Episode 658 – The AFTN Soccer Show (And So It Begins)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and CONCACAF Champions Cup chat, and we're joined by AFTN writer Felipe Vallejo to do it all this episode.

The Whitecaps finally played their first competitive game of 2025, and while the end result of the Champions Cup clash with Saprissa wasn't what they were hoping for down in Costa Rica, there were a lot of positives and and an away goal to take from the tie. We delve into the match, look ahead to the MLS season opener in Portland and hear from 'Caps coach Jesper Sorensen and Timbers boss Phil Neville.

As the new MLS season gets underway, we preview what is shaping up to be an interesting and unpredictable Western Conference, with some clear standout teams, some movers and shakers, and some teams that we just don't know what to expect from them yet this season. We cast our eyes over the Whitecaps' 14 Western rivals and bring you a special collaboration piece we did previewing Vancouver themselves on the Soccerwise podcast.

All of this, plus former Whitecaps captain Kendall Waston runs through our infamous food segments, Pop Will Eat Itself continue their residency as our Album of the Month and feature again in this episode's Wavelength, there's another Britpop song, and we pay tribute to the recently departed Jam drummer Rick Butler.

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

01.25: Intro
05.35: Whitecaps lose late to Saprissa
28.34: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive? Or Jam? Or Takeout food? - Kendall Waston edition
32.40: Portland preview with Phil Neville audio
48.10: MLS West Season Preview - Austin, Colorado, Dallas, Houston, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Minnesota
91.00: MLS West Season Preview - Portland, RSL, San Jose, San Diego, Seattle, SKC, St Louis
132.10: Michael's Whitecaps season preview on Soccerwise podcast
167.30: Wavelength - Pop Will Eat Itself - Reclaim The Game Funk FIFA