Planet Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Introducing: The Bag - A show about Sports, Money, and Making It Sep 20, 2022

Ever wonder how some teams can seemingly do everything wrong and still generate record-profits? Or how some athletes end up going broke? Or why suddenly, everyone in pro sports seems to be obsessed with cryptocurrency? Former NFL running back (and Dancing With The Stars champ) Rashad Jennings has teamed up with award-winning journalist Lindsay McComick to help make sense of all the dollars, NFTs, cryptos and contracts that make up modern sports. They'll talk to gambling experts, NIL insiders, star athletes, agents, business mavens and more to bring you insights from all the intersections of sports and money. From Sports Illustrated and iHeart Radio - what are you waiting for? Get The Bag.

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An Interview With LAFC's Bob Bradley Apr 09, 2020

In an interview that touches all aspects of his long career, LAFC coach Bob Bradley discusses leadership in a time of crisis, what he learned from coaching Egypt during a national emergency, how he's interacting with his LAFC players and coaching staff right now, what he communicated with Charlie Davies after rewatching the 2009 USA-Costa Rica game this week, what he looks for when he's watching games on TV and what he'd like to see happen at U.S. Soccer. Then Bradley takes the Rapid-Fire Quiz, naming his most memorable victory and defeat of his career, the three best players he's ever coached, the best team he's ever coached against, the player in world football he gets the most pleasure from watching, and the figure he most admires in the global game.

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An Interview with Carli Lloyd; Dr. Celine Gounder on Coronavirus Latest Apr 06, 2020

Grant gets the latest on the coronavirus from his wife Dr. Celine Gounder, a CNN medical analyst and co-host of the EPIDEMIC podcast. Then he interviews Carli Lloyd, the two-time world player of the year, in a wide-ranging interview that gets into what she's doing during the virus slowdown, how the Olympics postponement has altered her playing plans, her thoughts on NFL place-kicking and a Rapid-Fire Quiz on her greatest goals, best player she's ever played against, best teammate and coach she's had, toughest goalkeeper she's ever faced and much more.

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Landon Donovan Interviews Dr. Celine Gounder on Coronavirus Apr 02, 2020

Landon Donovan and Grant were talking on the phone earlier this week, and Donovan asked if it might be possible for him to interview Grant's wife—Dr. Celine Gounder, a CNN medical analyst and co-host of the podcast EPIDEMIC—about the coronavirus. So that's what this podcast is: A half-hour of good questions from a concerned member of the public who happens to be the greatest men's player in U.S. soccer history.

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Lauren Barnes on Playing in the Australian Final and Escaping to LA; Dr. Celine Gounder on Coronavirus Latest Mar 30, 2020

Grant speaks to his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, a CNN medical analyst and co-host of the podcast EPIDEMIC, about the latest coronavirus news and listener questions. Then he interviews American Lauren Barnes about playing for Melbourne City in the Australian women's league final on March 21, one of the last pro sports events anywhere on the planet during the virus. Barnes describes what it was like winning that final in an empty stadium and details her harrowing trip back from Australia to Los Angeles on a full Qantas flight, one of the last ones that wasn't canceled. Barnes adds her thoughts on her NWSL team, OL Reign, what kind of changes are in store under new owners from Lyon and what's up next for the NWSL as it hunkers down like the rest of us.

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An Interview with Seattle's Garth Lagerwey; Dr. Celine Gounder on Coronavirus Latest Mar 26, 2020

Grant has a short interview on the coronavirus latest with his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, a CNN medical analyst and co-host of the EPIDEMIC podcast. Then he speaks to Garth Lagerwey, the president of soccer for the reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders. Lagerwey details how challenging the past few weeks have been at his job in Seattle, one of the virus's U.S. hotspots. Then Grant and Garth have some fun talking about wild MLS stories from his playing days during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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An Interview with Weston McKennie; Dr. Celine Gounder on Coronavirus Latest Mar 23, 2020

Grant interviews his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious-disease specialist, CNN medical analyst and co-host of the EPIDEMIC podcast, on the latest coronavirus news. Then he talks to Weston McKennie of the USMNT and Schalke about his project with Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams to donate to Feeding America; what he's been doing during the coronavirus shutdown; his season with Schalke to date; what he has learned about Schalke coach David Wagner; and what he's hoping for from the USMNT once the soccer world gets going again.

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Good Coronavirus Info from Dr. Celine Gounder; An Interview with Jesse Marsch Mar 19, 2020

Grant spends seven good minutes getting the latest on general and sports-related coronavirus info with his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, a medical analyst for CNN and co-host of the podcast Epidemic. Then he has a wide-ranging interview with Jesse Marsch, the American coach of Red Bull Salzburg. They talk about leading a team during coronavirus, the impact of the January sales of Erling Haaland to Dortmund and Takumi Minamino to Liverpool and Marsch's revulsion to U.S. Soccer's legal strategy arguing that USWNT players inherently have less skill, ability and responsibility than USMNT players.

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Coronavirus Shuts Down Sports; US Soccer's Meltdown; Liga MX Update Mar 16, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel are on lockdown in New York City due to the coronavirus, but they connect here to talk about the impact of the soccer (and sports) world being shut down. They also discuss the momentous week for the U.S. Soccer Federation, which saw president Carlos Cordeiro resign due to the federation's disastrous legal strategy against the USWNT in its gender-discrimination case. What lies ahead for new president Cindy Parlow Cone? How soon will the legal case be settled? And how long could it be before we see soccer being played again? Luis Miguel gives an update on Liga MX, one of the last leagues in the world to take action.

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Liverpool Bounced From Champions League; Grant Interviews His Wife Dr. Celine Gounder About Coronavirus and Sports Mar 12, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down the stunning Champions League exit of defending champ Liverpool at the hands of Atlético Madrid along with the other UCL results. Then Grant interviews his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious-disease expert, about the rapidly expanding coronavirus situation and the sports world—including what should be done with Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics.

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Coronavirus and Soccer; Man United Revived!; LA Galaxy Trouble? Mar 09, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel have a jam-packed podcast discussing the global impact of coronavirus on soccer; the impact of Bruno Fernandes on Manchester United's revival; Tottenham's malaise under Mourinho; Bayern Munich and Dortmund starting to separate from the rest in Germany; Juventus's big win over Inter in an eerily empty stadium; Real Madrid's worst game of the season to lose at Betis; a look ahead to Champions League elimination games (PSG-Dortmund! Liverpool-Atlético Madrid!); terrific MLS starts by Minnesota, Kansas City and Colorado; the so-far sputtering LA Galaxy and Chicharito; media shutdowns by Chicharito and Carlos Vela; how media get access to players around games; Grant's controversial media tweet; the terrific form of Christen Press and Julie Ertz; the USWNT's victories over Spain and England; and the poor timing of U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro's latest letter in the USWNT's gender-discrimination case.

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An Interview with Keith Costigan of Fox Sports Mar 05, 2020

Grant has a wide-ranging conversation with Keith Costigan, who broadcasts games for Fox Sports and the Seattle Sounders. Costigan discusses the Bundesliga title race, why he got a UEFA A coaching license, his lifelong Liverpool fandom, why he switched from game analysis to play-by-play, his month with Grant in Poland covering Euro 2012, how he handles a crazy workload and how some Seattle fans can’t forget that he once played for their rival Portland Timbers.

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MLS Returns; Liverpool Loses Big to Watford; Real Madrid Beats Barcelona in El Clasico Mar 02, 2020

Planet Fútbol's Luis Miguel Echegaray welcomes host, commentator Kevin Egan to break down the opening weekend of MLS, Jurgen Klopp in shock as Watford routs Liverpool and an imperfect Clasico with Real Madrid beating Barcelona. Also, Luis Miguel and Kevin - being Aston Villa fans - discuss the League Cup final loss against Man City, EPL relegation battle, Champions League favorites, a quick lookahead to the Euros and if Ireland can qualify and much, much more.

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BONUS: Carlos Vela, Josef Martínez, Nicolás Lodeiro (en español) Feb 28, 2020

SPECIAL SPANISH LANGUAGE BONUS EP: Grant tiene entrevistas exclusivos en español con tres de las estrellas más grandes de MLS: Carlos Vela de LAFC, actual jugador más valioso de la liga; Josef Martínez de Atlanta United, jugador más valioso de 2018; y Nicolás Lodeiro, actual campeón de la liga con Seattle Sounders.

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Man City's Big Win at Real Madrid; An Interview with St. Louis MLS Owner Carolyn Kindle Betz Feb 27, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down the four UEFA Champions League games, including Man City's huge 2-1 win at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich's 3-0 victory at Chelsea (henceforth known as The Alphonso Davies Game). Then Grant has an interview with Carolyn Kindle Betz, who leads the ownership group of the St. Louis MLS expansion team set to start in 2022. They talk about why she wanted to own an MLS team, her team's plans for one of America's greatest soccer cities and the impact of St. Louis being the league's first club to be majority owned by women.

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Messi Leads Barcelona Back Atop La Liga; Mourinho’s Bellyaching; MLS Starts Season 25 Feb 24, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel marvel at Lionel Messi’s four-goal performance as Barcelona goes back atop La Liga ahead of Real Madrid (a 1-0 loser at Levante). They also discuss the VAR failure in Chelsea’s 2-1 win vs Spurs; José Mourinho’s silly bellyaching about needing players; the leaders holding serve in Germany and Italy; a mouthwatering slate of this week’s UEFA Champions League games led by Manchester City-Real Madrid; the start of MLS’s 25th season this week; MLS teams’ encouraging situation in CONCACAF Champions League; Grant’s wild story on Jermaine Jones; Luis Miguel’s interview with Orlando’s Pedro Gallese; and their issues with U.S. Soccer lawyers asking USWNT players like Carli Lloyd how they’d do in games against men.

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Champions League Breakdown; Tariq Panja on UEFA’s Man City Ban Feb 20, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down this week’s UEFA Champions League games, and Grant interviews Tariq Panja of the New York Times about UEFA’s stunning Man City ban, what comes next and what it could mean for the landscape of the European game.

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Man City's Stunning UEFA Ban; UEFA Champions League is Back!; Is MLS a Better Gateway to Europe than Liga MX? Feb 17, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel thank the soccer gods for the return of UEFA Champions League with some fun matchups this week, including PSG-Dortmund, Atlético Madrid-Liverpool and Spurs-Leipzig; break down UEFA's stunning two-year Champions League ban for Manchester City; hail Lazio's 2-1 win vs. Inter to shake up the top of Serie A; discuss more incidents of racism in Portugal, Germany and the U.S.; look ahead to this week's CONCACAF Champions League games involving five MLS teams, including León-LAFC; and ask the question: Do we agree with Inter Miami's Rodolfo Pizarro that MLS is a better gateway to Europe than Liga MX?

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An Interview With Tyler Adams Feb 13, 2020

Grant has a wide-ranging conversation with Tyler Adams, the USMNT and RB Leipzig midfielder who celebrates his 21st birthday this week while he's in the middle of a Bundesliga title race, UEFA Champions League and (soon) a return to the national team. Adams talks in depth about his instructions from Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann, his learning curve in the Bundesliga, his recovery from a long injury layoff, his conversations with U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter and his hopes of playing in the Olympics this summer.

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Inter Digs Deep to Go Top; Leipzig Stays Close to Bayern; USWNT Olympics-Bound Feb 10, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down the world football weekend, including Inter's remarkable comeback in a 4-2 win over AC Milan to go top in Italy; Leipzig's useful point at Bayern Munich; Real Madrid and Barcelona holding serve in La Liga; Messi's Insta outburst; Dortmund's wild swings; Lazio staying close; the USWNT punching its Olympics ticket; whether Rose Lavelle can become the world's best player; Christen Press's big tournament; Jay Berhalter's departure from U.S. Soccer; the new MLS collective bargaining agreement and CBS's newfound interest in soccer (NWSL and UEFA Champions League).

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Fernando Palomo of ESPN Feb 06, 2020

Grant has a fun discussion with ESPN's Fernando Palomo, who's also well-known for his role on the EA Sports FIFA video game. They talk about suffering Champions League withdrawal and the knockout matchups ahead, including Real Madrid-Manchester City, Dortmund-PSG and Atlético Madrid-Liverpool. They also get into Palomo's thoughts on Chicharito Hernández coming to MLS, how much distance the Mexican national team has right now over the USMNT and why his native El Salvador has a good shot to get back in the CONCACAF Hexagonal this time around.

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Man City's Issues; Lazio and Ciro Immobile; Ulysses Llanez Feb 03, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down the soccer weekend, including the reasons for Man City falling 22 points behind Liverpool, Chelsea's Frank Lampard benching Kepa for Willy Caballero, which teams we see making the Premier League's top four, two more goals for Dortmund's Erling Haaland, the undderrated goal-scoring machine Ciro Immobile of Lazio, why we're aching to re-start UEFA Champions League, Inter Miami closing in on Rodolfo Pizarro, the USWNT cruising as expected through Olympic qualifying, the goal-scoring debut of USMNT 18-year-old Ulysses Llanez and our frustrations with the cookie-cutter and uninteresting MLS kits.

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USWNT and NWSL Talk With The Athletic's Meg Linehan Jan 30, 2020

Grant has an in-depth conversation with The Athletic's Meg Linehan about the NWSL and the state of the USWNT as it moves forward in the Olympic qualifying tournament. Will Carli Lloyd perform under the microscope at centerforward? Is Lynn Williams the most important new player under Vlatko Andonovski? Where is Megan Rapinoe in a pure soccer sense right now? They also discuss Linehan's story of how she got to The Athletic and ask why she's one of a very small number of full-time women's soccer writers in America.

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On Kobe Bryant's Legacy and Soccer Connection; Erling Haaland, Chicharito's Relationship with Mexican Media Jan 27, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel devote the first part of the podcast to the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others in Sunday's helicopter crash; the impact that Bryant had on so many millions, including in the soccer world; and then transition into the other news of the week. Topics: Erling Haaland's remarkable goal-scoring run; the exciting title race at the top of the Bundesliga; Barcelona's toothless possession under Quique Setién in a 2-0 loss at Valencia; Inter's missed opportunity with Juventus losing at Napoli; Liverpool's surprising tie against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup; the frosty relationship of Chicharito to the Mexican and Latino media in the aftermath of his viral video; and the USWNT's start of Olympic qualifying this week (as well as the story behind TV coverage).

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ESPN's Hérculez Gómez Jan 23, 2020

Grant has a fun interview with Hérculez Gómez, who co-hosts Ahora o Nunca on ESPN Deportes and appears on ESPNFC. They talk in depth about LA Galaxy's signing of Chicharitio Hernández, why Herc thinks the Mexican national team has frozen out Chicharito due to his stance on labor issues, his thoughts on the MLS season ahead, what it's like to move from Connecticut to Los Angeles and how he's stepped out of his comfort zone on his talk show to interview guests like Mike Tyson, Dana White and others.

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Liverpool Dumps Man United; Dortmund Is Now Must-See TV; LA Galaxy Lands Chicharito Jan 20, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel break down Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Man United, in which LFC fans sang they’re going to win the league for the first time; the debut hat trick for Dortmund’s Erling Haaland (and Gio Reyna’s debut in the same game); Barcelona’s victory in Quique Setién’s first game; Juventus starting to pull away in Serie A; LA Galaxy’s long-awaited signing of Chicharito Hernández; Luis Miguel’s trip to DC to interview Edison Flores; Grant’s trip to LA for MLS Media Day; Mal Pugh being cut from the USWNT Olympic qualifying roster; and Sam Kerr bringing her goal-scoring ways to Chelsea.

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Catching Up With Alexi Lalas Jan 16, 2020

Grant sits down in LA with Alexi Lalas of Fox Sports, who hosts the State of the Union Podcast. They talk about the impending arrival of Chicharito Hernández to LA Galaxy, the potential of labor strife ahead of the MLS season, what he's excited about in MLS 2020, what he thinks about surrounding MLS's 25th anniversary, whether he ever issues an opinion that he doesn't really believe just to stir the pot, why he became an AYSO referee, and much, much more.

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Grant's Jürgen Klopp Magazine Story, Barcelona Chaos, New USMNT GM Brian McBride, Chicharito to LA Galaxy? Jan 13, 2020

In an action-packed pod, Grant and Luis Miguel discuss José Mourinho's "dark force" impact on Tottenham in the wake of Saturday's loss to Liverpool; Grant's big Jürgen Klopp story coming out this week for SI; Sergio Agüero's place in the Premier League; the managerial chaos at Barcelona (which will miss Luis Suárez for four months); the LA Galaxy's Ahab-like pursuit of Chicharito Hernández; Luis Miguel's thoughts on the Liga MX Clausura; the hiring of Brian McBride as the new general manager of the USMNT; the big NWSL moves of the past week; the problematic impending hire of Farid Benstiti by Reign FC; and your hosts' true life stories that sound like a lie, from Luis Miguel's birthday party attended by Pras of the Fugees to Grant's beef with Urkel in a locker room.

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Michael MacCambridge of "Red Letters" on Liverpool's magical season, Jürgen Klopp and the Changing Face of Premier League Accessibility in America Jan 09, 2020

Grant speaks about all things Liverpool with Michael MacCambridge, an Austin-based writer and author who's one half of "Red Letters," a weekly season-long series of letters about Liverpool FC for the Liverpool Echo with Neil Atkinson of The Anfield Wrap. They discuss MacCambridge's origin story with Liverpool and his thoughts on Liverpool fandom, what makes Jürgen Klopp and this Liverpool team special, and how we consume global sports in the 21st century. Grant and Michael, both Kansas City natives, also discuss their fandom for the NFL Chiefs, how they sat together in frigid conditions at last year's AFC championship game and what they would do if the Chiefs can win their first Super Bowl in 50 years. MacCambridge's books include '69 Chiefs (a new coffee table book on the only Chiefs Super Bowl winners), America's Game (on the history of the NFL) and The Franchise (on the history of Sports Illustrated).

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Breaking Down Arteta, Ancelotti, Moyes & Pearson; Is Barcelona Ready For Xavi to Be Pep 2?; Will Inter Miami Sign Any Big Names? Jan 06, 2020

Grant and Luis Miguel reconvene and hop around the world of soccer, starting with a discussion on all the new Premier League managers (Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Everton's Carlo Ancelotti, West Ham's David Moyes and Watford's Nigel Pearson. They also discuss how Liverpool beefed up its Premier League lead over the past month; whether England plays too many games; why stale Barcelona feels like it did during Frank Rijkaard's last season (2007-08) and how it could set up a Pep-like return for Xavi to coach the club next season. Additional topics: New MLS coaches at Inter Miami (Diego Alonso) and NYCFC (Ronny Deila), Kate Markgraf landing Laura Harvey to coach the Under-20 USWNT and South American transfer targets in 2020.

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An Interview With DaMarcus Beasley Dec 30, 2019

Grant sits down in Houston with DaMarcus Beasley, the only U.S. man ever to play in four World Cups, who recently retired from a club career that saw him win 13 trophies in North America and Europe. Beasley talks about his new work as an executive with Matrix Athletic Club and looks back on a rich career that saw him reach the World Cup quarterfinals with the U.S. (in 2002) and the UEFA Champions League semifinals with PSV Eindhoven (in 2005). He also shares his thoughts on the state of American soccer, explains two bits of important wisdom that he took over the years from his former coaches Jürgen Klinsmann and Bob Bradley, and reveals why he's serious about the possibility of going to culinary school.

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Suzy Wrack, Women's Soccer Writer for The Guardian Dec 23, 2019

Grant speaks to Suzy Wrack, who covers women's soccer and women's sports for The Guardian, about a number of topics: Her blockbuster investigative story revealing sexual, physical and emotional abuse of Afghanistan women's national team players by the leaders of the Afghan soccer federation; her thoughts on the England national team and the rise of the English women's league; her visit to New York to interview Megan Rapinoe; the growing trend of British media outlets hiring full-time writers to cover women's soccer and her story of how she got into the media business.

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An Interview With Paul Tenorio of The Athletic Dec 19, 2019

Grant speaks to Paul Tenorio, national soccer reporter for The Athletic, about a host of topics, including his career path, how he ended up choosing to cover soccer full-time instead of other sports, how he approaches covering MLS, his thoughts on the MLS collective bargaining talks, how his terrific story on Jesse Marsch came together and what he's hoping to do in the future covering the sport.

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Exciting Matchups in Champions League Draw; Liverpool Keeps Rolling; De Bruyne Magic for Man City; Arteta to Arsenal? a Midweek Clasico Dec 16, 2019

SI's Luis Miguel Echegaray welcomes guest co-host Kay Murray to discuss each #UCLDraw matchup, another EPL victory for Liverpool, Man City's win at Arsenal, Tottenham under Jose Mourinho, who should manage Arsenal, La Liga action, a preview of Wednesday's Clásico and much more!

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An Interview With Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre Dec 12, 2019

Grant speaks to Ian Ayre, the former CEO of Liverpool and now the CEO of Nashville SC, which begins its first MLS season on February 29 when it hosts Atlanta United. They discuss what he has been doing over the last 19 months to prepare Nashville for MLS; the choices that went into hiring coach Gary Smith, signing DP midfielder Hany Mukhtar and assembling a roster that includes Dax McCarty, David Accam and Dominique Badji; the progress on Nashville's 30,000-seat soccer stadium (set to open in 2022); how much money they'll have to spend on players; and what he would consider "success" for the team in 2020. Ayre also provides his thoughts on the current success of Liverpool, where he worked until 2017.

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SI’s Jenny Vrentas on 2019 SI Sportsperson of the Year Megan Rapinoe Dec 09, 2019

Grant talks to SI senior writer Jenny Vrentas about her new Sportsperson of the Year story on Megan Rapinoe—the sports figure who made the most lasting impression of 2019. They talk about Rapinoe’s athletic and social impact, the forces in her life that have shaped those things and how Vrentas approached writing a signature story on one of the most heavily covered athletes in the world.

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Liverpool Pulls Away; A Weekend of Glorious Backheels; Earnie Stewart’s Unwise Chicago Policy; Jesse Marsch Goes For It Dec 09, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel discuss Megan Rapinoe’s SI Sportsperson of the Year award, Man City falling 14 points behind Liverpool, Man United’s huge week, amazing backheels by Luis Suárez and Mohamed Salah, another Messi hat trick, Jesse Marsch’s huge Champions League opportunity on Tuesday, the crazy race in Germany and Earnie Stewart’s policy requiring U.S. Soccer coaches to live in Chicago.

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Portland Timbers Coach Giovanni Savarese Dec 05, 2019

Grant has a wide-ranging conversation with Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese in which they talk about Diego Valeri's potential return to the team for 2020, what happened with departed DP Brian Fernández, how Savarese works with GM Gavin Wilkinson and owner Merritt Paulson, what has (and hasn't changed) in MLS since he played in the league's first season for the MetroStars, how winning three NASL titles with the New York Cosmos has shaped him as a coach, his thoughts on the current state of his Venezuelan national team and how his family in Venezuela has dealt with the turmoil in that country.

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Unai Emery Out At Arsenal; Messi Saves Barça Again; The Day That Changed FIFA Forever Dec 02, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel kick off a busy December in the Premier League with talk of whether Liverpool can stay on cruise control without Fabinho, Arsenal's next move after dismissing Unai Emery, a flat performance by Chelsea in a home loss to West Ham and Wednesday's return of José Mourinho to Man United. They also discuss Lionel Messi saving Barcelona yet again, Inter moving into first place in Serie A, Jurgen Klinsmann's new gig at Hertha Berlin, Lyon buying the NWSL's Reign FC, Monday's Ballon d'Or awards, the 9-year anniversary of FIFA awarding World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar and the draws for Euro 2020 and next summer's Copa América.

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Astead Herndon, New York Times Political Reporter and Spurs Fan Nov 27, 2019

Grant has a fun conversation with Astead Herndon, a national political reporter for the New York Times and a diehard Tottenham Hotspur fan. They talk about Herndon's soccer origin story, how he became a Spurs fan, his thoughts on José Mourinho replacing Mauricio Pochettino, how easy it is now to find Premier League games on the campaign trail, which presidential candidates are the biggest soccer fans and why President Trump has embraced soccer more than just about anyone would have expected.

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Mourinho Replaces Pochettino at Spurs; Epic Libertadores Final; Chicago Fire Rebrand Nov 25, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel break down a busy week, including Tottenham's decision to fire Mauricio Pochettino less than six months after making the Champions League final and replace him with José Mourinho; Man City's important 2-1 win over Chelsea; Flamengo's thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 victory over River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final; and the Chicago Fire's controversial rebrand (and why Grant thinks a real Chicago turnaround, Kansas City-style, would help fans get over a not-great badge switch).

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Yael Averbuch West, Former USWNT Player, Techne Futbol Founder, NWSLPA Executive Director Nov 21, 2019

Grant sits down with Yael Averbuch West, a former USWNT player, University of North Carolina star and 10-year club pro who these days works as the executive director of the NWSL Players Association and owns the soccer training app Techne Futbol. She talks about how she's able to wear so many hats, why she had to step aside from playing in the NWSL, and what daily life is like for the rank-and-file NWSL player.

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USMNT Crisis Eases (Just A Bit), Man City-Chelsea Preview, Zlatan's MLS Legacy Nov 18, 2019

You'd think things would be quiet during a FIFA window, but that's hardly the case this week. Grant and Luis Miguel break down the USMNT's 4-1 win over Canada (which could have been Gregg Berhalter's last game); Earnie Stewart's strange all-is-well-here press conference; Mexico's 3-0 win at Panama; El Tri's run to the Under-17 World Cup final; Zlatan Ibrahimovic's MLS legacy; MLS moves involving Thierry Henry, Darwin Quintero, Brian Fernández and Darlington Nagbe; the fight for the final spots in Euro 2020; the reported switch to England of longtime USWNT high-performance coach Dawn Scott; and Saturday's Man City-Chelsea game, which is huge for City.

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Landon Donovan on Why He's Becoming The San Diego Loyal Manager, Plus His USMNT Opinions Nov 14, 2019

Grant sits down with Landon Donovan to talk about why he decided to become the manager of the new San Diego Loyal USL team that starts play in 2020, why he wanted to name a woman (Carrie Taylor) as one of his assistants, what his aspirations are as a coach and what he'll do if owner Landon Donovan has issues with coach Landon Donovan. Donovan also shares his frank opinions on the state of the USMNT under Gregg Berhalter.

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Liverpool Takes Down Man City; Seattle Wins the MLS Cup; Lewandowski by the (Insane) Numbers Nov 11, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel break down a huge soccer weekend on both sides of the Atlantic, including Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Man City in the game of the season (so far) of the Premier League; Seattle's 3-1 win over Toronto to win the Sounders' second MLS Cup title; Christian Pulisic's fifth goal in the last three Premier League games for Chelsea; Arsenal's continuing troubles after a deserved 2-0 loss at Leicester City; the remarkable scoring form of Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, who now has 23 goals in 18 games this season; and the first two victories of Vlatko Andonovski's tenure with the USWNT (with Carli Lloyd being the main storyline).

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The Guardian's David Squires, The World's Premier Satirical Soccer Cartoonist Nov 07, 2019

Grant has a lively conversation with The Guardian's David Squires, the world's top satirical soccer cartoonist, about how he creates his biting (and hilarious) weekly cartoons that have focused on the English Premier League, the men's and women's World Cups and soccer in Australia (where the Englishman is based). Squires tells the story of how he got started in the business and why he loves tweaking the absurdities of the modern soccer world.

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Looking Ahead to Liverpool-Man City; Pulisic Scores Again; MLS Cup Final Preview; More Racism In Italy Nov 04, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel break down the come-from-behind wins by Liverpool and Manchester City and look forward to Sunday's showdown between the Premier League leaders. They also discuss another goal-scoring performance by Christian Pulisic in Chelsea's victory, this Sunday's MLS Cup final between Seattle and Toronto, the U.S. Under-17 World Cup fiasco, the departure of Niko Kovac from Bayern Munich and two more incidents of racial abuse in Italian soccer.

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Dan Altman on The Best Goalkeepers Today Oct 31, 2019

Dan Altman, the creator of the free soccer data site SmarterScout.com, speaks with Grant about data analytics and goalkeeping, answering a bunch of intriguing questions. Who are the best shot-stoppers in world soccer today? Who are the best goalkeepers with outfield skills? Which keepers are overrated and underrated in the data? What makes Brazilians Ederson and Alisson so good? And who are the top keepers in MLS and on the USMNT?

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Pulisic's Chelsea Hat Trick; Dest Chooses USA; MLS Semifinals Preview; North Carolina's NWSL Dominance Oct 28, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel hail Christian Pulisic's breakthrough hat trick for Chelsea and Sergiño Dest's decision to play for the USMNT and break down Liverpool's comeback win against Spurs, as well as the misery at Southampton (9-0 home losers to Leicester) and Arsenal (where the home fans booed captain Granit Xhaka). On the MLS front, they discuss two mouthwatering semifinals in LAFC-Seattle and Atlanta-Toronto, and Grant shares from his experience covering the NWSL final in North Carolina, where the host Courage beat Chicago 4-0.

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Kashif Siddiqi on Football For Peace and Going On Loan to a Team in Kashmir Oct 24, 2019

Grant interviews Kashif Siddiqi, the player/diplomat who co-founded the NGO Football For Peace. Siddiqi, whose organization has drawn support from Prince William, Pelé, Ronaldinho, Mesut Özil and the United Nations, explains the soccer and non-soccer reasons why he decided to go on loan next week to the team Real Kashmir, located in the region disputed by Pakistan and India and the site of recent unrest as India has moved to exert control there.

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Epic Start to MLS Playoffs; Liverpool No Longer PL-Perfect; NWSL Final Is Set Oct 21, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel break down a memorable weekend of MLS elimination-game playoffs, look ahead to a monster El Tráfico playoff in Los Angeles, explain how Manchester United pulled off its 1-1 tie against Liverpool and dissect the NWSL semifinals that have set up a North Carolina-Chicago final.

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The GOAT Michelle Akers On Why She's Selling Her Memorabilia Oct 17, 2019

Grant interviews Michelle Akers, viewed by many as the greatest women's soccer player of all time, about her decision to sell her memorabilia at GoldinAuctions.com to fund her horse and animal welfare work, her farm relocation and family time. Akers explains what she has been doing on her Georgia farm rescuing horses in recent years, how she has responded to USWNT teammates who have expressed their skepticism on the memorabilia sale and what she hopes to do with horse rescue work after she moves back to the West Coast. Akers also expresses a desire to get into media work and explains why she feels she has been left out in the cold by U.S. Soccer.

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Canada-USMNT, MLS & NWSL Playoff Preview, Favorite Soccer Books and Video Recs Oct 14, 2019

Grant and Luis Miguel discuss Tuesday's Canada-USMNT tilt, a proposal to improve CONCACAF Nations League, Vlatko Andonovski's USWNT coaching candidacy, the Mexican MNT, CONMEBOL friendlies, a game-by-game breakdown of this weekend's MLS and NWSL playoffs, our favorite soccer books and our recommendations on the best recent soccer videos on Netflix and Amazon.

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Jason Davis on American Soccer Radio/Podcasts Oct 10, 2019

Grant interviews Jason Davis, the host of the United States of Soccer on SiriusXM FC, about his path in American soccer media, the relaunch of his popular soccer podcast with Jared Dubois (JD & The Rod: America's Best Soccer Podcast), the transition from "Labor of Love" soccer journalism to a full-time media job and what he has learned about American soccer fans.

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Liverpool's 8-Point Lead on Man City, Man United and Spurs are Imploding, Juve Dumps Inter, Jesse Marsch's Big Week, MLS Decision Day and Jill Ellis's Farewell Oct 07, 2019

On their usual Monday look at the weekend in soccer, Grant and Luis Miguel break down Liverpool's last-minute win against Leicester, which combined with Man City's shock home loss to Wolves to give LFC an 8-point Premier League lead; the terrible weeks for Man United and Tottenham; the statement victory for Juventus at Inter and the smart choices by Maurizio Sarri; Jesse Marsch's breakthrough in European recognition after his viral video and Red Bull Salzburg's epic 4-3 Champions League loss at Liverpool; the record-setting day for LAFC and Carlos Vela; and two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis's final game as the USWNT coach.

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An Interview With New Full Chicago Fire Owner Joe Mansueto Oct 03, 2019

Grant has a revealing conversation with Joe Mansueto, who became the full owner of the Chicago Fire recently when he bought out the majority share of Andrew Hauptman. Mansueto, a billionaire who founded the financial services firm Morningstar, explains why he wanted to buy the Fire outright, how it came together, why he thinks Chicago is a sleeping giant in soccer, why he's bullish on spending more money on Chicago and loosening the league shackles on spending in general, his thoughts on the futures of Fire president Nelson Rodríguez and coach Veljko Paunovic, and why he's in favor of keeping the name Chicago Fire.

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Liverpool and City Win But Have to Work; Schalke's Americans Get a Big W; Discussing the New Maradona Documentary; Jesse Marsch's Champions League Opportunity Sep 30, 2019

In their new weekly Monday podcast, Grant and Luis Miguel discuss harder-than-expected wins for Premier League leaders Liverpool and Manchester City, another DNP for Chelsea's Christian Pulisic and the big win for Schalke (featuring Yanks Weston McKennie and David Wagner) at RB Leipzig. They also have share their thoughts on Asif Kapadia's fantastic new Diego Maradona documentary (out Tuesday on HBO) and preview this week's marquee Champions Leagues games, including Spurs-Bayern Munich, Barcelona-Inter and Red Bull Salzburg (managed by American Jesse Marsch) taking on Liverpool at Anfield.

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A Conversation With Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness Sep 26, 2019

Grant sits down in New York City with Uli Hoeness, who as a player won the World Cup and three European championships and then went on to become a formative figure as an executive at Bayern Munich over the last four decades. Hoeness, who's stepping down as Bayern president in November, speaks about a number of topics, including his thoughts on manager Niko Kovac and the new season, whether he thinks last season's Champions League loss to Liverpool was the "end of a cycle," the addition of Oliver Kahn to Bayern's board, Bayern's interest in Leroy Sané, how he was able to resurrect his career in 2016 after being jailed for tax evasion, what he and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge actually talk about in the stands when we see them on TV, and how he feels about the possibility of a European "superleague." (Note: This was recorded on Tuesday before the news came out that Hoeness had said Bayern would refuse to send its players to the German national team if the coach picked Marc Andre Ter Stegen over Bayern’s Manuel Neuer.)

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Grant & Luis Miguel On Chelsea-Liverpool, Man City (8!), Barcelona's Skid Sep 23, 2019

In their weekly chat on the weekend that was, Grant and Luis Miguel break down Liverpool's 15th straight Premier League win (this one vs Chelsea), Christian Pulisic's struggle for playing time, Man City's 8-goal romp against Watford, the potential of Xavi to replace Ernesto Valverde at Barcelona, Josef Martínez's injury with Atlanta, Sam Kerr's goal-scoring binge for Chicago and Neymar making nice with PSG fans by scoring another winner.

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Former SI Writer Liviu Bird on Trying To Make It as a Soccer Coach in America Sep 19, 2019

Grant has an enlightening chat with former SI soccer writer Liviu Bird, who left journalism to start a career as a professional soccer coach. Bird shares his story of coaching Kitsap Pumas to surprise success in the U.S. Open Cup, taking his current jobs with Sounders Under-23 and Kitsap Alliance and the work he's currently doing to earn his UEFA A and U.S. Soccer B coaching licenses. Bird also details the advice he has gotten from coaches like Bob Bradley, Caleb Porter and Darren Sawatzky and explains why he thinks American players can be coached by those (like him) who revere Pep Guardiola.

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New Monday Episodes! Norwich takes down Man City, Barcelona's Ansu Fati, Another Ibra Hat Trick Sep 16, 2019

The Planet Fútbol Podcast goes to two episodes a week! On Mondays, Grant and SI's Luis Miguel Echegaray will give their takes on the soccer weekend that was, and on Thursdays Grant will continue to interview the most intriguing people in fútbol. In this episode, they break down Norwich's stunning victory over Man City, whether Sadio Mané has replaced Mo Salah as Liverpool's most important attacking player, why Chelsea brought Christian Pulisic back early from the international break and then didn't use him, the remarkable breakthrough of Barcelona 16-year-old Ansu Fati, Neymar's chilly reception from PSG fans (and his phenomenal goal), yet another Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat trick in MLS, why MLS's ban on "political" signage is the league's biggest mistake since Precourt/Columbus, NYCFC's 5-point lead in the MLS East, Atlanta's second straight loss (and potential volatility), Jesse Marsch's big UEFA Champions League opportunity, and Heather O'Reilly's classic golazo for the North Carolina Courage, which is dropping sixes on teams with regularity and pushing for another NWSL title.

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Asif Kapadia, Director of Diego Maradona Sep 12, 2019

Grant speaks to Asif Kapadia, whose terrific new documentary film, Diego Maradona, opens in New York City theaters on September 20 and on October 1 on HBO. Kapadia, who also directed the films Senna (on the legendary Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna) and the Academy Award-winning Amy (on Amy Winehouse), discusses why he chose Maradona as a subject and focused on his Napoli years, how he got connected to so much never-before-seen archival video, what it was like interviewing Maradona and the process of making the film.

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A Conversation with Ed Malyon on The Athletic Disrupting UK Soccer Media Sep 05, 2019

Grant has an in-depth discussion with Ed Malyon, the managing director of The Athletic UK, about the website’s sweeping efforts to hire dozens of writers and editors and disrupt soccer coverage in the UK. Malyon, whose fiancée is American, also talks about his recent move across the Atlantic to Chicago and his fascination with American sports other than soccer.

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The Total Soccer Show Guys, Daryl Grove and Taylor Rockwell Aug 29, 2019

Grant has a rollicking conversation with Daryl Grove and Taylor Rockwell, the hosts of the popular Total Soccer Show and Soccer 101 podcasts. They discuss how they met each other and started their podcast, their shared humor and chemistry, how they have made soccer podcasting their full-time job, their thought process behind launching Soccer 101 and organizing a podcast episode, and the remarkable support of the American soccer community following Daryl’s recent cancer diagnosis.

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Soccer Multimedia Maven Aaron West Aug 22, 2019

Grant has a fun conversation with Aaron West, who co-hosted Fox Sports' nightly digital show during the women's World Cup and is currently hosting the Crossroads series of Premier League "What-Ifs" on the NBC Sports YouTube channel. West tells how he got into soccer, his college playing career at Davidson and how "pivoting" modern media downsized him at not one but two jobs (as a writer at FoxSports.com and as a video content host at Copa 90). He also has helpful advice for any students who want to get into the sports and soccer journalism business.

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World Cup Winner Crystal Dunn Aug 15, 2019

Grant has a conversation with Crystal Dunn, the reigning World Cup champion with the US and NWSL champion with the North Carolina Courage. They talk about what she’s hoping for in the next USWNT coach, whether that might include her moving away from her unnatural left back spot, how her life has changed since winning the World Cup, this week’s ICC tournament and how she thinks the NWSL can make its post-World Cup bump sustainable.

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A Conversation With Sports Photographer Simon Bruty Aug 08, 2019

Grant interviews Simon Bruty, a legendary sports action and portrait photographer who has done work for Sports Illustrated (and with Grant) for more than two decades. They go into detail about Bruty's rise as a photographer, how he approaches the details of action and portrait photography, how he got some of his favorite shots, suggestions he'd have for aspiring sports photographers, and what makes shooting soccer different from other sports. You can find Bruty's work at SimonBruty.com and on Instagram at @SimonBruty.

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Post-World Cup Women's Soccer Talk Aug 01, 2019

Grant and SI's Laken Litman reconnect to discuss the main post-World Cup developments in women's soccer: USWNT coach Jill Ellis's decision to step down, U.S. Soccer's claim that it has paid the WNT more than the MNT over the past 10 years, the post-WC bump for the NWSL and Megan Rapinoe's big book deal, among other things.

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WWC '19: USA Wins World Cup 2019, Adds a Fourth Star Jul 07, 2019

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s 2-0 victory in the World Cup final against the Netherlands, completing the Americans' run to a record fourth World Cup title in the women's game. They talk about Megan Rapinoe's tournament masterclass, the rise of Rose Lavelle, the U.S.'s first back-to-back titles and the potential futures of U.S. players and coach Jill Ellis.

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WWC '19: Final Preview Episode Jul 05, 2019

Grant Wahl is joined by SI staff writer Laken Litman to preview the 2019 Women's World Cup Final between the US and Netherlands. Grant and Laken discuss Megan Rapinoe's likelihood to play, the potential impact of a US win back home, and Dan Wetzel's ability to twist Grant's arm into doing this podcast.

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WWC '19 USA 2, England 1, and the USWNT Is In Another World Cup Final Jul 03, 2019

Grant and Laken go deep on the U.S.'s 2-1 semifinal victory against England: The extremely well-taken goals, Alyssa Naeher's career-defining game in goal, the highs and lows of VAR, and, ultimately, a berth in a third straight World Cup final for the USWNT. Next up for a fourth star: Sweden or the Netherlands.

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WWC '19 USA 2, France 1: Americans in the Semis Jun 28, 2019

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s stirring 2-1 victory against France, eliminating the hosts in the World Cup quarterfinals. They discuss Megan Rapinoe's big-game performance, scoring both U.S. goals, and look ahead to the USA-England semifinal in Lyon as the Americans continue their push for a fourth World Cup title.

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WWC '19: USA 2, Spain 1 and American Outlaws' Donald Wine Jun 24, 2019

Grant and Laken discuss the U.S.'s difficult 2-1 win over Spain in the World Cup Round of 16, including the soft penalty call that decided it. They also look ahead to the monster quarterfinal showdown on Friday between the U.S. and France in Paris, and they break down Marta's emotional message after perhaps her final World Cup game with Brazil. Then Grant interviews Donald Wine of the American Outlaws supporters group about his fan experience in France and some of his favorite and hairiest trips over the years as an Indiana Jones of American sports fans.

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WWC '19: USA 2, Sweden 0 and Fox Sports' Alex Curry Jun 21, 2019

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s 2-0 group finale victory over Sweden and discuss other aspects of the women's World Cup, including the spate of VAR-influenced penalty retakes, their look at the Round of 16 matchups and who they think will win the Golden Boot. Then Grant interviews Alex Curry, who's the embedded reporter with the USWNT for Fox Sports.

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WWC '19: U.S. vs Chile and Sepp Blatter Interview Jun 17, 2019

Grant and Laken discuss the U.S.’s 3-0 win over Chile, and Grant interviews former FIFA president Sepp Blatter about his legacy in women’s soccer.

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WWC '19: U.S. vs Thailand 13-0? The USWNT won 13-0?!? Jun 12, 2019

In the latest episode of their women's World Cup podcast, Grant and SI's Laken Litman discuss the U.S.'s 13-0 win over Thailand—which broke the record for the most lopsided game in World Cup history—and break down whether scoring that many goals (and celebrating the last ones as much as the first ones) shows sportsmanship. And now that every World Cup team has played once, they talk about their most surprising results, tournament trends they're seeing, and standout players they hadn't known of before. New World Cup episodes will come out after every U.S. game in France.

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Women’s World Cup Preview Jun 06, 2019

SI’s Grant Wahl and Laken Litman look ahead to World Cup 2019, which starts Friday in France. They look at the six groups, break down the US’s chances and make predictions for Golden Ball and Boot, biggest surprises and flameouts, most entertaining teams, and the bracket itself.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/06/03/uswnt-equal-pay-gender-fight-us-soccer-uswntpa-nflpa-wnba

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USWNT’s Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper May 30, 2019

With the World Cup starting on June 7, Grant sits down with USWNT starters Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper to talk about their stories and how they approach the sport.

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CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani May 23, 2019

Grants chats with Canada’s Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president and a FIFA VP, about women’s soccer in CONCACAF, the men’s Gold Cup and his work as chair of the FIFA stakeholders committee—including his views on solidarity payments, possible changes to FIFA’s rule preventing transfers of minors and how FIFA approaches the regulation of promotion and relegation in the United States.

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Tab Ramos and Jonathan González May 16, 2019

Grant has two interviews this week. One is with Tab Ramos about his U.S. team at the upcoming Under-20 World Cup and his future as a coach. The second is with Monterrey’s Jonathan González about his team’s recent CONCACAF Champions League title and his journey with Sueño Alianza.

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Episode 1 of Throwback: The 1991 U.S. Women's World Cup Team May 09, 2019

This week's podcast has a special episode: It's Episode 1 of Throwback, SI's new podcast series on the untold stories of legendary sports moments. This season is on the first FIFA women's World Cup in 1991 and the fascinating U.S. team that played in it. It's an origin story on how the USWNT got started in the mid-1980s and how FIFA finally got its act together and began staging a women's world championship. Interviewees include Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Carin Gabarra, Anson Dorrance, Kristine Lilly, April Heinrichs, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, Caitlin Murray, Jean Williams, Linda Medalen, Ellen Wille and Sepp Blatter. SUBSCRIBE to Throwback to listen to the next four episodes, which drop every Thursday through June 6.

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A Conversation With John Strong of Fox Sports May 02, 2019

Grant has a fun discussion with John Strong, the lead play-by-play voice of Fox Soccer, about what it’s like to reach your professional life goals in your early 30s, why he took singing lessons for work, his thoughts on MLS and this summer’s Gold Cup, and what it’s like to share the same name with a prominent adult film actor.

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Adriana Monsalve of Univision Deportes Apr 25, 2019

Grant has a wide-ranging conversation with one of the biggest stars of U.S. soccer media, Adriana Monsalve of Univision Deportes. They talk about her recent donation of a kidney to her brother, Adrián; her thoughts on the big soccer events in 2019; her favorite career moments; the progress of that career from being the lead singer of a musical group to her current status as one of the most respected sports broadcasters in America; and her response to the ongoing turmoil in her native Venezuela.

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Matt Pentz on the Seattle Sounders Apr 11, 2019

Grant chats with longtime Seattle Sounders beat writer Matt Pentz of The Athletic about his new book, The Sound and the Glory: How the Seattle Sounders Showed Major League Soccer How to Win Over America. Pentz explains how the Sounders became the blueprint for MLS to feel truly "major league" in their city, which has been followed since then by others like Atlanta United and LAFC.

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A Discussion With Five Members of the 1994 USMNT World Cup Team Apr 04, 2019

In a special podcast, Grant moderates a panel discussion at the International Champions Cup launch in New York City with five members of the 1994 U.S. men's World Cup team: Alexi Lalas, Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, Tab Ramos and Cobi Jones. They discuss not just the story and the influence of that '94 USMNT team, but also their thoughts on American soccer today.

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English-Pro-Turned-Podcast-Host Gary O'Reilly Mar 28, 2019

Grant interviews the fascinating Gary O'Reilly, who had a 14-year pro career with Tottenham, Brighton and Crystal Palace and scored a goal for Palace in the 1990 FA Cup final against Manchester United. O'Reilly discusses his varied career and how he got into media, including as a co-host these days for the podcast "Playing With Science."

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Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City Mar 21, 2019

Grant has a wide-ranging conversation with Peter Vermes, the manager and sporting director of Sporting Kansas City, the only MLS team to reach the semifinals of this year's CONCACAF Champions League. They talk about the special preparations that Sporting made to get ready for CCL (including hyperbaric chambers and a special dispensation from the MLS Players Union), the advantages of controlling the entire soccer side for SKC and his thoughts on the U.S. men's national team under new coach Gregg Berhalter.

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Andy Markovits on Women’s Soccer History Mar 14, 2019

Grant speaks with University of Michigan professor Andy Markovits about his new book “Women In American Soccer and European Football: Different Roads To Shared Glory.”

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JP Dellacamera on Women’s World Cup and Ben Mackriell on Soccer Analytics Mar 07, 2019

Grant speaks to JP Dellacamera of Fox Sports about his preparations for this summer’s women’s World Cup and to Ben Mackriell of OptaPro about what U.S. Soccer and MLS are doing these days in soccer data analytics.

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Soccer and Standup Comedy With Julie Stewart-Binks Feb 28, 2019

Grant sits down for a fun conversation with Julie Stewart-Binks, whom American soccer fans got to know as a terrific host and sideline reporter for Fox Sports and ESPN. She fills me in on what she’s doing now, including New York City standup comedy, and why returning to regular soccer work may be in her future as well.

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A conversation with MLS commissioner Don Garber Feb 21, 2019

MLS's 24th season starts on March 2, and Grant sits down to talk about all things MLS with commissioner Don Garber, who just extended his contract with the league through the end of 2023. They discuss MLS owner ambition, continued expansion and how the league has used data research to make big strategic decisions, among other topics.

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Collin Martin, the only out player in the five major U.S. men's pro sports leagues Feb 14, 2019

Grant sits down with Minnesota United's Collin Martin, a creative midfielder who's entering his seventh MLS season. Last year Martin came out as gay on Pride Day and received an outpouring of support from people around the world. He and Grant have a wide-ranging conversation about a number of topics.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger Feb 07, 2019

Grant goes one-on-one with three of the biggest names in MLS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the LA Galaxy, Wayne Rooney of D.C. United and Bastian Schweinsteiger of the Chicago Fire. All three bring their unique personalities to the forefront, shedding light on their MLS experience, their shared past at Manchester United and some moments that will make you laugh ahead of the start of the MLS season on March 2.

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A Conversation With Jonathan Liew of The Independent Jan 31, 2019

Jonathan Liew, the chief sportswriter for the UK-based independent, is one of the finest journalists and commentators working in English today. He joins Grant for a wide-ranging conversation on the craft of writing, the similarities and differences between American and British journalism, his columns on racism in sports, his love of cricket and his recent trip to Los Angeles to cover the baseball World Series.

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A conversation with Jozy Altidore Jan 24, 2019

Grant sits down for a candid interview with Jozy Altidore about his recent visit to Haiti, his future with Toronto FC and the USMNT and any suggestions he might have for Christian Pulisic about joining a team in the English Premier League.

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#SaveTheCrew With The Ringer's Mark Titus Jan 17, 2019

It's one of the most remarkable stories in sports of the past year: Against all odds, a fan-driven push to keep the Columbus Crew in Ohio—instead of moving to Austin, Texas—worked. Diehard Crew fan Mark Titus of The Ringer and One Shining Podcast joins Grant to talk about the success story of #SaveTheCrew.

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USWNT Star Julie Ertz Jan 10, 2019

As we enter a women's World Cup year, Grant interviews World Cup champion Julie Ertz of the U.S. women's national team and the Chicago Red Stars. A fun discussion ensues about her thoughts on the World Cup, her uncanny ability to score on set-piece headers and her power couple status with her Super Bowl-winning husband Zack Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Rising U.S. Teenager Josh Sargent and U.S. Investor Jordan Gardner Jan 03, 2019

Grant starts 2019 right by interviewing two intriguing figures: 18-year-old American forward Josh Sargent, who scored on his debuts for Werder Bremen and the USMNT in 2018 and looks forward to a bright year ahead; and Jordan Gardner, an American soccer investor who discusses his strategy to buy a club in Denmark and use it to develop young American players.

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Khalida Popal and Hailai Arghandiwal of the Afghanistan Women's National Team Dec 27, 2018

For years, Khalida Popal has been the face of the Afghanistan women's national team, which has been a success story bringing the sport of soccer to more women in her home country. Popal helped raise her team's profile and even got sponsorships from Soccer Without Borders and Hummel, which produced uniforms with headscarves for the team. But recently Popal did her own investigation and found evidence that Afghan soccer federation officials, including president Keramuddin Karim, had physically and sexually abused women's players (which he denies). FIFA has suspended Karim, and the Afghan government has started an investigation into the federation. Popal, who fled to live in Denmark a few years ago, shares her story, and she is followed by Hailai Arghandiwal, an Afghan-American member of the team who recently graduated from Santa Clara University and just signed with the Italian Serie A club Florentia.

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Tyler Adams of the USMNT and RB Leipzig Dec 20, 2018

Grant visits 19-year-old USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams at his New Jersey home and speaks to him about his impending move to RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, what he's been doing to prepare for the move, what he has been told by Leipzig officials about his chance to win playing time and his thoughts on new USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, his desire to become US captain and the year ahead for the national team.

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Bill Simmons on California Youth Soccer, MLS and US Soccer Dec 13, 2018

Grant gets into the soccer side of HBO's Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, founder and CEO of The Ringer and host of the Bill Simmons Podcast. Simmons talks about being deeply involved in Southern California youth soccer over the last five years with his daughter, including starting a new youth club. He also laments the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and shares his thoughts on MLS as an LAFC season ticket holder, as well as his experience attending a Mexico-USMNT World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

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Katie Nolan Talks Soccer and Her Love of Liverpool FC Dec 06, 2018

Grant has a fun interview with Katie Nolan, the host of Always Late With Katie Nolan on ESPN+, about how she fell in love with Liverpool FC, her fascination with Mohamed Salah, her thoughts on soccer fans in the United States, how she puts her show together and her plans for a pilgrimage to Anfield.

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Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg on Their New Book "The Club: How The English Premier League Became The Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force In Sports" Nov 29, 2018

Grant interviews the Wall Street Journal's Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg on their new book "The Club: How The English Premier League Became The Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force In Sports." Based on more than 100 interviews, including such figures as Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, Daniel Levy, David Dein and John W. Henry, the book charts the course of the Premier League from its origins as a breakaway from the English Football League to its status now as a global sports colossus.

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All Things Italian Soccer With David Amoyal Nov 22, 2018

Grant interviews David Amoyal, the Boston-based Italian soccer maven who hosts the Calcioland Podcast, edits the English-language website of the Woj-for-soccer Gianluca Dimarzio, writes columns for ESPNFC and The Athletic and appears regularly on SiriusXM. David shares his thoughts on everything that's happening lately in Italian soccer, which appears to be going through a renaissance.

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Pod Save The People's Clint Smith Nov 15, 2018

Clint Smith is a former Division I soccer player at Davidson and a huge Arsenal fan who has written occasionally on soccer for The New Yorker. He's also a regular on the podcast Pod Save the People; a Harvard doctoral candidate whose research interests include mass incarceration, the sociology of race and racism, and the history of U.S. inequality; a former national poetry slam champion; and the author of a poetry book, Counting Descent, that was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. He’s widely followed on Twitter at @clintsmithIII.

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Abby Wambach Interview Nov 08, 2018

Grant interviews Abby Wambach, the World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the all-time leading goal-scorer in international soccer history. Wambach retired from playing in 2015, and she was recently announced as the founding chair of the advisory group for Copa90 to guide its editorial, talent and commercial plans for coverage of women’s soccer as we move toward next summer’s women’s World Cup. She also has a new book coming out next April called Wolfpack: How Women Claim Power, United and Change the Game. In a candid, wide-ranging conversation, Wambach discusses the influence of her wife, best-selling author Glennon Doyle, her new work for Copa90, her three-part video with Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy and her thoughts on FIFA, U.S. Soccer and the women's game.

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Former USMNT Forward Eddie Johnson Nov 01, 2018

Grant interviews Eddie Johnson, the former USMNT forward whose 15-year playing career ended in 2015 due to a heart condition. These days Johnson is working as a skills-development coach in Orlando for all ages, from kids to pro players like Christian Pulisic, Cyle Larin and soon Dom Dwyer and Sydney Leroux. Johnson provides his candid thoughts on what American soccer needs to tap inner-city kids like he was—and what sharing his life story could do for African-American kids around the country.

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Interview of National Soccer Hall of Fame's Djorn Buchholz Oct 18, 2018

The new National Soccer Hall of Fame opens this weekend in Frisco, Tex., and Grant was there to interview executive director Djorn Buchholz about all the cool things inside the new HOF.

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Interviews with ESPN's Bob Ley and USMNT's Antonee Robinson Oct 11, 2018

Grant interviews ESPN's Bob Ley, one of the seminal soccer and TV sports broadcasters of the past 40 years. The focus here is on Ley's legendary experience in the soccer world, from the New York Cosmos to covering World Cups from 1982 to 2014, with some epic stories to tell along the way. Then Grant interviews Antonee Robinson, the 21-year-old left back who's playing for Wigan (on loan from Everton) and is trying to bring some stability to a position on the field that has dogged the U.S. for many years.

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Derek Rae, Soccer Broadcaster Oct 04, 2018

Grant interviews Derek Rae, who's everywhere these days—Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Amazon Prime and even the EA FIFA19 video game—about his personal journey and how he approaches his job.

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Tony Sanneh, The Original Big Cat Sep 27, 2018

Grant meets up in NYC with Tony Sanneh. They talk about Sanneh's standout performance in World Cup 2002, some hilarious stories from his career in Germany, his thoughts on being snubbed from the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the work he’s doing these days for his foundation, which last week was named a finalist for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2018 Sports Award.

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Grant Interviews The Athletic's Pablo Maurer Sep 20, 2018

Grant interviews one of the most interesting people in American soccer media: Pablo Maurer, who covers D.C. United for The Athletic. They talk Wayne Rooney and D.C. United's new stadium, but their discussion also ranges into Maurer's remarkable photography work (including the viral Abandoned States project), his work as a professional mechanic for high-end cars (including those owned by MLS players) and his stories on Johan Cruyff's Washington Diplomats, NASL's old Team America and the Spanish club Espanyol's preseason trip to Richmond.

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Grant and Brian Talk USMNT & new GM Earnie Stewart Sep 11, 2018

After the U.S.'s 2-0 friendly loss to Brazil, Grant and Brian discuss the game and Earnie Stewart's still-ongoing search to hire a new head coach. Then they discuss the new UEFA and CONCACAF Nations Leagues and debate whether a competitive Nations League game might be more useful than low-key friendlies against even the best teams like Brazil.

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An Interview With Emerging USA Goalkeeper Zack Steffen Sep 06, 2018

Ahead of Friday's USA-Brazil friendly, Grant sits down with Zack Steffen, the 23-year-old goalkeeper for the USMNT and Columbus Crew. They talk about his Man of the Match performance in June against France, his rise with the Columbus Crew, his thoughts on the goalkeeper position and his goals for the career that lies ahead.

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Grant and Brian Talk Clint Dempsey, Wayne Rooney, Gianni Infantino Sep 05, 2018

Back from vacation, Grant reconnects with Brian to talk about Brian's interviews with Wayne Rooney and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Plus the guys give their thoughts on the still-ongoing US men’s coaching search and the career of Clint Dempsey.

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Roma Director of Football Monchi Aug 30, 2018

Grant interviews Roma’s Monchi, widely regarded as one of the premier directors of football in world soccer. Monchi goes in depth on how he built his post-playing career as the director of football for 16 years at Sevilla, how he developed a strategy for identifying talent and why he decided to move to Roma in 2017.

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John Halloran on the USWNT Aug 23, 2018

Grant interviews John Halloran of American Soccer Now and The Equalizer on the state of the U.S. women’s national team after its victory in the Tournament of Nations and how things look heading into friendlies against Chile, October’s World Cup qualifying tournament and next summer’s World Cup.

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Jesse Marsch, RB Leipzig Aug 16, 2018

Grant interviews Jesse Marsch, who recently left his job as head coach of the New York Red Bulls to take an assistant coaching job with RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga. Marsch explains why he took the Leipzig job, how he has assimilated quickly and how he feels about the open U.S. men’s coaching job.

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NBC's Kyle Martino on the New Premier League Season Aug 09, 2018

Kyle Martino of NBC Sports joins Grant from England for a fun discussion about the new Premier League season, which starts on Friday, and his thoughts on the state of U.S. Soccer after his run for federation president and his new role with Street Soccer USA.

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The English Premier League Season Begins! Aug 07, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss what's on their mind at the start of the English Premier League season, and they also share their thoughts on the MLS All-Star Game.

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Popular University of Michigan Professor Andy Markovits Aug 02, 2018

While visiting Ann Arbor for the Manchester United-Liverpool game, Grant sits down with one of his favorite guests, the University of Michigan professor Andy Markovits (the author of Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism). They have a wide-ranging discussion of the World Cup on and off the field.

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Our First Visits to Audi Field and The Big House Jul 31, 2018

Grant and Brian are back on the case soccer-wise post-World Cup, and in this episode Brian shares his thoughts on visiting D.C. United's new Audi Field for the first time, while Grant talks about his first visit to the Big House in Michigan for Manchester United-Liverpool. The guys also break down Zlatan Ibrahimovic's incredible form for LA and find out why Brian was once thrown out of a Monte Carlo casino.

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Interviews With Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben and Serge Gnabry Jul 26, 2018

Grant sits down in Philadelphia for interviews with two Bayern Munich wingers at different stages of their careers. Arjen Robben, now 34, talks about what he wants to achieve in his 10th season at Bayern and how he has adjusted his game as a winger as he has gotten older. And Serge Gnabry, who has scored double-digit goals in the Bundesliga the last two seasons with Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen, looks ahead to his first season with Bayern and shares his story of growing up in Germany, moving to Arsenal as a teenager and coming back to his home country, where he has revived his promising career.

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World Cup Withdrawal, Etc. Jul 24, 2018

Grant and Brian are back after five weeks in Russia, and they’re going through World Cup withdrawal. They’ll talk about that and other things in the soccer world, including Mesut Özil and national identity, the U.S. women’s national team’s Four Nations tournament, Josef Martínez and Atlanta, their thoughts on the ICC and both New York MLS coaches leaving while they were in Russia.

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France Wins World Cup 2018! Plus Stu Holden Interview Jul 15, 2018

Grant and Brian break down France's 4-2 win over Croatia in the World Cup final—and finally eat Brian's space borscht! Then Grant interviews Stu Holden of Fox Sports, who called the World Cup final on Sunday.

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Final Thoughts Ahead of the World Cup Final; Alexi Lalas Interview Jul 14, 2018

Brian checks in with Grant from Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where the players of France and Croatia gave their final press conference ahead of Sunday's World Cup final. The guys also discuss Belgium's 2-0 win over England in the third-place game. Then Grant interviews Alexi Lalas of Fox Sports and hears his thoughts on Russia 2018.

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Our World Cup Best XI, Plus Jenny Taft of Fox Sports Jul 13, 2018

Grant and Brian break down our Best XI of the World Cup and make some tough decisions to do so. Then Grant interviews Jenny Taft of Fox Sports about her thoughts covering the French team and how she got fluent in French in the first place, helping her to interview the French players during the tournament

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Looking Ahead To The France-Croatia World Cup Final Jul 12, 2018

Brian is finally back in Moscow, albeit in the hotel from hell, and he and Grant look ahead to the France-Croatia World Cup final on Sunday. Plus Grant interviews Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist for the Washington Post, who talks about his visit to Russia and soccer in the bigger picture.

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Croatia Comes Back Again, Beats England 2-1 To Reach World Cup Final Jul 11, 2018

Grant and Brian break down Croatia's third straight knockout-round comeback as it beat England 2-1 in extra time on goals by Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic to reach the World Cup final vs France on Sunday.

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France Beats Belgium 1-0, Reaches World Cup Final Jul 11, 2018

Despite it being 3:30 am in Russia, Grant and Brian break down France's 1-0 victory over Belgium in the World Cup semifinals, with Brian relaying his thoughts from covering the game in St. Petersburg.

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France and Belgium Get Ready to Rumble Jul 09, 2018

Grant and Brian compare and contrast France and Belgium as Brian prepares to cover Tuesday's semifinal in St. Petersburg. Grant then challenges Brian to get the term "Inspector Pavard" into his postgame press conference question.

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France, Belgium and England Have Succeeded With Multicultural Identities, So Why Shouldn't the USMNT? Plus Jaime Macías of BeIN Sports Jul 08, 2018

Grant and Brian are hard at work on an off day of World Cup games, and they're noting the success of France, Belgium and England with multicultural teams and asking why the USMNT shouldn't be able to do that as well. Then Grant is joined for a fun interview by Jaime Macías of BeIN Sports.

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It's a Croatia-England Semifinal! Plus Rodolfo Landeros Interview Jul 08, 2018

Grant and Brian break down Croatia's wild victory over Russia on penalties and England's 2-0 win over Sweden that gives us four teams in the World Cup semifinals: Croatia-England and France-Belgium. Then Grant interviews Rodolfo Landeros, who did terrific work covering the Mexican national team during the World Cup for Fox Sports.

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Belgium Stuns Brazil and France Wears Down Cavani-Less Uruguay; Plus Cobi Jones Interview Jul 06, 2018

Brian and Grant break down Belgium's thrilling 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory against Brazil and France's 2-0 win against Uruguay, which was missing star Edinson Cavani. Then Grant interviews Cobi Jones of Fox Sports.

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Brazil-Belgium and France-Uruguay Preview; Plus Kate Abdo Interview Jul 05, 2018

With Brian now in St. Petersburg, he and Grant preview the varsity side of the World Cup bracket in Friday's quarterfinals (Brazil-Belgium and France-Uruguay). Then Grant interviews the terrific Kate Abdo of Fox Sports.

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Happy 4th of July! Grant and Brian Talk Favorite World Cup Moments; Plus JP Dellacamera Jul 04, 2018

It's an off day at the World Cup, but Grant and Brian are still on the case talking about their favorite World Cup moments so far. Then Grant interviews veteran soccer broadcaster JP Dellacamera of Fox Sports about his thoughts on where this World Cup has been and where it's going.

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England Wins On Penalties!?! Plus Tony Meola Interview Jul 04, 2018

Grant and Brian (who was in the Moscow stadium) break down England's dramatic elimination of Colombia on penalties to advance to the quarterfinals and set up a matchup against a tough Sweden team. Then Grant interviews Tony Meola of Fox Sports about his thoughts on the tournament.

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Mexico Out; Belgium and Japan Play the Best Half of World Cup 2018; Plus Ed Malyon Interview Jul 02, 2018

Grant and Brian break down Belgium's thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Japan in the Round of 16 and dissect Mexico's elimination in the Round of 16 for the seventh straight World Cup, this time in a 2-0 loss to Brazil. Then Grant interviews Ed Malyon, the sports editor of The Independent, about England-Colombia and his thoughts on the exits of Argentina and Spain, where he has lived and worked.

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Russia Eliminates Spain and Croatia Advances Over Denmark; Plus Ian Wright of Fox Sports Jul 01, 2018

Brian joins Grant from Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where he covered Russia's stunning elimination of Spain on penalty kicks to advance to the World Cup 2018 quarterfinals. It wasn't a great day of games, but the high-stakes drama of penalty kicks was palpable in both as a subpar Croatia still advanced over Denmark. Then Grant interviews Ian Wright, who's covering the World Cup for Fox Sports and other global outlets. They talk about England-Colombia and Ian's pride over the success of his son, Bradley Wright-Phillips, with the New York Red Bulls.

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Messi and Ronaldo Are Out of World Cup 2018; Plus Maria Komandnaya of Fox Sports Jun 30, 2018

Grant and Brian review France's 4-3 win over Argentina and Uruguay's 2-1 victory over Portugal in a pair of compelling games to start the Round of 16. Then Grant interviews Maria Komandnaya of Fox Sports about the Russian team ahead of Russia-Spain and her fascinating career path as a journalist and media personality in Russia and beyond.

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Looking Ahead to Argentina-France and Uruguay-Portugal; Plus Sunil Gulati Interview Jun 29, 2018

It may be the first day of no games at World Cup 2018, but Grant and Brian aren't taking the day off for the podcast! They preview Saturday's pair of mouthwatering games to open the knockout rounds—Argentina-France and Uruguay-Portugal—as well as the other Round of 16 matchups. Then Grant interviews former U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who's still a FIFA Council member, about the genesis of his baby, the successful U.S.-led bid to host World Cup 2026.

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Fair-Play Points As A World Cup Tiebreaker? Plus Clarence Seedorf Interview Jun 28, 2018

Grant and Brian break down the last day of group-stage finales, including whether fair-play points should be used as a tiebreaker after the unprecedented use of them to send Senegal home and Japan to the Round of 16. Then Grant has a deeply candid interview with Clarence Seedorf, the only man ever to win the UEFA Champions League with three different teams and now a coach who's working for Fox Sports and other outlets at the World Cup.

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Defending World Cup Champion Germany Is Out—and Mexico Is In. Plus Kelly Smith of Fox Sports. Jun 28, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss the remarkable finish that saw defending World Cup champion Germany eliminated from World Cup 2018—the fourth time in five occasions that the defending champion has gone out in the group stage—and saw Mexico saved by South Korea. They also talk about the game Brian attended in Moscow (Brazil 2, Serbia 0) and what it means for Brazil ahead of a knockout-round showdown with Mexico. Then Grant interviews Kelly Smith, one of England's greatest players, who discusses her work analyzing games for Fox Sports and her thoughts on the tournament, including England.

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Against All Odds, Argentina Survives. Plus Jake Walerius On World Cup Fan Groups Jun 26, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Argentina's miraculous survival in Group D after Marcos Rojo's late goal brought the Argentines back from the dead and knocked Nigeria out of the tournament. Meanwhile, Brian laments having to be at France and Denmark's 0-0 tie, by far the dullest game of Russia 2018, that saw both teams advance from Group C. Then Grant interviews FanSided's Jake Walerius about his work writing about different national fan bases at this World Cup. One question: Why are European fans being so outnumbered at a World Cup in Europe by fans from Latin America?

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Simultaneous Group Finales! Simultaneous VAR Craziness! Plus Nike's Pete Hoppins on Those Amazing Nigeria Kits Jun 25, 2018

Grant and Brian break down the dramatic Group B finales as Iran almost takes out Portugal late, but Spain and Portugal end up advancing. Then Grant is joined by Pete Hoppins, the senior design director for Nike football apparel, who tells the fascinating story of the design for Nigeria's wildly popular World Cup kits.

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England and Colombia Rampant! Plus Rob Stone of Fox Sports Jun 24, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss the big wins by England over Panama and then Colombia over Poland, as well as Japan and Senegal's compelling 2-2 tie in Group H. Then Grant sits down with Rob Stone of Fox Sports to talk about his thoughts so far on the World Cup, as well as how he goes about his duties as a host.

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Toni Kroos Saves Germany, Mexico Wins Again and Fernando Fiore Interview Jun 23, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Germany's last-second win over Sweden that saved 10-man Germany (for now), Mexico's 2-1 victory over South Korea and Belgium's freewheeling 5-2 win over Tunisia. Then Grant interviews Fernando Fiore, his Fox Sports colleague, about his background, his broadcasting style and his nightly show from Russia, World Cup Tonight.

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Nigeria Is Here! Plus Vaishali Bhardwaj on England Jun 22, 2018

Grant and Brian talk Day 9 of World Cup 2018, from Nigeria's 2-0 takedown of Iceland to Brazil's difficult 2-0 victory over Costa Rica to Switzerland's stirring comeback in a 2-1 triumph over Serbia. Then Grant interviews Vaishali Bhardwaj of London's Evening Standard about England's winning start to the World Cup and her pathway to journalism.

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Croatia Takes Down Messi and Argentina; Amelia López on Mexico's Hot Start Jun 22, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Croatia's memorable 3-0 win over Argentina, putting Lionel Messi and Argentina in serious danger of failing to advance from Group D. Brian, who covered the game in Nizhny Novgorod, details what exactly has gone wrong so far for Argentina and so right for Croatia. Then Grant interviews Amelia López of Fut Mex Nation and the Mexican Soccer Show about Mexico's brilliant start to beat Germany and what comes next for El Tri.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Again! Plus A Landon Donovan Interview Jun 20, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Day 7, including Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the figure of this World Cup. Then Grant interviews Landon Donovan about his thoughts on the World Cup, that bank ad and what comes next following his departure from Club León.

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Russia Plus-7 Goal Difference?!? Interview: U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro Jun 19, 2018

Grant and Brian break down Day 6 of World Cup 2018, including Russia's 3-1 win over Egypt that gives the hosts 6 points and almost certainly a berth in the Round of 16; Senegal's 2-1 victory over Poland and Japan's 2-1 win against Colombia, the first time an Asian team has beaten a South American team at a men's World Cup. Then Grant is joined by U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro, who gives the inside skinny on how the World Cup '26 bid was won and explains what's next on his plate with the federation. (Hint: Approving the hire of a USMNT coach.)

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Harry Kane Fires England Past Tunisia; Zack Goldman and Nathen McVittie Interview Jun 19, 2018

On Day 5 of the World Cup, Grant and Brian break down England's stoppage-time game-winner against Tunisia and discuss how important it is for Mexico to keep pushing and win its group. Then Grant interviews Zack Goldman (@ThatDamnYank) and Nathen McVittie (@NathenMcVittie), two of the most interesting soccer people you have probably never heard of.

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Mexico Takes Down World Cup Champion Germany; Bora Milutinovic Interview Jun 18, 2018

Grant discusses Mexico's stunning 1-0 victory over World Cup champion Germany with Brian, who was at the game in Moscow. They also talk about Brazil's 1-1 tie with Switzerland and Costa Rica's 1-0 loss to Serbia. Then Grant interviews Bora Milutinovic, who coached the host USA team to the second round of World Cup 1994 and four other World Cup teams: Mexico (1986), Costa Rica (1990), Nigeria (1998) and China (2002).

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Lionel Messi Should Stop Taking Argentina's Penalties Jun 17, 2018

With an unexpected guest appearance from Alexi Lalas right next to the Kremlin, Grant and Brian discuss Iceland's impressive 1-1 tie against Argentina and ask whether it's time for Messi to stop taking Argentina's penalties (after failing to convert four of his last seven spot kicks for club and country). Then Grant interviews Deyna Castellanos, the Venezuelan rising star and Florida State forward who's in Russia promoting women's soccer at the World Cup under the hashtag #DareToShine.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's Insane Hat Trick; Bruce Arena On His New Book Jun 16, 2018

Grant and Brian break down Day 2 of World Cup 2018, headlined by the remarkable Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick and late free kick goal in Portugal's 3-3 tie with Spain. They also discuss Uruguay's 1-0 win over Egypt, Iran's surprising 1-0 victory against Morocco and Brian's visit to the Iceland camp ahead of Saturday's highly awaited Iceland-Argentina game.

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Russian Attack! And Arsene Wenger Negs Us In An Elevator Jun 15, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Russia 5, Saudi Arabia 0, and what it means for Group A. They also touch on Mohamed Salah's likely return from injury against Uruguay, the spicy Spain-Portugal game and an amusing encounter near a hotel elevator with Arsene Wenger.

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The USA-Led Bid Will Host World Cup 2026 Jun 13, 2018

In the latest World Cup Daily episode, Grant and Brian discuss all the details surrounding the historic news that the USA-led bid to host World Cup 2026 has beaten Morocco here in Moscow. They also dig into Spain's astonishing firing of coach Julen Lopetegui the day before the start of the World Cup and Thursday's Russia-Saudi Arabia World Cup 2018 kickoff between the two lowest-ranked teams in the tournament. Then Grant interviews author Ken Bensinger about his book Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World’s Biggest Sports Scandal.

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The Start of World Cup Daily! Plus Andrei Arshavin Interview Jun 12, 2018

Grant and Brian are on the ground in Russia for the first episode of our World Cup Daily podcast. We give our first impressions of Moscow and handicap the chances of the United States-led bid with Mexico and Canada for World Cup 2026, which goes up against Morocco on Wednesday. Then Grant is joined by Russian great Andrei Arshavin, who tells some terrific stories about Euro 2008 glory, scoring four times for Arsenal at Liverpool, and his thoughts on Russia's chances in this World Cup.

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Garry Kasparov on Putin Hosting the World Cup; Mark Noonan on Being the CEO of Ghana's Biggest Club Jun 07, 2018

The Russian former world chess champion and human rights activist Garry Kasparov joins Grant to discuss his criticism of Vladimir Putin and answer the question: Should we feel conflicted about being excited to watch a World Cup from Russia? Then former MLS vice-president Mark Noonan tells the story of why he left Connecticut earlier this year to become the CEO of Accra Hearts of Oak, the most storied club in the history of Ghana.

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Grant and Brian on the SI World Cup Preview Issue Jun 05, 2018

Grant and Brian get ready for their daily World Cup podcast by discussing their stories in the SI World Cup preview issue. Brian explains what it was like at the SI cover shoot with Chicharito Hernández, Chucky Lozano and Carlos Vela, and Grant talks about what went into his new half-hour video documentary on Iceland on SI TV and his cover story on Mohamed Salah.

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Aly Wagner is Making U.S. TV History During the Men's World Cup May 31, 2018

Fox Sports TV's Aly Wagner will be the first woman to do game commentary on U.S. English-language TV for a men's World Cup once Russia 2018 starts June 14. She joins Grant to discuss how she prepares for games, what led her from the playing field to the TV booth and how she feels about making history.

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Real Madrid, Another Champions League Title And The DNA Of Winning May 29, 2018

Grant and Brian dissect the UEFA Champions League final—Real Madrid 3, Liverpool 1—and all the talking points, from Madrid’s threepeat to Sergio Ramos’s villainy to Mohamed Salah’s injury to Gareth Bale’s golazo to Loris Karius and his two howlers. They also touch on the U.S. men’s national team and Cincinnati joining MLS.

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World-Renowned Skills Coach Tom Byer On Why U.S. Soccer Dumped His Pilot Program May 24, 2018

Tom Byer, a renowned skills coach who's based in Japan and who appeared on a popular episode of HBO's Real Sports last fall, explains to Grant why U.S. Soccer chose not to extend funding his pilot program working with the parents of soccer-playing kids in Washington State beyond a brief six-month trial.

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SI's Chris Ballard on Jurgen Klinsmann; New MLS Nashville CEO Ian Ayre May 22, 2018

SI's Chris Ballard joins the pod to discuss his terrific new magazine story on Jurgen Klinsmann, which delves into what the former USMNT coach is doing these days, his take on the US's failed World Cup qualifying campaign and what may come next for him. Then Grant chats with Ian Ayre, the former Liverpool CEO who has just taken the same position with the new Nashville MLS team that's set to debut in 2020

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Ted Knutson's Story From the U of Oklahoma to Running A Cutting-Edge Soccer Data Business in England May 17, 2018

Ted Knutson, the England-based owner of StatsBomb, tells Grant about his journey from the University of Oklahoma to professional gambling to diving down the rabbithole of world soccer, which has included working for two clubs (Brentford and Midtjylland) and now owning StatsBomb. Knutson also provides insight on how this week's Supreme Court decision on sports gambling will change the landscape for soccer in the United States.

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Grant and Brian Tell World Cup Stories May 15, 2018

Grant and Brian record the podcast in Grant's rental car at the wedding of SI.com soccer editor Avi Creditor—and, fortified by a few wedding drinks, tell some of their favorite stories over the years from covering the World Cup.

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Moya Dodd On How Soccer's Male-Dominated Leadership Is Keeping Global Women's Soccer From Reaching Its Potential May 10, 2018

Australia's Moya Dodd, one of the most influential women in world soccer, joins Grant to discuss her work to advance the women's game, which areas still need a lot of work and why women's soccer is a sleeping giant globally.

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El Clásico Never Fails To Disappoint May 08, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss another wild El Clásico, what’s next for Arsene Wenger, the New York City derby, a USA-less and Mexico-less Copa América, Rocco Commisso and the possibility of recording next week’s pod a few beers into their editor’s wedding this Sunday.

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Grant's New Book, Masters of Modern Soccer May 03, 2018

Grant's first book in nine years, Masters of Modern Soccer, is out this week, and he's interviewed by Luis Miguel Echegaray about it. The book looks at the craft of soccer, position by position, and includes two years of in-depth interviews with a goalkeeper (Manuel Neuer), a defender (Vincent Kompany), a defensive midfielder (Xabi Alonso), an attacking midfielder (Christian Pulisic), a forward (Javier "Chicharito" Hernández), a head coach (Roberto Martínez) and a director of football (Michael Zorc). We also explain how to enter our contest for the giveaway of five signed hardcover copies of the book.

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Is Toronto's CCL Gut-Punch A Temporary Blip or TFC's High Point? May 01, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Real Madrid’s uncanny way of winning in UEFA Champions League, Mohamed Salah’s insane goal-scoring run for Liverpool, Toronto’s gut punch of a loss in the Concacaf Champions League final, LAFC’s remarkable start in MLS and the reaction to our annual MLS Ambition Rankings.

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Part 2: The Struggle For Equality In Global Women's Soccer Apr 26, 2018

Grant leads a panel discussion at Duke University on The Struggle for Equality in Global Women's Soccer. Panelists include Jean Williams of the University of Wolverhampton, Shireen Ahmed of the Burn It All Down podcast and Gwendolyn Oxenham, the author of "Under the Lights and In the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer."

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Part 1: The Struggle For Equality In Global Women's Soccer Apr 24, 2018

Grant leads a panel discussion at Duke University on The Struggle for Equality in Global Women's Soccer. Panelists include Jean Williams of the University of Wolverhampton, Shireen Ahmed of the Burn It All Down podcast and Gwendolyn Oxenham, the author of "Under the Lights and In the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer."

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Raphael Honigstein on His Jürgen Klopp Biography Apr 19, 2018

Raphael Honigstein, the leading journalist on German soccer, joins Grant to talk about his book Bring The Noise: The Jürgen Klopp Story. Honigstein discusses how the charismatic Klopp has taken Liverpool to the Champions League semifinals, and he goes deep into the history of the most significant influences on Klopp’s career.

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Gigi Buffon's Next Country Song: "Trashcan For A Heart." Apr 17, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss a busy week in soccer, including the wild UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Toronto's chance for CCL history, more FIFA World Cup expansion talk and the electric Atlanta-NYCFC game.

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Merritt Paulson Is The Most Vocal Owner In American Soccer Apr 12, 2018

Merritt Paulson, the owner of the Portland Timbers and Thorns, joins Grant for a candid discussion—is there any other type with Paulson?—about why he wanted to become a soccer owner; the influence of his father, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson; whether he considers himself a soccer expert, his controversial Twitter personal—we recorded this just before his Twitter outburst during Orlando-Portland—and his contention that there aren't any MLS owners who would be open to promotion and relegation.

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Has Manchester City Lost Its Mystique In A Week? Apr 10, 2018

Grant and Brian ask whether Man City's two losses in a week have altered its incredible season, and they also discuss Toronto and New York in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals, MLS expansion, Zlatan Week 2 and the move by the governments of St. Lucia and Dominica (two Concacaf countries) to support the World Cup '26 bid of ... Morocco.

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Duke Professor Laurent Dubois On "The Language of the Game" Apr 05, 2018

Duke professor Laurent Dubois joins Grant to talk about his new book "The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer." Dubois, who teaches a popular class at Duke called Soccer Politics, explains how he approached organizing, researching and writing his new book, which draws from a wide variety of cultural sources around the world, including both the men's and women's games, to explore the language and meaning of the world's most popular sport.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic And The Greatest Holy S--- Moment In MLS History Apr 03, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his insane debut for LA Galaxy, Christian Pulisic and Dortmund’s 6-0 loss to Bayern Munich, their favorite two-week period of UEFA Champions League starting this week and the Concacaf Champions League semifinals involving some of the biggest cities in North America.

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Zlatan is here. Will we see the Real Zlatan? Mar 29, 2018

Fresh off his cross-country travels to see Mexico and the USMNT, Brian Straus joins Grant to talk about USA 1, Paraguay 0; the guys' visits with the Mexican and Icelandic national teams and the signing by LA Galaxy of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of the first LA-LAFC showdown this weekend.

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Bob Bradley On LAFC, His Exile From U.S. Soccer and The Early Days of Mohamed Salah Mar 27, 2018

LAFC coach Bob Bradley discusses his team's fast start, this week's LA derby, his thoughts on Zlatan Ibrahimovic arriving in LA, what needs to happen in U.S. Soccer and his memories of working with an emerging Egyptian talent named Mohamed Salah.

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Andy Markovits, The Soccer- and Grateful Dead-Loving U. of Michigan Professor Mar 22, 2018

Grant has a fun and wide-ranging conversation about soccer with University of Michigan professor Andy Markovits, probably the smartest guest ever on the podcast. Their discussion dives into Andy's work in soccer, including his classic book "Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism."

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Mohamed Salah's Rise: How Did This Happen? Mar 20, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss why Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is in a zone few players ever enter; come up with some ideas to fix domestic cup competitions; break down MLS's impressive (so far) run in CCL; discuss the new USMNT roster and ask why Clint Dempsey (or anyone, for that matter) would want to punch or elbow someone in the groin.

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David Neal, the Head of Fox Sports's World Cup Broadcasts, Describes How He's Approaching World Cup 2018 Mar 15, 2018

David Neal, whose more than three-decade career in sports television production has included the Olympics, the NBA Finals and the World Series, tells Grant how Fox will be approaching its coverage of World Cup 2018 in Russia. Neal details how he has built relationships in Russia, how he and his staff approach a typical day during the tournament and why there will be more American voices on Fox's broadcasts than we have seen in previous World Cups on other networks.

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Should Bob Bradley be a top candidate for USMNT coach? Mar 13, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Manchester United and José Mourinho, a new addition to our list of bad players on good teams, MLS’s big opportunity this week in Concacaf Champions League and Grant's bold argument that one of the top candidates for the U.S. men’s national team job should be … Bob Bradley.

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Steve Nash discusses his new Champions League job with Turner and B/R Football; Sebastian Abbot on his new book "The Away Game" Mar 08, 2018

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash joins Grant to explain what he'll be doing with Turner's Champions League coverage and why he's more passionate these days about soccer than basketball. And Sebastian Abbot discusses his new book "The Away Game," which chronicles the largest soccer talent search in history, involving prospects from all over Africa and funding from the Qatari government.

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MLS was supposed to be more predictable at the top, and then the opening weekend happened. Mar 06, 2018

SI's Brian Straus joins Grant to talk about the string of upsets in MLS Week 1, Lionel Messi's genius to sink Atlético Madrid, the big Toronto-Tigres CONCACAF Champions League showdown, the questions surrounding the North American World Cup '26 bid and the decent but not great performance of the USWNT so far in the SheBelieves Cup.

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Megan Rapinoe Is Still A Proud Ally Of Colin Kaepernick Mar 01, 2018

USWNT star Megan Rapinoe joins Grant for a thoughtful conversation on a number of topics, including the SheBelieves Cup, NWSL, how she and power couple partner Sue Bird discuss vision in basketball and soccer, and how Rapinoe looks back on taking a knee as an ally in protest with Colin Kaepernick.

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Man City's Cup win, Arsenal's American fans, MLS 2018, Neymar's injury and SheBelieves Cup Feb 27, 2018

Brian and Grant discuss Man City's defeat of Arsenal in the League Cup final, including asking what drives the psychology of Arsenal's numerous American fans. They also address MLS's season-opening storylines, whether Brian's old friend Neymar should have joined PSG and Grant's thoughts on whether Jill Ellis's job should be questioned after not winning any of the U.S. women's last three tournaments.

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Landon Donovan on why he came out of retirement for León and his U.S. Soccer, USMNT thoughts Feb 22, 2018

In his most detailed public comments since coming out of retirement to play for Mexico's Club León, Landon Donovan describes why he made his decision, his lifelong connection to Mexico and Mexican-Americans, what he's capable of in pure soccer terms these days, how he feels about President Trump's stance on Mexico and his reaction to Carlos Cordeiro winning the U.S. Soccer presidential election.

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Brian's "Fade Into Bolivian," Geoff Cameron's U.S. Soccer Opinions, Election Fallout Feb 20, 2018

SI’s Brian Straus is back! He and Grant speak about Brian's vacation to Bolivia (including a Copa Libertadores game), our big-picture thoughts on the US Soccer presidential election and Geoff Cameron’s opinions on the federation in the Players Tribune.

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Shaw Brown Is The Most Interesting Soccer Person In America You've Never Heard Of Feb 15, 2018

Grant interviews Shaw Brown, the lead producer for Fox Sports' U.S. Soccer and MLS broadcasts, who discusses his more than two decades in the sport, how he got into it and some of his favorite stories from over the years. He also describes what he's looking for when he's directing a soccer broadcast on TV. For anyone interested in breaking into soccer media, this is an especially fun podcast.

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Dr. Joe Machnik is the Renaissance Man of American Soccer Feb 13, 2018

Dr Joe Machnik is currently the soccer rules analyst for Fox Sports, but his past goes all the way back to being an All-American goalkeeper at Long Island University, a coach who led LIU at age 23 to the 1966 NCAA title game, who coached ice hockey and mens and women's soccer at the University of New Haven, who was an assistant coach on the U.S. men’s 1990 World Cup team, a referee who worked the 1988 NCAA title game, a FIFA match commissioner, a director of officials for three U.S. pro leagues and the creator of the popular No. 1 Soccer Camps. He was recently inducted as a Builder into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

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Paul Caligiuri on why he should be U.S. Soccer president Feb 08, 2018

Ahead of Saturday's U.S. Soccer election, Grant interviews Paul Caligiuri, who played in two World Cups and scored one of the most significant goals in U.S. Soccer history to send the Americans to World Cup 1990. Caligiuri explains why he decided to run and how he would like to expand the Olympic Development Program to every high school in the country.

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U.S. Soccer Presidential Candidate Carlos Cordeiro Feb 06, 2018

Ahead of the highly contested U.S. Soccer election on February 10, candidate Carlos Cordeiro discusses his travels to state associations around the country, lays out his plan to change the federation and addresses his challenge of being a reform candidate who has been on the board of U.S. Soccer since 2007.

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Brad Rothenberg of Alianza de Fútbol Is Still Angry About US Soccer Losing Jonathan González Feb 01, 2018

In a two-interview podcast, Brad Rothenberg of Alianza de Fútbol, which discovered Jonathan González, explains why U.S. Soccer lost González to Mexico and why it will keep happening with Mexican-American players if U.S. Soccer doesn't change. Then comedian Jay Baruchel and journalist Eoin O'Callaghan tell the story behind their terrific new documentary film Celtic Soul.

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Beckham, Miami finally get an MLS team; Transfer deadline anticipation Jan 30, 2018

Grant and Brian talk about the long-awaited official announcement of David Beckham’s Miami MLS team; intriguing transfers like Aubameyang to Arsenal and Ibrahimovic to LA Galaxy; the U.S. men’s friendly against Bosnia and the ongoing recriminations over the U.S. losing Jonathan González to Mexico.

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MLS Commissioner Don Garber Sounds Off On Just About Everything Jan 25, 2018

Grant is joined by MLS commissioner Don Garber, who discusses a range of topics, including Atlanta's MLS-record purchase of Ezequiel Barco, what's happening with expansion (including with David Beckham's Miami project), the role of Soccer United Marketing in U.S. Soccer and whether he'll pledge to work with whomever wins the U.S. Soccer presidential election.

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Atlanta’s Ezequiel Barco purchase (for an MLS-record $15 million) is a league game-changer. Jan 23, 2018

Grant and Brian hail the trend of MLS teams spending big on rising South American superstars (led by Atlanta and Ezequiel Barco) and discuss the pending Alexis Sánchez/Henrikh Mkhitaryan between Arsenal and Manchester United; the Defiance Tour of Bruce Arena and Sunil Gulati; whether North America’s World Cup ’26 bid is in doubt and the parade of U.S. Soccer presidential candidates in Philadelphia over the weekend.

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US Soccer Presidential Candidate Michael Winograd Has A Novel Idea For Promotion and Relegation Jan 18, 2018

US Soccer presidential candidate Michael Winograd joins Grant for a wide-ranging conversation in which he talks about his biggest challenge—finding a path to victory—and shares some promising proposals, including building training centers in each state and an "interim" stage to test promotion and relegation in US soccer leagues.

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Liverpool Beats Man City Jan 16, 2018

Grant and Brian discuss Liverpool’s pulsating victory over Manchester City to end City’s hopes of an undefeated Premier League season, Landon Donovan’s surprise un-retirement to join Mexico’s León, and this week’s United Soccer Coaches convention in Philadelphia, also known as Tracksuit Woodstock.

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Ray Hudson, BeIN Sports and SiriusXM Jan 11, 2018

The inimitable Ray Hudson of BeIN Sports and SiriusXM joins Grant for a fun conversation on how he developed his love for words, his unique broadcasting style, his appreciation for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his favorite stories from the 1970s NASL his love of South American soccer players and fellow Floridian Dick Vitale, and the influence of his father, Wilfred, who passed away last year at 98.

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The US's Loss of Jonathan González Jan 09, 2018

Grant and Brian talk about Jonathan González choosing Mexico over the United States, Eric Lichaj’s blinder to dethrone Arsenal in the FA Cup, the new U.S. January camp roster and what it was like for Brian to attend a Baltimore Blast indoor game over the weekend.

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Sports Illustrated's Luis Miguel Echegaray Jan 04, 2018

Grant is joined by SI's Luis Miguel Echegaray, his cohost on the weekly Planet Fútbol video show on the SI TV streaming channel. Luis shares his story from living in Peru to England to the United States, from acting to coaching to journalism, and from rooting for Peru to England to the U.S. to Aston Villa. He also has some strong opinions on the landscape of soccer in the United States.

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SI's Brian Straus and two-thirds of a happy new year. Jan 02, 2018

Grant and Brian ring in the new year and talk about the year ahead, World Cup 2018, who will be the next US men’s national team coach, the wild US Soccer presidential election and our thoughts on our end-of-the-year campaign story on Sunil Gulati, Don Garber, Kathy Carter and the legendary Sal Rapaglia. They also discuss Brian’s desire to ride with goats on a Russian third-class train this summer to Nizhny Novgorod.

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Sportswriter Will Leitch, Newly Minted Soccer Fan Dec 28, 2017

Grant is joined by Will Leitch, the founder of Deadspin and now a writer for Sports on Earth, New York magazine and other publications. They talk about Leitch's trip down the rabbit hole of soccer fandom, including the story of his support for the U.S. national team, Arsenal and becoming a season ticket holder for Atlanta United. Leitch, who has written extensively on sports fandom, explains what makes soccer different from a fan's perspective than other sports.

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Steve Gans, U.S. Soccer Presidential Candidate Dec 19, 2017

Grant is joined by U.S. Soccer presidential candidate Steve Gans, a Boston-based lawyer who has a long record in the game. They talk about Gans's platform and his opinions on the problems in American soccer and the potential solutions. Gans is also pressed on how he'll find a path to victory in a crowded race.

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Kyle Martino, U.S. Soccer Presidential Candidate Dec 14, 2017

Martino joins Grant to talk about his U.S. Soccer presidential candidacy and answers questions about his platform, his view of Sunil Gulati's record as president and why he thinks he's qualified to run such a big organization.

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Toronto's MLS title, MLS expansion, USSF campaign Dec 12, 2017

Grant and Brian discuss Toronto’s MLS Cup title, Brian’s thoughts from being on the ground north of the border, the wild U.S. Soccer presidential campaign, and which cities we think will get MLS expansion teams. They also talk about staking out MLS owners meetings and LA Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz curing his own smoked meats.

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Kathy Carter, U.S. Soccer Presidential Candidate Dec 07, 2017

Grant interviews Kathy Carter, most recently the president of Soccer United Marketing, about her decision to enter the U.S. Soccer presidential race in the final week before nominations are due. Carter engages on a number of topics, including her platform, her background in business and on the field, and Soccer United Marketing: What is it? And what would she do to remove any perceived conflicts of interest between SUM, MLS and U.S. Soccer?

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MLS Cup final, Toronto's chance for greatness Dec 05, 2017

Grant and Brian discuss this week’s MLS Cup final, the greatest teams in MLS history by year and era, and the ingredients that make for a good cup final. Grant tells some of his favorite Clint Dempsey and Drew Carey stories, and the guys get into the World Cup draw and the intricacies of Brian’s Twitter bio.

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Eric Wynalda, US Soccer Presidential Candidate Nov 30, 2017

Former USMNT forward Eric Wynalda joins Grant for a discussion about his U.S. Soccer presidential candidacy, including his thoughts on changing the federation, promotion and relegation, how to spend U.S. Soccer's $130 million surplus, recent criticism from MLS owner Merritt Paulson and whether his candidacy resembles that of Donald Trump.

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We're back. Nov 28, 2017

Grant and SI's Brian Straus catch up on what happened since the last episode—the USMNT World Cup failure, Brian's Neymar SI cover story, Grant's book—and discuss the Seattle-Toronto Era in MLS, the sordid Columbus Crew story, the World Cup 2018 draw and the U.S. Soccer presidential campaign.

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Brian Straus, SI soccer writer May 09, 2017

SI's Brian Straus joins Grant for a fun conversation on the latest in soccer, including the U.S.-led World Cup 2026 bid, FIFA not changing its stripes, Chris Wondolowski, the revival of Minnesota United, what they would do with U.S. Soccer's $100 million-plus nest egg and Brian's tale of buying a counterfeit ticket at the 1998 UEFA Champions League final.

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Carli Lloyd, USWNT captain on her Man City experience May 02, 2017

Carli Lloyd, the two-time defending FIFA World Player of the Year, joins Grant in Manchester, England, to discuss her short-term stay at Man City, which she has helped lead to the Champions League semifinals and upcoming FA Cup final. Lloyd describes everything from meeting Pep Guardiola to engaging with her new teammates to giving her impressions of the rising level of women's soccer in England compared to the NWSL and other leagues in Europe.

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Howard Webb, famed ref on the future of video replay Apr 25, 2017

Howard Webb, who refereed the finals of the 2010 World Cup and UEFA Champions League, joins Grant to talk about his new job running the Video Assistant Referee program that's set to debut this summer in MLS. Webb explains in detail how VAR will work, what kinds of calls it will and won't review, and why it's one of the biggest changes in soccer that we have seen in our lifetimes. Webb also describes his own journey in refereeing from his humble start to the pinnacle of the sport.

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John Strong, Fox Sports Soccer Broadcaster Apr 18, 2017

A rising star at age 31, John Strong talks to Grant about his journey from deciding he wanted as a kid to become a sports broadcaster to his current position as Fox Sports' lead play-by-play announcer for soccer. John discusses his influences, his process and his career goals as he looks toward a busy MLS season, U.S. World Cup qualifying and the promised land of the World Cup in 2018.

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Bixente Lizarazu, World and European Champion for Club and Country Apr 11, 2017

Left back Bixente Lizarazu was a world and European champion for club (Bayern Munich) and country (France), and he joins Grant to talk about a wide range of topics: The Bayern-Real Madrid Champions League showdown; what it was like to play with Zinédine Zidane; what makes Carlo Ancelotti special; and a post-playing career that includes TV and other media as well as becoming a black belt in jiu-jitsu and going on surfing and mountain-climbing adventures around the globe.

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Becky Sauerbrunn, USWNT Co-Captain Apr 04, 2017

Becky Sauerbrunn speaks to Grant about a number of topics: The USWNT's experimentation and surprising recent losses as the journey continues toward World Cup '19; her increasingly vocal role in labor talks with U.S. Soccer; new details on what the players are looking for from U.S. Soccer; and how she hopes relations can improve between the U.S. women's and men's players.

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Tim Howard, U.S. goalkeeper; Paolo Maldini, A.C. Milan legendary defender Mar 28, 2017

In a packed podcast with two terrific interviews, U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard sits down with Grant in Panama to talk about the U.S. national team and his own career. Legendary defender Paolo Maldini also joins the show and gives his thoughts on defending in today's game, as well as the ups and downs of AC Milan.

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Jimmy Conrad, World Cup Player Turned YouTube Star Mar 21, 2017

Jimmy Conrad joins Grant for a candid and funny conversation about defying expectations in soccer and life. Conrad went from being a walk-on to an NCAA champion, from being undrafted to MLS Defender of the Year, from being unheralded to starting games at World Cup 2006. Now he's building a new audience with nearly 100,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel.

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MLS Commissioner Don Garber at SXSW Mar 14, 2017

MLS commissioner Don Garber goes one-on-one with Grant at SXSW in Austin, Texas, with a focus on technology, including Facebook's move into becoming an MLS rights-holder, the start of Video-Assistant Referees this season, continued MLS expansion and where Garber thinks MLS will be in 20 years.

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SI.com's Brian Straus on MLS opening week Mar 07, 2017

SI’s Brian Straus joins Grant to talk about all things MLS as the new season gets underway, from new stadiums in Orlando (and soon to be D.C.) to new teams in Atlanta and Minnesota to why terminology matters in growing world of American soccer.

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Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona Goalkeeper Mar 02, 2017

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen joins Grant in Spain for a fun talk about how he became a goalkeeper in the first place; how he gained the foot skills of a “sweeper keeper;” what it was like to start and win a Champions League final at age 23; the differences between German and Spanish football culture; winning the Barcelona No. 1 job outright after platooning with Claudio Bravo for two seasons; and how Barça might find a way back from 4-0 in its Champions League return leg against PSG.

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Ivan Rakitić, Barcelona Midfielder Feb 28, 2017

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitić joins Grant in Spain for a wide-ranging conversation about scoring in the 2015 Champions League final; what it’s like playing with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar; his more defensive role for Barça this season; how he met his future wife on his first day in Spain; thoughts on extending his Barça contract soon; and the challenge of coming back from a 4-0 Champions League deficit to PSG and catching up to Real Madrid in La Liga. “We have three months for this season,” Rakitić says, “and we have to do the best three months in the history of the club.”

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Kyle Martino, NBC Premier League analyst. Feb 21, 2017

NBC Premier League studio analyst Kyle Martino joins Grant for a remarkably honest discussion. Martino talks about being the lone American accent on NBC Premier League broadcasts; the differences between working for NBC, Fox Sports and ESPN; how he prepares for each week’s Premier League studio show; his own depression after having to retire from playing at age 27 due to injuries; why he doesn’t stick to sports; his part-ownership in the Spanish club Mallorca; and how he wouldn’t mind emulating the media career of Michael Strahan.

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Danny Karbassiyoon, The Arsenal Yankee Feb 14, 2017

Danny Karbassiyoon, the only American to have scored for Arsenal's first team, joins Grant to talk about his book, The Arsenal Yankee, which details his time playing with Arsenal's Invincibles, his retirement at age 22 due to injuries and his post-playing days as an Arsenal scout and digital impresario in the soccer space.

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Sunil Gulati, U.S. Soccer president Feb 07, 2017

The most influential American in world soccer, U.S. Soccer president and FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati, gives a rare wide-ranging one-on-one interview with Grant in his Columbia University office. Among the topics: Why he voted to expand the men's World Cup to 48 teams, the status of labor talks with the USWNT, his opinion of President Trump's travel ban, whether U.S. soccer is doing enough in player development and including minorities, the U.S.'s potential World Cup '26 bid and whether the U.S. would consider boycotting the World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

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Shawn Francis, Pop Culture and American Soccer Jan 31, 2017

Shawn Francis, a music and soccer industry veteran, joins Grant to talk about the cultural moment of American soccer and what it means as the sport continues to grow in the United States.

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Moya Dodd, FIFA Reformer Jan 24, 2017

Australia's Moya Dodd, the most influential woman in FIFA in recent years, joins Grant to talk about the FIFA reform process, with a focus on gender reform. Dodd details the struggle of women to gain respect in soccer, from the days she paid her own way on the Australian national team to becoming one of the first women to join the FIFA executive committee after it went more than a century as an all-male body.

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Kate Abdo; Fox Sports Los Angeles, Sky Sports London Jan 17, 2017

Kate Abdo joins Grant to talk about her move to cover soccer for Fox Sports in Los Angeles from Sky Sports in London. She also discusses what she's excited about in the U.S., her multi-country career path and her remarkable ability to work in four languages (English, Spanish, German and French).

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Colin Udoh; Nigerian journalist on the Africa Cup of Nations Jan 12, 2017

Nigerian journalist Colin Udoh of Kwesé Sports joins Grant to discuss the history and the appeal of the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on January 14. One of the world's oldest continental tournaments, the AFCON has a rich tradition of entertaining soccer, star power and compelling storylines. It's something every soccer fan should know about.

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John Green; Best-selling novelist on Liverpool fandom, sponsoring Wimbledon Jan 10, 2017

Best-selling novelist John Green joins Grant to talk about his love of soccer, including Liverpool FC and the inspirational story of AFC Wimbledon, where he’s a sponsor and where the north end of the stadium is called the John Green Stand. Green also explains how a guy who went to high school in Alabama got so infatuated with English soccer—and what he thinks makes soccer fandom different from being a fan of the more traditional U.S. pro sports.

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Bob Bradley, Former USMNT and Swansea City Coach Jan 03, 2017

Bob Bradley joins Grant for a candid conversation about his 11-game, 85-day tenure at Swansea City as the first American to manage a Premier League team. Bradley addresses what happened, what he would have done differently and what comes next in his coaching journey.

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Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester: the Story of 2016 Dec 27, 2016

For our year-end episode, Grant looks back at the story of the year (and maybe the decade and beyond): Leicester City overcoming 5,000-to-1 odds to win the English Premier League. His guest, Jonathan Northcroft, is the soccer correspondent for the Sunday Times of London and the author of the new book Fearless: The Amazing Underdog Story of Leicester City, The Greatest Miracle in Sports History.

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Rory Smith, Chief Soccer Correspondent for the New York Times Dec 20, 2016

Grant speaks to Rory Smith, the first Chief Soccer Correspondent for the New York Times, about his role in the changing face of soccer media coverage in the United States and globally. Smith talks about the differences in sports media culture between the U.S. and England, his own career path, the writing process and his book, Mister: The Men Who Gave The World The Game.

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Pedro Arellano Dec 13, 2016

Ahead of the Liga MX final between Club América and Tigres, Grant talks to Pedro Arellano, his good friend and go-to guy for all things Mexican soccer. Liga MX has the biggest U.S. TV audiences of any soccer league, and they chat about why anyone who’s curious should check out the league; what makes Mexican soccer fun and unique; how to pick a Mexican league team; and why Chivas owner Jorge Vergara is Mexico’s answer to Dan Snyder. They also tell the story of Grant’s 2007 road trip to Mexican soccer stadiums, which included a male-bonding experience with Pedro and their buddies over beers and banderitas at a game in Monterrey.

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MLS Commissioner Don Garber Dec 10, 2016

Grant sits down in Toronto with MLS commissioner Don Garber, who goes into depth on the state of the league, what comes next in expansion, the changing landscape of media and sports leagues and some of his own personal story, including going to electronica clubs with his music-writer son, VICE's David Garber, and how beating prostate cancer changed Garber's life.

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Clint Irwin, Toronto FC Goalkeeper Dec 07, 2016

Ahead of the MLS Cup final, Toronto FC goalkeeper Clint Irwin talks about the matchup with Seattle, playing high school basketball with teammate Stephen Curry, his willingness to tweet politics and his own remarkable career path from minor-league journeyman to starting goalkeeper in the MLS championship game.

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Seattle Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey Dec 06, 2016

Ahead of the MLS Cup final, Grant speaks to Seattle Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey about his team's remarkable in-season turnaround, his vision for the club and how he went from a hard-partying MLS backup goalkeeper into a hard-working lawyer who has become one of the brightest minds in the American game.

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Bruce Arena; USMNT Coach Dec 01, 2016

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl sits down with new USMNT coach Bruce Arena, who recently replaced Jurgen Klinsmann for his second run leading the team.

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Brian Straus; Sports Illustrated Nov 29, 2016

Grant talks to SI's Brian Straus about a number of topics: His 2013 exposé on USMNT player concerns about Jurgen Klinsmann; Seattle's run to the MLS Cup final; and his history from D.C. United intern to Washington Post writer to SI chronicler of MLS expansion plans.

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Taylor Twellman, Former USMNT and MLS Player and ESPN Analyst Nov 22, 2016

Grant sits down with Taylor Twellman to discuss Jurgen Klinsmann's firing, the current state of US Soccer, and much more.

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Tab Ramos; American Soccer Legend, Head Coach of the American U-20 Team Nov 15, 2016

Tab Ramos, the USMNT assistant coach and former star midfielder, sits down with Grant to talk Costa Rica-USA World Cup qualifier, spotting an 11-year-old Christian Pulisic, making the transition into coaching and his Hall of Fame playing career. How repeatable is Pulisic's development path from the US to UEFA Champions League? Ramos also discusses the broken skull he suffered in World Cup '94, which nearly ended his career.

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Juan Carlos Osorio; Manager of the Mexican National Team Nov 10, 2016

Mexican national team coach Juan Carlos Osorio sits down with Grant to discuss his peripatetic career from Colombia to Brazil to the US, England and now Mexico. Osorio goes into detail describing his five-day visit to see legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa after El Tri's 7-0 loss to Chile. Osorio also explains why he has brought a mental-conditioning coach to the Mexican team and why he still shows them video of the 1974 Dutch national team to prepare for games.

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The 'Dos a Cero" Interviews: Bruce Arena, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna, and Michael Bradley Nov 08, 2016

In this special podcast, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl sits down with some of the key figures from the legendary "Dos a Cero" games between the USA and Mexico.

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Bob Bradley Nov 05, 2016

Bob Bradley made history this season, becoming the first American coach of a team in the top five European leagues. In the new Planet Futbol Podcast, Grant Wahl talks to Bradley about his early days in the English Premier League with Swansea City, how he formed his coaching philosophy, and his history with Manchester United's Jose Mourinho.

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English Soccer Legend Gary Lineker Nov 02, 2016

Gary Lineker enjoyed a stellar career with Leicester City, Barcelona, Tottenham, and the England national team. But since retiring, he's also become a well-known voice in British sports broadcasting. On the new episode of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Lineker sits down with Grant Wahl and talks about his transition from athlete to TV personality, his World Cup career, and what he expects from the England national team going forward.

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Kingston Stockade founder Dennis Crowley Oct 26, 2016

Dennis Crowley co-founded the app Foursquare, but in 2015 he turned his attention to the lower levels of American soccer. On the new Planet Futbol Podcast, Crowley speaks with Grant Wahl about his experiences starting NPSL club Kingston Stockade from scratch, the team's relative success in the New York area, and how the American soccer system needs to change in order to create more opportunity for small, locally-focused clubs.

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Bayern Munich striker Thomas Muller Oct 19, 2016

Bayern Munich and Germany striker Thomas Muller joins Grant Wahl to discuss his unorthodox playing style, his hometown, and why he prefers equestrian pursuits in his spare time.

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NYCFC striker David Villa Oct 18, 2016

Grant Wahl is joined by NYCFC and former Barcelona, Valencia, and Atlético Madrid striker David Villa. Together, the pair discuss Villa's favorite moments from his career, his thoughts on MLS, and how long he'd like to stick around New York City.

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Mike Piazza, MLB Hall Of Famer and owner of Reggiana Oct 10, 2016

On the new Planet Futbol Podcast, MLB Hall of Famer Mike Piazza talks with Grant Wahl about his experience as owner of Italian third-division team Reggiana, and how he plans to get the team into the Italian top flight.

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Russian soccer expert James Appell Sep 21, 2016

The 2018 World Cup in Russia is less than two years away, and the new episode of the Planet Futbol is all about the host nation. James Appell, an expert in the Russian sporting culture, joins SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl for an insightful look at where Russia is now and where it might be by the time 2018 comes around.

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Lothar Matthäus on captaining at a World Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann, and favorite players Sep 20, 2016

In the new edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, 1990 World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthäus joins SI senior writer Grant Wahl on the phone. Together, the pair discuss the attributes needed for a World Cup captain, Matthäus' evolving relationship with Jurgen Klinsmann, and the best goal he scored in his career.

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Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu Sep 12, 2016

Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl sits down with F.C. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to discuss his club's plans for the U.S. market, and what's in store for the future of La Liga.

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Jozy Altidore on injuries, the national anthem, and captaining USMNT Sep 02, 2016

SI senior writer Grant Wahl sits down with U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore ahead of the team's qualifier at St. Vincent & The Grenadines. Together, the pair talk about Altidore's injury struggles, his return to form, and his interpretation of Colin Kaepernick's sitting down during the national anthem.

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Transfer window review with analytics expert Daniel Altman Aug 24, 2016

As the European transfer window draws to a close, Grant Wahl welcomes soccer analytics expert Daniel Altman to the podcast. Together, they discuss which clubs made the best and most confusing moves of the transfer window, and what to make of the rising stature of analytic officers at European clubs.

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Carlo Ancelotti on life at Bayern Munich Aug 15, 2016

In this special interview edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Grant Wahl visits with Bayern Munich head coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the new season.

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From Brazil: Alex Morgan on quarterfinals & U.S.'s mentality Aug 12, 2016

U.S. women's national team forward Alex Morgan joins Grant Wahl to discuss the U.S.' mentality heading into the Olympics' knockout round, and how much she's been able to enjoy Brazil during the team's run.

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Hope Solo addresses booing at Olympics, Zika, and more Aug 04, 2016

Speaking to SI senior writer Grant Wahl after the United States' 2-0 win over New Zealand in their Olympic opener, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo discusses the boos and negative chants she received from the crowd, and if the 2015 U.S. women's national team might be the best ever.

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In Brazil, Carli Lloyd talks Olympics, equal pay, and following up her 2015 Aug 03, 2016

Reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd joins SI senior Writer Grant Wahl from Belo Horizonte on the eve of the U.S. women's national team's Olympic opener against New Zealand.

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Euro 2016: Portugal won ugly, and that's OK Jul 11, 2016

Portugal are your Euro 2016 champions, and we're here to break down the team's memorable victory on the new Planet Futbol Podcast, the last from 2016's insane summer of soccer. Avi Creditor and Alex Abnos recap all the big events from the Euro 2016 final, reminisce about their favorite moments from the tournament, and speculate what Cristiano Ronaldo might be like as a manager.

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Jill Ellis on Olympics preparations, Alex Morgan, and what she's writing in her notebook Jul 08, 2016

The summer of soccer continues in August as the Rio Olympics get underway, with the U.S. women's national team looking to follow up its 2015 World Cup title with Olympic gold. In advance of the tournament, SI senior writer Grant Wahl caught up with U.S. coach Jill Ellis for the Planet Futbol Podcast. In the interview, Ellis discusses the fitness status of Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd, and what having a full healthy Alex Morgan will do for the U.S. team in Rio. The coach also offers her theory of why it's been so hard for teams to pull off the Olympic-World Cup double, and what exactly it is she's writing so furiously in her notebook on the sideline.

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Euro 2016: Should Griezmann join the ranks of Ronaldo, Messi? Jul 08, 2016

The Euro 2016 final is nearly upon us, and the implications of Sunday's final form the backbone of discussion on the new Planet Futbol Podcast. Host Avi Creditor, SI senior writer Grant Wahl, and SI.com's Brian Straus and Ben Lyttleton discuss what the final means for Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy, and what kind of impact the game could have on the race for the 2016 Ballon d'Or. The panel also assesses the state of the new, expanded Euro 2016. Did the addition of eight more teams dilute the quality of the tournament, or has the expansion resulted in enough fairytale stories to make it all worth it? Could it lead to a 40-team World Cup?

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Euro 2016: Georgios Samaras on penalty kicks, Greece, and the semifinal field Jul 05, 2016

The semifinals of Euro 2016 are set, and special guest Georgios Samaras joins the Planet Futbol Podcast to break it all down. Greece's surprising 2004 European championship happened before Samaras was a fixture on the team, but the striker recalls his memories of watching the team play and offers some insight into how that win shaped the next generation of Greek players. Samaras also offers an inside look at Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who Samaras worked with extensively as a member of the Greek national team. The podcast wraps up with host Avi Creditor and SI.com's Alex Abnos breaking down both of the semifinal matchups and offering a (perhaps not-so-confident) pick of who the world will see compete in the Euro 2016 final later this week.

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Euro 2016: What the hell happened to England? Guest: Tranquillo Barnetta Jun 28, 2016

Euro 2016 has delivered a fair amount of surprises already, but perhaps nothing that could top Iceland's win over England in the tournament's round of 16. Discussion of Iceland's triumph (and England's failure) kicks off the newest edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast. Philadelphia Union playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta, who played for Switzerland at the 2004 and 2008 European Championships, also joins the podcast this week to talk about Switzerland's run in the tourney, Xherdan Shaqiri's incredible goal against Poland, and who he expects to win the heavyweight matchup between Germany and Italy in the quarterfinals.

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Copa America: Messi retired?!?! And, oh yeah, Chile won. Jun 27, 2016

The Copa America final has come and gone, and amazingly the big news to come out of the game has nothing to do with the team that lifted the trophy at the end of the night. Lionel Messi shocked the world first by missing his penalty kick in a shootout as Argentina lost to Chile, then again by claiming that he would retire from his national team after his fourth loss in a major tournament final. Here to break it all down the day after are SI senior writer Grant Wahl and SI.com's Brian Straus, both of whom were in the stadium as word spread of Messi's announcement. Together with host Avi Creditor, the guys talk about what impact Messi's departure will have on the Argentina national team, and whether Chile's achievement is overshadowed by the headline news.

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Interview: Landon Donovan on commentary, ownership, and U.S. soccer Jun 25, 2016

Landon Donovan is the all-time leading goal scorer for the U.S. national team, but he's been mostly out of the public eye since his retirement from the game a year and a half ago. That is beginning to change in the Copa America, as Donovan has provided color commentary for games on Fox during the tournament, and he talks about that and more with Grant Wahl on the new Planet Futbol Podcast. Besides his burgeoning broadcast career, Donovan also speaks about potential paths forward for him in the game of soccer, whether it be coaching, more media work, or perhaps even ownership of an MLS team. He also discusses the U.S.'s performance in the Copa America, and gives his take on whether or not the team's performance in the tournament could be considered a success.

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Copa America: The U.S. learns a lesson vs. Argentina Jun 23, 2016

The United States is out of the Copa America, and the Planet Futbol crew are here to break down what it all means for Jurgen Klinsmann's team on the new edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast. Host Avi Creditor, SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl, and SI.com's Brian Straus break down Lionel Messi's incredible free kick goal against the U.S., where the Americans could have improved in the 4-0 drubbing, and how the services of the suspended Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya, or Bobby Wood might have helped the U.S. Lastly, the trio turns their attentions to the final, which will pit Argentina against Chile for the second consecutive year. Both teams have played better and better as the Copa America has progressed. Which will come out on top on Sunday?

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Euro 2016: Asmir Begovic breaks down the Round of 16 Jun 23, 2016

The knockout round of Euro 2016 is set, and the Planet Futbol welcomes a special guest to the podcast this week to help break it all down. Chelsea and Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Asmir Begovic joins the podcast, and offers his take on the *extremely* unbalanced nature of the Round of 16 draw and the team with the best chance to advance out of the weaker half of the bracket. Begovic also discusses the state of England's national team as it heads into a potential banana-peel matchup against tournament Cinderella Iceland, and what he makes of incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's work with Italy in the tournament so far.

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Copa America: How will U.S. contain Messi? Jun 20, 2016

On the new Copa America edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, host Avi Creditor is joined by SI senior writer Grant Wahl and SI.com's Brian Straus to recap the United States' win over Ecuador to propel the team into the Copa America semifinals. The Americans will face FIFA No. 1-ranked Argentina in that game, and they won't lack for challenges, with numerous suspensions compounding the obvious threats that Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, and the rest of the Argentinean attack can cause. How will Jurgen Klinsmann deal with these issues? The guys also discuss Mexico's incredible 7-0 destruction against Chile in another quarterfinal. Will the loss signal the end of Juan Carlos Osorio's reign as coach of the team? And why did Mexico lose so badly in the first place?

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Euro 2016: "The Leicester Effect" in the group stage? Jun 15, 2016

Every team at the 2016 European Championships has played at least once, and the new episode of the Planet Futbol Podcast recaps the tournament's opening action and assesses where the games might be headed in future rounds. With no truly dominant performances from the title favorites, what should we expect going forward? Host Avi Creditor and SI.com's Ben Lyttleton also discuss the impact Leicester City's run to the EPL title might be having on the style of play at the tournament so far, whether England still has a chance to top its group, and what the best goal of the tournament has been so far.

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Copa America gets controversial; previewing USA-Ecuador Jun 13, 2016

On this edition of the Copa America Planet Futbol Podcast, Grant Wahl, Brian Straus, and host Avi Creditor discuss the controversial ending to Brazil-Peru, featuring a handball goal that dumped the Samba Kings from the tournament after the group stage. The trio then turn to talk about the United States, which somewhat surprisingly won its group thanks to a victory over Paraguay and Colombia's loss to Costa Rica. Now that the U.S. is out of the group, must they win against Ecuador for its Copa America to be a success?

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Euro 2016: Bradley Wright-Phillips helps preview the tournament Jun 09, 2016

In the first Euro 2016 edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Avi Creditor and Alex Abnos team up to discuss the major storylines for each group ahead of the tournament's kickoff. Later, New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips joins the podcast to give his take on the tournament, including his reasons why England has a chance to win the whole thing this year. Wright-Phillips also discusses Jamaica's interest in adding him to its national team, and whether he might suit up for the Reggae Boyz in the not-too-distant future.

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USA-Costa Rica Recap Jun 08, 2016

In the new Copa America edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Grant Wahl and Brian Straus break down the United States' 4-0 win over Costa Rica, and debate the best players, moments, and games of the Copa America thus far. Jurgen Klinsmann kept the same lineup against costa Rica that he did against Colombia. Is the U.S. coach turning over a new leaf when it comes to personnel selection? What will the United States need to do against Paraguay to secure passage to the knockout rounds? All that and more on this special edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast.

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USA-Colombia recap Jun 04, 2016

On this special edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Grant Wahl, Brain Straus, and Avi Creditor recap the United States' 2-0 loss to Colombia in the opening game of the Copa America. What caused the U.S.'s loss? Why did Michael Bradley seem to falter? Should Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic start the next game? And ultimately, how much of the loss falls on the shoulders of Jurgen Klinsmann? The guys also look ahead to the U.S.'s matches against Costa Rica and Paraguay, and ponder what the United States will need to do in order to get out of its group and into the knockout rounds.

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Copa America preview / Jermaine Jones interview Jun 02, 2016

Copa America Centenario is here at last! After months of build-up, hype and speculation, the host U.S. opens the competition against Colombia, beginning a 23-day march to the final. U.S. national team midfielder Jermaine Jones joins our latest podcast to discuss, among other things, his role in the option-filled U.S. midfield, and we preview each of the 16 teams taking part in a Copa America blowout episode in anticipation of the summer spectacle. Which U.S. will show, the one that struggled in recent competitions or the one that enters the tournament on a four-game winning streak? Has Jurgen Klinsmann come up with a winning combination, or will the U.S. struggle in a tough group? Which teams are primed to go through to the knockout stage?

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Messi's on the cover / Champions League final preview May 26, 2016

As one New York radio personality has made perfectly clear, there are 11(!) pages of soccer in this week's Sports Illustrated magazine in the build-up to Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016. Lionel Messi is front and center, as is Chicharito, and the Summer of Soccer is on the horizon. Grant Wahl discusses the big soccer spread and his experiences working with Messi for our cover story and total package on the Barcelona and Argentina superstar with Maggie Gray on our latest podcast. With Copa America around the corner, we also focus on the U.S. men's national team, which looks to build on Wednesday's 1-0 win over Ecuador in a tournament tune-up for both sides. There's also the matter of Saturday's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Which Spanish capital club will wind up ruling Europe?

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The state of U.S. soccer: An American Outlaws panel discussion May 20, 2016

At the recent rally of the American Outlaws in Austin, TX, SI's Grant Wahl joined former USMNT midfielder Tab Ramos, former USWNT midfielder Kristine Lilly, and former MLS defender of the year Jimmy Conrad for a panel discussion on the state of U.S. soccer and fandom of the sport in this country. In this special edition, we bring you a recording of that panel, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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Awkward moments with Giovani Dos Santos / Talking analytics with Opta VP May 19, 2016

Giovani Dos Santos had an awkward Tuesday, and SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus had the distinction of being part of it. While Dos Santos was left off Mexico's Copa America roster–said by Juan Carlos Osorio to have curiously declined the invitation–he was in the midst of a media tour, and Wahl and Straus share their conversations with Dos Santos while it all went down on the new Planet Fútbol Podcast. Later on this week's episode, Wahl also speaks with Angus McNab, a vice president at renowned soccer data provide Opta, about data and analytics' place in today's game, how they're used as a metric to judge players and the more prevalent stat of expected goals. This weekend also marks the cup finals for Europe's five major countries, and Wahl and Straus make their picks for the FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey, DFB Pokal and Coupe de France.

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Brian McBride / Kei Kamara trade reaction May 12, 2016

Columbus Crew SC beat the MLS trade deadline and dealt Kei Kamara to the New England Revolution, and there's all sorts of fallout to delve into on our latest podcast. Brian McBride, former U.S. and Columbus forward and a former teammate of Crew manager Gregg Berhalter, joins us to discuss the deal in addition to the state of the U.S. men's national team ahead of Copa America. It happened to be a massive news week elsewhere in soccer, with Mauricio Pochettino extending his stay at Spurs, Roberto Martinez getting the sack at Everton and West Ham fans getting belligerent with Manchester United's team bus.

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Revisiting our 'perfect' Premier League season predictions May 05, 2016

The Premier League has been won by its most unpredictable champion, so, naturally, it's a good time to look back on our oh-so-prescient season predictions from August. How badly did we misjudge Leicester City? How did we see Harry Kane following up his breakout season? Before that, though, we play a wide-ranging game of word association. So much is going on across the soccer landscape, whether it's the Champions League being whittled down to two Madrid sides or Copa America looming on the horizon. We talk some of the biggest names involved in those competitions and beyond to kick off our episode.

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Alexi Lalas interview Apr 28, 2016

If you've been watching soccer at all in recent years, you know that Alexi Lalas is a man of many opinions, and he shares a number of them with us on our new podcast. Lalas, the former U.S. men's national team defender and current Fox Sports 1 soccer analyst, speaks with SI's Grant Wahl in a wide-ranging interview covering a number of topics: Jurgen Klinsmann, Abby Wambach, Fox Sports' "Embrace Debate" strategy, and what it's like to have opinions on television. We also discuss Leicester City, which is on the cusp of winning the Premier League. Given that the Foxes could win at Old Trafford on Sunday, what is the best manner for them to win it all? In Manchester? By virtue of a Tottenham loss to Chelsea? At home next week against Everton? Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor discuss.

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Christian Fuchs, Chris Wondolowski join the podcast Apr 22, 2016

We're fortunate enough to be joined on our latest podcast by a pair of guests who know a thing or two about overcoming the odds. Christian Fuchs's Leicester City is closing in on the most improbable Premier League title ever, while Chris Wondolowski continues to climb the all-time MLS goal-scoring charts after emerging from obscurity years ago, and both join the podcast in a pair of entertaining and enlightening interviews. We start our show, though, with SI's Ben Lyttleton and Brian Straus breaking down the top stories in Europe. If you read Lyttleton's Monday column, you'll be familiar with the format, and with title races winding down and the summer approaching, he plucks the top storylines from each of the five major European leagues in light of recent events.

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Arlo White on Leicester City's run Apr 14, 2016

Leicester City is closing in on its historical title, so who better to marvel at what the Foxes have been able to do this season than Leicester native and NBC Sports Network lead soccer announcer Arlo White? White joins the Planet Fútbol Podcast to paint a picture of Leicester the city and put the magnitude of what Claudio Ranieri's club has done thus far–and is aiming to finish off–into proper perspective. He also warns against celebrating too soon, though, with Tottenham still alive in the title race. There's also the matter of some of the other major stories elsewhere in world soccer: Barcelona's ouster from the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid; Cristiano Ronaldo's heroics for Real Madrid; Nigel De Jong's tackle on Darlington Nagbe; the 2016 Olympic soccer tournaments. We cover it all.

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Charlie Stillitano reads mean tweets; Our favorite last-minute goals Apr 07, 2016

We kick off our latest podcast with SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus delving into all of the off-field circumstances surrounding U.S. Soccer. We're also joined by Charlie Stillitano, who has come under fire overseas amid discussion of a European Super League and changes to the UEFA Champions League. The International Champions Cup organizer discusses his role with top clubs and what's actually happening, and he reads mean tweets directed at him from soccer fans overseas in a highly entertaining and insightful interview with Wahl. Finally, with the backdrop of the dramatic NCAA men's basketball championship game, we recall some of the greatest high-stakes finishes in soccer history, for both club and country.

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Guatemala: The worst U.S. loss since 1998? Mar 30, 2016

The U.S. men's national team avoided the disaster scenario it was facing entering Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, but the U.S. U-23s failed when it mattered most, and both developments are the focus of the new Planet Fútbol Podcast. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Liviu Bird were each present at one of the U.S. games during the international break, and each has stories to share from his experience.

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Thomas Rongen remembers Johan Cruyff Mar 25, 2016

Johan Cruyff's passing on Thursday has caused many to commemorate and remember the Dutch soccer icon. Among them is Thomas Rongen, Cruyff's former teammate on the Washington Diplomats and L.A. Aztecs. In this special edition of the Planet Futbol podcast, Grant Wahl sits down with Rongen, who shared stories of Cruyff's time in the NASL and reflections on his impact on the world of soccer.

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Remembering Johan Cruyff / USA-Guatemala preview Mar 24, 2016

The soccer world was saddened Thursday by the passing of Ajax, Barcelona and Netherlands great Johan Cruyff, who lost his battle with lung cancer at age 68. We begin our latest podcast with a tribute to Cruyff, as SI's Brian Straus and Grant Wahl share their memories of watching Cruyff play and offer thoughts on his profound impact on the game and undeniable legacy. It's an international fixture week, and we preview the U.S.'s pair of World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala. Wahl also speaks with Manchester United and Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini (NOTE: The conversation took place prior to this week's tragic terrorist attacks in Brussels), whose No. 1-ranked team in the world will face Portugal on Tuesday in the build-up to Euro 2016.

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Alejandro Bedoya on MLS, USMNT, fatherhood Mar 17, 2016

U.S. men's national team and FC Nantes midfielder Alejandro Bedoya joins our latest podcast, with the U.S. on the cusp of a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala. Between becoming a father, having talks with MLS, hitting a hot run of form and taking part in penning his first piece for SI, Bedoya has plenty to talk about with SI's Grant Wahl. Wahl and SI's Avi Creditor also discuss the madness in Bayern Munich and Juventus's Champions League series, whether Barcelona can be beaten and how the U.S. should be prioritizing the World Cup qualifying/Olympic playoff roster dilemma facing Jurgen Klinsmann.

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Herculez Gomez interview / Can PSG win the Champions League? Mar 10, 2016

On this week's edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, Herculez Gomez joins Grant Wahl to discuss the differences between American and Mexican leagues, why the U.S. loses young prospects to Mexico, and how MLS has changed in his time away from the league. Elsewhere in the pod, host Avi Creditor and SI.com's Brian Straus try to get SI.com's Ben Lyttleton set up with an MLS team to support now that the league is more readily available to watch across the Atlantic. The crew also recap the last week's Champions League action, and ponder whether PSG has what it takes to win the title.

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20 seconds on all 20 MLS teams / Geoff Cameron interview Mar 03, 2016

The 2016 MLS season kicks off on Sunday, with all 20 teams in action. With that in mind, we preview all 20 teams on the new Planet Fútbol Podcast–with a twist. We've brought in the calvary, with SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus, Liviu Bird, Alexander Abnos and Avi Creditor given 20 seconds apiece to preview every MLS team, whip-around style. We also welcome former MLS standout Geoff Cameron, whose Stoke City remains in the hunt for a Champions League berth. The outspoken Cameron is back from injury, returning last weekend against Aston Villa, and he joins Wahl for a 1-on-1 interview. --- The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. For freelancers and small business owners, Freshbooks takes the pain out of accounting. Have a question about the service? A real-live human will answer every call in about three rings. Get your 30-day free trial by going to FreshBooks.com/SPORTS and entering the promo code SPORTS.

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What should the new FIFA President do first? Feb 25, 2016

The FIFA election will give the world's game a new administrative leader and the draw was finally made for the historic Copa América Centenario, and these two major events provide the basis for discussion on the new episode of the Planet Fútbol Podcast. From Brazil, SI.com's James Young joins SI senior writer Grant Wahl (from Zurich), Brian Straus (from Washington, D.C.), and host Avi Creditor (from New York City), for perspective from three continents on what the next FIFA president needs to fix first, and who could come out on top of the special Copa America tournament. -- The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. For freelancers and small business owners, Freshbooks takes the pain out of accounting. Have a question about the service? A real-live human will answer every call in about three rings. Get your 30-day free trial by going to FreshBooks.com/planet and entering the promo code PLANET.

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JP Dellacamera interview Feb 18, 2016

JP Dellacamera has been in the broadcast booth for 13 World Cups (men's and women's) and countless other iconic moments in American and world soccer lore, so it's no surprise that he has some fantastic stories to tell. Dellacamera does just that with SI's Grant Wahl on the new Planet Fútbol Podcast. What are the top moments of his broadcasting career? What does he think about "authentic" being the word used to describe foreign announcers calling the game on U.S. broadcasts? Dellacamera, known affectionately by many as simply "The Legend," talks about that and much more in an entertaining, lengthy discussion. -- Audibles is brought to you by FreshBooks. For freelancers and small business owners, Freshbooks takes the pain out of accounting. Have a question about the service? A real-live human will answer every call in about three rings. Get your 30-day free trial by going to FreshBooks.com/planet and entering the promo code PLANET.

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Frank Lampard talks MLS & playing under Vieira; USWNT lawsuit analysis Feb 11, 2016

The U.S. women's national team is currently taking on CONCACAF foes on the field, but its players are squaring off against the U.S. federation off the field in a labor dispute, so we welcome SI legal analyst Michael McCann to the new Planet Fútbol Podcast to break down the case and explain how it's likely to be resolved. We're also joined by New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard, who spoke with SI's Grant Wahl ahead of his first full season in MLS about what it was like playing against current manager Patrick Vieira as opposed to now playing for him, and the rise of Ghanaian teammate Kwadwo Poku. We close by responding to your listener/reader questions, which you submitted on Twitter and Facebook, ranging from MLS to Barcelona's dominance to Christian Pulisic and beyond. --- Planet Futbol is brought to you by FreshBooks. For freelancers and small business owners, Freshbooks takes the pain out of accounting. Have a question about the service? A real-live human will answer every call in about three rings. Get your 30-day free trial by going to FreshBooks.com/planet and entering the promo code PLANET.

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Christian Pulisic discusses his debut Feb 04, 2016

Christian Pulisic's fast rise at Borussia Dortmund has caught the attention of U.S. soccer fans, with the 17-year-old making his debut for the Bundesliga power last weekend. How has he risen so quickly and what is it like being a teenager in his position? Pulisic joins Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) on the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast to discuss it all. We also touch on the biggest news this week in the U.S. (U.S. Soccer's lawsuit against the U.S. women's national team's players union and Stuart Holden's retirement) and Europe (Pep Guardiola signing on to coach Manchester City for the next three seasons and Man City's upcoming clash vs. first-place Leicester City), spanning a pair of continents with SI.com's Brian Straus and Ben Lyttleton. ||| Audibles is brought to you by FreshBooks. For freelancers and small business owners, Freshbooks takes the pain out of accounting. Have a question about the service? A real-live human will answer every call in about three rings. Get your 30-day free trial by going to FreshBooks.com/planet and entering the promo code PLANET.

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Giovani Dos Santos & Steven Gerrard interviews; Let's play the Mario Gomez Game Jan 29, 2016

Between Matt Miazga, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Howard, there have been plenty of intriguing stories around the world of soccer this week, and those transactions provide the backbone of discussion between SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl), SI.com's Brian Straus (twitter.com/brianstraus), and host Avi Creditor (twitter.com/avicreditor) in the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast. As MLS preseason gets underway, Wahl also visits with the LA Galaxy's two big acquisitions from last season: Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos, and England's Steven Gerrard. In separate interviews, the two discuss their favorite goals, teammates, and opponents in their careers, as well as their first impressions of MLS. Finally, the crew plays The Mario Gomez Game. It's a new feature on the show. It features 30-second answers...and Mario Gomez. Just listen. It'll be fun.

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Fact-checking Klinsmann & Feilhaber Jan 22, 2016

The winter transfer window in Europe is beginning to shut, and there are a number of factors in play that will determine which big names, if any, change addresses ahead of the stretch run. SI.com's Ben Lyttleton joins the Planet Fútbol Podcast to explain all the intricate reasons why players may be staying put (hint: few big names risk moving ahead of a major tournament like the Euros), which big names will actually move and how the transfer bans against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid could complicate matters as well. But how do teams identify the players they want to go after? For that, we bring in analytics expert Daniel Altman, who speaks with SI's Grant Wahl about the not-so-obvious things teams and talent scouts may look for in a player. Finally, we conclude with the biggest stories in U.S. Soccer: Jordan Morris choosing Seattle over Werder Bremen and the Benny Feilhaber-Jurgen Klinsmann war of words. With Morris in the fold, does Seattle have the best NBA Jam-style (three-man team) attacking trio in MLS? Do Feilhaber and Klinsmann both have points?

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MLS SuperDraft special: Don Garber interview; What is college soccer's role? Jan 15, 2016

This week's Planet Futbol Podcast comes to you from Baltimore, the site of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and the NSCAA convention. SI senior writer Grant Wahl and SI.com's Brian Straus, Liviu Bird, and Alex Abnos were all in town for the event, and together they'll give you a sense of what the mood is like at the biggest gathering of soccer people in the country. First, Grant Wahl sits down for a chat with MLS Commissioner Don Garber on the eve of the league's 21st season. In the talk, Garber discusses the importance of the SuperDraft, potential cities for MLS' next round of expansion, and what the league thinks of Dider Drogba's supposed flirtation with a return to Chelsea. Finally, Abnos, Straus, and Bird deliver a rich look at college soccer's importance to the American soccer system, and how Maryland's Sasho Cirovski's radical changes could improve the sport going forward. Additional music in this episode provided by SLP [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/SLP/] and Brandon Liew [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Brandon_Liew/]. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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Carli Lloyd discusses Ballon D'Or Gala and meeting Messi Jan 08, 2016

Days before she could become the third U.S. player in history to win FIFA's Women's World Player of the Year award, Carli Lloyd joins the Planet Fútbol Podcast. Lloyd, who joined our podcast back in August as well, talks to SI's Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) about being up for FIFA World Player of the Year, and also delves into the hot-button issue of equality across men's and women's players. Wahl, SI's Ben Lyttleton (twitter.com/benlyt) and Avi Creditor (twitter.com/avicreditor) also take a spin on Europe's coaching carousel, which has already seen some of the biggest names in management change addresses and surely has more moves on the way. Where will Pep Guardiola go? Is Arsenal a viable possibility? How will Zinedine Zidane fare at Real Madrid? == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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The biggest moments of 2015 Dec 30, 2015

In this special year-end edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast, host Avi Creditor (twitter.com/acreditor) is joined by Alex Abnos (twitter.com/anabnos), and the guys recap the biggest and most notable moments in the world of soccer in 2015. Spoiler alert: There's a lot of them! Soccer was at the center of a worldwide corruption investigation, a terrorist attack, and yet another notable incident of racism. Then there where the slightly more positive, on-field moments: Which of Barcelona's incredible goals made the cut? And what performance does Alex think tops Robert Lewandowski's ridiculous outburst of five goals in nine minutes? All that and more on this year-end edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast. -- The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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A five-a-side team of our best 2015 interview guests Dec 24, 2015

With December winding down, it's time to do some reflecting on 2015, a year in which we were able to, at last, bring back the Planet Fútbol Podcast. We're thankful that we were able to re-launch, we're even more thankful for every single one of our listeners and we're grateful that we were able to welcome some terrific guests while we discussed all of the happenings in the soccer world on a weekly basis. Over the last eight months we assembled an interview lineup that included three World Cup winners and a host of other international stars, coaches and executives, so it's only appropriate that as we compile a best-of edition of our show, we go position by position to come up with a five-a-side team (plus a coach) we'd take to battle on the field any day of the week. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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A conversation with Abby Wambach Dec 16, 2015

Abby Wambach's playing career comes to an end in New Orleans on Wednesday night, as she rides off into the retirement sunset in the U.S. women's national team's friendly vs. China. We teased a clip of her interview with SI's Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) last week, but now listen to the entire interview, in which she reflects on her career and looks ahead to what's next in her life on this week's Planet Fútbol Podcast. We also put a cap on the year for the U.S. men's and women's national teams as a 2015 of mixed results and storylines comes to a close. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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Inside the business of the Bundesliga Dec 10, 2015

The Champions League field is down to the last 16 after the group stage ended this week, but Manchester United is not in the mix. What's plaguing the Red Devils, and how, after spending all that money in the summer, did Manchester United fail to get out of its group? SI.com's Ben Lyttleton (twitter.com/benlyt) joins this week's podcast to break down Louis van Gaal's side in addition to the slew of teams who did advance and will be part of Monday's draw. This week we also have a pair of unique and special interviews. U.S. women's national team icon Abby Wambach will have her playing career end next week in New Orleans, and she talked with SI's Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) about the end of her storied run and what might be on the horizon for her. We'll give you a taste of the conversation, to come in full next week. Wahl is also joined by Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert, who is attempting to make inroads globally with one of the world's premier leagues. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

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Didier Drogba has written more books than Grant Wahl Dec 04, 2015

FIFA is back in the U.S. Department of Justice crosshairs, and MLS is on the cusp of crowning its champion. Just another week in the world of soccer. We kick off our latest podcast with the new revelations in the ongoing FIFA investigation, with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch indicting 16 more individuals connected to bribery, racketeering, corruption and more malfeasance clouding the world's game. We're also fortunate enough to be joined by Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba, who sheds light on his first foray into MLS, his thoughts on the Columbus Crew (who eliminated his squad in the playoffs), that bizarre leg lock and Chelsea's struggles. We close with MLS Cup analysis from Grant Wahl and Brian Straus, who are on the ground in Columbus ahead of the Sunday's championship bout between the Crew and Portland Timbers. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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Thankful for the messy and the Messi Nov 25, 2015

It's Thanksgiving week, so naturally it's a time to reflect and give thanks, which we do with a soccer spin on the newest Planet Fútbol Podcast. Before that, though, we take a look at the MLS conference finals, where the Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers are each one result away from advancing to MLS Cup. Is there any way back from two-goal deficits for either of the two highest remaining seeds, the New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas? We also have a special interview with longtime Trinidadian journalist Lasana Liburd, who spoke to Grant Wahl in Trinidad & Tobago during the USA's World Cup qualifier there about the post-Jack Warner state of affairs in the Caribbean nation. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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Talking tactics, Timbers and Tissuegate with Caleb Porter; USMNT 2015 wrap Nov 19, 2015

The MLS playoffs resume this weekend, and one of the key figures in the league's conference finals joins the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast. Portland Timbers manager Caleb Porter is this week's guest, and he delves into his growth since taking the Timbers to the Western Conference finals in his first season in 2013, that postgame scuffle with FC Dallas manager Oscar Pareja, that double-post penalty kick that could've ended Portland's season and Darlington Nagbe's emergence and potential for club and country. Speaking of Nagbe, he made his U.S. debut during the pair of World Cup qualifiers over the last week, which put a cap on the U.S. men's national team's 2015. If you had one word to describe the USMNT's year, what would it be? We pose that question to SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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The ups and downs of St. Louis-style pizza; Soccerperson of the Year nominees Nov 12, 2015

This week's edition of the Planet Futbol Podcast comes to you on the eve of the U.S. kicking off its World Cup qualifying campaign vs. St. Vincent & The Grenadines at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. SI.com's Brian Straus (twitter.com/brianstraus) joins host Avi Creditor (twitter.com/avicreditor) and SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) there, giving us an idea of what the team needs to do and why St. Louis-style pizza is incredibly delicious....until it isn't. The guys also review their soccer-specific nominations for SI's Sportsman of the Year (AKA Soccerperson of the year). Kei Kamara, Claudio Bravo, and Iceland all make the cut. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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Tokyo Sexwale, François Carrard interviews ; Kreis fired; Champions League Nov 05, 2015

With the FIFA presidential election growing closer, the field of candidates is set, and the one with the name everyone is talking about (and trying to pronounce) is a guest on the Planet Fútbol Podcast. While in New York this week for the ICSS conference, South African candidate Tokyo Sexwale and the head of the FIFA reform committee, Francois Carrard, both spoke to Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) as part of our latest episode to talk about the election, potential changes to FIFA and much more. There's also plenty happening in MLS to discuss, between NYCFC firing Jason Kreis after one season and the conference semifinal second legs of the league's playoffs. We wrap up by delving into the latest happenings in the Champions League, where Fabian Johnson became the first U.S. international to score in two years, Chelsea earned a dramatic and much-needed win, Bayern Munich put Arsenal to the brink of early elimination and Real Madrid, Manchester City and Zenit Saint Petersburg are already through to the round of 16. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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Jesse Marsch interview; MLS playoff insanity; Abby Wambach Oct 30, 2015

In January, the New York Red Bulls were a team in turmoil. Fast forward 10 months, and they're in the driver's seat to host MLS Cup. How did it happen? Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch joins the Planet Fútbol Podcast for an honest, thoughtful and intriguing interview with Grant Wahl about the past year prior to the Red Bulls playoff opener this weekend against rival D.C. United. Speaking of the MLS playoffs, they've been insane. The four opening-round games provided drama, theatrics, golazos and an unprecedented penalty shootout, and Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor recap all of it before looking ahead to the conference semifinals. We close with talk about Abby Wambach's career, with the iconic U.S. women's national team forward announcing she will retire at the end of the World Cup victory tour. What made her such a special player? And did she really have a physical altercation with Straus early in her career? (Yes, and it's a hilarious story) == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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A dark week for U.S. soccer; How will Jurgen Klopp fare at Liverpool? Oct 15, 2015

U.S. men's soccer teams endured a rough week, with the senior squad falling to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup and U-23s failing to qualify automatically for the Olympics. The debacles provide plenty of fodder for the new Planet Fútbol Podcast, in which SI's Avi Creditor (twitter.com/acreditor), Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) and Liviu Bird (twitter.com/liviubird) wrap up the performances and provide some perspective for a frustrating October international fixture window for American soccer. It's not all doom and gloom, though. North of the border, Toronto FC has secured its first playoff berth, and we pay tribute to the Reds (most notably the spectacular Sebastian Giovinco) and their drought coming to an end. We close with some EPL manager talk, with "The Special One," Jose Mourinho, under constant fire, while "The Normal One," Jurgen Klopp, gets set for his first match on the Liverpool sidelines. == -- ThePlanet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at http://seatgeek.com. Enter code MEDIA in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code MEDIA at http://FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash.

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Jozy Altidore talks USA-Mexico, Reviewing the latest in FIFA Oct 08, 2015

The USA and Mexico clash on Saturday night, with the winner headed to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, so it's no surprise that the new Planet Fútbol Podcast is focused almost entirely on the rivalry bout. SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus interview U.S. forward Jozy Altidore at U.S. camp, and the Podcast crew dissects the matchup from all angles, including Klinsmann's future (which has been called into question by Landon Donovan), who should start for the USA and what reaching the Confederations Cup means for the current batch of U.S. players and the next generation of players who may be in their position in two years' time. We also delve into the latest to emanate from FIFA, where Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been suspended, throwing narratives surrounding the February presidential election into chaos.

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Petr Cech interview; KC wins Open Cup; EPL teams falter in Champions League; Laura Harvey talks NWSL Oct 02, 2015

The Planet Fútbol Podcast welcomes another esteemed guest this week, as SI Senior Writer (and this episode's host) Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) speaks by phone with Petr Cech, the Czech goalkeeper who recently made the switch to Arsenal after 11 seasons at Chelsea. In the interview, Cech discussed what it takes to be a world-class goalkeeper, where he thinks the future of the position lies, and what his favorite song is to drum along to. The podcast then welcomes SI.com's Brian Straus to the fold with his observations from a thrilling night in Chester, Pennsylvania, where Sporting Kansas City captured its third U.S. Open Cup title with a PK shootout win over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night. Wahl and Straus also discuss why English Premier League teams are having such a tough time in the Champions League, rummage through the multitude of options the U.S. men's national team has at center back ahead of the team's crucial tilt against Mexico, and whether qualifying for the Olympics really matters as the U.S. U-23 team attempts to do just that later this week. Finally, SI contributor Liviu Bird (twitter.com/liviubird) checks in from the left coast along with Laura Harvey, coach of the NWSL's Seattle Reign. The two discuss the Reign's sustained success in the fledgling league, preaching posession with a purpose, and why there are still so many male coaches at the uppermost levels of the women's game.

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Xabi Alonso interview; Robert Lewandowski's unforgettable quintuple Sep 24, 2015

Host Avi Creditor (twitter.com/avicreditor), SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl), and SI.com's Brian Straus (twitter.com/brianstraus) welcome the first Planet Futbol guest to have won a men's World Cup this week. Bayern Munich and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso talks to Wahl about his career, the managers he's worked under, and whether Bayern will dominate the Bundesliga once again this season. The guys also recap Robert Lewandowski's insane nine-minute goal spree against Wolfsburg, and riff on some other eye-raising developments in the world of soccer. -- The Planet Futbol Podcast is sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash. We are also sponsored by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET to for a $20 rebate off your first ticket purchase.

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Kei Kamara talks MLS goal record & playing for Sierra Leone; LAFC's play for millenials Sep 17, 2015

Columbus Crew and Sierra Leone national forward Kei Kamara (twitter.com/keikamara) joins SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl (twitter.com/GrantWahl) and Brian Straus (twitter.com/BrianStraus) this week to talk his MLS-leading 20 goals, his experiences playing for his home country, and the differences between MLS and European leagues. The guys then switch gears and talk about the latest ridiculousness from CONCACAF: Forcing the U.S. and Mexico to name 35-man preliminary rosters a full month ahead of their showdown at the CONCACAF Cup in Los Angeles. Finally, they discuss the latest involving once of MLS' newest teams: LAFC, which officially confirmed its name and made it clear in an LA Times article that they plan to market heavily toward millennials. Is the club already failing in that regard? -- The Planet Futbol Podcast is sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash. We are also sponsored by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET to for a $20 rebate off your first ticket purchase.

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Tim Howard talks U.S. future; Do friendlies even matter?; Remembering Boca vs. River Sep 10, 2015

This week, the Planet Futbol crew had the pleasure of being joined by U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was reduced to a back-up role in his first games back from a one-year international hiatus. He speaks to Si Senior Writer Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl) about his current U.S. status, Everton's season and his plans to play until the conclusion of the 2018 World Cup before moving on from the game. Also, SI.com's Brian Straus (twitter.com/BrianStraus) discusses how much of an indicator of future success or failure have friendlies actually been during the Jurgen Klinsmann era. We close with personal reflections and experiences of the Superclásico ahead of the latest installment of Boca Juniors vs. River Plate in Argentina.

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Previewing the USMNT friendlies; Who to blame in De Gea saga? Sep 03, 2015

Jurgen Klinsmann made a pair of declarations prior to the USA's first of two September friendlies, and they are cause for discussion on the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast Grant Wahl (twitter.com/grantwahl), Brian Straus (twitter.com/brianstraus), and your host Avi Creditor (twitter.com/acreditor). We wrap up by recapping the closing of the summer transfer window in Europe, where David de Gea somehow remains with Manchester United and Anthony Martial set the new standard for a fee paid for a teenager. What other moves stood out from the window? -- The Planet Futbol Podcast is sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash. We are also sponsored by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET to for a $20 rebate off your first ticket purchase.

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Breaking down the UEFA Champions League draw; Who will Klinsmann call?; MLS Rivalry Week gets lazy Aug 27, 2015

With Grant Wahl (twitter.com/GrantWahl) and Brian Straus (twitter.com/BrianStraus) back in the fold, the Planet Fútbol crew dissects the UEFA Champions League draw, and ponders whether the group stage is just a mere formality for the typical giants en route to expected deep runs. The crew also ponders if Klinsmann has any surprise call-ups in mind for the #USMNT's upcoming friendlies, and whether or not MLS Rivalry Week will live up to the hype. The Planet Futbol Podcast is sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com for up to $200 in bonus cash. We are also sponsored by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET to for a $20 rebate off your first ticket purchase.

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A.J. DeLaGarza on L.A.'s galaxy of stars; What's wrong with Chelsea? Aug 20, 2015

On this week's episode of Planet Futbol, LA Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza joins SI.com's Avi Creditor and Brian Straus to discuss this weekend's star-studded matchup vs. NYCFC and how the Galaxy's big-name signings are fitting in. Also, NBC soccer analyst Kyle Martino offers his take on the first weeks of EPL action.

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Sports Illustrated Joins Panoply Network Aug 17, 2015

For more than 60 years, Sports Illustrated has championed its brand of quality sports journalism. Today, SI announces a new partnership … one that helps us tell the stories that matter to your life, through today’s mobile channels. Sports Illustrated is now a part of the Panoply Network. Visit http://megaphone.fm to learn more about the excellent slate of podcasts, and subscribe to your favorite SI shows on iTunes or find them all at http://si.com/podcasts. Music by: Pierlo (http://upitup.com)

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Carli Lloyd on her stellar WWC, Sounders making moves, Jens Lehmann on Bundesliga Aug 13, 2015

With Grant Wahl and Brian Straus on well-deserved vacations, Planet Futbol went big with this week's guest: Women's World Cup champion and Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd. Avi Creditor and Liviu Bird ask what's next for the World Cup champions, Olympic qualifying, and what it'll be like to play on turf (again). Also, the guys discuss the moves made by the Seattle Sounders as they attempt to top their slide in MLS, and hear from former German national team goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as he discusses the upcoming Bundesliga season.

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August 6, 2015: Special guest Brad Friedel on Premier League season, Tim Howard vs. Brad Guzan Aug 06, 2015

With a new Premier League season on the horizon, former U.S. national team and EPL goalkeeper Brad Friedel joins SI's Grant Wahl, Ben Lyttleton and Avi Creditor to preview the campaign ahead. Which team does Friedel think will win the league, and which ones does he see getting relegated? As for the pending U.S. goalkeeper conundrum brought on by Tim Howard's return, how does Friedel see it shaking out? We cover it all and more in the latest Planet Futbol Podcast.

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July 30, 2015: MLS All-Star format, Gold Cup fallout, Zlatan, MLS Year 1 Oral History Jul 30, 2015

MLS topped Tottenham in the All-Star Game 2-1, but after some players, coaches and the league publicly wondered if it was time for a format change, we do too. After a heated debate between SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor, we turn our attention to the coaching situations of Mexico and the USA, where Miguel Herrera is out, but Jurgen Klinsmann carries on. Finally, we finish up with two of SI's recent projects: Interviewing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the release of our lengthy oral history of MLS's inaugural season.

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July 23, 2015: USA stunned in Gold Cup, Peak CONCACAF, Panama-Mexico fallout Jul 23, 2015

The U.S. men crashed out of the Gold Cup in the semifinals, falling to Jamaica 2-1. Is it a stretch to call it the biggest upset in USMNT history? How bad is this for Jurgen Klinsmann? How much does the Confederations Cup really matter? How on earth can we make sense of what happened in the Mexico-Panama semifinal night cap? SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus share their experiences from the Georgia Dome and look ahead to the Mexico-Jamaica final (and USA-Panama third-place game!) in the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast.

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July 16, 2015: Gold Cup quarterfinals, Giovani dos Santos to MLS, Gerrard-Lampard All-Star drama Jul 16, 2015

The Gold Cup is down to its final eight teams after a bit of a bizarre group stage. What do we make of how things have unfolded and how the quarterfinal matchups stack up? Mexico star Giovani dos Santos, meanwhile, is on his way to MLS. How does it compare with other landmark signings for the league? Finally, what do we make of Don Garber naming Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard MLS All-Stars with a combined 0 league minutes under their belt? SI's Brian Straus, Avi Creditor and Liviu Bird delve into all of it on our latest podcast.

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July 9, 2015: USWNT wins World Cup; USMNT kicks off Gold Cup Jul 10, 2015

SI's Grant Wahl and Liviu Bird recount their experiences covering the U.S. women's national team at the historic Women's World Cup final, we ponder Carli Lloyd's place in history, and Brian Straus chimes in from the road at the Gold Cup, where he's following the U.S. men's national team in its quest to repeat as CONCACAF champs.

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July 2, 2015: USWNT-Japan World Cup final, Bassett's own goal, MLS Year 1 Jul 02, 2015

The 2015 Women's World Cup is down to its final two teams, and it's the same two that battled for the 2011 title. The USA and Japan will meet for a third straight major final–doing so in the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal Game as well–and they're entering under different circumstances. While the USA played its best game against Germany, Japan got through on Laura Bassett's devastating own goal. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus, Liviu Bird and Avi Creditor react to Bassett's own goal, assess the USA's chances in the final and also tease SI Magazine's MLS Year 1 oral history, which includes some phenomenal stories.

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Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda recall the USA's improbable 1995 Copa America run Jun 26, 2015

The USA's improbable 1995 Copa America run to the semifinals featured a number of incredible stories, both on and off the field. Some 20 years later, former U.S. stars Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda recall it all, from the player strike that nearly derailed the team to Diego Maradona weeping in the U.S. locker room.

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Planet Futbol Podcast: June 25, 2015: USWNT-China memories, Gold Cup, Atlanta United FC, Pirlo Jun 25, 2015

The U.S. women's national team takes on China in the World Cup quarterfinals in a rematch of the epic 1999 final. SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus share their memories of that day before turning attention to the Gold Cup and Jurgen Klinsmann's roster choices. We wrap up with MLS talk, including Brian's story on Atlanta's MLS expansion team name and the possibility of Andrea Pirlo joining the league.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: June 18, 2015 | Women's World Cup, Clint Dempsey vs. Open Cup referee Jun 18, 2015

The Women's World Cup is down to 16 teams, and the USA is one of them after winning its group. Can the USA win it all given its draw and group-stage production? Who might stand in the way? Has the expanded tournament been a good idea? As for Clint Dempsey's U.S. Open Cup antics, what do we make of the U.S. captain ripping up a referee's notebook, and how might his actions impact him, the USMNT and Sounders? SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor cover it all in the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: June 11, 2015: All the U.S. national teams Jun 11, 2015

What a week it's been for U.S. national teams. Between the U.S. men sweeping the Netherlands and Germany in a pair of road friendlies and the U.S. women kicking off the Women's World Cup with a win over Australia (not to mention the U-20 men reaching the World Cup quarterfinals), there's plenty to dissect. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor do just that in our latest podcast.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: June 4, 2015 | FIFA, Blatter, Women's World Cup, Champions League final Jun 04, 2015

What was Sepp Blatter's motivation for announcing he would resign, and what does that mean for the future of FIFA? Is true reform actually on the way? On the field, the Women's World Cup and Champions League final take center stage. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus, Ben Lyttleton and Avi Creditor break it all down during a landmark week in world soccer.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: May 28, 2015 – FIFA May 28, 2015

The latest FIFA scandal has stolen the headlines, with the FBI, DOJ and IRS going at the world's governing body of soccer and making arrests to high-ranking officials. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor touch on the wide-ranging scandal, what comes next and how it could impact soccer in the USA, in addition to sharing a couple of first-hand stories that show what FIFA corruption is all about.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: April 17, 2015 May 27, 2015

SI's Brian Straus, Liviu Bird and Avi Creditor breaks down the latest edition of Dos-A-Cero, after Jordan Morris's surprise heroics lifted the USA to another win over Mexico. Also, can Barcelona's star trio be stopped in the Champions League?

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: April 9, 2015 – The Relaunch May 27, 2015

The Planet Fútbol Podcast makes its long-awaited return prior to the USA's friendly vs. Mexico. What is Clint Dempsey's future with the national team? How does the USA shape up vs. El Tri? SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor discuss, while also examining the Montreal Impact's surprise showing in the CCL.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: April 30, 2015 May 27, 2015

The Montreal Impact were close, but came up short of making CONCACAF Champions League history. SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor make sense of the Impact's CCL run and ponder its big-picture ramifications.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: April 23, 2015 May 26, 2015

What's it like watching Barcelona and Bayern Munich advance in the Champions League at a Barcelona AND Bayern Munich bar? What do we make of the Montreal Impact's first-leg edge over Club America in the CCL final? SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus and Avi Creditor discuss.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: May 21, 2015 May 21, 2015

How does Jozy Altidore's injury impact the USMNT's upcoming friendlies and Gold Cup? Who will step into his role? On the women's end, which of a deep forward corps should start in Canada? What does NASL's expansion to Miami mean for MLS's aspirations there? And how is RSL approaching Jason Kreis's return to Rio Tinto Stadium? SI's Avi Creditor, Grant Wahl and Liviu Bird supply the answers to all of those questions.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: Jeremy Schaap on FIFA, Sepp Blatter May 19, 2015

Veteran reporter Jeremy Schaap joins Grant Wahl to talk about his E:60 documentary on Sepp Blatter and FIFA. As the FIFA presidential election approaches and with Blatter expected to win a fifth term, a cloud of corruption hangs above him and his regime. Schaap details his documentary and much more in a fascinating conversation.

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Planet Fùtbol Podcast: May 14, 2015 May 14, 2015

The Champions League final is set: Juventus will play Barcelona on June 6 in Berlin, and SI's Avi Creditor, Grant Wahl and Ben Lyttleton discuss the semifinals, whether Juve can slay another Spanish giant and wonder if managers Luis Enrique and Max Allegri are getting enough credit. SI's Brian Straus joins the fray to pay tribute to the careers of Brad Friedel and Dwayne De Rosario, with both announcing their retirements this week.

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Planet Fútbol Podcast: May 7, 2015 May 07, 2015

After Lionel Messi's latest exploits, SI's Grant Wahl, Ben Lyttleton and Avi Creditor discuss his magic, the Champions League semifinals and if we'll see a first UCL Clásico final. Also, we talk Gedion Zelalem's place with the USA U-20s and Arsenal, and SI's Brian Straus joins to help name the RBNY-NYCFC rivalry.

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