Afterburn Soccer Show
Welcome to the Afterburn Soccer Show - Preseason Part 2 - as we cover FC Dallas, North Texas Soccer Club, Major League Soccer and more.
Joined tonight by our regular friends - Chris Winters who covers North Texas SC for 3rd Degree - rumor tracker Jose Carmona and our season ticket hero Colin Coovert.
Tonight, we also welcome special guest Favian Renkel - writer, journalist, analyst with Kickbase USA as well as with the Athletic and other fine outlets. Welcome, Favian!
Favian made the decision to get on as many podcasts ahead of the 2026 Major League Soccer season - what number podcast are we?
Tell us a little bit about Kickbase.
Big news:
FC Dallas announced today that Maarten Paes, long time goalkeeper with over 100+ appearances the team, has been transfered to Ajax, a rumor that built up steam and was finalized today. A bittersweet transfer for a fan favorite who was a good teammate, loved Dallas, and proved his quality time and time again… and yet we have to be happy for him as her returns to Europe.
In the meanwhile, the team has already lined up competition for presumptive no. 1 Michael Collodi by trading for Jonathan Sirois from Montreal - a guy who brings experience - 89 starts in MLS and still relatively young at 24 years of age.
Let’s do reactions. Thoughts on this business for FC Dallas?
Preseason Competition:
FC Dallas is undefeated in preseason, first beating Portomonense and claiming their first “hardware” of the year with an Atlantic Cup win over Brondby U19s and Real Salt Lake. Lots of guys got minutes in this one - you saw young and old… and really, some attractive soccer out there.
The main thread is - FC Dallas is really locking in on this 3-5-2, this identity, and it looks good. That is a huge shift from a year ago.
The other piece is to see young draft picks once again get an opportunity - including Ricky Louis and Nicholas Simmonds. Louis, in particular, is making a case for minutes. Should fans temper their expectations for these youngsters?
Favian: From the outside looking in at FC Dallas, their moves, their 2025 campaign which ended pretty decently considering the drama of Lucho Acosta, where do you rate this team ahead of a big season? Can this squad compete? Are they still lacking something?
Exodus?
Across Major League Soccer, we are seeing movement of some big names - some young names - Obed Vargas from Seattle to Atletico Madrid. And now Bouanga potentially on his way out Fluminense. And we have a team in Sporting Kansas City who barely have a team signed. Is this a one team league with Inter Miami adding firepower and other teams trying to figure out how to stay competitive?
What is FC Dallas missing?
North Texas SC - Lineup. Where is this team at this point?
