USA Soccercast

The United States Women’s National Team won its 5th SheBelieves Cup title, and we recap the tournament on Episode 75. On this episode, we’re joined by Skye and Sylvs, who are the pair behind the wonderful Shea Butter FC Podcast, which focuses on Black women and non-binary people in soccer. They talk about what they saw from the press box at the first two matches and in general from the USWNT.

We start with the SheBelieves Cup, where the USWNT had a 0-0 draw against the Czech Republic, a 5-0 win over New Zealand, and a 5-0 win over Iceland to close out the tournament. Skye and Sylvs discuss the good and the bad of the USWNT’s performance in each match in detail, from some of the link up play to how the team should consider moving forward with the makeup of its roster.

We also take some time to learn more about their show, the Shea Butter FC Podcast, and what motivated them to enter the podcasting space. We talk about some of the important topics they discuss and the lane they’ve already created to shine a light on all the Black players, executives, and supporters groups that are taking over the game. It’s a fun interview but it’s also an important one, and you don’t want to miss it!

Follow the Shea Butter FC Podcast on Twitter at @SBFC_Podcast, and definitely give Sylvs (@southernsylvs) and Skye (@skyfyefutbol) a follow to continue the conversation. And, hit the comments to discuss what you saw from SheBelieves Cup and the USWNT.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Women’s National Team prepare for SheBelieves Cup, and we do a quick preview of all the games on Episode 74. The USWNT will begin their 2022 schedule tomorrow against Czech Republic, continue on Sunday against New Zealand, and end next Wednesday with a match against Iceland.

There is excitement around some of the young talent that’s in this camp, like Midge Purce, Trinity Rodman, and Ashley Sanchez. Can they make an impact on this team during this tournament? This year is an important one for the USWNT, with the Concacaf W Championship this summer serving as qualfiying for both the 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifying and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

We talk briefly about why the USWNT have ended up drawing the Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Iceland for this edition of SheBelieves instead of the traditional powers that normally participate in this tournament. But, this could serve as a great test for the USWNT, mimicking a theoretical World Cup group.

Stay tuned to Stars & Stripes FC for all the coverage around SheBelieves Cup, and hit the comments to discuss the upcoming tournament and what you’re expecting.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Men’s National Team are done with the winter World Cup qualifying window, and that’s the primary focus of Episode 73. The USMNT got 6 of a possible 9 points during the window, which still leaves them controlling their own destiny as we head towards the final window in March. Looming in that March window: trips to Azteca to face Mexico and an away trip in San Jose, Costa Rica. Also, another must-win match in Orlando against Panama is sandwiched in the middle. We review the window and how the USMNT played, and we check the standings and scenarios for the USMNT to qualify directly for the 2022 World Cup.

After the break, the Concacaf Nations League is back! We review details of the next edition of the tournament. The draw takes place April 4th and matches begin in the May/June window. We see what the draw could look like in April as well as what the USMNT could be facing for their summer and fall schedule.

Finally, the USWNT roster is out for SheBelieves Cup! We quickly look at the players that Vlatko Andonovski is bringing to camp, and it appears it’s a mix of veterans and young players looking to break through and become full time members of the team going forward.

We will preview SheBelieves Cup early next week, but until then, send ideas for topics or any questions to SSFC Podcast at Gmail dot com.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The international window is here, and the United States Men’s National Team have 3 important World Cup qualifiers coming up over the next 9 days. On Episode 72, we preview the entire window and see what the USMNT need to do to win. 

We are also joined by Adam Palermo of Waking The Red, who gets us ready for the big match of the entire window, Canada vs. USA in Hamilton (note: the interview was recorded before the announcement that the match will operate at 50% capacity). He gives us an inside scoop at how Canada has been so successful thus far in World Cup qualifying and how they will cope without Alphonso Davies in the lineup. He also gives us some players for American fans to watch as the USMNT try to get a big win on the road.

We will attempt to do a Twitter Spaces from the road during the window, but there will also be tons of coverage on SSFC, so make sure you’re locked in and we’ll make sure you’re prepared for the USMNT’s important week!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Men’s National Team has its roster revealed today for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, and we discuss it on Episode 71! It’s a 28-man roster that will head to Columbus, Hamilton, and St. Paul, and we review the roster to see who USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will rely upon during the window.

We also hear from Berhalter, as we play some sound from his press conference this afternoon. There, we’ll get some of his thinking behind the decisions he had to make on which players to bring to camp.

After the break, the USMNT will be headed to Orlando for their final home match of World Cup qualifying in March against Panama. We discuss that selection of Exploria Stadium and its potential to be the venue where the USMNT could clinch a spot in the 2022 World Cup.

We will be back on Tuesday morning to preview the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, including a special focus on the USA-Canada match. We’ll have a special interview to get us ready for that match as we enter the international window!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The USWNT have a roster for their January training camp, and we react to it on Episode 70 of the SSFC Podcast! Vlatko Andonovski has called in 26 players to a training camp in Austin for 9 days of training, and we examine the roster to see who’s competing and why others may have been left out.

The USWNT U-23s are also headed to Austin for 5 days of training, and there are 3 players on that roster who have USWNT camp experience. We quickly cover that group and what it means for Vlatko to be able to evaluate the young talent that could form the core of the USWNT’s future.

We want to hear from you! Are there topics you wish for the podcast to cover? Send an email to SSFC Podcast at Gmail dot com. We’ll talk about anything that’s national team related or adjacent on this show! Also, subscribing to the podcast and telling your friends about it really helps. Are there people you’d like to see on the show? Hit up the email and let us know!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a new year, and the SSFC Podcast is back to kick off January with Episode 69! We get into the transfer window, the USMNT’s preliminary training camp in Phoenix, and the announcement of SheBelieves Cup for the USWNT.

The January transfer window is open and it has already been busy for Americans. We’ve seen Daryl Dike move to West Bromwich Albion and James Sands go to Rangers FC on loan. But, the biggest transfer so far has been Ricardo Pepi moving to FC Augsberg for a MLS record transfer fee. We discuss those moves and what it means for those players.

After the break, the USMNT are convening a training camp for domestic players ahead of the World Cup qualifying window in an effort to boost their match readiness during the MLS offseason. 19 players have been called into camp, and we go through the roster who will head to Phoenix for 2 weeks to compete for a spot on the main roster when it’s released in a couple weeks.

Finally, we now have the dates, venues, and opponents for the USWNT as they compete next month in the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. Joining the best team in the world are the Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Iceland. We discuss the tournament and how it’s a good thing to switch it up this year and play some unfamiliar teams.

We’ll be back next week, so in the meantime, let us know if you have questions or topic suggestions by sending an email to SSFC Podcast at Gmail dot com.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2021 was a wild year for the United States National Teams, and we recap all the highs and lows on Episode 68! The USMNT won the Nations League and the Gold Cup, and are sitting in qualifying position in World Cup qualifying. We break down their historic year, which included beating Mexico 3 times along with the two major trophies.

The USWNT had an up-and-down year, despite matching the USMNT in wins. They won SheBelieves Cup, but had to settle for bronze at the Olympics. We analyze their year, with goalscorers. We also quickly discuss the youth national teams, with the MNT U-23s missing out on yet another Olympics and the rest of the youth national teams coming back online after almost a 2 year hiatus.

After the break, we dip into the mailbag. We received a ton of questions dealing with the strength of different leagues, the upcoming transfer window, how the emergence of new women’s leagues will affect the NWSL, who the true MNT and WNT players of the year were, and more. All of these questions will merit a lot of discussion, so continue that in the comments below.

Continue to send in questions, and we’ll have another mailbag episode very soon!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Women’s National Team had a productive trip Down Under, and we lead Episode 67 with a recap of their matches against Australia. There were a few players who seized the opportunity they were given, like Ashley Hatch, Midge Purce, Casey Murphy, and Andi Sullivan. And, Vlatko Andonovski will have some choices to make going forward about which direction he wishes to steer the USWNT as it gears up for World Cup qualifying and Olympic qualifying next summer.

After the break, we move to the USMNT, who have 3 World Cup qualifiers in January. The venues were recently announced, and we discuss the choices of Columbus and St. Paul for the home matches on January 27th and February 2nd, along with Canada selecting Hamilton as the site of their home match against the USMNT on January 30th.

Finally, we get into the rumored 2022 home and away jerseys for U.S. Soccer, and it’s time to opine that blank white or royal jerseys are not enough, and we must do better.

Keep the discussion going in the comments, or send an email to SSFC Podcast at Gmail dot com!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Men’s National Team has completed another international window of World Cup qualifying, and we recap it on Episode 66 of the SSFC Podcast. First, the USMNT had another magic night in Ohio with a Dos A Cero win over Mexico. We discuss some of the banter and address some of the people who still continued to hate on Gregg Berhalter even after a historic victory, his 3rd over Mexico in 6 months.

After the break, we get into the draw down at The Office to Jamaica. While it was a hot and muggy night, the team looked sluggish for most of the match. Still, the draw puts the USMNT in a great position to potentially qualify for the World Cup in January if they can run the table and get some help from others.

We encourage you all to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and keep the discussion going on the November window in the comments! If you have questions or topic suggestions, send an email to SSFC Podcast at Gmail dot com.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices