Episode 625 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Lazy Days In Summer Haze - Olympics drone scandal, Ali Ahmed interview, Wrexham v Whitecaps, Leagues Cup)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Wrexham A.F.C., Canadian national team and Olympics chat, and we're joined once again this week by Harjeet Johal to talk about it all.

The soccer news in Canada this week has been dominated by the women's national team drone scandal at the Olympics and we delve into that in the first two parts as we work through the timeline of news that came out, the subsequent punishments and reactions, and what the future may hold in store for Canada Soccer, the team, and those involved. Plus we also look back at Canada's first two games in the defence of their Olympics title.

Turning our attention to the Whitecaps, our feature interview this episode is with midfielder Ali Ahmed. We chat about Ali's experiences at Copa America with Canada, what he's learned under new head coach Jesse Marsch, and the Whitecaps season so far.

The Whitecaps were in action against Wrexham at the weekend and we have full postgame coverage from that one as we look at whether the 'Caps fully capitalised on all the opportunities presented to them with the whole experience, the much anticipated grass pitch, and what it could mean for future matches like this here in Vancouver. Plus we chat with Wrexham head coach Phil Parkinson, and players Eoghan O'Connell, George Evans, and Steven Fletcher about the League One season to come, what they've learned from this #WrexCoastTour trip, and their thoughts on Vancouver.

And there's still time to look ahead to this week's Leagues Cup matches with Vanni Sartini, Cork band The Frank and Walters wrap up as Album of the Month, we take you back to 1974, and we've a Wrexham themed song in Wavelength for you.

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:

02.17: Intro - it's Christmas for Har!
07.20: Canadian drone scandal - the story so far
30.03: CanWNT wins against NZ and France
46.00: FIFA punishment to CanWNT and the fallout
61.15: The media's role in the accelerated unraveling
71.00: What now for Bev Priestman and Canada Soccer?
88.20: Ali Ahmed interview
112.48: This Week in Whitecapsland 1974
118.25: Wrexham v Whitecaps - a success or a wasted opportunity?
142.35: Phil Parkinson talks Wrexham's League One battle ahead
147.35: Leagues Cup preview and the thoughts of Vanni
157.21: A chat with Wrexham's Eoghan O'Connell
162.36: A chat with Wrexham's George Evans
166.37: A chat with Wrexham's Steven Fletcher
172.00: Wavelength - Ratarsed - Elliott Lee