U.S. Soccer Podcast

Alessandro Canale contains multitudes. The beach soccer star has played in 4 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cups, scored 12 World Cup goals, and made over 100 appearances for team USA. But he balances beach soccer with an acting career (Canale once appeared in an episode of Malcolm in the Middle) and his passion for art, design, and skateboarding. In this episode of The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, host Meghan Klingenberg touches on all of this and more.  

01:11 – David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg explain why Alessandro Canale is such a star in the beach soccer game 

02:49 – Kling interviews Alessandro Canale 

04:05 – Transition to beach soccer 

14:50 – Creativity and art in soccer 

21:24 – Biggest accomplishments in the game 

26:34 – What makes beach soccer so specual 

29:55 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass  

Guest: Alessandro Canale 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cat Macario is on a hot streak for the USWNT: The forward has scored 3 goals in her last two national team appearances. In this feature interview for the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, Macario discusses her recent form, how Hannah Montana helped her master English, her historic Nike deal, her USWNT ambitions, and the importance of   mental resilience and seeking self-worth beyond the soccer field.  

00:50 – David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg explain what makes Cat Macario such a special player 

02:49 – Kling interviews Cat Macario 

02:59 – Cultural adjustments and team dynamics 

11:08 – Representing the USWNT 

25:23 – Overcoming injuries and self-worth outside of soccer 

32:57 – Ultimate USWNT ambitions 

35:55 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass  

Guest: Cat Macario 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the offseason for the National Women’s Soccer League, and before the 2026 NWSL season kickoff in February, we catch up with league veteran Kelly Hubly. The Bay FC defender chats with former teammate Meghan Klingenberg to reveal what the offseason looks like for professional soccer players. Later, Kling and co-host David Gass preview the 2026 SheBelieves Cup. The USWNT will face Argentina in Nashville, Tennessee on March 1, Canada in Columbus, Ohio on March 4 and Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey on March 7. 

00:50 – David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg usher in the new year 

04:18 – Kling interviews Kelli Hubly 

05:40 – Pilates and staying fit during the offseason 

08:30 – Kelli’s favorite books 

15:50 – ‘Do players stay sober?’ 

20:07 – The Offseason, the NWSL’s reality TV show 

27:20 – Soccer weddings 

28:30 – Looking ahead to 2026 

31:21 – SheBelieves Cup Preview! 

34:30 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass  

Guest: Kelli Hubly 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our three hosts embrace a festive spirit as they recap 2025 in this joyful holiday edition of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel. Listen as David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, review their wish lists, and rank the best soccer moments and performances of the year. 

0:30 – Festive nicknames & sweaters ❄️ 

4:45 – End-of-Year awards 🏅 

19:35 – Mailbag! 📬 

34:50 – Red Card or Play On? ⚽ 

37:55 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 🚗 

Happy Holidays from the U.S. Soccer Podcast! 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg, Alejandro Bedoya 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December is Disability Soccer Month, and this week on the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel we’re shining a light on our Extended National Teams with two special guests. 

Josh Brunais, captain of the Men's Cerebral Palsy National Team, shares his journey from a military career to soccer champion, leading the U.S. to the 2025 IFCPF Copa América title. Later, Chief Advancement Officer Leah Burton introduces U.S. Soccer’s “Behind the Dream” campaign and discusses how philanthropy is helping propel the sport forward. 

00:00:52 – Intro with David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg 

00:03:37 – Kling interviews Josh Brunais 

00:08:30 – Josh’s military service 

00:14:40 – His path to the CP National Team 

00:22:40 – The different rules of CP soccer 

00:29:55 – Winning the 2025 IFCPF Copa América title 

00:37:50 – Josh’s first cap 

00:41:15 – 2016 Paralympics & meeting President Barack Obama 

00:48:15 – U.S. Soccer’s Extended National Teams 

00:50:18 – Leah Burton discusses ‘Beyond the Dream’ 

01:05:25 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass 

Guests: Justin Brunais, Leah Burton 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

More on the U.S. Men’s CP National Team: https://www.ussoccer.com/teams/mens-cp-national-team 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The stage is set! The U.S. Men’s National Team was drawn into Group D along with Paraguay, Australia and the winner of UEFA Playoff C – either Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or Türkiye – at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Draw held Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C. 

We’re months away from the first group stage match for the Americans against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. So, what comes next? Sporting Director Matt Crocker joins the show to take us behind the scenes of U.S. Soccer’s preparations in the months ahead and the belief building around the USMNT, which enters 2026 on a five-match unbeaten streak. 

0:37 – Intro with David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg 

4:45 – Gass and Kling interview Matt Crocker 

8 46 – The process of scouting Paraguay and Australia  

9:55 – How the sporting department works with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino 

12:45 – On how the staff can prepare for a team yet to be determined in UEFA Playoff C 

14:45 – Crocker's assessment of wins over Australia in October and Paraguay in November 

17:20 – The competitive advantage we don't realize the U.S. has playing on home soil 

20:30 – The ‘traveling circus’ of a World Cup camp and building the best environment for the players 

24:00 – How U.S. Soccer embraces the families along for the ride 

26:20 – Changing to a 48-team tournament 

27:35 – “Our objective is to win the World Cup” 

29:10 – “I'm a snotty-nosed little soccer kid from Wales” 

31:50 – Learn more about U.S. Soccer’s ‘Never Chase Reality’ campaign 

33:00 – How the 2026 FIFA World Cup and upcoming tournaments will give U.S. Soccer the platform to grow and elevate soccer in America 

38:10 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

https://youtu.be/D3yyRji0gyI 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg 

Guest: Matt Crocker 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

For more on Matt Crocker, visit https://www.ussoccer.com/executive-leadership/matt-crocker 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re taking you behind the scenes of the U.S. Soccer Summit in New York City with this week’s episode which features an exclusive panel interview with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino and assistant coach Jesús Pérez hosted by FOX broadcaster Jenny Taft. 

00:15 – Intro with David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg 

04:16 – Jenny Taft interviews USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino and assistant coach Jesús Pérez 

08:49 – Mauricio Pochettino on building a “family-style” connection to American soccer 

12:45 – Jesús Pérez on the importance of his role on implementing Pochettino’s vision 

14:40 – Mauricio Pochettino on why this was the right time in his career to become USMNT head coach  

16:45 – Comparing the club experience to the national team 

18:40 – Thoughts on the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center, which will be ready in 2026 

22:15 – Pochettino’s vision and timeline for the 2026 FIFA World Cup 

27:20 – The state of the USMNT program now coming off recent wins over Paraguay and Uruguay in November  

29:00 – Managing expectations for a World Cup on home soil 

34:50 – How Pérez has seen the USMNT players grow and trust Pochettino 

36:35 – Reaction to the four matches for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s final march towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup featuring three of the world’s top 10-teams in Belgium, Portugal and Germany 

38:55 – How Mauricio Pochettino is liking America sports culture and the connection to the movie Miracle  

44:30 – Details of the FIFA World Cup Draw on Friday, Dec. 5 and U.S. Soccer’s event in the heart of Times Square in New York City 

45:30 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg, Jenny Taft 

Guest: Mauricio Pochettino, Jesús Perez 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

Supervising Producer: Sandy McAfee 

Executive Producer: Michael Allardyce 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered who’s next to head coach Mauricio Pochettino on the bench during a U.S. Men’s National Team match? Get to know Jesús Pérez, USMNT assistant coach, Pochettino’s right-hand man and this week’s featured guest on the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Since joining Pochettino nearly 15 years ago at his first managerial job in Europe, Pérez has supported Pochettino at each successive stop on the European club circuit and now serves alongside him on the U.S. staff preparing the National Team for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. 

0:30 – Intro with David Gass, Alejandro Bedoya and Meghan Klingenberg 

2:18 – Ale interviews U.S. Men’s National Team assistant coach Jesús Pérez  

3:03 – Pérez shares his soccer journey growing up in Barcelona and playing right wing 

6:00 – Meeting Mauricio Pochettino for the first time at Espanyol and early coaching days in La Liga 

13:00 – Pérez on what impresses him most about Pochettino 

15:12 – How the USMNT coaching staff utilizes data analytics and the role it plays in roster selection  

24:40 – What is Team USA’s tactics and philosophies?  

27:00 – Pérez discusses the FIFA 2026 World Cup: "We really believe that we can win it” 

31:00 – Working with swimmers and how that shaped his coaching perspective 

33:40 – Gass and Kling react to the interview (they're fired up!), then Kling and Ale name the assistant coaches, including Pat Noonan, who impacted their careers 

39:40 – Show your fandom and shop official U.S. Soccer gear this holiday season 

40:00 – Join our World Cup Group Draw experience in Times Square in New York City 

40:25 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

47:30 – Ale Bedoya looks back on the 2025 MLS season for Philadelphia Union and reacts to the season coming to an end in the MLS Cup Playoffs 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Alejandro Bedoya, David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg 

Guest: Jesús Pérez 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

### 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two of our hosts go head-to-head in the latest episode of the U.S. Podcast! In front of a live audience at Subaru Park, Pennsylvania native Meghan Klingenberg interviews Philadelphia Union star and co-host Alejandro Bedoya about his favorite memories over the years playing soccer for club and country. 

0:26 – Intro with David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya 

3:45 – Kling interviews Ale, co-host and Philadelphia Union midfielder  

5:20 – Growing up in a soccer household 

10:00 – North Jersey, playing for the Clifton Stallions 

11:15 – Why Bedoya chose not to enter the MLS SuperDraft 

15:25 – Collecting rejection emails 

17:30 – The racquet sport of 'padel’ 

22:35 – Sweden and speaking Swedish 

25:40 – Rangers FC and the rivalry with Celtic in Scotland  

32:45 – Developing as a player in Europe 

36:55 – Red card or play on? 

41:30 – U.S. Men’s National Team callups 

44:00 – 2014 World Cup in Brazil 

49:00 – Major League Soccer and signing with Philadelphia Union 

56:00 – What gives Alejandro Bedoya joy 

59:15 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience prior to the matchup between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Paraguay on Nov. 15 at Subaru Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. Learn more on how you can be part of upcoming live shows by becoming a U.S. Soccer Insider. 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast tells stories in service to soccer and the people who live it, amplifying player voices and the stories behind the game. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass, Alejandro Bedoya 

Guest: Alejandro Bedoya 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit ussoccer.org/podcast  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when two quality left fullbacks sit down in the same room? The answer is in this week’s episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast when host, former USWNT player and World Cup winner Meghan Klingenberg chats with U.S. Men’s National Team defender Antonee “Jedi” Robinson. They discuss the nuances of their shared position, unpack the lore of Robinson’s “Jedi” nickname, look ahead to the 2026 World Cup, and much more. 

0:16 – Intro with David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg 

1:52 – Kling interviews USMNT and Fulham defender Antonee “Jedi” Robinson 

2:30 – Memories of Marcelo 

3:50 – What makes the left fullback position unique 

8:08 – Star Wars and becoming a “Jedi”  

14:15 – Jedi’s “Roman Empire” 

15:30 – Returning to USMNT Camp 

17:52 – Fulham with Tim Ream & the English Premier League 

22:00 – Golf, family and finding joy 

23:25 – Thailand  

24:50 – Looking ahead to World Cup 2026 

27:35 – USMNT vs. Uruguay on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida 

29:25 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast tells stories in service to soccer and the people who live it, amplifying player voices and the stories behind the game. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass 

Guest: Antonee "Jedi" Robinson 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices