Off the Woodwork

Atlanta Soccer Tonight kicks off a special season preview edition as Atlanta United opens its 10th campaign this weekend in Cincinnati. Jason Longshore is joined in studio by Abe Gordon, Madison Crews, Jon Nelson, and Jarrett Smith to lay out the non-negotiables for 2026: heart, resilience, structure, and the relentless principles of a Tata Martino team.

The crew also goes around Major League Soccer to assess how contenders like Inter Miami are reloading, where Cincinnati fits as the Week 1 measuring stick, and what tier Atlanta belongs in as the season begins.

Plus, Mike Conti calls in to reflect on Atlanta’s decade of unforgettable moments, the World Cup coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and what 2026 could mean for the future of MLS in this market.

Hour 1 sets the table for a defining season — and the next chapter of Atlanta United.

This week on the SDH Week In Review, we bring you three conversations that show how soccer’s story is growing in every direction — locally, financially, and globally.

First, Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico joins us to break down rising MLS club valuations and why the league’s business future is still built market by market, city by city.

Then, former Atlanta United homegrown Lagos Kunga reflects on his journey from growing up in Atlanta soccer to starting a new chapter with his club in Portland, Maine and what it means to chase health, form, and belief again.

And finally, Kelly Shouldice stops by to discuss the launch and momentum of Canada’s Northern Super League, a major step forward for the women’s game and the next evolution of the sport’s professional landscape.

Three interviews, three angles, one week in the world of soccer, right here from the SDH Network.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight's full episode on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

Jon Nelson is back with another SDH Week in Review, some of the best interviews from the past week on SDH AM. You can watch the show Monday-Friday at 9:05am on the Soccer Down Here YouTube and Twitch channels.

This week, hear from new American owner Jordan Gardner of Scottish club Kelty Hearts, hear about St. Louis' new era ahead of the MLS season from Jake Koenig and Justin Graham of the Ball Watching podcast, and Concacaf expert Jon Arnold fills us in on the start of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Jillian Sakovits joins Jason Longshore for a wide-ranging conversation about where the game is heading in 2026 and why this year is a beginning, not a finish line.

Sakovits discusses her expanding role across MLS and the women’s game, the momentum building toward the 2026 World Cup, and what that moment means for cities like Atlanta as global soccer culture comes into sharper focus. The conversation dives deep into the NWSL’s growth, the significance of Trinity Rodman’s landmark contract, and why star power, sustainability, and equal investment are essential to the league’s next phase.

The discussion also turns to MLS, where Sakovits offers a league-wide perspective on roster moves, rising pressure points, and what the return of Tata Martino means for Atlanta United as the club enters its 10th season with expectations fully reset. From preseason storylines to the unique weight Martino carries in Atlanta, this is a conversation about leadership, timing, and what happens when nostalgia meets reality.

A thoughtful, forward-looking episode connecting MLS, the NWSL, and the long arc of the sport in North America, featuring one of the game’s most trusted voices, Jillian Sakovits.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight breaks down what mattered in Atlanta United’s preseason win over Lexington SC, focusing on structure, positional relationships, and why cohesion showed up across two different groups rather than just on the scoreboard.

Jason Longshore and Madison Crews also dig into Atlanta United’s newest signing, Elias Báez, what his profile adds to the left side, and how competition is shaping the roster ahead of the season. Around MLS, the conversation widens to major league movement, including Obed Vargas’ move to Europe, San Jose’s signing of Timo Werner, and the reported talks linking James Rodríguez to Minnesota United.

The show closes with a full 3-4-3, covering Atlanta United’s development pipeline, the start of Georgia high school soccer, and global headlines including Arsenal reaching the Carabao Cup final, Barcelona surviving a Copa del Rey scare, Olympic soccer’s nationwide footprint in 2028, and the opening stretch of the Copa Libertadores.

(Note: Due to time constraints, the Jillian Sakovits interview teased on air will be released separately as a podcast.)

Jon Nelson takes you through three different interviews highlighting lower division clubs around the Southeast. Hear from Huntsville City FC managing director Chad Emerson, new Greenville Triumph head coach Dave Dixon, and Lexington Sporting Club Youth Technical Director Steve Cooke.

Check out SDH AM every Monday-Friday on the Soccer Down Here YouTube & Twitch channels.

Atlanta United’s latest signing isn’t about headlines — it’s about direction. In this segment, we break down why the addition of Atlanta United FC midfielder Adrian Gill fits into a longer development pathway and what it tells us about how the club is thinking beyond the short term.

We also hear directly from defender Matt Edwards, reflecting on the offseason, the role of homegrowns, Tata Martino’s message about commitment, and the identity this group wants to build toward 2026. It’s a conversation about standards, mentality, and why clarity of purpose matters as much as results.

Trinity Rodman’s new contract with the Washington Spirit is more than a star re-signing — it’s a statement about where the National Women's Soccer League is headed. In this segment, we break down why it mattered that the league and the Spirit found a way to keep one of the game’s most important players at home, including the flexibility shown to make the deal work.

We also look at Rodman’s impact on the field and on the broader U.S. soccer landscape, and why her presence elevates competition, visibility, and ambition across the league. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture: a league that is maturing as a business, adapting in real time, and understanding that star power — when handled responsibly — drives long-term growth.

With a World Cup on home soil approaching, the most important question facing the United States men's national soccer team isn’t hype — it’s preparation. In this segment, we reset expectations for the U.S. men’s national team after a strong finish to 2025 and examine how Mauricio Pochettino has guided real growth from the start of the year to the end.

We also look at why potential club moves for Alex Freeman and Ricardo Pepi could have outsized impact this summer, and what matters most for players in the pool as they head toward pre-tournament camp. This is a conversation about consistency, clarity, and doing the work now so the results can follow later.