Advertise on podcast: The Third Sub

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC and Vancouver Rise.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have gone through a bit of a rough stretch, at least by their lofty standards. Not only have they dropped some crucial points in MLS play, putting their perch atop MLS's Western Conference standings at risk, but they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship by CF Montréal, denying them the opportunity to complete a fivepeat in that tournament.  Alex and Sam look at what's gone wrong for the Whitecaps, who have uncharacteristically struggled defensively, opening up some questions about how they can fix those problems heading into a crucial stretch of games, which include some vital six-pointers.  Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, the Vancouver Rise are in a playoff spot in the NSL table, for now - but given how their season has gone, that can change. But with an easier run-in than the Halifax Tides, destiny is in their hands, as they look to return to the playoffs and defend their 2025 crown.  Elsewhere, Vancouver FC are locked in a fascinating battle for the playoffs in CPL action, as they try to fend off a late push from FC Supra du Québec to try and reach the postseason for the first time.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more. To begin, they dive into the latest from the Whitecaps, who have had quite the eventful week on the pitch in MLS play, as they first beat their rivals, the Seattle Sounders, 2-0 on the road to earn another Cascadia Cup crown, before falling 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo and then beating FC Dallas 5-0 in a pair of home games.  While the Dynamo loss still stings for the Whitecaps, who temporarily relinquished top spot in the Western Conference to Houston with that defeat, they'll feel optimistic that they're finally finding their best level again after the Dallas victory, one where they truly looked like the best version of themselves again - something that hasn't always been the case for them post-World Cup break. Alex and Sam look at why that was the case, with the insertion of a new-look front four, the return of some key players from injuries, and the continued development of some unsung heroes seemingly setting the Whitecaps up to catch fire over the next few weeks - starting with a match against Sporting Kansas City away this weekend.  After the Whitecaps chat, which also includes some of the latest news on the Whitecaps transfer market business, they finish the show with some chat about the other B.C. professional teams.  Firstly, they look at how the Vancouver Rise have found a bit of form again in Northern Super League play, thanks to some key defensive improvements, before looking at Vancouver FC's mini-slump, and Pacific's quest for a win in Canadian Premier League play to round off the show.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps and other BC soccer news.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have hit a bit of a slump after the World Cup break. Not only are they winless in seven games, but they bowed out rather unceremoniously of the Leagues Cup, too, finishing last among all MLS teams in that tournament. Is it time to panic about these Whitecaps, who have dealt with a key departure recently with the sale of Sebastian Berhalter to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough? Or is this just the sort of slump that all teams need to deal with at some point in the season? With some new signings on the way, and Jesper Sørensen's ability to develop players, Alex and Sam don't appear ready to worry quite yet, but things could change if this slump starts to hurt the Whitecaps in MLS play, where they still remain in a good position.  Because of that, a big week is ahead for them, as they get set to take on the Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas in a big trio of league matches, where they'll want to defend their position atop the Western Conference.   Otherwise, Alex and Sam take a look at the struggling form of the Vancouver Rise, who have continued to suffer from their championship hangover in an up and down Northern Super League campaign.  Lastly, they finish with a bit of Canadian Premier League talk, as they look at the red-hot Vancouver FC and their impressive form, before diving into what's went wrong for the struggling Pacific FC, who remain winless in CPL play in 2026.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC and Pacific FC.  To begin, they dive into the latest from the Whitecaps, who have finally returned to action after a lengthy break due to the World Cup. Despite that, they didn't show much rust in their first games back, as they handily dispatched Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship, in the exact sort of matchup they would've struggled in before.  They look at what the Whitecaps learned from those matches, before looking at the way the team is coming together ahead of a crucial stretch of play.  The first game of that stretch? A clash against the Chicago Fire, who recently welcomed the great Robert Lewandowski to their ranks, in what will be a great matchup between two of the top teams in MLS statistically - no better way for the Whitecaps to dive back into league play. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the province, Vancouver FC and Pacific FC have continued to roll on in Canadian Premier League action, but both teams are on vastly different paths right now, as Vancouver are starting to catch fire, while Pacific are struggling. They look at what's working for Vancouver, and where Pacific have come up short as they get set to begin the Terry Dunfield era.  Lastly, they take a look at the latest out of the Vancouver Rise, who have continued to run hot and cold this season, one that hasn't gone to plan for the defending league champions. Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Pacific FC, Vancouver FC, Vancouver Rise and more.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who are coming off a busy week, one that saw them take on the San Jose Earthquakes, FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo in an eight-day span.  They did pretty well to get four points out of those matches, which were all on the road, but given the high standard they've set for themselves, they'll also feel they could've gotten even more out of those matches. Yet, as has been the case for much of the season, their attack has had some question marks surrounding it, while their defence has continued to play a big role in the results they've picked up.  As a result, they'll look to avenge that set of results in their final MLS match before the World Cup break, which will see them take on San Diego FC on the road, in what is a rematch of the 2025 Western Conference final, with the Whitecaps aiming to pick up a big win to help maintain their lead atop the MLS Supporters' Shield standings.  Otherwise, there's been a lot of news to follow elsewhere in BC, with the big one being the departure of head coach James Merriman from Pacific FC. They dive into that news, before catching up with Vancouver FC's strange start to the season, in a CPL roundup section, before looking at the latest out of the Vancouver Rise, who are finally in the win column in NSL play.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have continued to roll along in MLS play.  Now, though, with their lengthy homestand now over, the rubber will hit the road for the Whitecaps, who have already begun the hefty road trip that awaits them on the schedule - a byproduct of BC Place hosting World Cup games.  They got the road trip off to a decent start, drawing the LA Galaxy 1-1, a result they'll live with after winning their last four home games, but they'll look to get back to winning ways as they get set for a pivotal top-of-the-table clash against the San Jose Earthquakes (and then a couple of tough away games in Texas).  Amid all of the happenings on the pitch, however, there's been a lot happening off it, as the future of the club continues to remain a big talking point within Vancouver and across MLS. After all of the latest updates, Alex and Sam dive into what they make of this whole situation, as the 'Save the Caps' movement starts to really take hold among Vancouver supporters - and the rest of MLS, as a whole.  Lastly, they finish the show with a round-up of local soccer talking points, including the Vancouver Rise's slow start, Vancouver FC's improved play, Pacific FC's struggles and the start of the 2026 Canadian Championship.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps and all other happenings related to soccer in British Columbia.  To begin, they take a look at how the Whitecaps have done as of late, as they've done well to recover from a frustrating loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS play by picking up two important victories against the Portland Timbers and New York City FC.  Now, the Whitecaps currently sit top of MLS's Supporters' Shield standings - and they arguably haven't even played their best football yet, even if the advanced numbers suggest that they've been one of the best teams in MLS so far this year.  Because of that, Alex and Sam share what they think this team could still be better at, while looking at what has worked so well for them so far.  Lastly, they take a look at what's ahead for the Whitecaps, who will take on Sporting Kansas City in their next matchup, before potentially welcoming back some key players from injury in the weeks afterwards.  To round off the show, they then chat about other local soccer happenings, as the Canadian Premier League is back, as is the BC Premier League, while the Northern Super League isn't far away from starting, either.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps.  To begin, they take a look at the latest results for the Whitecaps, who have been flying in MLS play, but came crashing down to earth in Concacaf Champions Cup action.  Starting with the CCC, that's where the Whitecaps unfortunately fell to their Cascadia rivals, the Seattle Sounders, 5-1 on aggregate in their Round of 16 tie. While that scoreline certainly flattered the Sounders, it was far from an undeserved result for the Seattle-based outfit, who showed their experience across the 180 minutes of action.  That's not to say that it's all bad for the Whitecaps after their CCC elimination, as it'll free up their schedule for the next few months, but it's a loss that will sting regardless, as they had eyes on another deep run in that competition after reaching the final in 2025.  Meanwhile, the Whitecaps will keep their focus on MLS play, where they've started the year with four wins, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one. While they never seemed to get going in CCC play, that's not been the case in MLS play, as they've gotten better with each match, leading to a 4-1 win vs. the Portland Timbers and a 6-0 win vs. Minnesota United in their last two league outings.  Can they have another big performance against the San Jose Earthquakes this upcoming weekend? It won't be easy, as the Earthquakes are also off to an excellent start to the MLS season, which should make this a fascinating matchup to watch unfold.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who are off to a busy start to the 2026 season, having already played four matches, with two of them coming in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and two others coming in MLS play.  So far, though, they've been close to perfect across those matches, of which they've won three and drawn one, with the one draw coming in the first leg of their first round CCC tie against C.S. Cartaginés.  Since then, they followed that up with a pair of wins over Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC in MLS play, along with a 2-0 win over Cartaginés in leg two of that aforementioned CCC tie, as they now sit tied for first in MLS, and into the Round of 16 of the CCC (where their Cascadian rivals, the Seattle Sounders, await).  Alex and Sam look back at what's stood out from this stretch for the Whitecaps, as they've shown good growth on the offensive side of the game, and look better than ever defensively - although it's worth noting that they're still awaiting much stiffer tests over the next few months.  For now, though, they'll look to continue their hot start to the 2026 season this weekend, when they take on another Cascadian rival, the Portland Timbers, in Portland, before returning home to take on the Sounders in the first leg of their Round of 16 CCC tie a few days later.  They look at what to expect in that Timbers match, in particular, especially knowing that the Sounders await a few days later.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of the start of their 2026 campaign.  To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have actually already started their 2026 season, as they took on C.S. Cartaginés in the first leg of their round one Concacaf Champions Cup tie this week. They look at what stood out from that match, which was a 0-0 draw, as they dive into what that result says about this Whitecaps team.  From there, they take a look at the Whitecaps' newest signing, Cheikh Sabaly, as they take a look at where the former Ligue 1 forward will fit into this team going forward.  Continuing the show, they then dive into a bigger picture conversation about the Whitecaps goals and ambitions for the 2026 season, helping set expectations for the team after such a successful 2025. Is it fair to expect progress? Or could the Whitecaps regress? They look at every possible outcome in that discussion.  Lastly, they take a look ahead to the Whitecaps first game of the MLS season, which will be against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, February 21st at BC Place, previewing what to expect from that match.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC! To begin, they dive into the latest out of the Whitecaps, who have made some signings as they continue to prepare for the 2026 season.  They look at what to expect from those signings, Oliver Larraz, Bruno Caicedo and Aziel Jackson, who appear to fill key needs for the Whitecaps - who don't look to be done making moves, either (especially after Ryan Gauld's injury).  After that, they take a quick look at how the Whitecaps preseason has gone so far, before diving into the big 'Caps news of the show - that their ongoing negotiations with BC Place aren't going too great. Could that spell disaster for a Whitecaps team that is hoping to soon build their own stadium? Things aren't so clear...  Lastly, they finish with some chat about the Canadian Premier League's new logo and League 1 rebrand, before previewing Vancouver FC's upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup tie against Liga MX giants Cruz Azul.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to dive into all things Vancouver Whitecaps.  To begin, they take a look back at the big match that occurred since they last recorded - the 2025 MLS Cup final, which pitted the Whitecaps against Inter Miami.  Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, they were unable to get past Miami on the day, falling 3-1, but despite that, it was an excellent showing from Vancouver, who were undone by individual mistakes and some finishing luck at the other end.  Given that they were up against an all-time Miami team, that makes the defeat easier to swallow, even if you can't help but wonder 'what if' about how close the Whitecaps were to MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield and Concacaf Champions Cup glory in 2025. Instead, for a fourth straight year, they'll finish as just Canadian Championship winners (although they're also the Western Conference Champions, for anyone keeping track), which doesn't quite feel right - and puts pressure on the Whitecaps to be even better in 2026.  After taking a look back at the final, Alex and Sam dive into the other news surrounding the Whitecaps, who have already transferred out two key players from the 2025 season in Canadian wingers Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson, who are heading to Norwich City and Austin FC, respectively. Along with the departures of some other key depth pieces, they look at the state of this Whitecaps squad heading into 2026, building a wishlist for the team's January transfer window.  Lastly, they look at the news that the Whitecaps and the City of Vancouver have entered a MOU for a potential new stadium, seeing what that means for the future of the team.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps as they continue their impressive run through the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs.  To begin, they dive into the big news of the week for the Whitecaps - they will play in their first-ever MLS Cup final this weekend, as they take on Inter Miami in a tasty matchup.   Before diving into that final, though, they look at how the Whitecaps got here, as they cruised past San Diego FC in the Western Conference final, becoming Western Conference champions for the first time thanks to a 3-1 victory in California.  They look at what worked for the Whitecaps in that game, as a cohesive team performance, and some standout individual showings proved to be vital on the day.  Now, they'll look to build off that in what promises to be a fascinating final against Miami, a side they know very well after their earlier encounter in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals back in April.  Can the Whitecaps repeat the magic they had in that tie, which they won 5-1 on aggregate? They'd love nothing more than that, but they face a much different Miami side this time around - although they've also improved since then, too.  Yet, that's the big thing that stands out when previewing this matchup - this is a battle of two top teams, which could set the table for one of the best finals in recent memory, given that these are two teams in the midst of two of the best seasons in MLS history.  To be fair, that sort of fanfare is to be expected in a matchup between Thomas Müller and Lionel Messi, given their history, but as Alex and Sam explore, there's a LOT more to this battle than the meeting of stars - and they share why they feel that is the case to close out the show.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps. To help them do that, however, they're joined by fellow Third Sub contributor, Kian Gadsby, who helps break down the Whitecaps' wild penalty shootout victory over LAFC in the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs. Now, a date with San Diego FC awaits in the Conference Finals, where the Whitecaps will look to book their spot in the MLS Cup final for the first time. While this is new territory for all involved with the Whitecaps, this is an especially unique opportunity for Kian, who began following the Whitecaps while living in the United Kingdom, giving him a different perspective on this team and journey. He shares what this whole experience has been like, having only come to Vancouver for the first time this fall, sharing how he's felt things have compared to what he's used to in the UK. In particular, he dives into some of his experiences at BC Place, including this LAFC match, sharing some interesting anecdotes about his experience. Lastly, to end the show, Alex and Sam empty the notebook from the LAFC game, before previewing what they expect in San Diego, as the Whitecaps battle to reach their first MLS Cup final. Can the Whitecaps keep this magical run going? Or will their journey be destined to end at the hands of an expansion side? They'll find out on Saturday. Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast! In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of their massive matchup against LAFC in the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.  The third straight postseason in which they'll face off against LAFC, it's worth noting that this Whitecaps team is quite different from the one that was eliminated in both years, however, and the regular season proved that.  Of course, though, things are a lot different in the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how the Whitecaps can build off what they showed in a dominant Round #1 win vs. FC Dallas, against an LAFC side that also cruised to victory in Round #1 against Austin FC.  While this has naturally been billed as a revenge opportunity for the Whitecaps and a matchup between superstars Thomas Müller and Heung-Min Son, it's worth noting that this game has a lot more layers to it - in fact, it has the potential to be one of the best-ever MLS playoff matches, period, and they dive into why that is the case.  From there, they take time to dive into the two teams and how they play, seeing where the game could be won and lost, given the significant stylistic differences between these two sides.  Lastly, they give a shout out to the Vancouver Rise, who won the inaugural NSL playoffs this past weekend, setting the tone for soccer in the city of Vancouver at a good time.  Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.