This week on The Soccer Romantics, Josh is joined by staff writer for the Guardian, Jeff Rueter. We discuss growing up in Minnesota, attending a local university and through love of the game and dedication to the craft, transforming that work into a full time gig for one of the most well-known soccer outlets in the world. We get into the weeds a little bit about lower league soccer in the US, which is right where we want to be!

David Applegate, the Director of Competitions at US Soccer and the Commissioner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, joins the show to discuss his path to the top of the best competition in the world, how he discovered the love of the game, and what's next for the Open Cup.

Week 2 of the USL Super League delivered 14 goals in three matches and Dan and John discuss all the results before looking forward to Week 3. Plus some chatter around the exit of our dear friend Amanda V.

Former Philadelphia Union, Timbers, and Austin Bold player, Amobi Okugo joins Josh Duder on this episode of The Soccer Romantics. Amobi tells us about his path from IMG Academy to UCLA and onward to USMNT U17s, MLS, and ending his career in the USL Championship with Austin Bold. Mr Okugo tells us about growing up with Nigerian parents and his current professional endeavor, OK U GO.

Rubio Rubin, of El Paso Locomotive, joins Josh on this episode of The Soccer Romantics to discuss his extraordinary career so far; from Oregon to the Netherlands and from Liga MX to the Guatemalan National Team, Rubin has travelled the world and has a wonderful perspective. Listen now to hear how he's fallen in love with futbol and where he's going next.

The first week of the USL Super League fall season gave us plenty to talk about and we discuss all the matches plus look forward to this weekend's matchups.

Sure it's a short season and will be a wild race to a title, but John and Dan preview this fall season of the USL Super League. They discuss the offseason, the biggest stories heading into this year, and what they expect in the title race.

A Pod of two halves! Josh checks in with Patrick Infurma, co-founder of Vermont Green FC, while he had to find a place to record from within the confines of Atwood Stadium. We talk about the path VGFC took to get to another final and the legacy their building as an organization. Then, we catch up with President of Flint City Bucks, Mr. Costa Papista, and talk about the team who has been successful for 30 years; how they have consistently challenged for titles and how they have prepared to host the 2026 USL League Two Final.

With the USL W League Final having just wrapped and the USL League Two Final right around the corner, Josh Duder catches up with Joel Nash, Senior Vice President for both leagues, to lament the end of the season. Before we get too low, its time to hype up for the clash between legends Flint City Bucks and legends in the making Vermont Green - Josh and Joel talk about how we got here and where the league is going to next.

One of the founders of MPLS City, Dan Hoedeman joins the show to talk about his passion for the game and how it connects to his local community.