Episode 711 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Sitting On Doorsteps, Playing Games)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC, and Canadian men's national team chat. The preseason is underway for the Whitecaps. They've headed off to Marbella after another week of Tristan Blackmon brouhaha, with the addition of a new player and murmurs of another Peruvian starlet on the way. We delve into all the main talking points of the week in Whitecapsland, hear some thoughts from CEO Axel Schuster, and look at the 2026 Canadian Championship draw and the path ahead for an unprecedented Whitecaps fivepeat. On the international stage, Whitecap Ralph Priso shone at Camp Poutine for Canada against Guatemala. What does this mean for his World Cup chances and who else put themselves in the mix? We hear some thoughts from Jesse Marsch on Priso and also chat about the AFCON final shenanigans and the insane demand for World Cup tickets. All of this plus we talk Vancouver FC coaching appointments, SixFive's response and counterclaim to former coach Afshin Ghotbi's court proceedings, move onto the letter C in our Canadian Soccer A to Z series, and music-wise, Television Personalities continue their residency as our Artists of the Month, The Soup Dragons are the latest band to feature in our 40th anniversary tribute year to the C86 movement, and we have another World Cup themed song in Wavelength. Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.27: Intro - AFCON drama, Copa Del Rey shock, World Cup ticket requests 24.45: Hot Chocolate Boy - Kafkas 29.25: Tristan Blackmon remains a Whitecap despite US media reports 56.15: Whitecaps News of the Week - Larraz arrives, another Peruvian incoming?, WFC2 coach search 68.25: Whitecaps' Canadian Championship fivepeat path revealed 88.05: Nash and Daso confirmed as Vancouver FC management team 96.05: SixFive file Ghotbi court response and counterclaim 118.00: Canadian Soccer A to Z - C 126.05: Priso impresses at Camp Poutine 151.30: Wavelength - Neil Brophy - Football Rock and Roll