Off the Woodwork

Jon Nelson takes you through some of the best interviews of this week on SDH AM. Check the show out Monday-Friday on the Soccer Down Here YouTube and Twitch channels or as its own podcast at soccerdownhere.net. This week, he spoke with Chicago Fire radio commentator Max Anderson, Atlanta United Special Olympics Unified Team head coach Marty Jelleme, and Humans United FC host and author Joe Shaw. Max breaks down a Fire side chasing a home playoff spot ahead of its trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Marty previews Unified’s regular season finale and a four-year unbeaten run, and Joe tells the story behind his new book, Miami Before Messi, on the Miami Fusion’s four seasons in MLS and why the club folded.

Jason Longshore and Madison Crews break down Atlanta United’s 3-1 loss to Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi scored twice in four minutes to undo one of Atlanta’s better halves, and what’s left with four matches to play and Chicago up next Saturday night at the Benz. They also look back on Atlanta United 2’s record season, which ended in a 1-0 playoff loss to CT United. Then it’s Atlanta City FC: new Chief Soccer Officer Richard Gunney and his path from Portland, San Diego and Gotham, plus exclusive clips from SDH’s sit down with Chief Business Officer Deandra Duggans on building the brand, Atlanta’s group project, and making the game more accessible for girls. The 3-4-3, brought to you by Ford, covers Georgia, Georgia State and Mercer, Champions League Matchday 3, the regulator and Manchester City, FIFA’s bans for Egypt, and Cooper Sanchez making MLS’s 22 Under 22.

Abe Gordon and Jon Nelson recap Atlanta United's 3-1 loss to Inter Miami CF as Lionel Messi scores two goals in the second half!

Jon Nelson brings you the best of SDH AM this week, featuring a World Cup on Georgia soil, the future of refereeing in American soccer, and a behind-the-scenes look at MLS coverage on Apple TV.

The 2026 IFCPF World Cup is underway at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville! U.S. CP National Team head coach Stuart Sharp, Georgia native Jacob Crumley, and captain Josh Brunet discuss the opportunity to compete for a world championship at home and the continued growth of CP football.

U.S. Soccer's Head of Refereeing and Hall of Famer Carrie Seitz joins the show to discuss the state of officiating, the new R90+ referee development program, and why building up referees instead of breaking them down is essential to the future of the game.

Plus, MLS on Apple TV's Spanish-language broadcast team takes center stage as Antonella González and Sammy Sadovnik share stories from the booth and sidelines, explain the preparation behind their broadcasts, and look ahead to another big MLS weekend.

Catch SDH AM live every weekday and stay connected with Soccer Down Here on YouTube, Twitch, X, Bluesky, Facebook, and your favorite podcast platforms. Follow @SoccerDownHere and become part of the SDH community for daily soccer news, interviews, analysis, and stories from Atlanta and around the world.

Abe Gordon and Madison Crews recap Atlanta United's 3-0 victory over CF Montreal to keep their slim playoff hopes alive!

The USWNT showed its resilience against the world champions, rallying from two goals down for a 2-2 draw with Spain in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Jason Longshore breaks down what the two-match Spain window revealed about Emma Hayes’ team, including Ashley Sanchez’s return to the national-team spotlight, Mallory Swanson’s equalizer, the growing competition for World Cup roster spots, and why facing the best team in the world may prove more valuable than collecting comfortable friendly wins.

Madison Crews joins the show live from Subaru Park with her reaction and postgame insight, plus conversations with USWNT debutant Kate Del Fava, Rose Lavelle and captain Lindsey Heaps.

Then, Jason turns the focus to Atlanta United from Montreal, examining Tata Martino’s thoughts on buildup play, field position and why chemistry among Atlanta’s rebuilt core will require time, even as the playoff race leaves very little of it.

Atlanta United visits CF Montréal Wednesday night, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 92.9 The Game.

Abe Gordon and Jon Nelson break down Atlanta United's 3-1 home loss to FC Cincinnati and how this loss could end Atlanta's playoffs hopes.

It's a big week for soccer in Atlanta, and SDH has the conversations and stories that matter!

This week's SDH Week in Review features reactions from Arthur Blank, Josh Blank, Cindy Parlow Cone, and Cat Whitehill at the Atlanta City FC brand launch, as excitement builds for the city's new NWSL club.

Madison Crews and Sofia Cupertino sit down with Georgia native and Angel City FC defender Evelyn Shores to discuss her first USWNT call-up, her journey from Tophat and Westminster to North Carolina and the professional ranks, and what Atlanta City FC could mean for the next generation of young players.

Plus, MLS on Apple TV's Michele Gianone joins Jon Nelson for a fascinating look behind the scenes of MLS broadcasts, the role of an on-field analyst, and the challenges facing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

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Soccer Down Here brings you daily conversations, interviews, analysis, and stories from Atlanta and across the soccer world. Join us live every weekday at 9:05 AM ET for SDH AM on YouTube, subscribe to our podcasts wherever you listen, and check out our Morning Espresso newsletter.

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This week on the SDH Week in Review, we look back at a major week for soccer in Atlanta as Atlanta City FC officially unveils its name and identity ahead of its 2028 NWSL debut.

Madison Crews and Jason Longshore catch up with Mauricio Culebro and Atlanta City FC VP and Chief Business Officer Deandra Duggans about building the new club, creating its identity, and what the launch means for women’s soccer in Atlanta.

Then, Michael Parkhurst joins the Friday Free Kick to talk about communication, mentorship, helping young players navigate their careers, and his upcoming appearance on MLS 360.

We close with Tuskegee men’s soccer head coach Matthew Tarpley for an update on the Golden Tigers’ inaugural season, the growth of the program, recruiting, and the continuing development of soccer at HBCUs.

It’s the best of SDH AM from the Soccer Down Here Network. Catch the show live every Monday-Friday starting at 9:05 on the SDH YouTube and Twitch channels.

Jason Longshore reacts to the USMNT's 4-2 win over Chile and looks beyond the result at what the first two matches of the new World Cup cycle are revealing. Sebastian Berhalter and Malik Tillman continue to strengthen their cases, young players are being tested at the international level, goalkeeper and captain remain open questions, and growing depth is creating new decisions for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of matches with Mexico and Canada.

Plus, Jason shares his thoughts on the Atlanta City FC name, crest and branding, and examines Atlanta United's continued improvement following its draw with New York City FC.