Putting a Bow on World Cup 2026 with USBWA Hall of Famer Mike DeCourcy

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in the books, and on this final post-mortem episode, John Krysinsky brings back Mike DeCourcy (The Sporting News) -- who was there -- to break down Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina at MetLife (NY/NJ) Stadium. 

More than just a World Cup recap, this episode celebrates a monumental milestone: Lat Sunday's final was Mike’s last official event as a full-time sports writer and columnist for The Sporting News after 37 years of Hall of Fame journalism. 

John and Mike discuss:
• The growing soccer culture and jersey-wearing youth in the U.S.
• Nuance in evaluating the USMNT's World Cup performance
• Spain's "Billie Eilish" quiet brilliance on the pitch
• Lionel Messi's final World Cup curtain call and staggering legacy
• Mike's reflections on his 37-year career, his Point Park University roots, and the emotional text from FIFA that sealed his retirement assignment.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction & Celebrating Mike DeCourcy’s Legacy
26:10 - The Generational Shift in U.S. Soccer Culture
29:06 - Re-evaluating the USMNT: Historic Firsts vs. Belgium Disappointment
30:08 - The Aging Core Ahead of World Cup 2030
32:03 - Press Box Reflections: Spain’s Victory & The "Billie Eilish" Metaphor
34:08 - The FIFA Credential Text: The Moment Retiring Hit Home
36:12 - 37 Years of Journalism, Point Park Roots, and Gratitude to Readers

Read Mike's retirement feature and World Cup coverage on The Sporting News.
Follow John Krysinsky on Twitter/X: @JohnKrysinsky
Follow Pittsburgh Soccer Now: @PghSoccerNow

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Lead broadcast analyst Devon Kerr rejoins John Krysinsky for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred edition of Sounding Off on Soccer.

Devon was in the booth at FNB Stadium calling the Hounds' national broadcast victory over Louisville City FC. 

In this episode, he gives his candid thoughts on Trevor Amann’s historic 3-minute, 27-second hat trick, assesses the Riverhounds' mid-season progress under Rob Vincent, and breaks down why the USL Championship playoff race is completely wide open.

In this episode:

• The Raw Reaction to History: Devon’s perspective calling the fastest hat trick in league history.
• No-Holds-Barred USL Assessment: Real separation in the East vs. complete unpredictability in the West.
• Riverhounds Identity Check: What this 7W-6L-2D group needs in the final third over the last 15 matches.
• ACC Men's Soccer Realities: Early thoughts on what to expect from Pitt and Jay Vidovich against a grueling schedule.

Steel City FC Men's First Team Head Coach Dan Brower joins John Krysinsky on Sounding Off on Soccer to reflect on a remarkable era for the club as he prepares to step down from the touchline.

Under Brower's guidance, Steel City FC evolved from its grassroots academy roots into a national USL League Two power—culminating in a 2026 Great Forest Division Title, an undefeated regular season, and the club’s first-ever USL2 postseason victory last week.  

In this episode, John and Dan discuss: 

⚽️ The decision to step down and the evolution of Steel City FC's "family culture"

⚽️ Blending local Western PA talent with incoming collegiate standouts

⚽️ Breaking down the 2026 playoff run: The indoor 1-0 win over Northern Indiana and the battle in Flint

⚽️ Player development, trust, and hearing testimonials from program leaders

⚽️ Dan's experience traveling to watch the USMNT in the World Cup Round of 16

⚽️ What lies ahead for both Dan and the Steel City FC program

Before boarding the bus to Flint, Michigan, for the USL League Two Central Conference Playoffs, Steel City FC standouts Ryan Kopay and Jaxon Ervin sat down with Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky.

The Great Forest Division champions capped off a historic, undefeated regular season (conceding only three goals across 12 matches!) and are now slated for a Round of 32 clash against Northern Indiana FC at Atwood Stadium on Friday, July 17 at 4:00 PM ET.

In this episode, Jaxon and Ryan dive deep into their local roots—having grown up playing youth soccer together with Beadling SC in Western Pennsylvania before embarking on successful college careers (Jaxon at Duquesne and West Allegheny; Ryan at Moon, Akron, and Fairleigh Dickinson). They discuss what it means to return home each summer, the unique bond of this tightly-knit Pittsburgh roster, and the mental preparation required to survive the "one-and-done" crucible of the USL League Two postseason.

Episode Highlights:

• **** The historic, undefeated regular season: Analyzing Steel City's incredible defensive record (9 clean sheets, 3 goals conceded).
• **** Western PA Roots: How playing together at youth powerhouse Beadling SC built a lifelong chemistry that translates to the pitch today.
• **** Local Pride: The meaning of wearing the Steel City FC crest and representing Pittsburgh on the pre-professional national stage.
• **** Postseason Mentality: Breaking down the Friday matchup against Northern Indiana FC and preparing for the hostile, high-stakes environment at Atwood Stadium in Flint.
• **** College Journeys: Balancing their summer campaign with their collegiate seasons (Duquesne and Fairleigh Dickinson).

Subscribe to Sounding Off on Soccer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for unrivaled coverage of local, pre-professional, and professional soccer in Western Pennsylvania.

The tournament run is over. Host John Krysinsky welcomes The Sporting News writer and pod regular Mike DeCourcy to process the heavy reaction surrounding the U.S. Men's National Team’s 4-1 elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Ponderous Reality: Why did the USMNT look surprisingly timid and hesitant on and off the ball compared to earlier tournament performances?
• Moment of Magic vs. Instant Collapse: Malik Tillman's brilliant free-kick equalizer and how Belgium instantly retook the lead just 116 seconds later.
• Defensive and Aerial Breakdowns: An in-depth look at individual performances, communication issues across the backline, and how Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere and Romelu Lukaku thoroughly exposed the U.S. defense.
• The Keeping Blunder: Sifting through Matt Freese’s costly second-half clearance mistake that handed Hans Vanaken an empty net.
• The Program Ceiling: Did this squad simply hit their natural competitive limit, or did tactical execution fail them when it mattered most?

Follow Pittsburgh Soccer Now:

• Website: pittsburghsoccernow.com
• Twitter/X: @PghSoccerNow

The U.S. Men’s National Team has advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time since 2002 after a wild, gritty 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara. Host John Krysinsky is joined by senior writer for The Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy, to break down a chaotic night in the Bay Area and look ahead to a massive knockout clash with Belgium.

John and Mike tackle the fallout from Folarin Balogun's highly controversial 64th-minute red card and how Pochettino's "no-panic" culture kept the 10-man squad structurally flawless. Plus, they dive into the tactical adjustments required for Monday's match without their primary target man: Will it be Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright leading the line, and how much heavy lifting will fall on the soaring shoulders of Malik Tillman? 

Links & Resources:
• Read Mike's post-match column at The Sporting News
• Follow Mike on X: @tsnmike
• Head to Pittsburgh Soccer Now for full match breakdowns, tactical analysis, and fan galleries!

Photo courtesy US Soccer 

The Sporting News legend Mike DeCourcy joins John Krysinsky to recap the group stage fallout and map out the road ahead for Wednesday’s massive USMNT vs. Bosnia knockout clash. Pulling back the curtain on the press room, Mike breaks down how Pochettino is navigating the American media and why tournament depth matters.

Later in the show, John shifts gears to the local sports landscape. Fifty years after the Pittsburgh Triangles won a championship, why is Pittsburgh still sitting on its hands regarding elite women's professional sports? John delivers a passionate closing argument on the explosive growth of the Pittsburgh Riveters SC and Steel City FC, explaining how corporate partnership potential, a deep local talent pipeline, and a looming stadium expansion are paving a direct path toward the USL Super League or NWSL. No more waiting—it's time to get it done.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - USMNT Group Stage Fallout & Roster Rotation Risks
• 22:06 - Attacking Flair: Can Dest, McKennie, and Pulisic Unlock Bosnia?
• 23:11 - Singing Country Roads & Staying Relevant with Mike DeCourcy
• 24:43 - The Pittsburgh Triangles & The Women's Pro Sports Void
• 28:39 - Post-Interview: John on the Pochettino vs. Media Dynamic
• 31:43 - Solo Editorial: It's Time for a Pro Women's Soccer Team in Pittsburgh!

Riverhounds Media Relations Director Matt Grubba, born in Sydney, Australia but raised in the U.S., joins John Krysinsky to preview the highly anticipated USMNT vs. Australia World Cup match and shares an incredible inside look at the Hounds' historic USL Championship win in Tulsa.

Full Show Notes:

Joining the show today is longtime Pittsburgh soccer journalist and current Riverhounds Director of Media Relations, Matt Grubba!

John and Matt have shared press boxes since the dawn of the F.N.B. Stadium era. In this episode, they look back at how much the local soccer landscape has exploded before Matt takes us right onto the pitch in Tulsa, describing what it was like on the inside when the Riverhounds hoisted the USL Championship trophy.

Then, they dive deep into Friday's massive USMNT vs. Australia World Cup group stage matchup. As a dual U.S.-Australian citizen, Matt breaks down the Socceroos' shocking 2-0 counter-attacking upset over Turkey, the rise of teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda, and how Australia plans to set a tactical trap for Pochettino's high-flying Americans in Seattle.

A truly historic week across the global and local sporting landscape brings a powerhouse edition of Sounding Off on Soccer!

We kick things off right from the press box in Los Angeles as host John Krysinsky welcomes back legendary sports journalist Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News. Fresh off covering the U.S. Men’s National Team’s commanding performance, Mike takes us inside the electric atmosphere of the World Cup on home soil. We dive deep into a vintage tactical display the likes of which we’ve never quite seen from the U.S. Men on this stage before. Mike also delivers the latest medical updates on Christian Pulisic’s injury status, breaks down the squad's intensifying preparations for Friday’s massive clash with Australia in Seattle, and even switches gears to give us his perspective as a renowned college basketball writer on the New York Knicks capturing their first NBA title since 1973 behind the chemistry of the "Nova Knicks" and Jalen Brunson's masterpiece.

Then, John shifts the focus back to local soil with a full sweep of the Western Pennsylvania soccer landscape. We break down the absolute tear our area pre-professional teams are on—including the red-hot Pittsburgh Riveters SC nearing a division crown and Steel City FC keeping the defensive standard high.

From there, we unpack the Riverhounds' gritty 1-0 win over Indy Eleven in front of another packed house at F.N.B. Stadium. John pulls from his years of experience as a competitor, coach, and journalist to tackle the social media chatter surrounding the Steel Army heavily booing returning championship goalkeeper Eric Dick, explaining why it was a masterclass in Soccer Gamesmanship 101.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just weeks away, and Mauricio Pochettino has officially set the roster for the USMNT.

The 26-man squad features massive tactical gambles, headline-grabbing snubs, and a heavy reliance on a select few stars to carry the load on home soil.

On this episode of Sounding Off on Soccer, Pittsburgh Soccer Now Managing Editor John Krysinsky sits down with veteran sports journalist and Pittsburgh's own Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News.

Instead of a standard Q&A, John puts Mike on the hot seat at the start in a "Buy or Sell" segment, then togehter they look at the final squad, and dive deep into Mike's latest Sporting News column on why this tournament is Gio Reyna's ultimate legacy moment, and much more!