The men’s Champions League is back! There are four big round of 16 matchups this week, two of which pit some of the world’s biggest and best teams against each other. Felipe Cardenas is here to tell you what to watch in PSG-Real Madrid today, and Liverpool-Inter Milan tomorrow. James Pearce’s story on Luis Diaz: https://theathletic.com/3109520/2022/02/10/luis-diaz-el-quinto-beatle-by-those-who-know-him/ More on Diaz in video form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4VQ1x4PSVI Learn more about your...
Feb 15, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tyler Adams is probably the most important player for the U.S. men’s national team and plays a key role in the tactical setup at RB Leipzig. The Athletic’s John Muller recently sat down with him for an in-depth chat about plays throughout his career. Today, John joins us to talk about what he learned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2022•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two huge women’s super league games. A Portuguese derby. Intrigue at the top of Serie A and a Premier League game that might just be competitive….there’s a whole weekend of soccer on TV and Brooks Peck joins the show to preview it all, hour-by-hour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast An analysis by The Athletic has found that this winter was the biggest window for player sales by MLS clubs ever. The man who did the analysis, Sam Stejskal, is here to talk about it. Sam’s analysis: https://theathletic.com/3121305/ Thiago Almada Q&A: https://theathletic.com/3120532/2022/02/09/qa-atlanta-uniteds-darren-eales-and-dimitrios-efstathiou-on-vetting-and-signing-thiago-almada/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former NWSL head coach Rory Dames is the subject of a Washington Post investigation into misconduct as a youth coach. And in Washington itself, the sale of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit has finally closed, with Michele Kang now the majority owner after a long and complicated ordeal. It’s a big news day in women’s soccer, and Steph Yang is here to tell you what it all means. Rory Dames investigation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/08/rory-dames-eclipse-select-misconduct-allegations/...
Feb 09, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Copa Libertadores has long been one of the most competitive continental tournaments in the world. But lately, it’s been dominated by Brazilian clubs. Felipe Cárdenas is here to explain why that is, and who could challenge the Brazilian teams for the title later this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 08, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are a lot of ways to count and analyze passing in soccer. But there are far fewer ways to analyze the reception of that pass, despite it being one of the most critical skills in the game. John Muller is here to talk about a few ways the soccer analytics community counts pass receptions, and what it means in the case of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona. On Aubameyang: https://theathletic.com/3105449/2022/02/02/aubameyang-xavi-and-barcelona-is-this-going-to-work/ On pass receivi...
Feb 07, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Club soccer is back with aplomb! This weekend features some interesting games in the FA Cup, major matchups in the women’s super league, a couple continental cup finals, and big clashes at the top of the table. Matt Pentz is here to sort through it all, hour-by-hour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 04, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It was a frigid night in Minnesota for the U.S. men’s national team’s game against Honduras. Our resident Minnesotan Jeff Rueter was at the game, and is here to talk about what it was like, and how the result could shape The Athletic’s USMNT fan confidence index. Confidence Index: https://theathletic.com/3108759/2022/02/02/usmnt-fan-confidence-index-tell-us-how-you-feel-about-the-team-through-11-world-cup-qualifiers/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 03, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 10 years after the NWSL started play, and after lengthy negotiations, the league and its players have the first collective bargaining agreement in the history of U.S. professional women’s soccer. Meg Linehan is here to break down what it all means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 02, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a narrow win against Jamaica and a scoreless draw at home to Costa Rica, Mexico is now perilously close to dropping out of the automatic World Cup spots in CONCACAF. Tomorrow’s game against Panama is a huge one. Felipe Cardenas is here to break down that game, along with George Bello’s move to Arminia Bielefeld. Transfer deadline day tracker: https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/transfer-news-live-updates-manchester-united-arsenal-liverpool-chelsea-tottenham-latest-on-deadline-day/jvKSHZ7wTu...
Feb 01, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Christian Pulisic has become a peripheral figure at club level with Chelsea, and hasn’t looked his best with the U.S. men’s national team in World Cup qualifying. The Athletic’s soccer analytics writer John Muller is here to talk a bit about the data behind those struggles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alex Abnos has a soccer TV guide to the weekend. World Cup qualifiers are being played around the globe with a lot at stake including more CONCACAF action. AFCON resumes on Saturday with important knockout matches. Plus, USA GK Matt Turner agrees to join Arsenal this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2022•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's a special edition of Soccer Every Day on USMNT gameday! The US will take on El Salvador in Columbus, Ohio. Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio discuss the match, the squad and take questions from Athletic subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast This upcoming international window is a crucial one for the Canadian Men's National Team. Josh Kloke joins the show to discuss Alphonso Davies absence and how two past results could be relevant this window...or not. Plus, today's TV guide including the AFCON knockout stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast After struggling at the end of 2021 the Mexican Men's National team is looking to sure up its struggling defense in its upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. The Athletic's Felipe Cardenas joins Alex Abnos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Daryl Dike has garnered something of a cult following among fans of the English Championship. Why is that? John Muller explains what the data says about Dike’s goal-scoring production, and why it might not be sustainable. Plus, we take a first look at the U.S. men’s national team’s upcoming World Cup Qualifying window. Story on Daryl Dike at West Brom: https://theathletic.com/3070707/2022/01/14/west-broms-daryl-dike-scores-goals-at-a-rate-that-compounds-most-statistical-and-analytical-logic/ Lea...
Jan 24, 2022•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage begins today, and it’s been one hell of a tournament so far. Carl Anka is here to discuss what happened to Ghana, and what to watch for as the competition heats up. Carl’s story on Ghana: https://theathletic.com/3076563/2022/01/19/ghana-abject-afcon-humiliation-best-thing-could-happened/ Why AFCON matters: https://theathletic.com/3040813/2022/01/08/why-afcon-matters/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The week before the U.S. men’s national team opens World Cup qualifying camp again, three of the team’s players are the subject of some interesting transfer or trade talks. Sam Stejskal is here to break down Paul Arriola potentially to FC Dallas, Brenden Aaronson potentially to Leeds United, and Matt Turner potentially to Arsenal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The 2022 MLS season will have a new wrinkle: A whole new league. MLS Next Pro kicks off this year, and will feature the reserve teams of 20 MLS teams, plus one independent. Jeff Rueter is here to recap his reporting on how the league will be structured. Jeff’s story: https://theathletic.com/3071305/2022/01/14/mls-next-pro-to-have-no-salary-cap-other-key-differences-from-mls-structure-sources-say/ Pablo’s interview with Michelle Akers: https://theathletic.com/3079225/2022/01/19/michelle-akers-on-...
Jan 20, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Preseason is officially underway for every MLS team this week. There have been some big acquisitions, some interesting trades, and in Atlanta…an upcoming contract situation for the team’s star player. Felipe Cardenas is here with the latest on Josef Martinez’s contract situation, why he’s asking for it, and why the Atlanta united front office may want to be pragmatic. Felipe’s story on Josef Martínez: https://theathletic.com/3057263/2022/01/07/i-want-to-die-here-josef-martinez-hoping-to-see-out-...
Jan 19, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast We have just one week to go until World Cup qualifying starts up again, which means there’s plenty of interesting storylines we’re keeping track of here on The Athletic’s U.S. soccer desk. We had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Day so this episode will be a quick, guest-free rundown of what we’re following this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2022•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are a lot of ways to define play style. The Athletic’s John Muller has come up with another one. The five kingdoms of football is a new, graphical way to describe how teams play, and it’s just so interesting. John Muller is here to talk about it, and why it makes one under-the-radar game this week much more interesting than you might think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a new year’s period where a lot of teams solidified their positions or brought in reinforcements, the second half of the European calendar is underway with a ton of great games this weekend. Brooks Peck is here to break down the whole schedule, hour-by-hour, along with big games in the Africa Cup of Nations and Liga MX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last year, Lorenzo Insigne was one of the best players on an Italian national team that won the European Championship. He has long been a key striker for Napoli, has played plenty in the Champions League, and is generally considered to be among the world’s best players. He’s 30 years old and this summer, he’s coming to MLS. Josh Kloke is here to explain why Toronto FC made the big-money move for Insigne after one of their worst-ever seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Jan 13, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over the past several months, the Washington Spirit have won the NWSL championship, and also been at the center of a very public tug-of-war over ownership of the club. On one side: Steve Baldwin and Bill Lynch, two co-owners who together had or controlled a majority of votes among the club’s ownership group. Baldwin and Lynch have been looking to sell the club. On the other side is Michele Kang, another co-owner, who offered well over market value for the club, but has also been publicly critica...
Jan 12, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mexico’s 2021 could probably be considered a disappointment overall, but the Mexican federation’s president has big goals going into 2022. Felipe Cárdenas traveled to Mexico for a chat with Yon de Luisa late last year. Today, Felipe joins the show to discuss that interview, and what El Tri will be focusing on this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast 2022 Is underway and we’re back with a slightly shorter edition of the show. We may do more of these going forward; just sort of a short summary of what games are on today, and what stories we’re keeping track of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2022•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast To end 2021, we’re talking to each of the North American soccer vertical’s eight full-time staff writers about their favorite story of the year. Today, to wrap up this series, Pablo Maurer joins to talk about his deep dive investigation into an obscure bit of MLS history: The guys that were in the original Columbus Crew logo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2021•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast To end 2021, we’re talking to each of the North American soccer vertical’s eight full-time staff writers about their favorite story of the year. Today, Matt Pentz discusses his profile of Lynn Williams. It’s a great profile that was written early in 2021, and looking back at is an interesting study in how much the circumstances of a story can change over the course of a year. Matt's story: https://theathletic.com/2364457/2021/02/03/lynn-williams-uswnt-courage/ Learn more about your ad choices. V...
Dec 29, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
