Episode 716 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Please Keep On The Track - Whitecaps draw in Costa Rica, Keith Costigan and Favian Renkel interviews, MLS season preview)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and CONCACAF Champions Cup chat and interviews, in the first of two podcasts we have for your listening pleasure this week. The Whitecaps kicked off their 2026 campaign in Costa Rica on Wednesday evening, in a goalless draw with Cartagines in Champions Cup action. We delve into the main talking points from and coming out of the match, look at how ready the 'Caps feel to begin their MLS season on Saturday, and preview that first match against Real Salt Lake with MLS Apple TV commentator Keith Costigan. We also chat with journalist Favian Renkel from Kickbase USA to look at the Whitecaps' chances this year, preview the MLS Western Conference, and look at the new MLS fantasy football app. All of this plus we move onto the letter H in our Canadian Soccer A to Z series and music-wise, Syd Barrett continues his residency as our Artist of the Month, Bogshed 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, this time around some non-qualifying heartbreak. Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.26: Intro - the good, the bad, and the ugly of football around the world 08.21: Canadian Soccer A to Z - H 23.20: Whitecaps start season off with goalless draw in Costa Rica 45.00: MLS Western Conference preview with Favian Renkel 99.20: Keith Costigan interview 123.50: Burning questions around the Whitecaps ahead of RSL opener 146.30: Wavelength - HEyap - I Am Human