A dramatic finish to the final international window before the World Cup, including U.S. disappointment, PKs deciding final qualifiers, Italy despondence, and Bosnia glory from checks notes…a Wisconsin native? Gass is joined by Chicago Stars midfielder Brianna Pinto and MLS Reporter Michele Giannone to dive into the formation, lineup choices and performance by USMNT against Portugal and how fans should feel heading into the World Cup. Then they discuss the crazy endings for the last few qualifying games including Italy failing to qualify for their third straight World Cup, best things from the last week, and how to pick a secondary team to root on this summer.

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3:13 Breaking Down the USMNT Performance

15:36 What Does Success Look Like for the U.S. this World Cup?

30:06 Italy Fails to Qualify Again for the World Cup

41:38 Best Things We've Seen this Week

52:47 Run Down of the Qualifiers

57:51 Picking Your 2nd World Cup Team

01:10:05 - Check-In with Brianna and Close

Susannah is joined by TacticsFreeZone writer and Committee member Matt Doyle on today’s gathering of the Committee! Matt gives an update to his new life as a freelancer since his last appearance on the show. We look at results over the weekend including victories for Committee members Brianna Pinto and Walker Zimmerman. Many blowouts across MLS and Matt dives into the phenomenon. Antoine Griezmann's reported move to Orlando City is finally happening. UEFA playoffs for the final World Cup spots are on the horizon. Reactions to the latest USMNT rosters and what we can take from the upcoming friendlies. Matt talks about his two favorite World Cup memories that he holds close to his heart. Sooz continues fleshing out the 2nd Team Rooting Guide and Matt gives us two items to consider when following a 2nd team. The show closes out with a Reality TV recap and March Madness chat, with Sooz and Matt’s respective Illinois Fighting Illini and UConn Huskies making noise in the Men’s March Madness tournament.

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Subscribe to TacticsFreeZone here: tacticsfreezone.ghost.io

02:18 - Check-In with Doyle

06:58 - Notable Results from The Weekend

29:18 - UEFA Playoffs

39:10 - USMNT Roster Reaction and Preview

47:56 - Doyle’s Favorite World Cup Moments

52:01 - 2nd Team Rooting Guide

58:33 - Reality TV and March Madness Recap

Susannah is joined by Toronto FC and USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman for his debut as a member of Kickback Committee! The two look back on when they first met in 2018 before diving into recent events in the soccer world over the past week. Walker talks about his move to Toronto FC, the impact on his family, his community in Nashville and adjusting to life in a colder-climate city. Sooz and Walker react to your voicemails! With the World Cup incoming, we help decide what factors should be considered for picking a 2nd team to root for. The Reality TV recap returns with Walker’s love and fandom of Survivor and The Traitors becoming a perfect fit for Kickback Committee.

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01:51 - when Sooz met Walker

06:24 - News in the Soccer World

19:47 - Walker’s love-hate relationship with the US Open Cup

25:34 - Catching up with Walker Zimmerman

35:24 - Voicemails

49:47 - Favorite World Cup Memory and Helping Pick a 2nd World Cup Team

58:41 - Reality TV Recap: Survivor and The Traitors

01:05:55 - Closer

We bring you another Open Mic (Open Mike?) session this week! Susannah is joined by Dan LeBatard Show Host and Meadowlark Media Producer, Mike Ryan Ruiz. The duo discuss when they first met and worked together at Inter Miami’s inaugural match for ESPN. Sooz goes into Mike’s life journeys. His working career that lead him to Meadowlark and his soccer history with the USMNT, Chelsea F.C. and Inter Miami. Mike revisits his recent comments after Inter Miami’s visit to the White House and internalizing the weaving of Soccer and U.S. Politics in the current moment. His World Cup 2026 plans, Post-World Cup plans and a quick fire question session before we close out the show.

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Mike Ryan Ruiz: instagram.com/michaelryanruiz

Meadowlark Media: meadowlark-media.com

03:48 - Intro with Mike Ryan Ruiz

06:47 - Working together at ESPN for Inter Miami’s first match

08:31 - Diving into the journey of Mike’s career

15:08 - Mike’s Soccer Fandom

19:52 - Mike’s relationship with Inter Miami as a fan

27:23 - The future of Inter Miami, Post-Messi

29:52 - Sports and Politics in 2026 after Inter Miami’s White House Visit

37:57 - Watching the 2026 World Cup with Everything Going On

44:46 - Post-World Cup plans on following Soccer

48:09 - Quick Fire Questions Round

51:50 - Close

With NWSL’s kickoff on the horizon, Susannah is joined this week by Jordan Angeli, who is ready to party with Denver Summit’s inaugural game incoming. The pair talk recent events in the soccer world, including the infamous fight between Cruzeiro and Atlético Miniero that resulted in TWENTY-THREE red cards handed out. This is where we learn Jordan received two red cards in her career. The USWNT wins another SheBelieves Cup and the pair discuss who increased their stock with Emma Hayes as we get closer to 2027. NWSL kicks off this weekend and the pair assess which teams look primed for a title run, who may surprise and who may painfully disappoint. The debut of Denver Summit and Boston Legacy this year spurs a discussion on everyone’s favorite inaugural games across soccer they’ve experienced. Jordan talks about the weight and impact of Denver Summit’s debut on her life. We round out the show with our Reality TV recap, talking the latest on The Traitors and Love Is Blind. Shoutout to the Columbus Crew!

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00:37 - Intro

04:33 - Recent Events in Soccer

12:47 - USWNT wins SheBelieves Cup and The 99ers Film

26:40 - NWSL Kickoff Preview and Denver Summit Debut

40:35 - Mascots!

44:11 - Favorite Debuts

57:11 - Reality TV Round Up

01:05:19 - Close

Susannah is joined this week by Chicago Stars midfielder and newly settled Chicago resident, Brianna Pinto for this week’s episode of Kickback Committee. We have MAJOR TRANSFER NEWS for Kickback Soccer Media to announce. We go over some of our favorite recent storylines in soccer including Bodø/Glimt’s upset over Inter Milan in the UCL. Our favorite underdog stories in soccer's past. Orlando City’s collapse over Inter Miami. Brianna updates on her preseason training with the Chicago Stars, looking forward to their season opener vs. Angel City and her settling down in Chicago as the weather warms. Touchline Tailor returns as the duo review the 2026 NWSL Kits with their Top 3 and Bottom 3 selections. We round out the week with a Reality TV Recap, touching base on Love Is Blind and NWSL: The Final Third.

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02:56 - MAJOR KICKBACK SOCCER MEDIA TRANSFER NEWS

05:17 - Favorite Storylines in Soccer

21:43 - Catching up with Brianna in Stars Preseason and settling in Chicago

38:32 - Touchline Tailor

53:21 - Reality TV Check-In

Susannah is joined this week by newly minted Kickback Soccer Media member and TacticsFreeZone newsletter writer, Matt Doyle for this week’s show. With MLS’s 2026 opening weekend finally here, the duo discuss notable results from the past weekend including LAFC’s decisive victory over Inter Miami and RBNY playing the kids to defeat Orlando City. Josh Sargeant’s impending transfer to Toronto FC is confirmed during recording (Thanks, Tommy Scoops!). A new segment is debuted, Sip or Swipe, where the crew run down which soccer figures they would sit to have a couple of drinks with (and which ones they would not). Stay for Doyle’s A+ impression of Bruce Arena. Our newly introduced voicemail line attracted a number of callers over the weekend with various forms of joy, despair and reflection among fans after Match Day 1. Sooz and Doyle close out the show chatting about the end of the 2026 Winter Olympics including the exhibition gala and the US men’s hockey victory over Canada in the gold medal game.

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Subscribe to TacticsFreeZone: tacticsfreezone.ghost.io

01:17 - Doyle joins the Committee and talks about his first weekend as an Independent writer

09:21 - Biggest Storylines from MLS Opening Weekend

24:53 - Sip or Swipe?

39:24 - We listen to your Voicemails

55:08 - Olympics Recap

58:53 - Close

Welcome to our first episode of Open Mic! Susannah is joined today by her friend, former coworker and co-host of The Sports Gossip Show, Charlotte Wilder. Sooz and Charlotte recollect when they first met at SB Nation (Thanks Mitch Trubisky!). Charlotte goes into her sports origin story, career and lead-up to the formation of The Sports Gossip Show. The success of the show among Women and especially Men. The Beckham family drama and its connective tissue to powerful figures. Charlotte’s soccer fandom, World Cup 2026 and the arrival of Boston Legacy to the NWSL.

Charlotte Wilder: instagram.com/thewilderthings

The Sports Gossip Show: sportsgossipshow.com

Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter at: kickbacksoccer.com

03:38 - When they first met

06:30 - Charlotte’s Sports origin story

11:26 - How she found up into Sports Media

16:13 - Creating of The Sports Gossip Show

22:23 - Men being fans and “Socially Acceptable Gossip”

25:58 - The Beckham Family Drama

34:23- World Cup 2026

39:12 - Impacts of the World Cup and Boston Legacy’s first season

43:37 - 5 Quick Fire Questions