Episode 664 – The AFTN Soccer Show (The Kicks Keep You Down - Whitecaps tie Pumas, Mark Noonan and Marco Bustos interviews, CPL Season Preview)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Canadian Premier League chat and interviews.

It was late agony at BC Place for Vancouver Whitecaps as they conceded an away goal against Pumas UNAM with just three minutes remaining in a game they bossed. Still, they got a draw and it's all to play for next week in Mexico City as we pick over the bones of the first leg.

We've two feature interview for you in this episode. First up is a 25 minute chat with Canadian Premier League Commissioner Mark Noonan ahead of the 7th season of the CPL. We chat with Mark about the state of the league, expansion, the TV deal with TSN, capitalizing on the 2026 World Cup, and more.

Next up is former Whitecaps midfielder Marco Bustos who returns to the CPL for a second stint with Pacific FC. What brought him back, can they recapture the glory days of their championship season, how is a turned over Pacific side looking, and how was life in Sweden? We chat about all of this and more, plus we preview all eight CPL teams and look at how their offseason rebuilds have gone and their chances for the season ahead.

Music-wise feature in Wavelength, Camille Schmidt kicks off her residency as our Album of the Month, and there's a couple of Britpop songs from Nilon Bombers and Kingmaker.

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

01.27: Intro - US Open Cup drama
07.12: Whitecaps concede late in agonizing draw with Pumas
28.35: CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan interview
64.35: Pacific FC season preview
75.23: Marco Bustos interview
106.50: Vancouver FC season preview
128.20: Calgary FC season preview
135.53: Valour FC season preview
141.03: Forge FC season preview
149.06: York United season preview
157.35: Atletico Ottawa season preview
163.38: HFX Wanderers season preview
169.55: Wavelength - Babybird - Football