Wild Week: No Vlatko, Playoffs Over, Massive MLS Changes

For the Glory KC is back with the 153rd episode of the show!

Before you do anything else, can you take our Sporting KC and MLS fan survey? Thanks!

The main event, for the second straight week, are the KC Current who shook up the soccer world. First, Vlatko Andonovski is out as the coach but is promoted? It felt weird to us as well. Sheena and I talk through the sudden change and shed some light on the move and all the other front office changes around the Kansas City Current.

Then we can’t avoid the pain of discussing the premature end to the season for KC, as NJ/NY Gotham bounced them from the playoffs unexpectedly late in extra time. We break down the injuries, the decisions that led to those, the games highs and lows and everything in between.

And before the sadness ends, we have to discuss the departure of Hailie Mace from the Current. And another KC Current player is on the move too. Plus, the KC Current are up for nearly all the awards.

Sporting Kansas City were less in the news, but Major League Soccer on the whole made massive waves this week. First, they announced a schedule change to a “winter” schedule in 2027. In between there will be one more “regular” season, then a mini season they are calling a “sprint” to start 2027 before the full switch to the summer to spring move in July of 2027. We break down our feelings on the moves and try to capture each side of the equation (for more depth, check out my Op-Ed on the subject).

The league also confirmed big changes with the Apple TV deal, including the end of MLS Season Pass.

Beyond that, there are rumors of more changes, including the elimination of conferences and a new five division MLS setup. Sheena was very upset at my proposed divisions from nearly a year ago! And of course, MLS may change their playoffs again too.

Before we depart, Ike Opara and Sporting KC II made news too, and SKC even signed a player, Cielo Tschantret. If only every week of the offseason was as busy as this one! It’s a long episode, but maybe there won’t be anything that happens this week?

In the Digital Crawl, we hit on a few more topics, including:

• NWSL expanding to Atlanta and another city in 2028
• USMNT and US U-17 updates
• FIFA is raising ticket prices again for the World Cup
• Missouri State comes up short in the CUSA final

Here is a rundown of topics and start times:

• Vlatko is out as the KC Current coach – 9:37
• KC Current vs. Gotham playoff stunner – 34:30
• Hailie Mace departs KC – 1:09:27
• MLS “Winter” Schedule & other big changes – 1:23:20
• SKC Round-up – 2:01:48
• Digital Crawl – 2:07:12

Upcoming Games

• USMNT vs. Uruguay, Tues, Nov 18th at 6:00PM CST
• MLS playoffs resume Saturday 

As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they’ll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

You can find For the Glory KC wherever you get your podcasts. Search “For the Glory KC” and be sure to subscribe! Here are some helpful links:

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Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast. Five-star ratings and reviews will help others find the pod. On Spotify you can review on the mobile app by clicking the three dots. On Apple Podcasts, it’s much easier. If it’s not quite five-star worthy yet, feel free to let us know in the comments or on Twitter (@PlayFor90 or @ForTheGloryKC). Sheena essentially runs our FTGKC BlueSky, so that’s a great way to get her takes. 

You can follow us me on BlueSky (@ChadCSmith). Also, you can find the podcast on other social media platforms: @ForTheGloryKC on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook or you can email us at ForTheGloryKC at Gmail.

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