Episode 599 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Let The Fun Begin with David Norman and Vanni Sartini)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, and FIFA World Cup chat. It's been another crazy week with so much to cover!

We start off with the Whitecaps News of the Week as they get set to kick off their 2024 season with a Champions Cup match against Mexican giants Tigres. We look ahead to the game and hear from Vanni Sartini as he chats about the task ahead and what he's seen from the team in preseason so far. Plus we look at the latest additions to the squad, Tristan Blackmon's contract extension, the announced TV schedule on TSN, and a disappointing Leagues Cup draw.

Our feature interview this week is with a former Whitecaps player who has returned to play in his hometown with CPL side Vancouver FC - David Norman. We chat with David about his time away, his career year in 2023 that saw him win promotion with Northampton Town and an Irish Cup with St Patrick's Athletic, his decision to return to Vancouver, and more in an entertaining half hour chat.

But we've saved the best till last and the biggest news of the week as the schedule for the FIFA 2026 World Cup was announced and Vancouver will be hosting seven matches and two of Canada's group games. We break down the highs and lows of the schedule and chat about the excitement this news will bring to football lovers in the city.

All of this, plus Hot Chocolate Boy, a look back at this week for the Whitecaps in 1974, and there's a fine splattering of music to boot including our new Album of the Month.

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Recovery Family Law, family law lawyers in Surrey, working with clients to get excellent results. They support AFTN, go and support them for all your family legal needs.

Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

02.09: Intro - CiTR fundrive, this week in football
11.36: Hot Chocolate Boy - 49th Parallel Coffee
16.05: Whitecaps News of the Week - building for the future, TV games, Leagues Cup
39.12: The season begins! Ours and Vanni's thoughts on the 'Caps facing Tigres
62.40: David Norman interview and VFC discusssion
102.05: This week in 1974
107.54: Vancouver hosts 7 matches as FIFA 2026 schedule revealed
132.30: Wavelength - Sidiku Buari - Disco Soccer