The U.S. Soccer Podcast

As the U.S. Women’s National Team wrapped up its October training camp in Colorado, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski joined Jordan and Charlie for Episode 22 of The U.S. Soccer Podcast.

Elated to be back on the field coaching after a seven-month pause in programing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andonovski discussed his goals for the camp and what he and his coaching staff were looking to see from players in building for both the upcoming Olympics and future cycles. He also shed light on the ultra-competitive environment and mentality that have become synonymous with the culture of the USWNT.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, October 21. Prior to the interview with Maurice Edu, Charlie and Jordan sent a message of support to Daryl Grove, the founder and co-host of The Total Soccer Show. Diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January 2019, Daryl entered hospice care on Sunday  and passed away over night Friday. Combining his passion for the game with the podcasting medium, Daryl was a treasured voice in our soccer community and leaves a legacy that will live on for forever.

We ask that you consider a donation to the “Team Daryl Grove” page on GoFundMe to help Daryl’s family through this time.

We send our strength and love to them, his Total Soccer Show co-host Taylor Rockwell, their listeners and all those who were touched by Daryl's work.

Daryl, Thank You. We love you.

One of a number of U.S. players to pass through Ibrox with Scottish giants Rangers, Edu reflected on what the “Old Firm” rivalry with Celtic means in Scotland and scoring a famous stoppage-time winner in the derby on February 28, 2010. Just the fourth American to score in the UEFA Champions League – a feat he accomplished the following season - the former midfielder spoke with pride about seeing five different U.S. players appear in the competition on the same day earlier this week.

Captain of the U.S. team that qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Edu spoke about how the core from that team helped make up a big chunk of the USMNT at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and reminisced about the shocking call that denied him a late game-winning goal against Slovenia in South Africa.

Teammates with Charlie Davies at the 2008 Olympics and on the USMNT, Edu also spoke about their close friendship, and how inspired he has been by Charlie’s recovery from his 2009 car accident.

As the U.S. Women’s National Team returns to the field for the first time in seven months, catch up on the action on the ground in Colorado with a special Camp Update from The US Soccer Podcast. Colorado natives Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith addressed the media after the first day of full-team training in the Centennial State. Horan has been thankful to get the chance to get back to field while following guidelines to stay safe and has embraced her growing leadership role. Smith, the number one draft pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft, has relished the opportunity to return to the full team setting and sharpen her skills playing with and against some of the best in the world.

After being part of the important Roundtable on Racism back in June, USMNT and Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen became the first two-time guest on The U.S. Soccer Podcast, returning for the show’s 20th overall episode.

Having spent last season in Germany on loan with Fortuna Düsseldorf, Zack talked to Jordan and Charlie about how he’s settled in Manchester, what the GK Union situation is like with Ederson and City’s other goalkeepers and what he took away from his first two appearances for the club in the Carabao Cup. Zack also talked about the connections he’s made with his fell U.S. “Cityzens”, the USWNT duo of Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle and their crosstown rivals Tobin Heath and Christen Press at Manchester United.

Zack continues to do great work in the community through the VOYCENOW Foundation which he started earlier this year. A global community of athletes and fans fighting for equality and justice, VOYCENOW recently launched the Minority Education Fund, which aims to help level the playing field for children of color by increasing their access to education. Working in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, funds raised through the campaign will go to help provide laptops, scholarships and mentorship programs.

Finally, Zack talked about being one of 10 U.S. players eligible for the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League, his excitement for a potential USMNT camp in Europe next month, and how the team can continue to grow as it works towards qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In 2019, Jill Ellis became the first coach to win two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles. One year later, the former USWNT head coach is committed to unlocking opportunities for the female coaches who look to follow in her footsteps. On this week’s episode of The U.S. Soccer Podcast, Ellis joins hosts Jordan Angeli and Charlie Davies to discuss U.S. Soccer’s newly launched Jill Ellis Scholarship Fund and the SheChampions Mentorship Program, initiatives aimed to directly target and tackle the barriers women face when getting into or advancing in coaching.

Stephanie Lopez Cox joins The U.S. Soccer Podcast this week as part of the Federation’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and to discuss her remarkable journey in the game with Jordan and Charlie.

A product of the U.S. Youth National Team system, she made 89 appearances with the USWNT, playing in two FIFA Women’s World Cups and capturing gold at the 2008 Olympics. Along with her success on the international stage, Cox also discussed her professional career and her remarkable return to the pitch not once, but twice. First, after becoming a mom, and secondly in 2019, when she put the boots back on and went from an assistant coach for now-USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski, to anchoring a defensive line in the NWSL.

While Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, and Emily Sonnett are currently plying their trade in Europe, earlier this spring the trio co-hosted a USWNT Classics pre-game chat leading into a re-air of the USA’s matchup against Australia in April 2019. The World Cup champions brought the insights and entertainment as they battled sometimes spotty WiFi, caught up, and looked back on the meeting with the Matildas.

Episode No. 17 of The U.S. Soccer Podcast features one of the best to wear the No. 17 jersey in U.S. Men’s National team history, as Marcelo Balboa joins hosts Jordan Angeli and Charlie Davies on the show as part of the Federation’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The first U.S. player – man or woman – to reach 100 caps, Balboa rose from the U-20 MNT and into the senior team in 1988, becoming one of the youngest players on the 1990 FIFA World Cup roster. A mainstay in the side leading up to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, he suffered an ACL tear just over a year before the tournament, putting his participation in doubt. Balboa went into detail about the depression he experienced in that time and the helping hand that the late Fernando Clavijo provided him as he recovered before going on to start for the USA in all four matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Full of interesting stories, Balboa spoke in depth on the growth of the National Team programs since the late 1980s, the team’s performance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, when he knew it was the right time to retire and how he sees the development of Hispanic talent in the United States.

Well-traveled former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu joins Charlie and Jordan to reminisce on a professional career which saw him play 13 seasons across seven different European countries and share locker rooms with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Ronaldinho and Andrea Pirlo, among many others. Seasoned in the European game, Onyewu gave his thoughts and advice to the young, exciting crop of USMNT players currently plying their trade overseas.

Abby Wambach and Heather O’Reilly relive the record-setting match vs Korea Republic on June 20, 2013 in which Wambach passed the legendary Mia Hamm as the all-time leading goal-scorer in international soccer. The longtime teammates and friends caught up on life, reflected on their careers and reminisced about that memorable night. Wambach entered the match needing a hat trick to break Hamm’s international scoring record of 158 career goals. She made history – and then some – scoring four goals in the first half.