Episode 694 – The AFTN Soccer Show (A Little Charm and a Lot of Style - Ryan Gauld interview, Whitecaps roll on, World Cup tickets and kick off times)

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

The Whitecaps roll on, lifting their fourth-straight Voyageurs Cup and controlling their own fate in the race to be best in the MLS West. We chat about the 'Caps wins over Vancouver FC and San Jose Earthquakes and what the season run-in looks for the team and those around them. Plus we look at the celebratory night for BC Soccer that was the Canadian Championship final and ponder what next year's tournament might look like in a crowded footballing schedule.

For the 'Caps a big boost to their postseason aspirations is having captain Ryan Gauld back on the pitch. We catch up with the talismanic Scot for an in-depth interview to talk about his return from injury, what the last few months have been like on the sidelines, the success of the team this season and what may be to come, impending fatherhood, and a little bit on the Scottish national team in a week of key World Cup qualifiers for them.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than nine months away and as the excitement builds, so does the annoyance when it comes to ticket prices and availability. We look at what it will cost to go to a game in Vancouver, what we've learned from the initial batch of tickets going on sale, and whether the real fans will be priced out. Plus we talk kick off times. Is Vancouver set for a slate of afternoon matches to save people baking elsewhere?

Music-wise, Kneecap kick off their residency as our Album of the Month, we've Britpop songs from The Bluetones and Northern Uproar, and My Brother Woody return to Wavelength with a song about the 1994 World Cup and the clash between Ireland's John Aldridge and the man in the yellow hat.

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

01.30: Intro
03.55: Whitecaps' Canadian Championship fourpeat, trophy presentation, and what will the 2026 tournament look like?
52.50: The race to be best in MLS West
58.55: Whitecaps crush San Jose as Berhalter shines
84.10: Ryan Gauld interview
109.45: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive? - Rayan Elloumi
115.45: 2026 World Cup kick off times being reviewed
125.55: World Cup tickets set to price out your average fan
159.10: Wavelength - My Brother Woody - Aldo vs Yellow Hat