{"id":363403,"date":"2025-12-23T08:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/363403\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T08:21:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:21:07","slug":"episode-707-the-aftn-soccer-show-2025-christmas-special-axel-schuster-talks-all-things-whitecaps-a-jesper-sorensen-christmas-our-whitecaps-awards-festive-fun-with-the","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/363403\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 707 \u2013 The AFTN Soccer Show (2025 Christmas Special \u2013 Axel Schuster talks all things Whitecaps, a Jesper Sorensen Christmas, our Whitecaps awards, Festive Fun with the \u2018Caps)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer chat, and it\u2019s our 2025 Christmas special so there\u2019s lots of added festive fun, cheer, music, and games along the way.<\/p>\n

Even with Christmas approaching the news didn\u2019t let up in Whitecapsland as Jayden Nelson was traded to Austin, Yohei Takaoka re-signed with the club, and there were some fresh additions to the roster from WFC2 and the MLS SuperDraft. We delve into all of the week\u2019s big talking points and we get thoughts on all of them from Whitecaps GM and Sporting Director Axel Schuster.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also finally time to hand out our AFTN Whitecaps awards for the year. What were the best game and best goal? Who were the best players and the ones to watch across the Whitecaps teams at all levels? What was the best save of the year? We chat about all of those and more! Let us know if you agree!<\/p>\n

Our Christmas chats this year sees us find out what the festive period is like in the Jesper Sorensen, Emmanuel Sabbi, Tate Johnson, and Jayden Nelson households, and we talk Whitecaps Secret Santa and Christmas dinner invites with Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter.<\/p>\n

Music-wise, it\u2019s December, so you know what that means \u2013 the return of AFTN\u2019s Festive Fifteen! Our countdown of our favourite tracks of the year continues with the songs at positions 4 to 6, plus we have a Christmas themed football song in Wavelength and our favourite Christmas song of the year rounds off the show.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:<\/p>\n

01.31: Intro \u2013 ready for Christmas? Let us know what football gifts you get
11.10: A Jesper S\u00f8rensen Christmas
18.05: Whitecaps News \u2013 Takaoka re-signs, Nelson traded, thoughts of Axel
45.15: Whitecaps Secret Santa \u2013 Brian White
48.30: 2025 Festive Fifteen \u2013 #6 Pulp \u2013 Spike Island
55.28: Christmas Countdown \u2013 round one
61.55: Whitecaps add two from WFC2 to a stacked defence (+ thoughts from Axel)
70.50: Whitecaps add four in MLS draft (+ thoughts from Axel)
83.23: A Tate Johnson Christmas
86.45: Axel Schuster talks more on Whitecaps\u2019 stadium issues
94.00: Whitecaps will play 2026 Leagues Cup \u2013 Axel explains it\u2019s to reward players
101.45: Whitecaps Secret Santa \u2013 Sebastian Berhalter
105.20: 2025 Festive Fifteen \u2013 #5 Strange Neighbors \u2013 Hate Me Less
109.15: Christmas Countdown \u2013 round two
114.30: AFTN 2025 Whitecaps awards \u2013 Player, Young Player, WFC2, Academy Player of the Year
131.45: An Emmanuel Sabbi Christmas
133.25: AFTN 2025 Whitecaps awards \u2013 Best Addition, Unsung Hero, One to Watch
145.40: 2025 Festive Fifteen \u2013 #4 Camille Schmidt \u2013 Cult In Denver
148.55: Christmas Countdown \u2013 round three
154.10: AFTN 2025 Whitecaps awards \u2013 Game, Goal, and Save of the Year
169.50: A Jayden Nelson Christmas
171.27: AFTN 2025 Whitecaps awards \u2013 Haircut, International Performance, Quote, and Awayday of the Year
181.30: Wavelength \u2013 Lions Out Loud \u2013 Christmas Tree Formation
183.51: A Christmas Goodbye and The Dead Milkmen<\/p>\n

You can download and\/or listen to this, and all previous, episodes of the podcast on the following services:<\/p>\n

Direct Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Apple podcasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Spotify<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

Amazon Music<\/a><\/p>\n

iHeart Radio<\/a><\/p>\n

Podbean<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Podchaser<\/a><\/p>\n

CiTR Radio Show Page<\/a><\/p>\n

Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

Tags: Yohei Takaoka<\/a>, there’s still time<\/a>, AFTN Awards<\/a>, 2026<\/a>, awards<\/a>, Champions Cup<\/a>, Transfers<\/a>, Strange Neighbors<\/a>, new stadium<\/a>, BC Place<\/a>, Tate Johnson<\/a>, Vancouver Whitecaps<\/a>, Lions Out Loud<\/a>, Axel Schuster<\/a>, canada<\/a>, Jesper Sorensen<\/a>, Mihail Gherasimencov<\/a>, Christmas Countdown<\/a>, Concacaf<\/a>, Jayden Nelson<\/a>, wfc2<\/a>, Nikola Djordjevic<\/a>, Austin FC<\/a>, major league soccer<\/a>, Emmanuel Sabbi<\/a>, Christmas<\/a>, Brian White<\/a>, MLS<\/a>, Camille Schmidt<\/a>, Wavelength<\/a>, Leagues Cup<\/a>, offseason<\/a>, city of vancouver<\/a>, Christmas special<\/a>, Sebastian Berhalter<\/a>, podcast<\/a>, Pulp<\/a>, transfer rumours<\/a>, Festive Fifteen<\/a>, stadium<\/a>, MOU<\/a>, AFTN Soccer Show<\/a>, Festive 15<\/a>, Superdraft<\/a>, Hastings Park<\/a>, VWFC<\/a>
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