Episode 701 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Into The White - LAFC preview, Brian White, Sarita Patel, MLS schedule change, World Cup 2026)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and World Cup chat and interviews. The long wait is almost over for the big MLS Western Conference semi-final between the Whitecaps and LAFC. We set the scene for the match-up and hear thoughts from Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen, Whitecaps centre-back Tristan Blackmon, MLS studio analyst Dax McCarty, and MLS match analyst Maurice Edu about the game and the playoff rivalry. We also sit down for a chat with a man who's been through these games for the last two years and is back fit and ready to go in this one, Whitecaps striker Brian White. Our feature interview this episode is with Whitecaps club reporter Sarita Patel. We chat with Sarita about her broadcasting journey so far, her time in Vancouver, and the wild year that 2025 has been, with hopefully more to come! In a monumental week for the league, we look at the MLS schedule change, the move to a fall to spring season, and the changes to MLS' Apple TV deal. Plus we talk World Cup 2026 qualifiers, more anger-inducing ticket releases, and Canada crashing out of the U17 World Cup in an epic, but ugly, penalty shootout. Music-wise, Camper van Beethoven continue their residency as our Album of the Month, we've two Britpop songs from Powder and Soda, and a Siberian post punk techno band feature in Wavelength. Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.27: Intro - Rise win NSL championship, SFU women threepeat 11.35: MLS schedule change official and full of benefits 36.15: MLS and Apple TV deal tweak better for all concerned 44.25: Whitecaps vs LAFC preview with Sorensen and Blackmon 64.05: Brian White interview 73.35: MLS analysts Dax McCarty and Maurice Edu talk Whitecaps vs LAFC 84.50: More Whitecaps vs LAFC chat 100.00: Interview with Whitecaps club reporter Sarita Patel 137.10: Exciting weekend of World Cup qualifiers 149.55: The 2026 World Cup ticket farce seemingly getting worse 157.37: Canada crash out of U17 World Cup in ugly shootout loss 167.00: Wavelength - Kapitalifting 38 - War Is Not A Football Match