Planet Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Show notes

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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