Planet Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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. Sports Illustrated is conducting an audience survey to better serve all of our listeners. It will only take a few minutes of your time and it really helps us improve our shows. Please take our survey here: si.com/pfsurvey
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WWC '19: Final Preview Episode Jul 05, 2019

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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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