Podcast
Founding Futbol
Hosted by Blue Wire · EN
Founding Futbol is a weekly podcast that explores soccer’s journey in America, analyzing how key moments in the sport’s history have contributed to its rising level of popularity. The show features research and expert guests as it breaks down 52 key events that have influenced growth of soccer in the United States.
Host Kent Malmros combines narrated research with long-form interviews in each episode. Founding Futbol will provide in-depth analysis on topics such as Title IX, Pelé’s time in New York, the USWNT’s dominance and Paul Caligiuri’s iconic 1989 goal.
127episodes
Episodes
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Chapter Forty-Five: The 2019 Women's World Cup (with JP Dellacamera)
Feb 24, 202501:23:00Tap to summarizeIn 2019, the USWNT was attempting to make history as the first women's national team to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Jill Ellis was still at the help and had overseen some turnover from the roster that won the 2015 World Cup -- in fact, about half the roster was different. Despite that, the team still has some of it's most prominent stars, including Megan Rapinoe. A combination of youth and Rapinoe dominance propelled the team to the top of the podium. And she did that while still maintaining her stance on off-field issues. JP Dellacamera has broadcast 17 World Cups, making him the voice of soccer for many Americans. He returned to the show to recount the USWNT's journey through the 2019 Women's World Cup. During our conversation, Dellacamera recounts key moments in the tournament. He talks about the significance of Rapinoe's performance and more. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com.Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: JP Dellacamera (Broadcaster) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Extra Time: Jonathan Tannenwald On The Ertz Impact
Feb 20, 202500:55:28Tap to summarizeThe emergence of Julie Johnston, now Julie Ertz, during the 2015 World Cup brought attention to her relationship with Zach Ertz. Their journey together from college athletes to professional athletes and, in the case of Julie, international star, made headlines. As their careers progressed, their place in the sports power couple continuum evolved. And fans of each cheered on the other. Jonathan Tannenwald is one of the leading soccer writers in the country and a previous guest of the show. As a college student, he was in Philadelphia to see AJ Feeley and Heather Mitts create the football/soccer couple archetype. Then, as he began working for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tannenwald witnessed Julie's impact on soccer in the city where Zach was becoming an NFL star. He joined Founding Futbol to share his memories of covering Julie Ertz during her emergence, and discuss the merits of how sports couples should (and shouldn't be) covered, as well as the impact of cross-pollinating fans. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.comSubscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Jonathan Tannenwald (Chief Soccer Correspondent, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Chapter Forty-Four: Mr. Julie Johnston (with Katie Baker)
Feb 17, 202501:14:29Tap to summarizein 2015, en route to a third Women's World Cup victory, new stars emerged for the US Women's National Team. No one's profile was elevated more than Julie Johnston, who at the time went by Julie Johnston. The Santa Clara product had been a key part of the Youth National Team pools, but was on the fringes of the USWNT roster heading into the World Cup Qualifying cycles in 2014. Injuries opened the door, she impressed Jill Ellis and Johnston made her way to Canada with the team. She quickly emerged as a key part of the squad, anchoring the backline next to veteran Becky Sauerbrunn. With her blond ponytail, blue pre-wrap and propensity for biting tackles followed by a bright smile, fans quickly fell in love with Johnston. The more she gained popularity, the more fans craved information about the new star. They quickly learned that Johnston, was in a long-term relationship with emerging NFL star Zach Ertz -- a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Just as USWNT fans fell in love with Julie, so too did they fall in love with Zach. And as their individual fame grew, their collective fame grew as well, transcending sports journals into the pages of People and US Weekly. But, something interesting happened along the way -- in a country where American football is the biggest sport on the block, a woman playing association football was seen as the bigger overall star and the more accomplished athlete. The cross pollination of both fan bases brought more people to soccer. And the power of sports power couples was realized. Katie Baker, a writer for The Ringer that covers sports, culture and more, joined the show to talk about the impact of Zach Ertz and Julie Johnston when they first broke onto the scene, and the continued interest in their relationship as they became Zach and Julie Ertz once married. Baker also talked about why America is fascinated with the love lives of celebrities and how it helps bring attention to a sport like soccer. She also explores why the USWNT uniquely features a variety of power couples. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com.Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Katie Baker (Senior Staff Writer, The Ringer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Extra Time: Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis
Feb 15, 202500:59:35Tap to summarizeThe 2015 Women's World Cup wasn't just about the US Women's National Team return to the top of the soccer world and winning its third star. It was also an opportunity to showcase the impact American women's soccer had on the rest of the world, by seeing the growth of the field and improvement in competition from other federations.Glenn Davis was on the Fox broadcast team in 2015 and he had the chance to see a variety of countries compete at the tournament. He joined Founding Futbol to talk about the impact women's soccer has had on the game in the US, and the impact US women's soccer has had around the world. Davis reflects on the 2015 Women's World Cup and the evolution of the USWNT.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.comSubscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Glenn Davis (Soccer Play-by-Play Announcer, Voice of the Houston Dynamo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Extra Time: The Legacy of Heather O'Reilly
Feb 13, 202500:43:54Tap to summarizeThere were many storylines associated with the US Women's National Team heading into the 2015 Women's World Cup. Jill Ellis was early in her tenure as head coach. Emerging young talents were on the ascension. Alex Morgan was a certified star. But above all, the team was looking for its first World Cup win since 1999. A key group of veterans made the trip to Canada with multiple Olympic gold medals on their resume, but yearning to add the World Cup win to their personal list of accomplishments as well. Heather O'Reilly was one of those players. Along with Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and others. For O'Reilly, better known as HAO, 2015 presented an opportunity to help the team achieve new heights. She joined Founding Futbol to talk about her career. HAO discusses how the team's performance may have been under appreciated during those Olympic runs, without the World Cup title. She shares the challenges of taking on different roles as the USWNT evolved and so much more. Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.comSubscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Heather O'Reilly (Former USWNT and NWSL Player) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Chapter Forty-Three: The 2015 Women's World Cup (with Becky Sauerbrunn)
Feb 10, 202501:14:18Tap to summarizein 2015, the US Women's National Team embarked on a mission to bring home its third star. Fortunately, the team didn't have to travel far, with the tournament being hosted in Canada. While the physical travel wasn't taxing, the pressure to continue evolving the sport in America, with momentum from the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics, was palpable. So too was the desire to win a a World Cup championship for legends like Abby Wambach and Heather O'Reilly as they approached the late stages of their international careers.Becky Sauerbrunn joined the show to talk about the journey to that competition. The legendary center back shared her memories leading up that run in Canada. She talks about the program's evolution, the new coaching regime that led the team to the 2015 World Cup, the impact of that win and more. Sauerbrunn discussed why that win was so important and how it continued to change the perception of women's soccer in America.Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com.Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Becky Sauerbrunn (Former USWNT and NWSL Player) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Extra Time: David Sarachan Returns
Feb 6, 202500:55:00Tap to summarizeWhen Christian Pulisic broke onto the international soccer scene, playing for the USMNT as a teenager, he represented a new wave of hope that the Americans could establish themselves with more prominence on the global stage. It wasn't just Pulisic, but a group of up-and-coming young talent that included the likes of Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams and others. The team faced disappointment when failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but also grew from that experience, forming the core of the team for years to come. David Sarachan had the chance to coach that group during his stint as the interim USMNT head coach in 2017 and 2018. He joined Founding Futbol to share his experience with those young players. During the conversation, Sarachan talks about how the game change, why it's so hard to compare different generations of players and more. Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.comSubscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: David Sarachan (Former Assistant Coach, USMNT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Chapter Forty-Two: Christian Pulisic Signs with Dortmund (with Brian Sciaretta)
Feb 3, 202501:16:39Tap to summarizeWhen Christian Pulisic broke onto the youth soccer scene as a teenager, playing for PA Classics and the IMG residency for US Soccer, other countries and clubs took notice. Specifically, in the process of scouting another US youth national, Dortmund took notice. When he moved to Germany to join the club, his emergence on the global scene accelerated. Pulisic impressed for both the U17 and U19 Dortmund teams, and quickly worked his way into the senior team. At the same time, Pulisic broke through with the US Men's National team. He, along with a generation of young American talent featuring in the top flights of Europe, offered the country a new sense of hope that the country could break through globally. Brian Sciaretta joined the show to talk about Pulisic's continued growth at Dortmund, then Chelsea and most recently AC Milan. He shared his thoughts on the generation of talent that has defined the Pulisic-era of the USMNT and contemplates what still may be yet to come. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com.Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Brian Sciaretta (Soccer Journaist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Extra Time: Noah Davis Recounts Morris-mania
Jan 30, 202500:50:28Tap to summarizeWhen Jordan Morris broke through with the US Men's National team, still an emerging college star at Stanford, soccer fans wanted to know more about the kid from the Seattle area. They wanted to know, specifically, how he beat the odds to break through on the senior national team as a college player, which hadn't happened in decades. Reporters sought out his story and began hearing about the near-mythical goal he scored when the Cardinal scrimmaged the national team in a pre-World Cup training camp. Noah Davis was one of those reporters. In April of 2015, after Morris became a fan favorite scoring his first international goal against rival Mexico, Davis delivered a profile on the player for ESPN's Grantland. It shared the story of his conversations with USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann leading to the call-up. Stories like that one, revealing the player's humility and work ethic, further stoked the Morris-mania that would come when he led Stanford to an NCAA title. Davis joined Founding Futbol to share his work on the Jordan Morris and reflect on what his story meant to the growth of soccer in America. Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.comSubscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Noah Davis (Freelance Journalist, Co-Founder of Three Point Four Media) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Chapter Forty-One: Jordan Morris-mania (with Jeremy Gunn)
Jan 27, 202501:23:56Tap to summarizeCollege soccer is unique to the American sporting culture. Much of youth soccer's growth has been built around the promise of earning a college scholarship to play the sport, an attribute that is unique to both the game and higher education in the United States. Often, that puts it at conflict with the development pathways most commonly used to build strong national team programs in other countries. And, yet, college soccer itself doesn't generate significant revenue or fan interest. That leaves college soccer in the unenvious place of having a misunderstood identity. However, in 2014, Jordan Morris emerged on the senior national team scene while still playing at Stanford. He stayed and helped lead the Cardinal to an NCAA national championship, just months after scoring his first USMNT goal against Mexico. His national team popularity brought attention to mens's college soccer like never before. Jeremy Gunn coached Morris during his time at Stanford and joined the show to talk about the players impact on the program and soccer in America. He recounts how Morris caught the attention of Jurgen Klinsmann during a scrimmage between the national team and Stanford, and the call-up that followed. Gunn reflect on the reasons Morris stayed at Stanford when he could have left, and so much more. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America.Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com.Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice.Host: Kent MalmrosGuest: Jeremy Gunn (Men's Soccer Head Coach, Stanford University) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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