USA Soccercast

On Episode 125, we continue our interviews on U.S. Soccer governance surrounding the Vice Presidential election with an interview with former candidate Mike Cullina.

Cullina is the CEO of US Club Soccer and serves as the Youth Council representative on the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. Cullina was a candidate for U.S. Soccer Vice President, but decided back on January 13th to withdraw from the race. Still, he appeared on the show to discuss his reasons for getting involved in the race and his work on the board of directors for U.S. Soccer, addressing many questions on several topics that affect the entire umbrella of American soccer.

The work that U.S. Soccer has to do in order to grow the game in this country is expansive, and Cullina details some of the many steps they need to take to improve one area of the soccer landscape while working with the numerous member associations so that the game continues to improve in the United States. From referee development and player safety to expanding the resources of our extended national teams, Cullina gives a fascinating interview that is sure to leave everyone with a better understanding of how U.S. Soccer both currently operates and where they can improve operations to keep progress moving forward.

We will have our final candidate interview with Dr. Pete Zopfi early next week. We hope to touch on as many topics as we can that are important to fans in an effort to bring you into the governance process. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it on our Google form!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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U.S. Soccer will elect a new Vice President at its Annual General Meeting, which runs February 8-10 in Dallas. On Episode 124, candidate Nathán Goldberg, former assistant general manager at NJ/NY Gotham FC, joins the show to answer questions on several topics facing U.S. Soccer.

The governance of the federation is something fans should be well informed about, and through our interview with Goldberg, we learn about why he wants to join the Board of Directors as the Vice President and what he hopes to accomplish in the role. We address topics like youth development, player safety, increased fan accessibility, increased diversity and inclusion, how to increase our coaching and referee pool, as well as how to bring each of the member associations together and working with the professional soccer leagues. Goldberg gives us his thoughts on so many questions to showcase why he believes he is best to help lead the federation alongside President Cindy Parlow Cone and CEO JT Batson.

We will be hosting interviews over the next week with Dr. Pete Zopfi, the other candidate for U.S. Soccer Vice President going against Nathán Goldberg, as well as Mike Cullina, who was a candidate until he withdrew from the race recently. We hope to touch on as many topics as we can that are important to fans in an effort to bring you into the governance process. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it on our Google form!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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We’re back with Episode 123 as we catch up on some topics from the past week!

The USMNT opened 2024 with a loss to Slovenia last weekend, but it was a chance for fans to see the future as several players on the roster could be at the Olympics this summer. We quickly discuss the players and how January Camp can serve as a potential springboard to the full national team for players.

For the USWNT, SheBelieves Cup will take place in April now, and it will be a mini tournament. Brazil, Canada, and Japan will once again join the USWNT as semifinal matches will take place in Atlanta and Columbus will host the final and 3rd place matches. In another loaded year for the USWNT, SheBelieves Cup once again brings some quality competition.

After the break, Sam Mewis announced her retirement last week as her knee injury proved to be too much to return to the field. We pay tribute to one of the most dynamic and dominant midfielders America has ever produced. We’ll really miss her on the field.

Finally, U.S. Soccer will hold an election to fill the Vice President role at their Annual General Meeting in early February. We will be having interviews with each of the candidates for U.S. Soccer Vice President: Nathán Goldberg and Dr. Pete Zopfi. Mike Cullina, who was a candidate before he withdrew from the race last week, has also agreed to come on the show to answer questions and speak directly to fan issues and topics important to us. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it on our Google form!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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We close out 2023 by reviewing some of the rules changes and new tournament formats on Episode 122.

Major League Soccer has brought about some rules changes for the 2024 season, and some of them are very intriguing and welcomed. However, the worst change they attempted was to withdraw its first teams from the U.S. Open Cup. U.S. Soccer said nope, and now we have a stalemate. But, we discuss how severely stupid it was for the league to try and withdraw from America’s longest running tournament.

After the break, FIFA has set up the slots for each confederation for the 2025 Club World Cup. That includes 1 slot for the host country, the United States. Could that be the MLS Cup champion, or will they just figure out a way to get Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in? There’s also a new tournament to replace the normal Club World Cup, but the new tournament is set up to fully benefit the UEFA Champions League winner. We discuss that tournament as well.

Finally, the 2026 World Cup could have a match schedule very soon. Where could the USMNT play, and where could all the matches be played? We quickly discuss the U.S. venues and how the group stage could set up for the USMNT.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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We’re starting to close out 2023, and we begin by recapping the Copa América Draw and the W Gold Cup Draw on Episode 121.

The USMNT will host the 2024 Copa América, and we know now where they will play and whom. The USMNT drew Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia in Group C and will play their group stage matches in Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; and Kansas City. We go through the draw to discuss what the path looks like for the United States and who they could face should they advance to the knockout stage.

After the break, we put the W Gold Cup on the stage, as their draw occurred just a few days after the Copa América Draw. The USWNT were matched up with Mexico, Argentina, and the winner of a playoff between Guyana and the Dominican Republic. All group stage matches will take place in Carson, California and will see the USWNT remain in Southern California (LA and San Diego) for the duration of the tournament. We review that draw and what the USWNT should expect in the first edition of the W Gold Cup.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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We’re celebrating the potential hire of Emma Hayes on Episode 120 of the USA Soccercast!

The shocking news on Saturday morning that Emma Hayes was not only leaving Chelsea FC at the end of the season but also set to become the next U.S. Women’s National Team head coach made a lot of fans incredibly excited. We discuss the resume of Emma Hayes and what she’s done as a coach leading up to this point.

We then get into what makes her a great coach and what USWNT fans can expect from the team with Hayes in charge. There was an excellent article by ESPN’s Sophie Lawson that discussed Hayes’s tactics, coaching philosophy, and the style of play her teams have. Hayes also likes to develop young talent, and with a program in transition, there will be lots of chances for her to bring along some of the younger players who could form the core of the USWNT moving forward. It’s an exciting time and what looks to be a new era of the USWNT, and fans should look forward to watching her operate as she puts her stamp on the USWNT program.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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The USA Soccercast recaps the USWNT’s October window on Episode 119. The October window was a bit of a struggle for the USWNT, as they played Colombia in two friendlies last weekend. The first match was a scoreless stalemate, with the USWNT looking like they had not attempted to change anything from what we had seen this year leading into the Women’s World Cup.

In the second friendly, the first half repeated some of those failed tactics and personnel decisions. However, with the substitution of a couple of the new young players at halftime, the dynamic changed. We discuss how Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw should prompt a hard review of the program and should renew the desire by many to integrate the youth into the fabric of this team to make it theirs, especially with the W Gold Cup and the Olympics approaching in 2024.

After the break, the USWNT head coaching search could be near its end, and U.S. Soccer appears to be down to three finalists: Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson, Juventus head coach Joe Montemurro, and OL Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey. We discuss what some of the pros and cons are with these coaches, as well as what the priorities should be for the program with the hiring of the next head coach.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. The holidays are approaching, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show.

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The USA Soccercast is back to jumpstart the weekend with an action packed Episode 118! On this episode, we welcome Eric Schmitz from the World of Concacaf Podcast to help us debate one of the main topics of the week.

First, we have discussion on the rumored 2024 home jersey for the USMNT and USWNT. U.S. Soccer needs a jersey identity, and the Waldos are it. However, we discuss the rumored jersey design and explain the need to identify something that U.S. Soccer fans can start to get behind ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking of the 2026 World Cup, the rumors are all over the place: LA out, Vegas potentially in, and AT&T Stadium aka JerryWorld in the driver’s seat to host the 2026 World Cup Final. Could SoFi Stadium, the most expensive stadium in the history of the world, really not host matches? It seems possible, and Jerry Jones and the Dallas committee is pulling out all the stops in an effort to host the final.

After the break, we are joined by Eric Schmitz of the World of Concacaf Podcast to discuss a debate that was set in motion a couple days ago by Jozy Altidore’s appearance on CBS Sports Golazo’s “Kickin It” show.

Eric Schmitz helps us break down which team could be the better one between the two teams (with some additions to each, because it helps balance how you discuss this). It’s an awesome conversation that you won’t want to miss. And you should chime in with your thoughts in the comments!

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. Fall is coming, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show. We’d like to have a mailbag episode, and we could use your questions!

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The USA Soccercast is back with Episode 117, as we get ready for the USWNT’s matches against Colombia this weekend as well as dip into the mailbag.

The USWNT take on Colombia twice this weekend, with the first one coming tonight in Salt Lake City. We quickly preview the matchup, the USWNT roster, and a few players from Las Cafeteras that fans should pay attention to when they hit the field. These matches are important as we start to see who tries to separate themselves and show they should be on the shortened roster for the Olympics next summer.

After the break, we dip into the mailbag for a great question: who is your all-time USWNT gameday roster? That includes the starting XI and your bench. We go through each position in the starting XI and also who would make the bench. Of course, we want to know who your all-time WNT roster would be, so chime in on Twitter or via email!

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. Fall is coming, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show. We’d like to have a mailbag episode, and we could use your questions!

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We have a cool interview on Episode 116 as we welcome Danny Penza from The Old Lady Speaks Podcast!

Juventus is one of the teams that has multiple USMNT players on its roster, with Weston McKennie rejoining the club this summer from his loan stint with Leeds United and Tim Weah moving in a permanent transfer from Lille. However, dreams of these two dynamic players teaming up on the field for the Bianconeri have been shortlived, as the two players have essentially combined to form a tandem at the right wingback position.

Danny discusses how each player has been doing for Juve this season, taking a deeper dive on the formation changes and why McKennie has moved into a starting role with Weah being his backup, while both play out of position. We also opine on whether this could change down the road as Juventus attempts to finish in the Top 4 in Serie A this season.

To stay up to date on how McKennie and Weah do with Juventus as the season progresses, the people at Black & White & Read All Over do fantastic work. Give them a follow on Twitter at @JuventusNation and Danny Penza can be found at @djp4cal.

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and to tap into our Linktree, which will give you access to all our affiliate links: Fanatics, Homage, BreakingT, and the MLS Store. Fall is coming, which means a great chance to get some new stuff. Now, you’ll be able to save some money on all the cool soccer apparel or anything else you’re interested in wearing! And finally, tag us on Twitter or email USA Soccercast at Gmail dot com with any topic suggestions or questions for the show. We’d like to have a mailbag episode, and we could use your questions!

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