a strange portion of their schedule behind them, they'll get set for a busy end to the 2025 regular season, while also tackling a massive Canadian Championship game in there for good measure. 

After some good rest, can they return to their best in that stretch? They'll hope that can be the case as they continue to welcome back some key reinforcements, further integrate new ones, and return to what worked well for them earlier in the year. 

They haven't been given an easy schedule to start this stretch, as they'll face the MLS-leading Philadelphia Union before taking on Forge FC in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semi-finals a few days later, but they've got a chance to make a bit of a statement in both matches. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere in B.C., Vancouver FC is getting set to take on Atlético Ottawa in leg two of the other semi-final - a tie they currently lead 3-1 after a shock home victory in leg one. Having had a tough regular season campaign to date, they'd love to continue a remarkable run in the cup, so look for them to pull some magic out of their hat in this tie. 

Before then, though, a cool match awaits them in Canadian Premier League action against rivals Pacific FC, who themselves are also looking to get out of a bit of a rut of their own in league play. A match played at a new site, Victoria's Royal Athletic Park, both teams will hope that playing in front of a sold-out crowd provides them with a bit of a boost. 

Lastly, the Vancouver Rise are on fire, as they're now undefeated in eight matches, allowing them to push right up the Northern Super League table. All of a sudden, first place is in reach, and it's hard to see them slowing down with how good they're playing - and they continue to add to the roster, as seen with moves such as the surprise signing of Montréal Roses forward Latifah Abdu. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more. 

To begin, they dive into the big news out of Whitecaps-land, as they chat about the story that has caught not just the attention of the rest of MLS, but the entire soccer world - the arrival of German footballing legend Thomas Müller at the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

A huge coup for the 'Caps, given Müller's status as a top player and global star, they dive into why this move seems to be such a no-brainer for all parties involved. From Müller's ability to fit in this Whitecaps team, to the commercial opportunities it provides, and what this could mean for the future of the Whitecaps, this seems to be a move that could elevate the Whitecaps to another level, showing why the hype is understandably high in Vancouver right now. 

After that, they look at what's ahead for the Whitecaps, who had a bit of a break after beating Sporting KC in MLS play in late-July, as they now get set to dive into a busy week of action in MLS and Canadian Championship play. 

From there, they dive into what's next for Vancouver FC and Pacific FC, who are set to face each other in a crucial Salish Sea Derby in Canadian Premier League action this weekend. After both picked up wins this past week, while also making a couple of key transfers, it's ramped up the pressure on both to win this derby match, which will hopefully lead to an entertaining matchup. 

Elsewhere, they dive into the latest out of the Vancouver Rise, who are coming off a chaotic 3-3 draw vs. the Ottawa Rapid, as they continue to show signs of progress in their inaugural season, despite that result. 

Lastly, they take a look out of how the end of the League 1 BC season went down, as Altitude claimed the women's regular season title, and Langley United the men's regular season title, capping off another entertaining season of L1BC action. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more. 

To begin, they dive into the latest on the Whitecaps, who have had a strange month of July so far. 

At the surface, things look calm, as they've treaded water in terms of results, but it's otherwise been a crazy month off the pitch with the sale of Pedro Vite to Pumas UNAM, the arrival of Peruvian youngster Kenji Cabrera, and the long-term knee injury suffered by key defender Ranko Veselinovic. As a result, Alex and Sam look into the aftermath of all of those bits of news for the Whitecaps, which have had a significant impact on those 'Caps for very different reasons. 

In particular, things are pointing towards the Whitecaps having a busy transfer window, as they look to maximize their contention window and keep it open as long as possible. 

Afterwards, they take a look at the latest out of the Vancouver Rise, who are catching form in NSL play at just the right time, showing signs of a newfound tactical identity on both sides of the ball. 

Lastly, they chat about the big movement coming out of the CPL teams in BC, as Vancouver FC have made the big decision to part ways with Afshin Ghotbi and replaced him with Martin Nash on an interim basis, while Pacific have brought home former striker Alejandro Díaz in a big coup for a team struggling to score. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC, League 1 BC and more. 

To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who continued an up-and-down period, one that's seen them lose three of their last four matches, including a 5-3 defeat to San Diego FC and a 3-0 loss to the LA Galaxy. 

Despite that, they remain in a decent spot in the Supporters Shield race, with things looking up for them after they welcomed back a couple of key regulars who spent a lengthy period away with their respective National Teams during the Gold Cup. 

Now, some important games await, with none more crucial than the second leg of their Canadian Championship quarter-final tie against Valour FC, as they seek to defend their status as three-time consecutive winners. 

Meanwhile, in CPL, Pacific FC and Vancouver FC continue to struggle, and they examine why this is the case as they look to recover from a tough start to their seasons with the midway point approaching. 

Lastly, Alex and Sam look back at their recent outing to a League 1 BC match, as they got to witness some exciting action between the TSS Rovers and Altitude's women's and men's team, which they'll hope is a precursor to an exciting end to that campaign. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_. 

Welcome back to another episode!

In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps, the CanMNT and more. 

To begin, they dive into the latest with the Whitecaps, who, since the last episode, surprisingly beat the Seattle Sounders 3-0 despite missing several regulars, before falling 2-1 to the Columbus Crew. They look back at those games, seeing what the Whitecaps showed despite being short multiple key players in both games due to injuries and international commitments. 

Having had a break since the Crew game, the Whitecaps are now back in action this week, as they take on the newest MLS side, San Diego FC, in a crucial Western Conference battle at BC Place. As usual, Alex and Sam preview what to expect from that one, as the Whitecaps take on a San Diego side that has been one of the biggest surprises in their first season in MLS. 

Afterwards, they take a look at the latest out of the CanMNT, who have continued their Gold Cup journey over the past week, having kicked it off at BC Place on June 17th. They look back at what that game meant for the team, as they made a rare jaunt to a place they're about to get very familiar with over the next 12 months, before looking at the next portion of their tournament, which has come down in the United States. 

Lastly, they take a look at some of the other soccer news from around BC, as the Vancouver Rise navigate an up-and-down season, while the BC CPL teams, Pacific and Vancouver, continue to struggle in league play. 

Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.