The Committee gathers for a major week in the American soccer world as the 2026 World Cup Draw and MLS Cup Final are in sight this coming weekend. Sooz recaps her holiday in Asheville, NC. We preview the MLS Cup Final with a pair of special guests. Javon Haughton of the Black Herons United supporter group and Michael McColl of the AFTN Soccer Show podcast join us to preview their respective sides vying for their first ever MLS Cup. Sooz and David talk about things they want to see from the World Cup Draw, both the opening ceremony itself, on-field matchups and team base camp locations. Running down the list of team base camps including a segue into where Santiago Solari played college soccer in the US. We end the show with our First Touch ’26 live show and podcast feed announcement to preview the 2026 FIFA World Cup from now until the Final next year.

Black Herons United: https://blackheronsutd.com/pages/our-story

AFTN: https://aftn.ca/

First Touch ’26: https://linktr.ee/firsttouchksm

01:32 - Sooz’s Asheville, NC Holiday

08:37 - A Lot of Soccer Things 

09:00 - Javon Haughton, Black Herons United

33:54 - Michael McColl, AFTN Soccer Show

58:36 - Things We Want to See In The World Cup Draw

01:34:20 - Show Close and First Touch '26 Announcement