Northern Fútbol Podcast

It’s been a rough week for CF Montréal, who missed a glorious chance to win their first trophy since 2021, falling to Forge FC in the final of the Canadian Championship, marking the third straight season in which they were eliminated by Forge in that competition. Then, a few days later, they were eliminated from MLS Cup playoff contention, further compounding a rough week on and off the field. What’s next for Montréal? Is it time to worry about the club heading into a crucial few years? Ben, Brendan and Alex dive into a conversation about the Canadian MLS teams, the CPL and the NSL in a more domestic-focused episode of the Northern Futból podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadians continue to find success in the UEFA Champions League, and the only CanMNT player to win the UCL made quite a statement. Canada's Alphonso Davies scored a beautiful goal for Bayern Munich against Arsenal, in a game where he surprisingly featured as a winger. Is that a sign that Phonzie should now be used in a similar spot for Canada? Ben, Brendan and Alex chat about Davies’s attacking exploits, the fantastic MLS play of Luc De Fougerolles, and Forge FC’s historic Canadian Championship triumph over CF Montreal in a jam-packed show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a mixed return to action for the CanWNT, who drew and lost a pair of matches against Denmark in the October window, with a 1-1 comeback draw in Montréal before dropping a 4-3 rollercoaster in Toronto. We saw some big improvements from the Casey Stoney's Canada, especially in attack, but some familiar defensive woes cropped up once again, leaving Canada unable to pick up a win against a top 15 side. Ben, Brendan and Alex dive into the latest out of the CanWNT, before looking at the current state of the Canadian MLS teams, and having a quick chat about the Canadian Women’s U17 team at the U17 World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After coming under fire for his poor goalscoring form with Canada, Tani Oluwaseyi has taken that scrutiny to heart since returning to Villarreal, scoring a pair of huge Champions League goals in back-to-back UCL ties against Napoli and Liverpool. For a player who already had all sorts of questions swirling around him, it’s safe to say that those goals have opened up some questions about how Jesse Marsch might use Tani going forward. Some other CanMNT regulars, like Liam Millar, have been in great form lately, while some other prospective call-ups, including Marcus Caldeira and Simon Colyn, have also caught our eye. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangue-Ruzic dive into all things CanMNT players abroad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After opening the September/October window with a 1-0 win over Chile in Toronto, it was a mixed bag for the CanMNT as they beat Peru 2-0 in Montréal before falling 1-0 to their neighbours and rivals, the USA, in Minnesota. Canada struggled offensively against the USMNT in a way they haven’t really struggled under Jesse Marsch, leading to some frustrations. Alex Gangué-Ruzic and Ben Steiner dive into their takeaways from this window, seeing what we learned about this Canadian team, and what this means for them as they now get set for some crucial Concacaf matches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada kicked off the September/October window on a high note, defeating Chile 1-0 in Toronto thanks to a goal from the in-form Jonathan David. Despite the win, some were left wanting more out of the CanMNT, who were unable to capitalize being up a player, and the last 40 minutes up two. For a team struggling to score goals, that felt like a missed opportunity to build confidence in front of goal. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangué-Ruzic break down everything that stood out from the Chile match, before looking ahead to what’s next for this Canadian team as they get set for Peru in Montréal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The road towards the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup continues for the CanWNT, who are getting set for a crucial camp next month. Canada will take on Denmark in a pair of friendlies, in their first matches on home soil in over a year. Alex and Ben dive into their takeaways from Casey Stoney's squad, before taking a look at how Canada’s U20 team fared in their U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to North Korea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bad luck on the injury front has continued for the CanMNT. Alfie Jones and Jeevan Badwal have had to withdraw due to minor injuries, before Derek Cornelius suffered a serious injury in Canada training this week. For a Canadian side that has dealt with a string of injuries over the last two years, that’s nothing they haven’t dealt with before, but they’ll hope it doesn’t hurt a team already missing key players. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangué-Ruzic dive into everything CanMNT as they preview Saturday's test against Chile at BMO Field in Toronto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a slow start to the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup for Canada’s U20 team, things have picked up for them in a BIG way, as they defeated France 3-1 in the Round of 16 thanks to a hat trick from Kaylee Hunter. Ben Steiner and Alex Gangué-Ruzic look at how Canada were able to respond to a slow start to the tournament in a big way in the knockout rounds (which they barely qualified for!), before looking at what they can still achieve at this World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The journey towards the 2030 World Cup is about to begin for the CanMNT, as they’re getting set for their first international window after this summer’s World Cup. As a result, they named their 26-man squad for that window, in which they’ll play Chile, Peru and the United States in a trio of friendlies - and they’ve called in some fascinating names for those matches. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangue-Ruzic dive into everything you need to know about the squad, one that features both some brand new faces and the return of some key veterans, along with some other surprise inclusions. From potential positional battles to the integration of a new generation of players, they look at all of the challenges Jesse Marsch will face with this squad later this month in this episode of the Northern Futból podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the 3 Canadian teams, they all enter this stretch with different aspirations. For the Vancouver Whitecaps, their goal is simple - finish as high up the Supporters’ Shield standings as possible and win an MLS Cup, as they look to avenge a 2025 season where they were close to winning it all but left short of winning some of the biggest prizes on offer. Meanwhile, Toronto FC has found some stability after some recent signings, although wins have been a bit more elusive than hoped - as for CF Montréal, their focus might quickly turn to the Canadian Championship with their playoff hopes dwindling Ben, Brendan and Alex chat about that, and other Canadian domestic club matters, in this episode of the Northern Fútbol Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cyle Larin has picked up where he left off with Southampton, as he’s been on fire to start this season. Clearly, the decision to make his move permanent this summer has been great for all parties. Jesse Marsch and the CanMNT will hope Larin can replicate this form for Canada. Villarreal's Canadian trio, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwasyi and Nathan Saliba, started together in the UEFA Champions League and are finding their feet in Spain. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop, and Alex Gangue-Ruzic dive into all the Canadians playing abroad and how they’ll help the CanMNT in this upcoming window. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Later transfer windows in Saudi Arabia and MLS have opened the door for at least a few Canadian defenders to make late summer moves. Joel Waterman's trade to Portland gives the Timbers another CanMNT international in Portlanada. Derek Cornelius didn't get his move to Spain, but could still move to Saudi. And Canada get set to begin what could be an incredible U20 Women's World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a great summer of moves for CanMNT players with a few Canadians making some big last-minute moves. Safe to say that the World Cup effect has continued to benefit this Canada team in a big way. From Jonathan David’s loan to Atlético Madrid, to Niko Sigur signing with Toulouse FC and Liam Millar’s loan to Birmingham City, Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangue-Ruzic dive into all of the latest transfers before breaking down their favourite moves of the window. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All of the top European leagues are back which is exciting news after a busy summer of CanMNT transfers. Liam Millar made his Premier League debut, Alphonso Davies has won yet another trophy, and Luc De Fougerolles took a big step towards staying with Fulham this season. And, the MLS season remains in full swing, with several Canadian internationals impressing weekly. Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangue-Ruzic dive into everything Canadians Abroad, as well as the three Canadian MLS teams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A busy summer of Canadian transfers continued this week, as La Liga side Villarreal CF signed Canada midfielder Nathan Saliba from RSC Anderlecht. That’s great news for Canadians, who already see Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi in action every week at Villarreal. Now three Canadians play for the Yellow Submarine… or should we now say the Red Submarine? Ben Steiner, Brendan Dunlop and Alex Gangue-Ruzic share their thoughts on Saliba’s transfers, as well as some other Canadian transfer news, including Jayden Nelson’s surprise move to the EFL Championship, Stephen Eustáquio’s surprising links to Swansea and Jonathan David’s future, among other topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a shock transfer, CanMNT striker Promise David joined English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise this week, in what is a massive move for David, Brighton and fans of the CanMNT. After 2 enormously successful years in Belgium, where he helped USG snap a lengthy title drought and make their UEFA Champions League debut, it was rumoured that David would make a move of some sort this summer, although many didn’t expect a move of this magnitude to materialize. Ben, Brendan and Alex are back together and dive into what stands out about this move, one that makes David the latest Canadian to play in the Premier League, before finishing the show with some other CanMNT transfer chatter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a shock signing, CF Montréal have signed Chilean legend Alexis Sánchez to a Designated Player contract, as they made a big money move to bolster a team looking for more star power. Could this move work out for a Montréal team needing a lot more reinforcements? It’s too easy to say, but it’s certainly a signal of ambition from a team who could use a spark like this Alex and Ben dive into that move, as well as other Canadian MLS news and a CanWNT update, in this episode of the Northern Futból Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the start of the European club season, which means the end of the transfer window is just around the corner. That’s worth noting from a CanMNT perspective, as several players could be set to make moves over the coming days and weeks, including Alistair Johnston, Niko Sigur and Jonathan David. Alex and Ben dive into what they think of those potential moves and how they can help the CanMNT, as well as some more chat on the CanMNT’s U20 team, in this episode of the Northern Futból Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the 2026 World Cup is over, the injury troubles have continued for the CanMNT, as Ali Ahmed is the latest to suffer a major injury, as he hurt his knee in a Norwich City friendly. Not all is bad news on the rest of the CanMNT front, however, as Alistair Johnston and Daniel Jebbison look to be potentially on the move, while the likes of Owen Goodman, Jamie Knight-Lebel and others have secured key transfers in recent weeks. And Canada is set to play a friendly against the US this fall, too! Alex and Ben dive into all of that, and more, in this episode of the Northern Futból Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.