When Founding Futbol began, over a year ago, it was intended to be a year-long project exploring 52 key moments that helped soccer become popular in America. There was, by definition, a beginning, middle and end to the the series. The vision was to research those moments and present a point of view on their relevance, alongside interviews from people involved. It quickly evolved to become more ambitious, with Extra Time episodes featuring additional conversations with key figured in American soccer history. 

The end result was a 126 episode run that helps document modern soccer history in the United States -- spanning from 1950 through 2023. Chapters include an exploration of national teams, professional leagues, technologies, writers and more. 

While that's the design of the series, the backstory is more personal. Maybe even more relatable. It was conceived by asking the question, "how did we get here?" In a country that shunned soccer for so long something must have changed. Many things, in fact, had to change. Host Kent Malmros asked that question, then examined his own evolution as a soccer fan and realized his story -- falling in love with the game by watching his daughter start playing at four years old and continue all the way to college -- was common. And that model was a key factor in the American soccer stories. Families fell in love with the game and became fans because of their kids. 

Kendall Malmros is Kent's daughter. She joined the show to reminisce about her soccer journey and reflect on how the game helped bring them closer together. Kendall also shares how playing has impacted her fandom, and what she's observed with her friends and teammates. 

The balance of the episode summarizes some key themes of the season and reveals what is next for Founding Futbol.

Founding Futbol has been a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

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Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Kendall Malmros (College Soccer Player)

Asli Pelit came to the US to study journalism, but quickly realized she missed the soccer culture she gew up with in Turkey. In search of a way to combine her passion for the beautiful game and her desire to tell stories, Asli traveled to South America to learn more about the obsession with great "number 10s." That was among her first exposure to the cult of Lionel Messi. 

That work launched her career as a soccer writer. She subsequently went on to write about soccer for various outlets, including Sportico. As the sports deals reporter she dedicated numerous articles to the impact of Messi's arrival at Inter Miami to play in Major League Soccer. Pelit explored how he changed the business dynamics of the league and brought fans to stadiums like never before.

Pelit joined Founding Futbol to tell her story and reflect on Messi's career, as well as his importance in America. She then discusses her transition to cover the women's game for The Athletic and why fostering fandom is critical to the growth of soccer in the United States.

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

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Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Asli Pelit (Staff Writer, Women's Soccer at The Athletic)

The story of Lionel Messi coming to America to play for Inter Miami of MLS was so big, that USA Today decided to dedicate an entire job to just that beat. Safid Deen is that reporter. After a long and successful career covering more traditional American sports -- like basketball and American football both at the professional and college level, Deen had the opportunity to cover Messi and jumped at it. 

Located in Miami, Deen has seen and covered the the sports scene in that city for years. That has given him the perspective to observe and report on Messi-mania within the context of traditionally popular sports in America. It also gave Deen the opportunity to fall in love with and appreciate Messi as a fan and reporter all at the same time. 

He joined Founding Futbol to talk about his journey to becoming a Lionel Messi reporter. Deen then shares his reflections on the job to date, why the Messi experiment matters, whether or not he needs to win an MLS Cup to be deemed a success and so much more.  

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

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Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Safid Deen (Lionel Messi Reporter, USA Today)

Lionel Messi's decision to join Inter Miami of Major League Soccer had historical precedent on many levels. Despite it's failure, the first MLS team in Miami -- the Fusion -- attempted to harness the unique location and demographic makeup of the south Florida to the benefit of soccer in America. With a strong connection to Latin America, stars like Carlos Valderrama wore Fusion colors in an attempt to create fan interest and help grow the game in the United States. 

While those elements felt familiar, luring the best players in the world and greatest player of all time to Miami to play for the second iteration of an MLS team in the city seemed unlikely. And, yet, Messi arrived in 2023 and changed the landscape of sports in the city and soccer in America. 

Michelle Kaufman is a long-tenured sports writer for the Miami Herald, with a deep focus on international sports. She was working for the paper when the Fusion played and then saw the establishment of Inter Miami. Kaufman covered Beckham putting roots in the city, working with the Mas brothers to buy the club and ultimately bringing Messi to the team. 

She joined Founding Futbol to share her recollections and insights about the evolution of soccer in Miami and America. She also talks about the significance of Messi's decision and shares how she's seen it impact the city. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Michelle Kaufman (Sportswriter, Miami Herald)

Lionel Messi is widely considered the great soccer player of all-time. His accomplishments are virtually unrivaled. His counting stats in many was are incomprehensible. Messi's long career primarily with Barcelona, at the club level, and Argentina, internationally, have built him a fan following second to none on the history of professional sports. 

With David Beckham's involvement in the Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami CF, there were whispers that the potential for Messi to come to MLS may be a reality. But, when it happened in 2023, it was still a shock. The greatest of all time, just months removed from his first World Cup win in 2022, was coming to play soccer in America. Despite his advanced age, Messi was still regarded as one of the best players in the world. Virtually any team in top five European leagues would happily have added him to their roster.  Yes, he chose MLS. 

The impacts of the deal were well documented but still hard to conceive. Messi's arrival triggered economic ripples that included a massive broadcast partnership between MLS and Apple TV, among others. His arrival immediately boosted ticket sales as well. 

Paul Tenorio is a senior writer at The Athletic, covering soccer. He has documented "Messi-mania" in all forms -- on the field, off the field and beyond. Tenorio has written numerous pieces for The Athletic breaking down the economic impacts of Messi's arrival in America and is working on a book about his overall effect on MLS and soccer in the United States. He joined Founding Futbol to talk all things Messi in America. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected].

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Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Paul Tenorio (Senior Writer, The Athletic)

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Jeff Carlisle is one of the best known soccer reporters in America. He career covering the sports has mirrored its ascension in the United States. After transitioning out of a job in corporate America, Jeff tried his hand in writing with a focus on the beautiful game. Within a few years, she was working for ESPN and quickly emerged as one of the lead writers covering Major League Soccer and the US Men's National Team. 

As a result, he watched enthusiasm for soccer grow in America as both the national team and top-flight domestic league gave fans big, memorable moments. Jeff also witnessed any number of perceived setbacks; the USMNT's failure to qualifying for the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup, the roster's subsequent transition to a younger group of talent, and then the redemption of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup is an example of seeing the ups and downs of this country's soccer growth all within a four year cycle. 

Carlise joined the showed to talk about that time. He first shares the story of how he go into sports writing, then discusses his perspective on the importance of the USMNT qualifying for the 2022 World Cup after missing out in 2018. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Jeff Carlisle (Senior Writer, ESPN)

Kellyn Acosta was a key member of the US Men's National Team that qualified for and then played in the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup in Qatar. His journey to that tournament, and significance of his participation, is unique to the story of soccer in America. 

Acosta was born in Dallas, Texas and joined he FC Dallas youth system in 2009. He worked his way through the Development Academy, then onto the senior team in 2013. He emerged as a regular on the FC Dallas team and became recognized as a rising star in the US Soccer ecosystem. He finally broke through  with the US Men's National Team in 2016, at a time of transition. The team was unsuccessful in its efforts to qualify for the World Cup; then a legendary group of veterans was transitioning out of the program and a young group introduced rapidly into the first team. Kellyn was part of that group and experienced the ebbs and flows of the transition before ultimately being a key contributor in the Qualifying cycle.  

He is the son of a Japanese father and an African American Mother. When he earned a roster spot for the 2022 World Cup, Kellyn became the first Asian American man to appear for the United States in a World Cup. 

He has played 11 seasons in the MLS and is an MLS Cup winner with LAFC. Kellyn currently is a member of Chicago Fire FC. He talks about his story on the show 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Kellyn Acosta (MLS and USMNT Player)

When the US Men's National Team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, it was a setback to the growth of soccer in America. The disappointment of that failed qualification triggered changes at the top of the team, and a concerted effort to integrate a new group of young talent that could get the team back to the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2022. Players like Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams,  Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, Kellyn Acosta and others became fixtures of the starting XI through 2018 and into the 2019 Gold Cup in an effort to gain the experience needed to excel on the international stage.  

Aaron Long was in that group of players. He worked his way into the national team picture after becoming a stalwart defender under Jesse Marsch for the NY Red Bulls. Once he landed on the senior team roster, his impact was felt. Long became a starter and team captain. Then, after fighting through injuries, figured into the final stages of the World Cup Qualifiers before making the roster for the team's trip to Qatar. 

Long joined Founding Futbol to talk about his journey through MLS and onto the national team. He discusses how then coach Gregg Berhalter gave the team clear focus on a return to the world's biggest tournament, and what it was like learning to win with a young group of players. Long also reflects on the importance of the USMNT return to the World Cup, and how it helped continue to elevate the game in America. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Aaron Long (MLS and USMNT Player)

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While the equal pay fight was driven by players on the US Women's National Team, they represented all women trying to make a living playing soccer at the highest level. The fight extended into the professional ranks where players like Joanna Lohman used their voices to advocate for, initially, just a living wage at the WPS and then NWSL levels. 

But, for players like Lohman and so many others, the equal pay fight represented so much more -- it was a proxy for activism and advocacy on so many levels. Women's soccer players in this country became the champions of lifting women and other underrepresented communities up to articulate and ask for their value to be seen. 

In this Extra Time episode, Lohman shares here journey through the soccer world. She talks about how hard it was to afford life as a professional soccer player. She shares her perspective on the broader implications of being undervalued -- from how it impacts confidence to social justice issues -- and why the USWNT and soccer community was uniquely suited to help elevate the status of women in America, overall. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected]

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Joanna Lohman (Former NWSL Player, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur)

After the 2015 Women's World Cup, the US Women's National Team used their heightened profile and propensity for activism to file a complaint  with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against US Soccer seeking equal pay to their male counterparts on the US Men's National Team. Five players -- Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, and Becky Sauerbrunn -- asserted that the US Soccer Federation's payment structure unfairly favored male players, resulting in women earning significantly less than their male counterparts for similar work. Jeffrey Kessler, maybe the world's most prominent sports attorney, became the legal anchor  to the USWNT efforts then and would remain so moving forward.

That complaint went unresolved but was the first step in a series of actions that ultimately brought the USWNT a victory. After a reconfiguration of the players union, and a few iterations of collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the women took charge of the fight for equal pay. And leading up to the 2019 Women's World Cup, they decided to escalate the conflict, working with Kessler to file a lawsuit against US Soccer -- this time in the name of 28 players on the national team roster at the time. Filed on International Women's Day, the suit sought backpay and damages, in addition to equal pay moving forward. 

It would take three years to resolve, but eventually the women emerged victorious, settling with US Soccer for a landmark $24M. 

Kessler joined Founding Futbol to share his experience supporting the USWNT in their pursuit of equality. He talks about how he ended up in sports law,  when he first connected with the team and so much more. 

Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.

Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.

Host: Kent Malmros

Guest: Jeffrey Kessler (Sports Attorney, Co-Executive Chairman of Winston & Strawn)

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