In MLS, there’s no such thing as a win you can count on. Rules around roster-building and salary caps mean even a last-place club can give the league’s best a run for their money on any given week—and the playoff system gives everyone a shot at a dramatic turnaround. This week, we share two of the greatest single-season comebacks in league history: Sporting Kansas City in 2023 and the 2016 Seattle Sounders FC. Taylor sits down with Johnny Russell, Sporting’s captain, to talk ab...
Apr 24, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Comedian Paul Scheer is known for his roles in The League and Fresh Off the Boat, his long-running podcast on bad movies called How Did This Get Made?, and being a die-hard Clippers fan. But in recent years, he’s also been swept up into the LA soccer scene, going to LAFC and Angel City FC matches. On this week’s episode, Paul and Taylor talk about the Messi Mania they experienced at LA Galaxy’s home opener, the need for a Bad News Bears–style soccer movie, and why Paul’s new book, Joyful R...
Apr 17, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Diego “El Maestro” Valeri, less than two years out of professional soccer, is two months into his new job as lead analyst for the Spanish broadcast on MLS Season Pass. On this week’s episode, Diego joins Taylor to talk about the transition to commentary, interviewing Lionel Messi, and his legendary career with the Portland Timbers. Plus, MLS newcomer Eric Ramsay discusses being a first-time head coach for Minnesota United, experiencing a “Wonderwall” victory for the first time, and early s...
Apr 10, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast John Herdman took over as head coach at Toronto FC late last season, when the club finished in last place. But this year they seem to be turning it around. On this week’s episode, Taylor and John discuss his philosophy for leading a team through transition, something he’s done for the New Zealand women’s national team and both the Canadian men’s and women’s teams. They also talk about how John struggled with his mental health in the wake of personal tragedy, and why his ultimate goal is to...
Apr 03, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Just how hard is it for an MLS All-Star to dust off the cleats after two years of retirement and play in a competitive game? On this week’s episode, Taylor speaks with MLS Season Pass colleague Sacha Kljestan about his decision to take the field for semi-pro club Des Moines Menace in the U.S. Open Cup. Sacha explains how the opportunity came about, and just how wrecked his body was after playing 120 minutes. Plus, after an international break that saw almost 100 MLS players represent 33 countrie...
Mar 27, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast San Diego FC are set to join MLS in 2025 as the 30th club. They’re following a familiar expansion playbook: Find an underserved market, bring investors on board, and get a stadium. But as CEO Tom Penn—who also helped start LAFC—points out, there are a couple things that make this club different. For one, they’re the first major men’s pro team in the U.S. to have a Native tribe, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, as part of their ownership group. Additionally, the club is banking on it...
Mar 20, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Inter Miami CF have shown us they are unbeatable at their best. The flip side? Every club is giving them their very best shot. This week, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio and Pablo Maurer join Taylor to talk through how Miami became the most wanted victory in MLS, as well as their upcoming trip to D.C. United—a club that itself was once the league’s “most wanted” and is showing signs of hope after a down year in ’23. Then Pablo and Paul offer their reporting expertise on stories brewing in the backgr...
Mar 13, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast It seems like every week, the big question for most teams in MLS is: Who’s going to score? So on this week’s episode, scoring legend and New York Red Bulls great Bradley Wright-Phillips joins Taylor—a bit of a scoring legend himself—to talk about scoring goals in MLS. They discuss BWP’s career, which can be seen as a blueprint for overseas players looking to find success in the league, and how his approach netted him 126 MLS goals. Plus, they expand on his thoughts on the state of scoring in the...
Mar 06, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast LAFC and the Colorado Rapids are as different as clubs can be. While LAFC won 2023’s Western final, the Rapids finished last in the conference. But both teams were busy in the offseason maneuvering for a more successful ’24. On this week’s episode, Taylor sits down with club leaders responsible for those prospects. First, Taylor speaks with LAFC co-president and GM John Thorrington—the man behind big signings such as French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Then he talks with Colorado’s new coach Ch...
Feb 28, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Offside With Taylor Twellman is back, and we’re kicking things off with a big 2024 season preview. Sacha Kljestan and Diego Valeri join Taylor to go through every MLS team—yes, every team—and reveal who they’re buying and who they’re selling. Plus, who has the best kits for 2024? Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or email offsidepodwithtay...
Feb 21, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the final episode of the season, Taylor reacts to the MLS Cup by discussing what this result means for both LAFC and the 2023 champions, Columbus Crew. He then wraps the year with 12 storylines to watch out for in the 2024 season. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or email offsidepodwithtaylor@gmail.com with questions. http://apple.co/O...
Dec 12, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s our MLS Cup preview. Taylor chats with Sacha and The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer about their takeaways from the conference finals before breaking down Saturday’s MLS Cup in Columbus between the Crew and defending champs LAFC. Taylor then sits down with MLS Commissioner Don Garber to look back on the historic 2023 season. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylo...
Dec 08, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this conference finals preview, Taylor checks in with supporters from both FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew to understand what will be the biggest edition to date in the “Hell Is Real” intrastate derby. After tha t, he chats with Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen about their surprise playoff run and what he thinks they can do to stop LAFC from reaching their second-straight MLS Cup Final. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Dela...
Nov 30, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor hops around the country to preview the conference semifinals with LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo, Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer, Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes, Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin, and MLS' Coach of the Year, FC Cincinnati’s Pat Noonan. Taylor then chats with NFL great Chad Johnson about his love for the beautiful game, why he warmed up on Sundays with a soccer ball, and how he snuck in a Champions League final during a romantic European vacation. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major Lea...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs comes to a close, Taylor talks with The Athletic’s Felipe Cárdenas about what he saw at Match 2 of Atlanta-Columbus, the remaining matchups, and the clubs that are looking forward to the conference semifinals. They also reflect on how referees are finding themselves unfairly at the center of attention and discuss headlines from around the league. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow a...
Nov 09, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Taylor welcomes former Inter Miami CF head coach Phil Neville to discuss what they saw in the Match 1s of the playoffs’ Round One: Sporting Kansas City’s stunning upset of St. Louis, LAFC’s rejuvenated look, FC Cincinnati’s continued dominance, and a whole lot more. Plus, Taylor learns about how Phil’s grandmother named his father in the hospital out of stubbornness. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and li...
Nov 02, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast In their first season, St. Louis CITY SC have already made history. With the most wins ever by an expansion club, St. Louis head into the playoffs as the #1 seed in the Western Conference, and they host their first postseason match this Sunday. On this week’s episode, Taylor talks with CEO Carolyn Kindle, head coach Bradley Carnell, sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, and president and GM Diego Gigliani about the birth of St. Louis CITY, their journeys to the club, their expectations heading in...
Oct 26, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a special extra episode, Taylor sits down with Maurice Edu and Sacha Kljestan to preview and predict the MLS playoffs. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. http://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Oct 24, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Heading into the final weekend of regular-season play, Taylor shares his predictions for MLS season awards, answers listener questions, and chats with SVP of MLS NEXT Pro Ali Curtis on player development and their new “pick your opponent” playoff format. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. http://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...
Oct 19, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In just two seasons, FC Cincinnati went from three straight rock-bottom finishes to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield. On this week’s episode, Taylor talks with head coach Pat Noonan and breakout forward Brandon Vazquez about their journeys to Cincinnati, their expectations heading into the playoffs, and what a trophy means to a city that’s fallen in love with its MLS club. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and list...
Oct 12, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor digs into an MLS story that needs to be heard to be believed: Bernard Kamungo’s long path to FC Dallas. Taylor speaks with Bernard and his brother, Imani, about their relocation to Texas in 2017, how a $90 tryout changed their lives, and how they supported each other as Bernard realized his lifelong dream. The Kamungos’ journey began at the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, where Bernard passed his days kicking makeshift balls in pickup games against men 10 years older. Imani saw ...
Oct 05, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a wild Wednesday night in American soccer, Taylor reacts to the Miami-Houston U.S. Open Cup Final and the Campeones Cup showdown between MLS champs LAFC and Liga MX champs Tigres. Then Taylor chats with the one and only Dan Le Batard and his producer Mike Ryan about Messi’s impact on Miami’s sports culture, the growth of soccer in America, and the smartest athlete they’ve ever seen compete in person. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Ra...
Sep 28, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Taylor takes a closer look at the Columbus Crew, one of the league’s founding clubs and a team who have reinvented themselves just three years after winning the MLS Cup. Taylor talks with manager Wilfried Nancy about his unique approach to coaching and encouraging egos, team president Tim Bezbatchenko about the kinds of players he looks for to build long-term success, and recent acquisition Julian Gressel about how the Crew’s unique style could make them a tough out in the MLS Cup Pla...
Sep 21, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Future Hall of Famer Tim Howard joins the podcast to talk about recent USMNT friendlies and the road to the 2026 World Cup. Taylor and Tim reflect on how much has changed since they played on the national team together and the ways MLS Next will shape the future of American soccer. Also on the show, Taylor reacts to the latest MLS news and answers listener questions heading into the home stretch of the regular season. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by App...
Sep 14, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor brings you the sounds of Miami’s dismantling of the defending champs, including celebrity encounters, Messi fans, and LAFC’s raucous 3252. After questioning if LAFC can overtake St. Louis in the West and discussing Orlando’s ascension in the East, Taylor turns to the start of the US men’s team camp. He speaks with young stars Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun, who are both on new teams and pushing each other to see who will be the USMNT’s playmaker on their road to the 2026 World Cup. Offs...
Sep 07, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor reacts to midweek MLS action after Nashville’s draw in Miami. Then he speaks with Harvard Law professor and sports legal expert Michael McCann about the fallout and legal repercussions with the Spanish Football Federation after the Women’s World Cup. He then turns to The Athletic’s Felipe Cárdenas to discuss the MLS transfer window, Messi’s press conference, and the MLS rumor mill. Finally, Taylor discusses the latest USMNT roster changes and answers a few more emails from the listeners. ...
Aug 31, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor analyzes Messi and Miami’s wild semifinal win over Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night. Then he dissects Djordje Petrovic’s record transfer to Chelsea and what it means for New England and MLS. Finally, Taylor answers listener questions from the past week. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or email offsidepodwithtaylor@gmail.c...
Aug 24, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Moments after their historic Leagues Cup win, Taylor talks with Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, defender Kamal Miller, and midfielder Robert Taylor from Geodis Park. Then, analysts Maurice Edu and Sacha Kljestan join Twellman for instant reactions and a look ahead to the MLS season’s stretch run. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or email ...
Aug 21, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor recaps a wild Leagues Cup before previewing the final with Nashville GM Mike Jacobs. Taylor then talks to former Inter Miami CF head coach Phil Neville about his friendship with David Beckham, believing in Robert Taylor, and what it’s like to watch your son play with the GOAT. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. https://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass See Privacy Policy at https...
Aug 17, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor recounts Messi’s incredible come-from-behind victory in Dallas and rock star status with The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio. He then breaks down the USWNT’s early World Cup exit and its potential fallout with The Athletic’s Meg Linehan. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. http://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...
Aug 10, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
