Planet Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Latest Episodes:

A conversation with MLS commissioner Don Garber Feb 21, 2019

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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