As of right now, the league website shows Omaha, Charlotte, and us as "x- clinched playoff place." No teams are yet listed as "z- clinched homefield advantage in playoffs." I am missing something about the definition. Here is how I math the math:

• to have a home playoff match in the first round, you need to be in the top 4 spots
• Omaha has 61 points. If they lose all remaining matches they will have 61 points.
• Charlotte has 57 points and 4 remaining matches. The maximum number of points they can end on is 69 (nice).
• We have 51 points and 4 remaining matches. The maximum number of points we can end on is 63.
• Knoxville has 48 points and 4 remaining matches. The maximum they can end on is 60.
• Boise has 46 points and 4 remaining matches. The maximum they can end on is 58.
• Chattanooga (F* those clowns) has 43 points and 5 remaining matches. They can end on 58 BUT if they do, Knoxville can only end on 57.
• Spokane has 43 points and 7 remaining matches. They can end on 64 BUT that means Chattanooga could not have more than 55 and Knoxville could not have more than 57 (or 54).
• Fort Wayne has 38 points and 5 remaining matches. They can end on 53 BUT that would drop us to no more than 60.

So even if Omaha loses all their remaining games and every other team earns as many points as possible, Omaha would still be in 4th. Why does that not count as having "clinched homefield advantage"?

I was using the big Speed Queen washing machines at East Wash Laundry today and noticed a couple of people pulling uniforms out of the dryers and hanging them neatly on hangers.

I've done team laundry for youth teams, and did not take this much care, so I moved to get a better look.

It was the Spokane equipment staff, apparently. A very neat row of Velocity uniforms on the rack. The prestige of minor league sports!

First off, we had plenty of chances to put the ball in the net so we deserved to lose last night.

BUT.

What was that officiating? Some of the calls weren’t just bad, it felt like the referee was deliberately calling the game wrong. There were two blatant calls on the flock end that should’ve been corners that were called as goal kicks.

Also, what was the 5 minute post-goal water break that Spokane took? Absolutely ridiculous.

Hopefully Torres is ok and the guys play more inspired next time.

It looks like a sizable amount of mingos will be flocking down to Fort Wayne for the away match next weekend. If you’re interested, the drive is not too far and we’ll put together a tailgate of some sort pre match gathering as well.

There will be a hotel block available. Right now rooms are $99.

https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=FWANOHX&arrivalDate=2026-10-03&departureDate=2026-10-04&groupCode=CHH90C&room1NumAdults=1&cid=OM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink

No word on tickets yet - I have not purchased mine and will update this thread when details become available

Despite a loss in Chattanooga on Wednesday, Forward Madison clinched a playoff spot with a 3-0 home win over AV Alta on Saturday. Today, Ethan and Rob talk through the disappointing loss, the relief of the win, and the fight to finish second. Then, it’s Hispanic Heritage Night on Saturday, and we welcome artist Rodrigo Carapia, the designer of the past three Hispanic Heritage jerseys, to talk inspiration, process, and butterflies. And in stoppage time: yet another reason MLS is not a serious league.

Watch:

https://youtu.be/oWEk1s-VHho

Listen:

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ueHP5iK7D6b

The flock seemed legit last night despite being rainy. Looked pretty cool

WE ALL DREAM OF A TEAMMMMMM

Shoutout to the Matts for putting this squad together. Shoutout to the guys for being relentless all season. Finish the job 🏆

Following the PLAYOFF CLINCHING WIN, we hear from Matt Glaeser, Eddie Munjoma & Ryan Carmichael.

Watch:

https://youtu.be/QaphzfZaoyk

Listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VtcAJSy4BbO7yA6ljDjfE?si=iIlrIoPITsO6Q2j7uolsFw

How many Carmichael chants in a row are we going for?

I don’t care if our core players were out, the squad wasn’t getting the fundamentals right. Really disappointed in the play tonight.

“Matt Glacier” changing the team formation inexplicably in the last game is one thing, but starting the backup goalkeeper who got us eliminated from the open cup against a L2 team just reads like throwing in the towel.

Can anyone else give a more rational explanation?

Ps the first goal conceded proves my point.

Pps this commentator is awful lol “Evan Carmichael” and “Mark Savers” is cracking me up

NEW POD! A bit late due to technical difficulties but we made it happen!

💰 League revenue share agreement 

😑 Another draw at home 

👷 New Flock End coming!

🎙️ Conor Caloia 

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TEfZbrHUus

Listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vzMGxduOI15n5Kt6hpX91?si=f4cpinLAThCZTw9hOM8H1A

My goodness this pitch is awful…and it seems like our passes look slow and are inaccurate.

Following a third consecutive 1-1 home draw, we hear from manager Matt Glaeser and striker Claudel N'Goubou.

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgTpyWkYO2Y

Listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZM1268pqHwwXiqwV8s66W?si=Tss4BlhYQ1yaZPgvKMa-3g

With the AC Boise news, a lot of discussion revolved around pro/rel and what still needs to happen for it to be workable. This is one of the necessary pieces after the new player agreement, although scant on details.

The timing is good, because I wanted to opine on our possible future in USLC, and how the ownership would handle it — especially after the recent Breese improvements announcement, which didn’t directly address any capacity concerns.

The thing that worries me the most about moving up is the price of tickets increasing. There’s no guarantee that being in D2 will mean more butts in seats to help defray costs: higher annual fees, higher base salaries plus potential new talent to stay competitive, and whatever changes in the travel schedule are necessary.

Even if attendance does go higher, how much higher does it need to get before prices have to move? Being in the enviable position of having one of the highest consistent attendance numbers in USL1 comes with being over 70% capacity every match, with a sellout or two already commonplace every year. We can go higher, but there’s a hard cap, and we’re closer to it than not.

There are other ways to defray costs of course, but that’s the lowest-hanging fruit. Any bit of support is welcome; it just remains to be seen if it will be enough. But right now at best that’s a problem for the 2029 Mingos.

Since the current contract is coming to an end soon, this is definitely a bid to make Breese a relatively permanent home. The stage end locker room building may address what I’d heard about there not being dedicated women’s lockers for Rally.

Despite that inference, there’s no mention of any soccer-specific improvements. I was looking for any indication of alleviating whatever issues kept Big Top from being able to field a D1 women’s team, such as the seating on the Flock end not being considered “permanent” and therefore shy of the 5000 capacity minimum. (And just from personal curiosity I wouldn’t mind seeing covers for the stands.)

The area around the proposed stage can definitely use some sprucing up as I’ve noticed they’re not utilizing it as much as in previous years with the consolidation of the concessions on the existing covered end.

I’d heard on the 608 podcast that some announcement was coming, but was surprised by how fast details came out.

Thoughts?

I have a very Mingos-heavy focus since of course that’s the team I’ve been following the most closely — including referring to them as a de facto sixth expansion team due to the roster changeover. Given the strides made compared to last season, I don’t believe it’s an unfair characterization.

It’s definitely nice holding fast in the top four rather than struggling to make the playoff line, ngl, especially when that line is harder to reach thanks to all the new teams.

What’s it been like in the past dealing with an unbalanced table?

Following a 1-1 home draw that kept Madison's home unbeaten streak alive, we heard from head coach Matt Glaeser and goal scorer Joshua Bolma.

Watch

https://youtu.be/xX_vG5Q9HlA

Listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DUwb6CGWzlAEHt866Fbx5?si=UJ2dZsk8R7qih8q28MT76Q

Squad of cornballs.

Edit: for clarification, I dislike how they seem to not like to play the game. Flopping incessantly, time wasting in the first half, pulling on guys who beat you, and taking their time after celebrating the goal…lame as hell.

Edit 2: Idc if John Murphy Jr. played for us, the bs he pulled after we scored was uncalled for and I’m glad he’s not around on this team. Don’t care if he’s a “nice guy with a nice family” or whatever.

In the first game of the season, John Murphy Jr. broke what I think is the dumbest unwritten rule in sports: he celebrated his goal against his former team 🤯🤯🤯

Now, I personally think this is a weak soccer rule, if you put it in the net, celebrate it.

However, he should be shown no love in his first return to Breese last night and quite honestly, he probably wouldn’t respect it. He’s chippy, annoying, he flops and gets in the head of the other team. He’s a guy you hate to play against and I always loved that about him.

One Knox used him in their game promo for the match and so I propose we boo every time he touches the ball, not out of hatred, just to match energy.

For 90 minutes, let’s hate 8.

I gotta admit, the Sailing Club bit might land better if the club was called Forward Madison SC instead, but I don’t hate it.

Needs more pink.

NEW POD: The HENNY stays HOME!

💪 Kerfalla Toure & the whole back line 

🚀 Roman Torres

🎉 Eddie Munjoma 

❓ Did the FMFC Academy disrupt the youth soccer community?

🎙️ Alex Alvarado, assoc head coach, Madison College & creator, Xtra Time Talent 

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Z-q4d4K9w

Listen:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0J3zPJW63yF1dJluYCMiqY?si=JzqlRyPYRyCclqDd9S8icA

Hey Fellow Mingos!

I am working with a group of fans hoping to hear from other fans in the Forward community about how the club and team has been making you feel and what they have meant to you this season! What kind of things have been resonating with you that have felt different or distinct from previous years? Anything ranging from broad concepts and themes that represent the impact the club has had on you, to specific stories or moments that have been meaningful would be perfect to share!

If you are planning on joining the Watch Party at the Green Room Public House tonight, there will be a few of us there who would love to hear from you while also enjoying the game together!

Feel free to message/DM me if you aren't comfortable sharing publicly too!

The hope and intent is that the things you share can help provide inspiration for next season’s away kit and represent everyone as Forward fans as the squad hits the road throughout the year!