Episode 678 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Attracted By Your Attraction - Canada's Gold Cup, Club World Cup, Tate Johnson, Whitecaps vs San Diego)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, FIFA Club World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Canadian national team chat and interviews.

Canada is flying high at the 2025 Gold Cup, at least on the pitch with wins over Honduras and Curacao. Off it, head coach Jesse Marsch has been ruffling CONCACAF feathers and was under investigation over incidents in Vancouver last week. We delve into the two victories, the standout performers, and the drama off the pitch.

The FIFA Club World Cup is coming to the end of its group stage, and while the much maligned tournament has drawn a lot of criticism, the footballing fare on offer has been first class and very entertaining. We look at the tournament so far and see what lessons could and should be learned ahead of hosting next year's actual World Cup here in North America.

The Whitecaps have had much needed and well-deserved time off after a crazy first half of their season. They're going to be back on the pitch on Wednesday to take on San Diego in what is now a battle of the top two teams in the MLS West. Who saw that coming when we saw the schedule?! We look ahead to that match up and discuss the first half of the 'Caps season with head coach Jesper Sorensen, captain Ranko Veselinovic, and forward Emmanuel Sabbi. Plus we chat with rookie standout Tate Johnson about his stellar first six months as a Whitecap, his first international experience with a US national team, riding camels in Cairo, and he helps launch our new food section as we talk milkshakes!

All of this plus music-wise, a solo Pete Shelley continues his residency as our Album of the Month, we've a Britpop song from Whiteout, and a summer kick-off classic from Arab Strap features in Wavelength.

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

01.26: Intro - Groundhopping Germans
14.10: Club World Cup continues to entertain despite its flaws
36.33: What countries would you like in Vancouver & Seattle for 2026 World Cup?
44.10: What lessons can 2026 organizers learn from the Club World Cup?
64.35: Canada v Honduras - did they peak too soon?
71.48: Jesse Marsch vs CONCACAF - what's going on?
84.35: Curacao unlucky to get just a point against Canada
97.35: International 'Caps and Ali Ahmed's injury
108.15: Tate Johnson interview
117.20: Milkshake Man - Tate Johnson
120.07: Whitecaps face San Diego in top of the MLS West clash
129.05: Emmanuel Sabbi talks the Whitecaps season so far
137.30: Wavelength - Arab Strap - The First Big Weekend