Podcasts about The Beautiful Game

It’s a global tournament. It’s a Beautiful Game. Team USA exceeds expectations with a big win over Paraguay. Futbol news Japan, Brazil, Scotland, Canada, Germany, Spain. Jalen Brunson, Captain Clutch, as Knicks win NBA Finals. NBA news LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Giannis, Kawhi Leonard. MLB Updates Padres, Dodgers, Angels, Brewers, Rockies, Royals, Tigers. NFL news 49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Dolphins, Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks. NHL notes Kings, Red Wings, Rangers, Oilers, Ducks. Plus, Big 12, Texas Tech, Sports betting, Phil Mickelson, Lewis Hamilton. Got a question or comment for Hacksaw? Drop your take in the live chat on YouTube, X or Facebook. Here's what Lee Hamilton thinks on Monday, June 15, 2026. 1)…WORLD CUP SOCCER…WHAT A BEGINNING “THE BEAUTIFUL GAME-AS ADVERTISED” TEAM USA JAPAN…BRAZIL SCOTLAND…CANADA GERMANY…SPAIN ———– 2)…KNICKS WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP “BRUNSON-CAPTAIN CLUTCH” 3)…NBA OFF SEASON BEGINS “LET THE OFF SEASON BEGIN” LE BRON JAMES AUSTIN REAVES GIANNIS KAWHI LEONARD ————— 4)…PADRES-DODGERS ANGELS “WINS-LOSSES-INJURIES” 5)…MLB NOTEBOOK…MILW/COLO/KC/DET “BASEBALL HEADLINES” ============ (HALFTIME…DIXIELINE LOGOS) ============ 6)…NFL NOTEBOOK “OFF THE FIELD NEWS” 49ERS…EAGLES DENVER…MIAMI CHIEFS…CHARGERS            SEAHAWKS ========== 7)…NHL NOTEBOOK “TRADE RUMOR CENTRAL” LAKINGS-REDWINGS RANGERS OILERS DUCKS HURRICANE ============== 8)…HEADLINES “OFF THE SPORTSWIRE” BIG 12-TEXAS TECH PHIL MICKELSON LEWIS HAMILTON =============== #MLB #tigers #royals #brewers #rockies #PADRES #joemusgrove #mannymachado #fernandotatisjr #nickpivetta #samadtaylor #DODGERS #mookiebetts #ANGELS #miketrout #joadell #jamesoutman #nfl #DOLPHINS #CHIEFS #CHARGERS #BRONCOS #EAGLES #49ERS #SEAHAWKS #justinherbert #tyreekhill #malikwillis #ERICBIENIEMY #lakers #lebronjames #lukadoncic #AUSTINREAVES #clippers #kawhileonard #STEVEBALLMER #knicks #bucks #spurs #timberwolves #cavaliers #GIANNISANTETOKOUNMPO #KARLANTHONYTOWNS #jalenbrunson #mikebrown #VICTORWEMBENYAMA #TEXASTECH #big12 #kings #ducks #masonmctavish #nhl #OILERS #goldenknights #rangers #hurricanes #redwings #f1 #lewishamilton #teamusa #christianpulisic #MauricioPochettino #GIOREYNA #worldcup2026 #ALEXILALAS #philmickelson Be sure to share this episode with a friend! ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ For more of Hacksaw's Headlines, The Best 15 Minutes, One Man's Opinion, and Hacksaw's Pro Football Notebook: http://www.leehacksawhamilton.com/ SUBSCRIBE on YouTube for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/c/leehacksawhamiltonsports FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/leehacksaw.hamilton.9 TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/hacksaw1090 TIKTOK ➡ https://www.tiktok.com/@leehacksawhamilton INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/leehacksawhamiltonsports/ To get the latest news and information about sports, join Hacksaw’s Insider’s Group. It’s free! https://www.leehacksawhamilton.com/team/ Thank you to our sponsors: Dixieline Lumber and Home Centers https://www.dixieline.com

Describing the joy (and heartache) of football is the job of commentators at this summer's Fifa World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico. In the Studio hears how the loyalties of California's poet laureate Lee Herrick are divided between the USA and his birth country, Korea, while UK poet Ian McMillan finds inspiration for a new poem in the lines on the pitch.

When Roberto De Zerbi was made Spurs' new manager, his previous public support for player Mason Greenwood – who was in the past accused of various sexual assaults, although all charges were dropped – made the headlines. As a Spurs fan, journalist and broadcaster Kate Mason wrote about her take on this for The Athletic. She chats to Jen about how clubs deal with accusations of misconduct, the options legally available to them, alienation of female fans, and whether misogyny really is rife in the men's game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup finally came to Canada. But has MAGA turned the Beautiful Game into something ugly? According to the BBC fans from about a quarter of the countries taking part in this World Cup are facing travel bans, tighter restrictions, or high visa rejection rates.What about supporters who are already in the U.S. who might fall under the gaze of ICE agents? If you were a Senegalese, Haitian, or Ecuadoran-American, would you wrap yourself in your team's colours and take to the streets knowing ICE is playing their own game?And where in all this is Canada? Our co-host has threatened to invade, launched tariff battles and Trump keeps thumping his 51st state schtick. Where does Canada belong in a MAGA world cup?Karim Zidan is an investigative journalist covering the intersection of sports and politics. His work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian, and he runs his own media platform called Sports Politika,He joins us today to kick off the World Cup. And no, Karim Zidan is no relation to the other Zidane….Further Reading:https://www.sportspolitika.news/https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZaivdiKYlJ/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx212p8r28eoHost: Bruce ThorsonCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by: Julian AbrahamAdditional music by: Audio NetworkSponsors: oxio: Head over to https://canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Squarespace: Check out https://squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit https://article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.BetterHelp: Visit https://betterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.Find out more about our live events at https://canadaland.com/liveFind out more about the our Audio Journalism Fellowship programme at https://labs.canadaland.comIf you value this podcast, support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway - what words have come to us from the "Beautiful Game" and how many have crossed into other sports??

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has brought football back into the global spotlight, but beyond the tournament, the sport continues to shape communities. Across Australia and around the world, football is connecting people, fostering inclusion and social cohesion, and helping communities bridge cultural divides while creating a sense of belonging. These are among the 12 stories featured in SBS Audio's series, Beautiful Game Changers.

The World Cup is here! USA vs Paraguay Friday. Team USA History. World Cup Superstars Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Haaland, Yamal, Kane, Neymar, Jimenez, Depay. FIFA Infantino vs Trump – Utter Betrayal, Red Cards. Padres Save the Season Road Trip. Dodgers-Angels notes. Knicks-Spurs NBA Final. NCAA, Big 12 at war with Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech. 49ers Showdown, Trade Talks. NHL Notes Kings, Oilers, Bruins, Golden Knights, Hurricane. Plus, Phil Mickelson is in trouble again. What a sports weekend ahead of us! You gotta question for Hacksaw? Drop your take in the live chat on YouTube, X or Facebook. Here's what Lee Hamilton thinks on Friday, June 12, 2026. 1)..WORLD CUP GAME NIGHT IS HERE…MAURICIO POCHETTINO, CHRISTIAN PULISIC “USA-PARAGUAY…BEAUTIFUL GAME” 2)..TEAM USA HAS ARRIVED…LANDON DONOVAN, ALEXI LALAS “TEAM USA HISTORY” 3)..WORLD CUP “SUPER STARS” L MESSI-Argentina C RONALDO-Portugal K MBAPPE-France E HAALAND-Norway YAMAL-Spain H KANE-Engliand NEYMAR-Brazil R JIMINEZ-Mexico DEPAY-Netherlands 4)..FIFA & USA..UNDER FIRE…GIANNI INFANTINO, DONALD TRUMP “UTTER BETRAYAL–RED CARDS” ========== (HALFTIME…DIXIELINE LUMBER) =========== 5)..PADRES…SAVE THE SEASON ROAD TRIP “FAITH IN THE FRIARS?” TATIS..(.397) TAYLOR..(.333) MACHADO..(.132) MERRILL..(.201) SHEETS..(.083) SCHEDULE…9-ROAD…6-ATL-LAD…7-ROAD 6)..DODGERS-ANGELS NOTEBOOK ———– 7)..NBA PLAYOFFS…1 FOR RECORD BOOKS…KNICKS-SPURS “BIG SHOTS-CHEAP SHOTS” ———— 8)..NCAA-DECLARATION OF WAR…NCAA/BIG 12/TEXAS TECH “BRENDAN SORSBY-VS-WORLD” ————- 9)..NFL NOTEBOOK…49ERS IN NEWS…BRANDON AIYUK “SHOWDOWN–TRADE TALKS” ————– 10)..NHL NOTEBOOK                                “COACHES & THE CUP” LA KINGS OILERS BRUINS LAS VEGAS-CAROLINA ————— 11)..PHIL MICKELSON CONTROVERSY…GOLF DIGEST “FAN’S MAN-FAILING” ==================== #MLB #orioles #PADRES #mannymachado #CRAIGSTAMMEN #jacksonmerrill #DODGERS #shoheiohtani #ANGELS #artemoreno #nfl #49ERS #RAIDERS #maxxcrosby #BRANDONAIYUK #knicks #spurs #oganunoby #jalenbrunson #DEAARONFOX #VICTORWEMBENYAMA #TEXASTECH  #big12 #brendansorsby #kings #nhl #MAPLELEAFS #OILERS #goldenknights #bruins #hurricanes #teamusa #harrykane #christianpulisic #earlinghaaland #MauricioPochettino #hajiwright #GIOREYNA #fifa #worldcup2026 #GIANNIINFANTINO #NEYMAR #LANDONDONOVAN #ALEXILALAS #cristianoronaldo #lionelmessi #philmickelson #donaldtrump #mbappex` Be sure to share this episode with a friend! ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ For more of Hacksaw's Headlines, The Best 15 Minutes, One Man's Opinion, and Hacksaw's Pro Football Notebook: http://www.leehacksawhamilton.com/ SUBSCRIBE on YouTube for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/c/leehacksawhamiltonsports FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/leehacksaw.hamilton.9 TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/hacksaw1090 TIKTOK ➡ https://www.tiktok.com/@leehacksawhamilton INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/leehacksawhamiltonsports/ To get the latest news and information about sports, join Hacksaw’s Insider’s Group. It’s free! https://www.leehacksawhamilton.com/team/ Thank you to our sponsors: Dixieline Lumber and Home Centers https://www.dixieline.com

Simon Kuper, author of World Cup Fever, dissects the language of the World Cup.

As the Fifa Men's World Cup kicks off this week in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football fever is everywhere – and this has the Unexpected Elements team exploring all things football.First, we discover how it took eight years and 170 experiments for scientists to create the perfect grass pitch. Then, why a football is not really a ball… it's a truncated icosahedron. We discuss how this shape revolutionised not only the beautiful game, but nanotechnology too.Then, what secrets can your sweat reveal? We are joined by Prof John Rogers who explains how sweat is an underappreciated and understudied biomarker of our health.And whether in life or in football, what is a better strategy – survival of the fittest or co-operation and teamwork? Author Rowan Hooper joins us to battle it out.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Ogechi Ekeanyanwu Producer: Ella Hubber, with Sophie Ormiston, Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski

This is our newest installment of our Guerrilla History series previewing and analyzing the major international football (soccer) tournaments on and off the pitch.  This time, with the disastrous US/Canada/Mexico hosted World Cup 2026. Amid war on Iran, anti-immigrant ICE terror gangs, dismal initial attendance numbers and astronomical costs, this world cup looks to be one of the worst in history. No wonder there have been calls to boycott it and the US. A terrific global panel joins Guerrilla History hosts Adnan and Henry to discuss the geopolitics of the once beautiful game and review the myriad ways this world cup violates the spirit of sport. Gazan journalist Abubaker Abed , Resistance is Fertile podcast co-host Indi.ca, and returning panelist and great friend of both Guerrilla History and the Adnan Husain Show Latin American historian Alex Aviña will break this down. Give to Dahnoun Mutual Aid in Gaza: dahnounmutualaid   Subscribe to Guerrilla History podcast on your favorite audio podcast platform or listen at: https://guerrillahistory.libsyn.com Follow Abubaker Abed on X and substack: x.com/AbubakerAbedW and substack.com/@AbubakerAbedW  Follow Indi on X and his website: x.com/indica and https://indi.ca as well as Resistance is Fertile podcast on his YT channel: @indications Follow Alex on X: x.com/Alexander_Avina Support The Adnan Husain Show www.patreon.com/adnanhusain https://www.adnanahusain.substack.com Or make a one-time donation to the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/adnanhusain Like, subscribe, share! Also available as audio podcast on all major platforms: https://adnanhusainshow.libsyn.com X: @adnanahusain Substack: adnanahusain.substack.com www.adnanhusain.org Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory   

‘…the roar of the crowd, the FOTOBALL Association, how the sport took off and conquered the world….. & the next World Cup….'Freemasons' Tavern, London 1863 TO HELP SUPPORT this Podcast & get exclusive videos every week sign up to Neil Oliver on Patreon.comhttps://www.patreon.com/neiloliver To Donate - go to Neil's Website:https://www.neiloliver.com Shop:https://neil-oliver.creator-spring.com Neil Oliver YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@Neil-Oliver Rumble site – Neil Oliver Official:https://rumble.com/c/c-6293844 Instagram - NeilOliverLoveLetter:https://www.instagram.com/neiloliverloveletter Podcasts:Neil Oliver: News Comment HistoryNeil Oliver: HistoryNeil Oliver: InterviewsAvailable on all the usual providershttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/neil-oliver-news-comment-history/id1513737418https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/neil-oliver-history/id1871225730https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/neil-oliver-interviews/id1869660872 #NeilOliver #WorldCup #Football #Soccer #Associationfootball #Footballhistory #London # #history #travel #culture #ancient #historyfact #explore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the FIFA World Cup been used as a tool to distract the masses from political failings in the host country? Have FIFA figureheads grown corrupt with power emanating from the global love of the beautiful game? Jules Boykoff is the author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine (OR Books, 2026). He speaks to Lester Kiewit about how political leaders use sports to stoke nationalism and legitimise themselves on the world stage. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest one yet, and FIFA is trying to make it the most high-tech, too. The federation has partnered with tech giant Lenovo to launch Football AI Pro, which is designed to analyze over 2,000 different metrics and deliver real-time insights to coaches, players, and analysts. Guest Host Jane Lindholm chats with ESPN writer Ryan O'Hanlon about how AI analytics actually play out in soccer. Plus, how a team of researchers grew 16 stadiums' worth of FIFA-class turf. Turfgrass scientist Jackie Lyn Guevara breaks down the importance of perfectly uniform turf, how the turf was designed, and what she'll be looking out for during the matches. Guests:  Ryan O'Hanlon is a staff writer at ESPN and the author of “Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game's Analytics Revolution.” Dr. Jackie Lyn "Jack" Guevara is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. Other episodes you may enjoy: We're All Being Played By Metrics The Surprising Science Of Why Sneakers Squeak Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America this week. And whatever happens on the field, Darragh McGee says you can bet this tournament will shatter records as the biggest gambling event in history. The author, sociologist and former University of Toronto soccer team captain joins Piya Chattopadhyay to lay out why he believes legal online betting is "hijacking" sports, and why he thinks there's still time to save the beautiful game.

While the world watched Colombia's electrifying 1994 World Cup run with admiration, a parallel war was being fought entirely out of sight, one where Pablo Escobar and rival cartel networks had already spent years embedding themselves inside the national team's financial infrastructure, club ownership, and player ecosystems as an extension of their broader military and political operations. The World Cup was not just a sporting event for these organizations, it was a high-stakes operational theater where gambling syndicates, money laundering pipelines, and coercion networks all converged on the same eleven men standing on a field in front of the world. This episode breaks down the tactical logic of cartel infiltration of Colombian football, how the World Cup amplified every existing threat, and what the execution of Andrés Escobar ten days after the tournament revealed about the lethal command structure operating behind it.

The World Cup is finally here! And as if Trevor's World Cup Watch Party on YouTube wasn't enough, every Monday throughout the tournament Trevor and his football frenemy Joe Opio will drop a special World Cup bonus episode of What Now? to break down the drama, brilliance, heartbreak, controversy, and occasional chaos that make the Beautiful Game the Beautiful Game.   In this World Cup preview episode, Trevor and Joe get into who did (and didn't

A longtime soccer correspondent tells us he's ready to cover this year's big tournament — but worrying that a never-ending list of FIFA controversies might just drain the World Cup of its magic.The organization that represents Inuit in Canada launches a new poverty-reduction strategy — and calls on Ottawa to scrap a federal food-subsidy program our guest says simply isn't working. The long delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan may finally be set to open — even as the U-S President keeps throwing up road blocks.Elections Alberta says finding enough staff to work this fall's referendum is a huge undertaking. We'll talk to the woman in charge of organizing the manual counting of up to 45 million ballots. At an exhibition of terrible album art in England, you can see aesthetic disasters that might change your feelings about particular musicians — and perhaps even all human life. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan is not pleased to be facing a challenge from a new rival whose name is Dan Sullivan — and wants to boot his namesake for his name's sake.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that wonders if we're seeing the Dan of a new era.

As Vancouver prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, guest speaker John Romano launches our new teaching series, The Beautiful Game, by exploring a competition far greater than any sporting event.While billions of people around the world focus on a trophy made of gold, Scripture reveals that a much deeper battle is taking place—the battle for the human heart. Through the stories of the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus, we discover how success, status, wealth, reputation, and achievement can become trophies we spend our lives chasing, yet never find lasting fulfillment in.What happens when the things we value most compete with our relationship with Jesus? And how do we recognize when we've placed other trophies on the throne of our hearts?This message challenges us to examine what we are pursuing and reminds us that true hope, purpose, and salvation are found not in what we achieve, but in the One who has already won the victory for us.Join us as we discover why Jesus is the only trophy that can truly satisfy the soul.Visit Us at oacvancouver.ca We believe that Jesus is needed and relevant for people in Vancouver today. The message of God's love and promise of wholeness was destined to be experienced within a faith community that worships, studies scripture and prays together. Let us warmly welcome you to journey with us toward greater connection, purpose and peace.Follow Us Instagram: instagram.com/oacvancouver Facebook: facebook.com/oacvancouver Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cjUJ9XmAMJc1piS1IwOQH?si=dc0f2377d0454e31

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest in history, with controversies to match. From the US mass deportation campaign and travel restrictions to the war with Iran, football’s biggest stage is raising questions far beyond the game. In this episode: Ashish Malhotra (@amalhotra2), Host, The Soccernomics Podcast Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Rick Rush mixed this episode. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. Our editorial intern is Jana Dabliz. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

We sit down on mic one last time to say goodbye.Thank you to anyone who listened over the past 5 years.Good luck.- Cathal and WillSupport the show

“That kind of put soccer on my radar as a sport. I saw how deeply it meant to people, in a way I didn't appreciate prior to that. And then I was in London when the World Cup began, and I saw the opening match — Argentina and Cameroon, with Cameroon winning in an upset. Just the whole spectacle of it gave me an appreciation for the game.” — Brian Bunk, on Ireland, Italia '90, and the moment everything changed Not long now. Only seven days until the World Cup begins. Just enough time to read Brian D. Bunk's new The Shortest History of Soccer: From Ancient Kicking Games to the World's Most Popular Sport. History isn't Bunk with Brian. He looks a bit like Elton John, which is appropriate given that old Rocket Man was chairman of Watford and bankrolled the tiny English club to almost winning the league. Pop stars like Ed Sheeran (Ipswich) and Robert Plant (Wolves) love football, Bunk notes. Probably because it reminds them of where they came from. Bunk's thesis is that soccer's global dominance is not accidental. Born in the industrial communities of nineteenth-century England, the game gave workers a new identity, new evidence of their collective power, proof they'll never walk alone. That same logic explains why middle-aged men all over America religiously gather at their local bars to watch English teams with strange names like Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Such is religion in our globalised post-industrial age. “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that,” the great Liverpool manager Bill Shankly quipped. That's the shortest of short histories of football. What the working-class Shankly meant was that it gives us social meaning — which is, indeed, more historically significant than the life or death of a single individual. Or even God. Football saves our souls, Brian Bunk concurs with Bill Shankly. Enjoy the World Cup. Five Takeaways •       Soccer Was Born in Industrial Communities for a Reason: The game emerged in industrial Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century not by accident but because industrialisation had shattered traditional community life. Mass migration to cities, technological disruption, the loss of familiar rhythms — all created a need for new kinds of identity and belonging. Soccer filled that need. It gave factory workers a team to follow, a ground to gather at, a shared identity that transcended ethnic and class lines. Bunk's argument: this community function is baked into the game itself, which is why it has replicated across every culture it has touched. •       Why Americans Love the Premier League: Bunk identifies the 1990s as the pivotal decade for American soccer. The 1994 World Cup on home soil. The women's World Cup. The formation of MLS. The arrival of the FIFA video game. The Premier League broadcasting deals with ESPN and Fox. All of these combined and snowballed. Add to that the NFL owners investing in English clubs, the celebrity ownership wave (Ryan Reynolds, Elton John), and the cultural footprint of shows like Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham. The result: a generation of Americans for whom following the Premier League is a primary source of community. •       Maradona: All the Contradictions of Football in One Man: Asked which historical match he would most want to attend, Bunk chooses Mexico City, June 1986: Argentina vs England. Not for the Hand of God goal — which was cheating — but for the second goal, the one where Maradona picked up the ball in his own half, went past five English players, and scored what is generally considered the greatest goal in the history of the game. Bryon Butler's BBC radio commentary: “turning like a little eel.” Andrew's verdict: if any single figure captures all the genius, joy, turbulence, and tragedy of football, it is Maradona. •       The World Cup Returns to North America: In seven days, the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first time the tournament has returned to North America since the USA hosted in 1994. The timing of Bunk's book is deliberate. Soccer is more popular in America than at any point in history, and the home World Cup is the event that could push it into the first tier of American sports culture. The Premier League, MLS, women's soccer, and now the World Cup: the game's US footprint is larger than it has ever been. •       Andrew's Game: Tottenham vs Benfica, April 1962: Andrew's own fantasy match, offered unprompted at the end: the first leg of the 1962 European Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Benfica at the Est00e1dio da Luz in Lisbon on March 20, 1962, with Eusebio and Jimmy Greaves on the same pitch. Spurs lost 320131 on the night, went out 420132 on aggregate. Two clear penalties not given. Andrew's conclusion: had Spurs won that match, the history of European football — and possibly his own life — would have been different. He notes that he has a son, and that he should have called him Jimmy. About the Guest Brian D. Bunk is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches courses on world history, modern Europe, and the global history of soccer. He is the author of The Shortest History of Soccer: From Ancient Kicking Games to the World's Most Popular Sport (The Experiment, June 2026), Beyond the Field: How Soccer Built Community in the United States (University of Illinois Press, 2025), and From Football to Soccer: The Early History of the Beautiful Game in the United States (University of Illinois Press, 2021). He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. References: •       The Shortest History of Soccer by Brian D. Bunk (The Experiment, June 2026). •       Beyond the Field: How Soccer Built Community in the United States by Brian D. Bunk (University of Illinois Press, 2025). •       Argentina vs England, FIFA World Cup quarter-final, Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, June 22, 1986 — the Hand of God game, referenced as Bunk's fantasy match. •       Tottenham Hotspur vs Benfica, European Cup semi-final, Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, April 1962 — Andrew's fantasy match. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On A...

U.S. President Donald Trump is back at it — announcing new tariffs. He says he's targeting countries for not cracking down on forced labour, including Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney says new rules are in the works to strengthen Canada's enforcement regime.And: The 2026 FIFA World Cup won't just showcase the best in soccer — it will also feature the highest-level technology in the sport. Reporter Tanya Fletcher will have more on what that means for the games.Also: In a rare move, the federal government is asking Canada's radio and TV regulator to review a recent decision. Late last month, the CRTC announced hikes on fees that U.S. streaming giants have to pay into Canadian content. The move was slammed by tech giants and U.S. politicians.Plus: Canada's effort to combat forced labour, British protests over race and policing, CBS shakeup, and more.

In an extended episode, to mark the start of this year's world cup, Moja is joined by José to talk about 'The Beautiful Game' of football.

Her brother was the captain of Iran's national soccer team. But being a woman meant she wasn't allowed to watch him play in their home country. Maryam Shojaei spent years fighting to overturn Iran's ban on women in soccer stadiums – and faced arrest and intimidation along the way. The Iranian-Canadian activist joins Piya Chattopadhyay to share her journey, and what it's like to see Iran scheduled to play in the FIFA World Cup while at war with one of the host countries.

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 15 on May 23, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. In this episode, we grind the gears one more week until we can talk World Cup. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Explore all our content YouTube- YouTube.com/@thedesignatedpundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. #MLSseasonPass #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Thea Sharrock is the guest for this special edition of the Film Stories podcast. She joins Simon to chat about her new film, Ladies First, which stars Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen. Plus! There's time too for conversation about Wicked Little Letters, The One And Only Ivan, directing Equus on Broadway, and the state of the chairs in the posh London hotel she happens to be sitting in. If you like this podcast, you can support it at www.patreon.com/simonbrew Please subscribe, like and that sort of thing too. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 14 on May 16, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 13 on May 13, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis.  In this episode, we recap MLS Week 12 with Gideon Hill who covers the Vancouver Whitecaps. Can they be saved? Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.  Explore all our content YouTube- YouTube.com/@thedesignatedpundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. #MLSseasonPass #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 12 on May 9, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The guys break down MLS Week 11 action. Links to our work- YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits Find our articles- Hooligan-Soccer.com or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 11 on May 2, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In anticipation of a summer filled with international soccer, Grapevine Economic Development asked the City's new resident experts to explain the Beautiful Game and its cousin, futsal. Esteban and Manuel Mariel are bringing their community-centric mini pitches to Grapevine just in time for the World Cup... so they have plenty of thoughts on soccer culture, getting active, and how City Futsal can transform the world.

The Designated Pundits are joined by special guest Jeremy Peterman to break down MLS's 10th week. In this episode, we also discuss the unpredictability around this year's league. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Explore all our content at thedesignatedpundits.com YouTube- YouTube.com/@thedesignatedpundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. #MLSseasonPass #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did the world just witness the best match of all time? Caleb, Nathan, and Nick gather around the virtual table to discuss the awe of PSG's 5-4 thriller with Bayern Munich, the congestion of the Prem and what that meant for Arsenal-Atleti, and look at the run-in for the Premier League title. Plus, the Game Game bringing back some memories, a violent and chaotic vibe check, and much more.

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 10 on April 25, 2026. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 9. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 8. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psalm 139 speaks to the way that God knows us uniquely and intimately. This psalm of David speaks to the ways that God knew us before we were even born — and that there was a plan laid out of our lives. What an amazing comfort this can bring in the midst of the moments of crisis or celebration that we go through in this life. Soccer Psalm 139 mimics that same language by picturing God as a Mastermind Coach or Scout. God is one who knows the athlete — tendencies, mistakes, skills, and abilities — all of it. The athlete can take comfort that God is present and near and He sees and hears. it doesn’t matter if The Beautiful Game takes us near or far — God is with us. In the dawn of a career or in its twilight. How have you realized God’s presence in the midst of your own football journey? The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer). Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today's assistant professor has spent his career studying the forces that threaten liberal democracy — the far right, populism, nationalist movements that have reshaped politics from Hungary to the United States. He's one of the most cited political scientists working on those questions, based at the University of Georgia, originally from the Netherlands, and the kind of scholar who combines rigorous theory with an unusually grounded sense of how politics actually lives in people's lives.But today we're not talking about Marine Le Pen or Viktor Orbán. We're talking about soccer.Cas Mudde has been a lifelong fan — not of modern football, as he'd put it, but of soccer as community. He's visited something like 500 teams across more than 35 countries, and he brings to the sport the same analytical eye he turns on democratic erosion and authoritarian politics. Because for him, the two aren't as separate as they might seem.In a recent chapter called "Soccer as Civil Society," Mudde argues that professional soccer is not just entertainment — it's a political space, one that sits squarely in the terrain between the state, the market, and the community. And like democracy itself, that space is under pressure: from the commodification of the game, from multiclub ownership models that strip fans of accountability, and from the slow transformation of supporters into consumers.He's also clear-eyed about the limits of resistance — skeptical of the romanticization of fan-owned "punk football" clubs, even as he takes them seriously.It's a conversation about soccer, yes — but also about power, community, and what it means to fight for something when the odds are stacked against you.HELPFUL LINKS TO TODAY's EPISODE:Cas Mudde on LinkedIn, Wikipedia, and the University of Georgia websiteCas' groundhopping InstagramCas Mudde, Soccer as Civil Society - article as PDFTamir Bar-On's 3 Discourses on Soccer, referenced in Cas' article and briefly at the end of the episodeNEW: send me a text message! (I'd love to hear your thoughts - texts get to me anonymously, without charge or signup) Please leave a quick voicemail with any feedback, corrections, suggestions - or just greetings - HERE. Or comment via Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. If you enjoy this podcast and think that what I do fills a gap in soccer coverage that others would be interested in as well, pleaseRecommend The Assistant Professor of Football. Spreading the word, through word of mouth, truly does help. Leave some rating stars at the podcast platform of your choice. There are so many sports podcasts out there, and only ratings make this project visible; only then can people who look for a different kind of take on European soccer actually find me.Artwork for The Assistant Professor of Football is by Saige LindInstrumental music for this podcast, including the introduction track, is by the artist Ketsa and used under a Creative Commons license through Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/

My guest is Rob Potts, whose new book, 'A Football Odyssey: Passion, Politics & the Beautiful Game', looks at 80 great stadiums from around the world, their significance, plus groundhopping tips. Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history. Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram. If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review. Check out Chris Lee's three books: ·      Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World ·      The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism ·      Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 7. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Wildlings, lace up your cleats and let's hit the pitch, it's time for Episode 20 of Wild Interest, "Red Cards & Redheads"!Ever wonder who came up with red cards in soccer? Or why some people are redheads even though their parents aren't? Well, it's a red letter day, because we've rolled out the red carpet for our new friends, brother and sister duo Miles & Nico! They tell us all about their love for "The Beautiful Game", their favorite players EVER, and the roots of the yellow and red card penalty system in soccer. Then, they discuss their own roots as redheads and how and why the trait for red hair gets passed down through generations!We also join Wild Interest collaborator Trey Lander at Fantasy Lane Studios in Atlanta, GA, to hear all about how he's turned his love for music into a career full of inspiration! And, stay tuned for some exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of us cutting tracks in the booth!Plus, we've journeyed to the highlands of Scotland to follow one of the biggest fish tales of all time - the Loch Ness Monster! And, for Grandparent Stories, we hear from Philip in Maryland as he interviews his grandma!Not to mention some hilarious jokes, a mind-bending riddle, and a fantastic favorite sound. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!!Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.Timestamps for this episode are available below.00:00 - Episode 20 Intro01:43 - Redcards with Miles & Nico11:24 - Riddle Clue11:40 - In the Studio with Trey Lander23:38 - Favorite Sound24:50 - Cryptid Corner: The Loch Ness Monster31:00 - Joke Time!31:45 - Call for Submissions32:10 - Redheads with Miles & Nico35:39 - Grandparent Stories: Philip's Grandma38:13 - Riddle Answer38:36 - Preview of Episode 2138:47 - Credits + Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth!39:19 - Bloopers!wildinterest.com

Bob is joined by special guest Favian Renkel from Kickbase (and formerly of Tectonic Takes) to break down MLS's 6th week. In this episode, we also discuss the San Jose Earthquakes' early success. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis.  Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.  Explore all our content at thedesignatedpundits.com YouTube- YouTube.com/@thedesignatedpundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. #MLSseasonPass #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 6. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and our very own Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster and Senior Manager Sergio Flores share insights on Canada's entry requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and key considerations for individuals traveling to matches in Toronto and Vancouver.Entry requirements will vary depending on nationality, with some travelers able to enter as visa-exempt visitors and others required to obtain a visa in advance. This distinction is particularly important given processing times for certain visa-required nationals, making early planning essential.The discussion outlines how entry rules apply across different traveler groups. Fans may enter Canada as visitors, though holding match tickets does not guarantee entry or visa approval. For visa-exempt nationals, electronic travel authorization requirements will depend on the method of travel, including whether individuals are entering by air or land. US nationals are not required to obtain an eTA.Athletes and team personnel, including coaches, managers and staff, may enter as visitors without requiring work authorization. Media and broadcast personnel are generally work permit exempt, subject to the appropriate visitor visa or eTA requirements based on nationality and travel method.FIFA-related volunteers and support personnel may also be work permit exempt where they have received a formal invitation from FIFA to perform tournament-related functions or support event preparation. Individuals must include the relevant FIFA documentation with their application or present it upon entry. Those without a formal invitation may require work authorization, depending on their role and activities.There is no dedicated FIFA visa for Canada, and all travelers will be assessed under standard immigration rules. Early planning, complete documentation and advance review of any potential admissibility issues will be important for individuals and organizations preparing for the tournament.Fragomen continues to support organizations, teams and individuals navigating Canadian immigration requirements as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup progress.

The Designated Pundits sit down to discuss some of the biggest stories from MLS's 5th week of action. We touch on winners, losers, performances, and early season takeaways. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, and Sir Alex on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Explore all our content YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits Audio Links- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. #MLSseasonPass #MLS #MLSbetting #MLSbets #MLSpicks #TheDesignatedPundits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into the Designated Pundits as we deliver some great sportsbook picks for Major League Soccer's Week 5. This week, we have special guest Jeremy Peterman. We are analyzing some of the best bets you can find, along with discussions behind each. Play along with us as we tally, all season long, from our weekly shows. Join hosts Bob Ventimiglia, Scott Omer, Sir Alex, and Deon the Nerdy Soccer Guy on The Designated Pundits for MLS and USMNT analysis. Tune in for two weekly live shows: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET for expert betting picks and MLS odds breakdowns, and Mondays at 8:30 PM ET for soccer analysis and insider discussions. The Designated Pundits podcast is renowned among MLS and US soccer fans for in-depth preseason previews of every MLS team. We're your go-to for predictions and insights into America's version of the Beautiful Game. Stream us live on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. YouTube- YouTube.com/@TheDesignatedPundits All Audio Platforms- linktr.ee/thedesignatedpundits or search “The Designated Pundits” on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices