Soccerish

This week on The Soccer Podcast USA, Lori takes time out from managing the US Women team at TST to talk about the aches, pains, and joys of the tournament. Surprise guest Mike Grella heads straight from playing a game and agrees—even the warm-up is a challenge—and joins Christina and Lori in a spirited defense of Christian Pulisic’s decision to sit out the Concacaf Cup.

Plus: reaction to the USWNT’s two friendlies, and why the Club World Cup continues to struggle for relevance.

00:00 – Christina's glam intro and Lori checks-in from TST

01:45 – Mike Grella surprise drop-in: “I played seven minutes—I'll take it”

03:30 – How Grella stays fit (hint: mowing lawns + chasing kids)

05:04 – Lori on retiring from the pitch: “When warmups are a challenge…”

07:05 – Grella's new goal: 100% passing, 0 injuries

10:05 – Life calling Serie A for CBS: “Who doesn’t want to be Italian?”

14:10 – Como + Pizza = How Heather O’Reilly became president of soccer

16:14 – Grella defends Pulisic: “We’re all human. Let the man have his break.”

19:19 – Christina on the demands on players and the Club World Cup

21:48 – Ticket prices slashed? Club World Cup struggles for relevance

23:13 – Do Americans really care about international leagues?

25:13 – Lori on USWNT’s youth surge: “Confidence. Clarity. Smoothness.”

27:27 – LaBonta makes history at 32. Emma Hayes is making her changes.

30:00 – What it really takes to run a million-dollar TST team

31:01 – USL Super League playoff preview— could there be aTampa Bay Sun, Fort Lauderdale match up?

33:55 – USA + Mexico to co-host 2031 Women’s World Cup

35:27 – and...are Lori's team on their way to another championship?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lo’eau LaBonta is finally getting her USWNT moment — and could make history. This week, Lori and Christina dive into the Emma Hayes callups, preview the team’s friendlies, and get a surprise visit from Heather O’Reilly. She joins live from the dentist’s office to share the inside story of Como 1907, life as a team exec, and how her job in Italian football began with an 8–1 loss and a pasta party. Plus: the TST preview, tournament costs, and a chaotic candy confession.

⏱️ Time Code Highlights – The Soccer Podcast USA (May 27th Episode)

0:00 – Welcome Back! Chaos, Calendar Confusion & Secret Guest Teased

1:44 – Lori’s Hair Evolution + Christina Proposes an “Awkward Meter”

2:48 – Candy Confessions: Werther’s, Gummy Worms & Scuffed Rims

4:25 – LIVE from the Dentist: Heather O’Reilly Joins the Show

5:58 – Weekend Wins: Arsenal Women & UNC Lacrosse Titles

6:38 – Lori’s TST Team: GM Mode, Multi-Club Life, and Michelle Kang Jokes

7:39 – The Road to TST: From Underdogs to Defenders of the Crown

10:12 – What It Really Costs to Field a TST Team (Spoiler: It’s a Lot)

13:48 – Women’s Soccer Economics: What Players Should Know

15:22 – Pasta, Fabregas & Como 1907: Heather’s Italian Job

18:07 – Building a Club Abroad: Challenges, Culture, and a 5-Year Plan

20:26 – Dream Stadium on Lake Como & Heather’s Vision for Serie A

22:00 – Tampa Preseason Invite? Christina Shoots Her Shot

23:41 – Will Heather Come Out of Retirement Again?

24:31 – TST Strategy: Target Scoring, Sub Patterns & Veteran Wisdom

25:44 – Champions League Pride: Arsenal Wins, Tar Heels Shine

27:20 – Ref Storytime: Heather, Offside, and the 5-Minute Stare

30:01 – Leadership Lessons & Adjusting Abroad

31:03 – "It Started with Pasta": How the Italian Deal Was Born

31:38 – Ask the Ref: Why Offside Flags Are Delayed (And Why It's Fine Now)

33:43 – USWNT Call-Ups: The Lo’eau LaBonta Era Begins

36:21 – Youth, Veterans, and the Emma Hayes Development Pipeline

37:40 – Expanded Player Pool = No More Complacency

38:52 – Contract Culture Shift: No More "Locked-In" Status

40:22 – China v USA Preview: A Resurgent Rivalry

41:51 – USMNT Chatter: Culture Reset & Clock Ticking

43:39 – Summer of Soccer: What’s Coming Up

44:46 – Lori’s Travel Plans & TST Prep

46:01 – Shoutout: Tampa Bay Sun Clinch Playoffs & Sell Out Again

46:57 – Signing Off: Birthday Month, Werther’s Wisdom, and What’s Next

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode dives into two referee decisions that confused even the pros. Christina breaks down why only holding qualifies as a continuation foul — and what makes a handball in the box “accidental.” Is it a Red? A Yellow? Or a mess?

Then, our surprise guest: former Mexican international, TV commentator, and trailblazing voice in the women’s game, Janelly Farías. She opens up about the moment she knew it was time to retire — the injury, the heartbreak, and the family tragedy that made her choose love over the game. Janelly also pulls back the curtain on locker room life in Mexico: low salaries, unequal treatment, and how money can fracture a team with players stopping passing — or even speaking — to each other.

• 00:00 – Cold open, referee talk begins immediately
• 01:45 – The “continuation foul” confusion: Jill Loyden’s penalty box dilemma
• 04:50 – Why only holding counts as continuation (and why everyone gets this wrong)
• 07:00 – Lori's game: handball, bracing arm, and the “new DOGSO interpretation”
• 13:20 – The “quadruple punishment” rule and how it's evolved
• 18:40 – Christina's hilarious rant: “I can’t stand kids’ birthday parties”
• 22:39 – Surprise guest enters: Janelly Farias
• 27:11 – “How did you know it was time to retire?”
• 28:40 – Shoulder dislocation + family tragedy — the moment it became clear
• 31:20 – Salaries in Mexico: from $300 a month to $300k a year
• 34:10 – Locker room resentment and the psychology of unequal pay
• 37:52 – Christina calls for unions in women’s soccer — and explains why
• 41:07 – Janelly’s second career: broadcasting, a new book, and a maybe-cookbook
• 48:00 – “Complacency kills the game”: Why mindset still matters
• 54:00 – Lori and Christina reflect on chasing adrenaline vs. taking time to grieve the game
• 56:00 – Closing updates: where the hosts are headed this weekend

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the week of the woof. Bay FC co-owner, Redefined podcast host, and former USWNT star Leslie Osborne crashes the pod—with help from her dog Gunner, who barks his way into a starring role. She, Lori, and Christina dive into why today’s NWSL players connect so powerfully with young fans (including Leslie’s own daughters). Plus: the "brilliant" Beckham troll, triathlon training check-ins, and chaos, as always.

00:00 – Welcome to the Mayhem

Christina and Lori tease a surprise guest. Chaos begins instantly. Christina reveals she's training for her first sprint triathlon—after mistakenly thinking she was turning 39 (she’s actually 38).

05:30 – Surprise Guest: Leslie Osborne (and Gunner 🐶)

Former USWNT star and Bay FC co-owner Leslie Osborne joins—interrupted by her protective pup, Gunner.

08:16 – Breaking News: Lori & Leslie to Coach at TST

Christina breaks the news: Lori and Leslie will team up as coach and assistant sporting director at this year’s TST tournament.

11:25 – Soccer Mom Life & NWSL Role Models

Leslie shares the joy of watching her daughters fall in love with the game—and the direct influence today’s NWSL stars have on young girls (and boys). Role models like Oshoala, Cunanagi, and Karlie Lima are household heroes in the Osborne home.

17:50 – Normalizing Women's Pro Sports

A powerful segment on representation, equal pay, and the importance of young boys seeing women as professional athletes—just athletes, full stop.

19:43 – Redefined: Leslie’s New Podcast

Leslie introduces Redefined, her show with Front Office Sports that spotlights athlete-moms, untold mental health journeys, and post-sport pivots. Christina is an upcoming guest.

22:29 – Christina’s Triathlon Panic

Leslie’s podcast inspires Christina as she preps for a June sprint triathlon, with comedic panic over bike transitions and age confusion.

23:54 – Beep Test Trauma, Shared

The trio swap memories—and scars—from their fitness testing days. Beep tests, sprint cones, and the mental toll of being punished for being tired.

31:02 – Banter Breakdown: Beckham vs. Minnesota

Christina and Lori cheer Minnesota United’s cheeky “Pink Phony Club” jab at Beckham’s Miami. Verdict: give that marketing guy a $1,000 bonus.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

VAR takes center stage this week—Christina and Lori break down a botched penalty call and debate whether American VAR will ever get it right (hint: not soon). Plus, is it V.A.R. or "var"? Let the record show: pronunciation matters.

Then surprise guest Jimmy Conrad—who proudly dubs himself Conradinho in honor of his inner Brazilian box-to-box midfielder—joins the pod to explain why he's pursuing a UEFA coaching license instead of navigating U.S. Soccer’s bureaucratic maze. The CBS analyst and Call It What You Want host doesn’t hold back on the red tape, and missed chances for ex-players. He also examines what’s gone so wrong with LA Galaxy.

Also: Christina’s team makes USL W history, but not the good kind—she walks us through the first red card and the ethical headache it left behind.

⏱️ Time-Coded Episode Guide:

00:00 — VAR Chaos & “The Touch”

Lori and Christina debate a rescinded PK in Gotham-Chicago—and why balance can backfire.

03:30 — Don’t Say VAR or PKs 🙅‍♀️

Christina’s pronunciation PTSD and secret referee societies.

07:05 — Why VAR’s Not Working in the U.S.

Christina explains the delays, decisions—and why it’ll take 5–10 years to fix.

14:13 — Red Cards & Real Consequences 🚨

Christina on a player on her team receiving the USL W’s first-ever red card—and her ethical dilemma over an appeal.

17:35 — Surprise Guest Call-Up: Conradinho 🎙️

Surprise guest Jimmy Conrad joins the show. He explains why he calls himself “Conradinho”—and how a center back can dream of being a Brazilian midfielder..

22:13 — Ditching U.S. Soccer’s Coaching License

Jimmy reveals why he chose UEFA over USSF—and how ex-players are boxed out.

38:32 — Can the Galaxy Be Saved? 🌌

Jimmy puts on his coach’s cap: good soccer decisions > panic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina and Lori kick things off with a critical question—flour or corn tortillas?—then get into the real debate: has the hype around the USMNT outpaced the results, and is Pochettino already under unfair pressure? They break down the complexities of syncing MLS with Europe’s calendar, the media and weather hurdles standing in the way, and what the NWSL’s new second division really means for the women’s game. Along the way: laughter, sharp takes, and a surprise guest from the broadcast world brings stories, wisdom, and a little chaos.

⏱️ Time-Coded Episode Guide:

00:00 — Welcome & Hair Watch

Christina introduces Lori… and her evolving hairstyle.

01:30 — The Great Taco Debate 🌮

Flour or corn? A pantry crisis sparks tortilla loyalties.

04:23 — Pochettino, Pressure & the USMNT

Are expectations too high? Is this déjà vu after Berhalter?

08:18 — The Club vs. Country Dilemma

Why cohesion is hard when players are scattered across continents.

11:32 — Should the U.S. Hire an American Coach?

Christina and Lori on identity, culture, and coaching DNA.

14:00 — MLS to Align with Europe?

A calendar shift? Weather, TV schedules, and cold realities.

20:19 — Surprise Guest Call-Up 🎙️

A broadcast pro joins with stories, perspective, and a bit of mayhem.

40:12 — NWSL Expansion & the Second Division

Why more teams and another league maybe just what the NWSL needs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lori’s back — and now she’s on every week. In her first official episode as a regular, she weighs whether to take coaching calls with a background of naked women (yes, really).

Plus:

⚽ Seattle Reign vs Portland Thorns — they hate each other

🔥 Angel City’s bold new hire

🎤 A surprise guest drops in mid-show

📉 What’s going wrong at LA Galaxy?

🎟️ And a new ticket giveaway to support your local team

📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

📲 @thesoccerpodcastusa

⏱️ Timecodes:

00:00 – Welcome Lori, naked photos, and Pinky and the Brain

02:59 – Seattle stomps on Portland's roses

08:53 –Angel City's new coach

13:00 – The Mystery Guest dials in

34:09– Ray Hudson's greatest line?

41:15 – What's going on with LA Galaxy

47:02 – Butts in seats, win 2 tickets to your favorite team

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United Soccer League (USL) is betting big on a bold idea: introducing promotion and relegation to American soccer by 2026. It’s a move that challenges the closed-league structure entrenched in U.S. sports—and could change the game forever.

In this episode, host Christina Unkel sits down with Kim Shelton, CEO of Lexington Sporting Club, one of the most ambitious new clubs in the country. With professional men's and women’s teams, deep youth investment, and a 150-acre campus, Lexington SC is building a future from the ground up—just as the sport faces a structural revolution.

Could Lexington be the next Wrexham? And can American fans embrace a system built on risk, reward, and relentless competition? This conversation unpacks what pro/rel could mean for U.S. soccer—from business to community to culture.

Timestamps:

⏳ 00:00– 00.37 The highs and lows of promotion and relegation 🎩

⏳ 00:37 – 02:23 A brief history of U.S. Soccer - the booms, busts, passions and flirtations ⚽

⏳ 02.23 – 08.51 Welcome to Lexington.⚽

⏳ 08.51 – 14.21 So let's talk more about this promotion and relegation business ⚽

⏳ 14.21 – 17.12 Winning delivers fans, and fans deserve a good product ⚽

⏳ 17.12 – 18.50 But what happens if you get relegated? ⚽

⏳ 18.50 – 20.30 How will the giants of American sport react? The NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA?⚽

⏳ 20.30 – 22.34 What about NWSL and MLS? ⚽

⏳ 22.34 – 25.34 Christina's Conclusions ⚽

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This isn’t your normal podcast episode—because nothing about this week was normal. Christina Unkel takes you on an 8,598-mile journey behind the scenes of global soccer. From breaking down controversial refereeing calls mid-flight for CBS Sports to delivering a major presentation to Brentford FC’s board, she dives into the rules, business, and culture of the sport. She soaks in the electric atmosphere of Old Trafford, where Manchester United fans make their feelings about the Glazers loud and clear, and steps inside the legendary Wembley Stadium, the ‘home of football.’

At Brentford, she doesn’t just talk about women’s soccer—she pushes for its future. In a powerful and passionate message to the club’s board, she lays out why investing in the women’s game isn’t charity, it’s business. With new spectators, corporate partnerships, and rising global interest, the clubs that lead this movement will reap the rewards. And Brentford isn’t just talking about change—they’re building it.

Timestamps:

⏳ 00:00– 00.24| Taking your breath away at Manchester United 🎩

⏳ 00:24 – 01:24 The journey begins, Tampa, New York, London, Manchester and a CBS broadcast from an airport lounge ⚽

⏳ 01.24 – 03:21 Brentford FC, a club that's getting it right .⚽

⏳ 03.21 – 03.40 Is it petrol or gas?⚽

⏳ 03.40 – 04.09 Face to Face with a Glazer protest at Old Trafford⚽

⏳ 04.09 – 05.18 The magic of the game, being inside Old Trafford when Bruno Fernandes scores⚽

⏳ 05.18 – 07.55 Onto Wembley, the Vatican of "football" ⚽

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three-time Olympic champion, World Cup winner, and TNT analyst Shannon Boxx joins Christina Unkel to dissect the latest phase of Emma Hayes’ USWNT rebuild. Is the plan on track? After a 2-1 loss to Japan, what lessons can be learned from a defeat in a major final? Plus, who are the rising stars to watch? Ally Sentnor, Lilly Yohannes, Yazmeen Ryan, and Emily Sams all get a mention. And, Christina reveals why Shannon Boxx “terrified” her on the pitch.

Timestamps:

⏳ 00:00– 02.10| Podcast opening and Christina tells Shannon Boxx "i feared you the most" 🎩

⏳ 02:10 – 05:11 Emma Hayes...everybody expects the team to win, again, and again and again ⚽

⏳ 05.11 – 06:10 So much talent on the USWNT...Sentnor, Yohannes, Ryan, Sams...so much further ahead....⚽

⏳ 06.10 – 06.55 Who's going to step up and challenge Triple Espresso? ⚽

⏳ 06:55 – 08.00 Inside the camp..and style of play..keeping the ball and a transition game ⚽

⏳ 08.00 – 13.20 Learning the lessons from losing. ⚽

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.